HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2024-12-18 { 4 k 0
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BOARD
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December 18, 2024
Recorded Minutes:
https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2916487&repo=CityOfLakeOswego
CALL TO ORDER
Jason Dorn called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and Introductions are made.
ROLL CALL
Present: Jason Dorn, Co-Chairs • Kara Gapon, Co-Chairs • Greg Wolley• Sarah Ellison (CAC) •
Jennifer Mozinski (virtual) • Rebecca Greene • Matt McGinnis (CAC) • Patrick
Gutierrez (CAC) • Diya Deepu,Youth Member• Katie Gragg,Youth Member•John
Wendland, Council Liaison
CAC ROLL CALL: Jymn Meier•Julia Haddad • Kara Orvieto • Betty Holladay •Teresa Bianco • Meg
Matsushima
Alternates: David Walters,Tyson Hart,
Absent: Ed Becker
Staff: Ivan Anderholm, Director of Parks& Recreation •Jeff Munro, Parks Deputy Director•Jan Wirtz,
Recreation Deputy Director• Kyra Haggart, Parks Planner • Robin Krakauer, Communications and
Sponsorship Coordinator • Dina Balogh, Administrative Supervisor • Evan Fransted,Associate Planner
Guests: MIG: Matt Hastie,Jessa Miller, Lauren Scott
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board (PARKS Board) reviewed and
unanimously approved the minutes from November, 2024 .
CITY COUNCIL UPDATE:John Wendland, Council Liaison
• The City Holiday Tree Lighting was a huge success. Thank you to all involved in making it a
successful event; Parks and our partner in this event the Chamber of Commerce.The event
brings the community together in many ways. It was a fantastic event on behalf of the Parks&
Recreation department to get the park ready. Emily Liu is our events person now and she and
her team did a fabulous job.Attendance was the biggest we have ever had.
• Approved Policy: Housing Production Strategy to increase affordable housing.
• Council approved 2025 Master Fees and Charges
• Council Certified the General Election Vote.
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board
December 18, 2024
YOUTH MEMBER UPDATE:
• Diya Deepu: September 9 donated clothes. Green team field trip.
• Katie Gragg: YAC Meeting to report on respective boards youth are involved.
PUBLIC COMMENT:Gail Walmark, FOLF
On behalf of Friends of Luscher Farm Gail Walmark ask board that the proposed "active recreation"
project (LAMP) be removed from the PP2040 capital projects list. It has already been excluded from the
land use application to Clackamas County for the adoption of LAMP. Given that UGB expansion or
annexation of any/all of the remaining Luscher properties is at least 20 or more years off—after Parks
Plan 2040 sunsets—there's no point in keeping it on the list. More importantly—although FOLF stands in
general support of the application for the adoption of LAMP—we are steadfast in opposing athletic
fields, ball courts and similar active recreation' on the remaining Luscher Area properties...Especially on
the namesake Luscher property. As we noted in our Oct Comment, "much has changed since 2013."
There's now a hub of active recreation coming online right across Stafford Rd—LORAC,the new Muni
and Rassekh Park, where another athletic field is expected to be built—not to mention the Lake Ridge
HS ball fields and tennis courts. As such,we are asking the City to call "out of bounds" on any new
ballfields or courts on the remaining Luscher properties to protect the cultural heritage of their
agricultural, pastoral legacy. A first step to help us—and our likeminded LO neighbors—breathe easier,
would be to remove the project from PP2040. We've been told it's included it because "it is still a part of
the City's adopted Luscher Area Master Plan." If that means it would be up to City Council to authorize
its removal,we are asking you to please include that request when you pass the Plan on to the Council.
Gail took this opportunity to remind the board that besides the new access, FOLF has been advocating
most strongly for the expansion of agricultural uses at Luscher, implementations that are not only
envisioned in the LAMP (&the accompanying 2017 Agricultural Report), but allowable right now under
EFU zoning. In fact, another of the 12 Luscher projects listed in PP2040 proposes related capital expense
for ag expansion. We are heartened that a new CSA operator has been secured and are looking forward
to assisting them find ways to grow the City's CSA beyond its current 12.5 acres.To be precise, and
taking inspiration from the LAMP and by whatever mechanisms necessary. FOLF is asking the City to
devote the 15 northernmost Luscher acres for agricultural uses.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
PARKS PLAN 2040:PRIORITIZED PROJECT LIST,COSTS,FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION
(1.5 hours)
Kyra Haggart, Park Analyst/Project Manager, MIG: Matt Hastie,Jessa Miller, Lauren Scott
Presentation:
https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/L02040 JOINT7 Presentation FINAL 12182
4.pdf
Prioritized Capital Improvement Project List—Matt Hastie, MIG
Q&A
• Q—Greg: Added projects but did not add timeframes?A—Kyra:These projects were added
after they did the prioritization.
• Q—Patrick: What is the Nature Project?A—Kyra: Wilson Creek.There are 27 projects in natural
areas vs.the 1 that is listed as the capital project. Some are crossover.
• Q—Sarah:TAB—Look and see the number that has been assigned. Can we apply that level of
transparency that could be applied to this project? Level of transparency would be very useful.
2IPage
A- Kyra: Can supply that spreadsheet to the board and to the public. A—Matt Hastie, MIG: We
have the numbers and scoring.
• Q—Sarah: Metric measuring the need of the projects. Is this solely geographic? Needs to
address playgrounds with equity indicators. Concerned how this metric is scored. Projects could
score higher.A-Kyra: Equity assessment—looking at pairing ADA improvement projects with
Playground improvement to accomplish both at the same time. Accessibility was one of the
Parks Plan goals and gets a point for meeting that goal.
• Q—Sara: Project—swim park assessment. It would only score a 0 or 1.This project should score
higher due to the indicator.A—Matt Hastie, MIG: Accessibility is a criteria. We ask questions to
the board and let people voice the opinion and adjust from that. No sure we are going to go
back and try to go back and do a reassessment.
• Q—Kara:The 5M to 8M—Does this include the storm clean up?A—Kyra: It is an average annual
cost.A-Jeff Munro: Finance set up a different account for special weather or other events.
A—Matt Hastie, MIG: Received dollar information from staff and applied that through
quantifying it to projects. Planning level number that was presented. Q—Ivan: Are those in 2024
dollars. Nothing for inflation.
• Q—Rebecca: Timeframe of athletic fields project.A—Matt Hastie, MIG -They will be done in
January. It will be implemented into the plan
• Q—Jason: How are we going to look at the school and parks as the study?A—Kyra: Looking at
the athletic fields.
• Q-John Wendland: Look at their bond dollars—we need some analysis on both plans.The
community wants the district and City to figure it out together.
• Q- Kara: Possible closure of Lake Grove?A—Kyra: Until LOSD concludes we will wait to see what
happens.A—Matt Hastie, MIG:There may be situations that we will not have some things
included.
• Q—Rebecca: What's the process to choose the new playgrounds?A— Ivan: Adopted a public
engagement policy to not just do a "like for like" process. Playground replacement has some
things to think about-space and to make sure aesthetically that it fits within that park.
Rebecca: Glad to hear that there is community engagement.
Kyra—In the past a playground would get out and we would replace with a newer model of the
equipment.
• Q- Matt McGinnis:Are all these parks being used?A—Jeff:Yes, but they are not being used as
much. They do need to updated and are very small parks. Playgrounds get inspected once a
month
• Q—Kara: Do you ever evaluate usage?A—Ivan:The playgrounds in our parks were part of a
public engagement. We don't have a mechanism to study/evaluate usage.
• Q—Sarah: Request for community engagement—maybe there could be a system-wide
outreach.
• Q—Jason: Freepons Park medium —The playground has a drainage issue—how is that taken into
consideration as we are planning? Climate models—warmer winters—areas with drainage
problems has that been looked at?A—Matt Hastie, MIG: Did not score or rate by that.Jeff:
Doing some "band aid" drainage. Kyra: Left in midterm to do a long term due to design, land
use, etc. If it is stronger priority of the board.Jeff: It was put in 1996. Ivan: When you are going
in and evaluating we look at the maintaining of it. It was built on a wetland so maybe we need
to keep it as a wetland. Look at how it functions.
• Q—David: What is the update on Hazelia field?A-Jeff: It was done 5 years ago—may have
another 5 years to go.The turf will need to be replaced in 5 years.Turf replacement is every 10
to 12 years.
• Q—Kara: Drainage in George Rogers. Do you take into consideration if things need better
drainage?A-Jeff:Yes, unfortunately there is other traffic on those fields with events.
3IPage
• Q—Patrick: Pickleball is a high priority but no site. A- Matt Hastie, MIG: We do have a project in
there as a near term Implementation strategy to an indoor strategy.That is longer term.
• Q- Library/LOSD westside project.A- Kyra: Don't know the scope and need a new teen center.
Could use some information and working with other departments.John Wendland: There is
different funding through Urban Renewal. LOSD working on their decision.
• Q- Ivan: Based on high priority projects, they can be moved up. If circumstances change, timing
may make the priorities change.A—Matt Hastie, MIG: Things can change and this is our best
recommendation on how to do this plan.
• Q—Dave: Have you looked at partnering with private businesses for pickleball?A—Matt Hastie,
MIG:You will see the strategies when we get to the next phase.
• Q—Rebecca:Tryon Cove Park— Is there any other way to get there?A—Kyra: Metro connection
with Tryon and Tryon Cove. It is a complicated big project.There are others that may consider
this—BES/ Metro/ODOT/Army Corps.There is a fish passage.
• Q—Jason: Is there some talk of connecting Tron Cove with Foothills?A- Kyra: Yes. Connect
trails.
• Q- Kara—If we have access to Oswego Lake—Is the City considering maintenance. Who will pay
for it?A—Ivan: Good point but need to have the final order out.John Wendland: It should not
be part of the plan. We will take this off line and figure it out.
Implementation Strategies—Lauren Scott, MIG
Q&A
This piece is a living document.
• Q- Matt McGinnis: Luscher— Is there a way to clarify what there is?Athletic study. A— Kyra:
Luscher working group—if you want to do an amendment. Does the 2040 plan the same as the
Luscher master plan? It can be amended but it would need to be the same.
• Q—Greg: Who owns the cemetery now?A—Ivan: A nonprofit organization. They own the land
and business.They have a concern about the disrepair.John Wendland: It is a complicated thing
to deal with cemetery. Ivan: Working behind the scenes.
• Q—Sarah: #7—department jus approved the natural area management plan and it meshes with
it.
• Q- Patrick—tree code?A—Kyra: Looking at EAB and MOB. Parks will be involved with anything
tree related in the City. Ivan: If something changes in the tree code. Matt Hastie: We will modify
into our Parks plan.They both need to be integrated.
• Q—Sarah: Signage question—are we taking DEI suggestions?A- Lauren Scott, MIG: Standardize
icons and other sources. Related actions are outlined.
• Q—Kara: Is this meeting public and these documents online. A—Kyra:Yes, everything is online.
• Q—Rebecca: Does this include trail maps.A—Kyra: It may—we need to look it over and come
up with a plan.
• Q—Jason: How critical is it to get funding strategy?A- MIG: We will do a high level and go
through quickly.
Implementation& Funding—Lauren Scott, MIG
Q&A
• Q—Kara: Demo tax 4.5 M over the course of 14 years.—8 houses to be demolished. (50%) of the
house John: We tightened that. Activity has flattened out with higher interest rates.
• Q—Patrick: Is there a way to do a parks utility fee? Make sure that it doesn't hit lower income
families.A—Matt Hastie, MIG: Yes, it can be flexible on how you can apply that.
• Q—Kara: Where did the numbers come from. A- Matt Hastie, MIG: Most numbers came from
the City. An outside consultant did this through the numbers that were given to them. Came
from past results.John Wendland: Static in a 3%each year. General revenue is a complex
number. It includes wages, etc.
4IPage
2024 GOALS ACCOMPLISHMENTS&2025 PRIORITY AREAS(10 min)
2024—Top 3 Board Accomplishments:
1. DEI Framework Goal:Through an effort led by the Board's DEI Working Group,we delivered a
framework for evaluating future Department plans, policies, and operational decisions through a
rigorous DEI lens. Delivery of the framework document was timed so that it could be
incorporated in Parks Plan 2040.
2. Natural Areas Management Goal: Despite staffing changes, changes to Friends Group
management, and the untimely passing of a fellow Board member who played a key role in
initiating this goal, the Natural Resources Working Group began the process of evaluating
existing plans and on-the-ground conditions at two of the largest Natural Areas within Lake
Oswego.This group has initiated next steps towards collaboration with staff in newly created
roles and will continue to work towards delivering a set of recommendations for the
development of individual management plans for some of the City's largest and most cherished
natural areas.
3. Luscher Farm Funding Goal:Three projects at Luscher Farm remain CIP priorities, but also
remain unfunded.The Board set out to develop recommendations for funding these projects,
although the current land use classification of this property remains an obstacle to project
implementation regardless of funding. Early in 2024, however,the opportunity arose to
recommend priorities for use of remaining Metro Bond Share funds.The Board voted to
recommend that a portion of this funding be allocated to the Luscher Farm Access and Parking
project.This recommendation was passed on to City Council, and ultimately adopted by Council.
Work towards recommending sources of, or pathways to funding for unfunded, prioritized CIP
projects from the Luscher Area Master Plan,will continue to be a Board priority.
2025—Top 3 Themes/Issues for Goals:
1. Identifying opportunities for Board alignment with Parks Plan 2040 Recreational Priorities:The
Board is interested in understanding what is important to City residents, and how and where we
can advocate or make recommendations necessary for supporting those priorities. We have
discussed access and connectivity issues, specific recreational activities (e.g. pickleball, mountain
biking), access to waterways, and more.
2. Developing Board knowledge and expertise of Department assets:The Board acknowledges that
we all arrive in our positions with varied interests and backgrounds. It would be valuable to
function of the Board if we continue to develop greater in-house expertise and familiarity with
the many Parks, Natural Areas, and programming managed by the Department.
3. Support existing City/Department plans and Board initiatives:The Board recognizes that the
Department and the City have several existing plans affecting specific Department assets and
shared resources.These include (but may not be limited to),the Luscher Area Master Plan
(LAMP), Natural Areas Management Plan, and the Urban and Community Forestry Plan.The
Board will continue to look for opportunities to provide continued support, advocacy, or
recommendations to aid in the successful implementation of these plans, or aspects of these
plans. In addition, the Board has its own initiative, the DEI Framework, that will require on-going
support as it transitions from planning to implementation.
Action:
2024 Accomplishments and 2025 Top themes/issues will be shared at the Boards & Commissions
Summit,January 9, 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
SIPage
CO-CHAIR NOMINATIONS(5 min)
Action: Nominations will be sent to Dina Balogh. Members of the Parks Board will elect 2025 Co-Chairs at the
January 15 meeting.
STAFF AND BOARD MONTHLY UPDATES:
• Jason Dorn and Matt McGinnis: Discussion: Luscher Master Plan and Parks Plan 2040 changes.
What can and cannot be done to make changes? Ivan and John Wendland: Can't just add or
subtract things from an adopted masterplan.There may be untended consequences that come
out of it.The big issue is the process with the County.This is a long process and will take a long
time, if not years to go through. Also,the chance that the City will be able to annex the Luscher
property is a very long process.The City Council is the only authority to make changes to the
Master Plan, if and when the property is annexed.
• Sarah Ellison: Sarah McKean sent an email saying that she had received several cards and emails
from folks who have sat on one of Doug's memorial benches.They have all commented on their
love for Doug and how happy they are that Parks chose to honor him in this way. Sarah McKean
and the girls are very grateful.
• Jan Wirtz: In the spirit of the holidays, Councilor Wendland mentioned that we have served
hundreds of families, if not thousands of people during the tree lighting event. We had a new
event this year called visits with Sensory Santa . This was a heartfelt and wonderful event that
was ran by three Parks& Recreation divisions, Emily Liu, Community Events & Luscher Farm
Programs Supervisor, Cyd Fletcher, Enrichment, Fitness & Outdoor Programs Supervisor and Ben
LaBounty, Parks Ranger. It was a very successful first year hosting our sensory-friendly Santa
visits. It was incredibly heartwarming to see how much these visits meant to the families who
participated.The environment was thoughtfully designed to be calm and non-overstimulating,
allowing children with sensory sensitivities to enjoy their time with Santa in a way that worked
best for them.The gratitude expressed by parents was overwhelming and uplifting. Many
shared how rare it is to find experiences tailored to their children's needs, and they were deeply
thankful for the opportunity to create special memories without the worry of overstimulation.
Seeing their joy and hearing their appreciation reinforced the importance of inclusivity in the
services we provide, and it was a reminder of why our work matters so much to the community.
We look forward to making this an annual tradition during the holiday season!
Jason Dorn adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:30pm.
The next regular scheduled meeting will be Wednesday,January 15, 2025,4 p.m.
Prepared by, Dina Balogh,Administrative Supervisor
Wage