Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/11/2008

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Vice Chair Shryock thought that had also been helpful when members from the City Council had attended the Parks meetings. She encouraged people from other Boards to attend other meetings and become more aware of what is happening on other Boards. Board Member McOilda advised that Councilmember Sara Strommen had always come to the EPB meetings when the situation arose that they needed her. He stated that whoever volunteers or is elected to be the Council Liaison between the Boards should not take it lightly as the Boards do expect a certain level of participation from them to gain updates. Vice Chair Shryock agreed that it also helps to provide prospective to the members of the City Council as they gain background information on some issues. She then questioned if there were any special projects that the BPB had been working on. Board Member McDilda advised that one project that the EPB is currently supportive of would be a citizens group that is putting together information to help fund the preservation of open space. He advised that the group is headed by Bob Sibilski, who is a member of the BPB, but was not present at the meeting tonight. He advised that it is not part of the BPB agenda but is something that they are supportive of. He stated that the group has conducted a fairly large survey of the citizens to determine what their opinions would be in relation to a referendum and property rights. He advised that he had not yet heard the results of that survey but was looking forward to getting that information. He advised that the information would. be presented to the EPB and then would go forward to the City Council. Board Member Max advised that the issue had been on the work plan for the BPB for the past year and a half but it became impossible for the Board to pursue the issue and explained that a citizen group then took control of the issue to move it forward. Vice Chair Shryock questioned if the Parks Commission could review the results when they do come back. Parks Supervisor'Riverblood thought that it would be a tool that the Boards could use to work together, as it would provide information on what the residents are interested in. Board Member Ma.,< explained that the survey would determine if the residents would support a referendum and also how then that funding should be used, for example parks. trails or open space. Boardmember McDilda advised that the survey would also determine the language that would be used for a referendum. He stated that it would also look into things being discussed in the city. such as a community center and the environment. He advised that the BPB was interested in this survey because it would give them information that could be tlsed per their charter, such as whether the coding or zoning would need to be altered. Commissioner Shryock questioned how they were determining who would be surveyed. Park and Recreation Commission/August 14, 2008 Page 4 of 8