Minutes - Public Works Committee - 06/20/2006

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Police Chief Way explained gates used to be closed at the parks at 10:00, but cars were closed in, the gates wouldn't always get opened in the morning, keys got lost, etc. Also, if the gates are closed the police cannot get into the park; there has been partying in the parks and the police have written tickets in the park for alcoholic consumption. Mr. Dealing suggested only the residential side of the park be gated so cars can still exit the park. Tom Marks, 16520 Yttrium Street NW, stated there is partying in the park and it is secluded back there; people are tearing through there and there are beer bottles. They have to put a stop to it. They can't get out onto the roads from 6:00 to 6:30 with all of the traffic. He asked if another traffic count could be done. Chairperson Elvig replied he would suggest they continue to do counting so they can see if the remedy is working. He asked staff to provide information regarding the flyer distributed by the Athletic Association. ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood stated they are in the peak of the soccer season; there are 800 children in the recreation and travel soccer program, and up to 350 young people in the park at night. The Youth Association printed 3,000 newsletters that have been distributed to the coaches asking the teams to use Quicksilver as the primary entrance, and that if they are using the neighborhood to the west to use it the same as they would their neighborhood. The other issue is that Quicksilver was sealed on June 8th. At the beginning of the soccer season there was a lot of construction activity and the road was narrowed, which exasperated the situation. The soccer season is nearly concluded now, and it wanes a little in July. He suggested they may want to recommend experimenting with signage for each of these parking lots so folks leaving the parking areas may see signs leading them to Quicksilver. He noted people from outside of the area may not recall how they got into the park and they might follow these signs. Mr. Marks asked if Elmcrest Park is strictly the only park for soccer. ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood replied there is still soccer at Central Park, Emerald Pond and Rivers Bend Park. There are concerns at Rivers Bend Park similar to Elmcrest Park. Chairperson Elvig noted the nice thing about Elmcrest Park being used as a soccer park is that the concerns are really one time in the year. He noted some people may have created bad habits of going through the neighborhood before the road was ready and the parking lot was striped. Hopefully this can be corrected with the flyers that have been sent out. He expressed concern with a Public Works staff member informing a resident that their preferred route is to go through the neighborhood. He suggested City staffbe directed to use 167th Avenue. Regarding signage, he suggested posting an Exit Only sign. Public Works Director Olson indicated he is not opposed to posting an Exit Only sign pointing to the east from the parking lots, as long as there is not a sense provided that the sign will be enforced. Public Works Committee / June 20,2006 Page 11 of 15