On June 25th, a group of neighbors who had expressed interest in working on fundraising, work party organization, community outreach, and design met at the park.  We are still seeking interested community members for this committee, so stop by the work party on July 19th (between 9 am and noon) if you are interested!

The meeting covered funding information, general information about a Friends of the Park group, and a few other issues that came up.

6/25 meeting at 9^th Ave NW Park

Attendance:

Overview of the development process before funding and after

• Group had a chance to review the City’s Public Process guidelines
• Generally, a park is given a budget, then a design program is created that lays out objectives and attributes of the park, a matching grant is obtained and a landscape architect is hired, the park design goes through public meetings and comment, and then the park design is carried out.
• Our park does not have a budget specifically designated for it at this point
• The Pro Parks Levy Proposal that recently went before the City Council had 800,000 earmarked for our park

Fundraising process and deadlines

• Dept of Neighborhoods can provide matching funds for park development
• Their next large grant submission is October 7^th
• Anne Takekawa is our contact person

Friends of Park/work party information

• In order to hold work parties and other events, the city needs to work with a Friends of the Park group
• Alyssa Smith signed the agreement to be the liaison with Parks at the May mtg with Parks staff so we could work in the park
• Volunteers need to sign in at each work party so that the hours can be counted toward matching funds
• The City’s insurance policy will also cover signed in volunteers if they are injured, but only when their personal insurance is exhausted

Organization of group and structure

• Group agreed to form as a Steering Committee that would have the following sub committees
  • Work Parties (group to organize work parties and recruit park volunteers)
  • Design group (group that takes the community’s vision and pushes it through the design process)
  • Fundraising committee (group to actively seek funds for park development and activities)

Additions to agenda:

• 911 procedures – to be delivered 7/19, will help shape future use of park hours and identify problems
• Sundaes in the Park – fundraiser will be held on 8/17 selling ice cream as fundraiser, A. Faste and (tentatively) Martha Waldron to organize
• Bulletin board – R. Alley-Barnes identified a spot on the street side of the park that we can use as a bulletin board, A. Lowe will paint the board once Parks delivers paint
• Night out planned for 9^th & 70th/73^rd – Lynn Burgess organizing
• Adjoining property issues:  back fence, shrubbery – Chris Jones will contact R. Alley-Barnes to discuss Parks maintenance issues along the back fence
• Raccoon problems - Chris Jones will contact R. Alley-Barnes to discuss possible removal of raccoons
• Glass in “secret garden” area – Joan Weaver will contact Parks about broken glass on the grounds in the “secret garden” area