PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

AGENDA Monday, November 18, 2019

5:30 pm Dinner (Committee/Staff) – Staff breakroom Customer Service Building 6:00pm Public Meeting Session - Goodpasture Rm. 3050 N. Delta Hwy., Eugene, OR 97408

PAC Meeting

I. Introductions – (5 min.)

II. Public Comment – (up to 10 min.)

III. Assignment Review – all (5 min.)

IV. Review of Meeting Summary – All (2 min.)

V. Staff Updates/Reports – (35 min.)

1) Parks Funding Task Force – Bob Keefer

2) Armitage Campground Expansion Grants – Linda Cook

3) Armitage Campground Expansion Update

4) Willamette Confluence Preserve Update

5) Play in the Rain & Mushroom Festival Event Evaluations

VI. Old Business – All (15 min.)

1) PAC Vacancies

2) Action Plan

VII. New Business – All (20 min.)

1) None

VIII. Open – All (5 min.)

IX. Operations Report – (5 min.)

X. Meeting Wrap-up/Assignments – (5 min.)

XI. Adjourn

2019 Meeting Dates:

JANUARY 14 MAY 13 SEPTEMBER 9

FEBRUARY 11 JUNE 10 OCTOBER 14

MARCH 11 JULY NO MEETING NOVEMBER 18

APRIL 8 AUGUST NO MEETING DECEMBER 9

1

Lane County Parks Advisory

October 14, 2019

Meeting Summary

This written indexed summary of minutes is provided as a courtesy to the reader.

The recorded minutes created pursuant to ORS 192.650(1) are the official minutes of this body under

Oregon law.

The recorded minutes are available on the Parks Advisory Committee website:

+http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/PW/Parks/Pages/pac.aspx

Members Present: Kevin Shanley, Jim Mayo, Wayne Lemler, Pat Bradshaw,

Greg Hyde, Ashley Adelman

Members Absent: Carl Stiefbold

Staff Present: Dan Hurley, Brett Henry, Ed Alverson

Guests Present: Mary Ann Buric – Re: Off-leash Dog Area

Ivana Buric – Re: Off-leash Dog Area

Mike Allen – Friends of Harbor Vista Park

Chair Lemler called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.

00:01:25 Public Comment – Mike Allen, coordinator Friends of Harbor Vista Park, complimented staff on the maintenance efforts at the North Jetty in Florence, which was recently signed under a maintenance agreement with Oregon State Division of State Lands.

00:02:00 Assignment Review – None

00:02:15 Review of September 2019 Meeting Summary - Approved as written

00:02:50 Staff Updates/Reports - Sam Fox Retirement Announcement – Henry announced the retirement of Sam Fox and her

husband after 30 years of service to the County.

00:05:00 Old Business - Off-Leash Dog Area at Armitage Park- Ivan Buric recommended that Parks apply for a PetSafe Grant to assist with funding the off-leash dog area. 2020 applications will be accepted in May. The PAC voted to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners to pursue the Off-Leash Dog Area. Lemler suggested that there must be some form of available funding for the project. Adelman suggested that Parks pursue funding the project with grant resources. Motion passed with a unanimous vote.

2

Lane County Parks Advisory

September 9, 2019

Meeting Summary

00:18:30 Staff Updates/Reports (cont.)

Parks Volunteer Coordinator Recruitment - Henry explained the interview process that began with 46 applications submitted. Parks staff and volunteer groups participated in the final round of the process. Michelle Hunt was hired and will start work 10/21.

- Willamette Confluence Preserve Update – A tour of the property is scheduled with the Army Corps of Engineers on 10/31. Henry reported that there is no response yet from the Divestment Committee on the submission of the Questionnaire from the County.

- Facilities Condition Assessment – The County sent out a Request for Qualifications to solicit responses from engineering firms to conduct a Facility Condition Assessment for the parks system. The Request for Qualifications are due 11/1 and Parks staff will score the applications.

- Parks Funding Task Force – Former Lane County Parks Manager Bob Keefer with the Special District Association of Oregon (SDAO) has agreed to facilitate the Task Force that would research and recommend sustainable funding sources for Lane County Parks. Henry, Hurley, County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky and Public Information Officer Devon Ashbridge will meet later in the week to discuss the project logistics and composition of the Task Force. Henry mentioned that a public survey to ask residents what they are willing to support could be a part of the process. Henry is working with a graduate class at the University of Oregon to assist them this fall in their assignment to complete a Case Study finding funding sources associated with the deferred maintenance backlog within the parks system. 00:43:30 Old Business - Coastal Park Tour Discussion – Henry asked for feedback on the PAC’s recent trip to the coast to visit a number of parks under the supervision of Lead Ranger Dan Anderson. Ranger Anderson and Parks Supervisor Charlie Conrad were complimented for the a job well done with the North Jetty Park and their outreach with the Florence community. 00:50:30 New Business

- Action Plan Matrix – Henry explained the Action Plan process in the 2018 Lane County Parks Master Plan where several projects are prioritized every 3 years. Henry will meet with his staff and they will score a number of capital, construction, and maintenance projects based on the established matrix scoring system. These scored projects will then be presented at the November PAC meeting where they will be evaluated using the criteria in the Master Plan. Also, administrative and planning strategies will be proposed and evaluated as recommended by Hyde. Shanley recommended creating a list of more long-term projects and goals beyond the 3-year time frame. Hyde recommended that the Action Plan process could be separate of the 5-year CIP.

3

Lane County Parks Advisory

September 9, 2019

Meeting Summary

01:11:15 Open - No items were suggested by the PAC. - Alverson announced that he was planning the first Habitat Advisory Team Meeting with the partner agencies that were involved with the Technical Advisory Team associated with the Howard Buford Recreation Area (HBRA) Habitat Management Plan. This group will review the project list for HBRA and meet at least once a year. 01:14:00 Operations Report

- Report included in the packet for review. - Bradshaw asked why the staff pulled the floating restroom so early at Westlake Park. Henry will

follow up Maintenance Supervisor Todd Bowen. - Henry reported that the FEMA documentation was submitted and is in the first round of reviews.

The estimate is $166,000 with the 75% debris removal cost share and the Hendricks Bridge pavilion roof repair.

- Alverson explained why Lane County Parks was involved the Stage Zero project with the McKenzie Watershed Council on the South Fork of the McKenzie River

01:18:40 Meeting Wrap-up/Assignments

- Henry – Send out a draft Action Plan to the PAC prior to the November meeting.

01:20:00 Adjourn – Meeting ended at 7:23 p.m.

The next meeting is scheduled for November 18, 2019.

Lane County Parks Funding Task Forced

Proposed Format (Revised)

CHARGE:

The Lane County Parks Funding Task Force is charged with the responsibility of

researching and recommending to the Board dedicated funding options that ensure

long-term financial stability for Lane County Parks.

MEMBERSHIP:

The County Administrator shall create the Task Force and designate members who

will represent special and/or strategic interests. The Task Force will consist of 12

members with the addition of three ex-officio members (Lane County Commissioner,

County Public Information Officer, and County Finance Director).

Representatives from the following organizations and/or interests will be recruited to

participate as a member of the Task Force:

1. Lane County Parks Advisory Committee

2. Mount Pisgah Arboretum

3. Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah

4. McKenzie River Trust (Bob Warren – Board)

5. Travel Lane County (Natalie Inouye)

6. Lake Users

7. River Users

8. Recreation Facility User (Campers, Day Use, Hikers/Walkers, Season Pass

Holders, Event Providers) – AT LARGE

9. West Lane County (Florence, Dunes City, Mapleton) – Open Selection

10. East Lane County (McKenzie River) – Open Selection

11. South Lane County (Cottage Grove, Creswell, Goshen) – Open Selection

12. Jeff Krueger – Rivers 2 Ridges

RECREATION PROVIDERS (Advisory Input)

In addition to the Task Force appointed by the County Administrator, the Lane

County Parks Division Manager and Consultant will facilitate input and comment

from recreation providers in Lane County through a series of meetings associated

with major accomplishments of the Task Force. Potential representatives of this

group include:

1. City of Eugene Park and Open Space (Craig Carnegy)

2. River Road Park and Recreation District

3. Willamalane Park and Recreation District (Michael Wargo, Eric Adams)

4. City of Cottage Grove

5. City of Junction City

6. City of Veneta

7. City of Florence

8. City of Creswell

9. City of Lowell

10. City of Oakridge

11. City of Coburg

12. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (Sarah Steele – Willamette

Valley DM)

13. Bureau of Land Management (Wade Judy, Lindsey Pruett)

14. United States Forest Service (Matt Peterson - Springfield)

15. US Army Corp of Engineers (Erik Petersen)

Brett Henry Lane County Parks Division Manager 3050 N Delta Hwy Eugene, OR 97408 October 30, 2019 RE: Transfer of the Willamette Confluence Preserve Dear Brett, We thank you for the work you and others have put into the transfer of the Willamette Confluence Preserve to date including organization of multiple stakeholder meetings and responses to the questionnaire. Staff from The Nature Conservancy, OWEB, BPA, the Confederated Tribe of the Grande Ronde, and ODFW reviewed and conferred on the responses to the questionnaire. The intent of this letter is to inform Lane County, Mount Pisgah Arboretum (Arboretum), and Friends of Buford Park & Mount Pisgah (FBP) of a summary of our review. The consensus of The Nature Conservancy and the review team is that we have significant concerns about the viability of a transfer to Lane County at this time. We are considering not moving any further with a proposed transfer to Lane County at this time; however, before making a final decision, we want to share our concerns and offer Lane County and partners an opportunity to discuss and respond. Our primary concerns fall along the following areas:

1) Lane County Parks’ capacity to effectively manage the property for its conservation values.

2) Relatedly, major recent staff transition within FBP erodes confidence in their current and near-future ability to play the significant property management and fundraising leadership role envisioned in the County’s responses. Frankly, we are also concerned about the organization’s future in this time of change. Given Lane County’s resource and capacity constraints, an effective partnership with FBP (as has been the history at the adjoining Howard Buford County Park) is critical for success here. We are not confident that partnership is possible for the foreseeable future.

3) Lane County’s current financial management structure does not seem to allow for designation or restriction of funds for one property. While we all support the success of the broader Lane County Parks system, we must have a high degree of confidence that sufficient resources can be allocated to the Willamette Confluence Preserve. The risk of funds intended for management and staffing of the Preserve being “swept” or allocated elsewhere must be addressed.

4) The funding mechanisms described in the questionnaire responses are not sufficient for long-term effective management. We have low confidence that enough resources

will be raised to bolster the anticipated $1M stewardship endowment transferred by TNC with the property.

5) Concerns over public access. The questionnaire responses relating to potential public access were inconsistent and raised significant concerns. Managing the Preserve for its conservation values is the primary goal for any future owner and manager. Public access will only be allowed by OWEB and BPA (conservation easement holders) if it is consistent with maintaining the conservation values. We recognize this is a very challenging task in this geography. This is a popular area and pressure for access will likely be high. How will Lane County manage this public pressure? Our concerns about Lane County’s and partners’ ability to effectively make decisions and manage around public access are inextricably linked to the capacity and funding concerns raised above.

We have additional questions about the process and timeline proposed, but these are less important than these critical concerns described here. The Nature Conservancy remains interested in a transfer of the Willamette Confluence Preserve, but only under the right conditions. Our status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation depends on our ability to ensure lasting protection and stewardship of the conservation values of the properties that we have used our charitable resources to preserve. We fully appreciate that this is a challenging site; and we appreciate the sincere interest expressed by Lane County, FBP, and the Arboretum to take on this project at this time. We know we all want what is best for this important property and what is best for each of our respective entities. If you would like to discuss any of this, please feel free to reach out to Jason Nuckols to schedule a call. Please provide any responses to these concerns by November 15, 2019. Thank you for your interest and partnerships,

Derek Johnson Deputy Director, Operations and Communications The Nature Conservancy Cc: Brad van Appel, Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Mary N. Miller, Friends of Buford Park & Mount Pisgah Eric Williams, OWEB Kelly Reis, ODFW Hannah Dondy-Kaplan, BPA Michael Karnosh and Lawrence Schwabe, Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde Stan van de Wetering, Siletz Confederated Tribes

Large Event Post-Event Evaluation

Event Name: Mount Pisgah Arboretum Play in the Rain Day

Event Date: November 9, 2019

Event Location: Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Applicant: Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Future Events: The 13th annual Play in the Rain Day is scheduled for November 14, 2020.

Evaluation:

Attendance at the 2019 Play in the Rain Day was estimated at 1000. This is slightly above average over

the event's 11-year history. The record high was 1500. This event is hosted by the Arboretum, but put

on by a multi-agency partnership. Because families came and left throughout the day, the Park’s main

lot along with parking along the entrance road was sufficient to accommodate all vehicles. Everything

ran smoothly with no incidents, and with the help of all the partners, this was another successful year

for Play in the Rain Day!

Staff has no concerns or issues to address prior to the 2020 event.

Respectfully,

Brett Henry

Parks Division Manager

Large Event Post-Event Evaluation

Event Name: Mount Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival

Event Date: October 27, 2019

Event Location: Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Applicant: Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Future Events: The 39th annual Mushroom Festival is scheduled for October 25, 2020.

Evaluation:

Attendance at the 2019 Mushroom Festival was 4973, which was the second highest on record. The

twelve year average for this event is 4151 with a low of 2798 in 2015 and a high of 5395 in 2018. Over

the past year, Arboretum staff has developed new plans and strategies for managing festival traffic,

parking, volunteers, and visitors. Many of these new strategies were successfully tested at the 2019

Wildflower Festival in May, and nearly all were deployed at the 2019 Mushroom Festival. The results

were remarkably positive. Traffic continued flowing steadily throughout the day, with no back-ups on

Seavey Loop Road. We saw record numbers using our free downtown shuttle, and parking went

smoothly all day long. Arboretum staff and volunteers effectively managed the crowds of visitors and no

incidents were reported at the event.

Staff has no concerns or issues to address prior to the 2020 event.

Respectfully,

Brett Henry

Lane County Parks Division Manager

Lane County

COMMITTEE VACANCY NOTICE

DATE: October 28, 2019

CONTACT: Brett Henry, (541) 682-2001

The Lane County Board of Commissioners is seeking applications from citizens interested in

serving on the advisory committee listed below. The committee advises the Board of

Commissioners on a wide variety of topics and issues. Details about the committee and its

composition, meeting schedule etc., are listed below.

PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Advises the Board of County Commissioners on park

needs of County residents and visitors regarding County park facilities. Recommends projects

including financial and operational development and acquisition. Also provides

recommendation regarding long-range planning for future park programs and future park needs.

Serves as a liaison group representing the concerns of the community with regards to parks.

MEETING SCHEDULE: Monthly, second Monday of the month from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

VACANCIES: Two (2) 1. Commissioner-appointed (Farr – District 4 North Eugene), 2.

Commissioner-appointed (Sorenson – District 3 South Eugene)

TERM: The positions are for 4 year terms (commencing upon appointment and ending on

12/31/2023).

MEMBERSHIP: Seven (7) positions consisting of five (5) members appointed by individual

Commissioners and two (2) at-large members.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 5 p.m., Wednesday, November 27th

Applications are available on line at www.lanecounty.org/volunteer and in the Board of

Commissioners' Office located on the 2nd

floor of the Public Service Building, 125 East 8th

Avenue, Eugene. To request an application by mail, please call 541-682-4203.

ACTION PLAN MATRIX (2019 Draft)

Ref # Strategy Co

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Staff Lead

1.4 Designate staff to facilitate local agency collaboration.

1.7 Identify and keep current a list of projects supported by volunteer groups, etc.

2.4 Make Lane County Parks more welcoming for people with disabilities.

2.7 Develop and actively maintain a user-friendly Lane County Parks webpage.

2.8 Update Google Maps with information about each Lane County park site.

2.9 Develop and implement a social media campaign to raise awareness.

3.1 Follow Master Plan recommendations to invest in targeted parks.

4.3 Evaluate and improve cost accounting to support decision-making.

4.6 Re-evaluate and update fees and fee structures .

4.8 Enhance and expand camping options throughout Lane County Park system.

4.11 Prepare a feasibility study and business plan for any proposed new major facility development .

4.12 Support local and citizen-led efforts to bring additional funding resources to parks.

5.4 Identify a deferred maintenance project list and facility lifecycle inventory.

Y M R N Y Y Y HUNT

Y L R N N Y Y HUNT

Y M R M/H Y N N HENRY

Y L R N N Y Y HUNT

N L R N N Y N AA

Y L R N N Y Y HUNT

Y H R H Y Y Y HENRY

N M R N N Y Y TBD

N L R N Y Y Y CONRAD

N H R H Y N Y HENRY

Y M O N N Y Y HENRY

Y M R H Y Y Y HENRY

N M R H Y Y Y BOWEN

5.8 Prepare site-specific resource management plans for sites with significant natural or cultural resources.

6.1 Develop, define and promote an identity for Lane County Parks

6.7 Develop long-term asset replacement plans for major revenue generating sites.

6.11 Consider long-term funding for maintenance and capital improvements prior to acquiring

new sites.

Y M R N Y Y Y ALVERSON

Y M R N Y Y N HUNT

N M R H Y Y Y BOWEN

N L R M Y Y N CONRAD

Lane County Parks • 3050 N. Delta Hwy. • Eugene, Oregon 97408 • 541.682.2000 • FAX 541.682.2009 Information: www.lanecounty.org/parks Reservations: http://ecomm.lanecounty.org/parks

Recreate With Us…You’ll Be Glad You Did!

Lane County Parks Operations Report for November

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of operational highlights for the month. Maintenance Staff:

Coast Zone

Installed Heceta Fee Machine

Received bids for north jetty parking lots

Ordered Harbor Vista cabins

Working with contractor on Harbor vista cabin site plans

Finishing bid process for Camp Lame roofs.

Sheriffs crew working on trails at North Jetty.

Winterizing

Blowing

Valley Zone

Continuing with winterizing

Blowing

Installed new fee machine at Richardson.

Replaced J shelter bathroom doors

Full House inspections at Pisgah and Richardson

Replaced Orchard Point day – use sign

Pumped and installed septic tank raisers at McKenzie Hatchery and Richardson.

Started Rodent removal at Armitage

Working on Orchard Point rental house

Natural Areas Program:

HBRA Eastern Uplands and Ponderosa savanna/woodland restoration projects:

Hauling of logs to mills was completed in October. I also worked to organize log

tickets and photos of log loads for tracking of timber revenue, and coordinated with

timber purchasers for revised purchase orders. I also took permanent photopoints

within the project area.

HBRA Coast Fork Trail, Phase 2: This is a project of the Friends of Buford Park Trails

Committee. During October, the floodplain fill permit was approved, gravel was

delivered, trail construction and surfacing was started.

Other HBRA stakeholder coordination: I organized and facilitate the HBRA Quarterly

Stakeholder meeting on October 10th, and attended the October Friends of Buford

Park Trails Committee meeting.

HBRA Habitat Advisory Team (HAT): I solicited representatives of a variety of

partners, stakeholder groups, and other organizations to participate in the 2019 meeting

of the HAT, including a Doodle poll to find a meeting date, which will be November

19th

.

I continued to facilitate the project by Erica Andrus, UO Landscape Architecture

graduate student, to study the interactions of wildlife and park visitors along trails in

HBRA, and apply that information to analyze potential trails within the Willamette

Confluence preserve, if it were to become open to the public. In October she and I met

with the Friends of Buford Park Trails Committee to discuss her project.

Kinney Park wet prairie restoration project: Work on this project, which is a

partnership with the Long Tom Watershed Council, continued in October with

arrangements to have the Sheriff’s Work crew work come out for a second time to haul

cut brush and wood to large dumpsters placed at the edge of the project site.

Volunteer coordination: I co-led a volunteer work party at Hileman Park with the

McKenzie River Trust Volunteer Coordinator on October 16th

, and despite some rain

we accomplished trash pick-up, ivy removal, and blackberry clearing.

Austa Landing bank stabilization permitting: winter storms resulted in the loss of a

large tree on the river bank and initiation of bank erosion into the parking area. Parks

has been working on developing a bank stabilization project; I visited the site to

examine it more closely and take photos while the river level was still low.

Other outreach and coordination: I participated in several field trips with UO classes to

visit the wildfire area at HBRA. One was an honors college class focusing on

communications and wildfire in the western US, and the second was a Geography

Dept. Fire Ecology course.

Administration:

Facility Condition Assessment Respondent Scoring

Parks Funding Task Force Membership Recruitment

Sr. Accounting Clerk Recruitment

Leadership Certification Training

Baker Bay Moorage Holder Meeting

Supplemental 2 Budget