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Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

BEL-PRB-2024-11-13 November 13, 2024 Parks & Recreation Committee City of Bellingham
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The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met November 13 for their regular monthly meeting, focusing primarily on substantial facility fee increases and updates on the Civic Athletic Complex planning process. The board approved significant fee increases for the first time since 2018, projected to generate $80,000 in additional revenue. The most notable changes include daily rental rates for Woodstock Farm at $4,000 per day and new fees for Van Wick Park Lodge opening June 2025. The meeting included updates on major land acquisitions, with the city closing on 116 acres along Chuckanut and 3 acres at Telegraph Road for trail connectivity. Board members provided input on four scenarios for the Civic Athletic Complex redevelopment, with the school district partnership driving an accelerated timeline requiring board recommendation by December. Director Nicole presented the 2025 budget overview, highlighting staffing reductions including elimination of the Park Ambassador program and conversion to a park compliance officer position. The department achieved 6,130 facility reservations in 2024 and reduced golf course water usage by 25%.

**Fee Increases Approval:** Board unanimously approved substantial facility fee increases effective January 1, 2025. Staff recommendation was fully supported with no variances requested. Key fee changes include: - Annah Hannah facility rentals: Various increases from 2018 levels - Woodstock Farm: $4,000 per day rental (previously hourly) - Van Wick Park Lodge: New facility opening June 2025 - Blodel D…

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**Facility Fee Structure Philosophy:** Staff explained the shift toward cost recovery methodology based on community values and subsidy levels. Facilities serving broad community benefit receive higher subsidies, while private/individual use receives lower subsidies. This represents a fundamental change from historical flat-rate pricing. **Civic Athletic Complex Planning:** Four redevelopment scenarios under consideration for school district partnership. Director Nicole favors O…
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**Leslie Finch, Cyclocross Advocate:** Requested continued support for Cyclocross events at Cornwall Park, emphasizing community health benefits and inclusive nature of the sport across age groups and skill levels. **Board Members on Civic Complex:** - Nicole (Director): Strongly favors Optio…
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**Nicole, on Option 4 for Civic Complex:** "It preserves the fields for future expansion down at the south end and preserves the space to the north of the sports flex for expanded ice." **Leslie Finch, on Cyclocross community:** "When I asked people, Don't you guys get tired of lapping me on the event? They're like, no, you can just hope that when we're older we can still ride bicycles." **Nicole, on budget pressures:** "We all had to come up with ways to cut and increase revenue. So this…
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**November 22:** Civic Athletic Complex public input survey closes **December 3:** Additional consortium meeting planned (likely online) **December 2024:** Board must provide Civic Complex recommendation to city **January 1, 2025:** New facilit…

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The Parks and Recreation system will generate significantly more revenue starting January 2025, with projected $80,000 increase from facility fees alone. The philosophical approach to facility pricing shifted from flat rates to value-based cost recovery methodology. Major land acquisitions added 119 acres to the parks system - the largest single purchase in Greenways history.…
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# Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Considers Fee Increases and Civic Athletic Complex Planning The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board gathered for their November 13, 2024 meeting at 7:30 a.m., a monthly gathering of community volunteers who advise the Parks Department on policy and planning matters. Board Chair Steve Walker presided over the meeting, with members Jed Holmes, Maggi Kriger attending in person, and others participating remotely. The meeting opened on a celebratory note as Parks Director Nicole Oliver shared exciting news about recent land acquisitions that significantly expand Bellingham's park system. The city had just closed on 116 acres on Slater Road previously owned by the Department of Natural Resources, marking the largest single park acquisition in the city's recent history outside of recreation areas. Additionally, the city acquired 3 acres at the end of Telegraph Road that will allow crucial trail connections from Sunset Pond and Squaw Creek Trail all the way to the bay. Two property donations were also completed – one on 32nd Street around the Padden Creek nature area and another 6 acres adjacent to Arroyo Park. "We also closed on the Robinson donations," Oliver announced. "The DNR parcels are the biggest acreage of Greenways other than the recreation piece. It really is the biggest purchase." ## Cyclocross Community Advocacy The public comment period featured passionate testimony from Leslie Finch, who lives in the Cornwall Park neighborhood. Finch, who goes by "Fishy" due to her love of scuba diving, spoke as an advocate for the Cyclocross events held at Cornwall Park. "I did my very first Cyclocross – and I hesitate to use the word race, but it was called a race – when I was 65 years old," Finch told the board. "That was a few years ago, and I had no clue what I was doing. I had never done Cyclocross. I didn't know what it was. One of my daughter's friends said, 'Fishy, you would love this. These are your people. They wear costumes, and the spectators hand you food as yo…
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### Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met on November 13, 2024, to discuss board memberships, approve facility fee increases, and receive an update on the Civic Athletic Complex planning process. The board recommended substantial facility rental fee increases and heard about options for relocating Carl Cozier Elementary School to the Civic Athletic Complex. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRB):** Advisory body that provides guidance to city staff on parks, recreation facilities, and programming decisions. **Facility Use Fees:** Charges for renting city park facilities like pavilions, gazebos, and community buildings for private events or activities. **Civic Athletic Complex:** Large recreational facility on Lakeway Drive that includes Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, Civic Stadium, ice rink, and various sports fields. **Carl Cozier Elementary School:** Bellingham School District elementary school currently located on busy Lakeway Drive that the district wants to relocate. **Cost Recovery:** Method of setting fees to help offset the actual costs of operating facilities and programs rather than subsidizing them entirely with tax revenue. **Consortium:** Collaborative planning group bringing together school district, parks department, and community stakeholders to plan the Civic Athletic Complex future. **Enterprise Fund:** Self-sustaining budget account where revenues (like golf fees) directly fund operations without general city tax support. **Woodstock Farm:** Historic city-owned event venue that has been closed for renovations and will reopen with new rental fees. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Nicole Oliver | Parks and Recreation Director | | Maria | Parks staff member presenting fee increases | | Melissa | Parks staff…
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Parks & Recreation Budget & Finance Government Operations Cyclocross Community Parks Recreation Advisory Board Premier Golf School District Jed Holmes Leslie Finch Maggie Kriger Nicole Director Steve Walker Budget Finance Civic Athletic Complex Facility Fees Golf Course Land Acquisition Parks Recreation Trails