2012/12/18 Council Agenda Packet

I2 PROJECT HISTORY Phase l: In September of 2007 the Neighborhood Assoc. (VSLNA) formed a committee of volunteers to investigate the design and funding for enhancing the open area at the entrance to their neighborhood. VSLNA applied for, and was awarded, a 2008 grant of$10,000 from the City of Everett Office of Neighborhoods to be used for professional architectural services. The outcome was a Design Report prepared by Barker Landscape Architects with the help of over 300 hours of neighborhood input. Phase One of this report was the basis for the second grant proposal which was awarded to VSLNA by the City of Everett in 2011._ Phase il: The $8,950 of grant funds, along with 904 hours of volunteer labor, and just over $15,000 of donated materials and equipment rental results in a total project value of over $44,000. The neighborhood match component of $35,300 is nearly four times the minimum required amount.The Valley View Commons provides an attractive entrance to our - neighborhood that is a valuable asset and source of pride for all our residents. The work accomplished includes: - Removal of the Scotch broom and other wild growth adjacent to the WSDOT sound wall and installation of a wood chip covered access for DOT vehicles. - Grading the western portion of the site to provide a more attractive landscape and to improve drainage. - Creating multiple planting beds. - Planting a mixture of (76) conifer and deciduous trees. - Planting approximately (180) decorative shrubs, native plants « bamboo plants - Providing a metered connection to the City water supply and installing six hydrants for hose watering during summer dry spells. - Constructing dry creek beds to aid drainage - Creating a sand Zen Garden area. - Building and installing an information kiosk with attached Mutt Mitt station. 2012: Since the end of the Phase II grant period,the Neighborhood has maintained the site in accordance with the "Memorandum of Understanding"with the City.To date, volunteers have spent 355 hours watering and pruning the new plantings,weeding and spraying,fertilizing and mowing the lawn, and cleaning up litter. Fund raising and cash donations have enabled the Association to pay$390 for City water, fertilizer and herbicides. To help facilitate the maintenance, the planting beds have been divided up into (14) areas of various sizes for weeding and cleanup. This allows those who want to help, but can't fit in a work party, to work on their own schedule. Eight of the areas have been adopted so far. See Attachment 121