2017/07/05 Council Agenda Packet

t INTERACTIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES:Increased opportunities for Establish new and creative mechanisms close,hands-on interactions between humans and the natural world could be developed,such as a fish pond,a petting zoo and for parks funding. sustainable/edible gardens. Committee members recognize that their recommendations Five-Year Success Measure:By 2023,the city has concrete plans for cannot be implemented without additional funding,and the future park and trail expansion. committee further believes that a new tax levy should be a last resort for additional parks in Everett. Rather,the committee urges city officials to create the types of partnerships with businesses Encourage and establish stronger and developers that can provide the financial wherewithal citizen involvement in the park system. necessary to ensure the continuance and expansion of a strong park system.Private enterprises should be invited to join the Given the importance of parks to the overall quality of life in city in this endeavor,perhaps by sponsoring parks or by offering Everett,it makes sense that neighborhoods and individuals should recreational pursuits(such as a zipline)that are both compatible be more actively engaged in the ongoing maintenance of the with the park and are likely to generate profitability.The city's parks.While this is certainly the case in some neighborhoods, committee further urges that developers be required to provide others may be uncertain about how to increase their involvement green spaces in the design and construction of new housing and and protective"ownership"over the park in their vicinity. commercial enterprises. The committee offers the following strategies to increase civic involvement with parks: Five-Year Success Measure:By 2023 the city has achieved tangible progress in partnering with businesses and developers to enhance TRAINING:Provide neighborhoods with"how to"training and the city's parks and recreation system. specific tasks.The Parks Department should train neighborhood groups on the ways in which they can better access,and assist with,their local parks.The department should provide a clear path Continue with existing envirolnmental forward to enable these groups to become involved. initiatives and expand upon them. YOUTH SUMMER JOBS:The Parks Department should increase The committee is impressed with the work of the city in relation knowledge about,and the availability of,summer jobs for youth to the environment.The city should continue the good work of within parks.This not only provides financial benefits,but can help its environmental policies and programs,and should continue to to inspire these future leaders to care for the city's parks. build on these in the future.Committee ideas include: THE PARKS WATCH volunteer system should be expanded by STORMWATER MANAGEMENT initiatives,such as rain gardens, recruiting and training new volunteers and by making sure that should be continued and widely promoted to encourage more those volunteers feel fully informed and supported in their work. home and property owners to install them. Five-Year Success Measure:By 2023 there is a significant increase in CHARGING STATIONS:The city should install more charging stations the number of volunteers and youth employment positions in the to create a greater ease of access and practical use of electric park system. vehicles and driverless cars. RECYCLING PROGRAMS should be continued,and more Increase park safety, cleanliness and opportunities for the public to dispose of items in recycling bins, rather than the garbage,should be developed. maintenance. Everett's residents need to feel safe while enjoying their parks. LED LIGHTING should replace order light fixtures to reduce energy The committee recommends that security measures be upgraded use and its associated costs. at all park facilities.This should include a package of all viable ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP:The city should proactively work to alternatives including video surveillance cameras.A texting ensure that environmental cleanups,such as the smelter area,are system could be put in place that would allow citizens to quickly completed with industries held accountable before,during and report suspicious activities.That same texting system could be after contract negotiations. used to report unsanitary conditions and alert park personnel to vandalism.A strong security and maintenance system that Five-Year Success Measure:By 2023 the city has achieved is understood and supported by Everett's residents will foster measurable results through its ongoing,and expanded, increased park attendance and a greater sense of overall pride in environmental programs. the city's parks. Five-Year Success Measure:By 2023,new security measures have been installed in each of the parks in need of such improvements. 28 27