Business of the City Council

AB 3926 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 1, 2004 CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA Study Session

LUTHER BURBANK PLANNING Proposed Council Action: PARAMETERS Discuss and establish planning parameters for upcoming public involvement process.

DEPARTMENT OF City Manager, (Deb Symmonds)

COUNCIL LIAISON El Jahncke Bryan Cairns Dan Grausz

EXHIBITS 1. Public Involvement Plan 2. Draft Planning Parameters 3. Luther Burbank Park Inventory 4. All-island mailing

APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER

AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE $ n/a AMOUNT BUDGETED $ n/a APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ n/a

SUMMARY

BACKGROUND Conducting an inclusive and thorough public involvement process about the future of Luther Burbank Park was one of the City Council’s priorities identified at this year’s retreat. On September 7, 2004 you approved a professional services agreement with the Norton-Arnold & Company to design and implement such a public involvement plan. The plan document is included here as Exhibit 1, starting on page 4. You also requested a public hearing be held to commence the public involvement process, and that hearing is scheduled Monday night during the regular meeting.

STUDY SESSION PURPOSES Monday evening you will have a two-hour Study Session from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in order to allow sufficient time for the Council to have a facilitated discussion of the “big picture” planning parameters for the park. The reason to establish planning parameters is not to limit public participation. On the contrary, experts agree that it is much better to make sure that City Council priorities are known before beginning a large-scale community visioning process for Luther Burbank Park. Some of your planning parameters you articulated during your 2004 Retreat. The Council’s Parks and Recreation sub-committee reviewed and discussed these at their September 9th meeting. Margaret Norton- Arnold will use the attached Draft Planning Parameters document, Exhibit 2, page 10, to begin your Study Session discussion. In addition to the planning parameters you confirm, the part itself has presents physical opportunities and constraints. During your Study Session, you will have presentation by Guy Michaelson, Landscape

Architect and Principal in the Berger Partnership. He has compiled an inventory of Luther Burbank which will also be used during the upcoming community workshops. This Luther Burbank Park Inventory is included here as Exhibit 3, starting on page 11. Your Study Session and Monday night’s public hearing have been advertised on the City’s Website since October 13th, in the Mercer Island Reporter and on your Council Meeting Planning Schedule. Members of the public have been invited to attend the Study Session, listen to the presentations and discussion, and then comment later during the public hearing portion of the meeting.

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED As outlined in the Public Involvement Plan, there are three public workshops scheduled and already being advertised. The workshops will all be held at Islander Middle School on the following dates: Saturday, November 13, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Islander Middle School, School Library Thursday, December 2, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Islander Middle School, Multi-Purpose Room Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Islander Middle School, Multi-Purpose Room An all-Island mailing was sent Saturday, October 30th and Monday, November 1st announcing the workshops and other ways to become involved in the process. A copy is included in your packet as Exhibit 4, page 20. A special section on the City’s website was established mid-October at www.ci.mercer-island.wa.us/makeityourpark.

The content includes information about the public involvement process, meeting and workshop dates, encouragement for interested readers to subscribe to the site and/or join email or paper mailing lists, a survey that can be taken online or on paper and other general information. Following Monday’s meeting the Luther Burbank Inventory and Planning Parameters will be added. Staff is actively pursuing dates to visit with Island service clubs and civic organizations. Rotary and Kiwanis are already scheduled for dates in November. We’ve contacted the Mercer Island Reporter and Seattle Times seeking their interest in reporting on this effort. Posters and signage advertising the November 13th workshop will start appearing around the Island.

RECOMMENDATION

Deputy City Manager MOVE TO: Confirm a set of Luther Burbank Planning Parameters to be used during the upcoming public involvement process and approve public involvement plan.