AB 5563 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL July 16, 2019 CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WA Study Session AUBREY DAVIS PARK MASTER PLAN Action: Discussion Only CONCEPT ALTERNATIVES Review the recommendations and Action Needed: provide staff direction for preferred Motion alternative development. Ordinance Resolution DEPARTMENT OF Parks and Recreation (Paul West) COUNCIL LIAISON n/a EXHIBITS 1. Summary of Community Meetings & Feedback 2. Schematic Plan Options for Ballfield Conflict Zone 3. Schematic Plan for North and South Trail Options 2019-2020 CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY n/a APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE $ a n/ AMOUNT BUDGETED $ a n/ APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $ a n/ SUMMARY This purpose of this agenda bill is to provide recommendations for the Aubrey Davis Park Master Plan (“ADMP”) to the City Council for consideration and feedback in advance of the next Community Open House, scheduled for Monday, September 23. For purposes of this agenda bill the “planning team” refers to staff from multiple City departments, WSDOT, consultants from HBB Landscape Architecture, and numerous sub-contractors. PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW The City Council initially discussed the scope and process of the ADMP at the November 21, 2017 City Council meeting (see AB 5357). On October 23, 2018 the City Council reviewed preliminary trail sections for the portion of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail affected by the King County North Mercer Sewer Interceptor Project (see AB 5489). On January 15, 2019 the City Council previewed the preliminary site analysis, draft planning goals, and a summary of community feedback, which involved the first Online Survey, prior to Open House #1 (see AB 5525). RECOMMENDED AREAS OF FOCUS Utilizing extensive input received from a 10-month community engagement process (see Exhibit 1), the planning team is recommending the ADMP be narrowed to focus on five key areas: 1. Vegetation and Soils Page 1 2. Safety Improvements to the Trail System 3. Accessibility/ADA Compliance 4. Cultural Arts/Placemaking 5. New Amenities (Limited) 1. VEGETATION AND SOILS This area of focus emerged as a top priority and involves a three-part strategy A) developing a soil amendment strategy, B) identifying a plant palette that reflects the native landscape of the Pacific Northwest, and C) reducing irrigation costs. A. Soil Amendment Strategy - The foundation of successful plant performance is the soil. Many areas of Aubrey Davis Park were constructed with sand-based soils that drain well but have limited fertility. These sand-based soils do not hold onto plant nutrients or water and after nearly 30 years, the landscaping is failing. Recommendation: • In areas selected for improved plant performance: Amend existing soils and upgrade soils as plant replacement occurs to provide a more supportive and drought-tolerant foundation for vegetation. Similarly, the ADMP will call for use of organic, slow release fertilizers at controlled rates to reduce the nutrient load, particularly on sports fields which are the most intensely fertilized. • In areas where existing soils will remain: replace poorly performing plantings with species that will tolerate the current soil and climatic conditions. B. Plant Palette Strategy - The recommended plant palette is still under development and will be presented for community input at the September 23 Open House. Recommendation: • Include native or “native-like” Pacific Northwest species • Identify plantings that support increased biodiversity (e.g. pollinator gardens) • Select plants that are resilient to climate change and perform better with lower water usage and require less maintenance. C. Water Conservation Strategy - Water costs currently account for one-third of the park’s total operating expenditures ($190,648 in 2018), which is primarily irrigation related. Reducing irrigation needs was identified as one of the most effective ways to reduce park operating costs. The soil amendment and plant palette strategy described previously will reduce irrigation needs over time. Additional alternatives to reduce irrigation needs are described below. Alternatives: Option 1. “Brown out” open lawn areas (other than athletic fields) during the summer months. Irrigation could be turned off along trail edges and in low-use lawn areas. The annual savings is estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 depending on a variety of factors including weather variability and the extent of implementation. Option 2. Convert formally landscaped areas into lower maintenance meadows. Water use would be cut back across the growing season and a mix of meadow plants would be allowed to grow long before being cut back 3-4 times annually, a drastic reduction from the current weekly mowing schedule. This option would also improve species’ diversity and increase habitat quality in lawn areas. This option could save approximately $20,000 annually dependent on the extent of implementation. Option 3. No change. Retain existing lawn areas and maintain current irrigation practices. Page 2 Recommendation: It is recommended that staff provide a more detailed savings analysis and that these options be presented to the community for additional discussion at the next open house. 2. SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM The trail system, including trail width, trail composition, and trail safety has been the most widely debated ADMP topic. Moving forward, the recommendation is to focus primarily on safety improvements to the trail system. • Lid Park Trails - The community engagement process indicated a preference for keeping the trail through the Lid Park at its current width, which varies from about 10 to 12 feet. Recommendation: • Add soft shoulders of grass or mulch which will provide additional pedestrian refuge. Note: This variation in shoulder treatment from the standard gravel shoulder will require WSDOT approval. • Add directional signage so that cyclists, particularly those that commute, are aware of alternative on-street bike routes. • Add traffic calming features in the more congested areas of the Lid Park. • Improve the street crossing at West Mercer Way to enhance trail user safety. • North and South Bypass Routes - At Open House #2, the planning team presented two potential trail bypass routes for cyclists riding through the Lid Park (see Exhibit 2). The purpose of the potential bypass routes is to separate faster riding or commuting cyclists from areas of high congestion in the Lid Park. These potential bypass routes were met with mixed review, a major concern being the addition of impervious pavement. These potential bypass routes will be further discussed at the City Council meeting with the benefit of detailed graphics and accompanying narrative so that the location of the potential bypass routes is fully understood. Alternatives: Option 1. North Bypass Route - The survey results (see Exhibit 1, Attachment B) indicated that the proposed North Bypass Route had greater community support than the South Bypass Route. It would, however, be very costly to construct the North Bypass Route and this option is likely to have the greatest impacts on park landscaping. There are additional concerns about the proximity of the North Bypass Route to private residences. Option 2. South Bypass Route - The South Bypass Route would be less expensive than the North Bypass Route but did not receive a great amount of community support. The South Bypass Route impacts blackberry thickets and wild alder trees on WSDOT-owned tracts not currently considered part of Aubrey Davis Park. Option 3. No Bypass Route. Recommendation: At the outset of the planning process, trail safety was identified as a top priority and it seemed that providing bypass routes would be a good solution through the Lid Park, where feasible. The community’s recent reviews, however, are mixed. Staff would like to discuss these options with the City Council and determine what trail bypass options, if any, are included in the Preferred Alternative. Note: The analysis on the potential Bypass Routes is conceptual only. If Council wishes to pursue a bypass route, further design is needed to develop a cost estimate and receive approval by WSDOT. Page 3 • Ballfield Conflict Zone - The planning team proposed three options for the trail area adjacent to the restroom and ballfields near the 72nd Avenue parking lot (Feroglia Fields - see Exhibit 3), which is an area of high congestion in the Lid Park. The following options are intended to reduce conflicts among trail users and ballfield users: Alternatives: Option 1. Existing Trail with Plaza - Create a wide plaza near the restroom with graphic multicolor pavement. This treatment would reduce speeds through this area and allow trail users to find refuge off the main travel corridor. Option 2. Trail Along Parking - Route cyclists around the maintenance yard to avoid the area where field users and restroom users congregate. This is a lower cost option than the route through the maintenance yard but is less likely to gain acceptance from cyclists due to the increased travel distance. Option 3. Trail Through Maintenance Area - cyclists would have their own path directly behind the restrooms to avoid the congested area around the field. This route would not add significant distance for the cyclists. This option involves relocating the maintenance yard. Recommendation: The staff recommendation is to pursue either option 1 or option 3 and present these to the community for feedback at the next open house. • Town Center Trails - Trail planning in Town Center is complicated by the