Roll-Up: Report on Parks Department Strategic Planning Meetings
17 Dec
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
Thanks all of you who attended the Parks Department Strategic Planning Meetings to speak for pools.
You Can Still Send Your Comments: Note that you can still express your support for pools via the Parks Department Survey. You can also email your comments to the Parks Strategic Planning Coordinator: Susanne Friedman Susanne.Friedman@Seattle.Gov.
Attendance. We’ve received direct reports of attendance at 13 of the 32 meetings, so we certainly succeeded in demonstrating broad support for pools. Many people did not tell us about their specific attendance plans beyond "Count on me!," so meeting coverage was likely higher than 13/32– probably about half of the meetings were covered. In general, once one pool supporter spoke up, other attendees voiced their enthusiasm for pools.
Detailed Reports:
- Monday, November 26th
- Garfield Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Montlake Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. Chris K. and 2 others attended on behalf of pools, so 3/15 attendees spoke specifically for pools
- Rainier Beach Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 27th
- Magnolia Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. Kristen L.
- Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m. Kristen K. and a vocal group of pool supporters. The Parks moderator said he kept putting exclamation points after the word "pools" due to strong support.
- South Park Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 28th
- 100 Dexter Avenue North - 5 to 7 p.m. (Parks & Recreation Admin Bldg) Michael D. and Kathy K. (2/10 attendees). Everyone there was very supportive and chimed in about the need for pools.
- Loyal Heights Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m.
- Southwest Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, November 29th
- Ballard Community Center - 6 to 8 p.m. Chris K.
- High Point Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m.
- International District Community Center - 6 to 8 p.m.
- Langston Hughes - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Laurelhurst Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. — Elizabeth N., Mike W., Kathy Z, Robert — 4/9 people attended specifically to speak for pools. The Laurelhurst Community Club wrote a letter of support for pools during last summer’s city budget efforts. Support for pools was strong even among people who did not attend specifically for pools.
- Saturday, December 1st
- Carkeek Park - Noon to 2 p.m.
- Delridge Community Center - 2 to 4 p.m.
- Green Lake Community Center - 2 to 4 p.m. Ann T. and Deb V.
- Jefferson Community Center - 10 a.m to Noon
- Tuesday, December 4th
- Arboretum - Graham Visitor’s Center - 6 to 8 p.m.
- Hiawatha Community Center - 6 to 8 p.m.
- Meadowbrook Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. — Heather R., plus unidentified others– sounded like quite a few people spoke for pools. Terry V. contacted us afterwards to say that the Meadowbrook Advisory Council would like to work with us in advocating improvements for Meadowbrook pool. The Advisory Council has invited us to speak at an upcoming meeting.
- Wednesday, December 5th
- Alki Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m.
- Camp Long - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Magnuson Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. Celeste S. and (unconfirmed) Kristen K. Update from an attendee: "There was a general idea going that the parks dept needs to maintain what they already have before building anything new. But I spoke up for pools emphasizing that it is impossible to keep a facility in useable condition when it is overused and dangerously crowded due to overuse. At that point there was overwhelming support in favor of more pools. In fact it was really the only new facility that the people seem to support. "
- Yesler Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m. Mikenzie M.
- Thursday, December 6th
- Discovery Park - 5 to 7 p.m.
- Northgate Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m. Ann T., Kathy K., Chris K. and one other person attended specifically for pools ( 4 out of about 20-25). All reported strong support for pools at the meeting, including enthusiasm from those who did not attend specificially for pools. The meeting had a "green," health-concious theme, which fit right into pools. The new superintendent attended and revealed two of his soft spots: 1) Fighting childhood obesity & improving fitness. 2) Farmer’s markets and healthy/good foods.
- Rainier Community Center - 7 to 9 p.m.
- Queen Anne Community Center - 5 to 7 p.m. Michael D.
- Saturday, December 8th
- Bitter Lake Community Center - 1 to 3 p.m.
- Miller Community Center - 10 a.m. to Noon C. and one other person spoke for pools. Most attendees spoke for senior recreation programming.
- Van Asselt Community Center - 3 to 5 p.m.
Other Updates:
Next Steps for Parks: The Parks Department will publish a draft Strategic Plan early in 2008 after reviewing community feedback. At that time, it will hold another round of public meetings (roughly Spring 2008). Please note that Parks will continue to accept public feedback electronically throughout this process, so don’t hesitate to continue to send your comments today via the methods listed at the beginning of this post.
Superintendent. Thanks to Kathy and Chris, we now know that the soon-to-be-confirmed Superintendent sees fighting childhood obesity as a priority. Pools help kids establish healthy habits by providing fun ways to be active, so we have good hope that Superintendent Gallagher will support our efforts.
Regional Coordination. Pacific Northwest Swimming organized a regional pool planning meeting on December 16th and will continue to coordinate regional planning. Anyone interested in involvement in regional planning is welcome to contact elizabeth@seattlepools.org. Two other groups involved in regional planning are North Shore Aquatics (http://sports.
Follow-up to Pro-Parks Levy. We’ve been invited to the next meeting of the Seattle Great City Initiative on January 9th at 7:30 am (email Elizabeth if you’d like to attend). This group hopes to place a follow-up Pro-Parks levy before voters when the Pro-Parks levy expires in 2008. It’s easier to get levies renewed than passed for the first time.
Meadowbrook Advisory Council. Terry V. from the Meadowbrook Advisory Council has invited us to speak about our project at their next meeting. The Council is advocating for improvements to Meadowbrook pool. Email elizabeth@seattlepools.org if you’d like to find out more.
North District Council. In November, we spoke to the North District Council about Project Seattle Pools. At its February 6th meeting, the Council will hopefully vote to send a letter of support on our behalf to the Parks Department. They have been very supportive. Community councils have a great deal of influence in Seattle (we’re a grass-roots city!), so email elizabeth@seattlepools.org if you can advocate on behalf of pools at an upcoming meeting of your own community council.
November Pool Team Meeting. In case you missed our core team meeting in November, you can read the Meeting Notes. We’ll meet again in January or February as needed.
Humor. We’ve heard rumor that a group has been vocally advocating for naked swim sessions in public pools. Just so there’s no confusion, that group is NOT us. Officially, conclusively, Project Seattle Pools is not advocating on behalf of naked swimming.
Reminder: Last Week of Parks Dept. Strategic Planning Meetings
04 Dec
Posted by admin as Uncategorized
Dear Pool Supporters,
- Attend one of the remaining 14 public meetings throughout
- If you can’t attend one of the meetings, you can still influence the Strategic Plan electronically:
- Take the Parks Department Strategic Planning Survey: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Publications/BusinessPlan.htm. You can make comments in support of pools at the end of the survey.
- Alternatively, email your comments to soon-to-be-confirmed Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, care of Susanne.Friedman@Seattle.Gov.
What Happens Next
After completing 30+ public meetings, the Parks Department will use public feedback to hammer out its core functions and goals. Parks will publish a draft strategic plan, then hold another round of 30-plus public meetings in March 2008 to gather public comments on the daft. After further revisions, Parks will submit a revised plan to the City Council. We’ve heard that the feedback Parks receives from the public during this process will influence city leaders outside of the Parks Department (particularly the Mayor and City Council).
Watch www.seattlepools.org for the latest info on the Parks planning process and updates on how to help.
Thank you for your support for public pools!
–
PS. In case you have free time, you can also advocate for pools through your letters and email. Tell city leaders how well pools “build strong families and healthy communities,” one of the Mayor’s key initiatives. Contact info:
- Soon-to-be-confirmed Parks Department Superintendent Tim Gallagher:
- City Council Members: Addresses available at http://www.seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm
