Orcas Parks and Rec Has Big Summer Plans

By Ken Brown

At the Orcas Island Parks and Recreation District’s meeting on April 12, it was clear that they are preparing for a busy, active summer season.

• A playground structure has been donated by community members  for public use. David Johnson, who is the Orcas Island School District (OISD) Facilities Manager, presented a potential donation of playground equipment that might be of interest to Parks and Rec. He is a certified National Playground inspector and offered to assist in the installation of the large climbing structure.
• A  Quickstart Indoor Tennis Event will take place in  June for 10
  year olds and under.
• The Commissioners have trained for 60 hours to learn the ins and outs of the new online presence for event and sports  registration called ActiveNet which is soon to go live. It will streamline activities’ information and be accessible to the whole community.
• Looking ahead to the Labor Day weekend, organizers hope to stage an  Arts and Music Festival at Buck Park, with financial assistance from the county “tourism and lodging tax, LTAC.
• Later in the fall, a runners’ event, The Triple Ripple, will take place.
• Commissioners reviewed a job description for the incoming Executive Director and to create a OIPRD  office space  in the Funhouse Commons building.
• And, on April 26, they hope to finalize an agreement whereby they assume stewardship of Buck Park  from the Orcas Island School District.

Commissioner Ian Lister reported that according to the County Treasurer’s report, tax revenue is trickling in daily and is currently at about 10 percent of  expected annual revenue.

Lister then described insurance coverage needs for 2013.  He states that more money will be involved for the 2013 year. Labor and Industry does not start with coverage until an Executive Director is in place.

Commissioner Jim Bredouw reported that the bill for election costs has come in. Bredouw mentioned that as citizens, we pay a lot more to vote then we realize.Those costs are:

• $1,800 for the failed OIPRD levy in Nov. 2010
• $12,000 for the approved levy in Feb. 2011
•  $2,400 to reelect two uncontested Commissioners in Nov. 2011.

It was noted that this election cycle model was unusual in that OIPRD set a precedent where first the District was formed and then, at a later date, it was funded.  It therefore cost approximately $14,000 to get OIPRD off and running.

Farish suggested a realignment of the budget should take place around June 30 to plan for the impacts of costs for the Mt. Baker Road expansion project.

The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) Quickstart event will be great fun as well as a training opportunity. OIPRD wiil use this event as an opportunity for volunteers to practice set up of the nets and other equipment. Commissioners Vicki Vandermay and Martha Farish will continue to work on organizing this event.

Jared Lovejoy, community organizer,  stated during public comments that plans for the prospective Arts and Music Festival. He has secured support from the Chamber of Commerce, parking will be provided at the Port of Orcas airport and he has applied for funding from two separate sources for lodging.

Tripple Ripple Run organizers Susannah Beck, and Jen Vollmer reported about the events planned for October 13-14. The two women suggested that the event may provide a good “test case” for the use of  the ActiveNet system.

There is concern about taxes for each event as well as offering refunds said OIPRD Chair Martha Farish. Beck clarified that the registration for these kind of
events have a no refund policy. Farish commented that  a no refund policy would make more sense and less hassle administratively.

Pete Moe and Krista Bouchey from the Funhouse Commons attended the April 12  meeting to continue discussion on both the facilities rental agreement for OIPRD  office space as well as programming support offered by the Funhouse Commons  on behalf of OIPRD.

The preliminary understanding is that rent will be $400 per month for a period of two  years with an option for an additional two years. Discussion then ensued about specifics concerning which programs would be administered by the Funhouse as well as the cost for their support. A draft of these programs and costs was presented for
further discussion.

The Funhouse Commons staff as well as OIPRD Commissioners participated in training on ActiveNet. The Commissioners and Funhouse Commons staff discussed its involvement in utilizing ActiveNet and in training the OIPRD Executive Director, who is expected to be hired in June, as well as running programs.

The meeting concluded with an update about Buck Park transfer. This transaction is expected to be formalized at the OISD meeting on Thursday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the Public School Library.