Finn Hill Park and Recreation District and O.O.Denny Park October - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SLIDE 1

Finn Hill Park and Recreation District and O.O.Denny Park

October 11, 2011

SLIDE 2

Park Overview



46 acres located on Holmes Pt. Dr.

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Owned by City of Seattle, cannot be sold



Really two parks



Semi-urban, picnic area w/ extensive waterfront, including wetlands

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Hot summer weekend sees 800+ patrons, mid-winter days see handful of neighbors

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Heavily wooded hills, creek valley w/ trails, minimal impact, wilderness feel

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Flavor: wild and natural rather than developed and manicured

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Reflects preferences of neighborhood around it

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Covered picnic shelter (reservable) + scattered picnic tables

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No formal athletic fields, no lighting except restrooms

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Denny Creek flows through entire park

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Part of wonderful green necklace of interconnected parks on Finn Hill



Big Finn Hill Park (King Co)

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Juanita Woodlands (King Co)

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• St. Edwards (State of Washington)

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Kirkland Annexation Area

O.O. Denny Park part of unique green necklace of beautiful eastside parks

SLIDE 4

O.O. Denny Park

SLIDE 5

Semi-urban picnic area and heavily wooded, hilly backcountry

SLIDE 6

History of FHPRD



O.O. Denny park owned by City of Seattle, cannot be sold



Willed to city by Helen V. Denny in 1922, to be used as park in perpetuity

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If ceases to be used as park, property reverts to Children’s Home Society

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Operated as Camp Denny for underprivileged Seattle youth

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King Co. operated as park from 1968 to 2001

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Funding shortfall caused King Co. to close park

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Children’s Home Society stated they would sell it for development

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Neighbors, led by DCNA, organized to pass levy for park maintenance

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Levy passed Nov 5, 2002, responsibility started Jan 1, 2003

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Formed Finn Hill Park and Recreation District (FHPRD)

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FHPRD operates park under contract to City of Seattle

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Levy funding not available until Jan 1, 2004!

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Borrowed 1st year’s operating expenses from King Co.

SLIDE 7

O.O. Denny Park operated for many years as Camp Denny Day camp for disadvantaged youth

SLIDE 8

Current Commission

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Five elected, unpaid commissioners

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Official, public commission meetings once a month

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Day-to-day operations handled by sub-contractors

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Day-to-day maintenance & cleanup

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Security (opening and closing)

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Tree trimming and removal

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Plumbing

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Animal control

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Commissioners divvy up responsibilities for contractor oversight

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Commissioners also handle numerous incidental responsibilities

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Insurance

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Accounting, paying invoices, tracking tax receipts

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Special events (e.g. Christmas Ships bonfire)

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Interface with various municipalities

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Special projects

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Major NUD sewer project this entire winter season

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KC Shoreline Improvement Project scheduled this winter

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Volunteer activities

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Commission have operated park under budget every year

SLIDE 9

Park Levy Details

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Finn Hill Park and Recreation District boundaries coincide with those

• f the newly-annexed Finn Hill Neighborhood of Kirkland

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Original levy passed in Nov, 2002

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$0.072 per $1000 valuation  $28.80/yr for $400K house

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“One latte per month to save your beautiful park”

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Passed with nearly 70% approval

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Current levy passed in Nov, 2008

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$0.060 per $1000 valuation  $24/yr for $400K house

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Reduction due to budget history noted in voters’ pamphlet



Commission elected to place on ballot 1 yr early in presidential year

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Barely passed with 60.1% approval

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Current budget ~ $180K/yr



Includes tax receipts + modest income from shelter rentals

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As in past years, substantial projected under run in 2011

SLIDE 10

Park Levy Details (cont’d)

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For financial reasons, upon annexation City of Kirkland elected not to take over maintenance of O.O. Denny Park

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After annexation, residents of FHPRD are now taxed twice for parks!

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FHPRD levy supports O.O. Denny for use by all of Kirkland



Kirkland taxes support parks for use by all of Kirkland



Current levy expires in 2014

SLIDE 11

Park Levy Options (there may be others)

1.

Kirkland agrees to support O.O. Denny Park



Prior to park bond levy



Levy has higher probability of passage in Finn Hill neighborhood

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Financial & operational handoff from FHPRD manageable



Included only in park bond levy



Levy has higher probability of passage in Finn Hill neighborhood

2.

Kirkland again declines to support O.O. Denny Park



Double taxation of Finn Hill neighborhood continues

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Passage of levy in Finn Hill Neighborhood less likely



FHPRD forced to put levy renewal on ballot in 2013 or 2014

3.

Kirkland park bond levy includes O.O. Denny but fails in 2012



Double taxation issue highlighted in campaign, increased awareness

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FHPRD forced to put levy renewal on ballot in 2013 or 2014

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Effect on FHPRD levy passage uncertain