Approved Minutes - 2023-11-15 PARKS, RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY
BOARD
0 MINUTES
000 .,
November 15, 2023
The video recording constitutes an accurate record of the Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Advisory
Board at the above dated meeting.The following summary is provided as an overview of the meeting.
https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2642937&dbid=0&repo=CityOfLakeOswego
CALL TO ORDER
Jason Dorn called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Jason Dorn, Doug McKean,Sarah Ellison,Jennifer Mozinski, Kara Gapon,Taryn
Hatchel, Greg Wolley, Ed Becker, Youth Member's: Diya Deepu and Zechariah
Pressnell, Trudy Corrigan, Council Liaison ,
Alternates: Rebecca Greene, Matt McGinnis
Absent: Angel Mott-Nickerson
Staff: Ivan Anderholm, Director of Parks & Recreation,Jan Wirtz, Deputy Director,Jeff
Munro, Deputy Director,Tony Garcia, Parks Crewleader, Kyra Haggart, Project
Manager, Robin Krakauer,Communications and Sponsorship Coordinator,
Guests: Gale Walmark, FOLF
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board (PARKS Board) reviewed and
unanimously approved the minutes from October 18, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL UPDATE:Trudy Corrigan, Council Liaison
• 2023 Photo contest winner was announced. Everyone is encouraged to look at the website.The
entries were fabulous.An amazing number of photos were taken in our City Parks.They were
beautiful.
• Public hearing about ordinance 2936, annexing 6117 Washington Court into the City
• Study Session: Housing Production Strategy which is pursuing house bill 2003. Council heard
from Erik Olson, Long Range Planning Manager about all the possible ways the City can
encourage affordable housing to continue work on key housing initiatives work to develop a
Housing Production Strategy to meet the requirements House Bill 2003 (2019)
• Library's 2024-2026 Strategic Plan: Melissa Kelly gave a presentation on the family needs
assessment service models and their strategic future plans.
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board Minutes
November 15 2023
• North Anchor Project: meeting with LORA to grant an extension to the developers who are
doing the North Anchor project to June 2024.
YOUTH MEMBER UPDATE: Diya Deepu and Zechariah Pressnell
• National Honors Society and Green Team have partnered volunteering working in parks, like
park friends' groups.
• Students are interested in technology and sustainable energy.Working on Drivers Ed., leaning
towards getting more sustainable energy switching to electric cars.
• Seniors went out to do projects in the community. In the past there has been good luck getting
small teams of students to go out and work in parks. If there is way to get more information
about that and maybe partner high school students with Friends group volunteer coordinator.
There might be opportunities to benefit the parks and also provide opportunities for the kids to
do something outside helping the community.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Gale Walmark, FOLF
Friends of Luscher Farm very much appreciates that you agreed to prioritize several Luscher projects at
your March meeting this year, putting the new Luscher Access and improvement parking at the top of
the 9-project unfunded CIP list. (see Appendix)
You also included a Luscher Environmental Classroom (#5) and Expansion of Agriculture (#6).
For our part—having learned the Education Center would not be allowed under the current EFU zoning
without a Goal #3 exception—FOLF is prioritizing the new Access& Parking and expanding agricultural
use, both of which are allowed and doable—and long overdue.
Of course,funding for these projects, which had been intended to come from the 2019 Parks Bond, was
diverted to cover LORAC and Rassekh. So, finding funding solutions is now of the utmost importance.
• As a reminder, in the 2019 scientific survey conducted to get community preferences for the bond
money—which did not include the critical new Luscher access & parking project—two LAMP projects
nevertheless were in the Top 10 of 18 options.
We'll be pleased if some portion of the $2.3MM Metro Local Share funds is directed for Luscher, but are
not optimistic about receiving any, and are certain that what we might get would not cover the costs of
design and implementation.
Therefore, FOLF has set its sights on ensuring that our two Luscher priority projects are included among
the initiatives for City Council's 2024 Parks Goal... And we are respectfully requesting the Parks Board to
join that effort.
It's our position that despite broad community support, Luscher projects have been consistently and
unfairly deemed less important and left in limbo for too long. Now is the time to elevate Luscher project
to action and to find and commit funding for them. In our view,that will happen only if Council can be
persuaded to adopt them as a 2024 Parks Goal initiative.
A clear message from the Parks Board would go a long way to achieving that result.
Doug:Would like the Board to have a conversation recommending prioritizing Luscher projects to City
Council.Add to the December or January agenda.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
CIP FUNDING UPDATE: Removed from agenda. Item covered at the October 18 Parks board meeting.
REBRANDING REPORT:Jan Wirtz, Deputy Director• Robin Krakauer, Communications/Sponsorship
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Coordinator
Background:
■ LOPR utilized "Living Well in LO" with a successful run of just about ten years.
■ The project will build on this by promoting excellent facilities, programs, and promoting health
and wellness.
■ With the addition of new facilities— LORAC, Rassekh/Skatepark, and new natural and park areas,
the community will have more incredible options for recreation and programming.
■ Continue with the mission statement Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation provides excellence in
building community, enriching lives, and caring for the urban and natural environment.
Objective:
To create a recognizable brand identity for LOPR that embodies Lake Oswego LOPR's authentic character
while embracing the core branding of the City of Lake Oswego.
Parameters:
■ Utilize the City of Lake Oswego's color and type characteristics.
■ Opportunity to introduce a new color that differentiates LOPR from all other departments.
■ Create an LOPR logo and tagline.
■ Incorporate City Seal.
• Incorporate inclusivity—programming for all ages and abilities.
■ Embody the quality of life and livability in Lake Oswego.
■ Incorporate community connection and stewardship.
Strategy:
• Reflect LOPR's mission,values, and vision by utilizing learned engagement from the community
from Community& Citywide surveys.
• Unify the identity of LOPR department and divisions with visual and verbal identity, along with
facilities, programs, and areas.
• Build trust within the community and stakeholders for LOPR.
• Continue to provide exceptional experiences with programming, facilities, natural areas, and
parks.
• Community identification of LOPR with graphics, media, social media, websites, activity guides,
and all other promotional materials and venues.
Tactics:
• Marketing materials, including print, social media, web graphics, and emails from all areas of
LOPR, be consistent, digital marketing, SEO (search engine optimization), wearables, uniforms,
and anything else in the department to make sure the community identifies that it falls under
LOPR.
• Execute consistent messaging and communications, along with integration of all materials
coming out of LOPR.
• Logo for LOPR.
• Tagline for LOPR.
• Build awareness of the new campaign with employees, stakeholders, and the public through
communications and programming.
• Build a brand that the community can relate to and recognize.
• Develop style guide.
Challenges:
• Unifying City and LOPR with execution tactics.
• Uniting all the divisions of LOPR.
• Keeping brand consistent among all constitutes of LOPR.
• Working within the City's social media and website platforms.
• Incorporating existing signage, wayfinding, and other more permanent graphics that cannot be
changed out. Keeping$$ in mind.
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• Define demographics of LO community who are the biggest users of facilities, programs, and
park properties. Marketability to community both within Lake Oswego and within a 10 to 20
mile radius to attract users to LORAC.
Timeline:
• 9.5.23: Present at Manager meeting.
• Week of 9.5.23: Flush out objectives and make sure department is on the same page.
• 9.19.23: Draft RFP & meet with rebrand team.
• 10.13.23: Publish RFP
• 11.1.23: RFP deadline
• 11.27.23:Agency selection and start work on redesign
• 1.24/2.24: Initial designs due
• 2.13.23: Revisions due.
• 3.5.24: Present to CMO City Council, Parks Board, LOSD
• 4.7.24: Develop tactics, style guides and deliverables
Proposal Update:
• LOPR received 8 proposals:
➢ 5 local agencies: Caffelli, Swell Co-Lab, Quinn Thomas, Gensler,Zaya
➢ 3 out of Oregon: Guide-OH, Colvita - ID& REDKOR—UT
• Evaluation meeting was done. Evaluations are in and scored.
• References are checked and scored.
Next Steps:
• Post evaluations online. Need to work with the CAO to post this week.
• Set up meetings with candidate.
• Write thank you letters to agencies that applied
• Move forward with project.
Proposals were evaluated and scored based on RFP Scope of Work and Mission. Scores were based on
Project teams
• Qualifications and Experience
• References
• Project Approach and Understanding
• Project Schedule
• Cost
• COBID certification
Swell Co-Lab received high score in all categories. Swell Co-Lab is a COBID Certified agency and OAME
Member.
TRANSITION PLAN & ROLLOUT:
The soft launch with the Farmers' Market and other Summer programming will be in late spring. In July
of 2024 (New Fiscal Year)full launch so new designs and communication can be developed for various
applications with enough lead time to order uniforms, activity guide, and all other materials to launch
LORAC and other Parks& Recreation entities.
Jason suggested the topic of Social Media be included in a future agenda to discuss how Social Media
plays a part in public engagement.
DEI UPDATE:
Sarah Ellison and Greg Wolley
PARKS Board DEI Working Group met to discuss their high priority recommendations.
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High Priority Recommendations to the Board:
• Improved access to LOPR program scholarships
o A policy goal that the percentage of Parks& Rec programming supported by
scholarships should reflect the percentage of the community that is low-income.
• Lake access
o A policy goal that all members of the community should have access to the lake for
swimming and for the use of non-motorized craft (i.e., canoes, kayaks, stand-up
paddleboards).
o Recommend addition to the CIP list.
• Full day summertime recreational programming
o Full day programming may reduce barriers for working families.
• Splash pad(s)
o Free access to water recreation.
• Bilingual staffing/programming
• Better accessibility information (site specific)
• Transportation to Parks& Rec facilities
• Outreach to assess recreational/parks needs of specific groups and to ensure they know of
available programming
o Kids/families with IEP/504
o Foster families
o Respite care for caretakers of special needs children
Ed Becker brought up the question about Lake access.
Ivan suggested inviting the City Attorney to attend a future meeting to get the legal stance on the
subject and to go over the Litigation and phases.
Sarah commented the DEI working group want to wrap up the framework to align with the 2040 plan so
it is included in Parks Plan 2040.
2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Co-Chairs,Jason Dorn and Doug McKean
2023 Goals for Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Advisory Board (PARKS Board)
1. Prioritization of Capital Improvement Projects(CIPs).
The action the board took towards this goal was a continued discussion over a few meetings
prioritizing the CIP list.The board heard reports from Ivan between the end of December 2022
and the beginning of 2023.The Parks board discussed working specifically on prioritization of
unfunded projects at the March 2023 meeting.The board approved their CIP prioritization at
the March meeting.
Jason stated the board accomplished that goal.The Parks board clearly accomplished this goal
by effectively setting the CIP prioritization list.Jason stated the one item he wasn't 100%clear
on after reviewing everything that took place over the past year,whether or not, members of
the board communicated those priorities back to City Council. He wants to say the board did,
but couldn't find, anything in the minutes that stated the Parks board prioritization of the CIP
projects were brought before Council.
Councilor Corrigan told members of the board,the City Council will be looking for that
information in the next month.The Parks board did do their 2023 goals presentation in the
context of funding projects update to the council which your priorities were related to that.The
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board could bring that back and refine the Board's prioritization of capital improvement projects
and communicate updated recommendations to the City Council.
2. Diversity, Equity,and Inclusion (DEI).
Working with the DEI board and the Parks department,the working group met to develop an
implementation framework for DEI and the parks department with a focus on expanding access
to amenities to historically marginalized and underserved communities. The DEI working group
will bring the framework to the board for review and advise on departmental implementation of
the DEI framework.There has been a lot of progress discussing the framework.Jason shared, he
went through his meeting notes the past year,the minutes, and recollection of things that went
on over the course of the year. The 1st, big action,the board established the working group back
in April of this year and then we, as a board discussed some priorities for the working group.The
working group discussions have brought issues to the forefront.The Working group updates the
board on their progress.The Parks board will wait to hear and fully understand what will be the
delivery of the DEI framework component.The working group will continue meeting and
reporting progress to the board which is great. For all intents and purposes the board
accomplished this goal.The action towards the DEI goal, the working group will bring the first
draft of the framework to the board for review.
3. Public Engagement and Outreach.
The board set a goal around public engagement and outreach to define and evaluate methods for
public outreach and engagement such as the steering committee to help guide the Department's
future planning, efforts on projects, such as Parks Plan 2040 and capital improvement projects.
Public engagement and outreach results help to determine the role of the parks board in the
planning process and how to participate accordingly and make recommendations to the
department,the preferred method of public involvement as it relates to the 2040 plan and
Rassekh park. The board supported engagement with youth, programming and work internship
opportunities.There was a lot tied to this goal.
Jason Identified some actions the board took in October and November of 2022 and 2023.
• Board discussion how to improve public engagement and outreach,January 2023.
• February presentation on Parks Plan 2040,given by Kyra gave the board an opportunity
to see the ways how public engagement would be achieved during that planning process
and included a board liaison position. An excellent step towards achieving that goal.
• Staff reported back to the board at the October meeting how public engagement has
taken place over the past several months.The board learned about the formation of the
steering committee and the survey that's gone out as well as City events,farmers
markets and other cultural events around town engaging directly with the community.
• Going beyond Parks Plan 2040, Eileen Koh, last year's youth member creates an
internship within the parks department. Another clear step towards accomplishing that
goal.
There may be some things missed but those are the biggest highlights. In review of the board's
efforts in the last year and the actions the board has seen within the department together, indicate
successful achievement of this goal.
Additional Interests
• Continue to advocate for inclusive parks and recreational opportunities.
• Support implementation of Lake Oswego's Climate Action Plan, including support for Lake
Oswego's Bee City designation.
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• Support revision of Lake Oswego's Urban & Community Forestry Plan.
DEEP DIVE: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, FY 2022-23
Ivan Anderholm, Director of Parks & Recreation
The name has been changed to Financial Summary.The numbers covered on the Financial Summary are
posted on the City Website as well. Since 2020 there has been quite a lot of volatility.
The department started reporting on Parks & Recreation financial performance.The financial
performance concerns came from City Council and the Citizen Budget Committee in the 2012-13
financial performance of primarily recreation programs. In the time since we have adopted a
comprehensive cost recovery program that the department uses for all recreational programs that are
fee programs or free programs.
The department went through a process with a consultant where we establish a continuum of low cost
recovery programs that benefit the community largely or benefit vulnerable persons, seniors,young
people or people with disabilities.The continuum goes from low cost recovery or no cost recovery,
100%subsidy in some cases where the department provide a service or an event to the community to
bring together.
On the other side of the spectrum. For example,fencing classes that sell out and have waitlist. It is an
individual benefit to the person in this class. For this type of class there is a percentage range that we
use for recovery of our total costs of providing that to the public where we expect the person engaging
in that activity to actually pay for Parks & Recreation activities and then a little more so that we can
further subsidize programs that have a larger community benefit. That is kind of the basis that drives
these numbers.
In 2020 to 2023, which are 3 fiscal years that there's some volatility and there is some trending over all
the actual cost to the average household is actually trending where we need it to be. We're staying
within the costs of services, that is a huge indicator for us as we put the numbers together, and
compare previous years.There is a lot of background information that is behind the summaries as we
look at that,we look at areas where we need to improve, or we look for anomalies.
There are some anomalies on the recreational side as well as where we have increased expenditures. An
increase in expenditures and maybe not correspond with the revenue the department would expect.
What staff will do after putting the summary together is to dive deeper into why that was.
There is a multitude of reasons. Some of the reasons have to do with us trying to restart programs after
COVID,where we would have programs that were not completely full, but we had full staffing for these
activities,that is one where you see a little bit of a difference, especially in year 2021, especially looking
at 2020 to 2021 and 2022 fiscal year. Looking at percentages overall on recreation programs.The
department had a hit on the program percentage of recovery rate from 2021-2022.This being the first
season that we did not. We're not operating with the school district, cost for facilities have gone up
substantially.The department have not taken that on entirely charging participants,the actual cost
running programs.The department percentages have changed, especially with sports programs,where
the department is relying on school district gyms or fields.The department had a reciprocal use
agreement where the City didn't get charged for use of LOSD facilities and now we are.There is a bit of
a swing and the department is trying to dig down into that and normalize that and really see what the
effect is for Fiscal year 2022/23 and 2023/2 fiscal strategy, knowing that the department is going to have
some of that.The department increased a little bit in expenditures in Management Services on the
other side and set aside some money to help offset the new facility costs and not pass it on directly to
the customer. Hopefully the department can engage the district and come up with a more reasonable
and equitable share community facilities.
There is a lot of information in the financial summary and a lot of information behind it.The positive is
we see that the department is pretty consistent in the budgeting, especially expenditure budgeting,we
are fairly consistent and what the department is actually expending in a year out, which is nice.The
department have some fluctuation on revenue. Larger trends the idea is keep that in line, knowing that
is how our budget works is the department gets an allocation. We are very beloved by the community,
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and we're very supported by the community, but it would not be fiscally responsible for us to want to
spike costs. On the back side of the work that we do,Jeff, myself, all of our program managers do is to
work cumulatively so that we keep the budget very consistent with no spikes.This upcoming year is
going to be very interesting.As you're all are aware we are bringing on a whole other recreation facility
in 2024.These numbers are going to change dramatically. The department are still looking to keep the
cost of the average household and that cost per 1000, assess relatively the same. We have an aggressive
approach to how we're going to operate the LORAC, and what those services are and through the
restructuring of staff, and how we are going to be aligning programs. We feel that we're actually going
to be more efficient and grow in some areas that the community has asked us to do.
STAFF AND BOARD MONTHLY UPDATE:
• Kyra: We had a community open house at the ACC last night, November 14.There were
probably around 35 or 40 people who showed up. Had a really cool map exercise for those who
showed up. We will be presenting at the December meeting a summary of the community
engagement,what is still yet to come and also the draft goals.A statistically valid survey went
out with over 1000 responses.
The next regular scheduled meeting will be Wednesday, December 20, 2023,4 to 6 p.m.
Doug McKean adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:09 pm.
Prepared by, Dina Balogh,Administrative Assistant
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