What's next for Rocky Hill Park? Council hears strategies for final phase of recreational site's development
By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
As greenspaces go, Rocky Hill Park has emerged as a high achiever, despite an uphill battle.
To start, the 14-acre site was faced with the daunting role as the inaugural recreational site developed by a newly incorporated city. In its shadow stood the legacy of Pavillion Park, the community gem that sprang from a grassroots effort and was firmly established well before the vote for cityhood passed in the fall of 2000.
Despite a generous donation of land from Greenstone, the company that developed the surrounding neighborhood of the same name as well as much of Liberty Lake, Rocky Hill still faced its share of funding challenges over the years. In the fall of 2008, right around the time the first phase of the park was open to the public, the second half of the project appeared to hit a snag in Olympia when the city's grant application to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) found itself mired among a pool of nearly 80 applicants.
By the spring of 2009, hopes for the state funding had dwindled further. Then, in early May, City Hall received the news that some $500,000 had been approved for the park's second 7-acre portion. The award meant that tennis courts, restrooms and a community garden would be added to the space set against a craggy slope, which already included an expanse of turf, a basketball court and 20-space parking lot.
These days, Rocky Hill is recognized as a Liberty Lake landmark. While it may not be the destination point for events and community gatherings like Pavillion Park, it may feature a greater range of activities than its counterpart to the west. On any given day, lacrosse, soccer, gardening, rugby, tennis, bocce ball and more comprise Rocky Hill's recreation agenda.
At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Amanda Tainio, the city's planning and building services manager, provided the governing board with an overview of future goals for the park as it looks ahead to its third and final phase under the site master plan.
Tainio pointed out that Rocky Hill benefited from robust public participation when the city was mapping out its original priorities. In a process that included Greenstone, city representatives and Mike Terrell Landscape Architects, residents weighed in on potential features through a series of workshops and site tours. While some ideas like a history/arts center located in the iconic red barn did not make the final cut, many recommendations did. Meanwhile, amenities like the bocce ball court and Rotary concession stand benefited from donations by community groups.
Tainio said the city is now working to prioritize a list of improvements that range from an expanded parking lot, informal amphitheater, sand volleyball court, splash pad and community building. Early talk about adding parking spaces to an area near the knoll on the eastern boundary has now shifted based on sight line issues for motorists coming down the hill.
"When you look at that area, there are very few areas to expand the parking," said Mayor Steve Peterson.
The mayor and others around the dais also raised concern about traffic around the park, particularly with motorists headed down Mission Avenue at high speeds.
"We need to mitigate that issue first," Peterson said.
Proposed additions to Rocky Hill will eventually find their way onto the project list under the capital facility plan later this year. City Administrator Katy Allen issued a reminder that any sort of wish list would need to take funding availability under consideration. There has also been talk of revitalizing the turf for various sports and resurfacing the basketball and tennis courts.
"We can only make so many improvements each year," Allen said. "All of these have costs."
Tainio expressed hope that the same community-wide approach to gathering feedback for Rocky Hill would characterize the process of planning for another city-sponsored greenspace – Orchard Park on the north side of town. Meanwhile, Council Member Dan Dunne applauded Tainio for her efforts to secure RCO funding and other grants for municipal projects.
"Your grant application work with the city has been epic," Dunne said.
LLPD annual report
Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus presented his department's 2014 annual reported on Tuesday, highlighted by a decrease in domestic violence cases last year. Juvenile crime was also down in 2014.
LLPD implemented a traffic school last year and updated its policy and procedure manual. All officers met or exceeded the training hours required by the state in 2014, while the department was issued a clean audit by the state. The department also hosted the fourth annual Domestic Violence Symposium.
On the hiring front, the agency brought on another full-time officer, Austin Brantingham, and added reserve officer Dan Wilson. Asmus said the department hopes to add one more full-time officer this year, bringing the total to 11 and establishing a ratio of 1.33 officers per 1,000 residents.
"Our officers take a personal interest in serving this community," Asmus said. "We're proud to serve this community."
Budget amendment for Pavillion Park improvements
Council approved a budget amendment of $41,490 on Tuesday for upgrades to Pavillion Park, including a permanent concession stand, expanded restroom space and added storage. While the vote passed 5-1 with Council Member Odin Langford in the minority, others around the dais expressed concern with adjustments to a budget that had been passed at the end of last year.
"I think the budget process should be completed, not amended," said Council Member Bob Moore.
Peterson pointed out that a number of city projects also come in under budget, adding that he "would put Liberty Lake up against any city in the county for the miniscule budget amendments that we do have."
"When we spend less, should we bring forward a budget reduction amendment?" Peterson asked. "A budget is what you intend to do, not a guaranteed road map."
Like Moore, Council Member Hugh Severs said he also struggled with unanticipated expenditure shifts.
"We're overspending what we budgeted for," Severs said.
Finance Director R.J. Stevenson said amendments are required when the city accesses funds from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) since a specified amount had already been appropriated for 2015. While REET revenue is up again this year, Moore said it shouldn't mean a green light for spending.
"There is a big picture implication here," Moore said. "We need to consider the impact this is having on our cash balances at the end of the year."
In other city news:
• Allen said the first meeting of a community task force/steering committee for capital projects will take place at 7 p.m. May 21 at City Hall. The citizen-based group will first address priorities for an aquatic center followed by discussions about adding a community building and a new library. Allen said the goal is to gather feedback in time for the council retreat in August.
• The city's first bulky waste cleanup on May 9 resulted in nearly three tons of collected material. Goodwill also gathered enough reusable items to fill two trucks.
• Council approved a resolution related to the appointment of Peterson to the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors. While the tenure will only last until the end of the year, Peterson indicated that the appointment would pave the way for the city to have an increased long-term voice with STA.
• The annual City Council retreat will take place Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
• Paving on Appleway Avenue continues this week. Allen said the bulk of the project should wrap up by the end of next week, followed by installation of street lighting by Avista.
• The Liberty Lake Centennial Rotary Club will host a Memorial Day breakfast and program on Monday, May 25 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Pavillion Park. The dedication of the latest Fallen Heroes station, honoring Army Cpl. Kelly Grothe, will take place later in the day at 4 p.m. on the first fairway at Trailhead. City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Closures will also occur on Liberty Lake Road from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in connection to the Fallen Heroes ceremony.
• Allen said completion of the improvements to Pavillion Park – including a concession stand and expanded restroom and storage space – should be in place by the end of June while the new restroom at the Liberty Lake Ballfields should be completed by mid-June.
• Council Member Moore and his wife, Jackie, earned extra diligence points for their attendance at last night's meeting. The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.
• The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 2 at City Hall.
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