City of Wenatchee Comprehensive Plan Update

Tonight's focus:

Parks & Recreation Cultural & Historic Resources

Tuesday February 21st, 2006

Tonight’s Agenda

• Background Presentation• Breakout Session• Report on Findings/Discussion• That’s It!

• Adopted by State Legislature in 1990

• Requires governments to manage growth by:

Implementing Comprehensive Plans through Capital Investments & Development Regulations

Designating Urban Growth Areas Identifying & Protecting Critical Areas and

Resource Lands

Growth Management Act

Comprehensive Plan Elements

• Land Use• Transportation• Housing• Economic

Development• Parks &

Recreation

• Public Facilities & Services

• Utilities• Community Design• Natural

Environment• Cultural & Historic

Resources

Ways to Participate

Beginning Steps…• Visit our GMA Update webpage

www.cityofwenatchee.com– Public Survey– Opportunities & Challenges Mapping– Take a Picture!

• Get on the Contact List• Public Workshops• Comment Sheet/Note cards

Upcoming Public Workshops

TOPIC DATE TIME PLACE

Community Design & Housing

TuesdayFeb 28th

7 PM Convention Center Grand Apple North

Downtown Visioning

TuesdayFeb 28th

All Day

Police Station Conference Room

Land Use & Transportation

Tuesday March 7th 7 PM Convention Center

Fuji Room

Live, Work, & Play! Friday March 10th 2 PM

Bank of America Performing Arts

Center

GMA Update Schedule• Step 1: Review Existing Conditions/Early Public Input

(through mid-March 2006)– Profile– Identify issues– Propose solutions

• Step 2: Draft Plan and Alternatives (March – June)– Complete environmental review draft– Propose goals and policies– Public input

• Step 3: Release Draft Plan/Implementing Regulations (July – December)– Final environmental review– Public hearings– City adoption

• Update Deadline: December 2006

Parks and Recreation Plan Schedule

• In order to remain eligible for state grant funding sources, the Parks and Recreation Plan is scheduled for adoption in June 2006

• The Parks and Recreation Plan will be incorporated into the GMA update with other elements

Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation Goal

• Revisit existing parks, recreation facilities and programs, review changes & additions, and pursue a vision for parks and recreation into the future.

Who are we?

Sports & athletics

WenatcheeParks &

Recreation

Arts & Culture

Parks, playground, fields, trails & ice arena

Open Space,

habitat, &

water access

Recreation Programs

Unique confluence of:

• Park /Board members and citizen advocates & patrons;

and

• Recreation, urban, regional and state park partnerships.

Emerging Issues

o Lack of Public Indoor Facilities

o Parkland Acreage & Outdoor Facilities

o Trail Facilities

o Leadership & Programs

Lack of Public Indoor Facilities

• The City of Wenatchee does not have an indoor gymnasium.

• The Ice Arena serves the public with two sheets of ice for lessons, hockey, & private rentals.

• Federal & state programs direct efforts to prevent obesity among children and youth, providing grants to promote good nutrition and physical activity.

How does Wenatchee address lack of public indoor facilities to meet the need of a growing and diverse population?

Parkland Acreage & Outdoor Facilities

• City has approx. 20 park sites & 100 acres for 29,320 people.• Public parks & recreation facilities offer low-cost opportunities to

ALL citizens to increase physical activity & prevent chronic health conditions.

• Chelan PUD & Wenatchee School District own the majority of outdoor softball, soccer and baseball fields in Wenatchee.

How can Wenatchee accommodate the increasing demand for sports fields and different recreational activities?

To meet need, how does Wenatchee address the overall amount of parkland and the geographic distribution of parks?

Trail Facilities

• A trails network promotes a commitment to recreation & healthy lifestyles, supports alternative & non-motorized transportation networks, adds to our quality of life, and protects open space, wildlife habitat & critical areas.

• Wenatchee Valley Trails Coalition w/ Chelan-Douglas Land Trust developing a community trails plan for the foothills.

There is considerable interest in trail facility use and regional trail connections. Are there ways to increase trail/park connections and broaden trail opportunities?

Leadership & Programs

• Wenatchee Parks & Recreation is governed by a manager of recreation, with parks & grounds supervised through Public Works.

• A parks & recreation dept. is a key resource for providing parks, recreation programs, community events, capital improvements, & future planning to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

Would returning to the traditional “Department” model (with all responsibilities under one leadership position) enhance Wenatchee Parks and Recreation?

How can Wenatchee expand recreational programs (ie softball/basketball leagues) and classes offered?

Group Breakout Session

“How will we get there?”

“Where are we?”“Where do we want to go?”

Population

DemographicTrends

Needs & Demand

Inventory

Funding

Adopted Plan:

Reflects community needsSupports vision

Provides benefitsFinancially sound

Determine current & future needs

Determinepriority goals

& implementation

“Where Are We Today?”“What’s In The Future?”

Past

• Regional approach• Focus Wenatchee/UGA

What has changed• Demographics

• Additions• Needs & demand

What is needed

• Programs • Facilities

• P & R Leadership

The Dreams

• What possibilities

Group Discussion Approach

Cultural & Historic Resources

Cultural & Historic Resources Goal

• Although the Cultural and Historic Resources Element is not required by GMA, its essence is woven throughout other elements.

• Its purpose is to integrate arts, humanities, & history with urban design, economic development & education to help shape and nurture the quality of life for Wenatchee’s citizens.

Emerging Issues

• Regional Center• Support of “Creative Class”• Environment• Facilities & Infrastructure• Civic Life• Historic Resources

Regional Center

How can we enhance the development of Wenatchee as the urban hub for cultural and historic resources in the North Central Washington region?

• The city is a home to, and plays a major role in the success of, regionally significant cultural facilities:

– Wenatchee Convention Center

– Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center

– North Central Regional Library

– Bank of America Performing Arts Center

Wenatchee Public Library

Support of “Creative Class”

• In Chelan County, 66.7% of establishments have 4 or fewer employees.

• This speaks to how the area attracts small start up companies.

• Many rely on the fiber optic backbone.

In what ways can we provide support for artists and entrepreneurs whose growth contributes to an environment of innovation, creativity and growing diversity?

Environment

• Scenic resources & open space have become topics of community preservation & value including: – Saddlerock – Skyline Drive viewpoint – Agricultural lands and Open space– Wenatchee Foothills.

How can we build on Wenatchee’s assets that create a unique sense of place from a historical, cultural or scenic perspective?

Facilities & Infrastructure

• The city has grown in the number & variety of arts/cultural/civic groups offering programming, and in the number of facilities serving those groups, including several owner operated facilities: i.e. Riverside Playhouse, Woods House Conservatory of Music, the Pressroom Theater, etc.

How can we support facility operation and development that encourages and invigorates a cultural environment?

Woods House Conservatory of Music

Civic Life

• The Wenatchee Valley College built new arts and studio space, carries out a film and lecture series, and runs continuing education programs.

• Wenatchee has had the nationally recognized Mariachi Huenatchi program since 1995.

In what ways can we work in collaborative partnerships to foster opportunities for life long educational, artistic and cultural exploration for all citizens? Wenatchee Valley College

Historic Preservation

• The number of structures participating in the city’s Certified Local Government/Historic Preservation program is growing.

• Grandview Historic District: first neighborhood historic district in place.

How can we preserve, maintain and honor the city’s significant historic, cultural and scenic resources?

Emerson Street

Breakout Session

• Prioritize Issues - “Penny weighting”• Discuss any proposed solutions to

issues • Identify Emerging Issues missed• Review prioritization of issues• Report on findings