FORT WORDEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Thursday, March 17, 2016

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1 Fort Worden State Park Conference Center 200 Battery Way Port Townsend, WA Fax: Then select Find a Park and go to Fort Worden FORT WORDEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES Thursday, March 17, 2016 Members Present: Brian Hageman, Bill Drath, Todd Gubler (for Dave Robison), Rodger Schmitt, Joyce Francis, David Given, Ron Kubec, Gary Cummins, Jan North, Claude Manning, Susan Cronshaw, Darcy McNamara, Tim Lawson, Kevin Alexander, Alfred Chiswell, and Pamela Adams Staff & Guests Present: Janet Hollingsworth and Anna Green Members Absent: Phil Johnson and Pete Hanke I. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS and Happy St. Patrick s Day II. MINUTES: A motion by Tim Lawson to accept and approve the Thursday February 18, 2016, meeting minutes was seconded by Ron Kubec and passed unanimously. III. CORRESPONDENCE: There was no correspondence to report. IV. FORT WORDEN STATE PARK AREA UPDATES: A. PDA Todd Gubler 1. Staffing - The PDA have been busy. They are in their busy hiring season. 58 employees are hired for the year so far and 48 more to come. There are 48 year round full time positions, 20 year round on call or part time positions, and 112 total employees at the peak of the season. They are gearing up with a new sales director. There is an exciting, interesting shuffling of employees and faces. 2. The film project/movie Save the man is not going to be filmed at Fort Worden this summer. Reserved rooms have been released; hoping to fill them such that the impact should be not lasting. 3. They are moving forward on buildings 272 and 277 (former temporary housing) capital projects. 4. The Guardhouse will be opening May 6 th. The remodel honors the building and it is really nice. The contractors have done a beautiful job and have repurposed many of the pieces.

2 5. PARKS is working on the exterior of building 4 (beside COQ). The PDA has invested $164,000 redoing the interior. 6. Every roof has been re done on O row now, too. 7. The water is being tested for lead pipes. The water systems have all been replaced. 8. The Cablehouse grand opening may be Memorial Day or as soon as May 6. B. State of the Park - Brian Hageman 1. Ranger In-service is the first week in April and again the first week of May. 2. Brian is hiring seasonal staff. Do you know any one that needs a job? 3. Brian will be developing a training program for all permanent staff. 4. Construction on the new maintenance shop will start as early as June and could be complete within six months. It may be ready to move in to by Christmas. 5. A big emphasis for Washington State Parks is in the draft stages for a Long Term Clean, Green and Be Seen & Customer Service Initiative Plan setting measurable goals for This focus takes in to account a guest s very first impression the cleaning standard, signage, the entrance, the restrooms, the buildings guests use. With limited staff and dollars, staff and hosts will focus on visibility, including Rangers could ride their bikes more. The hope is to give every effort to improve the customer service that staff and hosts are providing. 6. The water is turned off seasonally in the campgrounds; it is now turned on for the season. 7. It has been a stormy weather season with mud, rain, landslides, and trees down. Staff has been busy getting the parks ready for the season. There are mudslides to deal with, trees down, and branches to dispose of at each park in Brian s area. 8. Fort Townsend opens April 1 st and is trying to keep up with getting ready. Trees fell in the camp loop and set them back a bit, and trees are down just outside the park/past the power line. 9. Senior park aide Wade Jorgenson is the lone staff until seasonal staff is in place, and he has been working hard to keep up. He is clearing branches, mowing, readying the (electric for clean and green) vehicles and mowers, and much more, for the season. 10. Brian reviewed the Gender-segregated facilities sent by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Assistant Director Mike Sternback. This update is for all staff to understand some recent changes in the law. 11. There are two free days this month. March 19 (Saturday) Washington State Parks 103 rd birthday - visitors are invited to help celebrate by enjoying a state park for free that day. March 26 (Saturday) A springtime free Saturday. C. Fort Worden Programming Partners Tim Lawson 1. Process - The Partners are looking how to increase conversations and work with the PDA and the Park. 2. Name Change - They will be referring to themselves as the Programming Partners Group and will meet two times a month, one which will be a work session with Parks & PDA.

3 3. The PTSWW Founder s Day Breakfast honoring Jaap Romijn will be held 8-10 am on March 24. D. Historic Interpretive Programs Alfred Chiswell and Kevin Alexander 1. The big event coming up is Labor Day Weekend. They are looking forward to having the military people back including the Civil War and WWII folks and the Military Vehicles. Members of the HIMARS Missile Unit from Fort Lewis might attend. Permits have been turned in and are pending approval. 2. Kevin shared that the cruise tours start April 14. There were 18 cruises this year. 3. Volunteer host positions at the CAM are full, thanks to Bill Drath. 4. Bill shared that the COQ was open last weekend for the Victorian Festival and is now open weekends. E. Friends of Fort Worden Claude Manning 1. Trail Team - Scotch broom removal work party was held on Feb. 27 at Chinese Gardens. Total of 15 volunteers contributed 45 hours of volunteer effort. 2. Annual meeting will be held tomorrow Friday, March 18, 5:30-8:00 in the Commons Company A. There will be a social gathering, short meeting, featured speaker and membership drive. The speaker will be noted wildlife photographer and author Paul Bannick who will speak at 6:30 on The Owl and the Woodpecker. The presentation is free and open to the public. Please come. 3. The FFWSP will be developing new programs in natural history education in the coming year. Some of our proposals include: a. More presentations open to the public. b. This Month in the Park natural history education posters highlighting current sights (migratory birds, wildflowers in bloom, etc.) for Park visitors. c. Guided naturalist walks. d. Additional postings to our Facebook page, such as the ongoing Where in the Fort? and On Foot in the Fort series. F. Friends of Fort Townsend Susan Cronshaw 1. Susan distributed the new The Plants of Fort Townsend State Park brochure by Fred and Ann Weinmann. 2. There has been lots of cleanup of the downed trees and debris. 3. The park reopens for the season on April 1. The Friends Barn is almost completely booked for the 2016 year. 4. Ceiling fans (for the Barn) have arrived at Fort Worden, but not to Fort Townsend yet. 5. The Annual Meeting is April 9 with John Lecanstine and will include a talk about bees, wasps and hornets. 6. The Beach Restoration project continues on schedule. There will be a preview walk on June 4 and 5 with a lot of exhibits. There will be a grand opening on October 2, for which they hope to have the Larry Eifert mural up for exhibit, too. 7. The attack owl is still around.

4 G. Volunteer Coordination Bill Drath 1. Park volunteers donated almost 800 hours in February and other partner volunteers donated around 400 hours, totaling 1200 hours of volunteer time for the area. 2. CAM still needs volunteer help for the month of April. If you know anyone, please contact Bill, Alfred or Kevin. H. FWAC Transparency Darcy McNamara 1. Posting of Minutes - As the newest FWAC member, she was looking for past minutes available to the general public. She has contacted many entities including the State Parks and the PDA. Bill Drath has been looking in to posting/storing the FWAC minutes to the State Parks website, which looks promising. 2. Public Access - Todd noted that the Seminar Building is available to FWAC whenever physical accessibility is requested. V. REPORTS RELEVANT TO FORT WORDEN: A. County Phil Johnson was absent B. City Pam Adams 1. The City had a dog ordinance workshop. No official votes were taken but the council is leaning towards deleting the voice control exception to the leash law. Dogs can be at large only on their owner's property. The proposed ordinance will be on an agenda for a future council meeting where the public can give input. Whether to allow dogs to be at large on city beaches was also discussed, but it was noted that there were only a few city beaches. Most were County, State, Federal or Port owned. 2. A suggestion was made to put a sign up at the beginning of the Fort Worden part of North Beach. There is a sign at the beginning of the trail but not on the beach. 3. There was no conclusion with regard to dogs on city beaches. Staff will be reviewing appropriate areas for a fenced dog park or two. More discussion will follow at a public meeting. C. Port Pete Hanke was absent D. Commission Rodger Schmitt 1. Parks Budget - Rodger reviewed action on the supplemental operating budget (see attached Supplemental Operating Budget Comparison). The capital budget is in process. Earned revenue increased 16%, but the governor and legislature wants to claim it for other purposes in varying degrees. SEE ATTACHED 2016 Supplemental Operating Budget Comparisons. 2. Public Workshops on RBAs Three public meetings are planned to discuss potential Recreational Business Activities (RBAs). One is to be held at Fort Flagler State Park on Tuesday, March 24.

5 3. John Wayne Pioneer Trail The Commission has begun a planning process to shape the future of the eastern section of Iron Horse State Park and the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Public Meetings were held on March 8 & 9. More information is available at 4. St. Edwards Seminary The legislature has agreed that the Commission can enter into a 62-year lease with the affirmative vote of at least five Commissioners. 5. Navy Growlers - There was a letter of concern from the public from a Whidbey Island Friends meeting about Navy special activities in State Parks. 6. The next Commission meeting is in Tumwater on Wednesday & Thursday, March See agenda at VI. NEW BUSINESS: A. Planning for December's Commissioners Retreat Joyce Francis 1. FWAC and others need to begin planning for the Commissioners Retreat at Fort Worden on Wednesday and Thursday, December 7 th and 8 th. Joyce asked Rodger to advise us on how to proceed. 2. Rodger encouraged the Programming Partners and the PDA to be engaged. There is time to pull together and wow the commissioners. They will have meetings planned in the mornings of both days. We could schedule some welcoming social event on Tuesday evening (as Commissioners will likely come the evening before), some show-and-tell tours on Wednesday afternoon, and a dinner Wednesday evening. Attendees will likely depart after the Thursday meeting. PARKS would cover the per diem cost for attendees. 3. Numbers - Executive team will be here, as well as seven commissioners, plus Park staff and guests (spouses/partners). The total will be participants, so plan on 25 or 30 to 35 max. 4. Becki Ellison (from State Parks Headquarters) will work with PDA for rooms, etc. meetings. We should propose an agenda and coordinate with Becki. MEETING ADJOURNS - A motion by Dave Given to adjourn at 2:00 p.m. was seconded by Pam Adams and passed unanimously. NEXT MEETING April 21, 2016, Noon 2 PM Jean Dunbar Room, Building 200