KBIN/SNA/McD:                                                               cc: Mo, EH, BU, NWC
 
re:  South Kenmore
 
I provide the following minutes from a recent meeting of 'Friends of Saint Edward State
Park' (a non-political organization), to update the community on the state of the park,
seminary building, and surroundings.
 
Whether you agree in full or in part with the comments contained herein, my purpose in
posting this is to recognize and acknowledge involvement by a diverse group of citizens
and entities, and to convey information about another part of Kenmore.
 
Full disclosure ~ my family writes a $25 dues check to Friend's each year in general support
of this diverse group's collective efforts, and this beautiful public asset.
 
Ranger Mo deserves a great deal of recognition in managing an urban state park overseen
by an agency that is woefully underfunded by the State of Washington, but which has
received increased attention with the help of our area's Representatives in Olympia,
Maralyn Chase and Ruth Kagi.
 
My hat is off, as well, to Evergreen Hospital, Bastyr University, and the City of Kenmore for
their years of continuous operational funding support of the Carole Ann Wald Pool at Saint
Edward State Park, under the great mangement of Northwest Center, and base line facility
funding support of Washington State Parks.
 

 

> Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:31:59 -0800
> From: janiceg@...
> Subject: [stedwards] Jan 2008 Meeting Minutes for Friends of Saint Edward State Park
>
> Friends of Saint Edward State Park
> January 9, 2008 Meeting Minutes
>
> *_Old Business_*
> Aaron’s Room in the gym is definitely reserved for meetings on the 2^nd
> Wed. of each month for the year 2008.
> It was suggested that email be sent to members and people who are not on
> members of the “Friends” email yahoo group.
>
> Karl Beal is helping Ranger Mohammad on a part time basis for two months.
>
> *_New Business_*
>
> Ranger Mohammad’s report:
> Next week (3^rd week of January) the exterior of the Seminary will be
> surveyed and the week after core samples will be taken around the building.
> Phase one is to deal with ground water and the basement. The planning is
> happening now and the work will be mid august to Sept. 95% of the work
> will be on the exterior.
>
> More money for the Seminary building is proposed by the Governor.
>
> Friends’ Secretary’s note: There are two bills currently in Olympia
> about the seminary building – House Bill 3108 and Senate Bill 6366.
> You can read about the House Bill by going online to
>
> www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature.
>
> *The next meeting will be Wed. Feb 13 at 7 pm in Aaron’s Room*. Ranger
> Mohammad won’t be able to attend.
>
> There was discussion about the original “Friends” brochure and
> publicity. Karl will work on creating a new one and include pictures of
> current Friends activities.
>
>
> *Earth Day will be celebrating at Saint Edward State Park on Saturday,
> April 26*.
>
> The Grand hall has been reserved for that occasion.
> Volunteers and participants are welcome. Many of the events and
> demonstrations that happened last year are being planned for this year also.
> Ranger Mohammad will be doing the slide show of Saint Edward Seminary
> history and guided tours of the Seminary building.
>
> NW Center will be doing their free swim and other activities during the April Pool’s > Day. Some demonstrations planned are Allied Waste and recycling, bird watching
> with the Audubon Society, a Master Gardner demo, boating safety by State
> Parks. The community service project that day will be ivy removal from
> the park. There was discussion about advertising the event.
> This event will continue to be planned at the next meeting.
>
> Sincerely, Janice Gerrish, Secretary
>
> Saint Edward State Park was created through the vision and hard work of
> many volunteers and various officials when at that time the Seminary
> grounds could have been a housing development. What is the value of
> several acres of green grass and woods where kids and families can go
> and picnic and play free of charge? This is a serious question. The park
> continues to be a special place worthy of the continued dedication and
> hard work by many people on many levels. I would like to say ‘Thank you
> and don’t loose hope because all efforts, even the small ones, can make
> a big difference when combined and working towards a common good.”
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> I share this letter:
>
> Citizens for Saint Edward State Park
> Parks Commission Meeting in Silverdale on January 18, 2007
> January 21, 2008
>
> This is an update on the results of the Commission Meeting. Citizens
> attending were: Manny, Ray, Rebecca and Ann. Also from our community we
> welcomed Elizabeth Mooney –with Sno-King Watershed Council. Elizabeth
> has been campaigning to save our streams for a long time.
>
> Much to our surprise, Mr. Don Hoch of the Auburn office awarded Ranger
> Mohammad Mostafavinassab and his crew the Centennial 2013 Award for
> their work at the park – Don was very gracious with his acknowledgement.
> Later Manny and Ray made a presentation of a Letter of Commendation and
> an honorary plaque to Ranger Mostafavinassab with sponsoring groups of
> Bastyr University, the Northwest Center, the Cascade Orienteering Club,
> Denny Creek Citizens Alliance, Citizens for Saint Edward State Park, and
> Friends of Saint Edward State Park.
>
> As you all know, Ranger Mostafavinassab merits our appreciation as the
> Park Manager caught between two contentious groups: citizens and park
> users who are dedicated to keeping the Park as a public park and an
> equally determined bunch of Parks headquarters folks intent on >commercialization. We will have an official recognition event on Earth Day when >we will convey the Letter and Plaque to Mohammad.
>
> Also, many thanks to Ann Hurst who prepared an excellent four page
> newsletter with color photos and written comments on the impact of
> expanding the ball fields on the environment-you would be proud of this
> high quality work product and of its truth. It is high quality work such
> as this that convinces our legislators that we have the commitment,
> skills, and knowledge necessary to carry on our active opposition to
> commercialization of our parks, green spaces and public spaces.
>
> In summary, the Parks Commission accepted and adopted the Seminary
> Management Plan as finalized by the Citizen Advisory Committee (AC)
> throughout its two years of deliberations and thirty AC meetings.
>
> Mr. Bill Evans from the city of Kenmore led off with a report on the
> City’s progress to date on the expansion of the ball field. Elizabeth
> Mooney was then recognized to rebut sections of Mr. Evan’s statement
> where he had failed to report about impacts on the wetlands.
>
> Speaking on the Agenda Item Saint Edward Management Plan were Ann Hurst,
> Elizabeth Mooney, Rebecca Hirt, Manny Mankowski and Ray Benish. Ann
> focused on impacts to wetlands and her research on streams including
> #0226 which courses very near the ball field (today on January 21, 2008
> there are sections of the ball field under standing water). Elizabeth
> spoke to environmental issues and how the entire watershed was impacted
> by rapid development with little concern for environmental issues by
> permitting agencies. Rebecca supported the Management Plan and the
> extensive Community effort that went into it and commented on local
> funding (she reported that Evergreen Hospital has never been thanked for
> its ongoing financial support for the swimming pool). Manny Mankowski
> read the Commendation Letter and spoke of Mohammad’s hard work and
> dedication. Ray talked about the “long and difficult road” traveled to
> reach an agreement now memorialized in the Management Plan. He also
> informed the Commission about the Wetland Mitigation Report-Ball Field
> undertaken by the City in November of 2004 and deliberately withheld
> from the ball field deliberations of the Advisory Committee.
>
>
> Over the last thirty months here is a partial list of the achievements
> of our group of citizen activists working within the parameters of
> public input and discussion:
>
> · Stopped the commercialization and privatization of the park by
> McMenamins’ to develop a large scale hotel, brewpub, restaurants and
> conference center.
>
> · Successfully nominated the parkland to the National Register of
> Historic Places.
>
> · Designated the Western portion of the park with the Land
> Classification of “Natural” (in opposition to Park Staff who wanted
> designation as “Recreational”): Natural limits development options.
>
> · Elevated the Park to an issue of regional importance in the
> legislature with support from all legislators in the 1^st , 45^th , and
> 32^nd districts.
>
> · Supported a legislative appropriation to fund a “Historical Structures
> Report”. The Parks Commission would not acknowledge that this study was
> necessary to make informed decisions about the future of the seminary
> building.
>
> · Completed extensive research into Land and Water Conservation Fund
> issues having to do with “Conversion”.
>
> · Currently undertaking research into stream and wetlands within the
> Park as well as supporting North Puget Sound environmental group.
>
> · Convinced the Parks Commission to adopt a protective _Management Plan_
> for the Park that stresses balanced uses of the Park.
>
> Special acknowledgment needs to be paid to Kenmore City Council Member,
> John Hendrickson who is always ready to listen to everyday citizen
> interests and opinions as well as to undertake long road tips to
> Commission Meeting and to attend other local meetings. And many many
> thanks to State Representative Maralyn Chase who is truly a “grass
> roots” politician thus giving all of us hope for the future. And thanks
> to State Representative Ruth Kagi for finding the legislative
> wherewithal to fund the Historical Structures Report.
>
> Thanks to those in our community who stepped forward to help save our
> park for our children and grandchildren as well as the small defenseless
> critters who call the Park their home for being allowed to survive for
> another generation or two.
>
> Ray Benish & Manny Mankowski,
> Co Chairs, Citizens for Saint Edward State Park
>