Parks Advisory Board - June 17, 2025

Agenda

5:30 PAB Dinner/Social Meeting Agenda

1. 6:00 Call Regular Meeting to Order
2. 6:05 Meeting Minutes
   1. Review/Approval of the May 20, 2025 PAB Minutes
3. 6:10 Citizen Input & Correspondence
4. 6:15 South County Parks Overview – Tom Riggs and Tim Farrell
5. 6:30 Administrative Updates – Tom Riggs
   1. Budget Update
   2. Park System Plan Status Update
   3. Local Share Program Update
   4. Carver Boat Ramp Renaming Request Update
   5. July Park Tour
   6. Other
6. 6:45 Park Updates – Mark Shaw
7. 6:55 Good of the Order
8. 7:00 Adjournment

7:05 Walking Tour of Hebb Park

Next Regular Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday, July 15, 2025

- Meeting and Tour at Park – Location TBD

Minutes

PAB Members Present: Justin Ostrander, Mike Ferrell, Louise Lopes, Thomas Hester, Dana Hindman-Allen, Sara Furber, Angela Peterson, Rob Smoot
Staff Present: Sarah Eckman, Tom Riggs, Mark Shaw, Tim Farrell, Sandy Weijland Guests Present:

I. Call to Order
Justin O called the meeting to order at 6:13 pm

II. Meeting Minutes
MOTION: Rob S. made the motion to approve the May 2025 minutes; Sarah F seconded the motion. Approval was unanimous.

III. Citizen Input
Mike F mentioned the City of Portland decided to divert $1.9 million from the public safety fund to Portland Parks. Tom R added that he read the Portland Police will be taking cuts to their budget, which could affect the homeless outreach program, and that Portland Parks will use the additional funds for projects. Portland Parks also deals with the homeless and works in correlation with the Police Department. Portland Parks had recently taken a cut of $9 million, so this will restore some of that loss.
It's interesting to note that last year in Forest Grove, there was a levy to benefit public safety and a levy for parks. After some polling, the parks levy looked to pass, and the police levy did not. So the two joined up together and ran a joint Parks and Public Safety levy.
Justin O asked if we had a commissioner interested in joining our Advisory Board meetings. Sarah E said that now the county is fully staffed with commissioners, they will be working through assignments, and should be determining representatives soon.

IV. South County Parks Overview – Tom Riggs and Tim Farrell
Tim Farrell is our Ranger Coordinator who oversees the south county parks, which consist of eight parks, one undeveloped property, 405 acres, 109 campsites, five restrooms, four launches, one marina, and one golf course. [Tom referred to the map handout, pointing out the locations of these properties]. Feyrer Park recently had a repaving project completed. Knight’s Bridge Park is closed this year for a bridge engineering project; the department is renting the site from us to offset the loss of parking revenue. Stone Creek Golf Club is managed by Total Golf Management, but we occasionally help out with projects. Tom R compiled data into pie charts. North parks have more acres, more attendance, more parking spaces, and more campsites.
However, the South parks get more overnight stays and have more boat launches. North gets about 60% of the staffing, but brings in 60% of the revenue, and the south gets and brings in the remaining 40%. Tim F pointed out that the revenue charts do not include the revenue received from the Boones Ferry Marina; which is over $200,000 a year. Feyrer Park campground is the most densely used. Metzler Park campground probably fills up the quickest, especially for holiday weekends. Metzler also has an 18-hole disc golf course and some new trails added by Trailkeepers of Oregon. Boones Ferry Marina is the largest marina on the Willamette River above Willamette Falls. Wilhoit Springs Park is possibly the most tranquil park setting with the “healthy” effervescent spring water. The Feyrer Family still hosts a large family picnic every year in the park. The family donated the park in the 1950s. Wagon Wheel Park may have the best swimming hole in the county.

V. Administrative Updates – Tom Riggs

1. Budget Update – The county budget hearing is tomorrow (6/18), the budget that was submitted and reviewed should be officially adopted.
2. Parks System Plan Status Update – We have some bids in and our panelists are reviewing the proposals this week.
3. Local Share Program Update – We were hoping to have a signed IGA (Inter-Government Agency) by now. It’s close, but still a couple of weeks away.
4. Carver Boat Ramp Renaming Request Update – This discussion was going to be presented to the BCC, but got postponed to July 8.
5. July Park Tour – One idea up for a visit is Boring Station Trailhead Park. There is a picnic shelter there now that many people have not yet seen. It was agreed that BSTP would be a good option.

VI. Park Updates – Mark Shaw

1. Park Updates – Mark Shaw
2. We have most of the seasonal staff on. We had a good Orientation session, with most of the seasonals going through a Verbal Judo training. VJ is using tactical communication to de-escalate situations, gain compliance, and properly engage with customers for great customer service. The younger seasonals have given positive feedback; they feel more confident in situations.
3. A vegetation survey was performed for Barton’s quarry pond to determine the health of the natural resources. Looking forward to seeing those results.
4. We are almost fully staffed for Park Hosts – for the first time in a long time.

5. The Emerald Ash Borer is now officially in Oregon – in the Sherwood/Forest Grove area. Once this bug gets into an area, 98% of the ash trees do not survive. They are blackish-green beetles, about a centimeter long, flat on top and U-shaped at the bottom.

VII. Good of the Order

1. Sarah F asked about the Madrone Wall closure for the Peregrine Falcons – if someone was monitoring the birds in the area. Tom R replied that yes, in past years, we have contracted with a biologist to monitor the falcons, but it is currently monitored by staff and volunteers. The last two seasons, the nesting birds have not been very successful. Even after a generation, future bloodlines can come back to the same nesting spots.

2. The question was raised whether one can go to the Stone Creek Golf Club and just walk around. Yes! There is a nice trail circling the course, and though it’s a county park, there is no parking fee.

VIII Adjournment

Thomas Hester moved to adjourn the meeting; it was seconded by Louise Lopes. The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:00 pm.

After the adjournment, Tom R led PAB members on a tour around Hebb Park.
Next meeting: July 15, 2025, at Boring Station Trailhead Park picnic shelter. Dinner served at 5:30; meeting starts at 6:00 pm.