On behalf of the city of Enumclaw’s Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Board I want to both clarify the Parks Board position regarding user fees and long term leases and to encourage a quick resolution to the ongoing stadium negotiations between the city of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw School District.

On Aug. 18, the Park Board unanimously agreed that the following be considered by City Council and city administration.

1. All fees are waived for a period of 30 days while negations between the city of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw School District continued.

2. The city and school district expedite a long-term lease agreement before October.

3. Waive fees to the school district for

a. Concessions

b. Ticket Sales

c. P.A. system

The Park Board is convinced that the best solution for the citizens of Enumclaw is to immediately enter into a long-term lease which will mitigate the city of Enumclaw’s financial risk of turf replacement costs.

The school district is the best candidate to bare the financial burden, not the city. We have also learned that city has requested repayment of $18,000 for a city match portion of a grant; this fee appears to be a new element the city desires as part of a lease agreement. If the city is to retain ownership of the property the fee should not be imposed. Finally we have learned that city of Enumclaw is concerned with mitigating any parking problems with Expo Center events when two or more events are scheduled for the same day or evening. The Park Board is confident that any risk for competing parking spaces can be mitigated through creative and cooperative efforts between the city of Enumclaw and the Enumclaw School District. We urge both the city of Enumclaw’s administration and the Enumclaw School District to work immediately to resolve this issue in an open and honest environment that will strengthen a long term partnership between both parties. Our citizens, students, and community will mutually benefit from a long-term lease in which the school district manages the field, the scheduling, and the turf replacement.

Tom Hassenauer, chairman

Enumclaw Parks Board