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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: December 28, 2020 <br />TOPIC: Implementing the 2016 Kittitas County Parks, Recreation and Open Space <br />Plan <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff to Begin Implementation Efforts <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Begin implementing recommendations contained in the 2016 Kittitas County Parks, <br />Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS). <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• The PROS was implemented in Resolution 2016-076 <br />• Increasing recreation demands merit County coordinated response <br />• The plan has gone largely untouched since adoption — aside from the Yakima <br />River Access Planning effort and the Lodging Tax grant program <br />• Public Works staff has prepared a proposed implementation strategy for Board <br />consideration implementing elements of the plan beginning in 2021 <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The 2016 PROS plan (EXHIBIT 1) provides significant guidance for providing <br />additional park, recreation and open space areas countywide. The demand for recreation <br />and conservation areas is on the rise with no formal commitment of implementing each of <br />the various elements within the adopted plan. The County is currently developing a <br />wayfinding initiative, evaluating additional public Yakima River access locations, <br />discussing possible ATV tourism routes, and exploring the possibilities for sustainable <br />camping facilities in Salmon La Sac. The 2016 plan was adopted by a previous Board of <br />County Commissioners and it may be prudent for the current Board to revisit the plan and <br />key recommendations, as well as the tasks and completion timelines in the <br />implementation strategy. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The plan is approaching five years of age without significant consideration since adoption <br />in 2016. Currently, increasing demands from County residents and as well as increased <br />tourism and growing recreational pressure from outside the County appear to merit a <br />revisitation of the plan. Increasingly, PW is hearing that a lack of pedestrian access to <br />County roads is creating dis-satisfaction with many County residents. Competing <br />Page 1 of 6 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY CONMUSSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />