The Planning Commission on July 15 reviewed a draft parks and recreation element of the city comprehensive plan and asked staff and the consultant to correct factual errors, clarify county and school district roles, and update the parks inventory before public outreach. Donna Keeler, a consultant with Facet, told commissioners the document is an initial draft and that "this is just your first look at it. There'll be plenty of opportunity, in over the next few months to provide comments and edits."

Commissioners focused discussion on four immediate points: factual corrections to site descriptions, how to count park acreage when land is privately owned or leased, the limits on using school properties for public recreation, and the cost and feasibility of building new facilities such as a municipal pool. Commissioner Sexton said the condition of some city fields raises safety concerns: "we did have one year where we had, like, 3 broken collar bones because the ground was so hard." Commissioner Huggins emphasized that school properties are not always available to the public and recommended the plan separate city‑owned park acreage from sites the city uses but does not own: "we have school properties that aren't even available to the public, during school hours."

Keeler summarized proposed changes coming from a recent consultant memo, including updating the parks inventory, documenting a level of service tied to expected growth, assessing tree canopy and coordinating trails and facilities with Skagit County and tribal entities. The draft also recommends partnerships with the school district for maintenance agreements and with regional partners on trails. Commissioners asked staff to incorporate the city’s separate parks, recreation and open space (PROS) plan into the comprehensive plan appendix once that document is finalized.

Several commissioners read the packet for factual errors. Commissioners asked that the plan remove or correct outdated facility references (for example, the library’s former location in Memorial Park), confirm ownership of specific parcels (including the Bassett Road property), and correct amenities listings (Janicki Field was described as having three full‑size soccer fields, which commissioners said is outdated). Staff and Keeler said they would fix those items in the next draft.

Commissioners also discussed long‑range topics the draft mentions but that face legal and engineering constraints. Commissioner Devoynes noted a previous item that discussed a longhouse cultural facility along the river but warned that shoreline and floodplain rules limit waterfront development. Keeler said floodplain development is "doable, but expensive," and would require showing "no rise" or building above base flood elevation. Commissioners asked the draft be revised so it does not imply waterfront siting is required for cultural facilities.

Other edits requested by commissioners included correcting page numbering and typographical errors, noting when parks are privately owned (Gateway Golf Course) or used as overflow for other purposes (Denny Engberg field and cemetery), and clarifying whether facilities listed as available to the public are in practice open outside school hours. Commissioners also suggested highlighting the Northern State Campus subarea plan and adding local park names that residents use (for example, the Metcalfe Street Mall/Promenade and Olmsted Park).

Staff said the draft was submitted late by the consultant and that this meeting was a first review. The commission and staff agreed to additional review time and to consolidate suggested edits before a joint public session with city council. No formal action or vote was taken on the parks element at the July 15 meeting; the discussion was recorded as a workshop review and staff direction to correct the draft and prepare it for broader public outreach.