HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/1/2017 Item 1, Walker (2)
Christian, Kevin
From:Kathie Walker <kathiewalkerslo@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, June
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Park Fund
Dear Mayor Harmon and Councilmembers,
On 4/18/2017, the City Manager sought direction from Council whether the Parks and Rec Element
should be funded. There were three sources of funding included as options:
a) Reprioritize and reallocate funding from other proposed CIP projects in either 2017-18 or
2018-19.
b) Allocation of one-time General Fund balance above the 20% reserve.
c) Re-appropriation of $160,000 from $900,000 in the Parkland Fund that was set aside for a
future park acquisition in the north Broad Street area with the 2016-2017 Supplemental
Budget. (Page 22, Item 02 Strategic Budget Direction and Major City Goal Work Programs for the 2017-2019 Financial
Plan.)
During the meeting, the City Manager told Council that that under option (c) there was $900,000
available with “no plan to move on it” and “no direction to move forward.” Her statement gave Council
the false impression that the money was just sitting there, without directive, when in fact the money
was set aside on 6/14/2016 after with assurance it would be used to acquire property in the N. Broad
Street area. Additionally, on 11/1/2016, Council adopted the Parks and Recreation 2020 Strategic
Plan which gave direction to Staff: pursue a park in the N. Broad Street area. The plan and direction
was clear and I’m unsure why Staff did not pursue the adopted directive.
One thing is clear: After over forty years, the commitment was finally made to the residents of this
City to pursue the purchase of land for a park which was deemed by the previous Council to be a true
need. This commitment should not be swept aside by you.
Councilman Ashbaugh summed up the sentiment in his correspondence to you today:
“It would be a mistake to believe that just because there is a new majority on the Council, you are
wholly free to divert this funding to your own priorities. There were many, many occasions when I
voted as a Council member to continue projects and programs that had been launched by past
Councils, but where I had privately disagreed with or held reservations about the original
commitment. In the end, however, continuity and integrity of purpose is vital in this community. We all
stand on the shoulders of those in this community who have made it possible for us to enjoy the
quality of life for which this City is proud. You do not have a "tabula rasa" that permits you to
arbitrarily re-shape and revisit decisions that were made by previous Councils.”
Please have the integrity to follow through with the commitment made by the previous Council. Leave
the $900,000 intact. Direct staff to use a portion of the upcoming mid-year excess budget funds,
which is typically $1 million - $2 million, to fund the newer CIP’s which are currently proposed to be
taken out of the $900,000 park fund.
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Thank you,
Kathie Walker
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