OPINION: Did you know about the proposed $27 Million "Downtown Park"? According to Council Finance Chair, Mr. Richard Cole, a Downtown Park has been planned for years.Several comments have been posted. Here's a brief breakdown of the proposed Parks budget:
In this budget cycle, the total proposed Capital Fund (1) for Parks is $75,000.000 (2) over the next six years. Parks General Fund is budgeted to go up 19% to $12,137,784 over two years. Parks salary and benefits alone will increase by just over $ 1 Million. Council has approved many items of the General Fund increase and will converse further on others. However, $43,060,000 is proposed for capital projects (2009-2014) and is yet to be approved by Council. The Downtown Park and a $10K linear park are two of the projects.
HAS THE PUBLIC BEEN FULLY ENGAGED in the Downtown Park budget process? Doubtful. After two public workshops many months ago, six "Results Committees" - each with 1 citizen and staff - were formed by the Administration. These committees evaluated and ranked budget requests (3) for the six "priority areas" defined by the Administration. The Results Committee responsible for evaluating the Parks requests was composed of one citizen and six city staff. The Parks & Trails Commission , Arts Commission and PED-Bike Advisory Committees were not included in this "Budget for Priorities" program. It seems questionable that only one citizen in the absence of the Commissions is fully adequate to evaluate and rank public requests.
In coming sessions, Parks Director Larsen will present the Results Committee's $43,060,000 Park's capital request to Council, as follows:
- $27,000,000 in new funds to build a Downtown Park.
- $10,000,000 is requested for acquisition of the BNSF railway. (See an awesome rendering of the corridor promenade)
- The council will also decide on $1,060,000 for the redevelopment of Anderson Park development and Slough Park designs; and
- $5,000,000 to buy and build new trails.
The location for the Downtown Park is "undetermined", but my guess it will be part of the BNSF railway Corridor. The BNSF linear park corridor will feature a regional trail, rain gardens, landscaped promenade with pedestrian seating and future plans for light rail transit. 3-4 roads will cross through the corridor for traffic circulation.
If you want to comment to the city try emailing: Parks/Trailz/Arts celarsen@redmond.gov or ParksAndTrailsCommission@redmond.gov.
Footnotes:
1. The city's name for the "Capital Fund" is Capital Improvement Fund or C.I.P.
2. Dollar amounts have been rounded. Verify here
3. Bureaucratic lingo for 'budget requests" is Requests for Offers or offers.
View the index for the preliminary city budget HERE! Outstanding issues are placed on the "issues table" for later review by council.
CC: Council & Mayor & Parks Director Larsen, 11/09/08
Mr. Myers comment was sent by email on 11/19 -
ReplyDeleteBob:
I read your article on the budgeting process, and particularly the article about downtown parks. You state that the Council has already “rubber stamped” the general fund portion of the Parks budget, and that is not true. The first round of budget review features an item by item discussion of each offer to make sure that we understand the basis and nature of the offers. In the next round we will discuss among ourselves our spending priorities and determine how much of what offers we are willing to fund. Malissa Files is keeping an issues list in which stated questions or concerns are listed, and each of us has our own notes and analysis. We haven’t “rubber stamped” anything yet. Given the uncertainty on revenue sources and questions about the need for some items, I expect a thorough vetting of the proposals before a final vote is taken. It is also my understanding that we may suggest things we do not feel are necessary, and vote a lower level of funding because of that, but the Mayor was wide spending discretion within the total amount authorized. As we do not have a cloak room, you will get to see all of our discussions live and in color on RCTV. Finance Chair Cole plans to ask for Council comment on each offer, and there are no bashful Council members.
As a side note, I think the Administration has done an excellent and forthcoming job of providing data and explanations for the new Budgeting By Priorities and other issues. The Mayor’s “three touch” system provides the foundation for an evolving process that usually ends up in unanimous support. I expect some difference of opinion of various budget offers, and will be surprised if some things are not cut or deferred.
Best wishes-
Hank Myers
City Councilman
This email was sent on 11/19.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your email, Councilman Myers. I'll post it as a comment in my blog.
Thanks for clarifying Council's budget process. I remember once hearing "rubber stamp" and it is a catchy word! But, I forgot about your Issues Table process and thank you for reminding and correcting me . I am gratefull for your good works on the Budget and other Redmond issues! Regards, Bob.
I have tried this one for 5-6 years with different groups by email and inperson - - mayor, council, parks dept, Sato, Talley Hudson; Timothy Cox; Roy Lehner etc
ReplyDeletebut to no avail. Have talked also with owners about it (Buff Nelson Properties) and there is interest .. Here is concept:
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For over 10 years, I have thought about this possibility but have only now been moved to action. . There is a site in downtown Redmond that would be an "IDEAL" central Park that would solidify a cohesive downtown "place" -- one that would stimulate actual WALKING, browsing, and buying in old downtown Redmond.
The site of (I think it is?) "Precision Tune", across the street from Alpine Hut (80th and Leary?) should be purchased and turned into a Park for downtown Redmond. The vision is as clear to see as the rains of winter in the NW.
It would define an epicenter for downtown. . If you stand and look, with Alpine Hut on one side, and the brick (Classy Oak?) on the other side, and the other old buildings in town all around, it would bring (finally) a center focal point for downtown which allow people to stop and feel the history all around them (ala Old Bellevue, parts of Kirkland). Not a playgym park, not an active park, but a passive, walking, reflecting, comfortable oasis park.
Can you imagineer a Centennial park opening during 2012? I can! Take out that ugly gas station in the epicenter of town, perhaps pay the Mattress Company to paint over their intrusive building-side advertisement, commission a bit of local art, add benches and low trees, and you would have yourselves a Statement site for that might allow businesses there to flourish -- competing to 'ring' that small oasis in a 'walking and wandering' community (ok, maybe even an easy yellow-brick-road walkway over to RTC .. Maybe!)
What would it take? Have you looked into the owners/property situation of that site? Know there is a lot of competing priorities, but if you consider the 'center of gravity' for Redmond moving over to RTC, this would provide a Statement that the legacy of downtown Redmond is worth investing in. ..
Is there anybody who might share my vision here to help me get it off the ground? Perhaps a public/grassroots start, then go for public/private money to 'buy out' (or eminent domain) the TuneUp shop, and get a real "There" there in old downtown Redmond??
Thx, Gene Owen . . 425-881-1881
can send the ppt of the map with overlay ideas or if this blog allows ppt uploads (?), email geneowen1@msn.com