03/08/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public hearing was opened. . Jon Silvermoon, 47~ West 25th Avenue, representing Friendly Area Neighbors, asked that $13,000 be shifted from urban beautification, streets, and bike paths to open space and parks. He said that would provide more adequate funding to meet the priority of needs for his neighborhood. . Paul Parker, 750 Louis Lane, identified himself as chairperson of the Active Bethel Citizens, and offered to answer any question there might be regarding original recommendations from his neighborhood. Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony presented. Bob Thomas, acting Renewal Agency director, ,said that staff recommendation was to adopt the budget as presented in the application on the basis that money so used would be of more benefit to the ABC neighborhood if used to provide bike paths, pedestrian routes, and other means of transportation through the neighborhood where deadend streets exist. Further, he said, the parks department had indicated that $13,000 added for parks acquisition would not have a significant impact on the neighborhood. There are now large areas of open space and major parks on each side in addition to a small park inside the neighborhood. Acquisition of addi- tional park land at this time, he said, also would add to maintenance costs and would present budget problems. - Councilman Murray added that the Commission had not received the ABC request prior to its meeting, so the issue was not discussed there. However, the Commission did discuss at some length the question of funding projects that would affect the city's future budgets and future applications for community development funds. Park development, he said, was an area which raises that kind of concern. Councilman Bradley referred to February 26 Community Development minutes which re- flected some concern about staffing a community center in the West University Neighborhood area with community development funds. Mr. Thomas said that staff recommendation was not to approve funding of staff for that neighborhood center on the basis that it would be a precedent setting decision. However, the Commis- sion overruled and recommended the staffing in the budget which was forwarded to the Council. Mr. Thomas added that funding WUN center did not necessarily mean the Commission would look favorably upon the funding of other centers. This is a unique situation - there is no school or any other public facility in the West University Neighborhood area to serve as a focal point, and the Commission responded to that expressed need. In response to Mr. Bradley's comment with regard to staffing the center with voluntary help, Mr. Thomas said that was what was ex- pected until the request for funding was presented to HCDC. He believed the Com- mission felt it very important that the community center in that area get off to a good start, and that staffing to the extent of $6,000 would tend to ensure functioning of that facility as intended. Manager commented that the decision was on a split vote in the Commission and noted that it provided for one year of staffing only. He added that another concern was that $6,000 wouldn't buy much staffing.. The staff originally thought that the center's staffing would comprise live-in maintenance with rent being part of the compensation. However, WON saw the position as one that would help organize the neighborhood programs and build up neighborhood activity. - Councilman Williams asked if the use of CD funds in this manner had the approval of the city attorney. Mr. Thomas said the attorney had not been asked specifically in this case, but that staffing of community centers was listed as an eligible activity in the grant regulations. Mr. Williams then asked if his understanding was correct that the transfer of funds would be permitted as a proper expenditure of public funds, but there would be severe limitations on the activities of the I~,. 3/8/76 - 7