02/20/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Edward Bay, 4387 Avalon, stated he had had a heart attack and open heart surgery and due to his swimming, he is now off medication. e Ivan Niven, 3940 Hilyard, said he would like to add that swimming is also beneficial to injured athletes and often their coaches will permit no other kind of exercise but swimming. He also distributed a document to the Councilors showing data that he said he had received from City staff which shows that Jefferson Pool has the largest population area to serve of any of the year-round pools. He further stated that priority should be given to short- and long-term development of Jefferson Pool. LaVerne Edwards, 1260 President, stated that she is interested in the pools and also in the entire budget. She stated that a study done by Friends of the Library shows that the Fire and Police departments, the Library, and the Parks and Recreation Department, who have the most impact on the people, have had their budgets i~creased very minutely over the last five years while other departments have had their budgets increased in a much higher proportion. She stated a concern that perhaps tax relief being given to building developers would not be enough incentive to build if facilities were being closed down. She also referred to previous testimony about attorney's fees and said that the fees are disbursed to not just the one firm mentioned, but by quite a few firms (according to information she said she had received from the Finance Department). She also stated that consultants' fees make up a relatively large portion of the City's budget and she realizes that the Parks Department does not have the money at this time to keep the pools open, but suggested that an interdepartmental transfer of funds could be done. She also stated she does not want to see any of the pools closed and expressed hope that the ~. City can solve its budget problems. Carolyn Orum, 2389 Laurel Hill Drive, stated agreement with previous speakers regarding keeping the pools open. She also noted that as a senior citizen, she can swim for free. She suggested perhaps having the users pay more in order to keep the pools open. Delta Sanderson, 985 Lorane Highway, stated that swimming at the pool had relieved her stress when her husband died, that she is arthritic and would be in more pain without being able to swim. She would like to see how budget monies are spent and felt it important to maintain programs that relate directly to the public. Speaking against keeping the pools open; Bob Martens stated that he is not against swimming, but he is looking at this issue from an economical point of view. He suggested that those who wish to swim pay for this activity. He also suggested alternative forms of exercise which would be beneficial to the public during the closure. He stated that he did not see how taxpayers could afford to pay for all the services which all the people want. e 2/20/80--10