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housing was for families living at 50 to 60 percent of the median income of the area. He felt parks were <br />important, but that having a roof over one's head was also important. He supported the original proposal <br />which would utilize three acres of the land for low-income housing and five acres for a park. He opposed <br />the motion. <br /> <br />Mr. Taylor stressed the importance of acting on the One-Year Action Plan before May 15. He said the <br />adoption of Councilor Poling's action would leave the $400,000 allocation for land bank acquisition within <br />the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), but it would not be consistent with the staff recom- <br />mendation. He added that either motion would work within the requirements. He felt that, should the <br />council vote for the staff recommendation, it would still allow the City to buy the land back from the <br />CDBG funds. He stated that, should the three acres not be included in the acquisition, the current policy on <br />parks would dictate that the City would purchase the five-acre parcel and the three-acre parcel would <br />remain for the school district or others to consider. <br /> <br />Councilor Pap~ conveyed his appreciation for the intent of Councilor Poling's motion. He felt that sort of <br />planning for parks and open space could monopolize council time. He averred such planning was well- <br />executed by the Parks and Open Space Division. Noting he was the City representative on the HPB, he <br />related the board had given the proposed acquisition a unanimous vote of support. He said the land could <br />be traded for another parcel, should it be purchased. He opposed the motion, but would support giving <br />direction to the City Manager to return with a plan to purchase both parcels simultaneously. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman commented that she had been pleased to see the plan for both low-income housing and a <br />five-acre park. She opined the council could not have everything it wanted. She concurred with Councilor <br />Poling regarding the neighborhood's need and desire for more park area. She thought a five-acre park was <br />ample. She noted the issue mirrored the Westmoreland School site park issue, in which the neighborhood <br />had asked for one acre and had been denied it. <br /> <br />In response to a question from Councilor Solomon, Mr. Taylor said there was no guarantee that the City <br />was purchasing the parcels, but there was a presumption that the 4J School District would negotiate with <br />the City first. <br /> <br />Councilor Taylor remarked it was unfortunate to lose any open space the City had. She opined that school <br />grounds were some of the best open spaces the City had left. She asked if the five-acre parcel would <br />provide adequate playing fields for the need. Mr. Taylor felt it might not address the larger need for <br />playing fields citywide, but it would provide good practice fields. He said it would be acquired with park <br />systems development charges (SDCs). <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey averred that, though this parcel was not park-like necessarily, the playing fields were well- <br />used and needed to be protected. He thought the plan from staff did in fact do so. He felt the need for <br />playing fields was a growing problem as the City had not done anything to replace the fields that were <br />going to be lost at Cal Young Middle School and Washington Elementary School. He believed the City <br />would be better-served by going across Beltline Road and developing the eight-acre parcel the City owned <br />there into playing fields. <br /> <br />Councilor Poling said, in response to Councilor Solomon, the negotiation for the sale of the land had yet to <br />begin. He stated that a public hearing on the proposal for the Willakenzie site would be held on May 12 <br />and the school district would decide whether to sell it or not on May 26. <br /> <br />Councilor Pap~ asked what the soonest date a Request for Proposals (RFP) for development of the three <br />acres would be issued. Mr. Taylor responded that it would be a long time. He added that, should the staff <br />motion be adopted and all eight acres were acquired, there would still be an opportunity to discuss the <br /> <br /> <br />