HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2020-03-03 - Number 4. - Sweet Email 03032020 Simpson, Anne-Marie
From: Peter Sweet <tallsweet@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2020 3:55 PM
To: Council Distribution
Subject: March 3 Council Meeting- Parks and Rec
As a citizen who has attempted to stay abreast of major events in our City, I am baffled at the process that has been used to determine which Parks
and Rec projects should be funded from last year's bond Issue. Having read the materials for tonight's Council meeting, it appears from the written
material, the prioritization of P & R projects has been determined by the Parks, Recreation Natural Resources Advisory Board, P & R Staff, input
from City Council members and results of a few Public Outreach efforts involving a maximum of 1300 citizens (in the unlikely assumption that each
citizen only attended one session). If correct, this entails minimal input from citizens who voted on the bond, will pay for the bond and who will use
the proposed P & R facilities.
From the outside, it appears that LOSD is driving the process to replace their aged LOHS swimming pool to avoid the necessity of going to voters for
another bond issue, since they have determined it isn't feasible to repair/maintain the old pool. What is the rush? Yes, everything will cost more
tomorrow. But are the voters, as a result, being short-changed on what projects they believed were included in the P &R bond issue? And if given a
choice, would voters approve a new bond with proceeds specifically allocated for an Aquatic Center.
This Swim facility is a big project. Why hasn't a valid, data-based citizen survey been done, statistically selecting a large enough, diversified
demographic polling group, and providing cost/benefit analysis for each project? In this way, citizens could really participate in the decision process
and not pretend to have been included in a few outreach pop-ups that have uncertain validity. Are other projects being vetted using a methodology
that citizens can understand and believe? While the LOHS and the vocal swimming community may be dictating this project, how are other projects
being prioritized? Which offer the greatest cost/benefit to the most citizens?
Let us hope that Citizens will get to participate on a more sound, valid basis going forward. I still have bad memories of another City Administration
many years ago envisioning for us, without input, a$100 million++ Community/Rec Center at the West End location, only to have Citizens rise up
and refuse to fund it.
Peter Sweet
330 1st Street#380
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
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