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Resident asks council to add a swing at Swanson Park; council directs staff to explore LMD process
Summary
A resident asked the council to add a swing at Swanson Park. City staff outlined Local Maintenance District (LMD) funding and the procedures required — including a potential Proposition 218/majority-protest process for LMD-funded improvements — and offered to return with cost and site information.
Robert Prada Grama, a Swanson Park neighbor, asked the Escalon City Council on Aug. 4 to approve installation of a swing at Swanson Park and asked the council to work with the park’s Local Maintenance District (LMD) property owners to fund the improvement. Grama said neighbors and LMD property owners support adding a swing and that he would help gather signatures and cost information.
City staff described the options. The city manager said the council could direct staff to include the swing in the LMD’s annual process or bring a standalone item if the council preferred; staff noted the LMD funding rules can require either a majority-protest (Proposition 218) process or an affirmative ballot depending on the nature of the charge. The manager said the city could fold the request into the regular LMD process for next year or begin a formal process now, and staff offered to return with site plans, cost estimates for different swing options, and an explanation of potential assessment timelines.
City staff also explained practical next steps for community members: Grama agreed to talk to neighbors and collect a petition showing local support; staff said they would prepare conceptual site plans and cost estimates and would advise the council on the assessment and balloting process that may be required for an LMD-funded improvement.
Councilmembers encouraged the resident’s offer to gather signatures to demonstrate neighborhood support and directed staff to investigate options and return with details if the council wants to pursue the project formally. No formal budget appropriation or final decision was made at the meeting.
