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Residents say $50,000 line item for West Sixth Park lacks funding source; council asked to respond in writing
Summary
Resident Linda Martin told the Anacortes City Council on Feb. 3 that a $50,000 line for the proposed West Sixth Street park appears in the city's capital facilities plan with the funding source listed as "donations," and she called the presentation at a recent parks meeting misleading.
At the Feb. 3 Anacortes City Council meeting, resident Linda Martin told the council the parks department had informed neighbors that the proposed West Sixth Street park shows a $50,000 line in the 2025 capital facilities plan but that the plan lists "donations" rather than a city budget source for the money.
"We were told that there is 0 money in the budget for that park," Martin said at public comment. She said neighbors had previously been told $50,000 was allocated in the capital facilities plan and that the new explanation — that the parks department budgets are based on "optimism and generosity of the community" — felt like being "duped." Martin also said she heard the city might sell property on West Fifth Street to fund the West Sixth park but said no public meetings had discussed such a sale.
Councilmember Walters asked for a written response to Martin’s comments; he said the description in the parks meeting was inconsistent with his understanding. Staff said they would work on providing that response. Another resident speaker asked for better advance notice about community meetings, suggested multiple notification methods (Nextdoor, Facebook, utility bills, and intersection signs) and asked that interactive financial reports be restored to the city website so the public could better interpret the budget.
The public comment record at the meeting did not show any formal council action or changes to the capital facilities plan during the session.
