Kenmore planning commissioners continue PROS plan review, focus on funding options and wording ahead of council transmittal

Kenmore Planning Commission members continued deliberations on the implementation chapter of the city's Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan at a Dec. 2 meeting, focusing on how the plan frames funding options and whether the document reads as a set of options or a prescriptive recommendation.

Tom Beckwith, the plan consultant, opened the discussion by reminding the commission that "we're not looking for a recommendation. We are continuing the discussion from the last meeting," and walked commissioners through the implementation tasks, financing scenarios and appendices included in the draft.

Why it matters: the PROS plan must show a financially feasible path for the capital facilities program to meet state grant eligibility requirements while also making clear what the planning commission is (and is not) recommending to City Council. Commissioners repeatedly stressed that the document should remain an inventory of options and feasibility analysis rather than a binding list of projects the city must build.

Key facts and proposals

- Funding scenarios: Beckwith summarized three financing alternatives modeled in Appendix F, using combinations of park impact fees, REET allocations and a potential levy lid lift to fund about $40 million of acquisitions and…