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Parks board urges attendance at Charter Commission meeting amid proposed changes to 7% parks set‑aside
Summary
Board members discussed possible changes to the charter provision that reserves 7% of the city’s income-tax revenue for parks capital, debated options (retain 7% with flexibility, fixed 60/40 splits, or removing caps) and urged residents to attend the Charter Commission meeting Monday at 5 p.m. to weigh in.
The Parks and Recreation Board spent a substantial portion of its April 1 meeting discussing proposed Charter Commission language that could alter the city’s 7% parks income‑tax set‑aside.
Valerie (staff member) told the board the administration is advocating to keep the 7% set‑aside but to allow more flexibility in how those funds are used. "We're advocating to keep the 7%," she said, "but allow some flexibility to use that money when it needs to be help, maybe in some other areas, not strictly just program buying land."
Board members cautioned against removing restrictions that protect capital spending. One committee member warned that removing the set‑aside or making it unrestricted could make it harder to maintain existing park assets: "You'd have a big problem maintaining the things we have without that set aside," the member said. The board emphasized that many capital maintenance items (for example, projects over $25,000 expected to last more than five years) are funded from park capital and that losing the set‑aside could shift costly maintenance into the general fund or require future levies.
Options discussed included keeping the 7% but changing the maximum that may be used for certain items (the transcript references current language allowing up to 15% in some cases), increasing that cap (for example, to 30%), or adopting a fixed split such as 60/40 for capital versus operating. Staff repeatedly stressed the need for simple, understandable ballot language so council can decide whether to put a proposal before voters.
Valerie urged board members and residents to attend the Charter Commission meeting Monday at 5 p.m. or to submit a written comment via the clerk; she provided a contact (Nicole Messner) and an email for submissions. The administration will make a presentation to the Charter Commission and the board encouraged members to participate in that public review before any final council or ballot decisions.
