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Councilman urges mayoral oversight of parks and recreation after years of deferred maintenance
Summary
Councilman John Webb pressed for greater oversight of the parks and recreation department, citing worn floors, unusable rooms and perceived lack of board accountability; supporters pointed to a new director and an inmate-labor program that have already produced outdoor improvements.
Councilman John Webb used the work session to raise long-standing concerns about parks and recreation facilities and operations, urging stronger council oversight or transfer of authority.
Webb said rooms at both recreation centers are "unusable" (rotted floors, closed game rooms) and questioned recent contracting decisions, arguing the city has a roughly "$798,000" annual budget for the rec department that is not being used to keep facilities operable. He asked the council to consider moving oversight of the rec department under mayoral control or otherwise increase council oversight and asked that the council consider the issue at the next meeting.
Supporters at the table acknowledged widespread deferred maintenance but said progress has begun: the new parks director and an inmate labor program have already produced visible improvements on outdoor spaces. Councilors agreed to continue the conversation, asked staff to engage the new director in planning discussions and set a three‑month window for reviewing visible progress, rather than expecting immediate wholesale repairs.
