FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/20/2013
Councilmember Sally Bagshaw
Citizens’ Advisory Committee created to help shape possible 2014 Parks Levy
SEATTLE – Seattle City Council created the Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee today, which will help develop a potential 2014 ballot measure for Seattle’s parks. The citizens’ committee will evaluate options for a potential package of parks and recreation projects, ongoing maintenance and operations, and programs and to identify strategic funding options for the levy.
"Our previous parks levies have leveraged enormous private and public funds to help our parks," said Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, Chair of the Council’s Parks and Neighborhoods Committee. "This is an investment, and I’m excited to work with the citizens committee to help shape the future of our parks system".
The current Parks and Green Spaces Levy, approved by 59% of the voters in 2008 will expire next year. The committee will issue a final advisory report to the Mayor and City Council by March 2014.
"I’d like to thank everyone involved in this work, especially the volunteer advisory committee," said Councilmember Bagshaw. "Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work."
The Department of Parks and Recreation has responded to reductions in its general fund budget support by finding greater operating efficiencies, embracing new management systems, reducing services and deferring routine and major maintenance. The Seattle Parks Asset Management Plan identified a backlog of nearly 300 projects with an estimated total cost of $267 million for major maintenance, including building renovations, ballfield and lighting replacements, forest and landscape restoration, roof replacements, and improvements of play areas and tennis courts.
The Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; David Namura; and Erika Nuerenberg.