pages: RecreationandParkCommission/2009-09-10.pdf, 7
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RecreationandParkCommission | 2009-09-10 | 7 | in the park, on the play apparatus in the parks. She has talked with the Director about park improvements and the list is extensive. It should be a priority in all of our minds that our greatest asset is our children. While she thinks that the Boys and Girls Club is a great program, they have the ability through their non-profit to raise funds. She understands that they are in threat of losing their grant if they do not receive the $2 million. Ms. Bail suggested possibly loaning the Boys and Girls Club the funds with a decent interest rate (this does not mean she is in favor of the suggestion) to be paid back. To give the Boys and Girls Club the $2 million out-right is just not in the books. We need the money for our parks and for recreation. Someone had said that Ms. Kerr had written an initiative for potentially more park monies. But, in all the years that Ms. Bail has worked with parks and recreation the ARPD has been the ugly step child. All of the City monies have gone to redevelopment, none has gone to recreation and parks which in her mind is one of the more important things we can do in this community. When you receive funds it is important to keep it in our hands because we do not know when we will receive any more funds. For recreation and parks it is very questionable that they will ever get any more funds. Ms. Bail urged the Recreation and Park Commission to write a very strong worded letter to Council. Ms Bail stated that she will be doing her lobbying against their proposal. She feels that the Boys and Girls Club has the ability to go out and raise their own money, hit up their own sources, and/or go to their national club. Ms. Bail also feels that the City should never support the School District's problems with their recreation monies. They have their own ability to raise their taxes. We are all paying additional taxes for the Schools. The City of Alameda, particularly the Recreation and Park Department, needs to protect their resources and funds. We need to make it very clear to City Council that there will be a lot of very unhappy people if they turn this money over to the Boys and Girls Club without any consideration for the kids in this town that have a great recreational need. Jim Sweeney, Alameda resident, reiterated what other speakers have said that the Boys and Girls Club is a good organization and we all believe in the good that the Club does. That is not the issue. The issue is a short circuiting of park money needed for park purposes. In looking at all of the 2008 voting materials they are always talking about shorelines, trails, and parks, etc. There is not one word about funneling money over into a private entity no matter how worthy it is. We know that the General Plan has both the Beltline and Estuary Parks in it. They have been in it for quite a while. We need the funds, particularly in this economic crisis that our City is in at this time. It is such a sensitive time. In Mr. Sweeney's mind there is no question of the purpose of the funds. Also, this request/issue came before City Council in a very short time. There was a lot of rushing at the last minute and getting the City Council to make rush to judgment. Mr. Sweeney asked about the application timeline. Director Lillard stated that the application period is January through March with the awarding of the project in April or May of each year. Mr. Sweeney stated that what we have here is a claimed emergency by the Boys and Girls Club to get the shovel in the ground now. Do not worry about the City of Alameda and what the people want to do. Don't worry about a lot of discussion that is just troublesome. Ms. Helena Lengel, teacher at College of Alameda, has been working with the Sweeney's for a long time for the Alameda Belt Line area. She is against giving the Measure WW funds to the Alameda Boys and Girls Club. Ms. Freeman stated that requests for grant monies from Proposition 84 are due March Recreation & Park Commission Special Mtg. 4 Minutes - Thursday, September 10, 2009 | RecreationandParkCommission/2009-09-10.pdf |