Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "rescue sacramento parks"

Should We Close Sac's Parks? Open Up K St. to Cars?

2009-05-29T23:57:36Z

Should we close Sacramento's parks or slash services to them? How about opening up K Street to cars?

Those are the two latest questions I'm asking for your input in my online forums, being run in cooperation with Peak Democracy.

These forums are designed to foster civil discussion about issues facing me and the Council. But instead of attending a city council meeting, you can share your perspectives from your home or office without heading down to City Hall. And unlike newspaper (and this site's) comment sections, I'll read every comment and keep you updated on the issue as it progresses.

This week I'm asking two questions, one on parks and another on K Street. I'd welcome your views.

Question one: Sacramento is facing a record budget deficit. As part of the city manager's plan, the city's parks will be severely effected. Under the plan, weekly mowing will be cut back to once every two to three weeks; park trash cans will be emptied once or twice a week instead of daily; and all park restrooms will be closed except for special events. Rescue Sacramento Parks is a grassroots organization that has formed to fight these cuts. Should the I vote to support the City Manager's position on park cutbacks? If not, what other services do you suggest reducing that will result in similar budget savings? Share your views at: www.peakdemocracy.com/339

Question two: K Street Mall has been a pedestrian walkway and light rail route for many years. There are now calls to re-open it to traffic. What do you think? Should cars be allowed on the street in an effort to revitalize the area? Share your views at: http://www.capradio.org/news/specials/?opentownhall

Thank you for participating!

Residents continue campaign against budget cuts to parks

2009-05-28T03:07:40Z

A group of residents is continuing a campaign against proposed budget cuts to local parks after city staffers this week did not support the group’s proposals.

The group, called Rescue Sacramento Parks, has pitched the City Council several proposals to sustain parks services as the city addresses its projected $50 million deficit for the 2009/2010 fiscal year.

Among many other proposed budget cuts, the city is proposing to slash about $8.3 million and 145 positions from its Department of Parks and Recreation. Rescue Sacramento Parks is worried the proposed cuts to parks will lead to blight and public health and safety problems.

Craig Powell, the group’s chairman, said some of the group’s members will meet Thursday with Parks and Recreation staff “in an effort to find a solution.”

Rescue Sacramento Parks also plans to spread its message to more neighborhood associations, according to Powell. The group’s members participate in neighborhood groups.

Among other suggestions, the group asked City Council to work with the private sector for park maintenance and study whether the city can make more cuts to recreation programs. The group argues that more reductions to recreation programs could lessen the damage to park maintenance services. The City Council last week asked city staffers to analyze the group’s proposals.

In a report to the City Council this week, city staff agreed with residents that privatization of services would save money, but also pointed out drawbacks to the group’s idea.

Moving park maintenance services to the private sector would save an amount of money “estimated to be in excess of 40 percent,” the city staff report notes.

But the cost savings would have downsides, according to the report. “However, the service level would be minimal and response to customers would be reduced,” the report states. “Privatization of basic park maintenance would continue to require city staff to provide contract management and inspection, and more specialized services including irrigation system oversight and emergency repair and oversight of park facilities such as playgrounds, tot lots, all-weather fields, sports courts, picnic and seating areas.”

City staff also wrote that recreation programs should not face cuts on top of the reductions already planned. The department “does not agree that park maintenance should be fully restored at the expense of recreation programs and services; park planning, design and development; grant administration; and other crucial administrative and fiscal services,” the report states.

Rescue Sacramento Parks appreciated the City Council’s decision last week to ask city staff to study the group’s proposals, according to Powell.

But the group is upset that the City Council is not moving on the idea to work with the private sector on park maintenance services. The group is “very disappointed at the Council’s unwillingness to seize the opportunity to save millions of taxpayer dollars while simultaneously restoring basic park maintenance through privatization of park maintenance,” Powell said.

The group had suggested that the city use privatization as a bargaining chip with one of the city’s major unions, Stationary Engineers Local 39. Rescue Sacramento Parks proposed that the city work with the private sector for park maintenance services if Local 39, which includes parks workers, does not make concessions.

Local 39 is currently in negotiations with the city. Joan Bryant, director of public employees for Local 39, was not immediately available to return phone calls Wednesday afternoon.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

City budget crisis: The weekly roundup

2009-05-25T02:23:36Z

The past week saw several major developments in Sacramento’s budget crisis, from the city’s forecasts of major deficits in 2010 to a campaign by residents against proposed budget cuts to local parks.

Here’s a roundup of the past week’s budget news:

Huge deficit predicted for 2010
The Sacramento City Council is studying a slew of proposed cuts to resolve its $50 million deficit. But once the city deals with the current $50 million deficit, it will face a projected $30 million deficit for the 2010/2011 fiscal year, according to Leyne Milstein, the city’s finance director.

“Gap will grow to $30 million as revenues continue to decline and expenses increase in FY 2010/2011,” Milstein wrote in her recent report to the city council.

Read Milstein’s budget forecast here. Her presentation begins on page 59 of the document.

State may take local funds
On May 19,Californians voted down propositions that aimed to lessen the state’s budget crisis. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office said that the failure of the propositions – five of the six died at the polls – means that the state’s budget gap of $15 billion has risen to $21 billion.

Schwarzenegger recently proposed to borrow $2 billion in local funds from local governments if the propositions fail. Local governments, including Sacramento, are afraid the state will take their funds. Schwarzenegger's office told The Sacramento Press May 20 that Schwarzenegger’s proposal to borrow from local governments is still on the table.

The Sacramento City Council declared the city was in a “fiscal crisis” with the aim of telling the state to stay away from Sacramento’s revenues.

Residents create group to oppose planned cuts to parks
A group of residents is challenging the city’s planned cuts to the Department of Parks and Recreation. The group, which is called Rescue Sacramento Parks, is pitching alternative actions the city could take instead of slashing parks services.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Send your tips about local politics to kathleen@sacramentopress.com.

Residents fight city's planned cuts to parks

2009-05-22T02:31:53Z

A group of Sacramento residents is fighting the city’s proposed cuts to its parks system and providing suggestions for maintaining park services.

The city’s proposal to cut parks services is one of many possible reductions council members are considering as they deal with a $50 million budget gap.

About 15 members of the group, which is calling itself Rescue Sacramento Parks, attended Tuesday’s City Council meeting to voice their concerns about cuts to parks. Members of the group are involved in neighborhood associations.

Craig Powell, the group’s chairman, told the City Council that the proposed budget cuts to parks have “deeply alarmed Sacramento’s neighbors, neighborhoods and citizens.”

The city is proposing to cut about $8.3 million from its Department of Parks and Recreation. The city explains that the actual numbers of layoffs would be more than 145 positions. “Note that, given that multiple part time, seasonal staff members in recreation services equal one (full time equivalent) position, the total number of people employed by Parks and Recreation will be reduced by far more than 145,” according to the city’s budget document.

In a May 19 letter to Mayor Johnson, Powell wrote that the cuts to parks would create public safety and health problems.

“Not only would the cuts seriously degrade Sacramento’s parks, they pose a very real and serious threat to the health, safety and vitality of many of our city’s neighborhoods,” Powell wrote. “We ask that you protect us from such threats and reject these cuts, doing your part to protect the basic fabric of our neighborhoods from unraveling.”

Mayor Kevin Johnson said city staff will analyze the group’s recommendations.

Johnson and Councilman Kevin McCarty pointed out that the group came before the council with proposals. “I want to echo what Councilman McCarty had talked about – that you brought us proposals and ideas, and I think that’s great and that’s refreshing,” Johnson said.

Some of the group’s proposals include: raising park user fees, contracting with the private sector for park maintenance, and analyzing the Parks and Recreation Department’s recreation programs to see if they can be cut further.

The group argues that recreation programs could be cut more in order to preserve park maintenance services.