Parks Funding Sparks Heated Council Debate

City Councilman Mark Leyes this week challenged fellow council member Bob Dinsen to show him the money when a debate on the city’s proposed Park Assessment District became heated.

Leyes, who with a majority of council members supports the city’s bid to establish a new park district, pointed his finger at Dinsen and asked the veteran councilman to prepare a list of budget cuts should the assessment district effort fail.

To comply with Proposition 218, passed last year by voters statewide, the city must seek property owner approval to separate existing park maintenance fees from lighting assessment fees.

“I want you to tell us which parks we can close,” Leyes said to Dinsen at Monday’s council meeting. “Unless you have $700,000 you’re willing to front the city, I don’t know what the alternative is.”

Dinsen objects to the city’s proposal, saying that the $700,000 earmarked for parks under the existing Lighting and Landscaping District has done nothing to improve the city’s 13 parks.

The city’s 33,000 property owners have received ballots asking them whether they are willing to continue paying about $15 a year each for park maintenance. Only property owners have a vote under the terms of Proposition 218.

Dinsen also said that the city unfairly sent a letter in support of the proposed park assessment district with ballots mailed late last week. Opponents of the district weren’t given a chance to respond, he said.

Mayor Bruce Broadwater countered that the city government has a right to support a position.

Two public hearings on the issue have been scheduled for May 12 and June 9. June 9 is also the deadline for returning ballots.