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Street roots
Oct. 24,2014 '
Replacement bond opportunity to support Portland Parks
is incorporated into the City budget But
funding for major repairs, and we will see
state lawsays developer fees cannot be used
more closures like ML Tabor Park
On ballots right now, Portlanders have
for repairs in older parks.
restrooms in Southeast Portland, the Rieke
the opportunity to vote on the Parks
Earlier this year, Portland Parks &
regional soccer field in SW Portland, Couch
Replacement Bond, Measure 26459. Please
Recreation’s citizen budget advisory
Playground in Northwest Portland, and the
turn over your ballot, and vote yes on
committee advocated for a stable, long-term,
Maple Trail in Forest Park.
Measure 26-159 on the reverse side.
supplemental funding strategy to address
As your parks commissioner, I’m proud
For the past 100 years, bonds and levies
the significant backlog of major capital
that Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)
have been the standard mechanism to fund
has a long history of using taxpayers’ money repair needs. The budget advisory
parks construction and operations. This is
committee recognized
wisely. The bureau, which manages 209
the normal way Portlanders help pay for
that $1.5 million per
parks on 3,445 acres plus about 7,800 acres
"Ms your Parks
parks. Portland’s last parks bond—passed in of natural areas, stretches every existing
year from the general
1994-will be paid off in 2015. That means
Commissioner, I'm proud
fund is not enough,
dollar—with grants; local business support
that voting yes on the replacement bond will and sponsorships, and with close to 500,000 The parks replacement that Portland Parks &
help keep our parks safe and open, without
bond is a strong and
volunteer hours each year.
Recreation lias a long
increasing tax rates from what they are
Still, the needs of Portland’s parks system prudent start to
history of using taxpayers'
today. I know many Portlanders are still
addressing our major
far exceed its annual general fund budget
money
wisely. The bureau,
struggling to recover from the recession, so
maintenance needs—a
PP&R receives just $1.5 million each year
which
manages
2 0 9 parks
I chose to keep the requested tax rate th e;
start our budget
for major maintenance in all 209 facilities.
same, rather than ask for more.
on
3
,4
4
5
acres
pins
about
advisory
committee
That’s double the major maintenance
Measure 26-159 is a wise investment. If
urged the City Council 1 ,8 0 0 acres of natural
allocation when I became parks'
the measure passes, it will provide $68
to refer to voters— f
commissioner last year, but still grossly
areas, stretches every
million to replace aging playgrounds,
without increasing the
inadequate. Volunteers can’t fix swimming
existing dollar."
preserve access to open space by repairing
tax rate.
pool filtration systems, remove ADA
trails and bridges, repair community pools
Please join me in
barriers that limit some Portlanders’ use of
and prevent emergency closures; remove
voting yes on Measure
parks facilities, or patch roofs on our
barriers to access for people experiencing
26-159. Providing this funding for parks
community centers.
disabilities, update park restrooms, increase
maintenance will ease pressure on the
More than $365 million is needed to
worker safety and efficiency at our |
general fund, allowing more City allocations
perform major maintenance upkeep in !
to be allocated to support affordable housing
maintenance facilities, fix structural
Portland’s park System over the next 10
and homes for people bring outside. Visit
problems at Pioneer Courthouse Square
years. That’s in addition to $400 million
FixOurParks.org to learn more. Add your
(Portland’s living room), and much more.
needed tó address park development needs
name to the supporters list, and follow the
Bond spending will be reviewed by a citizen
in parks-deficient areas, to reach an
campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
oversight committee and audited.
equitable level of service in every part of
Together, we can keep the legacy of great
If the measure doesn’t pass, annual
the city. To address deficiencies in parks
parks in Portland well-maintained for the
property taxes paid on the typical home
access, I’m allocating system development;
next few years, and the next generation.
with an assessed value of $152,890 could
charges—fees on new construction, paid by
Same taX rate, safer parks. Measure 26-159
decrease by about $13. We will risk
developers-toward projects like Thomas
f M responsible government partnering with
emergency closures at our pools and other
Cully Park, Kunamokwst Park, Spring
responsible citizens.
facilities because we don’t have other
jGard^n ParkjlrkQs in Pier ParKfryQ qgw^
funding for systems that need major
parks in East Portland, and Gateway Green.
maintenance or replacement. We won’t have Maintenance money for- these new facilities
BY AMANDA FRITZ
C O N T R IB U T E D W R IT E R
Amanda Fritz is a
Portland City
Commissioner.
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