Public Parks Hearing

[Bill Call]

So I guess I would throw it back at you...if you were mayor or on council and we don't have enough money in the parks budget to take care of all of our parks, how would you fix the problem and improve the state of the parks?

This City seems to be fond of citizen committees so about this:

A group of 35 volunteers shadow each park employee for one month tracking the time spent of various tasks, how long does it take to mow, to empty trash, time getting from place to place, how long is lunch, how long are breaks, what time is start time, when does work actually start, who showed up to work, who didn't and why they didn't, then....

Get quotes from private contractors on what it would cost to do what the City cannot do.

[Suzanne Metelko]

I just find it interesting that the options and answers are only, I can't do anything, let's close the parks.

Not a can do attitude.

Sharon, your circumstances illustrate the need to televise public meetings in Lakewood. Council members should be clamoring to have their board and committee meetings available to the community. Other communities do it and we could do it - we choose not to. However, that is off topic.

Councilman Demro provided those in attendance with a brief history of the problem, the supporting documentation from last year's meetings, conclusions and action steps. Those meetings and documents were a joint effort by Demro, Ward 2 and Councilman Butler, Ward 1.

This community has 3 at large representatives. Councilman Fitzgerald arrived late and was immediately recognized by Demro. Councilpersons Antonio and Dever were not in attendance. The mayor was not in attendance, but Director Beno and several members of his staff were. It takes 4 councilmembers to initiate an action and if the mayor vetoes it then it takes 5 to override the veto.

As for closing the parks, Councilman Demro was asked a question and gave a clear and honest answer. He did not advocate closing the parks, instead he provided the bones of a plan to consolidate green space in an effort to provide the same acreage to citizens in fewer places as a means of helping the parks department manage time, material and resources.

We have a problem and not just one. I don't envy Lakewood City Council their jobs. Everyone in Lakewood needs to be paying close attention to who is leading this city, their vision and ask themselves how they can help. It's all hands on deck time.

[sharon kinsella]

Suzanne Metalko wrote:

This community has 3 at large representatives. Councilman Fitzgerald arrived late and was immediately recognized by Demro. Councilpersons Antonio and Dever were not in attendance. The mayor was not in attendance, but Director Beno and several members of his staff were. It takes 4 councilmembers to initiate an action and if the mayor vetoes it then it takes 5 to override the veto.

Suzanne -

Thanks for telling what happened.

1. I was not saying anything about voting records, I was asking if Ryan said that there was nothing he could do when questioned about the condition of Kaufman Park.

2. It would be appropriate to bring up the other members of council in reference to a vote on actions put forward by a member of council. That's not what you're saying. I'm well aware of what it takes to pass something in council. What does that have to do with attendance at Ryan's meeting?

3. Are you saying that all city council members and the mayor are required or compelled to attend all public issue meetings and if so did Ryan attend Ed Fitzgerald's safety meeeting? I only ask because of you including them in your statement. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Jim DeVito]

While we are waiting for the city to get the moneys sorted out, we could always pick up the trash at the parks ourselves. My wife goes to Madison Park nearly everyday, and from the sidewalk to the pavilion she ends up with a handful of trash. Most people instead of helping her give the “that stuff is dirtyâ€Â

[sharon kinsella]

Jim -

You and your wife are quite the rebels! A proactive approach!

Thank you to your wife and thank you for your good thoughts, nice to see.

[Joe Ott]

I think I've read here something to the affect of there used to be about 70,000 residents in Lakewood. Now there are ~50,000. I believe I also read here we have more city workers than ever before and the city can't be kept up? The little park at the end of Edanola on Sloane can't be groomed because the Parks Dept. is broke and there's no one to do the work (their words not mine)? We've lost 20,000 people and we need 30 more police? I don't get it. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but sometimes all this doesn't make too much sense.

This tells me there are huge inefficiency in city hall and those inefficiencies are either not seen by out leaders and or just aren't being addressed.

How is it that in this city we are doing less with more?

Suzanne, did Ryan have any of his presentation/information outlined and or documented? Can any of it be posted here or to his website?

[Dee Martinez]

Mr.Ott

Part of this is simple math of course. The city gets most of its money through income taxes. With fewer people here to pay the tax the income is pretty flat. By the same token the city hasnt physically gotten any smaller. It still has the same park acreage to maintain and the same number of streets to patrol (the 20,000 who have left didnt just leave from one area of town).

And as population has gone down in Lakewood the poverty level has gone up. Poverty and crime are undeniably linked.

I think Mr Schwegler has a good point in saying, if not in so many words, that all Lakewood parks are not created equal. Some of them are important parts of our community and recreation life while others (the one you mentioned at Edanola and Sloane) are nice but to me,hardly woth a major civic investment. And yes, there probably are a few "parks" that really could just be as they say "de-comissioned" without a major impact to our quality of life.
Common sense might indicate that there is also a big difference between a community group "adopting" the pocket park on Edanola and a volunteer group assuming responsibility for a large operation like Lakewood or Madison Park.

[Justine Cooper]

Jim,
No offense but my guess would be that a large group of teen boys would not be so quick to leave if my kids and I, or another mother and her kids showed up and sat next to them! A few over 6' men, some in intimidating suits, yes! I am sure!

You said there were a lot of good suggestions being thrown out at the meeting and there are good ones on this thread, which ones are being put into ACTION? I am BURNT out on hearing the city is out of money when the taxes are so high!!!! That is NOT what we need to hear! All these discussions and meetings, please tell me one thing that has changed in the last couple months?

[Bryan Schwegler]

All these discussions and meetings, please tell me one thing that has changed in the last couple months?

Unfortunately, as is the case all to often with government at all levels, I think the answer is nothing.

[Joe Ott]

Part of this is simple math of course. The city gets most of its money through income taxes. With fewer people here to pay the tax the income is pretty flat. By the same token the city hasnt physically gotten any smaller. It still has the same park acreage to maintain and the same number of streets to patrol (the 20,000 who have left didnt just leave from one area of town).

I don't buy it. That's is part of the problem but it still doesn't answer why less is being done with more.

You know, what used to be the Detroit Big 3 lumbered along for years doing the same old thing thinking they didn't need to be competitive. Where are they today? People moved onto better products.

[Justine Cooper]

In all seriousness, how do you attract new home buyers if the bottom line is "the city has no money to fix the broken playgrounds or secure the parks"? At what point can any of see any of the great suggestions being thrown out actually put to use?

[Suzanne Metelko]

2. It would be appropriate to bring up the other members of council in reference to a vote on actions put forward by a member of council. That's not what you're saying. I'm well aware of what it takes to pass something in council. What does that have to do with attendance at Ryan's meeting?

3. Are you saying that all city council members and the mayor are required or compelled to attend all public issue meetings and if so did Ryan attend Ed Fitzgerald's safety meeeting? I only ask because of you including them in your statement. Doesn't make sense to me.

Sharon, my point is that this was a public hearing about an issue that was critical to our quality of life. As a representative, if you want first hand input and hope to develop concensus, all parties need to be there. Yes, Ryan attended the safetly meeting(s). As someone who represents a public asset I believe it is my responsibility to attend any meeting that may impact the entity I represent. Council members, in particular at large council, represent the entire city; when citizens take the time to come out to deliver public comment, that's an opportunity that leaders shouldn't miss.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Justine

The will not run from you like from me. You would need more people, enough of a critical mass to make it uncomfortable.

You and a couple friends with a cell phone and camera would be very powerful.

I would never suggest for anyone to put themselves where I put myself. Walking North and South Lane at night.

But I would suggest groups can do it anytime anywhere.

At some point, we have to jump in the water.

As for the budget, I got my copies this morning and we are digging, if you would like to help, that would be great. Also dissecting some legal stuff and the city too.

.

[Jim DeVito]

You and a couple friends with a cell phone and camera would be very powerful.

That is usually when the police are called on me.

[Bill Call]

Police used to work as crossing guards when needed. Eventually it was seen that Park Guards would save the city money working as crossing guards. This took staff from Parks that had to be covered.

I hate to cause trouble but if the if some of the 35 parks employees are acting as crossing guards what are the 31 crossing guards doing?

And how does acting as a crossing guard in September affect the condition of the parks in July?