Community Council: Mad as hell at Metro Parks

The Community Council of Tacoma, which is made up of representatives from all of Tacoma’s Neighborhood Councils, will not be ignored.



They’re mad as hell at Metro Parks Tacoma, and they’re not going to take it anymore — or at least much longer.



Angered by the Metro Parks Board of Commissioners recent decision to accept a report created by a 16 citizen Revenue Task Force which outlined possible ways Metro Parks could generate more money for itself without raising taxes — ideas which included real estate suggestions like building urban villages, restaurants, resorts and residential developments at some of Tacoma’s parks — the Community Council fired back on Monday, April 28, officially delivering a letter to Metro Parks stating the council is “losing confidence” in the Board of Commissioner’s “ability to manage and represent the best interests of the citizens of the district.”



It’s a strong statement. Kind of.



First of all, rather than draft a typical no confidence letter, the Community Council opted for a kinder gentler approach, with toned down language that simply implied the Council is losing confidence. How much confidence the Council has left is not discussed in the letter, but the suggestion that confidence is being lost seems to imply there’s also room for confidence to be regained.



Secondly, on Thursday, April 24 the Council voted on how to proceed with their unhappiness with Metro Parks. During a meeting attended by several members of Metro Parks’ Board of Commissioners, the Community Council voted in favor of drafting the “losing confidence” letter, but only by a vote of nine in favor, four opposed, and five abstaining. It seems even within the Community Council there’s an internal debate about what the best course of action is. Most of the Community Council members who abstained did so because they had not yet discussed the decision with the Neighborhood council they represent.



While it’s easy to sympathize with pissed off members of the Community Council who feel like Metro Parks has betrayed their trust and gone behind their backs to find ways to generate more money, it’s also important to remember that, at this point, the Revenue Task Force report is made up of only possible ideas — and brainstorming of these ideas was necessitated by what Metro Parks Commissioner Ryan Melo calls a “systemic budget problem.” Basically, Metro Parks is looking to balance their budget and the only way to do that is by generating more money, cutting services, or increasing taxes. Melo says Metro Parks is trying to be “proactive in a post Tim Eyman world.” He estimated the Metro Parks budget for the 09-11 biennium, while not official yet, is probably $2 million in the red.



Most importantly, none of the Revenue Task Force’s ideas have been put in motion, and as of yet no plans to build a seaside resort at Point Defiance or residential development at Swan Creek have been given the go-ahead by the Board of Commissioners. Melo classified suggestions to build condos at Swan Creek as “dead on arrival,” while some of the Revenue Task Force’s other ideas have merit, he said, and will receive further discussion by the Board of Commissioners.



“My take is, this is a study, not unlike a gazillion other studies,” says Community Council chairman Bill Garl, who, while not supportive of the ideas presented by the Revenue Task Force, also didn’t support the “losing confidence” vote.



“Just because they’ve done a study doesn’t mean they’ll implement it. Sometimes people overreact. It’s hard to shake hands with a fist. I’m striving for a win-win situation.”



“We could do marvelous things if we worked together (with Metro Parks),” Garl continues.

“The letter is a heads up. The message is Metro Parks should start listening to the community.”



“I think it’s really unfortunate that some of the members of the Community Council jumped to this decision. I couldn’t disagree more. Metro Parks bends over backwards to involve the community. That’s been demonstrated time and time again,” says Melo. “We couldn’t be more public.”



“What we’re facing is a systemic budget problem, and that’s the discussion we should really be having. We can’t possibly keep up with inflation. It doesn’t take an accountant to tell you we’re in trouble. We’re trying to be proactive about the problem without asking taxpayers to take out their checkbooks. We see the writing on the wall.”



The report issued by the Revenue Task force has been forwarded to the Metro Parks Business Advisory Committee. Melo says no deadline has been issued and the Board of Commissioners will continue discussing the ideas. — Matt Driscoll

Thomas in the dell

Former Gordon Thomas Honeywell Executive Director Linda Thomas is getting into the milk game, having been named the new CEO of Wilcox Farms. Thomas promises to lead the farm into the sustainability parade, saying her big priority will be to deepen the company’s commitment to running a sustainable farm. Wilcox farms is one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading egg producers. Their birds live on a 1,500-acre farm in Roy, one of the last frontiers where chickens can still run free. Thomas graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in ecological agriculture, which she got to use briefly as an operations manager for a chemical plant before embarking on a series of careers that led her to become director of one of the largest law firms in the state. This latest venture is a fine return to her roots.



“I am deeply honored to have been chosen to lead this company as we carry out the family’s vision of providing a healthy, local product for consumers in the Northwest and beyond,” said Thomas in a press statement. “We have incredible opportunities for growth, and I am excited to be a part of our expansion in the organic and cage-free egg business.” — John Herbert