It wasn’t tantamount to President Ronald Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,” but more than a dozen people Tuesday called on the San Jacinto City Council to remove the fences around three city parks. The parks have been closed and fenced off since last week in a budget-cutting effort by the cash-strapped city. Residents are particularly interested in reopening the popular Sallee Park, which they say is used by many financially disadvantaged children. The parks were fenced after voters failed to approve a proposed 6.5 percent utility tax on the November ballot. The measure would have raised more then $5 million, which would have gone to pay for police and fire services. Without that money, the city has laid off 13 employees, closed a fire station and cut the number of police officers, in addition to closing the parks. City Manager Tim Hults said shuttering the parks will save the city $400,000 per year in maintenance and water costs vs. a cost of $4,800 to keep them fenced off. There are 31 parks in San Jacinto, but 26 are paid for through special tax districts. Of those remaining, Sallee, Hofmann and Mistletoe were closed. Skyview and Druding parks remain open because they require little maintenance, Hults said. Among ideas proposed to save the parks included forming a foundation and reaching out to service clubs for support. It was also suggested that the city close Druding Park and reopen the more-used Sallee Park. Tuesday’s meeting was the last in the Community Center. The city had planned to close it, but instead will lease it to the Family Services Association for its senior meals program. After much debate, it was decided the City Council will cut back from two meetings per month to one and hold them at the San Jacinto Unified School District headquarters. Council members raised concerns over both fewer meetings and the location. As the meeting was passing the 31/2-hour mark, Mayor Crystal Ruiz wondered whether all meetings would last that long if there was just one a month. But Hults said Tuesday’s agenda was not typical, and most meetings are not that long. The City Council met at the school offices in the past, but moved after a dispute over street maintenance and fees, Hults said. Councilman Alonso Ledezma worried that such a conflict could arise again, forcing another move, but he was assured that those issues were settled and the city and the school district are on good terms. It was ultimately decided to meet once per month, but make an effort in alternate weeks to hold community forums in facilities such as schools to allow more residents to give their input into city affairs.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 06:48:28 +0000
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