By FRAN BERTINGThe analysis by staff and Councilor (Susan) O’Leary of where our CIP money has been spent, as shown in the Los Alamos Daily Post of Thursday, Feb. 25, is indeed eye-opening and very valuable as we proceed to allocate our available resources in the current CIP discussion.
Unfortunately, this analysis may reinforce some of the complaints I have heard repeatedly: “The Government is spending all this money on luxurious digs for itself and on roads, at the expense of citizens’ quality of life needs!”
Remember, one of the attributes of quality of life for the Community is that of ensuring a safe and pleasant working environment for the people who provide the necessary community services, and, in the process, making the town attractive to citizens and the visitors whom we are trying to attract. So the new Judicial Center and Muni Building eliminate the various safety hazards and space problems of the old jail and Muni Building and are viewed by many as enhancing the town. As for roads – well, potholes, etc., that had been neglected for many years for lack of money, now are being repaired and maintained.
Whereas we can now put more emphasis on much needed additional recreation facilities, there are still a number of economic development items that would bring in light industry and more retail to add significantly to jobs and revenue. Greg Fisher (Economic Development) explained three of those at Council meeting last Tuesday: DP Road, including land parcel A8a & b, and 20th Street. Deacon Street, while not on the CIP list, is another important location for community quality of life improvement.
So while contemplating passionate pleas for recreational spending, it would be foolish, nay, irresponsible, to leave out the necessary expenditures for developing areas that can greatly enhance revenues, provide new jobs and, by the way, improve the appearance of some vacant areas in and near the downtown.
We have $14 million available to spend now and a possible $28 million bonding capability to cover twice as much in estimated wants and needs: more than $31 million of additional economic development items and $60 million of listed recreation items!
There are five major items under the Economic Development category that will take more than the $14, even with very tight budgeting:
The MPNHP Visitor Center, using existing facilities;
DP Road utilities improvements, to allow development of land up to the T-21 gate;
20th Street extension, to allow additional development and easy access and parking for the Smart House and a possible stop light at the 20th Street/Trinity intersection.
Parcel A8 a & b, to provide additional “roof tops” for retailers that need more than our current population and for enough affordable housing to allow retail workers to live up here and alleviate some of the after hours restaurant and other worker shortage.
Deacon Street, to enhance a currently unattractive area that could be a delightful addition to downtown and the MPNHP temporary visitor center.
Then add the White Rock Senior Center, that should not have to come through the CIP line again, having already been started. The White Rock Civic Center was given $20 million as a placeholder several years ago, but the $20 million became cut in stone as revenues decreased. Staff, the White Rock Master Plan Implementation Committee and others made exemplary use of the very tight budget, with the new Library, the refurbished Student Recreation Center and the refurbishing and enlarging of the Senior Center so far. Now to finish the Senior Center and provide a full kitchen, so that White Rock seniors and others can enjoy the service those on the Hill have had for many years, an additional $1.8 million is needed, because the old utilities are found to be inadequate. That $1.8 million should rightfully come from somewhere as soon as possible!
The second facility to be given special consideration is the Golf Course. As a member of the Council that promised the golfers the planned upgrades would really eventually be made, I feel we need to put in enough money to make significant improvements, from both economic development and recreation funds, though even a middle estimate figure of $6 million will be hard to fit in. (Golfers and others might do something similar to what the Friends of PEEC did and put in funds to upgrade their favorite hole.)
Another facility at the top of the funding needs list, that is recreational but in the category of helping the schools as well as the community, is Duane Smith Auditorium.
As actual costs are developed and priorities established, fitting it all together should become easier, but budgeting will still be tight.
Thus the major Economic Development needs, plus the facilities needing special consideration above, stretch our available funds and creep into the bonding fund, before all the new recreational requests can be addressed, if we are to be sensible!
