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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 26, 2006 Jacksonville could close seven parks Selling or closing the parks could save the city some $40,000 annually By Sanne Specht Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Hard on the heels of approving a controversial entertainment ticket tax designed to help finance the city's new parks, recreation and visitors services fund, the City Council is considering eliminating seven of the town's smaller parks. In a 6-1 vote, the City Council enacted a citywide entertainment tax Dec. 19 over the objections of Britt Festivals officials and several business owners and residents. Councilwoman Liz Kellogg, a parks commission member who originally voted against the ticket tax, said selling or eliminating some of the city's smaller parks should reduce the fund's financial requirements. Larger parks such as the Jacksonville Woodlands, the skateboard park, Doc Griffin and watershed area will remain. But Kellogg's committee is recommending selling Scheffel, Nunan and Cottage parks. The committee also recommended eliminating the following street parks or park features located in a right-of-way: Laurel Lane, D Street, Creekside Court and Pine Street. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen stressed the city would hold a public hearing and a bidding process before disposing of public property. Closing or selling all seven parks could save the city about $40,000 annually, he said. Advertisement Kellogg said public works employees recently took her and the other committee members on a tour of all the city's parks. Acre for acre, parks less than a half-acre in size are actually more costly to maintain, she said. "And these are the smaller ones we felt would not be used as much," she said. Based upon initial discussions at the Dec. 19 council meeting, Kellogg's other council members will be "fairly resistant to (selling) either Nunan or Cottage Parks," Wyntergreen said. Cottage Park is a "simple little tiny-tot playground," he said. While Nunan Park is a fairly elaborate, formal park with many heavily planted areas and a water fountain, he added. "It's a showpiece," Wyntergreen said. However, the council may be agreeable to putting Scheffel Park on the block, he said. The 100-by-100-foot park on Third and E streets, behind Rays Market, is landscaped with a bench and pathway, Wyntergreen said. Maintenance on the three small parks costs the city about $37,000 annually, Wyntergreen said. The four smaller street parks are "wayside rest stations" or simply "strips of land," he said. Their costs come in at around $3,250 a year, he said. Eliminating the "wayside" parks would entail removal of features such as gazebos and benches and possibly transferring the responsibility of maintenance to surrounding property owners, Wyntergreen said. The ticket tax was originally proposed to bring in nearly $130,000 annually from a flat $2 per ticket rate which will mainly affect Britt concert-goers. Prior to Tuesday's approval, the levy was amended to two-tiers of $1 for tickets of $15 and $30, and $2 per ticket for any event charging more than $30, said Wyntergreen. Kellogg said she voted in favor of the tax on Tuesday only after recommending the parks sale. Councilman Dean Paddison cast the lone no vote. "I didn't think we should go for all of the money from (Britt)," she said. Britt Festivals Marketing Director Kelly Gonzales said that still leaves Britt patrons paying up to $110,500 annually for city parks and visitor services. Wyntergreen disputes Gonzales' $110,500 figure, saying he now believes both sides estimated tax income as higher than it will actually be. "We think it will be $70,000 or $80,000," he said. "I don't think its (the revenue) is going to be quite as healthy as original projections by the city or by Britt." Gonzales remains disappointed the city opted to enact a levy that has such a financial impact on Britt, she said. But she is relieved the city is assessing their funding issues regarding parks. "I'm glad they're not going to just throw a bunch of money at parks that nobody uses, and our patrons will now be paying to maintain," Gonzales said. The parks surplus issue will be on the agenda for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16, at City Hall, Wyntergreen said. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or at [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com