26 July 2001

To: Pro Parks Committee, City Council Members

From: Pinehurst Community Council

It appears that some very flawed rules for dispersement of the Pro Parks

Levy funds are being propsosed. Some of the primary problems include:

1. 60% of the total funds ($3,000,000 out of $5,000,000) in the first

funding cycle (2002-2004) going to aquisition in 3 very small areas in

the City (University District, Denny Triangle, and Pioneer

Square/International District). While these neighorhoods deserve their

share, they do not even appear to have any parks projects currently in

progress. The Parks Commision has arbitrarily decided they needed the

money and dedicated it to them. Only $1,000,000 would be left for

aquisition for the entire remainder of the city!

2. 40% of the City (including Pinehurst) would also excluded from the

Oppurtunity Fund since they are not served by Neighborhood Plans. Funds

need to be available to all underserved areas.

3. Placing an arbitrary lower limit of $200,000 on grants. This would

exclude many worthwhile and deserving projects (such as the proposed

park within the Pinehurst Neighborhood). In addition, an arbitrary limit

of $500,000 is proposed on aquisition projects and $1,000,000 is

proposed on developmental projects. These limits are arbitrary and

inconsistent with the will of the voters.

The Pinehurst Community Council hopes that the final Opportunity Fund

criteria will ensure fairness, geographical equity, and consistency with

the will of the voters.

Garth Ferber, President

Pinehurst Community Council

11508 20th Ave NE

Seattle, WA 98125

440-8289

garth@uswestmail.net

Lorena Mrachek, Vice President