HomeMy WebLinkAboutStory Mill Community Park Public Comment from Douglas Fischer 3-21-14From:Douglas Fischer
To:Agenda
Subject:Story Mill / soccer fields bond purchase
Date:Friday, March 21, 2014 2:41:34 PM
Attachments:StoryMill-Fischer.pdf
March 21, 2014
Bozeman City Commission
via email: agenda@bozeman.net (PDF of letter is attached)
Greetings Commissioners:
I am part of that sizeable majority of Bozemanites content to stay quiet and read about your
decisions the day after in the Chronicle. You have the pulse of the community, and I appreciate your
work. [Thank you, for instance, for the vote to deny the student housing near Morning Star
Elementary.]
One issue has roused me from my chair, however: The Trails, Open Space and Parks Bond and the
two projects heading for your desks.
I'm all for soccer fields. There's no question about the need. Both my kids play. But $7.5 million or
more is a tad rich for such a one-dimensional project.
The Story Mill proposal, in contrast, meets several very pressing needs: park, trail connections,
practice fields and a playground. It is a far more modest "ask" from city taxpayers. And the fact that
a coalition of groups will match our money with their own is important, as it stretches the bond's
impact further.
I went to the polls in November supporting the bond measure in the hope that it would bring more
playing fields to our town, yes. But I also thought a good portion of the money would go for open
space, parks and trails, as the measure's title suggested. The Story Mill project fits the vision of the
bond measure.
I don't want you to send the soccer community away empty-handed. But the Gallatin Valley Land
Trust, the Trust for Public Land and other local groups have worked tremendously hard to build the
support and put together the funding that has made Story Mill possible. They deserve your support.
In a perfect world, I'd ask the soccer community come to the table with a significant match for their
fields. But you're in the hot seat, not me. I'll trust you to make the right call there.
It's worth noting, of course, that much of this would be moot had you simply asked us voters for
more money. Please, next time you put a bond like this before us voters, ask for $30 million. Or
even $45 million.
Sincerely,
//
Douglas Fischer
1410 S. Montana Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715