In addition to those that voiced a support for how things have progressed, others voiced concerns, including:
- Master Plan - It was voiced that no development within the park should be allowed prior to an update to the overall Master Plan for Russian Jack Springs Park (not substantively updated since 1979). This is consistent with the January 21st NECC resolution that is available via our Related Files link in the upper right of this blog. Team Comment: While we agreed that all master plans should be periodically updated, including the RJSP Master Plan, we do not currently have the scope/direction from MOA Parks and Recreation or the Anchorage Park Foundation to engage in a Master Planning process. We have consistently stated that the information we are gathering during our process will be meaningful to a future Master Plan update. What we have heard from the community to date is generally consistent with the existing Master Plan, and the NECC resolution does provide a window for improvements if they are consistent with that planning.
- Depth of Outreach -There was a concern that our planning process has not been broad enough. The main example was our project mailing that members contend should have gone to all residents within 1-mile of any part of Russian Jack Springs Park. Team Comment: Our mailing went to residents within a 1-mile radius centered on the northwest corner of Russian Jack Springs Park. This outreach was supplemented with emails to all Anchorage Community Councils, a doorhanger distribution to residents near the park, posters placed at businesses and public spaces throughout Northeast Anchorage, and notices on community calendars and Public Service Announcement requests to local radio and television stations. In addition to this, letters were mailed to east Anchorage churches and daycare centers.
- Consider upgrading all four (4) of the tennis courts. Tennis is a cheap sport, all can participate, it can be played all summer, you can ride the bus or your bike and carry your gear
- It was expressed that parking is a real issue that will need to be resolved
- Consider updating the master plan map as a way of capturing comments related to the whole park
The language employed above, "In addition to those that voiced a support for how things have progressed" is hugely misleading as you can see from the recap of the meeting posted here:
ReplyDeletehttp://parks.alaskapolicy.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2#p10 - which was reviewed and vetted by the Parks Committee Chair. Frankly I do not recall any voices in support of how things have progressed.
Perhaps more importantly, it was made very clear to Briggs that committee members were not aware of anyone who had received the alleged mailer or the alleged doorhanger. Indeed, of the two Committee members that live within the radius identified on Brigg's maps, neither received either mailer or doorhanger. Brigg's admitted that a) the mailers/doorhangers were addressed through a third party contractor and b) that he had no controls in place to determine if the work was done at all! While Peter said he would "check on this", referring to the fact that the notice was apparently not provided, the current post offers nothing.
In fact NECC Park members had recommended, in as much as this is a regional park, that any planning process (without endorsing this process) should preferably involve doorhangers for everyone living within a mile of the park (which could be accomplished considering the state of the economy) but at the least mailers to everyone within a mile of the park, as well as notice to all school unit admins and PTAs on the east side. However, after appearing to agree that such notice would be appropriate, Corvus artificially selected a point in the far northwest corner of the north half of the park and then drew a one mile circle from it. This tactic removes substantial population from notice and was the subject of indignation by the Committee.
More telling is that Corvus' action that the "project" is not specifically focused on any specifics is just smoke and mirrors. The center of the Corvus circle is ground zero for the project funds. It is where the APF intended to use the funds and where Corvus is obviously pushing to make it look like the funds should be used; otherwise why use it as the center of the project locus?
Additionally, the Committee noted that the maps employed by Corvus in its "dotmocracy" program it congratulated itself upon asked participants to respond to questions with respect to the entirety of RJSP, NOT the north side of RJSP, which makes the responses all but valueless with respect to the present efforts (and Brigg's acknowledged the error during the meeting and its obvious implications.)
Oh, and as to the issue of the Master Plan, Brigg's finally indicated that he would inquire of the Mayor's office as to his client's (the Anchorage Park Foundation) claim that the Mayor had barred using a portion of the funds on updating the Master Plan (a claim categorically denied by the Mayor's Chief of Staff) but you will note no mention of that, even a week later.
So, having waited a week for this post, one can only suggest that the only reliable source for information (i.e. an accurate recitation of what took place) is http://parks.alaskapolicy.net, where anyone is able to post on the matter (including Peter, Ann, Beth, John, and Kathleen) without having to wait for Corvus to compose its press release.
We are in process of answering the outstanding concerns from last week. We have received a response regarding a desire for an updated Master Plan: “The Municipality of Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department and the current administration support improvements for Russian Jack Springs Park that are consistent with existing approved Master Plan materials. An update to the park’s Master Plan is not currently being considered.”
ReplyDeleteTalk about your "double-talk"! First off we have no idea from whence the alleged response from the MOA came, nor how the question was asked. Second, we know that the Mayor because of the budget shortfall required all planning to be prioritized because there weren't sufficient funds to pay for planning, so the alleged response is of no value if it does not address use of a portion of the off-budget funds to pay for a Master Plan. Third, it is clear that the source of the response was someone clearly intending that the funds be used other than in accordance with THE Master Plan in that the response references "Master Plan materials." There is no such thing as "Master Plan materials" except in the minds of the same people who were planning to clear-cut 20 acres of RJSP and who argued that the Master Plan had been updated and that the clear cut was consistent with it.....
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, the Mayor's Chief of Staff this morning indicated that he does not know who Corvus is, has no knowledge of the comments quoted by Briggs above, and has seen no discussion forwarded to the Mayor's Office from P&R regarding RJSP. He also indicated that the Mayor only considers policy recommendations regarding parks originating with the Parks and Rec Director, John Rodda.
ReplyDeleteMr. Baker suggested that if the quote is from someone at the MOA, it is likely from John Rodda. Unfortunately, John's only two comments with respect to any development in RJSP over the past 6 months to anyone at the NECC have been that P&R have nothing to do with anything going on development wise at RJSP and that he would confer with all the involved community councils with regard to any proposals for any development at RJSP should such arise (both offered early this year); however he has apparently not responded to queries from the NECC Parks Committee regarding RJSP since APF announced its private initiative to spend its $750,000.00.
But, not to worry! Larry is going to ask Mr. Rodda to respond to our concerns. And maybe explain what P&R intends to do with the $300,000 it received from the State this year for work on RJSP.
It appears that P&R have adopted policy with respect to RJSP (which lies within 1000 feet of NECC) without presenting that policy to NECC for consideration and may well be implementing planning processes with respect to the park again without involving the NECC (both of which appear to be violations of the Anchorage Municipal Code.)
"What, me worry?" No, I haven't a worry in the world because I have been told that everything is under control.....
Right..... don't forget, it was P&R who with the funding of APF proposed clear-cutting major portions of RJSP.