Vote no on Prop. 1 | Letter

Recently, Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen and councilmember Toby Nixon wrote, “a traditional bond is an expensive and risky way to meet the community desire for an ARC on private land. A bond measure would require that the city own the property for the ARC and have an accurate estimate of the total costs.” Pardon me, but if I was going to build something I really would like to have an accurate cost estimate before I asked for funding.

Recently, Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen and councilmember Toby Nixon wrote, “a traditional bond is an expensive and risky way to meet the community desire for an ARC on private land. A bond measure would require that the city own the property for the ARC and have an accurate estimate of the total costs.” Pardon me, but if I was going to build something I really would like to have an accurate cost estimate before I asked for funding.

They respond to the argument that creating a new MPD [Metropolitan Park District] can raise rates without a vote and this isn’t a concern because “Kirkland has a strong history of Councils that listen to residents and serve the public interest.”

Well, pardon me again but going forward this statement provides zero protection against future rate increases. They write, “If you truly want an ARC, vote yes in November. No one can say when a vote on the ARC [Aquatics, Recreation and Community center] will come again.” Why not? If the council does such a great job of listening to citizens the issue should come up again but with a bond that is tied to an accurate estimate of the cost, with a site already selected, with a time frame and end for funding that is designed to solve the problem, which is replacing the Juanita High School pool.

Why has no one considered smaller steps such as covering the Peter Kirk pool so it isn’t unused for nine months of the year? How about working with the State to reopen the pool at Saint Edwards State Park? Both of these sites have the facilities, changing rooms and parking and take away zero additional open space for a fraction of the cost of building an expensive ARC. Vote no on Proposition 1.

Ken Williams, Kirkland