[SJAAboard] The concern about Houge.

[Robert Armstrong]

I read through the more than 20 pages and supplements from the proposals 
concerning the neighborhood centers. The city did not specifically list 
which of the "older centers" they proposed closing. Closing any centers seem 
to off the books for now, but this up for further discussions. These 
discussions will take place in the "neighborhood groups" starting in 
September.
Clearly the city is hoping for "service contracts" to be picked up 
neighborhood groups or organizations, who will then pick up to ongoing 
maintenance and control of the centers.
One of the worrisome features of the proposals is that the city is planning 
to grant increasing authority to theses formalized "neighborhood groups" 
around each center who will then determine who will be granted use of the 
centers. The only good thing about this document is that while nonprofits 
dedicated to senior citizens and local self help organizations are among 
those the city wishes to have priority uses,  nonprofit organizations that 
engage in public outreach and education are also on the desired list.
It would be helpful if members of the SJAA who are SJ residents could make 
an attempt to come to some of these upcoming meetings and offer a 
presentation on SJAA and it activities. We need the local "neighborhood 
group" to be informed about the SJAA.
Robert
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Wagner" <mark.wagner at resource-intl.com>
To: <sjaaboard at sjaa.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:06 PM
Subject: [SJAAboard] The concern about Houge.


>
> I wonder if anyone read through the pdf Rob pointed to, with a URL?  It 
> contained various
> scenarios regarding reuse of the city parks.
>
> Skimming the document, it appeared to me that several options were being 
> discussed.  Closing some
> parks was one proposal, but it stated clearly that such a proposal was not 
> what was being
> recommended.  If I read correctly (skimmed), the thrust of this was to see 
> to it that the parks
> were being used by:
>
> 1.  Non-profits.
> 2.  That provided some sort of (free) service to the community.
> 3.  Had their own insurance.
>
> Let's understand clearly what options are being considered before wringing 
> our hands in worry.
>
> With regards to the costs of having an auction at Houge Park, I again 
> suggest we have an
> open-minded discussion about our options at the next board meeting.  There 
> is no great urgency
> currently, since the next auction not for quite some time.
>
> Mark
>
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