Recently, Bothell’s residents voted on the Parks and Public Spaces levy, which would have added an approximate $9.68 (for $300,000 in assessed property value) levy tax to create new parks, finish public spaces and beautify the city. The levy, which would have raised $42 million, was rejected by voters.
Overall, 53 percent of voters (52.2 percent in King County and 54.7 percent in Snohomish County) rejected the Parks and Public Spaces initiative.
“I think we made the decision as a council to provide the citizens with an opportunity to accept this package and fund this package,” said Bothell Councilman Mark Lamb, who was in favor of the levy. “We think its important and all the projects are important, worthy projects.”
Bothell Councilwoman Tris Samberg said that through many years of outreach with the community, it has become apparent that residents want the parks and community areas but did not want this levy.
“Bothell might not be able to find immediate funding for all of its projects,” Samberg said. “In terms of some of the projects that were on the Parks and Public Spaces bond, money for the North Creek Forest, they are very competitive for grant funding, so they may be receiving grant money already without the need for the bond. Which could be the case for several other projects.”
Instead, the city will have to find funding elsewhere to ensure that citizens receive the parks and spaces they want at a price they are willing to pay.
Some funding will come through state and federal grant monies, and some Bothell projects have already applied and are getting top ratings.
“For example, the North Creek Forest, I know that Mayor Freed has been working aggressively to help the city find grant funding to help that project,” Lamb said. “We’ve been very successful in that for part of the project already.”
While voters declined to increase their yearly taxes, they will still get much of what they wanted – it will just take much longer to finish than if voters had passed Prop. 1 for the Parks and Public Spaces said the councilmembers.
“I think that if the city is going to ask the voters, again, for their support in the Bond measure, I will be strongly pushing for the city to do a lot of advance workshops with the community to find out what citizens can and will support,” Samberg said. “We need to know that information before we put a measure on the ballot.”
Bothell hasn’t given up on it’s parks yet. While many projects are slated to apply to grants in coming months, some have already done well in the grant process.
“Of the parks portion, the exact amount dedicated to purchasing the last 22 acres of North Creek Forest was $1 million. The total amount needed to complete forest acquisitions is around $1.3 million,” Friends of North Creek Forest posted on their website. “Last summer we scored first place in Washington on our most recent Land and Water grant application for $500,000. On another acquisition grant application (local parks) we scored sixth place on a $1 million request.”
It is clear that the parks will continue, but at what pace only the future can tell.
Update:
While Friends of North Creek Forest are going up for grants at this moment, the grants themselves are approved by Congress and State Legislature. Not only do both of these governing bodies take some time to make decisions whether it is approval or disapproval of funding.
It is not certain that Friends of North Creek Forest will get the grants or not, however hopefully those in charge will help Bothell citizens create a public space for everyone to enjoy.
