Parks control to be reviewed

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 21, 2007 by Tim Hrenchir

By Tim Hrenchir

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Topeka City Council members will get a chance this week to learn more about the city parks and recreation department, which they might be asked in coming weeks to put under Shawnee County control.

The parks and recreation department will make a report to the council when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its chambers at 214 S.E. 8th.

Council members plan no formal action regarding the presentation, which is among several that city departments have routinely been making in recent weeks to educate council members.

But Tuesday's presentation may not be so routine because the council soon should hear recommendations from city manager Norton Bonaparte on whether city and county parks and recreation departments should be consolidated under county control.

The council on Feb. 20 directed Bonaparte to examine a 2005 merger plan for the parks and recreation departments and to report back to them with his recommendations. The council hasn't acted on that plan since it voted 5-4 in August 2005 to defer action on approval of an interlocal agreement implementing the merger until after voters decided the fate of a plan to consolidate city and county governments. Voters rejected that plan in December 2005.

Bonaparte told council members April 24 that city staff were looking at the 2005 plan and he expected to present his recommendations near the end of May.

Council members also Tuesday will:

n\u2002Consider giving the city of Wichita consent to issue $28 million in health care facilities refunding and improvement bonds that it would use to improve various Presbyterian Manor facilities in Kansas. City of Topeka approval is necessary because some of the money would be used to improve the Presbyterian Manor at 4712 S.W. 6th.

n\u2002Consider scheduling a public hearing for June 5 to hear and answer objections of taxpayers to proposed amendments to the city's 2007 operating budget. The amendments would increase expenditures from the transient guest tax fund and the historic preservation fund and authorize transfers from the transient guest tax fund and general improvement fund.

n\u2002Consider authorizing the sale of city surplus property adjacent to 179 N.W. Holman for $825 to Todd R. Thompson, who owns the property at 179 N.W. Holman.

n\u2002Hear the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would authorize the $215,000 design phase of a project to rebuild and widen S.E. California between S.E. 33rd and 37th.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached

at (785) 295-1184

or tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com.