[NENA] FW: 8-24-07 North Domingo Baca Park Update - Response to Concerns

Tue Sep 4 22:03:29 CDT 2007

Sandra,

The following information is submitted in response to your stated concerns.

At the April 12th PAC we presented Phase 5 - Areas of Play (Skate Park,
Children's Play Area, Off Leash Dog Area).  We identified two options for
proceeding with improvements.

OPTION 1:  Wait until the October 2007 General Obligation Bond election.
All elements of Phase 5-Areas of Play (Skate Park, Children's Play Area, Off
Leash Dog Exercise Area) could be designed and implemented as one package
once these funds are available (estimated) February 2008.  

OPTION 2:  We heard loud and clear, the public was ready to see improvements
on the ground. Chris and I left the meeting with the understanding those
improvements would be the Off Leash Dog Exercise Area, Parking Lot and
associated site improvements as funds allow.  Based on this conclusion
interested PAC members were identified to participate on a subcommittee to
discuss design details and materials.  A subcommittee meeting was held with
Chris Johnston, Judie Pellegrino, Cliff Richardson, yourself, Chris Green
and me.  We have proceeded in good faith toward this end.  We projected
design complete Summer 2007, construction to begin Fall 2007, and
construction complete by the end of December 2007.  We have continued to
present this schedule consistently at subsequent meetings and when requests
for project status from the public are received.  We are on schedule as
projected.

We believed we had the informed consent of the PAC members in attendance at
the April meeting, to proceed with the Off Leash Dog Area, Parking Lot, and
associated site improvements based on the following discussion:

*	 
*	The Off Leash Dog Area technically, logistically, and financially
could be accomplished by the end of the year.  The design issues associated
with the Off Leash Dog area are less complex than the other components.  The
Off Leash Dog area is located at far west end of the site and would not be
impacted by future Phase 5 development.  The current funds available are
anticipated to be adequate to complete the Off Leash Dog Area, Parking Lot,
and some site improvements.   
*	 
*	The Children's Play Area is integral with shade structures, outdoor
patio space, seating areas and landscaping.  It was estimated these
improvements could not be accomplished with current funds available.
Partial development could occur and be completed by December 2007, but those
improvements, come February 2008, would be closed to the public to allow for
continued development in this area.  Logistically, too, it is easier and
less costly to start at one end then the middle.

 It was explained, too,  phased development would result in a
disproportionate share of infrastructure costs associated with any initial
improvements.  For example, the water meter service and mainline is sized
for full develop, including future recreation fields.  The electrical
service is sized for all three components of Phase 5 (lit skate park,
pedestrian lights, parking lot lights, night-time "observation"
lighting...).  Grading too, may need to be extended outside the limits of
Off Leash Dog and Parking Lot area to ensure proper drainage.  Also, the
land fill (anticipated to be household trash and construction debris) will
need to be removed.  The PAC asked what those infrastructure cost might be.
We all agreed it would be important for folks to understand why this initial
development appears to be so costly.  We committed to providing that
information at the April PAC and subsequent meetings.  These costs will be
available with the construction document submittal due the end of September.
Complete construction documents with detailed design needs to be developed
before we can confidently provide these costs.  Until that time, we can only
speculate those associated infrastructure costs.  Approximately $600,000 is
projected at this time.    Be advised, we will not have the final "engineers
estimate" until the September submittal and we will not have the "real"
numbers until the contractor provides his estimate.  

We are proceeding with design plans for the Children's Play Area and Skate
Park in anticipation of the General Obligation Bonds pass in October 2007,
and funds are available for construction, February 2008.

The architectural consultant has summarized all components of Stages 1-3 of
the Programming Phase for the Multi-Generational Center.  This summary
includes the work efforts of the PAC.  This summary is being developed
graphically into "real space" size and links between spaces. 

We are planning the next PAC meeting for October 11th.  Please notify us if
this is in conflict with other identified meetings.

Colleen

Colleen K. Frenz, RLA, ASLA 
Division Manager, Park Design and Construction 
Department of Municipal Development 

t: 505-768-3826 
f: 505-768-2310 
m: 505-238-5013 
cfrenz at cabq.gov 

  _____  

From: Sandra P. Richardson [mailto:sprichardson at comcast.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:34 PM
To: Frenz, Colleen K.
Cc: Clifford.richardson at kirtland.af.mil; Ron Sissel Jr; Castillo, John R.;
Perlman, Bruce J.; Adams, Ed A.; Chris Green; Sandra P. Richardson; Marlene
Tricoli; Doug Fenton
Subject: Colleen, Concerns

A.  North Doming Baca Park: I've been asked to request again the
information... promised at both the April 12th PAC and again at the June
20th District 4 Coalition meeting at your presentation... to the North
Domingo Baca Park PAC regarding the following:

    1.  Financial cost of the "infrastructure" separated out from and
required for the possible two projects--the Dog Park and/ the Playground.

    AND,

    2. Separate financial costs for the Dog Park, and

    3. Separate financial costs for the Playground.

You will recall that, at the April PAC, you reported that the PAC would
decide which of the two projects, that is, the Dog Park or the Playground,
would be the first to be scheduled.

At that time, the majority of the members indicated that the above
information we requested was necessary for us to make a good decision.

You indicated that you and/or Chris Green would send that by email to the
attendees. That did NOT happen.

At the District 4 Coalition meeting of 20 June, at which you scheduled a
walkabout at the location followed by a Q & A, we again requested the above
information.  You seemed to think you'd sent it but promised to forward to
us. That has NOT happened.

Many of us thought we would be "weighing in" on the priorities and that, at
the least, the financial information handouts would be given to us then.

That did NOT happen.

Instead you proceeded with the "choice'' of the Dog Park as though the PAC
had been involved.

Of concern for several PAC members and other NA leaders at the June
Coalition meeting was the fact that, apparently without the PAC's
participation, the "choice" of the Dog Park was made by DMD to be the first
constructed.  

You were asked specifically about that by neighborhood leaders, "Who
decided?!!".  We PAC members indicated in response that we had not had an
opportunity to choose.

Yes, a subcommittee of the PAC did have a brief meeting with Chris and you
for the sole purpose of selecting materials to be used for the fencing, etc.
for the Dog Park.  At that time, I asked about when we would meet regarding
the Playground materials.  No real answer.

The Pac never met again because the financial information was not provided.

B.  NDB Community Center;  At the April PAC meeting, when asked about the
status of the conceptual design for the Community Center, you indicated to
the PAC that you would have a meeting in the future.  When pressed, you
said, "sometime in July or August."

    One PAC member was upset because, having participated (along with many
of us) in the Nov. 06 workshop for the Center to "conceptualize" the center
from the previous data collected, he wanted to know why wasn't the
information provided to the PAC so that the process could proceed.  His
point was, "Why repeat the PAC's work and delay the process?"

    We requested that the information you indicated in April that was
available From previous CC meetings be provided to the PAC...BEFORE the
summer meeting.

    You agreed.

Here are our concerns: 

1.  Community Center: none of us have received any information promised NOR
has any meeting been tentatively offered for the PAC.

2.  PARK:  None of the financial information promised TWICE...in April and
again in June, has been provided, nor has the PAC been included in setting
the order of the two projects...the Dog Park or the Playground.

Having been involved in these projects from our early efforts with the city,
the county and the legislature, I am dismayed at the sporadic response and
lack of timely accountability throughout as well as the bypassing of the PAC
in decision-making.

This is not the kind of transparency that we community leaders have come to
expect and appreciate from this administration.

Regrettably,

Sandra P. Richardson 

PAC & Task Force

North Domingo Baca Park & Community Center

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