City Commission Meeting, 3/18/2014~Brownsville Citizens Lose Lincoln Park, Face Parking Meter Increase and the "Bike Brownsville Initiative"

Brownsville's biggest losers are not those who eat healthy foods, do zumba or ride their Schwinn bicycles on the Belden Trail.  The city's biggest losers are the taxpayers, ratepayers and citizens after every City Commission meeting who,because of insensitive, impractical and foolish agenda items pushed through a youthful City Commission by an overbearing mayor,find themselves constantly paying more for less.

The agenda for the 3/18/2014 City Commission meeting, just released, has the potential to diminish the quality of life for Brownsville residents in three areas.  The mostly, cutesy, ambiguous language and legalese leaves us to guess exactly how Brownsville citizens will lose, but lose they will.

Rose Gowen versus Southmost, District 1

While Brownsville's bike trails remain generally unused, the city's parks are frequently at capacity.  Last Easter Charlie Cabler Park had at least 500 users, family groups on blankets near a grill, boom boxes blaring and a large pinata hanging on a line.  The concrete walking track looked like a miniature Bangkok highway with grade schoolers on scooters and bikes, adults walking or jogging.

One agenda item threatens to take away one of Brownsville's most treasured city playgrounds, Lincoln Park.  While the language describing the scheduled executive session and subsequent action item does not mention Lincoln Park, it likely includes the deal to yield that prized property to UT-RGV for a consideration of $6 million.

Since Lincoln Park currently sits at the western entrance to Southmost, within District 1, a common sense approach might be to use the $6 million to build a similar park in District 1, although it's doubtful the amenities currently at Lincoln Park could be duplicated for that amount.

But politicos are not noted for common sense.  They see $6 million as free money for the taking to use on THEIR pet projects.  Remember when Ernie Hernandez wanted to siphon off some pre-allocated funds from Southmost to build a dog shelter?  City Commissioner Dr. Rose Gowen, arrogantly wants to write a personal prescription for Brownsville involving her version of wellness, including extensive bike trails.  She wants to use the $6 million for enhancements to the Belden Trail.

Here is the agenda item for action on the what was discussed in executive session:
ACTION ON ITEM DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A) Consideration and ACTION on items discussed in Executive Session pertaining to the
purchase, sale, exchange, lease, or value of real property. (Mark Sossi – City Attorney)

Irreplaceable Lincoln Park

This blog has been warning about the unconscionable sale of Lincoln Park.  Here is an excerpt from our 2/5/14 story:

"Rose Gowen salivates when she thinks two parcels of land including the city's irreplaceable Lincoln Park could yield $6 million dollars she could use on pet projects. 

If Gowen had the slightest awareness of what it means to be a green city, she would not push for the destruction of a nature center, children's garden, nature trails, an outdoor amphitheater or two ball fields and two ball courts. If Gowen and her cohort Tony Martinez have their way, all of Lincoln Park's natural, green-friendly amenities will be bulldozed, paved over and replaced by buildings for the satellite campus of UT-RGV.

Those buildings could be built on any number of properties along University Boulevard, even on the parcels already owned by the UT system across the interstate. To destroy a precious, irreplaceable city park for buildings is not only beyond dumb. but grossly undervalues such green spaces in urban environments. It is a decision made in ignorance."

Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez Forges Ahead with Parking Meter Raise Despite Reasoned Comments from Downtown Business Owners

City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez

Another item reappearing on the City Commission agenda is the proposed increase of parking meter rates downtown. 

At least the agenda item has the phrase "parking meter rates" included, unlike before:  

9. Public Hearing and ACTION on FIRST READING on Ordinance Number 2014-736-O, to increase Parking Meters rates in the downtown area by repealing and replacing, Chapter 98 “Traffic and Vehicles”, Article V, “Stopping, Standing, and Parking”, Division 6,
“Parking Meters”, Sections 98-361 to 98-381, adding Section 98-382, with Sections 98-383-

98-410 to be reserved, and dealing with related matters. (Ramiro Gonzalez – Planning) 

This item has been reworked, so it is penned a "FIRST READING." In actuality, this is the second attempt to raise parking meter rates downtown.  The first attempt, 12/10/13, was disrupted by Commissioner Ricardo Longoria, who questioned the timing, leading to a Town Hall forum at the Market Square meeting room,  1/22/14.  At that meeting, 18 of 20 public commenters opposed the raising of downtown meter rates, saying it would further stifle downtown businesses already barely surviving.  

We quickly learned that Planner Gonzalez was spinning the results of the town hall meeting in favor of the raise and proceeding as planned.  We've heard he plans an immediate raise to 60 cents per hour and a tripling of the current fees within 3 years.  As is typical, city officials are poor listeners and slow learners.  They will pursue their agenda come hell or high water.  

Prior to the executive session and city commission meeting, a previously postponed workshop will take place:

WORKSHOP: 5:35 P.M.
a) Presentation regarding Bike Brownsville Initiative. (Ramiro Gonzalez – Planning – 10 min.)

This presentation could reveal plans for a bike trail connection through downtown connecting the Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail at Linear Park with Fort Brown.  The city received a $786,000 Transportation Enhancement Grant for this project.  Downtown business owners are worried this plan will eliminate as many as 50 downtown parking spaces, although Gonzalez has stated since "that won't happen."

If BCIC Executive Director Rachel Flores were presenting this, I would suspect it would be about a proclamation of Brownsville as the "Bike Capitol of the Rio Grande Valley" or beyond.  So, we will see.