Public assails Park and Ride plan
City Council endorses application for $1.4 million development grant
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
Former Ketchum City Council member Tom Held said the city's plan to seek federal funds to develop a parking lot on the Park and Ride parcel could ultimately cost taxpayers large sums of money. Photo by Willy Cook
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Ketchum City Hall erupted into a firestorm of debate this week when a throng of angry residents told the City Council they oppose a plan to seek federal money to develop parts of the city-owned Park and Ride lot.
Council members were not dissuaded, however, and after two hours of discussion voted 3-1 to pursue an approximately $1.4 million federal grant to install a parking lot and transit center on the 5.8-acre parcel, located at the corner of Warm Springs and Saddle roads.
The decision Monday, Nov. 15, calls for the city to pursue a category 5309 grant from the Federal Highway Administration, which annually disburses funds to promote transit-related projects.
If Congress approves the grant next year, the city would be required to provide a match equal to 20 percent of the funds, approximately $285,000.
Among scores of people packed into the council's chambers to debate the merits of the grant were numerous objectors, several of whom said the matching requirement could force the city to violate the terms of a Nov. 2 advisory vote on the Park and Ride lot.
"I think the ballot was illegal," said Ketchum resident Jake Jacoby. "I think you're treating taxpayers like a bunch of bums."
In the Nov. 2 election, the city asked citizens if it should lease approximately one quarter of the Park and Ride lot to the Ketchum-based Wood River Community YMCA, which plans to build a $16 million recreational facility on the site. The ballot language told voters that the $1 per year lease would be granted for the YMCA to be built and operated at "no extra cost to the city."
Several audience members concurred with Jacoby, saying that if the city is obliged to provide a matching grant to install surface parking on the Park and Ride lot—some of which would be used by YMCA patrons—the "no cost" condition would clearly be violated.
"I think the vote might have gone the other way if we had all the facts," said Norman Friedman, a Ketchum resident.
Former City Council member Tom Held surmised the current council has "lost the respect of a lot of voters" because it did not tell citizens about the 5309 grant and the associated plan before the election.
Rebekah Helzel, a Ketchum resident who is organizing a citizen's group to promote affordable housing, said the Park and Ride lot should be used to develop housing for teachers, business owners and emergency workers.
"That is invaluable, irreplaceable land," she said.
Others asserted that the 5309 grant was a backhanded attempt by the YMCA to get the city to pay for its on-site parking.
Not so, said Ed Lawson, a member of the YMCA board of directors.
"The Y is not pushing this," he said. "We don't care, frankly, if you get the grant application or not."
Tom Praggastis, another member of the YMCA board, said the YMCA is willing to pay for any share of the matching funds from which the organization benefits.
"That's not an issue," he assured the council.
The city application for the 5309 grant outlines a project for the Park and Ride that would include paving and landscaping all or most of the area surrounding the YMCA, which is planned to occupy 1.5 acres near the center. In addition, the project would include a bus transfer station and bicycle racks.
The revised application sum of $1.4 million was put forth for the first time this week, after city officials determined they could by no means garner the funds necessary to match a proposed $4.6 million grant application reviewed on Nov. 8. The larger plan called for erecting a 200-car parking garage.
Councilwoman Terry Tracy opposed the grant application, stating that she believes the city should draft a plan for the entire Park and Ride lot before developing a vast parking lot, potentially at the city's expense.
"It's very obvious that the slogan 'at no cost to the taxpayer' got lost," she said.
Councilman Baird Gourlay said the city should not turn its back on what could amount to be free money.
Harold Moniz, Ketchum planning director, said Tuesday that he believes applying for the grant makes good sense for the city. Both the city and the YMCA need parking at the site, he said, and it is "quite possible" the YMCA will pay for all or most of the matching sum.
"If it's pretty much free, I'd say let's pave the bloody thing."
At the same time, Moniz noted, the city will not be precluded from developing other uses—such as affordable housing—on the Park and Ride lot in the future.
