Rec. and Park Slashes Capital Projects
Rossi Park one of 23 projects unfunded, audit called for

By Carol Dimmick

Stunned by the announcement that the SF Recreation and Park Department has run out of bond money four years into a 10-year $400 million capital plan to revitalize the city's aging parks and recreational facilities, angry residents and elected representatives are calling for an audit.

The bad news was delivered by Yomi Agunbiade, the department's acting director, at an April 21 meeting of the SF Recreation and Park Commission held to approve the sale of the remaining $68 million in park bonds from an earlier election.

Agunbiade told commissioners the department has run out of money to complete 71 projects currently under construction and that funds earmarked for 23 projects must be diverted to cover the shortfall.

According to a financial report prepared by the department, the grim picture is a result of higher-than-anticipated construction costs on completed projects, three years of budget cuts, which forced the department to draw down the Open Space Fund and wiped out a plan to issue revenue bonds backed by the fund, and overspending to design what one commissioner called "Cadillac" projects that are already completed.

Parks in the Richmond and Sunset districts that are scheduled to have their funds put on indefinite hold include Rossi Playground ($400,000), South Sunset Playground ($44,289) and the West Sunset Playground ($2,988).

Before the bond sale can proceed, it must by approved by the SF Board of Supervisors, where elected officials are being lobbied by constituents to vote against the request for the additional funds when the issue comes up for approval sometime in early June.

Supervisors Fiona Ma and Jake McGoldrick have already come out against the bond sale. Both say they cannot support the sale of more bonds unless they are satisfied previous bond money has been well spent.

Ma's aide told commissioners that she has requested an audit of the department's bond program.

"We would like to verify that monies from previous bonds were appropriately used," Jaynry Mak said.

Dozens of angry park users, many of whom worked to raise funds for projects in their neighborhoods that were put on hold, told commissioners they are angry about the department's lack of candor. Many neighbors asked commissioners why they were encouraged to keep raising funds for projects when the department knew it was out of money.

Brin Riley, a parent who raised money for Rossi Playground, reminded commissioners that an architect donated $75,000 worth of fees to design a playground for the community.

"The City needs to support its volunteers, not discourage them," she said.

Ron Miguel, president of the Planning Association for the Richmond, said an audit of the department is long overdue.

"I question the fiscal responsibility of a department that can't tell me the cost of any site," Miguel said.

Advocate Calls for Mayor to Replace Commissioners

Neighbors' concerns were echoed by Isabel Wade, president of the Neighborhood Park Council, who also expressed her disappointment with the commissioners' "hasty action" in approving the bond sale.

"Rushing forward without all the facts and with no game plan is exactly how we got in the mess we find ourselves in today," Wade said.

Wade also called on Mayor Gavin Newsom to replace the members of the Recreation and Park Commission. She said they have failed to listen and insist upon an accurate and complete accounting of bond money.

"Commissioners have flagrantly dismissed the public's concerns about the whole process of how the bond money has been spent. It's time for a regime change," Wade said.