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Editorial: Another Elk Grove fight

Editorial: Another Elk Grove fight City needs only one government for parks Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 16, 2005Elk Grove is proceeding to build parks in a very expensive way, creating a second park government to serve the city. Obviously the city only needs one in the long run. This unilateral move is increasing the prospect that the city for years will have two park governments that will spend too much time fighting over turf and funds than managing parks. Perpetual conflict isn't healthy for any city, and certainly not for Elk Grove. The City Council and staff take great pride in Laguna Ridge, a major new residential development project. Many of the residential projects now under construction in Elk Grove were originally planned by Sacramento County supervisors before 2000, when residents in Elk Grove voted to incorporate. Laguna Ridge (south of Elk Grove Boulevard and north of Kammerer Road) was designed by the city. And now the city wants to develop and manage its parks. To date, however, all the parks in Elk Grove have been built and managed by the long-time operator of parks and fire services in the area, the Elk Grove Community Services District. The city now wants to retain the park development fees from Laguna Ridge that would normally flow to the community services district. So the district, to no surprise, is suing. We're far from sure that in the long run Elk Grove is best served by having these two separate governments. Mergers, however, are very delicate acts of political diplomacy that only happen after a healthy public dialogue and public vote. There's nothing healthy or diplomatic over this turf fight over parks.

posted by Chris Lombardo @ 2/17/2005 12:16:00 AM