mayor roy's office responds: (we guess it was true they received a letter after all)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Mayor
May 13, 2007
Contact: Jacqueline Whittle
Jacqueline.Whittle-at-cityofalex.com
318.449.5027
Community-Based Planning Meeting Is Required for Smart Growth
Yesterday, over 190 families living in the vicinity of Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and the city-operated baseball parks at the corner of Masonic Drive and Texas Avenue received a letter from the City of Alexandria, through the office of the Mayor, inviting interested persons to attend and participate in a community-based planning meeting regarding the proposed purchase of areas of the public park baseball complex by Cabrini for expansion. As citizens of Alexandria know (or should be informed), both Cabrini and Rapides Hospital are in the processes of major, multi-million dollar expansions—totaling well over $100 million together. However, the proposal to the City to purchase park space, with the promise of economic expansion argued to benefit our City through the leading workforce driver (the healthcare industry complex), is still controversial to say the least. These park spaces, desperately needed and rightfully guarded, are vital to our quality of life; indeed, information provided to the current Administration indicates Cabrini had courted the previous Administration for many years, long before the construction of the Johnny Downs Sports Complex, and it seems Cabrini already informally uses a portion of the park along Texas Avenue for overflow parking because of its ever-increasing size (which is a good sign of the times in economic terms and according to economist Loren Scott). One of the central tenets of smart growth is what is called "community-based planning." Specifically, this form of discussion or dialogue requires directly engaging members of the community in order to seek solutions to growth and in-fill development. It must also be noted that such public, advertised meetings are a hallmark of government transparency, ensuring direct participation from the community by building appropriate consensus through addressing any and all tangential issues that can arise when and if a property is developed and then brought into commerce. No decision has been made on the Administration's part as to a recommendation; it is simply too early without citizen input. The Administration has heard no input from the governing authority, the City Council. Accordingly, a step needed to occur, and so Mayor Roy, after discussions with folks from Cabrini and Pam Webb, decided to call a meeting just as promised during his campaign and to interested parties inquiring about the expansion efforts. Ms. Webb, who serves on the school board, can attest to the Administration's promise to place everything in the public domain before any decisions were made.Considering that the park is currently used for youth recreation, it is of the utmost importance that the City does not lose its park complement and that programs, such as Little League baseball, are not interrupted, reduced in quantity, or delayed by any potential development. It is also important that any development appreciates the imprint of our City Park and represents a positive contribution to the area, fostering economic development and protecting and securing traffic flow. Despite rumors, quickly proliferated in our modern internet age, the Administration has not made a decision on this proposal. The purpose of calling this meeting is to directly involve neighbors in the decision-making process, one the Administration would never arrogate unto itself given the import of recreation and land use. Instead, the Administration wishes to facilitate discussion to end the rumor mill. Notably, questions raised on both Quint Carriere's blog, called "Cenla Antics" and on an unknown moderator's "WeSawThat," underscore the importance and necessity of these meetings. It is somewhat ironic that these "information" sources are quick to attack without looking into established facts. Community-based planning, Roy's campaign promise, and community fairness demand a meeting among the players. Adherence to existing master planning is critical. On the other hand, fostering the largest economic engine, the one during this recent mayoral election promise was identified as the theme for our region, likewise demands listening to plans. Oftentimes, all sides can walk away with a win-win when public-private partnering respects proportionate economic benefits, public purpose, and legalities. This process is in its inchoate stages, and to criticize the players for desiring a public meeting makes little sense. Transparency and community planning are founded on public meetings. To dismiss any partnering for expansion without knowing the plans violates Smart Growth principles just as much as violating its admonition to create and properly maintain recreation space. Smart Growth after all is about growth through proper preservations and use of existing space, but about growth nonetheless. Alexandrians made clear their vote in December was for growth. So, we must see if this plan offers an acceptable opportunity. If it does not meet our demands for preservation of parks, it should be denied. The proposed neighborhood meeting topics for participants include sustainable living (LEED certification advantages, such as reduced energy costs), potential neighborhood design guidelines, park demand, needs, and uses, streetscape (landscaping), and facility planning. --END------ORIGINAL POST----
rumors are swirling on the cenla antics blog about a proposal to sell the city's historic youth ball complex to st francis cabrini hospital:
s
t francis cabrini hospital & youth ball park from google earth
====another anonymous commenter on cenla antics says:The meeting regarding Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital proposal to purchase the Alexandria Youth Complex ballparks at Texas and Masonic is at 6:30 pm, Thursday, May 17, 2007 in the Community Meeting Room at the Public Safety Complex, 1000 Bolton Avenue. I hope many of the Alexandria residents will come out to voice their opposition to this proposal. Over the years, the open area of City Park has shrunk. Big Island adjacent to Babe Ruth Drive is just about the only remaining open area in the park. More and more people are using this area for golf practice, tag football games, etc. If the existing youth ball parks are demolished, and new ball parks are built elsewhere in City Park, there is going to be some crowding. Children in the central city will not have any real open ares left to enjoy.====
here's the law that the city of alexandria will have to follow if and when they do attempt to sell the ball park to st. francis cabrini hospital:
33:4717.2. Transfer of property by political subdivision for industrial inducement purposes
A. Except as provided for those parishes in Subsection E below, in addition to authority granted by other laws, any parish, municipality, industrial district, port, harbor and terminal district, or other political subdivision of the state, hereinafter referred to as "political subdivision," which is permitted by law to own land, buildings, or other property for industrial inducement purposes, shall have the authority to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, by suitable and appropriate contract, such transactions being hereinafter referred to as "transfers," to any enterprise locating or existing within, outside of, or adjoining to such political subdivision, all or any part of an industrial plant site, building, port, harbor, or terminal facility, or other property owned by the political subdivision. In determining the consideration for any transfer, the governing authority of the political subdivision may consider the potential value of the economic impact of the enterprise being induced to locate or expand within, outside of, or adjoining the political subdivision, as well as the value of the lands, buildings, or other properties involved. Prior to any transfer, the governing authority of the political subdivision shall give notice of its intention to do so, by publication of a notice of intention once a week for two consecutive weeks, beginning at least fourteen days from the date such action is contemplated. Such notice of intention shall include the following: (1) a general description of the proposed transfer, (2) a description of the property to be transferred, (3) the proposed consideration to be given in exchange for said property, (4) a statement that the proposed contract is on file for public inspection in the office of the political subdivision, (5) a statement as to the appraised value of such property as determined by a real estate appraisal made within the previous twelve months, and (6) a date, time, and place at which objections to such transfer will be received. Should five percent of the resident electors of the political subdivision object to said proposed transaction, an election shall be held for the purpose of submitting the question of the transfer to the voters in accordance with Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
B. The resolution or ordinance adopted by the governing authority authorizing any transfer of property of the political subdivision shall set forth, in a general way, the terms of the authorized transfer and that the contract is on file for public inspection in the office of the political subdivision. At the regularly scheduled meeting immediately
prior to the meeting at which the resolution will be considered, the governing authority of the political subdivision shall announce to those persons present that the resolution will be considered at the next meeting. Such resolution or ordinance shall be published as soon as possible after adoption in one issue of the official journal of the political subdivision. For a period of thirty days from the date of publication of any such resolution or ordinance, any interested person may contest the legality of such resolution or ordinance or the validity of the authorized transfer, after which time, no one shall have any cause of action to contest the legality of the transfer for any cause whatsoever, and it shall be conclusively presumed thereafter that every legal requirement has been complied with, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters after the lapse of said thirty days.
C. This Section shall not apply to property acquired from the proceeds of industrial development bonds issued in compliance with the provisions of laws authorized by Article 6, Section 21, of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974 or issued by industrial development boards in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 7 of Title 51 of the Louisiana
Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended. In such instances, property may be leased, sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with such laws.
D. REPEALED BY ACTS 1991, NO. 355, § 1.
E. Within the parishes of St. Tammany and St. Mary, any municipality, industrial district, port, harbor and terminal district, or other political subdivision of the state, hereinafter referred to as "political subdivision", which is permitted by law to own land, buildings, or other property for industrial inducement purposes, shall have the authority to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, by suitable and appropriate contract, such transactions being hereinafter referred to as "transfers", to any enterprise locating or existing within such political subdivision, all or any part of an industrial plant site, building, port, harbor, or terminal facility, or other property owned by the political subdivision. In determining the consideration for any transfer, the governing authority of the political subdivision may consider the potential value of the economic impact of the enterprise being induced to locate or expand within the political subdivision as well as the value of the lands, buildings, or other properties involved. Prior to any transfer, the governing authority of the political subdivision shall give notice of its intention to do so, by publication of a notice of intention once a week for two consecutive weeks, beginning at least fourteen days from the date such action is contemplated. Such notice of intention shall include the following: (1) a general description of the proposed transfer, (2) a description of the property to be transferred, (3) the proposed consideration to be given in exchange for said property, (4) a statement that the proposed contract is on file for public inspection in the office of the political subdivision, (5) a statement as to the appraised value of such property as determined by a real estate appraisal
made within the previous twelve months, (6) a date, time, and place at which objections to such transfer will be received. Should five percent of the resident electors of the political subdivision object to said proposed transaction, an election shall be held for the purpose of submitting the question of the transfer to the voters in accordance with
Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
Added by Acts 1978, No. 199, § 1, eff. June 29, 1978. Amended by
Acts 1981, No. 216, § 1; Acts 1991, No. 355, § 1.
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