Airport Neighborhood Plan Public Hearing - DeJana StatementMr. Mayor and Members of the Council:
I am pleased that the issue of recreational facilities and the
airport fields and the city airport caused you to ask for impute.
As president of the Greater Kalispell Youth Soccer Association, I
speak for an organization that has about 1,400 recreational
players, almost 260 competitive players and over 40 high school
players. My board of directors has taken a position on the airport
that is very simple.` We do not want to destroy existing businesses
and the decision is yours as to the continuation.
The reason is simple, it is the businesses of this community
that most support recreational activities. We will not oppose
these people who make the Flathead what it is and as part of their
on going activities have continued to support the youth of our,( -
community.
The reason is even more simple when we recognize the
commitment of the mayor, the city manager and a majority of this
counsel to continue to provide recreational facilities for our
children. Although we truly believe that is part of the function
of local government, we also recognize the priority you place on
youth activities is fundamentally characteristic of this valley.
We have a quality of life that places our children at the
forefront.
We are concerned though about the plans expressed to use the
City's cemetery road property with additional acreage for a youth
facility. Frankly, a recent review of the needs of a facility for
not just soccer but youth needs demonstrates according to one
source that about 120 acres are needed. That is a lot of land.
It is even more a concern if we the citizens through you attempt
to make this youth complex into an area that is a show place for
the community. The cemetery road property creates other problems
with respect to children's access that will have to be addressed.
We would like to propose the following agenda be adopted by
this counsel:
1. You make as soon as possible a decision on the continued
existence of the city airport, weighing the community needs and the
needs of the businesses dependant on that airport against the costs
and safety concerns. IN making this decision, if you decide to go
ahead, I can only hope it will be on the same concern to the needs
of a proper facility and community service as I am sure you will
afford the expansion of youth sports.
2. Assuming that the airport is going to continue and be
improved, I ask you to form a task force of citizens and counsel
members to explore the recreational needs, both adult and for
children, of this community, the financial benefits of filling
those needs and the appropriate locations of the facilities. This
committee should report back to you before the end of the summer.
3. Have this committee recommend to you design, location and
means of continuing to support a recreational activities center.
4. This council, after determining the needs from the
committee impute should designate funding for youth needs. An
example of what could be done is as follows:
a. 10% of the sale or lease of the land in the airport
area;
b. a yearly sum equal to 10% of the increase of gambling
revenue over the amount received by the city in 1993.
In soccer alone the volunteer efforts exceeds $40,000.00 a
year at if paid at minimum wage. I cannot but believe that the
same is true for flag football, baseball and softball. Work on
coaching, officiating, scheduling, and administering is done by
volunteers. The hours are endless. Why? Maybe because we have
children involved. But more likely because we recognize that we
have a choice in society, as Janet Reno recently said, we can pay
the bill now for children or pay it later in prisons, crime and
drugs.
We also recognize that a proper facility will bring
tournaments into the area. These tournaments state wide realize
$250,000.00 in restaurant and motel increased revenue in a single
weekend, let alone what happens to the rest of the economy.
Please create the committee, plan the change over to have the
least impact and look at our moral obligation for our children.
This is not a fight between airport businesses and youth, those
business support youth. This is a call for Kalispell to meet not
just business interests, not just special interests, but the needs
of our community in both the areas of youth and business. Please
make our dreams a reality.
Sincerely,
Richard DeJana
President GKYSA