I was reviewing the County Council agenda for Tuesday, May 7, 2013 and noticed that the consent agenda included a bill, AB2013-174, that authorized a contract of $84,000 to KCDA for new playground equipment. Normally, this would not attract my attention, but the park involved is Silver Lake.
The agenda bill only authorizes the award of the contract. The Parks Department asserts that that funding was already approved in the Whatcom County 2013-2014 Budget, AB2012-332A. I reviewed the budget and perhaps I did not know the correct place to look, but I could not find this project. I only saw broad objectives to inspect and maintain playground equipment.
I normally do not question Department budgets, but in this case, the Parks Department only recently revealed that it wanted to deal with a Canada geese population problem at Silver Lake by exterminating the park geese. I believe this reflects something about the Parks Department's priorities.
The Parks Department is acting contrary to the advice of wildlife experts, who advocate the development of an integrated multi-technique approach to goose management and community input. Plan development requires funding because it involves investigation, assessment and monitoring. It involves community involvement. And of course, there is a cost to implementing the management methods determined to be best suited for Silver Lake.
That is why I question whether it is appropriate to spend $84,000 to replace playground equipment. I do not believe the Parks Department should be making such an expensive non-essential purchase when it lacks appropriate planning for wildlife management. It is important to avoid human/wildlife conflicts so that healthy populations of local species can survive. Biodiversity, ecosystem resiliency and healthy ecosystem benefits are a higher priority than new playground equipment.
I have requested that the County Council use the contract for the playground equipment as an opportunity to engage the Parks Department in a discussion of its wildlife management strategy. The Parks Department should provide public assurance that it will not kill the Silver Lake geese this summer, allowing time for a transparent community discussion about wildlife management.
Comments by Readers
Delaine Clizbe
May 03, 2013Wendy,
While I don’t have an issue with removing geese from Silver Lake Park, even if they are euthanized, I agree with you that the Whatcom County Parks department needs more over site. Recently I have heard Mike McFarland state: “A level of service is just a guideline, the County can decide to go above that level”. and “The Capital Improvement Project budget is required by the state. We don’t have to follow it. We just put things on there in hopes of a grant”. (not exact quotes) So essentially, in the Parks Directors mind there really is no planning necessary.
It seems to me that the Parks Department answers to nobody. The Parks and Recreation Commission is supposed to “advise” the parks. That is a joke! The only thing they vote on is the minutes from the last meeting. There is no “prediscussion” about projects. The commission only hears what the Parks Department is doing. There is no room for advise. Don’t believe me? Suffer through one meeting and you will see what I mean. The next meeting is on May 16. Check the commission page to see where they will meet. They change the meeting every time and usually meet in far away places like Maple Falls.
Furthermore, Mike McFarland makes sure that he stacks the commission with “yes men”. Even though the district one position had been open for 9 months and they had a qualified candidate (only requirement is that you live in the district.) I was passed aside for a seat on the commission even though my application was in months before the eventual commissioner. (I am also an active user of parks services so that double qualifies me) The same thing is now happening with the District 3 position. A qualified candidate has submitted an application but now they are choosing to “recruit” for that position. That position has been open since mid January.
Keep digging Wendy!