Gene`s BMX News

*** Spokane BMX Complex Bond On November Ballot ***

Spokane, Washington -- 06/26/2007
The Spokane City Council spent three hours discussing
the proposed sports complex at Joe Albi Stadium Monday
night and realized to get a bond passed plans must include
a new baseball field for Little League Baseball.

Little Leaguers turned out in force at
Monday night’s city council meeting.

Spokane’s baseball community opposed a preliminary
sports complex plan that has soccer fields, a BMX track,
a skate park and a softball complex.

Little League Baseball supporters complained loudly that it
does not have any of its own fields and they need new ones.
The council voted to spend the next six weeks trying to come
up with a plan that attempts to address baseball’s shortfall.

“I think dialogue is open, what happens over the next six weeks,
I’m sure I’ll be par of the negotiations but I’m very encouraged
with where we sit right now,” Spokane North Little League’s
President Dan Peck said.

Ideas for finding dedicated baseball fields include letting Little
League take over Franklin Park or adding a baseball complex
on the south end of the Albi plan.

Nothing is decided at this point but council Brad Strark said
the bond will not get passed if the Little League supporters are
not satisfied with the final plan.

On August 6th, the council will decide if it wants to
put an 11 million dollar bond on the November ballot.

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*** Joe Albi Sports Plan Advances ***

Spoakne, Washington -- 06/26/2007
A proposal to build a sports complex scored the
go-ahead run Monday from the City Council.

But the plan, which would construct a softball complex, improved
soccer fields, a skateboard park and BMX track on land north of
Joe Albi Stadium, isn't in the final inning.

The City Council unanimously agreed to endorse the
proposal spearheaded by City Councilman Rob Crow.

What comes next could be tougher: figuring out how to pay for it.

"This isn't a perfect plan, but it's a good plan," said City Council
President Joe Shogan. "Perfect is the enemy of the good."

Since 80 percent of voters agreed to sell park land eight years ago to
build a sports complex, the money has sat while concerns over traffic
and alcohol sales stopped efforts to build. Meanwhile, estimated costs
of the plan have increased to almost three times as much as the $4
million the city has for the project.

Little League Baseball interests, one significant obstacle to Crow's plan,
said they were pleased by an amendment made by Councilwoman Mary
Verner that agrees to consider baseball needs before final approval.

The council agreed to figure out by Aug. 6 how to pay for the project
– not only for what's proposed near Albi, but for new baseball fields.

After the meeting, park director Mike Stone said a bond issue for softball
and baseball also could include requests to upgrade and add swimming
pools.

City Councilman Al French warned that anything on the ballot must
be specific – especially since the 1999 vote remains unfulfilled.

"Keep in mind that (voters) already have a bad taste in their mouth,"
French said. "They already voted yes once and got nothing."

Little League baseball officials have argued that the city has plenty
of softball fields, but no decent diamonds for them.

On Monday, about 50 uniformed Little League players sat in the council
chambers for the debate. More than 30 people testified, many of them
kids, who decried the condition of the baseball fields they use now.
Most of those diamonds are on school property.

"We need new fields because we are the second biggest city
in this state and we have no fields at all," said Will Lyle, 10.

City Council candidate Dan Peck, who is president of Spokane North
Little League, testified that six of the seven City Council members
signed a pledge in The Spokesman-Review to do what they can to
provide a safe and nurturing environment for kids. He argues a
softball complex serves mostly adults.

"To me a pledge is a promise," Peck said. "If you vote against
these kids tonight, to me, that's breaking the promise."

Crow has argued that his plan is only a start and that the construction
of softball fields will provide more opportunities to young baseball players.

While other local baseball leagues often play on softball diamonds,
Little League discourages play on them.

City Council members said if they want people to approve
extra taxes for parks, baseball fields must be part of the plan.

"It's not going to pass the ballot until we get the baseball
issue addressed," said Councilman Brad Stark.

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