Park upgrade rejected; street repairs pushed

Toledo City Council voted Tuesday to forestall a makeover of downtown's Promenade Park in favor of spending more to repair the city's ailing streets, but Mayor Mike Bell looked certain to veto the measure.

Councilmen voted 7-4 to allocate an additional $750,000 in capital improvement funds this year to repairing Toledo's residential streets, adding to $2.5 million already set aside in the budget for that purpose. The allocation would cancel out money the Bell administration wants to use for expanding and redesigning Promenade Park. Under that plan, the funds would pay for constructing a new layout for the park which includes linking it with the old Federal Building site and removing trees to provide a clear view of the waterfront from Summit Street.

"That $750,000 can have a more immediate impact on neighborhoods and residents," said councilman George Sarantou, who proposed allocating the funds to street repair. "It's important that the infrastructure of our city be attended to."

But Mayor Bell countered that the additional funds, if used for street repair, would not stretch very far. Robin Whitney, commissioner of Engineering Services, estimated the $750,000 would pay for resurfacing only about two miles of streets and those repairs could not be done this year. In contrast, planned improvements to Promenade Park would attract more businesses, people and jobs to Toledo, generating improved tax revenues for the city, ultimately allowing for more street repairs, the mayor said. He later indicated he would veto council's decision to abandon funding for the park project.

"We're trying to create an environment here that is international, that will bring people to our city," the mayor told council. "The project at Promenade Park ... will make us money."

Councilmen Mike Craig, Joe McNamara, Rob Ludeman, and Adam Martinez voted against allocating the park project funds to street repair. Councilman Phillip Copeland was absent.

Mr. McNamara said the investment in Promenade Park would create a much-needed focal point in downtown Toledo that would help define the city and put it on the map. He described the disappointment he felt when he recently picked up a book about Ohio, only to find that just two or three pages mentioned Toledo.

"Investing in ourselves is a good idea," Mr. McNamara enthused. "We're trying to sell our city across the world ... I think it's important to dream and I think this is a great project."

Councilman Martinez echoed the mayor's analysis, arguing that investing in downtown would attract businesses and generate more money in private dollars from every dollar in public money spent.

But councilman D. Michael Collins said street improvements are a pressing need and should come first. He said the park project can wait, and pushed for a market study to determine its potential effectiveness before moving forward.

"It's a wonderful plan ... but is it a need or is it a want?" he asked council. "The need is to build our streets back."

Councilman Tom Waniewski also pushed for street repair. He said Toledo residents are more concerned about improving the city's roadways than changing Promenade Park. Instead of worrying about Toledo's image to the outside world, the city should worry what local residents think about their pot-holed streets, he argued.

"It's not the image that we want to give to taxpayers," Mr. Waniewski said. "I would rather pave three blocks than add more pages to [Mr. McNamara's] book."

Also Tuesday, council unanimously approved appropriating $350,000 of capital improvement money this year for demolishing vacant and blighted buildings in the city. The ordinance also commits at least another $350,000 toward demolition in 2012.

Changes to Toledo's panhandling law also got the go-ahead from council. The changes allow police officers to issue citations or even jail people who antagonize passers-by for cash, or who misrepresent themselves to get money.