SALT LAKE CITY — The revamping of Salt Lake City recreation will have to wait, and that includes the proposed closure and repurposing of Glendale Golf Course.
In a 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the City Council decided it would not ask voters to consider a $100 million general obligation bond on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The bond, which would have increased property taxes for residents by about $4 per month, sought to bolster city's park amenities, create new trails, revitalize the Jordan River and transform the Glendale Golf Course into a multi-purpose regional park.
The City Council's decision means Glendale's closure will be pushed back at least a year.
Council members were visibly frustrated with the decision. Its supporters — Chairman Luke Garrott and council members Kyle LaMalfa and Erin Mendenhall — said the city can't wait to address its recreation needs.
"There are important issues facing the city, and that includes rescuing the golf system as well as our priority this year of urban trails," LaMalfa said during the City Council's work session Tuesday afternoon. "This bond achieves both of those ends."
But the bond's opponents — council members Charlie Luke, James Rogers, Lisa Adams and Stan Penfold — said the process has been too rushed, and putting it on the ballot would jeopardize the bond's success.
"Perception is a huge component of this," Rogers said, adding that voters would likely be skeptical of the bond proposal because it has been an issue of criticism from Mayor Ralph Becker's rivals in the mayoral race.
"I don't want to see something put on the ballot that would fail because of political reasons," he said.
Penfold, too, said the bond has been politically "battered."
"If we go forward without agreement from the mayor and the council," he said, "... it does not feel like it's worth the risk, frankly."
Mendenhall said she was disappointed that the bond became a "rag doll" in political discussions.
"We took this on because we have a duty as the City Council to address the needs of the community and the financial needs of (the city)," she said. "This was a result of a lengthy public process, so it saddens me ... that we continue to see it (dragged) through the mud today."
Just hours before the City Council's vote, Becker pulled his support for the proposal, citing lack of community support and discord among council members.
“After listening and considering input from the community, the City Council, Salt Lake County officials and others, I’m convinced that a parks, trails and open space bond is the right thing to do, but now is the not the right time to do it,” Becker said in a statement issued Tuesday morning. “Given all those concerns, it’s best that we take more time, further engage the community and work closely with council members to develop an even better proposal."
Mayoral challenger Jackie Biskupski, the top vote-getter in last week's primary election, accused Becker for switching his stance on the bond for political reasons.
Becker had been pushing the proposal for several months, she said, "touting it as the centerpiece of his re-election platform."
"Now that he’s the recipient of public outrage, he’s changing his position," Biskupski said. "He’s scrambling to try and gain support for re-election, and as a result he is making poor leadership decisions that are negatively affecting the city and its residents.
Becker and his administration has been working with the City Council on the bond since last year. Last month, Becker announced the bond proposal, which would have cost $125 million to $150 million.
Last week, the City Council discussed how to change the plan to cost less and agreed to reduce the bond proposal to $99.8 million.
"It's really unfortunate because I think this is an exciting opportunity for the residents of Salt Lake City," Penfold said. "But I'm in a place now where I think we should regroup."
During a public hearing prior to Tuesday's vote, dozens of community members spoke both for and against the bond. While some echoed the City Council's concerns that the process has been rushed, urging more time for discussion and to reconsider Glendale's closure, others said the council has spent plenty of time on the proposal and the city's needs can't wait.
"Sometimes I wonder if we live in a true democracy because we give so little credit to voters," resident Amy O'Connor said.
Adams said taking more time will allow the City Council to present a package that is more appealing to voters.
"I want to continue the conversation and come up with something we will feel really great about to put on the ballot in 2016," she said.
The City Council unanimously voted to continue discussing the issue with the intent of creating a similar voter bond next election season.
Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com
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