A Step in The Right Direction - Finally!

9 March 2022

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For the first time in a long time, the Tracy City Council made a unanimous decision that will help shape our city’s future in a positive manner for many years to come. Allocating Measure V funding for key community benefit projects - Legacy Fields, the aquatic center, the multi-generational recreation center, the upgrading of Ritter Family Ball Park, and the nature park - by council was a breath of fresh air. There was no squabbling, no stalling, or indecisiveness that is typically dominates council proceedings when it faces big decisions.
Give credit where credit is due.
Kudos to Finance Director Karin Schnaider for presenting and recommending a more aggressive, fiscally sound strategy for financing these projects now. Her approach was logical and well thought out, making it almost impossible for council to say no. It’s a win for Tracy and an example of local government working for the people!
The completion of Legacy Fields is critical.
The fact that it has only been partially built is embarrassing. We could sit here and point fingers about why it is only partially complete, but the key point is that it will be done sooner than later. This development will be a year-round draw for athletic events bringing more people to our community to shop at our local stores and to eat at our local restaurants, etc.

The same goes for the aquatic center.
As was mentioned by the speakers during the public hearing, the aquatic center has been discussed for 20-years. Year after year the public continues to state support for a water park in our community. Some of Measure V’s loudest proponents were swim folks. This project is long overdue and it’s good to see it moved forward on a more streamlined timeline. The only hang-up involves the developer Surland Companies.

Surland needs to put their money where their mouth is!
According to staff’s report, Surland guaranteed $10 million toward developing the aquatic center. So where is it? If, after initially approving the design and cost of the project, the city had been more aggressive by immediately collected that money from the developer, then perhaps we would be swimming and not talking about building an aquatic center. Get the money now and start making it work! 
An early win for new City Manager Michael Rogers.
This was an easy one for the new city manager, with staff handing this to him on a silver platter. It is challenging to walk into a new community and have to start making critical decisions that affect thousands. He will have much rougher waters to charter, but he was smart by getting out of the way. It was also a win for Tracy. Politics and personal bickering were sidelined. And while it was only a recommendation to staff on how to proceed, they chose the right recommendation. 

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