$1.262 million earmarked for new purchases.

The island may enjoy another million dollars worth of public open space, according to a spending proposal added to next year’s preliminary city budget.

Councilman Jim Llewellyn on Monday gained the council’s approval for allocating $1.262 million for the acquisition of open space in 2007.

“As the island grows, (open space) becomes a more precious resource,” Llewellyn said.

Councilman Nezam Tooloee called the action “a no-brainer,” and expressed a desire to make open space funding an annual budget item.

But the money falls on top of the mayor’s already balanced preliminary budget, and could push out other spending items and increase the burden on city staff.

“It’s a wonderful proposal, but there are staff consequences,” said City Administrator Mary Jo Briggs.

Councilman Kjell Stoknes acknowledged the proposal’s impact, both positive and negative.

“The budget’s going to be way off…so we’ll have to give up something,” he said. “But I’d like to throw this in the bucket.”

Councilman Chris Snow’s proposal to not to use the city’s general fund for new open space purchases failed to garner sufficient support.

Snow’s proposal to put the funding to a public vote also gained little support.

Additional open space “is well worthwhile, (but citizens) should have the opportunity to bless this as well,” he said.

Councilwoman Debbie Vancil, who supported the open space proposal, said the public will have an opportunity to comment on the budget as a whole, and rejected the idea of citizen input “issue by issue.”

Bike/ped funds

Also on Monday, the council proposed adding over a million dollars to the 2007 budget in new walkway and bike lane improvements, while expanding the Non-motorized Transportation Advisory Committee’ role in city government.

The proposal, crafted by Councilwoman Debbie Vancil, would earmark $500,000 for trails and $625,000 for 40 other non-motorized improvements identified as priorities by the non-motorized transportation committee.

The approved funding directive also creates a closer link between the council and the committee.

“This concept should help us get a bigger bang for our buck,” said Councilman Bob Scales.

Under the proposal, the committee would no longer need to communicate their proposals to the council through city staff.

Committee proposals for new projects, design guidelines and funding options would go straight to the council.

“You lose something in the translation,” said committee vice-chair Don Willott, who welcomed the council’s action. “(The council) needs to know directly from us what we’ve learned over the last several years.”

Vancil said she hoped to use the committee’s “expertise directly.”

“(The committee) often makes recommendations that are not implemented even though the council supports them. There seems to be a disconnect (and) ‘too many cooks in the kitchen.’”

The city administration is opposed to both the funding boost and committee change.

City Administrator Mary Jo Briggs said she was concerned that Vancil’s proposal did not specify “clear lines of authority” relating to the committee’s role in city government.

Briggs also warned that adding a million dollars of non-motorized projects on top of the mayor’s preliminary budget may amount to “an undoable task” unless the council approves more staff.

Mayor Darlene Kordonowy said the committee may lack technical expertise and an understanding of how such projects are funded or contracted out.

“This may lead to frustrations,” she said.

Despite assurances that the new projects would find financial support after making cuts elsewhere, Councilman Chris Snow felt a bit of sticker shock.

“This is (over) a million dollars,” he said. “I don’t know where the money is coming from. It can pretty swiftly break the bank.”