Arenas and parks

As a state senator announces a funding plan to keep open and possibly generate revenue from state parks, the city of Sacramento officially puts the lid on the new Sacramento Kings arena deal—for now.

This Tuesday, Sen. Joe Simitian—known mainly for legislation to mandate renewable-energy goals—revealed a plan that could keep up to 50 of the 70 state parks scheduled for closure open and operating. The proposal includes many elements, such as extending liability coverage to nonprofits that help at parks, increasing fee collection, and using Department of Motor Vehicles funds to help maintain state park roads and trails.

The Leland Stanford Mansion on N and Eighth streets and the Governor’s Mansion on H and 16th streets and are two central-city historic sites scheduled for closure this year. But those sites, or at least the governor’s former abode, might be rented out to pay for operating costs.

Meanwhile, the city will move to repeal spending funds on predevelopement and other new entertainment and sports complex costs at Thursday’s planning commission meeting. Assistant City Manager John Dangberg’s report notes that the city spent approximately $680,000 on new arena consultant services. An additional $141,000 in consultant services were paid for by the National Basketball Association.

Many argue that these numbers are on the low end, considering that they do not account for staff hours spent the arena project.