Verner to seek replacement for Spokane parks director

Mayor Mary Verner is looking for a new parks director.

Mike Stone, who has led the city parks department since 2001, has been informed by Verner that she will hold a national search to look for a replacement.

It is unclear yet whether Stone will remain in the interim, though Verner says he can reapply for his job.

“He’s the park director until further notice,” Verner said.

Attempts to reach Stone were unsuccessful.

Verner declined to speak about any potential problems in Stone’s leadership, but said that she would like someone who would bring a “newly invigorated” direction to the department.

Park board member Gary Lawton, who will serve as president next year, said the board supports Verner’s decision.

“It was time to make a change,” he said.

Councilman Bob Apple, who serves on the park board, said a key factor is the $43 million parks bond measure approved by voters in November. Park board members say they want quick action on the construction of six swimming pools, 10 splash pads, new baseball fields and a new sports complex near Joe Albi Stadium.

“We plan to move much more aggressively than I think has been the case,” Apple said.

The department has been criticized by some City Council members for moving too slowly on projects such as the proposal to build the sports complex near Albi. That project was approved by voters in 1999. Ground will be broken on that next year only after former Mayor Dennis Hession appointed a special committee to move it forward.

A 2006 survey of parks department employees showed that 45 percent of 54 workers who participated believed that management did not encourage “creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.”

Stone was appointed to the job in November 2001 after he was nominated by former Mayor John Powers. He served as acting director before that for about nine months.

Apple said he believes Stone should be let go “immediately” because it appears he is trying to rally employees on his behalf in a way that is divisive to the department.

Parks spokeswoman Nancy Goodspeed said about 15 parks department employees met with the mayor “to address what we saw as just one side of the story related to Mike,” but that no one has been pressured by Stone to speak out.

“Mike Stone was not involved in that meeting, nor did he set it up or know about it in advance. At no time has he coached any of the staff in addressing the issue of whether he will remain as Director of the Parks and Recreation Department,” Goodspeed wrote in an e-mail.

Verner said she did not believe the staff members who spoke to her were pressured.

“When staff wants to share their perspectives, I respect that,” she said.