Q: Mr. Federal Way, I heard that the city of Federal Way fired the contractor working on the designs for Town Square Park, what happened?

A: Yes, Mr. Federal Way also read that article on the Mirror’s website. Apparently, as Taylor Swift would say, Mayor Jim Ferrell and Ida Ottesen of Nakano Associates are never ever getting back together. Like ever.

It seems Ferrell and the other City Council members are intent on keeping additions to Town Square Park in the $1.5-1.7 million price range. Ferrell claims he told Ottesen, the head contractor, this information on several occasions. Yet at a recent City Council retreat, Ottesen brought in three different designs to show attendees, all in a $3.4 million price range, $1.7 million over the agreed upon budget. Ferrell was outraged that Otteseen did not honor the city’s budget and immediately terminated the city’s agreement with Nakano.

While Mr. Federal Way understands Ferrell and the city of Federal Way’s decision, Mr. Federal Way can’t help but wonder if his sensitivity on the subject comes from a different issue. It’s no secret the public has questioned the city’s spending habits and purchasing decisions over the last few months. Last November, the city voted on the $8.2 million purchase of the former Target property. The 7.48 acre space is one of four properties the city is proposing for “Town Center,” 21 acres that will make up the core of Federal Way’s downtown. The area is already home to Town Square Park, the Transit Center and the future Performing Arts and Conference Center. Many council members and the mayor said the purchase of the property would revitalize the downtown and stimulate the economy. However, many residents, including Mr. Federal Way, questioned the high price tag, especially when it was uncovered that about four-and-a-half months before the city’s purchase of the property, the owner of the former Target site was asking for about $6-6.5 million and had been since 2011, according to the Commercial Brokers Association.

But on July 14, the status of the listing price changed to $8.5 million, a little over a month after the Federal Way City Council approved the Performing Arts and Conference Center.

Mr. Federal Way believes the mayor was doing all he could to prevent more backlash from the public over city spending. When he heard the contractor blurt out a giant price tag for park additions at a public event, he felt he couldn’t run the risk of another controversy. Mr. Federal Way wonders if Nakano still would have been terminated if the Mirror hadn’t caught wind of the price range at the meeting.

Mr. Federal Way also finds it interesting that the city has no plans to hire a new contractor, but wants to complete park additions “in-house.” Mr. Federal wishes them luck with that.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, I have seen an increase in panhandlers in the area, is the city doing anything about this?

A: Funny you should ask. The city just agreed on an amendment to the city’s begging ordinance on Feb. 3, after an increase of complaints from the public.

The amendment to FWRC 6.35.030 basically defines legal and illegal forms of begging, or panhandling, in Federal Way. The city reported that citizens have complained through 911, the non-emergency police line, emails to the city, phone calls to the police chief and other avenues.

City staff said at a council meeting they cannot ban panhandling because panhandling is a First Amendment right — free speech. But the amendment does call for a new violation, which is standing on a median in the road to beg. City staff said this violation is included because it becomes a public safety issue if people are jaywalking to street medians without crosswalks.

The ordinance does permit begging in a public place and stepping off the curb to retrieve money from occupants of a vehicle.

Public place is redefined as “an area generally visible to public view and includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, sidewalks and streets open to the general public, including those that serve food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.”

Mr. Federal Way does feel bad for panhandlers. It is hard to imagine feeling desperate enough to stand in the street and beg for money, especially in the cold and rainy winter season. But, Mr. Federal Way does agree that panhandlers in the median area could present a safety problem and agrees with the city’s decision to crack down on this issue. Mr. Federal Way only hopes this means people and the city will do what they can to help those in need.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, I can’t stop thinking about the devastating last play from the Seahawks at the Super Bowl! What are your thought on the play call?

A: None of your business… and never speak of this again.