Weekly Update 29

March 14, 2025

Hello, everyone.

Each reader of this newsletter has at least five other friends who live in our community, and I would be happy if they received the newsletter as well. I’d like to ask for two minutes of your time to write to these friends, ask for their email addresses, and send them to me in a single list.

If everyone sends me at least five more email addresses, our reach will grow significantly.

Summary:

First topic: Details of projects and budgets we approved at the last meeting and previous ones. Some of the projects are underway—paving the new Nili parking lot, renovating the pedestrian mall, replacing facilities at Gan Tiul, and organizing traffic and parking in the Ramaz neighborhood. Others are in the initial planning stage: Givat Zamarin, a two-way street on HaMeginim Street. It’s worth reading about and getting to know them.

Second topic: Following residents’ inquiries regarding the roadblock between Malchei Yisrael Street and Wine Park, I investigated this roadblock. The roadblock is contrary to the plan and therefore requires approval. I contacted the council chair and a number of council officials, but I have not yet received answers as to who approved it and why. It is unclear why they are not answering my simple questions.

First topic: Projects for which we approved budgets and the opposition’s responsible conduct

This week, another plenary session was held in addition to the one scheduled at the beginning of every month—it is called an extraordinary session. The reason is that a lot of items have accumulated that the council needs to approve.

Attendance at this meeting by coalition members was extremely low. The two members of the mayor’s party were absent, as were Meir and Anunu; the two representatives of the ultra-Orthodox party were present for only a brief portion of the meeting. At one point during the meeting, only two coalition representatives remained in the conference room—Abutbul and Odelia Kadmi. We, the opposition members—our party and New Contract—stood facing an empty goal. But we didn’t kick the ball into the goal. We approved everything that was requested. Why?

Because we are a pragmatic and responsible opposition that has only the residents’ best interests at heart. If the council head seeks support for something that aligns with our position, and he presents the truth—the whole truth—answers every question, and hides nothing—then we will vote in favor. We will not delay proceedings just because we can. That is not our way. We will come prepared for the meeting, study the relevant material, and ask questions. We believe this is the right way. Although there were those who acted in this manner—delaying and hindering the council’s work—during the previous term.

I will briefly review planned projects, some of which are already underway and others that are just entering the planning phase, to determine the cost, at which point the question will arise as to whether the council has the budget to fund them. So that, God forbid, we do not fall into deficits again.

Paving the Nili parking lot with 64 parking spaces: According to the council head, paving of the parking lot located between Nili Boulevard and the Bezeq parking lot will likely begin after Passover. This is the dirt parking lot currently accessed past the gas station at the center of the town on Nili Boulevard. This parking lot will be connected by a pedestrian walkway to the existing Bezeq parking lot. Part of the budget comes from the Ministry of Tourism as part of the pedestrian mall development. The total budget of 1,750,000 NIS was secured by Council Head Ziv Deshe from the Ministry of Tourism. This project was approved and planned during the previous term, but due to delays caused by an appeal regarding tree removal, it required re-planning and necessary adjustments.

The construction and operation of this parking lot is a prerequisite for beginning construction of the moshava’s courtyards, should it be decided to proceed with this project. The project is planned for the site of the parking lot located between Jabotinsky Street and the Regional Committee complex and the Hobbit Courtyard. The Nili parking lot will provide a temporary alternative to the parking spaces that will be blocked off once construction begins. The landowner is the local council, and once a contractor wins the bid, they will build a 6- to 7-story structure including an underground parking garage with hundreds of parking spaces (approximately 250 to 300 spaces). An important addition for those wishing to visit the pedestrian mall. The budget and execution will be the responsibility of the private developer who wins the tender, so the parking spaces not allocated to the building will be managed by the council, and the council will also receive space for its offices.

Pedestrian Mall Renovation: At the meeting, we approved an additional 1.2 million NIS for the pedestrian mall renovation plan prepared during Ziv Deshe’s term, for which 3.5 million NIS was previously raised (half funded by the Ministry of Tourism and half from reserve funds). As part of this project, planning for its implementation was carried out. This budget also funded the renovation of public restrooms on the pedestrian mall and in the Bezeq parking lot. This budget framework will enable a facelift for the pedestrian mall, which will include the following elements presented to us at the meeting by the council engineer:

• The creation of two landscaped plazas at the entrance and the installation of two pergolas at both entrances to the pedestrian mall. The pedestrian mall will be clearly distinguished from the roads leading to it, giving visitors the feeling that they are entering a different area.
• Installation of an additional pergola opposite the Binyamin Pool
• Replacing the paving and renovating only the section of the existing “Yishuva Square.”
• Installation of street furniture.
• Replacing lighting poles and upgrading the electrical infrastructure.

Replacing the existing facilities in Gan Tiul, including accessible facilities, and adding two accessible facilities in Moshava Park: Due to the high volume of visitors at Gan Tiul, all facilities there are in such poor condition that they require replacement, along with the installation of standard safety surfaces and the addition of new facilities for people with disabilities.

After playgrounds in various neighborhoods were renovated and refurbished during the previous term with an investment of millions of shekels, sports fields and facilities were also renovated, including the installation of shade structures for some of them (Tashach Field, Skatepark, Derech Sarah Field, and the sports field at Nili School). Now it is Tiul Park’s turn. There is room to allocate funds to renovate and upgrade the playground facilities at Tiul Park.

At Moshava Park, the facilities are in good condition, and only two accessible facilities for people with disabilities need to be added. The approved amount: 1.12 million NIS.

Planning a two-way street on HaMeginim Street: We approved a budget of 160,000 NIS for this project. Preliminary planning was carried out by the council’s transportation consultant, which revealed that this is a complex project requiring the construction of retaining walls along most of the road’s length, as well as the design of lighting and a sidewalk that can only be located on one side of the road (there is a cliff on the eastern side of the road). Only after the full planning is complete will an accurate estimate of the road construction cost be available. The budget will be funded largely by road and drainage levies collected in accordance with the municipality’s by-laws.

Recurring budget for addressing hazardous structures: At the meeting, we approved a sum of 200,000 to be made available to the Engineering Department for carrying out safety work and addressing structures deemed hazardous according to a structural engineer’s opinion. We were shown an example of such a structure—the water tower near the Yishai Gate, from which stones occasionally fall. This is of the utmost importance for ensuring the council’s flexibility and immediate response.

Givat Zamarin Plan Sh/916: At the meeting, we approved a budget of 1 million NIS to prepare guidelines and detailed plans for Givat Zamarin in accordance with the plan approved in 2016—Sh/916—which aims to transform the hill into a tourist and commercial hub while also allowing for residential development. As part of the plan, hotels, shops, residential buildings, and more are to be built on the hill.

According to the plan, there will be no roads within the hill itself, only a ring road surrounding it. The visitor parking lot, with 150 spaces, will be adjacent to the ring road and concentrated in the winery complex.

The approved amount is only preliminary, and additional planning costs may be required later. The council head promised that all development and construction on Givat Zamarin will be funded by betterment levies paid by property owners. This is a problematic statement in itself, as betterment funds are not earmarked for a specific neighborhood or location but are intended to cover the community’s overall development needs.

Traffic and Parking Improvements in the Ramaz Neighborhood: At the meeting, we approved increasing the budget for traffic and parking improvements in the Ramaz neighborhood from approximately 580,000 NIS to 950,000 NIS. This is a project that began and was completed during the previous term—the budgets had already been approved for implementation at the end of the previous term, but due to the war, there was a delay in implementation until the new council head took office. For an unclear reason, the delay continued into 2024, necessitating a budget increase. As part of the plan, Ha’amal Street will become a one-way street; approximately 30 parking spaces, crosswalks, fences and railings, speed bumps, traffic signs, markings, and repainting will be added.

Second issue: It is unpleasant to see a road blocked.

Blocking a road requires proper authorization, whether the blockage is temporary or permanent. Following complaints from residents regarding a blockage between Malchei Yisrael Street and Wine Park, I investigated this blockage. According to the approved plan for Wine Park (Sh/656), approved in 2007, there is a statutory passage between Wine Park and Malchei Yisrael Street, and through it to the Neve Sharett neighborhood. This is Road No. 2.

This road is of vital transportation importance to the Neve Sharet neighborhood and Wine Park. It provides each neighborhood with an additional exit route, which prevents traffic jams and is critical in emergency situations such as fires and missile attacks.

Recently, at an unknown time, the road was blocked. They simply blocked it with a fixed barrier that prevents vehicles from passing. It is unclear why the road was blocked and who authorized it.

Following a request from residents, I sent an urgent letter last Saturday, March 9, to the Council Chair, the Council Secretary, the Council Engineer, and the Council Legal Advisor. I attached a photo of the roadblock and wrote:

This physical barrier is in violation of the approved plan. Therefore, I request answers to the following questions:

1. Was this blockage carried out by the council?

2. What authorization was granted for this action, and under what authority was this blockage approved?

3. Was the roadblock implemented with the approval of the Ministry of Transportation and the Israel Police?

As of the time of writing, no response or acknowledgment of the email has been received. Unfortunately, this situation undermines the work of council members who are doing their jobs and requesting information they are legally entitled to receive. I remind you that I am acting as a volunteer, and every inquiry I make is on behalf of the public who have approached me; the lack of a response effectively harms you, the general public.

As always, I will continue to investigate the matter and reach out to all relevant parties. I will keep you updated.

Attached is a photo of the roadblock, taken yesterday.