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LARAMIE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for Imperial Heights Park December 17, 2013 Public Hearing was called to order by Mayor Paulekas at 6:02 p.m. City Council present: Vicki Henry, Jayne Pearce, Lee Kempert, Joe Vitale, Klaus Hanson, Paul Weaver, and Dave Paulekas. Absent: Joe Shumway. The City Clerk read the notice: THE LARAMIE CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2013, AT 6:30 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL, TO RECEIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY ON THE PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT FORM THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR FUNDS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERIAL HEIGHTS PARK. The Mayor asked if there were any public comments. John Spiegelberg spoke regarding a platted 20 foot alley that provides access to the rear of private property that he did not wish to see eliminated. He was concerned about prairie fires and the possible carelessness of people using the park. He suggested that a small committee of residents abutting the park be formed to address the concerns and desires of the neighborhood. He felt a park would be an asset to the neighborhood, and was in favor of it. He related that he was concerned that the arroyo carried watershed runoff from higher land, and that he would like safety measures in place for small children. Kimberly Starkey expressed concern about the park being what the people wanted, as it appeared plans have already been made before people provided input. The budget was stated to be $102,000.00 for the purpose of the park; $50,000.00 would be requested from the state, and then another $105,000.00 is budgeted in FY 2015. Suddenly, the park’s cost went from $102,000.00 to $257,000.00. She had received the tabulations from the December 5th meeting the next day at the Parks, Tree, and Recreation Advisory Committee (Board) (PTRAB), and questioned why the Parks and Recreation Director stated at the last Council meeting that the results would be given to the Council at tonight’s meeting. She questioned why the Council did not receive the information sooner. She learned at the PTRAB the grant would be used for an accessible route and playground, noting at the December 5th meeting the public questions on access were unanswered. She was concerned about the handling of the process by Staff, and felt they manipulated the public and Council. She felt the public deserves to have more input on the park, and not be used as a statistic in a grant process because they showed up. Tim Hale stated that Public Hearings, with Council & Staff listening, were a failure because it is one way with no dialogue. He related that it seemed to be an item to check off a list, and then it was business as usual, with no feedback to the public. He felt it was irresponsible for the Council to vote on the grant when the Council hasn’t read it, and suggested voting on it at the next meeting instead of this one. Michael Zelmar commented that he’d been at the December 5th meeting also. He felt that staff presented a very clear selection of choices; they were very receptive with appropriate responses, and were very open to different ideas that were presented. There was a wide menu of choices presented. It is obvious that they listened, because the plan presented today in the grant application clearly reflects what many of the people at the meeting were saying. He doesn’t see lights on the plan, a mixture of traditional and nontraditional playground, a shelter, a shade structure, and a walking path, which seemed approved of at the meeting. He conducted a survey in the neighborhood, stating that every residence asked strongly supported the park and were against any delay in getting the park. If Council delays in voting for the application until next month, it will delay the grant process by a year. He stated that a few vocal people were against the park, but the vast majority was in favor of the park. ---PAGE BREAK--- LARAMIE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for Imperial Heights Park December 17, 2013 Ross McGee, he lives on Hackney, spoke for the park, relating that people in his neighborhood were very supportive of the park. The staff took the advice of the people attending the meeting, and made a plan that represents what people wanted almost exactly. He did not want to see the decision pushed back to the next meeting; the next opportunity for the grant is next year. It would encourage children to play instead of sitting indoors and being inactive. Derik Smith, who lives on the Corner of Hackney and Morgan, listed the benefits of the park: an increase in property values, parks decrease mental illness, improve quality of life both for the individual and the community, and the more parks are available the less people are inactive. Michelle Turner, she lives on Shetland Drive, as a parent she was excited about the park and the meeting to provide input for what they wanted in the park. She felt like the concerns regarding the park could be dealt with later. This is not the appropriate venue to be negative, with attacks on Council or whatever. She wants a safe place for her children to play. John Spiegelberg thought the plan for the park was pretty good. He requested that Council allow the adjacent property owners to create a committee and really galvanize the ideas and so forth. He wants the park to be done right, involving a committee comprised of adjacent property owners. Michael Zelmar supported the idea of members of the community having further input, not just through a committee, but anyone, with additional meetings involving the design. The community should get the park which they want, as long as it doesn’t delay the grant or construction. Beatrice Boarhaus, a new resident on Palomino Drive and mother of a 5, 4, and 1 year old and expecting a baby, was in favor of the park, and was in support of the grant and did not want to see it delayed. Kathleen Solmer stated that if the community could get something along the lines of the design, the sooner the better; it would be a wonderful asset to the community. Marcie Smith, who has lived in the area for 10-11 years, stated there isn’t a park near this area. Her children use the field that hopefully will become a park, and she would like to see it happen sooner than later. Kathleen Solmer stated that this park will be used by everyone; it’s not just for children, but the whole community. She would enjoy having a walking path. The park would be very refreshing to walk in for the neighborhood. Public Hearing was closed at 7:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted Sue Morris-Jones, MMC, City Clerk