4C Motion to Accept the Resignations of Bill Henry, Roger Williams, and Jim Crassweller from the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committe

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Dear Mayor Marpstead, This e-mail is to ad�ise you that I ha�e decided #o resign from the P7RC, effecfive immediatefy. I informed Chairman HEnry of th9s decision an Saturday while we were both participating in the Buckthorn remo�al day fes#i�ities. Although I am sure fhai some members pf the Cpuncil will breathe a sigE� of relief and say "at last," ! have always felt that you have appreciated the work of the commitfee and recagnized that the PTRC has sincereiy attempted to ad�ocate strongly for the deveEopment of an park and frai[ 5ystem tha# would enhance fhe well being of the citizens and ultirnatefy alEow citizens to use the trails to "get somewhere" in a safe and effecti�e manner. There are se�eral reasons that I ha�e decidec! #o resign now. Since I ha�e been a member of the committee langer than any other current member other than Rich Strauman, I feel ohligated to explain to you some of these reasoRs. Ho�efully, they will help you to recruit others who will be more successful than I have been as a member of the committee. First, since becoming a member of the committee, if has attempted to ad�ocaie a iong-term vision for the de�elopment of an effective trail and park system. f was an the committee when it was told tp work wi#h a consultanf to put together in one document a long term plan in ane comprehensive document. We did so. We recognized at the fime that the plan would fake at least twenty years to implement, that it would require changes, and thaf it was a work in progress. 7he Council adopted the pfan. In order to demonstrate the committee's commitment to the plan, the committee deci[Eed to immediate3y recommend ta the Council that it authorize spending approximately $35,000 of PTRC funds for Park signs. When we presented our idea to ti�e Council, E hqnes#ly expected that it would easily pass. E was mi5taken. Rather, tE�e Council members asked questions like: 1. "What are the sign5 going to be made of?" and 2. "Where are you going to put the sign in Perry Park?° It became ob�ious that ihe Council felt that it had to micro-manage even to the extent of use of a retatively small amount of una[located park reserve funcEs. From my �iew, while members of the Council ha�e changed, it still lacks a Eong term �ision in how it operates. Second, the Council has de�eloped an adversarial attitude toward the PTRC. Perhaps the comrnittee is part9ally to blame for the le�el to which it has developed. But, from my view, the principal cause is that the Council will not lead and is highiy offended by the concept of the PTRCs attempts to push the Council to act. Unfortunately, I have heard way to ofEen words to ihe effecf: "Until I know what the public �s fhinking, I am not going to take a position." Most often, that means that there is a reluctance tp do anything, or ta spend any money, for fear that i# might mean that one might not get reelected. I can give an example. When Hwy 96 was being redone, the PTRC recognized that it would provide an oppartunity to put an underpass under the highway io connect the developed part of Arden Hills with the City Hall and witf� the new development which is being planned at TCAAP. The committee learned ihat no such underpass had been planned. It immediately recommended that such a development be undertaken. The Council rejected that recommendation. Most important to the process, howe�er, was the fact that then Council liaison ta the commitiee did not discfose at the commiitee meeting any disagreement but at the Council meeting spoke agains# the recommendation. Such conduci has caused both Council and commiitee to question the others motives. Third, f believe that many of the long term plans are already in place. In fact, the committee has had them in pface for some time. From my viewpoint, however, �ir#ually nothing significant has been accomplished. lJntil the Council makes a true commitment to implement those pEans, nothing is going to happen. I tEo not believe that I ha�e any#hing else to offer. Af#er the last meeting of the corr�mi#iee, the Council liaison said something like: "I gi�e up, ypu guys will never be safisfied." i believe, as I think everyone else on t�e commiftee bel�e�es, that the committes should not be satisfied unti] the Long Term PTRG Pian the Council adopted is actually implemented. Unfortunately, I have reached the conclusion that if passionate ad�ocacy is viewed as an impediment to its implementation, then it is time for rne to resign. Finally, I hope that it goes without saying, fhat it has been my pleasure to work with staff, most recently Michelle Olson. Her position is truly a diificult one. In fact, she is a decficafed and loyal empfayee who tries �ery hard ta meet the needs of the citizens af Arden Nills. 8incerely, Jim Crassweller