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<br /> -- <br /> I <br />M~ 32:-i~::. t:"y~+-~~nrT""'Y' <br />--- . ----.--...'::1-.... <br />~?!:'ch -, ""\(10; ..: <br /> -, - - - <br />0;::.,...,."", 2 <br />~ "":) ~ <br />"typical go-o:.o"e:-:;1ment, " .......,,<:"'h~......,... through decisions while seeming to invite <br /> t-'..........".........~ <br />community pa!:'ticipation but i~ fact never intending to allow the cOTmunity I <br />any more than minimal and superficial input. <br /> Obvi ous 1 ~,r the open space issue is one -::lh......,,+- uh~,..."h +-MO ,--.;+-~""Q1"'!C' of <br /> ..............'-''-<..... n........-......" '_..:.'~ --...... ...........:...'--..-' <br />t~e co~munity feel very strongly. I was surprised and impressed by the I <br />number and variety of people present, the basic unity of their concern, <br />2rld artic:J.late expression of it. Clearly they wanted and needed to take a <br />strong ar:d, more to the point, a significant role in decisions regardi!"1.g <br />this piece of land (and, we 1dere led to understand, unkno1..yn others like I <br />i t) ~ The late and apparently unplanned disclosure that all cards had not <br />been on the ta.ble--that the game was over befcre we were even aware of <br />it--has become a larger issue and one that will, perhaps, plague city <br />planning processes for some time to come. I <br /> At this stage, Hhat is the most constructive tack for concerned <br />citizens to take? Is there anyone with authority that we can contact I <br />(city council members, Bethel College, no one)? By now 1..;e are all <br />painfully aware that the preservation of open space is a major concern to <br />many people with varying perspectives on the issue, and it is likely that <br />other plan.s to develop the shrinking remainder of open space will also be I <br />contested. As citizens, we need some basic understanding of the city's <br />positions and processes so that He can make informed decisions on <br />e"lIerything from land use to tax levies to elect.:ons. The confusion that \I <br />both caused and developed from Wednesday night's hearing does not leave me <br />feeling very hopeful. I came 31..4ay appreciating my neighbors more and city <br />government less. Please prove me wrong on the last point. I know that we <br />are all Jl.ore C',r less bound by our laws and regulations, but please let us I <br />work to ~aximize ~utual understanding and respect when we face these <br />situatior:s ',,.;here general satisfaction is so difficult to achieve. <br />.~~nr"""r,,,,"l'.! I <br />~-"-~~--.J. f <br />.~~. I <br />Lois Fer:'. <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> ~ <br /> I <br />