1A, Safe Routes to School Project Update

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September 13, 2009 Greetings - My wife and I live at 1831 Venus Ave right at the intersection of the proposed pathway with Venus Ave. We have lived here since 1977 and enjoy immensely the Open Space area around us. We unfortunately cannot be at the Information Meeting because of a previously scheduled meeting which conflicts with this one. We want to go on record that we are firmly opposed to the north-south connection from County Road E- 2 to V enus Ave through Ramsey County Open Space for the following reasons: 1. There is no need. for it since there is already a p~thway there. 2. It would create the first step to putting a road through that same area. 3. It would impact the Open Space program which has been so important to us over the years. 4. It would create a traffic problem and safety problem not only at V enus Ave but also on County Road E-2 and inevitable accidents resulting from it. 5. It is another example of constant attempts to encroach upon the Open Space Program in this area. The last such attempt was the approval of townhouses on the corner ofE-2 and Old Snelling. 6. It would reduce the already decreasing amount of wildlife in the area. We think that instead of this project the City would be well- advised to control the spreading oak wilt disease that is occurring in frightening numbers in our area. These trees need to come down to protect from future loss of oak trees in our beautiful city. We are sorry we cannot make the meeting so please consider this e-mail as our input. Look forward to hearing from you. Jerry and Barb Ciresi September 29, 2009 Dear Ms. Olson - Thank you so much for your prompt reply to our e-mail. Frankly we don't know how the pathway will improve safety to and from Valentine school. There are only a few kids that go through the open space to get to the school. I have lived here since 1977 right at the entrance to the path, have walked it many hundreds of times myself and know of no injuries. The only safety concern is that if the path is put in with asphalt then the bike traffic will pick up, there will be safety issues in crossing E-2 from the path and entering onto V enus Ave. I know it will "look" better but it won't have that rustic, wild park ambiance that is so important to this community, but it will be in effect putting more asphalt on our green spaces for no good reasons. The Oak Wilt problem that I raised was not just for the Open Space program but for all of the Valentine Hills development. It is getting out of hand and unless the city does something about it soon we will be without these magnificent trees. This is more important to us than an asphalt path through the woods. Thanks a lot for your attention to these matters. Look forward to hearing from you again. Jerry and Barb Ciresi