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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, October 17,2011 Page 18 Councilmember Pust opined that she had learned from the public that reasonable people could and would differ, especially when talking about their homes, neigh- borhoods and families. Councilmember Pust expressed her hope that residents remembered that and admitted it to themselves; opining that it was important for everyone to keep that in mind. Councilmember Pust clarified that she and fellow Councilmembers served only because they, like other residents, cared about their communities, not to make enemies of their neighbors. However, Councilmember Pust recognized that half of the audience would leave tonight mad, while the other half would be happy; and asked that, at some point, they remembered that the democratic process was the best process available, allowing opportunities for res- idents to express themselves; as the City Council had professionally and politely listened to comments on both sides. Councilmember Pust admitted that some of the concerns she'd heard had made sense to her, while others did not; and noted that the statement that this issue was brought forward by citizens, not the City Council or staff, was the most appropri- ate process and a positive thing. Councilmember Pust noted that a lot of issues brought to the City Council were related to neighborhood traffic; and while not living on County Road C at Dale Street, she did drive it, and that area was safer now because those citizens came forward, for the betterment of the entire com- munity, in seeking the safety mitigation improvements. Councilmember Pust also noted that concerns voices and taken into consideration from citizens living in apartments at Highway 36 and Rice and their concerns about sight lines and im- pacts to their property values. As a City Council, Councilmember Pust noted that they took those concerns into their deliberations and actions; and noted that those residents in that area also took a hit for the entire community in dealing with those changes. While many other examples were available, Councilmember Pust ad- vised that Councilmembers as individuals and collectively had to wade through all of the issues; while neighbors in attendance had come to represent their per- sonal or neighborhood views with a common bond, which was also appropriate. While a project to connect County Road C-2 was indeed not budgeted as brought up by a speaker earlier tonight, Councilmember Pust noted that a lot of things not included on the City's line item budget were done; and noted that the City had available to it MSA funds if they wanted to use it to defer other projects already listed as higher priorities. Councilmember Pust noted that no one was supporting raising taxes to do such a project. Councilmember Pust strongly disagreed with the argument expressed by some that additional traffic wasn't wanted in their neighborhood and should be left on other streets; while noting that residents of those neighborhoods feel that they're already doing their share and taking enough of the burden. Councilmember Pust opined that the real concern expressed, that opening C-2 would significantly change their neighborhood and change traffic levels and patterns if opened, would be accurate. Councilmember Pust opined that those residents would need to make