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Special Council Thursday, March 29, 2007 Page 4 of 20 "we weren't as friendly as we ought to be," and needed to work on being more open. Steering Committee member Mark Traynor noted the many comments on the high level of current services, and the community's ownership of maintaining and in- creasing that excellent and effective community service level. Mr. Keel noted that the issue of a comlnunity center came up often and across the board in subcommittee discussions; and was listed in the report as something to explore, consider and discuss. Mr. Keel noted that, in addition to the obvious amenities of a potential community center, the overlying theme was that the com- munity supported the ilnportance of gathering places, not only as a separate com- munity center, but in informal gathering places or facilities, such as neighborhood coffee shops that would be part of future development projects in individual neighborhoods. Mr. Keel noted that this was part of the theme of residents in the strong importance they felt in developing, fostering and nurturing individual neighborhoods. Sub- cOlnmittee members noted this as a ripe opportunity for the City to take a lead role in facilitating those neighborhood gatherings, through providing education and re- sources (i.e., staff) to assist residents in their efforts. Steering Committee member Lisa Edstrom noted that, within the diversity discus- sions, much consideration was given to the definition of diversity and what diver- sity meant to the community. Discussion points, such as, cultural and ethnic diver- sity, as well as definitions of families, age-related diversity and how to encourage and foster intergenerational community interaction between the elderly population and younger people in the community. Ms. Edstrom suggested reflective consid- eration of the word "diversity" and the connotations associated with diversity. Mayor Klausing noted that his perception of diversity included economic diversity, citing examples from his childhood and experiences within his neighborhood spe- cific to careers and lifestyle diversity. Mr. Keel noted that citizen comment was quite clear in their interest in the City taking the lead role in recognizing the value of the community's diversity and how it enhanced the community; rather than the negative connotation of reacting to the diversity and various issues created from that diversity.