Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, November 25, 2013 <br /> Page 10 <br /> Speaking tonight as a representative of SWARN, noted the neighborhood's in- <br /> volvement to-date in the Parks & Recreation Master Plan and Renewal Process <br /> and their focus on that track, with this pathway remaining a significant part of <br /> those discussions, and providing a significant improvement in the SW area of Ro- <br /> seville, currently lacking a neighborhood park or other amenities. Mr. Grefenberg <br /> addressed the rationale for his inferiority complex and their neighborhood always <br /> getting the leftovers; with this area landlocked with the only access on County <br /> Road B to the Fairview Community Center and area schools being by vehicle. <br /> Mr. Grefenberg opined that a boulevard pathway was better than nothing; howev- <br /> er, he referenced the $600,000 remaining in 2013 budget funds based on his re- <br /> view of tonight's budget documentation; opining that it could be used for this <br /> purpose. <br /> Mr. Grefenberg reminded Councilmembers that neglect of this neighborhood and <br /> the need for a safe pedestrian amenity was not new, with Ms. Shirley Friberg in- <br /> volved for over thirty (30) years, with many residents having petitioned for such <br /> an amenity in the past. <br /> While the residents were satisfied with assurances from the Parks Department that <br /> this remained a high priority; Mr. Grefenberg expressed their shock when the <br /> PWETC ranked it near the bottom of their scores in the updated Pathway Master <br /> Plan, noting how high the most recent community survey had ranked the need for <br /> pathways throughout the community. Mr. Grefenberg opined that this pathway <br /> was much more important than the one proposed along County Road B-2, of <br /> which approximately 70% of the $2 million set aside for pathway funds had been <br /> allotted. Mr. Grefenberg further opined that it seemed that there must be some <br /> funding that could be found for this vital pathway; opining that he was not satis- <br /> fied that all alternatives and funding sources had been researched or identified. <br /> Mr. Grefenberg questioned why the neighborhood should have to settle for this 8- <br /> 10 year short-term fix and asked if the City Council actually believed this was the <br /> best solution; with the surplus and contingencies built up in the City's budget; and <br /> suggested the City Council further review those funds and come up with some- <br /> thing better to provide a pathway for County Road B residents. While appreciat- <br /> ing that the neighborhood may get something, Mr. Grefenberg personally, found it <br /> to once again be leftovers; and encouraged the City Council to search out a solu- <br /> tion to bring this up to something similar to pathways in other areas of Roseville. <br /> Mr. Grefenberg reiterated the $600,000 available funding in tonight's budget ma- <br /> terials; and opined that he was therefore not personally willing to settle for an ex- <br /> penditure of only$124,000. <br /> Jerry Larson, 2180 St. Stephen's Street <br /> As a 32-year resident of Roseville, Mr. Larson advised that he had been a long- <br /> term supporter of improvements in this area; including a playground park, which <br /> appeared to be moving forward, as well as a better walking surface along County <br />