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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,July 11,2011 <br /> Page 11 <br /> vey. Councilmember McGehee opined that she found it disappointing that those <br /> majority unsupported items were included as a large part of this initial request <br /> Councilmember McGehee referenced this information as from that on Page 9 of <br /> the Parks and Recreation Survey where 61% of residents supported an increase <br /> for walking, biking and nature trails. Ms. McGehee noted that that area was the <br /> only area that had a majority of citizen support. Councilmember McGehee noted <br /> citizen support for needed playground maintenance (18%); however questioned <br /> the accuracy of an earlier statement indicating there were unsafe playground sit- <br /> uations or equipment at this time. Mr. Brokke indicated that there was no "un- <br /> safe" playground equipment currently within the park system and that earlier sug- <br /> gestion that there was had been in error. Councilmember McGehee referenced <br /> "upgrade park buildings/warming houses" as addressed in the survey as having <br /> received limited citizen support of only 6%; however, she noted the inclusion of <br /> six (6) areas for proposed building replacement with buildings that appeared to be <br /> intended to serve as mini-community centers. While some warming houses may <br /> need replacing, Councilmember McGehee opined that this appeared to be due to a <br /> lack of maintenance to-date; and further opined that in evaluating the survey to- <br /> gether with this proposal, she would support spending $3 million for "walking, <br /> biking, and nature trails"; however, as a majority, citizens didn't support building <br /> replacement, she would not support bonds for such activity. Councilmember <br /> McGehee opined that she had a problem with fairness in a program where a <br /> community center was not provided for everyone's benefit, but as special interest <br /> mini-community centers were provided that would benefit certain neighborhoods. <br /> She opined that she did not believe that today's economics support such a con- <br /> cept. <br /> Councilmember Willmus noted that those items identified in Attachment B to the <br /> RCA were not pulled from thin air, but identified as part of the lengthy communi- <br /> ty-driven Master Plan process, in addition to the survey. Councilmember Will- <br /> mus asked Chair Etten and Mr. Brooke to respond to that Master Plan process ba- <br /> lanced with Councilmember McGehee's comments and concerns with survey re- <br /> sults and this proposal. <br /> Mr. Brokke noted that the survey, while focusing on the dollars citizens were <br /> willing to pay, also focused on individual and detailed information, and what citi- <br /> zens were willing to pay based on what they deemed most important. Mr. Brokke <br /> opined that it was important to cross-tabulate the survey percentages for those <br /> areas of interest. Mr. Brokke noted that the primary and first step identified in the <br /> Master Plan process was citizen preference for the existing amenities and facili- <br /> ties in the park system; heard often, and loud and clear from citizens expressing <br /> their interest in taking care of what we have. Mr. Brokke advised that the com- <br /> munity spoke adamantly that they were interested in the warming houses being <br /> more than just a warming house, but serving as a community/neighborhood ga- <br /> thering place, where programming could take place; and not to replace them as is, <br /> but work with the community to develop a facility based on the constellation con- <br />