It won't matter which community you're in to answer this question - What is the single best effort or policy being championed by your collective elected representatives right now, early spring 2007?
I know this forum gains steam when we're griping and challenging each other. How about letting me know something that working or could work? I hope the answers don't take too long to surface.
If you're an elected official, point out something a fellow representative is championing you respect.
To make it easy, you can even mention something restrictive you think is a good idea, i.e. fines for pot.
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Lafayette did a good job plowing the streets after the major snowstorms this winter. They were also proactive in filling potholes to minimize serious damage. I can't think of anything else to comment on so streets it is.
Quite a few. Redevelopment of the Old Albertsons/Walmart is one (instead of just letting them become dead boxes). Just passed an ordinance (still has to go through second reading) requiring dentists to screen mecury at the office instead of just dumping it down the drain. In the process of revamping all the city facilities to be more energy efficient and paying for it from the utility cost savings. Completion of the new police facility in the next month (still in budget). Purchase of the Two Creeks open space property. The list could go on and on! At the council goal setting meeting next Saturday are a bunch of interesting proposals across a wide array of topics. Stay tuned!
Longmont: At a council meeting last year I had to challenge one of the members glowing review of the conditions of some of our major streets. Got some chuckles as I rattled off one unnacceptable road after another. Not long afterwards major work was under way on those very sections. Coincidence? Probably. Then again sometimes when you bring up the obvious they seem surprised.
Word is the city has finally come around to seeing what they have in our local airport. Wasn't long ago some fairly high in the city were trying their darndest to obliterate it. Lets hope this new support is genuine and actually goes somewhere.
Longmont: At a council meeting last year I had to challenge one of the members glowing review of the conditions of some of our major streets. Got some chuckles as I rattled off one unnacceptable road after another. Not long afterwards major work was under way on those very sections. Coincidence? Probably. Then again sometimes when you bring up the obvious they seem surprised.
Word is the city has finally come around to seeing what they have in our local airport. Wasn't long ago some fairly high in the city were trying their darndest to obliterate it. Lets hope this new support is genuine and actually goes somewhere.
I'm glad Louisville is making a stand regarding the Superior residents' use of the library.
Off the top of my head (for Lafayette):
1. Action on the stormwater enterprise. (Will there be a public hearing on an ordinance? I think this program should be linked to trail and landscape enhancements.)
2. Attention to the need for subarea planning. (Lafayette is getting quality development in bits and pieces. A framework plan for the City requires more detailed implementation than currently described by the comp plan.)
3. Completion of Simpson Mine Park. (I moved to the City after the Rec Center opened, so I have no memory or expectation related to City Park. I attended one design meeting and had only a strong preference for closing Foote Avenue. I'm extremely happy with the results - the art is finely integrated and the rock landscape is a wonderful playground. I look forward to going there more often.)
4. The survival of both the Charter and the Youth Advisory Committee. (The recent YAC presentation to the City Council showed some great work.)
5. Hiring of an Open Space Superintendent.
6. Thomas Open Space giving rise to an innovative public-private partnership, and hopefully a successful CSA.
7. Maintaining high levels of service in public safety. (Lafayette successfully avoided potential difficulties for the fire and police departments by building out the safety campus on 111th and seamlessly taking over ambulance service.)
Actually in my opinion the most important event for 2007 has already occurred. The good news is it flew under the radar screen. Yet it had the greatest impact on all, I stress all, of Lafayette. That was the transition to a city provided ambulance service and increased capabilities of our fire department with the addition of permanent employees to augment the volunteers. Took two years but the "acquisition" of Boulder County Paramedics appears to have gone seemlessly.
The new Police Station will be a welcomed addition as well.
As to the biggest challenge, it's the challenges wrought by the migration or closing of retail businesses from So. Boulder Road to Baseline and all the unintended consequences of it, including traffic mitigation and pedestrian safety.
(Speaking of Baseline, from the eastern city line to the western, there are around 1000 housing units on the table, though actual building is slow. The Police Station will move just north, the new WM will open, and we already have King Soopers, the Library, the Rec Center, Sister Carmen, and Pioneer Elementary fronting the street. Add a Lowe's in a couple of years and development east of town one has to wonder what happens.)
Now that the redevelopment of the WM/Old Albertson's area has come to a screeching halt, the challenge is what to do about the Old Town Business district on Public Road which is increasingly becoming more distressed. I've talked to several business owners who are considering moving after their leases expire.
There is also the challenge of what to do about slowing residential development.
Now the reason I put those challenges on the table is that they affect the city's revenue generating ability which impacts city services and public safety. Outside of the new super WM which will have mixed effects for a year or two, there is nothing else on the radar screen for some 2 or 3 years.
So if one uses the guideline of what affects the most residents of Lafayette on a daily basis, their quality of life and property values, it usually boils down to public safety and public works which costs a lot of money. Add in the Library, the Rec Center, Parks and Open Space.
Here are recent some things, big and small, that I appreciate from my fellow councilors in Lafayette. (Not a full list by any means)
Councilor Ruggeri fought (and continues to fight) for Lafayette to be an inclusive community. We passed a proclamation and were recognized by the National League of Cities.
Councilor Phillips has been passionate about energy conservation and has been pushing the city in the right direction on this issue.
Councilor Cutler is our primary liaison to the Boulder County Consortium of Cities and they are working on is revenue stability/sharing which could have implications on how we grow and conduct economic development.
Councilor Cameron has diligently attended Trabajandos Unitos meetings and recently asked the city to temporarily rename Crossing Drive to Cesar Chavez Avenue and the Library Park to Ofelia Miramontes Park. Her work has helped raise Lafayette’s credibility in the Latino community.
Councilor Bensman should be congratulated for his work on the ambulance service, his insight brought a lot to the table.
Mayor Berry deserves major kudos for his work chairing the Northwest Parkway Authority through their turbulent times.
This is just a small example of work that councilors are doing individually. This list doesn’t include big stuff the city has done well such as snow removal, economic development on 287, downtown revitalization, etc. I think we do our best work when we work together and we'll get to see some of that at our goal setting on Sat. I think Lafayette is being well served and I hope our citizens feel the same way.
Mark your calendars....
I agree with Councilor Bensman on something. If I had to choose only ONE thing, it would be the ambulance service/fire department transition.
As I think about the future, I think the Countryside Village redevelopment (and its connection to the rest of downtown Lafayette) will be one of the most important projects in the next few years.
Of course, as Councilor Phillips and Mayor Pro-tem Strungis aptly illustrate, it is hard to choose one.
The art on Baseline in front of the library is charming.
I'm glad Louisville is working on the Revitalization Plan. Downtown needs help!
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