03-03-94 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 3, 1994 Dear Council Members: Because individual Parks Commissioners received no agenda notification, we were not present when action was recently taken by the City Council that was in opposition to consistent Parks Commission recommendations regarding maintaining the ordinance prohibiting mountain biking in Sunfish Park. These Park Commission recommendations were based on months (began in June of 1992) of research and are documented in the City Sunfish files. Based on a January joint Council/Parks meeting where this item was discussed, and no opposition was reflected to the Parks Commission by the Council following our again -carried position to maintain the ordinance, I felt Council supported our recommendation. I was bewildered and disheartened when I learned of Council's motion. Had there been urgency to this issue, I could understand this being brought to the floor with Park Commission attendance. It is tedious for the Council to research data when that is what we are here for. This is a new Council and I would gladly have reacquainted you with facts presented to the previous Council when the ordinance was put in place and other facts that made up our recommendations. I would have assembled a packet for you with specialist's testimonies from our community speaking directly to the uniqueness of the needs of our park. This information is in my personal file, some is in the City file, and it is what I based my recommendations on. I will gladly do that now, but I hope in the future we can communicate our needs more openly. Please call me anytime on parks issues. At the Parks level, we have discussed the mountain biking issue ad nauseum and lost numerous commissioners because this special interest group brings the same basic proposals back "bi-monthly", the latest in a somewhat prettier format (albeit vague statements regarding mountain biking in other parks, not attesting to the fact that those very same park systems prohibit biking in their parks based on appropriateness of site selection.) Our recommendations have been consistent and factual. Keep the no mountain biking ordinance. It is difficult to attend meetings when mountain biking is on the agenda given the heated discussions and hostility expressed when we stand firmly on decisions. It is very difficult to not be disheartened as a commissioner when communication breakdowns result in directives that might have been prevented. Respectfully, Judy B]/a_ckford, Parks Commissioner