06-01-10 Health & Public Safety - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Davis asked if any effort was made to notify neighbors of the plans. He felt they should not be left in the dark, even if notification required knocking on doors. Ultimately he felt whatever the planning and communication efforts were, they were inadequate. Larry Cimparone, the public works field inspector assigned to help plan and monitor projects disagreed. He said the contractor gave 7-day notice to residents using hang tags on houses. Councilmember Henry Davis wondered if 10-day notice was the standard for liability concerns. At this point Chairperson White wanted to allow citizen input. However, Valerie Schey, the citizen member at the table raised her hand for recognition and proceeded to try to ask a question. Chairperson White did not recognize her, stopped her question, wanting to proceed to citizen input. Valerie persisted, Councilmember Rouse said the committee was governed by Robert's Rules and she was out of order not being recognized by the Chairperson. Apparently annoyed, Valerie asked Mr. Rouse if he disrespected her or had a problem with all women. Valerie claimed she felt this disrespect from Mr. Rouse repeatedly in the past. Councilmember Rouse insisted Robert's Rules prevail. Chairperson White intervened insisting mutual respect and courtesy in public forums had always and should continue to be maintained. Chairperson White then moved to the citizen portion. Steve McDaniel of 2509 Prast complained of a blocked alley.'';David White of 2514 Prast had a litany of complaints from lack of common sense in planning to lack of concern for residents opinions. Ken Leszcz of 2529 Prast also had a list of issues from condition of the alleys to lack of nearby parking. Robert Reese of 2506 Prast said a 118' section of asphalt in front of his and 3 other homes is in bad repair as well as having buried curbs. Turning back to the Council, Chairperson White said she takes responding to citizens concerns adequately very seriously. She would press the city for a response. Councilmember Rouse raised the possibility of communicating through neighborhood organizations to improve awareness. Valerie Schey now allowed to ask a question, wondered if there were public hearings before major projects. Gary Gilot responded saying there were 3 hearings 2 at Kennedy School and 1 at the library. Councilmember Henry Davis said the 2"d meeting must have been a "ghost meeting." Gary said he could supply sign-in sheets. Hearing Gary say the project would last most of the year, Henry suggested the overall plan needed revision to take citizen's concerns into account. Councilmember Rouse felt curb work was not uniform from area to area, especially in CSO areas. Gary Gilot said this was not true. The ability of the City to do work was dependent upon the dollars available. White new curbs and driveway approaches everywhere would be nice, it was not cost effective. He added that trying to respond to neighborhood concerns had already added $500,000 to the project. Gary suggested Henry ask the Mayor for an appropriation to resurrect the 50/50 cost share plan.