Feral Cats, Traffic Calming versus Widening Streets and Historic Willow
Glen Skate Park
This is the last full meeting of the current council before the swearing
in of the newly elected members on December 4th (mark your calendars for
the reception at 6:00 and certification of election results at 7:00 and
swearing in after that).
The first meeting on Tuesday, November 20th is a 6pm special
study session to have a more comprehensive presentation
about the Library basement remodeling. This study session gives the
public and council more opportunities to ask questions.
What I have learned since our last council meeting regarding the library
is that major changes to the overall concept would cost $10,000 of architect
time and effort. We will confirm this at the study session.
The planned staircase is aligned with the existing "hole" in
the upper floor designed by the original architect for use in the future.
It is covered by carpeting and floor support. To change the orientation
of the staircase would mean cutting a hole in the permanent floor and possible
need for structural support. This could be thousands of dollars to do so.
There have been comments about the location of the staircase and the solution
suggested has been to relocated the staircase. Clearly there is a cost
issue here.
Other concerns are the size and location of the staff offices. Many people
know what it is like to work in a windowless cubicle and the advantage
of natural light for offices and workers has been shown to increase productivity
and other benefits. However, the size of the offices may be reviewed and
adjustments made.
Another concern is the location of meeting rooms downstairs and potential
access problems. Further discussion is needed for good access during and
after library hours.
The library community reached out to the community as a whole for their
ideas and thoughts about the remodeling of the basement. There were notices
and the usual publication of meetings, but many people missed these. This
study session is an opportunity to spend more time reviewing the decisions
made and proposing changes. All in all, it would be challenging to redo
the entire concept in light of the open process and cost of such redesign.
Again, more information on these actual conditions will be provided on
Tuesday.
The regular meeting that starts at 7:00 has a few items
that need public comment. Traffic Impact Fee Program update
is needed to bring the fees up to meet current costs, but there are details
about funding projects such as road widening versus road narrowing that
should be discussed (road narrowing and tree planting for shaded sidewalks
is part of the General Plan traffic calming program. Current funding for
this is limited and the proposed fees are not specific about the alternatives
to road widening and turn lanes and so forth). Many of these widening projects
reflect the Seeno project which seems somewhat out of order in light of
the inconsistency of the current project with the General Plan. I may provide
more information on this in a later email depending on staff answers to
my questions.
The Willow Glen Skate Park is planned for demolition
due to neighbors' frustration with "behavior, language, hanging out,
vandalism, and parking" problems. However, it seems hasty at best
to decide on closure without having tried proven techniques to deal with
some of the above problems. This skate park is a multiuse park that provides
downtown access to young people and those who can't drive up to the new
X Park at the Community Park. The public's concern about this should be
expressed at this meeting. Otherwise, the skate park will be gone this
year.
And finally, the revised and much needed Animal Control Ordinance will
be considered. Most of the ordinance is a great improvement over the out
of date existing ordinance. Remaining issues of concern are the "hearing
officer" on an appeal and whether or not the officer should seek outside
professional advice or perhaps an alternative to the hearing officer would
be a committee consisting of a veternarian, humane society person and citizen,
to review the appeal. This will be discussed at council meeting.
The most contentious issue is the section dealing with feral cats.
Here is a situation of baby birds being hunted by baby or abandoned cats.
I can not think of a more sad and tragic human caused situation. People
should not abandon cats and certainly baby and nesting birds including
listed endangered species should not become extinct because of these desperate
cats. The ordinance addressing this proposes a modified approach requiring
people who care for feral cats to seek a permit and that such feeding of
feral cats be done away from sensitive habitat. This approach will be reviewed
in six months to see if it is working. Meanwhile, more work is needed to
educate the public about this sad situation for cats and birds.
