Dear Neighbors,
One week ago, on Front Porch Forum, I stated in a post that “my first priority is to respectfully represent my constituents and to listen to you. To that end, I am supportive of a policy on that will protect the quality of life you have come to value. Maintaining the “resident only” parking aspect of the program as it now stands is one way to accomplish that goal.”
It appears that despite my words of respect for your collective concerns, either there is some misunderstanding or I was not as clear as I should have been in my position regarding what appears to be the most contentious aspect of the recent resident parking management study.
I am not supportive of a change to the resident only parking program that would mandate allowing non-residents to park on streets that are currently covered by the program. The residents of Ward 6 who have contacted me or have spoken at public meetings have expressed to me their desire to maintain resident only parking for residents only. I will honor that strong desire and will be sure to make that position known publicly at future meetings.
Again, as I said on FPF last week, I have worked closely with DPW staff and have done my best to influence the outcome of the draft report in favor of what residents in Ward 6 have expressed. Please note that the draft report does not contain a mandated commuter permit plan.
The report is lengthy and if there are residents who are unhappy that I did not write up a summary for you and attach it to the full report, I felt it was more important to get the report to you as soon as I had it (at 5pm on Friday, July 3) rather than keep you waiting while I read it and did my best to provide a synopsis. I have had plans to be out of town from July 4 until late yesterday afternoon with my family for a year and knew my time to view the report this weekend and write up a synopsis would be limited.
I can understand and appreciate that many of you may not have the time to read the full report. The recommendations begin at page 65 of the PDF (the page is labelled 55 in the PDF but, for some reason is page 65 in the PDF.) The recommendations are 14 strategies covering about 24 pages of the report.
Since I cannot post a PDF on Front Porch Forum, I have just completed a synopsis and will post it on Front Porch Forum following this post. Front Porch Forum posts have a 5,000 word limit and my synopsis is 2 pages long. I’ve tried to be succinct while giving you enough detail. I would still encourage you to read the report as there is more information there than I can give you in several paragraphs. (Please also note that I cannot boldface or highlight in an FPF post.)
In the next few weeks, residents will have the opportunity to talk with the DPW Commission, the Parking Advisory Group, the Mayor and with me and other City Councilors who may attend at the advisory group meeting this evening, a morning coffee at the Spot and the DPW evening meeting next week. If residents feel these three opportunities designed to be at different times of the day and week are not sufficient, I am happy to work to arrange other opportunities to meet. If residents wish to have another meeting with the Mayor, just say the word and I will do my best to set that up.
I will be back on Front Porch Forum shortly with the synopsis.
My best,
Karen
Nov 3, 2024, 4 to 5:30 PM
Flow Singing Try-It-Out for Free!Nov 7, 2024, 7 to 8:30 PM
Alpha Film Series at SJV ChurchNov 8, 2024, 6:15 to 8:30 PM