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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/22/1975 MINUTES July 22, 1975 A Budqet Hearin~ for 1976 for the purpose of hearing cd~ments was c:a led to order by Mayor Homer Roesener at 4355 Field Street. ci tizens at 7 35 p.m. Councilmen present were Mary Jo Cavarra, Joseph Donaldson, Robert Howard, Calvin Hulsey, Larry Merkl and Louise Turner. Also attending were City Administrator John Jerman, City Clerk Elise Brougham, department heeds and interested citizens. Citizen Comments were made by Ted Erickson, Chairman of the Wheat Ridge Centennial-Bicentennial Commission requested tht $1,000 be budgeted to be used at the commission's discretion which would help make an outstanding centennial community. Reed Moore of the Jefferson County Mental Health Center stated they are requesting all communities of Jefferson County for funds to maintain the matching state funding dollar per capita. They request that Wheat Ridge give $15,000 which is based on the city's proportion of the papulation. They are requesting that the Jefferson County Commissioners allocate $200,000 which would allow an office to be operID in Wheat Ridge. The present county allocBtion is $126,000. The reason for requesting the funds is the decreusing funding from the Federal government. Doris Anthony of 3113 Teller stated that matching funds from the federal government or state all comes from the same source- the taxpayer. She objected to "handouts." Anthony Sarqent of 3035 Gray stated he wanted the city to raise taxes. He stated the City has increasing needs such as increased need for personnel in the police department and street maintenance. He stated he could afford to pay a doubled city mill levy. He added people with fixed income should be considered if this is done however. Mrs. Ben Kramer of 2715 Fenton Street stated they had lived there since 1955. She stated their support in raising taxes would be based on whether it is earmarked for specific items which benefit the entire city such as a city hall or road improvements. She also recommended when these items are paid for, the tax be rescinded. She felt where a problem is inherent to a specific area, then a special improvement district should be set up to take care of it. She stated bikeways need to be separated because it is a hazard to the bicyclist or motorist. She stated bikeways should be integrated throughout the city and that the bikeways should be policed to prevent them from riding 2 or 3 abreast. She commended the City in the way it has been better utilizing the street funds. Norma Meqeson of 10050 West 29 Avenue stated she was representing Wheat Ridge High School in their request for a walkway along West 32 Avenue. She requested that this be in the 1976 Budget. She stated the engineering costs for the walkways has increased the cost and the engineering problems, and that there is a cost differential in concrete versus asphalt when one compares the cost of forms and the labor. She stated they accepted the number 3 priority for the walkway work, and that they are now No. 4 because there is street engineering work to be done ahead of this engineering. She mentioned that if Urban Systems funding was made available, the engineering must be done in order to be eligible. She recommended that the City negotiate with the Denver Water Board to allow a clearly marked bike lane as an interim measure. She requested that Council reaffirm their commitment of the W. 32 Avenue walkway by budgeting for it in 1976. Charles F. Jones of 4100 Independence Court stated that Lena Gulch hAs not been cleaned out since 1967 and that he has a rat problem. He recommended that Council allow money for the Public Works Dept. to keep the ditch clear because this is a public health problem, and would allow drainage. He also stated there was blockage at the bri~ge at W. 41 Ave. MINUTES - 7/22/75 - Continued -2- Steven Veel, a student at Wheat Ridge High School stated he was requesting the walkway-bikeway along W. 32 Avenue and that he had come close to hitting a bicyclist. He requested that something be done as soon as possible. Shelley Smith also a student, echoed his opinions, and stated it would be worth it, if it saved one life. Ben P. Kramer of 2715 ~enton Street stated he doesn't live along Lena Gulch and he felt it was the people who lived by it had i;11e responsibility. He stated it is private property and the bridge if built by the county, is their responsibility. He stated he was for projects that benefit the majority of the people, and he did not wfft to pay for the mistakes of people buying in the flood plain Councilman Turner stated there had been large logs etc. in the gulch which an individual could not move. She stated every time it floods there is a proportion of people who cannot cope on their own and this was inherited from the County, and that the culvert on Independence does back up and damage the street which is a public liability. Mr. Ben Kramer stated that the people upstream should pay for the damage through the courts if necessary. Dan Uassison of 10355 West 23 Avenue stated he was ex-president of Wheat Ridge High School Student Body and he had been hit on West 32 Avenue. He stated Council must accept the problem as a whole, and should not consider this only a ward problem. He also objected to the philosophy that the small children should be more protected than bi 9 children. Mark Gearhart of 11133 West 27 Avenue stated he was an ex-student body preSDent of Wheat Ridge High School and stated the need for a bikeway along W. 32 Avenue had been a continuous problem and wanted something done before a life is taken. Harvey Kolesar of 3737 Garland stated he did not think now was the time to raise taxes and that he felt it would have an adverse effect for the retail merchant. David Shien of 3155 Wright Court and an Administrator at Wheat Ridge High School stated there was a need for bikeways and that many students ride their bikes to the high school and that now summer school is in session. He stated he would accept a partial striping of the street like the City of Lakewood has done for bikes. Tom Dodd Jr. of 9960 West 34 Drive requested that the city provide tennis facilities. He stated this is a sport all ages play. He also requested continuation of the Greenbelt for the walkway-bikeway. Ray Tagetta of 4370 Carr echoed that he was in favor of tennis courts. Robert Enqlish of 9920 West 49 Drive requested more funds for tennis courts, improving the fields and increasing parks and recreation. Brad Brenero of 2709 Simms stated he was the present Student Body President of Wheat Ridge High School and requested that Council light the tennis courts at the school, and consider the needed walkway-bikeway along W. 32 Ave. Norma Hagstrom of 10620 West 35 Avenue stated here home had been flooded twice in 1 week and this was due to past bad planning. She requested immediate help from the City. Rob Eckhardt of 7400 West 34 Avenue stated the Neighborhood 4 Group wt ich is east of Wadsworth between W. 26 Ave. and W. 38 Ave. has met . @nd decided to request that the tennis courts at Panorama Park be repaired, the summer recreation program didn't meet the total needs of the neighborhood, and they would like a better meeting place. He stated also that ~ 8 is a drastic need for city hall, streets, drainage, sidewalks- L cls paths. MINUTES - 7/22/75 - Continued -3- Ben Thies of 12102 West 36 Place stated that it is obvious that the demands for services and facilities are greater which require additional funds. There are 2 sources sales tax increase or real estate tax increase. He stated the increase is needed, and i~ appears that the common element of concern is the street conditions and drainage. Bob Brown of 3460 Gacland stated he preferred a property tax increase to an increase in the sales tax. Meeting was adjourned at 8 40 P m. APPROVED