07131998 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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141 Regular Meeting July 13, 1998 Page 2 Mayor Moore introduced for consideration approval of an appointment to complete a vacancy on the Senior Citizens Facilities Advisory Board. Mayor Moore moved to appoint Alida Archer, which passed unanimously. Mayor Moore introduced for consideration approval of appointment of a Council Member as a Liaison to the River Foundation. Mr. Moseley stated he would like to serve in this capacity. On roll call the following vote was recorded: AYE: Mihalkanin, Hughson, Doiron, Moore, Cox, Hernandez. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Moseley. Mayor Moore introduced Item 10.B., to hold a discussion regarding a cross-town parkway. Ollie Giles suggested there be an exit off IH35 onto C. M. Alley Parkway. She stated she was not willing for the City to give any more streets to SWT and suggested LBJ and Guadalupe Streets be made one-way running in opposite directions. She wants the City to keep parkways out of the neighborhoods and stated no parking exists in the downtown area. Scott Walker who resides on MLK agreed with Mrs. Giles' comments and stated the Blue Ribbon Committee did a good job looking for a cross street. He does not know if a cross-town artery is needed and thinks an extension of Wonder World would help. He thought it had been decided at a previous meeting of the Council a parkway would not go down Gravel Street and that Staff had been directed to look for alternatives. There are environmental concerns for locating a parkway. He stated he too sits in traffic but does not think there is a need to put a parkway through any neighborhoods. John McBride stated a public hearing needs to be held by the Council for the Gravel Street residents. He thinks the discussion needs to happen and see what the Gravel Street residents want. He is in hopes the next item on the agenda, the Wonder World extension, is addressed during this agenda and does not feel the cross-town parkway is understood by all the neighborhood. Maria E. Gonzales stated a parkway is not where people park, and this sounds more like a discussion of an expressway. She queried the Council if they are listening to the Bond Committee or to the neighborhoods. She stated the neighbors want to maintain the integrity of a neighborhood, people are the ones that live in neighborhoods, and they do not want their neighborhood compromised. Mary Mendoza stated the Gravel Street residents do understand what is being offered, and they do not want it. George VonderLippe of the Blue Ribbon Bond Committee stated the Bond Committee wants the Council to talk with the neighborhood about the parkway, and to clarify the parkway would be separate from the neighborhood. Ms. Hughson stated the positive of the cross-town mobility needs to be discussed. She stated that offers have not been made to the residents regarding relocation, changing addresses, driver's licenses, home, front and back yards. She wants a good faith effort to all residents, one on one, to be made, and if the residents do not want to accept this, she would not vote to place this matter on a ballot. Mr. Cox supports Ms. Hughson's comments. He has no desire to impose on any neighborhood what they understand and do not want, but thinks we need to attempt to talk with the neighborhood. Mr. Hernandez stated in January he shared the Bond Report to others. He thinks the discussion on the table is what appears in the report, and they have had the report since January and know what is in the report. Mr. Hernandez stated if anything has changed since then, maybe the neighbors do not have all information and neither does Mr. Hernandez. Mr. Doiron pointed out the City has included houses and relocation costs, and the residents are still saying no. Mr. Scott Walker asked what part of no does the Council not understand. He asked why the Council does not look at a parkway down Belvin or some other area. Mr. Moseley stated the Council is patronizing if they think the neighborhood does not understand. Mr. Moseley stated he has not seen any figures as mentioned by Mr. Doiron. Mr. Doiron asked John McBride what would the City do for these residents in exchange for the street, and Mr. McBride advised they would not need to move off Gravel but would