Residents press council on Newcomb Park tunnel safety, stop sign and park repairs

During the "persons to be heard" and public comment periods, residents raised several neighborhood safety and park maintenance concerns for the council's attention. Tim Johnson, a city resident, thanked staff for previous brush removal at Susitna and Depot and asked the council to install a stop sign at Sydney Avenue and Depot Road to address continued speeding and pavement damage. He also asked the council to fill holes in front of benches at Newcomb Park — he described an 18‑inch hole near a bench and urged repairs before a child is injured. On the Newcomb Park pedestrian tunnel, Johnson requested the city hold a public comment period before reopening the tunnel. He acknowledged the city had repainted the tunnel, repaired the pump and cleaned the area but said community input was needed on how to manage reopening to avoid repeats of prior crime and trespass issues. Other public comments included a representative of the Mat‑Su Softball Association (Dan Fleckenstein, not a city resident) reporting on field use and volunteer repairs at Bumpus Softball Complex and noting upcoming drainage, parking and restroom projects; and a resident asking about the city's sales tax history and rationale. Discussion vs. decisions: these items were public comments; council or staff referred some issues for administrative follow‑up. The council said staff would coordinate with DOT and the railroad on records related to the tunnel's creation and operations and would produce a memo addressing the legal and safety context. Ending: Staff and council members agreed to follow up with departments (public works, police and legal) to examine potential stop‑sign installation, park repairs and a process for public input before reopening the tunnel.