Residents urge no-build option as council approves Wellesley Drive sidewalk alignment

Council members approved their consent agenda after amending the meeting docket, including item 26G35 selecting the alignment for the Wellesley Drive sidewalk project.

Residents who live on Wellesley Drive pressed the council at the public-comment period to reconsider the project alignment. Juan Herrera, who identified himself as “a resident of College Park Estate, specifically Wellesley Drive,” said neighbors were not given a “no build” option in the earlier survey and that they remain “in opposition of the sidewalk.” He and other speakers asked the city to prioritize traffic-calming measures — including stop signs or cameras — on the stretch between Emmerson and Sweet Bridal and submitted a petition for two traffic-calming devices now in verification.

Neighbor Ken Hanscomb said the plan would impose long-term maintenance burdens on some homeowners, saying one corner property could face “over 200 feet” of sidewalk to clear. Sherry Hanscomb told the council she would have chosen a ‘no build’ option if the survey had allowed it and asked the city to assume snow‑clearing responsibility if the sidewalk is constructed.

City staff read the three consent items aloud before the vote: the Wellesley Drive sidewalk alignment (26G35), approval of minutes from January sessions, and a one‑year Volta IT services renewal for up to $52,440. The consent agenda passed after the council’s roll call; one separate agenda item (26G37 on ADUs) had been removed for later consideration.

Council members said they heard residents’ concerns. Several speakers asked staff to pursue traffic-calming measures in parallel with capital projects or to provide a clearer engagement option for neighbors earlier in the design process. City staff did not announce a change to the approved alignment at the meeting. The council approved the consent agenda as amended.