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Residents urge more transparency after referendum and decry cancellation of Swedish Days parade
Summary
Two public commenters told the Geneva council that the recent referendum’s presentation undermined trust and that the cancellation of the Swedish Days parade reflected failures in planning and communication; speakers asked for resident engagement and clearer, ongoing outreach.
During the public‑comment portion of the meeting, two residents urged changes in how the city engages and communicates with its residents after the recent referendum and the cancellation of the Swedish Days parade.
Debbie Kenowski, who said she knocked on more than 190 households, said many residents supported public safety but objected to what she described as a referendum “wish list” that included items (a heated garage, $5 million for a firing range) that she and other neighbors found excessive. Kenowski urged the council to convene a committee of residents who opposed the referendum to collaborate on alternatives and questioned why city funds were used for outside advertising while local traditions such as Swedish Days were canceled.
Patrice Berthau, representing Geneva Voices, said the referendum result was decisive and that residents interpreted the outcome as a rejection of how the proposal was developed and communicated, not a rejection of public safety. Berthau called for consistent, ongoing engagement and clear, measurable planning, and warned that without improved transparency ‘‘trust erodes’’ and good ideas struggle to move forward. She argued that the loss of a 75‑year tradition — the Swedish Days parade — was a visible symptom of the community’s broader trust concerns.
Council response: The mayor and several alderpersons acknowledged the comments; the public comment was entered into the record and no immediate action was taken at the meeting.
Provenance: Comments appear in the public-comment segment beginning with SEG 1578 (Debbie Kenowski) and continuing with SEG 1625 (Patrice Berthau).
