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Residents urge council to shift CIP money to neighborhood paving; some defend Old Town investment
Summary
Multiple public commenters told the council to reprioritize capital-improvement spending toward neighborhood street paving, while downtown property owners and investors said streetscape work is necessary to sustain Old Town revitalization and attract investment.
Public comment at the March 18 meeting focused heavily on how the city should spend capital-improvement funds, with residents urging immediate repaving in neighborhood pockets and property owners defending long-term streetscape investments in Old Town.
"There is approximately 7,500,000 worth of projects that I oppose, and we prefer that the council deny," resident John Beltran told the council, listing specific capital projects he said should be deferred and asking that paving for the Ponderosa South neighborhood be prioritized.
Other speakers pushed back against cutting Old Town projects. Investor and property owner Kenny Bennings argued the Old Town revitalization strategy has already begun to produce property- and sales-tax gains and said streetscape completion is necessary to attract outside investment. Long-time merchant Dennis Blake said recent sales and new restaurants will increase tax revenue and that the streetscape investment will pay off in the long run.
Council members did not act on the requests during oral communications, but the discussion framed the later CIP- and streetscape-related presentations and the April study-session follow-up staff said it will prepare.
Speakers referenced: John Beltran; Kenny Bennings; Dennis Blake.
Context: Several commenters itemized dollar amounts of proposed projects, and one small-business owner also raised operational concerns about building-department delays and the Bradford project schedule.
