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<br />stated that he feels other issues need to be brought up with residents and stated that he does not <br />think he can endorse this with questions only about open space issues. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey asked if part of the survey was to determine priorities, but also if it is <br />even feasible to include a question on the ballot. <br /> <br />EPB Chair McDilda stated that is what they are looking to do. He stated that endorsing this <br />survey does not necessarily mean there will be a question on the ballot, but will determine if it is <br />possible. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that the bottom line is that Embrace Open Space is a special <br />interest group and the Council needs to make broad decisions for the City and know what the <br />"whole pie" looks like, not just a "piece of the pie". <br /> <br />EPB Chair McDilda stated that Embrace Open Space is not willing to expand the survey. He <br />stated that they have approved a grant of $20,000 for the City which has no strings attached that <br />says the City would have to place a referendum on the ballot because it received this money. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen clarified that he is not opposed to open space, but that this group is called <br />Embrace Open Space, which means that they are pushing open space. He stated that he is <br />opposed to the City narrowing its focus onto this one issue because the Council are general <br />gatekeepers of the City. He stated that he thinks their funding is really an evidence gathering <br />measure to back a referendum. <br /> <br />Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated that part of the feasibility study would be <br />identifying competing priorities and may even be as specific as: Would you prefer a community <br />center or open space? He stated that he has an example of a survey conducted by Embrace Open <br />Space from New York state that included questions about priorities such as; transportation <br />issues, economic growth, housing and open space. He stated that priority questions could be <br />included, but Embrace Open Space will not fund a quality oflife survey for the City. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that he does not think the Council needs to be part of this. He stated <br />that he thinks the City needs to be diligent in finding out what resident's top priority, overall, is. <br />He stated that he supports a broad survey and suggested that the City could investigate other <br />funding options. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he does not have a problem with the survey, as presented, and feels that <br />if a broad survey is conducted, it will just give broad answers. He stated that he would also like <br />to do a survey surrounding possible community center questions also. He stated that he feels <br />people want open space, but people who already have land do not want to get cheated out of it. <br />He stated that while he doesn't have a problem with this survey, he also feels the City needs to <br />know answers to the issues that Councilmember Dehen raised. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey stated that he feels the Council needs to take action and make a decision <br />and not keep postponing this for further discussion. <br /> <br />City Council / January 8, 2008 <br />Page 12 of 23 <br />