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Commissioner Cleveland stated she expects streets to be maintained but some people just <br />want to oppose government. The City plans the maintenance schedule, the funding, etc. <br />She inquired what the real cause for the petition was. <br />Assistant City Engineer Himmer stated that the Andrie Street project might not be a good <br />example for this petition process. He talked about how. it started and how additions to the <br />project were made. <br />Commissioner Cleveland commented that it was a neighborhood conflict and the Charter <br />worked in this case. Our City needs to keep our streets up. Democracy did work and that <br />is the point of our Charter. She stated she did not feel it needed to be changed and if the <br />rest of the Commission would recommend the change, she would recommend it go to a <br />referendum. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated that June 23 is when we talked about this. We were talking 60% <br />maybe for the number it would take to defeat a project. Andrie Street was not even <br />talked about until two months ago. <br />Mr. Himmer reiterated that the Andrie Street project is a bad example to which Mayor <br />Ramsey expressed agreement. He stated that the Chameleon Street project failed by one <br />vote. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated that if there is a petition against a project and it fails, the <br />costs continue to rise. That affects all residents in the City.. <br />Chairperson Deemer stated we need to get this down to the Charter issues only. <br />Commissioner Field asked if anyone could recall a time when a petition to oppose a <br />project actually made sense. If we believe there is never any justification, then why have <br />this language in the Charter. <br />Commissioner Bergfalk stated that reasons for counter petition could be downed <br />economy; persons could be losing their homes. The Charter is democracy — the majority <br />rules — maybe we need to find a different way to fund projects. <br />Mr. Himmer stated there have been instances. There was one in 2008; people felt a repair <br />was not necessary. Staff went out and walked the street with them. We can say we agree <br />— maybe the street does not need the improvement today — but if you start pulling out <br />sections of the street improvement project, you will not reap benefits. You lose the group <br />protection. There are instances where we have delayed for the year but there is no <br />guarantee we will get back to that road the following year. <br />Commissioner Field stated Mr. Himmer's comments are very illuminating. In looking at <br />the situation, it sounds like an economic issue or an aesthetic issue. It appears residents <br />are looking at short range and the City is looking at long term. If the counter petition <br />Charter Commission — September 24, 2009 <br />Page 5 of 10 <br />