Of course Mayor TenHaken and his staff will try to take credit for this;
The City’s proposal would convert Elmwood Avenue between 26th and 28th Streets into a northbound one-way street, add 42 diagonal public parking spots on the west side of Elmwood Avenue, add 10 parallel parking spots at the north end of east Elmwood Avenue, and a dedicated bus parking lane for students to load and unload in a safe manner.
This proposal preserves access to 26th Street and the pedestrian sidewalk, which was mentioned by neighbors who previously opposed the full vacation of Elmwood Avenue. The elimination of southbound traffic on Elmwood will help alleviate neighborhood safety concerns of congested traffic due to non-neighborhood traffic. Additionally, street parking congestion complaints should be quelled with the addition of the diagonal on-street parking.
This is the proposal that should have been suggested in the first place. It provides safe parking, safe drop-offs, and the one-way makes the now useable street safer. I hope the residents agree. While the council was not obviously involved in this compromise, the 3 that voted down the vacation need to be given the credit for forcing the city administration to create a compromise between the institution and it’s neighbors. I haven’t taken the temperature of the council yet on this new approach, but I am sure it will pass the council no problem. Better solutions come from negotiating with both parties.
Is there some information based in fact that you have to suggest they shouldn’t take credit for this good idea if it originated from them?
WELL THERE ARE STILL MANY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED?!!!!!
Jannelle, I’m sure there is, but this is a good starting point.
Fluff, the original idea was actually suggested this fall by a constituent who used to be a urban planner that lives in the neighborhood. Should have been explored than. I think this new proposal was probably put together by the traffic manager, Heath. My point is if the 3 would not have stopped the vacation, we would have never made it to this point. So while I applaud the mayor’s office for putting this compromise together, it would have never happened if he wasn’t forced into it.
Proof that discussion from varied factions leads to better solutions. This is an example of why democracy works better than Strong Mayor dictatorship.
That is also my point Scott!!! I was so mad last night when I say the Mayor saying basically taking credit for this compromise…. Absolutely NOT!!!! It was the three councilors who held out and didn’t give in to the Mayor’s agenda and they have suffered his wrath and ramifications for it!!! So, for him to take credit… NO Way. Lets give credit where it is do to Theresa Staley, Pat Star and Janet Brekke. And, this street vacation vote is exactly why the Erickson voted against changing elections back to a majority vote!!!
The end of the Argus article indicates that the two proposed actions (one-way street and new parking) require a simple majority, not a supermajority. Unless someone changes their vote, this is a done deal if the Argus is corrrect.