The Little LepreCON performs a public jig, dancing to the tune of the "naysayer" pipers - Ed.
By David S.
I just got back from Mount Ogden Middle School where the Mount Ogden Community Plan was discussed by the community. During that meeting, the mayor was asked whether his intentions (mentioned in the paper and WCF today) related to protecting the golf course and park, or also the surrounding undeveloped city land and the trails as well. In other words, did it relate to just two parts, or to all four.
The mayor said his intention is to preserve all four and he listed them, as well as stating his own love and use of the trails.
I welcome this. Of course, I feel there must be concrete action for the public to believe the mayor’s change of heart is genuine and, shall we say, permanent. I feel it must happen very soon or people will see it as only a ploy. But having both mayoral candidates saying the same thing on this paramount issue, is wonderful. The council has also been looking at ways to protect these "four parts." They passed out their work after the meeting, but I haven't read through it yet.
There was also the strong sense that the public wants all the undeveloped benchlands – both pubic and private – left as they are, and would like the city to buy the undeveloped private land where possible, or where not possible, leave it zoned as open space. There were many other issues discussed. If there was any conflict in the sentiments of the community regarding any of the many issues discussed, I didn’t notice it.
So let us observe, the public has been speaking and are being listened to. Dan Schroeder said he’s never been more proud to live in Ogden than he has felt while participating in the Mount Ogden Community Plan process. I would concur. To see the public turn out and speak about the town that they love, to see the community so unified, and to see the officials really listening, made me feel very proud as well.
Anyway I thought folks might like to know.
BTW, what other city has a forum like this, to talk about things like this, like this?
Update 9/26/07 10:35 a.m. MT: Ace Reporter Schwebke contributes his own community meeting report in this morning's Standard-Examiner.
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32 comments:
I can back up all David S. said. The mayor was there, was asked specifically what he intended to "take off the table" and protect, and he said flatly "all of it." The golf course, Mt. Ogden Park and the adjacent undeveloped trail lands.
At this point, I'd stop asking him to make his intentions clear. Folks can question if he means it, or whether it's practicable and can be done at all, perhaps. But tonight he made the unequivocal statement embracing all of the Mt. Ogden recreational complex, including the adjacent city owned undeveloped land through with the trails run that people have been asking him to make.
As for David S. question, "what other city has a forum like this to talk about things like this?" I don't know. I imagine other cities do, but none that I've lived in recently.
I do know this: I've never taken part in a city planning project like this anywhere else that went on for so long, involved so many people [in office and out], that invited so much public input in such a variety of ways, and that I felt better about at the end. This is how city government should work with and for city residents with the common good as an attainable goal.
Thanks to the Council, the Planning Commission, the City Planning Staff, all of whom put in many many hours on the process and deserve chops for running it so well. Councilman Stephens said that the Council had spent more time on this Community Plan than on any other he'd been involved in, but that it was worth it, since the Mt. Ogden Plan and the process that produced it might serve as a model for drawing up or revising other Ogden community plans. "We can take this as a standard," Stephens said, "and so it's important that we do it right."
Not many times I come out of city government meetings feeling downright warm and glowey. Did tonight. [I'm sure that will pass, but for the moment, feels nice.]
Just went over to the home page of Ogden City. It seems to have been re-designed. It now is a kind of bulletin board for Ogden City news. [Lead item is the Mayor's press release regarding preserving Mt. Ogden parklands.] Coming events. Council news. And so on. Actually useful. Special listing for upcoming events on the right. Don't know how long the redesign has been in effect, but it's not bad. Much improved by way of usefulness and ease of navigation.
NB: there seems to be no gondola link. Not one on the government page either. Nor on the Mayor's page [which is very out of date, by the way. Seems last to have been updated in 2005. Still a link discussing Union Station and the downtown Wal-Mart project.]
Good meeting tonite. Kudos to all who spoke and the Council and Staff.
Neil Hansen addressed the many shootings...way over 100 in 6 months!
The clone of the dictator from Iran did his usual spin: "Someone was shooting at ducks at Weber...someone fired a gun in the air"...well that takes care of 2 shootings..what about the other 127 or so?
Guess most schmucks who are shot or stabbed crawl into Davis County to die so that we can keep the Mayor honest about Ogden's crime stats.
He wouldn't dissemble would he now?
Sharon:
Well, we have at least to ask whether the Mayor's explanation is accurate or not. This is a fact question, not an opinion one. The 125 number either represents "shots fired" or "reports of shots fired." Seems to me it ought to be relatively easy to pin down. Someone on the force, maybe?
Everyone needs to stay focused. Do not cave into the remorse that the little shit is having, after dividing the community for the past several years. We need to hold him accountable for that, and the dirty things he has said about anyone who didn’t agree.
I know for a fact that the police are phonying the stats. If a person reports a burglary, upon arrival of OFD, if a suspect is not present, they report it as a trespass. NOT A BURGLARLY. If they respond to a shot fired, upon arrival if they do not find evidence, it is reported as unfounded.
That's how the little liar is tweaking the numbers.
Do not vote for Godfrey the great divider.
Just came across this interesting item about a new streetcar line opening up in Seattle.
One quote in particular caught my eye:
"There was a meeting with representatives from the city several years ago," Johnson recalled.
"They asked us, 'What we could do for you?' Most people raised their hands and said, 'Affordable housing,"' he said. "Then the people from the city huddled together -- 'whisper, whisper, whisper,' -- and they said, 'How about a trolley?"'
Imagine, city officials just up and offering a $50.5 million trolley line to an economically depressed neighborhood.
Wonder why they did that?
I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with a similarly catchy acronym.
Greater
Ogden
Development
For
Ready
Efficient
Y?
Maybe we could appeal to his ego and get him to build a real mass transit solution if we could guarantee that it would carry his name in perpetuity. Or at least until we boot him out of office.
I don't suppose Mayor Godfrey was contrite enough to apologize to those in attendance for at least two years of gondolist abuse and derision, or to repudiate comments such as these, uttered as recently as April 19, 2007.
Dubious:
The mayor answered, directly, the question about what parts of the Mt. Ogden parklands he intended to preserve in his recent press release. He did not discuss the gondola at all, not to continue to endorse the idea, not to back off from it. It was no part of his remarks.
Don't be fooled. Peterson's land is now "worthless."
Now Peterson is going to want to sell it to the city.
Now Godfrey can claim he is for "open space."
It's another way for his business buddies to get a hold of our tax money.
The Republican County Commissioners have been doing this for years.
d'ya think Peterson never replies to emails because he's very poor now and can't afford to pay his server?
seems to me that the democratic thing to do, bleeding hearts and all, is buy his worthless piece of mountain so he can have enough to slink away into oblivion.
Jest:
Your right. But it should be at a fair price.
This was a win win deal for Peterson and Godfrey, at our expense. They both knew this from the start.
You've been fooled again by Godfrey.
"Secret Combinations."
Rudi,Sharon,Dorthy,Crum:
Thank you for all the time and work you do, for this blog, and this great city which we all love and cherish.
Two items of interest to WCF readers this morning in the SE. First is the story about last night's City Council meeting, held in the Mt. Ogden neighborhood, to gather public comment on the proposed Mt. Ogden Community plan. [Link here.]
It's a pretty straightforward story, though the headline is a little misleading: Residents discuss Mt. Ogden plan; More than 100 at meeting; council holds off on vote . The problem part is the "Council Holds Off On Vote." That implies that the Council last night decided to delay action on the Community Plan. In fact, no vote was scheduled for last night. When the Council announced the meeting, it made it clear that its purpose was to gather community comment on the draft of the plan, and that no vote would be taken last night. If I had not known that, I'd have read the headline and concluded that the Council last night decided to postpone a vote it had planned to take. [Let me add here that I don't think Mr.Schwebke composes the headlines for his stories, so this is not a criticism of his article.]
The second story is about the Governor's commission looking into the regulation of building on steeply sloped land. Here are some of the opening graphs:
LAYTON -- Gov. Jon Huntsman stood Tuesday in a vacant lot near 1843 E. Sunset Drive. A home once sat there, but a 1998 landslide eventually led to the home being taken off the side of the hill. Huntsman was in Layton to accept the recommendations of a 12-member Geologic Hazards Working Group. The governor's appointed task force was asked to develop recommendations to prevent future homeowners across the state from being affected by building a home on sensitive lands that may slide, slope or dip....
The recommendations address a critical issue, he said, adding that he would not dare kick them back to the working group. He said the state cannot force compliance, but he is hoping each city adopts the recommendations....
The recommendations include:
* Educating local governments on taking liability in the development-approval process.
* Providing outreach to cities not using updated geological maps.
* Enforcing land grading codes.
* Providing local governments access to geologic and engineering expertise in reviewing geologic-hazard reports before subdivision approval.
The full story can be found here.
Since Ogden's Planning Commission has been looking at the matter for some time, and I think has been waiting for the state task force to complete its work, it seems likely all this will impact the Administration-backed attempts to alter slope building restrictions on the East Bench --- originally proposed, it seems, to accommodate yet again Mt. Peterson's development plans for the foothills.
Democrat:
I think I'm in love again! To think a Democrat would thank a Republican like me is heady stuff! Thank you!
Seriously folks, it was so heartwarming to attend that meeting last nite. CIVIL, thotful comments, ALL letting hizzoner know once and for all ( we can pray) that we are all speaking in unison: "keep your mitts off our lands")...I, like Dan, am very pleased to be associated with such fine people giving their time, talents and heart to this city.
One fellow, whose name I can't recall, did say that we don't need a gondola. We were the last to leave last nite, and he was in deep conversation with Godfrey out on the steps. Wonder if he was getting the real scoop from Matt on why we NEED an urban gondola gliding over all the businesses below.
Anyway, Democrat...I'm not a rabid Republican (all the time)...I like Curm, admire Dan, and he's made me an honorary Sierra Club Member!!, I like Joe Lieberman.....
But, I like Bill O'Reilly (I wonder how Curm knows he doesn't have a brain if he never watches him or Hannity?)...I like Neil Cavuto too.
But, to be admired by "Democrat"...I'm flattered. kisses to you too.
Looks like Scott S at the SE has re-painted Godfrey into the protector of Ogden's open space. No longer is it Godfrey and Peterson who wanted to develop the park lands, it's only Peterson. How can this be when Peterson never replied to e-mails for comments and Godfrey ran the show telling everyone how important developing the golf course and park lands is for Ogden. To read the SE this morning one would never know that Godfrey of today is Godfrey of yesterday's own worst enemy - as suggested by Rudi the other day.
Last night after the meeting I learned a bit of history that I hadn't been aware of. This comes from the best recollection of a Weber Pathways board member.
About 6 or 7 years ago, Weber Pathways and the Forest Service were engaged in serious discussions with the city over ensuring permanent public access to Waterfall Canyon. The Forest Service expressed its willingness to purchase the property, or if that wasn't possible, to purchase a public easement of some sort. Weber Pathways would have raised additional funds in order to make a more attractive offer to the landowner (the Rasmussen family).
Godfrey killed the proposal, saying that instead he wanted a temporary arrangement with the Rasmussens for trail access.
Apparently there was never any direct communication between the Rasmussens and either the FS or WP. So we don't know whether the Rasmussens would have been willing to sell. (Of course, they sold most of their property to Peterson a few years later.) But it's quite possible that if it weren't for Godfrey, all that property would now be in public ownership.
Now that the gondola is somewhat off the table, and that was the ONLY thing that was going to save the waste land of the city. It is time to vote Godfrey out because now he has now plans to save the city from the waste land. Godfrey you FAILED and accept it and get out of town!!!!
Kudos to Neil Hansen last nite! Even tho Godfrey denigrated everything Neil said and had on his teriffic map, (what's new?), the rest of us knew that Neil was correct about the crime in Ogden.
Neil...you are a good man and have given so much to our city. Thank you. You deserved the praise you rec'd from Jesse Garcia last nite.
Keep on keepin' on, Neil. Your time is 4 yrs from now. You have many supporters and admirers.
The SL Trib also covered the Mt. Ogden Community plan meeting. Link here.
And it covered the Governor's announcement about the recommendations of his geo-hazards committee. Link here.
Gondolas gondolas gondolas, Brandon Stevenson's website still proudly touts the whole Peterson housing golf course deal and the salvation of the gondola, for a dying town. He also fully endorses johnson and eccles, but can offer no real reason why.
The Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce is also fully endorsing the whole what they call the perterson proposal, this includes selling the golf course for housing and using the funds to build an urban gondola.
So, after all the ugly naysayer accusations and cave comments, just who is on the wrong side of this issue? Come on geigers, glassman, hardman, brandon, chime in.
Bill:
Yup. The Chamber still has up its full support of the park sale, Peterson land development on the park lands, etc. etc. Surprising, really. If I'd been shown to have supported blindly and without research or reason a plan to sell the city's parklands for a real estate deal the Mayor himself now agrees was not feasible from the very start, I'd want the evidence of my lack of judgment off my website likety-split.
But hey, it's the Chamber's Website. If the Chamber's leadership wants to keep reminding people [and Chamber members] how blindly they all ran along like bleating sheep endorsing a Peterson Proposal that never appeared, based on a development its major advocate now says was never a realistic possibility, just as they are trying to convince voters that their support of the Transit Tax coming up for a vote is solid, well researched and entirely dependable... well, I say, let them go right ahead.
Of course, they might run into some transit tax opponents who will want to ask the Chamber's leaders --- in public --- what assurances they can give voters that they researched the transit tax referendum better than they did the Peterson Proposal. That the Chambers leaders are not going to lead the voters blindly over a cliff on the tax referendum as they did their own members on the Peterson proposal.
Be interesting to hear their answer to that one.
Curm:
Let's not call it a "transit tax"; let's call it a transportation tax, or perhaps a highway tax or a sprawl tax. As you know, our elected officials have no plans to spend more than 30-40% of the revenue on transit--and even that is not guaranteed.
I'd like to offer many thanks to all of the Council, but a very special thank you to chair Garcia. This man stood firm and steered the Council thru all the political BS from all angles, and had to endure many personal and very un called for attacts from various people in the administration and their supporters. A true example of leadership and resolve to let the public have their fair say.
Thank you Jessie from all of the men's association and other user's of the Mt. Ogden Golf Course.
Dan:
Absolutely right. I got careless. I wish it was really a transit tax such as they got to vote on in SL City. But it isn't, as you note.
Transportation Tax from now on.
Thanks for the reminder.
THE NEW SIGN IS UP HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY !!!!!
The sign????
I'm not a crook.
I have more integriety than anybody in this room.
AHM MY ANYBODY BUT GODFREY SIGN WAS RIPPED DOWN. SO WE HAVE A NEW ONE PUT UP. MATTY AND GEIGER WILL ENJOY THIS ONE. I HOPE IT GETS POSTED THE FAN FAIR HAS STARTED!!! EAST BENCH VOTE WILL OUST THE LITTLE WANNA BE GWB
Rudi....
Look at this web page and compare to godfrey contribution page. it looks like godfrey has pocketed some money.
http://www.elections.utah.gov/2007%20Financial%20Disclosures.Sept%2015/R%20and%20O%20construction.sept%2015.pdf
A very good statement from SVH in this morning's SE in response to the Mayor's 180 on the Mt Ogden park issue. Reminds folks that many in Ogden, including her, have been working for the past two years to counter the Mayor's efforts to sell of most of Mt Ogden park for real estate development. And that she is glad that the mayor has finally come around to see how valuable the park, trails and golf course are to Ogden.
According to the editors at the SE, the Mayor deserves a pat on the back for his 180 on this issue. Really? Eventhough the SE declares that Godfrey's reason for this 180 is solely to save his re-election bid? What I would give the Mayor a pat on the back for is if he would admit that he was wrong for the past two years on this issue and that he lied to the citizens of Ogden about how important this whole Mt Ogden deal was for the city and about the benefits that would come to Ogden and Weber State if they would just do what he wanted. That would be deserving of a pat on the back.
This editorial clearly shows that the Standard is guilty of the one hope lying little matty has to count on with the general public, very short memory. This guy ain't called lying little matty for nothing.
Over the last 7+ years, has he ever been sincere or truthfull on anything? Not to mention the fact that there may not be a legal way to lock up the property in perpetuity.
This is nothing but a ploy to get votes from the most naive voters.
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