P&R Meeting with Northeast Community Council

Parks and Recreation Department Director John Rodda attended the Executive Committee Meeting of the Northeast Community Council (NECC) on January 6th 2011 to listen and respond to concerns about Russian Jack Springs Park. The Community Council President, Kevin Smestad opened the meeting to any person outside the Executive Committee who might wish to attend. Attendees expressed vehement concern about the safety clearing accomplished in the Summer of 2010 along the major paved trails in both North and South parts of the Park in which sight lines were created. Mr. Rodda responded that there were many calls received by his office from people who did not feel safe walking on the main trails in the park. NECC has previously and consistently expressed opposition to tree removal in the park and felt that the clearing was unwarranted and that no one was informed about the action. Additional concerns were expressed about the public process and the mail notification of surrounding residents in the public involvement process conducted to obtain input about needs and desires for improvements in the north part of Russian Jack Springs Park.