City Council Minutes 1999 11 03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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year requesting to be included in the design process for this area. She stated that the club was not contacted and that is why many individuals are present tonight to speak to Council. She stated that the Louisville Trowel & Error Garden Club contains members with knowledge about the soil and climate of Louisville. She compared the area to an historical building that should be preserved. She expressed support for preserving this piece of prairie. She stated that she would prefer an adaptation of a native prairie landscape as an entry into Louisville over a landscaped gateway. She requested that Council delay the project to allow residents the opportunity to provide input on the project. Davidson explained that Counci1 could not make any decisions, as this is not an agenda item. He admitted that he was not completely familiar with the project but stated that he would discuss it with the City Administrator. Mayer stated that construction would begin prior to the next Council meeting; and suggested that Council provide some direction tonight. Davidson explained that he would prefer to meet with the City Administrator to obtain additional information and then poll Council for their input. He stated that the item is not on the Agenda, therefore, Council cannot take any action tonight. Mayer agreed that this area is a unique resource and encouraged Council to delay the construction of the entryway. Jay Berger, 1016 Main Street, Louisville, thanked those in attendance tonight with information on this piece of property. He stated that if the City had an open space advisory board, this would not have happened, as there would have been regularly scheduled meetings for public input. He explained that the concerns of the citizens would have been taken into consideration and recommendations would have been given to the appropriate City staff and City Council members. He stated that the initiative process is a democratic right that is guaranteed by the Constitution to the State of Colorado, and it is also available to the citizens at a municipal level. He felt that this method of creating legislation deserves as much respect, if not more, than traditional methods of creating legislation. He stated that on October 21, 1999, a citizens group presented to the City an initiative containing over one thousand fifty signatures. The signers of the initiative took the time to participate in a democratic process. They considered the initiative's topic, they read the summaries, and they asked questions. He stated that most of the signers were excited about the initiative and felt that it was worthy of consideration by the population of Louisville. He explained that he thought the citizens who signed .the initiative expected a response from the City to the presentation of their signed initiative that would be respectful, or dignified at least. He stated that the only responses they have received are the comments of Mayor Davidson. He stated that the Mayor vows to campaign against the citizen board and that he is opposed to the board. Berger agreed that the Mayor is free to have his own opinion. He stated that the Mayor calls the citizens' initiative 'a ridiculous proposal, an idiotic proposal'. He stated that he does not believe that the citizens who signed the initiative expected to begin a brawl as soon as it was 4