Here are my comments for the City Council today:
Good afternoon,
The appraisal submitted by the Broadmoor for the land swap is invalid. The cost of replacing fence on that trail is alone enough.
The fence is a terrible eyesore. I am ashamed of its condition and appearance. It is rotting in many places, and poles are falling off in others. The paint is gone in many places. When rotten poles are replaced they use green pressure treated poles which do not match in size or color. The city claims to be the proud stewards of America's mountain, but refuses to even discuss this issue.
This section of the trail has to have a fence to stop hikers from cutting across switchbacks, and causing damage to the steep hillside.
The existing fence is made of natural wooden poles which do not last. The fence should have been replaced years ago. The only thing that makes sense is for the new fence to be built out of vinyl because it is the longest lasting material available. This costs $28 per linear foot. So the materials for the fence will cost around $200,000. Labor to build the fence will cost $15 per foot or more. This adds up to another $100,000. The old poles will have to be carried out, and the new ones will have to be carried in. The entire project will cost between $350,000 and $500,000.
This land was appraised at $1.3 million. If the appraisal is off by 20%, or in this case $260,000, it is invalid. Any court in the nation will concur. Now consider the needed drainage study, the drainage work, the repair of the erosion damage on the hillside, the needed stabilization of the trail, obstacle removal, and repair of the washouts.
There can be no confusion here, the appraisal that for that land is worthless because the cost of the needed repairs to the Barr Trail were not considered.
What has RMFI told the City about the cost of the needed repairs? Our Parks Dept. told me that they said that only $40,000 a year was needed. I am sorry but that is deceptive, if not just false. Is that all that RMFI told the City? Do you have an estimate for the specific cost of each category of repairs that I mentioned a moment ago?
Do City Officials claim that you have not learned the answers to these questions?
City Officials have surely realized that the appraisal is invalid. You have to tell the public what you know. To refuse to do so would be a crime.