Hello,

This is my contribution to Citizen's Discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting:

Good morning,

During the public comment process for the land swap, we were told that we would be getting land that was worth $3.3 million in exchange for land that was worth $2.2 million.

The city refused to tell me how much work the land that we were getting from the Cog Railway needed.

Three years ago, the city told me that the land we acquired needs $40,000 in annual maintenance.

The city told me that Rocky Mountain Field Institute gave them that information. What else did RMFI tell the city about the condition of that land and the work that it needs?

Did they tell the city that the land needs drainage improvements, and that a study must be done to design those improvements first?

The answer is obvious to anyone who hikes the Barr Trail. There is erosion damage everywhere on the trail, and that damage is the reason that the drainage improvements are necessary.

Did the city obtain any sort of document from RMFI concerning the condition of the trail and the work that it needs?

Even if the section of the Barr Trail on our land is closed and a new trail is built, we will still have to do a drainage study and the needed drainage improvements to stop the extreme erosion damage to the hillside.

Please tell me how much RMFI estimates that a drainage study will cost.

I am challenging the claim that we obtained land that was worth $3.3 million.

The public had a right to know of all liabilities that came with the land we were getting.

I did ask the specific question many times during the public comment process.

I have a right to this information.

If this land needs $1 million in repairs this would discredit the claim that we were getting land that was worth $3.3 million.

Even if this were an honest mistake, it would still mean that the Broadmoor misrepresented the value of that land, and that the city failed to do a satisfactory analysis of it.

The public comment process conducted for the land swap cannot be flawed, all requested information must be provided.

If any mistakes were made that fact must now be made public.

Thank you, Carl Strow