Hello,

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

Good morning,

The public was denied the ability to make an informed decision during the public comment process for the land swap.

I asked for relevant financial information and the city failed to provide the requested information.

I assume that at the time of the public comment process, the city was not aware of the scope of the needed work on the land that was owned by the Cog Railway.

In June of 2019, Britt Haley told me that Rocky Mountain Field Institute told the city that this land needs $40,000 in annual maintenance.

What else has RMFI told the city?

The answer given to me in 2019 is vague and incomplete.

$40,000 in annual maintenance amounts to just that, annual maintenance.

I am asking how much it would cost to modify that section of the trail to the point where it would no longer need an enormous amount of annual maintenance.

That section of the Barr Trail needs a drainage study and drainage improvements.

RMFI is a top-notch company, I am sure that they have given the city estimates for the cost of both a drainage study and the drainage improvements.

If the city has not obtained estimates for the total cost of all needed repairs on that land that would amount to negligent stewardship.

Such a claim would not be believable.

How much would it cost to construct a new fence to stop people from cutting across switchbacks?

My research indicates that the cost would be several hundred thousand dollars just for the fence.

The city made a mistake during the public comment process.

The public would have felt differently about the value of the trade had they been given the total cost of the needed repairs on that land.

The city must now inform the public that a mistake was made and provide the financial information.

I suspect that the appraisal that the Broadmoor submitted for that land is invalid and that all land must be returned to its original owners.

Thank you, Carl Strow