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, the city claimed that it would be easier to get an alternate route down from the Manitou Incline if they owned the middle section of the Incline.

This claim does not appear to be true considering that the city has owned that land for six and a half years and there is still no alternate route down from the Incline.

When is the city beginning the NEPA process for the alternate route down?

Is it true that the Forest Service will close the Incline if the city admits that there will never be an alternate route down?

During the public comment process for the legal opening of the Incline 13 years ago, we were promised an alternate route down.

We were not told that it may be impossible to get one or that it could be 13 years before the city could come up with a route that would pass a NEPA process.
I was opposed to the legal opening of the Incline until we were promised an alternate route down.

I now feel betrayed, and I cannot help but wonder if we were intentionally deceived concerning the feasibility of the alternate route down.

We were not even told that a minimum two-year-long NEPA process was required before the construction of the trail could begin.

I also feel that the city was making up anything that might sound believable to justify the land swap.

Is it now easier to get an alternate route down for the Incline?

I do not believe so.

Did the city lie?

Is the city ready to give up on the alternate route down yet?

Thank you, Carl Strow