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 if the Cog Railway were ever sold the new owner could close the Barr Trail.

The city failed to mention the fact that a new owner of the Cog Railway could also close the Incline.

That is suspicious.

At that time the Cog Railway had a revocable license for the Incline.

It is much more likely that a new Cog Railway owner would want to close the Manitou Incline rather than close the Barr Trail.

The Incline is a nuisance.

It ruins the Barr Trail.

The Barr Trail is a beloved feature of America's Mountain.

It would have been more effective for the city to say “If the Cog Railway is ever sold the new owner could close the Barr Trail, the Manitou Incline, or both”!

Why did the city only mention the possibility of the Barr Trail closing?

Why did the city use fear of the Barr Trail closing to market the land swap and not mention the more likely outcome of the Incline having to close?

I am still waiting to hear about the alternate route down for the Incline.

Please tell me: Will an alternate route down from the Manitou Incline ever exist?

If so, when?

I need the City Council to tell me the total estimated cost of all needed repairs on the section of the Barr Trail that the city owns.

I have a right to this information.

I have been asking this question since 2016.

Thank you, Carl Strow