25th Street Association Questions

One of the issued that have been brought to the table this Campaign Season is the question on Transportation.... How do you view it....? My view is a little bit different then the rest of the folks running in these Council races. In a recent survey from Mr. Steve Van Wagoner with the 25Th Street Association. Mr. Van Wagoner asked 5 questions, I'm not sure where they came up with the format of asking 5 questions, but it sure has been the norm this Campaign season.

Question #1 "How do you intend to drive business & customers to Historic 25Th Street and Downtown Ogden...?"

Well I stopped myself at this point and decided to read all the questions first to see if I might be able to shorten this whole process up. You see I'm not a very fast typist and and even slower thinker. Well low and behold I discovered that both question #1 and #1 could be answered using the same answer...

OK Question #2 "What is your vision for transportation in Ogden?"

Answer to Question #1 and #2: My vision is to bring back the horse drawn Trolley throughout the Central business district with it's main spine being 25 Drive. You see, I don't think we need to drive businesses and customers to Historic 25th Street, I Think we need to entice them to want to come and share in our rich history that made our downtown the place to be seen. Come experience our wonderful down town aboard a horse drawn trolley. I envision tracks down Grant Ave. and looping back down Lincoln to the north perhaps as far as 12 th Street, or at least as far as the River Project. perhaps as far South as 36th Street. Providing steady not speedy transportation. The as we want crest the hill on 25 th Street into the Jefferson District and then on to the Eccles district and then perhaps as far east a Polk Ave, thence turning South through our beautiful Marlyn Drive area and onto the beautiful Mt. Ogden Park and Golf Course. Thus flowing to the south to encompass our wonderful Weber State College, the circling past the McKay-Dee hospital, negotiating is way down to Quincy Ave. to the north and on through Sullivan Hollow to Monroe Blvd. and northerly looping back into the starting point.

This would both incorporate quite a few of our existing bus routes bu would allow for people to experience our Downtown venues and events with out having to drive downtown..... Just jump on the trolley. Thus finishing the branding of the Trolley District..

Question #3 "Would you vote for a Gondola...?" Depends if it is a private venture or a public venture.... If the Tax payers are to fit any of the bill my answer would have to be 'NO'. Should it be a private venue then we would need to make sure that it does not in any way disturb the lifestyle our citizens have been accustom too.

Question #4 "How often do you attend current Council meetings or study sessions...?" Well to be truthful just attended a City Council meeting this past evening at the James Madison School. prior to tonight I have attended when needed for clients when they have asked me to represent them on various issue from planning and zoning requests to just keeping informed. However I am on the E-Mail list that is sent out informing you of meeting agenda's and RDA meetings. That way I can attend should a item concern me or effect me or people I know directly.

Question #5 "What is your honest opinion of current Council members and their philosophies...? I believe that tour current City Council is trying to do what is right for the People of Ogden, and I feel that they are sometimes afraid to ask the hard questions. Perhaps they lack the finesse to broach sensitive issues. For example tonight the City Council opened the budget and reallocated fund from one area of the budget to the other. This requested by the City Neighborhood development and City Engineer for a project that is being designed by a company out of Colorado, that should have been hired to perform the project program. Then when asked by a citizen if all purchasing guideline had been followed, the City Engineer quickly passed the ball off to the Neighborhood Development Director, and he was allowed to what I felt he danced around the real question and then blame the lack of protocol on tight time constraints and they had such a vested interest... There are rules and regulations in place to protect the people. I feel first that the City Council is there to make sure that the guidelines are in place and firmly adhered too. Tonight was a fine example of the cart steering the horse. We sure could use a equestrian that knows exactly where the horse goes.....