The statement by the City Manager lists many things the city is working on. He proceeds to take the survey results as an endorsement of everything the city is doing. I didn't see it that way. Economic development, for example, rated much lower than other concerns in the results. The city got funding during the pandemic to do economic development to help struggling businesses. Those programs don't necessarily need to continue with city funding.
I DO want the city to keep up with the areas where people didn't show concern. Parks and trails, for example are very important for quality of life here. Public safety is important for quality of life. It is important to keep our roads safe so that people are not injured or killed when they walk or cycle or drive their car.
I wonder if the city is trying to do too much by including economic development as part of the mission. The city should do a great job at the things only a city government can do. That will help our local residents and our local economy. The best thing the city can do for economic development downtown is to figure out safe places for unhoused people to sleep and spend their time.
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