2nd Ave Workshop Meeting

I attended the 2nd Ave improvement project workshop last night. My overall impression of the project is that it will be a big help to the traffic in Ferndale. It will also remove most of the street traffic through the neighborhood which will make it safer for the residents living there.

I expressed my concern for the medians though. It was stated at the beginning of the meeting that there is not enough stimulus money to do the whole project. Therefore, my suggestion was to eliminate the median, which most in attendance last night agreed with, and use that money to finish the park part of the project. Another resident suggested the money used for the medians be used to put sidewalks in along Washington to the park, another good suggestion.

During the meeting it seemed that the city staff did not really want to hear what the public had to say. They seemed set on medians and were reluctant to consider removing them. There seemed to be an agenda behind their comments, especially Bill Henry.

For the council members present, 5 out of 7, they seemed interested in what the public had to say and even asked questions but gave no indication on how they felt about the medians and if they would consider removing them. (Malpezzi and Hansen were not present.)

In the end, it was the public's opinion to remove the medians. Bill Henry said that the project was going out to bid with the medians in but that they could be removed at a later date. There was no time/date set for when or even if the council will consider this and make a decision. Bill's comment was that they have about 6 weeks to look at this and make the decision.