Tuesday, May 1, 2012

City Council


            

The polarizing effect of CSU's proposal to build an on-campus football stadium has been felt throughout the Fort Collins community.  This was a foreseen topic for Fort Collins City Council Meeting, Tuesday 6 p.m., in City Hall. 

            While the stadium proposal was not included in the agenda for deliberation, it is a prominent topic for CSU and its community.  In the time allotted for citizen participation many individuals addressed the issue.  Fort Collins resident Doug Brobst, expressed his concern for the lack of public control regarding the decision.

            “The Center for Public Deliberation is supposed to be unbiased,” Brobst said.

            He orated his uneasiness pertaining to the March, 29 Stadium Advisory Committee because while it is open to the public it will not allow for public comment. Fort Collins resident and member of Save Our Stadium Hughes Deb James, along with resident Anne Colwell also shared unsettling feelings towards the new stadium proposal.

            “Director of Athletics and co-chair of the advisory board Jack Graham coached the facilitators of the CPD for 45 minutes,” Colwell said of the stadium forums, “and I felt I needed to bring this to the attention to the council.” 

            In the follow-up of citizen input, Diane Gambit Jones, Deputy City Manager from the Stadium Committee was called upon to deliver information from her subcommittee but hesitated because she did not want to disclose information without first discussing it with her group. 

Council member Gerry Horak responded with frustration to the lack of information reported because it was documented as confidential so should not be withheld from the council or the public. 

            “I’m used to a spirit that is very open and public,” said Horak. 

            City Manager Dan Attebery suggested postponing the issue to the next meeting to honor Jone’s relationship and position with the committee with the expectation to share her information. 

            “It’s not a city process, it’s a CSU process,” Attebery said. 
                By: Brittany Lancaster

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