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Session 1849 August12,2002 that this is important to keep our residents here instead of at Clayton or Brentwood to their recreation centers. She believes that it was closer to two or three years ago when this whole process started. The survey taken was done on only a small sampling of what residents would like to see done. Most of the people that she has spoken to about this have not heard of any of the expansion or improvement plans. They always give her their ideas of what should be done. The plan is two to three years old. It needs to changed to meet any new awareness or needs. Improvements should be designed to meet a wider, mom diverse set of needs. Before putting this on the ballot in November, there needs to be a ton of publicity, very explicit on what the budget is going to be, think in terms of phased in planning in order to be able to meet more diverse needs, including seniors. We need to m-evaluate the survey, consider redoing an adapted survey that is not limited, but broader. We need to hold a number of focus groups within the City. We need to create an advisory panel or a workgroup of citizens that includes a broad array and diverse membership and one that really assures that citizens input has been heard and brought to the plan. There is a sense of distrust in the citizenry that needs to be rebuilt. It is very important to involve the citizens in this planning process. Jen Jensen, 706 Pennsylvania, stated that it came to her attention just recently that the City was going to place this on the ballot. It was about two years ago that the former assistant city manager, Gregory Rose, met with U. City East group, which she attended. He was there to talk about the possible expansion and improvement of the recreation center and possibly the swimming pool. After Mr. Rose left, there was no more word about this project or a sales tax increase. The next assistant city manager did not know anything about these plans and we are expected to approve a sales tax increase for these improvements. She is at the swimming pool often and is involved in many city activities and she has never heard of any plans for the recreation center and pool. She asked if the Park Commission has had a chance to discuss the proposal. She asked if there were plans for the public to review. She is absolutely not against any improvements and she is not against an increase in our U. City sales tax to pay for it. She is against voting for an increase when there is no plan in place and the citizens have not had a chance to offer suggestions to the plan. We need public meetings to discuss the proposal and then maybe the citizens could then help support such an increase at a later time. She would also like to suggest that the Council and the City Manager that she and her associations would be happy to get the word out on this process. Shari LeKane-Yentumi, 6939 Dartmouth, stated that she agrees with all comments mentioned on this subject. She would like to say that at the U. City East meeting that Gregory Rose spoke at, one of the suggestions that was brought forth by the group as a suggestion for publicity was via the CityScape publication. In addition, she would like to suggest exploring consortiums with neighboring communities, and sports organizations in order to pursue other funding possibilities beyond the tax base. Clearly, the community will support a tax to expand the rec center and to repair the pool. She does not, however, see the community approving a carte blanche approach to something that 17