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<br />Ms. Riganti added that the Plan is being funded by a joint HUD and DOT sustainability grant <br />and University City was one of 13 communities who received the grant. <br /> <br />Mr. Lai stated that the City and neighborhood were fortunate to get the grant and a lot of money <br />and time had been invested in obtaining the grant and the planning process; many communities <br />wanted that grant. <br /> <br />Mr. Lai stated that a number of issues had been heard at the past two meetings and we [staff] <br />have been biting our tongues. He stated that staff recognized that many times a plan does not get <br />100 percent consensus and there will be those with different opinions and perspectives and we <br />respect that. He stated that in April at the public hearing, all speakers were in support of the <br />Plan; over the past 14 to 15 months over 170 people attended the public meetings. He added that <br />through social media and other methods there has been outreach and a lot of people showed <br />support of the Plan; while there are a few over the past few months who have not. Mr. Lai stated <br />that there had been a lot of participation in the planning process and we should not disregard <br />those who showed support of the Plan, despite what has been heard the past few months. He <br />stated that last October, the Plan Commission endorsed the preferred mixed-use option for the <br />consultants to move forward and that was consistent with the vote of the planning partners; the <br />planning partners endorsed that option as a way forward and that is the same option in the Plan <br />as the latest version. He added that the Plan has been through other Boards and Commissions <br />including the Green Practices Commission and Traffic Commission and the City Council held a <br />study session earlier this year. Mr. Lai stated that it is not like we have hidden the Plan, it has <br />been well publicized. <br /> <br />Mr. Lai stated that on the screen he has included a number of issues that have been raised over <br />the past few months by some members of the Loop Special Business District (LSBD) and he <br />members could have the full picture. <br /> <br />[A copy of the Power Point presentation slides and a table summarizing the issues are attached as <br />Attachments A and B.] <br /> <br />Mr. Lai began with the list of issues raised. <br /> <br />1.There was a lack of notification regarding public meetings and recommended use of the <br />parking lot. <br />Mr. Lai stated that staff and the consultants have gone above and beyond the minimum <br />requirements for notification and we do not apologize for it because we went above and beyond <br />the requirements. He added that other things were consistently done with all public meetings <br />including the use <br />message board signs, mailings, postcards, posting of yard signs before meetings, inviting other <br />board members to attend, and notices in the Patch; we have gone above and beyond. He stated <br />that City staff made personal appearances at Loop Special Business District (LSBD) meetings <br />and we have records from LSBD meeting minutes in their newsletters that announcements were <br />made. Copies are available for viewing. He added that staff invited the entire LSBD meeting <br />audience to attend. He stated that we did not want to be selective and cherry-pick certain <br />tm; <br /> šE <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />