[OldNorth] Call to Arms - Message that we sent out from Davis Bicycles For Old North Davis Neighborhood Association immediate attention!!!

[Joel McKinney]

Dear Davis Bicycles! ( Old North Neighborhood ) Supporters,

We now have more than 2,300 signatures on our petition supporting the  
redesign of Fifth Street, enough to demonstrate to the Council that  
there is significant community support for this important project.

The Fifth Street Corridor Workplan is on the agenda of the City  
Council meeting this Tuesday at City Hall. It is the second item after  
the consent calendar and so could be heard as early as 7:30pm, but  
there could be delays. Your attendance at this meeting will show the  
council the depth of community support for the redesign.  This is THE  
best meeting for you to attend to help us move the Fifth Street issue  
to a successful conclusion.  Please join us for cold drinks and  
cookies in the City Hall breezeway before the meeting, we'd love to  
see you there!

City staff is recommending that council re-affirm the approved  
workplan and timeline to continue evaluating options for the Fifth  
Street Corridor. But the city manager has assured us that the council  
can vote, if they so choose, to select the redesign as the preferred  
option, in order to support the funding proposal to SACOG (see the  
staff report for details). SACOG funding is unlikely if this project  
isn't approved at Tuesday's hearing.

Speak up at the public comment opportunity if you like, but we hope to  
have a few "designated" people speaking, who will ask for a show of  
hands in support.  The Council will appreciate this efficiency, and it  
will let them get to their discussion of the project sooner.

Points to make if you speak include:
The ongoing accident toll, while we wait out this long public outreach  
process.
The missed opportunity for federal stimulus funding, and now the  
possibility that Davis will not get SACOG funding.
The overwhelming evidence of how successful this solution is in  
improving streets like Fifth Street.
The clear evidence, now from TWO traffic simulation studies, that  
traffic flow will not be hindered, but in fact improved.
The large number of policies and action items in the adopted General  
Plan that guide this decision.
The opportunity to show leadership and a concern for public safety.
Regards,

    Leo Rainer
    President, Davis Bicycles!
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