They came out, despite heavy rains Thursday night, to talk to their mayor, councillors, and City staff.
They had questions about safety, homelessness, infrastructure upgrades, and recreational options.
About five dozen residents from the Simonds and Blacklock areas of the municipality attended the third and final in a series of meetings held this month by 91原创 City.
鈥淚 was pleased that the entire council engaged with the Stafford community, and was happy with the turn out on such a nasty night,鈥� said Mayor Ted Schaffer.
Thursday鈥檚 meeting at H.D. Stafford Middle School attracted about 60.
A meeting the week before for the Douglas and Nicomekl area residents drew 62 residents. And the initial meeting, at the beginning of the October, in the Uplands and Alice Brown area, attracted 22.
That鈥檚 less than 150 of the City鈥檚 close to 26,000 residents who came out, but Schaffer was still pleased with the turnout and excited to offer more chances for the public and City to interact.
鈥淪peaking on behalf of myself, and I believe in council as well, it is so important that we engage with residents outside the walls of City hall,鈥� Schaffer said, seeing the meetings as a chance for council and staff alike to become more informed about issues that are 鈥渢op of mind to our residents.鈥�
The mayor spoke to a number of issues, including a cursory touch on homelessness and their ability to camp out in parks, new public engagement initiatives downtown, upgrades to Sendall Gardens鈥� pathways, and the creation the new parkour course at Penzer Action Park.
He also touched on the relatively new unveiled earlier this year.
And Schaffer addressed road construction initiatives, on 56th Avenue as well as 200th and 203rd Streets.
But Schaffer emphasized the key to all three meetings was more about the chance to hear from the community.
Some of the comments that I received were, 鈥榲ery happy that council does this,鈥� and 鈥榞lad that you guys would put yourselves out there like that鈥�, plus 鈥榥ice to meet City staff,鈥� and 鈥榩icked up some interesting information,鈥� and 鈥榲ery happy that the City is debt free鈥�,鈥� Schaffer recounted.
Several comments were also received on the 203rd Street upgrades, some pleased with the work, and others not as impressed.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like the improvements, but can live with it,鈥� one person told the mayor. While another suggested the traffic circle height should be lower. One said 鈥渘ice bike lanes鈥� and said 203rd Street 鈥渓ooks good,鈥� while another questioned if there 鈥渁re more [projects] in the works?鈥�
