Councilman MikeK: I raised the issue last night about researching and pursuing a different designation for Tubbs Hill - perhaps a historic landmark site, a nature preserve, something that would distinguish it from any other “city park”. I don't know what that process is as I sit here, but it was an idea that was well-received I think and we need to pursue that. Full comment below.

Question: Should Tubbs Hill be designated as a historic landmark or a nature preserve to protect it from commercial ventures and/or other attempts to change it?

News stories by their nature can't get all the comments, joker, you needn't be puzzled. I talked at some length as to why I voted the way I did last night - for more context you can watch the rebroadcast on Channel 19 (2 times a day, 7 days a week it reruns). This was an issue that was brought through the proper city process channels by the applicant and at various times had support from the city's Parks and Rec Commission and the Tubbs Hill Foundation.

As this process went on, I asked the question publicly a month ago if citizens thought Tubbs Hill was sufficiently different than other city-owned parks and entities that are routinely the location of commercial activity, such that it should be treated differently. In my many conversations with people across the community as the final vote approached, the answer to that was a resounding yes.

I certainly believe that Tubbs Hill (and McEuen) is a unique and special place. I had the pleasure of working on a number of projects with Art Manley, and have emceed the Art Manley Huckleberry Social for many years. I know how much the people who fought for Tubbs Hill have done for this community (Art, Scott Reed, Ron Edinger, Dr. Ted Fox, and on and on).

ROW did the right thing by asking permission not forgiveness, and as a result I felt they deserved a full and fair hearing process, which they received. I believe this was the seventh (7th) public meeting they've been through on this idea, four of which have been televised. They did everything asked of them through the process and Peter Grubb conducted himself as the consummate gentleman and great community citizen he is. At the end of the day, though, the people in our city did not want this, they made that clear, and that's what my vote reflected.

I raised the issue last night about researching and pursuing a different designation for Tubbs Hill - perhaps a historic landmark site, a nature preserve, something that would distinguish it from any other “city park”. I don't know what that process is as I sit here, but it was an idea that was well-received I think and we need to pursue that.

If anyone wants more info on this, email me at: mkennedy@cdaid.org. I don't often have time to get onto the blog much of the day, and so I rely on people emailing me saying “go on HBO and defend yourself you dolt” or something like that.

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