Boise city residents may attend the city council meeting in-person or virtually, however having a physical presence at the meeting is the best way to have your voice heard. Physical location for the meeting is Boise City Hall | 150 N. Capitol Blvd. | Boise, ID 83702.

If residents would like to attend virtually, please visit the following website to learn how: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/finance-and-administration/city-clerk/public-meetings/#participate

South Cole Neighborhood Association will be speaking on the following topic (see below)

PLEASE WRITE TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY!! SEE BELOW:

VIA EMAIL TO mayormclean@cityofboise.org; mayor@cityofboise.org; eclegg@cityofboise.org; jhallyburton@cityofboise.org; lwillits@cityofboise.org; lsanchez@cityofboise.org; pbageant@cityofboise.org; hwoodings@cityofboise.org; JHeinzerling@cityofboise.org

January 17, 2023

Mayor Lauren McLean

Boise City Council Members

Boise City Hall

150 N Capitol Blvd.

Boise, ID 83702

RE: An Initiative Requiring Voter Approval for Changes to Parks or Open Spaces in Excess of Five Percent of Land Area

I write to share my support for the Parks and Open Space Protection Initiative and to encourage the Mayor and Council to adopt it in its current form. This ballot initiative has received broad support among Boise residents because it serves the best interests of the public.

With the population growth in our area, parks are needed even more for the physical and mental health of Boiseans and to ensure our youth have fields to play sports. It is clear now more than ever, that the City must protect and preserve our cherished public lands, so that they can be enjoyed by future generations.

I believe it is necessary to allow the public to have a say on what is in the public’s best interest. All city parks should share the same protection so that all Boiseans have the same protection of their parks.

The Parks Protection Initiative also protects publicly owned Open Space. The City Council offers no alternative program to protect Open Space. The loss of Open Space is an inexcusable environmental choice, causing permanent loss of wildlife and plant life, adverse impacts to water quality, air quality, noise mitigation, groundwater, and net carbon footprint.  Environmentalists and recreationalists agree that those natural public lands deserve to be preserved and protected from development, now and in the future.

[SHARE WHY PARKS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU —PLACES FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY, RELAXATION AND STRESS REDUCTION, WALKING DOGS, PHOTOGRAPHING SUNSETS, IMPROMPTU PICNICS, SPORTS FOR YOUNG AND OLD…]

For these reasons, I support the Parks Protection Initiative and encourage the Mayor and Council to adopt it in its current form. Please accept this as my written testimony and I look forward to the hearing on January 24, 2023.

Very truly yours,

[John Q. Public]