Public outcry tables square name change
The Auburn Urban Development Commission will hold off on plans for Auburn’s Central Square after close to 50 residents showed up to a public meeting Monday night to share their differing views on what parts of Auburn’s history the area should showcase. The commission, which is comprised of the Auburn City Council, made a motion to table two items that would have officially named the intersection of Lincoln Way and High Street as “Historic Central Square” and created an “Endurance Walk of Fame” honoring athletes. Both are part of the first phase of the city’s Streetscape renovations. Crews are currently ripping apart the intersection with plans to create a central plaza with public artwork, planter boxes, benches, commemorative pavers, a fire pit, living Christmas tree and more. The council instead directed city staff to communicate the vision of the Central Square with the public after several residents who spoke at the meeting claimed they didn’t know enough about the plans and said the process lacked transparency. “Tonight I’m here primarily to try to put a temporary stop to the runaway train called Streetscape and put Kevin Hanley’s (Central Square naming) resolution on hold until we do a bit of due diligence and have more of an understanding of what we’re doing,” said Michael Otten, president of the Placer County Historical Society. While Otten called for a stop of the project, others wondered if there was a better location for the Endurance Walk of Fame, such as the School Park Preserve. Others questioned whether commemorating endurance athletes and events on engraved pavers really captured the essence of Auburn’s history. Auburn resident Jerry Wilfley said Auburn’s true claims to fame were the discovery of gold 15 miles away in Coloma and the transcontinental railroad coming through town. “Those two things changed our country as much as anything else,” he said. “Why aren’t we taking advantage of that?” But others said it is endurance that makes Auburn unique. “We have one thing at which we are the best. Nobody can claim to be above us and that’s the Endurance Capital of the World,” said Gordon Ainsleigh, founder of the Western States Endurance Run. Ainsleigh said in the midst of a recession, Streetscape plans may be the best way to help prevent businesses from closing. “The most compassionate thing we can do is go after the mighty tourist dollar and save as many friends and neighbors as possible,” he said. Endurance Capital Committee member Harvey Roper said the pavers would be a visual claim to fame for the endurance sports that put Auburn on the map. Others spoke of Auburn’s renown worldwide for drawing competitors to the Western States Endurance Run and Tevis Cup Ride. After close to 20 speakers, the commission shared their thoughts on the proposals. After citing a majority of speakers opposed to the project, Councilman Bill Kirby said the endurance tiles dominate the square and called them “inappropriately excessive.” “I am absolutely opposed to going ahead with the cosmetic design,” he said. “I am 100 percent opposed without better consensus from our residents than I have.” Hanley made a motion to postpone the resolution in order to gain a consensus from the council. City Manager Bob Richardson was directed to find ways to share the proposed plan with the public, perhaps through a night meeting. Mayor Mike Holmes was absent from Monday’s meeting.
Keywords
Auburn Urban Development Commission, Central Square, Downtown Auburn, Auburn City Council, Lincoln Way, High Street, Endurance Walk of Fame, Streetscape, Kevin Hanley, Michael Otten, Placer County Historical Society, Jerry Willfrey, Coloma, gold, School Park Preserve, Gordon Ainsleigh, Western States Endurance Run, Endurance Capital of the World, Harvey Roeper, Tevis Cup Ride, Bill Kirby, City Manager Bob Richardson, Mayor Mike Holmes,
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Again, the Journal has it wrong. There was never any intention to change the name of Central Square except in the mind of the Journal.
Dr Bill Kirby
Auburn City Council
What?! the AJ amiss?! How can that be?....
Gordy has it wrong also. The business we are losing is our own Residents who go to roseville and rocklin to dine and shop.
It seems like a fire pit in that area would attract homeless people (in winter, especially).
Kirby: Hanley’s (Central Square naming) resolution was postponed. Did you read it? You seem to be confused.
Of course I read it (I was there) and it was to formalize the fact that the name will be 'Central Square or Historic Central Square on City signage not to change the name to Endurance Square as the Journa lhas implied in the past..
Dr Bill Kirby
Auburn City Council
Good job, Bill.
Dr. Kirby, it must be frustrating to have to explain things over and over. Thanks for your efforts.
As for the pavers; They could and should be 1'x6". That way they wouldn't crack so easily nor cost as much.
Ditch the fire pit. It's a waste of resources.
Can the streetscape pay for some better public parking since we will be losing parking in front of these businesses?
I think the "Endurance Capital Committee" wants to promote these sports and see its athletes publicly honored, and saw opportunity in a struggling Downtown business district and some loose public money to advance the cause. It doesn't seem like Auburn itself was ever the TOP priority.
But now awakened, the public doesn't seem to buy the "good for business" argument, and they're not feeling enough love for the athletes to be erecting monuments for them, either. 0 for 2.
One wonders if they might have succeeded in slipping this by, if the venerable "Gordy" could have kept a lower profile Irony!
Why dont they build like a big sluice box ? something more gold rush era like.
The public parking will be almost the same as we are using slant parking.
Dr Bill Kirby
"The Endurance Capital Committee is a committee of nine members appointed by the City Council. It was established to help raise the level of endurance awareness by showcasing endurance, athletic and outdoor sporting activities that take place in and around Auburn; by promoting Auburn as a destination point for endurance and outdoor activities; by promoting a healthier lifestyle; by strengthening existing events and attracting new events to Auburn; and by assisting with the overall economic well being of Auburn." city statement
How were the individuals named and what city council approved the candidates?
This is a blatant example of a special interest group pushing their agenda down the throats of the taxpayer.
Doc. So that still doesn't answer my question. Can we get some more parking? There isn't much and with all these endurance events planned and the history and the millions comming to shop and the press don't forget about them. Where will they park? C'mon. Lets slowww... down the traffic so we get more people stopping to shop but, wait! We don't have enough forethought to include more parking in the mix. Didn't the city just spend thousands O' dallors on a aparking servey? (that they didn't act apon) If I am a tourist and I drove through Auburn and it took me longer that 5-10 minutes to find parking and then I had to walk 2-3 blocks to get to an over priced store I would never come back. And that is what is happening. No fancy sidewalks are going to reverse that.
Somebody (Gary M?) wrote an op/ed piece awhile back in the Sentinel, pointing out the fact that people who come up to Auburn for the endurance activities might purchase a power bar and a bottle of water, but then they go back to whenever they came from. They do not stick around and increase revenues in Auburn.
So, for the other 99% of us non-runners who live in Auburn and love the 19th-Century gold rush era legacy that Auburn exudes, this "endurance" concept for our new town square is totally irrelevant. Why can't people understand that we are simply NOT interested in putting Auburn on the map for this sort of thing? It's bad enough that we all have to look at those taxpayer-funded, godawful-looking gasoline holding tanks on Nevada Street, with runners painted on them.
No more endurance kitsch, please!
re: Endurance Capital Committee members
Those interested in being on the committee submit an application at City Hall.
Public notices are posted when vacancies occur.
The term is four four years for most members.
City Council member term is for one year.
Terms for members-at-large and business community members are for two years.
Terms may be extended if replacements are not found.
Applications are reviewed by the Endurance Capital Committee and candidates are selected by vote.
The City Council approves members as they become eligible to serve.
Members must submit a form declaring and substantiating "no conflict of interest."
As both a current member of Auburn's Endurance Capital Committee and as a long-time volunteer for this committee, I can sincerely attest to the lack of a "special interest" agenda coming from this committee, other than that as described in the mission statement quoted above.
As other people who aren't banana slugs have pointed out, nobody wants to come to Auburn and stare at cranky old retired people milling around a Walmart Parking Lot with their carts of bulk packaged prune snacks, trying to remember where they parked, who won't even admit the city borders on a huge state park and recreational area with a white water river canyon, with half a million to a million visitors per year.
And don't get me going on the inhospitable Auburn gas stations which don't take credit cards, don't have functional gasoline pumps, lie about what the price is on the marquee which you discover after you pull in, and don't have any decent snacks and don't have decent restrooms. Talk about a LOUSY first impression for passerby. Buy gas in Rocklin and don't plan on pottying until Colfax or Nyack.
Another thought: You know that the more the local Republican Party discourages recreational use, the fewer people they plan on having make a public outcry when McClintock McCarpetbagger starts up on his "revive the Auburn Dam" routine, as he's planning to do. The people complaining should be forced to disclose their real estate investment interests.
"Somebody (Gary M?) wrote an op/ed piece awhile back in the Sentinel, pointing out the fact that people who come up to Auburn for the endurance activities might purchase a power bar and a bottle of water, but then they go back to whenever they came from. They do not stick around and increase revenues in Auburn."
I do believe the Western States event (I dont remember seeing any Tevis cup stats) does fill the hotels up and restruants as well from what I remember being published here in the Journal, I know I see a lot of support crews buying supplies in the grocery stores so I do believe the events directly, or indirectly push $$ back into the local economy...
Please - let's keep things in perspective about the Streetscape Project. Over the past three years there have been dozens of articles published in the local news media about this project to keep you well informed. Did you follow them? A large number of people ranging from architects, engineers, designers and other agencies have worked tirelessly on this enormous scope of work.
The Endurance Committee did not lobby for the location in Central Square, however it is clear that they are honored to have been selected to represent that space. Phase One is only the tip of the iceberg for the overall plan. As the other Phases unfold every group, committee and commission representing Auburn's wonderful and diverse history will get their distinctive recognition.
Admittedly, the endurance community is a viable force in the area and their events and organizations have brought much recognition and revenue to Auburn; they show no signs of slowing down even in these hard economic times which only illustrates that they are doing something right.
Harsh comments hurled at the endurance people are not appropriate. Beware of the day when you and your special interest group stand in the spotlight.
Most of all It's great to see so much passion from those who love Auburn, but changes always unsettle people. Let's let the people who are in charge of the project do their jobs. They are the trusted people we have chosen to lead Auburn.
""no conflict of interest." Looking at the names of the individual members it looks like the whose who of the endurance community with the exception of Roper. A special interest group "A group of persons working on behalf of or strongly supporting a particular cause, such as an item of legislation, an industry, or a special segment of society." answers.com
Endurance: "the ability to suffer pain, distress, hardship or stress of any kind without succumbing". I don't believe most of our city population or anywhere else are interested in self inflicted hardship through "endurance".
"According to the American Endurance Ride Council, approximately 6,000 riders participate across the U.S. and Canada, with eight races each year in Utah alone." This does not make the sport a huge draw for outsiders.
I have lived in Auburn 40 years and I don't think I know anyone who ever was at the finish line at any of these races. Where are the throngs of fans ? How about the history of the stages and wagon routes that really existed here in Historic Auburn? Actually I think some of them could have been quite challenge at times don't ya think?
Whatever business the endurance events bring, it is not contingent upon street decorations. The participants and their crews will come regardless -- and there ISN'T ANYONE ELSE. The crowd of adoring fans that will journey to Auburn to look at paving stones and stay for dinner does not exist.
Valerian what other committees have been formed in that lenth of time? Sounds like a slam dunk for the endurance committee.
If endurance represention is the only ones on pavers at the funky intersection, people will not be pleased - there needs to be some balance and token feeling of fairness.
Some thoughts to increase awarness to attact people to come, stay and spend - if you were looking on a place you decide, Endurance Capitol or:
Dining Capital of the Foothills, Antique Capital of the Sierra's, Gold Country Capitol, Northern California Event Capitol...... An argument could be made to justify any of these.
BTW As I understand it, Gordy is still not a member of the Endurance Committee, does he know this?
Thanks Bill, the Journal made you the hero of the night in many of our eyes! - most likely deservedly
Am I the only one who's going to miss the "funky" intersection? When I first came to the area, it struck me as a charming, quirky artifact of an historic town that developed without a "master plan". Now I suppose it will conform to some Standard of Traffic Flow, and no one will give it a second thought.
CanyonRat, how about a little more viral hatred of our elected rep. You seem to thrive on it. Recreational use has been taken away by the environmentalist under NEPA, they don't appear to be Republicans. They have closed trails like historic mining routes throughout a large segment of our public lands. Wendel Robie was a life long very influential Republican. Does this change his status in the endurance world? I doubt it.
I've been holding back.
It's a disgrace that he isn't from here, doesn't live here, has no intention of living here, was not financed to run here by anyone local by individual donation count, and is actively trying to destroy many of the better things in the district. And I'm not just talking trails. This same person would abolish things like publicly financed education, etc, if the public was not constantly reminded of some of his more extremist, totally outside of reality crackpot viewpoints.
Robie's dead. That card doesn't play.
Bill: When will the Downtown merchants see relief from the devastation. Those retailers are being hit hard, history or no history.
I attend the Downtown Buisiness Association meeting on a regular basis and those who attend and their leadership has been completely behind this project and understand the timeline understanding that we are repairing century old sewer and water lines and working on drainage issues. The project (minus the cosmetics) should be done by November. Also, the City manager has met weekly with the specific businesses affected to try to work with them.
Dr Bill Kirby
CR, did you know Mr. Robie personally? You have all the reasons that our current representative should not be. You, I would surmise is against realignment of our congressional districts. Get over it, their is 2010 when you can replace McClintock by a vote of the constituents you seem to despise.
Keep on subject, please!
"Again, the Journal has it wrong. There was never any intention to change the name of Central Square except in the mind of the Journal.
Dr Bill Kirby
Auburn City Council
"The commission, which is comprised of the Auburn City Council, made a motion to table two items that would have officially named the intersection of Lincoln Way and High Street as “Historic Central Square” and created an “Endurance Walk of Fame” honoring athletes."
Dr. Kirby, was a motion made by councilman Hanley to call the square Historic Central Square or not?
Yes, just to confrim for everyone that the name is and always be 'Central Square' not 'Endurance Square' which the Journal had mistakenly callled it in an earlier article.. There was really no sense on the Council to add the Historic part.
Dr Bill Kirby
First, from experience I can tell you that the idea of placing "pavers" or tiles on the ground to acknowledge or honor anything is asking for trouble. Other cities who have done this have had maintenance nightmares when the "bricks" crack, degrade, become uneven, cause people to stumble, grow moss and mold between them, have mistakes in the names, etc., etc. It sounds like fun, but the result is usually very, very expensive...especially if one litigious person "hurts" himself and wants to retire on Auburn taxpayers money.
Second, I have to blink my eyes a few times to understand the get a good visual picture of the plan here. This intersection, which has always been a challenge for traffic and pedstrians, is now going to include places for people to stop, wander, rest, inspect the bricks, and cross/recross the streets several times? Do I have that right? If so, R U kidding me??? This would be a nightmare for vehicle traffic AND a plethora of acccidents waiting to happen for pedestrians.
Sounds more like the "Full Employment For Lawyers Square" to me.
"I have lived in Auburn 40 years and I don't think I know anyone who ever was at the finish line at any of these races." That must justify your opposion to the plan.
I've lived near here 15 years and never been into the Club Car, Bob and Bettys, Pistol Petes, California Club or the other drinking establishemnts that litter downtown Auburn. What does that matter...nothing. I can tell you that nobody comes to Auburn for the excellent drinking...
Where was everyone years ago when Auburn sponsored the Endurance Festival, posted placards on city vehicles claiming Endurance Capital of World and such? Seemed acceptable then. In fact, there are two stores that sell running specific shoes, three bike shops, four tack and feed stores, six health clubs, and two shops that sell only health related products just within 3 miles of the square alone. That is a community. Last I checked...there was only one shop that sold gold dredge equipment. The Endurnace element of Auburn might not have the history that the pioneers do, but its what is happening now. I gaurentee the community gets more revenue from taxable business income of the shops mentoned that it does from visitor fees to the tired tour in the courthouse.
Quit complaining. Get the streetscape done asap. Go to the finish line.
Jim Brown
Cool, CA
While I respect the Endurance theme (having been a physician on the 100 mile run for 17 years and winner of a Friend of the Trail award), it is the taxpaying citizens of the City of Auburn that I represent and they seem to want a more inclusive 'History' oriented Central Square.
Dr Bill Kirby
Big difference between the mining of gold to live and support yourself and family and the preoccupation of the endurance people. Their thing is self-indulgence. Health stores, tack/feed stores, along with all those listed would go broke if they were wholly dependent on those that run, ride or even participate the 100 mile endurance trials. Gold mining was not a competition it was an industry that demanded hard work with no time for the extracurricular activities that are currently called "endurance".
bikerbrown: Awesome post.