91 replies to this topic

[mylo]

But why do you need 4 arrows pointing the same direction? That's what bugged me most about that sign!

[Brad Parks]

The Way Finding program has been in the works for quite some time - the origins are likely to have been, at least in part, a result of the closing of the Dam Road, which lead to all of the barricades and traffic restrictions associated with not allowing vehicles to go from Coloma and Sutter to the Rainbow Bridge. The program is targeted for those who are NOT familiar with where things are in the HD - you know, those people who come from outside Folsom, patronize businesses in Folsom and then go home to where ever they came from. It is part of the revitalization program for the Historic District, also in the works for quite some time. All of the work that is ongoing or planned has been the subject of many public meetings, and most has also been discussed at Council meetings. Ongoing and upcoming work includes replacement of piping in the HD, addition of piping for the installation of fire sprinklers in the historic buildings to be better equipped to save those buildings in the event of a fire on Sutter Street, changing of traffic patterns, widening of the sidewalks on Sutter, removal of the median on Sutter (which, for the record, was installed in the 1960's - not during the gold rush), availability of loans from the Redevelopment Agency to the building owners to do facade improvements, and others.

With the City facing a budget shortfall of $8,000,000, predominantly due to reductions in sales tax, cuts need to be made, and, at the same time, we need to help spur the economy with some spending on the City's part. So, when you are spending money, please spend it in Folsom, to keep the tax revenue here, as opposed to in some other neighboring jurisdiction.

Brad, you are a great guy and one of the funniest people I know. However, please rethink public criticism of specific City employees. I am quite certain that you would not have been pleased, had the situation been reversed, nor do I think you would have suggested having the PD become a subset of the Fire Department while you were still working for PD. I am also pretty sure that cuts could be identified in each and every City department, and those cuts would vary dramatically, based upon the viewpoint of the individual taking the look.

Kerri, I am new to this, and thought I was sending my reply to one person, not the entire forum.......that was my fault, and it won't happen again. But, if you want to know what I really think, email me and I will give you the straight scoop. I think you will be surprised what myself and many others think. My email is brad_parks@sbcglobal.net

[Dave Burrell]

But why do you need 4 arrows pointing the same direction? That's what bugged me most about that sign!

the amount of arrows isn't anything to complain about - the fact its legible and readable from a distance is what counts

[Dave Burrell]

Kerri, I am new to this, and thought I was sending my reply to one person, not the entire forum.......that was my fault, and it won't happen again. But, if you want to know what I really think, email me and I will give you the straight scoop. I think you will be surprised what myself and many others think. My email is brad_parks@sbcglobal.net

Hey Brad, posting information about where our tax dollars are going and what the city is doing with OUR funds is VERY important to the community - you did us all a great service by posting that information... it should always be publicly available.

Thank you
Dave

[Robert Giacometti]

I think Brad brought up a great discussion, and sometimes criticism is necessary to bring improvements to processes that seem somewhat out of whack in our city at times.

I agree.

Just as long as the criticism isn't personal in nature, i.e. (So & so is a such & such) then it can be a positive.

Its my feeling that sometimes public Agencies view their citizens as an obstacle to overcome, rather than viewing them as the customer and responding to their customers needs.

I've been to council meetings and committee meetings and have asked questions, that sometimes weren't answered. It seems to me that at times during these meetings the decesions have already reach. These meetings seem to be nothing more than a hurdle to complete to satisfy the legal requirements, before going forward with what was already predetermined.

Granted, because of the Brown Act and other legal requirements , council meetings really aren't conducive for planning strategies, unless they are so noted in advance.

[Barb J]

Hi Brad! Great to see you here - I'm LR's neighbor, we worked together on the golf tourney! Your points are valid and I'm glad you posted.

I think the signs look nice, and may well be useful to an outsider, but I question the cost. Seems like an exorbitant amount to spend on signage. Obviously the City would have needed to go out to bid on a project like this, but why spend that much right now?????

Barb

[cw68]

1. The new signs are a lot prettier and a big improvement over the old ones.
2. I can read them just fine, though I'm not a big fan of the font size.
3. Doubt they plan on leaving up two signs.
4. Yes, the cost is high. Design costs are high. Gov't doesn't exactly tend to do things on the cheap or very efficiently. I'm not surprised.

[bordercolliefan]

Hard to read.

Too much money.

I guess they're cute signs, in a "faux historic" kind of way. I could see spending, maybe $25k on them.

It's sad that a few staffers could have kept their jobs using the money for those signs.

[ducky]

Brad, we're all glad you posted. It's time we started paying attention to where money is going. It's about time we pay attention and recognize that shrugging our shoulders and writing it off as "That's just the way government works" isn't going to fly anymore.

While I do like the shape and color of the signs, the sign that's lettered in yellow doesn't look like it would be very visible at night, while the green one would be. It seems that would be important to travelers who might be coming off the freeway.

It looks like it did go out to bid and YESCO was accepted.

http://www.folsom.ca...9/DO_110319.pdf

[Ski Bum]

So let me get this straight. This project was initiated way back in 2006, given final approval in March of 2007. The funds were alllocated most likely in the 2007 budget were drawn from a fund to help revitalize and beautify the city. Now in 2009 after an unprecendted economic downturn people are upset. Where were all of these upset people back when this was an issue to be dealt with? It's over, the money has been spent, the signs are up. You may want to spend your time looking at current projects rather than bitching about the past.

By the way, the signs ARE readable at the SPEED LIMIT and any one who thinks that the green signs are going to stay up is an idiot!

Now I'm done!

[john]

I think anyone that chalks overspending as "common government waste" really needs to think about that for a minute. Since when is it OK to pay too much for something? Just because government wastes money doesn't mean it's OK and we shouldn't question it.

I'm with BC fan - the same signs could have been made for $25,000 if it was your own money. I agree the money was probably already "spent" some time ago, but it's still not OK to spend nearly half a million dollars on signs that are not easy to read when you are driving at 35-45 mph on busy city streets. Ask a senior citizen if they can read all those signs when driving down Prairie City Road while going the speed limit.

Pretty, yes.
Usable? no.
Too expensive? yes.
Redundant? In some areas, absolutely.

I knew this would be scrutinized the day I saw them going up... I think once people learned the price tag, you've got a lot of bitter residents.

[mylo]

It's never okay, but it's how the system is. As much as I balk at every government contract, I understand the bidding process with their rules and regulations, and have accepted their inefficiency. Hire me, I'd love to help, but then I probably cost too much

[Robert Giacometti]

1. The new signs are a lot prettier and a big improvement over the old ones.
2. I can read them just fine, though I'm not a big fan of the font size.
3. Doubt they plan on leaving up two signs.
4. Yes, the cost is high. Design costs are high. Gov't doesn't exactly tend to do things on the cheap or very efficiently. I'm not surprised.

Why does the design costs have to be high? Why didn't the city ask for a group of volunteers to draw up some sample designs to be reviewed? Why didn't the city have a contest inviting all the school children to submit designs?

The design could have been done for nothing, if public agencies are required to think outside the box to provide solutions.

As long as people are going to accept spending money needlessly, then I suppose government will continue to do so.

[mylo]

Why does the design costs have to be high? Why didn't the city ask for a group of volunteers to draw up some sample designs to be reviewed? Why didn't the city have a contest inviting all the school children to submit designs?

The design could have been done for nothing, if public agencies are required to think outside the box to provide solutions.

As long as people are going to accept spending money needlessly, then I suppose government will continue to do so.

IIRC, the Wayfinding program was initiated with volunteers drawing up samples for review. They then went into the formal process (see also: inefficient waste) and spent an average amount doing so. I guess I'm just jaded about the whole process, but this doesn't seem overly excessive spending for such a government project.