COG message 2007 - A Startling Discovery!
NOTE: When we originally sent this message, we decided NOT to make an issue of the numerous roles John Evans has played in this evolution by pointing out the number of "hats" he has worn. However, we have had so many inquiries from people who could not believe that the "John Evans" references were all to the same person that we have decided we must clarify.
Yes... all of the "John Evans" referenced below are to the same person. It appears that at times, he must have been negotiating with himself!
To the best of our knowledge:
- He was the Riverside Village Development Manger for IFI who was sued in 1994 by Idaho Dept of Lands for failure to comply with the 1980 Agreement requiring public access and construction of a bike path.
- He was one of the brothers of the brothers of Evans Brothers Construction.
- responded to letters sent by certified mail to Riverside Village Homeowner's Association
- lives in a subdivision he calls "Meadowcreek." Ada County maps refer to this as "Wolfgram" subdivision. It is directly adjacent to (and almost surrounded by) Riverside Village. Wolfgram (Meadowcreek) is on the north side of Riverside Drive. Riverside Village is on the south side of Riverside Drive.
- served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for Garden City from 92-96,
- served on the City Council from 1996-2006,
- and he is currently the Mayor of Garden City who proposed the Ordinance of 2007 which they claim prohibits bicycles on the Riverside Village Greenbelt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <greenbeltbikeban@clearwire.net>
Date: Jan 31, 2008 7:46 AM
Subject: Garden City Bike Ban – A Startling Discovery
To: greenbeltbikeban@clearwire.net
Cc: jevans@gardencityidaho.org, ehiggins@gardencityidaho.org, pbeaumont@gardencityidaho.org, jsouza@gardenctiyidaho.org, mmoser@gardencityidaho.org
Sent to Undisclosed Recipients and Garden City Mayor and Council
As many of you know, Garden City officials have told the public, residents of Riverside Village, and media that the Riverside Village Greenbelt has historically been a "Pedestrian Only" Path? Over 250 pages of public documents in our possession and interviews with many key public officials say otherwise. The facts are this:
Riverside Village Greenbelt was mandated by the State of Idaho to be a bicycle path as a condition for approval of the Riverside Village development in 1980.
For details, read on:
1980 – State of Idaho Department of Lands required Riverside Village developer to construct a "bicycle path" on public trust lands adjacent to Boise River - commonly called the "1980 Agreement".
1983 – Numerous letters and petitions (100's of signatures) to Idaho State Lands Board protesting developer proposal to divert "greenbelt bike path" away from Boise River to Riverside Drive.
September 1985 - Idaho Forest Industries (John Evans, Development Manager) and Evans Brothers Construction Company takes over as developers of Riverside Village.
1988 to 1992 – State sends letters to John Evans, Development Manager, Idaho Forest Industries (IFI), Evans Bros. Construction, and Garden City concerning failure of developer's "construction of a paved bike path" on the Riverside Village greenbelt.
May 1994 – State files lawsuit against Idaho Forest Industries, Evans Bros. Construction Company for failure to abide by 1980 Agreement for construction of a bike path on the Riverside Village greenbelt.
September 1996 – Settlement agreement with IFI, Evans Bros. Construction, and City of Garden City to abide by the 1980 Agreement and perform various pathway improvements
1997 - Garden City adopts a Greenbelt Master Plan with a map that shows the pathway adjacent to Riverside Village as a "walking path" in violation of the 1980 Agreement and 1996 Settlement Agreement
May 1998 - Quitclaim deed conveyed to GC by State Department of Lands for Riverside Village Greenbelt.
May 29, 2007 – Garden City passes ordinance that claims to prohibit bicycle riding on the Riverside Village Greenbelt
We have informally presented this information and supporting documents to two Garden City council members - Jeff Souza and Elfreda Higgins. Both claim they've relied on information about the Riverside Greenbelt from Mayor John Evans and residents of Riverside Village. Surprisingly, it is unclear in discussions with both of these officials whether they have determined an appropriate action.
A group has been formed called Citizens for an Open Greenbelt (COG). COG is a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to supporting the stated goal of the Treasure Valley Greenbelts... to provide continuous open space along the river for non-motorized, mixed use for the citizens of Idaho. COG's current initiative is to open the Garden City Riverside Village Greenbelt to bicycles, as well as pedestrians, as these public trust lands were mandated to be by the State of Idaho over 30 years ago.
If you want to help make that happen, here are some things we hope you will do:
1 – Forward this link www.IdahoCOG.org to others who believe that the Greenbelt should be open for ALL non-motorized users without restriction all the way from Lucky Peak to Eagle Island State Park. Ask them to send us an e-mail so that we can keep them posted on developments.
2 - Contact Garden City Council Members and Mayor John Evans and demand that the RV Greenbelt be opened for mixed, non-motorized use.
2 - Write letters to the Statesman and Boise Weekly and demand that the RV Greenbelt be opened for mixed, non-motorized use.
2. Post any additional information, comments, copies of your messages, and e-mail dialogues with Garden City officials or the media regarding this matter on our Yahoo Message Board - IdahoCOG http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IdahoCOG/
Ride on!
Citizens for an Open Greenbelt