Elk Grove City Councilman says process for proposed trail improvement was ‘bungled’

Elk Grove Trail map (click to enlarge)

During a special meeting of the Elk Grove City Council on Wednesday night, council members unanimously killed a proposed improvment to the Elk Grove Creek Trail. The proposed improvements were killed because, as one council member put it, the process was "bungled."

The plan, which would have made trail improvements from Falcon Meadow to Markofer School, was fiercely resisted by nearby residents who expressed fear that the trail would be among other things, a crime magnet. Residents also complained they were not included in the planning process for the proposed trail.

After hearing several residents concerns, the council killed the proposed project by rejecting all bids for the improvements.

During council deliberations prior to the vote, Council Member Pat Hume noted that he would be voting to stop the project but noted that he “would be holding his nose.”

Hume’s reason for displeasure with the vote was because the process used to approve the project. “I think the process on this was bungled,” he said.

The District 2 Council member went on to say that while he appreciated concerns of the residents and respected their property rights concerns, he also said that in general he thought trails are a great amenity and implored residents not to live in fear of changes to their community.

See Hume’s complete comments below and at the end of the video listen for fellow Council Member Gary Davis’ humorous retort on his colleagues “biographical sketch.”



While EGN has often criticized Hume on his policy positions, we agree with his assessment that trails are a great amenity and that residents of Elk Grove should embrace them.