C O G -- Citizens for an Open Greenbelt

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C O G

cog // Pronunciation: \ˈkäg\ // Function: noun
  1. a tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear
  2. a subordinate but integral person or part
  3. a group of people that believes the Greenbelt is for the open use of ALL citizens and can not be seized for exclusive use by a select few simply because it is their will.

Citizens for an Open Greenbelt is an Idaho unincorporated non-profit association devoted to protect, preserve and advance rights to public lands and pathways in Idaho for future generations.  We are funded entirely by donations from the public.

November 29, 2012
GC Mayor and Council thumb their noses at Garden City voters.

Actually the thumbs were also directed to the rest of the people of the Treasure Valley who believe that our Greenbelt should be a truly open Greenbelt. Initiative B was passed by Garden City voters on November 6th. The ordinance provided that any restrictions to non-motorized travel on the Greenbelt in Garden City must be approved by voters.

This last Monday, the City Council felt they were wiser than the voters of Garden City. They didn't like the voters mandate and unanimously repealed the Ordinance. You can learn more about this in a Statesman article below. It appears that the will of the people was trumped by Mayor John Evans and his Council.
 
They say... "Bad things happen to good people."  The bad thing that has happened to the good people of Idaho is that the Garden City Mayor and Council have willfully disregarded the official outcome of this election by overturning the duly processed ordinance at first opportunity.   I guess Garden City is a kingdom, not a democracy!
Garden City repeals new Greenbelt ordinance | Boise, Garden City, Mountain Home | Idahostatesman.com
www.idahostatesman.com
What about the will of the voters? More than 52 percent

 

 

November 6, 2012 - Initiative B passes!

 

Initiative A did not pass but Initiative B did pass. It is the position of our attorney that passage of Initiative B immediately lifts the bike ban in Riverside Village. Here's why...

Initiative B invalidates any current restrictions on the Greenbelt in Garden City. It requires a popular vote if the City chooses to continue the bike ban or any other restriction on the Boise River Greenbelt. Full text of Initiative B can be found here.


We have no doubt that the Mayor and Council will continue to fight this. After all, for over 30 years Riverside Village developers and residents have been steadfast in trying to either keep the public or bike riders off the Greenbelt in Riverside Village. We believe in a truly open Boise River Greenbelt and that no city or county should unfairly pick and choose who can use these public lands.

OUR MISSION

We are a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to supporting the stated goal of the Boise River Greenbelt: to provide continuous open space along both sides of the river for non-motorized, mixed use for the citizens of Idaho.

COG's current initiative is to open the Bike Path in Riverside Village, Garden City to bicycles, as well as pedestrians, as these public trust lands were mandated to be by the State of Idaho over 30 years ago.”

 

 On the path...
to an open greenbelt! 
 
Thank you each and every one for your support and every donation both large and small!

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p.s. Apologies for any broken links you may find on these pages.  Web content is a moving target.  If you encounter a problem, please notify us and  we will attempt to make corrections.  

Initiative B passed by the voters Nov 6, 2012

   COG has been working on this problem since 2007. To no avail, we have asked Garden City to allow bike riding along the bike path in Riverside Village as originally required by the State of Idaho on these public trust lands.  All attempts at discussion or compromise (for five years by COG and twice, recently, by the City of Eagle) have been flatly refused by the GC Mayor and Council. 

Click HERE  to see DOCUMENTS, from 2007 - present, including the Garden City Ordinance that precipitated this controversy and copies of recent legal documents.

 See the Docs -Historical tab for the DOCUMENTS commencing with the original agreements in 1980 and continuing through the State of Idaho lawsuit against Garden City in the 90's for blocking access to the path.  This section also documents the agreed upon settlement of that lawsuit and lays out responsibilities of the developer to complete the path with a surface suitable for bicycles and the responsibility of Garden City to maintain it.