Sean, your analysis from 2011 is good and I certainly regret not finding ways to build improvements into the routine budget and planning and process, rather than having a big project which can focus support, but also galvanize detractors. Because this project was outside of the usual CIP discussions and every development brought a surprise (design changes needed, additional costs, etc.), it put supporters on the defensive.

The challenge is still to educate some of the Council and the public about the long-term value relative to the short term cost of improvements and being able to sustain the vision and support beyond a single election cycle.