Citizens of Southwest Gainesville had few complaints Wednesday night at the third of four district City Commission meetings.
The meeting was low-key after District 2's fervent complaints about a proposed homeless center and District 1's overwhelmingly high turnout.
District 3, which includes the west half of UF's campus and has a high student population, has few serious problems, said Commissioner Jack Donovan, who represents the district.
"On the west side of Gainesville, development tends to be satisfactory," he said.
The meeting opened with a presentation by city officials, who highlighted the area's growth, including construction of banks and new apartment complexes. About 25 people attended - compared with 100 at the District 1 meeting., but about the same amount showed up at the District 2 meeting.
Only a handful voiced concerns, which were mostly about road quality and the environment.
District 3 resident Dwight Adams brought a list of America's 50 most environmentally friendly cities with him, noting that Gainesville was not on it.
"They should be working to get on the next list," he said before the meeting.
Nancy Sever, a District 3 resident for 22 years, said she was concerned the city wasn't doing enough about global warming.
"I'll be dead by the time this happens, but my grandchildren will be alive," Sever said.
Vibeke Vala, who has lived in the district for 40 years, was concerned with narrow and steep sidewalk ramps along Northwest 34th Street.
"For me, I push my father in a wheelchair and I can't maneuver him," Vala said. Despite the district's high student population, few students were at the meeting.
Vanessa Vargas, a UF law student who attended the meeting for class, said she didn't realize that the district covers the house she has owned for more than two years until she arrived at the meeting.
"Now that I'm here, I'm actually looking at some stuff," said Vargas, who said she has had trouble with neighbors violating noise ordinances.
Donovan encouraged citizens who spoke to share their "visions" for the city. The commission plans to vote on an official vision for the city sometime this summer, he said, and he hoped to get citizen input.
"My vision for Gainesville is that it be sustainable in balance of population and environment, vital in economy and culture, and safe and sound for everybody," he said.
