[Vision2020] URA independent of City Council

[Tom Hansen]

Mr. Steed -

By your own statement . . .

The MURA is a ". . . City created . . . independent, legally constituted entity" that can be simply defined as "an entity similar to a city commission without accountability whose staff consists of city council members and those appointed by the city council."
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
  

> On Mar 4, 2015, at 10:02 AM, Walter M Steed <wmsteed at ci.moscow.id.us> wrote:
> 
> Tom,
> 
> The URA is not a "City Commission."  Though City created, it is an independent, legally constituted entity.
> 
> Walter Steed, Council Member
> City of Moscow
> 303 Samaritan Lane
> Moscow  Idaho  83843
> 208/883-0123
> From: Tom Hansen [thansen at moscow.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 9:47 AM
> To: Walter M Steed
> Cc: Moscow Vision 2020; Council; Bill Lambert; Gary Riedner; Bill Belknap; Don Palmer
> Subject: Re: URA independent of City Council
> 
> Mr. Steed -
> 
> My reference to Tammany Hall concerns the use of public funds (sans a public hearing), especially for a project such as this one with so much anticipated expense associated with it.
> 
> But, as you say, "I [You] have no knowledge of a cost of this project to Moscow tax payers; not to say there might not be.."
> 
> To put it simply, it appears that a city commission (MURA), whose staff consists of appointees (designated and affirmed by the city council) and two city council members, is free to spend public funds without accountability by the mayor or city council.
> 
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>   
> 
> On Mar 4, 2015, at 9:32 AM, Walter M Steed <wmsteed at ci.moscow.id.us> wrote:
> 
>> Tom,
>> 
>> Thanks for the personal email this morning.  To answer your questions and inferences:
>> 
>> 1) I have no knowledge of a cost of this project to Moscow tax payers; not to say there might not be...
>> 
>> 2)  This will not go before the City Council unless Sangria's development proposal creates appeals related to zoning or building permit issues. 
>> 
>> 3)  The people of Moscow can publicly air their comments during any Moscow City Council or URA public comment period, which is on every agenda of each entity's regular meetings.
>> 
>> 4)  No, this isn't Tammany Hall.
>> 
>> See ya 'round too,
>> 
>> Walter Steed, Council Member
>> City of Moscow
>> 303 Samaritan Lane
>> Moscow  Idaho  83843
>> 208/883-0123
>> From: Tom Hansen [thansen at moscow.com]
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2015 5:45 AM
>> To: Moscow Vision 2020
>> Cc: Walter M Steed
>> Subject: URA independent of City Council
>> 
>> Courtesy of today's (March 4, 2015) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>> 
>> --------------------------------------
>> Letter: URA independent of City Council
>> 
>> For the past several days I have been approached or called by citizens of Moscow regarding the then-pending offer to sell and develop the southwest corner of Jackson and Sixth streets (formerly the site of Otto's Produce). These persons wished to comment to a City Council member on the proposals that had been received regarding the future of this property.
>> I had to inform them that the property is owned by the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency, which had issued the Request for Proposals, and that the City Council had no say in development of the property (other than enforcement of zoning and building permit issues).
>> The URA is made up of city of Moscow mayoral appointees who are approved by the Council and while two Council members do, by definition, sit on that board, I, although a City Council member, am not one of them.
>> While writing this I understand the URA has now made its selection, which will probably be reported in this newspaper before this letter might appear. Any citizens who wish to comment or discuss that decision should contact URA board members or staff who can be found on their website at http://moscowura.com.
>> 
>> Walter Steed
>> Moscow
>> 
>> --------------------------------------
>> 
>> Mr. Steed -
>> As this item includes a hefty price tag to be paid by the Moscow tax payers . . .
>> When will this item go before the Moscow City Council?
>> If so, will the Moscow City Council permit the people of Moscow to publicly air their comments?
>> Sidebar: Although " . . . the property is owned by the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency, which had issued the Request for Proposals, and that the City Council had no say in development of the property (other than enforcement of zoning and building permit issues)", management of the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency is appointed by the mayor and city council, thus (in my opinion) making it (the MURA), along with the mayor and city council accountable for such action.
>> I mean . . . this isn't Tammany Hall . . . is it?
>> 
>> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>> 
>> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
>> http://www.MoscowCares.com
>>   
>> Tom Hansen
>> Moscow, Idaho
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