[Vision2020] Council Budgets 3rd Street Bridge

[Ron Force]

>From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Moscow City Council approves budget in heated hearingSome residents angry
over motor bridge line item

   - By Taylor Nadauld, Daily News Staff Writer
   - Aug 8, 2017 Updated 8 min ago
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The Moscow City Council approved its 2018 annual budget during its regular
meeting Monday night to the annoyance and anger of several residents who
showed up to oppose a line in the budget for the construction of a
multi-modal bridge on Third Street.

Some residents told the council the details of the $79,896,719 budget,
which includes a $10 million bond to be voted on next year, were not made
transparent enough before the Monday night meeting.

“I think it’s a little late,” Gretchen Stewart of Citizens for a Liveable
Community told the council during the public hearing for the budget.

Stewart criticized the council for not including a copy of the budget
online and for holding its public budget workshop in the middle of the
summer.

Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert said the workshop is held the same time every
year. Other council members echoed that statement.

“This is not being sprung out of the blue,” Councilman Walter Steed said.

The council and public have debated for years whether the bridge, which
would cross over Paradise Creek and fully connect East Third Street, would
be restricted to pedestrians and bicyclists or include transportation of
motor vehicles.

Of the bridge’s total cost of $595,085, $15,085 comes from outside sources,
including individual donations.

Joann Muneta of Citizens for a Liveable Community asked that those who
donated to make the bridge restricted to pedestrian and bicyclists receive
a refund.

Several residents argued the bridge would be unsafe, increase traffic and
congestion and decrease nearby home values.

Members of the organization said they had a petition with more than 400
signatures opposing construction of a motor bridge.

But Councilman Jim Boland said he believed a majority of Moscow residents
supported the bridge and he moved to approve the ordinance, which was
approved unanimously. Councilwoman Gina Taruscio said the budget, while not
perfect, is for the greater good of the community.

Other residents thanked the council for including budgeting for the bridge,
though some criticized other line items.

“I don’t think Moscow’s had this many people in a budget meeting in the
time I’ve been here,” Steed said.
Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA
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