[Vision2020] Candidates talk business growth, Third Street bridge

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (September 21, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Candidates talk business growth, Third Street bridge
Moscow City Council, mayoral candidates discuss how to bring people, businesses to Moscow; offer opinions on Third Street multimodal bridge

Business growth and the controversial Third Street bridge were the focuses of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce candidate forum luncheon Wednesday at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow.

City Council and mayoral candidates answered questions about how to encourage free enterprise growth and how local government can help small businesses succeed.

"I didn't think I was going to do (run) but no one else stepped up and gave the opportunity for the citizens of Moscow to have a full and complete conversation about our future," said Linda Pall, who is challenging Mayor Bill Lambert. "And I thought we need to have that conversation and I look forward to being part of it."

Pall, a Moscow attorney and former member of the City Council, said equity and growth motivated her campaign. She said attracting people and businesses to Moscow is one important topic she plans to focus on.

Lambert said he wants to see the city and its staff grow.

"If the folks that work for the city of Moscow can grow in their jobs we will grow and it will benefit every citizen in this town," Lambert said.

Lambert and Pall were asked how the city, university and chamber can partner to increase the University of Idaho's enrollment.

Pall said enhancing the Sixth Street corridor from the university to downtown is vital.

"The more we can enhance the vitality of that area, the better it's going to be," Pall said.

She added that the area between the university and the south couplet is the best possible place for housing and an additional hotel for UI alumni.

Lambert said he and UI President Chuck Staben have had a great working relationship since Lambert assumed his role as mayor four years ago, and collaboration is the key to accomplishing goals.

Incumbent City Councilors Art Bettge, Gina Taruscio and Walter Steed were also present, as were their challengers Robb Parish and Brandy Sullivan. The five are competing for three four-year seats. Anne Zabala is trying to unseat incumbent Councilor John Weber for the open two-year position.

Some City Council candidates said the proposed Moscow urban renewal district on the south side of town is necessary to attract businesses.

Bettge said there is a large age gap from 35 to 50 in Moscow's population, and those are prime and productive years in people's lives. He said Moscow needs to work to attract businesses that can provide opportunities for that age group. The proposed URA district would be a good start, he said.

Bettge said there is no industrial zoned land in town so there is no place for a company to locate if it wants to move to Moscow.

Steed said the UI is the city's economic engine and local entities need to encourage the student population to increase.

"With a student base, you have more traffic downtown," Steed said.

As for how the city can help small businesses succeed, Weber said open communication among city government, staff and small businesses is crucial.

Sullivan said the city needs to understand the needs, challenges and barriers businesses encounter and it needs to make businesses feel welcome and help them solve problems.

The Third Street bridge has been a controversial topic for years and the council candidates offered their thoughts. An audience member asked how building the multimodal bridge and hindering bike traffic accomplishes the goal for the city to move away from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gases.

The $580,000 multimodal bridge is budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Taruscio said she does not believe the bridge will hinder bicycle and pedestrian traffic and added it will make the community more connected.

"The city is not building a bridge to burn more gas," Steed said. "(Residents) burn the gas."

Steed said the bridge will move traffic more efficiently and save fuel since drivers will not have to drive six blocks to avoid Third Street's dead end. The bridge will include car lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks, he said.

Bettge said Third Street is the flattest route from the east side of town to the west, making it the most vital route for bikes to operate.

"If you're putting up a bridge it should be a multimodal bridge that supports pedestrians, bicycles and motorized traffic," Bettge said. "Which system of transportation you use is up to you."

Parish said he sympathizes with the neighbors on Third Street but the bridge is the right course of action.

Sullivan said she would not support the multimodal bridge without recommended traffic calming measures along Third Street from Mountain View Road to Jefferson Street.

She said if it is done correctly, the bridge could improve safety for bikers and pedestrians and potentially encourage biking and walking on Third.

Weber said he does not see how moving traffic from other streets to Third is going to negatively affect anything.

Zabala said she has concerns about the project and that she wants to know that it is in the city's budget to maintain the current infrastructure.

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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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