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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Linda,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>It’s good to hear from
you. However, I must respectfully disagree with you on this one. Economic times
during 2007 looked much better than now. In addition, in view of the City’s
very poor record on project development, cost overruns, etc., the City should
save taxpayer money and let others do the economic development. The City of
Moscow does not understand that “Time is Money.” There is not the
efficiency that is found in the private sector and I doubt hiring an economic
development director will do anything to improve that. Another great example
of ‘inefficiency’ is the process the URA goes through to sell lots
in Alturas Technology Park. It is no wonder that they can’t even sell
the lots at less than undeveloped prices because no business wants to go
through the convoluted process. The URA should definitely NOT buy land for
resale with your taxpayer dollars. An economic development director is not
going to fix this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Pullman and Lewiston do not have
economic development directors. One might work in Eugene Oregon, but Eugene
has a population of 155,000, seven times larger than Moscow. If you subtract
the number of students out of each city, Eugene is 11 times larger than
Moscow. An $86,000 economic development position in Eugene will not have
nearly the impact on their city budget as it will on Moscow’s budget.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I was mostly concerned about the
URA Budget this year. However, the more I look into it, the more concerns I
have about the general Moscow City Budget too. For example, the Lewiston City
Budget is less than Moscow’s. Lewiston has a population of 31,794
compared to Moscow’s of 23,233. Lewiston’s 2009 proposed budget is
$52,656,080 compared to Moscow’s $55,500,000. Moscow’s proposed
budget is $2,843,920 more than Lewiston’s, even though Lewiston has 8,571
more people. If you subtract students, Lewiston has 15,600 more people.
Lewiston’s City area is 10 square miles larger than Moscow’s (16.5
sq. miles versus 6.15 sq. miles). Why is Moscow’s budget more than
Lewiston’s? In addition, Lewiston is proposing to reduce their budget by
$735,140 this year. Moscow should do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Moscow could take lessons from
Lewiston regarding easy to understand City government. Check out their Citizen’s
Guide to the City Budget:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> <a
href="http://www.cityoflewiston.org/budget0607/budget0607.htm">http://www.cityoflewiston.org/budget0607/budget0607.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Now try to find the proposed
Moscow City Budget online. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>This is not the time to increase
City government at taxpayer expense. Instead of up-staffing, increasing
administration expense and asking for the maximum amount of taxes allowed by
law, perhaps the Mayor and City Council should look at reducing the budget and
focus on being efficient. This is not the time to be Empire Building.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>B. J. Swanson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Linda Pall
[mailto:lpall@moscow.com] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, August 02, 2008 2:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> B. J. Swanson; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] City Budget Hearings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear
BJ and Visionaries,</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>BJ,
I respect your opinion and your service to the City over many years in the area
of economic development. Without your support on the State Department of
Commerce Community Development Committee, we would not have gained the needed
funds for projects at the 1912 Center, among others.</span><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>However,
I must disagree with your recommendation concerning the Fiscal Year 2009 budget
and encourage Visionaries to SUPPORT the addition of a CIty of Moscow Economic
Development Director.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Here
is part of a Budget Session Memorandum, <strong><u><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'>dated July 16, 2007</span></u></strong>, that I
distributed to the Mayor and Council last summer. The services of an in-house
economic development coordinator, shared by the URA, make even more sense
now. <em><u><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Note that this
addresses a big problem with the way economic development is managed by the
governmental partner: lack of coordination and consistent follow-through. </span></u></em>This
is part of recognizing the defined roles of the Chamber, LEDA and regional
project-oriented organizations like CEDA and retaining appropriate financial
support for those groups. These groups do not address the need for
public/private partnerships throughout the City over the long haul to
coordinate a long-term, consistent community vision for economic development.
This vision must incorporate policies that increase local wealth, building
on what we have first and reaching out to capital intensive development that
enhances job creation. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
Chamber's role is primarily marketing of the existing business community.
LEDC is county-wide and regional, with the very important focus of the
Knowledge Corridor in cooperation with UI, WSU and Pullman. The City of Moscow
has no coordination for downtown development and revitalization, commercial
development on the edges of the CIty, business development incentives, and a
sense of how to follow through with the goals of economic development
identified in our comprehensive plan revision. Many other communitites have
successfully employed talented people in positions like this to make sure the
community maintains a hold on its future direction. They have paid for
themselves many times over.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'>"Goal for an In-House Economic Development
Director.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>The goal of such a director is the development of new jobs for Moscow, to
enhance the existing business community and expand and improve business
opportunities throughout the City. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>There is constant pressure in and out of Moscow for growth and development.
It is clear that if the City does not take a strong, positive stand for
‘right-sized growth’ that we will not be able to shape our future.
We need more and better jobs, in the private sector as well as in higher
education. We have a wonderful opportunity to coordinate with LEDC and CEDA to
assist at a regional level. However, if we do not have local in-house follow
through, we are not working intentionally to create the kind of economic future
we want and need for our citizens.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>The models exist in many other communities across the northwest, with
excellent results for those communities. Eugene, Oregon, another university
community, has benefited greatly from having such in-house expertise over the
years and is a model to review as we determine the proper job description here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Now is the time to begin this process because of the Urban Renewal Agency
efforts adjacent to downtown Moscow and because of the impact this area can
have on the university and the community at large. A partnership with the URA
is an obvious choice because our city supervisor’s time and talents are
already stretched to their limits." <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>
from Memorandum to City Council, July 16, 2007 by Linda Pall, City Council
Member through January, 2008.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please
support the inclusion of this position in BOTH the city economic development
director in the city budget and the URA staff proposal. Providing an Advisory
Committee to work with the Director, composed of representatives from LEDC,
CEDA, the Chamber, and other stake holders to help the City Council develop
policy for economic expansion could answer many of the concerns we citizens
have about Council decisions concerning economic development such as the one to
advance the competition to Moscow businesses by provision of water across
the stateline. </span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>All the
best,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Linda Pall</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Former
Moscow City Council Member</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-----
Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:bjswan@moscow.com"
title="bjswan@moscow.com">B. J. Swanson</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" title="vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Saturday, August 02,
2008 8:11 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> [Vision2020] City
Budget Hearings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal>Please mark your calendars and attend two City budget
hearings this week:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-family:
Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
</span>Monday, Aug. 4, 7:00 PM, City Council Chambers: Moscow City Budget
Hearing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-family:
Symbol'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>
</span>Thursday, Aug. 7, <span style='color:black'>7:00</span><b><u><span
style='color:red'> AM</span></u><span style='color:red'>,</span></b> City
Council Chambers: Urban Renewal Agency Budget Hearing<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I am opposed to the continuing
expansion of City government as demonstrated by the $55 million budget.
According to The Daily News, the City budget five years ago was $35
million. That is a 9.5</span><span style='color:#1F497D'>% </span><span
style='color:black'>annual growth rate. I doubt your income or budget
have expanded at that high rate. The budget includes three new
positions. The proposed City Economic Development Director at a cost of
$86,000 is certainly redundant considering we already have the Moscow Chamber of
Commerce, Latah Economic Development Council, Clearwater Economic Development
Association and many local realtors. In the difficult economy we are
experiencing now, this is not a good time to up-staff and expand City
government. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The Urban Renewal Agency wants to
increase administration to $30,000 and to fund one-half of the $86,000 economic
development director’s position. The URA wants to fund this
expansion by using taxes from the Alturas Urban Renewal District. They
also want Alturas to loan money to fund administration of the Legacy Crossing
Urban Renewal District. Please tell the URA not to do this. Instead
of up-staffing, increasing administration and loaning funds to Legacy crossing,
that money could be preserved to close out the Alturas Urban Renewal Taxing
District within two years and return the approximately $300,000 annual tax
revenue to lower the property tax bills of all property owners in Moscow and
Latah County. If the URA continues to use Alturas funds for Legacy
Crossing, increasing administration, etc., there will be no benefit to the
property taxpayers until 2016, if then. The Urban Renewal Agency has not
demonstrated prudent financial management of previous projects including 200+%
cost overruns on completing Alturas Phase II and purchasing undeveloped land at
developed prices. As another example, at the July 24 URA meeting, Pat
Raffee, the URA consultant said Beebe & Germer offered to sell the URA four
acres in the Legacy Crossing District for $20 million. She said that was too
high but suggested the URA buy an option on it. These examples do
not give me confidence in the URA’s management of our tax dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>I am not opposed to Legacy
Crossing if it is properly managed. It is highly unlikely in these
economic times that Legacy Crossing will be developed at all in the near
future. Forcing some kind of development before its time will only result
in failure. URA consultant Pat Raffee estimated the first project might be 2˝
years away. Again, now is not the time to up-staff and add
administration at the expense of property taxpayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The URA budget hearing is at 7:00 <span style='color:red'>AM</span>
on Thursday, Aug 7. The URA Commissioners say they want public input on
the budget, but the 7:00 AM meetings are not well attended. If you have
an opinion on the budget, please do attend the hearing or contact one of the
URA Commissioners:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>John McCabe, <a
href="mailto:john.p.mccabe@wellsfargo.com">john.p.mccabe@wellsfargo.com</a><span
style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>John Weber, <a
href="mailto:jweber@ci.moscow.id.us">jweber@ci.moscow.id.us</a><span
style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Brandy Sullivan, <a
href="mailto:brando@moscow.com">brando@moscow.com</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Robin Woods, <a
href="mailto:rwoods@alturasanalytics.com">rwoods@alturasanalytics.com</a><span
style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Stephen Drown, <a
href="mailto:srdrown@uidaho.edu">srdrown@uidaho.edu</a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Jack Nelson, <a
href="mailto:jnelson@latah.id.us">jnelson@latah.id.us</a><span
style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Tom Lamar, <a
href="mailto:lamar@pcei.org">lamar@pcei.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>These are very uncertain economic times. With oil
prices at record highs and resulting high food prices, layoffs, etc., citizens
are tightening their budgets, the City and the URA should do the same.
Please tell them this is not the time to increase staff and administration at
taxpayer expense.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>B. J. Swanson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</blockquote>
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