[Vision2020] Council Budgets 3rd Street Bridge

[Linda Pall]

Dear Mr. Crabttree and Others:

The Mayor and Council who approved that resolution did so with sound urban planning principles as well as budgetary considerations in mind.  To destroy an existing  neighborhood that is an irreplaceable attraction for the entire City of Moscow (see the National Register of Historic Places) when the REAL arterial exists that should be maximized for quick and effective traffic movement to Mountainview and neighborhoods to the east of Mountainview,, i.e., the Troy Road, State Highway 8 that has recently been improved and can benefit from additional highway spending, with combined local, state and federal monies.

Did you know that more than TEN pedestrian and handicapped generators exist along and immediately adjacent to Third Street between Washington Street and Paradise Creek?
    1.    City Hall;
    2.     United Methodist Church and social facilities
    3.     The 1912 Center including numerous activities for the entire community, indoor and outside.
    4.     Moscow High School
    5.     Latah County Historical Society offices
    6.     The McConnell Mansion
    7.     Unitarian-Universalist Church and facilities
    8.    East City Park    everyday uses
    9.     East City Park celebrations such as Renaissance Fair; Rendezvous in Moscow and Rendezvous for Kids; and many more events throughout the year.
    10.   Lena Whitmore School
    11.   Fields and path to Lena Whitmore    

I hope that you all will consider these issues and the communitywide effects that will be forever changed and require private or governmental expenditures to deal with the negative effects of making Third Street an arterial, with traffic neither begins nor terminates along Third Street between Washington and Paradise Creek.   Consider the arguments articulated in the 2007 resolution before you step on the highway “spend/spend/spend” bandwagon. I believe if the city does not get more that a dollar of benefit for the dollars of governmental resources pledged, it should be rare to appropriate those funds, without a deep and persuasive justification of the benefit of such expenditures!  And that certainly goes DOUBLE for those street projects that would result in loss of property values, safety and quiet enjoyment of one’s property!

Ask your council member to think again.  To those of you who read V2020, I hope you will consider these positions as you ponder how to improve Moscow’s internal traffic circulation, while preserving unique neighborhoods and student safety.

All the best to each of you,

Linda Pall
18 year veteran, Moscow City Council
45 year resident of Moscow

From: g crabtree 
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 4:37 PM
To: Tom Hansen 
Cc: Moscow Vision 2020 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Council Budgets 3rd Street Bridge

It is extremely fortunate that a resolution signed by a former mayor is not binding on a future, more practical, city council. 

g

On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 3:33 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

  I invite your attention to a ten year-old Moscow (the one in Idaho) resolution.

  http://www.moscowcares.com/Our_Moscow/Third_Street_Bridge/Resolution_2007_30_Third_Street_Bridge.pdf


  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

  On Aug 8, 2017, at 2:56 PM, Ron Force <ronforce at gmail.com> wrote:


    It's in the 2018 budget.

    Ron Force
    Moscow Idaho USA

    On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 2:50 PM, g crabtree <direoutcome at gmail.com> wrote:

      Excellent news, connecting third st. has been long over due. Any indication of when the project is to commence? 

      g

      On Tue, Aug 8, 2017 at 9:52 AM, Ron Force <ronforce at gmail.com> wrote:

        From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

        Moscow City Council approves budget in heated hearing
        Some residents angry over motor bridge line item
          a.. By Taylor Nadauld, Daily News Staff Writer  a.. Aug 8, 2017 Updated 8 min ago  a.. (0)a.. b.. c.. a.. a.. a.. a.. a.. 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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