[Vision2020] Candidates hone in on Moscow's economy

[Moscow Cares]

Courtesy of today’s (October 20, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Candidates hone in on Moscow's economy
Mayor, City Council candidates share ideas to increase city's economic growth

Moscow mayor and City Council candidates outlined their backgrounds and visions of economic growth in Moscow as they addressed members of the Latah County Board of Realtors on Thursday at the Best Western Plus University Inn.

Mayor Bill Lambert, who is seeking re-election, focused his remarks on the importance of collaboration among different city and regional entities.

He said during his four years as mayor, he wanted to ensure collaboration between the city and other partners, such as the University of Idaho, Moscow Chamber of Commerce, Latah County Commissioners and the Moscow School District. Collaboration between Moscow and the city of Pullman is also important, Lambert said.

Lambert said the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport runway realignment project, which is under construction, is critical for the entire region, including Moscow, Pullman, the UI and Washington State University.

Linda Pall, who spent 18 years on the Moscow City Council and is challenging Lambert for mayor, said she believes the city can encourage growth with people and places that bring good jobs and creative design without high loads on existing infrastructure or resources.

Pall said it is important to bring in new businesses so they can pay property taxes and share the burden of funding local services. She said more taxable value needs to be added to the city without additional burden on residents currently here.

"We can encourage existing businesses to grow right here, right now, and we do this by retaining, expanding and revitalizing businesses," Pall said.

She said she is concerned about the demise of stores like Macy's and Hastings in town. She said that although those closures were driven by national interests, the city has real opportunities to see what it would take to keep them in Moscow.

Gina Taruscio, a current City Councilor running for one of the three four-year seats, said she supports a proposed urban renewal district on the south side of Moscow as it would provide businesses a place to operate.

"Where are they going to go?" said Taruscio, who is also Partnership for Economic Prosperity's executive director. "To the southeast Moscow industrial park."

Taruscio said when she is elected Nov. 7, she will continue to be a voice for Moscow business, economic development and the city in general.

City Councilman Walter Steed, who is running for re-election to a four-year council position, said Moscow's economy is totally dependent on the UI and WSU. Steed said it is difficult to attract new businesses and manufacturers to Moscow since there is no interstate highway and railway and limited destinations from the airport.

"Our best hope of attracting new business is to cultivate the researchers of the two Palouse universities who have a product that can be built here," Steed said.

He said Moscow already has many such businesses that pay well and are a great asset to the community.

Brandy Sullivan was not present, but one of the Board of Realtors leaders read a prepared statement on Sullivan's behalf.

Sullivan, who opened One World Cafe in 2005, said she wants to do more to enhance Moscow as it continues to grow and develop.

"Our vibrant downtown is what visitors to our community talk about when they leave, and I have heard many say it's why they chose Moscow to relocate to," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said the proposed URA district would further diversify the city's economic base, create jobs and attract and retain employees and their families.

Development of facilities such as a full-size Palouse Ice Rink would capitalize on outside revenues from tournaments and recreational tourism, Sullivan said.

City Councilman John Weber, who is running against Anne Zabala for the two-year council position, also was not present. His sister spoke on his behalf. She said Weber has lived in Moscow 62 of his 70 years and is a founding member of the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency, in which he is a current commissioner.

She said Weber is fiscally conservative, and it is important to him that the city's money is spent carefully.

Zabala, a recent graduate of the University of Idaho, said she would love to see more young people stay in Moscow to start their lives, families and businesses.

She said she wants the city to stay in line with its Comprehensive Plan.

Zabala said she believes maintaining a high quality of life will be key to business recruitment and retention. In the past few months, she said she has had wonderful conversations with current and aspiring business owners about some of their ideas, including re-establishing an active business incubator.

City Councilman Art Bettge, who is running for a four-year seat, and Robb Parish, a four-year council hopeful, were not present.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

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

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20171020/16148490/attachment-0001.html>