Moscow City Council approves budget in heated hearing

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.

The bridge is expected to cost $580,000, according to the city, and none of it will be paid from outside sources.

[The original story overstated the bridge's cost slightly and misstated the source of some funds, because of a Daily News error.]

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.

In other business, the council approved:

• An amendment to exempt limited certain property on University of Idaho home football game days from enforcement of open container laws.
•  Reconsideration of a condition of approval for a lot division at 335 Lauder Ave.
• A professional services agreement with Terragraphics Inc. for $58,522.75 for the Paradise Path-state Highway 8 underpass and multimodal extension design agreement.
• Downtown parking program revisions to expand the Overnight Restricted Parking Area to include both sides of Jackson Street between D and C streets and on the south side of D Street between Jackson and Main streets.
• A request from Latah County Commissioners to assist in restoration of the McConnell Mansion in the amount of $10,500.
• Salary adjustments for the City Council and mayor 

Taylor Nadauld can be reached at (208) 883-4630, by email to tnadauld@dnews.com and on Twitter @tnadauldarg.