Moscow City Council OKs stage design for East City Park

Moscow City Council on Monday narrowly approved an agreement with an architecture firm to create a conceptual design for a new East City Park main entertainment stage.

The current stage has deteriorated to the point that the awning over the stage platform had to be removed earlier this year. The stage was built by volunteers 40 years ago.

City staff proposed entering into an $18,700 agreement with Design West Architects to create 30% of a conceptual design and cost estimate for replacement of the stage.

The plan includes attaching the new stage to the northwest side of the park’s restroom.

The council approved the agreement 4-3 with Mayor Art Bettge being the tiebreaker. Hailey Lewis, Bryce Blankenship and Sandra Kelly voted against the agreement, citing concerns with the new stage’s location and orientation.

Lewis said she does not want to pay an architect $200 an hour in taxpayer dollars on a design she doesn’t believe the public will like, and prefers the current position and orientation of the stage.

“I would rather replace things as is,” Lewis said

Also on Monday, the council approved a controversial housing development despite resident concerns about the density of housing it will create in their backyards.

The council voted 4-2 to approve a 2.53-acre preliminary subdivision plat. The Wildrose Court subdivision, located east of Wildrose Drive and south of Flomer Lane, would have 16 lots ranging from 3,000 square feet to 10,666 square feet in size.

During the public hearing section, residents near that property expressed worries over the new homes being built 15 feet from their fence, obstructing their view and creating more traffic.

Councilors who voted in favor of the subdivision said there is a need for growth and infill in Moscow because of the shortage of affordable homes.

“If we stop growing our housing stock, none of us are going to be able to afford to live here,” said Julia Parker.

Blankenship and Lewis voted against the preliminary plat for Wildrose Court.

At the top of Monday’s meeting, newly appointed Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger was sworn into duty.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.