08-13-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING August 13, 2018 Mr. Daigle responded that as this plan is in the initial stages, neither the City or County Councils have been contacted. He stated that the majority of the plan should be completed by the end of the year. An economic analysis and cost-benefit ratio could then be drawn up which would allow for further discussion with the City and County Councils. Councilmember Davis asked if a meeting could be set up to meet with the Council within the next few weeks. Mr. Daigle stated that he would be happy to meet with anyone from the Council in the next few weeks. Councilmember Davis asked Mike Noland what his role in reaching out to the City Council has been. Mr. Noland stated that stakeholder input had been put on hold while the City looked into more options for the project. Councilmember Davis asked, In my understanding...you said that you want to either still use our west side option...? Mr.Noland stated that an environmental study of the area west of Ardmore had been done in 2008. Funding had been assembled for the study but not to construct the project. Mr. Noland stated, We came back around this time but with a number of changes that we thought would preclude that, so initially we didn't take a look at it. We think it's viable again and has less disruption, so we would put it back on the plate. Once we start the environmental process, we expect to be engaged with the community, with the Council, with the City,with the airport, with the County, as well. Councilmember Davis asked if airport representatives could meet with the Council in the next few weeks. Mr. Noland stated that he would love to do so. Councilmember Davis asked Council Attorney Bob Palmer if the Council would effectively be the last in line to approve the budget for this project, to which Mr. Palmer responded yes. Councilmember Davis expressed concern that if that is the case, on the occasion that the Council rejects a proposed budget for the South Shore project, the whole process would have to restart again. Mr. Palmer stated that asking for meetings prior to any budget hearings would go a long way toward helping avoid that. Councilmember Davis recommended that every party relevant to the South Shore project should convene for a meeting with the Council at the same time during the 2019 budget process and Councilmember Tim Scott stated that he would help facilitate that. Councilmember John Voorde stated that he is favor of a downtown option but is especially in favor of development on the west side of the airport and the industrial possibilities it could bring. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic thanked the presenters and stated that he is excited about the possibility of a downtown station. Councilmember Karen White asked Mayor Buttigieg if he could provide for the Council the list of lingering questions he referenced earlier in the evening and the answers to those questions as they are discovered. Mayor Buttigieg agreed to do so. Councilmember White asked that the results of any study be forwarded to the Council as well to help inform their decisions in the future. Councilmember White stated that she was having trouble wrapping her mind around the increase of the projected municipal contribution from $25,000,000 to $100,000,000,adding that every citizen of the City needs to have a say-so in this matter and that there needs to be greater transparency going forward. Councilmember Williams-Preston stated that there is a need for greater discussion regarding the possibility of the Honeywell station location, as it could potentially open access to several important economic corridors including Western Avenue and the Lincoln Way corridor. She stated, I really want to have a robust discussion about what that would mean for economic impact 4