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City Council <br />Meeting Minutes <br />June 17, 2021 <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />Director Kowar noted that if these projects move forward there will be a public outreach <br />process regarding the designs. <br />Director Pierce stated the Revitalization Commission (LRC) met yesterday and discussed <br />what level of funding they might contribute. She noted three of the proposed underpasses <br />are in the Urban Renewal Area (URA). The LRC is supportive of the underpasses and <br />directed staff to begin work on a cooperation agreement for annual funding contributions <br />from 2023 to 2032 totally $13.75M. The LRC also suggested prioritization of the three <br />underpasses be South Boulder Road and Main followed by Hwy 42 and South Street <br />followed by Hwy 42 and South Boulder Road. <br />Councilmember Leh noted the LRC committed these funds while being prudent knowing <br />they may need funds for other projects in the URA. They are supportive of the <br />underpasses. <br />Mayor Stolzmann noted that given these costs Council will need to prioritize the six <br />underpasses and also determine an amount they want to ask voters to approve. <br />Public Comments <br />Rick Kron, Downtown Business Association, stated this is a large amount of money and <br />businesses pay a larger percentage of property tax so this would affect them more. He <br />stated the South Boulder Road and Main Street underpass seems particularly expensive. <br />The Hwy 42 and South Street one as designed would eliminate parking that benefits <br />downtown. He supports getting the Bullhead Gulch one built. He supports using existing <br />resources to pay for this and not a new property tax. <br />Andy Johnson, stated he supports the underpasses for local and regional connections <br />and as a way to unify the town with good access. He encouraged great designs that <br />would enhance the community and be beautiful. <br />Mayor Stolzmann stated the Council will pick an amount to ask for in the ballot issue and <br />then once the bids come in for the underpasses the agreement is to build as many of the <br />underpasses that we can for the price. <br />Councilmember Lipton stated he is concerned we have not found the right mix of <br />functionality and design. He does not want to build the grandest underpasses possible at <br />any cost, but rather would like a very nice underpass keeping cost in mind. <br />Members discussed their prioritization preferences. <br />Councilmember Brown stated he would like to see a bond amount that we think has a <br />high likelihood of paying for all of the underpasses. <br />