Chief
01-25-2008, 01:01 PM
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01252008_Council--retreat-focuses-on-funds.cfm
Friday, January 25, 2008
BY JEFFREY MIZE, Columbian staff writer
Bob Thompson wanted everyone to know he understood this was supposed to be a pragmatic discussion.
"I clearly got the message about no touchy-feely," Thompson, one-time chief of staff for former Democratic Gov. Booth Gardner who was brought in as facilitator for Thursday's daylong retreat with the Vancouver City Council.
Despite that message, there was still plenty talk about strategic commitments, public-private partnerships and big picture visions as council members pondered what type of community Vancouver should be, five years from now and 20 years from now.
And then there were the pragmatic considerations, including the latest plea from City Manager Pat McDonnell for more revenue to pay for additional police officers and for new fire stations and medical response vehicles.
"We are really at a critical point of not having adequate resources," McDonnell told the council. "It will, in our opinion, require a vote of the public to make these investments."
The city's timing might be lousy.
There are daily news stories about recession fears, home foreclosures and, at least at the beginning of the week, tumbling stock prices. Clark County already has decided to ask voters in April to add a 0.1 percent sales tax to replace the county's emergency radio for police and fire responders.
Options limited
All of which doesn't change the fact that property taxes provide Vancouver with 45 percent of its revenue for core services, such as police, roads and parks. City officials have long groused about their inability to maintain services with a 1 percent cap on property tax increases.
"Transportation and public safety needs to be addressed in '08," McDonnell said. "We need specific direction from council."
The council has been mulling these issues for at least five years. In 2006, there appeared to be enough support to reinstate a local business and occupation tax, which would have raised up to $10 million annually. But faced with strong opposition from the business community, the council quickly lost its appetite for making a tough decision on city finances.
No one even mentioned the letters "B&O" during Monday's discussion. The short list of revenue options includes a $20 vehicle registration fee that could be imposed without a public vote and raise an estimated $3 million annually.
That won't be nearly enough to beef up police and fire and cover an expensive road bill to support redevelopment of the Boise Cascade industrial site on the Columbia River.
City officials need an estimated $9.5 million for its share of road improvements and maybe a portion of an additional $13.8 million funding gap.
Revitalizing the Columbia River waterfront was just one of the many projects mentioned Thursday as future priorities, along with redeveloping Evergreen Airport and Section 30, a square mile block just outside east Vancouver that historically has been used for gravel mining, and continuing downtown's transition from transient haven to yuppie hangout.
Mayor Royce Pollard, starting his 13th year as Vancouver's political leader, struck a pragmatic tone after the council assembled a long list of projects.
"That's a nice wish list, but it's another wish list," said Pollard, who reminded the council that Boise Cascade redevelopment represents a $1.3 billion investment in the city's future.
"Unless we are committed to creating an economic engine that will create a revenue stream, we will do very little of it."
McDonnell said he differentiates between market-driven growth and city-directed economic development. With economic development, the city provides incentives, invests in infrastructure and forges partnerships to achieve its goals, he said.
Proactive approach urged
Redevelopment of the Columbia River waterfront presents an "absolutely unbelievable way" to grow jobs and foster a better community, but it requires city-initiated economic development, McDonnell said.
"Because if you don't, you probably will get a lemonade stand called 'McDonnell's R Us,' " he joked.
Councilwoman Jeanne Harris said she wants Vancouver to take a more active role.
"I have seen us sit back and be driven by, 'God, I hope someone decides to develop here,' " she said. "I don't want to do that any longer."
Harris said she wants to shape a distinct ambience for Vancouver and the waterfront, one with sidewalk dining, with large stores and small boutiques.
"I want us to be another option or alternative - God help me, I'm going to say it - to the Pearl District," she said. "I want to be more in control of that, and I am OK in investing in the infrastructure to make that happen."
Pat Campbell, who joined the council just this month, offered a different perspective.
Campbell said he wasn't prepared to use city finances to promote redevelopment of a site prone to flooding and earthquake, that is under the flight path for Portland International Airport and next to a busy railroad.
"To me, it's like taking the city's treasury and sticking it out on the end of a dock," Campbell said.
Lots of whining but few new ideas...
Friday, January 25, 2008
BY JEFFREY MIZE, Columbian staff writer
Bob Thompson wanted everyone to know he understood this was supposed to be a pragmatic discussion.
"I clearly got the message about no touchy-feely," Thompson, one-time chief of staff for former Democratic Gov. Booth Gardner who was brought in as facilitator for Thursday's daylong retreat with the Vancouver City Council.
Despite that message, there was still plenty talk about strategic commitments, public-private partnerships and big picture visions as council members pondered what type of community Vancouver should be, five years from now and 20 years from now.
And then there were the pragmatic considerations, including the latest plea from City Manager Pat McDonnell for more revenue to pay for additional police officers and for new fire stations and medical response vehicles.
"We are really at a critical point of not having adequate resources," McDonnell told the council. "It will, in our opinion, require a vote of the public to make these investments."
The city's timing might be lousy.
There are daily news stories about recession fears, home foreclosures and, at least at the beginning of the week, tumbling stock prices. Clark County already has decided to ask voters in April to add a 0.1 percent sales tax to replace the county's emergency radio for police and fire responders.
Options limited
All of which doesn't change the fact that property taxes provide Vancouver with 45 percent of its revenue for core services, such as police, roads and parks. City officials have long groused about their inability to maintain services with a 1 percent cap on property tax increases.
"Transportation and public safety needs to be addressed in '08," McDonnell said. "We need specific direction from council."
The council has been mulling these issues for at least five years. In 2006, there appeared to be enough support to reinstate a local business and occupation tax, which would have raised up to $10 million annually. But faced with strong opposition from the business community, the council quickly lost its appetite for making a tough decision on city finances.
No one even mentioned the letters "B&O" during Monday's discussion. The short list of revenue options includes a $20 vehicle registration fee that could be imposed without a public vote and raise an estimated $3 million annually.
That won't be nearly enough to beef up police and fire and cover an expensive road bill to support redevelopment of the Boise Cascade industrial site on the Columbia River.
City officials need an estimated $9.5 million for its share of road improvements and maybe a portion of an additional $13.8 million funding gap.
Revitalizing the Columbia River waterfront was just one of the many projects mentioned Thursday as future priorities, along with redeveloping Evergreen Airport and Section 30, a square mile block just outside east Vancouver that historically has been used for gravel mining, and continuing downtown's transition from transient haven to yuppie hangout.
Mayor Royce Pollard, starting his 13th year as Vancouver's political leader, struck a pragmatic tone after the council assembled a long list of projects.
"That's a nice wish list, but it's another wish list," said Pollard, who reminded the council that Boise Cascade redevelopment represents a $1.3 billion investment in the city's future.
"Unless we are committed to creating an economic engine that will create a revenue stream, we will do very little of it."
McDonnell said he differentiates between market-driven growth and city-directed economic development. With economic development, the city provides incentives, invests in infrastructure and forges partnerships to achieve its goals, he said.
Proactive approach urged
Redevelopment of the Columbia River waterfront presents an "absolutely unbelievable way" to grow jobs and foster a better community, but it requires city-initiated economic development, McDonnell said.
"Because if you don't, you probably will get a lemonade stand called 'McDonnell's R Us,' " he joked.
Councilwoman Jeanne Harris said she wants Vancouver to take a more active role.
"I have seen us sit back and be driven by, 'God, I hope someone decides to develop here,' " she said. "I don't want to do that any longer."
Harris said she wants to shape a distinct ambience for Vancouver and the waterfront, one with sidewalk dining, with large stores and small boutiques.
"I want us to be another option or alternative - God help me, I'm going to say it - to the Pearl District," she said. "I want to be more in control of that, and I am OK in investing in the infrastructure to make that happen."
Pat Campbell, who joined the council just this month, offered a different perspective.
Campbell said he wasn't prepared to use city finances to promote redevelopment of a site prone to flooding and earthquake, that is under the flight path for Portland International Airport and next to a busy railroad.
"To me, it's like taking the city's treasury and sticking it out on the end of a dock," Campbell said.
Lots of whining but few new ideas...