Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Acting Chairperson Elvig clarified the underutilized properties would be the first priority, but <br />they will need to take a hard look at the properties. The policy needs to stay flexible. With <br />hardship properties it would need to be analyzed as to whether the business was mismanaged <br />before the hardship, etc. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen indicated she agrees in the priority of underutilized properties. She <br />expressed concern in including businesses with hardship in this process. She stated the goal is <br />for the businesses to have long term vitality, which needs to be addressed through the design of <br />the roads. <br /> <br />There was further discussion regarding the effect of the median closings on the businesses and <br />what the City's role should be. <br /> <br />Interim City Administrator Nelson expressed concern that the City's involvement with these <br />hardship businesses would be a slippery slope. She stated as someone that owns a business on a <br />major intersection she pays attention to what the State will pay for when they cut down access, <br />and it is not alot. Ifthe City starts buying out businesses when access is reduced it will not only <br />be on Highway 10; they will be setting the City up to buy a lot of property and it does not match <br />with what the State will pay, so the City will be taking on that burden. She questioned the City's <br />role in subsidizing property to allow a business to limp along. She stated at the end of the day <br />traffic often adjusts and businesses find a way to survive. She understands the City's interest is <br />to see businesses prosper, but it is a tough balance in putting the City out there and setting a <br />precedent that if you suffer business loss the City will buy you out. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated the County is going off traffic projections in their modeling that is <br />not there today, and they are putting in the medians based on those traffic projections. To some <br />degree they need to be flexible and leave that opening today because the traffic is not there yet. <br />If they proceed with the Thurston interchange option the Highway 47 traffic will probably never <br />reach what has been projected. He cannot see that the County cannot allow some flexibility. <br />They are using the argument that it is cheaper to put the median in today than 20 years from now, <br />but as a City they may want to take the position to pick up the cost of closing off that one lane at . <br />a later date. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Elvig suggested a continued discussion regarding the medians at a future meeting. <br /> <br />Consensus of the Council was general agreement in blighted, underutilized parcels as the first <br />priority in the RALF acquisition prioritization process. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look verified that the purchases are based on willing sellers. <br /> <br />Public Works Director Olson indicated business owner Frank Yamotpour has asked the City to <br />buy him out. In 2005 the assessed amount of the property was $1.36 million and the appraised <br />value was $4.5 million. The bottom line is that flexibility is needed in this policy in case a large <br />amount of money was to become available through RALF that would allow the purchase of one <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / May 15, 2007 <br />Page 8 of9 <br />