MOSCOW, Idaho — Following a lengthy presentation from City Manager Gary Riedner on Monday, the Moscow City Council directed city staff to begin preparing a major public facilities bond proposal for the May ballot.
The estimated value of the bond is about $8.5 million, although that could change after more architectural studies are completed.
The bond would allow the city to address several long-term facilities needs, including relocating and expanding the Moscow police station, as well as renovating the current police station and the Mann Building to provide needed space for the community development, engineering, human resources and information technology departments.
In Idaho, general obligation bonds must be approved by at least two-thirds of voters. Should the measure pass, Riedner said, "we wouldn't be doing any additional capital construction for at least another 10 years."
If approved, the police department would relocate to the Moscow Recycling Center at Jackson and C Street. The building, which would be renovated, would provide double the space as the current police facility, as well as improved access and additional secure storage space.
A new facilities plan would also be conducted for the recycling center, to determine its future.
Given the council's OK, city staff will begin preparing more detailed cost estimates of the proposal. The intent would be to have a final bond package ready for council approval by Feb. 5, in time to put it on the May ballot.
Riedner noted that Moscow's statutory bond limit is about $21 million, based on the total assessed market value of the city's residential and commercial real estate. However, it only has one outstanding bond - for the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatic Center - and it will be paid off next August.
In other action, the council unanimously approved a task order for Meridian-based Keller Associates to handle the design and construction management work on the Third Street bridge project.
The bridge would span Paradise Creek at the east end of Third Street. The intent would be to provide additional vehicle and pedestrian access from residential neighborhoods on the east side of town to the downtown core.
Public Works Director Les MacDonald said the task order, which is not to exceed $122,880 in cost, will include a hydrologic assessment of Paradise Creek, as well as the design work for the bridge foundation and approach.
Keller Associates also will review which type of bridge is best suited for the project, he said. The current front-runner is a pre-cast concrete arch structure, but other options include a steel girder or aluminum arch bridge.
Not included in the task order, MacDonald said, is any work on the Third Street corridor, including possible traffic-calming measures. The Moscow Transportation Commission is evaluating those needs separately.
Once Keller Associates completes its work, the intent is to go out to bid on the project next spring and complete construction by November.
