MONROE - Mayor Ron Marsh scheduled an open discussion on a proposed transportation utility following regular business of the Monroe Common Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Questions will be taken from members of the public.
The City of Monroe Finance & Taxation Committee has asked for another look at a transportation utility implementation proposal from Municipal Economics & Planning, a division of Ruekert-Mielke. The date of that presentation has not been announced.
The council session today is expected to answer some of the questions about the utility before the firm returns.
A transportation utility would replace property assessments to raise funds for city roads and sidewalks.
The transportation utility idea was sent to the Finance and Taxation Committee on an 8-1 council vote May 18, following an initial presentation by Municipal Economics & Planning. Alderman Thurston Hanson, Ward 6, voted against the motion.
Christy Cramer explained how such a utility is set up at her presentation. She suggested the proposed utility be funded by every user paying a portion, based on trips generated per day. She said exempting non-profits and schools would make the utility not based on users, since churches and schools produce a lot of trips.
She estimated a minimum of $30,000 would need to be spent for a feasibility study and implementation and $10,000 for public outreach.
At the committee meeting May 19, Marsh noted areas of the budget from where the money could be used to fund the original costs. These costs would be absorbed by the utility once it is in place, and not all the costs would be payable this year, he said.
The funds Marsh suggested using include: $4,000 from sidewalks, $6,000 from materials for road and sidewalks, $10,000 from parking ramp maintenance, $5,000 marketing, and $10,000 from the contingency fund. An additional $10,000 from the parking ramp would set the amount at $45,000, allowing $5,000 for unexpected costs.
The May 19 council agenda anticipated the committee's approval to hire the firm to begin the study.
But members of the Finance and Taxation Committee - Aldermen Kent Kallembach, Mark Coplien, Charles Koch and Dan Henke - put the brakes on the agenda item, asking that the firm of Ruekert-Mielke be called back to answer more questions.
"We need to do some pre-work first, talk with the schools, before we throw $40,000 against the wall," Alderman Dan Henke said at that meeting.
Alderman Charles Schuringa announced his opposition to the utility during a Common Council meeting June 2.
"I'm thoroughly opposed to this (utility). It falls under a tax deal," he told fellow council members.
"People in my area are not going to stand for another tax," he said.
Questions will be taken from members of the public.
The City of Monroe Finance & Taxation Committee has asked for another look at a transportation utility implementation proposal from Municipal Economics & Planning, a division of Ruekert-Mielke. The date of that presentation has not been announced.
The council session today is expected to answer some of the questions about the utility before the firm returns.
A transportation utility would replace property assessments to raise funds for city roads and sidewalks.
The transportation utility idea was sent to the Finance and Taxation Committee on an 8-1 council vote May 18, following an initial presentation by Municipal Economics & Planning. Alderman Thurston Hanson, Ward 6, voted against the motion.
Christy Cramer explained how such a utility is set up at her presentation. She suggested the proposed utility be funded by every user paying a portion, based on trips generated per day. She said exempting non-profits and schools would make the utility not based on users, since churches and schools produce a lot of trips.
She estimated a minimum of $30,000 would need to be spent for a feasibility study and implementation and $10,000 for public outreach.
At the committee meeting May 19, Marsh noted areas of the budget from where the money could be used to fund the original costs. These costs would be absorbed by the utility once it is in place, and not all the costs would be payable this year, he said.
The funds Marsh suggested using include: $4,000 from sidewalks, $6,000 from materials for road and sidewalks, $10,000 from parking ramp maintenance, $5,000 marketing, and $10,000 from the contingency fund. An additional $10,000 from the parking ramp would set the amount at $45,000, allowing $5,000 for unexpected costs.
The May 19 council agenda anticipated the committee's approval to hire the firm to begin the study.
But members of the Finance and Taxation Committee - Aldermen Kent Kallembach, Mark Coplien, Charles Koch and Dan Henke - put the brakes on the agenda item, asking that the firm of Ruekert-Mielke be called back to answer more questions.
"We need to do some pre-work first, talk with the schools, before we throw $40,000 against the wall," Alderman Dan Henke said at that meeting.
Alderman Charles Schuringa announced his opposition to the utility during a Common Council meeting June 2.
"I'm thoroughly opposed to this (utility). It falls under a tax deal," he told fellow council members.
"People in my area are not going to stand for another tax," he said.