What is the Impact?

Defeating Resolution 15-60 at last night's council meeting has serious impacts on future planning in University Heights. Here's a quick summary and recap:

With a 2 yes, 0 no, and 3 abstention vote, this resolution failed due to all resolutions needing to have 3 yes votes to pass. An explanation of the resolution can be found in the attorney's report section of last night's agenda and attachments.  Basically this was to amend the PUD to allow for 2 separate condo regimes for the North and South buildings. This change, has negligible affect  on city business. Defeating this resolution means that:

• Occupancy permits cannot yet be issued for the south building, which has residential units ready to be sold.

•  The special assessment which would be placed on OUP to repay the costs of the Public Works Project cannot be assessed.

• Without the special assessment, the city cannot proceed on our reduced price acquisition of the community center.

 

Here is what's critical to the financial well being of our residents. Without the special assessment ALL U-Heights taxpayers will have to pay for the $650K portion of the Public Works Project. With a special assessment in place ONLY property inside the OUP development will make payments on that. Without the special assessment in place our purchase price for the Community Center increases from $275K to $395K. The price of the Community Center will be paid by ALL property tax payers throughout U-Heights.

Jim Lane and I voted "yes." on resolution 15-60. Dotti Maher, Silvia Quezada, and Jerry Zimmermann all voted "abstain." Jerry said his abstention was due to his exploring purchase of a commercial space in OUP. Silvia said her abstention was due to her being opposed to TIF funding. Dottie declined to explain her vote at the time.

Later in the meeting council decided to schedule a special meeting on 9/19 to reconsider this item. A major sticking issue was the wording regarding a city seat on the North condo board:  "yes, if desired." Striking "if desired" could likely result in an approval of the resolution. 

In my late night email summary last night I stated that: Only someone who voted on the prevailing side can bring the item up for reconsideration. That is not correct. Since the special meeting is a new event ANY councilor may move the resolution for adoption.

I am hopeful that council will do the right thing and adopt resolution 15-60 on Monday.