2007/10/17 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

October 17,2007 Roll was called with all council members voting yes. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING—RESOLUTION/SUPPORT OF ROADS AND TRANSIT MEASURE Council President Stonecipher opened a public hearing regarding a proposed resolution in support of the'Roads and Transit"measure on the November,2007 ballot. Brian Jones.Engineering,offered City staffs'prospective on the roads and transit measure. He stated that the proposed package would be financed through a.6%increase in the sales tax and a.8%increase in the motor vehicle excise tax. The package Includes$1.5 billion worth of improvements to Snohomish County's transportation infrastructure,most of which will be focused on major traffic corridors;Interstate 5,the U.S.2 trestle,and Highway 9.It also includes the proposed extension of light rail to Ash Way as well as additional monies for the planning of the possible extension of light rail into Everett. • Dave Gossett,Snohomish County Council,RTID Executive Board,5006 239.Place SW,Mountlake Terrace,stated that a recent audit shown that the proposed package will cut congestion by 18%and will mean far less travel time for commuters. He discussed some of the specific improvements that will be made and remarked that it will not get cheaper and will not get done faster ff we wait. Kevin Weed, Chair, Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation,3405 115"Avenue SE,Snohomish,spoke regarding the light rail portion of the proposed package. Will Knedlik,Eastside Transportation Association,spoke in opposition to the proposed resolution. He suggested that the council update and reapprove a resolution which was passed by the City Council in 1994 expressing opposition to the regional transportation proposal. 342