Committee amends district lighting item to limit funding to district dollars; item approved

Committee members amended and approved an item relating to adding lighting at county underpasses after removing language that would have authorized countywide budget sweeps if district funds proved insufficient.

A commissioner raised concern about the original language, which would have required staff to "identify additional legally available funds to fund the project to the extent the district funds are insufficient." The commissioner said the board had been trying to limit routine requests to pull money from the county budget and preferred that, if district funding proved insufficient, staff return to the commission for direction. The transcript records the speaker saying, "I just don't feel comfortable with the find it in the budget."

Staff and the clerk's office confirmed that the item belonged to Commissioner Garcia; staff indicated they had approval from Garcia's office to modify the item. The proposed amendment struck the clause authorizing identification of additional county funds and limited the item to the district funds identified in the motion.

The amended item was moved and seconded and adopted by voice vote. After the vote a commissioner said, "I am glad that that's moving forward because ... these dark underpasses are sketch, and we need them dealt with." The committee directed staff to proceed under the revised funding language and to return to the board if additional funding decisions are needed.

The committee’s action will appear on the full Board of County Commissioners agenda with the amendment limiting the project to district funds unless the board later directs otherwise.