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Council delays vote on UP Trail Phase 2 after questions about added city funding
Summary
The council debated a change in the city’s financial commitment for the UP Trail Phase 2 project: an original $330,000 city commitment appeared to increase by roughly $300,000 in general‑fund support. Council voted 3–2 to continue the item to May 20 for staff to provide detailed budget and scope clarifications.
The council took up a consent‑calendar item for the UP (Union Pacific) Trail Phase 2 improvements, a multi‑agency project that has been discussed and refined for more than a year. Several longtime advocates and residents urged immediate approval; others asked for greater transparency after staff materials indicated a substantial change in city contribution.
Public commenters who had campaigned for the trail called for council approval to avoid more delay. Other speakers and members of the council noted that staff documents show the city’s total commitment rising from a previously stated $330,000 to about $660,000 when an additional $300,000 general‑fund allocation is included. Councilmembers asked staff to itemize where the change in funding originated and what scope changes require the added sum.
Citing the need for clearer financial detail and given competing budget priorities, the council voted 3–2 to continue the item to the May 20 meeting so staff can return with a detailed accounting of sources, contingency amounts and any impacts on other projects.
Next steps: staff to provide a written accounting of the scope change and the funding sources prior to the May 20 meeting so council and the public can evaluate the project's revised fiscal impact.
