Huntington council delays vote on TTA levy amid Pullman Square negotiations; mayor seeks FTA sign-off by Friday

Council members on Monday postponed a vote on an ordinance to place an additional Tri-State Transit Authority levy on the spring ballot, after an extended debate over whether the city should tie transit funding to ongoing negotiations over Pullman Square.

The motion to postpone to Friday, Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m. passed on a 6–4 roll call after council voted to waive the rules and hear Tri-State Transit Authority representative Paul Davis. Vice Chair Rob Archer moved to postpone; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Arthur and later carried with yes votes from Archer, Arthur, Blau, Holly, Sweeney and Shockley and no votes from Johnson, Layman, Rumbaugh and Walling.

Why it mattered: the levy ordinance on second reading would submit an additional local levy to voters to fund TTA operations. Mayor Farrell told council the push to delay was tied to a broader negotiating package with the TTA to transfer the retail portions of Pullman Square to the city, secure roughly $1 million in matching investment and amend the TTA lease so the asset can be stabilized and returned to the private sector. The mayor said TTA’s board voted 5–0 in favor of pursuing the plan but the FTA must review and approve parts of the transfer and amended lease.

Mayor Farrell described the timeline and the ask to the federal agency: “We asked them to expedite the action. We asked them, you know, if they could. And they said, yes, if you can move your decision from Monday till Friday, we will try to get you an answer back,” he said. Farrell said he prefers the levy language remain unchanged for the spring ballot but acknowledged that if the FTA or the TTA require different terms the city may need to consider amending the millage language.

Paul Davis, identifying himself as a TTA representative, told council the transit authority had reserves used for bus purchases and operating continuity and that TTA board members were willing to explore options to help Pullman Square without jeopardizing daily service. “We try to keep about a year’s worth of operating expenses… Without the levies, we die,” Davis said, describing competing demands on TTA reserves and federal compliance constraints.

Council members who opposed postponement said pushing the decision risks disenfranchising voters and that the ordinance as written deals narrowly with funding transit, not Pullman Square. Council members who supported postponement said the FTA’s review is a legitimate gating item and delaying briefly would allow the city and TTA to move forward together and preserve transit operations.

Next steps: The council set a time-certain reconsideration for 04:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27. The mayor and TTA asked the FTA for an expedited review and told council they expect a response by then; if the FTA responds that the proposed transfer or amended lease are not permissible, council said it would have to consider alternate levy language or other funding sources.

Votes and formal action: The motion to postpone was moved by Vice Chair Rob Archer and seconded by Councilmember Arthur. Roll-call on the postponement recorded six yes votes (Archer, Arthur, Blau, Holly, Sweeney, Shockley), four no votes (Johnson, Layman, Rumbaugh, Walling) and one absence (Mount). The council set a time-certain to reconsider the ordinance at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.

What the meeting did not resolve: Council asked for specific numbers about rents, past investment and the exact financial exposure of the city and TTA; the mayor and TTA said those figures are known but not available in the meeting and some will be confirmed through follow-up with the TTA and the FTA.

The council will reconvene on the item Friday; until then, negotiations and FTA review will continue.