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Committee forwards $29M Western Hills Viaduct transfer as public commenter alleges money is being moved out of TID oversight
Summary
Staff explained an amended grant agreement that provides $29,000,000 for the city to administer debt service on the Western Hills Viaduct. Public commenter Stephan Pryor alleged the council was moving those funds out of the Transportation Improvement District into accounts that bypass district oversight; staff described the administrative reason for the transfer but the allegation was not resolved in committee.
A committee presentation on a revised grant agreement described a $29,000,000 transfer and appropriation that would have the city administer debt service and related costs for the Western Hills Viaduct project.
A public commenter raised a pointed allegation before the items were taken up. "The council wants to move the money out of the transportation improvement district that the city set up for the Western Hills Viaduct, and they are moving it to a different account that they can spend directly without going through the Transportation Improvement District," the commenter said. The transcript contains a variant of the speaker's name earlier; speakers and council members later referred to him as Stephan Pryor.
Staff told the committee the transfer reflects a revised grant agreement and reconciles scheduled payments so the city can administer its portion of the funding for debt service. "This revised grant agreement, and the transfer and appropriation, provides the $29,000,000 for the city to administer the debt service and related costs," the staff presenter said.
The committee placed the ordinance on for passage to full council and noted an update about the Western Hills Viaduct project would be provided at a subsequent committee meeting. The public allegation that the transfer is intended to evade Transportation Improvement District oversight was recorded in the public comment period; staff explained the administrative mechanics but did not directly address the lobbyist allegation and the committee did not adjudicate the claim during the meeting.
