Vancouver City Council June 3rd 2013

Tonight was very interesting to me.  For the first time ever I was there to just listen, and listen all the way through.

I have some questions.

BNSF land swap with City of Vancouver, Lincoln Ave between 11^th and 12^th.  Property intended to be used to expand the railroad with direct access for high-speed rail from Seattle to Eugene.

The question was asked if reasonable compensation was exchanged with the City, yet no one asked to see exactly what that was.  Is it prudent to see the bill of goods sold?  What I heard was the use of High-speed rail expansion.  Just one more reason that if light rail were ever to come to Vancouver It should go to the Train Station and that could have been part of the deal.  Private Money working with Public.  Also who is paying for all the proposed improvements that were noted.  Does the City pick up that entire bill?

Part of the motion to refinance the Hilton hotel the City owns, also passed to make renovations.  Where is the entire budget break down?  How much in renovation are they making after 8 years of use? He mentioned everything, from the Restaurant to Rooms and even Lobby but what is a reasonable maintenance restoration budget each year,  or life of original product?  Or is this a complete overhaul?

In the End the council was discussing the every 4 year Clark County/C-Tran review meeting next Tuesday at 5:00 (I need a better note taking method).  Bart stated the numbers of Representation of Vancouver money that is used, versus voting power at this meeting.  For some reason at this every 4 year meeting the City of Vancouver only gets the vote of one person.  Interesting because the City used their Power of Veto to deny passing a motion in the last C-Tran Board Meeting.  This motion was to ensure the people were able to VOTE on the proposed CRC and light rail project.  The City Council members where then told by the City Lawyer or the City Manager that the only exit strategy might be to remove itself from the organization..?  Jeanne Stewart asked what would be the adverse effects the City feels it has with C-Tran beyond the proposed  light rail addition to the LPA of the CRC project.  She asked the Mayor exactly what differences they would have with this organization, yet he did not speak.  She thought the Mayor should be the one to represent, however I thought the Mayor is removed from Voting because his company has a contract with Tri-met…?