City Council forms transportation district
MONROE - The city decided to establish a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) last week in order to fund much-needed street maintenance projects in a down economy.
Voters will decide in November how to fund the TBD. Mayor Robert Zimmerman has expressed his preference for a voter-approved sales tax increase of 0.1 percent.
A 0.1 percent increase would collect about $290,000 a year.
Other funding options include a voter-approved one-year property tax levy, a voter-approved license tab fee of up to $100 and a non-voter approved $20 license tab fee.
The ordinance establishing the TBD says the city will not impose any fee or tax without the voter’s approval.
The city lists 10 projects the TBD could fund.
They are: connecting Tjerne Place from Chain Lake Road to Woods Creek Road; Woods Creek/Tjerne signal; 179th Avenue/147th Street signal; Fryelands Boulevard/146th Street signal; Hill Street extension; Fryelands Boulevard/Tye Street signal; 179th Avenue/154th Street signal; Oaks Street widening from Woods Creek to Old Owen Road; Old Owen Road/Oaks Street signal; and Woods Creek Road pedestrian improvements.
With the city’s revenues falling flat the past several years, the city’s backlog of street projects has grown to be a lengthy list, public works director Brad Feilberg said.
The state, the Puget Sound Regional Council and the city all have plans emphasizing the importance of road upkeep over new construction.

By STEPHANIE KOSONEN
Published May 2, 2012