This meeting marks the first time council members met completely online, rather than in-person. When they last met on April 6, several city staffers were still meeting in-person at the city hall chambers.
Big-ticket items:
- Farmer’s market postponement
- The Moscow Farmer’s Market has been postponed and is now set to reopen June 6, City Supervisor Gary Riedner said. The market was previously set to begin the first week in May.
- The June 6 opening will be for perishable agricultural items and is contingent upon the current pandemic response.
- Beautification Project moves forward
- The city’s “Beautification Project,” to take place on the areas of Main and C Street, recently came under fire in an online petition asking the council to halt the project until the city recovers from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
- Riedner addressed these demands in the council meeting, saying the beautification project has been on the books since 2013 and will proceed at the recommendation of Moscow’s Arts Commission. The council awarded the contract to Germer Construction, Inc, to the tune of $88,714.00. Construction work is deemed essential under the existing emergency orders.
- The project includes installation of a three-dimensional sculpture along with pedestrian ramps, electric and water service, storm drainage and replacement of non-compliant sidewalks. Riedner said the project is all about safety improvements, with the exception of the art piece.
- “The art piece is being constructed for a cost no more than $40,000 with specific arts funds that can only be used for public art projects,” Riedner said.
Small-ticket items:
- Charity golf tournament canceled
- The mayor’s golf tournament is now canceled, due to a decline in local business sales.
- “It wouldn’t be right to ask these businesses, the restaurants and bars that usually donate to the charity event, to do so in a down year,” Riedner said.
- Budget hearing date
- The public budget hearing date for fiscal year 2021 has been set for August 3.
- According to the agenda, “The city is required to notify Latah County of the public hearing date for the City’s annual budget no later than April 30th each year.”
- Almon Street reconstruction
- The council awarded a contract to Motley-Motley to fully replace the pavement, curb and sidewalk on Almon Street. Motley-Motley submitted the lowest responsive bid, according to the city agenda.
Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermooo