Pictured: The Town Trolley takes a wide turn around the potholes at the Snowcreek bus stop/

No moratorium, however, on additional spending from Mammoth’s Council

While logic might not dictate increased spending and the foregoing of possible revenue, we live in illogical times

At its regular meeting Wednesday in Suite Z, Mammoth’s Town Council voted unanimously to extend its moratorium on DIF (Development Impact Fees) for one more year.

Council also approved the expenditure of an additional $108,000 in public arts money towards the Gateway Community Project and $22,000 for maintenance of a bus turnout.

DIF

According to Community Development Director Mark Wardlaw’s analysis in the agenda bill, 11 projects took advantage of the DIF waiver in fiscal year 2011-2012, and the Town waived a total of $286,992 in fees.

However, approximately $208,000 of that total was attributed to Dan O’Connell’s Rock ‘n Bowl project.

Mr. O’Connell commented Wednesday that if the moratorium on DIF had not gone through last year, his investment team “would not have proceeded.”

Wardlaw said that seven of the eleven applicants told him a similar tale, that the DIF waiver had incentivized them to do the same.

Assistant Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez did sound a word of caution during the staff report, and appeared to counsel Council to reinstate DIF to maintain fiscal discipline.

Council chose to extend the DIF moratorium for one year, though Mayor Matthew Lehman and Councilman Michael Raimondo pushed for two years.

Councilman Rick Wood noted that he had sat on a previous Council which had initially adopted the DIF methodology (Mr. Wood was conflicted out of the vote at that time because of his financial interest in the Tallus project). He termed the DIF methodology adopted by that Council “idiotic” and claimed he hadn’t supported DIF at that time.

Gateway 

Council then approved an additional $108,000 be spent out of the Public Arts fund for the Community Gateway project.

For those who may be unfamiliar, the project consists of large welcome and good-bye monuments to be built at the entrance to Town along Highway 203 where an existing welcome sign is located.

It is estimated that in the final tally, the monument, the result of a public-private partnership, will cost $671,394.

How will it be paid for?

In-kind donations of services and materials … $232,000

Private monetary donations … $81,000

Public Art Funds … $358,000

Councilman Wood said, “This is a project that is worthy of this community. We are still in business.”

Councilman Jo Bacon cast the lone dissenting vote, as she was not in favor of using public art funds for the project

Bus stop maintenance

Council also approved $22,000 towards repairing the Snowcreek transit bus stop (see photo).

Senior Associate Civil Engineer Peter Bernasconi estimates that the paving was initially done in the early 1990s and has gradually deteriorated over time.

The project will include a new pedestrian waiting area and will meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance standards.

It is also believed that with the repairs, there will no longer be threat of illegal immigration from China (since there are at least two potholes which are about halfway there).