Council Passes Budget, May Town On Procedural Votes

The Metro Council passed a number of expensive items last night.

Council members approved the operating and capital budgets on second reading. It was public hearing night for those two items. No one spoke against the $1.5 billion operating budget and the comments in favor urged the council not to cut departments any more than the Mayor’s office already did.

Also passed last night was the bill allowing the city to spend up to $75 million acquiring the land for the new downtown convention center. It passed 29 to 6.

Council also unanimously approved on first reading the proposed May Town Center project. The Planning Commission is still debating the 4-billion dollar project for Bells Bend, and won’t make a recommendation on it until the end of June. The May Town bill will be back before the council at its first meeting in July.

In addition to the financing piece for the land acquisition, Council members also approved the agreement putting the Metropolitan Housing and Development Agency formally in charge of the project. There is also another piece of zoning change accompanying the convention center bills, merging various development districts around the proposed center site into one district.

Lastly, Councilman Charlie Tygard’s bill making more people responsible for putting flyers in the public right-of-way was approved on third and final reading. It means a $50.00 fine for anyone who benefits from the advertised event. It also applies to campaign signs, but could have a far more severe impact on bands, clubs and concert promoters.