Moscow delays vote on bond for new police station

MOSCOW – A vote on a construction bond in Moscow to fund a new police station likely will be delayed at least a year.

Last fall, the city considered placing an $8.5 million bond on the May ballot. However, the proposal failed to include plans for the city’s new recycling facility.

Moscow Mayor Bill Lambert is expected to recommend Monday that the city council move the bond measure from May 2018 to May 2019.

“We want to make sure the public is involved,” Assistant City Supervisor Jen Pfiffner said. “Now, we will have more time to tell people what we plan to do with this bond.”

Pfiffner said more time will allow residents to be involved in the city’s Sanitation Master Plan and provide input on what they would like a new recycling center to look like.

She said the public comment process will include the formation of an advisory group.

It marks the second time in as many years that a bond measure for a new police station has been pushed back.

Two years ago, the city council opted to place a bond before voters in 2017. However, that was delayed to consider purchasing the federal building in downtown Moscow, which is owned by Gritman Medical Center.

Last fall, after that plan fell through, the city moved on to the current proposal, which now also has been delayed.

Pfiffner said until it’s clear what the community wants the recycling center to look like, and possible locations for a future site are unknown.

She said there is no doubt the recycling center needs to find a new space.

“Do we really want that industrial baling happening right there?” she asked. “However many years ago it made sense, there wasn’t a lot out there; it’s trying to meet the citizens’ needs and it may help not having that industrial use in the middle of retail.”