Brighton City Council Looks at Single Bond Proposal for November Election

After consideration of City Manager Dana Foster's two bond issue proposals, Brighton City Council members voted 5-1 to direct bond counsel to look at just one proposal for the November ballot, not exceeding $6 million.

Foster and the city's bond counsel will come back with ballot language at City Council's next meeting, July 19, where council members will learn final millage rates and can make a final decision on which projects to fund.

Originally, , one for core infrastructure such as residential curb and gutter improvements, residential street reconstruction and sidewalk repairs totaling $5 million and one for quality of life projects totaling $1.6 million. Foster said he arranged the $5 million bond issue so the new millage rate would take effect just as the current rate from the 1997 street bond issue was paid off so taxpayers would not see an increase.

One bond was favored over two separate bond issues so as not to confuse the voters and also so residents didn't just vote for the smallest millage increase, which would have been the quality of life projects - which City Council considers secondary below core infrastructure.

City Council voted to include all of the core infrastructure projects as well as three of the quality of life projects in the new bond proposal. The quality of life projects were a Mill Pond Band Shell for $720,000, sidewalk gaps installation for $490,000 and a camera monitoring system upgrade for $200,000.

Council member Larry Schillinger was the lone dissenter.

Mayor Pro-Tem Chad Cooper and Council member Claudia Roblee were both in favor of including quality of life projects.

Cooper said it was important to maintain those projects because the city signs advertise, "Where quality is a way of life."

"I think the $6 million is too high," Mayor Jim Muzzin said. "On the 19th, I'm going to look for a number closer to $5.6 million or less."