Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
PULLMAN — The Pullman City Council convened Tuesday, Aug. 27, to discuss the establishment of a Transportation Benefit District (TBD) and the potential for a 0.1% sales tax increase to fund critical transportation projects.
The meeting featured extensive public comments, including strong advocacy for improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Mike Urban, Director of Finance & Administrative Services, outlined the rationale behind the TBD, noting its potential to generate funds for various transportation needs, including road repairs and public transit support.
Urban emphasized the importance of timely action, with a deadline looming to ensure the tax increase could be implemented by Jan. 1, 2025.
Council members expressed general support for the 0.1% sales tax increase, emphasizing its role in funding necessary infrastructure improvements. Councilmember Pat Wright voiced concerns about the timing of the increase, given the community’s ongoing economic challenges.
Despite this, she recognized the need for sustainable revenue sources to support the city’s transportation network.
Jamie Brush, founder and executive director of Synergy Bicycle Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for active transportation infrastructure, led public comment.
Brush recounted a decade-long effort to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety in Pullman, highlighting the 2020 adoption of a Complete Streets policy, which mandates that transportation funding decisions consider all modes of travel, including walking and cycling.
Brush stated that the original intent behind the TBD was to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
“The TBD was not just about roads but about creating a safer, more accessible city for everyone, regardless of how they travel,” Brush said.
She proposed the creation of a multi-modal advisory board to ensure that future transportation decisions align with the city’s Complete Streets policy.
Councilmember Francis Benjamin expressed support for the multi-modal advisory board and the sales tax increase.
“We need to invest in our roads, build sidewalks where they’re needed, and support public transportation,” Benjamin said.
Councilmembers Dan Records and Al Sorensen also supported the sales tax increase, recognizing its equitable distribution across all users of Pullman’s roads, including non-residents.
The council will revisit the TBD and the proposed tax increase at its next meeting on Sept. 24, where it may take further action.
The meeting also included approving several routine consent agenda items, including disbursements for accounts payable and a 2024 WSU football agreement for Fire Department EMS services.
Additionally, the council authorized the acceptance of a $84,554 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which will fund the Pullman Fire Department’s specialized technical and confined space rescue certification classes.
The Pullman City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 24. At this meeting, further discussion on the TBD and tax increase is anticipated.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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