Welcome to City of Vancouver
Transportation Benefit District.
This is May 18th, 2026. It is
737 and Mizula. Excuse me.
Please call the roll director.
>> Harless. Present. Perez.
Present. Fox. Here. Paulson.
Here. Stober. Here. Hansen.
Mayor. McEnerny.
>> Ogle present. Thank you very
much. I do not have anyone who
has preregistered for signups.
And we have the consent agenda
and. We have items one, two,
items one and two. Is that it?
Yes. For consent Council, would
you like to pull any of those
items?
>> Move to approve.
>> Paulson. Seconded by Fox.
All those in favor, say aye.
Opposed. Motion passes. Thank
you very much. We have public
hearings. First one is a
resolution of the Vancouver
Transportation Benefit District,
amending the biennial Workplan
and biennial budget for the
2025 2026 biennium. Staff
summary, please.
>> Good evening. Ryan Lopossa,
Transportation manager for the
city. Thank you for this
opportunity to come before you
this evening. This item is what
we characterize as a cleanup of
the Transportation Benefit
District budget for both 2025
and 26. It's really an effort
to align it with the results of
our the spring supplemental
budget that the city passed
here, just here within the last
month or two. And so I can go
through just a couple of the
changes that were made, if
that's the desire of council.
And then if there's any
questions, I'll field those. So
for the 25 program, we made one
change under the pavement
Management program. The
original budget had a TBD
allocation of 2.7 million. We
actually corrected that to 1.6
million for the mill plain
MacArthur Improvement Project.
The original TBD budget for 25
was 3.1 million. We corrected
that to 2.4 million, and for
the 33rd Complete Streets
Project, the original budget
for 25 was 675,000. We actually
reduced this to 600,000 for 25.
And then when I get to the 26
program, we actually moved
75,000 for that project into 26.
Moving on to the 26 program,
again, a correction to the
pavement management program
instead of the or the 5.9
million that's shown in this
proposed budget actually
replaces 4.8 million that was
in the original approved budget
for the Main Street Promus
project. This was actually
allocated in the 25 budget in
the original approved budget.
We've now moved it to the 26
budget. And really, it's just
because of cash flow and how
the funds are being spent as we
move through the construction
project, the mill plain
MacArthur improvements, again,
just moving that 700,000
forward from 2025 budget. And
then finally the 33rd Complete
Streets project, we moved
$75,000 from the 25 budget to
the 26 budget. And then the
very end of the list of 26
projects, we added four new
projects proposed for TBD
funding in the spring
supplemental. So we are here
tonight to include those in the
26 budget McGilvery Boulevard
Complete Streets. We're
proposing to add an additional
600 000 in TBD funds. That's
reflective of our current cost
estimates for construction. So
we're just aligning our trying
to align our budget with the
estimates that we're now
working with the Saint John
Saint James Complete Streets
Project. We wanted to add
$200,000 to that project. That
is a what we characterize as a
Complete Streets project. It
was a a what we would consider
a walk on project. It was added
at the last minute due to a
paving program. So we're going
to use that $200,000 to do some
mobility work on the corridor
and improve some of the improve
that corridor for both mobility
and pedestrians. Another new
project that we've been working
on that we're, that we're
proposing to add TBD dollars to
is the Mill Plain and Thompson
Rail Crossing. So that's the
rail crossing on Mill Plain,
just to the west of the BNSF
overpass, right there at
Thompson Road. We've partnered
with the Port of Vancouver to
reconstruct that crossing so
that we can smooth out that
surface and repair those
damaged panels that are within
that crossing. So we're
proposing to add $700,000 in
TBD funds to help fund that
project. And then finally, our
TBD fund does get audited from
time to time. And so we are
proposing a 200 $0 allocation
just to cover audit audit
expenses for the TBD. So that's
a recap of the proposed changes.
And again, this really is just
a trip between the TBD and the
city's current budget
counselors.
>> Do you have any questions of
Mr. Lopossa? Nope, nope, nope.
All right. I'll entertain a
motion.
>> To approve.
>> Poulson. Seconded by. Hanson.
>> Mayor.
>> Counselor.
>> Go ahead.
>> Thank you, Mr. Lopossa.
Really quickly, could you tell
us what's the status of
McGilvery again?
>> Ryan Lopossa, transportation
manager for the city. We are in
the final design phase of
McGilvery. I believe we are at
90 or if not 95% design and are
ready to start moving towards
construction. I believe the
plan is to issue call for bids
later this year. I think the
substantial portion of the work
will occur in 2027, though.
We'll do the paving work and
then we'll come back and do the
final complete streets work.
But yeah, we're getting very
close. Took quite a bit of time
getting through some of the
design elements and just
working through those, through
those challenges.
>> Thank you.
>> Mr. Lopossa, give us an
example, please, of a design
element.
>> In the case of McGilvery, we
are repurposing a portion of
the street to serve both as a
mobility lane, but in some
sections it will also be a
place where pedestrians can can
walk because we don't not all
of McGilvery has sidewalks. And
so we wanted to make sure that
that space met all of the
requirements for pedestrian
space. We're also looking at
the intersection of McGilvery
and 136th Avenue. We've been in
contact with folks out there,
including the school district,
about some recent pedestrian
related collisions. And so we
wanted to go back and take
another look at that
intersection and see if we were
doing everything we could to
address those issues. But yeah,
anytime we're anytime we're
modifying an existing facility
to do other things, that does
add some challenge in the
design, in the design phase.
And so it does take some time
for us to, to get through that.
>> That intersection is already
at a four way stop. Are you
thinking of something different?
>> It will remain a four way
stop. And of course, because we
are repurposing McGilvery so
that we'll only be one lane in
each direction, it will be a
much different kind of four way
stop than it is now, but we are
proposing a much larger signage
in that area and then if it
becomes necessary, we may even
consider some of the the LED
stop signs. I think one of the
problems has been that there's
just not enough attention paid
to the fact that it is an all
way stop.
>> Okay. Thank you. I have a
motion. Yes, councilor. Go
ahead.
>> Yes. You know, just given
the the issues that we've had
with McGilvery there, do we
have any type. Ryan, do we have
any type of communication plan
to bring along folks during the
actual construction, just given
the disruption, potential
disruption that construction is
going to, to have on folks
there?
>> Yeah. So with all of our
projects, especially pavement
projects and projects that have
the potential to, to interrupt
either, you know, any form of
traffic, we do a very robust
outreach process through our
communications department. Once
we have selected a contractor
and we know the schedule for
the work that they're going to
be doing, we're going to take
that information and we're
going to package that into
information that we put out to
the community through a number
of different venues, both our
social media platforms, as well
as putting information in
postcards that get mailed out
to folks along the corridor, as
well as folks within a certain
distance of the corridor
leading up to actual work that
could involve disruption to
folks who live along the
corridor in their driveways.
Say, for example, the day that
we pave, the contractors will
be going out and hanging door
hangers ahead of time to let
let those residents know that
that work will be occurring. So
we really try hard. And with
our pavement program, I think
we do a really good job of
letting folks know what's
happening, when it's happening,
what kind of things are
happening, and more importantly,
are of equal importance, I
would say is who they can
contact if they have any
questions or concerns.
>> I'm just wondering if
there's something that we could
do that's not status quo, that
a little more relational
engagement, communication with
folks who are going to be
directly impacted. And for us
just to be prepared to hear
from the public on those
disruptions.
>> Yeah, I mean, I we can
certainly talk to our
communications team and see if
there's something for this
particular space that we could
look at. We continue to, to
hear from folks along the
corridor. They know that the
design is progressing. They
know that the project is moving
towards construction. So we
continue to hear from folks.
I've received several phone
calls. And, you know, we have
some folks who support the
project. We have others that
don't. And so we work through
those, those, those
conversations. But I'll, I'll
sit down with our
communications team and see if
there's some, some unique
approaches we could take for
this one.
>> Thank you.
>> They did a good job on Main
Street. So maybe we have some
strategies.
>> Yeah.
>> Miss Stoller, we don't have
it on this documentation, but
I'll open for public testimony.
I don't have any cards. Is
there anyone that wanted to
testify on this? So I'll close
the public testimony on it. We
have a motion and a second. All
those in favor, say aye.
Opposed? Motion passes. Thank
you. The second public hearing
that we have this evening is a
resolution of the
Transportation Benefit District
to issue an annual report for
fiscal year 2025. Is that one
yours also, Ryan?
>> It happens to be, yes. So
this is our annual report to
the community that we publish
each year, which provides the
community a summary of how our
street funding strategy and our
transportation benefit dollars
are being spent. This is one of
the many efforts that we use to
maintain transparency with that
program, and to continue to
promote the work that that the
street funding strategy and
that the TBD is funding. So
this this year's report is very
similar to reports you've seen
in the past. There's a
discussion of our guiding
principles and outcomes
associated with the funding
strategy. There's discussion of
how much funding came in in
2025, the various sources of
that fund, both what was
estimated, as well as what was
actual and then an outcome
section on on how those funds
were spent and the different
programs in which those funds
were spent. We talk about
different activities. There's a
lot of talk about what we call
what we now call corridor
projects, which we used to call
those Complete Streets projects.
And so there's a section on
page six that talks about the
some of the current corridor
projects we're working on, as
well as some of the new ones
that are coming up. We talk
about, again, different
programs that the TBD funds,
our grant projects, our traffic
calming program. We get into a
little more detailed discussion
specifically about the
transportation benefit district.
We talk a little bit about the
board, who is here before us
this evening. We talk about the
revenues, the expenditures, and
again, specific to the TBD.
I'll go over. There is one
proposed change to the report
that we'd like to talk about
this evening, so I'll go over
that in a second. And then
finally on page 11, there's
just a discussion of the
different the different types
of all the different projects
that are funded with the TBD.
And as you can see, that's a
pretty that's a pretty
extensive list. And this is,
you know, this is the same list
of projects that I spoke of in
the last public hearing. So
very happy to report all the
different all the work that's
happening with, with both the,
the, the overall funding as
well as the TBD as a, as a
whole. The one section that
we'd like to consider and I'll
just share with Council what's
what's being discussed. So on
page ten at the bottom, there's
a conversation about look ahead
for 2026. And that first
paragraph talks about the
change that was made to the
license fee when it went from
40 to $50. Director Fox reached
out to us and. That was a
little bit confusing because it
talks a lot about what we did
when that fee was changed and,
and under the under the caption
of, well, it's a look ahead for
2026. So we've worked on some
revised language that we would,
we would propose that we would
change this paragraph to
reflect that. And so I can and
I don't know if this language
is available to you or not. I
can certainly read it. If you
would like.
>> You bet.
>> So in lieu of the first
paragraph, what we would say
instead is the Transportation
Benefit District increased the
vehicle license fee from $40 to
$50 in summer 2025. The fee
increase was expected to
generate an additional $1.3
million annually to support
transportation projects within
the city limits through April
2026. Fee collections are
coming in as anticipated and
are on track to fully support
the 2026 work plan. Staff will
continue to monitor revenues as
a full year of collections
becomes available to help guide
future planning and keep
projects moving forward.
>> All right.
>> Councilors, do you have any
concerns what Mr. Lopossa just
submitted? No.
>> No no.
>> No no. Okay, Ryan, you got a
thumbs up on that. Any other
part of your report?
>> The other thing I would also
mention is I do an awful I
spend an awful lot of time,
maybe more than I should in
looking at other agencies in
Washington who have tbds and
what they do with those
programs, including their
annual reports. And I am very
happy to report that this
annual report really stands out
far and above all others. You
know, some of our some of our
fellow agencies of equal size
and stature produce a one pager
that basically is a spreadsheet
of this is what we got, and
this is how we spent it. And I
really feel like we have taken
several extra steps in
showcasing what it is we do
with these funds and what is
happening in our community. And
I think that's important. It's
an important reminder to our
community of how we're how
we're utilizing these funds
that have been provided to us.
>> So you two need to take this
to state conferences and put on
workshops so you two can bring
a plaque home.
>> Amongst the many others I
already have. Yes.
>> Thank you for funding it.
Okay. Any other questions of
Mr. Lopossa on the annual
report?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Yes, counselor. Go ahead.
>> Councilmember Stober or
Director Tai Stober, I think is
actually correct for this
meeting. He. Mr. Lopossa, it
talks about our current
pavement condition index PCI of
being 73. So first, let's say
this is year ten, right? So
this is year ten. So we need to
have some big party or
something and have a decade
long retrospective in the next
one. So year ten, that's a long
time. I in my mind is that we
had set a goal of a PCI of 80
way back when, and 73 is
somewhat close. Are we getting
closer to that original goal,
or are we just maintaining.
>> In your mind? I don't know
that 80 was ever a number. We
were looking at what we defined
our PCI. The goal for our PCI,
I believe, was a. I want to
characterize it as a medium to
fair to medium condition, and
I'll need to go back. There's a
there's words that were used as
opposed to numbers. My
recollection of the PCI for the
city when we started this
journey ten years ago, I
believe was right around 63 or
64, and it has trended upward
in those years. That curve has
flattened, though we did. We
stalled a bit during the
pandemic because we essentially
suspended all pavement work
that year just due to, you know,
the unknown in terms of what
costs might come in as a result
of the pandemic. So that was
one of the areas that we, that
we that we paused. But because
the cost of doing pavement work
has increased so dramatically
and far outpaced the revenues,
we are, you know, we're not
able to keep that PCI
increasing as, as quickly as we
would like to see. So it's a
very gradual increase right now.
And if we want to move it, you
know, closer to, say, an 80 or
something like that, we'll
definitely have to have some
conversations about what it
would take to do that.
>> I think it would be good. As
part of this decade
retrospective, to just help
tell that story of where we
were, where we are now. Yeah.
>> And a and a PCI of 73 is
definitely something. And again,
this is a city wide average PCI
pavement condition index. And
that's a very good pavement
condition index for that many
lane miles of streets that we
have in the city. There's still
plenty of work to do. And the
real challenge will be to get
to a place where we want to be
and to keep it there. And, and
so yes, I agree, I would love
to spend a little time
reflecting on the
accomplishments that we've made
over the last decade and then
talk about, you know, what the
next ten years has in store for
us.
>> Yeah. So starting with, what
did we say ten years ago? Where
are we at now? Yeah. Where are
we going? Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Any other comments? I'll
open the public hearing. No
cards. Close the public hearing.
I'll entertain a motion.
>> Mayor. I move.
>> To approve the
transportation. What are we
calling this? Annual report to
the community? With the
amendments as read into the
record.
>> Thank you. Seconded by.
>> Council Member Stover.
>> All right. Thank you. All
those in favor, say aye. Aye.
Opposed. Motion passes. Thank
you, Mr. Lopossa.
>> Thank you.
>> It is 759. We are adjourned