Council Votes 3-2 to Use Hamilton Property Sale Money for Downtown SMART

Councilmembers Josh Friday, Eric Lucan, and Denise Athas voted to use the City Properties Fund to fund a 500k shortfall for the Downtown SMART station. The fund includes money from Hamilton property sales.Despite proposals from Councilmember Pat Eklund to use other sources or to borrow from the City Properties Fund, the majority council members rejected those options. Councilmember Pam Drew was also opposed.The fund currently has money collected from the sale of the old Hamilton Hospital at $2 million and the Senior Cottages Triangle at $500,000. Also included in the fund is a potential $350,000 projected revenue from a future sale of the former Novato Human Needs Center.Previously, the council had said that a discussion on the uses of Hamilton properties money would come before council.There were some residents of Hamilton who spoke at the council meeting and endorsed the expenditure of money for the Downtown SMART station.Attached is the Marin IJ article below. Due to audio issues, it is very difficult to hear the discussion on this topic of the city council meeting.-Tracey Ruiztoruiz@yahoo.com