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Ms. Hamilton agreed and suggested that we brainstorm more about what sort of things we're interested in and talk about community needs. Mr. Lynch said there is also the issue of the rising cost of incarceration and keeping people out of jail for non-payment of child support. Mr. O'Connell said he is hearing that the third topic should be a broader discussion about priorities. Mr. Lynch said he also wants to talk about poverty issues. APPROPRIATION: $3,811,706 - TRANSIT CENTER (FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS) (2nd reading) Mr. Lynch said he has serious concerns about this issue, not only how we got to a $4 million overrun, but Council having to vote on further delays or costs. He said staff has apparently known about this for awhile. He said it is coming to Council so late that it is really not a choice. He said he is also concerned about having to take 2005 and 2006 FTA appropriations and put them into this project. He said Council has other priorities such as West Main Street. He said if we could take $1 million and put it into West Main Street we could make something happen. He asked how we can get more timely updates in the future and how we do this without being a detriment to other projects. Mr. O'Connell discussed the chronology and timeline. He said the building has been fully redesigned twice and there have been Board of Architectural Review changes and redesigns. He said it has been out there for 4 lA years and the cost and availability of funding has changed. He said the utilities at the east end of the mall were not included. He said Council discussed seeking additional FTA funding in 2002. He said reports were provided to Council in April 2003, January 2004 and June 2004. He said the cost of construction has gone up. He said most of the cost will be paid by federal grants. He said staff has not pursued what will happen if we do not do the project, but he thinks FTA will not give us future funding and we may owe them money back. He said he has talked at Council meetings about the cost and where the project is going. He said he thinks that if we go back and change the project then we could get higher bids. He said he does not think FTA would allow us to reprogram this money. He said there is money available out there if we can focus on what we need. He said we may lose the current bid if Council does not act. Mr. Schilling agreed with Mr. Lynch. He said it is his perception that this was not clearly presented to Council. He said management should have built in the 10% increase in advance. He said they started off on the wrong foot by not including utilities. He said Council needs to say no and staff needs to find a way to do it. He said it is incumbent upon Council to put its foot down. He said the City should not take on projects of this magnitude if we do not have the expertise. Responding to a question from Ms. Hamilton, Mr. O'Connell said that FTA has to sign off on what is in the building as well as the design of the project and the mall extension. Ms. Hamilton asked what other things would be possible with this funding. Mr. O'Connell said that it is his understanding that these funds are for transit buildings. He said he does not know what else could be applied for. Mr. Caravati said he has had specific concern over the building' s architecture. He said he still does not like it, but it has been supported by the majority of Council and citizens. He said he is frustrated with the ill founded politics of no. He said the short memory of Councilors is a disservice and he thinks it is their duty to follow projects such as this. He said this project is funded 99% from outside funding sources which have found no fault with the process. He noted that the BAR design issues took months. He