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12 Mr. Huja made a motion to approve a plaque on the base of the statue with the language and image as suggested, and Mr. Taliaferro seconded the motion. Dr. Brown said that we have money for art allocated, and he suggested spending approximately $2,500 on the marker. Ms. Edwards said the words suggested by the family are very eloquent. Mr. Norris said that due to the lateness, the Efficiency Study will be deferred to the next meeting. REPORT : STREET CAR TASK FORCE Mr. Gary Okerlund, a member of the Street Car Task Force, said a street car can be included as part of the regional transit plan. He said there is the possibility of future federal funding. He said the question is does Council want to look into the idea of a street car further. He provided a technical review and examples of streetcars. He said the Task Force recommended that the City hire a consultant to study the base cost to build and operate a street car. Mr. Frank Stoner, 240 Chestnut Oak Lane, a member of the Task Force, said he has property interest on West Main Street. He asked Council to give serious consideration to funding the study. He said West Main Street also needs a parking study. Mr. Stoner said he thinks that if the City is the primary funder of a study then private funding will be possible. He said the West Main Street corridor is very fragile, and he thinks it is worth $200,000 to study the idea. Mr. Taliaferro said he served on the Task Force, and they discussed linking the idea to the regional transit study. He said he thinks maybe we should now go ahead in case federal funding becomes available and we would be in a better position to compete. He said that perhaps 50% of the cost could be covered privately. Responding to a question from Mr. Huja, Mr. Okerlund said that the cost per mile to build is $18 million to $20 million per mile. Mr. Huja noted that the Meadowcreek Parkway interchange is $30 million, to be things in perspective. He said if we are serious about transit we should do the next phase if we can get private partners. Ms. Edwards asked if the concern about streetcars not being bike friendly was brought up. Mr. Okerlund said streetcars slow traffic which helps bikes. Dr. Brown said he traveled to Portland with a study group. He said people really do not notice the overhead wires. He said streetcars have a track record of stimulating development. He agreed that a street car is not all we need to do on West Main Street, and agreed we need to look at parking. He said the problem is the cost, noting that places that have done street cars have funding sources we do not have. He said the question is how much do we invest in something that we may never have. He said it is not something we will be able to do ourselves. He said other places could move more people and would likely get priority. He noted that the study did not address what happens on the Corner where things are tight. Mr. Okerlund said that is one thing the study would address. Ms. Edwards said she believes this needs to be part of a larger regional transit study. She asked if the regional transit authority would need to be in place to get federal funding. Mr. Okerlund said not necessarily, but a larger system would help.