Planning for the funicular in Langley’s 2015 budget had three people voicing concern Monday night, and resulted in Mayor Fred McCarthy retracting a sentence in the draft document.

At the city’s second public hearing for its $5.5 million budget, the $500,000 project was the subject of much conversation between a trio of critics, the mayor and the Langley City Council. Two Langley residents and a property owner whose Cascade Avenue view would be altered by the proposed funicular or previously floated bridge and elevator objected to the city moving forward with the project.

Citing a previous Record story about the city’s budget and a different story about Langley’s progress on the funicular, they claimed city officials were trying to push the project through without adequate public input. Langley leaders, however, said that’s not the case, that if the project moves forward the city would need to go through a lengthy process that includes Planning Advisory Board meetings, Design Review Board meetings, and finally a green light from the city council.

Councilman Thomas Gill said it was a six month process, at a minimum, and would likely last two years. Including the project in the 2015 budget was necessary in the off chance that work could begin this year; any major work not listed in the budget cannot be done without an amendment to the official budget.

“It’s going to be practically impossible [to get the project done in 2015],” Gill said.

Langley has explored a way to connect the marina at South Whidbey Harbor to the city’s commercial core via a lift up the bluff. The harbor is currently accessible by Wharf Street, which has a sidewalk. The Langley Main Street Association also provides limited transportation services up and down the road with a golf cart.

Grants totaling $500,000 for the project have been set aside by the Island County Council of Governments for several years. City leaders have expressed concern that they could lose the money if action isn’t taken soon, though no deadline has been set.

McCarthy, upon the request of the three vocal opponents, retracted a statement he penned in the draft budget’s introduction, one the Record repeated in a recent story, that read “The construction of a conveyance is planned to occur in the Spring of 2015… .”

But no explanation of the city’s review and permitting process could quell Langley residents Brian Woloshin and Nell Anders, who called for a public vote on the project.

“Have public hearings and put it to a vote before putting it in the budget,” Anders said.

Councilwomen Rene Neff and Robin Black said they wanted to have a more concrete project to show the public, if they were going to put it on a ballot at all.

Langley plans to work with the Port of South Whidbey, which manages the marina, before moving forward with the project in whatever form it may take as a funicular, elevator or more golf cart service. In a meeting about a previous incarnation of the project — the bridge and elevator dubbed the Langley Lift — opponents questioned the need for such a connection, as well as how its maintenance costs would be covered.

Waiting on the port district’s information about its needs for boaters and visitors to reach the city’s commercial core and more ample parking, including trailer parking, is the next step for Langley. Trailer parking was secured in a five-year agreement by the port district at a lot owned by the South Whidbey School District on Sixth Street and Cascade Avenue, a couple of blocks away from where the proposed bluff-top landing would be located.

Langley’s 2015 budget will have another reading by the city council at its Dec. 15 meeting, when it will likely be passed.