2019-10-14 Fiinance Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Finance Committee Minutes October 14, 2019 if needed. To facilitate consideration of the draft resolution, staff presented comparatives of expenditures per assessed value and turnout and response times. Tukwila's Fire Department budget is in the higher median range and consistently has near the best response time metrics from 2015-2018. The draft resolution would adopt the following current service levels: • turnout time of 03:01 for fire calls and 02:38 for EMS calls • response/travel time for the first arriving engine company to a fire suppression incident of 07:59 • response time for the arrival of the full complement of a 1st alarm response of 09:20 • response/travel time for the arrival of the first emergency medical unit of 07:52 The draft resolution also requires the following services: fire suppression, basic life support/EMS, rope rescue, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, machinery rescue, swift water rescue, water -craft rescue, floodwater rescue, urban search and rescue. Chair McLeod stated that the Committee is still planningto address the budget overage for 2019. Staff is planningto bring the budget amendment ordinance back to Committee, which includes the Fire Department and will provide time to discuss the request. RETURN TO COMMITTEE. C. Declining Utility Tax or other Revenue Streams Chair McLeod stated that the quarterly financial reports highlight the declining utility tax, which raises the question of how the City adapts when a revenue source declines or disappears. The City should be proactive and factor in technology and innovation when considering this. Staff from Economic Development, Technology & Infrastructure, and Finance participated in the discussion. Highlights included: • Diversification of revenue is a proactive strategy that the City is currently engaged in. For example, sales tax has declined, but Economic Development is focusing on activities that generate admissions tax, which is beneficial because cities retain the full amount. Bowling alleys are exempted from paying admissions tax due to state law. • During the municipal budgeting process revenue streams are always being evaluated, and when trends are identified they are adjusted in the next budget cycle. Finance is working on a 10-year sustainability plan which will take a deep dive into revenues and expenditures. Tools are being put into place including a citywide fee schedule, revenue guide, sales tax analysis, and performance measures. • The role of technology includes broadband infrastructure, asset sharing agreements, and 5G connectivity. The Rockwood Rising development in Gresham, Oregon is an example of city investments in innovation. Tukwila is working on an asset sharing agreement with the Steam company.