HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-16 Finance and Safety Minutes City of Tukwila
y. Finance and Safety Committee
FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
November 16, 2010 5:00 p.m.; Conference Room #3
PRESENT
Councilmembers: De' Sean Quinn, Chair; Allan Ekberg and Dennis Robertson (filling in for Kathy Hougardy)
Staff: Shawn Hunstock, Peggy McCarthy, Steve Lancaster and Kimberly Matej
Guest: Chuck Parrish
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Quinn called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m.
I. PRESENTATIONS
No presentations.
II. BUSINESS AGENDA
A. 2011 -12 Legal Services Contract: Kenyon Disend, PLLC
Staff is seeking Council approval to enter into contract with Kenyon Dispend, LLC for legal services to
be provided during the 2011 -12 biennium.
With the exception of the changes listed below, the essential components of the legal services contract
remain the same as in past years.
Contract has been reduced by $50,000 per year for basic services
No longer guarantees the use of pagers for communication
Hourly rate schedule increase per employee of 4 -6% (does not affect overall contract amount)
New category added in Exhibit B: Compensation and Method of Payment, Section 2, Item D
significant projects which require specialized knowledge
A project example of the last bulleted item above is the legal work that was completed on the Shoreline
Master Program (SMP). Work related to the SMP was billed as a separate matter; however, Kenyon
Disend requested clarification for such projects in the new contract.
In regards to Exhibit A: Scope of Services, Item 4, Special Services, Acting Committee Member
Robertson requested a copy of all special matters and issues that were attended to by Kenyon Disend as
outlined in their invoices submitted to the City during 2009 and 2010. Committee Chair Quinn requested
that this same information come forward to Finance Safety so that Committee Members could identify
and anticipate future liability. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 22 COW
FOR DISCUSSION.
B. Legislation: 2011 Property Tax Levy
Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance increasing the City's Regular Property Tax Levy from
the previous year; an ordinance levying the General Taxes and a resolution declaring a finding of
substantial need relating to the Property Tax Levy.
Shawn Hunstock reported that today the King County Assessor released an update for Tukwila's assessed
values which reports an increase in both assessed valuation (now $4,839,390,773) and annexation value
from values originally published. This means that the levy rate needed for 2011 has decreased slightly
from what is reported in the memo to Committee. The new rate is $2.78 which reflects a 4.51% increase
from last year.
Finance Safety Committee Minutes November 16, 2010 Page 2
Today's assessed value represents a decrease of 2.9% compared to last year, and staff is recommending
levying a full 1% increase to property taxes due to a negative Implicit Price Deflator. In order to levy the
full 1 Council will need to pass a resolution declaring a finding of substantial need relating to the
property tax levy. A public hearing is scheduled for November 22, 2010. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.
FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 22 COW FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND DISCUSSION.
C. Leeislation Reeardina Budget CIP
Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance amending the 2010 Budget; an ordinance adopting the
2011 -12 Biennial Budget; and a resolution adopting the 2011 -16 Capital Improvement. Each item is
discussed in more detail below.
Ordinance Amending the 2010 Budget
As required by the Revised Code of Washington, staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance
amending the 2010 Budget. The amendment includes many items that have been discussed and
addressed throughout the year.
Both the property taxes and business license revenue line items are over budget by slightly more than
$400,000 total. This coverage will help fund additional expenses outlined in the budget amendment.
The items, explained in detail in the Informational Memo included in the November 22 Finance
Safety Committee agenda packet, include:
Project deficits in Finance, Legal, Community Development, Court, Fire, and Parks
Maintenance
Bond Revenue for Southcenter Parkway and Emergency Response Equipment
Debt Service on tax exempt bonds issued
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION.
Ordinance Adopting the 2011 -12 Biennial Budget
Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance adopting the 2011 -12 Biennial Budget. Shawn
Hunstock reported that the City will be adopting two single year budgets rather than one 24 -month
budget. This makes the process of adjustments, amendments and forecast much more efficient. As the
City Council has been conducting ongoing review of the 2011 -12 Biennial Budget 2011 -16 CIP,
there was minimal discussion on the draft ordinance which adopts the budget. UNANIMOUS
APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION.
A Resolution Adopting the 2011 -2016 CIP
Staff is seeking full Council approval of a resolution adopting the 2011 -2016 CIP. As the City
Council has been conducting ongoing review of the 2011 -12 Biennial Budget 2011 -2016 CIP,
there was minimal discussion on the draft resolution which adopts the 2011 -2016 CIP.
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 22 COW FOR DISCUSSION.
D. City Investments
As per City policy, staff provided the quarterly update to the Committee regarding City investment
reports. Report details begin on page 37 of the Committee agenda packet and demonstrate what the City
currently has in its portfolio.
Peggy McCarthy also briefed the Committee on an investment policy for the City which was last seen by
the Committee on June 22, 2010. At that meeting, staff reported that the City's revised investment policy
was submitted to the Washington Municipal Treasurers Association (WMTA) for certification and they
were awaiting return of the policy prior to coming forward to Committee for approval. Staff has not yet
heard from WMTA and is requesting Committee approve the policy in the meantime in order to begin
policy implementation.
The draft policy remains the same as it was in June with the exception of Section 11.1: Maturities, which
will now call for a minimum of 30% of the of the City's portfolio to be comprised of investments
Finance Safety Committee Minutes November 16. 2010 Paae 3
maturing or available within one year. Previously the minimum requirement was 50 This policy
essentially increases the flexibility to track funds and how they move, and creates an investment/bond
ladder through allowable maturity terms.
The Committee made minor wording changes to the policy which clarifies the requirement for items to
come before the Finance Safety Committee for approval as compared to making Committee input
optional. CITY INVESTMENT REPORT INFORMATION ONLY. INVESTMENT POLICY
UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE APPROVAL WITH CHANGES.
E. Sales Tax Report
Sales tax receipts for August show the largest increase this year in comparison to the previous year.
However, cumulative totals to date show the City 30% behind budget and 4% below last years' actuals.
There is evidence of slight recovery in certain retails areas, and with mitigation payments, we are
currently at 76% of budget sales tax revenue receipts. INFORMATION ONLY.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 5:00 p.m. Conf. Room #3
Committee Chair Approval
Minutes by KAM.