HomeMy WebLinkAboutFSC 2024-02-07 MinutesTukwila Financial Sustainability Committee
Meeting #4 Summary Notes
February 7, 2024 1 6:00-8:00pm I Tukwila Community Center
Attendees
Committee Members
• Jacob Halverson, Resident • Amber Meza, Resident
• Kathy Hougardy, Resident • Abdiwali Mohamed, Owner, Abdiwali
• Annie McGrath, CEO, Seattle Southside Mohamed CPA
Chamber • Diane Myers, Resident
• Krysteena Mann, Resident • David Puki, Resident
• Karin Masters, Resident • Verna Seal, Resident
• Peggy McCarthy, Resident • Greg Sherlock, Resident
Absent
■ Arta Baharmast, General Manager, Westfield Southcenter
■ Phillip Combs, COO, Segale Properties
City Staff
• Vicky Carlsen, Finance Director
• Laurel Humphrey, Council Legislative Analyst
• Derek Speck, Economic Development Administrator
Consulting Team
• Katherine Goetz, BERK Consulting
• Brian Murphy, BERK Consulting
1
Meeting Recap
Welcome and Meeting 3 Recap
Brian Murphy welcomed Committee members and provided an overview of the agenda. He provided a
brief recap of the material covered and discussions in meeting 3.
Overview of other funds
Katherine Goetz shared information about the City's capital improvement program, types of capital
projects, and challenges related to funding capital investments. She then shared some information about
the Foster Golf Course fund, which is an enterprise fund.
Brian shared information from the consultants working on the utility rate study regarding the City's utility
funds, which are also enterprise funds. Brian noted that this study is only for the City of Tukwila's utility
funds (water, sewer, and surface water), though some residents may receive service from other providers.
■ There was a question about how the Committee would be involved in the rate study.
The Committee will not be asked to provide input on the rate study, but members may want to
consider the results and how potential rate adjustments may need to be weighed with other factors
that affect the tax and fee burdens on Tukwila residents and businesses.
Financial plan overview
Brian shared information on the City's programs and services and limits on property tax (that was shared
in meeting 3) as reminders for the Committee members. Katherine shared information on general cost
savings and revenue generating options available to the City to enhance financial sustainability.
Katherine shared an overview of the City's General Fund financial plan and the assumptions underlying
the projected future revenues and expenditures.
Some Committee members emphasized the importance of finding cost savings strategies that seek to
make maximum use of the City's limited resources.
Potential Committee Recommendations
Brian introduced an activity where Committee members could provide feedback on emerging themes
heard in meeting 1, 2, and 3. They could note where the City should consider each theme a high priority,
medium priority, or low priority, or note if they did not agree with the theme. They could also ask
questions or leave comments about a particular theme. The results of that exercise are presented in a
separate document.
Committee members were invited to share ideas or suggested recommendations to the consulting team
via email. The consulting team will aggregate this input and share it in advance of the next Committee
meeting.
• ill City of Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan I Committee Meeting #4 Summary Notes
2
Meeting Close
Each Committee member shared closing thoughts at the end of the meeting.
• Consider investing in employee expertise and knowledge as an asset, just like infrastructure. But hold
people accountable as well.
• Maintain current levels of service. It is important to focus on the return on investment and invest in
long-term planning. The conversation around earmarking funds for asset maintenance and
replacement was good.
• Work on retaining quality employees. The conversation around lifecycle maintenance was beneficial.
• City Hall is still on reduced hours so the City should prioritize being open for the community and
businesses. It is unclear what restoring levels of service means.
• It was enjoyable to hear from others. There is only so much money and the City should see how it can
do more with less. Good management and a good working environment are important to retaining
quality employees, not just salaries.
• Lifecycle replacement has a significant impact on the budget. The City has gone over budget on
some large capital projects. Audits would be helpful but also consider quality control and
performance management policies and procedures.
• We have been hearing about individual priorities and now we can look forward to getting more
cohesion and hearing energy around ideas that can be helpful for the City Council.
• The Committee is at a pivot point. It is important to remember the Committee's role and make sure
recommendations do not just sit on a shelf.
• This was a good discussion and provided good food for thought.
• Government is expected to do more for its citizens. The Committee's role is thinking about what could
be better for the City and providing high level suggestions to Council.
• We can see different priorities among the Committee. The City should prioritize getting back to pre-
COVID levels of service. There may be broader questions as well to consider.
Brian provided an overview of the agenda for the next meeting. At that meeting, the consulting team will
share how potential recommendations may impact the City's financial forecast and present some options
for discussion. The consulting team working on the utility rate study will also provide a brief update.
The following dates are planned for subsequent meetings in 2024:
• Tuesday, March 6
• Tuesday, April 2 (proposed change — please let us know if this won't work for you)
Meetings will be from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Tukwila Community Center.
• ill City of Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan I Committee Meeting #4 Summary Notes
3
Emergent Themes: Summary
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan I February 6, 2024
Overview
This summary tallies input provided by Fiscal Sustainability Committee members at their February 6, 2024
meeting. This input should be viewed as mid -process and non -binding.
The numbers count the number of dots placed by Committee members, with higher scores shaded a pink color.
The column titled FSC Member Comments captures verbatim input placed on sticky notes.
1
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know
FSC Member Comments
Consider the fiscal implications (revenues and increased costs
by program) when making land use decisions.
Encourage business growth and build on the existing strong
commercial sector.
Promoting more housing options is also important, both for
renters and owners.
Support the development of walkable spaces that function
well for residents and visitors.
2
2
1
6
9
9
8
3
T
Encourage middle housing.
More options for home
ownership. Encouraging
townhomes, etc.
1
Housing for all — balance.
Housing for all — yes; middle
housing; Vienna Model; social
housing and development +
house our neighbors; mixed use
buildings
City is focused on existing and
low-income and needs
conventional, market rate,
affordable, senior housing,
active lifestyle, and hotel too
Walkable, bikeable, with better
public transit — connect city
together.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024 2
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know Comments
Overall and General Government
Conduct rolling program audits to find opportunities for
greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Review and streamline processes to allow staff to keep up
with workload or address additional tasks.
Consider opportunities to shift positions to meet needs and
dedicate time to cross -training to help staff meet workload
demands with existing resources
Add resources dedicated to grant administration to maximize
potential grant revenue for the City
1
Invest in retaining quality staff, which is cheaper than the cost
of turnover.
Invest in financial management.
Evaluate the return on investment for the Tukwila community.
This cannot always be quantified.
1
Seek the most efficient and effective ways to provide
services, including contracting, collaboration, and alternative
staffing approaches.
1
10
15
5
5
2
5
7
It will come out ahead in
funding, with right person this
would be a great value add.
Anyone in city that already can
do?
Maybe creativity with training
schedules? Better disbursement.
Right people can do more with
less and long term saves and
adds value
Unsure what this means... $ v.
value
Ongoing and yes, not all can be
quantified but should track all
of those that cannot be so are
obvious/clear.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary 1 February 6, 2024
3
1 Agree
1 Low Medium High
Disagree Priority Priority Priority
1 don't
Know
Comments
Reduce resources dedicated to equity.
Increase resources to support hiring and recruiting.
:..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Increase resources to support citywide data analysis.
Increase resources for information technology security and
emergency preparedness.
1
2
2
2
2
1
1 1
1 1 On balanced approach.
3
2
At the very least in a city as
diverse as our community is, we
need to at least keep cis is.
Anything less is irresponsible.
Where reasonably possible.
Keep as a lens through viewing
but not final deciding factor.
Reasonable amount to find best
talent.
Identify highest priority and ROI
for what data is needed.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024 4
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know Comments
Community and Economic Developme
Review and streamline processes to allow staff to keep up
with workload or address additional tasks.
Invest in business and development attraction and retention
activities.
Prioritize permitting and rental housing inspection functions.
Deprioritize long-range planning, as well as destination
development and tourism marketing.
1
Increase resources for environmental planning.
2
Ilr
4
6
5
3
3
4
2
2
1
1
1
Continuous improvement
strategies
Apprentice programs
Tiered salary structures
This adds $ so makes sense. Be
strategic.
Yes to permitting, hearing this
from SF homes to all projects.
No to rental housing, let this not
be a program but rather
addressed when a need arises.
Spend it wisely to create
destination development. Not
seeing this, only on City
projects.
Don't increase: just use existing
resources to factor this in,
manage and encourage this.
Incentivize those doing
"sustainable" projects = big or
small.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024 5
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know Comments
Community Engagement
Seek efficiency (perhaps via electronic records) in responding
Ito public records requests, which is a mandated function.
Reduce spending on community engagement or allocate
resources to targeted engagement efforts. Build on existing
engagement opportunities.
Review the charge and purpose of Boards and Commissions
to ensure these entities are being utilized to their full
potential.
Increase resources to support the growing volume and
complexity of public records requests.
1
3
3
4
1
2
2
1
3
4
1
Automate the system to lower
staff level.
Don't spend more, just use more
tools with higher success rate for
response (considering equity +
commercial + residential).
Can it be simplified and
standardized? How are others
managing this?
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024 6
Disa • ree
Low
Priorit
!Agree
Medium
Priorit
High
Priorit
1 don't
Know
Comments
nd Recre
Add resources dedicated to grant administration to maximize 1
potential grant revenue for the City.
Review programs and services that were reduced during the
pandemic and determine what to restore based on need and
demand.
Consider increasing programs and services for preschool kids
and youth/teens.
Explore opportunities to collaborate with other cities to meet
housing and social services needs.
Evaluate the value of facility rentals.
1
Increase resources to support environmental stewardship.
Increase resources dedicated to long-term capital planning.
1
2
1
2
3
2
1
2
6
1
5
4
1
3
1
1
5
1
Focus on most expensive
projects. For grants.
Can this person work on other
grants? Or is specialization
needed?
Maintain current services now.
Can we do even more with Tess?
Getting most out of this.
Gain synergy and ideas.
Let the facility pay for itself
then offer it to community.
Advertise to businesses for use.
Maybe use existing properties
for flex business rental offices
etc.
Modestly, on a limited basis; it
doesn't take much.
Some more is needed, these
can/should have value add
potential though so net ahead!
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024 7
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know Comments
Add resources dedicated to grant administration to maximize
potential grant revenue for the City.
Prioritize sidewalks, potholes, and litter control, TIB bus
stop/streetscape, streetscapes/median landscape, park
restrooms contract.
1
3
2
1
2
Increase resources for facility maintenance.
Align funding for infrastructure maintenance with inflationary
cost increases.
1
5
4
3
3
These can/should have value
add potential.
Development levy on new
projects for sidewalk upgrades,
similar to Tacoma.
Less specific on TIB and more in
general ownership, we need to
be good stewards of what we
have.
Where preventative
maintenance has a value add,
specifically.
Needs first, wants last (if $
available) unless there is a
potential gain — expected
growth.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary 1 February 6, 2024
8
Disagree
Low
Priority
1 Agree
Medium
Priority
High
Priority
1 don't
Know Comments
As a community, determine how to define "public safety".
Consider focusing on restorative justice and programs for
youth.
2
Consider using non -uniform personnel for some duties.
Maintain funding for police patrol services.
Prioritize narcotics & human traffic investigations; investigation
of felony and juvenile crimes; and professional development
and training.
Assess the community return on investment for the school zone
safety camera program.
AEI
2
4
1
1
1
1
2
4
2
8
6
3
7
1
1
1
We have this. Many issues are
also youth from outside the city.
Maybe more oversight.
Need to understand what this
means...
Get creative to take back our
city from those
abusing/damaging it.
Community policing. Working
with businesses too.
Adding if/when necessary.
How to get more from resources
TBD.
If it pays for itself and more.
Tukwila Financial Sustainability Plan Emergent Themes: Summary I February 6, 2024
9