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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-11 Special Minutes - Budget Workshop Budget Workshop Location: City Hall Council Chambers Date: October 11, 2012 Begin Time: 6:05 p.m. End Time: 8:36 p.m. PRESENT Electeds: Jim Haggerton, Mayor; Verna Seal, Council President; Councilmembers: Joe Duffie, Dennis Robertson, Allan Ekberg, Kathy Hougardy, n and Kate Kruller Staff: David Cline, Peggy McCarthy, Vicky Carlsen, Rick Still, Gail Labanara, Bob Giberson, Mike Villa, Joyce Trantina, Jack Pace, Nick Olivas, Stephanie Brown, Mary Miotke, Kim Walden, Trish Kinlow, and Kimberly Matej The Budget Workshop consisted of the following: Highlights of Internal Services Funds Highlights of Remaining General Fund Departments Re-Review of Changes made to Attachment A per 10/09/12 Council Request Council-Driven Budget Initiatives After reviewing the first three bullet points above, Council proceeded to share individual Councilmember budget initiatives by subject only, in order to determine items of interest among the majority of Councilmembers for discussion. The items discussed are listed below, and the outcomes follow. Public Safety Facilities Golf Course Sewer Fund Sidewalks Disaster Preparedness Public Safety Discussion led to Council requesting that Administration increase funds for policing crime reduction efforts in addition to what is c 2013- uncil acknowledged the recently presented Crime Reduction Initiative, and confirmed that delivery and process of reducing crime is best determined by the Police Department in collaboration with City Administration. Although there was no specific dollar amount identified by the Council, it was made clear that Council does not believe the existing amount in the Proposed Preliminary Budget is enough funding. This discussion resulted in a Council Preliminary Budget. Facilities In general the Council agreed that a Facilities Plan for the City is needed. However, they conveyed that the process for moving forward with Plan implementation needs to proceed more slowly, and involve the Council and public input. Suggestions included bringing the Council and %XGJHW:RUN6HVVLRQ2FWREHU3DJH public into the planning process over the next year, or two, emphasis. In summary, the Council communicated that they would like to see a reduction in funds designated for the -2014 Biennial Budget as well as the Six-Year Financial Planning Model and Capital Improvement Plan. The Council recognized that identification and demonstration of facilities and facility priorities is an essential and important step in the process of implementing the Facilities Plan and therefore, communicated that some funding for the Facilities Plan process should be in the budget. There was also acknowledgement among Councilmembers that if the first steps of the Plan identify an emergency need especially as it relates to first responders staff should return to Council immediately to discuss the issue and response options. This discussion resulted in a Council request to change a portion of the Preliminary Budget. Golf Course Overall all, this discussion resulted in the Council communicating that they are not interested in selling Foster Golf Links; however, the Council does want to look at different options for operating the golf course over the next year, and prior to the next budget cycle. This could include options such as, but not limited to: the golf course being a part of the City, and not an enterprise fund; including it as a functional part of the Parks & Recreation Department; or contracting for certain services. The Council was clear that they want Foster Golf Links to remain an amenity of the City, but they are unsure how to make this a successful and viable amenity of the City. This discussion resulted in a Council request to look at operational and financial options for Foster Golf Links during 2013. Sewer Fund The Sewer Fund currently runs the risk of going negative over the next year even with implemented and planned rate increases. In recognition of this possibility, the Council is willing to consider removing the interfund utility tax from the Sewer Fund. This would take Council action, and the Council is willing to work this item through Committee, as appropriate, to make the Fund viable. Gail Labanara, Public Works Analyst, will present the rate models for the Sewer and Water Funds at the Utilities Committee wherein the Committee will look at the fee options and/or plans and determine a recommendation to full Council if the interfund utility tax should be removed from the Sewer Fund. This discussion resulted in a Council request to review the possibility of removing the interfund utility tax from the Sewer Fund, via the Council Committee process. Sidewalks This was a brief discussion in which Councilmembers expressed a desire to have an annual program for prioritizing and considering residential improvements such as streets and sidewalks as currently exists for the Annual Overlay and Repair Program and the Annual Small Drainage Program. This could lead to the dedication of funds for such improvements on an annual or biannual basis. ing Program. It is anticipated that this will assist Councilmembers in moving towards the desire of an annual program direction as expressed above. Disaster/Emergency Preparedness After a lengthy discussion, the Council determined that the policy surrounding this particular item is the Council desire to continue providing an active and operational CERT Program. There may have been some confusion resulting from information provided in a previous Budget Work Session wherein it appeared that the viability of the CERT Trainer position for the City was in jeopardy. However, this has been clarified, the position is not in jeopardy, and the Council confirmed their policy position, that it is important and necessary for the City to provide CERT training opportunities and an active CERT program to its residential and business communities. The Council agreed that it is up to the direction of City Administration how this need is achieved in an operational sense. In closing, the Council concurred that they are in favor of sending items relating to the discussion, processing and approval of the 2013-2014 Biennial Budget directly to Council, rather than proceeding through the Committee process. Additionally, they noted the importance of the Strategic Plan findings in relation to the initiatives discussed above. Request for Information As a result of this Work Session, the Council requested the following: -Insured Heathcare Plan with information from the past couple years, present, and future as appropriate. Information can be presented via the Finance & Safety Committee. Tukwila Neighborhood Outreach Liaison Program. Provide a schedule for Department 20 that lists all transfers. Review and consider the Summary of Municipal Revenue Sources (draft handed out at meeting) at the Finance & Safety Committee. Hand-Outs Distributed at Meeting: Re-Calculated Attachment A, per Council Request Summary of Municipal Revenue Sources, Draft Summary by KAM