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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-01 Finance and Safety Minutes Gh of Tukwila F o Finance &Safety Cotntruttee `1908 FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes October 1, 2007- S: 00 p. nz. PRESENT Councilmembers: Jim Haggerton, Chair; Joan Hernandez and Dennis Robertson Staff: David Haynes, Trina Cook, Kevin Fuhrer, Jane Cantu, Christy O'Flaherty, Rhonda Berry, Derek Speck and Kimberly Matej Guests: Chuck Parrish CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Haggerton called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. At the beginning of the meeting, Councilmember Robertson requested to amend the agenda to discuss the review schedule for the 2008 Proposed Budget and C1P under IV. Miscellaneous items; agenda amended. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. H. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Business License Fee Increase Staff is recommending an increase in business license fees. Fees have not been increased since the establishment of the business license fee ordinance in 1980. After conducting research on assessed fees in similar -sized jurisdictions, staff has concluded that the proposed fee increases are within reasonable range of existing fees in similar communities. Proposed changes incorporate more equitable categories (regarding number of employees), are attentive to minimizing the financial impact on businesses, and clarify the definition of a home occupation. After further discussion with Committee members, several recommendations were made for incorporation into the staff report and/or proposed ordinance: Incorporate the fee rates of Kent, Auburn and Burien into the comparison table. Add an additional higher end category under Nuinber of Employees regarding businesses with 501 employees and above to be assessed a business license fee of $400. Hold a public meeting at the October 8 COW allowing comments regarding the increase. renewal notifications went of the fee increase t of annual with receipt Businesses will receive announce p sent via mail in December. Businesses have until January to pay the fee and are not assessed a penalty for late payment until February. A question was raised regarding home occupations and limousine services possibly taking advantage of this classification. Rhonda Berry requested general vicinity and/or address information of suspected properties so that Code Enforcement can follow -up on concerns. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 8 COW. B. Resolution Ordering the Cancellation of Outstanding, Unredeemed Finance Claims/Payroll Checks, Municipal Court Checks and Foster Golf Gift Certificates Staff is seeking approval of an annual resolution writing -off unredeemed and outstanding items which will be reported to Washington State in 2007. This year's cancellations total $5,745.43. All cancellations will be returned to the appropriate City funds with the exception of golf course gift Finance & Safetv Committee Minutes October 1.2007 - Paae 2 certificates which will be remitted to the Washington State Department of Revenue Unclaimed Property Section. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 8 COW. C. Resolution Dissolving Changes and Petty Cash Funds Staff is seeking approval of a resolution which will eliminate two existing petty cash funds in the City; the Municipal Court Petty Cash Fund and the DCD Change Fund. Elimination of the Court fund is based on its use as a witness fund which is now processed through the City's accounts payable service. The DCD fund, traditionally used as a change fund for permit payments, is no longer needed since permit payments are made at City Hall. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 8 COW. D. Resolution Regarding Annual Write-Off for Accounts Receivable Staff is seeking approval of an annual resolution to write-off account receivables deemed uncollectible. This year's annual account receivable write-off totals $14,884.34. UN~OUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 8 COW. E. Police Activity Reporting Staff provided a detailed explanation of the statistical report submitted as part of the Committee Agenda packet. Committee Chair Haggerton commented that this information was appropriately provided as per his request and is a good start for police activity reporting based on our current abilities. However, Councilmember Robertson stated that the information was still not addressing his concerns. Specifically, Dennis is seeking the ability to see police activity in residential areas without combining city-wide statistics across commercial/business and residential areas. Additionally, he would like to be able to view call categories that would be of more interest to residential community members - i.e.: disturbances, civil problems, family and juvenile issues, etc. Having access to this type of information on a quarterly basis would assist in addressing local neighborhood issues or at least provide an avenue of information to relating to neighborhood concerns. The Committee concurred in this interest to relate to neighborhood activity. Unfortunately, staff reported that the current analytical tools utilized by the Police Department are not supportive of the regular extraction of such information. Staff provided detailed information regarding an automated law enforcement reporting and statistical software product which would extrapolate the neighborhood activity information being sought. This tool can be utilized by the public through the City's website and would provide enhanced analytical tools for the Police Department. Kimberly shared her support of the product based on her meeting with Trina and demonstration of the reports it can support. The Committee expressed support of consideration to secure such a product that will allow staff to provide more detailed police activity reporting. Committee Chair Haggerton will report out on this issue at the October 8 COW and elicit discussion to work towards the support for the purchase of such an analysis tool. Chair Haggerton requested Trina's attendance at the October 8 COW in the event full Council has questions regarding this type of reporting product. DISCUSSION. m. ANNOUNCEMENTS No announcements. IV. MISCELLANEOUS Dennis expressed his desire for Council to look at and participate in the budget from a higher level. After receiving budget highlights, he would like the Council to have the ability to become involved in the budget process early enough to allow for discussions of meaningful change as well as consideration of budgetary impacts over a five-year period. Ideally, Council should be looking at the budget from a broad Finance & Safety Committee Minutes October 1.2007 - Paae 3 policy level recognizing and identifying long-term initiative effects. At an upcoming Council meeting, Dennis would like to ask the full Council if they are interested in having the opportunity to propose their individual/Council budget initiatives in an effort to encourage policy level discussions regarding budget initiatives. Meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, October 15,2007 - 5:00 p.m. - Conference Room 3. J;11 II Committee Chair Approval Minutes by KAM