Finance Committee Agenda and Packet 2023 04 20

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City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes February 16, 2023 Page 2 of 5 additional staff for the Sustainability Program to provide support for the programs proposed by the Sustainability Coordinator. Questions from the Committee: There was a discussion around future revenue income and an interest in seeing a visualization of the data around bag tax revenues. There was a discussion around the strong desire to reduce waste as a community and how the amounts for the proposed incentive programs were determined. The Sustainability Coordinator will provide the committee with a recent McDonald's site visit report. There was a discussion around the restrictions on how bag tax revenues can be used and that preferred types of programs should include community programs and not just commercial programs. Councilmember Most reminded the committee that the community pays the bag tax and the funds should be reinvested in the community and not just businesses. Chair Dickinson had a question about the data presented for the reduction in bag usage. The Sustainability coordinator noted that other communities are generating similar results. Chair Dickinson noted that not including businesses which are not currently participating in the program in the incentives should be reconsidered. There was a discussion about the portion of the tax that businesses retain. Chair Dickinson expressed gratitude for the presentation and asked how a decline in program participation will affect the proposed sustainability programs. The City Manager noted that the programs will be adjusted over time as appropriate. There was a discussion about funding the proposed new, ongoing position. The Sustainability Coordinator provided information on the various funding sources the Sustainability Program expects to receive. Councilmember Most thanked the Sustainability Coordinator for the work on the presentation and reminded the committee that businesses are not paying the bag tax; consumers are paying the bag tax and the businesses collect the tax while keeping a portion for administration of the program. Councilmember most asked about using incentives for community programs as well as the proposed business programs and suggested incentives be extended to affected moderate -income residents in relation to the effects of code updates. There was a discussion about carefully considering who incentive programs should target and keeping EDI in mind as well. The City Manager asked the committee for input on the magnitude of expenditures and using the bag tax revenues for incentive programs to reduce bag reliance and bring on staff support to make these programs happen. 4/71