Finance Committee Agenda and Packet 2024 10 17

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City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes September 19, 2024 Page 3 of 7 indicating that the community has many residents who are directly impacted by the work that they do. She commented that she would be more inclined to recommend to the rest of council to stretch the budget to add funding in support of some of these services which directly affect residents' day to day living at the requested amount. Councilmember Hoefner commented that the budget is precariously balanced as it is, suggesting that perhaps considering it in future years might be an option. Councilmember Kern commented that vehicle replacement requests in the proposed budget could be pushed out to provide those allocated funds to this program to help more residents. Councilmember Hoefner commented that, in his experience working with both granting organizations and grant recipient organizations it's common to not get what is asked for. He added that there may be merit in finding ways to increase this budget over time, but picking the total number of requests this year feels arbitrary, especially given what we just heard about the best practice of doubling your request from previous years it could get out of hand very quickly. Councilmember Kern commented that if any of the applicants come back to the city saying they need to decrease services, perhaps the committee and council could revisit a possible expansion of funding for this program. Councilmember Hoefner asked if the committee members agreed to approve the proposed budget and allocations for grant applications. The committee agreed to approve the presented budget. The Finance Department will bring this recommended budget to City Council in November or December and will ensure applicants are aware of the meeting date. Public Comments: None. Budget Update: The Finance Director provided an update on the proposed 2025/26 budget. The update included the latest on Sales and Property Tax forecasts and assumptions, and the 2025 — 2030 Capital Improvements Plan. The presentation was provided as an addendum shortly before the meeting. The City Manager's Office provided an update on existing budgeted funding for Citywide Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Committee Comments: Councilmember Hamlington asked for more information about the proposed EDI Scope Study. Interim City Manager Fox responded that staff heard from City Council at the last budget meeting that the EDI position should be retained, even if unfunded in 2025, and that there be a path for success and clarity for what the role should be. We are waiting for the City Manager recruitment to be completed before scoping the position, which could look a lot of different ways. The hope being that the resulting scope for the position meets council's desire to make sure we are still furthering our EDI work and make sure that if the position is funded in 2026 that there is clarity around what the role should be. 5/87