Finance Committee Agenda and Packet 2024 10 17

Home Browse Search

City Council Finance Committee Meeting Minutes September 19, 2024 Page 5 of 7 Councilmember Hoefner commented that there was a lot of pressure from council at the last budget meeting to pursue the affordable housing piece and the committee needs to keep this in mind. The broader question about CIP is really that we are pushed up against the edge of what we can do; is that where we want to be and what path do we want to pursue. There are large items that were added back in, and he would like to spend more time on the information to be able to review it in detail. Councilmember Kern asked if several of the large CIP projects related to public works in general? She felt that the Director of Public Works commented on the exponential increase in costs by pushing them out would cost substantially more than trying to complete them in 2025-26. She asked to see the details of this. She suggested if there are projects that will save the community a lot of money by doing them now instead of in future years, we would like to see details on those. She wants to ensure that core service items get done and be able to identify projects that are desirable but perhaps not a necessity. Councilmember Hoefner agreed that the information requested by Councilmember Kern would be helpful. He mentioned that anything that can provide a sense of priority and impact would be helpful. He is not persuaded that this is where we will land. Councilmember Kern commented on an unfunded open space project unfunded, saying that she realizes that the group is struggling with how to understand, balance, and distribute the funds between parks and open space. The intention of the voters was not to see parks deteriorate at the expense of open space, but to make contributions to make both lovely. She has a concern that we are not fulfilling a project for open space. We have heard from a lot of residents advocating for the equitable distribution of non -directly associated sales tax dollars going to parks and not open space. She wants to make sure the committee is getting all the correct information before making decisions related to this topic. The Director of Finance commented that neither parks nor open space had every project funded. The Director of Finance worked with the Director of PROS on the ranking of parks and open space projects. Councilmember Kern requested the detailed information on the ranking of all of the parks and open space projects. Councilmember Hoefner suggested an additional meeting next week to discuss the proposed budget in detail. The Interim Deputy City Manager noted that Thursday would work and reminded the committee that Tuesday night's council meeting has been canceled so that time could be used. She added that a meeting on Tuesday night would allow the Finance Department time to prepare the packet for the October 1 Council Meeting. The Director of finance commented that there is a lot of information in the packet, and he understands the need for more detail and a working session. There was a discussion between the committee members on the best day for a working session meeting. The Interim City Manager informed the committee that she and the Director of Public Works will be out of state at a conference next week and will attend virtually. The Committee agreed upon scheduling an additional meeting at 5:30 on Tuesday, September 24. The Interim Deputy City Manager asked the committee to consider that any additional information for the meeting packet would need to be posted tomorrow. She asked the committee to please be clear on what information is needed in addition to what has already been provided. 7/87