HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council - Minutes - 11/23/1999 Kent City Council
November 23 , 1999
A special meeting of the Kent City Council was called to
order by Mayor White at 5 : 00 p .m. Present : Councilmembers
Amodt, Brotherton, Clark, Epperly, Orr, Woods and Yingling,
Operations Director McFall, City Attorney Lubovich, Fire
Chief Angelo, Police Chief Crawford, Finance Director
Miller and Parks Director Hodgson. Approximately 50 people
were at the meeting.
Mayor White noted that the purpose of this special meeting
is to discuss the property tax levy. Operations Director
McFall explained that the two issues regarding the property
tax are the actual levying of the property tax and, if
Council so desires, preserving their right in the future to
utilize the full taxing resources . He displayed graphs and
explained the City' s funding and taxes . He said that the
proposal for consideration is a property tax rate of $3 . 204
per $1, 000 of assessed value, and the matter before Council
is to approve the property tax levy in the amount of
$18, 897, 553 for the general fund and $1, 830 , 793 for debt
service funds . He explained that this is considered a zero
percent increase over the highest allowable tax from the
previous years and would result in collections of
approximately $1, 000, 000 more in 2000 than in 1999 . McFall
then answered questions from Council-
members regarding the implicit price deflator, the consumer
price index, and rates in other cities . Mayor White
commented that staff has recommended adoption of an
ordinance establishing the 2000 property tax levy and said
he concurs, with no increase for inflation.
WOODS MOVED to approve Ordinance No. 3493 establishing the
property tax levy of $18, 897, 553 for the General Fund and
$1, 830, 793 for the Debt Service Funds, and further
establishing the maximum allowable property tax revenues
for the year 2000 with no increase in the 2000 property tax
revenues over the highest allowable property tax revenues
for 1999 and with no increase for inflation. Orr seconded.
McFall recommended changing the word "hearing" to "meeting"
and it was so ordered.
Yingling expressed concern about labor costs, productivity,
public safety and technology, which were addressed by
McFall . Mayor White added that cuts will continue in the
City Council Meeting Page Two
November 23 , 1999
2001 budget . Amodt noted that although the total levy rate
has gone down, the assessed values go up, and suggested a
rate of 3 . 00 which would still result in additional funds
to the city but would let the citizens break even. Finance
Director Miller stated that a 3 . 00 rate would result in a
$1, 300 , 000 impact, or a reduction of 24 more positions .
Brotherton suggested holding the line now rather than
facing a worse problem in the future . Clark reiterated
that the City is attempting to do with less . Orr pointed
out that the county determines assessed valuations, and
that the city has held the line for several years .
Upon a question from George Smith, 9505 S . 2418t Street,
McFall reiterated that the increase in revenue over last
year is approximately $1, 000, 000 . Robert O' Brien, 1131
Seattle Street, proposed changing the rate to 3 . 10 because
other agencies also have projects which taxpayers must pay
for. Tod Stewart, East Hill, said staff could do with the
same amount of money received last year. Carol Voss, 14610
SE 266th, said that the Mayor, Council and staff are doing a
good job wrestling with this difficult problem. Bill
Young, 1005 E. Guiberson, said $1, 300, 000 could easily be
cut out of the budget plan by eliminating things such as
arts projects and parks . Woods clarified that the $700, 000
in the budget for a park at Clark Lake is not city money,
but is money which is contingent upon receiving a grant
from the state.
Nancy Stewart, 9810 5 .2318t Street, spoke in opposition to
taxes . Rodney Bishog, Lake Meridian, spoke in favor of the
3 . 00 rate, and suggested cutting expenses . Pete Curran,
300 Scenic Way, urged the Council to remember and respect
the thousands of citizens who have not appeared before them
on this issue . Jane Oualmann, 414 Kennebeck Avenue South,
explained that her family chose to live in Kent because of
the parks, churches, open space, senior programs, and good
services, and said she does not mind paying for them.
Adrienne Lindblad, 26321 97th Avenue South, said the water
rate increase penalizes large families, and that the
Council should think of ways to do with less .
City Council Meeting Page Three
November 23 , 1999
The motion to adopt Ordinance No. 3493 then carried with
Amodt opposed.
WOODS MOVED to approve Ordinance No. 3494 protecting the
future right of the Council to levy the maximum amount by
authorizing a limit factor of 6% over the last years
highest allowable levy. Orr seconded. Woods explained
that this is a bookkeeping item which must done in case of
an emergency. McFall noted that, as with the previous
ordinance, the word "hearing" should be changed to
"meeting" . There was no objection. The motion then
carried with Amodt opposed. Mayor White commended the
Council for their attention to this matter and expressed
support for their actions .
The meeting adjourned at 6 : 05 p.m.
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Brenda Jaco e CMC
City Clerk