Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 05/04/2004Operations Committee Minutes May 4, 2004 Committee Members Present: Chair Tim Clark, Julie Peterson and Bruce White The meeting was called to order by Tim Clark, Chair at 4:02 p.m. There was an added item regarding the Kent Bike Festival. KENT BIKE FESTIVAL Economics Development Manager Nathan Torgelson and Recreation and Cultural Services Superintendent Lori Hogan presented the added item regarding the upcoming Kent Bike Festival. Mr. Torgelson advised that Councilmember Tim Clark asked that the community be advised of this upcoming event, which is supported by Kent Kuwanis. Mr. Torgelson introduced Aaron Renner who is the organizer of the Kent Bike Festival that is an event that is scheduled in downtown Kent on Sunday, May 30, 2004. Mr. Torgelson advised that from an economic development perspective this event will attract up to 700-100 people into downtown Kent on a Sunday for a series of bike races. Some participants will be from out of town and utilizing local hotels and restaurants. Streets will be closed for the race and some of the local restaurants have agreed to be open on Sunday during the race. Lori Hogan advised that the City was approached by Aaron Renner to hold the City’s first bike race. She was impressed by his enthusiasm and his professional approach. The Kent Bike Festival is an important regional event. This event is part of USA Cycling’s Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series (LAJORS), and is expected to draw in excess of 250 cyclists from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The festival is designed to promote and develop youth cycling in the Greater Seattle Area. Top junior (U-18) cyclists from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia are expected to attend as well as regional senior and masters level cycling teams. In addition to competitive cyclists from throughout the region, students from local elementary schools are also strongly encouraged to attend the Kent Bike Festival. This event will include free helmet fittings, a bike rodeo, and a Redline BMX demonstration: all designed to teach youth about bicycle safety. The Kent Bike Festival has a criterium-style race course through the heart of downtown Kent. In addition to the racing action, this event will also occupy the municipal lot between Smith and Harrison Streets. This lot will be used for the youth bike rodeo, helmet fittings, a BMX demo by the Redline Racing Team, and to provide exposure for local businesses. This lot will be the heart of the Kent Bike Festival. Mr. Clark inquired of which streets will be affected. Aaron Renner advised that Harrison Street, 2nd Avenue, Meeker Street, Gowe Street, 1st Avenue, and 4th Avenue. This event will not reach up to the Kent Commons. The sidewalks will all be open for the spectators and local businesses in the area have been encouraged to remain open during the event. Meeker Street Deli and Mom’s County Kitchen have committed to setting up barbeque style menus. Local businesses have been notified of the event, appropriate signage for the traffic plan per the public works and engineering department will be set. Great day for families. Lori Hogan commended Aaron Renner for a job well done and reminded everyone that Kent is Sportstown USA. Aaron stated that to make it a even more family friendly event there will be free kids races at 2:40 p.m., from tricycles to 10 years old. Operations Committee, 5/4/2004 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED APRIL 20, 2004 Julie Peterson moved to approve the minutes of the April 20, 2004, Operation Committee meeting. The motion was seconded by Bruce White and passed 3-0. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS DATED APRIL 30, 2004 Finance Director Bob Nachlinger presented the vouchers for April 30, 2004, for approval. Julie Peterson moved to approve the vouchers dated April 30, 2004. Bruce White seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. 2004 1st QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT Finance Director Bob Nachlinger advised the Committee that the 2004 1st Quarter Financial Report was provided for informational purposes at the April 20, 2004, Operations Committee meeting. Mr. Nachlinger wanted to provide the Committee the opportunity to discuss any items on the Report. Tim Clark askedif r there is anything that would run a red flag with department heads. Mike Martin advised that virtually every department has some concern they would advise him was a red flag. He advised the Law Department is down two attorneys which they consider to be critical. Mr. Martin advised that in the 2003 budget positions were deleted that were non-public safety. The public safety positions were frozen. He advised that the reason the community sees a predominance of public safety is because they others have been stripped. Mr. Martin advised that there is no department that is not missing critical positions at this time. Mr. Clark stated he was fully aware that the City had cut into the bone during the last round of lay offs and that unfortunately the City is handicapped even though the City’s service levels have not dropped. The demand for service is there and the number of support services that are so critical just for compiling data you can put it on hold but you can’t do it without a cost. It slows down the operation. Mike Martin advised administration will wait until the end of the next quarter to see how sales tax revenue is doing before considering filling vacant positions. Mr. Clark advised at some point there will need to be the discussion of prioritization and re-establishment as the City stabilizes. Julie Peterson did have minor questions, however, she stated she would arrange to schedule a time with Mr. Nachlinger to discuss her questions or concerns. No action was taken as this item was placed on the agenda for discussion purposes only. BIENNIAL BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE Finance Director Bob Nachlinger presented the Biennial Budget Adoption Ordinance which was previously brought before the City Council at the study session held on April 13, 2004, to establish a biennial budget process for the City of Kent as opposed to the annual process. Mr. Nachlinger advised that the biennial budget process allows administration to focus more of its time on achieving Operations Committee, 5/4/2004 3 the goals as established by the City Council and less time in working with an annual budgeting process. We anticipate that this change in the way we budget will free a significant amount of time in the various departments of the City in each of the off budget years. It would provide the Finance Department to spend more time doing analytical work and budget planning for the next biennium. Mr. Nachlinger advised that the biennial budget process is currently being utilized in Federal Way, Renton, and Tacoma. He stated that these cities have advised him that the biennial budget process performs a great benefit and service for their cities and that MRSC has numerous articles regarding the biennial budget process on its website. Tim Clark inquired that while a biennial budget process does bring stability to budget planning in the long range picture, how does a growing city like Kent cope with unusual conditions which suddenly come into play that can dramatically impact a particular section of the budget? Mr. Nachlinger advised that certain projects would be anticipated into the budget planning process and if any unforeseen event occurs which was not included in the budget the same process to amend the budget would be available as it is with an annual budget. Mr. Clark again inquired regarding political decisions which would have an effect on the City in terms of expectations from Homeland Security or even King County as its budget process implodes and it continues to unload its duties on cities. Mr. Clark stated his concern that a simple piece of legislation could suddenly open the door to allow King County to unload and then its in the City’s lap. Mr. Clark stated that is a real nightmare for him. He stated putting the City in a two year budget is not an overwhelming problem, but collectively the force could be frightening to this impact. Mr. Nachlinger reiterated that that scenario could happen during an annual budget process as well in which case the City would seek to amend the budget or adamantly be opposed to any legislation that King County may try to hand off. Chief Administrative Officer Mike Martin stated he spoke with some of the cities who use the biennial budget process. He stated ironically it is the lack of discipline by the city that uses the process that causes the problems. He stated that the most successful cities are the cities that tinker with the budget during the off year, go back and check their revenues and make sure they are relatively on target. In an off year he anticipates the City would focus on performance measures and tying those more closely to the budget. The more successful cities are those which are able to say this is not the year to do the budget, they leave it alone except for the necessary adjustments and focus on the areas which are more strategic. Assistant Finance Director Cliff Craig stated that it appears the Committee is concerned with losing some of the stability of the annual budget process by adopting a biennial process. He stated that when the City amends the biennial budget it can amend both years, He stated that if it is something that happens in the first year of the biennial budget the City can also amend the second year. Tim Clark stated his problem with a biennial budget process is the current climate that the City is operating in. The City was previously secure with a 10% reserve that basically helped the City get through some of the difficult times. He has a question of whether we are extremely vulnerable if the City were to go forward with adopting a biennial budget process under the City’s current economic conditions. Mr. Clark advised the process would be logical during a stable environment and with a beginning point in the budget that is also stable. He stated that unfortunately the City is not at that stage. That is what makes him nervous. He believes the template that the ordinance offers is absolutely correct in a stable environment. Craig Cliff stated that the converse to that is that when you look at the trends that are unexpectedly going adversely is that by virtue of looking at a two year packet sometimes that affords a greater amount of discipline to look at. Operations Committee, 5/4/2004 4 Julie Peterson stated she had a number of concerns with the ordinance itself. She stated she is not necessarily opposed to a biennial budget but would like more analysis in terms of how it is working with cities of similar size, what are the downsides to it, both economically and politically. She wanted to clarify job titles contained in the ordinance, the compensation regarding the hearing examiner, authority to transfer funds. She would like to know what the Council’s choices are. She would like clarification of the ordinance as she felt it was vague. Bob Nachlinger stated that a portion of the ordinance which adopts a biennial budget is section 1, the other sections merely make the amendments in the current code to conform and strike the annual budget and amend it to biennial. Mike Martin stated that the ordinance will be clarified. Mr. Martin stated that the law requires that when you adopt a biennial budget the statute requires that it can only be done at a certain time in the year and this is the time of the year. The City has no say over the cycle. The State legislature audits it. That is why it is being brought to the Committee and City Council now instead of next year. Julie Peterson inquired that it would be necessary to adopt a biennial budget process by July 1st. Bob Nachlinger advised that was correct. Julie Peterson advised she was not comfortable with the proposed ordinance. She understands its purpose of changing from annual to biennial but she would prefer that her concerns regarding the duties and responsibilities of the planning manager, the arts commission, the $2.00 per capita of the arts budget, and other concerns be addressed and that a biennial budget adoption ordinance be passed which is consistent. Mike Martin and Bob Nachlinger advised they would go through the ordinance and make the proper revisions and that they would make available to her direct verbiage and quotes from cities which have adopted a biennial budget ordinance. Tim Clark asked Bob Nachlinger to focus on cities comparable to Kent which are growing communities for increasing urbanization. Bruce White stated he did not have a problem with the ordinance. He understands that all the ordinance does is modify the sections which reference an annual budget and amends it to say it’s a biennial budget. He stated he felt that the areas contained in the proposed ordinance which Julie Peterson addressed are not in this ordinance that those revisions be made. Bruce White advised that in his view those amendments should be made during the budget process. Julie Peterson did not disagree with Bruce White, however, she felt for efficiency she would rather it be as detailed and thorough rather than having to come back with numerous revisions. Tim Clark stated that he still has questions and inquired whether the matter should be brought back to Operations Committee in two weeks or a month. Mike Martin stated that if the information can be gathered and provided in a timely fashion he would prefer to have the matter back before the Operations Committee in two weeks. He stated the City is at the beginning of the budget process and this proposed ordinance is the first step. Julie Peterson moved to bring the Biennial Budget Ordinance back to the next meeting on May 18, 2004. Bruce White seconded the motion, which passed 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 p.m. Renee Cameron Operations Committee Secretary