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BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 27, 1993
PRESENT: Jon Johnson - Chair, Jim White, Roger Lubovich, May Miller, Cliff Craig, Chief
Angelo, Alana McIalwain, Ron Spang, Glenn Fellin, Joye Honeycutt, Bob Cline, Paul Scott,
Ramona Fultz, Raul Ramos, Bill Doolittle, Don McDaniels, Steve Burpee, Barbara Simpson,
Connie Epperly
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Chairman Johnson.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET REQUEST
Steve Burpee, representing the Chamber of Commerce, noted that the City of Kent has assumed
many responsibilities of economic development and reinvestment of tax dollars. He noted that
in the 1980's economic development just came into the City with little planning, but that now
long-range planning and proactiveness are greatly needed. He explained that the Chamber of
Commerce's proposal is for economic development to become a line item in Kent's budget, and
funded at 2/10 of 1% or approximately $63,000 a year to allow the City to be more actively
involved on a day-to-day basis as well as giving the community an opportunity to do long-range
planning. He noted that the Chamber of Commerce can be the vehicle to help maximize results
in the achievement of City goals, and bring about efficiencies, accountability and substance to
the term public/private partnerships. Don McDaniel explained that the Kent Downtown
Partnership (KDP) is a main stream organization that looks at component parts such as:
1) imaging of the downtown infrastructure; 2) promotion and marketing to enhance the op-
portunity for people to come downtown and shop; and 3) economic restructuring which deals
with capital investment type projects. He noted that the whole idea of economic development
in the future will need more strategic planning from the KDP, the Chamber of Commerce, and
the City of Kent working together, and that the real benefit from continuous funding is that it
offers a strategic plan to develop opportunities for people to come into the downtown area.
Barbara Simpson, Chamber of Commerce, explained some of the strengths that the Chamber of
Commerce possesses and how they can help in the long-range goals for the City of Kent. She
mentioned that in October when this item will be considered an action item, the Chamber will
provide a more detailed list of the expenditures. Upon White's question, Simpson clarified that-
the Chamber of Commerce is asking for $63,000 for this year, plus $32,000 for the Kent
Downtown Partnership, plus contributing to the Seattle-King County Economic Development
Corporation, as a member. City Attorney Lubovich cautioned that next year the City will have
to be careful about how expenditures are distributed because of the gift issue and that the City
can contract with private organizations to carry on functions, but grant monies cannot be given
out.
SIX YEAR AUTOMATION PLAN & BUDGET REQUEST
City Attorney Lubovich explained that this item will be an action item for tonight. Ron Spang,
Information Services Director, explained that the last plan was done in 1986, and that much
automation has been done since. He noted that the Automation Committee is proposing, because
of the rapidly changing technology and new changes, that this item be revisited every two years
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instead of six and be flexible. He noted the reasons to automate as follows: 1) as the City
grows more demands will be made and rather than hire a new person each time something is
added it makes more sense to automate; 2) past underutilization of automation cost plenty in
redundant activities, extra manual efforts, delayed work, limited capabilities, backlog of
solutions; 3) recent automation programs are paying dividends; 4) future new programs offer
promising and attainable benefits; 5) PC's and Printers are aging and limited in today's world;
6) Lan's are increasingly the "glue" needed to tie systems together; 7) training program absence
costs in staff productivity and morale; 8) new business solutions need to be programmed for;
9) telephones, graphics, computer operations can serve us better; 10) geographic information
system upgrade is essential; 11) businesses are automating; 12) local governments nationally are
automating; 13) local governments near Kent are automating; and 14) the Federal Government
is automating. He explained what's been done from 1987-1993, the work program, what's
needed, and ways to keep on track by improving communication with the City Council,
Administration, users, vendors, and staff. He explained the recommendation of the Citywide
Automation Committee as follows: a) approval of the bi-annual Six Year Automation Plan;
b) approval of existing, budgeted funds to begin a systematic upgrade program of pc's and
related hardware and software, using funds previously set aside for this purpose; c) establishing
an on-going program to cover future system replacement through increased operating rates to
user departments; d) approval of additional projects and funding sources, as outlined in the plan,
including the combining of Police and Central Services equipment replacement funds into
automation plan accounts; and e) continuing the use of Hewlett-Packard computer products as
the principal City computer hardware supplier. WHITE MOVED approval of the Six Year
Automation Plan and Budget Request as presented. Johnson seconded and the motion carried
2-0.
10 YEAR OUTLOOK FOR THE PUGET SOUND ECONOMY
Acting Finance Director Miller noted that Chief Administrative Officer McCarthy had recently
attended a conference sponsored by Standard and Poor's regarding the outlook for the Puget
Sound Economy. She noted that the outlook is for a continuation of a flat economy with some
job growth to offset the Boeing Company reductions, and that, at least through 1994, the region
is precariously perched on the edge of a recession. She noted that a positive side to the slow
economic growth is that expenditures slow down as well as the CPI and inflation rates.
AUGUST FINANCIAL REPORT
Acting Finance Director Miller summarized the final report for the period ending August 31,
1993.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
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