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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 05/20/2014 40 KENT ""`"III°'n" Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 20, 2014 The workshop meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. by Council President Ralph. Councilmembers present: Ralph, Boyce, Berries, Fincher, Higgins, and Thomas. Councilmember Higgins announced he would be leaving after the workshop to attend a rotary function. 2015 — 2016 Budget Calendar and Revenue Forecasts - Paula Barry, Interim Finance Director discussed the 2015-2016 Budget Calendar and Revenue Forecasts. She handed out the budget calendar and announced that the budget kick-off meeting is May 29. She noted that the Mayor would provide budget instructions to departments and there would be training occurring the week of June 2. Department presentations to Administration will occur July 14 through July 31 and August will consist of budget and capital improvement program balancing. The Finance Department prepares the preliminary budget from September 2 through September 26 and the Council holds their first public hearing on the budget and capital improvement plan on September 16. The budget will be presented to the Council for final approval on December 9, she announced. Councilmember Higgins and Councilmember Berries inquired why the entire budget process wasn't completed by November and Barry replied that the calendar may be changed as the year continues and explained the main reason why the budget is not prepared sooner is because of holidays and getting all departments included in the entire process. Councilmember Thomas added that there were holidays and other meetings that occur in October and November, so he felt December was reasonable. Barbara Lopez communicated that the City, by RCW, has to have the preliminary budget prepared by October 1 and Tom Brubaker, Interim Chief Administrative Officer communicated that the timeline for the budget could change if complications arise. Council President Ralph added that she understands that the budget will take time and in the past the Council has come in on a Saturday to finish it on time, but having more time to ask questions would be ideal. Brubaker reminded everyone that this is the second year of doing a biennial budget so getting it done sooner may not be possible. I Councilmember Berrios noted that the Council has learned from last year and the process should be easier this year. Brubaker communicated that it's unlikely to be done before December because the policy questions and discussions. Barry distributed the 2015 - 2016 Governmental Funds Revenue Projections. She noted that these consist of the General Fund, Street Fund, Lodging Tax Fund, Youth/Teen Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, and Criminal Justice Fund. She communicated that these estimated actuals are as of the end of March 2014. Kent City Council Workshop Minutes May 20, 2014 outreach, and evaluating new access. The lanes will be changed to a single white line and drivers can access wherever they want, he said Councilmember Ranniger arrived at 5:38 p.m. Brubaker inquired about vehicles that move in and out of the HOT lanes and Stone replied that WSDOT will be investigating that aspect in the future. Council President Ralph communicated that she is pleased with these revisions and it will allow drivers to access all of Kent. Councilmember Higgins communicated that Sound Transit is happy about this. Councilmember Berrios inquired if the State Patrol has tracked the number of accidents from vehicles going in and out of the HOT lanes and Stone replied that the HOT lanes have actually reduced accidents because there are less vehicles in traffic. He also added that there has been positive input about the double striping from some drivers that say they feel safe from vehicles moving faster in the HOT lane. Stone also noted that the average collision rate and incident response times have gone down. Councilmember Boyce inquired about the possibility of raising rates and Stone replied that the rate is measured by the number of vehicles in the lane. Thus, if the rate is higher, there are less vehicles in the HOT lane. He also stated that "Good-to-Go" is a method of paying for your toll. There will be HOT lanes from Renton to Bellevue and to Lynnwood on Interstate 405 next year, Stone said. He discussed options for more HOT lanes and where they will be going in. Stone discussed a new lane marked "Passes Only" on Interstate 405 in the north end that will inform drivers that you can only be in the HOT lane with two people or with a Good-to-Go pass. He noted that there will be a Good-to-Go pass that carpool drivers can activate which allows their pass not to be charged. He said the new Interstate 405 HOT lanes are scheduled to open in the fall of 2015. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. r Ronald F.,Mioore„MMC City Clerk 3