HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 07/16/2012 I1
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�•••, K Kent City Council
Workshop
July 16, 2012
Council Members Present: Albertson, Boyce, Higgins, Perry, Ralph
The special meeting was called to order at 5: 15p.m. by Council President
Higgins.
Infrastructure Funding. Council President Higgins explained the reasons for
the trouble finding funding, and outlined a three-step proposal as follows-
1 - a levy lid lift of 37 cents per $1,000, 2 - finding $2,000,000 in efficiencies;
and 3 - having a dialog with the business community about how to come up
with $4-6,000,000 in increased revenue He added that all three steps are
needed to address the problem. Higgins explained the strict timing involved
with the levy lid lift, and the consequences of not having it on the ballot this
year. Finance Director Nachlinger explained B & O tax scenarios.
Council members then discussed various issues including the difficulty of finding
$2,000,000 in efficiencies, the possibility of an efficiency study, how to achieve
the goals with the least amount of impact to businesses, and looking at the
organizational span of control.
Mayor Cooke said that this proposal is a mixed bag of processes, tied to both
revenue and budget, and pointed out that the budget has not yet been
presented to Council. She voiced concern about her ability to preserve the
City's integrity with $2,000,000 in cuts.
Albertson and Perry noted that cuts have been made many times already, but
that the public is not aware of that because of efforts not to let them show.
They agreed that now is the time to tell the public what has already been done,
and to explain that the city is out of money, and that parks and streets are
failing. Several spoke in favor of an efficiency study. Perry suggested meeting
with the Chamber of Commerce, proposing options, and voting on them.
Albertson suggested passing a B & O tax ordinance and the levy, and evaluating
the situation in a year. Ralph requested documentation showing what has
already been done. Boyce said he supports the business tax and opined that
$2,000,000 in efficiencies could be found.
The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Brenda Jacober, CIVIC
City Clerk