Budget Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Council Budget Committee of the Whole met on June 7, 2012, at 3:00 p.m., presided over by the Vice Mayor. The committee addressed nine agenda items during the session, taking 32 motions and votes and hearing 10 public comments.

The meeting resulted in several approvals and one tabled item. The committee approved the Review Links Recommendations, Mayor's Late Items, Revenue Number Adoption, Arboretum Bathroom Funding, Partners for Youth Funding, Assistant Director for Corrections position, and SALT Budget Reduction. The Review Councilmember Recommendations item was tabled for later consideration. The FY 13 Council Budget Schedule was presented as an informational item.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 7, 2012:

Council Members: - Council Member Farmer - Council Member Henson - Council Member Lane - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Martin - Council Member Myers - Council Member Stinnett - Council Member Beard - Council Member Kay - Council Member Blues - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Kaye

Commissioners: - Commissioner Driscoll - Commissioner Hamilton - Commissioner Mason - Commissioner O'Mara - Commissioner Paulson - Commissioner Ryan - Commissioner Barrows - Commissioner Milligan - Commissioner Hancock

Other Attendees: - Connie Underwood - Ms. Maynard - Mr. Schoeniger - Mr. Maloney - Glenn Brown

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The council approved multiple items during this meeting, primarily through voice votes on pages of the revised late item list and budget recommendations.

Late Item List Approvals

The council voted to approve pages 2 through 17 of the revised late item list. Page 2 was approved on a motion by Council Member Farmer, seconded by Council Member Martin 38:11. Page 3 was approved as amended, with items 21 and 22 removed, on a motion by Council Member Martin, seconded by Council Member Ellinger 1:18:03. Pages 4 through 17 were subsequently approved through individual voice votes, with motions made by various council members between 1:22:00 and 1:42:16.

Budget and Financial Decisions

The council approved the reallocation of bond proceeds for the Streetscape project on a motion by Council Member Blue, seconded by Council Member Ellinger 1:51:52.

The revenue estimate of $289,429,968 for the Mayor's proposed budget passed with a roll call vote of 10 ayes and 2 nays 1:58:25. Council Members Ellinger and Kaye voted against the measure. Council Members Farmer, Henson, Lane, Lawless, Martin, Myers, Stinnett, Beard, Kay, and Blues voted in favor.

LINC Recommendations and Amendments

The council approved LINC recommendations for Finance, Social Services, and Outside Agencies 2:24:21, General Government 2:25:25, and Environmental Quality and Public Works, excluding Valley View Ferry 2:39:29. An amendment to reduce the SALT budget by $200,000 was approved 2:40:34.

Public safety LINC recommendations (items 1 and 2) were approved 2:57:54. Item 3 regarding the Assistant Director for Corrections was separated for individual consideration and passed with 13 ayes and 1 nay 3:03:34, with Council Member Beard voting against.

Additional Approvals

The General Services Parks Maintenance Budget was approved on a motion by Council Member Lane, seconded by Council Member Kay 3:04:48. The council also voted to change the budget meeting time to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday on a motion by Council Member Myers, seconded by Council Member Kay 3:05:53.

Tabled Motions

Two motions were tabled: approval of items 64-67 from Councilmember recommendations 2:16:01 and a motion to restore $42,000 to the Council Office Professional Services Fund 2:29:56.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included the following financial actions and appropriations:

Amendments * Increase in golf revenues to fund the general fund: $152,894 * Funding for the Valley View Ferry match: $1,000,000 * Funding for the user fee public information campaign: $243,000 * Funding for the SALT budget reduction: $200,000

Appropriations * Arboretum bathroom construction: $125,000 * Partners for Youth program: $25,000 * Neighborhood match grant: $50,000 * PDR program: $1,000,000 * Arena Arts and Entertainment District match: $1,250,000 * Constitution Park softball field: $238,000 * Berry Hill skate park match: $150,000 * Public safety radio project: $1,000,000

Contracts * Electronic instrumentation technician: $45,000 * Assistant director for corrections: $109,840

Revenue * Landfill loaner box program: $90,000

The appropriations totaled $4,838,000, with major funding directed toward the Arena Arts and Entertainment District match ($1,250,000), the PDR program ($1,000,000), the public safety radio project ($1,000,000), and the Constitution Park softball field ($238,000). Additional funding supported community programs including Partners for Youth ($25,000) and infrastructure improvements at the Arboretum ($125,000) and Berry Hill ($150,000).

Public Comment

Council members raised several concerns during discussion of the proposed budget:

Revenue Forecast Council Member Stinnett expressed concern about the economy and the 4% revenue increase assumption, though acknowledged the expertise behind the forecast 2:04:52. Council Member Martin stated he would not vote for the revenue number due to discomfort with the economic outlook and the 4% increase assumption 2:04:52.

Council Salary Adjustment Council Member Martin raised concerns about the process and fairness of the salary adjustment, noting that council members had not been informed of cost-of-living adjustments in prior years 2:25:55. Council Member Beard expressed concern that the salary adjustment was not properly processed and could impact future compensation 2:14:09.

Arboretum Bathroom Funding Council Member Lawless suggested that the bathroom request was a new item and should be discussed in the council recommendations rather than as a late item 2:06:52. Council Member Kay moved to strike the Arboretum bathroom item from the late item list and place it on the council recommendations agenda 2:04:40. Council Member Myers questioned whether new items like the Arboretum bathrooms should be considered late items, arguing that the mayor had already presented a balanced budget 2:55:13.

Collective Bargaining Agreement Council Member Lane requested a three-year forecast of the total cost of the police collective bargaining agreement to better understand long-term financial impact 2:08:34.

Public Safety Funding Council Member Stinnett emphasized the importance of having an assistant director at the jail to support the new director and improve operations 2:56:49. Council Member Myers supported the assistant director position to give the new jail director the resources needed to implement reforms 3:01:52.

Contested Items

The June 7, 2012 council meeting included four items that generated significant debate among members.

Arboretum Bathroom Funding

Council members disputed the procedural handling of a $125,000 request for Arboretum bathrooms. The disagreement centered on whether the item should be classified as a late item or a new item for council recommendations. Members raised concerns about the process and timing of the request.

Council Salary Adjustment

The council was divided on approving a salary correction for members. The dispute involved questions about the process used to determine the adjustment and concerns about fairness, particularly regarding how cost-of-living increases were calculated and applied.

Assistant Director for Corrections

A heated discussion erupted over the proposal to add a new assistant director position in the corrections department. Council members questioned the appropriateness of creating the position given documented high turnover and existing staffing issues at the jail. Some members characterized the proposal as "empire building," suggesting the position was unnecessary expansion rather than a justified operational need.

SALT Budget Reduction

Council members split on the rationale for reducing the SALT budget. The disagreement focused on whether the assumption that a full salt barn existed justified the proposed budget cut. Members questioned the basis for the reduction and whether the underlying assumption was sound.

Review Links Recommendations

The Council reviewed recommendations from LINC totaling $261,765 across multiple departmental areas 2:22:09. The recommendations encompassed items in finance, social services, environmental quality, public safety, and general services.

Key Speakers and Discussion

The review involved several Council members, including Connie Underwood, Council Member Stinnett, Council Member Blues, and Council Member Martin, who participated in the discussion of the proposed recommendations.

Areas of Debate

The discussion included debate on two specific matters: the SALT budget reduction and the assistant director for corrections position. These items generated particular attention during the Council's review of the LINC recommendations.

Outcome

The recommendations were approved by the Council.

Review Councilmember Recommendations

2:07:17

Council members presented individual recommendations during this agenda item, which included funding proposals for youth employment programs, sidewalk repairs, intersection repaving, stoplights, and jail improvements.

The discussion centered on procedural questions regarding how these recommendations should be handled. Council members debated whether the items should be treated as late items or moved to the council recommendations agenda for consideration.

Key Speakers: - Council Member Ford - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Stinnett - Council Member Martin

Outcome:

The item was tabled, meaning the council postponed further action on these recommendations at this time.

FY 13 Council Budget Schedule

The council reviewed the FY 13 Council Budget Schedule during this agenda item 8:00. The Vice Mayor led the discussion on this presentation.

The review focused on several key areas of the budget schedule:

• Revenue considerations
• Late items requiring attention
• Council recommendations

The discussion took place within the context of the meeting's overall progress and time constraints. The item was presented as informational in nature, providing the council with an update on the budget schedule status rather than requiring a formal decision or vote at this time.

Mayor's Late Items

The Council reviewed and approved a revised list of late items during this portion of the meeting 9:04.

Items Reviewed

The revised late items included corrections and adjustments across multiple fund categories:

• General fund corrections
• Urban services fund adjustments
• Police contract savings
• Golf revenue increases
• Funding for Arboretum bathrooms
• Funding for Partners for Youth

Key Speakers

Commissioner Driscoll, Commissioner Hamilton, and Commissioner O'Mara participated in the discussion of these late items.

Outcome

The Council approved the revised list of late items as presented.

Revenue Number Adoption

The Council discussed and adopted a revenue estimate of $289,429,968 for the Mayor's proposed budget. This figure included updated golf revenue projections.

Council Members Farmer, Martin, and Stinnett were key participants in this discussion 1:58:25.

The motion to adopt the revenue number passed with a vote of 10-2. Two Council members opposed the adoption, citing economic concerns as their reason for voting against the measure.

Arboretum Bathroom Funding

2:04:40

The Council addressed a $125,000 funding request for Arboretum bathrooms, with discussion centered on whether the item should be treated as a late addition to the agenda.

Council Members Kay, Lawless, and Beard participated in the debate. The Council voted on a motion to remove the item from the late item list. The motion passed with a vote of 12-1, allowing the Arboretum bathroom funding request to proceed to the council recommendations agenda.

The outcome was approved, moving the $125,000 request forward for consideration as a regular agenda item rather than a late item.

Partners for Youth Funding

The Council addressed a $25,000 funding request for Partners for Youth, which had been submitted as a late item. Council Member Farmer and Council Member Myers were key participants in the discussion.

The primary debate centered on whether the request should be treated as a late item on the agenda. The Council voted on a motion to remove it from the late item list, which passed unanimously 13-0. Following this vote, the funding request was moved to the council recommendations agenda for further consideration.

The item was ultimately approved.

2:16:55

Assistant Director for Corrections

The Council considered funding for an Assistant Director for Corrections position during this meeting 3:03:34.

Discussion and Debate

Council members Council Member Martin, Council Member Myers, and Council Member Lawless participated in the discussion. The debate centered on the need for leadership support at the jail facility.

Outcome

The Council approved $109,840 in funding for the Assistant Director for Corrections position. The motion passed with 13 votes in favor and 1 opposed.

SALT Budget Reduction

The Council discussed and approved a $200,000 reduction in the SALT budget 2:45:16. The reduction was justified based on current operational conditions, specifically citing a full salt barn and a sufficient supply of salt on hand.

Key Speakers

Council Member Blues, Council Member Ellinger, and Council Member Ford participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

Debate and Discussion

The Council engaged in debate regarding the basis for the proposed budget reduction before moving to a vote on the measure.

Outcome

The motion to reduce the SALT budget by $200,000 passed with a vote of 12-1, indicating strong Council support for the reduction.