Plan for Agenda Tomorrow

[Colleen Pate]

My plan for the meeting tomorrow:

I will call the work session to order. I will announce on the record that the PUD discussion will be postponed until a later date. Then, we will recess the work session so that Chair Vela can call the AE Oversight Committee to order.

At the conclusion of the AEOC meeting, we will reconvene the Council work session.

We will begin the budget discussion.

Depending on where we are in terms of public comment, we will go into executive session around noon. The plan is to allow lunch while we're in executive session.

If we’re finished with the budget discussion at the time we go into executive session, we’ll adjourn when the executive session is completed. If not, we’ll return until we are finished with the budget discussion.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Kirk

On behalf of Mayor Watson

[Louisa Brinsmade]

Colleagues,

After discussions with the City Manager, my suggestion is that we organize our budget discussions and amendments around a list of top priorities, along with areas to consider for funding opportunities. The subquorum below agrees with this suggestion. If we can coalesce around this list, we would direct the City Manager and his staff do the work of finding revenue to fund these priorities.

I’ve advocated for us to do basic budgeting for basic services. A key part of the city’s basic services and the biggest item on the Council’s TRE list was centered around maintaining and improving our homelessness response. That remains a top priority, especially when it comes to protecting what we have in terms of ongoing services and not losing ground on the progress we’ve made. With fewer funds, we need to target things that have the biggest impact to keep us moving forward.

Another top priority for all of us was basic public safety services, including EMS and EMCOT. In the same way as with homelessness, and pretty much with all the things we do, we should focus on what will have the biggest impact with fewer dollars.

Those signing on to this post are offering a list of priorities to focus on. While I feel the best way to have a coherent, straightforward budget process that reveals stable, efficient governance is best served by Council declaring priorities and the Manager’s office finding funding, I’m aware that some have areas they would like the staff to look for funding. So, a few of those are mentioned. I also think the best way for the Council to show it can act in a thoughtful, structured way is to limit or cap the amount needed for priorities at a reasonable level considering our financial situation.

Priorities:

*HSO - At least $4 million for additional non-congregate shelter and PSH support. An example would be Esperanza Community, and PSH within Foundation Communities’ projects.
*EMS - Additional call takers to improve dispatch and additional overtime to prevent burnout.
*EMCOT - Enable 24/7 coverage for emergency mental health response.

Areas to review for funding:

*Contracts in General Fund departments that may benefit from updated deliverables or performance metrics, or where the program may no longer align with Council priorities.
*Vacancy savings across General Fund departments with non-sworn personnel, and staggered hiring.
*Moving equipment purchases from General Fund to debt.

We will have a budget amendment document that lays this out in more detail with a timeline for reporting from the City Manager.


Kirk

CM Vela
CM Alter
CM Laine
CM Qadri

On behalf of Mayor Watson

[Marc Duchen]

Thank you, Mayor Watson and CM Vela, Alter, Laine, and Qadri for outlining this strategy. I support your strategy focusing on basic services, public safety, and the highest ROI impacts.

My team has been exploring some priorities and opportunities for funding but right now agreeing on this structured approach makes tremendous sense to me and I look forward to additional details.

-Marc