LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
Monday, October 26, 2009
City of Lakewood Police Station
Multi-Purpose Room
9401 Lakewood Drive SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Richardson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: 7 ? Mayor Douglas Richardson; Deputy Mayor Don Anderson; Councilmembers Ron Cronk, Pad Finnigan, Helen McGovern, Walter Neary and Claudia Thomas.
ITEM FOR DISCUSSION:
Proposed City of Lakewood 2010 Budget.
Mayor Richardson announced that the 2010 Budget Public Hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2009. City Manager Neiditz indicated that the purpose of tonight?s meeting is to cover issues that have not been addressed prior to the public hearing and adoption of the 2010 budget scheduled for the November 16, 2009 Council meeting.
City Manager Neiditz requested a Closed Session this evening to discuss collective bargaining.
Assistant City Manager Halladay distributed updated handouts on the City?s facilities and maintenance costs (facilities depreciation sheets) to address questions that were raised earlier by the Council. He explained that the recommendations of a phased-in approach for funding maintenance costs, starting with City Hall and later budgeting for the Police Station since it?s a new building. He indicated that the street-ends appropriation would be zero, by moving $115,000 into Fund502 Facilities Maintenance to address part of the $128,520 of City Hall capital maintenance expenses in 2010 and build funding into the schedule over time. He added that depreciation is calculated at a 2percent inflation factor, compounded.
Discussion ensued on the scheduled cost for the exterior wood treatment at City Hall, which has a progressively longer gap over time; and whether there is a way to show the percentage of capital expenses against the overall budget every year.
City Council Budget Workshop Minutes -2- October 26, 2009
Discussion then ensued on the lodging tax recommendations, particularly the 2010 U.S. Amateur golf tournament request of Pierce County ($25,000), Colonial Center Theatre and restaurant ($20,000), and the Ft. Steilacoom Park golf course viability study ($25,000).
Councilmember Neary asked that the Council be provided with the total amount Pierce County is receiving from Lakewood taxpayers (through property tax or sales tax) and through agreements.
Discussion ensued on what is the purpose of the current hotel/motel tax; and whether the impacts of expenditures warrant funding the golf course and the lease of Ft. Steilacoom Park.
City Manager Neiditz spoke about the benefits of Ft. Steilacoom Park as a whole, with its renovated barn, a potential farmers market, its historical advocates, and the dog park.
Questions were raised on the actual 2009 Beginning Funding Balance of the Hotel/Motel Fund ($600,000) and the Ending Fund Balance ($450,000, after the transfer of $150,000 is made to the Capital Fund). Assistant City Manager Halladay explained that the revenue will stay the same even with the transfer and that the $150,000 was the City?s match to a State grant for the seaplane construction in 2006.
Councilmember Thomas expressed the need to upgrade the restrooms at Ft. Steilacoom Park.
Further discussion ensued on concerns with why the City will be paying for the feasibility study of a privately-owned Colonial Center Theatre; the benefits of providing incentives to attract developers and create a hub; how citizens want the theatre developed due to its historic significance; possibility of lending the money to a developer; a covenant or commitment from the developer to continue development within reasonable terms after the study is completed, at a minimum to preserve the bell tower; supportive role of the Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board; preserving its historical value; and bringing the property to code.
It was the consensus of the Council to approve the lodging tax recommendations presented.
Discussion ensued on how the Abatement (Fund 105) is integrated to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant; the timeline to expend the $300,000 NSP fund is 2012; how five parcels in Tillicum are being combined; and the City working with Habitat for Humanity.
* * * * * * * * * *
City Council Budget Workshop Minutes -3- October 26, 2009
Closed Session
At 7:58 p.m., Mayor Richardson announced that Council will recess into a closed session to discuss collective bargaining pursuant to R.C.W. 42.30.140(4).
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.
_____________________________________
DOUGLAS G. RICHARDSON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
____________________________
ALICE M. BUSH, MMC
CITY CLERK
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