HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 1989-05-18 May 18 , 1989
A regular meeting of the Lake Oswego Budget Committee convened at
7 :10 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 , 1989 , in the Council chambers ,
City Hall. Present were: Mayor Schlenker , Councilors Durham,
Fawcett, Anderson, Churchill and Holstein; citizen members
Fuller , Loftus, Kopplien, Prange, Giri , Berentson and Sievert;
Council Holman was excused. Also present were City Manager Peter
Harvey, City staff and interested citizens .
III. Continuation of Committee Discussion and Decision Regarding
Budget : Chair Fuller distributed a memorandum dated May
18, 1989, addressed to the Budget Committee, outlining her
assumptions and recommendations with respect to the 1989-90
budget. She stressed that she was proposing no sweeping
modifications to the work done thus far by the committee,
but was suggesting only that another reevaluation and
review be performed on budget allocation recommendations.
Individual committee members expressed their views
concerning the assumptions and suggestions contained in
Chair Fuller ' s memorandum. At the request of Mayor
Schlenker, Peter Harvey reviewed each fund and its
recommended allocations from the General Fund ending
balance, pointing out those expenditures which are non-
recurring , and those which would be ongoing expenses .
In response to recommendation #1 in Chair Fuller ' s
memorandum, Sally Fuller moved and Mr. Giri seconded that
dollars allocated from the General Fund during the present
budget cycle for new employees be returned to the General
Fund ending fund balance. A roll call vote was taken and
the motion was defeated, with two "yes" votes (Fuller and
Giri) and eleven "no" votes (Schlenker , Durham, Fawcett,
Anderson, Churchill, Holstein, Loftus, Kopplien, Prange ,
Berentson and Sievert) .
In response to recommendation #2 in Chair Fuller ' s
memorandum, it was moved by Sally Fuller and seconded by
Mr . Loftus that all allocations from the amount of $603,000
available in the General Fund, except those made to Storm
Drain Fund and the Public Works Fund , (items C. through L.
in the Budget Message dated May 11, 1989) be placed in a
contingency in the fund to which allocated and released
from contingencies only after due deliberations by City
Council. A roll call vote was taken and the motion was
defeated, with three "yes" votes (Durham, Kopplien and
Fuller) and 10 "no" votes (Schlenker , Fawcett, Anderson,
Churchill, Holstein, Fuller , Loftus, Kopplien, Prange ,
Giri , Berentson and Sievert) .
Moved by Mr. Giri and seconded by Ms. Fuller that all
allocations from the amount of $603 ,000 available in the
General Fund, except those made to Storm Drain Fund and the
Public Works Fund , (items C. through L. in the Budget
Message dated May 11, 1989) be placed in the General Fund
contingency and released from contingency only after due
deliberations by City Council. A roll call vote was taken
and the motion was defeated , with one "yes" vote (Giri) and
12 "no" votes (Schlenker , Durham, Fawcett, Anderson ,
Churchill, Holstein, Fuller , Loftus, Kopplien, Prange ,
Berentson and Sievert) .
Referring to recommendation #3 in Chair Fuller ' s memorandum
of May 18, it was moved by Sally Fuller and seconded by Mr .
Loftus that all capital projects not yet underway and not
in support of essential services be initiated only after
due deliberation by City Council. A roll call vote was
taken and the motion was defeated, with one "yes" vote
(Fuller) and 12 "no" votes (Schlenker , Durham, Fawcett,
Anderson, Churchill, Holstein, Loftus, Kopplien, Giri ,
Prange, Berentson and Sievert) .
Mr. Berentson moved, and Chair Fuller seconded adoption of
the budget as printed. At this time Mayor Schlenker moved ,
seconded by Councilor Churchill, to amend Mr . Berentson' s
motion to include an allocation of $25,000 from the General
Fund ending fund balance to the Adult Community Center for
construction of a hobby room. A roll call vote was taken
and the motion passed , with 11 "yes" votes (Schlenker ,
Durham, Fawcett, Anderson, Churchill, Holstein, Loftus ,
Kopplien, Giri , Prange, and Sievert) and two "no" votes
(Fuller and Berentson) .
Councilor Fawcett moved , and Councilor Anderson seconded to
further amend the budget, to levy the full $ .68 approved by
voters for the Police/Fire department , as opposed the
present $ .65 allocated in the budget. Discussion followed
concerning the advisability of increasing the amount to the
full $ .68. A roll call vote was held and the motion passed
with nine "yes" votes (Durham, Fawcett, Anderson, Holstein,
Fuller, Prange, Giri , Berentson, Sievert) ; three "no" votes
(Schlenker , Churchill and Kopplien) ; and Mr . Loftus
abstaining .
Chair Fuller asked for public testimony before proceeding
with the vote to adopt the budget. Lyn Ryan (17401 SW Hill
Way) expressed disapproval of the committee' s
recommendations, particularly in the matter of allocation
for acquisition of additional parks , and the swim facility
feasibility study. He expressed his disapproval of the
resulting tax increases for the citizens of Lake Oswego.
Margaret Pittman (1437 Oak Street) announced that she spoke
as a citizen who, when voting in favor of the Police-Fire
levy expected that the full $ .68 would be assessed. She
believes voters voiced their approval of the increase by
their passage of the levy. She stated she believes the
Budget Committee Meeting
May 18, 1989 Page 2
voters also overwhelmingly indicated their willingness to
pay for library services by the passage of the recent
library levy by 60% of the voters.
Mayor Schlenker addressed Mr. Ryan' s concerns about the
approval of funds for a swim park feasibility study ,
stating the City is attempting to join forces with
neighboring cities to promote a regional facility. She
also stated that private funding was being explored .
Mr . Loftus addressed Mr . Ryan' s concerns concerning
additional funding for parks by stating that over 7 ,000
young people in the area are enrolled in the City' s sports
programs, and that it is his feeling there is a deficit in
park facilities for adults as well as young people.
Councilor Fawcett commented that the City' s current
population of 28 ,000 is expected to grow to 50 ,000 , and the
committee is trying to plan for the future .
Voting then proceeded on the motion to adopt the budget
with the addition of $25,000 for the Adult Community Center
for a hobby room, and an increase in the Police/Fire levy
to the full $0.68 . A roll call vote was taken and the
motion passed, with nine "yes" votes (Schlenker , Fawcett ,
Anderson, Churchill, Loftus , Kopplien, Prange , Berentson,
Sievert) and three "no" votes (Durham, Holstein and Fuller ,
and Mr. Giri abstaining .
Councilor Durham stated he wished to explain his "no" vote
on adopting the budget as an attempt to hold the line on
increasing taxes. He stated he feels the citizens should
have a voice in approving the $ .12 increase in the
recreation levy.
Councilors Holstein and Churchill expressed appreciation
and praise for Sally Fuller 's efforts as Chair of the
Budget Committee over the past months. Mr . Churchill
expressed his appreciation for her efforts in attempting to
point the Committee in the right direction.
Councilor Holstein moved, and Councilor Durham seconded to
adopt recommendations 1 through 3 on page 2 in Chair
Fuller ' s memorandum of May 18. Discussion followed and the
motion was amended to include the addition of 2. e.
"alternative revenue sources ," and to delete recommendation
#3 pertaining to committee members selecting one or more
funds and becoming "fund specialists. " The amended motion
read :
1. City Council structure and adopt a goal specifically in
support of long-term financial health of the community.
Budget Committee Meeting
May 18, 1989 Page 3
2 . Budget Committee reconvene in September to receive
input regarding, and to discuss:
a. Audited ending fund balances (if available) .
b. Ending fund balance forecasts for year end 1990 .
c . The comprehensive plan.
d. The strategic financial plan.
e . Alternative revenue sources.
Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Other Council Business: Councilor Fawcett distributed
copies of "Proposed Budget Subcommittee Charge" with the
intent that a subcommittee work with staff on further
development and refinement of strategic financial planning.
The subcommittee would provide a progress report with
appropriate recommendations to the full Budget Committee no
later than November 1, 1989. After discussion by the
group, it was suggested by Mr . Harvey that the subcommittee
be made up of the Council Audit and Financial Planning
Committee members , Fawcett, Durham and Churchill, and
perhaps three citizen members. Citizen members Sievert ,
Loftus , Giri and Kopplien (alternate) volunteered to serve
on the subcommittee.
Councilor Churchill distributed copies of a Lake Oswego
Budget Committee Evaluation Questionnaire , and asked that
committee members complete and return to the City Manager ' s
office within two weeks. The purpose of the questionnaire
is to evaluate the 1989-90 budget process and make
suggestions for next year .
V. The meeting was adjourned at 9: 30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted ,
5C%Cit.Gs�J
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Kathy Kelley /
Recording Secretary
Budget Committee Meeting
May 18, 1989 Page 4