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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 1995-06-01 PM (03) BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 1, 1995 The Citizens Budget Committee was called to order at 5:37 p.m. by Chair Erin O'Rourke- Meadors. Members Present Included: Mayor Schlenker; Councilors: Atherton, Chrisman, Klammer, Puskas, and Prosser. Citizen Members Present Included: Bates, Carlson, Dobie, O'Rourke-Meadors and Ruttan. Excused Included: Councilor Anderson and Citizen Members Bullock and Sievert-Morris. Staff Members Present Included: City Manager Schmitz; Assistant City Managers Coffee and Kincaid; Finance Director Griswold; and Senior Management Analyst Waugh. MINUTES-- MAY 18, 1995 Ms. Chrisman moved for adoption of the May 18, 1995 minutes as written. Seconded by Erin O'Rourke Meadors. Motion carried unanimously. STREET FINANCING Issue/Options Paper No. 2 Transportation Improvement Financing Recommendation: An election be held for voter approval of a General Obligation Bond Sale netting $6.9 million to fund the City's transportation improvement needs. . At the May 25, 1995 Budget Committee meeting staff was asked to obtain additional information on street funding in particular the cost to add State and A and State and McVey to the improvement section of the bond issue. Mr. Schmitz reviewed revisions to issue options paper 2 as outlined in the handouts distributed to the Committee: • Transportation Projects (Maintenance) was dropped from$5.7 million in the original proposal to $5.3 million by eliminating the neighborhood traffic management devices and the Kruse Way/Westlake projects. • Transportation Projects (Improvements) includes various roadways, intersections and pathways and totals $6.2 million • Improvement Projects Option lists various options from the least expensive to inclusion of all improvements totaling$6.2 million. All options include "A" Avenue except "C." • The impact on the tax rate begins at 19 cents and increases to 32 cents. A memorandum from City Engineer,Jerry Baker summarizing the improvements was also distributed to the committee. Mr. Coffee clarified that on the State and McVey project that Clackamas County indicated it would be difficult to provide their 20%payment of the . project as indicated in the memo. He said the County proposed that instead of the 20% the City forego one of its annual payments and the County not repave Country Club. Discussion on Street Maintenance Issues: • Mr. Atherton expressed concerned with street maintenance being funded solely through increased property taxes and wanted to see other funding sources utilized,primarily a gas tax. The committee generally was in agreement that a combination of funding options needed to be addressed. Timing, however, was an issue because of the backlog of deteriorating streets and because of funding issues with Metro, the State and the County. Ms. Schlenker pointed out the County may be coming out with a proposal for a County wide gas tax which would be used for local arterials if passed. The City would then have the bond issue for local road maintenance and the County funding for the City's arterials. Mr. Klammer agreed with the condition of the streets but indicated concerned that the bond measure is for 20 years and the life expectancy of the asphalt is less than that. Mr. Carlson stated that in conversations with the City Engineer, he was told that the majority of the streets would last the length of the bond. Mr. Prosser moved and Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors seconded to approve the list of maintenance projects ($5.3 million) and go forward with the bond measure. The motion carried with Atherton, Bates, Carlson, Chrisman, Dobie, O'Rourke-Meadors, Prosser, Puskas, Ruttan and Schlenker voting in favor. Mr. Klammer voted against the motion. Excused: Anderson, Bullock, Sievert-Morris. Discussion on Improvement Projects: S Discussion began on the improvement projects with a motion made by Ms Schlenker and seconded by Ms. Chrisman to support improvements on State and A and State and McVey and State and Terwilliger. A discussion took place regarding improvements on these intersections. Some of the key issues discussed are listed below: • State and Terwilliger has the second largest amount of accidents in the City next to State and McVey. • Ms. Schlenker was primarily concerned with State and A and State and McVey and said she would be willing to amend her motion to eliminate State and Terwilliger. She pointed out that the intersection of State and Terwilliger has been an issue for funding since 1982 and the City has been unsuccessful in getting support from ODOT. She said the City is now just beginning to have a better understanding of how to work with ODOT and she would like to see a partnership formed. • A discussion took place regarding the State Street project and the widening of travel lanes on the bridge in order to provide for turn lanes onto McVey. Mr. Carlson was concerned with the costs to widen the lanes and thought a better use of the funds would be at the intersection of "A" and State. Recognizing the sensitive nature of the bridge, Mr. Coffee clarified that they were in preliminary stages and design work was not complete and would need to be developed prior to the bond measure. In addition, public hearing would be held on this issue. Budget Committee Minutes-June 1,1995 Page 2 • Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors clarified that the City's cost for State and McVey and State and "A" would be $600,000 and the cost for State and Terwilliger would be$1.2 million. • ODOT would not provide funding for intersection improvements at State and Terwilliger. In order to better focus their discussion the committee prioritized projects from the handout "Transportation Projects (Improvements)" which they wanted to discuss. Those projects included: Neighborhood Traffic Management Devices ($275,000); South Shore and McVey ($388,000);State and A, and State and McVey ($600,000); "A" Avenue ($2.5 m); Kruse Transit ($360,000); Pathways ($320,000). McVey and South Shore Ms. Chrisman opened the discussion stating she supported a traffic signal because of the increased traffic volume, South Shore comes out to a major arterial, and major congestion caused as a result of the businesses. Neighborhood Traffic Management Devices Funding has been provided for neighborhood management devices in other areas of the budget. The consensus of the committee was that NTAB come to budget committee for additional items to be budgeted. . Pathways In order to encourage people to walk and use bicycles, the general consensus of the committee was that pathways should be included on the improvements list for the bond measure. State and A and State and McVey & State and Terwilliger. Ms. Schlenker said she included State and Terwilliger in her original package because of the high volume of traffic and the congestion on State Street. She thought voters would be very favorable to improvements allowing for better traffic flow on State. Ms. O'Rourke Meadors and Ms. Chrisman questioned the need for improvements on State and Terwilliger at this time because of the cost. Ms. Schlenker changed her original motion to eliminate State and Terwilliger. Ms. Schlenker moved and Ms. Chrisman seconded that State and A and State and McVey ($600,000) be included in the improvement list for a bond measure. The motion carried with Atherton, Bates, Carlson, Chrisman, Dobie, O'Rourke Meadors, Prosser, Puskas, Ruttan and Schlenker voting in favor. Against: Klammer. Excused: Anderson, Bullock, Sievert-Morris. Mr. Prosser moved and Ms. O'Rourke Meadors seconded that McVey and South Shore ($388,000) and the Pathways ($320,000)be included in the improvement list for the bond 111 measure. The motion carried with Atherton, Bates, Carlson, Chrisman, Klammer, Budget Committee Minutes-June 1,1995 Page 3 O'Rourke Meadors, Prosser, Puskas, Ruttan and Schlenker voting in favor. Against: Dobie. Excused: Anderson,Bullock, Sievert-Morris. IIIKruse Transit Mr. Prosser said transit ridership should be encouraged especially along Kruse Way because of the volume of traffic, and number of offices and apartments being developed. Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors agreed and commented that the wear and tear on Kruse would be a savings to taxpayers. Discussion took place regarding the responsibilities of the property owners for a traffic management plan at the time the Kruse Way Corridor was annexed and developed. Mr. Coffee clarified that it was unlikely that Tri-Met would provide funding because of their limited funding and Kruse Way does not have the density to justify them providing more service. Mr. Prosser moved and Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors seconded to include $360,000 for the Kruse Way Transit. The motion failed with Atherton, O'Rourke-Meadors, Prosser and Puskas voting for and Bates, Carlson, Chrisman, Dobie, Klammer, Ruttan and Schlenker voting against. Excused: Anderson, Bullock, Sievert-Morris. This concluded the discussion on the transportation issue. It was noted that$6.697 million was the total net amount for the bond measure. In addition,Ms. Schlenker,pointed out that "A" Street was still an issue and she wanted to encourage the completion of"A" Avenue to State Street in order to help facilitate the congestion at that intersection. She also 111 wanted to point out that the completion of"A" Avenue was also necessary for economic development. She said she was willing to take it off the table at this time because of the timing of the bond,however, she wanted it to come back to the Budget Committee later this year with other funding options. BUDGET PROCESS The following are highlights from the committee's discussion on improvements to the budget process. • Consensus of the committee for the City Council to move forward and encourage Clackamas County to adopt a gas tax and if that was not successful, for Lake Oswego to explore other options. • Mr. Dobie commended Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors for her chairmanship, especially for keeping committee members informed of issues prior to the meetings. • More advance planning prior to the meetings and that the budget calendar be set earlier in the process. • Request from Boards and Commissions --It was the general consensus that boards and commissions should work directly with staff when requesting more funds than . budgeted. Mr. Bates moved and Mr. Dobie seconded that Boards and Commissions work directly with staff on their budget needs. The motion carried with Atherton, Budget Committee Minutes-June 1,1995 Page 4 Bates, Carlson,Chrisman,Dobie,Klammer, Prosser,Puskas and Schlenker voting in favor. Voting against: O'Rourke-Meadors and Ruttan. Excused: Anderson, Bullock, 1111 Sievert-Morris. • Mr. Atherton requested benchmarks (number of employees,number of police officers, firefighters, etc.) showing how Lake Oswego compares with other communities locally as well as regionally. • Mr. Prosser requested that his comments from last year be pulled and resubmitted to the Budget Committee. In addition,he said he would submit comments from Metro's budget process which may be relevant to the City's process. • A motion was made by Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors and seconded by Mr. Carlson that an orientation be provided for all new budget committee members explaining the budget process,providing issues and options papers and conducting a tour for all interested members prior to the budget process. The motion carried with all members voting in favor. • Social issues--On municipal grant requests Ms. Chrisman requested that the various groups show the amount of funding the City has provided for five years. Serving on the subcommittee to establish a policy for social issues will be: O'Rourke-Meadors, Carlson,Dobie,Schlenker and Puskas. . • Mr. Carlson recommended that the City Council allow for contingency funds to hire temporary staff to complete the 20 year capital plan. • Community Wide Survey: Ms. Schlenker moved and Mr. Prosser seconded that a broad city wide community survey be conducted. The motion carried with Bates, Carlson, Dobie, Prosser, Ruttan and Schlenker voting in favor. Voting against: Chrisman,O'Rourke-Meadors and Puskas. Abstaining: Atherton. Excused: Anderson, Bullock, Klammer,and Sievert-Morris. Below are some of the comments addressed during the discussion of the survey. --It should be a comprehensive survey that addressees city issues and priorities. --It should include background and education information. --It should include transportation issues and the gas tax. --It should be put in context of how the public would like to see their money spent for the next 20 years. --It should be qualitative and quantitative. Ms. Puskas commented that she thought the last survey was not beneficial and the results were formed based on its presentation. Budget Committee Minutes-June 1,1995 Page 5 • Ms. O'Rourke-Meadors recommended that next year the budget process begin earlier and that they consider including an optional study session to begin at 5:30 followed by • the budget meeting at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia P. Kopetski Recording Secretary 111 Budget Committee Minutes-June 1,1995 Page 6