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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-18 Council Minutes - Budget Work SessionKENAI CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION APRIL 18, 2000 KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. ITEM 1: OVERVIEW OF BUDGET ITEM 2: REQUESTS FOR FUNDING a. Marion Nelson/The Milepost b. Kristin Lambert/Central Area Rural Transit System, Inc. C. Brenda Stoops/Kenai River Festival d. David Gemmell/Kenai Little League ITEM 3: DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEWS � KENAI CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION APRIL 18, 2000 KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. Council present: Swarner, Frazer, Porter, Williams, Moore, Bookey and Bannock (arrived at 7:25 p.m.) Staff Present: Freas, Ross, Graves, Elson, Jankowska, Kornelis, Kelso, Wichman, Morris, Hall, Cronkhite, Walden, La Shot, and Frates ITEM 1: OVERVIEW OF BUDGET City Manager Ross and Finance Director Semmens reviewed the budget and noted it was strictly a maintenance budget of existing services and no new programs or services had been added to it. Ross noted, if all revenues were received as projected and expenditures were made, the budget would still be in a deficit of $357,000. Based on historic lapses, a slight surplus existed in the budget, however the surplus wouldn't happen because of three major items that were not funded in the budget, i.e. purchase of ten acres on Marathon Road for the juvenile detention center (could be $200,000); the environmental survey/ development of the Daubenspeck/ FAA properties; and the coastal trail development (if grant funding is received for the engineering costs, the city's match would be $200,000 to $250,000). He added, even with a lapse, the budget could be $500,000 in deficit. Council was reminded a one mil rate increase was projected for the 2002 budget in order to maintain the existing budget with existing services. Also, both the boating facility change to a Special Revenue Fund and the capital matching for public works projects were included in the budget. It was noted the draft budget included a COLA increase of 1.5% User fees were discussed briefly and it was noted an increase was made at the boating facility last year and was not considered for this year in the budget. A user fee for summer rental of the multipurpose facility would be before council at their April 19 meeting. Landing fee increases at the airport would be considered and would come to council in the future but were not included in the draft budget. Parking charges were instigated last year for dip net fishing users. Semmens gave his overview presentation, reviewing the 2001 operating budget and including a budget comparison of FY 2001 to FY 2000; all fund revenues; all funds by object; General Fund revenues; budget projections for the General Fund; General Fund Summary; the operating budgets for the Airport Land system, Boating Facility, Senior Citizen Center, Water/ Sewer Fund, Airport Terminal and Congregate Housing Fund. BREAK TAKEN: 7:55 P.M. BACK TO ORDER: 8:02 P.M. ITEM 2: REQUESTS FOR FUNDING 2-a. Marion Nelson / The Milepost j COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION APRIL 18, 2000 PAGE 2 Nelson suggested council give some consideration to including advertisement of the city and its services (airport, float plane basin, etc.) in the 2001 Milepost and reviewed the costs for types of ads and link to the Milepost interest site (information included in packet). A general discussion followed and council stated their interest in including funding for an advertisement, noting the far-reaching circulation the publication has and the changes in the way areas of Alaska are presented. Council decided they would consider the matter further during the Legislative and Airport budget discussions. 2-b. Kristin Lambert/Central Area Rural Transit System, Inc. (CARTS) Lambert distributed a list of people/ organizations who would be participating in the CARTS program and reported she would deliver copies of the final plan for council prior to the next budget hearing. Lambert referred to her letter included in the packet which requested a contribution to the program from the city of $25,000 (a 2.5% match) and explained, the funds could be in the form of ride vouchers or, she believed could be designated for residents of Kenai only. She noted there were successful programs in Wichita, Kansas and Portland, Oregon. Lambert also reported DOT and Mental Health Trust were in support of the proposed program and that there were 1,900 people in the Kenai, Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling area who needed the program in order to be involved in the Welfare to Work Program. Lambert was asked if vehicles had been committed and answered some had been, others not. She noted the Access Center would maintain the standards for the drivers and vehicles. Lambert also explained, drivers would get paid for the rides, the administrative costs were not known at this time, and because the major funding of the program would be from the federal government, she hoped this would be a one- time donation to the program, but was not certain. Joe Donahue explained there was a large need in the area for the program and the 2.5% donation was a small amount of the whole and was needed in order to get the grant funds. However, because the budget would not go into effect until July, a letter stating the city's "intent to commit" would be acceptable at this time. Council discussed the matter and noted they believed the concept was good, but whether the city could fund it was something else and because of the state of the budget, it would be hard to allow the increase for the program. Council decided to discuss the matter further during the April 27 budget work session. 2-c. Brenda Stoops/Kenai River Festival � COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION APRIL 18, 2000 PAGE 3 Lori Lanstrom spoke instead of Brenda Stoops. Lanstrom reviewed the letter included in the packet and requested $300 for the 2000 festival, noting it was a no -cost to the public, two-day festival. Council had no objections to the $300 donation and noted it was already included in the draft budget. 2-d. David Gemmell/Kenai Little League Gemmell referred to his letter included in the packet in which requests were made for upgrades to a number of items at the Little League fields. Administration reported many of the items on the list had been repaired or improved last summer and some were scheduled for maintenance this spring. It was also noted, because the property was OCS/BOR properties there were restrictions, however some grant funds were available and it was possibile grant funds could be used to replace the snack shack, etc. A lengthy discussion followed in which several ideas for raising funds for the improvements were discussed, i.e. a grant from the city to Little League and the organization does the upgrades or a .25 mil rate increase be considered to raise $70,000-80,000 and used for community improvements. It was also suggested a .50 mil rate increase be considered and use some of the funds to complete the multipurpose facility as well as other community projects. Administration is to provide an amount necessary to cover the costs for the list of requests and Little League representatives were requested to provide a prioritized list of items needing repair. The matter is to be discussed again at the April 27 budget work session. Administration was also asked to check on costs for paving the area around the Challenger facility. ITEM 3: DEPARTMENT BUDGET REVIEWS -- Will begin at April 27 budget work session. The work session ended at approximately 9:45 p.m. Notes prepared and submitted by: &�2v Carol L. Freas, City Clerk