Budget Committee Meeting
Draft Minutes
May 13, 2004, 7:00pm
Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street

CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Marty Levine called the Budget Committee Meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. on May 13, 2004 in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street Ashland, Oregon.

ROLL CALL: Councilor Amarotico, DeBoer, Jackson, Hartzell, Morrison, Laws, and Hearn were present. Budget Committee Members Moore, Williams, Silbiger, Christensen, and Stepahin were present.
ABSENT: Budget Committee Member Olsen was absent.

PUBLIC INPUT  None

REVIEW ISSUES - Hand Out

000001. School Grounds Landscaping Care-Memo

Lee Tuneberg, Finance Director, spoke to the memo presented. See attachment. He spoke to the long term budget for Parks. The overall budget was 5.5% rather than a 10% increase as previously stated. Of the $66,248 dollars of work that will be done on school grounds next year for athletic fields and playgrounds, Parks is paid by the schools $48,000.

When they met with the schools, they did not come up with solutions, but came up with 3 options. 1) do nothing more 2) provide a reduced level of service for funds available 3) form agreement between three parties and equally split $43,000 from schools to parks, $43,000 from city to parks, parks absorb last $43,000. The Committee asked about option 3 and if it is new money, and if they would not change the $48,000. Mr. Tuneberg responded that it would be for doing the extra program, not new money. The schools indicated that they were open to any program the City proposed. Alan DeBoer, Budget Committee Member, stated that Parks said that in the beginning if they couldn't do it at their level, then they didn't want to do it at all. Mike Gardiner, Parks Commission said that Parks is in agreement with option 3.

The Committee asked if the funding would come from the existing budget. Don Robertson, Parks Director, didn't recommend making the adjustment now, but maybe will do a line item transfer further into the year. Mr. Tuneberg added a transfer of appropriations would accomplish this.

Regina Stepahin, Budget Committee Member, stated that there needs to be better solution for future years. John Morrison, Councilor, thinks this is a step in the right direction. The Committee asked where the City share would come from. Mr. Tuneberg responded from the General Fund and they may have to cut a program or expense or use savings from health care costs that are not as high as expected.

Williams/Moore m/s to adopted option 3.

Laws/Hartzell m/s to amend motion if schools don't come up with share that they will bring it back to the Committee to decide what to do. All Ayes

Laws/Hartzell m/s to accept Parks budget as amended. All Ayes

000002. Corrections

0000000000a. Transfer $50,000 from Parks to Wastewater
0000000000b. Transfer $50,000 from Parks to Parks CIP

Mr. Tuneberg spoke to the errors in the proposed budget. See attachment.

Hartzell/Williams m/s to accept corrected Parks budget as presented by staff. All Ayes

MOTION(S) TO ADJUST THE PROPOSED BUDGET

00000Discussion of above and any other items:

None

0000000000Discussion
0000000000Motion to amend budget
0000000000Repeat as necessary

MOTION TO APPROVE THE FY 2004-05 BUDGET

DeBoer/Williams m/s that the City of Ashland budget committee approve and convey the amended budget to council for adoption and approve taxes for the 2004-2005 fiscal year at the rate of $3.56470 per $1000 of assessed value for operating purposes and in the amount of $536,000 for payment of bond principal and interest and at the rate of $1.38000 per $1000 of assessed value as the Youth Activities local option levy.
All Ayes.

COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Mr. Levine wants the schools to show accountability for portion of maintenance. Jim Moore, Budget Committee Member stated that they need to watch Personal Services and other expenses in next the few years and put a stop to spending. Mr. Laws agreed. Cate Hartzell, Councilor encouraged the Committee to participate throughout year in City activities.

Alan DeBoer is not able to participate in the Economic & Cultural Development Grant Presentations. Mr. Tuneberg spoke to grant funds that are set aside. Mr. Laws stated that the Committee needed to delegate the TOT funds to the subcommittee.

DeBoer/Moore m/s to delegate funds to subcommittee for Economic & Cultural Development Grants. All Ayes

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Respectively Submitted,
Bryn Morrison, Administrative Secretary
Finance Department

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