09/09/2014 Finance Committee MinutesFINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
September 9, 2014
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Lora Petso Al Compaan, Police Chief
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson Don Anderson, Assistant Police Chief
Council President Buckshnis Scott James, Finance Director
Councilmember Strom Peterson (arrived 7:38 p.m.) Jeannie Dines, Recorder
Councilmember Bloom (arrived 8:18 p.m.)
The meeting was called to order at 7:29 p.m. The agenda was revised to move Item C to the
beginning of the agenda.
C. Woodway Police Services Contract
Chief Compaan explained the current contract expires at the end of 2014. The proposed 3-year
contract contains 3 changes to the previous contract, 1) the monthly base fee covering the first 10
calls increases from $3,000 to $3,060, 2) the base fee will be adjusted in 2016 and 2017 by CPI, and
3) the incremental rate in excess of the first 15 minutes will increase from $75 to $100/15 minutes.
Eric Faison, Woodway Town Administrator, was present to respond to questions.
Committee members' requested the following additional information when this is presented to Council:
• An accounting of all calls, time of calls, and number of police responding since the last
contract approval
• September 18, 2012 Council minutes when the last contract renewal was discussed
Discussion followed regarding billing police services on per call basis versus a full service agreement,
Edmonds residents' per capita cost for police services of $217 versus Woodway residents' per capita
cost of $25, approximately 16* hour/day coverage provided by Woodway's contract police officers,
financial impact to Edmonds if Woodway contracts for police services with another jurisdiction,
amount Woodway paid Edmonds for police services in 2013 (approximately $38,000) and how the
new base rate was determined. (*After the meeting, the hours provided by Woodway's contract police
officers was corrected to 8-10 hours/day.)
Action: Schedule for full Council tentatively on October 7 with information requested
A. 2014 July Monthly Budgetary Financial Report
Mr. James presented the report, advising July is 58% through year:
• Overall revenues are on target, General Fund revenues are slightly above target
• Overall expenditures are 20% under target
• Property tax collections are $549,000 under 2013 levels, no identifiable reason
• Sales tax revenue are up $281,000 compared to 2013
• Utility Tax is down $20,000 compared to 2013
• License and permit revenues are up
• Charges for service revenues are up 67% from last year due to development -related fees
• General Fund is nearly 7% under target YTD
• Retail automotive/gas revenue is up $160,000 compared to 2013.
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Mr. James responded to committee members' questions and said he will provide prepared remarks at
study sessions regarding the monthly budgetary financial report. He was asked to research whether
development -related revenue was covering development -related expenses.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
B. Surplus Computer Equipment
Mr. James explained his goals included developing an equipment replacement plan and an inventory
to allow budgeting of expenses. A replacement schedule has been drafted and will be presented to
the Council in the future. Due to sensitive information on computer hard drives, surplus computers are
not donated to charity; material in the computers is recycled if possible. Committee members
requested in the future the list of equipment to be surplused include acquisition dates.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
D. Mayor's Salary Discussion
Council President Buckshnis distributed the comparisons contained in the packet. She suggested the
Council discuss and select an option at a study session, and that option be included as a decision
package in the 2015 budget.
Councilmember Petso expressed concern with discussing the Mayor's salary before a decision has
been made whether the Council or a citizens commission will determine elected officials' salaries. She
preferred to drop the topic for this year.
Councilmember Johnson suggested when the Council discusses the topic there be a range of options
including no action. Discussion followed regarding how salaries were established in the past before
the citizens committee was established and options for increasing the Mayor's salary. Councilmember
Johnson preferred not to discuss increasing the Mayor's salary this year and delay it until next year.
Action: Discuss next year.
E. Redirect Traffic Calming Funds to SR 104 Crosswalk
Mr. James suggested the easiest, least controversial way would be a budget amendment to allocate
funds from ending fund balance. Discussion followed regarding other funding sources for the $10,000,
ability for the Council to pass an ordinance requiring staff to spend money the way Council allocated
it, requiring notice to Council when money is not spent as allocated, concern the project is in the TIP
but not the CFP, CIP projects that involve other agencies, projects contained in other agencies'
Comprehensive Plans, providing Council notice of expenditure changes, why staff was allowed to
spend money on a non -City project and previous plans for a signalize intersection. Mr. James
suggested establishing an amount for expenditures that the Council expects staff notification.
Action: Budget amendment for $10,000 to resolve the issue of the SR 104 crosswalk and the Traffic
Calming Program and express the hope in the future to have advance notice of City
expenditures/participation in other jurisdictions/agencies' projects.
F. Request for Additional Funding for Independent Health Impact Assessment (HIA) on
Coal Dust
Councilmember Peterson explained WSU Spokane is overseeing three HIA field studies related to
potential health impacts of increased coal rail traffic. The City provided $5,000 last year; a request is
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being made to the cities that provided funds last year for additional funds to expand the study to add
two air pollution collection sites along the rail route. The request of Edmonds is $2,500. This study is
being conducted independent of the EIS; information gathered from the study will be submitted into
the EIS/HIA process. Discussion followed regarding the location of the monitoring stations and the
funding source for the additional contribution.
Councilmember Peterson will confirm the total additional funds the group is requesting ($20,000 or
$30,000). Mr. James suggested the City contribute after other cities have committed and establish a
6-month timeframe.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
G. Public Comment — None
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.