05/18/1995 - Minutes 1V
City of Tigard, Oregon
Budget Committee
Minutes of May 18, 1995
Members present : Bob Rohlf, Suzanne Beardsley, Craig Dirksen, Deb
Hinton, George Burgess, Jim Nicoli, Ken Scheckla, Joyce Patton,
Wendy Hawley .
Staff Present : Bill Monahan, City Administrator, Wayne Lowry,
Finance Director, Ed Wegner, Maintenance Services Director, Kathy
Davis, Library Director
The minutes from the May 11 1996 meeting were approved.
In response to questions from Jim, Wayne explained the charges to
the water fund and how they compared to the operation under the old
water district . Wayne also explained that all social services and
arts/events funding is budgeted in the general fund.
Ed explained the City' s situation on emergency preparedness and the
inclusion in the water budget of funds to have a seismic test done
on tanks and reservoirs .
Jim suggested that the City begin looking at water rates now in
anticipation of a large capital expenditure in the near future to
secure a long term water source . Ed explained how the water rate
study would address some of these issues .
Ed explained that the asphalt patching truck would reduce the
patching program from 4 people and two vehicles to 3 people and one
vehicle .
Bob asked about equipment sharing and Ed explained how sharing
works in Washington County.
Kathy Davis was available to answer Library questions . Ken asked
about lighting in the Library. Kathy explained substandard
lighting in many areas and the need to lower lights . This also
includes new ballast installation.
Bob asked about the additional two hours for the reference position
in the Library . Kathy said that it was to make a long time
employee eligible for benefits .
Bob asked about computers and support related to .5 fte in the
library. Kathy explained that the Library is on the City network
but is also linked with the County wide system which requires
support outside the City central support structure. Discussion of
CD drives and the desire to check them out .
Jim brought up the fact that current planning fees do not cover the
costs of planning activities and the fee structure should be
reviewed. Bill responded that these fees have been looked at and
have been reviewed recently and are being looked at again. Jim
mentioned that Tigard seems to be on the low end for such fees . He
mentioned that Sherwood and Washington County are much higher.
Wayne went over some information related to employees per capita.
The quick analysis of surrounding City' s showed that Tigard has
less employees per capita that most at 5 . 8 employees per thousand
citizens . Beaverton was 5 . 5, Hillsboro 6 . 6, Lake Oswego 7 . 3,
Sherwood 6 . 3 and Tualatin 6 . 2 .
Jim raised a question on behalf of Paul Hunt who could not attend
the meeting. He asked that the committee consider increasing the
compensation paid to City Councilors . Bill responded that the last
time it was looked at was by the budget committee in 1987 . At that
time Tigard was low. An adjustment was made to make it the same as
Lake Oswego at the time .
The committee discussed the issue at length. Ken felt the amount
was ok, would vote no on any increase. Suzanne felt it should be
reviewed. Deb thought there was a bigger issue about volunteerism
but thought it should be reviewed regularly. Joyce was appalled by
the time spent by the council and the low compensation. Jim did
not want to hold up the process with this issue but wanted it
looked at prior to the council hearing.
Ken suggested that if a survey is done of other City' s, Forest
grove should be included.
The committee reached a consensus that the citizen members of the
committee would form a task force to look at council compensation
and report back to the council with a recommendation . There was
therefore no change in the budget .
Bob brought up the issue of speed bumps and the discussion that the
west CIT had on the issue . He wanted to make sure that the budget
included some funds for speed bumps . Wayne explained that the CIP
process would be the place to deal with the allocation of such
funds among projects . No budget change was made .
Deb made motion #1 to approve the property tax levy for 1995/96 in
the total amount of $6, 074, 433 . Joyce seconded the motion . The
vote was 9 yes 0 no .
Joyce made motion #2 to approve the budget as amended in the amount
of $37, 383, 816 . Deb seconded the motion. The vote was 9 yes, 0
no .
The meeting adjourned at 9 : OOpm.