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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031723 Financial Sustainability Task Force Meeting MinutesFINANCIAL SUSTAINABILLY TASK FORCE MEETING MINUTES DATE: March 17, 2023 START TIME: 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: City Hall (In person and virtual) VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Catharine Robinson, Rick Jahnke, Earll Murman, John Nowak NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Berk Consulting Staff: Project Manager Katherine Goetz, Lead Facilitator and Analyst Julia Tesch, MEMBERS EXCUSED: MEMBERS ABSENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Manager John Mauro, Finance Manager Ron Logghe, Director of Finance and Technology Services Connie Anderson, Public Works Director Steve King, Director of Parks, and Recreation Strategy Carrie Hite, Planning and Community Development Director Emma Bolin and City Attorney Heidi Greenwood. Topic Action Welcome, Meeting Overview, Minute Approval: Motion: Rick Jahnke made a motion to City Manager John Mauro welcomed the task force, reviewed minutes, and approve the January 20,2023 minutes. provided a meeting overview. John Nowak seconded. Vote: Motion passed unanimously. Berk Consulting Project Manager Katherine Goetz, Lead Facilitator and Analyst Julia Tesch provided the meeting overview and objectives, project schedule, and Meeting Arc. Review Peer Cities Comparisons: Ms. Goetz provided the Peer Cities Comparison presentation which included Peer Cities, About Peer Cities, Population Growth, Age Distribution, Persons Per Household, Population Density, Median Household income, Person Income, Jobs by Sector, Share of Revenues from Primary General Fund Taxes, Shares of Revenues from Other Sources, PT Property Tax Detail, How Property Tax Works in Washington, PT Sales Tax Detail, PT Sales Tax by Industry, and Discussion. Discussion ensued around why certain cities have grown so much and the context of growth, as well as the importance of including the population of each city in the Population Growth slide. The taskforce went on to discuss housing availability being a factor in population density and growth, including data of availability of housing, being single family oriented in Port Townsend, sources Topic Action of income, business growth, Fire District Levy Rate changing, adjusting bullet one in "How Property Tax Works in Washington" slide and 1 % increase, how the .98% tax rate relates to comparable cities, what retail trade in Port Townsend is, sales tax, and utility/property taxes. Review Revenue Options: Ms. Goetz continued the presentation which included Funding Strategies, Types of Funding Strategies, Tax Increases, Special District Taxes, Fees, Ms. Goetz will look to see if Public Facility Other Options, Balancing Options for Financial Sustainability, Funding Districts can issue bonds. Strategies Summary, Funding Strategies and Peer Cities, Level of Service Mr. King will send Infrastructure and Discussion Development Committee Meeting link Discussion ensued around property tax increase cap, vehicle license fees as regarding impact fees. an alternative to sales tax, MPD bonds, Public Facility Districts, impact fees, Connie will look for a Dept of Revenue fact lodging tax, TBD, affordable housing tax, multifamily tax, electric vehicle fees, sheet of systems for low income and senior property taxes, vegetation maintenance, fees/tax related to service provided, community members. systems for senior/low-income community members, number of staff per 1000 residents, performance improvement, trust, burnout, sustainable model, efficiency, impacts of doing nothing, other community discussions, current position, importance of level of service discussion, and community involvement Review Criteria for Evaluating Funding Strategies: Engagement Update: Mr. Mauro discussed the importance of informing other agencies of the process and the creation of synergy Next Steps and Adjourn: Connie and John will send out a Doodle Ms. Goetz discussed next steps which included a possible April Meeting and Poll to find a date for April meeting. discussion with Council in May. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:11 pm Topic I Action Next Regular Meeting: May 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.