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11/12/2019 - MinutesRole of the Finance Committee The finance committee provides oversight of city budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting. The committee recommends long-range financial goals along with funding strategies for the operating and capital budgets. Human resource issues requiring policy direction are brought before the committee. The committee serves as the advisory forum for transportation and street maintenance funding, and funding relating to the transportation benefit district. City of Port Orchard Council Finance Committee A meeting of the Council Finance Committee was held in the Mayor Conference Meeting Room at City Hall on November 12, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. PRESENT: Council members John Clauson, Beck Ashby and Shawn Cucciardi, Director of Finance Noah Crocker, Human Resource Coordinator, Debbie Lund, DCD Director Nick Bond, Police Chief Matt Brown The meeting was audio recorded. Finance Report The Finance Director discussed the Monthly Budget Status report was previously provided to the full council and as such the finance Committee currently has all the Financial Status reports for the City. The sales tax revenue collected thru October 2019 is at 5.42% over its 2019 budget and 4.67% over the 2018 actual sales tax revenue collected. Real Estate Excise Tax collected thru October 2019 is at $847,014. This amount was adjusted from previous discussion to reflect the change to cash reporting. Which means we are reporting when the cash is received and recorded in that time period. This represents approximately 61% of the biennial budget and approximately 39% of what was budgeted for collections for 2019. The committee reviewed a fund balances and had no questions or concerns. Personnel Updates The Finance Director provided an update on the PW labor position will be strictly for water reading and parks and then the community service program will be re-assigned to more senior public works employees. The Finance Director discussed the intent to advertise for the unfilled Accountant II position which after reviewing the needs of the department determined the need is in payroll and support for AP & the Front end. The department is re-structuring to create a clear and concise Account III and Accountant II structure of duties and reasonability’s. Discussed the need to potentially create a Civil II position in order to retain employees. The City has a current public works employee who may be eligible for the Civil II position. Debbie Lund spoke to the Assistant City Engineer position. Currently have six applicants and it is in the review process. If the applicants are not strong, we may need Role of the Finance Committee The finance committee provides oversight of city budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting. The committee recommends long-range financial goals along with funding strategies for the operating and capital budgets. Human resource issues requiring policy direction are brought before the committee. The committee serves as the advisory forum for transportation and street maintenance funding, and funding relating to the transportation benefit district. to come back to the council and adjust some titles and responsibilities to attract the correct candidates for the Cities work plan. Discussed the City’s decision to fill the newly created full time IT FTE with our current IT support specialist. This will make him full time and change is title and allow the City to retain a great asset. Nick Bond discussed the desire to hire an intern for his department. The Director has been networking and have received several inquiries for intern work which he would like to take advantage of. He has identified a need for his department and believes he can absorb any labor costs within his current budget authority. The finance director added that he would like to create a City-wide internship and apprentice program that all departments could utilize as budget authority is available and a need arises. This would require some policy discussions and a whole program effort. Ideally, this will be discussed in 2020. Lastly, the Police Chief discussed the Navigator Program. The city currently houses a Poulsbo employee who manages a navigator program for the City of Port Orchard. The City of Port Orchard is a participating in a multi-city program but at this time has made no financial contributions to the program. For the City of Port Orchard to continue to have participation and make use of the Navigator program there will be an upcoming ask of about $30,000. The Chief highlighted the benefits of the program and why he feels it is valuable to the City and would have an impact on his department if the Navigator was no longer available to his department. The Finance Committee was supportive after hearing about the program. The Chief indicated he would bring forward a presentation to the full council with the request to approve a new contract for 2020 which would include a contribution of $30,000. Affordable Housing Sale Tax Finance Director reminded the Finance committee the Affordable housing Ordinance was on the Agenda for tonight. Furthermore, if the council approves the Ordinance the first revenue from this action will be received in March 2020. Also, the City is working with Kitsap Resources to draft a contract for the services related to affordable housing and this will be brought back to council at a future date. Finance Committee discussed the TBD impact and the need to take a pause and discuss at a transportation committee. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm.