Finance Committee

160 Duke Of Gloucester City of Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Standing Committee Minutes - Final Finance Committee Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1:00 PM Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr. City Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Chair called the Meeting to order at 1:16 p.m. Aldermen Budge and Kirby, Alderwomen Pindell Charles and Finlayson were also present. Present: 3- Alderman Pfeiffer, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Paone 2. General Discussion ID-154-14 Transportation Budget Attachments: Keep Annapolis Accessible Schooner Woodwind Circulator letter Petition to save the Annapolis Circulator Letter Thayer Service Plan Adjustments Options Acting Transportation Director Duah spoke on the Transportation Department Budget. Mr. Duah offered answers to the Finance Committee questions (attached). Finance Director Miller spoke on the transportation budget. Mr. Duah stated that the Transportation department needs to cut expenses by about 3 million dollars to bring the department in to balance. Mr. Duah presented an option for route changes that could address the deficit. Mr. Miller discussed the "transit budget without change" document (attached). Mr. Miller discussed the draft revised transportation budget that proposes the elimination of the Yellow and Gold Route and the Circulator (attached). The committee discussed the current bus routes and frequency. The committee discussed the parking and transportation budgets and how they are related. Alderman Arnett requested that the Finance Committee report include an expression of the actuals vs. estimates. The chairman requested a report from the mayor on his suggested cuts to the transportation budget. Alderman Arnett requested a spreadsheet including the costs and revenues for all the existing bus lines. Alderman Budge announced the upcoming Transportation Committee meeting and invited all council members and the public to attend. ID-153-14 Finance Department Budget (administrative) City of Annapolis Page 1 Finance Committee Standing Committee Minutes - April 23, 2014 Final Finance Director Miller discussed the Administrative budget in the Finance Department. Mr. Miller addressed the Finance Committee questions (attached). Mr. Miller stated that the Mayors budget included an increase in salaries of $14,018.78 and an increase in benefits of $23,088.47. Despite an overall rise in salaries and benefits there were reductions of one position, savings from a reclassification, reduction of the supply budget, and reductions in professional services. Mr. Miller stated that the staffing reduction would have little impact on services. The other listed reductions will not impact Finance Department services. Mr. Miller suggested the creation of a convenience fee for telephone or web payments could help recover the merchant fee service charges that we pay. The committe supported this recomendation. The committee requested a list of proposed legislation that came out of the budget hearings. The committee discussed the need for 5 year projections to long at the long term affects of this years decisions. 3. Legislation before Committee O-7-14 City Budget: Referrals to the Financial Advisory Commission and City Grants to Non-Profit Organizations - For the purpose of authorizing the referral of the annual operating budget and capital budget with the capital improvement program to the Financial Advisory Commission upon introduction of the ordinances before the City Council; revising City standards for making operating and/or capital grants to non-profit organizations; and the reporting process for recipients of operating and/or capital grants. Attachments: O-7-14.docx Staff Report.docx Fiscal Impact Note.pdf Budge Amendment.docx Legislative Analyst Cowles discussed the legislation. Alderman Arnett moved to amend the legislation to remove the section on the community grants. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 3- Alderman Pfeiffer, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Paone Alderman Arnett moved to recommend with amendments . Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Aye: 3- Alderman Pfeiffer, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Paone 4. Adjournment Upon motion duly made, seconded and adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 3:54 p.m. City of Annapolis Page 2