City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon City Council Finance Committee Minutes March 26, 2014 Present: Councilmembers Fiedler, Molenaar, Quam, Hulst, Lindquist, Urban, Ragan and Mayor Boudreau Staff present: Finance Director Alicia Huschka, Police Chief Dodd, and Library Director Brian Soneda 1. February 2014 committee minutes were approved. 2. Financial Update  Sales tax collection for March 2014 was 12.2% above March 2013. The first quarter for 2014 is up 9.4% compared to first quarter 2013.  Criminal Justice Sales Tax revenue for January and February is down 1.6% compared to the same period in 2013.  Real Estate Excise Tax for 1st quarter 2014 is 16.7% less than first quarter 2013. 3. Hotel/Motel Tourism Promotion request  American Legion Baseball Association has submitted a request for $4,000 in funding for a tournament to take place this summer at Sherman Anderson Field. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee has recommended $2,000 of funding. The annual budget for this fund does have $5,000 in “Tournament Contingency” budgeted. The Committee was supportive of the $2,000 for this tournament. 4. The Finance Department annual calendar was reviewed which outlined the Finance Department’s major deliverables (year-end close/annual financial report, annual audit, capital improvement plan and annual budget process) and major functions/responsibilities, projects and timelines. 5. Utilities Receivables reviewed  Receivables for the Wastewater, Solid Waste and Surfacewater Utilities totaled $2,186,000 at December 31, 2013. An aging of the receivables was also reviewed. Accounts receivables that are over 150 days past due that are not satisfied are turned over to a collection account and a lien is filed on the property. The City has $561,000 in utility receivables that have a lien on them.  The three utilities had total revenues of $14,371,000 in 2013. 6. Jail finance committee update  Alicia gave an update on recent meetings of the Jail Finance Committee which included a discussion of equity to those cities that provide a Community Work Program as an alternative to jail time. 7. Library Update  New library needs assessment project update - there is a public meeting that will be held April 10 for community information on this project. City of Mount Vernon Finance Committee March 26, 2014 Page 2  Express checkout update- at this time the number of library patrons using express checkout are below expectation levels.  Friends of the Library Book Sale will occur Friday April 25 and Saturday April 26 and will be held at Fire Station #1. 8. YMCA contract update - the Mayor briefed the committee on discussions and proposed changes by the YMCA to the contract with the City. Adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Submitted by Rebecca J. Wade