City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon Finance Committee Parks & Enrichment Services Committee Minutes May 22, 2019 1. Minutes from the April 24th committee meeting were approved. 2. Finance Department. a. Investment Activity Update i. Director Volesky gave council an update on the City’s investments as of year-end. The investments and cash balance as of the end of 2018 was $32,740,318. ii. As of April 30th 2019, the City of Mount Vernon’s total was $30,596,364. This amount did not include over $3M in property taxes that were received in May. b. Sewer billing process i. Director Volesky overviewed Mount Vernon’s Sewer billing process and explained wintertime averaging. c. Imposition of LIFT i. Director Volesky presented a recap of the ordinance establishing the Downtown Mount Vernon RDA and maximum LIFT tax rate of (0.969%) respectively. ii. Director Volesky walked through the necessary next steps requiring the City of Mount Vernon to impose the LIFT tax by ordinance no later than July 1, 2019 in order to receive the full 25-year benefit that expires July 30, 2044. iii. The Department of Revenue will track all sales tax collected form the City’s RDA and compare it to the 2009 base year analyzing this monthly and multiplying it by our designated rate of 0.969%. iv. The City will receive these funds monthly until the $500,000 is reached each year. v. The City has until the fifth year, or June 30 2024, to begin construction on a parking structure or the LIFT tax would cease to be imposed. 3. Questions and Comments a. Councilmember Beaton – Inquired about PUD’s rates and if they were to lower the water rates would it effect sewer billing. b. Director Volesky – Clarified that sewer billing is based off of consumption. PUD rate decrease would only effect sewer billing if customer used more water due to lower price point. c. Councilmember Brocksmith – Asked what would happen if the proposed design for the City’s parking structure were to change. d. Director Volesky – As long as the designs include a parking structure The City would be in compliance. e. Councilmember Brocksmith – Inquired if it possible for us to receive less than the $500,000 annual figure. City of Mount Vernon Finance Committee May 22, 2019 f. Director Volesky – Explained that the figure is based off projections from 2012. According to those projections the City should have no issue receiving the full $500,000, but there is no guarantee. We will have to wait and see if the DOR projections are accurate. g. Councilmember Hulst – Asked if we had finished closing out 2018. h. Director Volesky – Stated we had and those statements are currently under review. i. Councilmember Hulst – Inquired about the state of the fund balance. j. Director Volesky – The fund balance did not decrease but he will give an update with finalized numbers at the next committee meeting. 4. Parks and Enrichment Services. a. Projects i. Director King gave us on update on the Little Mountain Park Project, The Gillett Property Acquisition, The Edgewater Park Disc Golf Course as well as the potential Bakerview Skate Park. b. Recreation Update i. Director King gave us an overview of the many upcoming events happening in the Mount Vernon area. ii. The YMCA Facility Use Program drawing is on June 14th c. City Work Program i. From January to May volunteer hours total 1,271 hours. A majority of those hours spent contributing to the new Disc Golf Course, Kulshan Trail Care, and Coach Pitch/T ball Coaches. ii. The City of Mount Vernon Park Department has a new Notice of Trespass document that allows our Parks employees to comply with the law while more effectively protecting our trails and parks. 5. Questions and Comments a. Director King - Publicly thanked all of the volunteers who have helped with the numerous projects in Mount Vernon. b. Director King - Thanked council for their approval of the Gillett Property purchase and informed them the parks department has already started some minor repairs. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Submitted by: Tyler Rude Tyler Rude