City Council Finance Committee Meeting

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES April 15, 2021 The City Council Finance Committee of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met virtually at 4:00 pm in the Municipal Building Executive Conference Room on the 15h day of April, 2021, and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted in the Municipal Building at 201 West Gray and the Norman Public Library at 225 North Webster, 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT: Members Foreman and Hall ABSENT: Member Bierman and Mayor Clark OTHERS PRESENT: City Council Member Nash Darrel Pyle, City Manager Anthony Francisco, Director of Finance Kathryn Walker, City Attorney Shawn O’Leary, Director of Public Works Gala Hicks, Director of HR Item 1, being: DISCUSSION REGARDING A SIDEWALK RECOUPMENT PROGRAM. Kathryn Walker gave the presentation. She stated that there are a lot of gaps throughout town in sidewalks. She says the biggest challenge we face is the budgeting issue of up-fronting the money per the ordinance. Member Foreman asked if our sidewalk ordinance was comparable to other municipalities. Walker stated that it is comparable and most cities struggle with the same thing we are struggling with due to the statutory process. Walker stated that the law states that repair or addition of sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner, not the City. Member Hall stated that she is definitely interested in seeing what the next steps are regarding this program. Shawn O’Leary stated that the City is investing about $4-$5 million per year in sidewalks during infrastructure projects. The challenges we face now are the pre-1966 neighborhoods that have no sidewalks and repairs to existing sidewalks. ****** Finance Committee Minutes April 15, 2021 Page 2 Item 2, being: SUBMISSION OF THE REVENUE/EXPENDITURE REPORTS Anthony Francisco gave the update. He stated that we are right on budget if you exclude the Cares Act money that we have received. We received a really big one-time payment for the apartments being built in University North Park, so that is what you see happening in the Sewer Excise Tax Fund. The sales tax collection continues to fluctuate wildly. Items submitted for the record: 1. Summary of Major Fund Revenue Sources vs. Budget FYE 2021 as of March 31, 2021 2. Summary of Major Fund Expenditures vs. Budget FYE 2021 as of March 31, 2021 3. Appropriations from Fund Balance FYE 21 4. General Fund Transfers over $50,000 between Expenditure Categories FYE 21 March 2021 5. Norman Forward Sales Tax Financial Reports 6. Inter-City Sales Tax Growth Comparison ****** Item 3, being: SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT ON OPEN POSITIONS Gala Hicks stated that the Director of Parks and Recreation position has closed and we have many applications. The Recreation Superintendent position at Westwood Golf has been filled. We have received about 5 applications for the Sustainability Coordinator. ****** Item 4, being: MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS None at this time. ******