Finance Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Finance Committee Information: 360.753.8447 Tuesday, July 14, 2015 4:30 PM Maintenance Center Conference Room, 1401 Eastside Street Special Meeting 1. ROLL CALL Present: 3 - Chair Jim Cooper, Committee member Nathaniel Jones and Committee member Cheryl Selby 2. CALL TO ORDER Chair Cooper called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 15-0714 Approval of July 8, 2015 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 4.A 15-0710 Oral Reports - Status Reports and Updates (Follow-up Discussion of Metropolitan Park District (MPD)) Chair Cooper asked if anyone present had any questions or concerns about the MPD proposal. Coalition of Parks Advocates (COPA) representatives Bob Jacobs and Karen Messmer spoke to concerns regarding some of the language in the ordinance related to an advisory committee overseeing the MPD. They also expressed a desire to clear up language about the sale of park land and how proceeds can be used. COPA representative Brian Faller stated the ordinance should make clear the MPD Committee needs to be for review, not advising, to distinguish it from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. City Attorney Mark Barber noted we are getting close to being able to move forward with the proposal and getting the MPD on the November ballot. He is not in favor of making any changes to the ordinance at this point because we are on such a tight deadline and any changes require approval of Bond Counsel. He said other recent MPDs that passed were written broadly and we will likely create problems by trying to pin down every possible contingency. He cautions against changes. Chair Cooper affirmed he will have the following five edits made to the ordinance prior to second reading. City of Olympia Page 1 Finance Committee Meeting Minutes July 14, 2015 1. Narrow/clarify the statement of intent. Use the language from section 3.1.3. 2. Correct the reference to the Non-Voted Utility Tax in section 3.1.3 III to read "one-half." 3. Correct the refrence to the Non-Voted Utiltity Tax in section 3.1.3 IV to read "one-half." 4. Under "Ownership of Property," add a sentence that reads "Any proceeds from the sale of Park land should be dedicated to Park purposes." 5. Clarify language on Addendum I to read "excludes currently dedicated funds" in the notes section. Also make it clear the notes apply to each revenue source. Mr. Barber has prepared an explanatory statement for the ballot. The statement must be 175 words or less. Chair Cooper asked for the statement to be emailed to Committee members for review. Committee members will review and send comments back to Mr. Barber directly without copying one another. Mr. Barber mentioned we need people to write "pro" and "con" statements. Administrative Services Director Jane Kirkemo reminded everyone that whoever writes these statements should know his/her name and address will appear in the voters pamphlet along with the statement. Chair Cooper wants roles/responsibilities and timelines of the Pro and Con Committees to be included in the next staff report for the July 21 City Council meeting. After this part of the process is complete, the City can create an informational piece about the ballot measure to be mailed to residents. Ms. Kirkemo warns not to use specific amounts (dollars or rates) because rates will change. She said to use phrases such as "up to" or "not to exceed." The MPD board will establish the rate following a public hearing in November 2016. No taxes will be assessed or collected until 2017. The report was received. 5. ADJOURNMENT Chair Cooper adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m. City of Olympia Page 2