Finance Commission

3/28/2023 - Minutes I. Call to Order Members Present: Ashley Lucht, James Messeder, Maurice Matte, Januka Acharya, Councilor Bryn Oakleaf City Staff Present: Angela Aldieri Call to Order by: Ashley Lucht Meeting Start Time: 5:30 PM II. Public Comment None III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes Tabled until the next meeting. IV. City Council Liaison Update New Councilor, Chares Judge was elected. New assignments for councilors were doled out. Retreat/planning session is open to the public and all are welcome to come. V. Inclusion & Belonging Update The Inclusion and Belonging equity assessment tool was adopted by the City Council at their last meeting (two pages of guidance and guidelines for the City Council to refer to when making policy decisions). VI. Approval: Elect Officer – Vice Chair Tabled until July 2023 VII. Approval: Elect Officer - Secretary Tabled until July 2023 VIII. Discussion: Municipal Plan – Focus Economic Vitality Section Discussed Economic vitality plan and re-assessed progress made on discussions from last year. Discusses how city staff prioritizes projects. Commissioners could debate whether a Community and Economic Development Director needs to be added to address some of the economic vitality goals. The old director did a lot of work grant writing, establishing relationships with business, small business loan program, and helping with modeling gentrification reports. The commission successfully completed discussions of how to allocate TIF money. Covered ESSER funding for afterschool programming among other existing programs. Allowed tax rate to be lower then it otherwise would have been. The commission discussed potentially expanding or adding downtown as an Opportunity Zone.  The commission successfully completed discussions of how to allocate TIF money. Covered ESSER funding for afterschool programming among other existing programs. Allowed tax rate to be lower then it otherwise would have been. The commission discussed potentially expanding or adding downtown as an Opportunity Zone. Attracting business objectives being met by the Lot 17/hotel development. Can we implement a vacancy tax. Discussed accessory dwelling units, which are allowed under zoning laws. Short term rentals (Airbnb) not taxed currently. The Commission noted that Economic Vitality Master Plan Goal number two will be revisited at our April meeting in conjunction with our review of the Economic Development Plan. Ashley asked that we touch base on this item again at the next meeting as well to give people a chance to digest and boil down the discussion to a few goals. IX. Adjourn Motion by: James Messeder Second: Maurice Matte Meeting End Time: 7:15 PM