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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 08.14.2012 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor George Garver presiding. Council Present: ICouncil Absent: Patty Eason, Danny Meigs, Bill Sattler, Tommy Troy Hellmann Gonzalez, Rachael Jonrowe, Jerry Hammerlun Staff resent:_ Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager; Bridget Chapman, Acting City Attorney; Jessica Brettle, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Chief Financial Officer; Minutes • - _ • • - - • r • 6=0 17-FTFUUMMIMW A Discussion and possible action regarding funding allocations for contracted social services and youth programs for 2012/2013 budget year -- Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager Hellmann absent. Brandenburg described the past actions and policies regarding social service and youth program funding in the City. He said the City funds the requests with two different pots of money. He said the City received 14 applications for social service funding and additional 9 for youth programs. He said the City has received $134,000 more in requests than budgeted. He said the purpose tonight is to go through and determine the funding levels for each of the requests. Mayor asked and Rinn said, last year, the Council went through each allocation line by line but noted the process is up to the Council. Mayor started with the request from the Assistance League of Georgetown. Eason first read the criteria for the Social Service funding to the audience. Meigs asked and Rinn repeated the criteria one more time. Eason said she would like to start with what was funded last year instead of increasing funds by going down the list. She noted the Council can look at the list as funded last year and see if any increases can be given after the fact. She said she supports Assistance League and said she would like to start at last year's funded level of $6,549. Meigs said it is going to be hard to meet the requested levels as they amount to over $100,000 additional dollars than the budget allows. He agreed with Eason and said it is a good idea to start with the funding levels from last year.Sattler suggested $10,000 for the Assistance League of Georgetown. Hammerlun said he supports the work of the Assistance League but noted he is not going to make a specific proposal at this time. Jonrowe agreed with Eason and said she would support meeting what was given last year. She noted she does not see this as a top priority in the community when we are having to make the kind of decisions like this evening. Gonzalez said all of these organizations do great work and noted this is not about trying to slight anyone. He noted the issue is about lack of funds. Gonzalez asked and Rinn spoke about what the City gave last year in total. Gonzalez said, if the City gave as much as last year, there will be about $7,000 to move around one way or another to other organizations. He said it may be good to take a reverse approach and talk about what Council does not want to fund at all before considering the funding totals. Hammerlun asked, if the Council funds a qroup, are they permanently committed to funding that group in the future. He noted he would like for other organizations to come in and offer their services and have a chance as well. Eason spoke about the transition and how the process changed after the criteria was put in place. Meigs asked and Rinn said City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 1 of 3 Pages $311,331 is in the budget and last year, the City gave around $313,000. Rinn said CARTS is not asking for $9,000 and Habitat is asking for $5,000 less than what was awarded last year. Eason asked and Gonzalez suggested the City fund what was given last year or what was requested, whichever is the lesser amount. Jonrowe asked why the City did not consider increasing the funding amount since the need is increasing in the community. Brandenburg said it is council prerogative on the budget for this issue. He said if the Council wants to go with the higher tax rate, there is some amount to add to this funding. He said the amount given was to keep a status quo budget from last year. There was much discussion regarding the budget for this. Hammerlun said he agrees with the Gonzalez approach to this. Rinn filled in what.was provided last year as well as the proposed funding for this year and listed off the final amounts. Gonzalez asked and Rinn said the Council is $2400 under budget with this procedure. She said the budgeted amount is $400,049 total. Hammerlun asked to go through the youth criteria and Rinn read the criteria to the City Council. Gonzalez said that Council should reduce the challenge grant for the Williamson County Crisis Center to $1,500 since that is what they met last year. Mayor said that would leave the City with $22,500 to allocate back to agencies. Gonzalez said he would like to allocate $5,000 for the Williamson Museum at $5,000 and $2,000 for the Hill Country Book Festival of Georgetown. Sattler said he would like to suggest $7,000 for WC4C. Hammerlun - suggested another $5,000 should be given to the LifeSteps program. Meigs asked and Rinn said, last year, Getsemani received $11,000 on the youth side and noted this year they have split their requests into two different funds. Eason said, when she looks at youth, she needs to know the physical needs: She noted she supports the museum but not when she knows there is a need for drugs and alcohol help and physical needs. She noted even the book festival is something that, in better times, she'd support but noted right now it is not necessary. She said she thinks there should be larger numbers for the Williamson Council on Alcohol and Drugs and the childcare items. Eason asked and Rinn said after these initial allocations, there is $500 left. Gonzalez spoke about how the museum and book festival are preventative programs. Eason would like to take $1,000 from the book festival and $3,000 from the Museum and give it to the Boys and Girls Club. Meigs said most of the youth organizations meet the criteria and noted he is very familiar with what the Boys and Girls Club does. He said the fact that the City can offer almost half a million dollars speaks highly of the City. He noted the City is in a difficult position to decide who gets what amount. He said if a small increase is given to the Boys and Girls Club, he know it would be put to good use and he would support Eason's suggestion. Rinn reviewed the proposed allocations after these suggestions were made. Mayor also noted the Boys and Girls Club is opening a completely second operation. Sattler said the City should move the Museum up to $3,000 and move down the Boys and Girls Club by $1,000. Gonzalez and Meigs said they can support that suggestion. Eason said she can not. Eason said she would like to have $44,500 to Boys and Girls Club. She spoke about how they will be expanding to the West side and how this money will be put to good use. She said they have a proven record and provide physical needs for the kids. Mayor; polled the Council and the majority agrees that $4,500 to added to the Boys and Girls Club funds. Mayor asked and there was consensus to fund the Book Festival with $1,000. Mayor asked and there was much discussion on how to fund the Williamson Museum. Rinn reviewed the recommendations for the Museum and Lifesteps. Motion by Meigs, second by Gonzalez to increase the budget by $2,000 so there will be $5,000 for the Williamson Museum and $4,000 for Lifesteps, with the other organizations being funded as the same level as last budget year as well as what was agreed upon at the meeting. Approved 5-1 (Eason opposed, Hellmann absent) Jonrowe asked and Rinn said final action on the contracts will be taken at a future meeting. Motion by Gonzalez, second by Eason to direct staff to prepare the contracts based on the agreed upon funding levels in the discussion. Mayor reviewed the discussion. Vote on the motion: Approved 6-0 (Hellmann absent) B Public Hearing on the proposed 2012 Property Tax rate -- Micki Rundell, Chief Financial Officer This item was pulled by staff. Meeting recessed to Executive Session under Section 551.071 and 551.072 of the Local Government Code -- 4:10 PM Meeting returned to Open Session and adjourned -- 6:03 PM Adjournment City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 2 of 3 Pages The meeting was adjourned at 06:03 PM. Approve /."/ Attest: Mayor Georgg Garver C' Secretary J ssica Brettle City Council Meeting Minutes/ Page 3 of 3 Pages