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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Finance Committee - 01/27/2014 -C .Finance AdministrationI0215N.Mason ____I I 2MFIoorI-Ort CoLLins Fort Collins,CO 80522 970.221.6788~~70 21 6782-fax Council Audit &Finance Committee Minutes 1/27/14 10:00 to 12:00 CIC Room Council Attendees:Mayor Karen Weitkunat,Bob Overbeck,Ross Cunniff Staff:Mike Beckstead,Craig Foreman,Dawna Gorkowski,Marty Heffernan,Mark Jackson,Brian Janonis,Jessica Ping Small, Ginny Sawyer,John Voss,Wendy Williams,Katie Wiggett Others:Dale Adamy,Kevin Jones (Chamber of Commerce) Approval of the Minutes Mayor Karen Weitkunat moved to approve the minutes from the December16 meeting.Bob Overbeck seconded the motion.Minutes approved unanimously. Utilities Building Financing Update Mike Beckstead explained that Financial Services has been working with the Utilities finance team to evaluate the possibility of using existing fund balance cash to fund the construction of the new CSA building rather than borrowing through a bond offering.At the end of 2013,the four Utility Enterprise Funds combined had $58 M in cash and investments available for funding future capital projects. Mike said that cash earned approximately .9%in 2013 and borrowing rates are currently about 4.5%. Staff believes that using available cash when earning rates are at historically low levels is an appropriate use of existing cash.Conversely,issuing bonds for the CSA building would be complicated because each enterprise fund is a unique entity and one cannot support the others.Staff has confirmed with bond counsel that we can structure a deal,but only with many cross agreements between the Utility Funds. Given the risk of other large capital projects within Utilities that will require funding within the next 5-10 years (i.e.Halligan Reservoir and Mulberry annexation),staff feels that the CSA building is a less appropriate bonding candidate.Staff recommends using cash to fund the Utility CSA building. Bob Overbeck asked Mike what savings would result from using cash rather than bonding.Mike replied that there would be substantial savings,up to 5 M in the next 20 years.Bob asked if,despite the potential savings,using cash on this project may put Utilities cash balances in jeopardy.Mike replied that this project will only require 15 M of the 43 M available.Holding the cash for future projects with uncertain timing requirements would be overly conservative. Council Finance supports staff’s decision to use cash for funding the CSA building project. 0 ~tCç~~s Parks Maintenance and Trail Funding Trail Funding: Marty Heffernan gave an overview of the City’s trail system,a system including 34 miles of paved trails and 23 underpasses with a value of $39 million.Current plans will add 31 miles of new trail and 10 underpasses at a cost of approximately $23 million. Funding for the trail system has come primarily from Conservation Trust (Lottery)proceeds.In 2001, due to budget shortfalls,a significant amount of ConTrust funds were redirected to park and trail maintenance.Currently,$735,000 of ConTrust funds are used for maintaining rather than building the system.Of the approximately $1.4 million in funds that ConTrust provided annually in 2012 and 2013, only $665,000 went to trail development.Natural Areas has provided $350,000 for trail development since 2003,but this funding may not be available after 2014 due to Natural Areas’needs. Mayor Weitkunat noted that many aren’t in favor of any Natural Area funds being used to fund Trails projects.She asked that Staff look for future funding plans that eliminate Trails’reliance on these funds. Marty explained that the City has about $6 million set aside for trail development in 2014 and 2015, funding that will be expended on six major trail projects.In 2016,the City will still have 26 miles of trail to build at a cost of over $17 million with only $665,000 in annual funding.This means it will take 27 years (2014 to 2040)to complete the trail system without additional funding. Marty walked through four options for increasing trail funding: 1.Redirect all ConTrust funding to trail development a.Provides “$1.4 million annually b.Builds out trail system in 14 years (2014 to 2027) c.Requires replacement of $735,000 for park and trail maintenance annually d.Replacement funds could be provided by a new park maintenance fee of ‘$l per month or by the General Fund Ross asked how much the General Fund was over projection in 2013 and if those excess funds could provide the $735,000 needed for Option 1.Mike said that the General Fund was $5.5 million over projection in 2013;however,much of that came from an increase in Use Tax,a volatile revenue. 2.The creation of a capital expansion fee for trails a.Similar to our park capital expansion fees b.One-time assessment (‘~‘$700)on new residential dwellings c.Provides “$500,000 annually d.With existing ConTrust funding ($665,000)provides $1.165 million for trail development e.Builds out trail system in 17 years (2014 to 2030) Ross asked if this was the capital expansion fee that was dropped from the package of the updated capital expansion fees passed by Council in 2013.Marty answered that this was from that study and noted that even with Trails added to the other updated fees,Fort Collins capital expansion fees would still not be high compared to other municipalities in the Front Range. r rEortCQWn~oLLIns 3.Continuing Natural Area funding for trails ($350,000)if the County quarter cent tax for open space is extended in 2018 a.Only affordable if the County 1/4 cent for Natural Areas is extended b.Provides $350,000 annually c.With existing ConTrust funding provides $1.015 million for trail development d.Builds out trail system in 19 years e.If combined with a trail impact fee (Option 2)builds out trail system in 13 years f.Could delay infrastructure improvements (parking lots,restrooms)for newly acquired natural areas The Mayor noted that Council has not been interested in continuing to use Natural Area funds for projects that are not directly tied to Natural Areas. 4.One-time Trail Funding a.Dedicate one-time funding ($5 to $10 million)to trail development b.Possible funding sources are BOB 2 or reserves c.Current BOB 2 trail offer is for $2 million but could be increased d.With current ConTrust funding builds out trail system in 13 to 20 years The Mayor cautioned that,for trails to be funded by BOB 2,the offer would need to have strong public backing.A good BOB 2 offer for Trail Funding would give the public clear details of what will be funded and what the short term benefit will be.Ross Cunniff added that Council is interested in this option; they just need to see more data. Park Maintenance: Marty also presented the need for more park maintenance funding.The City has 44 neighborhood parks and 6 community parks comprising 875 acres of developed parkland.Currently capital expansion fees fund the building or our park system while the funding to maintain parks comes primarily from the General Fund ($3,661,521),an amount of funding that hasn’t increased since 2006.Park maintenance is also funded with KFCG dollars,fee revenue from rentals and ConTrust funding. Over the next 15 years as the community grows,park capital expansion fees will fund construction of 10 new neighborhood parks and 3 new community parks.KFCG will provide maintenance funding for 4 neighborhood parks between 2016 and 2019.However,the average annual maintenance cost for these neighborhood parks is approximately $35,000 per park,an ongoing expense;so if KFCG sunsets,an alternative funding source will be needed. Also,a new community park is being designed with construction scheduled for 2015/2016.Ongoing maintenance funding of approximately $370,000 annually will be needed for this park beginning in 2017, and one-time,start-up funding for tools and equipment will be needed in 2016.Staff will be requesting the start-up funding from the General Fund in the 2015/2016 budget process. While these new parks are provided to serve our growing population and a larger population should produce additional General Fund revenue,Marty noted that an alternative funding source is needed for maintenance of these new parks.He suggested a park maintenance fee as one possible way to fund future maintenance.The fee would be approximately $1 per household,collected on the Utility bill. CofrEd~cciU!~ The Mayor said that she supports finding a mechanism for funding maintenance.While the City always sets aside funds for building the system,we have not yet set up a viable plan for maintaining what we build.Mike noted that,if Council did choose to move forward with a park maintenance fee,a rebate program for low-income would be provided. Council Finance supports Staff’s efforts to find a funding mechanism for park maintenance and asks that they move forward.Mike emphasized the importance of timing if Staff moves forward with a fee, considering the many taxes that are coming up for renewal.Staff does currently have an RFP out for a Fee Comparison study,a study that will give us a strong,broad view of how the City’s fees compare with the Front Range’s.This study will give valuable guidance as we move forward with fee discussions. Transportation Maintenance Fee Discussion Mike noted that the topic of Street Maintenance Fees was brought to Council Finance in October and November of 2013.A transportation maintenance fee was discussed as a potential alternative to the 1/4 cent tax that expires in 2015.Staff presented the fee study and its financial impact on local businesses.While the cost can arguably be passed off to the customer,it would be difficult for businesses to absorb the entire cost of the fee and there is a perception that the fee places a larger burden on businesses. Mike noted that some of the businesses that would pay the fee do not currently collect sales tax (i.e. banks);for these businesses,the fee would be a completely new addition.Ross noted that the businesses affected by the fee would be competing with businesses similarly affected by the fee,so the addition in cost to the customer shouldn’t hurt the businesses.Ross asked that the fee discussion continue. The Mayor questioned continuing the fee discussion,saying that the fee places a large burden on businesses and can be seen as double hitting the resident and the business owner.She believes that the fee doesn’t have Council or citizen support,whereas the 1/4 tax does.Ross agreed that the fee needs to be improved to become what is best for Fort Collins.Bob believes that Staff should continue to work on the possibility of transportation Maintenance Fee.The Mayor asked what they hoped to see from Staff if they continue.Bob replied that he’d like to have the discussion in a Work Session to get feedback from the rest of Council and from citizens on what they actually support and what changes they would like made.Darin Atteberry will talk to Councilmembers about the topic before it moves forward. Grocery Tax and Utility Rebates:2013 Report Jessica Ping-Small said that the Finance Department currently administers three rebate programs for low-income,senior and disabled residents.The rebates are for Property Tax,Utilities and Sales Tax on Food.In May of 2012,City Council approved several improvements to the program which helped increase the number of qualified applicants by 13%that year.Katie Wiggett gave an overview of the 2013 program.In 2013,Staff focused on continuing to simplify the process for applicants and on promoting the program leading to an increase of 2%qualified participants. 2013 Outreach: •Translated the application into Spanish to help reach a larger demographic and made a telephone translating service available to applicants r •Distributed over 2,500 applications to low income P50 elementary schools in their Back-to- School packets •Articles in the Coloradoan,in City News and a News Bulletin on Cable 14 •Partnerships with local agencies such as the Larimer Food Bank,Volunteers of America,Larimer Health and Human Services,etc. •Provided on-site help at the DMA and Senior Center •Application forms distributed to the Senior Center,Aztlan Center,Utility Billing Office and the Workforce Center as well as to several senior living apartment clubhouses •Provided applications and advertising posters to the Villages low income apartments •Applications mailed out to all applicants from the prior year •City webpage with downloadable application in English and Spanish •Information in the Senior Voice and available through United Way’s 211 Goals for 2014: •Continue with proven outreach strategies •Look for more effective ways to partner with PSD for targeted outreach •Develop strategy for better reaching Spanish-speaking community •Increase on-site application assistance at low income housing •Increased partnership with non-profits to advertise the program •Partner with the Social Sustainability Service Area to increase community outreach Bob Overbeck suggested advertising the program on local radio stations and on Channel 97.The Mayor suggested that the outreach to schools at the beginning of the school year might be less effective because of all the paperwork that parents get at that time.She also asked about the logic of having the program begin in August,suggesting that it might be easier for applicants if the program started closer to tax season when more people had their documentation ready and are thinking about rebates.Staff said they could move the program forward in 2015,but they would need 2014 to prepare applicants for the change in deadlines. Council Finance is pleased with the outreach efforts made in 2013 and the continued improvements to the program.They feel that a change in scheduling for the rebate may be very helpful for participation.