Friday, October 02, 2009
1st Take on the Lakewood City Budget for Next Year
My regular readers, both of you, know that my postings tend to pick up around budget time. The budget is hugely important because it creates priorities and pays, with your tax dollars, for city services.
Thanks to careful management, we're not looking at some of the train wrecks in Lakewood that you see in some other cities with their budgets. I'm not sure we're going to have the hyperactive excitement, some of which was stirred by me, that you've seen in past years, as we work on this budget for 2010.
That said, I'm also still making my way through the draft preliminary budget. Rather than keep you in suspense, I thought I would share our city manager's cover letter. It represents a lot of the highlights. I'd normally prefer to digest it and highlight it, but there's just not time and I want to get this to you soon.
Believe me, we will talk more. Questions and feedback welcome. What follows is text from our city manager, Andrew Neiditz. Look for more as we go through several Monday nights of budget hearings. Nothing is settled yet.
And now ... the cover letter:
I (Andrew Neiditz, Lakewood city manager) am pleased to submit a preliminary budget for 2010 that is consistent with the priorities set by the Council, creates further staffing efficiencies, and carefully balances the needs of the City and the capabilities of our financial position.
The fiscal constraints associated with a slowing economy have resulted in budget growth that is essentially flat: the proposed General Fund of $37.1 million is 5 % lower than 2009, due in part to the one-time transfer in 2009 of $2.55 million to the Police station project.
General Fund staffing is reduced overall by 4 FTE, over and above the 13 FTE reduction in 2009. The General Fund would have been further reduced by $480,000 if not for the Department of Justice police grant funds. The overall General Fund reserve, or ending fund balance, is $3.22 million, which is 9.5 % of operating expenses.
The proposed total City budget for 2010 is $86.7 million, which is 6.17 % lower than 2009.
The budget establishes a continued emphasis on economic development activities, including the administration of the OEA (Office of Economic Adjustment) grant of the U. S. Defense Department to study growth impacts associated with our two military bases.
Among the highlights of the 2010 preliminary budget are:
• Establishment of a Community Safety & Resources Team (CSRT) to support the six districts of the City, to include 3 code enforcement officers, 3 neighborhood community service officers (CSO’s), an assistant city attorney, and administrative support. This new initiative is a realignment of current code enforcement and neighborhood mobilization programs; this new interdisciplinary team will be based in City Hall, reporting to a Police lieutenant, and will have direct support from the city manager and the directors of the other operating departments. Its primary mission will be community outreach and mobilization, code enforcement, and emergency management. There will be no net increase in FTE staff positions, but a realignment of positions to increase resources and response capabilities.
• Merger of the City Clerk’s office into the Legal Department in order to increase efficiencies in contract administration, agenda management, public records requests, and other administrative support functions. This will involve a reduction of 2 FTE staff positions, and a reduction of $109,000.
• Transition of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program into Economic Development in order to better reflect the priorities of the City Council for these funds.
• Transition of Human Services into a new department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services to create synergy between senior services, human services, and youth support programs.
• To increase court security and enhance jail alternative programs, a new court compliance officer position is proposed in the Municipal Court budget, to offset police overtime funding and court transport services previously contracted with Pierce County. This is a budget reduction of about $30,000.
• The addition of two streets maintenance tech positions in Public Works to offset more costly Pierce County contract hours; this is a budget savings of about $400,000 over contract costs.
• Implementation of the Tillicum Neighborhood Plan and Woodbrook Business Park Plan.
• Funding for the Tillicum/Woodbrook sewer extension project of $5.9 million for 2010.
• Funding for road improvements, including $5,320,000 for Pacific Highway/Ponders realignment (Gravelly Lake Drive to Bridgeport), $2,360,000 for Bridgeport Way reconstruction (Steilacoom Blvd to 83rd), and $1,440,000 safety improvements for Steilacoom Blvd (Farwest to 87th), federal funding of $500,000 for traffic signal synchronization, and $400,000 for the Lakewood Station Connection Study (pedestrian bridge project).----
Ok, Walter again: So there's a lot to be said on many of these subjects. One thing I will shout out is that I am thrilled at the changes proposed for the block grant program. I've been speaking out for years now that Lakewood has not been spending this money like a lot of other cities spend it. So I think these changes bode well.
Obviously more needs to be said. Thanks for reading this far :) More later.
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Thanks to careful management, we're not looking at some of the train wrecks in Lakewood that you see in some other cities with their budgets. I'm not sure we're going to have the hyperactive excitement, some of which was stirred by me, that you've seen in past years, as we work on this budget for 2010.
That said, I'm also still making my way through the draft preliminary budget. Rather than keep you in suspense, I thought I would share our city manager's cover letter. It represents a lot of the highlights. I'd normally prefer to digest it and highlight it, but there's just not time and I want to get this to you soon.
Believe me, we will talk more. Questions and feedback welcome. What follows is text from our city manager, Andrew Neiditz. Look for more as we go through several Monday nights of budget hearings. Nothing is settled yet.
And now ... the cover letter:
I (Andrew Neiditz, Lakewood city manager) am pleased to submit a preliminary budget for 2010 that is consistent with the priorities set by the Council, creates further staffing efficiencies, and carefully balances the needs of the City and the capabilities of our financial position.
The fiscal constraints associated with a slowing economy have resulted in budget growth that is essentially flat: the proposed General Fund of $37.1 million is 5 % lower than 2009, due in part to the one-time transfer in 2009 of $2.55 million to the Police station project.
General Fund staffing is reduced overall by 4 FTE, over and above the 13 FTE reduction in 2009. The General Fund would have been further reduced by $480,000 if not for the Department of Justice police grant funds. The overall General Fund reserve, or ending fund balance, is $3.22 million, which is 9.5 % of operating expenses.
The proposed total City budget for 2010 is $86.7 million, which is 6.17 % lower than 2009.
The budget establishes a continued emphasis on economic development activities, including the administration of the OEA (Office of Economic Adjustment) grant of the U. S. Defense Department to study growth impacts associated with our two military bases.
Among the highlights of the 2010 preliminary budget are:
• Establishment of a Community Safety & Resources Team (CSRT) to support the six districts of the City, to include 3 code enforcement officers, 3 neighborhood community service officers (CSO’s), an assistant city attorney, and administrative support. This new initiative is a realignment of current code enforcement and neighborhood mobilization programs; this new interdisciplinary team will be based in City Hall, reporting to a Police lieutenant, and will have direct support from the city manager and the directors of the other operating departments. Its primary mission will be community outreach and mobilization, code enforcement, and emergency management. There will be no net increase in FTE staff positions, but a realignment of positions to increase resources and response capabilities.
• Merger of the City Clerk’s office into the Legal Department in order to increase efficiencies in contract administration, agenda management, public records requests, and other administrative support functions. This will involve a reduction of 2 FTE staff positions, and a reduction of $109,000.
• Transition of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program into Economic Development in order to better reflect the priorities of the City Council for these funds.
• Transition of Human Services into a new department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services to create synergy between senior services, human services, and youth support programs.
• To increase court security and enhance jail alternative programs, a new court compliance officer position is proposed in the Municipal Court budget, to offset police overtime funding and court transport services previously contracted with Pierce County. This is a budget reduction of about $30,000.
• The addition of two streets maintenance tech positions in Public Works to offset more costly Pierce County contract hours; this is a budget savings of about $400,000 over contract costs.
• Implementation of the Tillicum Neighborhood Plan and Woodbrook Business Park Plan.
• Funding for the Tillicum/Woodbrook sewer extension project of $5.9 million for 2010.
• Funding for road improvements, including $5,320,000 for Pacific Highway/Ponders realignment (Gravelly Lake Drive to Bridgeport), $2,360,000 for Bridgeport Way reconstruction (Steilacoom Blvd to 83rd), and $1,440,000 safety improvements for Steilacoom Blvd (Farwest to 87th), federal funding of $500,000 for traffic signal synchronization, and $400,000 for the Lakewood Station Connection Study (pedestrian bridge project).----
Ok, Walter again: So there's a lot to be said on many of these subjects. One thing I will shout out is that I am thrilled at the changes proposed for the block grant program. I've been speaking out for years now that Lakewood has not been spending this money like a lot of other cities spend it. So I think these changes bode well.
Obviously more needs to be said. Thanks for reading this far :) More later.
Comments:
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Walter,
I am very concerned that the CSRT scheme is just a way to cut a couple more CSOs and further reduce community policing. There has been a continuing erosion in community policing since Chief Farrar took over and I view this as another way Andrew and Bret can decrease a program they do not believe in or support (contrary to their lip service public comments).
Second, the school zone cameras run by CSOs were more than self supporting and helped keep vehicle speeds down. I find it amazing that the Council killed this program intended to protect kids, partly as a response to the fear of cameras that was cost neutral!!!
Cheers,
Alan Hart
I am very concerned that the CSRT scheme is just a way to cut a couple more CSOs and further reduce community policing. There has been a continuing erosion in community policing since Chief Farrar took over and I view this as another way Andrew and Bret can decrease a program they do not believe in or support (contrary to their lip service public comments).
Second, the school zone cameras run by CSOs were more than self supporting and helped keep vehicle speeds down. I find it amazing that the Council killed this program intended to protect kids, partly as a response to the fear of cameras that was cost neutral!!!
Cheers,
Alan Hart
Thanks, Alan. You'll recall I led the charge to restore community policing a couple years ago so I do believe. What interests me about this is that it would add code enforcement officers to the mix, which was part of the neighborhood policing job anyway. We need specialized skills and while the neighborhood patrol officers have and will have done a fine job, code enforcement is a high priority. So I look forward to the budget hearings and learning more about the proposal. We still have six bodies for six patrol districts.
Walter,
We had a neighborhood meeting Sat Oct 3 and 4 issues raised some heat. We had 15 neighbors together for discussions.
1. School zone cameras. Not popular but concern about vehicle speeds in school zone trumps that. No one believes new system of occasional traffic cops will be as effective. A backward step.
2. Speeding in general out of control along with tailgating and illegal passing.
3. Community policing works and we are concerned that City is continuing to dismantle current system and reduce one of few things City does that work and we like.
4. Railroads. How do we get information and chance to discuss and input to process? VERY hot issue and lack of open City discussion and leadership make for hot discussion.
As informal neighborhood leaders, Susan and I were directed to investigate and regularly report back on these issues. I was told that neighbors will attend meetings in mass if that is necessary to make you folks pay attention to our concerns. The neighbors really surprised us with how vehement and hot they were about these issues.
Why can't I get info about railroad proposals and these other issues on the City website?? Why isn't the budget and other info posted??
Cheers,
Alan
We had a neighborhood meeting Sat Oct 3 and 4 issues raised some heat. We had 15 neighbors together for discussions.
1. School zone cameras. Not popular but concern about vehicle speeds in school zone trumps that. No one believes new system of occasional traffic cops will be as effective. A backward step.
2. Speeding in general out of control along with tailgating and illegal passing.
3. Community policing works and we are concerned that City is continuing to dismantle current system and reduce one of few things City does that work and we like.
4. Railroads. How do we get information and chance to discuss and input to process? VERY hot issue and lack of open City discussion and leadership make for hot discussion.
As informal neighborhood leaders, Susan and I were directed to investigate and regularly report back on these issues. I was told that neighbors will attend meetings in mass if that is necessary to make you folks pay attention to our concerns. The neighbors really surprised us with how vehement and hot they were about these issues.
Why can't I get info about railroad proposals and these other issues on the City website?? Why isn't the budget and other info posted??
Cheers,
Alan
I'm sure not surprised neighbors care, and that's good. In a city of 60,000 people, it would be preposterous to think a council can know it all. We want to hear from people. When a proposal is advanced, it becomes something to talk about. It's good to talk about things. That's what democracy is all about. We try to wrestle with these things all the time. If you talk to people about railroads, you'll learn a number of us are *deeply* concerned and working that issue.
Anyway, back to the budget, we in Lakewood are *very* early in the process. There's plenty of time to hear ideas and to comment. You're absolutely right there's nothing on the city home page now about the budget, and I will be asking about that absence tonight. I'll pass along your other neighborhood concerns and make sure you get info about such matters are railroads. The way it looks, they could be a nightmare.
Anyway, back to the budget, we in Lakewood are *very* early in the process. There's plenty of time to hear ideas and to comment. You're absolutely right there's nothing on the city home page now about the budget, and I will be asking about that absence tonight. I'll pass along your other neighborhood concerns and make sure you get info about such matters are railroads. The way it looks, they could be a nightmare.
I'm sure not surprised neighbors care, and that's good. In a city of 60,000 people, it would be preposterous to think a council can know it all. We want to hear from people. When a proposal is advanced, it becomes something to talk about. It's good to talk about things. That's what democracy is all about. We try to wrestle with these things all the time. If you talk to people about railroads, you'll learn a number of us are *deeply* concerned and working that issue.
Anyway, back to the budget, we in Lakewood are *very* early in the process. There's plenty of time to hear ideas and to comment. You're absolutely right there's nothing on the city home page now about the budget, and I will be asking about that absence tonight. I'll pass along your other neighborhood concerns and make sure you get info about such matters are railroads. The way it looks, they could be a nightmare.
Anyway, back to the budget, we in Lakewood are *very* early in the process. There's plenty of time to hear ideas and to comment. You're absolutely right there's nothing on the city home page now about the budget, and I will be asking about that absence tonight. I'll pass along your other neighborhood concerns and make sure you get info about such matters are railroads. The way it looks, they could be a nightmare.
Walter,
I appreciated the supportive comments of Council members after the meeting last evening.
As you know better than I, effective communication is very difficultand hard work. I believe City government can do better and put more information on their web. I agree with much of Council member Finnigan's concerns about abuse of the PDR rights and the excessive cost. Can't some of that be avoided by just proactively putting redacted material on the web? Far too often we citizens learn of actions after the fact and too often I feel that I am making comments (and feeling foolish) based in incomplete or inaccurate information. I will agree that we citizens need to work harder to learn, but also City government needs to do a better job communicating so we don't feel that we are being deliberately kept in the dark or being misled.
I apprecaite the openess of the City Council to comments and that they listen.
Cheers,
Alan Hart
I appreciated the supportive comments of Council members after the meeting last evening.
As you know better than I, effective communication is very difficultand hard work. I believe City government can do better and put more information on their web. I agree with much of Council member Finnigan's concerns about abuse of the PDR rights and the excessive cost. Can't some of that be avoided by just proactively putting redacted material on the web? Far too often we citizens learn of actions after the fact and too often I feel that I am making comments (and feeling foolish) based in incomplete or inaccurate information. I will agree that we citizens need to work harder to learn, but also City government needs to do a better job communicating so we don't feel that we are being deliberately kept in the dark or being misled.
I apprecaite the openess of the City Council to comments and that they listen.
Cheers,
Alan Hart
All well said, but just so you know, the costs of public records that Pad is referring to ($40,000 a year we figure) are coming from one individual whose goal is not necessarily to get information. But government can and should be more open, which is why I asked the city manager to put the entire budget on the Web. It's unfortunate that all anyone would have known about the budget last night would have come from my original blog posting. My blog here is meant to be supplementary and is far, far from definitive. We'll keep pushing for more info oneline. The only other thing I can remind you of is that the proposal was preliminary, and there was and will be ample chances to learn more and to comment before anyone makes a decision.
Walter,
I agree. If we keep pushing, small improvements will accumulate. City Manager has tough job trying to balance our need to know with his need to be able to float ideas (good and bad) with staff and Council. Being on the citizen side, I may say quietly to you he has my empathy, but I won't give him a millimeter and will push hard for ever more transparency.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Alan Hart
I agree. If we keep pushing, small improvements will accumulate. City Manager has tough job trying to balance our need to know with his need to be able to float ideas (good and bad) with staff and Council. Being on the citizen side, I may say quietly to you he has my empathy, but I won't give him a millimeter and will push hard for ever more transparency.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Alan Hart
Oct 12
Walter,
Not sure I can make budget session this evening. I was curious about golf course and very sceptical. Discussing idea with an older golfer, he expressed concern that courses he regularly plays are closing; he mentioned three. He said that if it is well maintained, senior discount for weekday golfers, that there is a need for 9 hole courses and it is an interesting possibility, well worth studying the idea. He suggested looking at use records and asking golfers about condition of course and making it senior (and kid) friendly.
Hope Council will seriously discuss with idea that it could (with creative thinking) be an asset to Lakewood.
Cheers,
Alan Hart
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Walter,
Not sure I can make budget session this evening. I was curious about golf course and very sceptical. Discussing idea with an older golfer, he expressed concern that courses he regularly plays are closing; he mentioned three. He said that if it is well maintained, senior discount for weekday golfers, that there is a need for 9 hole courses and it is an interesting possibility, well worth studying the idea. He suggested looking at use records and asking golfers about condition of course and making it senior (and kid) friendly.
Hope Council will seriously discuss with idea that it could (with creative thinking) be an asset to Lakewood.
Cheers,
Alan Hart
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