HomeMy Public PortalAboutMIN-CC-2018-05-14MOAB CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 14, 2018
Special Meeting & Attendance: The Moab City Council held a Special Budget Workshop Meeting on the
above date in the Council Chambers at the Moab City Center, located at 217 East Center Street, Moab,
Utah. A recording of the meeting is archived at http://www.utah.gov/pmn/index.html. In attendance
were Mayor Emily Niehaus, Councilmembers Rani Derasary, Mike Duncan, Tawny Knuteson-Boyd, Karen
Guzman -Newton and Kalen Jones. Also in attendance were City Manager David Everitt and City
Recorder/Assistant City Manager Rachel Stenta. Thirty-five additional staff members were present, as
well as four members of the public and media.
Special Meeting Called to Order: Mayor Niehaus called the Special Meeting to order at 12:01 pm.
Health Insurance for Elected Officials:
City Manager Everitt began with an overview of proposed insurance coverage for elected officials. He
concluded that the amount needed to cover all elected officials would be approximately $138,000.
Mayor Niehaus pointed out she had made the request and noted that up until a few years ago, this was
a City benefit to elected officials that ended because the City changed insurance companies. Discussion
followed regarding feedback from the staff and confusion about the intention of the request. Several
Councilmembers stated they would not personally pursue this benefit. Councilmember Duncan said the
City likely could not afford to extend insurance to all part time employees as suggested by some staff.
He continued that there is a lot of talk around the City and at the County to improve the stipend for
elected officials. There was consensus to drop this item from the budget.
Community Services Support:
Support for community organizations was discussed. Mayor Niehaus clarified that rather than
considering it a grant program, this was a community service fund for services provided by other
agencies in lieu of the City providing those same services. Councilmember Duncan brought up fee
waiver requests and asked about putting aside funds in this line. City Manager Everitt suggested that
fee waivers could be eliminated and instead organizations can request funds separately, showing benefit
to the City. Councilmember Derasary asked about arts funding and wanted clarification regarding setting
aside one percent for the arts for capital projects. Everitt said that arts funding requests could be
transferred to the one percent line item with the exception of arts promotion monies. The amount was
discussed, as well as the need for transparency. Mayor Niehaus brought up past funding levels, and
clarified that this budget process seeks to organize community funding; Everitt agreed that it makes
budgeting cleaner. Various support levels were discussed along with the process for allocating funds.
Showing value in the budget for in -kind donations was mentioned. Moving affordable housing subject
matter to a separate budget area was agreed upon. Criteria for funding and expectations for recipients
was proposed as a workshop topic in the coming months. It was explained by Everitt that monies for this
line item are transferred from the fund balance; $85,000 was agreed upon as the placeholder funding
level. Mayor Niehaus brought up the prior distinctions made between funding economic development
projects and community services. Councilmember Jones revised his proposed categories to Health,
Safety and Welfare of Moab Citizens pending further discussion.
Affordable Housing: (:35 on recording)
Next, City Manager Everitt moved on to the affordable housing fund. Councilmember Jones suggested a
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rollover of $90,000 and to add $150,000. Councilmember Derasary stated her interest in putting more
resources in this line item and to use it directly for housing. She supported hiring a housing specialist,
and Mayor Niehaus concurred. Councilmember Duncan brought up an upcoming joint City -County
meeting on the assured housing policy. The Council agreed to fund affordable housing at the $240,000
level with the understanding that personnel is not included in this part of the budget.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA):
Councilmember Jones reminded the Council of the existing City policy governing COLA, and voiced
support for the described method of determining COLA for staff. Discussion ensued about the difference
between COLA and existing merit pay policies. City Recorder/Assistant City Manager Stenta explained
the history of the 2016 salary survey and resulting efforts to bring City salaries up to market rates and
clarified that COLA is separately determined by economic factors such as the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). Discussion followed regarding the CPI and inflation, the local cost of living, existing merit pay
policy, and Everitt's proposed three percent COLA figure. The history of City staff COLA was briefly
discussed. There was Council consensus for a three percent COLA.
Other Budget Considerations:
Mayor Niehaus stated she would like to allocate funds for a Fourth of July celebration in Moab.
Councilmember Derasary revisited the Council's retreat priorities and brought up long-term visioning
and advocated for funds to hire a consultant. Councilmembers Jones and Guzman -Newton concurred.
City Manager Everitt agreed to add a placeholder of $50,000. Derasary also brought up the need for
funding a water rights attorney and the group agreed to add $15,000 to the legal services line item for
this purpose. A previously -discussed water conservation measure to retrofit shower heads at the Moab
Recreation and Aquatic Center was also mentioned by Derasary for inclusion, and she requested a
review of rental revenues at the City Center in view of market rates. Consolidation efforts between the
City and County were discussed, as well as budgeting for fireworks in view of inflation. Finally,
Councilmember Derasary asked about new signage and striping on 100 North as a result of a citizen
concern, along with discussed potential improvements to the Swanny Park restrooms. Everitt suggested
simple street improvements are covered in the budget unless there is a call to redesign 100 North
Street. He added that expenses resulting from the Downtown Plan could be considered in the future.
Mayor Niehaus thanked City Manager Everitt for his work throughout the budget process. Everitt
summarized that the day's discussion resulted in a budget difference of $263,000 which would be
transferred from the fund balance.
The session closed with a mention of signage for bike routes and Everitt explained signage is built into
capital projects such as for the Highway 191 widening or Safe Routes to Schools. Specific street
improvement projects were mentioned and Everitt said a list of priority streets would be a good topic
for future discussion.
Councilmember Jones moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Derasary seconded the motion.
The motion passed 5-0 aye with Councilmembers Jones, Derasary, Knuteson-Boyd, Guzman -Newton and
Duncan voting aye. Mayor Niehaus closed the meeting at 1:21 PM.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Emily S. Niehaus, Mayor Rachel E. Stenta, City Recorder
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