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10/08/1998FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER October 8, 1998 Present: Daniel Fleck Chair Richard Lynch Committee Member Jean Stuart Committee Member George Byrnes Committee Member Tina Wilson Budget Director Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Carol Warren Committee Member The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m. at the Municipal Services Building. Welcome New Member Budget Director Tina Wilson welcomed new member George Byrnes. Approval of Minutes - April 16, 1998; May 27, 1998; and June 8, 1998 Member Lynch moved to approve the minutes of April 16, 1998, May 27, 1998, and June 8, 1998, as submitted in writing to each member. The motion was duly seconded. Members Lynch, Fleck and Stuart voted Aye; Member Byrnes abstained. Motion carried. Attendance Discussion ensued regarding the lack of a quorum in the past. Ms. Wilson requested members attend all scheduled meetings, and notify her of planned absences. It was agreed to continue to hold meetings at 8:00 a.m. once a month. Committee Mandate Ms. Wilson said the final budget was adopted September 17, 1998. It is important for the FRC (Fiscal Review Committee) to determine specific areas of review for the remainder of the year and 1999. Concern was expressed the FRC is a Commission-appointed board, yet no direction has come from the City Commission and City Manager as requested. It was felt a clear understanding of the big picture before reviewing individual presentations or projects is important. It was remarked by the time the committee receives presentations from staff regarding pending issues, the FRC has little time to analyze and make recommendations to the Commission. For the benefit of the new FRC member, it was remarked in the past, the FRC has reviewed departmental business plans and spent a good deal of time reviewing CGS (Clearwater Gas System) operations. Ms. Wilson explained staff spends many hours compiling information for the Commission and committee’s review. She stated all recommendations made by the FRC are given to the Commission within 24 hours of the meeting. She encouraged members to contact their respective Commissioner, attend public hearings, and educate themselves on matters concerning Clearwater. In response to a question, she said using data from other cities for comparisons are not always useful due to extenuating circumstances. It was felt comparisons can spark questions. Discussion ensued regarding past projects that could have been better planned. Ms. Wilson said capital dollars are restricted. Funds received from grants and other sources also must be applied to specific projects. She said there are many projects pending that do not have funding and must be addressed. It was felt neighborhoods within the City still do not understand the importance of how neighborhood revitalization impacts the City as a whole. Ms. Wilson said she will provide educational materials for the next meeting. She will review revenues sources, where they come from, budget allocation, how the capital budget and general funds operate, and other operations. Meeting Schedule The next meeting is scheduled for November 19, 1998, at 8:00 a.m.