02/28/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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-. The money finally came through, although it had taken until January 1977 to secure regulations as to how the money could be used. The purpose of the money is to improve the economy in cities and to sustain general City services. Manager noted at the following items as priority requests for the money budgeted: 1) public works equipment, total $132,000; 2) police radios, total $114,000; 3) space problems, total $160,000; 4) Word Processing Center, total $74,040; 5) construction activity for three months, total $58,800; 6) Urban Renewal project staffing until June 1978, total $141,200; 7) Parcade interest payment, total $50,000; for a subtotal of $730,040. '- Mr. Haws questioned items six and seven, if the money was actually already budgeted. Manager said yes, that this would free up more money for other projects. On item No. seven Mr. Haws asked where would the money come from if they did not pay the $50,000 out of this federal funding where would the money come from. Manager indicated it would come from rents and from the Downtown Development District income. He went on to say that the Downtown Development District Board periodically receives money that goes into further downtown public development, such as additional parking facilities. Mr. Haws indicated that he felt it would be more beneficial to spend that money on item No. 12--centralized maintenance facility. Manager said that property taxes are involved in the Downtown Development District too and that the more other contributions are made, the less the community taxation contributes. Mr. Haws said that he was not sure that the people who pay taxes want the money to go there. Manager responded that he felt the community as a whole was interested in the revitalization of the downtown area. . Mayor Keller said that it was his understanding that the Down- town Development District had two tax levies supporting it: both passed on to taxpayers and any funds used to lessen the load will be beneficial to taxpayers. Mr. Obie commended the Manager and staff for the outlining of the proposed use of these funds. He indicated that he had a question under guideline No. one. He asked if it was a guideline to the city as a whole or as to the city as a municipality or both. Mr. Martin responded that it was hard to separate the two. The question is whether to spend now or wait. He said the staff felt it would be better to use the money now, as a drain on the financial resources over the next few years could be avoided, such as expenditures for Word Processing. Mr. Obie then questioned item No. five on the priority list and asked if this allocates staff funds to the rehabilitation of neighborhood refinement plans and if any alternatives had been considered. Mr. Porter replied that this money would be used to get the code administration process back in shape: to hire temporary help on a short time basis and to work on getting the records systems and operations up to date. He said it was a one- time shot and would help them through a very heavy crunch. Mr. Obie replied he would like to see other alternative plans and \18 2/28/77 --42 . - " -