02/28/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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'-. perhaps restore the pursuance of neighborhood refinement plans. Mr. Martin replied the crunch is with the Planning Commission and what it has to deal with. He said this would be a one-shot source of money and would not deal with that issue which is a long-term commitment by the City. Mr. Lieuallen asked if the Code administration process was different and whether the Plan- ning Department would have the same crunch a year from now. Mr. Porter replied that certain legislative time restrictions have been placed upon the Planning Commission requiring them to meet certain deadlines, resulting in the Planning Commission getting behind in processing its legal obligations. Mr. Lieuallen then questioned the priorities of funding various hardware projects. He asked if in the budget process this money, such as had been directed to Public Works, Police, and Fire Departments, would free up money for instance for Library and Parks and Recreation. He questioned this imbalance and wondered if it could be made up somewhere else. Mr. Martin responded that the staff had looked at the library automated system and its poten- tial for high cost reductions, but that it was not a priority for them at this particular time as they are not ready to implement such a process. In six months to a year from now they will be in a better position to jUdge. He said the staff had tried to develop are ongoing rationale, looking at the possibility of getting more money in the future. Mr. Lieuallen asked if the Parks had anything to say about these priorities, to which Mr. Martin said yes. Mr. Lieuallen then asked about any suggestions being made for maintaining facilities. Mr. Martin said they are dealing with that suggestion in budget meetings currently. Mr. Lieuallen then asked about temporary employment and its impact on the budget. Mr. Martin replied that the City could hire people on a short-term basis, but then they would have a built-in unem- ployment liability, which the City is trying to avoid. Mr. Delay expressed a concern with item No. VI. He felt that it might be contrary to the Public Works contract. His under- standing of the intent was to put money into the economy as quickly as possible and item No. VI was not creating money for the economy, which he felt was not the intent of the Public Works Act. Mr. Martin replied that it could be interpreted that way. He said that efforts were being made to perserve the $800,000, with less demand on local resources to come up with funds. He also indicated these funds could be committed before the next 12 months have passed. Mr. Delay responded that if the money is going to be spent in that relatively short time frame then he felt perhaps it was not against the intent of the act. 'e "-- e '- . 2/28/77 - -43 11'J