Results of citizen feedback on how the city could balance its $1.9 million budget shortfall as presented by city manager Albert Tripp are shown. Numbers on the right half of the graph reflect citizen feedback, while numbers on the left half of the graph show the adopted 2020 budget and the requested cuts for each department.
AIRWAY HEIGHTS - Members of administration and council have been considering declaring a financial emergency as the city faces a $1.9 million budget shortfall. That may have changed, however, as City Manager Albert Tripp recommended council table such a declaration at their Aug. 10 study session.
"My recommendation would be to table (the resolution) indefinitely," Tripp told council. "Table it in the sense that essentially it would not move forward; it would die in its current existence."
Tripp said the idea of declaring a financial emergency was to create public awareness of the financial difficulties facing the city, but added he felt "there's nothing the city would gain by adopting it that it doesn't already have access to."
Further action will be taken at council's Aug. 17 meeting. Deputy Mayor Sonny Weathers urged the city continue to try and reach federal and state delegations to keep them informed of the city's current financial hardships.
Tripp also gave council an initial presentation of public feedback on ways the city could balance the budget.
The city had provided an online budget simulator for citizens to toggle with and submit starting July 17, and Tripp was pleased with the public response. Residents submitted 174 complete budget simulations, and the website was viewed over 900 times.
Results of the now-closed budget simulations showed citizens who submitted a complete budget simulation averaged a proposal of 41.44% cuts to recreation, which was the most of any category. That was followed by 20.08% to the executive sector and 14.76% to police. The lowest average cut by this group of citizens was in parks, 8.6%.
Citizens who interacted with the budget but didn't submit a complete simulation averaged a proposed 14% cut to recreation and 10% to the executive sector.
The next steps in the budget process start with a second presentation to council Aug. 17. Council will then review budget input and consider recommendations Sept. 7 before taking action Sept. 21.
In other business, council approved a funding pledge for the 6th/10th/12th corridor project in the sum of $376,889 after Public Works Director Kevin Anderson said the Kalispel Tribe committed $700,000 for Phase 1 of the project, which would take place on tribe property from Garfield to Hayford.
The next step in the project is attempting to earn $2,467,406 in Transportation Improvement Board funding. Overall cost of the project is $3,830,883.
Anderson also shared an updated draft of the developer's agreement for Hunter's Crossing for city planner Heather Trautman, who was absent. The updated draft included new language of goals and policies as outcomes for the development, per council's request July 27.
Police Chief Brad Richmond said his department is seeking council approval to use $2,150 in surplus firearms funds to purchase three H&K VP-9 firearms for on-duty use, which cost $990 each with a Halosun sighting system. Officers were previously using the Kimber TLE 1911, which cost $1,350 with a sighting system. The department would surplus the Kimber firearms for extra duty weapons and use the sights from those firearms for the new H&K firearms to save money.
Tripp presented a recommendation from Fire Chief Mitch Metzger for council to approve a four-year extension of the contract the fire department has with the Department of Corrections to provide emergency services and fire response. The contract was agreed to in 2013 and would run through 2024 if the extension is approved.
Council will take action on the police and fire requests on Aug. 17
Drew Lawson can be reached at [email protected].
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