Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2024 09.C. Resolution creating an ad hoc budget advisory committee `y � ljlt r . il BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9.C. For Meeting of: December 10, 2024 ITEM TITLE: Resolution creating an ad hoc budget advisory committee SUBMITTED BY: Sara Watkins, City Attorney SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Council directed staff to bring back a resolution creating an ad hoc budget advisory committee to serve as a resource for ideas and recommendations primarily associated with the 2025-2026 budget. The committee, per the resolution, will consist of seven (7) members, one to be chosen by each council member, who will meet periodically via an open public meeting. Members of the committee shall not have an actual or potential conflict of interest. ITEM BUDGETED: No STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: An Engaged Yakima RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution. ATTACHMENTS: Res-Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee.doc 300 RESOLUTION NO. R-2024- A RESOLUTION creating an ad hoc budget advisory committee. WHEREAS, the Yakima City Council adjusted its budget strategies and is transitioning to priority-based budgeting; and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a number of public hearings and meetings associated with the 2025-2026 budget, but has not received a large number of comments from the public associated with the budget; and WHEREAS, due to the complexity of the budget and the affect the budget has on programs and services provided by the City, the City Council would like additional comments from a group of residents who learn about the budget, receive information from City staff, and do outreach to the community for feedback; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes that such valuable comments, feedback, and recommendations could be facilitated by an ad hoc budget advisory committee; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Yakima finds it is in the best interests of the City and its residents to create an ad hoc budget advisory committee for the City of Yakima; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Yakima creates an ad hoc budget advisory committee to commence on or before March 31, 2025, and be active through December 31, 2026. The City Council will then evaluate the future of the ad hoc committee. During the ad hoc committee's term the following applies: 1. Purpose The ad hoc budget advisory committee is to advise the Yakima City Council on general revenue and expenditure policies and strategies, evaluate the expenditures and revenue in light of the City Council's strategic priorities, organize public forums for additional resident engagement, and provide recommendations on the budget and the revenues and expenditures to the City Council. 2. Membership (a) The committee will be comprised of seven residents of the City of Yakima. (b) Each City Council members will have the opportunity to appoint one member of the committee. (c) Members shall serve without compensation. (d) In addition to the resident members, City staff, at the discretion of the City Manager, will be present at meetings. (e) Due to the complex nature of the budget, Councilmembers should strive to appoint members who have professional experience in budgeting, public finance, or governmental budgets. It is expected that Councilmembers will select committee members who have some budget experience or other relevant 1 301 experience which would provide a background or skill set that will be beneficial to the committee. 3. Meetings The first meeting will be convened on a day and time that works for all members and will be facilitated by City staff. At the first meeting the committee members will work with City staff to agree on the time and date of the meetings, as well as how often the committee will initially meet. Further, the committee shall select a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. All meetings shall be open to the public and provide for an opportunity for residents of the City to provide public comment. Meetings, and the committee members, are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. Minutes of each meeting shall be kept by the Secretary of the committee and forwarded to City staff. Meeting quorum is a majority of the total seats on the committee (4). The Chair may, in coordination with City staff, prepare an agenda for each meeting listing the individual items of committee business that are intended to be discussed. 4. Functions and Duties (a) The committee generally shall serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council concerning matters associated with the City's budget, priority-based budgeting and strategies, revenue options and expenditures. (b) Learn about and understand the City's budget and budgeting strategies in light of the strategic priorities enacted by the City Council, with the help of City staff. (c) Assist and provide advice regarding outreach and education to empower Yakima residents to provide information, feedback, comments and ideas regarding the City of Yakima's budget, including, but not limited to evaluating surveys, polling, and effective strategies for additional public involvement and feedback. (d) Provide recommendations to Council when the committee feels it would be helpful, and when the Council requests such recommendations, regarding the budget, priority-based budgeting, revenues, expenditures, strategies for savings, and other relevant topics. (e) Assist the City Council on specific projects related to the City's budget delegated to the committee by the City Council. (f) There is no budget or funding for the committee or the functions and/or duties listed herein. 5. Conflict of Interest A conflict of interest can occur when a person has actual or apparent duty or loyalty to more than one organization or person, and the competing duties or loyalties or personal interest may result in actions which are adverse to one or both parties. A conflict of interest can exist even if no unethical, improper, or illegal act results from it. No committee member may have any financial interest with the City of Yakima, including, but not limited, contracts (directly or indirectly through family members, business entities, or non- profit corporations, etc.), employment, independent contractor, or other relationship that could be affected by budget decisions made by the City Council. Further, a committee member may not have any actual or potential conflicts of interest 2 302 Actual Conflict of Interest—An actual conflict of interest occurs when a committee member uses or attempts to use their position to secure benefits, privileges, exemptions or advantages for self, relatives, or organizations with which the person is associated. Potential Conflict of Interest—A potential conflict of interest may exist if a person has a relationship, affiliation, or other interest that could create an inappropriate influence if the person is called on to make a decision or recommendation that would affect one or more of those relationships, affiliations, or interests. These situations can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Examples might include: • The committee member works in a volunteer capacity for an entity that contracts with the City. • The committee member is heavily involved in the use and operation of City facilities, such as a community center, by working with non-profits or other organizations providing services or support to those facilities. • Any situation where a reasonable third party would conclude that conflicting duties or loyalties exist. If a committee member, during the term of the committee, has any conflict of interest, they must resign or be removed immediately. If there is a dispute as to whether a committee member has a conflict of interest, the final decision shall be made by the City Manager and the City Attorney. 6. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. 7. Removal. The committee may, by majority vote, recommend to the city council removal of an appointed member upon such grounds as may be deemed appropriate. The city council, either after recommendation by the committee, or independently, by majority vote, may remove any appointed member of the committee and declare the position vacant. Failure to attend three consecutive meetings shall be cause for immediate removal without additional action by the City Council. Section 2. The City Council may disband the committee at any time by repealing this Resolution. The effective date of the termination of the committee shall be the effective date of the Resolution to repeal. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 10th day of December, 2024. ATTEST: Patricia Byers, Mayor Rosalinda Ibarra, City Clerk 3 303