Springfield City Council — October 27, 2025

0:05 I'm going to call the uh special regular session to order with roll call. Mayor Van Gordon >> here. Councelor Weber >> here. >> Councelor Mo >> here. Councelor Rodley >> here. >> Councelor Blackwell >> here. >> And councelor Stout >> here. Thank you. >> Neil, could you read the item, please? >> Yes. We have one item on the special regular session. It's the interim W 5 council oath of office. Mary Bridget Smith is here for this item. >> Uh good evening, Mayor and Council. I'm here tonight to help administer the oath for interim counselor Andrew Buck. You want to come on up? So, if you could just stand uh facing me. Yep. Any questions before we get going? Okay. >> Can we ask him if he accepted? >> Well, do it.

0:51 [laughter] >> All right. Okay. Uh, Councelor Buck, if you would raise your right hand. >> As required by the charter. >> As required by the charter. I, Andrew Buck, >> I, Andrew Buck, >> do solemnly swear and affirm >> that I support the Constitution and the laws of the United States >> that I support the Constitution and laws of the United States >> and the state of Oregon >> and the charter, ordinances, and rules of procedure for the city of Springfield. >> and the charter, ordinance, and rules of procedure for the city of Springfield. and that I will faithfully and honorably >> and that I will faithfully and honorably >> perform the duties of the office that I am about to assume

1:37 >> perform the duties of the office that I'm about to assume. >> Congratulations. Thank you very much. >> Oh, I'm looking Oh. Oh, you got to get the paperwork >> before he gets to get up here and do votes.

2:24 >> This is why we planned 10 minutes for this item. Hey, Andrew. Bring your family up here. You got to introduce them. We got 10 minutes. [laughter] So, tonight I'd like to introduce my family. This is my daughter, El. She's a freshman at Thirstston. This is Mayor Van Gordon. This is Camden. He is a fifth grader at Ridge View Elementary. This is my wife, Christine.

3:10 And >> very nice to meet you, too. >> Yeah. So, this is a big deal. >> Well, >> I don't know the right way. Here, let me let let me help like I've been a professional. >> Okay. It's like you've done this before >> a couple times. >> I will leave those in your capable hands because they're better. >> He's got to work. He's got to work now. going to miss Monday Night Football for all time.

3:55 >> That's okay. You'll you'll lock it down for me, right? >> We're even five minutes ahead of schedule. I think that was it. Yes, we were going to kick everybody up. Um, congratulations, Andrew. We're happy to have you up here. Uh, we are adjourned and then we are going to reconvene in an executive session. So, if you're not the appropriate press or staff, we're going to politely have you wait outside, but we'll have you back. This will only take a couple of minutes.

4:46 I'm going to call this Springfield City Council work session to order with roll call. >> Mayor Van Gordon >> here. Councelor Weber >> here, councelor Mo >> here, >> councelor Rodley >> here, >> councelor Blackwell >> here, >> councelor Buck >> here, >> and councelor Stout >> here. Thank you. >> We have two items, three items this evening. Uh, a lot of interviews. So, we The first is budget committee interviews with Jessica Mummy. Come on up, Jessica. >> Good evening, Mayor and City Council, and welcome, Councelor Buck. My name is Jessica Mummy. I'm the city's budget and procurement manager. Here this evening for budget committee vacancy interviews. On August 25th, the kickoff for

5:31 recruitment opened and closed on September 26th. We received seven applications for four vacancies. Of those seven applications, two of the applicants are um requesting a second term. [snorts] And um it looks like two of our applicants have not yet arrived. I just want to do a double check. Uh Jason and Francesca. Fabulous. Thank you. Okay. So, we just have one applicant that has not arrived. And that applicant is Jason Miller that has not yet arrived this evening. So, we have six applicants here this evening. And um they've received the interview questions. And if there's no questions from me, >> uh, could you, uh, could you remind us how many appointments are we making this

6:17 evening? >> Absolutely. Thank you, mayor. We are making four appointments. >> Okay. And I know we changed the requirement around a wards. Um, could you maybe give us a little bit of guidance? Are we doing what what's the requirements out of the operating procedure? The um statute just requires that you have an equal number of budget committee members to your um uh city council members. The bylaws do not specify that they need to be from a particular ward. Um although there has been uh previous councils would try and have uh representation from each ward and then you have two reapplying uh persons tonight as well. >> So while we're not require required to utilize ward we can consider it as your

7:02 deliberations. Sorry to cut you off. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. All right. Um any questions for Jessica before we have the first are am I asking all the questions or we uh why [sighs and gasps] don't all rush to Yes. All right. I think Jessica, we're we're ready for the first first person. Okay. I guess I am calling the first person. Well, we'll get this perfected by about the 10th interview. Ruth, there you are.

7:47 >> Good evening, counselors and mayor. >> Good evening. Are you ready for your first question, Ruth? >> Yes. >> All right. Why are you interested in serving on the budget committee? Well, putting three years of investment in it uh has really opened my eyes to the diverse needs of the community as well as the challenges of funding and resources. So with that background, I would like to invest another um term in order to see the fulfillment of those decisions to also for my education see how things can go full circle because often what the intention is going into a project or funding or purpose um things change and so it be a

8:34 great education. While all of the Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community, it is often necessary to prioritize services for budgetary reasons. How would you go go about the task of establishing priorities? First, I would look at what is committed in the budget and what resources have already been in process. I don't want to undermine what is um an investment, but part of what often can happen with um fees and budgets is the priority. It could be things that are introduced that are mandated that all of a sudden shift what needs to be in place. So, I would want to know that. I'd also want to know

9:21 if there's a a progression of years that'll build into um end results. Don't want to undermine that. And if there's an opportunity within um the goals of the city that we could take an advantage of, especially if there's funding that we could pursue, I would want to be in support of that as much as possible. If you were on the budget committee and were looking at one of the city services to decide how much should be funded through general taxes and how much through specific fees, what questions would you want to answer in order to make your decision? My understanding of fees is usually you need to know how many users are going to

10:06 be involved and are you going to capture enough revenue from those fees to make up whatever budget gap. So that's one question. Also, which group is that going to impact? It could be a group that this would be an unfair um penalty if they had to pay this fee uh and they're already paying taxes. So, I would want to understand where that um mix of budgetary funds and fees would uh result in meeting our goals. And how do you think the work of the budget committee improves our comm community community? >> I think the more of us that know how the city operates, the better. And it's also

10:53 a role I can advocate when I'm out in the community and my neighbors ask me, "Why isn't this pothole fixed?" I have a good answer because I understand the big picture and I also want to be a an advocate for what the city's doing. So, as a budget committee member, I get knowledge and I'm here to serve. Thank you so much, Ruth. The next person that I have is Francesca. I may need help with the last name. >> Thank you. Hi, good evening everyone. Um, >> why are you interested in serving on the

11:38 budget committee? >> Yeah, so I work for Wamelain. Um, I just like serving the community through parks and recreation. Um, and I want to do more of that in my private life. Uh, also I am the union treasurer for our local Ask Me 3512 and I do the purchasing and reconciliation for my team. So I think it's a good match between what I can provide and what I know. Well, Springfield Services seem to have a strong support for different re different areas of the community. It's necessary to prioritize budget for budgetary reasons. How would you go about the task of establishing priorities among services? >> Um, I think I would look at the data of how many people are using the services, what it costs to operate, and the outcome it provides. Um, I would want to look beyond the volume. Like, you can't just say, oh, 5,000 people are using the

12:24 service because EMS might be less than that, but it's still a necessary service. Um, I would want to factor in long-term benefit, uh, community, uh, community benefit versus individual benefit, uh, public feedback, and potential quant consequences for reducing a service. >> If you were on the budget committee and we're looking at one of the city services to decide how much is funded through taxes or fees, what questions would you ask? >> Yeah, I think I would need a better understanding of what is currently funded uh, via specific fees. Like I think the fire department on the current ballot is a specific addition. Um but from my understanding things that benefit the community as a whole are probably generally funded and things that are more individual benefit maybe like specific fees. Um but I don't know

13:09 for sure. Um I would want information about the total cost of services currently if they're looking to expand and how other jurisdictions structure the same services. >> And how and how do you think the work of the budget committee improves our community? Um, I mean, we all know what's happening in Eugene and everyone's kind of experiencing budget shortfall right now. Um, I just kind of want to help make sure Springfield stays on the right track, that we don't have to experience that. Um, and I think by providing essential services, it just helps improve the community in general. >> Thank you so much. I appreciate it. >> All right, the next person I have on the list is Taylor.

13:56 and thanks for everybody's patience. Interviews like this, they just kind of we just sort of fly through them. >> They're moving pretty quick. [laughter] Uh well, good evening for mayor and council. >> Good evening. Uh could you tell us why you're interested in serving on the budget committee? >> Yeah, I'm interested uh for a few reasons, but I'd say probably the most important is going to be just basic curiosity and willingness to to lend a hand. Um, not that I mean I am pretty young, so it's probably not super super great at the time, but you know, I have a really good understanding. You know, I run a construction business that runs at a high volume. Um, I did all the the funding and all the accounting to get that started. Um, and then now luckily I have a staff that does that for me, but I mean who had to train them and that was me. So I had to there's a lot to go to that. And so I think I have a really good understanding of the private side

14:42 um private sector of budgeting. Um, I'm really eager to learn the the public side. I'm sure there's a lot more uh things you have to understand a lot more of it's not as cut and dry as it is in my world. So I like to apply what I know on the private side and understand the public side and also you I studied economics at the UFO so I feel like I have a good understanding at the book side of things and then actually being out there and actually doing it and so hopefully I can uh be a help. While all Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community, it is often necessary to prioritize services for budgetary reasons. How would you go about the task of establishing priorities? >> Yeah, I mean that's a that's a tough one sometimes. You know, in a perfect world, we'd be able just to fund everything and

15:28 uh that that doesn't seem to be the be the case and it seems to be more and more not the case as time goes on. Um, so realistically, you know, I think you just got to look at the key elements of what makes your city a great place to live. And that's going to be in my eyes the key elements of what keeps it running. And that's going to be your protection. Uh, it's going to be um your infrastructure, you know, good water, good electrical. You know, you got to focus on the key things that everybody uses to make the city a great place to live. And then you kind of look at those other elements and and apply to those. You still want to prioritize things and have an utmost importance, but you got to you got to have structure. you just never get anything done. So >> if you were on the budget committee and we're looking at one of the city services to decide how much should be funded through general taxes and through fees, what questions would you ask?

16:14 >> Yeah, you know, questions I think is more might be more of a case by case basis, but things I would want to know is what's already been done and what's the plan moving forward because if you could be serving for three years, but this might be a six month, six year decision. It might have a long lot of works. Um, so you don't really want to impede on what's been happening, but sometimes you might have to depending on what's going on. And you really got to look at what's how's that affecting each individual, how does it affect the community as a whole, and how does it affect us economically as a city. Um, so if I think if you take that mindset into the every case by case, you're going to have a better understanding and have an ability to make a a good judgment call and hopefully everybody can understand why you're making that decision. >> And how do you think the work of the budget committee will improve our community? Yeah, I actually the answer I had

16:59 prepared for this, I just learned that we switched it up and we're not going by awards anymore. Um, I thought it was a really good thing, you know, because you have the ability to give the residents a voice, you know, and if you have a a representative per area, you know, they have the opportunity to to make those voices heard. Um, and that's something that I think uh I I can be a huge advantage to. Um, I spend a lot of time in the community. I run a business. I'm I'm out there doing a lot and um I always want to be able to help and so I think having those voices and getting those voices to us well may not be me. We'll see how this goes but with us you know and so then we can pass them off to you guys and you guys make the ultimate judgment call. So I think it's good to present that information even at the any structure. >> All right thank you so much. >> Yeah thank you guys. Thanks for your

17:44 time. >> The next person I have is Michael Weiss. Good evening. >> Good evening. Thanks for coming. >> Absolutely. >> Why are you interested in serving on the budget committee? >> Yeah, so I am an eager cheerleader for Springfield. I think it's just one of the best places to live. Um I think our our access to the nature, the forest, the mountains, the rivers is just second to none. And you partner that with a relatively affordable place. I love it here. I'm a cheerleader. I tell everybody about it. Um, my my wife says that I'm my dream is to be a professional volunteer. Um, she's probably not wrong. If I could be, I would. Um, I've spent a lot of my time

18:29 since I've lived here with Lane County Search and Rescue. That's one of my main hobbies outside of, uh, you know, professional and and work. Um, I also serve on the board of the Northwest Berry Foundation, uh, where we we serve on research and promoting grant grant funding for research in berry the berry industry throughout Oregon, Washington, BC. Um, and I've served in the North American Blueberry Council on their finance committee. So, as I look for ways where I can serve Springfield a little bit better and a little bit more local, to me, the budget committee seems like a natural fit. Uh, and I think it'd be a strong candidate for it. >> While all of Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community, it is often necessary to prioritize services for budgetary reasons. How would you go about the task of prioritizing uh

19:15 services? So in prioritizing services, I think it's a a classic ROI question. Uh and when you look at ROI, especially in in an environment where we're not really looking for a traditional investment or return. Uh the other way to flip it is to look at what happens if we don't do it. And so for that, I think there's four four steps I would look at uh when considering it. The first is for new opportunities, places where we can not choose either or but to choose both. Uh I think a great example of that is the discussion happening around Eugene Springfield fire and restructuring that to be more efficient. The second would be then to look at the baseline. What's the minimum viable product to run a city, right? To stay legal and safe and compliant. Uh what does that look like?

20:00 Anything else that we spend is an investment. And so we want to look at all of that return that we can get for it. The challenge there is how do you compare short-term and long-term investments? the long-term investment of like a well- educated community from having the library and funding it versus short-term investments on a road project. Um, but considering those and finding ways to make sure that we're balancing those equally. And then the last is just making sure that we're reflecting uh what the community wants and that we're prioritizing the resources towards the services that that are most in demand by the community. >> Thank you. If you were on the budget committee and were looking at one of the city services to decide how much should be funded through taxes or fees, what questions would you want to have answer to make your decision? >> So, so of course the first thing we

20:45 would look at, you know, your total cost, your unit costs, your utilization, those things um that that are probably already available. I think going a little bit deeper when you consider these is understanding the value um of each of those services and a little bit of the price elasticity too, right? So in the value you can look at a service and decide um what type of benefit does it bring? Is it a benefit to the community as a whole or is it something that benefits just you know a limited number of individuals that utilize that service. Um the other type of value we can look at is is this a value that is there just because the city can provide it and only the city can provide it something like building permits or is it a value that comes because it's available and accessible at low cost like the library.

21:31 um weighing those things against each other and understanding the value of each of these services. Those would be one of my top questions. And then followed would be um the price elastic elasticity. What happens if that fee goes up? Does it reduce the number of people who can use it? Does it change who can use it? Uh does it create new administrative challenges for the city? Does it create barriers to utilizing the services? Those sorts of things. Um, and then at the end, we just want to balance those factors against each other and maximize the total value that the city provides to its community. >> And how do you think the work of a budget committee will improve our community? >> So to be a good steward of the community, you have to be a good steward of its resources. And I think that's where the budget committee comes in. Um, one of the challenging things is reconciling the role of the the role of the budget committee, I believe, is

22:17 reconciling, you know, the black and white needs of running a city compared to the the dreams and desires, you know, for the community and what the city could be and all the things it could do. Um, and then against that third leg of just having to have a balanced budget and being able to um create a budget that works and it it covers the needs of the basic needs of a city but also allows us to grow. >> All right, thank you very much. >> Thank you. The next person I have is Elliot Harwell. Thank you. >> Hello. >> Hello. Um, thank you for joining us. Why are you interested in serving on the budget committee? >> Um, it's going to sound a little silly, but I really love Springfield. Um,

23:02 Springfield's a great place to live. Um, I moved here three years ago and I'm I don't want to, you know, I work in Eugene, but I'm glad I live on this side of the river. Uh, we do things we we do more with a little less here. There's um a more approachable atmosphere. There's an understanding that we are we we don't have a ton of money to throw at our problems. So, we have to think a little smarter about things. And I like that. Um, and I like this place. It's a safe place for me to live. and I want to give back to my community. Uh before right now I work as the financial director at a local nonprofit. Before that I worked as a bookkeeper at a local accounting firm. Before that I was a

23:47 professional manager of homeowners associations in California. Um and the reason I bring that up is because in California a quarter of Californians live in an HOA. They're kind of like a small mini government where they collect their own taxes, their own dues. In essence, they manage things and every single year uh an elected group of HOA board members have to come together and make a budget. And it was my responsibility as the professional manager of an HOA to look at the historical data to make recommendations about what the homeowners association could afford, what it shouldn't, what its obligations were versus, you know, in terms of the law versus how it needed to spend its money, how it needed to

24:32 maintain reserves. Uh it's a very particular skill set. Uh, and it's one that requires more than just an understanding of the numbers, but actually understanding that budgets are living documents that require compromise and people voicing different concerns. And in that regard, I've got a background in that and I want to be able to use that to help my community. >> Thank you. While all of the Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community, it is often necessary to prioritize services for budgetary reasons. How would you go about the task of establishing priorities among services? This answer sounds a little glib, but um I would listen, which is to say,

25:20 the counselors have seen me come and speak on behalf of the of the library and how I really care about library funding, but I understand that an appointment to this board isn't about uh advocating for my one personal pet project to make certain it gets funded. In the same way that y'all are elected to represent Springfield, people who are appointed to the various boards and commissions are also representing their neighbors. And one important thing would be for me, I would understand that I'm not just speaking for myself, but but by but speaking for the people I've listened to. Simultaneously, something else that's really important to recognize is is that I would I would listen to the government employees who are advising the committee and presenting information, which is to

26:06 say these are professional bureaucrats. And I mean bureaucrats in the most loiatory of ways. Their job is to understand the material. Their job is to have that to that they get draw a paycheck so that they can review this information and have good conclusions and recommendations about it. And so a board or a commission like this has this interesting balance of representing the community but also being outsiders who nonetheless need to take uh information they receive from government employees and really understand it and appreciate it. >> If you're on the budget committee and we're looking at one of the city services to decide how much should be funded through taxes or fees, what questions would you want to have answered?

26:52 There's a constant balance when trying to determine fees and what should be paid for a service of being equitable versus being equal. It would be very easy to say that everyone who draws on a service should pay. Um on the flip side, being equitable is ensuring that the people who can't pay can pay what they can. So I would like to know what's what what members of the community are drawing on these services and what is their socioeconomic standing. Um oftent times you see how uh SNAP benefits people who receive SNAP benefits are able to also receive other services from our local government for free. I think that's a very laudatory goal. I think

27:37 that's a way of acknowledging that people are members of this community, but they might not be that well off, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be able to, you know, draw on the resources of our government. Uh that's that's certainly one balance. Uh there's I'd also like to know the context of what this um of of what the what what the projected lifespan of this project would be. One of the one of the largest most important things when I was working on HOA budgets was understanding not just your financial standing now, but what it's going to be in five or 10 years. And so having historical data about where the where the government has been and where it is going and what it anticipates those costs to be are things that should

28:23 be explored before the government sets about taking on a new responsibility. And how do you think the work of the budget committee will improve our community? >> I think I I really like democratic government. I really like Republican republic, you know, I like people being able to come together and govern themselves under clear laws. I like the idea of groups of people organizing themselves in ways that ensure that our rights and liberties are given voice. I like the conceit of local government, of just normal people volunteering their time and becoming local area experts on something so that they can help others

29:11 and help do their part to ensure that our that you know that that this this great democratic project that we have survives and thrives. I think the budget committee is an opportunity to hear from lots of different voices who might otherwise not have a chance. They don't need to be necessarily elected, but they are people in the community who are concerned and who care and who want to participate and who want to reflect their own backgrounds in the work of the government. the how a government allocates its money and how it chooses what it chooses to spend and and what projects it chooses to undertake are um they they are the most important things

29:57 that a government can do. They are government and to have an opportunity to be part of that is a a large responsibility and it's something that's um it's something that people should be honored to be part of. >> All right. Thank you very much. The uh next person that I have is Bella. >> Hi. >> Hello. Why are you interested in serving on the budget committee? >> Uh I'm interested in serving because I care deeply about Springfield's long-term fiscal stability and the community impact of every budget decision. I've spent the past six months or so studying our city's financial

30:42 structure and preparing an alternative budget proposal to the task forces uh that demonstrated how we can close funding gaps without cutting essential services like the library. That process showed me how much thoughtful oversight and creative problem solving can strengthen the trust between residents and their government. As a chief operations officer of a small investments firm, I manage complex budgets and systems every day. But what motivates me most is seeing how financial decisions translate into quality of life for people. I'd like to bring that same discipline and community centered focus to the city's budget process. >> Thank you. Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community. It is often necessary

31:27 to prioritize these services for budgetary reasons. How would you go about that task of establishing priorities among services? Yeah, I'd start from the principle that budgets are value statements. They show what we choose to protect. So, I'd look at three dimensions. Essential function, community impact, and long-term return. Essential function means sustaining core services that keep the city operating. Safety, utilities, and governance. Community impact asks which programs serve vulnerable populations or provide broad civic value like education and access. Long-term return looks at whether an investment reduces future costs or strengthens our revenue base. My approach is evidence-based but human-

32:13 centered. Prioritize what maintains safety and equity today and position Springfield to thrive tomorrow. That's how you move from austerity budgeting to strategic budgeting. If you were on the budget committee and were looking at one of the city services to decide how much to be funded through general taxes and how much to be funded through specific fees on customers, what questions would you want to have answered in order to make that decision? >> I'd begin by asking four key questions. Who benefits? Is the service primarily a public good like parks or libraries or a private benefit like a building permit? Secondly, who can afford to pay? Would a fee structure create inequity or limit access for low-income residents?

33:00 Third, what's the administrative cost? Sometimes collecting a fee costs more than the revenue it brings in. And lastly, how does this align with our strategic goals? For example, if a program promotes economic development or sustainability, funding it through general revenue might make sense, even if it only benefits a specific group. Those questions ensure we're not just balancing numbers, but evaluating fairness, efficiency, and alignment with community priorities. And how do you think the work of the budget committee improves our community? >> The budget committee is one of the city's strongest tools for connecting residents voices with fiscal policy. It improves Springfield by strengthening and bridging the data uh by

33:45 strengthening the bridge between data, policy, and people. It creates a structured space where elected officials, business leaders, and residents can come together to look at the same numbers and talk about what they mean for the city's future. That collaboration builds better budgets and stronger trust. When diverse perspectives sit at the same table, policymakers knowledgeable about governance, business owners keenly aware of economic vitality, and citizens providing insight on lived experiences. We make choices that are more transparent, equitable, and practical. The budget committee doesn't just improve our budget. It improves how we work together as a community. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> I see Jason walk in. Oh, there you are.

34:40 >> Sorry. Did you call me earlier? >> Oh, no. uh when uh with you not being here yet, we just went down the list. So, I was wanted to make sure we talked to you if you were here. >> Um why are you interested in serving on the budget committee? >> Um well, besides being able to chat with councelor Weber. I've served the last three years and gotten to to know the council and to see the process. Um and I from the before I entered um the budget committee what my ideas of what it was going to be completely changed. Um you know I thought it was going to be oh yeah I'll give some input or whatnot and it's not that. It's the other way and I found like we learn so much as budget

35:25 committee members and then we get to go out into the community and explain to people what's happening with our budget. um our manager staff do such a great job and so does the um council and the mayor of putting this stuff all together. Um and so when I go out into my community, so we have the the videos and there is um press and we got a new lookout Eugene in Springfield that's rising up. So there is more communication happening, but I think part of the budget committee is being able to go out into your community and have those conversations with people, you know, that aren't as involved that like to complain about government and complain about taxes and they don't really realize the situation that we're in. So that's one reason I

36:12 wanted to come back for another 3 years. I learned so much and I am able to go back into my community um of sports parents and church members and business leaders and owners and just be able to tell the story of what's happening with Springfield's budget. >> Well, all of Springfield services seem to have strong support from different areas of the community. It is often necessary to prioritize services for budgetary reasons. How would you go about the task of prioritizing services? >> Yeah. Um, I strongly believe in prioritizing public safety. Um, the fire and police um is something that I strongly believe in. I think we saw down in Los Angeles this last um recently with the fires that ripped through there, how important it is not

36:58 to cut corners when it comes to public safety. Um, I also believe in infrastructure with the roads. Um but I am keenly aware of how the um state is getting involved in mandates. Um and so it's definitely a interesting game that our uh management team gets to play with what is mandated to be funded versus what we as a local community feel we would like to fund. Um and then balancing that with asking the citizens to to pay more. So, um, but I definitely put public safety number one personally, but realize it's a bigger, um, puzzle to put together the whole

37:44 budget. >> If you were on the budget committee and looking one of the at one of the city services to decide how much to be funded through general taxes and through specific fees, what questions would you ask? >> Um, well, one, I would I should state that I'm really don't like fees very much. Um, I think my personal beliefs is general taxes are better. Um, but I do realize that fees aren't necessary cuz sometimes a service might go away if we don't just charge fees. But um so if we're going to charge a fee, I'm wanting to know and all being part of the budget process, I see that when we have specific fees that need to go to specific areas, it handcuffs our

38:31 management team and being able to build a budget because sometimes you have to borrow some from here to pay there. And I mentioned earlier the uh state mandates. It's just becoming very difficult to fund the things that the citizens want funded because of everything has to be in its own little silo and we're not able to uh fund things we need to but um if it comes to fees I would be asking you know is this necessary? Is there general funding available? Um but if it's going to take from the general fund then it's going to be coming from something else. So what's going to be cut to fund that? Um, and I would ask just, um, is charging this fee

39:16 going to make that thing that we're paying be sustainable? >> And how do you think the work of the budget committee will improve our community? >> Um, I kind of mentioned it earlier. I think it helps inform through the budget committee going out and preaching or teaching the um, people that we have connections with. that helps people understand. Um, for example, a big thing that comes up every year is people say, "Well, don't my taxes pay for this?" And you're like, "Well, if we take all the property taxes, it's not even going to pay for public safety." Um, and so people in our community don't really understand that. And so I think as we are able to te help teach people

40:01 in our community the what is going on with the budget then they are also going to um and how the tax structure works. Hopefully we can make changes um at the state level that we don't have as many mandates. Um if the people understand how this thing all works or might be open to um possibly other taxes. You know, I'm I'm more conservative. I'm not a big fan of taxes, but if you don't realize how low of taxes we pay in our community because of the measure five and all that, if you don't understand how that whole structure works, then uh it's hard for cities to make investments if you can't get the

40:47 citizens on board. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you. And I think that was the last interview that Okay, Jessica's confirming that I have checked everybody off. Okay. So, um, we've got to find four recommendations to move to, uh, regular session. Councelor Rodley, >> we'll start. First, I want to thank everybody for coming out here. This was exciting. This is like the most people we've had apply for budget committee and just diverse perspectives and from different parts of the city. So, I'm just like so excited. People want to get involved. Um, I'll tell you my four. Are you making a list? I've got Micah, Elliot, Franc,

41:32 Frances, Franchesca, and uh, Bella. My top one. Okay. Who wants to go next? Councelor Weber. >> Uh my choices and I think that having Jason and Ruth return um having three years under their belts is a very uh I think it'll be helpful for the committee to have that that experience. So for those reasons, uh Jason and Ruth are two of mine and Micah and Elliot.

42:35 >> Just just Yes. I would just need you to talk. >> And I want to mention something that I heard somebody mentioned mandates coming from the state. It's what the public wants when we have to pay for it. We don't want to pay for it that way. If they're going to make us do it, we need to they need to pay for it and we need to decide whether we want to or not. >> Thanks. Go ahead, Councelor Blackwell. >> Uh this is really difficult. Thank you everybody. Uh you're all very wellqualified and appreciate you coming out. Um I again um or as well as them uh Jose, Jason, and Ruth to return. And then I'm really happy to see Ward four represented. Um that was a very tough decision up for me on that one with Micah and then Taylor

43:34 Ruth Taylor and Elliot. >> Jason >> and y'all are amazing. it. This was one of the best budget uh committee groups I I can remember. Okay, I'm sorry you got me distracted. I had Jason Ruth Taylor and Elliot. Okay, Councelor Buck, >> thank you. Um having been in the the interview seat recently, um thank you guys all for showing up and and doing this. It's not not easy and uh you guys are all amazing candidates. Um, my four are Jason, Taylor, Micah, and Bella. >> Jason, Jason, turning

44:28 a little bit of math. The checking my math, too. Okay. So, Ruth You would be surprised. Okay, so I'm checking the staff to with the staff to make sure I have it right. I have Jason, Ruth, Elliot, Micah. Let's make sure we don't have any ties here. You're getting a nod from that. >> Okay.

45:14 >> All right. I'm getting two nods. Um, fantastic group, everybody. Uh, please, if we we're we're going to take these four folks and forward them on to to the council to approve approve the nominations. But we have plenty of opportunities um that are open and there are plenty of good spots for us to uh for us to plug you in. So, please check the city website. Um, like we could be extremely talented group. We would love to have you volunteer on another committee. All right. Thank you. All right. We have the Springfield Police Advisory uh Committee applicant interviews.

46:01 >> Good evening. >> Uh my name is Tiffany Monroe. from the staff liaison to the Springfield Police Advisory Committee. We currently have three neighborhood at large vacancies. These vacancies were created due to the expiration of committee member four-year terms. All three of the positions were eligible for second terms. However, only Jonathan Hayes has reapplied. The city received six applications for these open positions. Um, however, this morning, Richard Guile notified me that he is withdrawing his application at this time. So, we'll only be entering um interviewing five applicants. >> Great. And I'm assuming I'm asking the questions again. >> Yes, please. >> The first applicant is Sephu Palum. >> Come on up, Sephu. Um, we are running a

46:46 little bit late. So, I'm since this is the start of another interview panel, I'm just going to ask that you keep your uh keep your answers as brief as you can. >> Tiffany, we were doing three, right? Yep. Perfect. Thank you for joining us. >> Oh, thank you everyone. What perspective, experience, or expertise would you bring to the police advisory committee? >> Uh, first and foremost, I'm I'm going to show my appreciation for having me here, for giving me the opportunity to address the mayor and the counselor and

47:31 uh everybody in this uh hall. I mean it's um it makes me happy to be here no matter the the result of today. I'm happy to be here. Um according to your question I bring a lot of um experience to the table. I've dedicated 11 years of my life for uh as a public safety officer uh about six years uh with uh Oregon State Penentry uh correction officer corporal and um about two years as a state police. I do transport uh inmate across

48:17 uh state and this last two years I've been with department of uh human services as a child welfare child protective service. So combining this I also did a little uh time as a deputy at Marian County. So I work uh alongside those officers every time. uh being on the aisle of an officer and also as a citizen, I think tonight makes me a better person to kind of advocate for you, sir, and also for the family at

49:02 large. >> Thank you. What is your perception of the Springfield Police Department and have you any personal inter have had any personal interactions with Springfield PD? Yes, I've heard of a in a good way to correct me everyone. I've heard of a god countless uh interaction with them. I will call them sometimes for uh family uh what we called uh welfare checks. Uh let's say a case came in late and I'm with a family right now and I'm supposed to see a child because the case came in as the child is in danger. I have detective I do work with I will call them and um they are very very

49:48 professional. They always always always go far and above. I I wish they get paid more. Let me let me be honest that and uh even if it's 2 am 3:00 a.m. with a smile on their face. They are very professional. They are very respectful and they are I'll call it work in progress uh trauma informed because a lot of things they're doing right now is non enforcement uh capacity. So, if I have a letter to write, a recommendation, I will with all my heart, uh, I have nothing negative to say about them.

50:34 >> Thank you. What do you think the most important issues facing the Springfield Police Department are today? >> Uh, well, let's talk about staffing. I've been there uh for the last uh eight years. I didn't want to say I didn't have a life, but it's part of the job. I will go to work with the intention of working my 8 hour shift. Uh 30 minutes to the end of my shift, that phone call will come in. God, your relieving officer is not going to be here today. You're like, "Okay, thank you. another eight hours

51:20 and you do that four or five times a day. Staffing is a big problem. And um I always tell my kids anytime you're driving and you get pulled over, if you have a bottled water, give it to that officer. It's probably on 12-hour shift right now or 14 hour shift right now. And uh I feel for them and also uh a lot of things right now um because we having a lot of non-emergency calls right now uh being trauma being crisis and I work with this family all the time and a lot of crime that we're having right now is called non uh we call it uh

52:07 kind of um opportunity crime of opportunity. People are struggling financially. People don't have food. And this is an area I think to me I will also encourage uh our police department to be more cautious. Every calls that comes in doesn't need use of force. It could be they're hungry. It could be I mean a lot is going on right now with drug use, with poverty, with um financial constraint and um again we have this new police uh policing uh structure right

52:53 now where um I mean we we maybe the drones technology and that also can save life and also that can also uh help with uh staffing. So, and maybe better raise, better better uh um I would say salary. Let me put it that way. Sir, >> what do you think is the is the most important step the police department could take to promote a positive relationship? And just a brief answer would be great. >> Uh well, the community trust I will I will probably go with that. building a community trust where involvement with schools uh throwing a party. I'm not saying

53:39 they're social workers. I know people are like, "Oh my god, that guy is a child protective service. He's trying to make an officer too to be." No, but the interaction within the community, it helps the officers a lot. >> All right. Thank you so much. That was my last question. Thank you so much. You're welcome. Uh, David Floyd, please. >> Good evening, Mayor Council. How are you? >> Sure. >> Uh, respective experience or expertise will you bring the police advisory committee? >> I think an open open mind. Uh I think

54:24 that leadership um in the community means that you need to be a servant. And so my whole goal is to make sure that I have an open mind uh with all ranges of the people in the community. And also the big deal for me is um I have I've been on um like I was a chairman of the Salvation Army board for for quite a long time and I saw the interactions of how things worked there and what the police department could do and I was gracious with it. I'm going to be short and brief. >> Thank you so much. What is your perception of the Springfield Police Department and have you had any personal interactions? >> Yeah, they're um very fair. You know

55:09 what I like is um I'm a big advocate, just so you guys know, for the police department. Um I think they're it's very important to have them. I think they're tough, fair, very professional. Um I did the Springfield Police Academy, Citizens Police Academy. It was a great experience. Tana, when Tana was here, she got me involved in it. and I thought was a very important thing to do and it really opened up my eyes to understand um I've been on the other side of things so I get it and I get what um why we network so well. I'm an advocate for uh the jail and everything like that. >> What do you think the most important issue facing the Springfield PD is today? >> Uh funding. >> Okay. Uh, I think I think that it's um I

55:57 think it could utilize um more equipment, more officers as the population grows. We need more officers. We do. And um I'm an advocate for that. I'm a believer in being able to I think being a part of an organization, a committee, is how do you get funding for that? How do you do outreach for that? So, >> and what do you think the most important step the police department could take to promote a positive relationship with community is >> uh outreach. I think that they um it's very important to be um you know driving a car drive down the road and uh that's great and but it school involvement uh many events involvement I think it's

56:42 really important and again I'm an advocate for that. I'd be out promoting this the uh Springfield Police Department. >> All right. Thank you so much. Yeah. >> Uh Jonathan Hayes, please. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Respective experience or expertise would you bring to the police advisory committee? Uh >> I am an incumbent member of uh this committee. Also have experience with corrections. I work for the TSA. I'm a firefighter, but my degrees are actually in criminal justice. Uh so I am uh able to bring a different perspective. I'm also exposed to a lot of different demographics in the community. So I see a lot of different needs. So I think I have a broad

57:27 perspective of our community at large. >> And what's your perception of the Springfield Police Department and have you had any personal interactions with the PD? >> I think that is a very professional progressive department. Um as indicated by the uh accreditation that we achieved about about a year ago today. Uh we went through this detailed process to get accredited which shows our dedication to uh training and being on the cutting edge of law enforcement. As far as personal uh exposure to the police uh I mostly interact with them at work. We used to have motor officers stop by station 3 and hang out with us. We always try to provide a safe place um for them to go. Roads get cold out there sometimes. Also at work I was involved with the shooting officer involved shooting on Gateway Boulevard recently as well as multiple traffic stops and things like that. That's my primary

58:12 exposure. And what do you think the most important issues facing the Springfield PD are today? >> I think the most important issues are protecting our citizens in this unstable political environment when at a drop of a dime things can go way way off track. Also, uh officer safety, including their mental health, uh recruiting, retention, making this a destination department versus training folks up to go somewhere else. I think that's very important. also gaining public trust so that we can deploy new innovative measures uh so they don't think that we're you know trying to sneak something by them. >> And what do you think the most important steps you can take uh the PD could take to promote a positive relationship with the community is >> I think continuing to develop a inclusive engaging department that uses

58:58 transparency as a pathway to citizen understanding will be a a very good step. events like the public safety days that we just had at Jerry's recently where we had a lot of different members of the community out there, public safety community. Um, and seeking out well-qualified applicants and candidates that reflect the community they serve. I'm not talking about the transitional people that look like me. I'm talking about people that share the same values that we do. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Uh, Richard Jones, >> John. >> Hello, Mr. Mayor. Counselors. >> Hello. >> Um, perspective, experience, or expertise would you bring to the police

59:45 advisory committee? >> So, I have about uh 33 years of law enforcement experience. um virtually all of that at the Springfield Police Department. I retired as the professional standards and training lieutenant in 2018. Uh, I came back in a a nonl law enforcement role in like 2022 for about a year and a half to assist when staffing was down with um vehicle maintenance um fleet management and uh equipment and uh then when they got staffing back up that funding went away was staffed on a vacant position and uh so I have all of that experience

1:00:31 uh pretty wellrounded in a lot of different uh different roles within the police department during my course of career and uh uh many uh different uh community events that I took care of also. >> And what is your perception of the Springfield TV? >> The police department's full of very professional uh men and women, highly trained, very experienced. Um, I have a high perception of of all of them. I appreciate all of them. Uh, as far as like my own personal uh experiences with the police department. Ironically, I was a victim of a burglary a few years ago in my home here in Springfield and it was investigated by the detectives at the Springfield Police Department who

1:01:16 were able to serve a search warrant and recover a lot of our property and make arrests and stuff. And so, you know, on the my my professional interactions are many, but that was my personal uh as a citizen reaction. >> What do you think the most important issue facing the Springfield PD today is? >> Most important, I think, is uh staffing and recruiting. Um it's been tough to try and get people to apply and to hire police officers. And so and kind of the trickle trickle down effect that results in uh you know a lot of overtime which affects budget and also kind of affects uh the livability for officers.

1:02:02 >> And do you think the most important step the PD could take to promote a positive relationship to with the Springfield community is? >> Well, transparency is important. Um and uh along with transparency also um people um uh the police department being out in the community having community events, going to the schools um whenever they have any of those kind of things. It uh really really really um helps out the police department's perception with the community. Thank you so much, uh, Savannah,

1:02:52 >> councilors, mayor. Good evening. >> Thank you for joining us. Perspective or experience will you bring to the police advisory committee? >> I have a masters of public administration with a focus in strategic planning and program evaluation. And so my um education and professional background are largely focused on that type of programmatic assessment and policy work um and providing feedback. I've also been uh the vice chair or chair of the community development advisory committee for four years and have really enjoyed participating. Um but I'm an active member of our community and um have really benefited personally and professionally from that involvement. >> What is your perception of Springfield PD? Uh, I think that Springfield Police Department has um a lot of opportunity in the same way that all of Springfield does. We have a lot of ability to grow

1:03:38 in intentional ways, especially with um SPD having new leadership and having uh these new perspectives in those important roles. We have a lot of opportunity to be developing in ways that are very intentional and focused right now. >> Think issues facing the Springfield Police Department today are >> um budget and recruitment. I don't think it's news to anyone that there's a budget crisis for just about any public service and I think that'll be an area that SPD needs to handle um very intentionally moving forward. >> You think are the most important steps the PD could take to promote a positive relationship with the city communities? >> Uh I think that our community generally recognizes the um work that SPD does currently and that promoting that public trust and um that communication with our

1:04:23 community is one of the most important things. But generally we know what our call response times are like. We see the work that's being done. Um so just maintaining that relationship moving forward is I think going to be the biggest component for SPD. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> You can we have three folks. >> So if I could get three names. I don't know if Beth you want to start this time. We can work through this in a more organized fashion. Thank you for making that very difficult. Once again, excellent candidates here. Um, I have Jonathan Hayes, uh, Sefue, and my third one,

1:05:10 uh, Richard Jones, Okay. Um, I misunderstood what you said. Sephw Jonathan Hayes and Richard Jones. >> Um, I've got Jonathan Hayes, Sephw, and Savannah. >> Okay, council member. >> Uh, Jonathan, Richard, and David.

1:06:10 >> counc David, and Jonathan. >> All very good candidates. Thank you everyone. Smile.

1:07:09 Steve probably your third one. Can you see? >> Okay, that was my missing piece of information. Okay, so I have Sefue, uh, Jonathan, where are we? Look, I'm getting head nods. All right, it again, a great pool. Really appreciate everybody coming out. Um, thank you so much for joining us. We're only 20 minutes behind. Come on, Nathan. We have the payroll uh tax implementation framework and council direction.

1:08:21 All right. Uh, good evening, uh, mayor and council, and, uh, welcome, Councelor Buck. Um, with tonight's, uh, work session, you're jumping right into the deep end, so I hope you're ready. Uh, tonight's conversation is a continuation of the conversation we started on September 2nd, uh, in a work session uh, around the payroll tax. The payroll tax was one of nine recommendations uh from the task force. Um and just some background on that uh the recommendation was that a payroll tax be evenly split between the employer and the employee uh that it be simple to understand and administer uh no uh tiered rates or exemptions uh and that there be guard rails uh to protect uh the taxpayers.

1:09:06 So with that background we provided you with the range of options to uh consider in that work session and the guidance coming out of that uh was that it would be a rate of 0.1% paid by uh both in each the employer and the employee uh that it be paid on gross wages with only legally required exclusions. Uh that it applies to employers located within uh Springfield city limits. That's the subjectivity. uh and that it uh have annual reporting to council and community and no changes to the program for the first three years uh after implementation followed by a formal conversation on its efficacy and and just with that um when we say no changes I mean assuming that there's no major issues or that it's not broken of course if if there was a major issue um we would likely revisit that before then

1:09:52 so I took that guidance and modeled um a.1% payroll tax. Um, and so that payroll tax again was based on gross wages uh to both um uh applied to both equally to employees and and the employers. Um and uh it would generate a net revenue of approximately $2.9 million in fiscal year uh uh 27. Um each additional 0.01 and that was one of the questions that's been asked throughout this process would generate uh an additional $400,000 annually. Uh the key assumptions for that was uh 4.1% uh wage growth and that's based on the department of revenues experience over the last 10 years. Um no pre-tax deductions. Um we estimated it'll be

1:10:37 about $600,000 to administer uh this program. And then we have uh initial compliance of 75%. Um our kind of uh expectations based on Eugene's experience is that it would be probably about uh four to five years to get up to full compliance which is in the low 90 uh percent. Uh at full compliance uh that would be an additional $700,000 annually and um we you know again we think that would be achieved by uh 2032. And feel free to ask questions at any point uh throughout M >> clarification.

1:11:22 Uh.1.1% paid by both the employer and employee. Is that each or >> each? >> Okay. So it's a point 2. >> Yes. You can look at as point two. >> All right. And that's awfully small. So, um I don't know if if the audiences can be able to see that five-year forecast. You've seen u many five-year forecasts over the years. Uh and what I've done here is layered in all of the task force recommendations that actually have a dollar impact. And specifically, what's different about this one because I had another version of this in in front of you, I think it was back in June, is um this one's been updated to reflect the gross wages. Um so fiscal years 27 through uh fiscal

1:12:08 year uh 31 looking kind of mid uh graph uh the uh row with the first row of of red numbers which mean a deficit spend. Uh you can see that it's a pretty significant deficit spend that grows uh over the course of those five years. um feel pretty comfortable with this forecast in that u you know really you know as I've mentioned before there's a bias in budgeting sometimes to um underestimate underestimate revenues and overestimate expenditures. I'm really focused on not bringing that bias into our forecast. Uh the revenue projections in there I feel are really tight on the expenditure side. uh it's probably a little more conservative than it has been in the past only because uh inflation has remained stubbornly higher

1:12:55 than the Feds would like and I I'm just not uh convinced that it's it's been beaten. And so um I'm taking that not the kind of inflation we've experienced uh over the past few years, but I have some higher estimates in there on the expenditure side just kind of you know what I think is going to happen. I don't see uh our experience being worse than this, but I also don't expect it to be significantly better than this if so. Um I I feel like this is a good forecast really to to use in terms of making kind of long-term decisions. So, uh, looking at the, uh, task force recommendations again, the library cut of half a million dollars. The reason it grows in this forecast is because it's actually in the

1:13:40 budget right now in all those years, and it's growing u by inflation. And so, I have to kind of pull it back out with inflationary growth. the uh payroll tax in the first year that represents if we were to um if you were to make a a decision and we were to have something in place um you know sometime shortly after the first of the year and we give ourselves a year to implement we'd be looking at going live in January of 2027. Uh it's a quarterly reporting is most likely how we would do it. So we wouldn't see the first revenues come in until April and that would include revenues collected over the period of January through March of 27. So that represents just a single quarter worth of revenue receipts. By fiscal year 28 though we have the uh a full year's worth of revenue and thereafter. Um the uh fire levy is

1:14:27 currently on the ballot uh for um well next Tuesday actually. Um I believe is that correct? And um so uh that is the revenue uh that would come in if that passes additional revenue above what we've uh historically experienced at least with our most recent levy rate. Uh and then uh the police levy uh will be uh in discussions uh we'll be bringing it to you sometime in the spring of 27. Uh and if we move forward with that uh that would be going on the ballot November 27 uh to be implemented beginning in fiscal year uh 29. And that reflects if we were to increase it to uh for the police levy to pay indirects which it currently does not. and then looking at what that does to our bottom

1:15:12 line. Um you know starting with fiscal year 27 again because the payroll tax just timing reasons is coming in a little later than would be ideal. Uh we have a significant deficit spent but even if we were to accept that deficit and there are occasions where a deficit spend is acceptable. Uh if you look at that ending reserve uh it's at 27% it is above our uh 25% floor that we have for an ending reserve. So, it's still up in that healthy range. Looking at fiscal year 28 and 29 to have a number uh that low, you know, in a $400,000 deficit spend. Um, you know, two [clears throat] years out, uh, that is, uh, I we can bridge that gap without a lot of pain. And so, to me, that is very positive. We get into 30 and 31, um, just shy of a

1:15:59 million each. Uh it's a big number, but it's far enough out there a lot can happen between now and then. And we've got a nice kind of time frame to start working on addressing that right now. So I look at this forecast and with those task force recommendations. It doesn't solve all of our problems. I don't think the idea is to give us this blank check. Uh it still requires us to have a sharp pencil and kind of tighten our belt, but it is something we actually can work with while we start to implement other things such as economic development uh initiatives. And so I bring these forecasts to you here annually. I want to give you some time on this slide uh to ask questions. >> I I have two quick questions and then I will I will open it up. is our ending balance percentage that is a that is guidance for bonding right that we

1:16:46 >> correct um our policy used to be 20% was and that it's it's a number that you know over the years best practices the GFOA has you know changed it but in our most recent uh bonding um uh experience you know one of the things we heard back in our rating was they like the fact that our reserve was over 25% that if it was ever to go below 25% % that it could potentially impact the city's rating. Uh it's difficult to get that rating higher. Um I I'll be honest, it's not difficult to have it fall on you. And so we we need to be on top of that and make sure that we maintain that 25% balance. >> And the second the second question I had and then I'll open it up to the group. Uh this even though we're talking specifically about the fiscal stability

1:17:31 task force, but th this is really our fall look at what the forecast would be. So, we're we're we're checking off that discussion now that you've showed us our our five-year forecast. >> Yeah. Typically, we would have a work session just dedicated to our 5-year forecast. This one just happened to get folded into our payroll tax compensation this year. >> Perfect. >> All right. Um any questions about the forecast? Go ahead, Council Blackwell. >> Thank you. Um I just have a question. when you mentioned the expenditures that you um looked at those and and thought that they were probably going to be higher than you estimated them higher. What do you use for to get there? I mean what what percentage rate are you looking at today's inflation rate and then how did you estimate those higher? >> So a number of factors. So earlier, you know, I I think um um I gotta

1:18:17 [clears throat] be careful because it was exactly so I won't say anything that would but Ch and I spent a lot of time together talking about what's happening out there in the market and what we're experiencing and what we can expect. And so he helps me in terms of informing what those are. So we're looking at um just historical well in a much larger time frame than just the inflation that we experienced uh over the pandemic years. um we're looking at u kind of uh uh other agencies and what they're paying and and and what we're seeing them settle with their contracts. Sometimes they're ahead of us and so we get to kind of see what's happening there. So there's a lot of different factors that are going into that. >> All right, other questions? Um go ahead, councelor Stout. >> Um just just refresh me one more time.

1:19:03 What is your what is our timeline on all of this for like a concrete decision? Um, one of reasons I'm asking is I'm interested to know how the fire governance conversation is going to go. >> Okay. Um, and actually that is going to be decided potentially tonight. I'm going to get about two slides further and and I'm going to ask you that question. So, we'll come back to it. Proceed. All right. And so um just coming back to the guardrails, this is something that the task force was very important to them that something not be put in place that could just you know be changed um you know annually or you know someone could just unilaterally make that decision. And so a lot of thought went

1:19:48 into the guardrails. Again, um this would happen and and you know, some I could have probably mentioned earlier on a slide, you know, there's a lot that came in um and that task force recommendation and and it had such a brief summary up there of of what it was, but I think another um um kind of quality they were striving for was a rate that was low enough that you could just implement it. Um that that wouldn't have a significant impact on the taxpayer or on the businesses. And so that 0.1% when we're looking at that that's 1/100th you know on a a salary of of annual salary of $50,000 a year you'd be paying $50 annually in a payroll tax. And so you know when they kind of the the point one just happened to work out for us but they focused on that because they felt it was a low enough rate that it could just be uh implemented. But

1:20:34 through the um process of an ordinance then uh the only way it could be changed uh you know in that ordinance you can build in your guardrails and then the only way it could be changed again is is through uh another uh ordinance and I think I'm getting that correct. Y um no rate increases or structural changes for three years unless it's broken, unless something is really not working. Um required annual reporting to uh the council and the public reporting back on what our experience is and how that money is being used. Um, you know, you saw in that uh forecast that it's the deficit suspense starts to climb in those outer years. If you know, we had a windfall in the earlier years, we could set those dollars aside to help address those outer years. Um, and um uh and that would be part of the annual reporting um u to you and then um a formal review after uh year three to

1:21:20 assess the efficacy uh of this. Um the other thing too I I I didn't mention is that um since that last work session um staff has also been engaging um the uh business community um uh with the structure that you uh recommended from that earlier work session and I'm going to let u the mayor uh speak to that uh some um I don't know if you want to do that now or a little later. >> Um I think I could just add briefly what our conversation with the business community has been. Uh we've had several um one-on-one meetings with folks or group meetings. Uh generally I would describe people as still curious. uh you know obviously they understand that the technical issue that we're facing but necess you know understand why we came

1:22:06 to the solution may not be super thrilled with you know additional additional taxes from a competitive perspective but they there was definitely a lot of appreciation with how transparent we we're being about this pro about this challenge um and basically just a lot of clarification. The two things that they did ask for from us, well three things were um as simple as possible from an administrative perspective. There was a lot of conversation about not just worried about the amount but worried about how the cost to administer it. um you know getting really clear about how um we as a government are are paying it which is you know a reporting question and coming back to this uh idea that

1:22:52 said that like hey could you keep the structure as consistent as possible for at least 3 years to give yourself an opportunity to um you know so that we're not uh creating any undue change in the system >> and we'll continue to um engage the business community. That is ongoing. We're just getting started with that. And the other thing that I've I've heard in terms of feedback is if we get to a point where we've decided to move forward with it to uh uh engage their payroll professionals and finance uh uh folks and and you know and we're open to really uh hearing the feedback and and kind of doing this in a way that works for everybody. we see them as partners in this, >> you know, and I think the vision my my

1:23:37 perspective on that is that's a critical part to being being successful. Um, you know, as we go because this is going to take like a year. Uh, and you know, and I am perfectly like that does not mean that's a council committee that that is a like the staff uses stakeholder committees all the time, but I would think we would just give them a head nod to kind of go forth and do and keep that conversation going. So that brings us to next steps. Uh my question for you is do you have all the information that you need uh to make a decision uh andor uh are you uh uh ready to proceed with a pay payroll tax.

1:24:24 Um this is a this is a chance to have some additional conversation. Um, I think we would, the way this would go is whatever we want to do to go forward, we would schedule a public hearing in early December. It's it's scheduled. I don't have the date right in front of me. Um, but that would give us a chance to hear more directly from the public. Uh, discuss, finalize, and at the end of that meeting, we wouldn't be implementing the the payroll tax. We would be directing the staff to start that work. So, we would be working on implementing all through the next year. >> All right. Uh, Council Weber, >> thank you. Uh, Nathan, I've I've heard enough, I think, for myself to have comfort with moving this forward. Um, I think it's a reasonable request and I think we're working really hard to

1:25:09 engage all of the members of our community that are going to be impacted by this and I'm supportive of moving forward to a public hearing. >> Councelor Stone, I'm supportive of moving forward to a public hearing. Um, I do want to make sure that as council we have the opportunity to kind of tweak the final number a little bit uh to make sure we have the conversations about fire, library, etc. And I think that has to be done in conjunction with the public hearing. Thank you. >> Okay. And could you tell me more, Councelor Stout, just so we're all on the same page about the fire question? just it I I'm concerned I mean depending on whatever shakes out with fire governance I'm

1:25:55 concerned about a potential uh additional need on top of what we're asking for voters from the current levy. So if that current if for whatever reason the structure we ultimately agreed to that is most beneficial for Springfield exceeds what is brought in by the levy and the general funds, this is one of the few options we have to actually fund our fire department. And I think that's an absolutely crucial piece of the pie. And also I I'll just comment you know seeing that 0.01 help me get me this right. 01% is $400,000 in revenue. I would not be remiss to say that that's a pretty nice chunk of change that could be applied very quickly and I I just I mentioned this in the side to my other counselors uh to plug a hole in our library

1:26:40 funding. Um I think I think the the the first question really around fire like the the fire issue I think is real. It's time like it is going to be out there in the next four or five five years. Neil, do you want to jump in and >> uh just mention we have a hold on November 10th to get an update on governance so that you give us a little bit more information. So, is it fair to say based on the current schedule that we're like the the two the two government agencies may not have a decision by the first part of December? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, here's the way I'm thinking about it, and we do not have to solve this solve this tonight, is that especially with this kind of three-year conversation going out there, there's going to be room and space to have a

1:27:26 conversation around fire once we get to the whatever whatever the next version's going to be. Um, so from my perspective, I don't know that we've got we we've got to have that answer to get us through December, but we will have to have that that answer in relation to the, you know, either payroll tax or potential other funding long term. >> Okay. Any other questions? Okay. So, this is the last time we're seeing this before December, >> correct? And I believe it's scheduled for December 8th. >> Okay. in a regular session. >> And um if if you think about implementation, do we have to be solid about the rate on the on that December date or could we in could that

1:28:13 conversation sort of mature over time? >> That conversation could still mature. I I think that we if we want to meet a uh implementation timeline of of January 1st, 27, and you can see from that 5-year forecast why that would matter, we would probably want to have uh if you were to go forward with an ordinance to have that ordinance um you know, ready for adoption sometime uh you know, probably no later than February, March. Um >> Okay. Yeah. And I and I think one of the important things from this conversation is is I know the timing and length of time and this is fairly complex is I think we just want to make sure we're super clear that we're not going to go be like whatever date we choose we need to say we're not going to go before that date right certainty and clarity is very

1:28:59 important here. All [gasps] right I think we have all the questions. Hey I was wondering what the last slide was. I would thought you might have another question there. >> No, it's not. >> You have everything you need. >> I have everything I need. >> Thank you so much. >> We are adjourned and then we are going to reconfigure the room for the uh SEADA meeting which I believe is an exe executive it is an executive session first.