2011-02-28 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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K. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT 1. Parkview Garden Sustainable Neighborhood Grant: Communications Contract The City was awarded a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Challenge Planning Grant and a Department of Transportation (DOT) TIGER II Planning Grant for Parkview Gardens. The combined grants total $315,687. It will provide connectivity to the light rail system; create LEED-certified affordable housing; and develop a portion of the Centennial Greenway trail and on-street biking. The scope of the work included a communication component and award was recommended to go to 501 Creative for $30,000. Mr. Price moved for approval, was seconded by Mr. Kraft and carried unanimously. 2. Parkview Gardens Sustainable Neighborhood Grant: Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture Contract. This is the second grant to cover the urban planning and landscape architecture at Parkview Gardens. Funding source is HUD for $132,373, DOT Tiger II grant for $113,186, and local cash of $99,000. The make-up of the local cash is $14,000 from University City, $50,000 from Washington University, $25,000 from the Parkview Gardens Association and $10,000 from Great Rivers Greenway District. Ms. Ricci moved to approved, was seconded by Mr. Glickert and carried unanimously. 3. Budget Overview Mr. Walker stated the budget book is presently being printed and would be available for Councilmembers by the end of the meeting. The members of the public can get the summary of the budget from the Administrative Analyst in the rear of the chambers. He said in addition the budget will be posted on-line on Tuesday. Mr. Walker spoke on the budget process. He said that one of the first tasks that he undertook as City Manager was to recommend to the Council that the budget process be started early. He noted that in the past the budget was submitted in April for consideration in May or June, which he felt did not provide the opportunity for the public and Council to consider all the various issues the budget addresses. The budget process was started in September of 2010, with three sessions held already for public input on October 18, November 18 and January 26, 2011. The budget the staff would submit tonight would be for year running from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Mr. Walker said the budget as proposed is a balanced one with the expenditures not exceeding the revenues as the City’s revenues were not keeping pace with the City’s expenditures. He said the reasons for this were the slow economy, affecting the sales tax; the census numbers have been declining and the latest release showed a decline in University City’s population by 5.5 percent. Mr. Walker said the 2000 census showed a population of 37,428 and the 2010 census shows a population of 35,371. He said it is important to note that University City, at one time, had a population of over 50,000. Mr. Walker said the significance of the 2010 census showing a population decline should not be understated because it will reflect a decline in revenue because much of the City’s revenue is calculated on a per capita basis. The City’s largest source of revenue is sales tax and received in proportion to population. Mr. Walker next addressed the specifics of the draft budget proposal. He emphasized that no decisions have been made and there will be at least three more public meetings for public input. The next public meeting is scheduled for March 21 at McNair Administration building, 6:00 p.m. 6136 Groby Rd., April 18, at Mt. Gideon Church, 6 pm., 6505 Etzel and City Hall, May 23, 6:30 p.m. City Council will be at a position to accept or reject the budget on June 13 or June 27. Next he talked about the 5