Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 6 PM
City Council Chamber and Remote Participation Committee of the Whole
This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.
What happened
36 items of legislation were taken up.
- 36 recommended to be discharged with no recommendation
Agenda 36 items
Notices from the agenda
The meeting took place in person and remotely via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Wilson and adjourned at 9:06 PM. Others present: Michael Mastrobuoni – Budget Director, Ed Bean – Director of Finance, Demetrios Vidalis - Director of Water and Sewer, Rich Raiche – Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Kate Hartke – Director of Grants Development, Nikki Spencer – Chief of Staff, Madalyn Letellier - Legislative Services Manager, Peter Forcellese – Legislative Clerk. The Committee meeting was recessed at 7:43 PM and reconvened 8:04 PM. .
Motions
(Posted online: 5/17/24 at 11:00 AM) Original (Posted online: 6/13/24 at 6:45 PM) Revised (Posted online: 6/17/24 at 1:35 PM) Revised (Posted online: 6/18/24 at 7:15 AM) Revised
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Uht91PLgTeyKOP2v5itdJg Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
Roll Call
Referenced Documents: • Finance 2024-06-18 Councilor Scott Dept Head Motion • Finance 2024-06-18 Water and Sewer Revised Rate Presentation FY25
- 1. Review of the FY 2025 Budget • Cut night • Miscellaneous Budgetary Items
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2.
Requesting approval to appropriate $725,000 from the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to fund the Fire Alarm Alerting System.
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3.
Requesting the appropriation of $850,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Open Space Acquisition Stabilization Fund to acquire new publicly accessible open space.
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4.
Requesting approval to appropriate $270,000 from the Immigrant Legal Services Stabilization Fund for legal services to immigrants.
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5.
Requesting the appropriation of $266,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Emergency Stabilization Fund to provide funding for the Warming Center.
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6.
Requesting the appropriation of $350,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Community Composting Stabilization Fund for a pilot community composting program.
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7.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Participatory Budgeting Stabilization Fund for the Participatory Budgeting Program.
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8.
Requesting the appropriation of $700,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund for a Fire Alarm Alerting System.
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9.
Requesting approval to appropriate $149,051 from the Racial & Social Justice Fund to hire a Project Manager for the development of an Alternative Emergency Response Program.
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10.
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to supplement a prior appropriation to purchase and install prefabricated standalone public toilets.
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11.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,432,778 from the Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings Account to the FY 2025 Water Enterprise Fund budget.
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12.
Requesting approval to create the Community Composting Program Stabilization Fund.
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13.
Requesting approval to appropriate $500,000 from the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund for funding for the SPS Parent/Guardian Transit Pass Program.
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14.
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the COVID-19 Stabilization Fund to fund the Somerville Public School Parent/Guardian Transit Pass Program.
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15.
Requesting the appropriation of $270,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Immigrant Legal Services Stabilization Fund for immigration legal services.
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16.
Requesting the appropriation of $2,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support flexible rental assistance programs.
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17.
Requesting approval of a transfer of $2,110,472 from the Salary Contingency Account-Salaries to the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund.
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18.
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Traffic Safety Stabilization Fund for traffic safety improvements.
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19.
Requesting the appropriation of $7,635,022 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Facility Renovation and Reconstruction Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.
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20.
Requesting the appropriation of $2,089,659 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Street Reconstruction and Renovation Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.
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21.
Requesting the appropriation of $403,187 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Energy Stabilization Fund for projects that reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.
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22.
Requesting the appropriation of $2,589,087 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Capital Projects Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.
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23.
Requesting the appropriation of $943,392 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Parks Stabilization Fund to support the 5-Year Capital Investment Plan.
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24.
Requesting the appropriation of $400,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Water Stabilization Fund to support the Water-Sewer Capital Investment Plan.
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25.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,600,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Sewer Stabilization Fund to support the Water-Sewer Capital Investment Plan.
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26.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,200,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund.
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27.
Requesting the appropriation of $500,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Compensated Absence Liability Fund.
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28.
Requesting the appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Salary & Wage Stabilization Fund.
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29.
Requesting the appropriation of $2,584,976 from the Unreserved Fund Balance ("Free Cash") to the Rainy Day Stabilization Fund.
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30.
Requesting approval of the expenditure limitations for departmental Revolving Funds for FY 2025.
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31.
Requesting the appropriation or reserve of $3,436,205 in estimated FY 2025 Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenue for CPA projects and expenses.
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32.
Requesting the appropriation of $237,000 to fund the FY 2025 Dilboy Fields Enterprise Fund budget.
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33.
Requesting the appropriation of $736,255 to fund the FY 2025 Kennedy School Pool Enterprise Fund budget.
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34.
Requesting the appropriation of $21,398,392 to fund the FY 2025 Water Enterprise Fund budget.
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35.
Requesting the appropriation of $31,947,141 to fund the FY 2025 Sewer Enterprise Fund budget.
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36.
Requesting the appropriation of $342,878,129 to fund the FY 2025 General Fund Operating Budget.
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37.
Director of Water and Sewer conveying the FY 2025 Water & Sewer Rate proposal.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\froman\fprq2\fcharset2 Symbol;}{\f2\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\qj\tx722\tx2760\f0\fs24 Director Vidalis recapped the discussions from the last few meeting and provided answers to questions asked last night as well as the Water and Sewer (WS) communication plan, (uploaded to the digital budget). The Department of Revenue has informed the department that it cannot provide the remedy to rate payers in the form of a credit. Director Vidalis noted that year over year rate increases have been consistent over the past several years. He explained that the option before the Council would use the retained WS earnings to lower the overall rate, however, it would require that the city borrow more money to continue doing the work that needs to be done. \par \par Chair Wilson expressed his desire to explore how the work can get done without increasing rates. He explained that this proposal is being presented now to give the WS Department some guidance on where the City Council stands on the issue. He will call for a Resolution to be made with the new numbers and voted on tonight. A new proposal will come before the City Council on Thursday evening, June 20\super th\nosupersub .\par \par Councilor Ewen-Campen made the following motion:\par \ul\b\i That the Administration resubmit the FY25 water and sewer rates as follows: no change in base charges, 9.5% increase in the water rate and 0% increase in the sewer rate\ulnone\b0\i0 .\par \b\par \b0 Several Councilors spoke on the item expressing their concerns, including:\par \pard\nowidctlpar\fi-360\li720\sa160\sl-284\slmult0\qj\tx722\tx2760\kerning2\f1\'b7\tab\f0 this isn\rquote t a top priority for the city, \par \pard\nowidctlpar\fi-360\li720\sa160\sl-284\slmult0\qj\f1\'b7\tab\f0 there\rquote s a lack of faith in the entire system,\par \f1\'b7\tab\f0 the continual use of contracted labor and the department\rquote s inability to fill vacant positions,\par \f1\'b7\tab\f0 budgeting vacant positions for a full year without any momentum for filling them,\par \f1\'b7\tab\f0 although the city budget has grown, the city looks to rate payers to pay for the infrastructure project,\par \f1\'b7\tab\f0 rate increases are a work around,\par \f1\'b7\tab\f0 lack of a \lquote roadmap\rquote showing where the city should be.\par \pard\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\qj\tx722\tx2760\kerning0 Director Raiche commented that as the infrastructure program matures, more work will be taken on by city staff, but there is some heavy work that needs to be done by outside contractors. He noted that stabilization funds are for long term use and that using retained earnings to lower the WS rates makes him nervous. Director Hartke noted that approximately 42% ($34.5 million) of the city\rquote s ARPA funds were allocated for infrastructure. $4 million has been set aside for Fire Department station improvements which could potentially be shifted to WS. Chair Wilson urged the Administration to recommit any available ARPA funds to the Poplar Street pump station project and Director Hartke noted that $10 million of ARPA money has been allocated for that project.\par \par Director Vidalis spoke about working towards making bills more affordable in such a manner that it helps everyone, including renters, small business and commercial property owners. There was a discussion about the \lquote catch up\rquote bills and the rates used to calculate them. \par \par \pard\nowidctlpar\sl-328\slmult0\qj\tx722 APPROVED on a roll call vote of 6 in favor (Councilors Davis, Strezo, Pineda Neufeld, Ewen-Campen, Clingan, and Wilson), 5 against (Councilors McLaughlin, Mbah, Burnley, Sait and Scott) and none absent.\par \pard\cf1\f2\par }
- 38. Motion by Councilor Wilson to reduce the Human Resources Personal Services salary line by $30,778.33. (Tabled at the June 12, 2024 Finance Committee meeting.)