TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOR CITY COUNCIL PACKET
SEPTEMBER
2, 2008
POLICY SESSION AGENDA
Packet Date: August 29, 2008
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CITY COUNCIL REPORT
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POLICY AGENDA
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TO:
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Rick Naimark
Deputy City Manager
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AGENDA DATE:
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September
2, 2008
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FROM:
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Toni Garvey
City Librarian
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ITEM:
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2
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SUBJECT:
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LIBRARY RECEIVES ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATION AWARD
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This report presents information on the Alliance for Innovation’s
“Innovation Award” recently awarded to the Library Department for its website.
THE ISSUE
In June, Phoenix Public Library was notified that it is the recipient of
an Innovation Award from the Alliance for Innovation. The award recognizes the Library for more
effectively meeting customer needs by offering a website that:
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directly searches the
Library’s online catalog rather than the Library’s online catalog vendor and
their records.
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offers results in everyday language, translating
the idiomatic language of the library profession into language more familiar to
the customer and presenting it in a way that parallels customers’ retail book
buying experiences.
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allows customers to select a desired format,
focusing their query on a book, e-book, spoken word, e-audio, large print, or
other format.
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provides customers with
circulation, reference and technical assistance through an “Ask a Librarian”
feature.
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offers E-mail and RSS feed capabilities.
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enables the customer to retain information via the
Library’s website in a “my account” feature.
For example, customers may save search results, store favorite links,
and develop and share personal lists.
Phoenix Public Library’s website breaks the mold of customer expectations
and establishes a new standard for public library websites throughout the
world.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Alliance for Innovation is a partnership between The
Innovation Group, International City/County Management Association and Arizona State University and its School of Public Affairs to transform local government and advance community
excellence through the discovery and application of leading ideas and
practices.
RECOMMENDATION
This item is for information only.
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CITY COUNCIL REPORT
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POLICY AGENDA
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TO:
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Thomas E. Callow, P.E.
Deputy City Manager
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AGENDA DATE:
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September 2, 2008
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FROM:
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Maria Hyatt
Assistant To The City Manager
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ITEM:
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3
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SUBJECT:
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METRO LIGHT RAIL – SERVICE STARTS
IN 115 DAYS
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After many years of
planning, design, and construction, the beginning is near for light rail
transit in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.
METRO will begin operating December 29, 2008.
METRO Chief Executive
Officer, Rick Simonetta, will provide the City
Council with an update on construction progress, testing of the vehicles, and
most importantly, how to be safe around the light rail. METRO will also preview a new driver safety
video. The discussion will include
information about METRO’s grand opening weekend
December 27 and 28, 2008.
This item is for
discussion only. No Council action is
requested.
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CITY COUNCIL REPORT
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POLICY AGENDA
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TO:
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Frank Fairbanks BR
09-01
City Manager
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AGENDA DATE:
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September 2, 2008
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FROM:
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Cathleen Gleason
Budget and Research Director
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ITEM:
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4
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SUBJECT:
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2007-08 YEAR-END RESULTS AND 2009-10 PROCESS
CALENDAR
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This report transmits preliminary information on 2007-08 General Fund
budget results and the proposed calendar for the 2009-10 budget process.
THE ISSUE
The 2008-09 General
Fund budget assumed a carryover beginning balance from 2007-08 of $43.0
million. The 2007-08 pre-audit ending
balance is $39.1 million. Due to
continuing declines in revenues, this ending balance was only achieved by way
of two extraordinary measures.
First, we were able
to restructure a debt service payment, which saved the General Fund $14.3
million. Second, we were able to reduce
General Fund contributions to the Long-term Disability (LTD) Reserve Fund by $7.2 million since the
reserve became fully funded sooner than anticipated. Without these two actions, the ending balance
would have been less than $18 million.
This would have started the 2008-09 fiscal year
with a $25 million deficit and may have triggered concern on the part of the
bond rating agencies. Because of these
actions, we started the current fiscal year only $4 million below budget.
OTHER INFORMATION
City and state-shared
sales taxes make up about 55% of General Fund revenue. Pre-audit city sales tax revenue for 2007-08
was -3.2% compared to 2006-07.
State-shared sales tax revenue for 2007-08 was -4.5% compared to
2006-07. City and state sales tax
revenue for July 2008 show no improvement, but rather are among the worst
results we have seen since July of last year.
Retail sales tax,
which is the biggest category for both the city and state, was -12.2% for the
city and -10.4% for the state in July 2008.
Total city sales tax for July was 7.0% below last July and total
state-shared sales tax for the same period was 9.8% below last July. In addition, preliminary information on state-shared
income tax for 2009-10 indicates a reduction of $30 million from the 2008-09 amount.
Based on these
declining revenues, we believe we will have to make significant budget cuts
again this year. However, it is so early
in the fiscal year that we do not yet have enough data to prepare an accurate
estimate of the deficit. In order to
reduce the overall size of the cuts, we propose taking action early. Staff will share the percentage for proposed
cuts with Mayor and Council at the September 2 policy meeting. The calendar below calls for presenting a
budget-balancing proposal to Mayor and Council at the first meeting in January,
with cuts effective March 2, 2009.
Proposed 2009-10
Budget Balancing Process
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2007-08 Year-end Results and 2009-10 Budget Calendar
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September 2
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Instructions to Departments on Proposed Cuts for Review
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September 8
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Zero Based Budget Review and Early Budget Financial Estimate
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October 7
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City Council Rating of Zero Based Budget Completed
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October 17
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Staff Preparation of City Council Selected Cuts and Other Needed Cuts
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October 20 – December 19
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Proposed Reductions to Balance the General Fund Budget
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January 6
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Publish Trial Budget Tabloid
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January 11
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Community Budget Hearings
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January 13 – 27
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Final Recommendations and City Council Action to Balance General Fund
Budget – Trial Budget for Other Funds
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February 3
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Budget Balancing Cuts go into Effect
(for both 2008-09 and 2009-10)
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March 2
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Mayor and Council adopt the proposed budget calendar.
