HomeMy WebLinkAbout120221WSPZ:\Council Packets\2012\WS2-21-12 (was -14)\120221WSA.doc Page 1 of 1
NOTICE OF THE
WORK STUDY SESSION OF
THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
TIME: 6:00 P.M.
WHEN: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
WHERE: FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Councilmembers of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call ; a
quorum of the Town’s various Commissions or Boards may be in attendance at the Work-Study Session.
ALL WORK-STUDY ITEMS LISTED ARE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY. NO ACTION CAN OR WILL BE TAKEN.
The primary purpose of work session meetings is to provide the Town Council with the opportunity for in -depth discussion
and study of specific subjects. Public comment is not provided for on the Agenda and may be ma de only as approved by
consensus of the Council. In appropriate circumstances, a brief presentation may be permitted by a member of the public or
another interested party on an Agenda item if invited by the Mayor or the Town Manager to do so. The Presidi ng Officer may
limit or end the time for such presentations.
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Schlum
2. PRESENTATION of PRELIMINARY TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS BUDGET for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 2012, including Council goals and initiatives and funding.
3. ADJOURNMENT.
DATED this 16th day of February 2012.
Bevelyn J. Bender, Town Clerk
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5100 (voice) or 1-800-367-8939
(TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to attend this meeting or to obtain agenda informat ion in large print format.
Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the council with this agenda are available for review in the Clerk’s office.
Mayor Jay T. Schlum
Councilmember Dennis Brown Councilmember Cassie Hansen
Councilmember Dennis Contino Councilmember Henry Leger
Vice Mayor Ginny Dickey Councilmember Tait D. Elkie
Z:\Council Packets\2012\WS2-21-12 (was -14)\120221WSA.doc Page 1 of 1
NOTICE OF THE
WORK STUDY SESSION OF
THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL
TIME: 6:00 P.M.
WHEN: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
WHERE: FOUNTAIN HILLS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
16705 E. AVENUE OF THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ
Councilmembers of the Town of Fountain Hills will attend either in person or by telephone conference call ; a
quorum of the Town’s various Commissions or Boards may be in attendance at the Work-Study Session.
ALL WORK-STUDY ITEMS LISTED ARE FOR DISCUSSION ONLY. NO ACTION CAN OR WILL BE TAKEN.
The primary purpose of work session meetings is to provide the Town Council with the opportunity for in -depth discussion
and study of specific subjects. Public comment is not provided for on the Agenda and may be ma de only as approved by
consensus of the Council. In appropriate circumstances, a brief presentation may be permitted by a member of the public or
another interested party on an Agenda item if invited by the Mayor or the Town Manager to do so. The Presidi ng Officer may
limit or end the time for such presentations.
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Schlum
2. PRESENTATION of PRELIMINARY TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS BUDGET for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 2012, including Council goals and initiatives and funding.
3. ADJOURNMENT.
DATED this 16th day of February 2012.
Bevelyn J. Bender, Town Clerk
The Town of Fountain Hills endeavors to make all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Please call 480-816-5100 (voice) or 1-800-367-8939
(TDD) 48 hours prior to the meeting to request a reasonable accommodation to attend this meeting or to obtain agenda informat ion in large print format.
Supporting documentation and staff reports furnished the council with this agenda are available for review in the Clerk’s office.
Mayor Jay T. Schlum
Councilmember Dennis Brown Councilmember Cassie Hansen
Councilmember Dennis Contino Councilmember Henry Leger
Vice Mayor Ginny Dickey Councilmember Tait D. Elkie
FY12-13 BUDGET
PRESENTATION
January 26, 2012
AGENDA
Review of Toolbox Options
Projected Revenues
Projected Expenditures
Initiatives
Wrap up
TOOLBOX OPTIONS CONSIDERED IN
PROPOSED BUDGET
Decrease recreation subsidy $ 35K
Staff reduction (hours, vacant positions) $104K
Franchise agreement $600K
Use of 10% General Fund reserves $ 60K
Renegotiation of services of community
contracts $ 71K
Recruit part-time prosecutor $ 50K
TOOLBOX PARKING LOT
(not included in budget projections)
Increase employee contribution to health care
premiums $122K
Increase sales tax on telecommunications $550K
Reduce sales tax rate, replace with
franchise, telecommunications tax $570K
FIVE YEAR GENERAL FUND PROJECTION
NOVEMBER 2011
WHAT CHANGED?
State Income Tax increase of $369,000
Local sales taxes projected to increase $100,000
MCSO contract is $127,000 less than November
projections
Negotiated decrease in health insurance premiums
by 11%
FIVE YEAR GENERAL FUND PROJECTION
FEBRUARY 2012
BUDGET IN BRIEF
FY11 $13.0M
FY12 $12.6M
FY13 $13.5M
BUDGET IN BRIEF
FY11 $12.0M
FY12 $12.6M
FY13 $13.5M
BUDGET IN BRIEF
BUDGET IN BRIEF
BUDGET IN BRIEF
New items proposed in FY12 budget:
increased wash maintenance $20,000
new equipment for GIS $31,000
ADWR fee $29,000
Household hazardous waste event $45,000
major facilities maintenance $350,000
parks parking lots maintenance $36,000
increased toddler/teen events $5,000
BUDGET IN BRIEF
New items proposed in FY12 budget:
citizen satisfaction survey $35,000
cost of living/merit $69,000
law enforcement contract $33,000*
fire/EMS contract $75,000
TOTAL $728,000
*revised with confirmation from MC Sheriff’s Office
COUNCIL HIGHEST PRIORITIES
STRATEGIC PLAN 2010
Strategic Directions
FY11-12
Goals
SPAC
Recommen-
dations
# of
Votes
Total
Points
C 3 Genuinely solicit and consider public and stakeholder feedback as part of the decision-making
process.X X 7 14
I 2 Lower the reliance on state revenues by developing a locally controlled, reliable funding source for
infrastructure maintenance.X 6 8
EV 1 Develop a comprehensive economic development strategy for the Town’s future and work with
our partners to forward economic growth and awareness.X X 5 11
EV 2 Develop and maintain a balanced, equitable, sustainable and local financing structure to support
the Town’s core government services at desired service levels.X X 5 9
EV 4 Promote retention, expansion and relocation of quality businesses.X X 5 9
CR 7 Communicate the role of local government and clearly define the trade-offs between service
levels and amenities and the associated costs so residents can make informed choices.X X 5 8
CR 2 Discover, recognize and utilize the talents of our citizens and use these assets to address
community needs.X 4 7
CR 3 Foster a culture of public service and volunteerism.X 4 7
R 2 Provide an interconnected, multi-use trail and bicycle system that promotes active living, physical
activity, education and appreciation of our parks and natural resources.X 4 6
I 3 Maintain a current condition assessment of all roadways and sidewalks and prioritize and
implement maintenance efforts to minimize costly reconstruction.X 4 6
C 2 Support community events and activities that create opportunities to build community and
friendship.X 4 5
CR 1 Foster an environment of accessible, responsive governance.4 5
CR 6 Evaluate customer satisfaction with Town services on a regular basis and implement appropriate
service improvements.X 4 5
PRIORITY 1: C3 Genuinely solicit and consider public and
stakeholder feedback as part of the decision-making process
Create a budget committee including two members of the public
(possible graduate of citizen’s academy), solicited through volunteer
program (no fiscal impact, however, impact will be staff time)
Conduct a statistically valid citizen survey, correlating to the previous
statistically valid survey ($35,000 in Town Manager budget)
Staff to attend at least 12 meetings per year (one per month) with
community organizations, HOA’s, etc. (no fiscal impact, however, impact
will be staff time)
Enhance Town website to promote citizen feedback, comments on specific
initiatives or general comment
Utilize telephone technology to make calls to citizens to inform them of
upcoming events, etc.
PRIORITY 2: EV 1 Develop a comprehensive economic
development strategy for the Town’s future and work with our
partners to forward economic growth and awareness.
Review the economic development plan annually
and recommend revisions as appropriate.
PRIORITY 3: EV2 Develop and maintain a balanced,
equitable, sustainable and local financing structure to support
the Town’s core government services at desired service levels
Outreach to the community citizens regarding proposals that
came from the November toolbox retreat; highlight
individual proposals during the budget process;
reemphasize sustainability
Update Hocking Report (fiscal impact $25,000)
Support Chaparral City Water with franchise election in
Spring 2013
Continue to work with partners and legislators on the
creation of a Public Safety District
Consider a public safety fee on all property owners (similar
to Paradise Valley)
PRIORITY 4: EV4 Promote retention, expansion and
relocation of quality businesses
Expand upon the outreach efforts in one of the targeted
industry sectors to encourage business locations which create
new employment opportunities and increase daytime
population.
Utilize the trade area analysis to target recruitment efforts
on those businesses / business sectors identified.
Encourage the location of businesses along the Avenue that
complement and support the existing business base. (fiscal
impact $42,000 - $8,000 (or ~19%) from the General
Fund and $34,000 (or ~81%) from the Excise Tax Fund. A
significant portion geographically falls within the downtown
area (the retail, office and “Avenue” initiatives).
PRIORITY 5: I2, I9 Lower the reliance on state revenues
by developing a locally controlled, reliable funding source for
infrastructure maintenance
Create an Infrastructure maintenance fund for facilities,
parks and fire – no roads; would require initial cash
infusion of $500,000 and annual contribution of
$275,000 from the General Fund (excluding the lake liner
and park lights). A dedicated fund with proceeds from an
increase in the telecommunications sales tax; increase to
3.1% would provide $275,000 per year. Capital
projects fund could fund the initial and the new fund
would be dedicated to the infrastructure maintenance.
Sell assets that have become expensive to maintain and
have limited future value
PRIORITY 6: CR7 Communicate the role of local
government and clearly define the trade-offs between service
levels and amenities and the associated costs so residents can
make informed choices
Continue Citizens Academy
Create a reader friendly report that citizens can understand
SPAC recommendation: “Create a sense of urgency regarding
the importance of residents and businesses taking responsibility
to financially participate in the Town’s infrastructure maintenance
and provision of basic services to protect home, land and
property values.”
Utilize results of citizens survey to compare to previous survey;
citizens will communicate where we need to do better
Introduce the idea of a property fire fee to cover the cost of fire
and EMS protection
PRIORITY 7, 8: CR2 CR3 Discover, recognize and
utilize the talents of our citizens and use these assets to address
community needs.
Advertise with a Request For Proposals for specific
need or skillset that a member of the community
may have and want to offer services to the Town
Foster a culture of public service and volunteerism
through the annual Make a Difference Day
PRIORITY 9: R2 Provide an interconnected, multi-use trail
and bicycle system that promotes active living, physical activity,
education and appreciation of our parks and natural resources.
Coordinate and promote activities with McDowell Mountain
Regional Park
Coordinate with Tourism Bureau to promote Town trails and
bicycle system as part of active living, including a booth
during the two fairs
New flyers distributed to valley sports stores
Promote FIT (Fountain Hills Interconnected Trails)
Urban Trails Plan, create a flyer for distribution, coordinate
with Tourism, create new Town webpage dedicated to
healthy living, active lifestyles. Utilize FIT logo to promote
trails, signage to mark FIT stations.
PRIORITY 10: I3 Maintain a current condition assessment of
all roadways and sidewalks and prioritize and implement
maintenance efforts to minimize costly reconstruction
Update Stantec report (fiscal impact $35,000 in
HURF budget)
Evaluate the post mortem on bond with the public,
prepare new strategy for recommendation
PRIORITY 11: C2 2 Support community events and
activities that create opportunities to build community and friendship.
Do more events; network with promoters (Tourism
contract)
Coordinate calendars with McDowell Mountain
Regional Park and Tourism
Tourism contract to include keeping up with future
events, contact hotels and restaurants to reach out
to promoters
PRIORITY 12: CR1 Foster an environment of
accessible, responsive governance
Upgrade citizen portal to be more user friendly,
offer more options (estimated $10,000 fiscal
impact)
Appoint a formal Ombudsman (perhaps a retired
judge so they are impartial)
PRIORITY 13: CR6 Evaluate customer satisfaction with
Town services on a regular basis and implement appropriate
service improvements
Statistically valid customer satisfaction survey
($35,000 fiscal impact, using prior as a baseline);
consider survey at least once every three years
Develop customer service performance measures
utilizing the ICMA standards
Solicit citizen feedback through a mailer asking how
we are doing
PRIORITY 14: Other Public Safety
Funding for posse based on specific deliverables,
funding to come from contract with MCSO
Propose bond issue for fire station
CARE program added to Rural Metro contract
(fiscal impact $24,000)
PRIORITY 15: Other Tourism
Rebid contract
Consider placing a Visitor Center down town commercial space (Tourism
contract) staffed 7 days a week (unknown fiscal impact)
Promote Brand, including the Town’s trails
Coordinate with Town on events
Coordinate events to capitalize the two fair events (new events on either
side of fairs)
Communicate with event promoters for events
Link to hotels, restaurants, etc., provide restaurant guides to promoters
Promote trails locally, nationally and internationally; trails on Tourism
website, maps in packets
Partner with McDowell Mountain Regional Park to promote trail that
encompasses both organizations
PRIORITY 15: Other SPAC Initiatives
EV4 Promote retention, expansion and relocation of
quality businesses.
Move forward with strategy development for the two other
target industry sectors for employment expansion: “health
care and social assistance”, and “finance and insurance”.
EV6 Identify a slate of economic development tools and
strategies (including tax incentives, fee abatements, etc.) to
stimulate economic growth.
ELC5 Encourage access to higher learning opportunities or
the establishment of an educational or training campus
within our community.
Other Staff Proposals
Rightsourcing for all Town programs
Eliminate street sweeping saves HURF
approximately $100,000 per year
Unfinished Business
Parking lot items leftover from November retreat for
further discussion:
Increase sales tax on telecommunications
$550K
Reduce sales tax rate, replace with franchise,
telecommunications tax $570K
QUESTIONS?
Page 1 of 7
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN
HILLS
OFFICE OF INTERIM TOWN
MANAGER
INTER OFFICE MEMO
TO: Honorable Mayor and Town Council DT: February 16, 2012
FR: Julie Ghetti, Interim Town Manager RE: FY2012-13 Proposed Budget
During the November 17, 2011 Council retreat the Town Council was presented with the chart below
showing a deficit in the General Fund of $411,000 for FY12-13 and further deficits in future years.
One of the goals of that retreat was to analyze the tools available to the Town to resolve the deficits
and provide fiscal sustainability to Town government. The tools that appeared to have consensus have
been incorporated into the proposed FY12-13 budget (those tools are shown on a separate memo in
your packet) with a couple of exceptions for discussion. Subsequent to the toolbox exercise there have
been some changes in the estimates for revenues and expenditures for next fiscal year based on
updated information. Specifically:
State Shared Revenues (i.e., income tax) revenues are expected to increase $369,000
Local (Fountain Hills) local sales taxes are expected to increase $100,000
MCSO contract is $127,000 less than November projections
Based on the above the chart below is revised to reflect those changes as well as the initiatives
proposed in the FY12-13 budget.
Page 2 of 7
During the February 21, 2012 budget workstudy staff will be asking for another consensus on those
items so that we can plan the work program for the next fiscal year and include that information in the
draft budget document. Based on the assumption that fiscal sustainability will be resolved staff is
proposing the following increases in program costs; these are items that have been postponed over the
past four years and are becoming critical to be addressed:
increased wash maintenance $20,000
new equipment for GIS $31,000
ADWR fee $29,000
Household hazardous waste event $45,000
major facilities maintenance $350,000
parks parking lots maintenance $36,000
increased toddler/teen events $5,000
citizen satisfaction survey $35,000
cost of living/merit $69,000
law enforcement contract* $33,000*
fire/EMS contract $75,000
TOTAL NEW BUDGET ITEMS $728,000
*revised with confirmation from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Toolbox items that are not included in the proposed budget due to additional information but need to
be discussed at the workstudy are:
Increased employee contributions to health care premiums
Staff has done significant research and analysis on this toolbox item and would like the Council to
consider a variation of the proposal.
Page 3 of 7
The format of the documents included in the workstudy packet is as follows:
Section 1: Summary of revenues by fund for ALL funds combined
Summary of expenditures by fund for ALL funds combined
Summary of expenditures by program for ALL funds combined
Summary of expenditures by line item for ALL funds combined
Section 2: General Fund summary of revenues by revenue category
General Fund summary of expenditures by division
General Fund detail for all expenditures by division
Section 3: HURF summary of revenues by line item
HURF summary of expenditures by program
HURF summary of expenditures by line item
HURF detail for all expenditures by line item
Section 4: Excise Tax ED summary of revenues by line item
Excise Tax ED summary of expenditures by line item
Excise Tax ED detail for all expenditures by line item
Section 5: Special Revenue Funds (grants) summary of revenues by line item
Special Revenue Funds summary of expenditures by program
Special Revenue Funds detail for all expenditures by program
Section 6: Capital Projects Fund summary of revenues by line item
Capital Projects Fund summary of expenditures by project
Capital Projects Fund detail for all expenditures by project
Section 7: All other funds summary sheet by fund that includes revenue and expenditures by line
item
The objective of the budget workstudy is to give the Town Council and the public an opportunity to
review the proposed initiatives and associated expenditures for the fiscal year that begins on July 1,
2012 and clarify that the staff initiatives match with the Council’s intent for each goal. Before the final
draft is completed the staff will be available to answer any questions or provide further information to
any member of the Town Council or the public. Another budget workstudy is scheduled for Tuesday,
March 20, 2012. At this meeting the public will have an opportunity to provide input and the Council
will be able to give direction. The month of April will be dedicated to going out to the community with
the draft budget and allow for more public input. In May there will be three more workstudy sessions
where the final work plan will be considered for final adoption in June.
The table below presents the staff’s proposed initiatives and fiscal impact that are being presented to
accomplish the goals that the Council discussed during the January 21, 2012 budget retreat. Staff will
be available at the workstudy to respond to any questions, provide information, get feedback from the
Town Council and make changes.
Page 4 of 7
COUNCIL GOALS AND INITIATIVES FOR FY12-13
Strategic Directions and Staff Proposals
C 3 Genuinely solicit and consider public and stakeholder feedback as part of the decision-making process.
(ADMINISTRATION)
• Create a budget committee including two members of the public (possible graduate of citizen’s
academy), solicited through volunteer program (no fiscal impact, however, impact will be staff time)
• Conduct a statistically valid citizen survey, correlating to the previous statistically valid survey ($35,000
in Town Manager budget)
• Staff to attend at least 12 meetings per year (one per month) with community organizations, HOA’s, etc.
(no fiscal impact, however, impact will be staff time)
• Enhance Town website to promote citizen feedback, comments on specific initiatives or general
comment
• Utilize telephone technology to make calls to citizens to inform them of upcoming events, etc.
EV 1 Develop a comprehensive economic development strategy for the Town’s future and work with our
partners to forward economic growth and awareness. (ADMINISTRATION - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
• Review the economic development plan annually and recommend revisions as appropriate.
EV 2 Develop and maintain a balanced, equitable, sustainable and local financing structure to support the
Town’s core government services at desired service levels. (ADMINISTRATION)
• Outreach to the community citizens regarding proposals that came from the November toolbox retreat;
highlight individual proposals during the budget process; reemphasize sustainability
• Update Hocking Report (fiscal impact $25,000)
• Support Chaparral City Water with franchise election in Spring 2013
• Continue to work with partners and legislators on the creation of a Public Safety District
• Consider a public safety fee on all property owners (similar to Paradise Valley)
EV 4 Promote retention, expansion and relocation of quality businesses. (ADMINISTRATION - ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT)
• Expand upon the outreach efforts in one of the targeted industry sectors to encourage business
locations which create new employment opportunities and increase daytime population.
• Utilize the trade area analysis to target recruitment efforts on those businesses / business sectors
identified.
Page 5 of 7
• Encourage the location of businesses along the Avenue that complement and support the existing
business base. (fiscal impact $42,000 - $8,000 (or ~19%) from the General Fund and $34,000 (or ~81%)
from the Excise Tax Fund. A significant portion geographically falls within the downtown area (the
retail, office and “Avenue” initiatives).
I 2, I 9 Lower the reliance on state revenues by developing a locally controlled, reliable funding source for
infrastructure maintenance. (DEVELOPMENT SERVICES)
• Create an Infrastructure maintenance fund for facilities, parks and fire – no roads; would require initial
cash infusion of $500,000 and annual contribution of $275,000 from the General Fund (excluding the
lake liner and park lights). A dedicated fund with proceeds from an increase in the telecommunications
sales tax; increase to 3.1% would provide $275,000 per year. Capital projects fund could fund the initial
and the new fund would be dedicated to the infrastructure maintenance.
• Sell assets that have become expensive to maintain and have limited future value
CR 7 Communicate the role of local government and clearly define the trade-offs between service levels and
amenities and the associated costs so residents can make informed choices. (ADMINISTRATION)
• Continue Citizens Academy
• Create a reader friendly report that citizens can understand
• SPAC recommendation: “Create a sense of urgency regarding the importance of residents and
businesses taking responsibility to financially participate in the Town’s infrastructure maintenance and
provision of basic services to protect home, land and property values.”
• Utilize results of citizens survey to compare to previous survey; citizens will communicate where we
need to do better
• Introduce the idea of a property fire fee to cover the cost of fire and EMS protection
CR 2, CR 3 Discover, recognize and utilize the talents of our citizens and use these assets to address
community needs. (ADMINISTRATION – HUMAN RESOURCES)
• Advertise with a Request For Proposals for specific need or skillset that a member of the community
may have and want to offer services to the Town
• Foster a culture of public service and volunteerism through the annual Make a Difference Day
R 2 Provide an interconnected, multi-use trail and bicycle system that promotes active living, physical
activity, education and appreciation of our parks and natural resources. (COMMUNITY SERVICES; ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT)
• Coordinate and promote activities with McDowell Mountain Regional Park
• Coordinate with Tourism Bureau to promote Town trails and bicycle system as part of active living,
including a booth during the two fairs
• New flyers distributed to valley sports stores
Page 6 of 7
• Promote FIT (Fountain Hills Interconnected Trails)
• Urban Trails Plan, create a flyer for distribution, coordinate with Tourism, create new Town webpage
dedicated to healthy living, active lifestyles. Utilize FIT logo to promote trails, signage to mark FIT
stations.
I 3 Maintain a current condition assessment of all roadways and sidewalks and prioritize and implement
maintenance efforts to minimize costly reconstruction. (DEVELOPMENT SERVICES)
• Update Stantec report (fiscal impact $35,000 in HURF budget)
• Evaluate the post mortem on bond with the public, prepare new strategy for recommendation
C 2 Support community events and activities that create opportunities to build community and friendship.
(COMMUNITY SERVICES; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT)
• Do more events; network with promoters (Tourism contract)
• Coordinate calendars with McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Tourism
• Tourism contract to include keeping up with future events, contact hotels and restaurants to reach out
to promoters
CR 1 Foster an environment of accessible, responsive governance. (ADMINISTRATION)
• Upgrade citizen portal to be more user friendly, offer more options (estimated $10,000 fiscal impact)
• Appoint a formal Ombudsman (perhaps a retired judge so they are impartial)
CR 6 Evaluate customer satisfaction with Town services on a regular basis and implement appropriate service
improvements. (ADMINISTRATION)
• Statistically valid customer satisfaction survey ($35,000 fiscal impact, using prior as a baseline); consider
survey at least once every three years
• Develop customer service performance measures utilizing the ICMA standards
• Solicit citizen feedback through a mailer asking how we are doing
Other Public Safety
• Funding for posse based on specific deliverables, funding to come from contract with MCSO
• Propose bond issue for fire station
• CARE program added to Rural Metro contract (fiscal impact $24,000)
Page 7 of 7
Other Tourism
• Rebid contract
• Consider placing a Visitor Center down town commercial space (Tourism contract) staffed 7 days a week
(unknown fiscal impact)
• Promote Brand, including the Town’s trails
• Coordinate with Town on events
• Coordinate events to capitalize the two fair events (new events on either side of fairs)
• Communicate with event promoters for events
• Link to hotels, restaurants, etc., provide restaurant guides to promoters
• Promote trails locally, nationally and internationally; trails on Tourism website, maps in packets
• Partner with McDowell Mountain Regional Park to promote trail that encompasses both organizations
Other SPAC Recommendations and proposed initiatives (those not included in above):
EV4 Promote retention, expansion and relocation of quality businesses.
Move forward with strategy development for the two other target industry sectors for employment
expansion: “health care and social assistance”, and “finance and insurance”.
EV6 Identify a slate of economic development tools and strategies (including tax incentives, fee abatements,
etc.) to stimulate economic growth.
ELC5 Encourage access to higher learning opportunities or the establishment of an educational or training
campus within our community.
Other
• Rightsourcing for all Town programs
• Eliminate street sweeping saves HURF approximately $100,000 per year
Parking lot items leftover from November retreat for further discussion:
Increase sales tax on telecommunications $550K
Reduce sales tax rate, replace with franchise, telecommunications tax $570K