City officials flag possible $700,000 deferred grant hit and parking disputes as departments report

Heather, the city's finance director, told the City Council that the transition to new financial software and the timing of grant reimbursements left the city with an estimated unrestricted fund balance of about $1.9 million for 2024 and a roughly $700,000 deferred‑revenue timing issue that could make 2024 “look more like a $2,000,000 loss.” Heather said the deferred revenue will likely appear in 2025 instead of 2024 depending on auditors’ treatment.

The finance update framed the meeting: Heather said the city is tracking approximately $35,000 a month in metered parking revenue and about $53,000 year‑to‑date in lodging tax receipts, both below budgeted projections. She told council members the cannabis tax and the timing of several new lodging properties remain major unknowns for 2025 revenue.

“The single biggest aside from lodging tax is the cannabis tax. We just don't have enough history,” Heather said, urging closer review of capital projects that assume future federal or state reimbursements.

Public works director Rob reported multiple infrastructure repairs underway, including stone‑sewer restorations that require multi‑day excavations, replacement of bar screens at the wastewater Headworks, ADA ramp construction and progress on the Ferry Street bridge approach. Rob said the bridge project is moving quickly and expressed confidence the bridge work would be ready for Flag Day events.

The police chief presented the department’s quarterly numbers: 42 arrests for 81 total charges in March, 12 calls for emotionally disturbed persons and reporting that body‑worn camera reviews produced no training or disciplinary items for the month. The chief also clarified that the quarterly report counts tickets issued rather than total traffic stops: 374 traffic stops in the quarter resulted in 131 tickets (about 35%).

Fire department staff summarized March responses (19 calls, including a building fire and a vehicle fire) and announced a new junior firefighter program for 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds to replace the earlier explorer post. A fire department representative said the department will restrict junior duties and hopes to enroll interested youths.

Youth and recreation staff described robust after‑school and spring programming, new trips to sporting events, nearly 60 applicants for counselor and CIT positions and several youth‑led environmental projects at Oakdale Park. Recreation staff and volunteers briefed the council on a multi‑year water‑quality monitoring effort at Oakdale Lake and warned residents how to distinguish normal pond vegetation from harmful algal blooms. Staff said last summer’s harmful algal bloom required a three‑week treatment to clear and that partners plan a treatment in June if needed.

Council members discussed parking policy and a county request for discounted daytime use of 10–14 on‑street spaces in front of 11 Warren Street for county employees. Councilmember discussion and the parking committee’s recommendation leaned against a permanent discount; councillors suggested any agreement should be clearly time‑limited, tied to an explicit fee schedule and considered by the full council rather than decided solely by the parking committee.

Several council members urged a longer review of the proposed increase in parking fees and recommended delaying action on a parking‑fee resolution until phase 3 of kiosk rollouts and Warren Street work are finished so costs and public messaging can be coordinated.

On grants, Heather urged a department‑by‑department review of active projects that rely on reimbursements. She and council members cited a recent case reported in media where a school district completed work expecting federal reimbursement and was later denied those funds; councilors asked staff to inventory capital projects and funding dependencies before committing additional local match or issuing bonds.

At the close of the department reports segment the council handled several routine agenda items and introduced resolutions (see “Agenda items and resolutions” below). For many of the proposed resolutions the transcript records introductions, requests for tabling or committee review but does not record final votes during this session.

Ending

Council members asked staff to return with more detailed grant‑by‑grant accounting and for the finance office to work with a subset of the finance committee to review exposure on projects that assume federal reimbursement. Staff said they would provide delinquent‑tax lists and procurement bids requested by councilors and that the Ferry Street bridge and several public‑works contracts should reach key milestones in late May or early June.