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Staff to package sticker-prioritized planning items into February resolution; revenue, park and vehicle needs among 'must/should/could' lists
Summary
Staff told council members the ideas gathered from a community sticker exercise will be compiled into a resolution for the February meeting, highlighting revenue-generation options (without new taxes), a 5% utility franchise fee allocation for employee COLA, a 1-mil tax reduction item, park improvements and vehicle and trail projects.
Staff opened the meeting by describing an informal planning process that used participant stickers to prioritize ideas and said staff will assemble the results into a resolution for the council to consider at its February meeting.
The staff member said they used a threshold of at least two, preferably three, stickers for an item to be counted. Items labeled "must do" included finding ways to generate more revenue without raising taxes or fees, keeping a 5% utility franchise fee from the utility department directed to the General Fund to support a cost-of-living adjustment for employees, and a one-mill tax reduction proposed for the upcoming budget.
Among "should do" priorities, the staff member listed replacing a gym floor (potentially before the next fiscal year), upgrading and replacing some city vehicles, and building a walking trail from Horton to downtown. The staff member also said the council should pursue additional funding from Oconee County to reach an annual funding target of $850,000 for fire-related needs; the speaker indicated that amount is intended to support the fire function but did not provide a breakdown.
The "could do" list included stocking spare parts for utilities, completing veterans memorial work, renaming the police building in memory of a fallen officer (council members discussed the surname "Warner" when confirming the name), and finishing Anderson Park with playground equipment and rubberized turf.
Staff said the compiled items and the reasoning behind them will appear in the resolution brought to the council and will be reflected in subsequent budget discussions; staff also committed to communicating these items to department heads so cost and operational questions can be addressed before formal action.
The meeting proceeded to other agenda items and closed with a motion to adjourn; the transcript ends during the adjournment exchange without a complete roll call recorded.
