Port director says personnel transfers, dumpster accounting will shift costs to port fund

Miss Johnson, representing the Port Division, outlined several budget line changes and operational items for council review, including a plan to transfer bridge tenders from Public Works to the Port Division and to re-code port dumpsters so trash costs are charged to the port fund rather than the general fund.

On personnel, Miss Johnson said the transfer of bridge tenders will move those positions (and associated salary costs) into the port budget. "We are proposing to transfer the bridge tenders, public works to us," she said, adding that it is "a better fit" operationally and will be reflected as a shift out of the general fund.

Council members praised port staff for event operations, specifically the Billfish event, and asked for clarifications on several budget lines including transportation equipment and salary line changes. On transportation equipment and reserve accounts, council sought to confirm whether entries cover vehicles, mowers or other gear; Miss Johnson and staff clarified the lines and the handling of a retirement that lowered a salary line when a new hire started at an entry-level wage.

Miss Johnson also explained the dumpster accounting change: when HCUA (trash bills) come in, the city previously coded all trash and dumpsters to the general fund and now will split port dumpsters to the port fund. Council members requested documentation and noted interest in receiving the committee projections and summaries when available. The council did not take a final vote on these transfers during the session.