2009/07/08 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

July 8,2009 Roll was called with all council members voting yea except Council Members Gipson end Stonecipher who were excused. Motion carried. RESOLUTION—EMS LEVY Moved by Council Member Affholter,seconded by Council Member Roberts to adopt Resolution No.6163 repealing Resolution No.6157, which encouraged the City of Everett to seek a levy lid lift at the 2009 general election to secure funding for Emergency Medical Services. Council Member Nielsen commented that this is a significant policy matter and while it is probably well founded it has not been reviewed by any council committee and considering that an interfund loan is indicated,his appropriate that the matter go to the budget committee. Moved by Council Member Nielsen,seconded by Council Member Olson to table the item to send it to budget committee and be brought back to Council as soon as possible. Mayor Stephenson provided some background information. He noted there has been an informal community group assembled to look at the possibly of running the levy.There has been a growing and consistent concem among committee members as well as businesses and citizens regarding the wisdom of asking fora tax Increase in this difficult economy. The 2010 budget which the Council will have an opportunity to approve, will include a provision for an interfund loan from the general fund to EMS to cover the revenue shortfall with the full intention of paying the loan back when the levy passes in the future. The levy ballot measure will be brought back in the next year or two when the economy improves. Council Member Olson stated that while there may be a valid argument as to why the city is switching direction in funding EMS,at least in the shod term,it has not been made. The place to make the argument is the budget committee.He stated that it is appropriate to defer this matter to the budget committee to obtain supporting data as to where and how 201