Note: The agenda listed this meeting as scheduled from 6:00–8:45 p.m., while the provided transcript timestamp indicates 10:45 a.m. This discrepancy is noted.
The Finance Committee began its series of budget hearings for the 2026 fiscal year. The meeting covered an overview of the proposed budget, a detailed presentation from the Public Works Department, an update on health insurance and human resources matters, and a discussion of council-initiated budget amendments. Several pieces of legislation were recommended favorably to the full council.
Okay. Everybody ready to rock and roll. Let's uh call to order the meeting of the November 24, 2025 uh finance committee hearing. And uh this is the beginning of our 2026 budget process. Thank you to members, Mayor, George, and members of the administration for being here and working so hard to prepare uh the budget proposal. Um and I look forward to a productive schedule of conversations thanks to uh the council office, uh the council clerk and and and others on putting together a good agenda schedule of meetings, and we're in the first today. Um before getting into the heavy lifting on the uh business tonight, let's consider some uh minutes for approval. So first we've got the October 27 minutes uh from our meeting that day. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? Motion made. Second. Motion made a second in any discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. The ayes have it. And then we also have the minutes for the November 10, 2025 meeting of the finance committee. Is there a motion to approve those minutes? So move. Motion been made. Is it and seconded motion um is there uh discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed, the ayes have it. Um before okay, I would now like to turn also to the uh proposed resolution for the citywide composting program. That's resolution 2025 uh dash 68. I think this will be a short conversation. Uh it's sponsored by councilwoman uh Hamilton Steiner, myself, and Councilwoman Marks. Resolution to authorize the mayor to negotiate and enter into a contract with the composting provide with a composting provider for a citywide composting program, and specifically it would authorize the mayor to negotiate. Well, just what I said, enter enter into the negotiated contract, negotiate and enter into a contract for composting service provider for the city for citywide composting services, including establishment of multiple drop-off location, regular collection services, and community education for any potential drop-off locations propose a non-city property, the mayor designee shall work with the with partner and coordinate with appropriate property owners to establish appropriate partnership agreements. This language is broadly worded, doesn't get specific. I think we could consider Finance Committee members recommending this language to the full council for adoption. This the detail would come in an accompanying budget proposal, which uh I hope later tonight, Councilman Hamilton Steiner can present to us. Um I guess I'd like to open this for conversation with uh committee members. I I'd be willing to recommend adoption of the full council. Um the other point is target to launch implementation on Earth A next April 22nd. Any discussion, committee members? Um Councilman Sweebick. Thank you, Chair Bullock. Yeah, I'm um I'm in favor of um citywide composting. We've been doing composting at our house for years and years and years. And I think um anything that we can do to keep things out of landfills and you know, enhance our yards by composting materials seems like a no-brainer to me. So I'm I'm very much in support of this. Thank you. Thank you. Uh Councilman Baker, any comments or questions? No, I'm I'm in support of this. Um I I would like to hear some discussion on like how we intend to operate it, um, but perhaps that's a little bit too far.