Measure U Community Advisory Committee Special Meeting - May 2, 2022

The Measure U Community Advisory Committee held a special teleconference meeting on May 2, 2022, from 6:02 p.m. to 8:10 p.m. to review the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 Measure U budget and develop recommendations for the City Council. The budget presentation highlighted $135.8 million in revenues and $135 million in expenditures, including 863.6 full-time equivalents (FTEs). Key discussions centered on homelessness funding, performance metrics, participatory budgeting, and the need for clearer council priorities. The committee voted 12-1 to approve budget recommendations and authorized the Spending Oversight and Budget Development Ad Hoc Committee to finalize them. A separate motion to recommend $5.5 million for participatory budgeting (with at least $500,000 for implementation) passed with one dissenting vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barry Boyd (twice) questioned the transparency of FTE funding and expressed concern about a minimum wage position being cut to fund the Crocker Art Museum director’s salary (staff later clarified it was a technical realignment). He also asked about digital equity program costs, including software, training, and Wi-Fi. He urged a substantial increase in participatory budgeting funding, citing Seattle’s $30 million investment.
• Kendrick argued that the budget does not reflect the community’s priority on homelessness, noting that the one-time $8.3 million for homeless services is insufficient. He also questioned the lack of breakdown of program costs and whether the city manager’s office tracks total program costs beyond labor.
• PJ called for a yearly summary of individual council members’ priorities to improve accountability, and recommended at least $500,000 per neighborhood for participatory budgeting, ideally $1 million per neighborhood, to address historic disinvestment.

Discussion Items

1. Overview of FY2022/23 Measure U Proposed Budget (File ID: 2022-00900)

• Staff (Mirthala Santizo, Budget Manager) presented the proposed budget, noting it is a “status quo” budget with net-zero changes except for council-directed increases. Highlights included:
  • $8.3 million one-time for community response homelessness services (sheltering and non-sheltering).
  • $1.4 million for the Fire Department’s D.O.O.R. diversity outreach program (year 2).
  • 2.2 new FTEs in community development (offset by increased revenues).
  • Reduction of 1.25 FTEs in convention and cultural services (funding reallocated to Crocker Art Museum lease).
  • Staffing realignments in youth, parks, and community enrichment.
• Committee members raised several questions:
  • Member Sala asked about digital equity funding (a $250,000 miscellaneous item); staff said it supports internet access, devices, and training, and is an existing program moved from general fund.
  • Chair Cofer requested clarification on the “net zero” characterization, noting significant revenue increases from $108 million to $135.8 million. Staff explained that net zero refers to new discretionary changes, not baseline increases.
  • Member Riviera asked for a breakdown of the $25.6 million community investment category between staff costs and project funds; staff promised to provide details.
  • Member Dickinson questioned the one-time nature of homeless funding given the ongoing need; staff cited forecast deficits and uncertainty about future state/federal funding.
  • Member Creswell requested a split between direct homeless services and enforcement costs within the $24.2 million community response budget; staff agreed to follow up.
  • Member Oto-Kent noted similar descriptions in community investment and youth parks categories; staff explained they were broken out by department.
  • Chair Cofer and Member Dickinson pressed for performance metrics and a clear list of council priorities; staff acknowledged no single priority document exists, and the budget is built from prior year approvals.
• The item was received and filed.

2. Approval of Recommendations Regarding FY2022/23 Proposed Budget (File ID: 2022-00936)

• The committee discussed budget recommendations based on priorities adopted at the April 18 meeting.
• Member Dickinson called for a clear statement of council priorities and performance metrics as overarching principles.
• Member Lujan (and others) advocated for increasing participatory budgeting (PB) funding from the current $1 million (plus $225,000 implementation) to $5.5 million total (with $500,000 for implementation). Concerns were raised about voting on a specific dollar amount without seeing the full budget picture, but the motion passed.
• Vice Chair Williams urged a doubling of violence prevention funding (currently $1.4 million) and emphasized community-led strategies, not police-led.
• Member Riviera asked to include “transparency” in the metrics language.
• A motion to approve the overall recommendations and authorize the Ad Hoc Committee to finalize them passed 12-1 (Member Thomas dissenting). Members absent: Creswell, Perez, Pray (though minutes list Perez and Pray as voting yes, creating a discrepancy).

Key Outcomes

• Motion 1 (Item 2): Passed 12-1 to approve the recommendations regarding the FY2022/23 proposed budget and authorize the Spending Oversight and Budget Development Ad Hoc Committee to finalize and forward them to the Budget and Audit Committee. Member Thomas voted no; Members Creswell, Perez, and Pray were absent (noted discrepancy in minutes vs. transcript regarding Perez and Pray’s vote).
• Motion 2 (Participatory Budgeting): Passed (majority) to recommend $5.5 million for participatory budgeting, with at least $500,000 for implementation. Member Thomas voted no; Member Lujan voted yes.
• The Ad Hoc Committee will prepare a detailed budget response with line-item adjustments and justifications, to be presented at the next regular committee meeting on May 16, 2022.
• Staff will provide additional information on: breakdown of community investment costs, digital equity program details, FTE funding offsets, and performance metrics for city programs. The city manager’s office will share ARPA-related outcome data in the fall of 2022.