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Record of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting - April 15, 2025: Strategic Plan, Budget, and Economic Development Incentives

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 15, 2025
BodyWinston Salem, North Carolina
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, April 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 58:09

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

I'll call to order the April Finance Committee.

0:07

Welcome everyone here today.

0:10

As usual, we will start with the consent agenda.

0:15

Ms.

0:15

Adams would like see one code or the any other items that you want to move here by chance.

0:23

Move for approval of the balance of the consent agenda.

0:26

Second.

0:26

We have a motion and a second to approve this.

0:30

Oh.

0:31

Could y'all not hear me?

0:32

Excuse me.

0:36

We have pulled C one off the consent agenda.

0:39

We have a motion, a second to prove the difference.

0:41

Now do we vote verbally?

0:44

For the consent.

0:45

All in favor, please say aye.

0:47

Aye.

0:48

Any opposed?

0:49

That is approved.

0:50

I understand we will vote electronically, Adam.

0:52

Yes.

0:53

Will the city clerk please read C1?

0:58

Item C one resolution authorizing the contract with RICO USA for managed screen services, mail delivery and network printing support.

1:08

Ms.

1:08

Adams?

1:09

Yeah, thank you.

1:10

Thanks, Tom.

1:11

Good afternoon.

1:13

As long as I can remember, RICO has been our mail deliverer.

1:18

My 15 years going on 16.

1:21

And uh I notice in the monthly cost that they are slightly higher than Canon.

1:30

Well, and Coco.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

Coco.

1:33

Coeco.

1:34

Coeco.

1:36

But I'm wondering with what we do with RICO that we found over the years.

1:44

I know we gave suggestions over the years, I know I have to previous uh staff as to how we can reduce that cost with that standard for what we do being that we're in a world of technology now.

1:59

You know?

2:01

Everything is basically an email or text or a video or something.

2:07

And I'm just wondering have we done that over the years?

2:12

Can you hear me?

2:13

Yes.

2:14

Uh good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Portem members of council.

2:18

Um answer your question, you know, price-wise.

2:22

Uh we've done a few things.

2:24

This this contract is actually less expensive than one we just entered Arms and exited in December, the overall price.

2:32

Um they have reduced their cost.

2:35

Uh they are they were not the lowest price and the in the responses, but they were the overall best score in terms of the ability to deliver the services.

2:45

I think one reason RICO uh seems to tend to stand out is they have local employees right here in the triad.

2:52

The other contractors tend to, right the other vendors tend to use outside contractors to deliver it.

2:59

Uh the probably the only other vendor that was close in this case, they were coming in with five employees in the print shop, whereas Rico and the others were putting five in there, and we know for a fact because it's two years ago, we had to bump it up to five.

3:13

So I think Rico is is um cost-wise as is valued for the cost.

3:18

Your other question was I think around what have we done over the years to reduce?

3:22

Is there less printing?

3:23

I guess because of the um uh because of the email electronic.

3:27

Um I could actually show you the numbers that the printing hasn't really gone down.

3:32

Uh probably say somewhat steady for the city employees, but the print shop continues to get more and more use.

3:39

Um city budget books, for example, strategic plans.

3:43

So we really haven't reduced our printing overall.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████████26%
Economic Development███████████████████████23%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Procurement and Contracts███████7%
Procedural███████7%
Homelessness████4%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting - April 15, 2025

On April 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM, the Winston-Salem Finance Committee met to discuss the consent agenda, a strategic planning and budget update, and two economic development incentive agreements. The meeting adjourned at 4:58 PM. All four committee members were present: Chair Robert C. Clark, Vice Chair Denise D. Adams, and members Annette Scippio and James Taylor Jr.

Consent Calendar

  • C-1: Resolution Authorizing a Contract with Ricoh USA for Managed Print Services, Mail Delivery, and Network Printer Support – Removed from the consent agenda for discussion. After questions from Mayor Pro Tempore Adams about cost and sustainability, the committee voted unanimously to recommend approval. Referred to City Council on May 5, 2025.
  • C-2: Resolution Approving Prequalification Process and Criteria for Historic Bethabara Construction Projects – Approved unanimously via consent vote. Referred to City Council on May 5, 2025.
  • C-3: Consideration of Items Related to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Ordinances – Approved unanimously via consent vote. Referred to City Council on May 5, 2025.

Discussion Items

  • G-1: Update on Strategic Planning Process and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget – Scott Tesh, Director of Budget and Performance Management, and City Manager Pat presented a draft strategic plan with four focus areas: good government, economic prosperity, community advocacy and engagement, and livable community. The budget update highlighted revenue growth of approximately $8 million (including $2.25M from property tax growth, $3M from electricity sales tax, and conservative 1% sales tax growth) versus over $8 million in personnel expenditure growth. Key challenges include federal and state funding uncertainty, rising vehicle costs (e.g., fire apparatus cost 190% more than in FY12), and the need to cash-finance maintenance and equipment. Proposed policy changes include eliminating two-thirds bonds for maintenance and moving to cash financing for vehicles, saving an estimated $1.5 million over five years. Mayor Pro Tempore Adams requested at least two community budget town halls outside City Hall, a suggestion staff agreed to explore. Council Member Taylor asked for data on ABC sales revenue. The budget calendar: City Manager’s proposal on May 19, workshops on May 22 and 29, public hearing on June 2, and adoption on June 17.
  • G-2: Resolution Authorizing Economic Development Assistance for Project Beaver – Ken Millett, Economic Development Director, presented an incentive package for an international non-woven manufacturer expanding in Winston-Salem. The project will create 28 new jobs at an average wage of $47,321, with a $31 million taxable capital investment over five years. Staff recommended a performance-based incentive of $29,183 (50% of net new property taxes). The company already partners with Forsyth Tech for training. Council Member Taylor asked about clawbacks; Attorney French confirmed that incentives are paid only after property taxes are collected and require a 10-year operating period with proportional repayment if operations cease. The committee unanimously recommended approval. Referred to City Council on April 21, 2025.
  • G-3: Resolution Authorizing Economic Development Assistance for Project Renaissance – Ken Millett presented a second project: a medical supplies manufacturer reshoring production to Winston-Salem, creating 42 new jobs at an average wage of $57,500, with a $15 million taxable capital investment. Staff recommended a performance-based incentive of $153,135 (50% of net new property taxes). The committee unanimously recommended approval. Referred to City Council on April 21, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda (C-2, C-3): Approved unanimously. Referred to City Council on May 5, 2025.
  • Item C-1 (Ricoh USA): Approved unanimously after discussion. Referred to City Council on May 5, 2025.
  • Item G-1 (Strategic Plan & Budget): Received as information only. Staff will consider community budget town halls and provide additional data.
  • Item G-2 (Project Beaver): Approved unanimously. Referred to City Council on April 21, 2025.
  • Item G-3 (Project Renaissance): Approved unanimously. Referred to City Council on April 21, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

I'll call to order the April Finance Committee. Welcome everyone here today. As usual, we will start with the consent agenda. Ms. Adams would like see one code or the any other items that you want to move here by chance. Move for approval of the balance of the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve this. Oh. Could y'all not hear me? Excuse me. We have pulled C one off the consent agenda. We have a motion, a second to prove the difference. Now do we vote verbally? For the consent. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That is approved. I understand we will vote electronically, Adam. Yes. Will the city clerk please read C1? Item C one resolution authorizing the contract with RICO USA for managed screen services, mail delivery and network printing support. Ms. Adams? Yeah, thank you. Thanks, Tom. Good afternoon. As long as I can remember, RICO has been our mail deliverer. My 15 years going on 16. And uh I notice in the monthly cost that they are slightly higher than Canon. Well, and Coco. Okay. Coco. Coeco. Coeco. But I'm wondering with what we do with RICO that we found over the years. I know we gave suggestions over the years, I know I have to previous uh staff as to how we can reduce that cost with that standard for what we do being that we're in a world of technology now. You know? Everything is basically an email or text or a video or something. And I'm just wondering have we done that over the years? Can you hear me? Yes. Uh good afternoon, Mayor, Mayor Portem members of council. Um answer your question, you know, price-wise. Uh we've done a few things. This this contract is actually less expensive than one we just entered Arms and exited in December, the overall price. Um they have reduced their cost. Uh they are they were not the lowest price and the in the responses, but they were the overall best score in terms of the ability to deliver the services. I think one reason RICO uh seems to tend to stand out is they have local employees right here in the triad.

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