1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:16,640
When you're ready, let me know. Man, yes. Like multiple people were speaking. Including myself. Your webinar has started. Yeah. And it's going on to go live on YouTube, just a minute.

2
00:00:27,870 --> 00:00:40,410
And you're now live on YouTube as well. Okay. Thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our city council meeting on this Tuesday, August 4th.

3
00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:49,110
2026 we've got a very important council meeting tonight it is a public

4
00:00:49,110 --> 00:00:56,030
hearing considering a proposed property tax property tax impact

5
00:00:56,030 --> 00:01:01,870
statement so gentlemen welcome to our city council meeting I shall

6
00:01:01,870 --> 00:01:10,450
10th August 4th, 2026. We've got a very important council meeting tonight, that you're

7
00:01:10,450 --> 00:01:13,030
able to meet as a public hearing.

8
00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,640
That's causing a heart attack. So, so far so good.

9
00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:26,410
Okay. You have it on YouTube right now. I'll pull up my, just a double term.

10
00:01:27,350 --> 00:01:34,050
Okay, are we okay? Okay. Again, welcome to our regular city council meeting to the

11
00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:40,010
August 4th. Very important. Truth and taxation hearing this evening. So welcome everybody.

12
00:01:40,590 --> 00:01:46,790
I've got a couple things before we even start with our roll call. Just some rules,

13
00:01:47,010 --> 00:01:51,770
regulations that tell you what this meeting is all about. So let's hit that first.

14
00:01:52,070 --> 00:01:55,950
So bear with me. I'm going to be reading a little bit here so I don't miss anything.

15
00:01:56,590 --> 00:01:59,870
In accordance with Utah State Code, the city has taxing entity.

16
00:01:59,870 --> 00:02:05,890
must hold a public hearing and ensure that individuals can participate in the hearing either in person or through

17
00:02:05,890 --> 00:02:13,890
virtual means. Individuals can provide oral testimony through video or audio connections and have the opportunity to submit

18
00:02:13,890 --> 00:02:18,070
written comments electronically for inclusion into the public record.

19
00:02:18,670 --> 00:02:25,130
The city posted instructions on how to access this hearing if you are viewing our meeting on your YouTube page

20
00:02:25,130 --> 00:02:27,930
and would like to provide comment at this meeting,

21
00:02:28,070 --> 00:02:28,970
at this public hearing.

22
00:02:29,350 --> 00:02:33,150
Please visit our website or Facebook page

23
00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:34,270
for more instructions.

24
00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:37,090
The hearing when we get to that portion

25
00:02:37,090 --> 00:02:38,310
will proceed as follows.

26
00:02:38,310 --> 00:02:41,490
There will be an introduction to the item by staff.

27
00:02:41,490 --> 00:02:43,570
I will then open that public hearing.

28
00:02:43,890 --> 00:02:46,370
We will take public comment from those participants

29
00:02:46,370 --> 00:02:47,830
in the audience first.

30
00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:51,290
Then any oral comments of participants

31
00:02:51,290 --> 00:02:52,750
in the electronic meeting.

32
00:02:52,750 --> 00:02:59,350
If you would like to make oral comments on the webinar, please hit the raise hand icon

33
00:02:59,830 --> 00:03:05,790
on the lower bar of the Zoom meeting, and Tannen will unmute you when it is your turn to

34
00:03:05,790 --> 00:03:06,210
speak.

35
00:03:06,650 --> 00:03:12,650
Once the oral testimony is completed, any emails or written comments received will be read

36
00:03:12,650 --> 00:03:14,250
into the hearing by our recorder.

37
00:03:15,030 --> 00:03:20,410
After that, any written comments that were received during the hearing via the chat function

38
00:03:20,410 --> 00:03:27,650
on the Zoom link will be read. Please make sure to state your name in the comment before you begin

39
00:03:27,650 --> 00:03:35,770
your comment. Please make sure this is a public hearing to hear and consider comments concerning the

40
00:03:35,770 --> 00:03:43,410
proposed tax increase. Please keep your comments concise to allow for all those wishing to comment

41
00:03:43,410 --> 00:03:50,290
to be heard. As a public hearing, there will not be any back and forth discussion between council

42
00:03:50,290 --> 00:03:56,510
and participants. The hearing is to allow public comment, which the council will consider

43
00:03:56,510 --> 00:04:06,310
before having a final discussion and decision at our August 18th council meeting. So that

44
00:04:06,310 --> 00:04:10,050
covers about everything. Thank you, Amy, for putting that together for us.

45
00:04:12,710 --> 00:04:14,490
That takes care

46
00:04:14,490 --> 00:04:19,390
of all our state requirements and those statements, and I hope you all understand that.

47
00:04:19,390 --> 00:04:24,510
So thank you for being here. Let's get started. I don't number one on tonight's

48
00:04:27,010 --> 00:04:33,270
agenda. Amy, come to the microphone. Roll call please. Mayor Allen. Here.

49
00:04:33,610 --> 00:04:37,210
Council Member Davidson. Here. Council Member Distan. Here. Council Member Parkinson.

50
00:04:37,650 --> 00:04:42,470
Here. Council Member West. Here. Council Member Taz. Here. Okay. Thank you, Amy and thank you.

51
00:04:42,530 --> 00:04:47,050
We have every council member with us tonight at this very important meeting. Thank you very much.

52
00:04:47,050 --> 00:04:52,070
Item number two is Pledge of Allegiance. If you'll all rise, repeat the pledge with me please.

53
00:04:55,340 --> 00:05:02,840
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands,

54
00:05:03,420 --> 00:05:08,200
for one nation, among or other, individual with liberty and justice for all.

55
00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:20,380
Thank you very much for that Pledge of Allegiance. Again, I welcome all that are in the audience today on Facebook,

56
00:05:20,380 --> 00:05:35,020
work on YouTube channel. Wherever you're listening tonight, welcome. Welcome. I hope we have a good, good crowd out there on the internet. Again, welcome all of you.

57
00:05:35,420 --> 00:05:43,200
Let's go to our consent items. We have one consent items, 4.1 approval of tonight's agenda. Any changes to that agenda?

58
00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,660
No changes, Mayor. No changes, Council.

59
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,140
Anybody opposed to approving the agenda for tonight?

60
00:05:51,740 --> 00:05:56,980
Seeing no opposition, we'll prove that by general consent. Thank you, Council. Thank you, staff.

61
00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:04,060
Let's move to item number five. The most important part of our meeting tonight is a special order.

62
00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,660
A special order is a public hearing.

63
00:06:08,660 --> 00:06:17,960
So we will go right into that public hearing, as I said before, this will begin, I will introduce the item.

64
00:06:18,660 --> 00:06:23,340
We will have a staff applicant or staff presentation.

65
00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:26,100
We'll have any questions by the City Council.

66
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:35,260
We will open the public hearing and then we'll have citizen input, then I will close the public hearing portion

67
00:06:35,260 --> 00:06:39,440
and it'll go back to our City Council for final discussion.

68
00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:49,500
So at this time, we'll have a short presentation on the proposed property tax impact statement.

69
00:06:49,940 --> 00:06:57,160
Thank you, Mayor. In accordance with state regulations, I'll read now the property tax impact statement.

70
00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:03,940
Washington, Washington City, Utah, 2026 proposed property tax impact schedule.

71
00:07:04,840 --> 00:07:16,420
Washington City will consider an increase in its property tax rate from 0.001590 to 0.001697

72
00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,580
to generate an additional $98,100.

73
00:07:20,580 --> 00:07:27,280
dollars. The following information is intended to provide decision makers and the public with

74
00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:32,840
an explanation of how the city's operations would be affected if the proposed property tax

75
00:07:33,490 --> 00:07:44,200
increase is adopted. Washington Terrace City's 2026 Certified Property Tax Rate 0.001590

76
00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:59,460
The city's 2026 certified property tax revenue $1,458,777.

77
00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:10,540
Proposed property tax revenue with tax change $1,556,877.

78
00:08:10,540 --> 00:08:19,880
proposed property tax rate with change 0.001697 new property tax revenue to

79
00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:26,300
Washington Terrace City $98,100. Estimated increase to

80
00:08:26,300 --> 00:08:34,560
Washington Terrace property tax rate 6.7%. Estimated annual increase to primary

81
00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:54,400
The very residents of $430,699 is $25.33 annually estimated annual increase to businesses valued at $430,699 is $46.05.

82
00:08:54,400 --> 00:09:14,400
Affected department, police, proposed budget, $1,300,000, $314.00, budget without tax changed, $1,200,000, $2,214.00, budget changed, $98,100.00.

83
00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:24,600
The impact of tax increase to fund contractual increases for law enforcement services entered into with Weber County Sheriff's Office.

84
00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:40,560
Those postings are in two locations tonight, one along with the county record of information as well as our proposed property and ex-chedule.

85
00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:49,020
And thank you. And on the table, if anyone would like to pick up a printed version of that, thank you Amy.

86
00:09:49,580 --> 00:09:55,760
They're also available on our website and very, very easy to find.

87
00:09:58,390 --> 00:09:59,830
Thank you very much Tom.

88
00:10:01,950 --> 00:10:06,410
Sheree, do you like to add anything tonight? Finance director, okay?

89
00:10:06,810 --> 00:10:13,050
Thank you very much Sheree. I appreciate all your work on this along with Tom and department heads

90
00:10:13,050 --> 00:10:17,510
and a lot of people putting this budget together as always.

91
00:10:17,770 --> 00:10:19,530
So thank you for all of your hard work.

92
00:10:19,790 --> 00:10:21,190
Thank you for that presentation.

93
00:10:21,590 --> 00:10:27,590
This time we'll go into the, again, human poor presentation of the impact state, but

94
00:10:27,590 --> 00:10:31,110
there is a presentation to identify it.

95
00:10:31,670 --> 00:10:32,670
So I've got more to add.

96
00:10:33,370 --> 00:10:33,610
Okay.

97
00:10:34,470 --> 00:10:34,690
Okay.

98
00:10:35,250 --> 00:10:35,690
Okay.

99
00:10:36,230 --> 00:10:42,170
So where's the presentation for the proposed property tax impact statement?

100
00:10:42,170 --> 00:10:48,670
We'll go down to the 5.2 public hearing and we'll go I got to finish the presentation.

101
00:10:49,570 --> 00:10:56,130
I've got I've got more to do. I just read the state that I needed to read and then I

102
00:10:56,130 --> 00:11:05,710
go into the presentation. Okay, so, so, okay, so, forgive me, we're forgiven. Thank you.

103
00:11:06,490 --> 00:11:12,090
Okay. Okay, this evening for those of you who are here for the town hall

104
00:11:12,090 --> 00:11:18,230
meeting, you will find this very familiar. You met through those who may be online or

105
00:11:18,230 --> 00:11:25,570
not have been here from the town hall. This public hearing is for a tax increase of $20

106
00:11:25,570 --> 00:11:36,130
to $5.33 annually for $2.11 a month, for a home value of $430,699.

107
00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:42,830
dollars. Now taxes and tax revenue are based on the city determining what they need to

108
00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:53,510
operate a city. And in this case we are indicating that we need some more funding to take

109
00:11:53,510 --> 00:12:00,210
care of our contractual obligation for share of operations. But we need to understand where

110
00:12:00,210 --> 00:12:05,630
property tax comes from. And basically it comes from all of the residents, all of the businesses,

111
00:12:05,630 --> 00:12:08,710
is people in and around the city who own property.

112
00:12:09,550 --> 00:12:14,850
And in this case, property tax is divided based on just

113
00:12:14,850 --> 00:12:15,770
their share.

114
00:12:16,090 --> 00:12:20,110
Their share of the pie and what each home or each business

115
00:12:20,110 --> 00:12:25,210
or entity is required to bring to the table.

116
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,820
Taxes are based on home value.

117
00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,760
It goes right down to the primary residence

118
00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,860
in this scenario, in this discussion.

119
00:12:36,860 --> 00:12:39,740
and we'll just kind of describe it as a primary resident.

120
00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:47,560
As a primary resident, those properties have a evaluation

121
00:12:48,060 --> 00:12:55,140
that you take the value of the home times at 0.5.5 to come

122
00:12:55,140 --> 00:12:57,600
up with the discount rate for property tax.

123
00:12:58,780 --> 00:13:01,700
Each property is then taxed accordingly.

124
00:13:02,380 --> 00:13:04,580
So in this slide, there's a slide here

125
00:13:04,580 --> 00:13:11,200
that shows that the whole value of the, you know, in the slide is a million dollars,

126
00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:17,780
the total property tax collected is $10,000 and so the city would then, based on what

127
00:13:17,780 --> 00:13:25,380
they need, receive $10,000. Now let's take a look at what happens if home values go up.

128
00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:32,340
So if all of those home values go up this next year, there are some who assume that property

129
00:13:32,340 --> 00:13:41,100
tax would also go on but by state statue we're not allowed to as a city or county or taxing

130
00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:48,320
entity be able to be able to benefit from the windfall of a rising market. We have an

131
00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:54,340
obligation to to come up with with the revenues that we need in another way so when somebody

132
00:13:54,340 --> 00:14:00,800
looks at my property value went up it may or may not mean you have a property tax increase

133
00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:10,020
but the pool stays the same. Our revenue has to stay the same at that $10,000 as shown on the slide.

134
00:14:11,420 --> 00:14:16,880
But what if some houses go up and some houses go down in value?

135
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:26,480
The pool of $10,000 remains equal, remains level. But within that pool there are ups and downs.

136
00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:34,060
So, some people may have a property tax increase, well an increase in their requirement

137
00:14:34,060 --> 00:14:40,980
for taxes, but the actual increase in a mathematical formula didn't change.

138
00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:48,740
The city's pool has to remain the same at the $10,000, regardless of what's going on in

139
00:14:48,740 --> 00:14:49,200
the market.

140
00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:59,740
Yet, however, if a city needs to raise more money or to capture more for the, for the

141
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:29,120
General fund operations of the city, we rely on a couple of options to be able to receive that revenue. One of them is new growth. If there's new homes that go into the neighborhoods, if there's new businesses, if there's any taxing entity or any taxing property that goes in, that new growth comes to help and support city operations. And we've been fortunate with some new growth. However, inflation

142
00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:36,620
and new growth is not keeping up with the requirements for the ongoing revenue requirements

143
00:15:36,620 --> 00:15:41,820
to help with sheriff operations. So we have another option that the state has made available

144
00:15:41,820 --> 00:15:47,500
which is Truth and Taxation and that's why we're here tonight. Truth and Taxation allows

145
00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:55,340
us to make the pie bigger and receive more funding through public noticing, public hearings

146
00:15:55,340 --> 00:16:03,500
disclosure of the percentage and the purpose of the TNT process and not tonight but at our

147
00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:10,720
next meeting, a council opportunity to vote on whether or not they would support the taxing proposal.

148
00:16:12,180 --> 00:16:15,740
So truth and taxation is what we're doing tonight, what we're going through.

149
00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,840
Now the impact, I know that we read this in the statement, but we want to make it

150
00:16:21,660 --> 00:16:31,780
abundantly clear. The current rate is 0.001590. The proposed rate is 0.001697. So there's a little

151
00:16:31,780 --> 00:16:38,360
change there of the 6.0 not rounded, 6.73. So it's 6.7. So there would be a modest increase,

152
00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:48,180
which means to the taxpayer, primary resident who receives the discount rate of $430,000, your annual

153
00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:51,800
annual increase would be $25.33.

154
00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:57,920
Based value of $436.99 for a business is $46.05

155
00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:04,220
because they don't receive the discount rate of the 55%.

156
00:17:04,220 --> 00:17:13,600
Taxable value then, $430,699 times 0.55 of your $236.

157
00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,920
just for a mathematical G.S.

158
00:17:18,220 --> 00:17:20,300
Where is it going? It's going to law enforcement.

159
00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:27,260
We have a contractual obligation to support law enforcement services for our contractor

160
00:17:27,260 --> 00:17:29,420
provider of Weaver County Sheriff.

161
00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:36,440
This obligation and this opportunity helps to support the increase in

162
00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:42,160
level of service, take care of recruitment and retention of which the Sheriff's Office

163
00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:46,060
and therefore we have been struggling with for a few years now.

164
00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:53,180
So this combined effort will actually increase the staffing level for all contract cities

165
00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:54,660
by ten personnel.

166
00:17:55,380 --> 00:18:02,820
The obligation for those opportunities will land on the new employees that are coming on and

167
00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:08,700
that have been able to be successfully recruited to support law enforcement services throughout the city.

168
00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:32,800
So, this is going directly to support officers, whether it's anything from investigations to the drone programs to enhance patrols and all of the areas that go into providing law enforcement.

169
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,220
enforcement services, even when you, okay.

170
00:18:38,020 --> 00:18:54,060
So bottom line, it will increase from 98,000 to 98,000 total tax revenue that the city would be receiving for law enforcement to support that contractual obligation is 98,000, $100.

171
00:18:55,420 --> 00:18:57,800
Thank you. Now, that's all I have on the presentation.

172
00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:04,980
Okay, thank you Tom very much. Okay, so we have the introduction of our item. We have

173
00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:13,920
presentation of proposed tax impact statement. We also had a presentation from Tom explaining

174
00:19:14,460 --> 00:19:21,380
the reason for the tax increase. I appreciate that very much. At this time, I will turn it over

175
00:19:21,380 --> 00:19:27,220
to our city council and open it up for any questions by our city council.

176
00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:35,040
So Council has reviewed this many times, heard it many times and I don't know if there

177
00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,980
will be many questions at all, but that's not unusual.

178
00:19:39,340 --> 00:19:40,500
So, any questions, Council?

179
00:19:41,860 --> 00:19:42,040
Okay.

180
00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:44,720
You've heard enough of it.

181
00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:52,380
We start this back in November and we work on it, we work on it, we work on it, so it's

182
00:19:52,380 --> 00:19:54,740
very clear to this Council that we're doing.

183
00:19:54,740 --> 00:19:59,440
I think so. Thank you, Council Fall, and your hard work on this. Would you like me to read the impact statement again?

184
00:20:00,700 --> 00:20:04,400
No, let's take that as a note. How many times have we read that?

185
00:20:05,340 --> 00:20:12,900
It is very important. Tom, could you clarify one more time, the increase of 10 officers, that is not 10 officers to our city.

186
00:20:13,060 --> 00:20:17,040
That's 10 officers to the contract cities and how many cities is that?

187
00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:31,260
to all of the contract entities that are in that pool, so it'll add 10 officers in various assignments to that entire pool, which is Washington,

188
00:20:31,260 --> 00:20:36,840
in Terrace, West Haven, Far West, Plain City,

189
00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,080
unacorporated Weaver County,

190
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:43,840
Hubbard, Ogden Valley City.

191
00:20:45,190 --> 00:20:45,820
I'm missing it.

192
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:46,800
You went up.

193
00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:47,600
You went up?

194
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:48,500
Thank you.

195
00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,080
And those cities, so all those cities share

196
00:20:52,770 --> 00:20:55,720
the combined resources that are available

197
00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:57,500
to come out and help us in an event.

198
00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,800
A good example of that event was our fire,

199
00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:07,520
where we had, essentially, all of the, we

200
00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:20,560
had the majority of the lion's share of all officers in Waver County in Washington Terrace that night, much greater presence than if we were to try to do it on our own.

201
00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:25,480
We had every available officer and we had officers from throughout the area.

202
00:21:25,660 --> 00:21:34,280
We had 98, excuse me, 48 law enforcement vehicles here for that fire event.

203
00:21:34,740 --> 00:21:43,100
And we had basically around the same four fire operation vehicles of 48 who come with people in those vehicles,

204
00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:45,240
whether it's a multiple or just one.

205
00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:54,940
So we had an amazing support for our fire and so this contract and staying with this contract with with Weber County is is in our best interest.

206
00:21:56,470 --> 00:22:03,670
Thank you for clarifying that we understand that it's 10 for the contract cities of the cities. Thank you.

207
00:22:03,730 --> 00:22:04,410
Okay.

208
00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:10,670
Okay. Thank you, Chair. All right. Let's move on then. At this time, ladies and

209
00:22:10,670 --> 00:22:19,570
gentlemen, we, I will turn it over to, I will open the public hearing portion. At

210
00:22:19,570 --> 00:22:24,490
this time, we would like to hear public comment from those participants that are

211
00:22:24,490 --> 00:22:29,270
in the audience first. Those that are made especially have to come. We'll ask them

212
00:22:29,270 --> 00:22:33,830
first if they would like to come forward. We actually come forward at least

213
00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:39,610
state your name and please no longer than three minutes, okay? Time is yours.

214
00:22:45,910 --> 00:22:54,370
It's Kathleen Kramer and I find it sad that more people don't come to public hearings

215
00:22:54,370 --> 00:23:04,310
and participate, but everyone I talk to, like it was pointless because they know what you'll do anyway.

216
00:23:04,310 --> 00:23:17,150
My question to you would be if you knew you needed the 98, however many thousand for the sheriff and I think they do an excellent job.

217
00:23:17,710 --> 00:23:28,450
Why would you vote to spend 30,000 on the flop cameras that we didn't need and we maybe could have put off?

218
00:23:29,170 --> 00:23:36,150
I don't understand how you budget that way, that is my comment.

219
00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:39,300
Thank you very much.

220
00:23:41,620 --> 00:23:42,380
Anybody else?

221
00:23:44,750 --> 00:23:45,010
Okay.

222
00:23:45,690 --> 00:23:46,590
Thank you, audience.

223
00:23:46,930 --> 00:23:48,270
Thank you for coming in person.

224
00:23:49,170 --> 00:23:51,410
That's how public hearings used to be.

225
00:23:51,510 --> 00:23:52,270
It was all in person.

226
00:23:52,450 --> 00:23:55,290
Now we open it up to the universe.

227
00:23:55,330 --> 00:23:55,950
It seems like.

228
00:23:56,090 --> 00:23:59,470
And so this is our first time really with all these new state requirements.

229
00:23:59,610 --> 00:24:00,410
So we're going to do our best.

230
00:24:00,410 --> 00:24:06,170
OK, now we're going to turn it over to any oral arguments of participants on the electronic meeting.

231
00:24:06,750 --> 00:24:14,470
If you would like to make oral comments on the webinar, please hit the raise and icon.

232
00:24:15,170 --> 00:24:18,910
And we will have our specialist watching for that.

233
00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:21,100
Anything.

234
00:24:21,620 --> 00:24:24,600
We currently have no one who's communicating they wish to speak.

235
00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,400
OK, that will put us in.

236
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:35,800
We'll go from there, and we'll go to any emails or written comments received.

237
00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:37,180
We'll be read at this time.

238
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:42,720
Okay, so Amy will read those that she has received today or okay.

239
00:24:42,940 --> 00:24:43,120
Great.

240
00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:44,440
So we received two.

241
00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:50,680
So the first one is from Trina Held, I'll just read the whole email and it'll be added to

242
00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:51,900
our minutes as part of the record.

243
00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:57,400
To serve them, I wish to state my opposition to the use of the proposed text, augmentation

244
00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,400
to fund increased policing.

245
00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,520
Investigation into city statistics indicates

246
00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,760
that the city currently experiences only about 10 crimes

247
00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:08,840
per year that require concerted police effort.

248
00:25:09,420 --> 00:25:14,720
With the current outlay of 1.2 million per annual,

249
00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:18,200
I believe law enforcement is more than sufficiently funded.

250
00:25:18,580 --> 00:25:19,760
They are doing a great job.

251
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,000
There are many other public services in need of this money.

252
00:25:23,220 --> 00:25:26,140
Programs that are more urgent and I feel would be more

253
00:25:26,140 --> 00:25:32,780
beneficial to city residents. The proposed approximate 100,000 could keep the

254
00:25:32,780 --> 00:25:37,460
vitally needed senior center of float. It could pay for school lunches for our

255
00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:41,860
children. The money might be used to prepare fire breaks and increased fire

256
00:25:41,860 --> 00:25:46,460
fighter ranks to combat the currently very real fire dangers we are facing in

257
00:25:46,460 --> 00:25:51,940
these dry summer. In this dry summer, the list continues. Please be responsible

258
00:25:51,940 --> 00:25:57,300
of our city funds and choose to finance public services that are currently lagging.

259
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:02,740
We are pleased very efficiently now. Please use any new money to actually increase

260
00:26:02,740 --> 00:26:07,080
the well-being of our residents. The current plan does not do that. Respectfully,

261
00:26:07,260 --> 00:26:10,780
train the health of Washington, Ontario, to our resident for 26 years.

262
00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:13,820
Okay. Thank you, Amy. Thank you, Theresa.

263
00:26:14,540 --> 00:26:20,940
Okay. The next email that I received is from Catherine Health and it says to whom it may concern.

264
00:26:20,940 --> 00:26:23,680
I vote no on the proposed tax increase.

265
00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,760
Washington Terrace is a peaceful and very safe city.

266
00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:31,100
1.2 million per year is more than sufficient for policing requirements.

267
00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:36,140
The biggest threat curse currently facing Washington Terrace is wildfires, not crime.

268
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,620
I believe those funds could be better used to fund our fire department.

269
00:26:42,220 --> 00:26:47,060
With the Adams fire taking the life of one of our elderly residents, the priority is clear.

270
00:26:47,060 --> 00:26:50,620
I would be admirable to this discussion in the future.

271
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:53,460
However, now is not the time for increased policing.

272
00:26:53,820 --> 00:26:58,040
It is time to protect citizens against a very real and current threat in file fires,

273
00:26:58,280 --> 00:26:59,540
sincerely kept in health.

274
00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:00,940
All right.

275
00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:02,980
Thank you, Catherine.

276
00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,940
And thank you, Amy, for speaking on behalf of those two young ladies.

277
00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:08,720
Appreciate that.

278
00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:11,940
Okay, so you're not receiving the others.

279
00:27:12,220 --> 00:27:12,340
Okay.

280
00:27:12,340 --> 00:27:18,340
Okay. Now after any written comments, we'll receive written

281
00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:24,720
comments. Now we go to any

282
00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:29,780
written comments that we received during the hearing via the chat function on the Zoom

283
00:27:29,780 --> 00:27:31,020
link. We'll be read.

284
00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,640
We have received no written comments via the chat on Zoom.

285
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:41,480
Okay. All right. Then we've taken care of those responsibilities. It brings us back

286
00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:51,830
to our audience here, if anybody would like to come up, okay? Great. Thank you.

287
00:27:52,710 --> 00:27:57,670
Hi, my name is Jerry Kennedy. I just want to say I don't really support this increase as

288
00:27:58,290 --> 00:28:03,430
similar to other residents. I think we could focus more on fire department and also modernization

289
00:28:03,430 --> 00:28:09,370
of our water and sewer systems. I think that would be a much better use of this tax money, but

290
00:28:09,370 --> 00:28:13,250
That is just my opinion. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Jerry

291
00:28:14,350 --> 00:28:16,670
Appreciate that anybody else

292
00:28:18,670 --> 00:28:22,530
Okay, we will now thank you very much

293
00:28:23,450 --> 00:28:29,810
We'll now close the public hearing portion of this of this public hearing the truth of taxation hearing

294
00:28:29,810 --> 00:28:35,770
We'll now give it back to the council for any final discussion council

295
00:28:38,710 --> 00:28:46,470
Thank you, Tom. I did a great job explaining that one more time. And the two comments that

296
00:28:46,470 --> 00:28:55,370
came in obviously that came before your presentation. To my understanding, the proposed tax

297
00:28:55,370 --> 00:29:02,510
increase is not to increase policing. It's to keep the policing we already have. It's just

298
00:29:02,510 --> 00:29:11,120
they increase their charge where 98k short that's the reason in general in

299
00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,880
simple words we're doing this tax increase not to increase police

300
00:29:18,310 --> 00:29:19,630
it actually adds

301
00:29:19,630 --> 00:29:25,390
10 officers right but it's it's not our choice they gave us the quote and we

302
00:29:25,390 --> 00:29:32,050
have to meet that and we have if we want to keep their service yes but let's

303
00:29:32,050 --> 00:29:38,710
remember that we have to contribute 98,000 to that pool. Every other city may be doing

304
00:29:38,710 --> 00:29:45,130
the same thing in our pool, increasing to pay for those additional officers. So we're

305
00:29:45,130 --> 00:29:50,650
not the only one paying more this year for our contract. Every contract city is paying

306
00:29:50,650 --> 00:29:57,050
a little bit more because you're not going to get to new officers with $98,000. But when

307
00:29:57,050 --> 00:29:58,870
and you have 15 other communities.

308
00:30:00,050 --> 00:30:30,030
Contributing into that pool, then you can get those 10 officers for the pool. That's right. So, so we really are kind of increasing, but we are just continuing to keep up with our contract. Right. And our options are either to have our own police force, which cost about three to five million dollars. We go along and keep their service and, you know, meet their new quote or find another service provider.

309
00:30:30,030 --> 00:30:36,170
which we tried and I think we got one quote and that was like almost double we we got a quote for two million

310
00:30:36,170 --> 00:30:41,630
They said thank you very much, but no and then we got another quote from another city that said

311
00:30:41,630 --> 00:30:46,430
We're not gonna give you number and you have a good thing as it is and no, thank you

312
00:30:46,430 --> 00:30:51,070
And then another one we reached out to they said they did not prepare a quote for a response right?

313
00:30:51,070 --> 00:30:57,210
I just wanted to clarify that the last person who's in support of tax increase, but this is

314
00:30:57,210 --> 00:31:04,150
what we were coded, and at this point this is kind of our only option, only reasonable option.

315
00:31:04,610 --> 00:31:04,930
Good point.

316
00:31:05,610 --> 00:31:05,730
Yeah.

317
00:31:06,050 --> 00:31:06,610
That's a hard point.

318
00:31:06,950 --> 00:31:07,330
Thank you, Z.

319
00:31:08,130 --> 00:31:09,070
Councilor, who else?

320
00:31:09,530 --> 00:31:11,310
I'm going to just call in a punzy.

321
00:31:11,370 --> 00:31:17,470
I think it's fair to say that you've done your due diligence for us to explore all the options.

322
00:31:18,130 --> 00:31:22,550
And this is the most viable for our community and for the contract cities.

323
00:31:22,550 --> 00:31:23,650
Jeff,

324
00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:32,900
and in those comments we also had some recommendations that maybe funds were allocated

325
00:31:32,900 --> 00:31:42,380
to other things. We are not asking to increase taxes to augment any other services. There's

326
00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:51,420
only for the contract with our law enforcement. So we hear that, that yes, we, you know,

327
00:31:51,420 --> 00:31:58,560
the mentioned seniors and other public services and infrastructure and so forth, we are not

328
00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:06,160
raising taxes to do that. We are doing the best we can with the funds that we have, and

329
00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:13,230
we're in decent shape there. The city is not falling apart, the infrastructure.

330
00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:26,400
Okay.

331
00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:33,980
identify precisely what our truth and taxation cause an effect is.

332
00:32:35,100 --> 00:32:43,480
So this is the only item that is available or then identified as the recipient of the

333
00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:44,280
TNT process.

334
00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:50,080
So we actually have a structural requirement to state it, public announce it,

335
00:32:56,380 --> 00:32:56,380
publicly

336
00:32:56,380 --> 00:33:02,900
what we're doing. So we are bound by those requirements by statute to identify those specifically.

337
00:33:06,910 --> 00:33:14,110
Okay. Council thank you very much. Thank you very much. At this time I'd like to complete this

338
00:33:14,110 --> 00:33:19,250
special order and to remind people. Yes.

339
00:33:22,940 --> 00:33:26,560
Right. Okay. Oh, I have to be doing that section. Okay.

340
00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:31,560
Okay. Before I close that public hearing, you have to make one announcement. Yes.

341
00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:36,300
No action will be taken tonight on the final budget.

342
00:33:36,620 --> 00:33:38,820
Council will consider the public comments heard tonight.

343
00:33:39,420 --> 00:33:42,720
There will be a council meeting on August 18th at 6 p.m.

344
00:33:43,020 --> 00:33:48,320
Here at City Hall for a final discussion and decision on the final budget.

345
00:33:49,060 --> 00:33:49,680
Thank you.

346
00:33:50,460 --> 00:33:51,920
Okay, we got that in there.

347
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:52,980
Okay, great.

348
00:33:54,740 --> 00:33:59,540
Okay, looks like I got a thumbs up from Amy, so looks like we covered everything.

349
00:33:59,540 --> 00:34:09,420
We need to cover, according to state mandates, and so we thank you all, we'll close this special order section, and

350
00:34:10,020 --> 00:34:16,860
Section five, and we'll go on to item number six. We'll entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion to adjourn.

351
00:34:17,420 --> 00:34:18,060
Well, second.

352
00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:20,680
Yeah, a motion to adjourn. All in favor say aye.

353
00:34:21,020 --> 00:34:21,240
Aye.

354
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:23,000
Thank you very much.

355
00:34:23,780 --> 00:34:28,160
Appreciate you all. Council, thank you. Thank you for participating in the audience tonight.

356
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:30,140
Thank you for coming over.