CC Min 1998-06-29 Bdgt - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Member Claire advised that Council Members had not received a raise in the last seven years and suggested that the situation be reviewed. He described the numerous committee, board and task force meetings they all attend, the number of hours per week they all devote to Council work and the people of Redwood City, and the extra expenses they incur for which they are not reimbursed. Council Member Claire referred to a letter from Pete Hughes delivered at the Meeting who asked why the City Council Budget was $215,000. He asked that the City Manager respond to Mr. Hughes. MEMO 6/30/98 Vice Mayor Ruskin described the Council support for Shelter Network, but said it was misleading to place it in the City Council Budget, and asked that it be moved to a more appropriate place. Council Member Bain described the funding for Shelter Network from the federally funded CDBG which is a very competitive process. He also asked that the funding for Shelter Network be removed from the Council Budget. Council Member Bain said he would like to have Council Meetings televised on Cable TV. He said he would like to have a Council discussion on that issue in the very near future. MEMO 6/30/98 Council Member Hartnett agreed that Shelter Network funding should be placed in a more appropriate Budget. He said he was not interested in televising Council Meetings during this Budget process if it involved a significant cost to the City. Council Member Hartnett said the priorities set by the Council, specifically Police and Fire, "have real big price tags to them, and we have to be careful that we don't over commit ourselves." He said if the Council debated and agreed that philosophically, televising Council Meetings would be productive, and if it was economical, then he would be interested in that discussion. Council Member Bain said the comprehensive report on this matter by Assistant to the City Manager Moore included costs, and a tape delay broadcast would cost about $9,000 a year. He said the Council had a goal of better communications, and he suggested that the proposed Communications Specialist position be taken out of the City Manager's Budget and that some of that money be used for televising Council Meetings. He said this would be one of the best ways to communicate with the public and get the word out, ur¡[¡ltered. He asked that the Council consider this issue tonight. MEMO 6/30/98 BUDGET STUDY SESSION MINUTE BOOK NO. 57 JUNE 29,1998 MINUTES Page No. 010 PAGE 6