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. I I 'I - Council Member Leipzig said he was "definitely opposed to spending any tax payer money on any kind of effort to dilute or filter information to the public." He said people attended meetings, the press covered the meetings, and Minutes were available to anyone, and that was sufficient. Council Member Leipzig said that money could be used for, "parks, police and for important things." He said the Chamber was doing very well in Redwood City with almost 1,000 members, they have taken in non- profits and government and the focus had changed. He said $7,000 or $8,000 "would be useful towards the JVSV project which is strictly in the private sector." He said the City could offer a reasonable amount to join JVSV and it would probably be approved. Council Member Leipzig said the Convention and Visitor's Bureau's was asking for 4% from every City in the County, but he recommended that a slight increase would be appropriate. He said the Bureau was doing a great job, but that Redwood City with only one large hotel did not realize the benefits of the Bureau as other cities that had many hotels. Council Member Claire said he concurred that the Council should have had more detailed information and that was a flaw with a Program Budget. He said he believed - that a Communications Specialist could be helpful and did not see it as a position that would deal with the press, but would assist staff in getting cogent and direct information out to the people across a broad spectrum of issues. Council Member Claire said the City as a whole needed to do a better job communicating with the public about City business, and he would support a Communications Specialist. Council Member Hartnett said he agreed that. "We should not create a position that would be a manager of the media or be a position in which access to or messages from the Council are diluted in some way by having to be filtered through some other person." He said anyone should be able to access staff directly. Council Member Hartnett said, "We need to continue to consider ways to more effectively make known to the citizens the services that are available from the City", and to alert the public to projects and issues in their neighborhoods. He said $45,000 was a reasonable amount to set aside for this effort, and the Council should debate the best use of these funds after the City Manager's recommendations are presented. Council Member Hartnett said that in past years when he was a member of the Chamber's Board he could not participate in decisions, but at this point he was just a member and would be able to participate. He said if the City was serious about partnering with the Chamber and enhancing the business envirOIunent, then it would be wise for the City to invest in that endeavor. Council Member Hartnett said he preferred investment in the Chamber's activities than joining JVSV if the Council had to choose between the two. - Council Member Hartnett said that he would not be deliberating nor voting on any BUDGET STUDY SESSION MINUTE BOOK NO. 57 JUNE29,I998 MINUTES Page No. 013 PAGE 9