As the long days of summer start getting shorter, the City staff is busy preparing the preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 biennium.  The budget is a financial expression of the City’s priorities for delivery of a variety of public services.  It funds programs and activities designed to protect public safety and security, to provide for quality development and environmental preservation, and to construct and preserve City streets, public landscaping, parks, and municipal facilities, as well as provide quality of life services for our citizens.  The preliminary budget will be prepared and available for City Council and citizen review in October.  In November, there will be a series of Council study sessions and public hearings to examine the budget in detail.  The final budget adoption is planned for December.  The development of the next biennial budget may prove to be a significant challenge with the fiscal uncertainties of the future. 

 

A significant component of the budget is the incorporation of the City’s 2011-2017 Capital Facilities Plan (CFP).  The CFP process started in March and culminated with the Council’s adoption of the plan on July 6^th. The CFP committee (consisting of councilmembers, planning commissioners and city staff) reviewed 69 proposed projects, and finally identified 42 projects for inclusion in the CFP.  In particular, the first two years of the CFP are intended to provide the capital expenditure framework for the City’s biennial budget.

 

The city recently celebrated its own version of the show “Extreme Makeover” with the rededication of Library Park on July 21^st.  The park has had an “extreme makeover” in the past several months.  A new playground structure has been installed along with new landscaping throughout the park.  In addition, the city’s new Veterans Monument was constructed in the park.  We invite you to stop by the park with your family to visit.

 

We are delighted to welcome Laura Orlando to the City team as our new Human Resources Manager.  Laura is joining us from the Seattle Children’s Hospital where she held a similar position.  Additionally, we welcome our newest police officer to the city, April Jensen.

 

As the summer comes to an end, I realized I just completed my 3^rd year as your City Manager.  I continue to be thrilled to serve this wonderful community, and to work with a most gifted staff and Council who clearly support the mission to make our citizens’ lives safer, healthier, and livable. 

 

I hope to see you around the city.

Tim Burns

July 2010