ORDER-2021-84 : A request for an update on the Mayor’s Free Cash Distribution Plan for Fiscal Year 2021

Transcript (~4 min @ 49:20)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 49:19 Jeff McNaught: 11 yes. The motion passes. Thank you very much. Mr. Prendergast, Mr. Webb for your attendance and presentation tonight. We appreciate it.

▶ 49:32 Jeff McNaught: Thank you next. We have order 2021 dash 84, a request for an update on the mayor's free cash distribution plan for a fiscal year 2021. This is presented by counselors, Grigoraitis and.

▶ 50:03 Leila Migliorelli: Mr chairman yes, go ahead. Thank you. So, my understanding is that the administration is not available to us. tonight to review the memo that they had provided and answer our questions. As such, I'll be making a motion to hold in committee until they're prepared to come before us. But first, just wanted to speak on the matter of the order itself on behalf of me and my co-filers, Councilors Grigoraitis and Jamaleddine. The impetus for filing this order is to provide fiscal transparency to the public. The City has one-time funds available to use this year in the amount of 5M dollars in free cash. We have already seen a handful of orders come before us, but I'm reluctant to approve more expenditures without an overarching plan for how this unique pool of money will be distributed. The memo that was provided to the Council on Wednesday described a free cash plan that looks similar to what has happened in years past with a few exceptions. However, these past 12 months and likely the months to come have been unlike any we've experienced in recent history of the City. As such, the way we've always done things is no longer sufficient. It's incumbent on all of us as public officials to take these unique circumstances and act on behalf of our constituents. We've heard from residents who are eager to see improvements to help meet the unique challenges we've been facing, most with an underlying theme of making the best use of the outdoors. whether it's improving sidewalk conditions, more summer programming for the rec department, street paving for cyclists, improvements to our parks, and even investing in creative options for outdoor learning for our children. We need to shift into a COVID recovery mode to help move the city forward in these areas, and many more, including housing, social services, and infrastructure, just to name a few. So suffice to say, I know that many of us here have made requests for ways in which free cash can be used to maximize public benefit, and we're hoping that the mayor will present a comprehensive financial plan for the city so that the council can make more informed decisions when we approve free cash requests moving forward.

▶ 52:02 Jeff McNaught: Thank you Chairman McNaught. Thank you Council Migliorelli. And we have a motion for me to hold this in committee. I didn't hear if we had a second. Second. Okay, so we have a motion to hold order 2021-84 in committee made by Councilor Migliorelli, seconded by Councilor Grigoraitis. Is there any further discussion?

▶ 52:27 Shawn M. MacMaster: Council McMaster. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, either to you or through you to one of the makers of the order. Do we have a reason why the administration is not available to speak on this tonight? We did have the mayor on earlier. We had the chief staff. We had the city solicitor. So, I'm just wondering before we hold this thing committee, was there a reason communicated and do we expect the administration to prepare before us at a later date on this order?

▶ 52:52 Jeff McNaught: I think I can speak to that. There was a memo received from the city auditor, Mr. Delarusso. Mr. Delarusso has a personal conflict this evening and couldn't be here. If I'm missing anything or mischaracterizing anything, Councilors Migliorelli, Jamaleddine, or Grigoraitis, please let me know.

▶ 53:15 Speaker 10: I think I have that right.

▶ 53:16 Leila Migliorelli: That's my knowledge. That's the reason.

▶ 53:19 Jeff McNaught: So, just the personal conflict, um. Anything further council McMaster.

▶ 53:26 Speaker 4: No, thank you. Mr.

▶ 53:29 Jeff McNaught: Any further discussion from any other counselors. Seeing none, Madam clerk, will you please call the role.

▶ 53:37 Speaker 1: Chairman not yes. Vice chair Eccles. Yes. Council trim and cozy. Yes. Yes. Council McMaster. Yes. Council. Yes.