Watertown

Watertown City Council

Tuesday October 10, 2023

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The order of items in transcripts is the chronological order in which they were taken up. Some Agenda items may have been skipped.

Section 1

The speaker calls a meeting to order and discusses the technical details of the meeting, including broadcasting and recording. The clerk calls the roll and members are present. The speaker requests a motion for an executive session and the council votes to go into executive session. The speaker then calls the meeting back to order and leads the pledge of allegiance. The next item on the agenda is public forum, but there are no members of the public who wish to speak. The president gives a brief report on an open house at the Lowell School and the superintendent's efforts to reopen the school. The council then moves on to public hearings and votes on a proposed loan order for upgrades to the HVAC system at the middle school. The resolution is approved. Next, the council discusses a proposed transfer of funds for the purchase of a high-speed monochrome inkjet address printer for the city clerk's office. The transfer is approved. The first reading of a proposed loan order to increase borrowing for the high school project is discussed, and the manager explains that the full amount of the cost of the school has changed and they need to amend the order to get funding from the MSBA. The first reading of a proposed amendment to the fiscal year 2024 budget is also discussed, and the manager will go into more detail in his budget presentation. The first reading of an amendment to the Watertown Firefighters Association Local 1347 Union contract is also discussed, and the manager explains that it will cover retro costs for fiscal year 23. The council then discusses an order authorizing an amendment to pending special legislation regarding property tax classification, allowing for new minimum residential factors for fiscal years 24, 25, and 26. The manager explains that they are trying to change the factors to provide tax relief for residents and that the order needs to be signed and delivered to the Senate Council's office.

Section 2

In summary, the speaker begins by thanking someone and then asks for a motion to authorize an amendment to change fiscal years. They then move on to discuss committee reports, specifically one regarding a meeting on September 27th. The committee confirmed Barbara Epstein for appointment to the public arts and culture committee for a term that expires on November 15, 2024. The speaker then asks for a motion to accept the report and later for a motion to confirm Epstein's appointment. They also discuss the city manager's preliminary budget overview for fiscal year 2025, highlighting their leadership formula and strategic priorities. The speaker also looks back at the closeout of fiscal year 23 and updates on the current fiscal year 24. They mention the increase in local receipts revenue and the decrease in departmental expenses, resulting in a surplus of about $3.2 million. The surplus adds to the unreserved fund balance and certified free cash, which will be around $25 million this year. The speaker also discusses the capital improvement plans for the general fund and the water and sewer enterprise fund.

Section 3

The community has been successful in funding capital improvements through tax revenue and borrowing. The fiscal year 23 bond issue saw the most borrowing in the city's history for school projects. The city also has funds set aside for tax rebate refunds and has a good financial reserve goal. The current budget priorities include addressing the climate and energy plan, working with the public schools, funding the building for the future initiative, and improving operational efficiency and flexibility. The elementary schools are almost complete and the high school project is underway. Additionally, the city is undertaking studies for fleet electrification and public building energy upgrades, as well as encouraging private homeowners to use solar and heat pumps. Overall, the city is in a strong financial position and making progress on its strategic priorities.

Section 4

The city has successfully completed three new schools and two building renovations with a budget of $170,000,000, without needing to borrow additional funds. However, there have been two unexpected expenses that have increased the total cost of the project. The first was a rearrangement in the phasing of the project, which required the renting of an off-site location and squeezed the project's contingency budget. The second was a decision to change the finishes at the Lowell School building after touring the completed buildings and realizing the need for updates. As a result, the city is seeking an additional $1,803,272 to cover these costs and complete the project without needing to borrow any more money. The city is also in the process of constructing a new high school, with a budget of $223,880,049, which has been reduced to $218 million due to cost savings, additional state funding, and potential federal rebates for solar costs. The city plans to keep the project within the $150,000,000 borrowing limit set in the capital improvement plan and Proposition 2 1/2. The city is also working on various other construction and park projects, such as the Parker Annex, Arsenal Phase B, and Lowell playground, with plans to complete them over the next few years. In terms of strategic priorities, the city is focusing on organizational strategy, economic development, and enhancing the leadership team. This includes hiring a new senior planner, implementing 311 services, launching a health and human services study, and completing a classification and compensation study. The city is also in the process of hiring a new police chief, chief financial officer, and constituent service director. For fiscal year 24, the city's priorities include continuing to fund OPEB, allocating funds for parks and Watertown Square improvements, and addressing funding for the high school project while staying within the borrowing limit. The proposed budget amendments add $5,393,163 to the city's revenue, mainly due to higher than expected new growth. However, the city has also lowered its new growth projections for future years.

Section 5

The speaker discusses their plans to allocate new baseline growth as a one-time revenue source to one-time expenses, with a focus on remaining cautious due to slowing growth. They propose allocating the funds to various accounts, with a focus on strategic priorities such as planning, affordable housing, and organizational effectiveness. The speaker also outlines assumptions for expenditures, including increases in education funding and addressing long-term liabilities. They mention the potential for exceeding the expected education funding commitment if new state aid is received.

Section 6

Sure. I would request an update from the city manager on the conversation that he and I had last week regarding the, community needs assessment and prioritization process and any, progress that has been made in terms of identifying stakeholders and developing the scope of work for that process. SPEAKER1 - Thank you. Any other requests for information? There's no further business. We'll take a motion to adjourn. Is there a second? All those in favor. Posed. The eyes have it. We are adjourned. The city manager gave a detailed presentation on the budget for the upcoming fiscal years, including a plan to potentially implement universal Pre-K for four-year-olds. He also discussed the value of providing education to four-year-olds and the increasing cost of implementing this program in Watertown. The manager also mentioned the need to find funding for this program and the possibility of making some adjustments to previous budget plans in order to make it work. The manager also discussed the process for searching for a new health team director and city clerk. He reminded voters that they can vote by mail and that early in-person voting will take place at city hall. The manager also announced the upcoming celebration of Italian Heritage Month at the Delta and thanked the acting HR director for her work as a temporary replacement. The manager provided an update on the Watertown Square project, including a kickoff meeting and upcoming community conversations. He also reminded residents that the farmers market is still open until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays in October. Councilors requested information on the status of the HVAC screening for 48 North Beacon Street and an update on the community needs assessment and prioritization process. The meeting was adjourned after there was no further business to discuss.

Section 7

The speaker thanks the manager and calls for a motion to adjourn the public forum, which is followed by a vote in favor of adjournment.