No formal action was taken during Tuesday\u2019s workshop. Commissioners instead reviewed department budgets and proposed changes that could be considered when the commission meets Thursday to adopt its tentative millage rate and budget. The workshop agenda called only for an overview and discussion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Among the most extensive discussions were proposed reductions to community-oriented spending, including $100,000 for a nonprofit grant program, $10,000 in discretionary funding for each commissioner and about $282,500 in listed community events and programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commissioner Nadia Anderson questioned those reductions while pointing to other proposed expenditures, including $75,000 for renovations to the second floor of City Hall and $210,000 for office furniture replacement. She proposed redirecting those expenditures toward restoring nonprofit funding and community events.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of nonprofits actually depend on that money and have it already budgeted for scholarships and things and senior citizens and stuff,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cSo I think we can delay $75,000.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mayor Nick Nesta defended the renovation, saying work on the second floor has been delayed for years and postponing it could increase its eventual cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more we push that out, the more expensive it gets,\u201d Nesta said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sherman said Anderson\u2019s recommendations would be brought back for votes at Thursday\u2019s hearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anderson also questioned eliminating the $10,000 in discretionary funding for each commissioner while other expenditures remained in the budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The commission also discussed the proposed legal-services budget, which Sherman said retains funding for an in-house city attorney while allocating $475,000 for outside city attorney services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anderson questioned whether the city should budget for an in-house attorney before commissioners decide whether to establish an in-house legal department.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to move this city attorney position out the budget until we\u2019re able to properly figure out what that looks like,\u201d Anderson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nesta said retaining the position in the budget gives commissioners flexibility while they determine whether to continue outsourcing legal services or establish an in-house department.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re going in-house, we definitely can\u2019t do with one,\u201d Nesta said. \u201cThat needs to be a more robust in-house counsel department.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sherman said a fully staffed legal department would cost more than the city\u2019s current outside counsel arrangement because it would require additional attorneys and support staff.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commissioners also discussed restoring a risk-management specialist position. Human Resources Director Joe Patton said the city\u2019s existing risk-management employee handles duties including workers\u2019 compensation and insurance coverage for vendors at city events, while other HR employees provide limited backup.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sherman included a risk-management specialist among the staffing changes to be added back when she reviewed proposed adjustments near the end of the workshop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another lengthy discussion centered on the future of Camp Wewa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nesta said the city purchased the property for about $4.7 million and spends about $1 million annually to operate it. While programming at the camp performs well financially, he said maintaining the facility continues to draw city resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to spend time and all my extra time to actually build out an actual marketing and business plan for Camp Wewa,\u201d Nesta said. \u201cBut at some point, we need to make a decision on how much money are we going to continue to spend on this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vice Mayor Diane Velazquez described Camp Wewa as \u201ca money pit right now,\u201d but opposed selling the property, citing its value as green space and its potential for greater public use.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a money pit right now,\u201d Velazquez said. \u201cIt\u2019s green space, and we\u2019ll just have to find a way to market it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commissioners Sam Ruth and Yesenia Baron also expressed support for retaining the property while exploring ways to increase its use and revenue. The tentative revenue budget projects $163,271 in Camp Wewa activity fees for FY27.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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