City Of Paducah: Commission Meeting Highlights - May 24, 2022

Paducah KY

26 May, 2022

7:32 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Paducah: May 25, 2022 To view the entire meeting, visit https://youtu.be/WWVRrTazxI0(link is external). Mayor Bray reiterated the importance of the work underway by the 911 Communication Oversight Committee and the sense of urgency in addressing the issue of the radio infrastructure that has reached its end of life along with the determination of a funding structure. The Committee has been meeting since January. The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced the fiscal year 2023 budget ordinance with the approval set for June. The City's fiscal year begins July 1. City Manager Daron Jordan provided a few highlights of the budget and thanked the Board of Commissioners and the City team for keeping the budget below the current inflation rate of approximately 8.5 percent. The total of all City funds is $96.7 million with $43.28 million incorporated in the General Fund, the City's main operating fund.In the General Fund, approximately $24 million is dedicated to public safety, the City's police and fire departments.More than $1 million from the General Fund is used to cover the funding shortfall in 911 since the funds from landlines and cellphones do not cover the operational expenses.The Investment Fund is $5.8 million which includes debt payments, economic development, community development, and grant-in-aid funding.To balance the budget, it required $2.5 million to be used from the reserve fund. However, this budget does set aside 10 percent toward the reserve fund.All state mandated pension obligations are funded.For employees, a 3 percent cost-of-living wage increase is included. A new dock structure and excursion landing plaza to be located just downstream of the foot of Broadway;Improved bike and pedestrian linkages through the improvements of three intersections, the addition of wayfinding, and creation of a multi-use path; andImprovements near the transient boat dock (former Executive Inn site) to include green space and seating.Accept the 2021 U.S. Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the amount of $8,098.38.Apply for the 2022 Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Grant requesting $862,000. If awarded, the funds would be for a new Police Department Mobile Command Vehicle.Apply for the 2022 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant requesting $34,577 to replace/update cameras along the riverfront.Accept the 2022 Brownfields Assessment Grant in the amount of $500,000 which will be used to inventory sites and conduct Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments and develop cleanup plans.Apply for the Land and Water Conservation Grant requesting $100,000 to replace Keiler Park's playground equipment.Municipal order approved for a one-year agreement with Wise Staffing to hire seasonal and temporary city staff.Ordinance approved for the consensual annexation of 5470 Old Highway 60.Ordinance introduced to repeal and replace Chapter 108 (Telecommunications) of the Code of Ordinances which was originally adopted in 1998. Law changes and telecommunications advances have led to the need to completely update this chapter. Also, Paducah has been approached by telecommunication companies interested in using the rights-of-way in Paducah. The City is required to publicly bid all franchises for the use of its rights-of-way. This ordinance will govern the process and requirements for bidding and entering into non-exclusive franchise agreements. Stakeholder feedback was incorporated into this ordinance.Ordinance introduced to reset the interest rate for the 2015 Industrial Revenue Bond for the Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront hotel project. This press release was produced by the City of Paducah. The views expressed here are the author's own.