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B. The other half to be used as follows: 1. Ceiling on the Utility Tax to be lowered from $3,500 to $3,000; 2. Any remaining funds to be used to reduce the property tax. Mr. Don Gilchrist, representing the Chamber of Commerce, stated that he cannot determine the approximate split for the utility tax income because the utility companies are unable to provide that information. He further stated that the Chamber concurs with Mr. McMichael's comments regarding the City's estimated income; and that the practice of expending surplus funds on a list of Unfunded Projects is questionable. Mr. Rhoads Martin, Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the Unfunded Projects be designated for funding with surplus funds, such as the first seven prior to lowering the tax rate, so that special interest groups would not be allowed to change the priorities specified. City Manager Spragg stated that estimates are that County-wide the assessed valuation increase could go as high as 24%; that Staff is using 10% and last year it came in at 14%, which was the second lowest of any City in Orange County; and that it would be a disservice to overestimate our revenues. He stated that there are probably four areas that would deserve consideration for use of excess funds: 1) Increase in contingency; 2) Decrease in property tax; 3) Decrease in utility tax; and 4) Unfunded capital projects. Mayor Evans stated that the consensus among the Council was that they will cooperate with the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Realtors in an effort to utilize any unanticipated revenues along the lines suggested. Councilman Bricken suggested that the City make an effort to influence other taxing agencies to lower tax rates so that the total tax rate could be reduced by a significant amount. CA 65 B RECESS present. At 9:42 A.M. the meeting was recessed; at 9:55 A.M. the meeting was reconvened with the same Councilmen RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT Executive Director of REORGANIZATION Community Services Manuel Rede briefly reviewed Phase I of the Reorganiza- tion approved by Council; and he stated that Phase II would continue the effort to decentralize the Department and establish reliable indicators of costs for comparisons of City forces service versus contracted work. He then introduced Robert Gresham, Department Director, who presented the proposed plan for tree maintenance and an organization chart showing the relationships of the various Staff members. Mr. Gresham stated that the Department budget would contain a 1S% increase. Councilmen asked several questions concerning responsibility for planning, design and acquisition of parks, and field training of personnel. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 200 JUNE 11, 1977