<h2 style="margin-left:0in;" data-pasted="true">1. Decision Requested</h2><p style="margin-left:0in;">Staff is requesting that the City Council approve a budget amendment for the Oil and Gas Fund to stop funding design of the Safe Routes to School program and retain the money in reserves for future one-time uses, such as IT infrastructure.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">The decision before Council is whether to preserve Oil and Gas Fund resources for future one-time needs rather than committing those funds to Safe Routes to School design at this time.</p><h2 style="margin-left:0in;">2. Executive Summary</h2><p style="margin-left:0in;">This item is before Council because the Oil and Gas Fund had been identified as a possible funding source for Safe Routes to School design. As part of the City’s budget stabilization strategy, staff recommends stopping that funding and retaining the money in reserve.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">Oil and Gas Fund revenue should be treated carefully because it is not the same as a stable recurring operating revenue source. Preserving the fund for one-time needs gives the City flexibility for future capital, technology, equipment, or infrastructure priorities.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">If approved, staff will amend the budget records, remove the Safe Routes to School design funding from the Oil and Gas Fund, and preserve the money in reserves unless Council authorizes a future one-time use.</p><h2 style="margin-left:0in;">3. Background</h2><p style="margin-left:0in;">The City has discussed using Oil and Gas Fund resources for Safe Routes to School design. However, current budget conditions require a more conservative approach to one-time funds.</p><p style="margin-left:0in;">Potential future one-time needs include IT infrastructure and other capital or operational resiliency projects that may be difficult to absorb in the annual operating budget.</p><div style="margin-left:0in;"><ul style="list-style-type: disc;margin-left: -0.25in;"><li style="margin-left:0in;">This action aligns the Oil and Gas Fund with one-time use principles.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">This action supports the broader pause of Safe Routes to School funding.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">This action keeps future options open without creating a new recurring obligation.</li></ul></div><h2 style="margin-left:0in;">4. Key Facts</h2><div style="margin-left:0in;"><ul style="list-style-type: disc;margin-left: -0.25in;"><li style="margin-left:0in;">Current condition: Oil and Gas Fund resources had been identified for Safe Routes to School design.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">Need or opportunity: The City can preserve one-time reserves for future needs such as IT infrastructure.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">Timing: Action is needed to align the fund with the stabilization strategy and forecast assumptions.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">Responsible department: Finance and City Manager’s Office.</li><li style="margin-left:0in;">Aff

Bastiat Liberty & Property Rights Analysis

This motion is scored as EXPANDS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 2.1/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, measures that increase tax rates or fee schedules, issue new debt or Certificates of Obligation, expand regulatory/zoning restrictions on private land use, or authorize unbudgeted spending expansions reduce an official's Freedom Score when voted YES (and reward dissenting NO votes).