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Finance Commission Minutes September 10, 2019 Page 4 of 12 be done through the levy. He would like to see a gradual approach and would hate to shift those reserves. He would feel more comfortable if that process was done through the levy. Ms. Cynthia White Ms. White thought it was a fair question and also wondered if the Parks and Recreation Commission was caught by surprise that this money was swiftly going to be taken from them and whether or not proper consideration was given that the entire set of monies from Parks and Recreation reserves was going to be swept into this other fund that maybe the Parks and Recreation Commission would not have access to. She thought there may have been some unintended consequences as a result of those decisions that the Finance Commission still may need to deal with. Not just with Emerald Ash but with how that fund should be used and when it is appropriate to give some of those funds back to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Reif noted after hearing a number of perspectives on this he agreed with Chair Hodder that it should be a part of the annual budget process and the Parks and Recreation Commission should make a request for what is needed and what the Commission would like to have and let the Council decide what the Commission gets as opposed to asking the Council to make a six or seven year commitment right now because a lot of things could change in that amount of time. Commissioner Lee thought it was important to look at having the Cash Reserve as a back up for a rainy day for something that cannot be handled between now and the next time where there is the ability to raise funds. Since it is a new fund, making a judicious approach to when to tap into it or when to dispense the funds might set a tone for the fund and what it can be used for in the future even though it has not been yet. By not setting it up for long term programs using it as a piggy bank for an important item that should be taken care of. Commissioner Sagisser explained he focuses entirely around what is a Cash Reserve Fund for, short term, so the thing that sticks in his head is the long-term project which makes him think this is not the appropriate use for this fund. If the Parks and Recreation Commission wanted an extra injection of cash next year to go for this, he thought that made sense, as an emergency cash reserve function. Commissioner Reif moved, seconded by Commissioner Murray to fund the Emerald Ash Borer Program through the normal budgetary process. COMMISSION DISCUSSION Commissioner Sagisser asked for a friendly amendment to the motion to add “because of the long-term nature of the request.” Commissioners Reif and Murray agreed to the amendment. Commissioner Harold asked what was considered long term. This has a potential to be precedent setting. He noted the Parks and Recreation Commission is requesting five years of funding for a