Ed Cook believes in volunteerism so after serving on the Covington Economic Development Council it made sense for him to sign up for the city’s Budget Priorities Advisory Committee.

“I thought it would be a good way to put some meaning behind the dollars,” Cook wrote in an email interview. “Anyone with a computer can pretty much access their community’s budget but all those numbers having a numbing affect after a while. Secondly, I think generally there is a communal disconnect when it comes to a city’s budget — more about what it’s going to cost me than what I’m getting.”

Since it started meeting in February, the city’s Budget Priorities Advisory Committee has taken its government 101 lessons and is working toward coming to a consensus to report to the City Council, which ideally would be the end of the calendar year, but could be no later than June 2013.

“The main thrust has been initially in the first couple months to educate them on the different departments of the city and how the city functions and operates,” said Finance Director Rob Hendrickson. “The charge is to have a long-term strategy… that the council can get their arms around.We started with the overview of the budget forecast that we gave at the council summit in January.”

Once the committee members got the overview, each department director came in and gave a presentation.

“It’s like drinking from the fire hose from them,” Hendrickson said. “They were very interested in how everything went together, our revenue services, how we spend our dollars and what services are required. Now they’re getting into deeper discussions and look at the bigger of things that the city should move forward on. They’re looking at the budget priorities of the city and looking at what’s important to them both individually and collectively. They have to work together as a team to come up with a consensus but that doesn’t mean they have to walk in lockstep.”

This committee was formed after the Covington City Council adopted a charter Sept. 13, 2011, as part of the city’s efforts to be create greater engagement with residents.

Covington’s management team discussed the process at its retreat in March 2011 and came up with outcomes to help guide the development of the process.

Through public engagement, the city wanted to help the community become educated about and connected to mandated as well as discretionary services and the role of its town center. In addition, the management team felt it was important to be able to convey a clear sense of the communities’ priorities for the city’s existing revenue as well as new revenue.

Hendrickson picked the brain of Shoreline’s finance director to understand how that city was able to implement a successful public engagement process.

Covington City Manager Derek Matheson told the Reporter in September 2011 the process is important because it allows residents to tell the officials what they want from city government.

“We’ve cut our budget by about $1.5 million and reduced our staff by about 20 percent since the recession began,” wrote in an email interview in September 2011. “However, if prices continue to rise and revenues remain anemic, we may have to cut more in a year or two. At the same time, we know the public wants us to build new roads and parks, maintain better the roads and parks we have, and hire more police officers, for example.”

There are about 15 members who regularly attend. The committee meets twice a month on Mondays and Wednesdays. The meetings are open to the public.

Cook, who is chair of the committee, wrote that during the process he has enjoyed the opportunity to get a snapshot of all the city departments, their goals as well as get a grip on how city staff has accomplished what they have with shrinking resources.

“It’s an opportunity to see how the city is funded, what resources they can and can’t tap into, and how the Great Recession has affected and will continue to affect the majority of businesses,” Cook wrote. “It’s also been an enjoyment to interact with everyone on the committee. To me, the committee consists of an excellent cross-section of the community. I can’t think of a segment of the community that isn’t represented and although some members participate more than others, everyone has provided some thought provoking comments or feedback.”

There are two high school students, Hendrickson said, one from Kentwood and one from Kentlake. There are business owners and community leaders, members from all segments of the community.

There is still much to discuss as the committee continues its work, Cook wrote.

“In the next four months we would like to be in the position where we can provide City Council with a) potential revenue sources, b) potential cost savings, and c) a roadmap to continue utilizing BPAC as a regular course of the budget process.”

Cook, who described himself as “an optimistic cynic,” who grew up with John F. Kennedy’s words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” ringing in his ears, hopes that when the next opportunity arises for residents to serve on a committee such as BPAC there is greater participation.

“In the last 10 years I’ve participated with CEDC, North Bend’s EDC (economic development commission), and the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce (and Board of Directors) and I don’t see a lot of “new blood,’” he wrote. “There needs to be a waiting list to participate in these organizations not a dearth of applicants because the more involved the constituents are, the better the organization/city/state etc., becomes.”

Hendrickson said the city is fortunate to have the kind of people it has participating in this community.

“They have a lot to offer,” Hendrickson said. “The community is in good hands.”