HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmailed Comments from Robert Goldberg1
Gloria Harper
From:Robert Goldberg <rgoldberg@live.com>
Sent:Sunday, November 08, 2020 8:10 PM
To:Thomas Moore; Schelly Sustarsic; Mike Varipapa; Sandra Massa-Lavitt; Joe Kalmick
Cc:Jill Ingram; Gloria Harper; Charles M. Kelly; Jeannette Andruss; Les Johnson; Patrick
Gallegos
Subject:Questions and Comments for Monday's Open Session
Attachments:11.09.20 Questions.doc; AB 1826 Costs.pdf
Dear Council and Staff,
Please see the attached questions and comments on Monday's open session meeting. Also attached is a
referenced slide from a 2017 presentation.
Thank you for your consideration and service,
Robert Goldberg
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Questions for 11/09/20 Open Session from Robert Goldberg
Item B: Demand on Treasury (Warrants)
Page 8 check #17459 to The Korea Daily for $664
What was this for?
Page 14 check #17511 to Sunset Aquatic Marine Ctr for $664 for “boat haul out. Cutless berring
repair”
Was this for our new lifeguard boat?
If so, was this not covered by a purchase warranty?
Item C: Contract with HF&H Consultants for Solid Waste Negotiating Services
The staff report makes repeated reference to the costs of the organics recycl ing law (AB 1826) as
an unfunded State mandate. This is correct, but it is important to be aware that the ongoing
annual costs to comply with this law will not be borne by the City. The “unfunded mandate” costs
will be borne by the private groups that the City Council ultimately selects -- organic waste
generators (restaurants, grocery stores), all non-generating businesses, and/or residential
properties.
The only direct cost to the City will be the $29,000 for HF&H to negotiate the program terms with
Republic. However, this $29,000 is not coming from General Fund tax revenues, but rather the
monthly payment of $10,000 in restricted revenue that Republic makes to our Waste
Management Act Fund (Fund 005, Budget page 79).
In fact, rather than being an “unfunded mandate” to the City, AB 1826 will ultimately be a source
of increased revenue due the City’s 7% franchise fee. Republic pays this fee to the City from
revenues collected from its customers. So for example, when the cost components of the
proposed AB 1826 compliance program were present to Council on 2/27/2017, the total annual
cost of $336,515 included $23,556 in franchise fee revenue to the City (see attached).
With this understanding of who is actually bearing the cost of this “unfunded State man date,” the
Council could lessen the impact on our local businesses by waiving the franchise fee for AB 1826-
related services.
Item E: Contract Amendment with Spectrum for Increased Internet Bandwidth
The agreement gives the address location as 911 Seal Beach Blvd—Police headquarters.
Is this agreement for city-wide internet or just the Police headquarters?
Item F: Contract with JHD Planning for Housing Element
In the PSA, page 3 of the Scope of Work shows a schedule that includes a public meeting in
January 2021. This is followed by another public meeting in July, Planning Commission in August
and City Council in September.
Will the January meeting be deferred until COVID restrictions on public meetings are lifted?
Is there any consideration by the State Housing Dept to give localities more time to develop
their revised housing elements?
Page 3 of the Scope of Work states that JHD will be donating 10% of its consulting fees to charities
selected by the City that serve the local community.
Will the selection of the recipients of this donation be chosen by staff or Council?
If the City is successful in securing a LEAP Grant to pay for the Housing Element consultant,
will the Grant allow the consultant to donate what are essentially grant funds?