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Home My WebLink AboutCC Min 2009-04-21, 2009-04-22Seal Beach, California April 21 & 22, 2009 The City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in adjourned session for the purpose to holding a Budget Study Session at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Shanks calling the meeting to order. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Shanks; Council Members Antos, Levitt, Miller, Sloan Others present: David Carmany, City Manager Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Vince Mastrosimone, Director of Public Works Robbeyn Bird, Director of Administrative ServiceslTreasurer Chief Jeff Kirkpatrick, SB Police Department Chief Joe Bailey, SB Lifeguard Department Jill Ingram, Assistant to the City Manager Captain Tim Olson, SB Police Department Michael Ho, City Engineer Jerry Olivera, Senior Planner Alayna Hoang, Senior Accountant Jeff Watson, Maintenance Services Manager Lt. Chris Pierce, SB Lifeguard Department David Spitz, Associate Engineer Sgt. Bob Mullins, SB Police Department Lucy Agins, SB Police Department -Executive Assistant Bob Eagle, Maintenance Services Supervisor Tim Kelsey, Community Services -Supervisor Linda Devine, City Clerk BUDGET STUDY SESSION (copies of the proposed Budget for Fiscal Years 2009-2011 and the draft 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (2010-2014) were available in the City Clerk's Office and in the local libraries) Presentation of Proposed Budget Fiscal Years 2009-2011 The City Manager gave an overview of the budget study session agenda and process indicating that the council and the public will have more opportunities to get a full understanding of the 2 year budget. The budget that was presented is balanced and the reserves are sound. The Director of Administrative Services gave a powerpoint presentation regarding the budget reserves, designations, and the total revenues and expenditures (copy of the presentation is on file in the City Clerk's Office). The projected revenues are calculated on the conservative side; required by the code (fiscal policy) to keep between 20% to 25% general fund reserve (this would be about $5.9M); the new budget document is formatted to be more user friendly and more transparent; the only 2 revenue sources that the City can control is the utility user tax and the transient occupancy tax; and the state and federal economy is too unstable to predict too far in the future. Department Budaet Reports City Manager's Office • Services • Department's Objectives • 2009 Major Goals Department of Administrative Services • Services • Administrative Services Goals Page 2 -Budget Study Session 04-21-09 & 04-22-09 City Clerk's Office • Accomplishments • Department Goals Community Services' Office • Mission Statement • Primary Services • 2009 Major Goals Department of Development Services • Planning Department Overview • Building Department Overview • Redevelopment Agency -Housing Assistance • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Marine Safety Department • Department Mission • Primary Activities • Department Staff • Hours of Operation • Junior Lifeguard Program Police Department • Department's Mission • Police Organization • Major Accomplishments • Police Department Major Goals Department of Public Works • Department's Mission • Public Works Department Organization • Major Accomplishments • Goals for New Budget Program Mayor Shanks called for a recess at 7:05 p.m. and reconvened the study session at 7:15 p.m. Council Discussion -Proposed 2-Year Budget • majority of the councilmembers met in advance with the City Manager and/or the Director of Administrative Services and had their questions answered; • majority of the council indicated that they were in favor of the 2-year budget; • would like the funds set aside for College Park East (CPE) to be identified as line item in the budget; • should have a plan for the vehicle replacement fund and inquired about what fund do the monies from auctioned vehicles go (response: will include in the budget a list of vehicles being replaced); • inquired if there was a threshold amount on projects that would not necessarily need council approval (response: yes, projects out for bid require council approval); • discussion regarding the significant supplemental requests (mobile data computers for police vehicles -web page redesign -coin counter -financial accounting software -police department furniture); • questioned if it would be better to hire more police officers instead of operating the detention facility (response: council asked for a full report in July after giving the police department time to collect data on the operation and cost of the jail); • would like to see a Park Master Plan that would be citywide; • inquired about the winter holiday decorations for Seal Beach Boulevard (response: this is included in the budget); Page 3 -Budget Study Session 04-21-09 & 04-22-09 • stated disappointment that the Police Appreciation lunch was dropped by the Chamber and the City should re-establish the annual State of City event; • inquired about the cleaning of the sidewalks, if business owners are charged, and if there should be a different charge for those establishments that tend to have more need for cleaning - e.g. bars (response: the City does not charge the businesses and the sidewalks will be cleaned every month); • asked what is the need for a coin counter (response: the process for depositing the coins currently is antiquated and there is over $300,000 in coins processed); • not in favor of business improvements districts (BIP'S); and • inquired about the $5,000 for the map project (response: this is in the 2008/09 budget). Mayor Shanks called for a recess at 8:15 p.m. and reconvened the study session at 8:27 p.m. Public Comments • Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce and Business Association presented a priority list as requested by the Council -requests that the council to consider allocating a percentage ('h%) of the transient occupancy tax to the Chamber - help attract more businesses - re-visit the Main Street Specific Plan (more diverse uses) -work together on events like the Police appreciation lunch and the State of the City; • concerned about general and safety uses; • need to earmark funds for tourism; • need more park activities in CPE; • sidewalks need cleaning and repair; • need more awareness up stream regarding a cleaner beach; • should use the beach buggy as a way to transport people to the different shopping centers and up and down Main Street (could use in-lieu parking fund); • would like to see a neighborhood watch program; • pier issues -cleanliness, smokers, and fishermen; • believes that the General Fund Analysis of Undesignated Fund Balance should have been included in the proposed budget and not left out until the final budget is adopted; and • need a clear line of operating budget expenses. 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan 2010-2014 The City Engineer gave a powerpoint presentation covering the following areas: List of 2008 Accomplishments; Revenue for 2010-2014; Description of funds; Summary of Projects; 7 Categories of Public Works; Beach & Pier; Parks; Sanitary Sewer; Storm Drains; Streets and Transportation; Water Treatment and Distribution. (draft 5-year CIP and presentation on file in the City Clerk's office) With no objections the Mayor recessed the study session at 9:05 p.m. Mayor Shanks reconvened the study session at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Shanks; Council Members Antos, Levitt, Miller, Sloan Council Comments -continued • The consensus of the Council was to continue with the 2 year budget process - there are periods during that time that Council can make changes; • the City should continue to have events to acknowledge not only the police department but all the City employees; • the proposed budget appears to be transparent and very understandable; and • requested to have a copy of the 2006 fleet master plan 1 1 1 Page 4 -Budget Study Session 04-21-09 & 04-22-09 The Director of Administrative Services gave the Council copies of the replacement pages 153 thru 156 (Fund: 021 Vehicle Replacement Fund). The Director of Public Works indicated that there would be $300,000 from the General Fund for public works projects and using that number is how the department came up with the list of prioritized projects. Some projects will still be unfunded. Council Comments -Capital Improvement Plan • Project types were clarified; • inquired about park improvement program for College Park East -not identified in the budget; • request for a community center for CPE -was suggested that the funds earmarked for CPE be used; • more improvements to the Lampson median; • reviewed the list provided by the Chamber; and • requested staff to look into having Edison Company adjusts the lumens on the lampposts. With no objections the Mayor recessed the study session at 7:10 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 7:25 p.m. Public Comments • Should anticipate massive inflation - do projects sooner rather than later; • suggested projects that should be moved forward: pier repairs, pier deck - phase IV, and Eisenhower Park restroom improvements; • remove $60M for storm drains -replace with $13M; • inquired about the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy River bikeway trail project; • status of any project from Congressman Rohrabacher's office; • improve bidder awareness process for local businesses; and • pier is emblem of the City -need to maintain pier deck and restrooms. ADJOURNMENT It was the order of the Chair, with consent of the Council, to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m. to Monday, April 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. to meet in closed session. Cit Clerk Approved: ~' ayor Attest: City Clerk