[00:00:01]
AND START THE MEETING.CAN I ASK MR.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ROLL CALL.
PAULINE WAS ADI, KARA, JESSICA SHOEMAKER HERE.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR TODAY? GOOD EVENING.
I'M GOING TO CALL THE FIRST CALLER.
I'M GOING TO PLEASE MYSELF ON MUTE AND MAKE A PHONE CALL TO MR. PETER, PETER DAN, ONE MOMENT.
I'M A 17 YEAR OLD, SOON TO BE VOTED DEDICATED TO HELP IN COMMUNITY BLESSING DINA.
UH, WHEN I DID RESEARCH INTO WHAT'S KNOWN AS BUDGET, I SAW AN OUTPOUR CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CITY, ALMOST 600 PEOPLE.
AS OF RIGHT NOW OF ALL AGES AROUND THE CITY HAVE DECIDED TO SPREAD MY WORD AND SHARE THE CONCERN.
I KNOW ALL OF US ARE SCARED RIGHT NOW.
I'M SCARED BECAUSE I'M GROWING UP IN A TIME LIKE THIS, BUT WE, AS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO USE THAT FEAR AND NOT CHANGE.
NOT ONLY CHANGE IT, I BELIEVE IF THIS OUTREACH SOMEHOW GONE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I PROMISE THAT IT WILL COME BACK AND ASK YOU THE QUESTION, A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SPEND 47% OF OUR BUDGET ON THE POLICE FORCE.
OR IF WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN A BUDGET OF PEOPLE'S BUDGETS THAT HAS PROVEN TO NATIONALLY BRING DOWN CRIME DATA SHOWS THAT LONG NUMBERS OF POLICE HAVE DECLINED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
AND THE RATE OF POLICE OFFICERS PER THOUSAND RESIDENTS HAS BEEN DROPPING FOR TWO DECADES.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE HAS ALSO BEEN DROPPING.
SO I WANT TO ASK MY OWN QUESTION.
WHY IS IT THAT VIOLENT CRIME HAS GONE DOWN YARD FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS PENSION PLAN HAS GONE UP AND PLAYS A HUGE PART IN WHERE YOU ARE FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS NOT THE BEST PLACE.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING US, IS GIVING THIS MUCH MONEY TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THEY AREN'T INVESTING IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY'RE INVESTING IN THE FACT THAT I THINK WE ARE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE SEE NOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LA.
PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING LESS FUNDS FOR POLICE AND MORE FUNDS FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY WRITING IN FRONT OF VANGUARD STUDIES HOUSE.
I FEEL LIKE IF WE DON'T ACTUALLY DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO END UP THE SAME.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO MY COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY LISTENING RIGHT NOW, IT IS YOUR CHOICE ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT OR WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.
ASIDE OF PRIORITIZING PEOPLE IN PROGRAMS THAT DECLINE CRIME OR A SIDE OF OVER-FUNDING SYSTEMATICALLY RACIST.
AND OVERALL, TO BE HONEST, NOT NEEDING INSTITUTIONS.
I LOVE WEST CONVENER AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE STUDENTS BE VOTING HERE, BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE PROUD OF WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
I WILL BE CALLING THE NEXT SPEAKER.
[00:05:21]
YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. YUSEF.MY NAME IS ERIC AND YOU AND YOU REGISTERED CONSTITUENT.
MY NAME IS HARRISON, REALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT.
AND WHAT I'M NOT BECOMING MORE CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
MY NAME IS JUDITH HARRISON AND NEWLY REGISTERED CONSTITUENT THAT IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WEST COVINA.
I'M NOW BECOMING MORE PHYSICALLY ENGAGED.
AND AS I WAS RESEARCHING THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20 2021, I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU STILL NEED TO ALLOCATE 47% OF THE GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENT.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY GIVEN THE FISCAL OWNER, BECAUSE HE'S CLARIFIED THE CITY ON MAY, 1920 20, WHAT IS THE RESIDENTS BENEFIT? MORE PUBLIC SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
WE'RE GIVING A BUILDER, A BIGGER ALLOCATION OF THE GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF PUBLIC SERVICES, GETTING 8% COMMUNITY.
DEVELOPMENT'S GETTING 3% AND OF COURSE GETTING 9% FURTHER.
WHY IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPENDING 90? YOU WANT TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS FOR SALARIES AND THE OTHER 9% TOWARDS MATERIAL.
WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL EXACTLY WHAT THE ERUPTION OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTERS.
PROTEST COST THE COUNTRY, WHAT IT WPP AND STRINGS THE MONEY THEY'VE BEEN ALLOCATED TO THOSE SALARIES INSURANCE THAT THEY'LL EVEN GTD IS HIRING OFFICERS THAT HAVE NO PRIOR ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT OR RACIAL BIAS IN THEIR POLICE, POLICE THE STREET.
THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WEST COVINA IS NOT A CITY THAT WILL BE KNOWN FOR ANY INJUSTICE, FOR ANY OF COLOR WHATSOEVER.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS PENSIONS, BANKRUPTED THE CITY.
AND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, WHAT OUR CITY COUNCILMEN AREN'T GOING TO DO TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE $11 MILLION THAT IT NEEDS INSTEAD OF THE $1 MILLION THAT HAS THE CURRENT BECAUSE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PATIENT.
SO WHAT OUR CITY VALUES AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
I WILL NOT BE CALLING HIM THE NEXT, UH, SPEAKER, MS. ERIN LOPEZ.
MY NAME IS ERIN LOPEZ, DIVE IN TO PROGRESS IN WEST COVINA FOR 15 YEARS.
AND I'VE BEEN VOTING WITH KULEANA FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, SINCE I WAS 18 YEARS OLD, ACCORDING TO THE 2020, 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA THAT'S ALLOCATE A 12% PAY RAISE FOR POLICE OFFICERS FIGURES ALONE HAVE ESTIMATED THIS WILL COST TAXPAYERS AROUND SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY URGE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO ADOPT TO PEOPLE'S BUDGET, PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BY NECESSARY SALARY INCREASE.
MANY RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA FIND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY GO LOVE IS GONE.
WELL, BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, AND MANY ARE WITHOUT JOBS.
IF THERE IS NEED MORE SUPPORT THAN EVER BEFORE.
ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITHIN THE FUNDING FOR POLICE.
91% OF THIS IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE SALARIES OF OFFICERS LEADING ONLY 9% GOING TO ACTUAL SERVICES AND MATERIAL DUE TO THE SOCIAL UNREST.
AND UNPRECEDENTED TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN POWER TAX, PAYER DOLLARS BEING DISPERSED WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE PROPER TRAINING, WHY MATERIAL AND SERVICES GETTING SUCH LOW FUNDING IN CONTRAST WITH SALARY, SURELY THERE'S
[00:10:01]
A BETTER WAY TO KEEP US CLEAN AND SAFE WHILE ALSO ENSURING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GIVING AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WITHIN THE, BUT I HOPE TO SEE AS STUDENTS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GUARANTEE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE MADE THE TOP PRIORITY.I'M GOING TO BE CALLING OUR NEXT SPEAKER LAUREN, ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.
I AM A REGISTERED VOTER AND WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WEST COVINA.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE CITY OF WEST COVINA OFFICIALS, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY CLERK, LISA SHERRICK AND THE CITY MANAGER, DAVID CARMONEY FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSES TO THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS.
ACCORDING TO THE 2020, 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF WEST COVINA IS SET TO ALLOCATE A 12% PAY RATE FOR POLICE OFFICERS BIGGERS HAVE ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL COST TAX PAYERS AROUND 600,000 TO $900,000 FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR ALONE.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY URGE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO ADOPT A PEOPLE'S BUDGET, WHICH PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN AN UNNECESSARY SALARY INCREASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WE NEED FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WE NEED FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES.
WE NEED FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OF PEOPLE'S BUDGET WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THESE GOALS.
I JUST MENTIONED, HOW CAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS BE ALLOCATED TO IMPLEMENT THESE GOALS? I HOPE THE CITY OR WHAT'S KALEENA CHOOSES TO WORK IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE MADE THE TOP PRIORITY.
THIS IS ASSISTANT CITY CLERK, LISA SHERRICK.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE WELL OVER 40 SPEAKERS ON THE SAME TOPIC.
I'M GOING TO READ THE LETTER INTO THE RECORD AND EACH AND EVERY NAME WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES.
THE COMMENTS, MY REASON FOR EMAILING TODAY IS TO URGE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO ADOPT THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET IN WHICH WOULD PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY OVER A DRAMATIC SALARY RAISE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CITY OF WEST COVINA PER THE 2020 DASH 2021 PRELIMINARY BUDGET ALLOCATES $31,163,716, 47% TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
YET ONLY 9% OF THIS MONEY IS DISTRIBUTED TO ACTUAL MATERIALS AND SERVICES.
THE REMAINING 91% OF THE POLICE BUDGETS, $30,543,800 IS RESERVED FOR THE SALARIES OF OFFICERS AND OCTOBER, 2019, THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL VOTED FOR ONE TO RAISE THE SALARIES OF POLICE OFFICERS BY 12%, WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY COST TAXPAYERS AROUND $600,000 IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND DOUBLE THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, DESPITE THE ONGOING ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS, MANY RESIDENTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND WEST COVINA FACE AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PRIORITIZED THE SALARY, INCREASE OVER THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT MOST NEEDED BY RESIDENTS.
AT THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME, I URGE THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TO ADOPT THE PEOPLE BUDGET AND INCREASED SPENDING AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES AND HOUSING, RATHER THAN AN UNNECESSARY SALARY INCREASE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY COST TAX PAYERS.
SO WE NEED A BUDGET THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY SERVE THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME AND A BUDGET THAT WILL MAKE THE WEST COVINA WE KNOW AND LOVE ASTONISHING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THROUGH THE CHAIR.
I HAVE OTHER COMMENTS THAT I WILL NOW READ INTO THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE A COMMENT FROM JULIE SILVA.
[00:15:01]
WAS A HUGE HOMELESS PROBLEM IN THE CITY.WHERE ARE THEY NOW? AND WHAT CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO ASSIST THEM AFTER THE PANDEMIC? YOU HAVE A COMMENT FROM JESSE WEIGHING.
I REVIEWED THE PRELIMINARY 2020 DASH 2021 BUDGET AND NOTICE THAT ALMOST 50% OF THE GENERAL FUND IS ALLOCATED TO POLICE.
WHEREAS ONLY A COMBINED 11% IS GOING TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU WOULD BE FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HEAVILY AND INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE POLICE.
GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE OF THE NATION, WITNESSING POLICE BRUTALITY, HARASSING THE PEOPLE ARE SWORN TO PROTECT SPECIFICALLY BLACK PEOPLE FUNDING.
THE POLICE MEANS SPENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
I HOPE YOU STRONGLY RECONSIDER THE HARM AND VIOLENCE.
YOU ARE PERPETRATING AGAINST YOUR OWN COMMUNITY BY ALLOCATING OVER $30 MILLION TO THE POLICE.
YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SUPPORT AND ROOM FOR GROWTH, NOT MORE HARASSMENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. CHRIS MILLER, THEIR AUDIT COMMITTEE.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT JIM AND MARSHA AND I ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, DARIA AND COLEEN, I KNOW ARE ON DIFFERENT PAGES.
JESSICA, I KNOW YOU WERE STANDING ON THE FENCE BASED ON PREVIOUS COMMENTS, DAVID AND DONNA.
I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU STAND.
WEST COVINA CITY HAS NEVER BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET AND BEING REASONABLE WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS MONEY.
YES, OUR MONEY MONEY IS ALWAYS WASTED FOR EMERGENCIES INSTEAD OF A PLANNED CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN OVER TIME HAS BEEN ABUSED TIME AND TIME IN THE PAST YET WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED OUT OVERTIME REPORTS SINCE PROMISED OVER TWO YEARS AGO, CALLING DARRIO TONY LLOYD AND LETTY ALL PUSH FOR A RAISE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH THE HOPES OF A SALES TAX, THE PATH, WHICH WOULD NOT, WHICH WOULD HAVE NOT HELPED US IN THESE TIMES.
IT IS AT THE TIME POLICE HIRE ENTRY AND PROMOTE WITHIN CHANGE CULTURE AND BE RESPONSIBLE WITH SALARIES.
INSTEAD OF KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES BUYER HAS AT LEAST HIRED ENTRY LEVEL.
THE CITY NEEDS TO STOP SELLING OFF PROPERTY, FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO FIESTA, DEATH, AND MAKING SWEETHEART DEALS WITH BUDDIES, PRIVATIZING PORTIONS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, IF IT MEANS FOR A LOW.
BUT THOSE FURLOUGHS NEED TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
EACH PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SHALL HAVE THREE TIME CUT SHALL HAVE THEIR TIME CUT PROPORTIONALLY.
I WAS VERY ANGRY WITH ME AND IT'S GOT CUT A FEW YEARS AGO AND OTHERS GOT RAISES.
THE CITY IS WAKING UP AND NOT PUTTING UP WITH ANY MORE BS.
WE WANT A BALANCED BUDGET, NOT SMOKING MIRRORS FOR THE PAST, AND WE WANT IT NOW.
EVEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PER EVEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PETER DAN, AS A WAKE TO OUR MESS AND URGING RESIDENTS TO GET INVOLVED AND LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD.
WE ARE A WEEKEND WATCHING AND LISTENING.
SINCERELY CHRIS EMAIL OR WEST COVINA RESIDENT.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS ALFRED LUMA TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN.
THE COPS DO NOT NEED ANY INCREASE IN SALARIES.
WHY DO YOU PAY THE ONES WHO BRING GENUINE FEAR TO THOSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? CAN WE PLEASE SUPPORT SCHOOLS A LITTLE BETTER, CLEAN THE CITY UP, GET OUR ACTS TOGETHER AND BECOME A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES.
I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE AN ASSOCIATE IN A CITY WHO SPEND THE MENTAL MORALS THAT I PLACE.
THANK YOU AS THE LAST SPEAKER.
UM, DID ANYONE FROM CITY STAFF WANT TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THOSE AT THIS TIME? THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY, UM, LIKE TO JUST SAY, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED TONIGHT AND ALL THE EMAILS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TODAY.
IT'S, UM, HEARTENING TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WANT TO OFFER OPINIONS ABOUT THE CITY BUDGET, WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING TONIGHT.
SO RATHER THAN RESPOND SUBSTANTIVELY, I BELIEVE OUR RESPONSE WILL BE THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT AND BUDGET PRESENTATION, WHICH IS ON YOUR AGENDA IN JUST A MOMENT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES MARSHA, AND THIS DARRIO COUNSELING.
CASTILLANO JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO ONE PART OF THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO US TODAY, MULTIPLE TIMES, UH, IN IT IT'S MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY DEFINE AS A PEOPLE'S BUDGET, UH, EDGY.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING, UM, THE EDUCATIONAL PART OF THE EMAIL.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF, UH, THE GROUP SENDING THE EMAILS, UH, AS AWARE, BUT WE AS A CITY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION IN TERMS OF LIKE SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY MEANT, BUT WE WOULD WELCOME MAYBE MORE CLARIFICATION FROM THAT IN THE FUTURE.
AND AS OUR CITY MANAGER SAID, UH, I'D
[00:20:01]
LIKE TO ECHO THE GRATITUDE FOR THIS MANY PEOPLE BEING, EXCUSE ME, CURIOUS AND WANTING TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR, IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS.ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? OKAY.
SO THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES TONIGHT.
WE'RE APPROVING TWO DIFFERENT, UM, MINUTES.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE THOSE APPROVED OR WERE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE MINUTES?
I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY, ANYTHING INACCURATE ON THEM.
DID ANYBODY NOTICE ANYTHING CALLING ROSATI? NO COMMENT ON THE MINUTES THEY SEEM ACCURATE.
AND CAN I GET A MOTION PLEASE? SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
DID HE TREASURE CALLING ROSATI SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? ALL IN FAVOR.
I DON'T THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD DO ROLL CALL SINCE IT'S A PHONE CALL ON FOR YOU TO FUTURE VOTES.
I APOLOGIZE THAT WE MISSED THE ROLL CALL.
I THINK IT WILL BE EASIER TO MAKE SURE.
SO WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
A CUSTODY ON THEM ON A CHIA BY TIM GURVICH.
HELENE WAS ADI I JESSICA SHOEMAKER.
I IS THE, FOR THE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 23RD.
AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND SET OF MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE JANUARY 22ND, 20, 20 MINUTES.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN CASTILLANO SO AGAIN, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES AS WELL.
SECOND, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES TO HAVE A ROAD CAR.
THIS IS FOR THE MINUTES FROM JANUARY 22ND MEETING.
SO THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD EVENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY NIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION OF THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET TO THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING, AND THEN WE'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
OUR AGENDA FOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING TONIGHT IS TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET TO REVIEW THE OPERATING BUDGET AND ALL OF ITS FUNDS TO FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND, BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, TO LOOK AT SOME FINANCIAL TRENDS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS, DISCUSS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS, AND THEN TO BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW
[00:25:02]
IN THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION, WE ARE THIS EVENING TELLING THE COMMITTEE AND CERTAINLY TELLING THE COMMUNITY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH THE CITY FINANCES.WE'RE GOING TO PAINT A TRUTHFUL PICTURE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THIS EVENING IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE THAT WE NOT CONFLATE COVID-19 AND OTHER ISSUES.
SO AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, WE'RE GONNA EXPLAIN HOW COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT SOME OF THE CITY'S FINANCES, ESPECIALLY THE QUESTION OF ITS CASH FLOWS TO THE FOREFRONT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS ABOUT THE COVID PROBLEM.
YOU BRIEFLY THE DIRECT AND REIMBURSABLE COSTS OF COVID-19 AND, UM, EXPLAIN THE LOSS OF MAJOR REVENUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH RESULTANT OF THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO THE GOALS AND I'M GOING TO ASK OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, ROBIN BERG, TO GO THROUGH THOSE WITH US, EXCUSE ME, WE, WE NEED TO GET THAT LIVE.
SO WE'RE GONNA REWIND AND GO OVER THOSE GOALS AGAIN.
WELL, LET ME TRY AND DO IT RATHER THAN, AND THEN YOU CAN PICK UP THE NEXT SECTION.
I GOT TO TELL EVERYBODY I REALLY MISS REGULAR MEETINGS WHERE WE CAN ALL BE IN ONE ROOM.
THIS TELEPHONE THING IS AWKWARD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED OUR GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, OUR FIRST TO RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL 19 PANDEMIC.
WE, UM, HAVE SPENT MOST OF OUR CITY ATTENTION AND SOME LIMITED RESOURCES WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THINGS LIKE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THAT WE COULD OUTFIT PROPERLY AND PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ET CETERA.
IN THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT $77,000.
OUR SECOND GOAL IS TO HELP THE CITY ACHIEVE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, FINANCIAL STABILITY, TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY, TO ENHANCE OUR CITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ENHANCE OUR CITY IMAGE AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS, AND TO ENGAGE IN PROACTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT THAT ASK OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR TO RUN US THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE.
CARMONEY GOOD EVENING TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND BEFORE WE GET INTO THE GUTS OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT, I WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES, UM, FIRST TO LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2020, AND AS YOU CAN SEE OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, UM, COMPARED TO THE BUDGET WERE AT 76 POINT 74%, WHICH WAS RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE JUST A TAD OVER, UM, THREE QUARTERS AWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
YOU SHOULD BE AT 75% NEXT SLIDE, THE MAJOR REVENUE, WELL, THE REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE USED IN THIS BUDGET.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, OUR MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES ARE STABLE.
UM, WE DID ADJUST OUR SALES TAX DOWNWARD DUE TO COVID-19 AND I THINK THAT'S AN OPTIMISTIC NUMBER.
UM, AND WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT CLOSELY.
THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES SLIGHTLY.
AND THAT ALSO IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THOSE ARE OUR TWO MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES.
OUR TOT I DID NOT ADJUST THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE LOWER.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO END UP BEING.
AND, UM, JUST BY WAY OF, UM, EDUCATION, THE TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAXES, THE HOTEL TAX ARE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE BED TAX FOR PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL AND STAY IN HOTELS, THEN OUR LICENSES AND PERMITS IS INCREASING IN THAT, UM, TO REFLECT THE RATE INCREASES THAT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
UM, EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR, THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMEN.
I'D LIKE TO ADD A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS TO THIS SLIDE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS.
AND I THINK THE MAJOR POINT WANT TO MAKE IS THAT THESE ARE UNCERTAIN TIMES.
AND I THINK THAT HESITANCY THAT YOU HEARD IN ROBIN'S VOICE REFLECTS THAT UNCERTAINTY.
I KNOW WE WERE INTENDING TO PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET AND THIS ONE IS THE WORK THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PREPARING THIS BUDGET BEGAN LONG
[00:30:01]
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT AND THE MAJOR CITY REVENUES BEGAN TO FALTER.BUT I THINK FOR THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY, IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES AND TO LOOK AT WAYS TO POSSIBLY RECONSTITUTE CITY SERVICES AS WE MOVE INTO THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL LOOK AT, UM, THE EXPENDITURE ASSUMPTIONS, UM, THE BUDGET PROJECTIONS IN THIS, UM, 2021 BUDGET PRELIMINARY BUDGET ARE BASED ON A STATUS QUO.
WE DID NOT CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC IN THIS.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BY THE TIME THIS HIT IN MARCH, WE START OUR BUDGET PROCESS EARLY JANUARY OR WELL ALONG THE WAY.
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF MAN HOURS TO PUT THIS DOCUMENT TOGETHER.
AND YOU BASICALLY, UM, HAVE TO GO BACK AND ALMOST START OVER, UM, WITH, UM, ANY ASSUMPTIONS THAT YOU WERE MAKING REGARDING, UH, THE PANDEMIC.
AND ALSO IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS, UM, THINGS WERE CHANGING DAILY, THEY WERE CHANGING RAPIDLY AND WE, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW HOW TO BUDGET FOR THIS.
UM, AND EACH DAY THAT GOES BY, WE GET MORE INFORMATION AND WE FEEL MORE CONFIDENT WITH OUR NUMBERS IN THE, UM, IN PART OF THIS PRESENTATION LATER, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE CASHFLOW PROBLEM THAT CITIES HAVING.
WE DID NOT CONSIDER THE CASHFLOW, UM, ISSUE IN THIS BUDGET.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVERTIME WAS CUT FROM 2.1 MILLION LAST YEAR TO ABOUT 750,000 IN THE 2021 BUDGET.
WE, UM, ASSUME THAT THERE WILL BE NO LAYOUTS OF PERSONNEL.
AND WE INSTITUTED A HIRING FREEZE.
WE ARE SUBMITTING A BALANCED BUDGET, MEANING REVENUES ARE EQUAL TO OUR EXPENDITURES, BUT I NEED TO CAUTION EVERYONE ON THIS CALL.
UM, IT'S BALANCED WITH ONE TIME SOLUTION.
AND, UH, PART OF THAT WAS, UM, DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS THAT COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE WERE EXCESS FUNDS IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
SO I WON'T NEED TO TRANSFER 1.8 MILLION INSTEAD OF IT'LL BE ABOUT, UM, 800,000 AND THERE'S 94 IN PERSONNEL POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS BUDGET AND 67 SWORN FIREFIGHTERS, I'VE ALREADY SAID, THIS NEXT THING IS BY YOUR TIME IS REDUCED TO ABOUT 783.
UM, IT IS AS REDUCTIONS IN MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT POSITIONS.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR POSITION THAT VACATED DUE TO A RETIREMENT.
WE WILL NOT BE FILLING THAT OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MARK PERSICO WILL BE TAKING ON THAT ROLE IN MY OFFICE.
UM, THERE, THE PURCHASING MANAGER POSITION THAT RECENTLY RETIRED AND WE WILL NOT BE FILLING THAT POSITION.
AND ALSO MY ACCOUNTING MANAGER IS A VACANT POSITION THAT WON'T BE FILLED THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS.
UM, THIS CHART SHOWS THAT OUR TOTAL REVENUES BY FUND TYPE ARE $117,301,786 WITH THE GENERAL FUND MAKING UP 57% OF THAT FOLLOWED BY OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, WHICH ARE 21%.
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY FUND TYPE ARE 110 MILLION, 81,284.
AND AGAIN, OUR GENERAL FUND IS 59% OF THAT WITH THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BEING 17% ON BOTH OF THOSE SLIDES, YOU NOTICE THAT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, THEY 0% AND THOSE SLIDES ARE GOING TO BE FIXED.
UM, BY, UM, THE 16TH, WHEN WE ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET, I GOT THOSE NUMBERS FINALIZED LAST MINUTE, WHEN THIS WAS, THE DOCUMENT WAS ALREADY GOING TO PRINT.
SO WE NEED TO PUT THOSE NUMBERS IN IT'LL CHANGE THAT SLIDE SLIGHTLY, THE CITYWIDE, UM, COMPARISONS, THIS GRAPH JUST SHOWS, UM, OUR TOTAL BY ALL FUNDS OUR REVENUES VERSUS OUR EXPENDITURES.
AND THEN AS THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS A MAJOR REVENUE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMPARISON.
SO THE BLUE IS OUR PROPERTY TAX AND OUR SALES TAX, WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 65% OF OUR BUDGET.
AND, UM, THE EXPENDITURES YOU CAN SEE ARE FOR, UM, THE PUBLIC SAFETY THEORY AND THE 65% OF OUR BUDGET DOESN'T MAKE US PAY FOR OUR, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ENTIRELY.
I MEAN, AND TO THE GENERAL FUND, OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES
[00:35:01]
ARE 66 MILLION, 672,236 AND 41% OF THAT IS OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.UM, OUR SALES TAX IS 24% THIS YEAR, WHICH IS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHICH WAS 26%.
AND THE OTHER TAXES IS AT 13% WHERE LAST YEAR IT WAS AT 14%, OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.
UM, IT'S THE GRAPH SHOWING IT'S A VERY STABLE REVENUE SOURCE FOR US AND IT'S GOING UP SLIGHTLY, UM, FOR NEXT YEAR, THE SALES TAX REVENUES, AS I TOLD YOU, UM, I SHIFTED THOSE DOWNWARD BY A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THIS REALLY CLOSELY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE OPENING FOR SURE, JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT WE SAW LIGHT AT THE END OF THAT TUNNEL, UM, AND BUSINESSES WERE ALLOWED TO START OPENING.
WE'VE HAD THESE OTHER ISSUES, UH, WITH THE PROTESTS GOING ON IN LA COUNTY, A GENERAL FUND COMPARISON REVENUES VERSUS EXPENDITURES.
THAT'S JUST SHOWS THAT IN 1920 AND 2021, THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WERE EQUAL.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST A DIFFERENT, UM, GRAPHICAL DEPICTION OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES WAS SHOWS THAT POLICE AND FIRE MAKEUP, 77% OF OUR BUDGET, THE, UM, NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THAT WE'RE VERY RELIANT ON OUR HUMAN RESOURCES.
THEY MAKE UP OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS MAKE UP 79% OF THE BUDGET AND OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS IS 21%.
AND THIS NEXT SLIDE IS VERY TELLING, IS SHOWS THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE CITY GOING, UM, CONTINUALLY DOWN UNTIL 12, UM, 14, 15, WHERE IT WENT UP SLIGHTLY.
AND THEN IT'S, UM, CONTINUED TO JUST, UH, WAVER A LITTLE BIT, GO UP AND DOWN UNTIL, UM, THE 1920, I TALKED ABOUT THE CASH FLOWS, UM, EARLIER.
AND THIS SLIDE HERE, UM, SHOWS THAT OUR ESTIMATED CASH BALANCE IN JUNE, 2020 IS NINE POINT ALMOST NINE POINT $8 MILLION.
THE TOP LINE OF THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE REVENUES THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO TAKE IN THAT'S BASED ON SOME REDUCTIONS IN SALES HACKS, AND LOOKING AT PREVIOUS YEARS TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF AN ESTIMATE FOR ALL THE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES WE HAVE, UM, BELOW THAT OUR EXPENDITURES, UM, THERE'S SEVERAL LINES THERE.
UH, THE PAYROLL YOU'LL NOTICE LIKE IN JULY AND DECEMBER, UM, THE PAYROLL GOES UP AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE PAYROLLS IN BOTH OF THOSE MONTHS, THE CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS, INSURANCE AUTHORITY.
UM, WE HAVE TO PAY THEM A LITTLE OVER 1.5 MILLION.
UM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SPLIT THAT UP.
UM, THE PAYMENTS DUE JULY 1ST AND, UH, WE'LL PAY HALF OF IT, HALF OF THE PAYMENT THEN, AND HALF IN DECEMBER, THAT NEXT LINE IS THE 1.1, TWO, FIVE, THAT'S OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY.
AND, UM, TYPICALLY THE CITY HAS BEEN PAYING THAT IN JULY.
IF YOU PAY BY JULY 31ST, EVERY YEAR, YOU GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT MONEY AND SAY, THE CITY EXPERIENCES SOME SAVINGS.
WE'RE STILL GOING FORWARD LOOKING TO ISSUE PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS IN SEPTEMBER.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S ONLY TWO PAYMENTS THERE.
AND THEN IN JULY, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR INTEREST PAYMENT ON OUR 2018 BONDS, WHICH IS 514,000.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE GOING THROUGH ON THIS, GET OUR, UM, ESTIMATED REVENUE, LESS OUR EXPENDITURES.
AND THEN DOWN BELOW, WE TAKE OUR CURRENT CASH BALANCE, UM, MINUS THE ESTIMATED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TO COME UP WITH THE ESTIMATED NEW CASH BALANCE GOING FORWARD EVERY MONTH.
AND THIS, UM, TURNS RED OR IN THE RED, WHICH IS A DEFICIT IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE GOING TO LET HIM NOW, UM, AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK MARK, PERSICO OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO GIVE THAT PORTION OF THE REPORT.
THIS IS MARK PERSICO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I'LL GO THROUGH A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND JUST FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE, UH, LARGER TERM, UH, PROJECTS
[00:40:01]
THAT HAVE A MULTIYEAR LIFE, UH, SUCH AS, UH, DOLT IMPROVEMENTS, PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE, LIKE THERE ARE EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS.UH, WON'T READ THROUGH THE SLIDE, BUT, UH, FROM BUILDINGS TO VEHICLES, UM, AND THERE ARE WITHIN EACH OF THOSE, UH, A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT THE CITY IS PROPOSING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH BEGINS JULY 1ST.
UM, IF ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ULTIMATELY APPROVED, IT'S ABOUT 11 POINT $1 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF PROJECTS ACROSS FIVE YEARS, WE'VE IDENTIFIED FUNDING OR 43 POINT $6 MILLION FOR PROJECTS.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO, WHAT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE, BUT IN THE BUDGET ITSELF, THERE IS A LIST OF UNFUNDED PROJECTS, UH, AND UNFUNDED LIST TOTALS BOUT, OR THE, EXCUSE ME, 38 POINT $8 MILLION.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, TURN THAT BACK OVER TO, UM, UH, ROBIN REAL QUICK.
THERE IS A SLIDE HERE WHICH SHOWS KIND OF THE DIVISION OF, UH, PROJECTS BY PERCENTAGE.
AND, UH, UH, THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THAT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS GO INTO, UH, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THEN FOLLOWED BY SEWER PROJECTS FOR NEXT STEPS.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, ROBIN BYRD.
UM, SO OUR NEXT STEPS, UM, WE NEED TO MONITOR OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TIMELY AND MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET.
UM, AS WE ARE AWARE OF, UM, ANY SHORTFALLS, WE NEED TO MONITOR OUR CASH FLOWS OF THE GENERAL FUND CONTINUALLY.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE A PLAN TO RESOLVE OUR GENERAL FUND STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND REPLENISH THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES FOR THE CITY POLICY.
WE'RE GONNA SHIFT FROM REACTIVE TO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, ADAPT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS, MEANING INTERSPACE BARGAINING, AND ADHERE TO ADOPTED BUDGET POLICIES.
AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE.
HI, ROBIN COLEEN WAS HAUGHTY CITY TREASURER CALLING.
HEY, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS REPORT.
IF YOU CAN UPDATE THE FOLKS, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GIVEN HERE IS FROM MARCH 30TH OF 2020, AND A LOT OF PROPERTY TAXES COME IN THEREAFTER.
IS THERE A WAY OF, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT, HOW WE HAVE MANAGED TO OBTAIN OR INCREASE OUR RETAIN, LET ME, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
ARE WE CLOSER TO THE BUDGET? MARXAN WE WERE IN MARCH.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK FROM THE COUNTY NOT WANTING TO GIVE US.
SO, UM, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IN MAY OR THE END OF APRIL, UM, MR. CARMONEY AND I WERE SITTING IN MY OFFICE ON A FRIDAY AND, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO BALANCE IT.
AND I GOT AN EMAIL AND IT SAID MAY, UM, 20 REMITTANCE ADVICE, YOU KNOW, IT REMITTANCE PROPERTY.
I KNEW FROM THE EMAIL THAT IT WAS FOR PROPERTY TAX.
SO I WAS LIKE, OH, THEY'RE GOING TO TELL US HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX WE'RE GOING TO GET.
AND I OPENED UP THE EMAIL AND IT WAS A LETTER SAYING, UM, DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS WEREN'T MADE ON TIME AND IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME DELAYS IN POSTING THOSE AMOUNTS.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY UNTIL JULY.
AND THEN WHILE I WAS READING THE FIRST LETTER, ANOTHER LETTER CAME IN FROM THE COUNTY AND IT WAS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT MONEY, THE RPT TF.
AND THEY SAID EXACTLY THE SAME THING, EXCEPT FOR THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GIVE US THAT MONEY UNTIL JANUARY, 2021.
AND SO, UM, OF COURSE, DAVE AND I SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND WE TALKED TO OUR LOBBYISTS UP AT THE STATE LEVEL TO GET A HOLD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO SEE IF THEY COULD
[00:45:01]
WITHHOLD THAT MONEY.WE ALSO CALLED THE COUNTY AND I, UM, EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE CITY REALLY NEEDED THAT MONEY SO THAT WE COULD BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS AND MAKE OUR PAYROLLS.
AND, UM, I'M SURE MANY OTHER CITIES DID THE SAME THING AND I NEVER HEARD FROM THE COUNTY AGAIN, BUT I DID GET THE PROPERTY TAX IN MAY.
AND IS NOT THE SAME SITUATION FOR THE SALES TAX OR IS IT JUST THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE SALES AT THE TWO MALLS THAT WE HAVE, AND LIKE WE DID, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS AGO, RIGHT? I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM, UM, THE DATE ABOUT SALES TAX.
UM, WE DID RECEIVE OUR MAY PROPERTY TAX AND IT WAS ABOUT HALF OF THE PAYMENT THAT WE USUALLY SEE, SO IT'S DEFINITELY DOWN.
UM, AND THAT WAS, UM, I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY SALES TAX SALES TAX.
UM, SO IT, THE SALES TAX WAS DEFINITELY DOWN FOR THE MAY PAYMENT THAT WE RECEIVED.
SORRY, IF I CONFUSED, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
UH, I HAVE JUST, THIS IS JUST THE THING OFF TOPIC.
UH, WE ACTUALLY HAD AN EARTHQUAKE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLKS FILLED IT, UH, SIX 37.
WELL, ANYWAY, THAT'S OFF TOPIC ON TOPIC IS, UH, UH, THE, UH, ISSUE, UH, WITH THE, UH, BUDGET THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYBODY CAUSE I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT IS, UH, THE OVERTIME.
I, UH, I APPLAUD THE BUDGETING, UH, REDUCTION IN OVERTIME.
I, UH, UH, THE, BECAUSE I'VE SAID FOR YEARS, THAT IT'S A PROBLEM, UH, BUT I'M, I'M UNSURE OF WHETHER THE CITY IS GOING TO, UH, EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, A YEAR AFTER YOUR, THE CITY REGULARLY SPENDS MORE W OFTENTIMES WAY MORE THAN AS BUDGET OVER TIME.
AND, UH, SO I, UM, I SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY, UH, IT'S MORNING, AND, UH, I'M INTERESTED IN, UH, THE CITY PRESENTING A, UH, A PLAN, UH, TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THAT BUDGET.
UH, I'M NOT HUNG UP ON A PARTICULAR METHOD, UH, BUT RATHER THAN JUST SAYING, YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD SUBMIT A PLAN.
I THOUGHT, AT LEAST I SHOULD OFFER A COUPLE OF IDEAS, WHICH I INCLUDED IN MY, MY EMAIL, OH, ONE WAS A THING CALLED A BROWN OUT, UH, WHERE, UH, THE STAFFING, UH, UH, IS NOT AUDIT, UH, APPS ABSENCES AND STAFFING ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY REPLACED BY OVERTIME.
AND I USED AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, UH, THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO THAT IMPLEMENTED SUCH A PLAN.
AND THE OTHER THING I OFFERED UP AS A POSSIBILITY WAS, UH, UH, UH, USING CONTRACTED AMBULANCE SERVICES, UH, UH, IN PLACE OF OVERTIME.
UH, AND, UH, THE, UH, BUT THOSE ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS, UH, THE MAIN, UH, REQUEST, UH, IS THAT THE, UM, UH, YEAH, YEAH, THERE'D BE A SPECIFIC PLAN ON, UH, ON, ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACHIEVE THE BUDGET.
UH, AND AS YOU, IF YOU READ THE EMAIL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, I'M INTENDING TO PUTTING THAT IN THE FORM OF EMOTION AS A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, WHICH I GUESS IS HOW WE DO THINGS IN THIS COMMITTEE.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, UH, MY SPECIFIC, UH, ISSUE OR, UH, ON, IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET.
THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY.
WE HAVE WITH US ON THIS TELEPHONE MEETING, OUR FIRE CHIEF.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO TALK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOLDING FIRM TO THE AMOUNT OF BUDGET OR OVERTIME THAT'S IN THIS PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
AND ALSO TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE QUESTION OF, UM, THE ONE IDEA WE WE'D HEARD FROM A RESIDENT ABOUT, UH, CONTRACTING WITH EMINENT HOSPITAL, FOR AMBULANCES.
THERE ARE OTHER MODELS WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PRESENT ANY ONE MODEL TONIGHT, BUT I WANT HER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD SOME CONSEQUENCES.
SO FIRE CHIEF CAPELLI, IF YOU'RE THERE, WOULD YOU PLEASE,
[00:50:01]
UH, RESPOND TO THESE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.I'M CITY MANAGER, CARMONEY COMMITTEE, CHAIR, AND MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, FIRE CHIEF HAS CAPELLA HERE.
UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME GOOD ENOUGH? YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.
UH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY.
I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
I'LL FIRST DISCUSS, UH, WHAT, UM, ST.
MANOR CARMONEY STATED ABOUT, UM, THE, UM, RESULTS OF STICKING TO THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME BUDGETED, UH, WITH THE CURRENT STAFFING MODEL AND STAFFING LEVELS, UH, THERE WOULD BE ONLY MATTERED A WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE HAVING, UH, A WORKFORCE REDUCTION OR BROWNING OUT AND SHUTTING DOWN STATIONS OR RESOURCES WITHIN A DISTRICT.
BY FOLLOWING THAT MODEL, THAT MODEL WOULD BE, ONCE THE OVERTIME RAN, RAN OUT, IT WOULD BE THAT WE WOULDN'T BACKFILL ANY FURTHER.
AND IN THAT MODEL, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE BROWN OUT IN SAN DIEGO, UM, BUT DIFFERENT AS I EXPLAINED THAT IN A MOMENT, UH, WE WOULD HAVE, UH, NO RESOURCES IN A CERTAIN AREA.
SO THAT'S HOW WE WOULD ONLY WAY WE'D BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THAT OVERTIME AMOUNT.
SECOND, THE BROWNOUT METHOD IN SAN DIEGO, UH, ABSOLUTELY IS APPLES TO ORANGES AND, UH, COULD NOT, UH, WORK IN, IN WEST COVINA IN THE CURRENT DEPLOYMENT MODEL THAT WE HAVE AS A, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE HAVE ONE, UM, ENGINE OR TRUCK IN EACH DISTRICT OF THE FIVE DISTRICTS AND IN SAN DIEGO WHERE THEY HAVE 47 FIRE STATIONS, THEY HAVE, UM, A NUMBER OF THEM 13 THAT HAVE MULTIPLE ENGINES OR TRUCKS IN THE SAME FIREHOUSE OR DISTRICT.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF THEY INVOKE A BROWNOUT SITUATION, WHEN MEMBERS, UH, HAVE A LEAVE TIME, THEY NEVER REMOVE A RESOURCE FROM THE DISTRICT.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE RESOURCE IN A DISTRICT TO RESPOND.
SO, AND IN A REGIONAL METHOD OF A DISTRICT, AS BIG AS THEM, THEY CAN DO THAT AND STILL HAVE GOOD COVERAGE AND RESPONSE THROUGH ALL THE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY IN WEST COVINA.
UH, IF WE ENACTED A BROWNOUT ACTIVITY FOR DEPLOYMENT MODEL, YOU WOULD SEE A DECREASE IN THE RESPONSE IN A DISTRICT.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE BROWNED OUT STATION THREE, UH, THERE WOULD BE NO RESOURCE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
AND WE'D HAVE TO RELY ON A RESOURCE FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT IN WEST COVINA.
AND IF THOSE UNITS WEREN'T AVAILABLE, WE'D HAVE TO RELY ON A POSSIBLE MUTUAL AID, A UNIT FROM, UH, ANOTHER DISTRICT OR ANOTHER AGENCY.
UM, OUR AREA B BUYER IS WE'RE AN AIRBNB FOR FIRE.
UH, AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE AND LAVERNE FIRE.
AND, UM, WE'D HAVE TO RELY ON THEM HAVING UNITS AVAILABLE TO COME IN.
AND THERE'S A DELAY AS OUR DISPATCH.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CALL THEIR DISPATCHER AND SEE IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THAT.
SO AT THAT POINT, SO THE BROWN OUT METHOD IS NOT COMPARABLE, UH, FOR SAN DIEGO DEPARTMENT FOR THE REGIONAL APPROACH AS THEY HAVE COMPARED TO US, UM, UH, AND THE CARE AMBULANCE.
SO CONTRACTING WITH CARE AMBULANCE, THE ONLY WAY THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVING A CONTRACT WITH CARE AMBULANCE, DO THE TRANSPORT PORTION OF OUR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT PATIENTS WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN, UM, WORKFORCE, UH, CAUSE AT THIS TIME THE CITY OF WEST COVINA TRANSPORT, OUR OWN BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT PATIENTS.
AND WE ALSO DO THE BILLING FOR THAT AND RECEIVE THE AMBULANCE TRANSPORT, UM, COSTS FOR THAT CONTRACTING WITH A PRIVATE ELANCE COMPANY.
UH, THEY WOULD DO OUR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND WE WOULD STILL NEED TO HAVE A ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, UM, MEMBERS FOR LA COUNTY, UM, ON HEALTH SERVICE POLICIES TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS.
UM, LASTLY, THE TALK ABOUT, UM, USING EMINENT HEALTH AS THE PRE HOSPITAL CARE RESPONSE, DOESN'T MEET THE LOS ANGELES EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE AGENCIES, RESPONSE, UM, MODELS, UH, PER THEIR PROCEDURES MANUAL.
UH, IT'S CURRENTLY DONE BY WAY OF, UM, A PRE HOSPITAL CARE PROVIDER, FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN LA COUNTY THAT HANDLE THAT.
UM, I DON'T THINK WE COULD TALK EMANATE HEALTH TO SPENDING THE, UM, I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST THEM TO BUY THEIR OWN AMBULANCES, TO TRAIN THEIR PERSONNEL, GET THEIR EQUIPMENT, AND THEN HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO DO THE BILLING FOR THOSE SERVICES.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE MODEL THAT'S WIDELY USED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, UM, IS SIMILAR TO THE MODEL THAT WE
[00:55:01]
USE.I HOPE THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS THAT THERE'S A, UH, ANSWERED THE COMMON STRAIN QUESTIONS.
UH, I WAS NOT ATTEMPTING TO PRESCRIBE A PARTICULAR METHODOLOGY TO, UH, IMPLEMENT THE, UH, OVERTIME REDUCTION.
MY INTENT WAS TO JUST SAY THAT OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE DO THIS KIND OF THING.
AND IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO THINK THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING, UH, WHAT I WAS THE MAIN PURPOSE AND THE MAIN MOTIVATION FOR MY, UH, RECOMMENDATION IS THAT I DON'T WANT THE BUDGET TO BE ONCE AGAIN, A FANTASY THAT IS IGNORED.
UH, UH, I, AS I SAID, A MOMENT AGO, IT'S BEEN A PRACTICE TO IGNORE THE OVERTIME BUDGETS AND SPEND CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN IS BUDGETED.
I, I, I'M HOPING THAT THE BUDGET IS REAL AND THAT THERE CAN BE A PLAN TO ACTUALLY EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT IT AS WRITTEN.
AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR.
UH, THE, UH, I HOPE I'VE MADE MYSELF CLEAR.
I WAS TRYING TO SAY THAT THE FIRST TIME, BUT I FELT I NEEDED TO REPEAT MYSELF TO, UH, UH, UH, CAUSE I, I UNDERSTAND THAT NO TWO THINGS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AND YOU COULDN'T DO IT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, BUT AT LEAST I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE DO IT.
AND I THINK THAT MEANS IT CAN BE DONE HERE TOO.
AND, UH, AS WE ALREADY KNOW, WE HAVE ENGINE FOUR, UM, WHICH IS A CLOSED AND WE HAD TWO UNITS OUT OF STATION TWO AND MOVED ONE TO STATION FOUR, IN FACT, WHICH WOULD BE ROUNDING OUT A UNIT OUT OF STATION TWO SINCE WE MOVED THE, UM, A SINGLE RESOURCE TO STATION FOUR.
UM, SO WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE RECENT YEARS AND, UH, ANYTHING FURTHER WOULD BE, UM, NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE SERVICE LEVEL AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN WEST COVINA AS OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PROPERLY GET, UM, PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES TO AN EMERGENCY ADEQUATELY.
IF THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY AGAIN.
SO I THINK I WOULD WRAP UP OUR RESPONSE TO MR. GRITCHES COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO SAY THERE ARE DIFFERENT MODELS AND WE ARE WORKING HARD TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THOSE THAT MIGHT MAKE SENSE FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL CONSIDER BE IT TRANSPORT VIA PRIVATE AMBULANCES AND RUNNING AMBULANCE OUT OF FIRE STATIONS INSTEAD OF FIRE ENGINES, IN SOME CASES, UM, PRIVATE AMBULANCES INSTEAD OF CITY AMBULANCES.
UH, ANOTHER APPROACH IS REGIONALIZATION OF THE SERVICE.
IF WE ARE SURROUNDED BY COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES, PERHAPS SOMETHING COULD BE CONSIDERED IN THAT REGARD AS WELL.
AND SO THERE, THERE ARE OTHER MODELS AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO FIND ONE THAT MEETS THE CITY'S NEEDS AND GOALS, BUT THAT ALL RETURN IT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR OTHER QUESTIONS.
WELL, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR, AND I'LL MAKE THIS AS A MOTION, UH, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND, UH, TO THE CITY COUNCIL, I'M MOVING THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT, UH, THE CITY MANAGER PURSUE WHAT HE JUST DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF, UH, POSSIBLE MODELS TO IMPLEMENT AND, UM, UH, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, ABOUT, UH, AN IMPLEMENTATION THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY KEEP SPENDING WITHIN THE OVERTIME BUDGET.
SO I HOPE THAT'S, UH, I HOPE THAT WAS CLEAR.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT FOR JIM.
CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? ANXIOUS.
[01:00:04]
HI, JESSICA SHOEMAKER.DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET FROM ANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS? ALRIGHT, THIS IS TYPICALLY I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ROPING AND ALL THE ACCOUNTING STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS, THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW IT'S NOT, UH, IT'S NOT EASY CONSIDERING THE DEPARTURE OF THE ACCOUNTING MANAGER AND THE PURCHASING MANAGER.
BASED UPON MY REVIEW OF THE BUDGET, IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, I MEAN, AGAIN, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MUCH OF THIS BASED UP ON, UH, ON PRE PANDEMIC TIME.
SO I GUESS I HAVE SHIFTED MY FOCUS INTO THE GENERATION OF REVENUE.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU WOULD BE, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PLAN OR IDEAS IN THE PIPELINE, HOW WE COULD GO ABOUT STABILIZING OR INCREASING OUR CASHFLOW? I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A PLAN TO ISSUE SOME PENSION OBLIGATION BOND IN Q THREE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THE FINANCES? UM, THANK YOU, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBER, UH, LYNN.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME ALTERNATIVES.
I DID MAKE A CALL TO THE COUNTY TO, UM, TALK TO THEM ABOUT A POSSIBLE ADVANCE ON OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
UM, I'M LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THAT INTEREST RATE WOULD BE.
AND, UM, I JUST, I'M, I'M NOT REAL FOND OF THIS METHOD.
I'M RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS HERE.
UM, THERE'S VERY FEW WAYS THAT YOU CAN BALANCE A BUDGET.
YOU CAN EITHER RAISE YOUR REVENUES, WHICH WOULD MEAN EITHER A TAX INCREASE OR, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF YOU UT OR, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY GONE DOWN ROAD AND IT'S BEEN VOTED DOWN OR YOU CAN DECREASE EXPENDITURES.
AND WE'RE AT A POINT NOW, UM, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, UM, IF WE CUT ANY MORE SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED TO, UM, THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
SO, UM, I, I'M NOT SEEING ANY REAL GOOD OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO PURSUE, UM, THIS TAX REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTE AND SEE WHAT THE INTEREST RATE MIGHT BE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT TAKES US OKAY TILL DECEMBER, AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE TO BORROW AGAIN, UNTIL WE GET OUR PROPERTY TAXES IN APRIL.
I DON'T SEE THAT AS A LONGTERM SOLUTION IN IT, AND IT'S COSTLY.
IT RAISES OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE THE IDEAS THAT I'VE TOSSED AROUND.
UM, THE, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M LOOKING MAYBE TO CONTRACT WITH, UM, LA COUNTY FOR OUR FIRE SERVICE, UM, AS PART OF, UM, THE SETTLEMENT, UM, WITH THE, UM, FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, WE AGREED TO HAVE THE COUNTY LOOK AT AND PROVIDE US WITH COSTS FOR THOSE, UM, SERVICES.
AND IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL AND GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA TO HAVE A REGIONAL, UM, MODEL WHERE THEY HAVE MANY, MANY RESOURCES WHERE WE WOULD HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT, WHICH WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
NOW, OUR FIREFIGHTERS WOULD HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS THAT THEY NEED.
UM, THEY WOULD HAVE TURNOUTS THAT ARE NOT 10 YEARS OLD AND, UM, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, COULD IN THE LONG RUN CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS AS FAR AS PUBLIC SAFETY TO THOSE EMPLOYEES, THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMEN, YOU'D LIKE TO ADD A THOUGHT OR TWO TO ROBIN'S COMMENTS, WHICH WERE, I THINK, DIRECT AND ON POINT MOST CALIFORNIA CITIES DEPEND QUITE DIRECTLY AND QUITE HEAVILY ON SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAX AND TRANSIT OCCUPANCY TAX.
UM, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE TYPICALLY REVENUES, WHICH ARE FAR MORE RELIABLE AND SECURE AND PREDICTABLE.
WE ARE REALLY, UM, FROM A FISCAL PERSPECTIVE, ANXIOUS THAT THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS ARE LIFTED AND THAT AS THEY ARE LIFTED, THE CITY DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER, BRING BACK THE
[01:05:01]
LOCAL ECONOMY.WE GOT SOME GREAT INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT WHAT STANDARDS THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BE ASKING OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO FOLLOW IF THEY GO TO A MORE ALFRESCO STYLE.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA STAND THAT UP AS SOON AS WE CAN AND TRY AND ISSUE OVER THE COUNTER ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT THAT, UH, UM, ON A FEE WAIVER BASIS.
SO WE CAN HELP OUR RESTAURANTS IN THAT SECTOR GET BACK UP.
UM, THE, THE CITY'S PREEXISTING PROBLEMS THAT WERE, I THINK, WELL HIGHLIGHTED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE AUDITOR, UM, AFFECT A LOT OF CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND IN WEST COVINA IN PARTICULAR.
SO THESE ISSUES ABOUT HOW MUCH DEBT IS THE CITY CARRYING, HOW MUCH, UH, RAINY DAY FUNDS DID IT HAVE OR NOT HAVE, UM, ARE, ARE QUITE SHARPLY IN FOCUS.
NOW ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE YOU SAW BY THE PARK CHARTS WHERE OUR MONEY GOES.
I THINK THE CITY'S EMPLOYEES ARE ITS BIGGEST ASSET.
SO IF DURING THE CRISIS, WE NEED TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT, UM, ALTERNATIVES.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN, I THINK WE'VE MET WITH EACH OF OUR NINE UNITS UNIONS, UH, FIVE OR SIX TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE URGENCY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE GETTING AN EXTREMELY HARD LOOK.
UM, JUST THIS WEEK, I'LL GIVE YOU A SMALL ONE DATA 0.1 SMALL EXAMPLE.
THE CITY HAS MOVED ITS TREE-TRIMMING CYCLE OUT OF THE CITYWIDE LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT TO A FIVE YEAR CYCLE.
WE JUST BID THAT BACK OUT, BUT THAT'S SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND MAYBE WE COULD TRANSITION TO AN EIGHT YEAR CYCLE AND MAYBE WE COULD JUST TAKE A BREATH AND NOT TRIM TREES EXCEPT ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS THIS YEAR SHIFT THOSE LMD MONIES TO SOME OTHER I'M ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE AND FREE UP MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND SO, UM, THE, I THINK THE COVID-19 CRISIS HAS TURNED INTO A FISCAL CRISIS AND WE'RE TAKING IT QUITE SERIOUSLY AND THEY'RE WELCOMING OF ANY OTHER IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE FOR WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN, CAN FIND ECONOMIES AND EFFICIENCIES IN OUR OPERATION.
THANK YOU, DAVID AND ROBIN, UH, I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND FLIPPING TO PAGE NUMBER 60, I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING, FROM THE COUNT NUMBER THREE, SIX, THREE EIGHT, YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT PAGE 60.
IN WHICH ACCOUNT, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T CATCH THAT PAGE 60 ON ACCOUNT NUMBER THREE 63 WORKER'S COMP.
UH, COULD, COULD YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE EXPECTING A $1 MILLION JUMP FROM THE LAST ADOPTER BUDGET? SO, UM, ALL OVER HERE, GO TO A DIFFERENT PAGE WORKER'S COMPENSATION, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE SWITCHING OVER THIS YEAR TO THE CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS INSURANCE AUTHORITY, UM, WE GOING TO HAVE SOME TRAILING CLAIMS THAT WE HAVE, SO THAT, THAT BUDGET, IF YOU LOOKED AT PAGE ONE 47, UM, THERE'S A MILLION DOLLAR LINE ITEM THERE FOR CLAIMS PAID.
AND THE INSURANCE AND THE INSURANCE.
SO, UH, I THINK IN THE SHORT RUN THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF THOSE TRAILING BILLS AND SWITCHING OVER TO A NEW INSURANCE COMPANY, UM, WE HAVE TO PAY THOSE PREMIUMS UPFRONT.
PLUS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY, UM, WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR SELF-INSURED RETENTION, SO WE HAVE TO PUT PAY ANY CLAIMS THAT ARE BELOW THAT.
AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDS.
IT MAY END UP BEING LOWER THAN THAT.
UH, WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT, I SEE, I MEAN, I KNOW WHY WE CHANGED THE COMPANY.
IF I COULD SPEAK TO GET THIS AS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY AGAIN, WE WERE, UM, CONCERNED OVERALL ABOUT THE CITY'S RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
AND I THINK THAT THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF MUNICIPAL RISK MANAGEMENT ARE AVOIDANCE AND TRANSFERENCE OF RISK.
AND SO WE LOOKED QUITE CLOSELY AT THE CITY'S LOSS EXPERIENCE AND TRIED TO DIVE INTO THERE.
THE REASONS WHY THE AGENCY THAT WE ULTIMATELY JOINED THE CALIFORNIA JOINT POWERS, INSURANCE AUTHORITY DO SPECIALIZES IN THIS TYPE OF RISK AND MUNICIPAL RISK.
THERE NOW GOT ABOUT 120 CALIFORNIA CITIES REPRESENTING ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE POPULATION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
WHEN WE FIRST TRIED TO BECOME A MEMBER JUST OVER A YEAR
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AGO, THEY DID A RISK MANAGER EVALUATION.THEY WERE THOROUGH AND THEY RESPECTFULLY DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAW IN TERMS OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, THAT THEIR CITY HAD A LOT OF THINGS THAT IT NEEDED TO DO BETTER.
AND SO WE TREATED THAT AS A, TO DO LIST AND THOSE INITIATIVES, WE KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR AGAIN, THIS YEAR, THEY REFRESH THEIR RISK MANAGEMENT EVALUATION AND THIS YEAR THEY LET US IN BECAUSE WE'D MADE GOOD PROGRESS AGAINST THOSE IDENTIFIED GOALS.
THEY LET US IN, UM, WITH SOME CONDITIONS AND WE'VE GOT A TIMELINE.
NOW, WHEN WE START JULY 1ST TO SATISFY THEIR, UM, LIST IN TERMS OF RISK MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES AND RISKS THAT THEY'VE PUT IN FRONT OF US.
AND THEY'VE GIVEN US A PRETTY CLEAR SCHEDULE BY WHICH THEY WANT US TO, TO MEET THAT.
SO I GUESS A LONG ANSWER TO A SHORT QUESTION, WHY DID WE CHANGE? I THINK WE CHANGED FROM A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED MORE JUST INSURANCE COVERAGE TO A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED, UM, A FULL, UH, RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THANK YOU, MR.
UH, THIS JIM GOUREVITCH I, UM, OH, THERE, YOU MADE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, THE REVENUES ARE PROBABLY OVER OPTIMISTIC IN THIS DOCUMENT.
UH, I'M JUST MAKING A COMMENT THAT I HOPE THAT, UH, WE CAN HAVE, UH, A REVISED REVENUE ESTIMATE SOON BECAUSE THE EARLIER WE ARE ABLE TO, UH, EFFECTUATE A RESPONSE TO IT, THE BETTER, UH, I THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY BECAUSE, UH, I KNOW WAITING TIL THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARBONATE.
WE UNDERSTAND THE COMMENT AND APPRECIATED AND AGREE WITH IT.
I KNOW SOME TIMES TOO, AS THE CITY CHANGES ITS WAY OF SERVICE DELIVERY, THESE CHANGES CAN'T BE EFFECTED OVERNIGHT.
AND IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, UH, TIME IS NOT OUR FRIEND.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE ACTING WITH SOME HIGH TIME URGENCY TO TRY AND MAKE SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
AND, UM, UM, POINT MADE JIM IN TERMS OF THE NEED TO KEEP OUR PULSE ON THOSE MAJOR REVENUES THIS WEEK AND OR THE FISCAL YEAR.
HI DAVE COLEEN, ROSATI CITY TREASURER.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS LITTLE CHAT THAT'S GOING ON HERE AND SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN ASKING THIS QUESTION.
BUT I HAVE OBSERVED THAT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON HERE HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION, AND MAYBE YOU COULD CLARIFY THE REASON FOR GIVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE THE INCREASES RECENTLY, THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY COLEEN.
THE RAISES WERE GRANTED, UM, AFTER SOME PRETTY CAREFUL REVIEW OF WHERE WE WERE WITH RESPECT TO OUR PAY STRUCTURES.
AND WE WERE GIVING THOSE RAISES IN A TIME, WHICH WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THIS TIME.
I THINK OUR SITUATION, UM, PRETTY, PRETTY SHARPLY IN FOCUS THEN ON MARKET.
AND WE WERE LOSING POLICE OFFICERS AT A REALLY RAPID RATE TO SOME OTHER AGENCIES AND PAID BETTER.
UM, WE STARTED TO LOSE ONE MORE AND THEN SEVERAL MORE TO ONTARIO FOR A GOOD BAD EXAMPLE.
IT'S A FINE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE WERE WORRIED THAT IF WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING TO MOVE SALARIES TO MARKET, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SHIFT DEPLOYMENT AND NOT BE ABLE TO MEET, MEET THE STANDARDS.
THE RULE OF THUMB FOR A CITY, A MUNICIPALITY IN THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE YOU'D WANT ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR EVERY THOUSAND POPULATION.
SO HERE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE 110 SWORN.
I THINK AT OUR LOWEST, WE WERE DOWN TO THE NUMBER OF ESCAPES ME WITH SOMETHING LIKE 78, WHICH IS JUST WAY TOO THIN.
WE'RE BACK UP NOW TO, UM, I THINK WE WERE AT 92 TO RETIREMENT.
SO THE NUMBERS HOVERING NOW RIGHT AT 90,
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WHICH IS, UM, THIS WEEK DOESN'T FEEL LIKE TOO MANY, FRANKLY, GIVEN WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR WORLD.AND SO I WOULD THINK IT WAS MARKET DRIVEN FORCES AT THAT TIME HINDSIGHT BEING PERFECT.
WOULD I, UM, WOULD I DO IT TODAY? NO, I WOULDN'T, BUT I THINK IT WAS A MOVE THAT I WAS PREPARED TO RECOMMEND THEM.
AND, UM, AND, AND HERE WE ARE, THANK DAVE.
AND YOU MAY WANT TO MENTION THAT POLICE AND FIRE WERE OUT OF CONTRACT FOR THREE YEARS AND DID NOT GET A COLA INCREASE FOR THREE YEARS EITHER IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
WELL, I THINK, UM, THIS IS DAVE CARMONEY AGAIN, CITY MANAGER.
UH, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
I THINK, UM, LABOR RELATIONS IN THAT MOMENT, WE'RE IN A FAR, I THINK THE BEING OUT OF CONTRACT FOR THREE AND FOUR YEARS IS, IS A PRETTY BIG RED FLAG.
IN FACT, UM, WHEN WE WERE INITIALLY DISCUSSING OUR RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES WITH THE JOINT POWERS INSURANCE AGENCY, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THEIR LIST AS A, AS A HARBINGER OF, OF THINGS THAT WERE, WERE A MYTH.
UM, WE LIKE TO THINK WE'VE GOT THAT TURNED AROUND NOW.
UM, IF I COULD COMPLIMENT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN CONDUCTING THEMSELVES THIS WEEK FOR GOOD EXAMPLE, I'M QUITE PROUD OF THE WAY WE'VE BEEN ON THE NEWS FOR ONLY A PEACEFUL PROTEST, AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY SUFFERED.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, UM, WHAT, WHAT TOMORROW'S GOING TO BRING WITH OUR LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, BUT REPEATING FOR EMPHASIS WE'RE AT THE TABLE NOW, WHICH IS WHERE THIS BUSINESS BELONGS, BUT WE'RE AT THE TABLE NOW WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR NINE UNIONS ABOUT, ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES, WHERE TO TRY AND RESOLVE IT AT THAT, AT THAT TABLE AND NOT IN THIS FORUM.
UM, OH, THIS IS MARSHA SOLORIO CHAIR SPEAKING.
I WANT TO FIRST COMMEND, UM, OUR CITY STAFF AS DAVID INDICATED FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS BUDGET AND THEY REALLY WANT TO COMMEND OUR CITY COUNCIL FOR ASKING SOME GREAT QUESTIONS AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING.
UM, CAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT MY LIST OF QUESTIONS.
I PREPARED, YOU KNOW, THEY ASKED ABOUT HALF OF THEM.
I SAID, HEY, KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR OWN PAPER PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THEM WERE ANSWERED.
I DID WANT TO BRING UP A COUPLE JUST FOR EMPHASIS.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, YESTERDAY WAS TALKED ABOUT THE ANIMAL CONTROL, THE BIG DECREASE IN REVENUE, BUT THE MAJOR INCREASE IN EXPENSES.
SO I WOULD LIKE, I DON'T NEED TO RESPOND NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE LOOKED AT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.
UM, I DID HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ON PAGE 52 MARSHA IF I MADE THIS AS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY, CAN WE TRY AND ANSWER THAT ONE BRIEFLY NOW? AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER SUFFICIENTLY RETURNED WITH MORE INFORMATION TO YOU, I THINK I'M GOING TO ASK OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT CONTRACT TIME TERM IN ANY COMPARATIVES WITH, WITH OTHER AGENCIES BESIDE OUR, CURRENTLY THIS IS JUST ONLY WITH RESPECT TO ANIMAL CONTROL.
THIS IS MARK PERSICO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
UM, YES, REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL.
THE CITY DID MOVE FROM, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL TO INLAND VALLEY, UM, ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND, UM, THE REVENUES, UH, DIDN'T MATERIALIZE AS WE HAD EXPECTED.
SO WE ARE BACK IN CONVERSATION WITH, UH, LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO, UH, CONSIDER GOING BACK TO THEM.
UM, WE HAVEN'T CONCLUDED THOSE CONVERSATIONS YET, BUT YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS TALKING TO INLAND VALLEY ABOUT WAYS TO INCREASE THOSE REVENUES.
YOU KNOW, JUST BEING A, A RESIDENT.
UM, I WENT ON THEIR WEBSITE AND BECAUSE WE WERE LAKE, I THINK THE DOG LICENSE IS DUE AND WE NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE
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AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, HEARD THROUGHOUT, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MY NEIGHBORS THAT NOBODY EVER REALLY RECEIVED.THEY'RE USED TO RECEIVING FROM THE COUNTY LIKE, HEY, YOUR LICENSE IS DUE.
NO TYPE OF COMMUNICATION WAS, WAS SENT TO INDIVIDUALS.
SO THERE MIGHT BE A REASON THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR SURE.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, CERTAINLY.
PAGE 52 OF THE BUDGET ACCOUNT, 46, 47 MISCELLANEOUS REIMBURSEMENT.
THERE WAS QUITE A BIG INCREASE.
COULD WE GET SOME BACKGROUND ON WHY WE'RE EXPECTING SUCH A BIG INCREASE? SO, UM, THIS IS ROBIN, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
UH, THE REASON THAT THAT NUMBER IS SO LARGE THIS YEAR, UM, WE GO THROUGH FOUR, UM, FUND NUMBER LIKE THREE 61, WHICH IS THE RISK MANAGEMENT THREE 63, WHICH IS THE WORKER'S COMP.
AND THOSE FUNDS MAINLY COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND GET TRANSFERRED OVER.
AND WE ALLOCATE THOSE COSTS OUT AS WELL AS, UM, ACCORDING TO OUR COST ALLOCATION PLAN.
WE, UH, UM, WE ALLOCATE THE ADMIN COSTS, UM, FOR SERVICES SUCH AS FINANCE THAT, UM, SUPPORTS ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AND AS WE RAN OUT OF TIME IN THIS BUDGET, UM, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS GOT OVER ALLOCATED BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL RENT RENDITIONS OF IT.
SO WE DECIDED TO, INSTEAD OF, CAUSE WE HAVE TO REPRINT ALL THE PAGES AND EVERYTHING, EVERY TIME WE DO THAT ALLOCATION, UH, WE DECIDED TO JUST DO IT IN THIS FASHION AND SHOW IT AS A REIMBURSEMENT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND AND SEVERAL OTHER FUNDS, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
WANT TO DISCUSS THIS? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER PATROL DIVISION THAT STATES TWO THIRDS OF ALL FOREIGN OFFICERS WORK IN THE PATROL DIVISION, WHICH FOCUSES ON PATROLLING CITY STREETS, RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CRIME PROBLEMS. UM, AND WHEN I LOOK AT PAGE ONE 51, WHICH SHOWS THE ORG CHART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT SEEMS A LITTLE MIDDLE HEAVY IN TERMS OF FTES AND LIEUTENANT SERGEANT.
I THINK THAT'S CAPTAIN YOUR ABBREVIATIONS.
IS THERE SOMEONE ON THE CALL TODAY THAT COULD KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON HON HOW THEIR DUTIES DIFFER AND ARE THOSE PART OF THE, THE NUMBER OF POLICE ON ACTUAL PATROL? DAVE COLUMBIA? I DON'T HAVE THE CHIEF OF POLICE ON THIS CALL TONIGHT, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY RETURN TO YOU WITH ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.
I KNOW WE'RE QUITE AWARE IN TERMS OF DEPLOYMENT OF THE NEED TO PUT AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN IN THE, IN THE STREETS AT ALL TIME.
UM, BUT LET ME HOLD THE RESPONSE TO THAT ONE FOR THE, FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND, UH, RETURNED TO YOU IF I MAY THANK YOU.
AND SO LASTLY, I THINK WE WANT TO ADDRESS KIND OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
UM, IT'S BEEN VERY EXCITING TO HEAR SO MUCH COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THIS BUDGET.
UM, AS I WASN'T GOING TO MENTION, BUT FEW DAYS BEFORE THIS MEETING, I DID SEND AN EMAIL TO, UM, ROBIN AND, UM, OUR CITY MANAGER BECAUSE AS BEING AN AUDITOR IN MY PAST, I'VE AUDITED QUITE A FEW CITIES.
AND TYPICALLY, UM, YOU SEE THE BUDGETS TEND TO HAVE THE SAME TRENDS, RIGHT? AND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, MOST OF THE TIME, WHILE, AT LEAST BACK THEN AT LEAST 50 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR AUTOMATICALLY AS PUBLIC SAFETY TEND TO RUN TO THE 50 TO 60% RANGE IN THOSE YEARS, I'VE NOTICED IT'S INCREASED SLIGHTLY SINCE THEN.
AND I PROPOSED THE QUESTION, ASKED TO US FOR THE SIZE OF OUR CITY AND THE SIZE OF OUR BUDGET, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NUMBER AS WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IS ALMOST 80%, WHICH GIVES US NO WIGGLE ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND SO, ALTHOUGH I COMMEND THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE REST OF THE CITY STAFF WORKING WITH THE BARGAINING UNITS AND LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENTS FOR COST SAVINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE, WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING FOR THE MEAT? LIKE WE KNOW WHERE THE MEAT IS OF THE EXPENDITURES, WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE? SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME CITIES ARE DOING ACROSS THE BOARD, UM, SALARY CUTS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE NEVER WANT TO HEAR, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED, UM, HAVING
[01:25:01]
EMPLOYEES PAY INTO THEIR, UM, RETIREMENT BENEFITS LIKE MR. GRIFFEY CHAZ MENTIONED IN THE PAST, UM, ANY INFORMATION COULD YOU GIVE US REGARDING THOSE DISCUSSIONS? THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY.AND I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE PATHWAY FORWARDS FOR WEST COVINA AND FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN CALIFORNIA REALLY REQUIRES THAT WE PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THESE ISSUES.
UM, IF, IF WE ARE HONEST WITH EACH OTHER AND I THINK WE ARE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUE AND OUR DIFFERENT EXTENSIONS EXPENDITURES, UM, WE, THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN IGNORE THOSE IMPACTS ON OUR, ON OUR SERVICES.
WE PROVIDE WE'VE WE'VE PINPOINTED FREE TONIGHT, WHICH, WHICH OF OUR MAJOR REVENUE STREAMS ARE AT RISK.
AND WE ARE QUITE FOCUSED ON, ON CASHFLOW AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT AVAILABLE OPTIONS THERE ARE.
UM, WE ARE GONNA TRY THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO BUILD CONSENSUS AROUND THESE CHOICES.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TIME.
I GUARANTEE IT'S NOT AN EASY TIME TO BE THE CITY MANAGER.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY TIME AT ALL TO BE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT EARLY ACTION IS, IS, UM, IS A NECESSITY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CHOICE.
WE, AS I MENTIONED ARE IN DISCUSSIONS, WE HAVEN'T JUST BEGUN TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LABOR UNIONS AND OUR OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND CREDITORS, BUT WE ARE, UM, IN, IN, INTO IT, UP TO OUR EYEBALLS WITH CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK PROPERLY BELONG AT THE TABLE AND I'M GONNA LEAVE THEM THERE FOR NOW.
UM, I WILL GIVE YOU A SMALL EXAMPLE.
WE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO SOME OF OUR MAJOR, UM, PRIVATE VENDORS AND WHO GAVE US FIVE AND 10% REDUCTIONS, UM, OFF OUR BILLS, UM, IMMEDIATELY.
BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE, WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF THE MONEY IS HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH MAYBE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES, DIFFERENT DEPLOYMENT MODELS, DIFFERENT WAYS TO, TO FUND THESE, THESE FRONTLINE FIRST RESPONSE SERVICES, THE STAFF THEM, UM, IF, IF WE COME UP SHORT OF, OF OUR, OUR MONEY AND HAVE AN INABILITY TO PAY FOR THEM.
SO IT'S, UM, IT'S AS SERIOUS AS CAN BE AND WE'RE TAKING IT, TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL HAS, UM, GIVEN US SOME PRETTY CLEAR DIRECTION ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
UM, AGAIN, A SPECIAL MEETING AGAIN JUST NEXT WEEK.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA KEEP ON IT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE RESIDENTS ALSO WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT IT'S BEING DISCUSSED AND THAT THEIR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.
THAT'S IT? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S A MOTION FOR THIS BUDGET.
DO I NEED, DO I HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING OR IS THAT AT LEAST THAT READS IT? I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THIS PRELIMINARY BUDGET COUNCILOR CASTILLANO SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET.
CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL, LAUREN? HI GATLIN.
THIS IS CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY AGAIN, MAY I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT BEFORE WE MOVE, MOVE PAST THIS POINT? OKAY.
THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE WAS REGARDING FUTURE CITIZEN INPUT.
WE HAVE POSTED A BUDGET SURVEY ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
WE'VE GOT A BANNER ON OUR HOMEPAGE TO PROMOTE THE SURVEY AND WE'LL GET OUT A SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH, UM, ADVERTISING, UM, TOMORROW MORNING AND WE SCHEDULED A COMMUNITY MEETING FOR NEXT TUESDAY EVENING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS OR OUR INTERESTED
[01:30:01]
PEOPLE TO GIVE US FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THE BUDGET BEFORE IT RETURNS TO THE COUNCIL AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.UM, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY NEW BUSINESS BEFORE WE CAN ADJOURN FOR ANY NEW BUSINESS.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING, STERNUM GARBAGE? I WOULD SAY, LOOK, SCHEDULE THAT AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I'LL TALK TO DAVID AND ROBIN AND CITY STAFF.
SO I HAVE A COLLEAGUE, THIS ISN'T A QUESTION.
IT'S MORE OF AN INFORMATION FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE LISTENING AND ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE YOUNGER FOLKS THAT HAVE JOINED US.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON IT.
IT, IT ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF SEVEN MEMBERS, THE CITY TREASURER TO CITY COUNCIL, AND FOUR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EACH HAVE A TWO YEAR TERM WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CITY TREASURER.
SO IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING MORE INVOLVED, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS, THANK YOU.
YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK FOR FUTURE POSTINGS WHEN OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, I SUGGEST YOU DO SO.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS COMMITTEE AND OR HOW TO GET INVOLVED, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE CITY MANAGER, DAVE CARMONEY AND, OR PROBABLY ROBIN AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO INTERJECT THAT MY CSUMB INTEREST ON THIS LITTLE CHAT THING I WATCHING AS TO HOW YOU GET INVOLVED.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT FORWARD.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TONIGHT ALSO THAT THERE ARE THREE MEMBERS THAT, UM, THEIR TERMS ARE UP.
UM, MR. JIM GURVICH, UM, MARSHA SOLARIO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOEMAKER.
AND, UM, I THINK IN THE PAST, THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN DONE IS TO POST THESE POSITIONS AND TAKE APPLICATIONS.
AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL APPOINTS, I BELIEVE YOU'RE RIGHT, ROBIN AND ALSO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT USUALLY ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR MAY BE WE CHANGE CHAIRS.
THAT WAS THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO, UM, TO MENTION TONIGHT IS USUALLY, I THINK WE DO IT AT THIS MEETING, UM, DUE TO, UM, THE DELAY FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS, WE DECIDED TO POSTPONE THAT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL, WE WILL AGENDA THAT.
AND, UM, AT THAT SWITCH AT THAT TIME, THAT'S MORE THAN FAIR.
THANK YOU, MARCIA FOR ORCHESTRATING.
AND THEN THE LAST THING OF BUSINESS THAT I THINK, UM, I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH EVERYBODY.
I KNOW ON THE LAST MEETING THAT WE ENDED UP CANCELING BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHAOS THAT WAS GOING ON.
UM, WE WERE, THE, THE COMMITTEE HAD ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON CITY AUDIT AND I WAS INTERESTED TO SEE IF, UM, YOU ALL ARE STILL INTERESTED IN THAT OR, UM, YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE MEETINGS AND, AND GOTTEN THE INFORMATION ELSEWHERE.
I'M INTERESTED IN THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES IN THE AUDIT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH AUDIT GYM ONE THAT WAS COMPLETED.
WE NEVER ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT IT.
THE FIRE AUDIT, UH, NO, THE, UH, THE REGULAR EIGHT AUDIT, UH, OPERA OPERA, ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
I DON'T HAVE THAT REPORT WITH ME TONIGHT, BUT I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN, WELL, THERE WAS TOO MUCH MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY, AND IT LOOKED LIKE BASED ON WHAT I COULD SEE IN THE DOCUMENT THAT IS SIMPLY THE TASKS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE, BUT IT WASN'T OBVIOUS.
SO I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.
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THAT WERE IN THERE WERE REPEATS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.ONE OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH, UM, THE TURNOVER IN STAFF, IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I FIXED THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE I KEEP LOSING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.
UM, I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS OF THE OTHER COMMENT, BUT I KNOW THEY WILL REPEAT CAUSE I WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT THOSE COMMENTS.
WELL, I GUESS I JUST HAVE AN OBSERVATION.
IF, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE STAFFING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SPECIAL FUNDS, PERHAPS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS.
I, IT, WASN'T A VERY BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED.
IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT ISN'T WORTH THE TROUBLE.
I GUESS I'M JUST MAKING THIS JUST AN OBSERVATION, UM, TO HAVE A BOUNDARY, A WEAKNESS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A MATERIAL WEAKNESS OVER SOMETHING THAT ISN'T BIG AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO DO IT ANYWAY.
REMIND ME, DO I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THAT'S MY LAST MEETING.