CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING/BUDGET STUDY SESSION
Special Meeting January 27, 2025
6:00 P.M. Council Chambers
6:00 P.M. – SPECIAL MEETING/BUDGET STUDY SESSION
Mayor Bernal called the Closed Session to order at 6:01 P.M., and City Clerk Rhodes called the roll.
Present: Council Members District 1 Torres -Walker, District 3 Freitas, District 4 Wilson, Mayor Pro Tem (District 2) Rocha and Mayor Bernal
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bernal led the Pledge of Allegiance.
BUDGET STUDY SESSION
1. FISCAL YEAR 2025-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
City Manager Scott introduced the Budget Study Session.
Finance Director Merchant presented the staff report dated January 27, 2025, recommending the City Council provide feedback and direction regarding the budget development information provided for the fiscal year 2025-27 budget.
Mayor Bernal thanked Finance Director Merchant for the comprehensive report and the Department Heads for being present this evening to receive Council feedback.
Council reviewed the staff report and provided the following feedback to staff:
Councilmember Freitas suggested Council consider combining the Budget Stablization Fund with the Reserve fund.
Mayor Bernal suggested Council establish a more explicit policy on how set -aside funds are utilized.
Councilmember Freitas suggested Council consider including a reserve fund in the Capital Improvement Program.
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Special Meeting/Budget Study Session
January 27, 2025 Page 2 of 5
Councilmember Freitas requested staff explain the trends responsible for the decrease in building activity.
Councilmember Freitas suggested Council review staffing allocations to determine which positions were warranted.
City Manager Scott responded that staff was looking at this issue and determining the needs, length of vacancies and the reason positions remained open.
Councilmember Rocha requested staff also provide a timeline for filling vacancies.
Council requested a Study Session be scheduled on the City’s investments.
Councilmember Freitas suggested staff. hold quarterly or bi-annual meetings to review the City’s investments.
Councilmember Freitas requested staff provide categories for businesses generating sales tax and explain how the City could enhance the value of properties generating property taxes.
Councilmember Wilson suggested Council revisit the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Finance Director Merchant explained that an increase in the TOT would need to be placed on the ballot.
Councilmember Freitas suggested Council review and set priorities for Measure W 1% Sales Tax Allocations.
Mayor Bernal requested clarification of the projected decrease in service charges and assessments/fines owed to the City.
Councilmember Freitas requested staff review census tracks contiguous with Antioch’s boundaries and determine if there were any park dedication fees within those areas that could be used for Antioch’s park and recreation activities.
Mayor Bernal requested Chart B3 One Time Revenues show the actual base general fund minus the transfers in.
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Special Meeting/Budget Study Session
January 27, 2025 Page 3 of 5
No additional feedback was given.
Pages 8 – 9
Councilmember Freitas requested a detailed report on costs associated with outside legal counsel including identifying the firms, payouts and settlements.
Mayor Bernal requested a breakdown of one time, and ongoing costs associated with the City Manager’s contractual services.
Mayor Bernal requested staff provide the amount the City pa id annually for the 2015 lease revenue bonds.
Councilmember Wilson responded that the Lone Tree Golf Course Standing Committee could discuss this issue.
Councilmember Freitas stated he would like to meet with staff to review the Internal Services Overhead Charges.
Mayor Bernal requested a report on how the transfers out were trending.
Councilmember Freitas suggested Council consider paying down the City’s unfunded liability exposure.
Finance Director Merchant stated she would review the City Contribution Rate Tier Miscellaneous Classic/PEPRA FY27 for accuracy.
Councilmember Freitas recommended the City issue a detailed press release regarding upcoming changes for programs currently funded through ARPA.
Councilmember Rocha requested an update regarding which services and programs the County could provide in Antioch.
Councilmember Freitas suggested Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson present a detailed report on the CalVIP Grant Program including measurable goals.
Councilmember Torres-Walker encouraged staff to apply for double the amount of CalVIP grant money in the next round and include more community partners in the process.
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Special Meeting/Budget Study Session
January 27, 2025 Page 4 of 5
City Manager Scott requested Council provide feedback with regards to future funding for Angelo Quinto Crisis Response Team (AQCRT).
Council consensus supported eliminating the City Council Budget and holding future discussions on how to allocate the funds.
Mayor Bernal requested renaming the “Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program” the “Antioch Community Apprenticeship Program”, or something similar.
No additional feedback was given.
Attachment A –
Mayor Bernal requested staff provide an explanation of the trends for Building Permits.
Councilmember Freitas requested a report on the businesses that were generating sales tax, business licenses and fees.
Additional Requests –
Council requested a presentation from Director of Parks and Recreation Helfenberger on the status of projects at the Antioch Water Park and their future needs.
Mayor Bernal requested staff bring the CIP to Council early this year.
Council requested the next study session include detailed presentations from the Antioch Police Department (APD) and Public Safety and Community Resources.
Councilmember Rocha requested the presentations include a timeline for filling vacant positions.
Councilmember Freitas requested a report on the APD’s disability retirements.
Councilmember Wilson requested staff provide Council with a list of infrastructure projects that would be eligible for federal funding opportunities.
Following discussion, Council directed staff to schedule the next Budget Study Session on March 4, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.
Mayor Bernal requested the Budget Study Session after March 4, 2025, include the Public Works and City Attorney budgets.
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Special Meeting/Budget Study Session
January 27, 2025 Page 5 of 5
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Councilmember Wilson the City Council unanimously adjourned the meeting at 8:04 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Kitty Eiden
KITTY EIDEN, Minutes Clerk