WORKSHOP
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
JUNE 8, 2023
1:30 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
WORKSHOP
Minutes-June 8, 2023
CALL TO ORDER:
MAYOR COURTNEY called the workshop to order at 1:30 P.M.
INVOCATION:
MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
COUNCILMEMBER DYER KRUSE led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
James M. Noble Mayor Pro Tem Present
Marilyn Dyer Kruse Council Member Present
Barbara Mae Rose Council Member Present
Paul Anthony Courtney Mayor Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Motion by COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM NOBLE and unanimously carried to approve the agenda and move public comments to after the workshop item was presented.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
SECONDER: James M. Noble, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Noble, Kruse, Rose, Courtney, Hernandez
Minutes-June 8, 2023
WORKSHOP:
1. PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council and the Fire Board receive the presentation and review the proposed Operating and Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and provide direction to staff regarding the proposed spending plan.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER HEIDY RILEY
- Presented the proposed Operating and Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. - Discussed the budget planning process.
- Stated the proposed budget was $64,536,466 across all funds, which was an increase of $47,495,222 from the prior fiscal year.
- Stated total operating budget was $52,653,787, which was an increase of $42,929,959 from the prior fiscal year.
- Stated the total General Fund budget was $23,678,140, which was a decrease of $5.2 million from the prior fiscal year.
- Stated that the total Capital Improvement Budget for all funds was $2,468,171. - Discussed full time staffing levels stating that some positions had been defunded along with the distribution of salaries for all departments.
- Discussed five-year historical expenditures for the General Fund. - Provided a summary of appropriations by major account. - Provided an overview on sales tax, property tax and transient occupancy tax collections. - Discussed the General Fund estimated revenue summary. - Discussed other revenue sources including cannabis and the Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSA).
- Provided an overview of the Measure Q fund.
- Provided an overview of estimated projections for special revenue funds. - Discussed estimated revenue and expenditures for other funds including the Barstow Fire Protection District, Debt Service Funds, Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District Fund, Wastewater Reclamation Fund and Solid Waste Disposal Fund.
MAYOR COURTNEY
- Asked about increases in property tax revenue as property values increase.
CITY ATTORNEY MATTHEW SUMMERS
- Explained increases in property tax revenues as it related to Proposition 13.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Asked if Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues accounted for the Marriott Hotel opening. - Asked if the Measure Q Five-Year Spending Plan was accounted for in the budget. - Expressed disappointment with not having a Measure Q Workshop prior to adopting the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget.
- Discussed concerns with providing adequate Parks and Open Spaces staff to maintain existing and expanded amenities.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER HEIDY RILEY
- Stated that TOT revenues remained flat due to not knowing when the Marriott would open or what the revenue amount would be.
COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Asked if unexpended Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds rolled over. - Commended Finance staff for their hard work of preparing the budget without a Finance Director.
Minutes-June 8, 2023
- Also commended staff for preparing a conservative budget.
ENGINEERING ADMINISTRATOR DOMINGO GONZALES
- Explained the process of expending and reimbursing CDBG funds.
COUNCILMEMBER DYER KRUSE
- Commended Finance staff for their hard work and presentation. - Asked if the City had a contingency plan for emergencies.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Asked what salaries were cut and what positions were defunded.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER HEIDY RILEY
- Stated that positions were defunded in multiple departments including the Municipal Records, Community Development, Building and Safety and Parks and Recreation Departments.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Expressed concern with providing salary increases in the prior year and then defunding positions the following year.
CITY MANAGER WILLIE HOPKINS, JR.
- Stated that salary increases were funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. - Stated that the Parks and Recreation Superintendent position was defunded due to the Public Works Department handling park maintenance functions.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE LEFT THE MEETING AT 3:04 P.M.
CITY MANAGER WILLIE HOPKINS, JR.
- Discussed potential changes in revenue and the importance of the City having contingency funds and alternate revenue sources.
SPEAKERS
MIKE HERNANDEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked how Measure I funds would be dispersed for street repairs. - Expressed concern with street repairs not being funded from Measure Q. - Asked why the Fire Department had set aside $1 million. - Discussed concerns with the Marriott development incentive. - Asked if savings in the Fire Department could be allocated towards street repairs.
JOHN WILLIAMS, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked for a breakdown of reduction of staff and services for each department. - Asked for the total costs of the City's litigation and the estimated cost for the Public Entity Risk Management Authority (PERMA).
- Discussed concerns with the Marriott development incentive and Measure Q.
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Thanked the Council for recognizing that a contingency fund was necessary. - Discussed concerns with the presentation slides being too small and difficult to read. - Stated that a Measure Q Workshop needed to be scheduled and that fuel should not be charged to Measure Q.
- Stated electric vehicles should also pay taxes towards street maintenance.
Minutes-June 8, 2023
RESULT: PRESENTATION ONLY
ADJOURNMENT:
By the consensus of the City Council and without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 3:25 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Andrea Flores, City Clerk Paul Anthony Courtney, Dr. B.A. Mayor Notice: Signed Minutes are filed with the City Clerk’s office