SPECIAL MEETING / WORKSHOP
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
JULY 25, 2023
1:30 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING / WORKSHOP
Minutes-July 25, 2023
CALL TO ORDER:
MAYOR COURTNEY called the Special Meeting/Workshop to order at 1:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KODY TOMPKINS led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
James M. Noble Mayor Pro Tem Absent
Marilyn Dyer Kruse Council Member Present
Barbara Mae Rose Council Member Present
Paul Anthony Courtney Mayor Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
PARTICIPATION IS INVITED: IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA INCLUDING
ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, PLEASE SO INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND HANDING IT TO THE CITY CLERK. IF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUIRED, 48 HOURS NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK.
CODE OF ETHICS: AS YOUR ELECTED GOVERNING BOARD WE WILL REMEMBER THE "CODE OF ETHICS" THAT WE VOLUNTARILY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. DURING THIS MEETING WE WILL TREAT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLIC WITH PATIENCE, CIVILITY, AND COURTESY. THE DECISIONS
MADE TONIGHT WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BARSTOW COMMUNITY AND NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA: THIS IS THE TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD TO CALL FOR REARRANGING THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA; ADDING ITEMS TO OR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA; OR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR SEPARATE ACTION.
Minutes-July 25, 2023
RESULT: APPROVED [3 TO 1]
MOVER: Marilyn Dyer Kruse, Council Member
SECONDER: Paul Anthony Courtney, Mayor
AYES: Kruse, Rose, Courtney
NAYS: Hernandez
ABSENT: Noble
BUSINESS / ACTION ITEMS:
1. APPROVAL OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL AND SALARY
CHANGES
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the transfer of funding of the vacant Accounting Technician position to the Principal Accountant position.
2. Approve the Principal Accountant job description (Attachment A).
3. Approve the addition of one (1) Administrative Analyst position within the Finance Department.
4. Approve the salary grade for the Principal Accountant position of 11810/11870 and approve the amendment to the City’s Employee Classification / Compensation Program (publicly available salary schedule) for FY 2023/2024 (Attachment B).
5. Allocate $151,000 (salaries) to account 100.120.210.01.101, $10,000 to account 100.120.210.01.109 (insurance offset), and $9,000 to account 100.120.210.02.201 (retirement).
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KODY TOMPKINS
- Presented the staff report as filed with the City Clerk.
COUNCILMEMBER DYER KRUSE
- Expressed concern regarding the lack of staffing in the Finance Department.
COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Asked if the proposed reorganization was presented to the bargaining units. - Asked if the Intergovernmental Services Agreements (IGSA) created more workload for the Finance Department.
- Asked for clarification on the funding source for the proposed positions. - Asked if the Principal Accountant and Administrative Analyst positions were included in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget classification and salary schedule. - Also asked what would happen to the newly created positions once the Finance Director position was filled.
- Asked for justification on balancing the workload by shifting positions within the department.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KODY TOMPKINS
- Stated that bargaining units would be updated as milestones were met. - Discussed current the organizational structure of the Finance Department along with the proposed succession plan.
- Stated that there would be an internal and external recruitment for the most qualified candidate to fill each position.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Expressed concern with the special meeting and workshop being scheduled during the day. - Asked how many other departments were also short staffed. - Asked when the next negotiating period was for the bargaining units. Also asked about a good faith promise made during the prior negotiating period to conduct a class and compensation study to resolve any salary discrepancies.
Minutes-July 25, 2023
- Asked why the proposed reorganization was not included in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget which was recently adopted.
CITY MANAGER WILLIE HOPKINS, JR.
- Stated that the City agreed to a class and compensation study and the unit representative did not include in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and staff were working to correct that error.
Discussion ensued about recruitment of new positions, compliance with CalPERS regulations and internal transfer opportunities.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Asked if revenue generated from the IGSA's could be used to help fund the positions.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KODY TOMPKINS
- Stated that IGSA revenues supported the General Fund where the positions were funded from.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Discussed concerns with other departments also having staffing needs, the bargaining units negotiating in good faith, the item being rushed and how morale would be affected organizationwide. - Asked about hiring a consultant to provide finance services. - Also discussed concerns with public safety being understaffed. - Requested that the item be tabled in order to allow management time to discuss with the bargaining units and provide the Council with more information.
CITY MANAGER WILLIE HOPKINS, JR.
- Stated that hiring a finance consulting firm was considered and many did not have consultants available.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER KODY TOMPKINS
- Also noted that a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a class and compensation study was issued, two bids were received, and the City would start moving forward with that process.
SPEAKERS
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked the Council to approve the item and to hire the most qualified candidates.
VIRGINIA BROWN, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked why the item was being considered during a meeting scheduled during the day. - Also asked why the City could not successfully negotiate when few qualified applicants were received for the Finance Director position.
- Asked if there was already an internal candidate who could be appointed as the Finance Director.
- Discussed concerns with reducing the amount of Finance staff while increasing the salaries of the current Finance staff.
MIKE HERNANDEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked why the item was being considered during a meeting scheduled during the day with one Council Member absent.
- Asked how other positions would be back-filled.
Minutes-July 25, 2023
JIM BROWN, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked that the item be tabled to another Council meeting. - Discussed concerns with the item being rushed.
MARSHA WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Asked why the item was being considered during a meeting scheduled during the day. - Asked that the item be tabled to another Council meeting. - Stated that the City needed to aggressively recruit for a Finance Director.
ROLAND ULLOA, DOS COSTAS COMMUNICATIONS
- Discussed concerns with the meeting time and why two unrelated items were being considered at the same workshop.
- Also discussed concerns with recruitment and the Finance Department. - Cited concerns with the lack of degrees and certifications within the Finance Department.
Motion by COUNCILMEMBER ROSE to table the item to a future meeting. Motion died for lack of a second.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE requested a point of order as MAYOR COURTNEY attempted to discuss the item when it was past the discussion phase.
Motion by COUNCILMEMBER ROSE, seconded by COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ, carried 3-1, to overrule the decision of the chair and end discussion on the item.
Motion by MAYOR COURTNEY, seconded by COUNCILMEMBER DYER KRUSE, and carried 3- 1 to:
1. Approve the transfer of funding of the vacant Accounting Technician position to the Principal Accountant position.
2. Approve the Principal Accountant job description (Attachment A).
3. Approve the addition of one (1) Administrative Analyst position within the Finance Department.
4. Approve the salary grade for the Principal Accountant position of 11810/11870 and approve the amendment to the City’s Employee Classification / Compensation Program (publicly available salary schedule) for FY 2023/2024 (Attachment B).
5. Allocate $151,000 (salaries) to account 100.120.210.01.101, $10,000 to account 100.120.210.01.109 (insurance offset), and $9,000 to account 100.120.210.02.201 (retirement).
DISCUSSION
MAYOR COURTNEY
- Discussed the need for approving the item.
- Stated that the City would continue to negotiate in good faith with the bargaining units and would move forward with the class and compensation study.
COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Requested that meetings not be scheduled during the day as policy.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE
- Discussed concerns with the meeting and item being rushed. - Requested that there was more time for discussion.
COUNCILMEMBER ROSE LEFT THE MEETING AT 3:01 P.M. TO RETURN TO WORK.
Minutes-July 25, 2023
RESULT: APPROVED [3 TO 1]
MOVER: Paul Anthony Courtney, Mayor
SECONDER: Marilyn Dyer Kruse, Council Member
AYES: Kruse, Courtney, Hernandez
NAYS: Rose
ABSENT: Noble
WORKSHOP:
2. COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM WORKSHOP
Recommended Action:
That the City Council receive input and provide direction.
CITY MANAGER WILLIE HOPKINS, JR.
- Presented the staff report as filed with the City Clerk. - Stated that a series of four workshops would be held. - Discussed Community Benefits Program funding projections for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. - Presented program and service options to fund through the Community Benefits Program. - Asked the City Council to identify their priorities to bring forward at the next workshop. - Stated that staff would present Community Benefits Program funding strategies at the September 20, 2023 Measure Q Resident Oversight Commission meeting.
COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Asked what the current balance of the Community Benefits Program was. - Requested that future workshops be scheduled for a time that the full Council can be present to consider spending priorities.
COUNCILMEMBER DYER KRUSE
- Stated that the cannabis operators should be involved in the process.
COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Requested information from the development agreement on how Community Benefits Program funds can be spent.
- Asked staff to provide a list of program funding priorities.
SPEAKERS
MIKE HERNANDEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Requested that upcoming workshops be held in the evening with the full Council present.
VIRGINIA BROWN, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Expressed frustration with the Council not listening to their constituents.
TED WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Expressed concern with duplication of Measure Q expenditures.
MARSHA WEASMA, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Discussed concerns with proposing housing and public service programs along with litigation defense.
- Requested that upcoming workshops be held in the evening with the full Council present.
Minutes-July 25, 2023
RESULT: PRESENTATION ONLY
ADJOURNMENT:
By the consensus of the City Council and without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 3:38 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