WORKSHOP
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
220 EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW STREET
BARSTOW, CA 92311
MAY 21, 2025
6:00 PM
(HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE)
MINUTES
WORKSHOP
Minutes-May 21, 2025
CALL TO ORDER - WORKSHOP
MAYOR SILVA called the workshop to order at 6:00 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
MAYOR SILVA led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Barbara Mae Rose Mayor Pro Tem Late 6:07 PM
John Williams Council Member Present
Timothy Silva Mayor Present
Carmen Hernandez Council Member Present
James M. Noble Council Member Absent
PARTICIPATION IS INVITED : IF YOU WISH TO BE HEARD ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE
SO INDICATE BY FILLING OUT A SPEAKER REQUEST CARD AND HANDING IT TO THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE AGENDA ITEM EING ADDRESSED. 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-May 21, 2025
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Carmen Hernandez, Council Member
SECONDER: John Williams, Council Member
AYES: Williams, Silva, Hernandez
ABSENT: Rose, Noble
PRESENTATION:
1. PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026
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 2025-2026 and provide direction to staff regarding the proposed spending plan.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Presented the staff report as filed with the City Clerk's office.
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Requested further clarification on youth and senior programs.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Clarified that there is $150K available for the youth; they utilized $15K at this point, and there is $50K available for the seniors.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Asked for the $11 million fund balance from the general fund, how much the city is required to set aside.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Explained that the projected numbers had removed the restricted or unspendable amounts.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
- Asked what the overtime projections are for the next fiscal year.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Mentioned that the largest overtime users are is the Fire Department.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Mentioned that there is a plan to fill vacant positions to reduce overtime.
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Asked if there are actual numbers of the overtime VS what it will cost to fill those vacant positions.
- Asked if revenues are coming in from the Harvey House or if the city is losing money.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Explained that in the last six to eight months, there had been an increase in revenue from the Harvey House.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
- Asked why there is a reduction in funds for street maintenance.
Minutes-May 21, 2025
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Asked if these projections also include the grants.
- Asked for clarification on the fund balance from COVID-19 (ARPA FUNDS)
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Clarified that the county disbursed ARPA funds to the city to use for the cemetery project, with an estimated revenue of $446,000.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CHRIS HELDRETH
- Mentioned this is COVID-19 money that CDBG was awarded, and the county gave some of that money to the city for the cemetery project.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Asked if the LAFCO Annexation will create any extra funding for the Fire Department.
CITY ATTORNEY MATTHEW SUMMERS
- Clarified that the current pending annexation of the sewer plant into the Fire District will not create any extra revenue because the city owns the sewer plant and the city does not pay property taxes.
- Mentioned that other future annexations might come, and if they come, there will be significant additional revenues for the city and fire, but they are not projected to come in during the next fiscal year.
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Would like to see an additional column for salaries and overtime for the Fire Department, and would like to know how many employees the Fire Department has.
MAYOR SILVA
- Noted on slide number 7 showed that only 10% was expended from the funds budgeted for the youth, asked for the process to apply the funds correctly for fee waivers. - Would like to see a report of reimbursable fees.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Explained that the process for waivers is being analyzed to show the true numbers on future reports.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CHRIS HELDRETH
- Spoke on items purchased by Parks and Rec that had not hit accounts yet.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Noted they have to reconcile expenditures to what is reimbursable, but this information should be available on the quarterly update reports.
- Clarified that the Harvey House was budgeted as is.
SPEAKERS
MIKE HERNANDEZ, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA
- Spoke on the projections for Measure Q and expressed concerns with the new fire engine not being included in the projections.
- Asked why there is no accountability for the overtime. - Asked why staff is planning to spend more than what they are expected to receive from Measure Q.
CITY MANAGER ROCHELLE CLAYTON
- Explained that regarding the pay back the proposal was to start setting money aside on the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
Minutes-May 21, 2025
- Noted regarding the overtime, filling positions will help to alleviate overtime.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Mentioned that there are 9.6 million in expected revenue, and there are appropriations for 11.5 million.
- Clarified that the difference in the appropriations will come from the fund balance
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Noted, she believed the misunderstanding is when people see the fund balance but don't see the expenditures, and that staff needs to be more explicit with that information. - Would like to see that information on the treasure report to educate the public.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS
- Expressed concerns with adding more salaries to Measure Q and running it out of funds.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- Explained they have not increased the number of bodies to Measure Q, but what has increased is the cost of those bodies.
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Mentioned she concurs with COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS.
- Would like to see higher pay positions swapped out and put back into the general fund. - Spoke about maybe considering a golden handshake for those closer to retirement to bring down the cost of salaries.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SYDNIE HARRIS
- She explained the city is running into the same issues with the general fund.
MAYOR SILVA
- Clarified there was a plan when Measure Q was presented to the voters for approval, and explained the purpose of Measure Q.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERNANDEZ
- Expressed concerns with the loss of revenue from gas tax and TOTs.
MAYOR PRO TEM ROSE
- Would like to make sure the meeting is televised and that the public is able to listen to the meeting properly.
RESULT: PRESENTATION ONLY
ADJOURNMENT:
By the consensus of the City Council and without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 7:29 PM.
Respectfully Submitted: Approved:
_______________________________ _______________________________ Andrea Flores, City Clerk Timothy R. Silva, Mayor
Notice: Signed Minutes are filed with the City Clerk’s office