MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BUENA PARK CITY COUNCIL
HELD MAY 26, 2026
Vol. 55 Pg. 197
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council met in a special meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 1 :OO p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Civic Center, 6650 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, California, Mayor Traut presiding.
IA. CALL TO ORDER
I B. ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Ahn, Franco, Sonne, Hoque, Traut
None
Also present were: Aaron France, City Manager; Chris Cardinale, City Attorney; and Adria M. Vicuria, MMC, Director of Government and Community Relations/City Clerk. 1 C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sung Hyun, Director of Finance. 2A. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Traut announced the public may at this time address the members of the City Council on any matters within the jurisdiction of the City Council. There being no requests to speak, Mayor Traut closed oral communications.
NEW BUSINESS
3A. DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 REVISED BUDGET
Presented by Sung Hyun, Director of Finance
Director of Finance Hyun presented the revisions to the FY 2026-27 budget. The revisions include the following:
Revenues
* Sales tax - Estimate was reduced by $1.4 million due to the current economic conditions as advised by our sales tax consultant.
* Firework permits - Estimate was increased due to new permit fees approved by City Council.
* Refuse collection charges - Estimate was increased due to new rates and is offset by an increase in expenditures.
General comments that affect expenditures of all the Departments * Salaries and benefits - Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) payments for the City's pension plans with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) increase by $392,880.
Community Support Services
Silverado Days
5130 - Overtime - The budget reflects the increases for staffing costs.
Minutes May 26, 2026 Vol. 55 Pg. 198
Sister City Program
The budget reflects the increases for staffing and travel previously approved by City Council.
Community Relations & Education
The budget reflects increases of $10,000 for the Stories of Buena Park Program and $6,700 for cable casting software.
City Attorney's Office
6242/6243 - Attorney Contract Services/Retainer - The budget reflects an increase of $60,000 due to ongoing litigation.
Community Development
Salaries and Benefits - The budget reflects the reclassifications of a Building Inspector to a Senior Building Inspector and a Senior Administrative Assistant to a Housing Specialist.
Part-time staff increase reflects the Tobacco Enforcement program which is grant funded.
Maintenance and Operations - The budget reflects increases in safety shoes and telephones costs for amounts that were inadvertently excluded in the original budget. These increases were offset by decreases in professional services.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
The budget reflects the Annual Action Plan approved by City Council at the April 28, 2026 Public Hearing.
Fire
6240 - Professional/Contractual Services - The City's contract with the Orange County Fire Authority was decreased.
6511- Fire Station Repairs - The budget includes $15,000 per fire station for repairs.
Police
The budget reflects a new Special Enforcement Team unit.
Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds
6240 - Professional/Contractual Services - Reflects increases for water bill inserts ($1,500), MWDOC programs ($50,000), Computerized Mobile Maintenance System ($19,500), and catch basin cleaning ($25,000) which is wholly offset by a decrease in NPDES services). 6290 - Electric Utility - Reflects an increase of $200,000. 6310 - Telephone - Reflects increases for 5g data services for water facilities and wireless communications ($1 0,000) and 5G data services at the City Yard ($1,500). 6327 - Ground Water Replenishment Charges - The budget reflects an increase of $1 million for the projected cost of groundwater replenishment from Orange County Water District and Municipal Water District and reflects a shift to source more groundwater. 6340 - Non-capital Equipment - Reflects an increase for smart cover battery in the amount of $3,750.
7480 - Machinery/Equipment - Reflects increases for 2 each Neptune AMI data collectors of $34,000, and wireless communication system for $8,500.
Community Services
Salaries and Benefits - The budget reflects the addition of a Community Services Coordinator position for the ELOP program.
Maintenance and Operations - The budget reflects increases for the Construction Career and Apprenticeship Resource Fair and the ELOP program.
Minutes May 26, 2026 Vol. 55 Pg. 199
Non-Departmental
5182 - PERS Replacement Benefit - Reflects an increase of $100,000 to fund retiree benefits under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 415(m).
Equipment Maintenance Fund
7480 - Machinery/Equipment - Reflects an increase in unit prices for 4 Police Patrol B/W vehicles of $1 oo,ooo.
Information Technoloqy Fund
7480 - Machinery/Equipment - Reflects increases for replacement of aerial imagery ($15,000) and autodesk software licenses ($7,600).
Facilities Maintenance Fund
6240 - Professional/Contractual Services - Reflects increases for vandalism and theff repairs ($30,000), HVAC services ($30,000), PD range maintenance ($20,000), generator maintenance ($14,000), and Ehler's pest control ($1 o,ooo).
6248 - Periodic Maintenance/Building Modification - Reflects increases for Peak Park clubhouse roof ($40,000), Peak Park storage building rooT ($40,000), Heroes Park restroom building roof ($30,000), PD shooting range repairs ($1 o,ooo), and City Yard stair tread replacement ($12,000).
6310 - Telephone - Reflects an increase of $15,000. 6340 - Non-capital Equipment - Reflects an increase for phones at EOC of $1,900.11.
Director Hyun also discussed the proposed Policy Issues aimed at enhancing the City's reserve policy, including the incorporation of Measure R funds to strengthen long-term financial resiliency; the addition of a new Management Analyst position within the Office of Sustainability; the purchase of custom, sustainably made, plush toys of the Buena Park SustainabuddiesTM ; and the reclassification of the Maintenance Worker position to Senior Maintenance Worker.
Furthermore, staff sought City Council direction regarding these proposed revisions and Policy Issues.
The City Council commented on the current economic climate and the importance of making sound decisions on certain expenditures and budget reallocations at this time; potential reallocation of the Vehicle Incentive Program funds to the Economic Development fund; and, expenditure of Measure R funds.
The City Council approved the FY 2026-27 General Fund Budget revisions as amended, with additional revisions to the Capital Improvement Projects including: to lower the Vehicle Incentive Program allocation from $600,000 to $1 00,000; defer the Annual Asset Management Improvement Project; defer the Ehler's Marquee Replacement Project to mid-year or next Fiscal Year's budget; appropriate PD equipment costs to Measure R; and, appropriate crossing guard costs to Measure R. As for the Policy Issues, the City Council directed staff to bring forward discussion of amending the City's reserve policy pertaining to reallocation of Measure R funds during the mid-year budget study session (Ahn and Hoque dissented); discussion on the addition of a part-time or full-time Management Analyst position during the mid-year budget study session (Sonne and Hoque dissented); proceed with the purchase of custom plush toys of the Buena Park SustainabuddiesTM (Franco and Hoque dissented); proceed with the reclassification of Maintenance Worker to Senior Maintenance Worker (Franco and Hoque dissented).
Minutes May 26, 2026 Vol. 55 Pg. 200
3B. STATUSOFVACANTPOSITIONSANDRECRUITMENTANDRETENTIONEFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY AB 2561 PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.3 Presented by Rebecca Valdez, Human Resources Manager Recommended Action: I ) Receive and file a report on the City of Buena Park's staffing vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts.
Human Resources Manager Valdez provided a report regarding staffing vacancies, recruitment status and retention efforts as required by AB 2561 pursuant to Government Code Section 3502.3, at least once per fiscal year prior to the adoption of the public agency's fiscal budget.
Currently, the City of Buena Park has 312 full-time positions budgeted. On May 9, 2026, the City had 20 vacant positions representing a 6.4% vacancy rate. The City has five bargaining units:
Buena Park City Employees' Association-(CEA), Buena Park Management Unit (BPMU), Police Management Association (PMA), Police Association (PA), and the Technical, Office, and Professionals Association (TOPS), and the vacancies for each employee bargaining unit.
Position vacancies are created for reasons including approval of newly budgeted positions, internal movement such as a promotion or transfer, or employee retirement, voluntary resignation, or involuntary termination. Human Resources Manager Valdez emphasized the importance for the Executive Team and the Human Resources Department to fill vacant positions to ensure continuity of services to the public, maintain operational efficiency, minimize disruptions to departmental functions, and minimize the need for overtime. Furthermore, the Human Resources Department is continuously and rigorously recruiting and onboarding new hires, including full-time and part-time personnel; and, recognizes that effective recruitment is about identifying, attracting, and hiring diverse, well-qualified people, and retention is about keeping employees who exemplify the City's Core Values while also keeping them engaged, satisfied, and committed to the organization long-term.
Received and filed
4. CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Traut stated the need for a closed session as scheduled and ordered the meeting into closed session.
4A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54957.6; Agency Negotiator: Eddie Fenton, Assistant City Manager/Director of Human Resources; Employee Organizations: Buena Park City Employees' Association; Buena Park Technical, Office, and Professionals Association; Buena Park Management Unit; Buena Park Police Association; Buena Park Police Management Association; and Buena Park Unrepresented Employees
RECESS/RECONVENE
Mayor Traut recessed the meeting at 2:42 p.m. and announced the meeting would reconvene at 3:00 p.m. to discuss Item No. 4A.
Mayor Traut reconvened the meeting in open session and it was announced that no reportable action was taken for Item No. 4A.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Traut adjourned the meeting at 3:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
Ciry Clerk
u Mayor