CITY OF CRESCENT CITY
Mayor Blake Inscore Mayor Pro Tem Ray Altma
ouncil Member Isaiah Wrigh ouncil Member Jason Greenoug Council Member Kelly Schellong
MINUTES
BUDGET WORKSHOP
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
210 BATTERY STREET
CRESCENT CITY, CA 95531
TUESDAY MAY 21, 2024 5:30 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
Call to order Mayor Inscore called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
Roll call Council Members present: Council Member Kelly Schellong, Council Member Isaiah Wright, Mayor Pro Tem Ray Altman, and Mayor Blake Inscore
Council Member absent: Council Member Jason Greenough
Staff members present: City Manager Eric Wier, City Attorney Martha Rice, City Clerk/Administrative Analyst Robin Altman, Finance Director Linda Leaver, Housing Authority Executive Director Megan Miller, Economic Development and Recreation Director Ashley Taylor, IT Administrator Fritz Ludemann, IT/GIS Technician Taylor Patch, Public Works Director Dave Yeager, Fire Chief Kevin Carey, Grants Coordinator Bridget Lacey (via Zoom) and Police Chief Richard Griffin (via Zoom)
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Inscore
CONTINUING BUSINESS
1. FY 2024/2025 Proposed Budget of the City of Crescent City • Recommendation: Receive a presentation of the budget workshop from the City Manager and Finance Director; provide direction regarding FY 2024-25 budget; take action as necessary and appropriate.
City Manager Wier introduced Lynette Braillard of LuLish Marketing who gave an update on all of the marketing her firm has done for Crescent City. Lighthouse Cove RV Park has a new logo and Fred Endert Municipal Pool has one in the design state. City Manager Wier stated that there is $30k in this year's budget for marketing. Ms. Braillard stated it would be spread between the RV Park and Pool. She also stated that previously, the Council asked for marketing to be done at the Medford Airport, so she reviewed that as well as Oakland. This will require an additional budget outside of the $30k to be able to do marketing there as well. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cindy Vosburg stated that the Chamber Board and Ms. Braillard are doing a great job for Crescent City, giving a good return. If the Chamber had more budget to work with, they would like to do a free marketing workshop for local tourism-based businesses in town, would like to help the downtown have more charm to drawn in visitors, and would like to invest in a better 1 | Page
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brochure to promote the area. Would like to promote the tsunami walk area, have a better map that shows everything that the downtown has to offer as well as an updated hiking map. Would like to see the Kamome boat be a feature much like the painted otters that were done previously and placed around town. Director Vosburg requests of the City to give $30k more this year to make some of the ideas come to fruition. Council Member Schellong stated that to be fiscally responsible, she would like to see a plan for the $30k with the costs of each activity with priorities.
City Manager Wier clarified that if the Council was going to allot more money to the Chamber, they would then come back to the Council with how it will be spent and have them listed by priorities. Mayor Inscore stated that the Chamber Board utilizes the funding with a very comprehensive plan.
City Manager Wier explained that due to housing developments, a consultant will need to be hired to help with the building permits, planning fees, etc. The City has also been busy with applying for grants and presently have 17 applications pending.
City Manager Wier went into detail over the past fiscal year and events that had an impact on them. The Smith River Complex Fire and the fishing closure had impacts on our economy, however, TOT was higher this year than before.
Finance Director Leaver went over the budget process and how the overall budget for the City is created. She reported to the Council that the current MOUs expire at the end of next year, therefore negotiations will take place. For staffing changes, it is recommended that the current part-time Building Inspector become full-time. For Pool Lifeguards, it is proposed to decrease from 6.85 to 6.02 temporarily to account for planned pool closure for HVAC and flooring projects.
Director Leaver said that the budget includes a 10% increase to provide for what is expected to be increased premiums for health insurance. For CaPERS, this budget is for monthly payments due to our cash flow concerns instead of the annual lump sum payment. Due to cash flow, she advises to wait to see what the budget-to-actual is in a few months before making an additional payment to the unfunded liability.
Housing Authority Executive Director Miller went over the budget that she had to create before knowing how much their funding would be. There was an off-set this year, therefore she will need to meet with HUD and will wait to pull people for the waiting list for The Legacy. Mayor Inscore stated that this will be a 2-year resolve; suggested applying for the reserve money since it will take so long to house people that are on the waiting list.
Director Leaver reported to the Council that a FEMA grant has been applied for to buy SCBAs, and further stated its more inexpensive to buy in bulk. Regarding CCPD, Measure S is funding two patrol officers and starting next year will fund a third. It has also paid for the promotion of one of our officers to Detective. Measure S is also paying for the Cellebrite Cellphone Analyzer. The budget for streets is the same as last fiscal year. Council Member Schellong asked where we are with streetlights; Director Yeager said we are not fully staffed with EMOTs, but they are working on them. Some of the streetlights aren't working because of the photocell, but staff is making headway.
Director Leaver stated for the Pool Fund, it is the same annual budget that supports daily operations. Measure S recommends $30k in equipment, parts and supplies and $20k transferred to CIP Fund for the HVAC/dehumidification project.
Mayor Inscore called a five-minute at 7:40 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 7:50 p.m.
Director Leaver went over in detail what is included in the General Fund; a temporary contract for building inspection, code enforcement $60k, Cultural Center staining and wall repair, removal of dangerous trees (which will also be funded by RMAP), Chamber/Visitor Bureau contribution, 2 | Page
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marketing for Economic Development and events, Pool projects, DNACA contribution for Concerts in the Park, funding for the Forest Moon Festival, Sister City events (including the Kamome Festival), continuation of the Val Polyanin art exhibit, two small community events such as a scavenger hunt and family Olympics, flower baskets for downtown, two pool events. Director Leaver reported the following items were not included in the budget, but the Council can consider adding them: airport funding for next runway project, additional Chamber contribution, funding the Tri-Agency, an additional public restroom to be placed downtown, the IT security camera project, Public Works equipment purchases, Corp Yard improvements, online business licenses, and security system for the Cultural Center.
City Manager Wier stated the location for the downtown restroom needs to be determined. Mayor Inscore stated that most of the complaints he receives are that there are no restrooms to use downtown. Director Yeager stated that this project is 6 months plus out to completion. Mayor Pro Tem Altman stated he would rather see the money go to keeping up the Cultural Center and not to build new structures.
IT Administrator Ludemann reported on the security system budget request and that he wanted to find something that would be user friendly. These cameras would cover all facilities within the City including the Ranney collector, chlorination building and all City offices. Council Member Schellong asked if it would increase the insurance costs due to vandalism, or does it reduce the cost because we are able to monitor events; Director Leaver stated one camera is less than our deductible; City Manager Wier stated that the insurance company does like to see cameras installed and was included in our RMAP and was one of the reasons why we were able to get $75k back this year.
Director Yeager said one of the equipment purchases requested is for a dump trailer. Since it does not require a specific license to operate, all Public Works employees will be able to use it. A tractor is also being requested and it will have a 90 degree mowing deck, it is 25% larger than current mower, and will have a hydraulic drag box for grading roads (RV Park, for example).
Regarding the improvements to the Corp Yard, City Manager Wier went over the improvements that have been done at the Yard and the potential future of the Bank of America building and what financing would be required. Discussion was held at a Council level to include the other uses of the building than a new City Hall.
City Manager Wier concluded his presentation and advised the Council and public that the Workshop would be continued to Thursday, May 23, 2024 to finish discussing budget items that were not yet presented.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Inscore adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. to the continuation of the Budget Workshop for the City Council of the City of Crescent City scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, 210 Battery Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.
ATTEST:
Balma
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Robin Altman
City Clerk/Administrative Analyst
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