CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
FOSTER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
620 FOSTER CITY BOULEVARD
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO ATTEND AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING MAY DO SO IN PERSON OR BY JOINING THE ZOOM MEETING HTTPS://FOSTERCITY ORG.ZOOM.US/J/82592136594 PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM MEETING. ANY EMAILS SENT TO [email protected] WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
To Attend the Meeting in Person:
Location: 620 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, California, 94404 To Provide Public Comment in Person:
Members of the public wishing to speak will be asked to fill out a Request to Speak Form. Forms will be accepted until the staff presentation on an agenda item ends, or until the public comment period on non agenda items is closed. For special meetings, public comment is limited to item(s) on the agenda only.
To Observe the Meeting via Teleconference/Video Conference:
To access the meeting by computer / smartphone, go to: https://fostercityorg.zoom.us/j/82592136594 To dialin via phone:
16694449171 or
14086380968
And enter Webinar ID: 825 9213 6594
To Participate in the Meeting by Providing Public Comment via Teleconference/Video Conference:
During the Meeting: Live verbal public comments may be made by members of the public joining the meeting via Zoom. Zoom access information is provided above. Use the “raise hand” feature (for those joining by phone, press *9 to “raise hand”) during the public comment period for the agenda item you wish to address. The Zoom Host will call on people to speak by name provided or last 4 digits of phone number for dialin attendees. Please clearly state your full name for the record at the start of your public comment.
Before the Meeting: Written public comments for the record may be submitted in advance by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting by email to: [email protected] and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting. Written public comments submitted by email should adhere to the following:
Clearly indicate the Agenda Item No. or specify “Public” in the Subject Line for items not on the agenda Include the submitter’s full name (Recommended but not required) Written public comments received by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting will be provided in their entirety to the City Council prior to the meeting and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting.
Written public comments will be posted to the City’s website for review prior to the meeting.
AGENDA
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 6:30 PM
SPECIAL MEETING AS CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers/ex officio EMID Directors Jon Froomin, Sam Hindi, Art Kiesel, Stacy Jimenez, and Mayor/President Patrick Sullivan
3. PUBLIC
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so, and the comments shall be limited to the Special Meeting notice topic(s). Speakers may join the Zoom meeting via the meeting link and using the “raise hand” feature and the Zoom host will call on people.
4. STUDY SESSION
4.1. Budget Study Session
a) Staff Report
b) Action By Minute Order, Provide Policy Direction
5. ADJOURNMENT
The public is invited to attend.
Any attendee wishing special accommodations at the meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Department at (650) 2863250 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The City has a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, consistent with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and resolving any doubt in favor of accessibility.
That procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation is available at the City Clerk’s Office. All meetings are conducted in a manner consistent with applicable civil rights and nondiscrimination laws.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council or EMID Board regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda packet was distributed will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk Department at City Hall located at 610 Foster City Boulevard during normal business hours and at the meeting.
City Council meetings on FCTV on Comcast Channel 27 and AT&T Channel 99:
LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
REPLAY next day at 1:00 pm (that week only)
REPLAY Saturday at 5:00 pm (only on Saturday the week the actual meeting occurs) City Council meetings on https://www.fostercity.org/community/page/fctvlivestream:
STREAMED LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
City Council meetings ondemand:
https://www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes
1 CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
FOSTER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
620 FOSTER CITY BOULEVARD
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO ATTEND AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING MAY DO SO IN PERSON OR BY JOINING THE ZOOM MEETING HTTPS://FOSTERCITY ORG.ZOOM.US/J/82592136594 PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM MEETING. ANY EMAILS SENT TO [email protected] WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
To Attend the Meeting in Person:
Location: 620 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, California, 94404 To Provide Public Comment in Person:
Members of the public wishing to speak will be asked to fill out a Request to Speak Form. Forms will be accepted until the staff presentation on an agenda item ends, or until the public comment period on non agenda items is closed. For special meetings, public comment is limited to item(s) on the agenda only.
To Observe the Meeting via Teleconference/Video Conference:
To access the meeting by computer / smartphone, go to: https://fostercityorg.zoom.us/j/82592136594 To dialin via phone:
16694449171 or
14086380968
And enter Webinar ID: 825 9213 6594
To Participate in the Meeting by Providing Public Comment via Teleconference/Video Conference:
During the Meeting: Live verbal public comments may be made by members of the public joining the meeting via Zoom. Zoom access information is provided above. Use the “raise hand” feature (for those joining by phone, press *9 to “raise hand”) during the public comment period for the agenda item you wish to address. The Zoom Host will call on people to speak by name provided or last 4 digits of phone number for dialin attendees. Please clearly state your full name for the record at the start of your public comment.
Before the Meeting: Written public comments for the record may be submitted in advance by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting by email to: [email protected] and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting. Written public comments submitted by email should adhere to the following:
Clearly indicate the Agenda Item No. or specify “Public” in the Subject Line for items not on the agenda Include the submitter’s full name (Recommended but not required) Written public comments received by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting will be provided in their entirety to the City Council prior to the meeting and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting.
Written public comments will be posted to the City’s website for review prior to the meeting.
AGENDA
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 6:30 PM
SPECIAL MEETING AS CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers/ex officio EMID Directors Jon Froomin, Sam Hindi, Art Kiesel, Stacy Jimenez, and Mayor/President Patrick Sullivan
3. PUBLIC
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so, and the comments shall be limited to the Special Meeting notice topic(s). Speakers may join the Zoom meeting via the meeting link and using the “raise hand” feature and the Zoom host will call on people.
4. STUDY SESSION
4.1. Budget Study Session
a) Staff Report
b) Action By Minute Order, Provide Policy Direction
5. ADJOURNMENT
The public is invited to attend.
Any attendee wishing special accommodations at the meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Department at (650) 2863250 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The City has a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, consistent with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and resolving any doubt in favor of accessibility.
That procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation is available at the City Clerk’s Office. All meetings are conducted in a manner consistent with applicable civil rights and nondiscrimination laws.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council or EMID Board regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda packet was distributed will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk Department at City Hall located at 610 Foster City Boulevard during normal business hours and at the meeting.
City Council meetings on FCTV on Comcast Channel 27 and AT&T Channel 99:
LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
REPLAY next day at 1:00 pm (that week only)
REPLAY Saturday at 5:00 pm (only on Saturday the week the actual meeting occurs) City Council meetings on https://www.fostercity.org/community/page/fctvlivestream:
STREAMED LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
City Council meetings ondemand:
https://www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes
2 CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
FOSTER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
620 FOSTER CITY BOULEVARD
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO ATTEND AND/OR PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING MAY DO SO IN PERSON OR BY JOINING THE ZOOM MEETING HTTPS://FOSTERCITY ORG.ZOOM.US/J/82592136594 PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA ZOOM MEETING. ANY EMAILS SENT TO [email protected] WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
To Attend the Meeting in Person:
Location: 620 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, California, 94404 To Provide Public Comment in Person:
Members of the public wishing to speak will be asked to fill out a Request to Speak Form. Forms will be accepted until the staff presentation on an agenda item ends, or until the public comment period on non agenda items is closed. For special meetings, public comment is limited to item(s) on the agenda only.
To Observe the Meeting via Teleconference/Video Conference:
To access the meeting by computer / smartphone, go to: https://fostercityorg.zoom.us/j/82592136594 To dialin via phone:
16694449171 or
14086380968
And enter Webinar ID: 825 9213 6594
To Participate in the Meeting by Providing Public Comment via Teleconference/Video Conference:
During the Meeting: Live verbal public comments may be made by members of the public joining the meeting via Zoom. Zoom access information is provided above. Use the “raise hand” feature (for those joining by phone, press *9 to “raise hand”) during the public comment period for the agenda item you wish to address. The Zoom Host will call on people to speak by name provided or last 4 digits of phone number for dialin attendees. Please clearly state your full name for the record at the start of your public comment.
Before the Meeting: Written public comments for the record may be submitted in advance by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting by email to: [email protected] and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting. Written public comments submitted by email should adhere to the following:
Clearly indicate the Agenda Item No. or specify “Public” in the Subject Line for items not on the agenda Include the submitter’s full name (Recommended but not required) Written public comments received by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting will be provided in their entirety to the City Council prior to the meeting and will be made part of the written record but will not be read verbally at the meeting.
Written public comments will be posted to the City’s website for review prior to the meeting.
AGENDA
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 6:30 PM
SPECIAL MEETING AS CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers/ex officio EMID Directors Jon Froomin, Sam Hindi, Art Kiesel, Stacy Jimenez, and Mayor/President Patrick Sullivan
3. PUBLIC
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.3(a), members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so, and the comments shall be limited to the Special Meeting notice topic(s). Speakers may join the Zoom meeting via the meeting link and using the “raise hand” feature and the Zoom host will call on people.
4. STUDY SESSION
4.1. Budget Study Session
a) Staff Report
b) Action By Minute Order, Provide Policy Direction
5. ADJOURNMENT
The public is invited to attend.
Any attendee wishing special accommodations at the meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Department at (650) 2863250 or [email protected] at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. The City has a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, consistent with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and resolving any doubt in favor of accessibility.
That procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation is available at the City Clerk’s Office. All meetings are conducted in a manner consistent with applicable civil rights and nondiscrimination laws.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council or EMID Board regarding any item on this agenda after the agenda packet was distributed will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk Department at City Hall located at 610 Foster City Boulevard during normal business hours and at the meeting.
City Council meetings on FCTV on Comcast Channel 27 and AT&T Channel 99:
LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
REPLAY next day at 1:00 pm (that week only)
REPLAY Saturday at 5:00 pm (only on Saturday the week the actual meeting occurs) City Council meetings on https://www.fostercity.org/community/page/fctvlivestream:
STREAMED LIVE every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month
City Council meetings ondemand:
https://www.fostercity.org/agendasandminutes
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DATE: August 14, 2024
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
President and Members of the Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) Board of Directors
FROM: Stefan Chatwin, City/District Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager
Waqas Hassan, Assistant Finance Director
DEPARTMENT: City Manager, Finance
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY’S FINANCIAL HEALTH
AND UPDATED FUTURE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council/EMID Board, after a comprehensive discussion regarding the City’s budget and financial outlook, by Minute Order, provide general direction to staff regarding future opportunities, policies, or programs the governing body may deem prudent.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
During its June 17, 2024 meeting, the City Council approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024- 25 Budget. The approved budget included a projected 5-year financial outlook (the Five-Year Financial Plan) ending June 30, 2029. This 5-year forecast of the General Fund is a financial planning tool designed to provide the City Council with understanding of multi-year budgetary impacts in context of economic conditions, planned and potential development, revenue changes, compensation adjustments, and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funding. Revenue projections from property tax, real property transfer tax, sales tax, transient occupancy tax, building and planning permit fees, and other charges for services are included in the 5-year forecast.
Because trying to predict how the economy will perform over a 5-year period, including the proactive and reactive actions of local and state legislators, is challenging at best, the 5-year budget forecast is created using certain very conservative assumptions.
4.1 4.1 Staff Report
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Some of these conservative assumptions are: excluding any revenues from Vehicle License Fee (VLF) shortfalls, lower than trending estimates on property tax and other tax and fee revenue increases, and excluding budget impacts due to unfilled vacancies within budgeted staffing positions. These conservative assumptions typically result in an outlook that will lean more “negative” than “favorable” in both the short term and long term.
A study of the City’s budgets over the last 5 years shows the City performing significantly better than what was budgeted and forecasted, both year-over-year and in each year’s 5-year financial outlook. For example, the FY 2022-23 five-year forecast showed a structural deficit resulting in a reserve balance projected at 41.3% of General Fund by FY 2026-27. Although the following fiscal year’s (FY 2023-24) 5-year forecast showed that reserve balance for FY 2026-27 dropping further to 30.9%, this current FY adopted budget shows that forecasted reserve balance for FY 2026-27 greatly improved at 51.2% of General Fund. With the latest updates to the FY 2023-24 actuals, the forecast for reserves for FY 2026-27 improves even more to approximately 65% of General Fund’s operating expenditures.
In this Study Session, staff will present an updated outlook of the budget and 5-year outlook with the changes that have occurred since the adoption of the FY 2024-25 Budget on June 17th. The updated financial outlook will allow the Council to have a current and more holistic discussion about Foster City’s financial health and future.
Staff has also included links to resources towards the end of this report.
California Environmental Quality Act
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact on the City Council's receipt and acceptance of this report.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Staff Empowerment and Operational Excellence
RESOURCES
Institute for Local Government: Basics of Municipal Revenue: Link Foster City FY 24-25 Final Budget: Link
4.1 4.1 Staff Report
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