COUNCIL BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Minutes of October 29, 2024
Call to Order: 5:34 p.m.
Members Present: Mayor Salinas, Councilmember Syrop, and Councilmember Bonilla Jr.
Members Absent: None
Staff: Dustin Claussen, Regina Youngblood, Adam Kostrzak, Nicole Gonzales, Christina Crosby, Franchesca Hatfield, Crissy Mello, Nicholas Mullins, Christina Morales Guests: None
Public Comments: None
Approval of Meeting Minutes from September 18, 2024
Action: Minutes reviewed and unanimously approved.
General Fund Budget Balancing Strategies
Finance Director Gonzales presented an overview of General Fund budget balancing strategies for discussion.
Councilmember Syrop Questions:
Are there potential savings if we do not fully fund our OPEB obligations? Is the $5-$7 million for each Caltrans property or the entire amount from all the properties? Do you have thoughts or reasons for keeping Caltrans sales in a separate fund from the General Fund? What is the feasibility of the City researching and recommending progressive taxes? Councilmember Bonilla Jr. Questions:
Can you provide information on City owned properties to sell? When the City’s investments earn money, do the funds get reinvested or do the funds go to the General Fund? Can the committee discuss the Hayward Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) in January or February? Action: The Committee received the presentation and provided feedback.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Analysis and Review
Finance Director Gonzales presented an update on the City’s ARPA fund projects.
Councilmember Syrop Questions:
Why was the City unable to spend down the funds available in the legal services for the Evictions Program? Can you provide insight on the merger of the outside firms involved in the legal services for Evictions Program? Councilmember Bonilla Jr. Questions:
Can staff provide options to fund the First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance/Wealth-Building Program without utilizing General Fund dollars? Will the reallocation of funds affect on-going projects? Mayor Salinas Questions:
Do we have to return the unobligated and/or unspent $3.6 million in ARPA funds to the federal government? What amount will be reallocated to General Fund reserves? Action: The Committee received the report and provided feedback.
Review and Approve the FY 2024/2025 Agenda Planning Calendar Action: The Committee reviewed the calendar and provided feedback.
Committee Members/Staff Announcements: None.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
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