MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LA VERNE
Monday, May 2023
AspecialmeetingoftheLaVerneCityCouncilwascalledtoorderbyMayorHepburnat4:35p.m.
Council Members present: Mayor Tim Hepburn
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Crosby
Council Member Wendy Lau
Council Member Steven Frank Johnson
Council Member Meshal " Kash" Kashifalghita
Absent: None.
Advisory personnel present: City Manager Ken Domer
Assistant City Manager JR Ranells
AssistantCity AttorneyScottPorter
Finance Director Christy Lopez
Public Works Director Meg McWade
Pledgeof Allegianceled by MayorProTemRickCrosby.
Preliminary Budget TheCityCouncilmetinaStudySessionwithstaffonthePreliminaryBudget Presentation for Fiscal Year for FiscalYear2023-24. Membersof the FinanceDepartmentpresentedthe 2023- 24 proposed budget along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Tim Hepburn called for public comment on this matter.
There were two public comments. Below are only partial public comments, pleasevisittheCity'sYouTubechanneltoviewthearchivedCouncilmeeting.
LaVerneresidentDanitaBeauchampthankedtheFinanceDepartmentforthe self-explanatorypresentationofthepreliminarybudgetandaddressed concernswithpotentialprojectsthatwillbeexpensedthroughMeasureLV funds.
LaVerneresidentRickBowenalsoexpressedgratitudefortheclarityofthe presentationandinquiredabouthowtheconsumerpriceindexmayinfluence the price of City contracts.
FinanceDirectorChristyLopezandCityManagerKenDomerrespondedto publiccommentsexplainingthatthepreliminarybudgettakesinto consideration potential contract price increases.
FinanceDirectorChristyLopezrespondedtotheMeasureLVpubliccomment explainingthatMeasureLVensuresthatGeneralFunddollarscanbeallocated to support City operation.
Preliminary Capital PublicWorksDirectorMegMcWadepresentedontheCapitalImprovement Improvement Programs Programs along with a PowerPoint presentation.
Presentation for Fiscal Year
2023- 24
Mayor Tim Hepburn called for public comment on this matter.
City Council Minutes, Monday, May 1, 2023, Page2.
There was one public comment. Below is only partial public comment, please visit the City's YouTubechannelto view the archivedCouncil meeting.
La Verne resident Danita Beauchamp expressed concerns with projects focused around Gold Line development and the population that will come when the station opens.
Mayor Hepburn responded to public comment echoing concerns regarding the population that will come when the La Verne station opens.
CityManagerKenDomerexplainedto Councilthatthe Cityis requesting general direction to move forward with the budget. Council will meet with every Department Head on June 5 for a more detailed presentation on the proposed budget before its approval at the June 19 Council Meeting.
Council Comments Beloware only partialCouncilcomments, pleasevisitthe City's YouTube channel to view the archived Council meeting.
Mayor Hepburn requested that Council review more details of every Department budget before Council provides further direction.
Council Member Johnson proposed a motion for Council to give direction for City staffto moveforwardwith the preferredbudget.
Mayor Pro Tem Rick Crosby expressed concerns with the Department's asks of$ 1.5 million in reserve funds and that the reserve fund has decreased.
CouncilMemberWendyLauthankedthe FinanceDepartmentfor preparing the presentation in a clear manner and supports Council Member Johnson' s motion to move forward with the preferred budget as it accounts for potential hidden costs.
Council Member Meshal Kashifalghita thanked the Finance Department for their work and requested increased funding for Public Safety.
Mayor Tim Hepburn also thanked the Finance Department for their work and that all contracts be reviewed to identify potential cost savings.
CityCouncildirectedstaffto moveforwardwiththe preferredbudgetwhichwill be presented in further detail by each DepartmentHeadsat the June 5 special meeting.
Adjournment at 6: 02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrea Blockinger
Administrative Clerk