MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
4:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC STREET
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Barber, Garcia, Haffa, Smith*, Williamson
Absent: None
* Attended remotely by teleconference pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54953(f)(2)(A)
City Staff
Present:
City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Community Development Director, Police Chief, Finance Director, Library & Museums Director, Public Works Director, City Clerk, Property Manager, Recreation Manager, Sports Center Manager, Finance Analyst
CALL TO ORDER
This meeting was held with a combination of in-person and teleconference attendance, pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act,
Mayor Williamson called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. City Clerk Klein called the roll as highlighted above, and explained to the public how to participate in the meeting virtually.
TELECONFERENCE NOTICE
Councilmember Smith confirmed that he could hear the meeting proceedings, gave a brief description of the circumstances relating to his need to appear remotely pursuant to the “Just Cause” clause (official travel on behalf of the City of Livermore Police Department), and confirmed that no one over the age of 18 was present in the room with him during the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Haffa led the Pledge.
STUDY SESSION
1. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Primer Study Session (Not a Project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received presentation and provided input
City Manager Uslar and Finance Director King gave the staff presentation providing a broad overview of the budget, and answered Councilmembers' questions with additional input regarding the Capital Improvement Program from Public Works Director Renny.
Public comment was received from: Ellen McEwen, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, who spoke in support of increasing staffing at the Monterey Sports Center; Jean Rasch, Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) Vice Chair, who inquired about City Council Minutes April 26, 2023
2 the ability of the Parks and Recreation Department's budget to be spent on projects as opposed to being funded by the NCIP; Xiaojing Liu, who urged the Council to pass a living wage ordinance applying only to City employees, contractors, and subcontractors who do business with the City; and Esther Malkin, who asked the Council to consider increasing the pay received by Councilmembers, stating that it would increase representation in the City.
The Council discussed the budget. It was suggested to increase the amount set aside to the Tidelands Sea Level Rise reserve fund. On question, City Attorney Davi provided information on the legal parameters for how the NCIP Committee approves projects. Interest was expressed by the Council in continuing to discuss and investigate the NCIP/Parks and Recreation project funding question, living wage, Council salary increases, methods to increase community engagement in the budgeting process including the potential of a committee, ways to diversify the City's revenue, funding a housing assistance program, and transparently looking at what programs and positions have not been brought back since the pandemic. The public was encouraged to participate in upcoming community outreach regarding the question of reopening the Casanova Oak Knoll Park Center. The Council extolled staff for planning to put funds away in the numerous reserves and expressed interest in putting more into the economic uncertainty fund.
ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Clementine Bonner Klein Tyller Williamson
City Clerk Mayor