Ripon City Council Workshop Minutes
Informal Informational Meeting
DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023
PLACE: COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 259 N. WILMA AVENUE, RIPON, CA 95366 TIME: 3:30 PM
1. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Michael Restuccia Mayor Present
Leo Zuber Vice Mayor Present
Daniel de Graaf Council Member Present
Gary Barton Council Member Present
Dean Uecker Council Member Remote
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Clerk Lisa Roos, Deputy City Clerk Jane Kilgore, Kelly Donohue, Danielle Pierce.
2. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
2023-2024 BUDGET
Discussion/No Action Staff to present the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating and Capital Budget.
City Administrator Werner presented the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating and Capital Budget starting with a Fiscal Year 2022-2023 financial update. Werner said FY 22-23 revenue was 15.4% ($1,800,000) higher than budgeted, expenses were 6% ($715,000) higher than budgeted and he said he is projecting a General Fund surplus of $1.5 million before transfers.
Werner reviewed the overall City budget including staffing, retirement and healthcare.
Werner said the FY23-24 budget includes adding one full time Community Service Officer, one full time Dispatcher and two part time Recycling Center Workers.
Werner reviewed the City’s two retirement plans, which include a defined benefit for sworn Police Department Employees and the Defined Contribution for all other employees. He said the retirement benefit total cost is $1,716,000 for FY23-24.
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Werner said the health and welfare expenses have experienced a 4.5% increase over the last 10 years. Fiscal Year 23-24 expenses are budgeted at $1,897,000. Werner said the City has been able to save a significant amount by offering employees with Blue Shield the Silver Plan over the Gold Plan, and reimbursing the deductible.
Werner reviewed the General Fund’s Budget and said the FY23-24 General Fund Revenue is $16,436,868. He said 54% of the City’s revenue comes from taxes, with sales tax being the largest contributor. Werner said FY23-24 sales tax revenue is expected to decline 12% from FY 22-23.
Werner reviewed the Enterprise Fund Budget. He said there was a 5-year rate study approved in 2020 and prior to rates being increased, staff will present an analysis to determine the February 2024 rate increase. He said this study will also evaluate recent changes resulting from garbage regulatory changes and the water infrastructure bond to connect to the South County Water Supply Project.
Werner said the assessments for the Landscape Districts will stay the same with the exception of the Carolina’s Maintenance District with a 14% increase and the Alexandria Maintenance District with an increase of 6.8%.
Werner said the Lighting District’s revenue is projected to slightly exceed expenses for FY23-24, noting that the District faces the challenge of replacing induction lights. He said staff will look at options to increase revenue to pay for this capital expense.
Werner went over the Capital Fund Budget starting with an update of the Streets and Roads projects and a review of the Streets and Road Plan. He said FY23-24 Street and Road Capital projects are a 3-layer treatment of the Madsen area for $1 million and an overlay at River Road for $1.5 million.
Werner summarized the Parks and Recreation Capital Outlay Expenditures including resurfacing the Library parking lot, tennis court reconstruction, resurfacing the Vermeulen basketball courts and replacing the play equipment at Vermeulen Park.
Werner said the Enterprise Fund Capital Outlay expenditures will include the purchase of new service trucks for Public Works, upgrades to the pond monitoring system and two new garbage trucks.
Werner summarized the FY23-24 Capital Improvement Project budget of $14.5 million saying it includes improvements to the Senior Center, the construction of the Fleet Maintenance Facility, the East Main/Highway 99 traffic signal, and Well 9 rehabilitation.
He said the Senior Center project and the East Main/Highway 99 traffic signal both have grants to assist with the funding.
Werner discussed the City’s Debt Summary. He said the City’s 2012 Water Bonds and the Sewer Bonds will be paid off in 2027 and 2025, respectively. The water meter City Council Page 3 June 8, 2023
installation project will be paid off in 2025 and the Happy Daze Incentive Agreement should be paid off between 2024 and 2027.
Werner finished by saying there would be a public hearing for the FY23-24 Budget at the June 13, 2023 City Council meeting and it will be presented for approval at the July 11, 2023 City Council meeting.
3. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:04 PM.
KEVIN WERNER
City Administrator