Ripon City Council Workshop Minutes
Informal Informational Meeting
DATE: TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025
PLACE: RIPON POLICE DEPARTMENT EOC, 259 N. WILMA AVE., RIPON, CA 95366 TIME: 11:00 AM
1. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Daniel de Graaf Mayor Present
Gary Barton Vice Mayor Present
Dean Uecker Council Member Present
Michael Restuccia Council Member Present
Leo Zuber Council Member Present
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra Jr., Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Director of Public Works James Pease, Police Chief Daniel Sauer, City Clerk Lisa Roos, Planning Secretary Michael Winters.
2. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKING SESSION
Discussion/No Action Council to discuss future policy goals and the implementation of those goals.
City Administrator Werner led a budget discussion including a financial overview of the General Fund Reserve/Contingency and Capital Replacement Funds, AB1600 Capital Funds, Enterprise Operating and Capital Funds and Street and Roads Funds. He described the policies adopted for the Reserve and Capital Replacement Funds and the challenges of the AB1600 Capital Funds, Enterprise Funds and Street and Roads Funds.
Werner reviewed the balances of the Contingency Funds in relation to their respective policies and received recommendations from the Council on what to include in the 25/26 budget so that each fund is more in line with its policy.
Werner reviewed the Street and Road Capital Projects, noting the completed and planned projects. He referenced prior Council direction and noted the success of developing projects based on geographic areas rather than construction methods.
Werner also presented the sidewalk trip hazard repair report, along with background of the process and a six-year history of repairs.
City Council Page 2 April 15, 2025
Werner shared a slide showing the General Fund Revenue and Expense trends over the past 16 years. Werner discussed the CalPERS pension obligations, the City’s 115 Trust and the policy for its current use and presented the Council with several options for consideration to manage these increasing obligations, although some options were not recommended by staff.
Werner discussed the management of self-insured and pooled risk services, including strategies and programs for controlling related insurance expenses.
Police Chief Sauer discussed the Police Department staffing, the City’s approach to attract and retain police officers and dispatchers, and the Department’s staffing requests for the upcoming budget.
Werner provided an overview of the Engineering Department staffing and the City’s approach to attract and retain engineering staff. He addressed the financial impacts development has on the General Fund and then discussed the AB1600 Development Fee Program.
Planning Director Zuidervaart reviewed the City’s Growth Policy and led a discussion highlighting the importance of the West Side Master Plan for the future of economic development in the City of Ripon, as well as the AB1600 Development Fee Program and said an updated study will be done in 2025. Zuidervaart provided an update on planning boundaries, the sphere of influence, and land use within the City.
Public Works Director Pease discussed plans for a sustainable water supply, potential funding sources, and the impact it would have on the current utility rates.
Werner provided information to the Council on possible solutions for cut-through traffic, including the possibility of doing a regional study to mitigate Highway 99 congestion.
Sauer discussed appropriate staffing levels for officers and noted policies to consider as Ripon continues to grow. He compared the City of Ripon to neighboring cities and provided crime statistics, highlighting a downward trend since 2019.
In the interest of time, Werner directed Council to review each department’s 24-25 accomplishments and 25-26 goals, only calling out a few that were not discussed during other portions of today’s meeting. He noted that the City will be supporting the Ripon Consolidated Fire District with their second Prop 218 vote.
Sauer highlighted the accomplishments and statistics of having a dedicated code enforcement staff, which was a recommendation of the City Council.
City Council Page 3 April 15, 2025
Recreation Director Stevens reviewed the Department’s recreation programs, noting that sign-ups have continued to grow since the shutdown during the pandemic. He presented the Recreation Department’s 25-26 fiscal year goals.
Werner concluded the meeting and thanked everyone for attending and for their input.
3. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:16 PM.
KEVIN WERNER
City Administrator
City Council
259 N. Wilma Ave.
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Jane Kilgore, Deputy City Clerk
Date: 04/15/2025
Subject: STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKING SESSION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
BACKGROUND:
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
FISCAL IMPACT:
Packet Pg. 4