MINUTES
Special Meeting of the San Marcos City Council
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024
Community Hall
3 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Jones called the City Council Meeting to order at 2:00 PM.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: JONES, JENKINS, MUSGROVE, NUÑEZ, SANNELLA ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Chris Freeman, Budget Review Committee Member, spoke in favor of a potential sales tax measure to secure funding for additional public safety and other city service needs.
Brad Pearson, San Marcos Fire Association representative, spoke in favor of a potential sales tax measure to secure funding for additional public safety and other city service needs.
Salvador Roman, Budget Review Committee Member, spoke in favor of securing funding for additional public safety and other city service needs.
Angelica Santiago, resident, spoke in support of addressing the needs of residents in District 1.
Georgina Najera, resident, spoke in support of addressing the needs of residents facing challenges.
Carol Gendel, resident, spoke in support of providing cannabis sales in the city.
Christine Armstrong, resident, spoke in favor of securing funding for maintaining city services.
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
CITY MANAGER BENDER provided summary of budget cost saving measures and revenue generating actions taken and further options for consideration.
FINANCE DIRECTOR DONNA APAR provided current economic trends, a budget update, and forecasts on revenues and expenditures.
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION INCLUDED: clarification of structural budget deficit and service reduction impacts; current and potential revenue generating mechanisms; best value analysis regarding the white fleet and consultant versus city staff; deferred maintenance or rehabilitation of city facilities; use of tax initiatives and/or cannabis sales as revenue generators; infrastructure improvement challenges and costs; current and future sheriff contract and public safety costs and needs; reserve fund policies regarding repayment period and reserve levels; Proposition 13 property tax challenges; clarification of cannabis tax and ballot measure; clarification and impacts of using one-time funding options; and making the best use of the different city resources and assets.
By consensus, the City Council directed the city manager to: 1) Continue efforts to add a tax measure to the ballot in November 2024; 2) Maintain current reserve levels at 40%; 3) Update reserve policy to allow a payback period for up to 10 years on reserve funds; 4) Use one-time funding to close remaining budget deficit; and 5) Discontinue the exploration of a cannabis store front measure at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 4:55 PM.
________________________________
REBECCA D. JONES, MAYOR
CITY OF SAN MARCOS
ATTEST:
_____________________________
PHILLIP SCOLLICK, CITY CLERK
CITY OF SAN MARCOS
Special City Council
Thursday, April 11, 2024 | Page 2 of 2