COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David W. Rowlands, City Manager
DATE: June 17, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Establishing a City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee and Appointing two Members of the City Council
Description:
The City Council will consider approving a resolution establishing and appointing two members of the City Council to a Budget Ad Hoc Committee.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution establishing a City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee and appointing two members of the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 3, 2025, City Council meeting during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget update it was proposed to bring back to City Council a Resolution establishing a budget ad hoc committee and appointing two members of the City Council to participate in a budget rebalancing initiative.
DISCUSSION:
On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted an amended FY 2025 -26 budget that used $26.1 million of short-term funding sources (budget reserve funds) to balance the budget.
Included in the presentation was a “Rebalancing Initiative Plan” that included several next steps related to the budget for review and analysis to reduce the structural deficit. Those next steps included the creation of a, “budget ad hoc committee” to participate in the review of the budget along the way.
2 The Ralph M. Brown Act and Ad Hoc Committees
According to Government Code Section 54952(b), the Ralph M. Brown Act applies to a “commission, committee, board, or other body of a local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision -making or advisory,” if it is created by charter, ordinance, resolution, or formal action of a legislative body.
However, advisory committees that are composed solely of less than a quorum of the legislative body, and which do not have continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action, are not considered legislative bodies under the Brown Act. Therefore, such Ad Hoc Committees are not subject to the Brown Act’s open meeting requirements.
Impact to the Community
This appointment will provide a closer connection to the community of Santa Maria, as the Council members are elected by community members.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution