Minutes 2015-05-28 ACTION MINUTES
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 215 EAST BRANCH STREET
ARROYO GRANDE, CALIFORNIA
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Hill called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
City Council: Council Members Jim Guthrie, Tim Brown, Barbara Harmon, Mayor Pro
Tem Kristen Barneich and Mayor Jim Hill were present.
City Staff Present: Interim City Manager Bob McFall, City Attorney Heather Whitham,
Director of Legislative and Information Services/City Clerk Kelly Wetmore,
Director of Administrative Services Debbie Malicoat, Director of
Community Development Teresa McClish, Director of Recreation
Services John Rogers, Chief of Police Steve Annibali, Public Works
Director Geoff English, and Five Cities Fire Authority Chief Steve
Lieberman.
11. NEW BUSINESS
11.b. Consideration of Preliminary FY 2015-2016 and FY 2016-17 Budget: General Fund
Programs.
Interim City Manager McFall introduced the item and reviewed progress to date on the
Preliminary Budget; provided a summary of the FY 2015-17 budget; an overview of challenges
the City is facing; an overview of the budget proposals, including proposed staffing changes,
proposed new fees to address new or changing services; and an overview of proposed
economic development activities.
Administrative Services Director Malicoat presented the staff report and recommended that the
Council review and provide direction on the preliminary FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17 budget for
the City's General Fund programs and gave an overview of the General Fund Revenue
projections for FY 15-16; expenditure projections for FY 2015-16; General Fund Expenditures
by department for FY 2015-16; the General Fund 10-year forecast; overview of proposed
staffing changes; overview of unmet needs; and next steps in budget process.
Interim City Manager concluded the presentation by addressing the Critical Needs Action Plan
and the need to update it to reaffirm City goals and objectives.
Council questions ensued regarding the 5% sales tax increase projection; clarification regarding
the proposed $250,000 savings carryover vs. budget line item cuts of$126,000; clarification that
the Park position is offset by contract services, clarification of the proposed IT and GIS
positions; whether the full-time positions can be sustained; the increase for dispatch services for
Fire; animal impound services; the Volunteer Coordinator position and the advertising of special
interest classes; a suggestion for purchasing !pads for Planning Commissioners in order to
reduce paper by implementing a paperless agenda; using revenues to cover anticipated
expenses; salary and benefit costs for full-time positions; and the proposed fees as it relates to
the upcoming fee study.
Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting Page 2
Tuesday, May 28, 2015
Mayor Hill called for a break at 8:22 p.m. The Council reconvened at 8:32 p.m.
Mayor Hill invited public comment. Patty Welsh, Arroyo Grande, expressed concern with the
Chamber survey presented to the Council regarding the FCFA, commented that Police Officers
make more money because they are always on the line and more likely to get sued, that to
compare the Fire and Police Departments is like comparing apples to oranges, supported both
agencies but does not see how the City can fund the FCFA increase in pay, commended the
Police Department for a job well done, would like to get a bid from CalFire, commented that
Arroyo Grande currently pays 45% to the JPA but what if Oceano cannot pay their portion next
year, commented on conditions of the Grover Beach and Oceano Fire buildings, and opposed
FCFA reserve pay increases; Beatrice Spencer, Arroyo Grande, questioned which building
FCFA is paying rent on and the cost; expressed concern why the percentages have never been
correctly applied and noted the additional expense since the formula is now being applied
correctly, that if Oceano has been overcharged and they request a refund then that needs to be
included in the budget, and expressed concern regarding the FCFA billing for Administration
time and if it accurately reflects the charges being billed; Otis Page, Arroyo Grande, commented
that he would like to see transfers from the water fund to the General Fund shown as revenue;
commented that as water conservation increases, costs will go up, stated that when it rains, no
date has been set to reduce costs, commented that the Council's first obligation is to provide
adequate compensation for Fire and Police personnel as community security is important,
stated that a CalFire comparison would be to see how much better it could make the present
Fire Authority, and that statistics show that the FCFA responds 51% of the time to Arroyo
Grande and that should be Arroyo Grande's allocation to the FCFA; Tracy Corley, Arroyo
Grande, spoke in support of the FCFA and that the top priority should be the emergency
response system and their needs; Patrick Irey, spoke in support of the FCFA and that reserve
wages should be more than minimum wage and supported a wage increase; Jeanette Searby,
Arroyo Grande, spoke in support of the FCFA and does not support seeking a bid from CalFire.
No further public comments were received.
Council comments and direction ensued in support of the Preliminary Budget for General Fund
programs as proposed, which includes various General Fund line item reductions of $126,000;
establishment of new GIS technology, animal impound, and Women's Club Community Center
security and custodial fees; one full-time Information Services Technician; one full-time GIS
Technician; one full-time Parks Maintenance Worker; one full-time Water Systems Maintenance
Worker; one part-time Volunteer Coordinator; two reclassifications of Public Works Supervisors;
one reclassification of a Public Works Office Assistant; minor funding adjustments to provide for
GASB and technology licensing fees; and funding as requested by the Fire Cities Fire Authority
in their Preliminary Budget proposal for FY 2015-16.
No formal action was taken.
12. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
The Mayor and Council Members provided brief reports from the following committee,
commission, board, or other subcommittee meetings that they attended as the City's appointed
representative.
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Tuesday, May 28, 2015
12. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (cont'd):
(a) MAYOR HILL:
(1) South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD)
(2) Brisco/Halcyon Interchange Subcommittee
(3) Oversight Board to the Successor Agency to the Dissolved Arroyo
Grande Redevelopment Agency
(4) California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
(b) MAYOR PRO TEM BARNEICH:
(1) Zone 3 Water Advisory Board
(2) Homeless Services Oversight Council (HSOC)
(c) COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE:
(1) San Luis Obispo Council of Governments/Regional Transit Authority
(SLOCOG/RTA)
(2) South County Transit (SCT)
(3) Tourism Committee
(4) Brisco/Halcyon Interchange Subcommittee
(d) COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN:
(1) Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA)
(2) Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC)
(e) COUNCIL MEMBER HARMON:
(1) County Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC)
(2) Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
(3) Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA)
13. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
Council Member Brown stated he and Council Member Harmon had attended memorial
services for Bruce Sutherland who was the Workers' Compensation attorney for the City.
Mayor Hill stated he attended the Memorial Day celebration at Arroyo Grande Cemetery. He
reported that he also attended the Energy Academy at Arroyo Grande High School, which is a
partnership between the school and businesses, and he stated that PG&E made a donation to
the academy for a student energy project.
14. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS:
None.
15. COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS:
None.
16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hill adjourned the meeting at 10:10 p.m.
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Minutes:City Council Regular Meeting Page 4
Tuesday, May 28, 2015
Jim Hill, Mayor
TEST: 0116/4196e--
Kelly et re, City Clerk
(Approved at CC Mtg b-' Z0l5 )
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