HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017_05_24 - Special MINUTES
Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Redlands held in the Council Chambers, Civic Center, 35 Cajon
Street, on May 24, 2017 at 6:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Paul Foster
Mayor Pro Tempore Paul Barich
Council Member Pat Gilbreath
Council Member Jon Harrison
Council Member Eddie Teieda
Staff: Enrique Martinez, City Manager; Dan McHugh, City Attorney; Jeanne Donaldson, City Clerk;
Carl Baker,Public Information Officer; Jeff Frazier,Fire Chief, Mark Garcia,Police Chief,
Danielle Garcia, Management Services/Finance Director; Chris Diggs,Municipal Utilities and
Engineering Director; Chris Boatman, Quality of Life Director;Amy Martin,Human Resources
Director; James Troyer, Development Services Director; Janice McConnell,Assistant to the City
Manager
Mayor Foster called the meeting to order and offered those present the opportunity to provide public
comment on any subject within the jurisdiction of the City Council which is not on tonight's agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Prioritization of Expenditures -Dennis Bell questioned the City's priorities for expenditures and raised
concerns with certain projects which do not generate revenue, such as taking on the responsibilities for
the Contemporary Club. He pointed out this is an unfunded liability and wondered where building
maintenance funds would come from in the future. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of
the paving work recently completed on certain streets. Mr. Bell announced he would like to see more
funding put towards police, fire, and sidewalk repair.
Street Trees -Andy Hoder stated he understood the difficult choices made when developing the City
Budget but he encouraged the Council to allocate more funds to the City's street tree program,citing
many City trees are overdue for trimming.
NEW BUSINESS
FY 2017-2018 Budget
Management Services/Finance Director Garcia recapped the timeline of public meetings held to
introduce the City Manager's Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Proposed Budget. In summary, Director Garcia
explained the Budget presents a General Fund balanced on recurring revenues with a projected ending
unreserved fund balance of approximately$9.5 million, and reserves projected at$10.1 million, and an
expected General Fund surplus of$89,745.00. As public comment, Les Kong, President-Elect of the
Friends of Smiley Library, stated he understood the tight funding situation but urged the Council to
restore some of the budget cuts previously made to the Library. Mayor Pro Tempore Barich opened
discussion related to some of the needs of the Library, including maintenance staffing and the future
needs of the Contemporary Club. The Library will assume responsibility of the building in the very near
future. Library Director Don McCue addressed the challenges of providing appropriate staffing levels to
cover all the hours the Library is open, and he estimated the anticipated revenues from the
Contemporary Club may not be significant. City Manager Martinez suggested the Library review the
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revenue stream from the Contemporary Club in six months to better determine how to move forward
with staffing. Councilmember Gilbreath stressed the importance of spending within the City's means
and she pointed out there are nineteen different programs in the Proposed Budget which will improve
City services. In summary, Mayor Foster stated the City is very fiscally responsible and the Council
does the best job possible to provide funding for those programs which are a priority to the majority of
residents.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further action required Mayor Foster adjourned the meeting at 6:20 P.M.to continue
consideration of the City Manager's Proposed FY 2017-2018 Budget to the regular meeting of the City
Council scheduled for June 6,2017 at 6:00 P.M.
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