HomeMy WebLinkAbout060611-special-cc_CCv0001.pdf MINUTES of a joint special meeting of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency of the
City of Redlands held in the Council Chambers, Civic Center, 35 Cajon Street,
on June 6, 2011 at 5:04 P.M.
PRESENT Pete Aguilar, Mayor
Paul Foster, Mayor Pro Tem
Jon Harrison, Councilmember
Jerry Bean, Councilmember
Bob Gardner, Councilmember
ABSENT None
STAFF N. Enrique Martinez, City Manager; Dan McHugh, City Attorney; Teresa
Ballinger, Deputy City Clerk; Carl Baker, Public Information Officer; Jim
Bueermann, Police Chief, Jeff Frazier, Fire Chief, David Hexem, Chief
Information Officer; Rosemary Hoerning, Municipal Utilities and Engineering
Director; Fred Cardenas, Quality of Life Director; Tina Kundig, Finance
Director/City Treasurer; Oscar W. Orci, Development Services Director;
Deborah Scott-Leistra, Human Resources Director
Mayor Aguilar called the special meeting of the City Council to order and
provided an opportunity for the public to comment on the subject on the agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Crossing Guards — Several speakers urged City Council to find the money to
save this program. All noted that children need help crossing our busy city
streets. Laura Palmer noted three solutions if the crossing guard program could
not be saved; use of Citizen Volunteer Patrol personnel, obtaining Office of
Traffic Safety Grant monies or the Police Reserve unit personnel.
Market Night—Bill Cunningham noted he was speaking to a very personal and
parochial note and preferenced his remarks by stating he has no desire to, or
interest in, the tax payers subsidizing anything he does. Market Night
constitutes approximately 80% of the Downtown Redlands Business
Association budget and produces net revenue of about $70K per year. Market
Night pays its way, is the primary source of funds for the downtown
promotions, it brings thousands of visitors to the downtown, it supports local
farming and provides jobs to our local economy. Before slaughtering the fatted
calf, try some hard numbers on what the City's investment really is.
Budget — Dennis Bell commented on several items. Although he is not a
financial expert, the budget seems to be a good honest one and thanked
everyone for their efforts. What is the new police chief s salary and benefits,
citizens cannot afford taxpayer give aways. Dennis used the bike classic as an
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example of fee waivers, talked about the loss of crossing guards and all the
layoffs. All non-essential expenditures should be curtailed.
Budget—Arlen Einertson is disappointed with the attempt at a balanced budget.
The budget is no more than a placeholder, given the need for future cuts as
stated by City Manager. The leave buy-back reduction, postponed vehicle
purchases, holiday closures, garage charge reductions and tree trimming issues
are no more than a cost avoidance. Why add people when cuts are being made?
His solution — close a fire station, improve safety and really save money,
approximately 1.5 Million. The efficiencies received by closing a fire station
will result in well rested personnel on duty to protect our City.
Trolley — Leonard Goldman encouraged the Council to apply for a grant and
bring the Trolley back to Redlands.
Crossing Guards — Bob Scarface reviewed salaries and benefits for the
management employees from the City's website and commented that if these
salaries and benefits were cut by one-fourth and health insurance reduced by
half, there would be enough to money to save these services that are being cut.
PRESENTATIONS
Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget - Finance Director/City Treasurer Kundig
reviewed the memorandums distributed over the previous weekend which.
contained the additional information to answer Council's questions from the
meeting on June 1, 2011. Information included 3 year loss rate relating to
claims from City trees, the citywide ADA status and needs, a 2 year fee waiver
study with net costs, the Downtown Redlands Business Association (Market
Night) issue relating to the general government surcharge and police security
charges, the crossing guard contracts and the general fund bond obligations and
their due dates. Councilmembers discussed each of the items at length. Council
agreed that City Manager should find the revenue to restore priority No. 1,
crossing guards and contract tree trimming as priority No. 2. Councilmember
Bean also discussed saving one of two part-time positions in the city clerk's
office stating that this office is the place where people who are coming to City
Hall stop first. Bean said, "It seems like we need to at least have someone to
answer the phone at least most of the time. Currently, when someone is out of
the office the only alternative is to close the office." The cost is only $16,194 to
restore the part-time position. There was no consensus to add the City Clerk
position to the priority list. However, Council agreed to discuss with Mr. Irwin
possible other options for his office. Councilmember Harrison asked to have
added to the priority list, the fee waiver approvals being reduced to 50% of the
costs. There was no consensus to add to the list. Councilmembers agreed to
come back in the fall via workshop to discuss Downtown Redlands Business
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Association (Market Night) and the Fee Waiver issues. Councilmember Foster
moved to adopt the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget with direction and authority
to City Manager to find a revenue source to restore priority No. 1, crossing
guards and contract tree trimming as priority No. 2 and bring back to Council
by September, or to bring back in July if there are hiccups. Motion seconded by
Councilmember Gardner and carried unanimously. Councilmember Foster
thanked staff and the subcommittee for a job well done.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Crossing Guards — Bob Scarface urged council to not wait so long to find the
revenue to restore the crossing guard contract as people's lives are affected.
City Clerk Staffing — Leonard Goldman said you have an excellent City Clerk
and one with the most integrity and he cannot believe that only Councilmember
Bean sticks up for him.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the joint meeting adjourned at 6:43 P.M.
City Clerk
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