HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024_05_20 - SpecialMINUTES
Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Redlands held in the Council Chambers, Civic Center,
35 Cajon Street, on May 20, 2024 at 5:00 P.M.
Present: Eddie Tejeda, Mayor
Paul Barich, Mayor Pro Tempore
Denise Davis, Council Member
Jenna Guzman -Lowery, Council Member
Mario Saucedo, Council Member
Staff:
Charles M. Duggan, Jr., City Manager; Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney; Jeanne
Donaldson, City Clerk; Janice McConnell, Assistant City Manager; Chris Boatman,
Assistant City Manager; Carl Baker, Public Information Officer; Danielle Garcia,
Management Services/Finance Director; Brian Desatnik, Development Services
Director; John Harris, Municipal Utilities and Engineering Director; Rich Sessler, Fire
Chief; Rachel Tolber, Police Chief; Tabitha Crocker, Facilities and Community
Services Director; Robert Meteau, HR/Risk Management Director; James Garland,
Assistant Finance Manager
Mayor Tejeda called the special meeting to order and offered the public an opportunity to address
them on any matter scheduled on this agenda or any matter within the jurisdiction of the City
Council which is not already scheduled on the agenda. Public comments were presented either
in -person, via Zoom, via cell phone or landline.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Budget Requests - Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Evan Sanford requested the City
Council allocate funds for the following items: 1) Creation of a freeway -oriented sign welcoming
drivers to Redlands and encouraging tourism; 2) Establishment of a "new business" check list to
assist business owners; 3) A reminder to set aside funds to address the downtown parking needs.
Redlands Theatre Festival - Andrew Beecho and Allan Griesemer described numerous acts of
vandalism and damage that have been ongoing occurrences at the Theatre Festival, and they urged
the Council to protect this long -running venue, by installing a security fence.
Thank You Job Well Done - Dennis Bell complimented staff for their hard work on the proposed
budget document.
FISCAL YEARS 2025-2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP
Special CC_Budget Workshop_May 20, 2024
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Proposed Budget Overview
City Manager Duggan and Management Services/ Finance Director Garcia provided an
overview of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budgets. The City Manager's budget
message explained that the City has made significant strides to reinvest in community
needs such as public safety, deferred maintenance of public infrastructure, and
improvements to overall service levels. To plan responsibly through shifting economic
patterns and resulting impacts, this budget prioritizes sustainable investments that set us
up for continued stability, from supporting our City workforce through innovative
collective bargaining agreements, to multiple -year planning efforts to address
long -deferred maintenance needs, to developing strategies to invest in large-scale
expenditures for new Police and Fire facilities.
He stated that as in previous years, this budget proposal continues to prioritize and
support the efficient delivery of core municipal services in the areas of public safety,
quality of life and infrastructure maintenance It does so by identifying the financial
resources needed for the coming two fiscal years while also responsibly anticipating and
ensuring the sustainability of resources to meet our community needs in the years ahead.
Through a series of slides, tables and charts, they offered context and background, a
Review of FY 2023, FY 2024, a Comparison of FY 2024 Mid -year Versus Updated
Estimates; FY 25 and FY 26 Spending Highlights and Revenue Assumptions and
provided a list of Unknows and Risks to the Forecast.
City Manager Duggan and Director Garcia presented the long-term six -year financial
forecast from FY 2026-27 through FY2029-30. Key points showed: The model projects a
stable economic outlook and a 2% increase in operating expenses; the design &
engineering for one new fire station is included in FY 2027, Debt service and staffing for
the new fire station begins in FY 2029 and Debt service for Safety Hall begins in FY
2026. Also reviewed was a summary of Measure T revenue.
Questions raised by Council Members centered on a number of topics including,
consideration of a special tax devoted to funding a new Safety Hall and new Fire Station
and the merits of such a special tax, aging police and fire infrastructure, homelessness
grants, accessibility and public restrooms, the City's Climate Action Plan, deficit
spending and reserve funds balances,
Following the overview, department heads discussed their FY 2025-2026 budgeted
revenues and expenditures requests and responded to several questions from the Council.
Each Council Member expressed their appreciation for the City Manager and Director
Garcia, along with all City staff. The Proposed Budget discussion will continue at its
regular meeting of June 4, 2024.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further action required the special meeting adjourned at 7:02 P.M.
Special CC_Budget Workshop_May 20, 2024
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