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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004/03/31 - Minutes - Spec Pre-Budget March 31,2004 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Special Meetinq A special meeting of the Rancho Cucamonga City Council was held on Wednesday, March 17, 2004, in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Mayor William J. Alexander called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Present were Councilmembers: Rex Gutierrez, Robert J. Howdyshell, Donald J. Kurth, M.D. (arrived at 5:34 p.m.), Diane Williams (arrived at 5:35 p.m.) and Mayor William J. Alexander. Also present were: Jack Lam, City Manager; Pamela Easter, Deputy City Manager; Linda D. Daniels, RDA Director; Flavio Nunez, RDA Analyst; Larry Temple, Administrative Services Director; Tamara Layne, Finance Officer; Rose Colum, Budget Analyst; Helen Leeds, Sr. Accountant; Shelly Munson, Information Systems Specialist; Sam Davis, Information Systems Specialist; Joe O'Neil, City Engineer; Brad Buller, City Planner; Trang Huynh, Building Official; John Thomas, Plan Check Manager/Fire; Kevin McArdle, Community Services Director; Paula Pachon, Management Analyst Iii; Deborah Clark, Library Director; Captain Pete Ortiz, Rancho Cucamonga Police Department; Fire Chief Dennis Michael and Battalion Chief Peter Bryan, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District; Michelle Dawson, Management Analyst [11; Kimberiy Thomas, Management Analyst II; and Debra J. Adams, City Clerk. II B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS I1 B1. Melanie Ingram asked if this information could be videotaped and shown on Channel 3 so the public will know more about the City's budget. Mayor Alexander felt a synopsis could possibly be prepared and put on Channel 3. Ms. Ingram pointed out that the City of Upland held a special Council meeting this morning at 8:00 for an important item pertaining to the Colonies project. She expressed her disapproval of how this was done. She also asked that a staff report be given for the Consent Calendar item so that the public has more information about it. She felt this should also be done at a regular City Council meeting. [[ C. CONSENT CALENDAR [ C1. Approval to authorize the City Engineer to execute Hazard Mitigation Grant Applications for DR 1498 and to file said applications in the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Staff report presented by Joe O'Neil, City Engineer. City Council Minutes March 31,2004 Page 2 RESOLUTION NO. 04-102 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY ENGINEER TO EXECUTE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT APPLICATIONS, PREPARED FOR DR 1498, AND TO FILE SAID APPLICATIONS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES MOTION: Moved by Howdyshell, seconded by Williams to approve Resolution No. 04-102. Motion carried unanimously 5-0. D. ITEM OFBUSINESS D1. STUDY SESSION - FISCAL YEAR 2004/05 PRE-BUDGET DISCUSSIONS A power point presentation was given by Jack Lam, which is on file in the City Clerk's office. Councilmember Kurth stated he was concerned where the money was going to come from so that public safety does not have to be cut. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated there are cuts in every department's budget to help with the shortfall. Councilmember Williams did not feel any services should be diminished and that street improvements should be kept up also. She stated she is reluctant to diminish our reserves and felt a minimum should be set so that we do not go under that amount. She stated she did not want development to slow down because there is not enough City staff to assist with plan checks, inspections, etc. She felt this area should be looked into because she did not feel there were enough staff. Mayor Alexander did not feel there were enough staff in Planning to get the projects through the process. He stated public safety is very important, but felt public safety might also have to take a hit. He felt Assemblyman Dutton would be a friend to the City after talking to him yesterday. He felt the City might need to go to the voters for a special tax to backfill revenue for services. He felt the City should support the League's initiative. He did not feel the City should dip into reserves too often, but should to help out if needed. He felt these issues should be dealt with individually and felt we should see if the community will go for a tax through a special election. Councilmember Howdyshell did not feel we can keep cutting City employees without cutting public safety also. He stated he likes the backfills that the City Manager has come up with and that he looks forward to some additional meetings to discuss this further. Councilmember Gutierrez stated he also likes Assemblyman Dutton, but did not feel there would be a legislative solution very soon. He stated the last option he would go to is to raise taxes. He stated he hopes that the big projects in the City will increase revenue enough so that taxes do not have to be raised. He wanted to know if sales tax could be counted on to help the City survive. He hoped that sales tax could be secure enough to help the City. He stated all the departments are important. Councilmember Williams commented that she and other City representatives got to speak to Brulte and Longville while waiting at the airport yesterday and had some good discussions. She stated the Fullerton Library charges for non-resident library cards. She suggested our Library Board check into this matter. She stated many cities are doing this and felt our library should do the same. City Council Minutes March 31,2004 Page 3 Mayor Alexander reiterated his suggestion to break these issues down into smaller pieces and discuss them further. Jack Lam, City Manager, asked for permission to do the following: · re-examine the PERS rate structure and payment schedules · continue suspension of annual depreciation charges in the general fund · examine a formula to determine how we can transfer funds from the Redevelopment Fire Fund into the Operating Fund of the Fire District MOTION: Moved by Alexander, seconded by Williams to approve the policy direction as suggested by the City Manager outlined above. Motion carried unanimously 5-0. MOTION: Moved by Kurth, seconded by Gufierrez to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 'Debra J. At~la'ms, CMC City Clerk Approved: April 21,2004