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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992/06/04 - Minutes - Budget WorkshopJune 4, 1992 CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA CITY COUNCIL, REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MINUTES Buclget Work.~lX~p A. CAI.I. TO ORDER An adjourned budget workshopof the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency, Fire Protection District, and City Council was held on Thursday, June 4, 1992, in the Tri-Communities Conference Room of the Civic Center, located at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Dennis L. StouL Present were Councilmembers: William J. Alexander, Charles J. Buquet II (amved 6:05 p.m.), Diane Williams, Pamela J. Wright, and Mayor Dennis L. Stout. Also present were: Jack Lain, City Manager;, Jerry B. Fulwood, Deputy City Manager;, Rick Gomez, Community Development Director;, Brad Bullet, City Planner;, Larry Henderson, Principal Planner, Joe O'Neil, City Engineer, Shintu Bose, Deputy City Engineer, Walt Stickney, Associate Engineer, Cindy I-Iackett, Associate Engineer, Jerry Grant, Building Official; Jim Hart, Administrative Services Director, Susan Neely, Finance Office=;, Rose Colurn, Accountant; Tony Flores, Management Analyst I; Jim Frost, City TreAtsmr, Ingrid Blair, GIS Supervisor;, Marti Higgins, Disaster Preparedness Manager; Chief Dennis Michael, Chief Lloyd Aimand, and Alex Ahumada, Administrative Services Officer, Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District; Capt. Bruce Zeiner, Rancho Cucaraonga Police Department; and Jan Sutton, Deputy City Clerk. B. ITEM OF DISCUSSION B1. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSF. D BUDGET FOR FISCAl. YR. AR 1992/93 (0205-01 BUDGET) Staff report presented by Jack Lain, City Manager, who stated this was a difficult year for the budget, and a lot of time and effort was put into producing the budget by the various deparunent heads and the Adminiswative Services Department. He stated there were severe revenue drops last year, and revenue has continued to drop in the current year. He stated the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 1992/93 reflects the current poor economy. He stated the proposed General Fund budget was approximately $26 million, which represents a $1 million from the current year's budget, and a $3.3 decrease less than Fiscal Year 1990/91. He went on to explain the format of the budget documents. He stated the RDA budget from an operational standpoint was $3.3 million, that the approximately $80 million shown were the carry-over bond funds from designated projects. He stated the Fire District General Fund is approximately $6.5 million, and the Mello-Roos portion was $2.3 million. He stated the Fire Dislxict was also experiencing some difficulty this year, though it was better off than the City's budget. He explained the shortfall in the Mello-Roos portion, and the procedure for adopting the Fire District budget. He stated that the Capital Improvement showed all the planned projects for the next fiscal year which included three major projects, the widening of 19th Street, the 1-15 and Foothill Boulevard interchange, and the Haven Avenue widening project. He stated these projects were to be funded from gas tax and Measure I funds so they would not lose those revenues. He stated the CIP represented approximately $15.9 million, and only represented certain infrastructure improvements and City Council/Redevelopment Agency/ Fire District Minutes June 4, 1992 Page 2 does not reflect any public facility construction as they have had in prior years, as there were no funds available for those types of projects. He passed out a legislative alert from the League of California Cities about measures that could be proposed to the state legislature to balance their budget, and went over how these proposal would affect the City. Councilmember Wright asked ff they would have the opportunity to review the Fire District budget in depth between now and AugusL Jack Lain, City Manager, stated they would spend as much time as necessary to answer all the questions. Councilmember Wright asked about the integrated waste management program, and asked if there was a revenue source for that program. Jack Lain, City Manager, stated AB 939 has a specific fee attached to it as part of the trash rates, and that pays for the Integrated Waste Coordinator position and the associated programs. Councilmember Wright referred to page 12 of the Council budget and asked about the D.A.R.E. and CHOICES programs reimbursements. She asked why the City was not continuing to fund the CHOICES program but were increasing the amount to the D.A.R.E. program. Jack Lain, City Manager, stated the figures shown on page 12 were revenue received, and the amount shown for D.A.R.E. were the contributions from the school districts participating in the program. Councilmember Wright stated there was another page in the budget that showed expenditures and she did not see an allocation for the CHOICES program. Jack Lain, City Manager, stated the D.A.R.E. program received reimbursement funds from the school districts and are serf sustaining. Councilmember Wright asked what portion of the General Fund went to the D.A.R.E. program. Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager, stated the City's portion was approximately $60,000.00. He stated that was mostly to cover the costs associated with the deputy that conducted the program. Councilmember Wright asked what was the reason for cutting the CHOICES program to zero in this budget. Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager, stated it was his understanding that the participating school districts would be paying a set amount to have that program. He stated they were looking at an agreement with the Sheriff's Department to have the revenues transferred to the County and have the program handled directly through them. Councilmember Wright asked what was the City's contribution then and where did it appear in the budget. Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager, stated there might not be an expenditure from the City since the Sheriff's Department would be running the program. Jack Lain, City Manager, explained how the school district had asked to have the program enhanced but it was beyond the City's ability, and since the County was looking at promoting the CHOICES program, the City asked the County to train the personnel so the school districts could contract directly with the County. City Council/Redevelopment Agency/ Fire District Minutes June 4, 1992 Page 3 Councilmember Wright felt the point then was that the City was not making any contribution for gang divertion, that their contributions were going north of Arrow to those schools that were being served by the D.A.R.E. program. She felt this went against Council's past commitment to support gang diversion. She felt if the Council was committed to gang diversion, then they need to show that in their priorities and that irregardless of what the school district is doing, the City should also continue to fund gang prevention. Jerry Fulwood, Deputy City Manager, explained that in prior years the City had a deputy on staff who were providing the CHOICES program, and the City paid for the deputy's time as pan of the contract with the SherifFs Deparunent. When the County moved the CHOICES program over to the SherifFs Deparunent, there was no longer a deputy in-house providing the service, so in essence the City was not making the expenditure they had in the past by paying for the deputy's salary and cost. He stated the City was still committed to the CHOICES program, but that it was being handled direc~y by the Sheriff's Department County-wide. He stated the City never made a monetary contribution direc~y to the CHOICES program, they just paid the ~Inn] of the deputy conducting the program as part of the law enforcement contract. Councilmember Wright felt the Council had said since they were spending money north of Arrow on the D.A.R.E. program, they would also provide the same kind of contribution to the people south of Arrow even though their needs were different, and felt they were not holding to that policy now. Mayor Stout stated it was his understanding that the CHOICES program was continuing at the same level as in the past, that it has not been cut or reduced. He asked if that was correct. Capt. Zeiner, Police Department, stated the level of service has actually increased since the transfer to the Sberiff's Department. Councilmember Wright stated she was concerned that since someone else was in charge of the program, what would the City do if that agency could not afford to continue the program. Mayor Stout felt they should address that whenever the County might say they are not going to pay for the program. He stated if they were willing to pay for the program, and were increasing the service levels above what the City could provide, why should the City expend funds on the program. Councilmember Wright stated the school district was paying for the program and not the County, and they were only doing so because the City did not pay for the program any longer. Councilmember Buquet disagreed with Councilmember Wright. He stated it was not the City's job to provide programs for the schools. He stated the City's involvement was to assist the schools in getting the program up and running, and the long term intent was to find some way for the program to be f'mancially serf-sustaining. He stated the City has loaned an officer into the program for all that time, and now the County has taken over and expanded the program. He asked what benefit would the City derive by conwibuting money to a program that the County was already providing. Councilmember Wright felt if the City were to contribute to CHOICES, it would make it effective and serve more people in Rancho Cucamonga. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated he had met with Cucamonga School District representatives several months ago, and they agreed to contract directly with the County for the CHOICES program because of problems the City would have in expanding the program. City Council/Redevelopment Agency/ Fire Dislxict Minutes June 4, 1992 Page 4 Councilmember Wright felt the existing program barely meets the needs of the community in regards to the gang problem which the City should be addressing, and that they were leaving it up to someoee else to address, and that was what she was having a problem with. Mayor Stout stated he was uncomfortable in discussing this because he felt if the school district should have approached the Council if they felt the funding was inadequate, and they have not done so. Councilmember Wright stated the school district contacted the City Manager and were told the City had no money for the program which was why they needed to consider it now at budget time. Mayor Stout stated ff the school board disagreed with that they should have contacted the Council about it, and they have not done so. Jack Lain, City Manager, stated they did not tell the school district they did not have any money, but that it would be a difficult policy decision for the City to spend money outside of the City limits but they were free to ask the Council thaL At the same time they were discussing expansion of their program, and since the County was going to be expanding into other areas with the program, it was suggested the school district contact the Sheriff's Department about it. The City has not heard anything back from either the school district or the Sheriff's Department in regards to the CHOICES program. Councilmember Wright felt there were other needs in the City in addressing gang prevention other than working with students, and the Council should consider contributing in order to help solve the problem to a higher degree. Councilmember Buquet stated he had a concern in that Councilmember Wright appeared to have access to information from the school district regarding the CHOICES program that was not available to the whole Council, and felt uncomfortable in it being brought to the Council's attention in this manner. He stated the Superintendent contacted staff about the matter and it was handled on an administrative level. He stated the School Board has not contacted the Council in any manner about this program, and felt it was inappropriate for it to be brought to the Council in this way. Councilmember Wright stated it was not her intention to serve anyone outside of the City, but felt they should be looking at the CHOICES program, and felt that when they were setting priorities they should make sure they were addressing all of the needs of the City, and that gang diversion was being requested by other parts of the City, not just south of Arrow. Councilmember Alexander asked for clarification on whether D.A.R.E. touched on the subject of gang prevention. Capt. Zeiner, Police Department, stated only a small portion of the program centered on gang prevention. Mayor Stout felt that drugs affected more kids in the City than gangs and if they were trying to help all the kids in town, he felt drugs would touch them more than gang activity so D.A.R.E. was an important program. He felt that if the County was providing the CHOICES program at the same or better level than the City had, he had no problem with the School District contracting directly with the County. Councilmember Williams stated from her participation with the Gang & Drug Prevention Task Force, they have covered that there are two types of gang interpretation, one being the real gangs, and the other being the "wanna bes". She stated the CHOICES program was supposed to be for at-risk individuals, and did not feel that the majority of kids in the City fell within that category. She also wondered why the School District did not approach the Council if there were some problem in continuing to fund the CHOICES program. City Council/Redevelopment Agency/ Fire District Minutes June 4, 1992 Page 5 Councilmember Wright asked if there was a reason for the cost of the 800 MHz system increasing from $200,000.00 to $275,000.00. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated the City's commitment has been to the West End system, which pays for the maintenance and operation on the JPA, and also on the capital in supporting the bond money. He stated that was the commitment they must keep in order to be a part of the JPA. Councilmember Wright stated she thought they were going to eliminate the dues to the Local Government Commission and the Contract Cities membership. Jack Lam, City Manager, stated staff has not received direction from the Council on that. Councilmember Williams stated she has derived benefit from the Local Government Commission, but does not know what the benefit is from the Contract Cities Association. Mayor Stout agreed. Councilmember Buquet felt that before they eliminate the membership, which was a minimal cost, they should evaluate what the benefit of the organization might be, especially if they had to join in some type of joint lawsuit in response to the state's budget decisions. Jack Lam, City Manager, also pointed out that Animal Control services were included in the budget in order to gear up for the opening of the facilities in July of 1993. He stated there were also funds in the budget for the federal stormwater issue, which they can expect to increase in the future due to the program requirements. Mayor Stout stated if anyone on the Council had any detailed questions, they should get with the City Manager and he would be happy to answer them. He felt the City was being fiscally responsible. C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC C 1. Don Donnelly, Government Relations Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, stated the Chamber would be happy to work with the City on budget issues being presented by the state. He stated the City has been fisca!ly responsible in the past. ~:~:~ D. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Wright, seconded by Alexander to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. The meeting MOTION: adjourned at 7:08 p.m. J~nSutton Deputy City Clerk Approved: July 15, 1992