CC Min 2012-06-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council's profound vision. The City Manager thanked Mr. Chris Beth and Ms. Deanna La Croix for their assistance on the presentation. Some of the accomplishments included the Depot Circle RFQ, expanded Farmer's Market downtown to name a few. The Mayor interjected that there is another Farmer's Market on Sunday at Canada College. Dr. Bell listed numerous successful efforts which correlated to the Council's Strategic Initiatives. (For the full presentation please view the stream at http://www.redwoodcity.org/government/council/meetings.html and select this meeting date and jump to agenda item 9A). Dr. Bell then covered the agenda for the actual budget discussion which included a budget review by him followed by a financial overview by Mr. Ponty, Finance Director, and then an explanation of the recommended budget (presentation on file). He added the Council would also hear about the Water and Sewer funds, the Capital Improvements Program followed by major initiatives for the next year 2012-2013. He noted that the current year's 2 million dollar deficit is based on finro factors, the demise of the Redevelopment Agency and overtime in the Fire Department. He is hopeful the latter situation will be addressed. As he looked at 2016-2017 he said that a surplus might appear and at that time the City should get repaid for the Exit Incentive Program and so the surplus should be used to repay the program as previously directed by the Council. One Council Member inquired about what constitutes a balanced budget, and Dr. Bell said that less than 1% deficit is considered a balanced budget. Dr. Bell reviewed the prior direction provided from Council in February of this year. He covered the three prong approach he has led which included: labor concessions, organizational efficiencies, revenue generation. He also covered the use of cohorts and the initiatives that each cohort is focusing on. He noted that the cohorts are in the beginning stages but a lot more is to come out of this initiative. He noted that maintenance functions will be combined with Public Works and that is about combining like functions and making it more efficient and provides better service to the community and more support to employees. He also noted that there are opportunities to combine administrative functions, mainly at City Hall. There were no Council questions. Mr. Ponty followed with a financial overview (presentation on file) beginning with explaining how the City dealt with the Dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency. He provided details on fund transfers and how there was the need to eliminate five vacant positions, and eliminated supplies and services funds at the tune of 1 million dollars. He then covered General Fund Revenues and how property taxes are directly related to our General Fund. He gave a breakdown of the General Fund expenditures. He also noted that befinreen 2001 and 2012, Redwood City eliminated 80 positions and with the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency there are five more vacant positions that will not be filled. CITY COUNCIL June 11, 2012 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 5 MINUTE BOOK NO. 64 Page No. 141