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Home My WebLink About04/09/1991 Minutes - Adjourned Regular MeetingPD/DeStefano stated that it is anticipated that building revenues will remain flat and that departmental budget requests have been reduced by 5%. As far as Planning is concerned, a slight increase in revenues is anticipated through Planning services. MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING APRIL 9, 1991 �I CALL TO ORDER: M/Forbing called the meeting to order at 4:09 S. p.m. in the Council Chambers, W.V.U.S.D., 880 Lemon Avenue, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance ALLEGIANCE: by M/Forbing. ROLL CALL: Mayor Forbing, Mayor Pro Tem Kim, Councilmen Werner, Nardella, and Papen. Also present were City Manager Robert L. Van Nort, Assistant City Manager Terrence L. Belanger, Planning Director James DeStefano, City Engineer Sid Mousavi, Parks & Maintenance Director Charles Janiel and City Clerk Lynda Burgess. Budget Study CM/Van Nort explained that this meeting was to departmental Session discuss the draft budget and review expenditures and revenues and get a sense of Council policy on certain items. The General Fund is estimated at $9,404,325 which exceeds operating expenditures of $8,565,460 leaving a balance of $838,865, and is 3% lower than current year. Within the budget are several new programs that the Council has requested including Emergency Preparedness, Economic Development a revised Engineering budget, provision for a capital improvement program, and an insurance fund. Some changes being considered are the addition of community events and reclassification of one Senior Accountant to Accounting Manager, which will provide accountability in the Finance Department. In the Public Works Department, the City Engineer is proposing additional positions of Clerk Typist, Engineering Technician and Associate Engineer. The Finance Department is proposing an increase from a half-time accountant to a three- quarter -time accountant. He further stated that for the first time, it is anticipated that the City will not be required to pay for Wildland Fire Treatment. Not yet included in the budget is the result of the property tax suit with the County of Los Angeles nor the results of the Public Hearing scheduled for May, pursuant to AB1600, which covers impact fees. PD/DeStefano stated that it is anticipated that building revenues will remain flat and that departmental budget requests have been reduced by 5%. As far as Planning is concerned, a slight increase in revenues is anticipated through Planning services. APRIL 9, 1991 PAGE 2 CE/Mousavi stated that projected revenues for the next year is $140,000 from plan checks and miscel- laneous permits issued based on current fee schedules. These numbers may change, however, once the development of new fee schedules are completed. In response to C/Werner's questions, PD/DeStefano stated that "advance planning fees" would include General Plan requests, zoning changes, specific plans requested by developers and development agreements. He further stated the current fee for development agreements is approximately $2,200 as set by County fee structure but staff may recommend that new fees be based on an hourly rate basis due to the complications generally involved. Following discussion regarding plan check and other engineering fees, staff was directed to research whether fees were previously collected. C/Papen recommended that, as a policy matter, grants not be included in General Revenue until they have actually been awarded. CM/Van Nort reported that the proposed Council budget had been reduced by $2,000 from $123,948 for the current year to $121,550 for next fiscal year. A portion of the City Manager's Secretary's salary had been allocated to the Council budget to reflect her assistance to them. As part of a recreation brochure to be published four times yearly, a City Newsletter will be budgeted and produced. Also included in the Council budget is the Anniversary Celebration if Council is interested in another conducting a third. ACM/Belanger discussed the budget for legal services which include City Attorney fees, lawsuits and claims for damages. CM/Van Nort presented the City Manager's Department budget and proposed that one Administrative Analyst be reclassified to Administrative Assistant. CC/Burgess discussed the possible purchase of a second copy machine, codification of the Municipal Code and transfer of the Jr. Clerk Typist and Clerk Typist into the Department budget. With regard to costs for the November General Municipal Election, C/Papen recommended increasing the amount budgeted from $8,000 to $20,000 based on the County's charges for the Incorporation election. APRIL 9, 1991 ' PAGE 3 Sr. Accountant Linda Magnuson reported that there are currently two full-time and one half-time accountants budgeted in the Finance Department. Professional Services would include the audit contract, maintenance and data processing for the financial management system. The budget proposed for the Finance Department is $171,150 which includes increasing the hours of the half-time accountant to three -quarter -time and purchase of a Purchase order Module for the computer system. ACM/Terrence Belanger stated that the General Government Expenditure proposal includes amounts that have an effect on the operation and manage- ment of the City, totaling $263,700. He also discussed Community promotions such as a Third Birthday celebration and a contribution to the Chamber of Commerce. CM/Van Nort spoke on a three-phase approach to economic development: Phase I would include a consultant to work with staff and designated community participants on a series of issues with pros and cons, which would be distributed to GPAC meetings and other public events to raise public awareness and solicit public comments. Phase II, which would take two to three months, would be to review the results of Phase I "outreach", conduct a series of intensive debriefings with community representatives, City Council and staff to form an agenda with specific issues and critical questions for an economic development strategy. Phase III would be to conduct and subsequently document an economic development strategy with an action plan. PD/DeStefano discussed the proposed budget for the Planning Department and gave an overview of General Fund expenditures for the current fiscal year. He also discussed a policy regarding expenditures for Planning Commission Seminars. M/Forbing recommended that the management team put together a policy based on their experience and bring it back to Council for review. P&M/ "aniel presented the proposed budget for the Pat],s and Maintenance Department. I?: regard to the proposed recreation contract, C/Nardella asked whether it is appropriate to use Prop A funds for an out-of-state excursion. He also questioned the lack of funds budgeted for costumes for the Rent -A -Santa program. APRIL 9, 1991 PAGE 4 P&M/Janiel stated that there is an arrangement to include the cost of the costume with supplies. CE/Mousavi presented his proposed budget for the Engineering/Public Works Department. C/Papen asked why the animal control budget request was five higher than the current year's. CM/Van Nort stated that the Pomona Humane Society re-evaluated their system and determined: (1) they aren't collecting the amount of money in Diamond Bar that had been planned; and (2) calls for service are higher. The proposed budget for these services is $50,000. M/Forbing stated that a letter had been received from the Institute for Local Self Government in cooperation with the League of Cities, outlining a program designed to improve teacher's skills in teaching civics and local government which could upgrade the general public's attitude about government. The program costs $610 per person and he recommended that the City sponsor one teacher from each school district. Following discussion, staff was directed to place this matter on the April 16, 1991 Council Agenda. MPT/Kim stated that he felt an excellent budget had been presented and thanked staff for all their hard work. C/Papen requested that staff contact CalTrans regarding the safety mechanisms at the Park -N - Ride. She has received many complaints about the mobile homes parked there. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, M/Forbing adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. to April 16, 1991. Lynda Burges ,.Ci+�y-tlerk ATTEST: -7 Mayor