Transcript

Here, here, Member Diaz. 00:00:01
Here Member Importante. 00:00:03
Here, Vice Chair Beth Williams absent. 00:00:06
Chair David Scribner. 00:00:11
President. 00:00:13
Thank you. 00:00:15
Welcome to the transaction and. 00:00:19
Taxes and Oversight Committee, also known as the Measure U Committee. 00:00:22
Regular meeting I'm calling this. 00:00:26
Meeting to order. I just did I guess. 00:00:29
We took the. 00:00:31
OK. Are there any public comments? 00:00:33
There are none. 00:00:35
We're now consider items on the consent calendar which will be enacted in one motion. 00:00:38
Unless the Commissioner. 00:00:42
Remember. 00:00:44
Has a request to remove it. 00:00:45
For an item of discussion. 00:00:47
Does anybody have? 00:00:49
Something you'd like to discuss? 00:00:51
May I have a motion and a second to approve the consent calendar? 00:00:55
Make a motion to accept. 00:01:00
2nd. 00:01:05
We have a vote. 00:01:08
Aye, aye. 00:01:14
Aye, aye, all opposed. 00:01:16
Motion carries, motion passes. 00:01:19
All in favor. 00:01:21
OK, so. 00:01:26
We need to take a look at the minutes. Does anybody have a? 00:01:28
Correction you'd like to make. 00:01:31
Or can we adopt them? 00:01:34
As is. 00:01:36
Going to have a motion. 00:01:40
Motion to approve. 00:01:42
2nd, 2nd. 00:01:44
All in favor. 00:01:48
Aye. 00:01:50
Aye, all opposed. 00:01:51
None motion passes. 00:01:55
Thank you. 00:01:57
OK. Will staff please present the report? 00:01:59
Yes, thank you. 00:02:03
I know. I think this is our. 00:02:08
Second meeting. 00:02:10
But really our first substantive meeting since we. 00:02:13
Had our new membership appointed. 00:02:17
And so we want to give an overview of Measure U. 00:02:19
And our current budget process. 00:02:23
And where we're at in that budget process and then get feedback from the committee on proposed measure you expenses. 00:02:26
I'll start. Thank you. 00:02:33
Just. 00:02:35
Quickly by. 00:02:36
I know everybody. 00:02:38
Here knows this but just starting with the reminder that measure U was the cities local sales tax that was. 00:02:40
Approved. 00:02:48
To at the time, the ballot language actually officially read that it was approved to prevent elimination of the city's Police 00:02:50
Department, maintain long term financial viability and essential services, including quick 911 response. 00:02:57
Gang drug crime prevention and investigations. 00:03:05
Street storm drain, pothole and gutter repair. Keep public areas clean and graffiti free. 00:03:08
And provide other general city services. 00:03:13
And so. 00:03:16
That being the ballot language that was approved with Measure U. 00:03:18
Obviously. 00:03:22
The City Council at that time appointed a measure. 00:03:23
Oversight Committee and so today we are going to be taking you through the budget. 00:03:27
Recommendations that we have at this point. 00:03:34
And one of the things we have done was try to make sure that the recommendations that we are proposing fit within those 00:03:37
categories. 00:03:41
And I think one of some of the work that the Measure U committee did in the last year was really establishing what those priority 00:03:44
areas were even within those. 00:03:49
And the Measure You committee over the last year had really a. 00:03:53
Asked staff to put a focus on. 00:03:58
Public safety. 00:04:00
As a number one priority and. 00:04:02
Sort of. 00:04:05
Second priority. After that public works and recreate the. 00:04:07
Recreational. 00:04:12
Activities for the community. 00:04:15
And so we've put together. 00:04:17
A list that we think does those things. And so today. 00:04:20
We'll go through the budget a little bit and then we'll just try to give you some background and then we'll go through that list 00:04:23
with you. 00:04:26
And so. 00:04:30
1st we wanted to start with. 00:04:32
Sort of some. 00:04:36
Big picture background. 00:04:37
Think two key areas, one directly related to measure you, another maybe. 00:04:39
Indirectly related to measure. 00:04:44
Our our sales tax trends and our cannabis revenue trends. 00:04:46
And those are the two areas. 00:04:51
That I think we're seeing a lot of volatility. 00:04:53
The rest of the budget has really been pretty stable. 00:04:57
But uh. 00:05:00
Those two have been volatile and in recent years, as you can see in this. 00:05:01
This chart have been on the downturn. 00:05:06
You'll notice I'll come back to this, but if you look at cannabis revenues. 00:05:08
Similar sort of downward trend where? 00:05:13
It was at a peak in 2022 and really has decreased. 00:05:17
Almost every year since then, there's one year there that's a little bit of a spike and then it decreased again. 00:05:21
And with sales tax, it had been at a peak in about 2023 and has really decreased since that time as well. 00:05:27
And so, all else being equal, the rest of the budget. 00:05:35
Doesn't really. 00:05:39
Have major fluctuations from year to year, but sales tax and cannabis revenues, which are two of our main revenue sources have 00:05:40
had. 00:05:43
This downturn in recent years, so. 00:05:47
What we're looking at. 00:05:51
Citywide. 00:05:55
Is some reductions in some key areas. 00:05:56
The sales tax revenue is related, you know, directly related to measure you tax revenue because that's based on sales taxes as 00:06:00
well. 00:06:04
And so you can see here. 00:06:09
That it. 00:06:10
Like that chart showed before, it peaked in about 2023. 00:06:12
And has been gradual or. 00:06:16
A gradual decline in 24. 00:06:19
But we're expecting. 00:06:22
Further. 00:06:24
From 3.4 million at its peak in 23 to 3 point. 00:06:25
Just about 3 million and then now it's looking closer to 2.9 and 2.8 million. 00:06:29
Over the next couple of years. 00:06:34
And I think those are. 00:06:36
The cannabis revenues somewhat unique. Well, not. 00:06:38
Our drop has been unique because. 00:06:43
Our situation is that we're being surrounded by Oxnard and Ventura's. 00:06:46
Dozens of dispensaries that are opening up. 00:06:50
That's. 00:06:52
It is a statewide occurrence that like all. 00:06:55
Cities are starting to compete more on that. We're just getting hit with it more than maybe some other cities. 00:06:59
But sales tax? 00:07:04
There's also some statewide trends that sales tax has been. 00:07:06
Decreasing, I think it was restaurants that were really being impacted. 00:07:09
As the cost of everything go up, people start eating at home more and so. 00:07:14
The city has a contract with. 00:07:19
HDL. 00:07:22
Which I think stands for is. It hints the lamas. 00:07:24
Entered the llamas. 00:07:27
I always forget what does it stand for. I never even knew inter Dalamus. It's just the partners names is my understanding. But I 00:07:29
always forget what the H is. 00:07:32
Sender letter Yeah, in the letter dilemma. 00:07:36
And so they are sort of the. 00:07:39
The best practice typically is like most agencies contract with HDL. 00:07:41
They are because they contract with so many agencies, they are sort of the authority on sales tax. 00:07:46
They are who will. 00:07:53
Almost like all these, all the agencies, all sort of. 00:07:55
Forecast based on what HDL is seeing. 00:07:59
And I think so HDL has projected some a decrease in kind of a continued decrease right now, a softening with you know, economic 00:08:02
uncertainty. 00:08:07
But in Winimi in particular, they actually saw even more of a decrease. 00:08:13
Than the state average. 00:08:18
And I think that's because we are. 00:08:21
Heavy on those. 00:08:23
Types of the types of businesses that are seeing the biggest decrease being. 00:08:25
What do we have? We have restaurants and we have grocery stores really, you know, And so we don't have a lot of. 00:08:29
You know the other types of businesses like a Camarillo who would have an outlet center, which might be a little bit. 00:08:35
Less uh. 00:08:41
Impacted right now. 00:08:42
So, so sort of just big picture this is I know this is. 00:08:44
Probably getting into the weeds, but. 00:08:49
It's weird. 00:08:50
It's just that across our sales tax, across our measure you, across our cannabis revenues, we're seeing decreases in those things. 00:08:52
Other parts of our budget are fairly stable. 00:08:59
So what that means is we're sort of trying to adjust in real time and on the family. 00:09:02
With decreasing some expenditures and finding areas to decrease to. 00:09:07
Kind of match. 00:09:13
What we think is our new reality. 00:09:14
Sales tax could come back. You know sales tax. 00:09:17
I think it's in a downturn and at some point it'll it'll probably start to climb again. 00:09:21
I think cannabis revenue, what my expectation is, is that isn't going to return to the level it was. So it's like for us, we're 00:09:25
like, OK, let's just start adjusting to the the new economic reality. 00:09:31
So so all that is background to then show you this chart which. 00:09:37
Is a lot of information in one chart. 00:09:43
It's a lot to take in. 00:09:46
And so I'll try to highlight a couple of the key points. 00:09:48
I think some of the key points I wanted to show is you can see there that going back to. 00:09:52
Fiscal year 2324 adopted budget and the fiscal years make things more complicated. I like to try to keep it simple. It's hard to 00:09:58
with the fiscal year. 00:10:02
But the fiscal year 2324 budget? 00:10:07
Would have been adopted on June 30th, 2023 and that was really before all the cannabis dispensaries opened around us and 00:10:10
everything. 00:10:13
So you can see where at that point we essentially had about. 00:10:17
$30 million plus in revenues. 00:10:21
And at that point that year, they had about a $33 million. 00:10:24
Budget, including operations and major projects. 00:10:28
And so then you Fast forward to what we're looking at now and we're looking at closer to we're trying to really. 00:10:33
Kind of pare it down. 00:10:39
And 26 and 27, which are the budgets we're working on now that we're looking at. 00:10:41
We're down from 33 million to about 29 million. 00:10:46
So more than a 10% reduction of $4 million reduction. 00:10:50
And. 00:10:55
So it's sort of. 00:10:56
We're trying to really kind of operationally change. 00:10:58
How we do things and reduce. 00:11:04
How much we're spending to do things. 00:11:06
I think the when I started on this process about two years ago. 00:11:08
I was pretty confident we could get balanced. 00:11:15
We can we. 00:11:17
We, I think we got everybody in the room. We kind of understood that this was something we needed to proactively address and not 00:11:18
just wait and hope things get better. So we started on that process. 00:11:23
But the challenge? 00:11:29
That is going to really make it tough that I hadn't anticipated. Is the cost of everything going up at the same time. 00:11:31
And so. 00:11:37
For us you can see like 24. 00:11:38
Revised budget We did immediately make reductions to drop our budget down to about 27. 00:11:40
Well, our revenues, we had decreased forecast to 27.2 and then we had gotten operations down to 27.1. 00:11:49
But. 00:11:56
Even though we're still, we've been cutting since then. 00:11:56
Our proposed budget for next year is 27.9 and so it's still what is O&M mean? 00:12:00
Operations and maintenance. 00:12:06
Yeah. And then CIP is capital improvement projects. 00:12:08
And so it's just like. 00:12:12
It's a continuing battle because. 00:12:15
If you cut. 00:12:17
Your budget when you're talking on the scale of millions of dollars if you. 00:12:18
Cut your budget from 30 to 29, but then inflation the next year is 5%. You're right back at 30, so. 00:12:22
So it's kind of what we're experiencing. And so we've continued to sort of keep trying to do things more efficiently. We've 00:12:28
continued to try to. 00:12:32
Reduce and that's a. 00:12:35
If you look. 00:12:37
At every year other than that first year where we knew that we needed to make reductions, we're pretty, we're keeping our costs 00:12:39
pretty in line. 00:12:43
But umm. 00:12:48
But it's hard to. 00:12:49
Reducing it after that first year of reductions. 00:12:51
So there's a lot to take in in this chart. I think a couple of points we highlighted. 00:12:54
The revenues. 00:13:00
Have reduced from that 30.2 million in 24 to now more, we're expecting 27 1/2 or 27.8 million. 00:13:02
So they've reduced and they've been in that range over the last couple years and they're pretty flat if you if you notice from 00:13:11
the. 00:13:14
27.2 to 27.5 to 27.5 to 27.8. 00:13:17
So those revenues haven't? 00:13:21
They've been stable Which? 00:13:23
Good. It's better than a reduction, but they haven't been increasing. 00:13:25
And so those have been flat. Costs and inflation are increasing, which creates the challenge of doing more with less and paying 00:13:30
more to do the same things we used to do for less. 00:13:35
So those are some of the battles we're facing right now. 00:13:41
The the big thing that jumps out to people in this chart is the fact that in 25 revised budget we had a $6 million CIP program. 00:13:45
And so that would be one point where people might point and say, well, wait a minute, if you guys were trying to spend less, why 00:13:55
did we, you know, spend so much? 00:13:59
That year on CIP. 00:14:03
And that's a timing issue that we had several. 00:14:04
Like multi year projects. 00:14:08
And the good news is we got the mall done, which is an accomplishment. 00:14:10
But the bad news is we then had to pay for them all on the same year so. 00:14:14
So that year. 00:14:18
Was a year, I think about maybe $4 million of that was. 00:14:19
Was for bubbling springs. 00:14:23
And then 2 million was for other projects that we had gotten done. 00:14:25
That, umm. 00:14:29
This we had been working on over the years. 00:14:31
So. So that stands out as I. 00:14:34
I think if if I were trying to explain this chart, it would be that basically since we saw. 00:14:36
What was happening with cannabis and on June 30th, 2023? 00:14:42
Think I started with city July 10th, 2023. 00:14:46
I We basically came in and said we need to start. 00:14:50
Figuring out how to spend less and still get some things done. 00:14:53
So we've done that over the last couple of years. 00:14:57
But. 00:15:01
Good news, you know, But sometimes good news has. 00:15:03
Bad news with it is we also managed to get some projects done that that we needed to get done, but that resulted in having to pay 00:15:06
for them in that year. But other than that, you'll see that trend is the cost. 00:15:11
Of in other years where we were. 00:15:16
Finding ways to reduce our expenditures. 00:15:20
And so Ashley and I. 00:15:23
Are literally to this last bullet point. Ashley and I are literally working on the budget. 00:15:26
As we speak, we were working on it prior to this meeting and we'll go back to working on it right after this meeting. 00:15:31
We've been continuing to try to balance it. 00:15:37
There was, we had done a presentation to council about three months ago saying if we don't make further reductions we have about a 00:15:42
two and a half million dollar deficit. 00:15:46
So the good news is we've already almost cut that in half. 00:15:50
But we still have half, half of that left and go. So we're still working on it. 00:15:53
And. 00:15:59
Will Will. 00:16:00
Right now we're still trying to make reductions without impacting our service levels. 00:16:04
You know if. 00:16:09
That's the hard part, if we were to say, you know, well, we don't need to have a staff person at the front counter to help. 00:16:12
You know, people that come into City Hall, well, I can save money that way. But is that really, you know, the level of service we 00:16:17
want to provide? 00:16:20
So right now the focus has been on looking at things that. 00:16:24
Reductions that can be made without impacting service levels and we've been. 00:16:28
Pretty successful at that, we just have more work to do. 00:16:32
So this is all background because for this reason it'll tie into. 00:16:37
The projects that are being proposed to be Measure U projects this year. 00:16:43
And there are some things and I think it. 00:16:47
It's in keeping with that ballot language we read. 00:16:51
Is there's just some things we wouldn't be able to afford to do if we didn't have Measure U? 00:16:53
You know, a lot of that ballot language talked about being able to provide. 00:16:58
Public public safety for the community and. 00:17:02
As you probably saw a lot of the proposed. 00:17:07
Expenditures for Measure U would be public safety. 00:17:10
Including being able to. 00:17:13
Actually pay for some of the. 00:17:15
Positions, which is something that the Measure U committee had. 00:17:18
Supported in the past, so we proposed to doing that. 00:17:22
Again at this time. 00:17:25
And so. 00:17:27
If you don't mind a chair, if I could quickly go through these and then we maybe can just from like a high level and then have a 00:17:29
question answer. 00:17:34
So we'll start with the public safety. We broke them up into those three areas that the Measure U committee had said were priority 00:17:39
areas. 00:17:43
So public safety. 00:17:48
I won't go through every number in particular, but just. 00:17:50
Explain that. 00:17:53
So the police Sergeant would be that extra like one actual Sergeant position. 00:17:55
The police officer seniors is 2 full time senior officers. 00:17:59
The police officer. 00:18:03
Half FTE is. 00:18:06
I think what we were proposing was we have an officer who's half paid for by. 00:18:08
Another funding source, and this would be paying for the other half of them. That's the homeless. Yeah, yeah. So it's 1/2. 00:18:14
Cannabis. 00:18:23
And half cannabis sort of, you know, enforcement and follow up. 00:18:24
And then half homeless liaison officer. 00:18:29
So the cannabis program has to pay for the half? 00:18:31
Cannabis, but this would pay for the. 00:18:35
The other half of that? 00:18:37
Which has been one of our critical positions in the last couple of years. 00:18:38
And then the public safety dispatcher is 3 of of the dispatchers. 00:18:44
I think we have a total of 6 currently, so it's about half of the dispatchers. 00:18:49
And then? 00:18:55
We are currently in the process of trying to. 00:18:56
Create well. 00:19:02
Where our dispatch center was. 00:19:04
Outdated. Umm. 00:19:08
Significantly outdated. 00:19:10
And then it also got hit by the. 00:19:11
The flood, the storm that we had and then it was outdated and. 00:19:14
And then had to actually move into a back closet essentially so. 00:19:18
That's definitely not it was a backroom, but. 00:19:21
But it's definitely not. 00:19:24
You know the 21st century modern high quality dispatch center that I think our dispatchers. 00:19:27
Deserve, uh. 00:19:35
Not that, you know, we're not proposing doing anything luxurious either, but it's just, it's not even really up to standard right 00:19:36
now. 00:19:41
And so we had a project to rebuild the dispatch center. 00:19:45
And so. 00:19:49
A lot of that project is is we're using other funding sources, but two of the. 00:19:51
The items that we're proposing through Measure You would be the. 00:19:57
Computer aided dispatch system and that's. 00:20:02
That pays for the actual system that the dispatchers use. 00:20:05
And the. 00:20:10
3rd dispatch console because they currently had two dispatch consoles. 00:20:11
And when there's. 00:20:15
Like an emergency situation. 00:20:17
They don't have a way right now to have a third person come answer phones. 00:20:19
And so we're trying to add that third console so that we have the ability to do that. 00:20:23
And then? 00:20:28
Police body cameras and Tasers. You know, body cameras. 00:20:30
Are something that are required and best practice, but we have to pay, you know, figure out how to pay for them. 00:20:34
And then Tasers just. 00:20:39
Or you know, I think everybody knows what those are, but it's just another non lethal tool that we have. 00:20:43
Another non lethal tool. 00:20:49
That our officers can use. 00:20:51
The evidence freezer replacement. That one is interesting. 00:20:53
I think it caught our eye and we asked a lot of questions when we were meeting with. 00:21:00
The Police Department, but essentially. 00:21:03
Something we've learned a lot about in the last couple of days going through these is all of the evidence requirements that go 00:21:05
into. 00:21:10
Making sure the officers when they arrest someone that the evidence is safe, secure. 00:21:14
And really even just. 00:21:20
Maintained. 00:21:22
You know, so that the arrest actually sticks and that there's not a chain of custody issue or. 00:21:25
You know, something like that. 00:21:32
And so. 00:21:33
Some of the things. 00:21:34
We learned about this is like that literally, you know, there's freezers that are built. 00:21:36
That send alerts to the. 00:21:42
Off like the detectives. 00:21:45
If there's any issue with the freezer so that evidence doesn't get destroyed, you know, if there's a power outage and all of a 00:21:47
sudden your evidence. 00:21:50
Thaws out essentially, you know. 00:21:54
So, so it was interesting to us. 00:21:57
Learning about that because at first glance we were like, what is this, you know, but. 00:22:01
It's a tool that our. 00:22:05
Detectives and our officers about the question, is this some? 00:22:08
Large freezer, I mean, or just something that has alarms on it? I'm wondering. Yeah, You know, I think it's more like it's because 00:22:11
we have one currently, but it's outdated and it doesn't have all the smart functionality. 00:22:18
And it's almost, I was going to say with the way they described it almost reminds me of just like home appliances. Now how? 00:22:25
Like now they have like the fridge that'll send you a text or like the stove that will send you a text, you know? 00:22:30
But they first the need was twofold is they have a freezer, but they're running out of space. And then now they want they want to 00:22:37
make sure that they. 00:22:41
Get the one that has all the functionality that they need. 00:22:47
So. 00:22:52
That was another item we proposed. 00:22:53
And I should have said this earlier, but we show 2 numbers and that's. 00:22:57
Because we adopt A two year budget and so. 00:23:00
We have the items that are proposed for this coming fiscal year, July 1st to June 30th. The. 00:23:03
July 1st, 25 to June 30th, 26. 00:23:09
And then that second column is the ones that we were. 00:23:12
Planning to do. 00:23:15
July 1st, 26 to June 30th, 27. 00:23:16
And so some of those items like the freezer is a one time item that would be this year. 00:23:21
The police uniforms and safety vests etc is a one time item that would be the following year. 00:23:26
And then firearms and range equipment's. 00:23:33
I think that's pretty self-explanatory. And then? 00:23:36
The Crossing Guard Services is a partnership we have with the school district. If you've ever wondered who pays for the crossing 00:23:40
guards on. 00:23:44
Ventura Rd. 00:23:50
For example, near the schools, it's a partnership between the city and the. 00:23:51
School district we each pay for half. 00:23:55
So so. 00:23:57
We're proposing that, and that one I actually believe. 00:23:59
I'm pretty sure the history on that. 00:24:03
Is that that was actually something that was cut at one point and sort of prompted measure you? 00:24:05
Stuff the crossing guards. 00:24:14
And that's a really dangerous St. It was crazy people on it. So yeah, So that that's almost. 00:24:16
It's sort of been something we've always tried to keep with Measure You because it was part of the history of it of like. 00:24:22
You know, sort of promising the community that you know. 00:24:29
You know, we couldn't afford that before measure you. But if we do measure you, these are, you know, this is a service that will 00:24:32
provide so. 00:24:35
So this is. 00:24:38
Public safety. 00:24:39
And. 00:24:40
The two other sections we mentioned that sure. Does anybody have any questions or comments about what? 00:24:42
Has been presented. 00:24:50
I have a question as far as the crossing guard services. 00:24:51
Is that just for? 00:24:56
Like school district areas or is it also for the recreational events that we have throughout the years such as the Christmas tree 00:24:59
lighting or? 00:25:03
So the crossing guard services the specific line item is. 00:25:07
The ones that we partner with the school district to provide near schools. 00:25:11
During the school arrival in school. 00:25:16
What is that departure times? 00:25:20
So that's specific to that. 00:25:24
We do for special events. 00:25:26
We have, typically what we do for special events is we have a community services officer that people might see. She goes, she's 00:25:28
usually out driving like kind of a truck and she has a uniform, but it's a different color uniform. 00:25:34
And so when we have like a special event, we'll coordinate with. 00:25:40
PD to ask if the community service officer can come and you know she usually pulls the truck up. 00:25:44
Kind of in the street and direct traffic and you know, helps people cross. 00:25:50
So we do provide that service and we have that, but it's separate from this. OK, thank you. 00:25:54
Any other questions on public safety? Yeah, I have questions, but I'll wait until the end after the presentation. Got it. 00:26:03
OK, so the other two sections that. 00:26:10
Been identified as priority where. 00:26:13
Those streets and maintenance related items which also was in the ballot language. 00:26:15
Ballot measure language and then the other one was the recreational. So we'll start with the streets and maintenance. 00:26:20
It's broken out similarly. 00:26:26
With the. 00:26:28
Two fiscal years and. 00:26:30
So the items that we had proposed was. 00:26:33
The essentially one maintenance employee focused specifically on parks, pier and graffiti abatement. 00:26:36
And so that. 00:26:43
Is shown for both years. 00:26:45
We have. 00:26:48
A program that we started last year. 00:26:49
That we're kind of we're doing a test, but we were going to try it out for a couple years, which is the neighborhood speed cushion 00:26:52
installation program. 00:26:55
And we were getting a lot of requests from neighborhoods that were asking us to put in those speed cushions. 00:26:59
So we had essentially. 00:27:05
Talked in last year about. 00:27:08
Setting aside $50,000 per. 00:27:10
Year and. 00:27:14
We have a process where neighborhoods can apply for them if they have. 00:27:17
Certain amount of people making the request and then we'd consider, we'd review it and potentially install those. So that would. 00:27:21
Pay for one year of the Neighborhood Speed Cushion installation program. 00:27:27
There's a couple of items here related to storm storm drains. 00:27:33
And when we were looking at the budget very closely. 00:27:38
You know, it's always. 00:27:41
There's certain things that are like. 00:27:43
The things that. 00:27:45
Are popular and you know people. 00:27:47
Don't want to cut. And then there's other things that it's like, well, you know. 00:27:49
People really don't think about, you know, these types of things. 00:27:53
And I think storm drains are one of those that normally falls into that category. 00:27:56
But uh. 00:28:01
Thankfully, I think we had just, we had really put an emphasis on storm drain clearing and then we had some pretty historic rains. 00:28:02
Immediately after, and I think for us it was like a good reminder and a lesson that. 00:28:10
That stuff may not get the headlines or be glamorous, but it's pretty critical and. 00:28:15
And proved to be very necessary, I think, with some of these storms that we've had recently. 00:28:23
So, umm. 00:28:30
We have showing their storm drain maintenance and clearing. 00:28:30
For the second year of the budget. 00:28:34
And then I'll. 00:28:36
Skip down and then come back. The Pearson Rd. storm drain repairs is a major storm drain repair that we were. 00:28:38
Looking to make this year? 00:28:44
So then moving back up just St. maintenance supplies, that's just things like the equipment and the materials to do St. 00:28:47
maintenance and so. 00:28:51
We have a few funding sources, but. 00:28:55
This allows us to do more of it. 00:28:57
Which I would say. 00:29:00
In my. 00:29:02
Shoes, I think the one of the most frequent questions that we'll get on a day-to-day basis is about when are my streets being 00:29:03
paved or. 00:29:08
Can I my potholes get fixed or can you fix this crack in our sidewalk? I think to this. 00:29:12
You know, it's not uncommon, but. 00:29:17
Even just like. 00:29:19
Right now that's. 00:29:21
Still the number one question we get. 00:29:23
And then? 00:29:26
There is a. 00:29:27
There are 2 1/2 St. staff members who are focused on specifically maintaining streets, alley, sidewalks, public right of ways and 00:29:29
then parking lots. 00:29:33
And so we propose allocating those. 00:29:38
To measure you. 00:29:42
Those have been pretty critical recently. 00:29:44
Including with the Bubbling Springs project and the library reopening on May 3rd. 00:29:47
That we were able to. 00:29:52
For not very much. 00:29:54
Money we were, since we have the staff and the supplies and everything we were able to get. 00:29:58
Those parking lots? 00:30:02
Maintained and ready to go for when everything reopens. 00:30:04
Which would have been a challenge otherwise. 00:30:08
And one of the things that's interesting. 00:30:11
Is how quick parking lots can go bad. The library parking lot at one point looked like it had you know it was closed for about 18 00:30:13
months. 00:30:17
But it looked like at one time it looked like. 00:30:21
Nobody had been there for 10 years, you know, when the weeds started popping up and everything so. 00:30:24
So if you go there now, it's starting to look. 00:30:29
Well, it does look good again, the library looks good, the mural looks good. The park, the parking lot looks good. We're working 00:30:33
on the landscaping. Still trying to get that ready for the grand opening. 00:30:38
Then I mentioned this right before the meeting and I'll highlight it now. 00:30:43
Because it addresses a couple of issues, but that Miranda Park project. 00:30:48
Is actually supposed to be a grant funded project. It's not a Measure U project, we just. 00:30:52
Sort of, I think it was before we knew it was a grant funded project. We had put it on this list as a possibility and then we 00:31:00
forgot to pull it off. So. 00:31:03
That project would be coming off of this list. 00:31:07
And. 00:31:10
We aren't recommending that as a Measure U project. 00:31:13
So so the it's basically $90,000 less as a. 00:31:16
Little, little shy of. 00:31:20
$500,000 instead of 590. 00:31:23
Yeah, and I don't know. 00:31:25
I know we had talked to Public Works about that earlier. I don't think we have yet identified where that 90,000 could go. 00:31:28
Right. We didn't have a chance. We didn't do that yet. 00:31:34
Yeah, yeah. 00:31:39
So we we hadn't. 00:31:40
We hadn't reallocated it, so to speak. So that's that's a conversation that we can have. 00:31:43
And then Parks and Recreation. 00:31:50
I know in the past we had talked about the lifeguard program being. 00:31:53
A priority project. 00:31:59
With Measure U committee. 00:32:02
And so we had identified there's two things related to the lifeguard program on this list. It's the lifeguard vehicle. 00:32:04
But it's also the Recreation and Ocean Safety supervisor is essentially. 00:32:11
The like the main staff person related to the lifeguard program. 00:32:16
Our recreation department is. 00:32:22
Probably much smaller than anybody would think we have. 00:32:25
Think we have? 00:32:28
Three full time employees. 00:32:30
Yeah, 3 full time employees. So all the recreational events we do is with three full time employees. 00:32:33
And so one of them is. 00:32:38
Basically takes on all the lifeguard. 00:32:40
Program duties. 00:32:42
So that is the position listed here. 00:32:43
Then the recreation coordinator is the person who coordinates. 00:32:46
All of the. 00:32:49
Events. 00:32:51
The things like the Senior holiday luncheon, the Touch of Truck event, the spectacular event, or. 00:32:53
Last week's extravaganza event. 00:32:58
That's that recreation coordinator position. 00:33:01
Lower on the list through those actual funding for those actual events. 00:33:05
I skipped over a second swing set I do want to note. 00:33:10
We talked about being in the middle of the budget process and having to make some difficult decisions. 00:33:17
And. 00:33:22
At this point. 00:33:24
My uh. 00:33:25
Proposal is going to be removing the second swing set. 00:33:27
Project at this time. 00:33:31
Because as we're trying to get balanced. 00:33:33
Just on the list of necessities, it's not quite a necessity. 00:33:35
And so where would that be? 00:33:39
And so we had. 00:33:41
Essentially, I'll give you sort of a history of even why it's on the list. 00:33:43
I think people know about the swing set. 00:33:49
That the city had removed the swing set because it was I think like a broken piece or something. 00:33:52
And yeah, I really, I've heard. Yeah, I was before my time. So I've heard version, but for whatever reason the city removed the 00:33:57
swing set. 00:34:01
But the problem is. 00:34:05
When you remove something, if you want to put it back, it has to be to ADA standards and completely, you know, modernized. 00:34:06
And it would, it had just been, you know, probably what a 30 year old swing set at that point there. 00:34:13
At least, yeah. 00:34:18
And so, so they realized when they took it out, I think they thought like. 00:34:19
Well, we'll just buy another swing set for like $15,000 and put it out there. But what happened is. 00:34:23
Than building official building inspectors get involved and it's like it has to be ADA standards on a beach. 00:34:28
Which means you have to create a concrete path with a rubberized coating and you. 00:34:35
And so it became a, you know. 00:34:40
Thank you. Thank you. It was included as part of a project but. 00:34:42
It was. It was 6 figures. 00:34:47
You know, it's probably. 00:34:49
In the 100 to $150,000 range. 00:34:51
And so. 00:34:54
We went through that process. We got that project done. It was something that like really the community had demanded for a long 00:34:56
time. 00:35:00
It probably showed up in that year that we talked about where we had gotten a lot of projects done in that one year. 00:35:04
And so. 00:35:10
So that project is done, the swing sets there, it's open. I was glad to see a bunch of kids playing on it. 00:35:11
Yesterday when I went out. 00:35:19
But umm. 00:35:20
It created a possibility for us where? Because that one now means ADA standards. 00:35:22
We could now just. 00:35:27
That she you know, not cheap, but a basic swing set and. 00:35:29
And put it on the beach because we have, we're complying with a DA standards on the primary one. 00:35:33
So we had started. 00:35:38
Before we knew the full picture of the budget, we had said let's. 00:35:40
Earmark that and if we have the money, that's like, you know. 00:35:43
Something where you get a lot of bang for your buck basically. 00:35:48
But as we sit here today, I think we're going to put that on a list for a couple years down the road once we really. 00:35:51
Get the budget fine-tuned. 00:35:58
So we're proposing. 00:36:00
Umm, putting that on pause for a couple of years. 00:36:02
And so there's that. I think the only thing I haven't touched on is the senior exercise program. 00:36:07
So that is the program. If you're not familiar, Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays the city does a free exercise program for seniors 00:36:12
at the Community Center. 00:36:17
And it's one of those like. 00:36:23
You don't believe it till you see it. Because I had heard about it and I didn't really believe it till I saw it. But. 00:36:25
When you go, it's. 00:36:30
Probably 75 to 100 seniors. 00:36:31
Every Monday. Every Wednesday. Every Friday. 00:36:34
Out exercising. 00:36:37
And so. 00:36:38
It's something that the. 00:36:40
The city has provided and has really built up. 00:36:42
And so that's also a proposed project at $9500 per year because the only expense with that is essentially. 00:36:45
We give them this, will we provide the space? 00:36:53
But the only expenses we. 00:36:56
Have to pay an instructor. 00:36:58
So again, it's just a lot. It's a pretty good bang for your buck, so. 00:37:01
So and then one key thing I want to highlight with. 00:37:05
The recreation. 00:37:10
Portion in particular. 00:37:12
First year you'll notice only $94,000 in recreation programs. 00:37:14
That's because of that decrease that we showed. 00:37:19
With a slight increase in expected next year, not much, but just a slight increase. 00:37:24
That's reflected in that 2627 where we essentially. 00:37:31
Recreation is what gets cut this year, so. 00:37:36
When we expected to start kind of stabilizing, we're trying to get it. 00:37:40
Put it back in direct next year, like the following year. 00:37:44
So that's why there's a big difference between this year's amount and next year's amount, so. 00:37:48
So to summarize that, because that was a lot of detail. 00:37:58
What we expected was 2.8 million in Measure U revenue for. 00:38:03
June for fiscal year 2526, so July 1st 25 to June 30th, 26. 00:38:09
And then a slight increase to 2.88 million in fiscal year 26 and 27. 00:38:15
And so. 00:38:22
Wrapping that up, here we show that public safety. 00:38:24
Is pretty. It's proposed to be pretty stable, 1.89 million to 1.91 million. 00:38:28
Over those two years. 00:38:34
Pretty stable with. 00:38:35
Like we said, it just gets a little more expensive to do. 00:38:37
You know the same things. 00:38:41
Streets and maintenance, we have a decrease showing because there's some projects. 00:38:43
In next year's budget. 00:38:47
And then? 00:38:49
That would not then need to continue in the future. 00:38:50
Future your budget. 00:38:52
And then Parks and Rec like we just said is sort of where we had to decrease this year and then it kind of builds back up the 00:38:54
following year and and without some of those streets projects, some of those funds. 00:38:59
Move from there to Parks and Recreation. 00:39:04
So we have. 00:39:07
Proposed. What we've shown is the revenues. 00:39:10
Matching the expenditures with now the one catch being that. 00:39:12
There's the 92,000 from. 00:39:16
What item was that again? 00:39:19
Miranda Park that is grant funded and so that now there will be. 00:39:21
Essentially $90,000 that we would that would need to be reprogrammed. 00:39:25
And and the swings, that too. 00:39:32
Oh yeah, the 15,000 for the swing set. 00:39:35
And my proposal for the swings that it's 15,000 would just be moving it to. 00:39:37
Would be moving it to help. 00:39:43
Pay for some of those public safety costs that we talked about. 00:39:45
So just kind of moving that. 00:39:48
The 92,000 for Miranda Park. 00:39:50
That might be something we want to talk about as the committee so. 00:39:54
So with that, that was sort of the overview and we're happy to answer any questions. 00:39:59
All right. I'll go ahead. Yeah, thanks for the presentation. 00:40:10
Not sure how much of the public. 00:40:14
Realizes how challenging this is. It's almost like constantly walking a. 00:40:17
A tightrope in order to balance budgets and so. 00:40:22
Yeah, I guess in terms of. 00:40:26
The timing. 00:40:28
Wasn't sure if that was covered earlier or may have missed it, but. 00:40:29
So you're at that stage where departments already submitted their budgets and. 00:40:33
So is there, it sounds like there is there's a funding gap still that you're trying to close and. 00:40:39
Just wanted to. 00:40:45
Know how much? How big of a funding gap? Or is that too early to? 00:40:47
To share so is it at that bottom line we're seeing yeah so we. 00:40:51
There's a couple. 00:40:56
Good points you bring up that I that I want to make sure to respond to and. 00:40:58
What was it? 00:41:08
18 months ago when we made the initial reductions is we had the department meetings and we had the reduction meetings and then. 00:41:09
We kind of came out of it and. 00:41:16
As reflected on here, we had really reduced the operational. 00:41:19
Expenses. Umm. 00:41:22
But then. 00:41:24
We kind of reset this year with another round of department meetings and then we've also. 00:41:26
After we had those department meetings and we started to put some numbers together and we saw the. 00:41:31
At that point. 00:41:35
Bigger gap of almost double what this is. 00:41:36
As we then had the 5% reduction conversation again. 00:41:40
And I think the challenge that I keep sort of every time I have the chance, I try to remind everybody it's like. 00:41:44
Cutting 5% one time. 00:41:50
Isn't that tough, cutting 5% two times? 00:41:52
It's exponentially harder. And then it's like, and if you look at our budget, it's like, and then to try to find another 5%, it's 00:41:55
like at some point you can't cut anymore, you know? 00:42:00
Or well, let me say it this way. 00:42:04
You can't cut anymore without impacting service levels, which is what we've tried to avoid. 00:42:06
So, umm. 00:42:11
We've done those two rounds and now Ashley and I are kind of. 00:42:12
Going back to a couple of departments. 00:42:16
And trying to find the additional. 00:42:19
Savings we need. 00:42:23
One of the challenges we have as a city. 00:42:26
And we identified this. 00:42:28
Two years are 18 months ago. 00:42:31
But the problem is. 00:42:33
There's not an immediate solution to it is that the city has never had a capital improvement project funding source. 00:42:35
So, umm. 00:42:42
When I. 00:42:44
Got here. 00:42:44
About 18 months ago we created a CIP reserve. 00:42:46
And we said any surplus we have is going to go into the CIP reserve. 00:42:50
It was a great plan, except we haven't had a surplus since then. 00:42:53
So I think for us, the long term that we're looking at is like. 00:42:58
Really, where I think what I think is going to be realistic is trying to figure out how to. 00:43:02
To balance our operational budget against our operational revenues and then figure out a CIP funding source. 00:43:06
You know, because it's just uh, uh. 00:43:14
You can see here it's it's like. 00:43:15
And as projects go up in cost and everything, it's like trying to pay for the CIP from the general fund. 00:43:17
Without a. 00:43:26
Like a specific funding source, it's just always going to be a battle, you know? 00:43:27
So, umm. 00:43:31
So right now there's a gap, I think. 00:43:32
The one of the things I was trying to explain that for is because if you look at this year, S. 00:43:35
We've almost gotten there where the operational expenses match the revenues. 00:43:40
But then the CIP is the difference and so that's where. 00:43:44
You know we we have. 00:43:48
We have a reserve fund of about. 00:43:51
About $8 million at this point. 00:43:54
And so. 00:43:58
I'm sorry, a fund balance of $8 million at this point? 00:43:59
And so for us, it's like we're trying to get as balanced as possible. 00:44:03
And. 00:44:08
Trying to do it over the next couple years where we'd still if you look. 00:44:11
If you can kind of forecast that out, we'd still have fund balance left. 00:44:16
And try to turn around the ship before we're out of fund balance. So it's kind of a goal we're working towards. 00:44:21
But it's a long way to say that I don't know that we're going to completely close the gap. 00:44:27
This year. 00:44:32
Got it. So. 00:44:33
I appreciate you mentioning that CIP reserve one of my. 00:44:34
The thoughts that ran through my head when I was looking at this screen, I was like, oh. 00:44:38
Maybe they're funding it out of the reserve. 00:44:41
Yeah. 00:44:42
We actually now explained it, so now it makes sense. We actually did create a very small CIP reserve, but it was like it was a 00:44:43
great idea. It was just probably executed 3 years too late. Yeah, if we had executed that when those, you know, when we saw the 00:44:48
chart, when the revenues were up here, we would have really. 00:44:53
Had built up a good CIP reserve. 00:44:59
And then the second question I had was related to service levels. Are we bound by any like our own ordinances in terms of service 00:45:01
levels like having to maintain a certain? 00:45:06
Say like a sworn deputy to the population ratio or. 00:45:11
I know some communities have that, either in a general plan or other. 00:45:15
Modified, not a specific. 00:45:20
Service level, we have some of the, there's some general commitments and things like the ballot language where we essentially 00:45:23
committed to maintain our. 00:45:27
You know our Police Department and then within our Police Department they have a. 00:45:31
Police officers have a requirement that you have. 00:45:37
So many officers on duty at anyone, time and per population. 00:45:41
But we don't have any. 00:45:46
Specific like city ordinances setting. 00:45:48
Other standards other than that? 00:45:50
Got it. And then I know in budgeting, you know, kind of describe it to folks, it's like our that job is about divvying up the pie. 00:45:52
And so sometimes, you know, we just kind of focus on divvying up the pie. 00:46:00
But there's also an important piece. 00:46:04
You know, under like. 00:46:07
We'll say economic development, which is like growing the pie, and I know it's not part of a Measure U expenditure, but. 00:46:08
You know, part of my thoughts, and this comes from some of my background as an economic development manager, is. 00:46:14
Have we looked at you know? 00:46:20
What are those opportunities to maybe diversify our revenue portfolio? 00:46:23
And so I know. 00:46:27
You mentioned some of the HDL reports identifying restaurants and some of the businesses where we've seen those declines. 00:46:28
And so for me, it's like, OK, well, maybe what are the opportunities to fill those vacancies, you know, because I've seen. 00:46:35
You know, we've seen businesses leave or shut down, but then others fill it in. 00:46:41
And then? 00:46:45
You know, maybe taken advantage of some other opportunities that are. 00:46:46
Near this near the city I know with Channel Islands harbor there's. 00:46:50
The proposed development Carl's it's a. 00:46:55
Entertainment venue. 00:46:58
Theme park. 00:47:00
And that could draw. 00:47:01
Visitors in the area. So I'm thinking about that intersection, you know. 00:47:02
Oliveira Plaza and you know. 00:47:06
What's our relationship like with that property? 00:47:09
Owner or manager and. 00:47:12
Filling those vacancies. 00:47:13
In that area that would maybe complement some of those visitor attractions, services and so. 00:47:15
So that's one thing I wanted to put out there, you know, maybe is there's. 00:47:21
Probably have to be funded in another area of the budget, you know, but some of that analysis and I know recently you've done an 00:47:27
economic development plan as well. So I don't know perhaps that's reflected in there as well. 00:47:32
And then I think the last. 00:47:38
Piece was. 00:47:40
It was about the CIP. 00:47:43
But I think I'll. 00:47:46
Table that. 00:47:48
Questions since we're trying to grow the gap, not add to it, so. 00:47:49
I had some ideas, but I'm like, you know. 00:47:52
Let's let's put that on hold. But overall, you know, I think the proposed uses are consistent with the ordinance so. 00:47:55
I don't have any issues with what's being. 00:48:02
Recommended here. 00:48:05
And I think I'll leave it at that. 00:48:08
Thank you. Yeah. And you're the points on economic development and. 00:48:10
Increasing revenues is well taken. We were just talking this morning and you know it's. 00:48:15
We were just saying we need to get through looking at expenditures because the next thing is, you know. 00:48:22
Looking at revenues and trying to. 00:48:29
To figure out how to how to increase them so. 00:48:31
It's, I think that's going to be a focus. 00:48:35
Over the next year, probably like it's never like it hasn't been before. So we're going to put a focus on that. 00:48:39
Yeah, I guess I did have a. 00:48:45
Maybe a closing statement, but. 00:48:47
You know, as a resident, you know, I've lived here. 00:48:49
My adult life for the last five years, you know, I grew up here as you know so the perspectives different now as an adult, but. 00:48:52
Honestly. 00:48:58
My wife and I, we can't think of another community in Ventura County we want to live in. So awesome. 00:49:00
That's why, you know, at the beginning I would say, you know, I don't think the public understands how challenging this is. 00:49:05
Because you know. 00:49:10
We look at our roads, they're they seem great. 00:49:11
You know what? 00:49:13
I don't experience as many potholes as I do in other cities in the area. 00:49:15
The amenities that we've added to our parks, excellent. 00:49:21
And so again, it's we're doing, I think overall a good job, but understand, you know. 00:49:25
The challenges, yeah. 00:49:30
Thank you for that. 00:49:31
I I take the opportunity whenever I can to highlight like. 00:49:33
Because I don't think people. 00:49:37
I don't think a lot of the public. 00:49:39
Thinks about this that. 00:49:40
We are unusual for being such a small city and having our own Police Department, and I think it's something that like. 00:49:42
I think we're all like proud of that and I think our community is proud of it, but. 00:49:48
What is always interesting is like, I'll talk to people, I'll be like. 00:49:52
Well, yeah, you know, Camarillo doesn't even do that. 00:49:55
And people were like, well, yeah, they do. They have their own Police Department, Like, no, they contract with the sheriff. They 00:49:57
just put. 00:49:59
Camarillo police on their vehicles. 00:50:02
And so I came from a. 00:50:05
Sheriff's contract City. 00:50:07
And there's. 00:50:09
Good and bad with everything and I. 00:50:11
I have a lot of positive. 00:50:13
Things to say about the Sheriff's Department, But the one thing I see is if you're in a small city, you don't get to fine tune the 00:50:16
service to what? 00:50:20
Your community is asking for it. 00:50:24
Because it they they serve. 00:50:25
750,000 residents across the county and they got to make sure they're serving everybody the same because they can't, you know, 00:50:27
it's too complicated otherwise. 00:50:32
So I think one thing I always like to highlight is, you know, it's like it's, it is unusual, I think. 00:50:36
We're the smallest city in the county to have a Police Department, the next the only other one even close to Santa Paula. 00:50:42
And they, they're actually talking about potentially going to sheriff's, you know, so. 00:50:48
So there's a lot of. 00:50:53
That's the thing I think the community is proud of, I think. 00:50:55
Part of this, you know, we just read the ballot language. It literally says in there one of the goals was to make sure that we 00:50:58
maintain that. 00:51:01
And that's great, but it's like the challenge of that and the reason why other people don't do it is because it's it's hard to 00:51:06
balance the budget for a small city and, and. 00:51:10
Provide all those services so. 00:51:14
But I. 00:51:17
We were pretty. 00:51:19
Proud of what we've done and I think Measure You committee has been a key part of that I. 00:51:22
Can honestly say, and I don't know that I saw this like 2 years ago, but I see it clearly now maybe because two years ago we had 00:51:26
you know, other revenue sources but. 00:51:31
I think right now more than ever. 00:51:35
You can see if we didn't have Measure U, we'd be having to have some difficult conversations about those services that. 00:51:37
You know, the street paving, the police services and all those things so. 00:51:44
So measure you in the role. 00:51:48
You have and and and that we have with you is is critical. 00:51:50
And in maintaining all those things. 00:51:54
Thank you. 00:51:58
Thank you. 00:51:59
Any other questions? 00:52:01
When when we finally did the accounting after all those years of getting no information. 00:52:09
We had like 3 and a half million dollars leftover. It had not been spent which. 00:52:15
Worked out well because it went into the parks and we got that taken care of. 00:52:20
But we had a reserve. 00:52:24
And and what I would like to see happening moving forward is that we don't spend every dime. 00:52:25
The pier is going to get knocked down again. 00:52:32
Or we have another flood, or who knows? 00:52:36
You can't really anticipate how many. 00:52:38
Things can go wrong, but you know that they will. 00:52:41
So my sense is it was really nice to have that money there. 00:52:43
To get us through the hump with a. 00:52:47
Yeah, and. 00:52:50
It kind of happened by accident, but. 00:52:51
Worked out with a gift, Yeah. So it worked out. But I'd like to see us not spending every dime on this. So some of the things we 00:52:53
pulled out of it, if there's a way to. 00:52:58
Put it in a lock box or I I. 00:53:04
I'm not sure how to. 00:53:06
Maybe that goes to the Community Development Fund, I don't know, but. 00:53:08
Here's I I agree with you completely on the the idea. 00:53:11
And it's it's sort of my goal, big picture. 00:53:16
Is the goal is. 00:53:19
We're working towards trying to reduce our expenditures. 00:53:20
To get back to living within our means and actually. 00:53:24
And going back to CIP funding is and then? 00:53:26
Long term goal is to actually be saving. 00:53:29
Money up to be able to do the project. 00:53:31
I think the challenge. 00:53:34
And I think my ask would be. 00:53:35
I think we're in that transition. We're right in the middle of it, and this is the. 00:53:38
I actually was tired of hearing me say this, but I said all the rainy day funds that I created 18 months ago, I didn't know that 00:53:43
the rainy day was going to be this year, you know? 00:53:48
And so it's like this is that that rainy day year where like all the money that we said, well, let's put this aside for if. 00:53:52
You know, our revenues really drop and if the cannabis industry goes away and if this. 00:53:59
It's like that all happened, you know, this year. 00:54:05
And the sewer fell apart. Yeah, the sewer fell apart. And we had a storm that we didn't expect, which like we got, we are actually 00:54:08
pretty fortunate at the end of the day with that storm and even having said that. 00:54:13
I think. 00:54:18
It was still three $400,000 worth of damage and like that's less than what other, you know, what other cities had so. 00:54:19
So it was like that. 00:54:29
Literally the rainy day fund had to get, you know. 00:54:31
Addressed with that SO. 00:54:35
But so I agree with you on the sentiment, I think. 00:54:37
We're on the same page that the goal is. It's like. 00:54:40
OK. So revenues dropped, we need to figure out how to? 00:54:42
Reduce expenditures to that and then eventually. 00:54:46
Be below that so that we can. 00:54:49
We could start building up. 00:54:51
The savings? 00:54:53
And building up. 00:54:54
Funding sources. 00:54:56
But I don't think this year's the year we're gonna. 00:54:57
Do it you know and. 00:55:00
One of the analogies that I keep giving is. 00:55:01
I keep when I talk to people is like. 00:55:03
You know, like I have a job for like 5 years and I make a good living and I get used to like a certain standard of living. 00:55:07
And then I lose my job. 00:55:14
And it's like that's. 00:55:16
The day where you start going Well, let's reevaluate what we're spending. Do I need? 00:55:18
Do I need this? 00:55:23
You know, car payment. Do I need this? Do I need this? 00:55:24
The goal is it's like in. 00:55:30
In the meantime, going back to revenue, it's like. 00:55:31
You start looking for. 00:55:34
Another job or you look for. 00:55:35
Ways to supplement your income and you're doing that, but you also have to the first thing you have to do is. 00:55:37
Cut down on your expenses. 00:55:42
And so then it's like you cut down on your expenses. 00:55:44
You the goal is you find a way to get your revenues back to where they are. 00:55:47
And and then. 00:55:52
Hopefully like. 00:55:54
You know you can. 00:55:56
The goal would be to keep your expenses low and start rebuilding your savings account and start building your emergency fund and 00:55:57
all that stuff. But I'm like, but where I think this year looking at like the budget projections and. 00:56:03
And everything is like this is the year that. 00:56:09
We lost our job and we have to. 00:56:11
Cut our spending and figure out how to increase our revenue and get it back and then. 00:56:14
Start building up those savings accounts so. 00:56:18
So we're on the same page. 00:56:21
I think what happened? 00:56:23
We were trying to be proactive and really that cannabis revenue and sales tax increase happened faster than everybody thought and 00:56:25
faster than projected. And we were, we thought we were ahead of the curve. People were saying you guys are two years ahead and it 00:56:30
ended up it just happened, you know, for us, especially with Oxnard and Ventura just opening up the 16 dispensaries, you know, it 00:56:36
just it happened the day that happened. 00:56:41
Happened so. 00:56:47
So. 00:56:49
I think. 00:56:50
We're still working on that balancing and then. 00:56:52
But I agree with you and I think. 00:56:55
My uh. 00:56:57
Ask would be. 00:56:58
This year to use it to sort of help. 00:57:00
Get us through that tough year. 00:57:03
But with the goal that by the next time we're having our budget conversation. 00:57:06
That we'd have. 00:57:10
Looked at revenues, we'd have looked at some other things and we'd be talking about building up some savings, except that. 00:57:12
As far as a revenue source goes, the first thing that comes to mind to me is a bed taxes with. 00:57:19
Short verification. 00:57:25
But you know, we're in the process of working on. 00:57:27
And that helps with a lot of potential if it's done well. 00:57:30
If it's done poorly, it's going to create a lot of problems, yeah. 00:57:34
You get some templates to work with that look like they're. 00:57:37
Gonna go pretty well, so I see that as a potential pretty good source. 00:57:40
If we could start marketing this place, you know we got this beautiful beach. 00:57:44
Yeah, and all these birds to look at, if you like birds, a lot of people do. So if we could start. 00:57:47
From somehow promote. 00:57:54
Get that in line and start promoting it. I think that. 00:57:56
That's going to has to help. 00:57:59
We have some things in the works, short term rentals, a great example. We have the survey live right now that anybody who hasn't 00:58:01
filled it out can fill it out on our website right now. 00:58:06
With the idea that I think that closes May 16th. 00:58:12
And then our plan is from that have a couple follow up meetings where we talk about what those regulations and potentially what. 00:58:16
You know the. 00:58:23
Fees and those types of things would be for for licensing short term rentals. 00:58:24
So there are a few things in the works. 00:58:30
I think that's where we had talked at one point about, well, we're planning to do some of these things, do we start building those 00:58:32
revenues in, but we want to be. 00:58:36
Conservative right now and not count any chickens until they hatch so. 00:58:39
So. 00:58:44
Those are in the works and and there's there's a few of them out there that. 00:58:46
Hotel tax with the short term rentals and. 00:58:51
Some of our fees and things like that, we actually have an increased our. 00:58:55
Trash fees for 12 years, I think it is so. So there's some things on our list. 00:59:01
The other one that comes to mind is a few years ago they had measure M. 00:59:06
Which was going to. 00:59:10
Have business taxes on some of the port activities. 00:59:12
And they basically bought their way out of it, scared everybody, brought in these consultants. 00:59:15
Told people over the port they'd lose their jobs, none of which was true. 00:59:20
And it failed and. 00:59:25
I always felt like every place out you go. 00:59:27
If you have a business, you got to pay a. 00:59:30
A visit tax and I don't understand. 00:59:32
How come we can't get that done? 00:59:35
I I actually had not heard that, so that's something. 00:59:38
Well, literally, they came in with consultants from out of state. 00:59:41
Talk. I know people work at the harbor where they were literally told. 00:59:44
You know you're gonna lose your job if this happens. I mean, for for what? 00:59:49
110th of 1% of a dollar. That comes ridiculous, but. 00:59:52
They scared everybody and it worked. 00:59:56
Interesting. Maybe it's time to revisit that again. 00:59:58
And then the last comment. 01:00:04
The swing is in. 01:00:07
I am on the beach every day. I have never seen it empty. 01:00:09
There's always somebody using it. It's. 01:00:12
It's a pretty good resource and. 01:00:14
And you know, if we get money, another one would be great. But. 01:00:16
You you would hope to, if you make a capital improvement that people would. 01:00:21
Actually take advantage of and so far that's a total hit, yeah. 01:00:25
That is true and that's part of it. You know, we've talked about. 01:00:28
Just making sure. 01:00:31
That when we do something, it's what? 01:00:34
You know. 01:00:39
Is it's really what we need or what the community is looking for and not just doing things to do them, you know? 01:00:40
I think. 01:00:47
The people are aware, but there were some like future projects that the city had talked about starting to like spend some money on 01:00:50
designing that. 01:00:53
You know, kind of fall in the other category that we had. 01:00:58
We had put on pause because it was just like when when times are. 01:01:01
Tough like spending money on this thing that we're not even sure anybody will use isn't really the. 01:01:05
The let's put the money priority, yeah, so I could put away for a better day, yeah. So I think between the swing set and Bubbling 01:01:11
Springs Park, which I have also been out there and seeing cars down like lying down the street for, I think so far the projects 01:01:16
that we did put the money into are definitely. 01:01:22
Giving the community its money, its money worth, so. 01:01:29
Thank you. I do have one thing I wanted to add. 01:01:33
As far as the beach and the swing set that we added and I also go onto the beach every day and I know we have the volunteer 01:01:37
cleanup every. 01:01:42
Saturday at 8:30 to 10:00. 01:01:47
I was curious if maybe not this year's budget, but somewhere in the near future if the trash cans would maybe be upgraded on the 01:01:50
beach. I know that's kind of very specific, but that is something that would. 01:01:56
Really benefit the trash, Yeah, and the pollution. 01:02:03
Because right now the a lot of the trash cans have faulty lids or they don't. 01:02:09
Stand up correctly or if people take off the lids, the birds. 01:02:14
We'll take the trash and spread it and stuff. 01:02:18
So that would be something. 01:02:20
Maybe in the future, Yeah, I think. 01:02:22
We had. 01:02:25
Put some different ones out, but it was more on the walkway as sort of like a test. There are those metal, Those are great. I love 01:02:27
those. Well, it's funny, I'd say most people were positive about them. A few people didn't like the look of them. 01:02:34
Like they thought that they looked too, I think like industrial. 01:02:41
So, so it is something that we. 01:02:46
That we've worked with public works on and we were trying out those different ones we also. 01:02:49
Those were at the beach and then also at the bus stops. We're actually trying out the new high tech ones that actually like Alert. 01:02:54
Public, yeah, public works when they need dumped and all that kind of stuff. 01:03:00
So we're we're. 01:03:05
Sounds funny to say, but it's like we're constantly testing out new trash cans. 01:03:06
But umm. 01:03:11
But I'll follow up with with public works on that because we were putting those out as a test and then we were going to see how it 01:03:12
went and then kind of figure out what we were doing from there. 01:03:16
The good news? Well. 01:03:21
It could be a potential future item. 01:03:22
The good news is that. 01:03:24
Even though our budgets pretty tight, we do have. 01:03:26
In other funds, we do have some maintenance budget and we. 01:03:29
I think would have money in there for. 01:03:33
For for new trash cans and things. 01:03:36
But it's just something. 01:03:39
We'd have to look at like specific questions. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate that. 01:03:41
Oh yeah, that's right. 01:03:46
Yeah, so Ashley was just reminding me that the the new. 01:03:47
High tech ones that we were trying at the bus stops, we actually got a grant to cover those two, so. 01:03:50
Are those bolted down? 01:03:55
I think so. 01:03:57
I think so. 01:03:59
Yeah, so far they've been missing if it's crazy. 01:04:00
Yeah, so far we've been OK with them, other than we've had a couple hit with graffiti. 01:04:04
So so but. 01:04:08
Our graffiti team. 01:04:10
Has done a pretty good job if they get out there right away and paint them and, and hopefully people don't notice it. So graffiti 01:04:12
people are amazing. You know, when I go for a walk, I take a picture of graffiti. It's, it's always gone. 01:04:17
They're on it. I mean, it's hard to believe there. And I never see him by the way. It's just. 01:04:23
Creedy's always gone. I feel like it's normally the same day that they come out and they paint it and it's gone. You'll see it in 01:04:28
the morning and then I'll think, was that actually there or not? So it is very nice that we're on top of that. 01:04:34
Yeah. That's where when we talked about like we're trying to balance the budget and reduce some cost, but keep maintaining service 01:04:41
levels. 01:04:44
Is, you know, it is an accomplishment and I want to. 01:04:48
Highlight the public works department in the housing and facilities department that do all those things. 01:04:51
Is uh. 01:04:56
We managed to. 01:04:57
They were able to reduce their the budget, you know, what is it the three or 4 million from? 01:04:59
You know, a couple years ago, but still. 01:05:05
Provide that. 01:05:07
Service. And so we're trying to figure out how to do it while still providing the service levels. 01:05:08
Any comments or thoughts or? 01:05:17
Just one more I guess along the lines of some of the. 01:05:20
Those beach amenities? 01:05:23
I know I kind of held off. 01:05:25
Mentioning. 01:05:27
Additional amenities or expenditures, but. 01:05:28
I was wondering if there was like an equivalent to like a friends of the library or like a friends of the beach where? 01:05:30
I've had the thought. 01:05:37
Occasionally. 01:05:38
Maybe I wanted to donate like. 01:05:39
Bike rack to complement the that tool set that's right off outside of the beach. 01:05:41
You know, a couple friends and I will be like to go biking and. 01:05:47
And so I don't know if there was that opportunity here or how that would be received by the city so. 01:05:51
It was just the thought that kind of. 01:05:56
Crossed my mind, yeah. 01:05:58
So we're fortunate in that we have. 01:05:59
Some groups. 01:06:04
That we have relationships with who? 01:06:05
Take care of the beach and. 01:06:09
There's a few I'll mention. 01:06:12
But. 01:06:14
You know, the really fortunate thing is that. 01:06:15
We've kind of worked out like a mutually beneficial relationship where. 01:06:18
For the most part, like, we'll provide like some support by providing like. 01:06:22
Equipment. 01:06:26
And then? 01:06:27
Like they get volunteers and they get out and they they do it and. 01:06:28
They appreciate because. 01:06:32
Surprisingly. 01:06:34
They appreciate. 01:06:35
Us because they've told us that they've tried to go to neighboring beaches and they can't get like any support. 01:06:37
And then so they appreciate that, and then we appreciate them because they're bringing volunteers to help, you know? 01:06:42
So we do have the Saturday beach cleanup. It's actually not officially a city event, but it's operated by by. 01:06:48
Stephen Gama, who's also a council member, but we have to call him Stephen Gama when we talk about beach clean up because. 01:06:57
It's not as a council member, but. 01:07:02
Both him and surf riders. 01:07:06
Do beach cleanups and then we basically put. 01:07:08
Like trash cans out and you know, occasionally. 01:07:11
Maybe other like small pieces of equipment and then they. 01:07:15
They kind of take it and run with it and, you know, provide. 01:07:18
Provide that those services. 01:07:23
It's a great relationship. 01:07:24
We don't have to your point though, I guess it was a long explanation, but it's like so we don't have an official like city like 01:07:28
Friends of the Beach or anything like that. 01:07:31
But it's we've tended to support. 01:07:35
Those cleanups and Surfrider. 01:07:38
And then there's a couple others. 01:07:41
But those are the big ones. Surfrider, as an example, actually came to the last Council meeting because they have a. 01:07:43
They're proposing doing a dune restoration project. 01:07:50
Next to parking lot C. 01:07:55
And that's another example where essentially we're helping them get the permit from the state. 01:07:57
So like we have the staff to do that. 01:08:02
And then we're going to provide trash cans to them, but they're going to like. 01:08:04
They like they make the magic happen once that happens. 01:08:08
Happens, you know so. 01:08:11
But so. 01:08:13
So we don't have a formal way to do that or a formal process at this point. 01:08:15
They're all always past that The City Council could accept donations so. 01:08:19
If you have a. 01:08:24
An idea you want to pursue on something like that, we can always follow up on it. 01:08:26
Good, great. Thank you. 01:08:30
The other option is to do something with reach. 01:08:34
We have a nonprofit status and they're in the process of. 01:08:38
Trying to get a funding for a police dog for. 01:08:41
For drugs. 01:08:44
And so they can. 01:08:46
Rich Rollins, if you know him, he's he's. 01:08:48
Involved with that, he might be able to. 01:08:51
Set up a special fund for that, then it's tax deductible to. 01:08:52
That's a really good point. And Reach actually used to be a city. 01:08:57
Nonprofit and we did have sort of that relationship with them. 01:09:01
They recently sort of separated from the city with. 01:09:04
And everything between the city and them is good, but it's just they separated more so that they could be more independent and not 01:09:10
have to go through all the city processes. 01:09:14
So they're a great. 01:09:18
Group 2. They're working on some ideas. Veteran. 01:09:21
That some veteran recognition ideas, the police dog, a couple other things. 01:09:23
OK. I think that's. 01:09:33
Any other comments or? 01:09:41
That's OK. 01:09:44
I guess that your challenge is set for right now, yeah. 01:09:46
We're up to our elbows for sure. 01:09:56
Going through everything you have, you know, I'd say next week what we come up with. 01:09:57
It's a whirlwind. 01:10:02
Yeah, where it goes from there? 01:10:05
Thank you. 01:10:07
I just in closing like to say thank you for your work. 01:10:09
You know you stepped into the city in a mess. 01:10:13
Nobody had any idea how bad of the financials were and. 01:10:17
You know immediately. 01:10:21
Taking some stuff to do something about it, so. 01:10:22
We're, I think we're in good hands, so. 01:10:24
Yeah, not, not exactly where I. 01:10:27
Wanted to be yet, but a lot better off than we would have been if we hadn't done anything so. So now we just need to get to that 01:10:30
last. 01:10:33
Pieces so. 01:10:37
So thanks to staff. Thank you. 01:10:39
OK, let's adjourn the meeting at 5:41. Oh, can I ask, do we not adjourn the meeting? Yeah, I think we technically need a 01:10:42
recommendation. 01:10:48
From you all. 01:10:54
OK, so can I ask if there's a motion to? 01:10:56
Recommend that the proposed list. 01:11:00
Move forward. 01:11:03
And I. 01:11:05
This is the one part that. 01:11:07
You know, somebody may want to modify, but I think my suggestion would be that. 01:11:09
The addition, the remaining funding from the item that we noted the Miranda Park that has separate grant funding. 01:11:15
That that item be allocated towards a public safety. 01:11:20
Cost because I think that. 01:11:24
There are that would that would. 01:11:25
That is an area that we still are trying to find some funding. 01:11:26
We have a motion. 01:11:31
Yeah, I'll move to. 01:11:35
Approve the Staffs recommendation. 01:11:38
On the budget for Measure you for fiscal year 2025 to 2026. 01:11:41
And fiscal year 2627? 01:11:46
With a modification. 01:11:50
To the. 01:11:51
202627 Budget to reallocate the Miranda Park project to public safety projects. 01:11:53
Perfect. Thank you. 01:11:58
2nd thank you. 01:11:59
We need a roll caller, Queen. We'll do a roll call. 01:12:02
All in favor. 01:12:07
Aye, aye. 01:12:09
That works. 01:12:11
None. The emotion passes. 01:12:16
Thank you. On that note, during the meeting now at 543. Awesome. Thank you. 01:12:20
Why was it? 01:12:27
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Transcript

Here, here, Member Diaz. 00:00:01
Here Member Importante. 00:00:03
Here, Vice Chair Beth Williams absent. 00:00:06
Chair David Scribner. 00:00:11
President. 00:00:13
Thank you. 00:00:15
Welcome to the transaction and. 00:00:19
Taxes and Oversight Committee, also known as the Measure U Committee. 00:00:22
Regular meeting I'm calling this. 00:00:26
Meeting to order. I just did I guess. 00:00:29
We took the. 00:00:31
OK. Are there any public comments? 00:00:33
There are none. 00:00:35
We're now consider items on the consent calendar which will be enacted in one motion. 00:00:38
Unless the Commissioner. 00:00:42
Remember. 00:00:44
Has a request to remove it. 00:00:45
For an item of discussion. 00:00:47
Does anybody have? 00:00:49
Something you'd like to discuss? 00:00:51
May I have a motion and a second to approve the consent calendar? 00:00:55
Make a motion to accept. 00:01:00
2nd. 00:01:05
We have a vote. 00:01:08
Aye, aye. 00:01:14
Aye, aye, all opposed. 00:01:16
Motion carries, motion passes. 00:01:19
All in favor. 00:01:21
OK, so. 00:01:26
We need to take a look at the minutes. Does anybody have a? 00:01:28
Correction you'd like to make. 00:01:31
Or can we adopt them? 00:01:34
As is. 00:01:36
Going to have a motion. 00:01:40
Motion to approve. 00:01:42
2nd, 2nd. 00:01:44
All in favor. 00:01:48
Aye. 00:01:50
Aye, all opposed. 00:01:51
None motion passes. 00:01:55
Thank you. 00:01:57
OK. Will staff please present the report? 00:01:59
Yes, thank you. 00:02:03
I know. I think this is our. 00:02:08
Second meeting. 00:02:10
But really our first substantive meeting since we. 00:02:13
Had our new membership appointed. 00:02:17
And so we want to give an overview of Measure U. 00:02:19
And our current budget process. 00:02:23
And where we're at in that budget process and then get feedback from the committee on proposed measure you expenses. 00:02:26
I'll start. Thank you. 00:02:33
Just. 00:02:35
Quickly by. 00:02:36
I know everybody. 00:02:38
Here knows this but just starting with the reminder that measure U was the cities local sales tax that was. 00:02:40
Approved. 00:02:48
To at the time, the ballot language actually officially read that it was approved to prevent elimination of the city's Police 00:02:50
Department, maintain long term financial viability and essential services, including quick 911 response. 00:02:57
Gang drug crime prevention and investigations. 00:03:05
Street storm drain, pothole and gutter repair. Keep public areas clean and graffiti free. 00:03:08
And provide other general city services. 00:03:13
And so. 00:03:16
That being the ballot language that was approved with Measure U. 00:03:18
Obviously. 00:03:22
The City Council at that time appointed a measure. 00:03:23
Oversight Committee and so today we are going to be taking you through the budget. 00:03:27
Recommendations that we have at this point. 00:03:34
And one of the things we have done was try to make sure that the recommendations that we are proposing fit within those 00:03:37
categories. 00:03:41
And I think one of some of the work that the Measure U committee did in the last year was really establishing what those priority 00:03:44
areas were even within those. 00:03:49
And the Measure You committee over the last year had really a. 00:03:53
Asked staff to put a focus on. 00:03:58
Public safety. 00:04:00
As a number one priority and. 00:04:02
Sort of. 00:04:05
Second priority. After that public works and recreate the. 00:04:07
Recreational. 00:04:12
Activities for the community. 00:04:15
And so we've put together. 00:04:17
A list that we think does those things. And so today. 00:04:20
We'll go through the budget a little bit and then we'll just try to give you some background and then we'll go through that list 00:04:23
with you. 00:04:26
And so. 00:04:30
1st we wanted to start with. 00:04:32
Sort of some. 00:04:36
Big picture background. 00:04:37
Think two key areas, one directly related to measure you, another maybe. 00:04:39
Indirectly related to measure. 00:04:44
Our our sales tax trends and our cannabis revenue trends. 00:04:46
And those are the two areas. 00:04:51
That I think we're seeing a lot of volatility. 00:04:53
The rest of the budget has really been pretty stable. 00:04:57
But uh. 00:05:00
Those two have been volatile and in recent years, as you can see in this. 00:05:01
This chart have been on the downturn. 00:05:06
You'll notice I'll come back to this, but if you look at cannabis revenues. 00:05:08
Similar sort of downward trend where? 00:05:13
It was at a peak in 2022 and really has decreased. 00:05:17
Almost every year since then, there's one year there that's a little bit of a spike and then it decreased again. 00:05:21
And with sales tax, it had been at a peak in about 2023 and has really decreased since that time as well. 00:05:27
And so, all else being equal, the rest of the budget. 00:05:35
Doesn't really. 00:05:39
Have major fluctuations from year to year, but sales tax and cannabis revenues, which are two of our main revenue sources have 00:05:40
had. 00:05:43
This downturn in recent years, so. 00:05:47
What we're looking at. 00:05:51
Citywide. 00:05:55
Is some reductions in some key areas. 00:05:56
The sales tax revenue is related, you know, directly related to measure you tax revenue because that's based on sales taxes as 00:06:00
well. 00:06:04
And so you can see here. 00:06:09
That it. 00:06:10
Like that chart showed before, it peaked in about 2023. 00:06:12
And has been gradual or. 00:06:16
A gradual decline in 24. 00:06:19
But we're expecting. 00:06:22
Further. 00:06:24
From 3.4 million at its peak in 23 to 3 point. 00:06:25
Just about 3 million and then now it's looking closer to 2.9 and 2.8 million. 00:06:29
Over the next couple of years. 00:06:34
And I think those are. 00:06:36
The cannabis revenues somewhat unique. Well, not. 00:06:38
Our drop has been unique because. 00:06:43
Our situation is that we're being surrounded by Oxnard and Ventura's. 00:06:46
Dozens of dispensaries that are opening up. 00:06:50
That's. 00:06:52
It is a statewide occurrence that like all. 00:06:55
Cities are starting to compete more on that. We're just getting hit with it more than maybe some other cities. 00:06:59
But sales tax? 00:07:04
There's also some statewide trends that sales tax has been. 00:07:06
Decreasing, I think it was restaurants that were really being impacted. 00:07:09
As the cost of everything go up, people start eating at home more and so. 00:07:14
The city has a contract with. 00:07:19
HDL. 00:07:22
Which I think stands for is. It hints the lamas. 00:07:24
Entered the llamas. 00:07:27
I always forget what does it stand for. I never even knew inter Dalamus. It's just the partners names is my understanding. But I 00:07:29
always forget what the H is. 00:07:32
Sender letter Yeah, in the letter dilemma. 00:07:36
And so they are sort of the. 00:07:39
The best practice typically is like most agencies contract with HDL. 00:07:41
They are because they contract with so many agencies, they are sort of the authority on sales tax. 00:07:46
They are who will. 00:07:53
Almost like all these, all the agencies, all sort of. 00:07:55
Forecast based on what HDL is seeing. 00:07:59
And I think so HDL has projected some a decrease in kind of a continued decrease right now, a softening with you know, economic 00:08:02
uncertainty. 00:08:07
But in Winimi in particular, they actually saw even more of a decrease. 00:08:13
Than the state average. 00:08:18
And I think that's because we are. 00:08:21
Heavy on those. 00:08:23
Types of the types of businesses that are seeing the biggest decrease being. 00:08:25
What do we have? We have restaurants and we have grocery stores really, you know, And so we don't have a lot of. 00:08:29
You know the other types of businesses like a Camarillo who would have an outlet center, which might be a little bit. 00:08:35
Less uh. 00:08:41
Impacted right now. 00:08:42
So, so sort of just big picture this is I know this is. 00:08:44
Probably getting into the weeds, but. 00:08:49
It's weird. 00:08:50
It's just that across our sales tax, across our measure you, across our cannabis revenues, we're seeing decreases in those things. 00:08:52
Other parts of our budget are fairly stable. 00:08:59
So what that means is we're sort of trying to adjust in real time and on the family. 00:09:02
With decreasing some expenditures and finding areas to decrease to. 00:09:07
Kind of match. 00:09:13
What we think is our new reality. 00:09:14
Sales tax could come back. You know sales tax. 00:09:17
I think it's in a downturn and at some point it'll it'll probably start to climb again. 00:09:21
I think cannabis revenue, what my expectation is, is that isn't going to return to the level it was. So it's like for us, we're 00:09:25
like, OK, let's just start adjusting to the the new economic reality. 00:09:31
So so all that is background to then show you this chart which. 00:09:37
Is a lot of information in one chart. 00:09:43
It's a lot to take in. 00:09:46
And so I'll try to highlight a couple of the key points. 00:09:48
I think some of the key points I wanted to show is you can see there that going back to. 00:09:52
Fiscal year 2324 adopted budget and the fiscal years make things more complicated. I like to try to keep it simple. It's hard to 00:09:58
with the fiscal year. 00:10:02
But the fiscal year 2324 budget? 00:10:07
Would have been adopted on June 30th, 2023 and that was really before all the cannabis dispensaries opened around us and 00:10:10
everything. 00:10:13
So you can see where at that point we essentially had about. 00:10:17
$30 million plus in revenues. 00:10:21
And at that point that year, they had about a $33 million. 00:10:24
Budget, including operations and major projects. 00:10:28
And so then you Fast forward to what we're looking at now and we're looking at closer to we're trying to really. 00:10:33
Kind of pare it down. 00:10:39
And 26 and 27, which are the budgets we're working on now that we're looking at. 00:10:41
We're down from 33 million to about 29 million. 00:10:46
So more than a 10% reduction of $4 million reduction. 00:10:50
And. 00:10:55
So it's sort of. 00:10:56
We're trying to really kind of operationally change. 00:10:58
How we do things and reduce. 00:11:04
How much we're spending to do things. 00:11:06
I think the when I started on this process about two years ago. 00:11:08
I was pretty confident we could get balanced. 00:11:15
We can we. 00:11:17
We, I think we got everybody in the room. We kind of understood that this was something we needed to proactively address and not 00:11:18
just wait and hope things get better. So we started on that process. 00:11:23
But the challenge? 00:11:29
That is going to really make it tough that I hadn't anticipated. Is the cost of everything going up at the same time. 00:11:31
And so. 00:11:37
For us you can see like 24. 00:11:38
Revised budget We did immediately make reductions to drop our budget down to about 27. 00:11:40
Well, our revenues, we had decreased forecast to 27.2 and then we had gotten operations down to 27.1. 00:11:49
But. 00:11:56
Even though we're still, we've been cutting since then. 00:11:56
Our proposed budget for next year is 27.9 and so it's still what is O&M mean? 00:12:00
Operations and maintenance. 00:12:06
Yeah. And then CIP is capital improvement projects. 00:12:08
And so it's just like. 00:12:12
It's a continuing battle because. 00:12:15
If you cut. 00:12:17
Your budget when you're talking on the scale of millions of dollars if you. 00:12:18
Cut your budget from 30 to 29, but then inflation the next year is 5%. You're right back at 30, so. 00:12:22
So it's kind of what we're experiencing. And so we've continued to sort of keep trying to do things more efficiently. We've 00:12:28
continued to try to. 00:12:32
Reduce and that's a. 00:12:35
If you look. 00:12:37
At every year other than that first year where we knew that we needed to make reductions, we're pretty, we're keeping our costs 00:12:39
pretty in line. 00:12:43
But umm. 00:12:48
But it's hard to. 00:12:49
Reducing it after that first year of reductions. 00:12:51
So there's a lot to take in in this chart. I think a couple of points we highlighted. 00:12:54
The revenues. 00:13:00
Have reduced from that 30.2 million in 24 to now more, we're expecting 27 1/2 or 27.8 million. 00:13:02
So they've reduced and they've been in that range over the last couple years and they're pretty flat if you if you notice from 00:13:11
the. 00:13:14
27.2 to 27.5 to 27.5 to 27.8. 00:13:17
So those revenues haven't? 00:13:21
They've been stable Which? 00:13:23
Good. It's better than a reduction, but they haven't been increasing. 00:13:25
And so those have been flat. Costs and inflation are increasing, which creates the challenge of doing more with less and paying 00:13:30
more to do the same things we used to do for less. 00:13:35
So those are some of the battles we're facing right now. 00:13:41
The the big thing that jumps out to people in this chart is the fact that in 25 revised budget we had a $6 million CIP program. 00:13:45
And so that would be one point where people might point and say, well, wait a minute, if you guys were trying to spend less, why 00:13:55
did we, you know, spend so much? 00:13:59
That year on CIP. 00:14:03
And that's a timing issue that we had several. 00:14:04
Like multi year projects. 00:14:08
And the good news is we got the mall done, which is an accomplishment. 00:14:10
But the bad news is we then had to pay for them all on the same year so. 00:14:14
So that year. 00:14:18
Was a year, I think about maybe $4 million of that was. 00:14:19
Was for bubbling springs. 00:14:23
And then 2 million was for other projects that we had gotten done. 00:14:25
That, umm. 00:14:29
This we had been working on over the years. 00:14:31
So. So that stands out as I. 00:14:34
I think if if I were trying to explain this chart, it would be that basically since we saw. 00:14:36
What was happening with cannabis and on June 30th, 2023? 00:14:42
Think I started with city July 10th, 2023. 00:14:46
I We basically came in and said we need to start. 00:14:50
Figuring out how to spend less and still get some things done. 00:14:53
So we've done that over the last couple of years. 00:14:57
But. 00:15:01
Good news, you know, But sometimes good news has. 00:15:03
Bad news with it is we also managed to get some projects done that that we needed to get done, but that resulted in having to pay 00:15:06
for them in that year. But other than that, you'll see that trend is the cost. 00:15:11
Of in other years where we were. 00:15:16
Finding ways to reduce our expenditures. 00:15:20
And so Ashley and I. 00:15:23
Are literally to this last bullet point. Ashley and I are literally working on the budget. 00:15:26
As we speak, we were working on it prior to this meeting and we'll go back to working on it right after this meeting. 00:15:31
We've been continuing to try to balance it. 00:15:37
There was, we had done a presentation to council about three months ago saying if we don't make further reductions we have about a 00:15:42
two and a half million dollar deficit. 00:15:46
So the good news is we've already almost cut that in half. 00:15:50
But we still have half, half of that left and go. So we're still working on it. 00:15:53
And. 00:15:59
Will Will. 00:16:00
Right now we're still trying to make reductions without impacting our service levels. 00:16:04
You know if. 00:16:09
That's the hard part, if we were to say, you know, well, we don't need to have a staff person at the front counter to help. 00:16:12
You know, people that come into City Hall, well, I can save money that way. But is that really, you know, the level of service we 00:16:17
want to provide? 00:16:20
So right now the focus has been on looking at things that. 00:16:24
Reductions that can be made without impacting service levels and we've been. 00:16:28
Pretty successful at that, we just have more work to do. 00:16:32
So this is all background because for this reason it'll tie into. 00:16:37
The projects that are being proposed to be Measure U projects this year. 00:16:43
And there are some things and I think it. 00:16:47
It's in keeping with that ballot language we read. 00:16:51
Is there's just some things we wouldn't be able to afford to do if we didn't have Measure U? 00:16:53
You know, a lot of that ballot language talked about being able to provide. 00:16:58
Public public safety for the community and. 00:17:02
As you probably saw a lot of the proposed. 00:17:07
Expenditures for Measure U would be public safety. 00:17:10
Including being able to. 00:17:13
Actually pay for some of the. 00:17:15
Positions, which is something that the Measure U committee had. 00:17:18
Supported in the past, so we proposed to doing that. 00:17:22
Again at this time. 00:17:25
And so. 00:17:27
If you don't mind a chair, if I could quickly go through these and then we maybe can just from like a high level and then have a 00:17:29
question answer. 00:17:34
So we'll start with the public safety. We broke them up into those three areas that the Measure U committee had said were priority 00:17:39
areas. 00:17:43
So public safety. 00:17:48
I won't go through every number in particular, but just. 00:17:50
Explain that. 00:17:53
So the police Sergeant would be that extra like one actual Sergeant position. 00:17:55
The police officer seniors is 2 full time senior officers. 00:17:59
The police officer. 00:18:03
Half FTE is. 00:18:06
I think what we were proposing was we have an officer who's half paid for by. 00:18:08
Another funding source, and this would be paying for the other half of them. That's the homeless. Yeah, yeah. So it's 1/2. 00:18:14
Cannabis. 00:18:23
And half cannabis sort of, you know, enforcement and follow up. 00:18:24
And then half homeless liaison officer. 00:18:29
So the cannabis program has to pay for the half? 00:18:31
Cannabis, but this would pay for the. 00:18:35
The other half of that? 00:18:37
Which has been one of our critical positions in the last couple of years. 00:18:38
And then the public safety dispatcher is 3 of of the dispatchers. 00:18:44
I think we have a total of 6 currently, so it's about half of the dispatchers. 00:18:49
And then? 00:18:55
We are currently in the process of trying to. 00:18:56
Create well. 00:19:02
Where our dispatch center was. 00:19:04
Outdated. Umm. 00:19:08
Significantly outdated. 00:19:10
And then it also got hit by the. 00:19:11
The flood, the storm that we had and then it was outdated and. 00:19:14
And then had to actually move into a back closet essentially so. 00:19:18
That's definitely not it was a backroom, but. 00:19:21
But it's definitely not. 00:19:24
You know the 21st century modern high quality dispatch center that I think our dispatchers. 00:19:27
Deserve, uh. 00:19:35
Not that, you know, we're not proposing doing anything luxurious either, but it's just, it's not even really up to standard right 00:19:36
now. 00:19:41
And so we had a project to rebuild the dispatch center. 00:19:45
And so. 00:19:49
A lot of that project is is we're using other funding sources, but two of the. 00:19:51
The items that we're proposing through Measure You would be the. 00:19:57
Computer aided dispatch system and that's. 00:20:02
That pays for the actual system that the dispatchers use. 00:20:05
And the. 00:20:10
3rd dispatch console because they currently had two dispatch consoles. 00:20:11
And when there's. 00:20:15
Like an emergency situation. 00:20:17
They don't have a way right now to have a third person come answer phones. 00:20:19
And so we're trying to add that third console so that we have the ability to do that. 00:20:23
And then? 00:20:28
Police body cameras and Tasers. You know, body cameras. 00:20:30
Are something that are required and best practice, but we have to pay, you know, figure out how to pay for them. 00:20:34
And then Tasers just. 00:20:39
Or you know, I think everybody knows what those are, but it's just another non lethal tool that we have. 00:20:43
Another non lethal tool. 00:20:49
That our officers can use. 00:20:51
The evidence freezer replacement. That one is interesting. 00:20:53
I think it caught our eye and we asked a lot of questions when we were meeting with. 00:21:00
The Police Department, but essentially. 00:21:03
Something we've learned a lot about in the last couple of days going through these is all of the evidence requirements that go 00:21:05
into. 00:21:10
Making sure the officers when they arrest someone that the evidence is safe, secure. 00:21:14
And really even just. 00:21:20
Maintained. 00:21:22
You know, so that the arrest actually sticks and that there's not a chain of custody issue or. 00:21:25
You know, something like that. 00:21:32
And so. 00:21:33
Some of the things. 00:21:34
We learned about this is like that literally, you know, there's freezers that are built. 00:21:36
That send alerts to the. 00:21:42
Off like the detectives. 00:21:45
If there's any issue with the freezer so that evidence doesn't get destroyed, you know, if there's a power outage and all of a 00:21:47
sudden your evidence. 00:21:50
Thaws out essentially, you know. 00:21:54
So, so it was interesting to us. 00:21:57
Learning about that because at first glance we were like, what is this, you know, but. 00:22:01
It's a tool that our. 00:22:05
Detectives and our officers about the question, is this some? 00:22:08
Large freezer, I mean, or just something that has alarms on it? I'm wondering. Yeah, You know, I think it's more like it's because 00:22:11
we have one currently, but it's outdated and it doesn't have all the smart functionality. 00:22:18
And it's almost, I was going to say with the way they described it almost reminds me of just like home appliances. Now how? 00:22:25
Like now they have like the fridge that'll send you a text or like the stove that will send you a text, you know? 00:22:30
But they first the need was twofold is they have a freezer, but they're running out of space. And then now they want they want to 00:22:37
make sure that they. 00:22:41
Get the one that has all the functionality that they need. 00:22:47
So. 00:22:52
That was another item we proposed. 00:22:53
And I should have said this earlier, but we show 2 numbers and that's. 00:22:57
Because we adopt A two year budget and so. 00:23:00
We have the items that are proposed for this coming fiscal year, July 1st to June 30th. The. 00:23:03
July 1st, 25 to June 30th, 26. 00:23:09
And then that second column is the ones that we were. 00:23:12
Planning to do. 00:23:15
July 1st, 26 to June 30th, 27. 00:23:16
And so some of those items like the freezer is a one time item that would be this year. 00:23:21
The police uniforms and safety vests etc is a one time item that would be the following year. 00:23:26
And then firearms and range equipment's. 00:23:33
I think that's pretty self-explanatory. And then? 00:23:36
The Crossing Guard Services is a partnership we have with the school district. If you've ever wondered who pays for the crossing 00:23:40
guards on. 00:23:44
Ventura Rd. 00:23:50
For example, near the schools, it's a partnership between the city and the. 00:23:51
School district we each pay for half. 00:23:55
So so. 00:23:57
We're proposing that, and that one I actually believe. 00:23:59
I'm pretty sure the history on that. 00:24:03
Is that that was actually something that was cut at one point and sort of prompted measure you? 00:24:05
Stuff the crossing guards. 00:24:14
And that's a really dangerous St. It was crazy people on it. So yeah, So that that's almost. 00:24:16
It's sort of been something we've always tried to keep with Measure You because it was part of the history of it of like. 00:24:22
You know, sort of promising the community that you know. 00:24:29
You know, we couldn't afford that before measure you. But if we do measure you, these are, you know, this is a service that will 00:24:32
provide so. 00:24:35
So this is. 00:24:38
Public safety. 00:24:39
And. 00:24:40
The two other sections we mentioned that sure. Does anybody have any questions or comments about what? 00:24:42
Has been presented. 00:24:50
I have a question as far as the crossing guard services. 00:24:51
Is that just for? 00:24:56
Like school district areas or is it also for the recreational events that we have throughout the years such as the Christmas tree 00:24:59
lighting or? 00:25:03
So the crossing guard services the specific line item is. 00:25:07
The ones that we partner with the school district to provide near schools. 00:25:11
During the school arrival in school. 00:25:16
What is that departure times? 00:25:20
So that's specific to that. 00:25:24
We do for special events. 00:25:26
We have, typically what we do for special events is we have a community services officer that people might see. She goes, she's 00:25:28
usually out driving like kind of a truck and she has a uniform, but it's a different color uniform. 00:25:34
And so when we have like a special event, we'll coordinate with. 00:25:40
PD to ask if the community service officer can come and you know she usually pulls the truck up. 00:25:44
Kind of in the street and direct traffic and you know, helps people cross. 00:25:50
So we do provide that service and we have that, but it's separate from this. OK, thank you. 00:25:54
Any other questions on public safety? Yeah, I have questions, but I'll wait until the end after the presentation. Got it. 00:26:03
OK, so the other two sections that. 00:26:10
Been identified as priority where. 00:26:13
Those streets and maintenance related items which also was in the ballot language. 00:26:15
Ballot measure language and then the other one was the recreational. So we'll start with the streets and maintenance. 00:26:20
It's broken out similarly. 00:26:26
With the. 00:26:28
Two fiscal years and. 00:26:30
So the items that we had proposed was. 00:26:33
The essentially one maintenance employee focused specifically on parks, pier and graffiti abatement. 00:26:36
And so that. 00:26:43
Is shown for both years. 00:26:45
We have. 00:26:48
A program that we started last year. 00:26:49
That we're kind of we're doing a test, but we were going to try it out for a couple years, which is the neighborhood speed cushion 00:26:52
installation program. 00:26:55
And we were getting a lot of requests from neighborhoods that were asking us to put in those speed cushions. 00:26:59
So we had essentially. 00:27:05
Talked in last year about. 00:27:08
Setting aside $50,000 per. 00:27:10
Year and. 00:27:14
We have a process where neighborhoods can apply for them if they have. 00:27:17
Certain amount of people making the request and then we'd consider, we'd review it and potentially install those. So that would. 00:27:21
Pay for one year of the Neighborhood Speed Cushion installation program. 00:27:27
There's a couple of items here related to storm storm drains. 00:27:33
And when we were looking at the budget very closely. 00:27:38
You know, it's always. 00:27:41
There's certain things that are like. 00:27:43
The things that. 00:27:45
Are popular and you know people. 00:27:47
Don't want to cut. And then there's other things that it's like, well, you know. 00:27:49
People really don't think about, you know, these types of things. 00:27:53
And I think storm drains are one of those that normally falls into that category. 00:27:56
But uh. 00:28:01
Thankfully, I think we had just, we had really put an emphasis on storm drain clearing and then we had some pretty historic rains. 00:28:02
Immediately after, and I think for us it was like a good reminder and a lesson that. 00:28:10
That stuff may not get the headlines or be glamorous, but it's pretty critical and. 00:28:15
And proved to be very necessary, I think, with some of these storms that we've had recently. 00:28:23
So, umm. 00:28:30
We have showing their storm drain maintenance and clearing. 00:28:30
For the second year of the budget. 00:28:34
And then I'll. 00:28:36
Skip down and then come back. The Pearson Rd. storm drain repairs is a major storm drain repair that we were. 00:28:38
Looking to make this year? 00:28:44
So then moving back up just St. maintenance supplies, that's just things like the equipment and the materials to do St. 00:28:47
maintenance and so. 00:28:51
We have a few funding sources, but. 00:28:55
This allows us to do more of it. 00:28:57
Which I would say. 00:29:00
In my. 00:29:02
Shoes, I think the one of the most frequent questions that we'll get on a day-to-day basis is about when are my streets being 00:29:03
paved or. 00:29:08
Can I my potholes get fixed or can you fix this crack in our sidewalk? I think to this. 00:29:12
You know, it's not uncommon, but. 00:29:17
Even just like. 00:29:19
Right now that's. 00:29:21
Still the number one question we get. 00:29:23
And then? 00:29:26
There is a. 00:29:27
There are 2 1/2 St. staff members who are focused on specifically maintaining streets, alley, sidewalks, public right of ways and 00:29:29
then parking lots. 00:29:33
And so we propose allocating those. 00:29:38
To measure you. 00:29:42
Those have been pretty critical recently. 00:29:44
Including with the Bubbling Springs project and the library reopening on May 3rd. 00:29:47
That we were able to. 00:29:52
For not very much. 00:29:54
Money we were, since we have the staff and the supplies and everything we were able to get. 00:29:58
Those parking lots? 00:30:02
Maintained and ready to go for when everything reopens. 00:30:04
Which would have been a challenge otherwise. 00:30:08
And one of the things that's interesting. 00:30:11
Is how quick parking lots can go bad. The library parking lot at one point looked like it had you know it was closed for about 18 00:30:13
months. 00:30:17
But it looked like at one time it looked like. 00:30:21
Nobody had been there for 10 years, you know, when the weeds started popping up and everything so. 00:30:24
So if you go there now, it's starting to look. 00:30:29
Well, it does look good again, the library looks good, the mural looks good. The park, the parking lot looks good. We're working 00:30:33
on the landscaping. Still trying to get that ready for the grand opening. 00:30:38
Then I mentioned this right before the meeting and I'll highlight it now. 00:30:43
Because it addresses a couple of issues, but that Miranda Park project. 00:30:48
Is actually supposed to be a grant funded project. It's not a Measure U project, we just. 00:30:52
Sort of, I think it was before we knew it was a grant funded project. We had put it on this list as a possibility and then we 00:31:00
forgot to pull it off. So. 00:31:03
That project would be coming off of this list. 00:31:07
And. 00:31:10
We aren't recommending that as a Measure U project. 00:31:13
So so the it's basically $90,000 less as a. 00:31:16
Little, little shy of. 00:31:20
$500,000 instead of 590. 00:31:23
Yeah, and I don't know. 00:31:25
I know we had talked to Public Works about that earlier. I don't think we have yet identified where that 90,000 could go. 00:31:28
Right. We didn't have a chance. We didn't do that yet. 00:31:34
Yeah, yeah. 00:31:39
So we we hadn't. 00:31:40
We hadn't reallocated it, so to speak. So that's that's a conversation that we can have. 00:31:43
And then Parks and Recreation. 00:31:50
I know in the past we had talked about the lifeguard program being. 00:31:53
A priority project. 00:31:59
With Measure U committee. 00:32:02
And so we had identified there's two things related to the lifeguard program on this list. It's the lifeguard vehicle. 00:32:04
But it's also the Recreation and Ocean Safety supervisor is essentially. 00:32:11
The like the main staff person related to the lifeguard program. 00:32:16
Our recreation department is. 00:32:22
Probably much smaller than anybody would think we have. 00:32:25
Think we have? 00:32:28
Three full time employees. 00:32:30
Yeah, 3 full time employees. So all the recreational events we do is with three full time employees. 00:32:33
And so one of them is. 00:32:38
Basically takes on all the lifeguard. 00:32:40
Program duties. 00:32:42
So that is the position listed here. 00:32:43
Then the recreation coordinator is the person who coordinates. 00:32:46
All of the. 00:32:49
Events. 00:32:51
The things like the Senior holiday luncheon, the Touch of Truck event, the spectacular event, or. 00:32:53
Last week's extravaganza event. 00:32:58
That's that recreation coordinator position. 00:33:01
Lower on the list through those actual funding for those actual events. 00:33:05
I skipped over a second swing set I do want to note. 00:33:10
We talked about being in the middle of the budget process and having to make some difficult decisions. 00:33:17
And. 00:33:22
At this point. 00:33:24
My uh. 00:33:25
Proposal is going to be removing the second swing set. 00:33:27
Project at this time. 00:33:31
Because as we're trying to get balanced. 00:33:33
Just on the list of necessities, it's not quite a necessity. 00:33:35
And so where would that be? 00:33:39
And so we had. 00:33:41
Essentially, I'll give you sort of a history of even why it's on the list. 00:33:43
I think people know about the swing set. 00:33:49
That the city had removed the swing set because it was I think like a broken piece or something. 00:33:52
And yeah, I really, I've heard. Yeah, I was before my time. So I've heard version, but for whatever reason the city removed the 00:33:57
swing set. 00:34:01
But the problem is. 00:34:05
When you remove something, if you want to put it back, it has to be to ADA standards and completely, you know, modernized. 00:34:06
And it would, it had just been, you know, probably what a 30 year old swing set at that point there. 00:34:13
At least, yeah. 00:34:18
And so, so they realized when they took it out, I think they thought like. 00:34:19
Well, we'll just buy another swing set for like $15,000 and put it out there. But what happened is. 00:34:23
Than building official building inspectors get involved and it's like it has to be ADA standards on a beach. 00:34:28
Which means you have to create a concrete path with a rubberized coating and you. 00:34:35
And so it became a, you know. 00:34:40
Thank you. Thank you. It was included as part of a project but. 00:34:42
It was. It was 6 figures. 00:34:47
You know, it's probably. 00:34:49
In the 100 to $150,000 range. 00:34:51
And so. 00:34:54
We went through that process. We got that project done. It was something that like really the community had demanded for a long 00:34:56
time. 00:35:00
It probably showed up in that year that we talked about where we had gotten a lot of projects done in that one year. 00:35:04
And so. 00:35:10
So that project is done, the swing sets there, it's open. I was glad to see a bunch of kids playing on it. 00:35:11
Yesterday when I went out. 00:35:19
But umm. 00:35:20
It created a possibility for us where? Because that one now means ADA standards. 00:35:22
We could now just. 00:35:27
That she you know, not cheap, but a basic swing set and. 00:35:29
And put it on the beach because we have, we're complying with a DA standards on the primary one. 00:35:33
So we had started. 00:35:38
Before we knew the full picture of the budget, we had said let's. 00:35:40
Earmark that and if we have the money, that's like, you know. 00:35:43
Something where you get a lot of bang for your buck basically. 00:35:48
But as we sit here today, I think we're going to put that on a list for a couple years down the road once we really. 00:35:51
Get the budget fine-tuned. 00:35:58
So we're proposing. 00:36:00
Umm, putting that on pause for a couple of years. 00:36:02
And so there's that. I think the only thing I haven't touched on is the senior exercise program. 00:36:07
So that is the program. If you're not familiar, Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays the city does a free exercise program for seniors 00:36:12
at the Community Center. 00:36:17
And it's one of those like. 00:36:23
You don't believe it till you see it. Because I had heard about it and I didn't really believe it till I saw it. But. 00:36:25
When you go, it's. 00:36:30
Probably 75 to 100 seniors. 00:36:31
Every Monday. Every Wednesday. Every Friday. 00:36:34
Out exercising. 00:36:37
And so. 00:36:38
It's something that the. 00:36:40
The city has provided and has really built up. 00:36:42
And so that's also a proposed project at $9500 per year because the only expense with that is essentially. 00:36:45
We give them this, will we provide the space? 00:36:53
But the only expenses we. 00:36:56
Have to pay an instructor. 00:36:58
So again, it's just a lot. It's a pretty good bang for your buck, so. 00:37:01
So and then one key thing I want to highlight with. 00:37:05
The recreation. 00:37:10
Portion in particular. 00:37:12
First year you'll notice only $94,000 in recreation programs. 00:37:14
That's because of that decrease that we showed. 00:37:19
With a slight increase in expected next year, not much, but just a slight increase. 00:37:24
That's reflected in that 2627 where we essentially. 00:37:31
Recreation is what gets cut this year, so. 00:37:36
When we expected to start kind of stabilizing, we're trying to get it. 00:37:40
Put it back in direct next year, like the following year. 00:37:44
So that's why there's a big difference between this year's amount and next year's amount, so. 00:37:48
So to summarize that, because that was a lot of detail. 00:37:58
What we expected was 2.8 million in Measure U revenue for. 00:38:03
June for fiscal year 2526, so July 1st 25 to June 30th, 26. 00:38:09
And then a slight increase to 2.88 million in fiscal year 26 and 27. 00:38:15
And so. 00:38:22
Wrapping that up, here we show that public safety. 00:38:24
Is pretty. It's proposed to be pretty stable, 1.89 million to 1.91 million. 00:38:28
Over those two years. 00:38:34
Pretty stable with. 00:38:35
Like we said, it just gets a little more expensive to do. 00:38:37
You know the same things. 00:38:41
Streets and maintenance, we have a decrease showing because there's some projects. 00:38:43
In next year's budget. 00:38:47
And then? 00:38:49
That would not then need to continue in the future. 00:38:50
Future your budget. 00:38:52
And then Parks and Rec like we just said is sort of where we had to decrease this year and then it kind of builds back up the 00:38:54
following year and and without some of those streets projects, some of those funds. 00:38:59
Move from there to Parks and Recreation. 00:39:04
So we have. 00:39:07
Proposed. What we've shown is the revenues. 00:39:10
Matching the expenditures with now the one catch being that. 00:39:12
There's the 92,000 from. 00:39:16
What item was that again? 00:39:19
Miranda Park that is grant funded and so that now there will be. 00:39:21
Essentially $90,000 that we would that would need to be reprogrammed. 00:39:25
And and the swings, that too. 00:39:32
Oh yeah, the 15,000 for the swing set. 00:39:35
And my proposal for the swings that it's 15,000 would just be moving it to. 00:39:37
Would be moving it to help. 00:39:43
Pay for some of those public safety costs that we talked about. 00:39:45
So just kind of moving that. 00:39:48
The 92,000 for Miranda Park. 00:39:50
That might be something we want to talk about as the committee so. 00:39:54
So with that, that was sort of the overview and we're happy to answer any questions. 00:39:59
All right. I'll go ahead. Yeah, thanks for the presentation. 00:40:10
Not sure how much of the public. 00:40:14
Realizes how challenging this is. It's almost like constantly walking a. 00:40:17
A tightrope in order to balance budgets and so. 00:40:22
Yeah, I guess in terms of. 00:40:26
The timing. 00:40:28
Wasn't sure if that was covered earlier or may have missed it, but. 00:40:29
So you're at that stage where departments already submitted their budgets and. 00:40:33
So is there, it sounds like there is there's a funding gap still that you're trying to close and. 00:40:39
Just wanted to. 00:40:45
Know how much? How big of a funding gap? Or is that too early to? 00:40:47
To share so is it at that bottom line we're seeing yeah so we. 00:40:51
There's a couple. 00:40:56
Good points you bring up that I that I want to make sure to respond to and. 00:40:58
What was it? 00:41:08
18 months ago when we made the initial reductions is we had the department meetings and we had the reduction meetings and then. 00:41:09
We kind of came out of it and. 00:41:16
As reflected on here, we had really reduced the operational. 00:41:19
Expenses. Umm. 00:41:22
But then. 00:41:24
We kind of reset this year with another round of department meetings and then we've also. 00:41:26
After we had those department meetings and we started to put some numbers together and we saw the. 00:41:31
At that point. 00:41:35
Bigger gap of almost double what this is. 00:41:36
As we then had the 5% reduction conversation again. 00:41:40
And I think the challenge that I keep sort of every time I have the chance, I try to remind everybody it's like. 00:41:44
Cutting 5% one time. 00:41:50
Isn't that tough, cutting 5% two times? 00:41:52
It's exponentially harder. And then it's like, and if you look at our budget, it's like, and then to try to find another 5%, it's 00:41:55
like at some point you can't cut anymore, you know? 00:42:00
Or well, let me say it this way. 00:42:04
You can't cut anymore without impacting service levels, which is what we've tried to avoid. 00:42:06
So, umm. 00:42:11
We've done those two rounds and now Ashley and I are kind of. 00:42:12
Going back to a couple of departments. 00:42:16
And trying to find the additional. 00:42:19
Savings we need. 00:42:23
One of the challenges we have as a city. 00:42:26
And we identified this. 00:42:28
Two years are 18 months ago. 00:42:31
But the problem is. 00:42:33
There's not an immediate solution to it is that the city has never had a capital improvement project funding source. 00:42:35
So, umm. 00:42:42
When I. 00:42:44
Got here. 00:42:44
About 18 months ago we created a CIP reserve. 00:42:46
And we said any surplus we have is going to go into the CIP reserve. 00:42:50
It was a great plan, except we haven't had a surplus since then. 00:42:53
So I think for us, the long term that we're looking at is like. 00:42:58
Really, where I think what I think is going to be realistic is trying to figure out how to. 00:43:02
To balance our operational budget against our operational revenues and then figure out a CIP funding source. 00:43:06
You know, because it's just uh, uh. 00:43:14
You can see here it's it's like. 00:43:15
And as projects go up in cost and everything, it's like trying to pay for the CIP from the general fund. 00:43:17
Without a. 00:43:26
Like a specific funding source, it's just always going to be a battle, you know? 00:43:27
So, umm. 00:43:31
So right now there's a gap, I think. 00:43:32
The one of the things I was trying to explain that for is because if you look at this year, S. 00:43:35
We've almost gotten there where the operational expenses match the revenues. 00:43:40
But then the CIP is the difference and so that's where. 00:43:44
You know we we have. 00:43:48
We have a reserve fund of about. 00:43:51
About $8 million at this point. 00:43:54
And so. 00:43:58
I'm sorry, a fund balance of $8 million at this point? 00:43:59
And so for us, it's like we're trying to get as balanced as possible. 00:44:03
And. 00:44:08
Trying to do it over the next couple years where we'd still if you look. 00:44:11
If you can kind of forecast that out, we'd still have fund balance left. 00:44:16
And try to turn around the ship before we're out of fund balance. So it's kind of a goal we're working towards. 00:44:21
But it's a long way to say that I don't know that we're going to completely close the gap. 00:44:27
This year. 00:44:32
Got it. So. 00:44:33
I appreciate you mentioning that CIP reserve one of my. 00:44:34
The thoughts that ran through my head when I was looking at this screen, I was like, oh. 00:44:38
Maybe they're funding it out of the reserve. 00:44:41
Yeah. 00:44:42
We actually now explained it, so now it makes sense. We actually did create a very small CIP reserve, but it was like it was a 00:44:43
great idea. It was just probably executed 3 years too late. Yeah, if we had executed that when those, you know, when we saw the 00:44:48
chart, when the revenues were up here, we would have really. 00:44:53
Had built up a good CIP reserve. 00:44:59
And then the second question I had was related to service levels. Are we bound by any like our own ordinances in terms of service 00:45:01
levels like having to maintain a certain? 00:45:06
Say like a sworn deputy to the population ratio or. 00:45:11
I know some communities have that, either in a general plan or other. 00:45:15
Modified, not a specific. 00:45:20
Service level, we have some of the, there's some general commitments and things like the ballot language where we essentially 00:45:23
committed to maintain our. 00:45:27
You know our Police Department and then within our Police Department they have a. 00:45:31
Police officers have a requirement that you have. 00:45:37
So many officers on duty at anyone, time and per population. 00:45:41
But we don't have any. 00:45:46
Specific like city ordinances setting. 00:45:48
Other standards other than that? 00:45:50
Got it. And then I know in budgeting, you know, kind of describe it to folks, it's like our that job is about divvying up the pie. 00:45:52
And so sometimes, you know, we just kind of focus on divvying up the pie. 00:46:00
But there's also an important piece. 00:46:04
You know, under like. 00:46:07
We'll say economic development, which is like growing the pie, and I know it's not part of a Measure U expenditure, but. 00:46:08
You know, part of my thoughts, and this comes from some of my background as an economic development manager, is. 00:46:14
Have we looked at you know? 00:46:20
What are those opportunities to maybe diversify our revenue portfolio? 00:46:23
And so I know. 00:46:27
You mentioned some of the HDL reports identifying restaurants and some of the businesses where we've seen those declines. 00:46:28
And so for me, it's like, OK, well, maybe what are the opportunities to fill those vacancies, you know, because I've seen. 00:46:35
You know, we've seen businesses leave or shut down, but then others fill it in. 00:46:41
And then? 00:46:45
You know, maybe taken advantage of some other opportunities that are. 00:46:46
Near this near the city I know with Channel Islands harbor there's. 00:46:50
The proposed development Carl's it's a. 00:46:55
Entertainment venue. 00:46:58
Theme park. 00:47:00
And that could draw. 00:47:01
Visitors in the area. So I'm thinking about that intersection, you know. 00:47:02
Oliveira Plaza and you know. 00:47:06
What's our relationship like with that property? 00:47:09
Owner or manager and. 00:47:12
Filling those vacancies. 00:47:13
In that area that would maybe complement some of those visitor attractions, services and so. 00:47:15
So that's one thing I wanted to put out there, you know, maybe is there's. 00:47:21
Probably have to be funded in another area of the budget, you know, but some of that analysis and I know recently you've done an 00:47:27
economic development plan as well. So I don't know perhaps that's reflected in there as well. 00:47:32
And then I think the last. 00:47:38
Piece was. 00:47:40
It was about the CIP. 00:47:43
But I think I'll. 00:47:46
Table that. 00:47:48
Questions since we're trying to grow the gap, not add to it, so. 00:47:49
I had some ideas, but I'm like, you know. 00:47:52
Let's let's put that on hold. But overall, you know, I think the proposed uses are consistent with the ordinance so. 00:47:55
I don't have any issues with what's being. 00:48:02
Recommended here. 00:48:05
And I think I'll leave it at that. 00:48:08
Thank you. Yeah. And you're the points on economic development and. 00:48:10
Increasing revenues is well taken. We were just talking this morning and you know it's. 00:48:15
We were just saying we need to get through looking at expenditures because the next thing is, you know. 00:48:22
Looking at revenues and trying to. 00:48:29
To figure out how to how to increase them so. 00:48:31
It's, I think that's going to be a focus. 00:48:35
Over the next year, probably like it's never like it hasn't been before. So we're going to put a focus on that. 00:48:39
Yeah, I guess I did have a. 00:48:45
Maybe a closing statement, but. 00:48:47
You know, as a resident, you know, I've lived here. 00:48:49
My adult life for the last five years, you know, I grew up here as you know so the perspectives different now as an adult, but. 00:48:52
Honestly. 00:48:58
My wife and I, we can't think of another community in Ventura County we want to live in. So awesome. 00:49:00
That's why, you know, at the beginning I would say, you know, I don't think the public understands how challenging this is. 00:49:05
Because you know. 00:49:10
We look at our roads, they're they seem great. 00:49:11
You know what? 00:49:13
I don't experience as many potholes as I do in other cities in the area. 00:49:15
The amenities that we've added to our parks, excellent. 00:49:21
And so again, it's we're doing, I think overall a good job, but understand, you know. 00:49:25
The challenges, yeah. 00:49:30
Thank you for that. 00:49:31
I I take the opportunity whenever I can to highlight like. 00:49:33
Because I don't think people. 00:49:37
I don't think a lot of the public. 00:49:39
Thinks about this that. 00:49:40
We are unusual for being such a small city and having our own Police Department, and I think it's something that like. 00:49:42
I think we're all like proud of that and I think our community is proud of it, but. 00:49:48
What is always interesting is like, I'll talk to people, I'll be like. 00:49:52
Well, yeah, you know, Camarillo doesn't even do that. 00:49:55
And people were like, well, yeah, they do. They have their own Police Department, Like, no, they contract with the sheriff. They 00:49:57
just put. 00:49:59
Camarillo police on their vehicles. 00:50:02
And so I came from a. 00:50:05
Sheriff's contract City. 00:50:07
And there's. 00:50:09
Good and bad with everything and I. 00:50:11
I have a lot of positive. 00:50:13
Things to say about the Sheriff's Department, But the one thing I see is if you're in a small city, you don't get to fine tune the 00:50:16
service to what? 00:50:20
Your community is asking for it. 00:50:24
Because it they they serve. 00:50:25
750,000 residents across the county and they got to make sure they're serving everybody the same because they can't, you know, 00:50:27
it's too complicated otherwise. 00:50:32
So I think one thing I always like to highlight is, you know, it's like it's, it is unusual, I think. 00:50:36
We're the smallest city in the county to have a Police Department, the next the only other one even close to Santa Paula. 00:50:42
And they, they're actually talking about potentially going to sheriff's, you know, so. 00:50:48
So there's a lot of. 00:50:53
That's the thing I think the community is proud of, I think. 00:50:55
Part of this, you know, we just read the ballot language. It literally says in there one of the goals was to make sure that we 00:50:58
maintain that. 00:51:01
And that's great, but it's like the challenge of that and the reason why other people don't do it is because it's it's hard to 00:51:06
balance the budget for a small city and, and. 00:51:10
Provide all those services so. 00:51:14
But I. 00:51:17
We were pretty. 00:51:19
Proud of what we've done and I think Measure You committee has been a key part of that I. 00:51:22
Can honestly say, and I don't know that I saw this like 2 years ago, but I see it clearly now maybe because two years ago we had 00:51:26
you know, other revenue sources but. 00:51:31
I think right now more than ever. 00:51:35
You can see if we didn't have Measure U, we'd be having to have some difficult conversations about those services that. 00:51:37
You know, the street paving, the police services and all those things so. 00:51:44
So measure you in the role. 00:51:48
You have and and and that we have with you is is critical. 00:51:50
And in maintaining all those things. 00:51:54
Thank you. 00:51:58
Thank you. 00:51:59
Any other questions? 00:52:01
When when we finally did the accounting after all those years of getting no information. 00:52:09
We had like 3 and a half million dollars leftover. It had not been spent which. 00:52:15
Worked out well because it went into the parks and we got that taken care of. 00:52:20
But we had a reserve. 00:52:24
And and what I would like to see happening moving forward is that we don't spend every dime. 00:52:25
The pier is going to get knocked down again. 00:52:32
Or we have another flood, or who knows? 00:52:36
You can't really anticipate how many. 00:52:38
Things can go wrong, but you know that they will. 00:52:41
So my sense is it was really nice to have that money there. 00:52:43
To get us through the hump with a. 00:52:47
Yeah, and. 00:52:50
It kind of happened by accident, but. 00:52:51
Worked out with a gift, Yeah. So it worked out. But I'd like to see us not spending every dime on this. So some of the things we 00:52:53
pulled out of it, if there's a way to. 00:52:58
Put it in a lock box or I I. 00:53:04
I'm not sure how to. 00:53:06
Maybe that goes to the Community Development Fund, I don't know, but. 00:53:08
Here's I I agree with you completely on the the idea. 00:53:11
And it's it's sort of my goal, big picture. 00:53:16
Is the goal is. 00:53:19
We're working towards trying to reduce our expenditures. 00:53:20
To get back to living within our means and actually. 00:53:24
And going back to CIP funding is and then? 00:53:26
Long term goal is to actually be saving. 00:53:29
Money up to be able to do the project. 00:53:31
I think the challenge. 00:53:34
And I think my ask would be. 00:53:35
I think we're in that transition. We're right in the middle of it, and this is the. 00:53:38
I actually was tired of hearing me say this, but I said all the rainy day funds that I created 18 months ago, I didn't know that 00:53:43
the rainy day was going to be this year, you know? 00:53:48
And so it's like this is that that rainy day year where like all the money that we said, well, let's put this aside for if. 00:53:52
You know, our revenues really drop and if the cannabis industry goes away and if this. 00:53:59
It's like that all happened, you know, this year. 00:54:05
And the sewer fell apart. Yeah, the sewer fell apart. And we had a storm that we didn't expect, which like we got, we are actually 00:54:08
pretty fortunate at the end of the day with that storm and even having said that. 00:54:13
I think. 00:54:18
It was still three $400,000 worth of damage and like that's less than what other, you know, what other cities had so. 00:54:19
So it was like that. 00:54:29
Literally the rainy day fund had to get, you know. 00:54:31
Addressed with that SO. 00:54:35
But so I agree with you on the sentiment, I think. 00:54:37
We're on the same page that the goal is. It's like. 00:54:40
OK. So revenues dropped, we need to figure out how to? 00:54:42
Reduce expenditures to that and then eventually. 00:54:46
Be below that so that we can. 00:54:49
We could start building up. 00:54:51
The savings? 00:54:53
And building up. 00:54:54
Funding sources. 00:54:56
But I don't think this year's the year we're gonna. 00:54:57
Do it you know and. 00:55:00
One of the analogies that I keep giving is. 00:55:01
I keep when I talk to people is like. 00:55:03
You know, like I have a job for like 5 years and I make a good living and I get used to like a certain standard of living. 00:55:07
And then I lose my job. 00:55:14
And it's like that's. 00:55:16
The day where you start going Well, let's reevaluate what we're spending. Do I need? 00:55:18
Do I need this? 00:55:23
You know, car payment. Do I need this? Do I need this? 00:55:24
The goal is it's like in. 00:55:30
In the meantime, going back to revenue, it's like. 00:55:31
You start looking for. 00:55:34
Another job or you look for. 00:55:35
Ways to supplement your income and you're doing that, but you also have to the first thing you have to do is. 00:55:37
Cut down on your expenses. 00:55:42
And so then it's like you cut down on your expenses. 00:55:44
You the goal is you find a way to get your revenues back to where they are. 00:55:47
And and then. 00:55:52
Hopefully like. 00:55:54
You know you can. 00:55:56
The goal would be to keep your expenses low and start rebuilding your savings account and start building your emergency fund and 00:55:57
all that stuff. But I'm like, but where I think this year looking at like the budget projections and. 00:56:03
And everything is like this is the year that. 00:56:09
We lost our job and we have to. 00:56:11
Cut our spending and figure out how to increase our revenue and get it back and then. 00:56:14
Start building up those savings accounts so. 00:56:18
So we're on the same page. 00:56:21
I think what happened? 00:56:23
We were trying to be proactive and really that cannabis revenue and sales tax increase happened faster than everybody thought and 00:56:25
faster than projected. And we were, we thought we were ahead of the curve. People were saying you guys are two years ahead and it 00:56:30
ended up it just happened, you know, for us, especially with Oxnard and Ventura just opening up the 16 dispensaries, you know, it 00:56:36
just it happened the day that happened. 00:56:41
Happened so. 00:56:47
So. 00:56:49
I think. 00:56:50
We're still working on that balancing and then. 00:56:52
But I agree with you and I think. 00:56:55
My uh. 00:56:57
Ask would be. 00:56:58
This year to use it to sort of help. 00:57:00
Get us through that tough year. 00:57:03
But with the goal that by the next time we're having our budget conversation. 00:57:06
That we'd have. 00:57:10
Looked at revenues, we'd have looked at some other things and we'd be talking about building up some savings, except that. 00:57:12
As far as a revenue source goes, the first thing that comes to mind to me is a bed taxes with. 00:57:19
Short verification. 00:57:25
But you know, we're in the process of working on. 00:57:27
And that helps with a lot of potential if it's done well. 00:57:30
If it's done poorly, it's going to create a lot of problems, yeah. 00:57:34
You get some templates to work with that look like they're. 00:57:37
Gonna go pretty well, so I see that as a potential pretty good source. 00:57:40
If we could start marketing this place, you know we got this beautiful beach. 00:57:44
Yeah, and all these birds to look at, if you like birds, a lot of people do. So if we could start. 00:57:47
From somehow promote. 00:57:54
Get that in line and start promoting it. I think that. 00:57:56
That's going to has to help. 00:57:59
We have some things in the works, short term rentals, a great example. We have the survey live right now that anybody who hasn't 00:58:01
filled it out can fill it out on our website right now. 00:58:06
With the idea that I think that closes May 16th. 00:58:12
And then our plan is from that have a couple follow up meetings where we talk about what those regulations and potentially what. 00:58:16
You know the. 00:58:23
Fees and those types of things would be for for licensing short term rentals. 00:58:24
So there are a few things in the works. 00:58:30
I think that's where we had talked at one point about, well, we're planning to do some of these things, do we start building those 00:58:32
revenues in, but we want to be. 00:58:36
Conservative right now and not count any chickens until they hatch so. 00:58:39
So. 00:58:44
Those are in the works and and there's there's a few of them out there that. 00:58:46
Hotel tax with the short term rentals and. 00:58:51
Some of our fees and things like that, we actually have an increased our. 00:58:55
Trash fees for 12 years, I think it is so. So there's some things on our list. 00:59:01
The other one that comes to mind is a few years ago they had measure M. 00:59:06
Which was going to. 00:59:10
Have business taxes on some of the port activities. 00:59:12
And they basically bought their way out of it, scared everybody, brought in these consultants. 00:59:15
Told people over the port they'd lose their jobs, none of which was true. 00:59:20
And it failed and. 00:59:25
I always felt like every place out you go. 00:59:27
If you have a business, you got to pay a. 00:59:30
A visit tax and I don't understand. 00:59:32
How come we can't get that done? 00:59:35
I I actually had not heard that, so that's something. 00:59:38
Well, literally, they came in with consultants from out of state. 00:59:41
Talk. I know people work at the harbor where they were literally told. 00:59:44
You know you're gonna lose your job if this happens. I mean, for for what? 00:59:49
110th of 1% of a dollar. That comes ridiculous, but. 00:59:52
They scared everybody and it worked. 00:59:56
Interesting. Maybe it's time to revisit that again. 00:59:58
And then the last comment. 01:00:04
The swing is in. 01:00:07
I am on the beach every day. I have never seen it empty. 01:00:09
There's always somebody using it. It's. 01:00:12
It's a pretty good resource and. 01:00:14
And you know, if we get money, another one would be great. But. 01:00:16
You you would hope to, if you make a capital improvement that people would. 01:00:21
Actually take advantage of and so far that's a total hit, yeah. 01:00:25
That is true and that's part of it. You know, we've talked about. 01:00:28
Just making sure. 01:00:31
That when we do something, it's what? 01:00:34
You know. 01:00:39
Is it's really what we need or what the community is looking for and not just doing things to do them, you know? 01:00:40
I think. 01:00:47
The people are aware, but there were some like future projects that the city had talked about starting to like spend some money on 01:00:50
designing that. 01:00:53
You know, kind of fall in the other category that we had. 01:00:58
We had put on pause because it was just like when when times are. 01:01:01
Tough like spending money on this thing that we're not even sure anybody will use isn't really the. 01:01:05
The let's put the money priority, yeah, so I could put away for a better day, yeah. So I think between the swing set and Bubbling 01:01:11
Springs Park, which I have also been out there and seeing cars down like lying down the street for, I think so far the projects 01:01:16
that we did put the money into are definitely. 01:01:22
Giving the community its money, its money worth, so. 01:01:29
Thank you. I do have one thing I wanted to add. 01:01:33
As far as the beach and the swing set that we added and I also go onto the beach every day and I know we have the volunteer 01:01:37
cleanup every. 01:01:42
Saturday at 8:30 to 10:00. 01:01:47
I was curious if maybe not this year's budget, but somewhere in the near future if the trash cans would maybe be upgraded on the 01:01:50
beach. I know that's kind of very specific, but that is something that would. 01:01:56
Really benefit the trash, Yeah, and the pollution. 01:02:03
Because right now the a lot of the trash cans have faulty lids or they don't. 01:02:09
Stand up correctly or if people take off the lids, the birds. 01:02:14
We'll take the trash and spread it and stuff. 01:02:18
So that would be something. 01:02:20
Maybe in the future, Yeah, I think. 01:02:22
We had. 01:02:25
Put some different ones out, but it was more on the walkway as sort of like a test. There are those metal, Those are great. I love 01:02:27
those. Well, it's funny, I'd say most people were positive about them. A few people didn't like the look of them. 01:02:34
Like they thought that they looked too, I think like industrial. 01:02:41
So, so it is something that we. 01:02:46
That we've worked with public works on and we were trying out those different ones we also. 01:02:49
Those were at the beach and then also at the bus stops. We're actually trying out the new high tech ones that actually like Alert. 01:02:54
Public, yeah, public works when they need dumped and all that kind of stuff. 01:03:00
So we're we're. 01:03:05
Sounds funny to say, but it's like we're constantly testing out new trash cans. 01:03:06
But umm. 01:03:11
But I'll follow up with with public works on that because we were putting those out as a test and then we were going to see how it 01:03:12
went and then kind of figure out what we were doing from there. 01:03:16
The good news? Well. 01:03:21
It could be a potential future item. 01:03:22
The good news is that. 01:03:24
Even though our budgets pretty tight, we do have. 01:03:26
In other funds, we do have some maintenance budget and we. 01:03:29
I think would have money in there for. 01:03:33
For for new trash cans and things. 01:03:36
But it's just something. 01:03:39
We'd have to look at like specific questions. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate that. 01:03:41
Oh yeah, that's right. 01:03:46
Yeah, so Ashley was just reminding me that the the new. 01:03:47
High tech ones that we were trying at the bus stops, we actually got a grant to cover those two, so. 01:03:50
Are those bolted down? 01:03:55
I think so. 01:03:57
I think so. 01:03:59
Yeah, so far they've been missing if it's crazy. 01:04:00
Yeah, so far we've been OK with them, other than we've had a couple hit with graffiti. 01:04:04
So so but. 01:04:08
Our graffiti team. 01:04:10
Has done a pretty good job if they get out there right away and paint them and, and hopefully people don't notice it. So graffiti 01:04:12
people are amazing. You know, when I go for a walk, I take a picture of graffiti. It's, it's always gone. 01:04:17
They're on it. I mean, it's hard to believe there. And I never see him by the way. It's just. 01:04:23
Creedy's always gone. I feel like it's normally the same day that they come out and they paint it and it's gone. You'll see it in 01:04:28
the morning and then I'll think, was that actually there or not? So it is very nice that we're on top of that. 01:04:34
Yeah. That's where when we talked about like we're trying to balance the budget and reduce some cost, but keep maintaining service 01:04:41
levels. 01:04:44
Is, you know, it is an accomplishment and I want to. 01:04:48
Highlight the public works department in the housing and facilities department that do all those things. 01:04:51
Is uh. 01:04:56
We managed to. 01:04:57
They were able to reduce their the budget, you know, what is it the three or 4 million from? 01:04:59
You know, a couple years ago, but still. 01:05:05
Provide that. 01:05:07
Service. And so we're trying to figure out how to do it while still providing the service levels. 01:05:08
Any comments or thoughts or? 01:05:17
Just one more I guess along the lines of some of the. 01:05:20
Those beach amenities? 01:05:23
I know I kind of held off. 01:05:25
Mentioning. 01:05:27
Additional amenities or expenditures, but. 01:05:28
I was wondering if there was like an equivalent to like a friends of the library or like a friends of the beach where? 01:05:30
I've had the thought. 01:05:37
Occasionally. 01:05:38
Maybe I wanted to donate like. 01:05:39
Bike rack to complement the that tool set that's right off outside of the beach. 01:05:41
You know, a couple friends and I will be like to go biking and. 01:05:47
And so I don't know if there was that opportunity here or how that would be received by the city so. 01:05:51
It was just the thought that kind of. 01:05:56
Crossed my mind, yeah. 01:05:58
So we're fortunate in that we have. 01:05:59
Some groups. 01:06:04
That we have relationships with who? 01:06:05
Take care of the beach and. 01:06:09
There's a few I'll mention. 01:06:12
But. 01:06:14
You know, the really fortunate thing is that. 01:06:15
We've kind of worked out like a mutually beneficial relationship where. 01:06:18
For the most part, like, we'll provide like some support by providing like. 01:06:22
Equipment. 01:06:26
And then? 01:06:27
Like they get volunteers and they get out and they they do it and. 01:06:28
They appreciate because. 01:06:32
Surprisingly. 01:06:34
They appreciate. 01:06:35
Us because they've told us that they've tried to go to neighboring beaches and they can't get like any support. 01:06:37
And then so they appreciate that, and then we appreciate them because they're bringing volunteers to help, you know? 01:06:42
So we do have the Saturday beach cleanup. It's actually not officially a city event, but it's operated by by. 01:06:48
Stephen Gama, who's also a council member, but we have to call him Stephen Gama when we talk about beach clean up because. 01:06:57
It's not as a council member, but. 01:07:02
Both him and surf riders. 01:07:06
Do beach cleanups and then we basically put. 01:07:08
Like trash cans out and you know, occasionally. 01:07:11
Maybe other like small pieces of equipment and then they. 01:07:15
They kind of take it and run with it and, you know, provide. 01:07:18
Provide that those services. 01:07:23
It's a great relationship. 01:07:24
We don't have to your point though, I guess it was a long explanation, but it's like so we don't have an official like city like 01:07:28
Friends of the Beach or anything like that. 01:07:31
But it's we've tended to support. 01:07:35
Those cleanups and Surfrider. 01:07:38
And then there's a couple others. 01:07:41
But those are the big ones. Surfrider, as an example, actually came to the last Council meeting because they have a. 01:07:43
They're proposing doing a dune restoration project. 01:07:50
Next to parking lot C. 01:07:55
And that's another example where essentially we're helping them get the permit from the state. 01:07:57
So like we have the staff to do that. 01:08:02
And then we're going to provide trash cans to them, but they're going to like. 01:08:04
They like they make the magic happen once that happens. 01:08:08
Happens, you know so. 01:08:11
But so. 01:08:13
So we don't have a formal way to do that or a formal process at this point. 01:08:15
They're all always past that The City Council could accept donations so. 01:08:19
If you have a. 01:08:24
An idea you want to pursue on something like that, we can always follow up on it. 01:08:26
Good, great. Thank you. 01:08:30
The other option is to do something with reach. 01:08:34
We have a nonprofit status and they're in the process of. 01:08:38
Trying to get a funding for a police dog for. 01:08:41
For drugs. 01:08:44
And so they can. 01:08:46
Rich Rollins, if you know him, he's he's. 01:08:48
Involved with that, he might be able to. 01:08:51
Set up a special fund for that, then it's tax deductible to. 01:08:52
That's a really good point. And Reach actually used to be a city. 01:08:57
Nonprofit and we did have sort of that relationship with them. 01:09:01
They recently sort of separated from the city with. 01:09:04
And everything between the city and them is good, but it's just they separated more so that they could be more independent and not 01:09:10
have to go through all the city processes. 01:09:14
So they're a great. 01:09:18
Group 2. They're working on some ideas. Veteran. 01:09:21
That some veteran recognition ideas, the police dog, a couple other things. 01:09:23
OK. I think that's. 01:09:33
Any other comments or? 01:09:41
That's OK. 01:09:44
I guess that your challenge is set for right now, yeah. 01:09:46
We're up to our elbows for sure. 01:09:56
Going through everything you have, you know, I'd say next week what we come up with. 01:09:57
It's a whirlwind. 01:10:02
Yeah, where it goes from there? 01:10:05
Thank you. 01:10:07
I just in closing like to say thank you for your work. 01:10:09
You know you stepped into the city in a mess. 01:10:13
Nobody had any idea how bad of the financials were and. 01:10:17
You know immediately. 01:10:21
Taking some stuff to do something about it, so. 01:10:22
We're, I think we're in good hands, so. 01:10:24
Yeah, not, not exactly where I. 01:10:27
Wanted to be yet, but a lot better off than we would have been if we hadn't done anything so. So now we just need to get to that 01:10:30
last. 01:10:33
Pieces so. 01:10:37
So thanks to staff. Thank you. 01:10:39
OK, let's adjourn the meeting at 5:41. Oh, can I ask, do we not adjourn the meeting? Yeah, I think we technically need a 01:10:42
recommendation. 01:10:48
From you all. 01:10:54
OK, so can I ask if there's a motion to? 01:10:56
Recommend that the proposed list. 01:11:00
Move forward. 01:11:03
And I. 01:11:05
This is the one part that. 01:11:07
You know, somebody may want to modify, but I think my suggestion would be that. 01:11:09
The addition, the remaining funding from the item that we noted the Miranda Park that has separate grant funding. 01:11:15
That that item be allocated towards a public safety. 01:11:20
Cost because I think that. 01:11:24
There are that would that would. 01:11:25
That is an area that we still are trying to find some funding. 01:11:26
We have a motion. 01:11:31
Yeah, I'll move to. 01:11:35
Approve the Staffs recommendation. 01:11:38
On the budget for Measure you for fiscal year 2025 to 2026. 01:11:41
And fiscal year 2627? 01:11:46
With a modification. 01:11:50
To the. 01:11:51
202627 Budget to reallocate the Miranda Park project to public safety projects. 01:11:53
Perfect. Thank you. 01:11:58
2nd thank you. 01:11:59
We need a roll caller, Queen. We'll do a roll call. 01:12:02
All in favor. 01:12:07
Aye, aye. 01:12:09
That works. 01:12:11
None. The emotion passes. 01:12:16
Thank you. On that note, during the meeting now at 543. Awesome. Thank you. 01:12:20
Why was it? 01:12:27