HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-1997 City Council Minutes MINUTES
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
TIME: Monday, January 6, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Senior Day Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue
TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Town Hall Meeting
1. Roll Call
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Moran, Vice Mayor Wolfe, Councilmembers
Bogosian, Jacobs and Shaw
Staff Present: City Manager Peacock, Public Works Director Perlin,
Community Development Director Curtis, Finance Director Fil, Recreation
Director Pisani, Assistant to the City Manager Hanlon, City Codes
Administrator Oncay, Parks and Buildings Superintendent Rizzo
2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda
The City Clerk reports that pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the
agenda for this meeting was properly posted on January 3. The notice
of adjournment from the December 18 Council meeting was properly
posted on December 19.
3. Oral Communications from the Public on Non-ngendized Items -
None
4. Discussion of City Budget
Mayor Moran leads an extensive discussion on the current budget problem
facing the community. She asks the City Manager to provide an outline
of the impact of the repeal of the Utility Users Tax. City Manager
Peacock indicates that by Fiscal 1998-99 the amount of revenue coming
into the General Fund will decrease from the expected $7.5 million to
approximately $6.0 million. This impact is a result of the loss of the
Utility Users Tax and the associated property tax funds which are
currently received through the Tax Equity Allocation provisions of
Section 98 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. He also notes that the
passage of Proposition 218 may have a significant impact on the City's
continuing ability to provide maintenance and street lighting services
in various areas of the City through the Landscaping and Lighting
District Act. Currently about $127,000 to fund these services comes
from assessments and about $55,000 comes from specified property tax
increments.
The Mayor opened the meeting to comments from the public as to views
regarding things the City should consider in dealing with reduced
funding for services. A number of proposals, comments, and questions
were received by the Council and placed on the easels for recordation.
(These are attached to these minutes and labeled,"Easel Notes from the
Meeting of January 6, 1997se.)
At the conclusion of the discussions Councilmember Shaw suggests that
the City Commissions, SASCC and others be asked to prepare proposals of
what they would be able to do from a service standpoint if they had
10%, 15% or 20% less money to work with than at present. Council
agrees that this is a good approach and by consensus direct that the
commissions meet and prepare by January 29th, proposals for levels and
areas of service reduction if they have 20% less money and 40% less
money. They are asked to tie service area reductions to provisions of
the Vision Statement. The City Manager is instructed to provide a
standard format for responses so that all information is uniform in
terms of scope.
Council agrees to meet again on January 13th at 7:00 PM to consider the
public comments made thus far and to further instruct staff as to how
to proceed to prepare for future budget sessions and to meet on
February 3rd to receive the detailed reports on budget reduction
options and to provide the basic framework for budget preparation to
the staff for a revised Fiscal 1998 and a new Fiscal 1999.
5. Other - None.
City Council Minutes 2 January 6, 1997
6. Adjournment to a closed session at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January
7, in the Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue,
pursuant to Section 54956.9(a): CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-
EXISTING LITIGATION (Name of case: San Francisco Baykeepers v.
City of Saratoga)~ then to 7:00 p.m. the same day to an open
session for a joint meeting with the Library Commission.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry R. a
City Clerk
Attachment: Easel Notes from the Meeting of January 6, 1997.
Easel Notes from the Meeting of January 6, 1997.
Explore Public Safety Purchase Alternatives
Police $2.2 million
Code Enforcement $.2 million
Budget Areas All Funds General Fund
Public Safety $2.6 million $2.2 million
Environmental Serv. $2.2 million $1..6 million
Public Works $3.4 million $2.6 million
Community Serv. $1.2 million $ 2 million
Debt $.5 million $ 2 million
Community Support $.4 million $ 1 million
General Gov't $1.2 million $12 million
Intragov'tl Serv. $.9 million $ 9 million
Capital Projects $.6 million $ 3 million
Contingency $.2 million $.2 million
Transfers -$2.2 million -$2.2 million
Total $11.0 million $7.4 million
Explore need to have to continue using CATV franchise revenue
exclusively for public access
Cut high end salaries by 10%
Still need to help teen programs
Look 1st at cutting things citizens can do for themselves
Fees should provide for full costs
Have recreation be totally self-supporting
Management Approach-cut all at once or a step at a time?
Stay out of the judicial system (cut down on litigation)
Vision Stuff:
Credible government-city does what it says it will do
Remain fiscally responsible, don't spend down reserves
Keep the community safe
Keep the streets maintained
Keep the city responsive
A good place for families-parks, activities, recreation, schools
Provide services-don't cut below the needs of the community