Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/1992 - City Council Special Meeting1 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COSTA MESA January 27, 1992 The City Council of the City of.Costa Mesa, California, met in special session January 27, 1992, at 5:00 p.m., in the Neighborhood Community Center., 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa, for the purpose of holding discussion and taking possible action on the budget pertaining to the City's Financial Stability Action Plan. The Council had dinner., and the Mayor called the meeting to order, at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Council Members Present: Mayor Mary Hornbuckle Vice Mayor. Sandra Genis Council Member. Peter. Buffa Council Member. Jay Humphrey Council Member. Joe Erickson Council Members Absent: Officials Present: None City Manager. Allan Roeder. City Attorney Tom Kathe Director of Finance Susan Temple Deputy City Manager./Develop- ment Services Donald Lamm Director. of Public Services William Morris City Clerk Eileen Phinney FINANCIAL STABILITY The City Manager requested direction and input regarding ACTION PLAN expenditures and programs that are not part of the oper- ating budget. He asked for, a general sense of direction so that action could be taken at the regular meeting of February 3, 1992. Also Council input would be used as guidance for. the 1992-93 budget. League of Cities Discussion was held regarding attendance at the League of Cities Conference and Council Member. Erickson sug- gested that perhaps sending two Council representatives rather than five would suffice. The Mayor suggested budgeting for five, but canceling attendance at the National League National League of Cities held in Washington, D.C. of Cities Council Member. Buffa mentioned that there was real value to -the City in having legislators being accessible and very open to City representatives during this conference period. He would not like to see this omitted in case the City had a justified need. The Mayor suggested that such a need could be budgeted under "Undetermined". The City Manager recommended that enough be budgeted to pay expenses of the Mayor. and Vice Mayor for one trip a year. to Washington, D.C. It was mentioned that a policy could be determined by the Council. Travel and Meals Vice Mayor. Genis requested a Travel and Meals breakdown of figures, in order to decide how it could be reduced. Advertising and Next the Council discussed Advertising and Promotional Promotinal Grants Grants. Council Member. Erickson suggested cutting the whole amount allocated by one half and sending out letters to the grantees explaining the budget restric- tions. The City Manager suggested the same one half cut for next year's budget. Council Member. Buffa thought. Grad night was critically important to fund, and Council Member. Humphrey was of the opinion that Grad Night Cultural Arts Programs for. Children Social Program Grants Federal Revenue Sharing Funds Senior. Citizens Corporation Cultural Arts grants were next discussed, and Council Member Buffa thoughtit was important that the Council have a better defined policy, and he suggested that a group not get funds over. 15 percent of their total operating budget. Mayor. Hornbuckle asked for a policy review to discuss Cultural Arts Grants and Advertising and Promotional Grants at the February 10, 1992, study session and Council to take action at the regular. City Council meeting of,February 18, 1992. I Vice Mayor. Genis spoke about considering programs for children and that the organization should be community based. The money has all been assigned for this budget, and Council Member. Genis suggested a compensatory cut for next year.. Council Member. Erickson suggested that cuts of 50 percent be activated and to let the appli- cants know as early as possible of the donation cut. The Mayor. agreed with the 50 percent cut now but would want to take another, look at the reduction later.. City Manager summarized that for planning purposes Council was interested in a 50 percent reduction, after reviewing guidelines, the Council would come ith direction for the 1992-93 budget. City Manager said that Social Program Grants funded ederal Revenue.Sharing are truly gone, that the City d continue to have Community Development Block Grant s available, but next year we are looking at a 50 ent reduction because the funds will not be there. annual grant of $100,000.00 has already been made to Senior. Citizens Corporation and the reformulation of Memorandum Of Understanding is being prepared. The est will come to the Council shortly to keep the L should be supported and not cut. Vice Mayor. Genis said that it was preferable to fund Grad Night rather than some other grants,,but should the City cease to fund it, it would probably continue. Mayor. Hornbuckle remembered that Estancia High School had funded Grad Night one or two years before the City began to fund it. Mayor. Hornbuckle said it'should be cut 50 percent and she would like to take another look at it to determine the kinds of programs the Council wants to fund for. the following year.. Council Committee Vice Mayor. Genis asked for a breakdown to see where Expenses Council Committee expenses lie. The Mayor and Vice Mayor were of the opinion that meals should be cut for. Council Committees: Commission Expenses Discussion was held on Commission expenses. The City Manager said he would give Council the breakdown of expenses, and that the amount of work directed to staff varied widely. Council wanted to know the breakdown of staff time used to support the three Commissions. I Council Contingency The Council Contingency Fund was discussed, and the Fund Director. of Public Services said that the recent Vancouver., B.C., Canada, Sky Train trip was almost completely reimburseable by the British Columbia Consulate. The purpose of the contingency fund is to fund unanticipated'events, at Council discretion. Mayor. Hornbuckle would like to see the fund cut considerably or. eliminated. Council Member. Humphrey suggested a 70 percent cut. Vice Mayor. Genis thought it best to leave $5,000.00 for a dire emergency. Mayor. Hornbuckle sug- gested a 70 percent cut in next year's budget. Cultural Arts Programs for. Children Social Program Grants Federal Revenue Sharing Funds Senior. Citizens Corporation Cultural Arts grants were next discussed, and Council Member Buffa thoughtit was important that the Council have a better defined policy, and he suggested that a group not get funds over. 15 percent of their total operating budget. Mayor. Hornbuckle asked for a policy review to discuss Cultural Arts Grants and Advertising and Promotional Grants at the February 10, 1992, study session and Council to take action at the regular. City Council meeting of,February 18, 1992. I Vice Mayor. Genis spoke about considering programs for children and that the organization should be community based. The money has all been assigned for this budget, and Council Member. Genis suggested a compensatory cut for next year.. Council Member. Erickson suggested that cuts of 50 percent be activated and to let the appli- cants know as early as possible of the donation cut. The Mayor. agreed with the 50 percent cut now but would want to take another, look at the reduction later.. City Manager summarized that for planning purposes Council was interested in a 50 percent reduction, after reviewing guidelines, the Council would come ith direction for the 1992-93 budget. City Manager said that Social Program Grants funded ederal Revenue.Sharing are truly gone, that the City d continue to have Community Development Block Grant s available, but next year we are looking at a 50 ent reduction because the funds will not be there. annual grant of $100,000.00 has already been made to Senior. Citizens Corporation and the reformulation of Memorandum Of Understanding is being prepared. The est will come to the Council shortly to keep the L Center operating until the corporation raises funds. The Mayor asked for a comparison of what other cities spend for their. centers. Community Report Discussion was held regarding postage for, publication of the Community Report and cutting the production to four times a year and possibly combining the mailing with Community Services publication. The expected saving is $40,000.00. Dues, Memberships, Discussion was held on Dues, Memberships and Subscr.ip- Subscriptions tion expenses. The City Manager explained that CCAN was a group that allowed cities to pool staff reports CCAN and research and make available to member cities. It was a valuable tool; was found to be successful, and it Southern California was nice to have but not a necessity. Direction was Water given to eliminate membership in Southern California Water. Costa Mesa Chamber. Discussion was held on membership in the Costa Mesa of Commerce Chamber. of Commerce and the possibility that the City could trade building permit fees for. membership. It was decided to retain membership for the time being. Costa Mesa The Director. of Finance said she would get Costa Mesa Historical Society Historical Society expenses to the Council. Salaries, Council Council Member. Buffa suggested that Council cut their. and Commission salaries by 25 percent. Discussion was held about cutting Commission salaries also. Orange Coast Council Member. Buffa asked if membership in the Orange Association Coast Association was being left in the budget. The City Manager said he would get a report to Council for them to determine if there were any other cuts the Council wished to make. John Feeney, 1154 Dorset Lane, Costa Mesa,'asked if the City belonged to homeowner associations and was told that the City does not belong. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. _ho_�_u 4 Mayor. o the ity of Costa Mesa ATTEST: 6 , City Clerk of the City of Cos Mesa 0173