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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/2023 (2) 1 Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 25, 2023 Town of Los Altos Hills Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting May 25, 2023 Minutes Wednesday, May 25, 2023, at 4:00 pm Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California CALL TO ORDER (4:00 P.M.) Mayor Swan called the meeting order at 4:02 pm A. Roll Call B. Pledge of Allegiance Present: City Council: Mayor Linda Swan, Vice Mayor Stanley Q. Mok, Councilmember Lisa Schmidt, Councilmember George Tyson, Councilmember Kavita Tankha Finance and Investment Committee: Co-Chair Roddy Sloss, Co-Chair Allan Epstein, Committee Members Nate Blair, Kjell Karlsson, Susan Mason, Michele Raffin Absent: Council: None Finance and Investment Committee: Cheryl Breetwor-Evans, Christopher Nam Staff: City Manager Peter Pirnejad, Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar, Public Works Director/City Engineer WooJae Kim, Assistant to the City Manager Cody Einfalt, Community Services Manager Sarah Robustelli, Maintenance Superintendent Michael Schlotter, Utility Services Manager Daniel Liang, Senior Accountant Miranda Shum, Senior Planner Elaine Ling, City Clerk Deborah Padovan 1. AGENDA REVIEW There were no changes to the agenda. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT (PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING) There was no public comment. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Study Session Regarding Proposed FY2023-2024 Operating Budget and the FY2024- 2028 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (Staff: S. Revillar) 2 Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 25, 2023 City Manager Peter Pirnejad presented the proposed budget. Highlights: Public Safety: • Budgeted $200K for Sheriff Overtime • Encumber $100K from this year’s budget for Security Patrol • Budget $110K for ALPR Cameras City Attorney • Budgeted $250K for City Attorney-Housing Element • Budgeted $130K for Special Projects City Manager’s Merit Contingency (4%) • Salary schedule stays the same – freeze for one year • Budgeted $162K for merit increases Council asked questions of staff and received responses. The Finance and Investment Committee had comments on the proposed budget. Council discussion ensued. Councilmember Tyson requested that the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) receive the $36,040 for this year. He also asked for $10,000 for electrification incentives. Councilmember Schmidt requested that Community Services Agency (CSA) receive $25,000. Vice Mayor Mok requested that the Community Foundation remain at $5,000. Councilmember Schmidt requested additional funds for staff at 5% instead of 4%. Public Comment Anand Ranganathan, Los Altos Hills, echoed Councilmember Tyson and had three concerns: 1. Please include the plan of action for incentives in the budget. 2. Did not see the consultant for the reach codes in the budget. 3. Saw nothing in the budget for the greenhouse gas inventory. Carol Gottlieb, Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Summerhill path and wanted to confirm that that money is rolling over for the path. The funds from the federal government for the Heritage House was for $400K and are you adding an additional $200k? It is very important to keep staff and have a fully-staffed planning department. City Manager Pirnejad responded to questions from the public. 3 Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 25, 2023 Council Recess at 5:45 p.m. Council Reconvened to Open Session at 6:12 p.m. City Manager Pirnejad presented the proposed updated items: • Nonprofits - Add an additional $56,040. • Additional $5000 or rebates and $5000 for electrical assessments. • Adding security patrols of $300,000 • Our Town - additional $37,500 for the production • Maintain the increase of the salary schedule by CPI, in addition to providing the bonus of $1,000 - set aside $28K for that. • Reductions - Sheriff’s overtime is currently budgeted for $200,000. Reduce that - and increase the patrol. • Cost Allocation Plan - that is not completely necessary. Council discussion ensued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Schmidt moved to accept the recommendations from staff without the additional fees for Genesis (private security patrol) and without the Our Town newsletter, and to continue to retain the Sheriff over time. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Tyson. Public Comment Duffy Price, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of Our Town and asked the Council to support Alexander Atkins and Our Town. Councilmember Tyson applauded Duffy Price on her 16 years as editor of Our Town. Vice Mayor Mok said that each item should be voted on separately. Councilmember Schmidt removed her motion and Councilmember Tyson removed his second. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Schmidt moved to accept the recommendations from staff for the FY 2023-2024 budget except for the private security patrol, additional funding for the Our Town newsletter, and Sheriff Overtime (which will be voted on separately). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Tyson. MOTION PASSED 5-0: AYES: Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tankha, Tyson NOES: None ABSTAIN: None 4 Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting Minutes May 25, 2023 RECUSE: None ABSENT: None MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice Mayor Mok moved that an additional $37,000 for the Our Town newsletter be placed in the FY 2023-2024 budget. The motion was seconded by Mayor Swan. MOTION FAILED 1-4: AYES: Mok NOES: Swan, Schmidt, Tankha, Tyson ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Tyson moved to remove the additional funding for the private security patrol and approve the Sheriff’s overtime for the FY 2023-2024 budget. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Schmidt. MOTION PASSED 4-1: AYES: Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tyson NOES: Tankha ABSTAIN: None RECUSE: None ABSENT: None 4. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah L. Padovan Deborah Padovan City Clerk The minutes of the May 25, 2023, special Joint City Council/Finance and Investment Committee meeting were approved as presented at the June 15, 2023, regular City Council meeting.