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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-20; City Council; MinutesApril 20, 2022 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 2 when comparing general fund revenue to other cities in the region. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Norby, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that the 5-year forecast was developed from the most recent data the city has collected as well as what can be expected from recent years. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Norby, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that in previous recessions staffing has been reduced, as well as specific reallocation of funds to account for changing needs. City Manager Chadwick added that pension reforms and the utilization of part-time employees were also implemented as a result of previous recessions. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Acosta, Finance Director Korach explained that staff is able to more accurately predict future expenditures than future revenues using data from regional and external agencies. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Acosta, Finance Director Korach explained that many of the pension funding challenges we are seeing are due to state and Cal PERS regulations and not under the control of local agencies. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Acosta, PBWBH Props and Measures Partner Boigon explained that policy makers in California have addressed the concern of sales tax increases impacting low-income earners more than higher income earners by making goods such as groceries, medicine and feminine hygiene products exempt from sales tax, resulting in sales tax being less of a regressive tax and creating more equity amongst all levels of income. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that with the current information available, the city would be considered fiscally healthy. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that the current percentage of General Fund Reserves for fiscal year 2021-2022 is just below 60%. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Finance Director Korach explained that currently around 40-45% of the city's general fund is allocated towards public safety expenditures. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that if the city were to increase the sales tax by 1% from a ballot measure, the city would retain the one cent of additional revenue obtained from the increase. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that some alternative solutions to a sales tax increase include looking into prioritizing our areas of service. City Manager Chadwick explained that staff is available to take direction from the City Council if they choose to develop a list of service areas to prioritize spending. April 20, 2022 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 3 In a response to an inquiry from Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Jason Haber explained that placing the sales tax increase on the November ballot would cost approximately $30,000 for finishing the scope of work to place it on the ballot, $30,000 for consultant services and communication efforts and the Registrar of Voters estimated $60,000- $90,000 for placing the measure on the ballot. In a response to Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn, Deputy City Manager Administrative Services Rocha explained that city staff has been in contact with the county regarding the revenue to come from future property taxes with increasing property values and are considering the uncertainty of the mortgage rates that are currently decelerating housing sales. In response to an inquiry from Mayor Hall, Finance Director Korach explained that approximately 70-80 full-time employees have been hired since fiscal year 2018. Mayor Hall declared a recess at 11:39 a.m. Mayor Hall reconvened the meeting at 11:58 a.m. Council received the report. 2. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PRIORITIES -Review the schedule and funding status of Capital Improvement Projects planned for the next five years and provide direction to staff on changes, if desired. (Staff contact: Paz Gomez, Public Works) City Manager's Recommendation: Review the schedule and provide direction to staff. Deputy City Manager Public Works Paz Gomez presented the report and reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Lance Schulte urged the City Council to prioritize adding a park to the Ponto area. Kris Wright urged the City Council to prioritize projects that benefit all quadrants in the city including a park in the Ponto area and the Monroe Street Pool. Council Members listed their top priority projects for questions to staff. Facilitator Krehli declared a recess at 12:53 p.m. Facilitator Krehli reconvened the meeting at 1:06 p.m. Deputy City Manager Public Works Gomez explained that the Monroe Street Pool is not on the continued project list because staff used specific criteria such as regulations and urgent health and safety needs to determine what projects to place on this list and the Monroe Street Pool project is still discretionary contingent on City Council direction. Deputy City Manager Public Works Gomez explained that revenue generating projects, such as the Merkle Solar project and projects that qualify for state and federal funding, such as railroad trenching, are in preliminary stages and require a level of effort from staff, so the direction from the City Council was to not provide direction prioritizing these projects at this time. April 20, 2022 Carlsbad City Council Special Meeting Page 4 Council Member Acosta recused herself at 1:12 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest with the La Costa Avenue Improvement projects. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Transportation Director Tom Frank explained that there is a remaining budget from previous projects to consider studying additional complete street improvements along the La Costa Avenue corridor. Mayor Hall recused himself at 1:16 p.m. due to a potential conflict of interest with the Tyler Street Traffic Circulation Study and Lowering Railroad Tracks in the Village project. Council Member Acosta returned at 1:16 p.m. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Transportation Director Frank explained that the Tyler Street Traffic Circulation Study is included in the Village and Barrio Master Plan and there is around $70,000 allocated in the upcoming budget cycle to study traffic calming and complete street improvements. He added that staff are always looking for grant fund opportunities. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Acosta, Deputy City Manager Public Works Gomez explained that there has been funding set aside by the City Council for railroad trenching and a study was conducted with SANDAG analyzing a long trench versus a short trench. She added that SAN DAG recommended a long trench after conclusion of the study in July 2020 and that staff has been in touch with SANDAG regarding funding for the Lowering Railroad Tracks in the Village as well as looking for additional funding sources. City Manager Chadwick explained that there was an economic index study performed by SAN DAG that analyzed the impacts and benefits of this project including public safety. Mayor Hall returned at 1:29 p.m. In a response to Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn, Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster explained the timeline of the Monroe Street Pool improvements and the expected 2026 completion date. In a response to an inquiry from Council Member Norby, City Attorney Celia Brewer explained that under Proposition H guidelines maintenance and repair projects are not subject to a vote even if they are over one million dollars. She further explained that the expansion of the Monroe Street pool is what is subject to the Proposition H vote. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Acosta, City Manager Chadwick explained that staff is planning to bring the placement of the Monroe Street Pool Improvement project on the ballot back to the City Council after completion of the CIP prioritization. In response to an inquiry from Council Member Bhat-Patel, Public Works Manager John Maashoff explained that initial studies have been conducted and Requests for Proposals have been submitted, but the Schulman Auditorium and Cannon Art Gallery Improvements have