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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02-1993 Joint City Council/RDA Work SessionMINUTES CITY COIINCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY WORR SESSION CITY OF LARE ELSINORE 130 S. MAIN STREET LARE EL3INORE~ CALIFORNIA TIIESDAY~ FEBRIIARY 2~ 1993 fR~k#r~lrf~t*~t**A**fk**k~kA~k~4~RRRRi~k~klk*i~1fYA~l+t*#rRRlfk+k~kakkRRAAi~ff!*RAA*A#*A CALL TO ORDER The Joint City Council/Redevelopment Ag~ to order by Mayor Pro Tem Dominguez at ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/BOARDMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/BOARDMEMBERS: ~ncy Work Session was called 3:05 p.m. ALONGI, CHERVENY, WINKLER, DOMINGUEZ WASHBURN Also present were: City Manager Molendyk, City Attorney Harper, Administrative Services Director Boone, City Planner Christen, Community Development Manager Shear, Public Services Director Tecca, Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh, Special Projects Coordinator Wood, City Treasurer Pape and City Clerk Kasad. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. State Budget Overview. (F:36.1) Impact on Local Government. City Manager Molendyk introduced Doug Ayres, Manaqement Services, Inc., indicating that he would provide information on the potential shifts in State budgeting over the next few years and alternatives for qenerating new revenues. Douq Ayres congratulated the City Council for being in the top 1/3 of the cities in the State and looking forward to anticipate cuts and find solutions to them. He presented his credentials as a point of reference and commented on the economies of the Federal and State deficits and their impacts on local government. He noted that Proposition 13 had paralyzed the political systems. He stressed the limited public works accomplished under the last four qovernors and the resulting lack of credibility of elected officials. Ae further stressed that the State is in a survival mode because of the term limits and the new found competition from local governments. He indicated that speculation on the Governor's upcominq budget shows it to be approximately $10 billion out of balance. He further indicated that it is anticipated that the legislature will probably allow an additional 1/2 cent of sales tax and take the rest of the property tax and vehicle in-lieu fees over the next few years. He further noted that the State will most likely have access to most funds excluding third party debt. He indicated that the economy will not materially improve in the near future, however it will improve in the long term. Mr. Ayres suggested if local governments are to survive the current economic times, steps should include, i) secure short term revenue sources, 2) rebuild credibility by continuing to provide the services, 3) make special benefit recipients pay full cost, and 4) PAGE TWO - JOINT AORR SESSION MINUTES - FEBRIIARY 2~ 1993 maintain quality staff to address the future. He stressed the need to require payment for services over and above those provided to the general public. City Manager Molendyk reminded Council of the cuts already passed down by the State fhis year and stressed the need to restructure local government. Councilman Winkler commented on the work done in 1986 to restructure the fees for the City and assumed that these have been appropriately updated. He questioned, based on this information, where the City should go from here. Mr. Ayers indicated that detailed analysis of general benefit versus special benefit services would need to be done and based on that the Council would need to make hard decisions, including non- resident/resident fees and other revenues such as utility user taxes. Councilman Winkler addressed Mr. Ayers comments regarding maintenance of quality*p936Xst~f~ the tendency to address staff salaries as an off-set of the costs. Mr. Ayers clarified the limitations and abilities of the Council. Mr. Winkler further addressed prior discussions regarding a police tax and the impact he felt it had on the recent election. Mr. Ayers commented that the Council needs to decide if they will "sink with the ship". He stressed that this is not an easy situation. Mr. Ayers further commented that the public still feels the funds are available and this is why cities must seek to reestablish credibility, while at the same time requiring that residents pay for services received. City Treasurer Pape addressed alternatives to increasing revenue and inquired whether a natural resource related tax would be possible. Mr. Ayers indicated that a mineral excise tax was a possibility. City Attorney Harper indicated that this would be more likely in a Charter City. Mr. Ayers indicated that this has been handled more as a zoning issue in other circumstances. Councilman Winkler commented on the potential for continuing the existing 1/2 cent sales tax and expressed concern with the impact on area merchants. Mr. Ayers indicated that with the current transportation system, an additional 1% or 1/2~ is not a big concern. Councilwoman Cherveny requested examples of short term alternatives. Mr. Ayers indicated that Assessment Districts, or a program to ace the state out of the money are possibilities. He commented on the alternatives available to charter cities over qeneral law cities stressing increased local control. City Manager Molendyk commented that it is appropriate to address a short term plan, but stressed the need for a total restructuring in the next few years. He indicated that staff would be updating the previous work on fees, but it is still necessary to look for new revenue sources. Mr. Ayers addressed utility users taxes as a quick way for more funds, but expressed concern that the balance of services to revenues has not been properly done in other communities. Mayor Pro Tem Dominguez questioned special assessments and whether they can be justified. Mr. Ayers indicated that he was assured they could be justified. PAGE THREE - JOINT WORR SESSION MINIITES - FEBRIIARY 2, 1993 City Manager Molendyk addressed the cuts of the last two years including the lay-offs, cuts in capital expenditures, etc. and suggested that the thought process for budgeting needs to be adjusted. ADJOURNMENT The joint work session was adjourned at 4:22 p.m. ~~ i%~'Z~ d ~~~~/~ ~ FRED DOMINGU ZE ~ MAYOR PRO TEM CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE A'"i..ST: ~~~~ VICKI Id::;~?D, CITY CLERK CITY OF LAKE ELSSNORE