HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - July 24, 2007 SSCITY OF LODI
SPECIAL JOINT INFORMAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING
"SHIRTSLEEVE" SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2007
A Special Joint Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council and the Lodi
Budget/Finance Committee was held Tuesday, July 24, 2007, commencing at 7:00 a.m.
A. ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members — Hansen, Hitchcock, Katzakian, Mounce, and Mayor Johnson
Absent: Council Members — None
Present: Lodi Budget/Finance Committee Members — Alegre, Harris -Wall, Johnson,
Roberts, and Kirsten
Absent: Lodi Budget/Finance Committee Members — Domingo and Russell
Also Present: City Manager King, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Johl
B. TOPIC(S)
B-1 "Discuss Possible Topics to be Reviewed by Lodi Budget/Finance Committee During the
Course of Fiscal Year 2007-08"
City Manager King briefly introduced the subject matter.
Deputy City Manager Krueger provided an overview of the Budget Committee
recommendations to the City Manager as presented in the fiscal year 2007-08 budget
document, "Recommendations from Sub -Committees." He also reviewed the
recommendations regarding the energy cost adjustment, Parks and Recreation/Hutchins
Street Square organizational review, Code Enforcement consolidation, financial system,
mobile home rates, cable franchise fees, fleet replacement policies, economic
development, community redevelopment agency, and capital improvements and deferred
maintenance study.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, Mr. Krueger stated the minutes from the
Committee's meetings will be provided to Council as requested.
In response to Council Member Hitchcock, Mr. King stated there is an ongoing process of
reviewing fire overtime as there was some reduction in the 2007-08 budget, but not as much
as had been anticipated. He stated some of the reasons may be that not all the positions
were filled and there is an increase in the training budget. Mr. King stated they will continue
to monitor planned overtime, training overtime, and operational overtime. He also stated
special events time is being charged to an incremental line item to calculate a special
events budget in the future.
Council Member Hansen stated he would like to see a detailed review of the fire overtime
one year after all the positions have been filled to determine if the reduction in overtime did
offset the additional personnel. Mr. Krueger stated the overall Fire Department budget is still
in the context that it needs to be in regardless and the goal has been achieved in that
respect.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Krueger stated the new AS400 computer software
program will be delivered in approximately six weeks and implemented shortly thereafter.
Continued July 24, 2007
In response to Mayor Johnson, Dave Kirsten stated the use of certain consultants in the
redevelopment project was not warranted because there was no serious opposition to the
redevelopment project.
In response to Mayor Johnson, John Johnson stated he was opposed to the $50,000
consultant fee for the capital improvement piece because the Committee and staff are
capable of making the list themselves.
In response to Mayor Johnson, City Manager King stated staff may still conduct an internal
review of a selected department and/or function in conjunction with the Committee.
Council Member Hansen suggested the Committee could review the park maintenance
program, potential sales tax for public safety, and Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Mr. Krueger stated the Parks and Recreation Department did make presentations to the
Committee, a white paper was completed regarding public safety, which can be expanded
on, and a review can be done regarding the TOT and any other potential revenue sources.
He stated subcommittees analyzed some of the issues on their own time because staff
time is limited.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. King stated the results of the citizen survey will be
presented at the July 31, 2007, Shirtsleeve Session. He also discussed the role of citizen
advisory committees versus temporary professional expertise, the privatization of mid -
management functions, and the process of information gathering and responses.
Discussion ensued between the City Council and the Committee regarding options available
for review with respect to the redevelopment matter.
Discussion ensued between Council Member Hitchcock and City Manager King regarding
the need for a consensus on what the Committee's charge is, previous redevelopment
efforts and the related costs and consultants, possibility of an election and timing for the
same, and the possible usage of the Committee to review a feasibility study for the project
development area.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. King stated he expected to use existing committees,
rather than creating new committees, in connection with the redevelopment project.
In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. King stated the Planning Commission will be
necessarily involved because it has a statutory role.
C. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON -AGENDA ITEMS
None
D. ADJOURNMENT
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 a.m.
ATTEST:
Randi Johl
City Clerk
W
• CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Discuss Possible Topics to be Reviewed by Budget/Finance Committee
During the Course of Fiscal Year 2007-08
MEETING DATE:
PREPARED BY:
July 24, 2007
Deputy City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion only.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Budget/Finance Committee was established by the
City Council to provide advice to the City Council and
City Manager on a broad array of financial and budget
issues faced by the City of Lodi. Looking forward over the next several months, there are several
issues that appear to be a good fit for the Budget/Finance Committee. The following are possible
topics to consider for the Committee:
•
Feasibility stud or a Redevelo ment Pro ect. A very important part of the
feasibility study for the Project Area is developing the size and related boundaries of
the project area. This will involve developing a set of general assumptions of activities
to be funded and revenue projections in relation to a dynamic set of economic factors.
• Review of requests for qualifications for outside audit firm. The City has been
using the same audit firm for the last five years. Best management practices include
review of qualifications and hiring a different audit firm on a periodic basis. This
process involves sending out requests for qualifications and review of the proposals
received from audit firms.
• Internal audit/ performance review by outside specialist. Earlier in the year, staff
discussed with City Council the use of an outside specialist to evaluate the
performance of City departments. We have set aside money for this purpose in the
budget. The Committee could assist in determining the department to be reviewed,
the scope of the work by the specialist and review of the results of the evaluation.
Staff is hopeful that these topics could be reviewed by the Budget/Finance Committee over the
course of the next 6-12 months. In addition to these topics, the Committee will be reviewing the
Energy Cost Adjustment formula each month and has expressed interest in reviewing other
topics as well including Code Enforcement and Save the Grape Bowl progress.
FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable.
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,�71es R. Krueger, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED:
Bla' , City Manager