Measure P Committee Meeting

CITY OF LOS BANOS MEASURE P COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES October 6, 2022 ACTION MINUTES – These minutes are prepared to depict action taken for agenda items presented to the Measure P Committee. CALL TO ORDER: Acting Fire Chief Ray Reyna called the Measure P Committee Meeting to order at the hour of 5:39 p.m. from the Los Banos Fire Department, 333 7th Street, Los Banos, CA. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Acting Fire Chief Reyna led the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL – MEMBERS OF THE MEASURE P COMMITTEE PRESENT: Oversight Committee Members Mark Bodley, Gerald Giesel, Richard Stewart, DJ Barcellos. Absent: Diana Thurston, Tim McNally and Tom Neeb. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Fire Chief Ray Reyna, Accounting & Budget Supervisor Tomas, Administrative Coordinator Ciuffo. PUBLIC FORUM: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE MEASURE P COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON ANY ITEM OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE; INCLUDES AGENDA AND NON- AGENDA ITEMS. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO A FIVE (5) MINUTE PRESENTATION. No one came forward to speak and the public forum was closed. REVIEW OF FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 FINAL FOURTH QUARTER MEASURE P REPORT AND FISCAL YEAR 2021/2022 FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER MEASURE P REPORTS. Committee Member Gerald Giesel made a request to review the last quarter report only; Third Quarter Measure P Report. Each committee member agreed. City Accounting and Budget Supervisor Tomas presented the staff report. Tomas reviewed the Third Quarter Measure P Report and explained that revenues for Police are at 68% and Fire are at 70%. The difference in the revenues is due to a lag in payment from the state. Expenditures are at 73% for Police. Expenditures for Fire are at 59%, which is due to staffing shortages. The Fire Department is currently hiring several positions to fill the vacant spots. Committee Member Giesel had a question about the Police Department having a higher dollar amount than the Fire Department in the Cash and Fund Balance. Tomas explained the difference was due to the Fire Department completing the Training Tower whereas the Police Department has not completed their new police station project. Tomas shared changes made by the new interim Finance Director regarding the new Police Station. Capital outlay funds in Measure P were moved into a capital project fund to pay for all invoices pertaining to the new Police Station. Committee Member Gerald Giesel asked if other agencies are using the new Training Tower and if we are charging them? Commander Reyna shared that we are currently not renting out the tower. He will leave that decision to the new Chief when he starts November 1st. Commander Reyna also explained that in the future it will be more cost effective to host trainings using the Training Tower rather than paying our staff to go elsewhere. Committee Member Giesel requested a tour of the new tower in the near future. City Accounting and Budget Supervisor Tomas shared news of the Los Banos Police Department’s groundbreaking ceremony. 14 million has been funded through a loan which will be paid back by Measure P. The city will fund the remaining 13 million towards the new facility through Measure P, impact fees, and the general fund. Committee Member DJ Barcellos mentioned COVID has helped our local economy when it comes to Measure P funds. UPDATE ON THE NEW POLICE FACILITY Commander Reyna gave an update on the progress of the new facility. A half-cent sales tax passed years ago that would help fund a new police station. Since the start of construction, the Project Management Team meets weekly to go over progress. A layout of the new facility was presented and each room was explained throughout the facility. Committee Member DJ Barcellos questions the doors from the exterior to the interior on the evidence room. Commander Reyna shared the plans of having a security gate around the facility that will keep the public from this area. Commander Reyna announced new plans for Public Works to build an overflow parking lot on the west side of the Police Station to help with their staff parking at the Yard across the street. STAFF MEMBER REPORTS Fire Department: Commander Reyna announced the hiring of new Fire Chief Paul Tualla. His start date is November 1st. Chief Tualla’s contract was ratified at the last City Council meeting. The new Chief met with Fire Staff to introduce himself. Committee Member Richard Stewart asked what his long-term goal was. Commander Reyna has mentioned during his conversations with Chief Tualla the importance of hiring someone who has plans to stay here long term. Administrative Coordinator Mary Lou Gilardi retired and Rachelle Ciuffo was promoted to take her place. Interviews for Administrative Clerk were done last month and the position was offered to Rachel Guerrero. She is having her medical evaluation and live scan done this week. Her anticipated start date will be November 1st. Captain Roger Hughes retired September 12th. We are currently in the recruitment process for 1 Captain, 2 Engineers and 2 Firefighters. Engineer Kevin Spencer was recently promoted from Firefighter to Engineer. The staffing levels for the Fire Department are in a crisis with only 4 Firefighters working the city a day. There is an Auto-Aide Agreement with Merced County Fire that assists on major incidents for additional manpower. Police Department: Commander Reyna shared the staffing struggles the Police Department is facing. They have lost several employees to surrounding cities. There has been a challenging drawing employees to work here; the Bay Area is making it hard 2 to compete due to higher wages. Recruitment for police officers is constant. Committee Member DJ Barcellos asked if there is any incentives for staff to stay. Commander Reyna explained the sign on bonus available but it does not seem to be enough to keep staff. MEASURE P COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS: DIANA THURSTON: Administrative Coordinator Rachelle Ciuffo read a resignation letter from Committee Member Thurston. A motion was accepted by Committee Member Gerald Giesel and seconded by Committee Member Richard Stewart. DJ BARCELLOS: Committee Member Barcellos thanked Commander Reyna for his presentation of the new Police Station. Diana Thurston has been a great friend over the years. When Measure P came along, she reached out to me to be part of the committee and after few years, she convinced me. I would like to thank her for encouraging me to get involved with Measure P. MARK BODLEY: Committee Member Bodley expressed his desire to have a committee meeting at the new Police Station once it is built. He looks forward to seeing it built and staffed. GERRY GIESEL: Committee Member Giesel thanked Commander Reyna for his presentation of the new Police Station. Since being on Measure P, he has enjoyed seeing all the accomplishments that have been successful through this tax measure. Measure P support is always needed to help support city staff and the citizens of Los Banos. RICHARD STEWART: Committee Member Stewart is grateful to be a part of this committee. He is excited to see the Police Station complete and was honored to be a part of the ground breaking ceremony with opening prayer. He has been with the Police Department since 1996 and is excited to see this new facility built. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Fire Chief Hurley adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Rachelle Ciuffo Administrative Coordinator Measure P Min221007.doc 3