Council Special Meeting

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF MONTEREY Wednesday, May 26, 2010 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers: Della Sala, Downey, Haferman Absent: Councilmembers: Selfridge, Sollecito City Staff Present: City Manager, City Attorney, Director of Information Resources/City Clerk, Assistant City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Library Director, Finance Director, Recreation & Community Services Director, Assistant Director Plans and Public Works, Chief of Planning & Engineering CALL TO ORDER Mayor Della Sala called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments on items not on the agenda, no one came forward, and he closed public comments. STUDY SESSION 1. Review of Fiscal Year 2009-10 Third Quarter Financial Report and Preliminary Operating Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2010-11 (Finance - 406-03) Action: Received and discussed report City Manager Meurer introduced the item, and Finance Director Rhoads presented the staff report. Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comment on the item. Nelson Vega recommended that the Council create a panel to review how the City got to this point. He said that the NIP Committee has done their share and should not be asked to participate again. Clyde Roberson thanked the Council and the City Manager for looking elsewhere other than the NIP for the short term fix. He noted that labor concessions also have been helpful, and that the tourism industry should be the third leg of the stool. He suggested raising the hotel tax to 12%. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala returned the discussion to the dais. On question, City Clerk Gawf explained the procedure to place a measure on the ballot. On question, City Manager Meurer clarified that several employee groups have agreed to a waiver of a scheduled COLA this year. On further question, he explained the decline in projected revenues from the fire services contract. Mayor Della Sala encouraged public participation and announced that two additional meetings would be to discuss the budget on June 1st and 15th.  City Council Minutes Wednesday, May 26, 2010 PUBLIC APPEARANCE 2. Authorization and Direction to Participate in the Development of a Regional Joint Powers Authority Agreement for Fire Services (Fire - 601-05) Action: Authorized and directed staff to continue development of a JPA agreement for fire services with the cities of Pacific Grove, Seaside, and Carmel-by-the-Sea; and to present a final JPA agreement for approval by the City Council as soon as practical for implementation on or shortly after July 1, 2010 (3-0-2; Selfridge, Sollecito absent) Fire Chief Mazza presented the staff report. On question, he explained the proposed governance structure. Mayor Della Sala opened the floor for public comments on the item. Jim Courtney, Fire Captain, Union Representative, and Pacific Grove citizen, spoke in support of the proposed JPA and thanked the Council for giving them the opportunity to work on this proposal. He said that all Monterey and Pacific Grove firefighters support it. Mitch Castro, Carmel Fire Captain and representative of Carmel FF Association, said that they have experienced tremendous improvement in their operations through their contract first with Pacific Grove and subsequently with Monterey. He said that his association supports the agreement. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della Sala closed public comments on the item. On a motion by Councilmember Downey, seconded by Councilmember Haferman, and carried by the following vote, the City Council authorized and directed staff to participate in the Development of a Regional Joint Powers Authority Agreement for Fire Services: AYES: 3 COUNCILMEMBERS: Della Sala, Downey, Haferman NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: 2 COUNCILMEMBERS: Selfridge, Sollecito ABSTAIN: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None Mayor Della Sala noted that more participation in this JPA would afford additional savings, and that this JPA is designed to serve as a platform for providing additional regional services. ADJOURNMENT Having no further business to come before the City Council, Chair Della Sala adjourned the meeting at 5:59 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Bonnie L. Gawf Chuck Della Sala Director Information Resources / City Clerk Mayor 2