Council Study Session
Regular MeetingMonterey, CA · September 24, 2014
Minutes
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
CITY OF MONTEREY
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Councilmembers
Present: Councilmembers Downey, Haffa, Selfridge, Sollecito, Della Sala
Absent: None
City Staff City Manager, Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, Director of Information
Present: Resources/City Clerk, Finance Director, Police Chief, Community Services
Director, Deputy City Manager, Plans & Public Works, Chief of Planning,
Engineering, and Environmental Compliance, Assistant Finance Director
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 the Mayor closed public comment.
STUDY SESSION
1. Presentation on the Merits of a Two-Year Budget and Potential Scope of Responsibilities
of a Budget Committee (Finance - 406-01)
Action: Received and discussed report
Finance Director Forbis presented the staff report and answered Councilmembers’ questions.
Councilmember Haffa arrived at 4:23 p.m.
Councilmembers discussed and generally agreed that implementing a two-year budget process
would be advantageous.
Mayor Della Sala opened public comment on the item. Clyde Roberson said that as we talk
about the budget, it is important to consider the condition of the City’s infrastructure and how the
passage of Measure P would help. He said that he does not support the formation of a budget
committee because that is the City Council’s job. He said that if a committee is formed it should
study specific important issues. He voiced confidence in Council and staff to study these issues.
He said the mission must be specific. He said that it is important to consider and understand the
repercussions of unintended consequences. Having no further requests to speak, Mayor Della
Sala closed public comment.
Councilmember Downey suggested that the committee would be advisory so Council would
make the final decision. She said that she is always open to hearing other perspectives during
decision making on the budget, especially if the members have a financial background. She
said that the term should be 2-3 years, and members should be recommended by each City
Councilmember and approved by the entire Council. She recommended that City staff would be
on call to answer questions during meetings. She said that if Councilmembers are part of the
committee, they should only talk during public comments. She said that five qualified people
could obtain input from an outside financial advisor, as well as from staff. She said that she
originally thought of this as a general finance committee, but the tax committee worked
beautifully, so perhaps this committee should be used similarly for specific topics.
City Council Minutes Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Councilmember Haffa said he supports a relative small committee of five members. He
recommended that Councilmembers not serve on the Committee. He said that the committee
should have a specific purpose, perhaps on an annual basis, such as the upcoming salary
survey. He said that the committee should not be ongoing.
Mayor Della Sala said that this should be more of a task force than a “Budget Committee” and
should be issue-specific. He said he would have the term dependent on how long it takes to do
a specific task.
Councilmember Selfridge said that she likes the five-member committee, with no
Councilmembers on the committee. She suggested keeping the mission short and sweet. She
asked staff to research and clarify whether each Councilmember could appoint one member,
and if Brown Act compliance would be required if it were a task force or ad hoc committee.
On question, Mayor Della Sala reviewed how a Technical Advisory Committee works as
opposed to an on-going board or commission. He suggested that each Councilmember could
identify five priorities to determine what the committee should work on.
Councilmembers generally favored forming ad hoc committee working on a specific task without
a specified term.
ADJOURNMENT
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Della adjourned the meeting
at 4:59 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Bonnie Gawf Chuck Della Sala
Director of Information Resources / City Clerk Mayor
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Agenda
City Council
City Council Agenda
Chuck Della Sala, Mayor
Council Study Session
Libby Downey, Councilmember
Alan Haffa, Councilmember
Monterey City Council
Nancy Selfridge, Councilmember
Wednesday, September 24,
Frank Sollecito, Councilmember
2014
City Manager
Council Chamber 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Michael McCarthy
Few Memorial Hall of Records
Monterey, California
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTS allows you, the public, to speak for a maximum of three minutes on any
subject which is within the jurisdiction of the Monterey City Council and which is not on the
agenda. Any person or group desiring to bring an item to the attention of the City Council may do
so by addressing the Council during Public Comments or by addressing a letter of explanation to:
City Clerk, City Hall, Monterey, CA 93940. The appropriate staff person will contact the sender
concerning the details. NOTE: Public Comments are taken during the afternoon session and
continued at the evening session. Individuals may choose to speak once for up to three minutes at
either session, but not both.
STUDY SESSION
STUDY SESSION items are used to provide information to the City Council and answer their
questions to clarify issues. Study Sessions provide a setting for informal discussions between
staff, consultants, board, commission, committee members and the City Council regarding specific
programs, projects or policies. Council does not take formal action on the items.
1. Presentation on the Merits of a Two-Year Budget and Potential Scope of Responsibilities
of a Budget Committee (Finance - 406-01)
ADJOURNMENT
Members of the public have the right to address the City Council on any item on the Agenda, before or
during its consideration [G.C. §54954.3(a)]. The Mayor will formally open the floor for public comment on
items such as "Public Appearance" and "Public Hearings." If you wish to speak to items in any other
categories, for example "Consent Agenda," please advise the City Clerk or the Mayor prior to the
Council's action on that item, and you will be recognized. Notification as much in advance as possible is
appreciated.
The City Council meeting packet may be reviewed by the public in the Library or the City Clerk's Office.
Any writings or documents pertaining to an open session item provided to a majority of the City Council
less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, shall be made available for public inspection at the front counter
at the City Clerk's Office, Room 6 at City Hall, Madison & Pacific Streets, Monterey, California 93940
during normal business hours.
Information distributed to the Council at the Council meeting becomes part of the public record. A copy of
written material, pictures, etc. should be provided for this purpose.
City Council Meetings are cable cast live and videotaped for replay on Monterey's Government Access
Channel 25 by Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP).
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Voicemail: (831) 646-3799
Fax: (831) 646-3793
Email: suggest@monterey.org
WebPage: http://www.monterey.org
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activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance
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