HomeMy Public PortalAbout11) 9A - Budget Study Session Follow-UpAGENDA
ITEM 9.A.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 16, 2020
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Bryan Cook, City Manager
Susan Paragas, Administrative Services Director
SUBJECT: BUDGET STUDY SESSION FOLLOW-UP
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council provide further direction concerning the
Proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 municipal budget.
BACKGROUND:
On June 09, 2020, staff was asked to return with information regarding the initiatives
and priorities as they relate to the FY 2020-2021 proposed budget and to provide
additional information regarding modifications to servicing customers due to the
coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic.
ANALYSIS :
In light of the significant events related to COVID-19 and the economic recession that
officially started in February 2020 the preparation for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 (“FY
20-21”) budget primary objective was to balance the City’s operating budget while
providing a sustainable level of public service. The study session described in a broad
manner the fiscal constraints in providing existing level of services.
Projects and Initiatives
As the City continues its discussion of the Fiscal Year 20-21 budget, the City Council
may wish to discuss prior and future initiatives and priorities. As discussed during the
budget study session, maintaining a base level of existing services was the primary
objective of the proposed budget presented by staff. This enables the City to scale
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operations and initiatives to available resources if during the COVID-19 event further
adjustments are required.
Over the last few years, the City has initiated numerous projects and initiatives which
are in progress, funded but delayed, or not funded. The following is a list of those
projects and initiatives for Council review and discussion related to the FY 20-21
proposed budget.
In Progress:
Project/Initiatives Current Status Funding Source
ADA Transition Plan Plan under review. General Fund
(“GF”)
Coyote Management Plan San Gabriel Valley Council of
Government (“SGVCOG”)
implementing program.
GF
Eaton Wash Los Angeles County project in City. No fiscal impact.
Homeless Plan Project development underway with
SGVCOG consultant
SGVCOG
(Measure H
funded.)
Library Oversite Continuous monitoring and review. Minor costs from
GF.
Sewer Master Plan Draft report under review. Sewer Fund
On-Going:
Project/Initiatives Current Status Source
COVID-19 Continuing preventative operating
measures.
GF-possible
reimbursement
from CARES Act.
Transportation Funding
(Micro Transit)
Approved agreement with Foothill
Transit for sale Prop A funds
Prop A
Included in Proposed FY2021 Budget:
Project/Initiatives Current Status Source
Economic Resiliency Plan Presented to Council during 6/19
meeting
CDBG and GF
Grant Tracking Avant Garde providing reports and
compliance monitoring.
GF
Las Tunas Repaving Engineering plans underway.
Scheduled bidding in late summer
2020.
Transportation
related funds.
Pavement Management-Engineering plans underway. Transportation
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Residential Streets Scheduled bidding in late summer
2020.
related funds.
Primrose Park Completion date of Summer 2021. State Park Grant
Street Lighting Developing RFP for replacement of
City owned Street Light to LED
Lighting and
Landscape District
Unfunded:
Project/Initiatives Current Status Source
Baldwin/Las Tunas
Monument
Final plan and funding to be
considered.
Not funded at this
time.
Chamber Site Future
Reuse
Currently be used by County until
mid to late 2021.
Not funded at this
time.
Downtown Parking Study Study completed. Implementation
options to be considered.
Not funded at this
time.
Las Tunas Beautification General Concepts developed.
Implementation options to be
considered
Not funded at this
time.
COVID-19 Impacts and Future Service Adjustments
The FY20-21 proposed budget encompasses traditional programs and services. This
allows the City the flexibility to scale services in response to the changing dynamics of
the COVID-19 pandemic. The Los Angeles County (“County”) Safer at Home order
forced changes to the City’s in-person processes of services and programs provided to
the customers and community with online and virtual services. The departments of
Community Development and Parks and Recreation revised some of their procedures
to be able to maintain services to the public.
Community Development
The Community Development Department expanded its digital and online practices
during the Safer at Home public health orders. Those practices that provide a measure
of convenience and efficiency to the customer and staff will be continued when the
public health orders are lifted. Some of those practices include online submittal of
planning and building applications and plans, digital plan review, and online meetings
with applicants. Online Planning Commission meetings will be discontinued, when it is
appropriate to do so. Online payments of fees and parking fines have also been
implemented and revenue adjustments have taken into account the cost of on-line
payment services.
Parks and Recreation
The County’s Safer at Home public health order impacts the Parks and Recreation
Department services significantly as programming is directly tied to the restrictions
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outlined by the County. With this current environment, programming more than a few
months in advance is not advisable. The Parks and Recreation Department is
maintaining flexibility in planning for services by planning a schedule of only a few
months in advance, thus, allowing the Department to respond quickly to either the
loosening or tightening of restrictions by the County as the COVID-19 evolves over the
next year.
The following are modified programming for FY20-21 should the Safer at Home public
health order continue to restrict large group gatherings.
Summer 2020
Services will be modified due to the continued restrictions of the Safer at Home order.
The traditional summer programs will be adjusted to virtual services along with modified
on-site events based on the latest information provided by County.
Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
Due to the uncertainty with the Safer at Home order past the summer, services are yet
to be determined. As restrictions by County change so will services according to the
latest information. Programs may run as they have traditionally if restrictions are lifted
and larger gatherings are allowed. Modified services may continue that mimic
programming from summer if the restrictions are maintained at the current level.
Suspended services that mirror the start of the COVID-19 response may be instituted if
restrictions are tightened. With any of these options, the City is able to always maintain
current budget levels or scale back operations that reduce the overall budget.
CONCLUSION:
The financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic primarily shifted the development of
the FY20-21 budget into efforts of achieving a balanced budget while providing existing
levels of services. However, continued discussions of the City’s FY20-21 budget allow
for the incorporation of current projects and initiatives identified above with Council
direction.
The pandemic also caused City practices to change by expanding its digital and online
services and developing virtual programs that will continue even after the lifting of the
health order. Staff will continue to monitor the status of the County’s public health
orders and make adjustments as needed both on the budget and programming
aspects.
CITY STRATEGIC GOALS:
This report will further the Strategic Goal of Good Governance.
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FISCAL IMPACT :
There is no fiscal impact at this time.