Friday, February 26, 2021

Upcoming Council Meeting 3.2.21

 There are a few significant items on the agenda for the next meeting:

  • A mid year budget review for FY21.  We are on a fiscal year that ends June 30 and as such the end of December is the mid point in the fiscal year.  This meeting we evaluate results to date and can make any adjustments as needed.  We'll address some one time spending needs from our Rainy Day Fund to cover costs associated with an employment contract for the former City Manager, and discuss the transfer of remaining funds to the Rainy Day Fund.
  • Discuss a draft letter in regards to SB 9 which purports to eliminate single family zoning state wide.  The current draft takes an "Oppose Unless Amended" position.
  • Set a date for our annual goal setting session which is targeted to be 3/22/21.

If you have any thoughts or questions, please let me know.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

2.16.21 Meeting Summary

There were two significant items on on the agenda last night.

  • We started the process of recognizing various cultural heritage events including some events that may be of importance but not necessarily cultural heritage.  The plan going forward will be to identify these items and bring back to Council for concurrence, and then recognize each at their appropriate time.
  • I had requested that public comment on non-agenda items be moved up from item 6 to item 3 in the standing agenda.  Often times there is 40 minutes or more before we get to public comment and my hope was that we could increase public participation by making the public comment period earlier and at a more set time.  When we are back to in person meetings especially, I know it can be difficult for some, especially those with young kids, to be able to dedicate the time to wait just to raise an issue at Council.  This was done in hopes of making public participation easier and more accessible.  I made a motion that was rejected on a vote of 3-2 with just myself and Councilmember Diaz voting yes.

Friday, February 12, 2021

Upcoming City Council Meeting 2.16.21

 There are two significant items on the agenda for the upcoming meeting:

  • A discussion regarding recognition of a series of various cultural heritage months.
  • A discussion about the order of the agenda.  This is from a request that I made previously.  Currently public comment on non-agenda items comes after consent calendar, presentations, council and staff reports.  At times these items could take a substantial amount of time and for those who come to meetings and want to raise an issue, it can be a challenge to wait an hour or more only to make a comment for 3 minutes.  By moving the public comment on non-agenda items earlier in the agenda, it would allow greater participation from community members to raise issues that have not yet been agendized.

If you have any questions or thoughts on these items, please let me know.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

2.2.21 Meeting Summary

 Last night the Council took a few significant actions:

  • We appointed Ed Miller to the Planning Commission.  There was a vacancy due to Peter Cloven being elected.  Mr. Miller will complete the remainder of the term through June 2021 (5 months) and then be eligible to reapply.  Congratulations and welcome Commissioner Miller.
  • We received and approved the city's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020.  It's a lengthy document that goes into detail around all of the activities and financial position of the city.  While it may not be entirely riveting, as an accountant I find it interesting and worth a read if you have time.  The document will be posted on the city's website as soon as it is finalized.  In summary, for 2020, the city increased its unrestricted fund balance by a moderate but healthy amount of approximately $290K (this excludes certain unrealized gains on investments).  We will be doing a planning session in the next few weeks to determine best use of these one time funds.
  • We approved an 18 unit sub division towards the end of Mitchell Canyon on a currently undeveloped lot.  The builder had worked with nearby neighbors and collaborated on modifying plans to address various concerns.  The presentation was thorough, and the review by city staff and Planning Commission helped bring forward a project that will be a good fit for the surrounding area.  Below is a aerial rendering: