Atherton 2013 Budget Study Session Video Guide

7/30/2019 Atherton 2013 Budget Study Session Video Guide

1/32

Pledge of Allegiance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=11s

Roll Call


Moment of Silence


Public Comments

None
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=11shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=31shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=50shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=50shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=31shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=11s


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Start of Slide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=2m52s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=2m52shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=2m52s


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Start of Slide



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Start of Slide



5/32

Start of Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=5m

This study session pertains to the General Fund Only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=5mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=5m


6/32

Start of Slide


The City Managers observes, We have a lot of little pockets that money is being saved in.

He recommends the Town should look at allocating a larger single reserve fund, rather than

designating these various accounts.


7/32

Start of Slide


While discussing the Expenditure part of the slide, the City Manager mentions the APOA is

up for negotiation in Sep 2013. He says, They are making changes as well.

The items listed on this slide apply to the Unrepresented Employees. He observes that for

the CAP in Healthcare, this strategy ensures that the Town is protected from cost increases,

as that burden is passed to the employee.


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Start of Slide



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Start of Slide



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Start of Slide



11/32

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Jerry Carlson asks for more information about Police Department headcounts.


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Start of Slide



13/32

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14/32

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No changes to staffing proposed. $68,000 in savings is from different categories, including

meetings and consultants.


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Start of Slide


$48,000 in savings is from a variety of different categories. The audit services contract will

increase during the next RFP.

Conlon observes that it costs $600,000 for 3 people. The Finance Director explains that the

expense budget includes other items, including $163,000 for operations that are not salary

related.


19/32


20/32

Start of Slide


It increases due to the housing element needing to be completed this fiscal year.

The Mayor observes that the expenses increase without a similar gain in revenues. Shequestions whether the fee study will help close this gap. Lisa Costa-Sanders said the fees

study would seek to cover full costs.

The Finance Director clarified that the housing element is spread over 2012/13 2013/14.

The State requires the Town update the housing element every 10 years. The Mayor and

Vice Mayor questioned the expense, saying the Housing Element should require an update,

not a completely new study.


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Start of Slide


The City Manager discloses that the fee allocation study indicated that the fees would be

largely static. The Town doesnt expect changes in revenue from the fees.

They Mayor questioned the decline in revenues. She says that she believes that the

revenue should be increasing. The City Manager says that it is increasing, but the historical

information reflects the decline.


23/32


24/32

Start of Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=32m

The reduction is due to changes in employee benefits and adjustments to MCEs contract.

Steve Tyler said that some of the reduction is attributable to the cessation of some

unemployment benefits from outsourcing employees.

The Town receives $36,000 / year from CalTrans to maintain El Camino Real. He said its

enough to maintain, not improve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=32mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3iyM3IDKo#t=32m


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The Mayor notes the Police Department provides safety services to 9 schools, something

thats not mentioned. She said she believes that to be 7,000 students and the number is

increasing. The Towns population doubles. The Vice Mayor mentions he want to usetechnology to better leverage the Department.

The Chief discusses the County Chiefs association initiative to standardize school response

protocol. He mentions that we meet at the beginning of the school year with the school.

He notes that the School Resource Officer was eliminated from staffing cuts.

The Chief mentions that also missing from the list is traffic enforcement. He says its not

meant to be an exhaustive list.

The group discusses the impact of the POTUS visiting Town and cost recovery. The City

Manager discloses that that Wall Street Journal is doing a story.

Conlon questions whether Atherton is responsible for the safety and security of the

students when they are at school. The City Attorney says that the Police Department is

responsible for anything that happens within Athertons jurisdiction. Conlon questions

whether 1 officer is sufficient for 10 schools and then learns that that Officer was actually

cut from staff. He asks the Chief how he feels about his staffing level.


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The Chief says theres no way that the APD can staff for a worst case scenario. He says that

the SRO program is not to provide for safety and security, though sometimes the SRO

happens to be in the right place at the right time. He says they are extremely helpful for

working with faculty and truants.


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Start of Slide


The City Manager discloses that the Police Department is upside down in terms of

staffing. There are more positions authorized than filled. The Department is recruiting for

these positions.

The Chief says that 10 years ago, the Department had 28.5 members. Staffing cuts were in

response to financial challenges, but overtime increased. He explained the process

required to identify, recruit, and train. Its not like hiring a plumber. The Chief says we dont

use a recruiting firm; we do the work ourselves.

The Chief mentions that 2 officers (1 sworn, 1 non-sworn) were injured in a rear end

collision. Those Officers go out on workers comp and the Town can not recruit or fill those

positions.

The Chief petitions for 2 additional officer positions in the budget so that he can recruit

against them. He can not recruit for positions that are not authorized. The positions

wouldnt necessarily be filled, but it places people in the pipeline; it provides flexibility.

The Mayor asks about the revenue decrease from 2011/12 2012/13. The Finance Director

says it was related to grants. [Not mentioned, was a $70,000 gift from a resident for new

mobile computers that was captured in the revenue category.]


28/32

$400,000 increase is quite high. The City Manager discusses the renewal of the parcel tax

and the need to budget for them while not knowing whether the tax will be approved. The

$400,000 is for more than the salaries of the 2 additional officers; it includes equipment. The

fully burdened cost for both is $326,000/yr.

The Mayor asks for a comparison analysis. She wants to know if other jurisdiction are

providing SROs. She mentions traffic statistics and compensation levels. The Chief cautions

that the study measures apples to apples. Wiest wants to know if the school districts pay the

jurisdictions for the SROs. Carlson observes that its a political problem.

The Chief announces that there are some intangibles. He notes that the Officers work 12

hours shifts and some live a fair distance away. Further, after working the shift, they

occasionally have to go to court. That theres overtime available, doesnt mean that its all

filled. The Officers must have 8 hours off between their shift and cant work more than 16

hours straight.

Lewis observes that the current facility is not suitable. She believes the new Town Center will

help improve morale. She believes Atherton will be a more attractive place to work with the

new facility.

The City Attorney explains Labor Code Section 4850. It applies to Police Officers. They do not

go out on Workers Compensation when they suffer a work related injury (temporary

disability). They get their full salary for a full year under this California State Law. You cant

put them on disability or lay them off for a full year. It costs any government with a police

agency the same; its not specific to Atherton.


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Start of Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK4dDdGJgAg#t=34m50s

The Finance Director explained that it carries items such as General Liability Insurance. The

contribution for solid waste (true up) is not included in next FYs budget, accounting for the

decrease. Some contract services decreased as well.

He mentioned IT Infrastructure Replacement as being another expense: phone system, web

site, etc.

Jerry Carlson brought up the library general costs. He asked where those costs are

recognized. He was told that they come out of the donor fund. The cost allocation for the

fee allocation study consultant was also in last years budget.
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Start of Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=1m28s

Jerry Carlson said he was weary of a 50% fund for all reserves. He said he feared that it

would jeopardize renewal of the parcel tax. He said he based this recommendation on the

Towns seeing an increase in its unrestricted funds.

He said it appears that the Town is trying to pigeon hole money in different buckets and

hide them. He wants the flexibility to access the reserve funds for non-emergency uses.

The Mayor notes that this forecast includes the Parcel Tax at its current rate. She observed

that if you assume the parcel tax fails, the unrestricted funds will be much different factor.

The Finance Director said the parcel tax is 9% of the General Funds revenue.

The model assumes 2% inflation and 3% property tax revenue increase.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=1m28shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=1m28s


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Start of Slide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=11m50s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=11m50shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cXYhMTnbrc#t=11m50s

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Atherton 2013 Budget Study Session Video Guide

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