NOTE: At the May 12th special meeting of the Council, they reviewed options to reduce expenditures. No decisions were made.
MAY 19, 2020 – RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
CLOSED SESSION:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54957.6):
Agency Representatives: Jack Hughes
Employee organizations:
1. SEIU Local 1021 Full Time Unit
2. SEIU Local 1021 Part Time Unit
3. IFPTE Local 21 Mid-Level Management Unit
4. IFPTE Local 21 Executive Management Unit
5. Richmond Police Officers Association RPOA
6. Richmond Police Management Association RPMA
7. IAFF Local 188
8. Richmond Fire Management Association RFMA
B. ROLL CALL: Councilmember Willis attended 15 mins after Council started; all present
C. STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None
D. AGENDA REVIEW: Items removed for discussion at end of agenda:
By Public:
· H-3 Street Sweeping
· H-8 Extending ERN on Winehaven Legacy LLC to May 31, 2020
· H15 Amending position of Police Records and Property Manager
· H-16 Police Records and Property Manager wages, etc
By Councilmember Martinez:
· H-7 HRP Campus Bay / Zeneca project community agreement
· H-14 New staff position Deputy Building Official wages, salaries, compensation
· H-17 New position Industrial Building Inspector, wages, etc.
E. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER – Report from Supervisor Gioia
· Reopen County in “safe way”
· Retail open curbside
· Hilltop Marriott and SureStay housing homeless
· County contemplating purchase of hotel to house homeless in future
· Wear masks when out and in stores
· Advocating for more federal funding
· COVID19 Testing available, don’t need to have symptoms, call for an appointment: 1-844-421-0804
H. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
APPROVED. Vote: Myrick motion/Martinez second – unanimously approved.
The following items were removed from Consent Calendar to be heard at the end of the meeting. The meeting was adjourned prior to getting to these items. These as well as H-3, 14, 15, 16, 17 will be deferred to the next City Council Meeting.
I. BUDGET SESSION
Following review and discussion, staff to present update at 05/26 Special Meeting to include 5 year budget forecast..
Presentation:
· Revenue- 80% from tax revenue, 20% from fees, fines $166Mil
· Expenses- 73% salaries, benefits, 18% nondiscretionary, 9% other (support programs) $193M
· $27Mil Deficit
· Staff presented matrix of expense reductions and revenue increases. Not all would result in impacting the FY20-21
· Given “balancing strategies” the minimum amount that could be saved would be $23.3Mil which will not meet deficit
· Mayor Butt and Vice Mayor Bates expressed frustration that Staff was given direction in December to address the deficit and the matrix presented was to get further direction from Council.
· To increase revenues, three ballot measures were proposed.
· The business license tax recommendation was to change from # employees t gross receipts and they would need to poll Richmond voters.
· One item was a proposal from Lift Up Richmond to charge a temporary vacancy fee, hiring freeze, insurance reserve review, look at COLA, don’t replace vehicles. The Mayor asked for information on this organization, evidently hired as consultant by City.
· Vice Mayor Bates recommended to look at decreased workhours, cutback in recreation/pool hours/days.
Revenue matrix attached to email.
J. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Presentation:
· Cannot fund through the general fund based on enterprise fund constitution.
· 93% revenue comes from business and residents.
· Future projects to cost $50+M.
· If don’t pass rate increase, will have a deficit in 2023. If take no action, increase will be forced on city as well as attorney fees.
· In final stages of security $50Mil low interest loan from state to rehab treatment plant
Vice Mayor Bates made a motion to accept Option A but there were no seconds.
VOTE: Option B – Myick motion/ Choi second – Passes unanimously
K. RESOLUTIONS
Presentation: would allow 1 year to pay back rent
Discussion:
· Vice Mayor Bates and Councilmember Johnson expressed concerns about property owner’s responsibility to pay their mortgages if not receiving rent
· Councilmember Willis – urgency from public and other cities adopted similar ordinances
· Councilmember Johnson – stated he was a renter but had problem with putting liability on one side
Vote: Myrick motion / Willis second with friendly amendment from Willis to have staff research Fannie May and Freddie Mac procedures on forgiveness and grace period and to publish this for public information. PASSES with Bate and Butt voting no, Johnson abstaining
/Adjourn 12:00am
FYI – if you would like to make a copy of the revenue and expense strategies on the city website go to: