City Council Meeting Preview

Last week's special meeting on a proposed increase in municipal water rates yielded a number of concerns from residents including an impassioned speech from former Mayor Kurt Zimmerman.

Following the Oct. 19 meeting the council directed city staff to prepare a list of alternate options for the increase that could, among other things, distribute the percentage increase more evenly over a longer period of time. These new potential approaches to the rate hike will be presented at tonight's meeting, with city staff asking for direction from the members of the city council.

But before the meeting moves back into water rate territory, they have a few other items to consider. The consent calendar, which comprises a number of actions the council typically approves with one overarching vote, includes the following items.

Consent Calendar:

A) Payments made by the city to various obligations including payroll and library expenses, office supplies, utility bills, computer network maintenance and a host of other expenses documented in the city council agenda packet.

B) The city typically makes payments on behalf of the Community Redevelopment Agency, then the city adds that amount to the total amount owed back to the city by the CRA. The total amount expected to be approved tonight is $4,750, which was paid to Karen Warner Associates for consulting services regarding the city's Housing Element. The CRA Five Year Plan was recently approved by the city council.

C) Led by Kristi McClure and Elisa Weaver, the city's Community and Personnel Services Department has prepared an updated Program policy and Public Parks and Recreation Centers Use Policy. City staff is seeking the council's approval of the updated polices.

D) Each Commission set up by the city includes a liaison from the city council, and the Tree Commission is no different. While Council Member MacGillivray was serving as the liaison to the Tree Commission, the responsibility was in conflict with her responsibilities as liaison to the California Joint Powers Authority. Thus, Mayor Mosca will take over the Tree Commission post tonight, with Council Member Moran remaining as the alternate.

Discussions:

The first item on tonight's agenda following the consent calendar is the appointment of a six-member committee to oversee the city's Utility Users Tax Ordinance. According to the ordinance, the committee is comprised of City Treasurer George Enyedi, as well as five members of the community as selected by Council Members. The language of the initial ordinance states that the role of the committee will be "Reviewing and making recommendations concerning the audit and appropriate expenditure of funds collected and/or remitted" by the Utility Users Tax, which was instituted in April of 2008 with the passage of Measure U.

Next up will be the discussion regarding the proposed water rate hike, as mentioned previously.

The last item on tonight's agenda is a discussion regarding the city's "Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives." This is a document updated every six months with the intent of providing direction to the city government. The plan includes a number of three-year goals including completing the update to the city's General Plan, providing an increase in and broadening of "Community Involvement and Trust," maintaining "a vital economic environment that supports a desirable quality of life," and attracting, developing and retaining "quality staff to enhance quality services.

Look for full coverage of the city council's discussion and decisions tomorrow on Sierra Madre Patch.