Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Meeting - May 25, 2022
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Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Meeting - May 25, 2022
The Budget and Government Efficiency Committee met on May 25, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. (start time from roll call; adjourned at [estimated based on transcript], no exact end time given). The committee approved the consent agenda, discussed and voted to advance an amendment to council policy 000-02 to move up the council budget priority process, and received an informational report on prevailing wage compliance for fiscal year 2021. Public testimony raised concerns about community engagement and timing of budget changes.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Annual Special Tax Levy, Community Facilities Districts 2, 3, and 4 — Approved unanimously via voice vote (motion by Vice Chair Ila Rivera, second by Councilmember Moreno). No public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2 – Budget Timeline Amendment: Four speakers testified:
- Kiara O'Laughlin (Center on Policy Initiatives) expressed concern over lack of public engagement in the proposed timeline change, urging the committee not to decide without ample community input.
- Jean Wee (organizer, Center on Policy Initiatives) argued that changes without public input defeat democracy and noted that the September memo deadline would disadvantage new council members arriving in November.
- Sonia Diaz (Outdoor Outreach) urged the council to think through the proposal more and ensure maximum public input.
- Francine Maxwell (Fourth District resident) cautioned against rushing, citing the need for civic engagement and redistricting awareness.
Discussion Items
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Item 2: Amendment to Council Policy 000-02 and Submission of Council Budget Priority Memoranda – Committee Consultant Anthony George presented the proposal to move up the council's budget priority memo submission from December to September and the budget priority resolution adoption from February to an earlier date. The IBA (Charles Modica?) supported the change, noting it would allow council to influence the mayor's proposed budget earlier. Chair Kate made a motion to support the amendment, emphasizing that the timeline change applies only to the General Fund budget, not the CIP budget. Council members discussed concerns about new council members’ ability to participate, but proposed a second submission opportunity in January. The motion passed unanimously (virtual roll call: Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steck – yes, Councilmember Moreno – yes, Vice Chair Ila Rivera – yes, Chair Kate – yes).
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Item 3: Fiscal Year 2021 Prevailing Wage Report (Informational) – Christiana Gogger and Angel Bustos presented the report. Key statistics: The prevailing wage unit monitored over 750 public works projects in FY21; contracts with prevailing wage requirements totaled $1.1 billion in FY21 (up from $376.9 million in FY20); $68,000 in underpayments were assessed; total penalties and wages withheld exceeded $137,000. The unit resumed site visits after a pandemic pause and conducted virtual training for over 200 contractors. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steck asked about staffing adequacy, training, and workforce utilization data (race/gender/apprenticeship). Council President Ila Rivera noted the decrease in violation notices and asked about the impact of the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on Pure Water projects. No action was required on the informational item.
Key Outcomes
- The committee approved the consent agenda unanimously.
- The committee unanimously passed a motion to advance the amendment to council policy 000-02 (budget timeline change) to the full City Council for adoption. The amendment moves up the council budget priority memo submission to September and allows for a second submission opportunity in January to accommodate new council members.
- The prevailing wage report was received as informational; staff will explore adding workforce utilization data in future reports.
- The meeting adjourned to the next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Per California Government Code Section 5454953E, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and to provide the public an opportunity to address the city council committee via call and option or intervase service option during a proclaimed state of emergency. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, we encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as California Mass Guidelines where masks are strongly recommended. In addition to being able to attend in person, this meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and the clerk and the council committee liaison will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever happens first. This will allow for better meeting, better meeting management between the two five between the two platforms and ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Our committee consultant Anthony George will go over the specifics of how the public can participate and give their public testimony. Present. Council member Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. And Council Member Moreno. Present. And when our committee consultant announces your turn to speak, you can unmute yourself by either selecting the unmute button or by inputting star six. Do I have a motion to approve the committee actions? So moved. We have a motion by Vice Chair Ila Rivera. And second by second by Councilmember Moreno, and we'll go through uh voice voice voice vote starting with those who are attending virtually. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Steck. Step. Yes. Councilmember Moreno. Yes. Vice Chair Elo Rivera. Yes. And I am also a yes. So that motion passes unanimously. We'll now take up non-agenda public comment per temporary rule 2.6. Non-agenda public comment is an opportunity for members of the public to comment on items that are not on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the committee. Each speaker will have two minutes. If you're watching on City TV or the live stream online and like to call into the meeting to speak, please call 1669-2545252. When prompted, input webinar ID 161-771-9874 pound. To raise your hand to speak, select the raise your hand button or press star nine. And when our committee consultant indicates it's your turn to speak, please unmute yourself by the selecting unmute prompt that will appear on your device or by pressing star six on your phone. Mr. George, do we have any non-agenda public comment speakers? There's currently no in-person speakers and no non-agenda public comment in the virtual queue, so that will conclude non-agenda public comment. Very good. We'll now move to uh committee member, mayor, city attorney, IBA comments. Seeing none. Do we have any requests for continuance? Hearing none, we will now go through with the approval of our one consent agenda item. The public comment period for the consent agenda is now open. If you already joined the zoo webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand or press star nine if you wish to speak. Our consent agenda includes item number one, the annual special tax levy, community facilities districts number two, three, and four. Mr. George, do we have any uh speakers for our consent agenda? Uh there's currently no speakers in person or in the virtual queue. So we'll end our comments. Very good.
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