Minutes 2024 04-242 of 5 May 1, 2024 Item #1
CITY OF POWAY BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 24, 2024
City Council Chambers 13325 Civic Center Drive, Poway, California
(Per Government Code 54953)
CALL TO ORDER
Interim Director of Finance Brad Rosen called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:07 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Andrew Cruz, Cynthia Elizondo, Chris Pikus, Robert Polston, Vanessa Springett
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
City Manager Chris Hazeltine; Assistant City Manager Wendy Kaserman; Interim Director of Finance Brad Rosen; Budget Review Committee Secretary Letty Lozano
(Note: Hereinafter the title Secretary shall be used to indicate Senior Administrative
Assistant/Secretary)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Interim Director of Finance Brad Rosen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and prior to Public Comment, he invited the Committee Members to introduce themselves. Committee Members introduced themselves and shared how
long they have served on the Committee. Subsequently, Interim Director of Finance Rosen introduced the finance staff present in the audience.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
STAFF ITEMS
1.City Manager Welcome and Introduction
City Manager Hazeltine expressed his appreciation for the Committee Members’ time andcommitment. He described the value the Budget Review Committee brings to the budgetprocess. He encouraged Committee members to ask questions as they come up.
Public Comment:
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None.
End of Public Comment.
This was an informational item. No action was taken.
2.Budget Review Committee Mission and Charter (including Brown Act)
Interim Director of Finance Rosen presented the item along with a slideshow presentation andstated the Budget Review Committee Mission and Charter are available on the City’s website.He discussed the Committees’ duties, conduct, and communication guidelines. The
Committee Members inquired about appropriate communication procedures. Interim DirectorRosen further clarified Committee Members should only have group discussions duringCommittee meetings to avoid potential violations of the Brown Act. Should CommitteeMembers have questions they want to email staff, they should not copy all CommitteeMembers on emails. Staff will ensure questions and responses are distributed to allCommittee Members.
City Manager Hazeltine provided a brief history of the terms of the Budget Review Committee
Members. He explained within the last few years the City Council modified the terms so theyare staggered. This ensures that with each budget cycle there are some Committee Membersfamiliar with the process and the document who can be resources to new Committee
Members. He suggested Committee Members may want to consider experience on theBudget Review Committee as a factor when they select the Chair and the Vice Chair, howeverthey may select whomever they want to as Chair and Vice Chair.
Public Comment:
None.
End of Public Comment.
This was an informational item. No action was taken.
3.Confirmation of Committee Chair and Vice Chair
Public Comment:
None.
End of Public Comment.
Committee Member Cruz nominated Committee Member Pikus for Chair.
Motioned by Committee Member Cruz, seconded by Committee Member Elizondo to select
Committee Member Pikus as Chair of the Budget Review Committee. Motion Carried 5/0 bythe following Vote:
Ayes: Cruz, Elizondo, Pikus, Polston, Springett Noes: None Abstained: None Absent: None
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Chair Pikus nominated committee Member Elizondo for Vice Chair. Motioned by Chair Pikus, seconded by Committee Member Cruz to select Committee Member
Elizondo as Vice Chair of the Budget Review Committee. Motion Carried 5/0 by the following Vote:
Ayes: Cruz, Elizondo, Pikus, Polston, Springett Noes: None Abstained: None
Absent: None
Interim Director Rosen provided the meeting Chair’s Script to Chair Pikus and explained the
script to the Committee.
4.Approval of the May 24, 2023 Regular Budget Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Chair Pikus stated the May 24, 2023, Regular Budget Review Committee Minutes were a truerepresentation of the May 24, 2023 meeting. Staff explained that only those CommitteeMembers present at the May 24, 2023 meeting were eligible to vote on this item.
Motioned by Committee Member Cruz, seconded by Committee Member Polston to approvethe May 24, 2023 Regular Budget Committee Meeting Minutes.
Ayes: Cruz, Pikus, Polston Noes: None Abstained: Elizondo, Springett
Absent: None
Public Comment:
None.
End of Public Comment.
5.Budget Process Overview
Interim Director Rosen presented the item along with a slideshow presentation. He provided a timeline of the budget process, described staff’s work at each stage of the budget development and explained the budget document organization. Additionally, he provided an overview of the agendas for each of the upcoming Budget Review Committee meetings and Committee expectations in terms of the development of Budget Review Committee recommendations to be presented to the City Council with the draft budget document. In response to Committee Member inquiries, Interim Director Rosen encouraged members to ask questions as they come and noted
the meeting slideshows will be posted online after each meeting.
City Manager Hazeltine expressed his appreciation to the Finance staff for their year-round efforts
on the budget. He stated the second Budget Review Committee Meeting is his favorite meeting. All of the department heads present and its great opportunity for the Budget Review Committee and members of the public to learn about what each department does, how their structured, and
current projects and priorities. He again emphasized the value of the recommendations of the Budget Review Committee Members, how important their input is to the City Council, and how implementation of prior recommendations has improved the readability of the budget document.
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City Manager Hazeltine explained the Finance Director position is currently vacant and Brad Rosen, the Assistant Director of Finance Operations, has graciously stepped in to fill the interim
role. City Manager Hazeltine thanked Interim Director Rosen, as well as Finance Manager Jamshidi, Revenue and Operations Manager Roesler and Retired Annuitant McDermott for their support on the budget process.
Public Comment:
None.
End of Public Comment.
This was an informational item. No action was taken.
6.Economic Update
Interim Director Rosen presented the item along with a slideshow presentation. He described current economic conditions and the impacts of changes in the housing market, the auto industry and retail sales on the City’s property tax and sales tax revenue. Discussion ensued on the City’s
different revenue sources. Staff will provide a breakdown of the city’s portion of property taxes and the next Budget Review Committee meeting.
Public Comment:
None.
End of Public Comment.
This was an informational item. No action was taken.
CITY MANAGER ITEMS
City Manager Hazeltine again thanked the Committee Members for their good questions and willingness to serve on the Committee. He clarified the first Committee Meeting is an introductory meeting and is thus shorter than subsequent meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
Committee Chair Pikus adjourned the regular meeting at 5:59 p.m.
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Letty Lozano Budget Review Committee Secretary City of Poway, California