pages: CityCouncil/2015-01-21.pdf, 16
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CityCouncil | 2015-01-21 | 16 | Manager to clarify the budget process. The Assistant City Manager stated staff is looking to kick off the budget at the first meeting in March; assumptions will be discussed; suggested the referral language be modified to have the City Council direct the City Manager to prepare the General Fund budget for the upcoming two year cycle ensuring that the principles are defined and critically evaluated during the budget process; staff may not be able to follow the principles for a particular reason, such as being in a recession; rainy day funds and flexibility are needed; the Vice Mayor is asking staff to critically evaluate pieces during the budget process; staff is fine with doing so; defining advances, loans and transfers from other funds is important and can be done as part of the budget process. Mayor Spencer stated that she is confident staff would do so without Council direction; if a definition is not adequate, Council can always ask questions. Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated Council created something that she is prepared to support; the Assistant City Manager honed in on the concerns and made improvements. Vice Mayor Matarrese stated that he likes the language and appreciates staff listening. Vice Mayor Matarrese moved approval of directing the City Manager to prepare the General Fund budget ensuring that the three points would be defined and critically evaluated; stated that he specified the Fiscal Year 2015-2017 cycle in order to start right now; the City has a long way to go. Councilmember Oddie inquired if the last paragraph [the principles shall be evaluated by the City Council with advice from the City Treasurer and City Auditor up to and during the public hearings for the up-coming General Fund budget and during the course of the two year budget cycle] is still in the motion, to which Vice Mayor Matarrese responded in the negative. Councilmember Oddie inquired if the three items are: one time revenues, advanced loans and reserves, to which Vice Mayor Matarrese responded in the affirmative. Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion. Under discussion, Mayor Spencer inquired if the last paragraph was stricken to which Vice Mayor Matarrese responded in the affirmative; stated the assumption is that the Treasurer and Auditor are already involved. Councilmember Daysog stated that he exhibited hesitation because he saw the discussion being framed as addressing the budget's structural deficit, which everyone knows exists; Council moved away from indicating that the referral will solve the budget structure, which is beyond the scope; he is supportive of the literal wording; the Council cannot make a promise that the structural deficit will be solved; the motion now has value to the public; specifying the three items is valuable. Special Meeting Alameda City Council 16 January 21, 2015 | CityCouncil/2015-01-21.pdf |