Laguna Beach City Council Regular Meeting - June 3, 2014

June 3, 2014

Executive Summary

- The City Council held a special budget workshop on June 10, 2014, to review recommended revenue and expenditure changes for the second year of the two-year Fiscal Year 2014-15 budget cycle. - Director of Finance Gavin Curran recommended increasing general fund revenue projections by approximately $1.2 million, driven by stronger-than-expected property tax, hotel tax, and building permit revenues. - City Manager (name unclear) presented approximately $1.4 million in recommended expenditure increases, including salary adjustments, additional building inspectors and plan checkers, the burn dump cleanup project, and a $1 million payment toward unfunded pension liability. - The Council approved numerous additional expenditures from a wish list, including a part-time public information coordinator, a helicopter fire patrol program, an additional police officer, expansion of the fuel modification program, a police dog (with the Women's Club raising $20,000 for the dog itself), increased stipends for Council and board members, and full-time status for the Marine Protection Officer. - The Council earmarked $250,000 from the park-in-lieu fund for a permanent South Laguna Community Garden w

Key Decisions

- Approved increasing general fund revenue projections by approximately $1.2 million based on stronger property tax (up 3.5% vs. 2.25% projected), hotel tax (up 4%), and building/planning fee collections. - Approved approximately $1.4 million in base expenditure increases including contract building inspectors ($100,000), contract plan checkers ($110,000), city attorney billing rate increase ($50,000), burn dump project completion ($200,000 one-time), and $1 million toward unfunded pension liability. - Approved stipend increases for City Council and board/commission members to the maximum stat