Council to Review Whether to Fund Handful of Contractors in '12-'13 Budget

The Half Moon Bay City Council is holding a special meeting tonight to review recommendations which would set aside $2.6 million in spending on identified needs for the next fiscal year budget beginning July 1.

According to the city, the $2.6 million will go towards paying some, but not all, of the costs for projects in three areas comprising its identified needs for the 2012-2013 fiscal year: infrastructure, public safety and long-term fiscal sustainability. City Finance Director Jan Cooke has calculated that the total cost to fund all 2012-2013 identified needs is $3.6 million.

The three areas of focus were determined by the council in February, while a more extensive and long-term list of projects to be prioritized over the next six years and beyond was detailed in a approved by the council in March.

According to City Clerk Siobhan Smith, a few residents provided input at a Mar. 10 session on what the city should prioritize as identified needs.

Contracting with five separate professional specialists is part of the list of identified needs city staff has recommended for funding. Proposed contractors are:

• an emergency coordinator to develop an emergency plan and conduct trainings with city residents
• a budget and accounting management analyst
• a project analyst to focus on finalizing the high speed fiber communication project funded as part of the city's new Emergency Operations Center
• a /community outreach coordinator
• the to market Half Moon Bay as a visitor destination

Recommended projects for improving long-term fiscal sustainability include:

• Developing proposal for sales tax measure
  
• Paying down pension side-fund 
• Increasing risk management reserve
• Replenishing retirement stabilization fund

Recommended infrastructure projects for funding include:

• Painting Ted Adcock Community Center ($30k)

Recommended general projects for funding include:

• Developing a strategic plan
• Conducting public works organizational review
• ($12k)
• Information Technology upgrades for city operations ($45k)
• Transfer of vehicle reserve to risk management reserve ($140k)
• Annual Capital Improvement Plan development ($20k)

Financial shortfalls will require that $0.9 million of the $2.6 million will need to be taken from Half Moon Bay's general fund unrestricted reserve, according to an April 3 staff report. The council will vote tonight on whether to approve the allocation from the reserve. If the allocation is approved, then $1.3 million in unrestricted general fund reserve would remain, according to Cooke. City staff recommend that the $1.3 million be set aside to go towards capital improvement projects for 2013-2014 which are in need of funding.

Tonight's vote is the last step in the process before a final vote to approve the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget for Half Moon Bay is reviewed by the city council on June 5. There will also be a public hearing before the council holds a discussion and vote on whether to adopt the proposed budget.

The special city council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, Apr. 3, at the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center (535 Kelly) in Half Moon Bay.

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