‘MINUTES’ for Two Noteworthy 1 December 2009 City Council Agenda Items

“MINUTES”
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
November 3, 2009

V. Announcements from Closed Session, from City Council Members and the City Administrator.

C. Announcements from City Administrator
1. Present FY 2008-09 Draft Audited Financial Statements by Ralph Marcello, Marcello & Company CPAs.

Ralph Marcello, MARCELLO & COMPANY, Certified Public Accountants, presented the highlights of the FY 2008-09 Draft Audited Financial Statements. With regard to the big three revenue sources (transient occupancy tax, property tax and sales tax), revenues increased by 4% in 2005, 9%, in 2006, 7% in 2007, 5% in 2008 and decreased 6% in 2009. General Revenues, which the city has total discretion over, and are contingent on general economic conditions, was +12% in 2008 and -9% in 2009.

During these economic times, other cities have engaged in hiring contract employees for one year without benefits, cross-train employees for vacant position responsibilities, reduce public safety workers, review pension system and furloughs.

Ralph Marcello’s presented his company’s Audit Opinion, an “unqualified opinion,” the highest type of opinion. And compared to other cities Carmel-by-the-Sea is in “very good economic health” mainly because of its policy to set aside reserves in good economic times.

X. Resolutions
A. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing participation in an Initial Exploration and Analysis of Joint Fire Service Options.

City Administrator Rich Guillen presented the Staff Report.

Mayor McCloud opened the meeting to public comment.

Carolyn Hardy requested the City include the three special fire districts and Cal Fire for consideration as to fire protection services for Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Mayor McCloud interjected and stated that the Mayor of Monterey would recommend the City of Monterey extend the interim fire services contract with Carmel-by-the-Sea through June 2010.

Barbara Livingston (remarks read by Kathy Frederickson) requested the City consider all options, including stand alone and Cal Fire. George Haines, Fire Chief of Cypress, Carmel Highlands and Pebble Beach Fire Department spoke in support of the resolution.

Mayor McCloud closed the meeting to public comment.

Council Member TALMAGE moved adoption of the Resolution with the addition that the Staff bring back to Council current information on all viable options, including JPA, shared services and stand alone fire department, seconded by Council Member ROSE, and carried unanimously.


NOTE: During Appearances, Carolyn Hardy applauded the City for approaching Cal Fire for the purpose of requesting a proposal for Fire Services from Cal Fire (Information gleaned from the September 2009 Minutes of the Pebble Beach Community Service District Board Meeting) and requested the City share the proposal with the public.

REFERENCE:
PEBBLE BEACH COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Regular Meeting of September 25, 2009
MINUTES

Chief Haines stated that the City of Carmel would be sending CAL FIRE a formal request for proposal for fire protection services. Charlotte Townsend indicated she was a Director of the Carmel Residents Association which supports the City of Carmel in its consideration of CAL FIRE.

COMMENT:
• While Mayor Sue McCloud recently stated that the City is interested in looking at the concept of a regional fire department, and “would probably be derelict if we didn’t,” in the context of the Final Report of The Fire Department Consolidation Feasibility Analysis for the Cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel completed by Citygate Associates, LLC in June 2007 and Carmel-by-the-Sea’s formal withdrawl from negotiations with Monterey and Pacific Grove in January 2008, it is derelict of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea to not have studied and reviewed all viable fire protection service options and implemented a permanent fire protection service solution for the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea long before now.