HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/26/2007•
B A K E R S F I E L D
~- Ken Weir, Chair
John Stinson, Assistant City Manager Sue Benham
For: Alan Tandy, City Manager Irma Carson
MINUTES
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 26, 2007 - 12:00 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room -Suite 201
City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
ROLL CALL
The meeting was Called to Order at 12:02 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Ken Weir, Chair; Sue Benham and Irma Carson
2. ADOPT NOVEMBER 6, 2006 MINUTES
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
None.
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion and Committee recommendation regarding amending and
adopting the 2007 Committee meeting schedule.
Meeting dates will be adopted as submitted. Time of meetings will be changed
to 12:00 p.m. No Committee meetings will be held in the month of July 2007.
B. Discussion regarding recycling programs and potential incentives.
City Manager, Alan Tandy gave an overview of the current recycling collection
program and staff's four recommendations for changes to the current program.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Page 2
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 26, 2007
Recommendation 1: Eliminate outdated subsidy
Solid Waste Director, Kevin Barnes provided the cost breakdown far the
proposed recommendation to eliminate the outdated subsidy for extra tan
refuse carts and transfer that subsidy to the blue cart recycling program. This
information will be communicated to the public as accounts reach their annual
renewal throughout the year.
Councilmember Sue Benham requested information regarding the benefits of
recycling program be made available to the public through the City's website.
Committee members and staff discussed ways to increase participation in the
recycling program due to the proposed changes. Public participation in the
recycling program is currently at three percent.
Councilmember Sue Benham moved to adopt Recommendation 1 with the
exception that the recommendation reflect Councilmember Irma Carson's
request to modify the verbiage to state "transfer of subsidies" instead of
"eliminate".
Committee members unanimously agreed to adopt Recommendation 1.
Recommendation 2: Cease the issuance of free extra tan carts in lieu of green
carts.
City Manager, Alan Tandy discussed the current practice of issuing extra tan
refuse carts for homes that request an extra tan cart in lieu of a green cart.
This option will be gradually phased out. Issuance of the additional tan carts
will not be made available to new or existing residents in an effort to encourage
the use of the blue recycle carts.
Committee members unanimously agreed to adopt Recommendation 2.
Recommendation 3: Implement a slight refuse fee adjustment to fund
increased participation in the curbside recycling program.
City Manager, Alan Tandy explained Recommendation 3 which would slightly
increase the residential refuse fee by one-tenth of a percent. There was
discussion by the Committee and concerns expressed by Councilmembers
Carson and Weir regarding increasing the rates.
Councilmember Benham made a motion to accept staff Recommendation 3.
Councilmembers Carson and Weir voted against the motion.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 26, 2007
Page 3
Recommendation 4: Explore additional ways to reduce the cost of the blue cart
recycling program.
Committee members and staff discussed the use of transfer stations and how
recycling can reduce the impact of waste taken to these facilities.
BARC Solid Waste Consultant Roland Burkert described the beverage de-
casing equipment and its distinction from sorting equipment. BARC received a
$1 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, as well as
$300,000 in CDBG funds from Kern County. These funds will be used to build
a facility on the BARC campus for use of material recovery.
Committee members unanimously agreed to adopt Recommendation 4.
The Committee agreed to send Recommendations 1, 2, and 4 to the City
Council for consideration.
C. Discussion regarding audit reports for fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
Finance Director, Nelson Smith gave an overview of the four audit reports
provided by M. Green & Company.
M. Green & Company's Justin Morales, who is the partner in charge of the
audit, advised that his firm will no longer be involved in the government auditing
process. The City of Bakersfield will need to solicit new auditors for the next
fiscal year. During the meeting, Mr. Morales distributed a management letter
from M. Green & Company stating there were no issues or controls during the
City audit that required advisement.
Council member Irma Carson made a motion to accept the audit reports as
submitted. Committee members unanimously agreed.
5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS
Council member Irma Carson expressed her concerns with illegal dumping and
what, if any, curbside bulky recycling programs the City has in place.
City Manager, Alan Tandy advised that in an effort to deter illegal dumping, the
City adopted new policies which allow each resident curbside pickup of bulky
items that do not fit in the standard residential recycle containers.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Monday, February 26, 2007
Page 4
Attendance: Staff: City Manager Alan Tandy; Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson;
Assistant City Manager Christine Butterfield; Management Assistant Rick Kirkwood; City
Attorney Ginny Gennaro; Assistant Finance Director; Solid Waste Superintendent Sal
Moretti; Solid Waste Director Kevin Barnes; Finance Director Nelson Smith; Public
Works Director Raul Rojas
Attendance others: Roland Burkert, Roland Consulting; Justin Morales, M. Green &
Company; Stacey Shepard, Bakersfield Californian, Dianne Hardesty, Bakersfield
Californian; Jim Deloof, KERO - 23; various cameramen
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
S:\Council Committees\2007\07 Budget&Finance\Minutes\February 26 Minutes.doc
APPROVED 3/19/07