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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/24/15 CC AGENDA HIGHLIGHTSAGENDA HIGHLIGHTS � June 24, 2015 COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING - 3:30 p.m. NOTE: A separate meeting will be called to order at 3:30 p.m., followed by Public Statements that will encourage comments pertaining to the New Business item or Closed Session matter only. The Council will then recess into Closed Session. Upon conclusion of the Closed Session, any Closed Session action will be announced prior to adjournment of the meeting. At 5:15 p.m., the Regular Meeting will be called to order to address the remainder of the agenda items. NEW BUSINESS Item 3a. Wastewater Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2015A. This item will allow the City to take advantage of historically low interest rates through the refinancing of 2007A fixed rate Wastewater Revenue Bonds. This proposed refinancing is expected to lower the annual debt service payment of the Wastewater Enterprise by $700,000 to $800,000 per year for the next 18 years, which is the remaining term of the existing debt. The Finance Director will be providing the Council with a brief presentation on the action. CLOSED SESSION There will be a conference with legal counsel regarding one matter of potential litigation. REGULAR MEETING - 5:15 p.m. CONSENT CALENDAR Ordinances Item 8c. First Reading of Ordinance Enacting Chapter 9.20 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code Relating to Unregulated Chemicals. The Council's Legislative and Litigation Committee has been exploring the possibility of adding a new City ordinance to prohibit the sale of bath salts and spice. Bath salts refer to a form of synthetic stimulant that has an effect similar to cocaine or methampheta mine. Spice refers to an herbal mixture that is typically sold as herbal cigarettes, marketed as a safe legal alternative to marijuana, and has cannabinoid qualities. This new ordinance defines unregulated chemicals and makes their possession, sale, or being under the influence of them illegal. The Legislative and Litigation Committee is scheduled to conclude their discussions on the ordinance during their June 22, 2015 meeting. However, the Committee directed that the first reading of the ordinance be placed on the June 24, 2015 City Council Agenda in anticipation of the Committee's recommendation. Resolutions Item 8k. City Domestic Water Well CBK 41. The City of Bakersfield's Domestic Water System has approximately 53 active domestic water wells that pump groundwater for distribution to ON approximately 142,000 residents. Pumped groundwater accounts for approximately 80% of the City's water system supply in a typical year, and even more during drought years. Currently domestic water well CBK 41 has been shut off since 2009 due to arsenic levels that exceed maximum allowances. This item will provide for the immediate action necessary to equip domestic water well CBK 41 with an arsenic treatment system, which will allow it to be safely used to support the City's domestic water system. Item 80. Changes to Salaries and Benefits for Various Employee Units. This action brings to conclusion an on -going financial obligation of the City, outlined in the current safety MOU's, which required the City to provide specific cost of living adjustments, over time, to the members of the City's three safety groups (Police, Police Supervisory, Fire and Fire Supervisory). This commitment of the City was included in the MOU's during recent labor negotiations to bridge the gap that had been created between the safety groups and the City's Miscellaneous Units during the period of 2007 -2013. This action will provide a 2% wage increase for members of the Police and Police Supervisory Units and 3% wage increase for members of the Fire and Fire Supervisory Units. It should be noted that funding for these increases is included in the FY 2015 -16 budget. Given the fact that this is an old obligation and it is exclusively for public safety, staff believes this action should be approved as proposed. Staff also recommends that a response to the recent sales tax revenue reduction be handled through alternative means, as identified separately in the packet for this meeting. Item 8p. Extension of the Current California Water Service Company (Cal Water) Franchise Agreement with the City of Bakersfield through December 31, 2015. Cal Water's current franchise agreement with the City for the use, transmission and distribution of water within the City of Bakersfield is set to expire June 30, 2015. The City has been engaged in negotiations with Cal Water on a successor franchise agreement, however, the prolonged nature of these negotiations require a short -term extension of the existing franchise through the end of the calendar year. Based on recent discussions with Cal Water, staff anticipates bringing forward a proposed new franchise agreement for council action prior to the end of the extension period. Agreements Item 8z. Amendment to an Agreement with the County of Kern for the Processing of Greenwaste Material at the Mount Vernon Greenwaste Facility. This amendment will change the funding arrangement with the County in a way which will benefit the City. Historically, the City has funded the cost of processing all greenwaste material collected within the City limits. This includes both curbside greenwaste and drop off greenwaste. However, recently the County adopted a policy to fund all countywide curbside greenwaste processing from the countywide land use fee, for consistency among all cities and unincorporated areas of Kern County. This change applies to curbside greenwaste only. Since Bakersfield previously funded its own curbside greenwaste processing costs, the change will improve the City's budget by almost $1,000,000 per year, beginning July 1, 2015. This revenue increase has been included in the FY 2015 -16 budget estimates for the Refuse Enterprise Fund and was also factored into the proposed refuse rate adjustments. Agenda Highlights - June 24, 2015 Council Meeting Page 2 Item 8ac. Freeway Litter Program. This item includes two actions that will allow the City to continue with its highly successful Freeway Litter Removal Program. As Council is aware, this program provides for a partnership between the City, Caltrans, Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG), private sponsors and the Bakersfield Homeless Center (BHC) to continuously remove litter from our local streets and highways utilizing clients of BHC. This item will provide the necessary funding ($561,588) to extend the agreement with BHC by one year. In addition, this item also includes a Memorandum of Understanding with Kern COG for funding of the program ($150,000). Additional program funding is outlined in the administrative report for this item. Successor Agency Business Item 8ay. Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release between the Successor Agency and Various Kern County School Districts and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools re__ aq rding AB 1290 Pass - Through Underpayments. Prior to the dissolution of the former Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency (BRDA) on February 1, 2012, AB 1290 pass- through payments were calculated and paid by the Kern County Auditor - Controller- County Clerk (KCAC) on behalf of the BRDA. These payments were made to various school districts and taxing entities within the former BRDA project areas. The State redevelopment dissolution law requires that the KCAC calculate and distribute future AB 1290 pass- through payments to the school districts and taxing entities. In 2013 a California Appeals Court issued a ruling which altered how AB 1290 Pass - Through payments were supposed to be calculated. This ruling resulted in underpayments by the KCAC which now need to be addressed. This item provides for the settlement of these underpayments to the various school districts as identified by the KCAC. Approval of this settlement agreement and mutual release will not affect the City of Bakersfield's general fund. The settlement amounts will be placed on the next Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule of the Successor Agency. HEARINGS Item 10a. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of the Issuance of Tax - Exempt Multi - Family Housing Bonds by the Housing Authority of the County of Kern. The City has received a request from the Housing Authority of the County of Kern to conduct a public hearing, as required by the Internal Revenue Code, in order to issue tax exempt multi - family housing bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $6.5 million. The proceeds of the bond issuance will be used to make a loan to Golden Empire Affordable Housing Inc. II for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Green Gardens Apartments, a 104 unit multi - family permanent supportive housing located at 2300 South Union Avenue. The City will not be under any obligation related to project financing costs or debt repayment. DEFERRED BUSINESS Item 12a. Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Budget. Staff will present the Fiscal Year 2015 -16 Budget for Council adoption. Staff will also discuss the recent staff recommended changes to the budget in light of the recent reduction in sales tax revenue. Approved: cc: Department Heads Alan Tandy, City Manager for AT City Manager's File City Clerk's File Agenda Highlights - June 24, 2015 Council Meeting News Media File Page 3