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
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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
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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
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