Maywood reviews 2023 council priorities; housing, parks and staffing highlighted

City staff reviewed the five priorities the Maywood City Council adopted in 2023 and outlined work done so far on financial management, economic development, housing affordability, staff capacity, community engagement and public safety.

The presentation, made during the April 23 study session, said the city’s general fund included one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and that city reserves stood at roughly $15,000,000. Staff noted the city has been budgeting “as if those funds are one-time funds” and has preserved reserves for capital needs and liability exposures, including self-insured claims.

The update listed recent and planned projects tied to council priorities. Highlights included: demolition and site preparation for a Cesar Chavez Foundation affordable housing project on a former successor-agency parcel; a roughly $6,500,000 fundraising effort for Anthony Rendon Riverfront Park renovations; an $800,000 federal grant award for EV charging and fueling infrastructure that is currently on hold; HVAC upgrades and a vehicle-replacement policy intended to shift the municipal fleet toward electric vehicles (staff estimated an 18% cost savings over two years); and completion of a rental-registry program and an initial year of rental-assistance disbursements.

Councilmembers discussed next steps. One councilmember said housing affordability remains a top priority and thanked staff for the rental-assistance work. During the session staff proposed returning after the budget is adopted for a longer workshop to revisit the priorities and their subcategories in more detail.

The presentation also listed community engagement activities that staff tied to the priorities, including the launch of a youth commission, expanded special events, a utility box art program with local students, a Hazard Mitigation Plan outreach effort, and partnerships on active-transportation and energy-conservation initiatives.

Staff emphasized infrastructure needs, noting some sewer mains are more than 100 years old and that a large portion of reserves is held for capital improvements and unforeseen liability claims. The presentation concluded by asking the council whether the five priorities still reflected the council’s goals and whether staff should schedule a longer follow-up workshop.

Less-critical details: staff said the city has used grant-writing consultants and a federal legislative advocate to pursue funds; the city adopted a comprehensive fee study to help recover program costs; and staff are implementing NeoGov software to streamline recruitment and hiring.

The council did not take formal action during the presentation; members directed staff to return for further discussion after the budget process.