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Measure U committee moves quarterly meetings to align with budget cycle; elects Scribner, Williams
Summary
Port Hueneme's Measure U Committee voted to change its quarterly meeting months to April, July, October and January, set a 4:00 p.m. start time, and re-elected David Scribner as chair and Beth Williams as vice chair. Staff said the new schedule better aligns committee review with the city's budget process.
Port Hueneme's Measure U Committee voted to shift its quarterly meeting months to April, July, October and January and to start meetings at 4:00 p.m., and it elected David Scribner as chair and Beth Williams as vice chair.
The schedule change was approved by committee vote; staff and members said the new timing will give the committee the opportunity to review draft budget figures and revenue projections before City Council's May public hearings. "April was chosen specifically because we already take our budget to council for the public hearings in May. So if I'm not getting to you in April and hearing from you, then I can't put any of your changes in there in time before the public hearing," said Ashley, the city's assistant finance director who is serving as interim finance director.
Committee chair and vice chair
Members nominated and voted to elect David Scribner as chair and Beth Williams as vice chair. The clerk recorded the chair election as 4 yes, 0 no, with 1 member absent. The vice chair election was recorded as unanimous among members present.
Why staff proposed the change
Ashley told the committee staff is beginning the city's two-year biannual budgeting process and that the April meeting will let committee members provide input on revenue estimates before council public hearings in May. Ashley also described the July meeting as a time to review the adopted budget and unaudited year-end estimates, October as an opportunity to receive HDL's economic analysis and trend reporting, and January to review six months of actuals and begin the next round of budget revision. "We can have some projections for what the amount of measure U is gonna look like, this far in the year. So that's why April is a good time for us to present you some of our proposed budget figures," Ashley said.
Discussion points and context
Committee members said they supported the change, calling it more useful than the previous calendar and noting it would allow meaningful input before funds are committed. Members raised scheduling logistics, including a suggestion to start meetings at 4:00 p.m. to accommodate staff. Committee members also discussed a recent internal audit and budget pressures: staff said most expenditures reviewed were properly spent, but forecasted revenues are tight after a decline in cannabis sales and increasing local competition for cannabis retailers. "It's going to be a tight year," Ashley said of the fiscal outlook.
HDL, a private fiscal-analytics firm, was discussed as a likely presenter in October; staff said the firm provides trend reports and year-over-year comparisons the committee can use to plan.
Other actions
The committee approved the consent calendar in a single motion. Staff said the committee is expected to meet in April with more detailed budget materials.
Votes at a glance
- Election of chair (nomination: "I nominate David Scribner"; second recorded): Outcome — approved; tally: yes 4, no 0, absent 1. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) - Election of vice chair (nomination: "I nominate Beth Williams"; second recorded): Outcome — approved; tally: unanimous among members present. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) - Approval of consent calendar: Outcome — approved; tally: unanimous among members present. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) - Approval of revised meeting schedule (April, July, October, January; meetings to start at 4:00 p.m. unless reevaluated): Outcome — approved; tally: unanimous among members present. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.)
Members and next steps
Committee membership and attendance were recorded during roll call; one member was absent for the meeting. Staff said they will prepare more detailed budget and revenue figures for the committee's April meeting and will try to schedule HDL for the October meeting to present economic trends and sales-tax projections.
The committee did not adopt any new policies beyond the schedule change and officer elections; staff will return with budget figures and recommended materials at the next scheduled meeting.
