Council opens budget hearing, hears department priorities and continues fiscal‑year review

The City Council opened the public hearing on the proposed FY 2025–26 operating budget and received extended presentations from department directors on priority decision packages and operational needs. The council continued the hearing to June 10 to allow time for supplemental materials and further review.

Highlights from departmental presentations: - Police: Chief Joe Hoffman outlined decision packages to move technology (drones, license‑plate readers, data consolidation) from one‑time to ongoing funding and to convert a part‑time social media coordinator to full time. The police department asked to continue funding an expanded wellness program and requested ongoing support for 27 crossing‑guard locations, noting that full staffing would cost more than current core funding. Chief Hoffman said drones had an FAA waiver and that the department is testing fully autonomous flights under controlled conditions. - Public Works: Director Andy Wingee reviewed several items, including a recommendation to rehabilitate the city’s fuel island pumps, a reclassification of park and engineering positions to match evolving duties, and a significant tree‑trimming contract that cycles city trees on a four‑year grid. Wingee outlined the current tree‑trimming contract spending pattern and explained why the city has been using one‑time appropriations to keep pace with the contract’s actual cost. He also flagged the 2025–26 funding gap for the Landscape & Lighting Assessment District. - Community Development: Director Mark Weiner proposed outsourcing approximately 70% of building plan checks to third‑party consultants using the city’s permit portal to reduce review times from months to weeks; staff said this model would likely cost roughly $200,000 annually but would be cheaper and more flexible than hiring equivalent in‑house plan check capacity.

Budget status and next steps: The city manager said the proposed budget is balanced as presented but relies heavily on conservative revenue estimates and a transfer from the CalPERS reserve to cover $3.5 million of the unfunded accrued liability in FY 2025–26. The council asked for more detailed BRRs (Budget Response Reports) on several items: crossing guards, tree trimming, Artesia/Harbor parking meter proposals, and CIP items for Prospect Avenue and other neighborhood requests. The council unanimously agreed to continue the public hearing to June 10 to consider the supplemental BRRs and departmental follow‑ups.

Who spoke: Directors Joe Hoffman, Andy Wingee, Mark Weiner and Community Services Director Elizabeth House gave presentations and answered questions. Multiple council members pressed on the costs, implementation timing, and alternatives to ongoing funding.