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Resident asks Saint Helena council to agendize audit of water and wastewater finances citing Proposition 218 concerns
Summary
A Saint Helena resident asked the council on June 10 to place on a future agenda a financial audit of the city's water and wastewater accounts to examine compliance with California Proposition 218.
During public forum on June 10, resident Paul Bell asked the City Council to request a financial audit of the city's water and wastewater accounts to determine whether the city has complied with California Proposition 218. Bell said he submitted a written request to Councilmember Aaron Barrick on Feb. 4 and described several examples he believes indicate water and wastewater revenues were used for staff salaries, litigation and projects contrary to Prop. 218.
Bell said he had pursued follow-up during subsequent council meetings and that City Attorney Phil Walsh had indicated a response was being prepared. Bell requested the council place the matter on a future agenda so he could receive an official response or see the audit results.
City Attorney Phil Walsh replied to the council that he is drafting a memo and that a portion of it may be a confidential memo to counsel; Walsh said he would circulate his draft to council members by the end of the week and the council could decide whether to agendize the matter for future public consideration. Councilmembers indicated that circulating the memo and deciding whether to agendize the issue was satisfactory to Bell.
No formal motion or vote occurred. Staff said any memo containing confidential legal analysis would be provided to council and the council would determine whether and when to disclose or agendize the topic for public discussion.
