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Montebello budget preview sparks questions over paramedic fee, park funding and economic focus
Summary
City finance staff presented the draft budget and revenue picture; councilmembers pressed staff on a $600 paramedic fee, frozen Cal Fire urban forestry grant (~$800,000), concentration of economic development north of Whittier Boulevard, and hotel/lease expenditures.
The City Council reviewed a budget overview and engaged staff on revenue sources, program priorities and areas of concern during Tuesday’s meeting.
Director of Finance Michael Salazar presented the fiscal overview and described key revenue streams and cost pressures. Councilmembers raised several substantive concerns during Q&A: the city’s paramedic fee (about $600 per ambulance/paramedic response), a nearly $800,000 urban‑forestry Cal Fire grant that is now frozen, and a perception that recent economic development activity is concentrated north of Whittier Boulevard rather than distributed citywide.
On a privately owned billboard discussed during the presentation, Salazar said the sign is owned and operated by Premier Media under a development agreement with the property owner, Brixmor. “Per the development agreement … the city will receive for the first five years $90,000 a year,” Salazar said, adding that payments escalate over time and that the city will receive emergency‑messaging and community advertising opportunities from the sign once Caltrans gives final activation approval.
Councilmember Peralta called for revisiting the paramedic fee, saying it disproportionately affects vulnerable residents and that some residents delay calling 911 over the charge. “I think this is something that targets our vulnerable populations,” Peralta said, asking staff to prioritize review of that fee as the budget process continues.
Other topics raised during discussion included the loss of the Cal Fire tree‑planting grant that would have provided roughly $800,000 for planting and an urban forestry management plan; renewed emphasis on park maintenance and restroom renovations; and a request for greater outreach so economic benefits reach southern districts. Councilmembers also questioned a large increase shown in Home2Suites hotel expenditures and asked staff to explain rising equipment lease and debt payments (staff said the roughly $3,000,000 figure includes vehicle and equipment leases, including fire apparatus and utility vehicles).
Why it matters: Councilmembers framed the budget debate around equity and basic services — ensuring vulnerable residents are not priced out of emergency response, making parks usable and safe, pursuing tree canopy and urban forestry funding, and broadening economic investment across more neighborhoods.
Next steps: Staff will return with fee‑schedule updates, follow up on the Cal Fire grant status and provide additional explanations for the Home2Suites and lease/debt numbers as the council moves toward budget adoption in June.
