Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calistoga council approves midyear budget changes, with caveat on fairgrounds pond fencing
Summary
Council approved FY25‑26 midyear budget adjustments including added revenue, a net surplus allocation plan, and utility project funding; council removed a $35,000 pond‑fencing line item for later consideration and directed staff to return with workshop detail on fire staffing and fairgrounds plans.
The Calistoga City Council approved midyear adjustments to the FY25‑26 budget Monday after a staff presentation that showed increased revenues and several departmental funding requests, but the council removed a $35,000 request for pond fencing at the fairgrounds from final approval.
Administrative Services Director Connie Cardenas summarized revenue updates: roughly $360,000 in upward adjustments, including about $180,000 from transient‑occupancy tax projections and roughly $100,000 related to a St. Helena agreement. Cardenas said the council could expect a roughly $120,000 net surplus after recommended allocations.
On the expenditure side, council reviewed requests across departments including additional tree‑trimming, legal fees for fairgrounds contracts, part‑time fairgrounds staffing, and utility capital projects. Cardenas told the council public works had requested about $1.7 million related to Kimbell Dam/concrete work; staff said the Kimbell project is roughly 55% funded by FEMA grant dollars.
Fairgrounds Revitalization Director Mishraig Wright explained midyear requests for a part‑time maintenance worker and a part‑time administrative assistant to improve safety and operations, and identified short‑term repairs (roof patching, gate fencing) and legal costs tied to contract work. Wright said some fairgrounds projects are focused on making existing assets rentable and on RV‑park infrastructure work.
Council discussion focused on the return‑on‑investment for fairgrounds spending, the pace of spending before a broader revitalization plan is finalized, and the need for clearer revenue projections. Multiple council members requested a side‑by‑side cost comparison of fire department service levels (part‑time vs. full‑time staffing) at a future workshop.
Motion and vote: Council moved to adopt the midyear budget amendments with the exception of the $35,000 pond‑fence request; the motion passed on a roll call vote (Eisenberg, Cooper, Lopez Ortega, Vice Mayor Giff and Mayor Williams all voted Aye).
What’s next: Council directed staff to present a workshop on fire department staffing (scheduled Feb. 17) and to provide more detailed fairgrounds reporting and a work plan at a future workshop. The city manager said staff would return with a clearer revenue/expenditure snapshot for the fairgrounds and other midyear items.
Why it matters: The amendments reallocate one‑time surpluses toward infrastructure, equipment replacement and unfunded liabilities while advancing FEMA‑funded utility projects; council flagged caution about ongoing fairgrounds expenditures until the revitalization plan is further developed.
