Measure S oversight panel backs $22.4 million spending plan, approves $15,000 pool window fix

The Measure S Oversight Committee of Crescent City on April 14 recommended a $22,393,183 expenditure plan for Measure S funds and voted to allocate $15,000 of unspent capital improvement funds to repair or remediate windows at the municipal pool, the city manager said.

City manager (speaker 1) reviewed the draft resolution and Exhibit A, which breaks proposed spending into departmental lines. Fire-department proposals in the packet included volunteer stipends, station staffing and training, a firefighter intern program, turnout gear and communications upgrades intended to support emergency response when standard lines fail. The packet lists a reimbursement to the city of $882,897 for shared costs and identifies a net Measure S expense for fire-related items in the city’s exhibit.

On public-safety technology and investigations, the city manager told the committee the police budget line funds three additional officers, detective assignments, body and dash cameras, tasers, canine care and forensic tools. The presentation named Cellebrite software and additional forensic laptops and towers to support cyber-related investigations, and listed a police budget line of $645,164.

Street-maintenance recommendations included $100,000 a year for minor repairs (potholes and crack sealing), a $500,000 larger street project likely scheduled for 2027, $45,000 for street lighting and a transfer to accumulate for heavy equipment such as a backhoe; the packet presented total street expenditures of $835,000.

The pool’s operating budget lines were presented at $345,000 for operations plus $50,000 for parts and supplies. The city manager said the pool’s condensation and building-envelope problem remains under engineering review and will return to the committee with more detail. Separately, the committee recorded a one-time recommendation to use $15,000 in unspent CIP funds this fiscal year to address window work at the pool so repairs can occur before June 30.

The city manager asked for an independent financial audit and noted the packet includes a five-year projection; packet totals exceed current revenues because the plan anticipates a portion of the fund balance will be used. “Measure S has been a big part of that as well as these other funding sources,” the city manager said, describing how Measure S combines with other revenues to pay for equipment and operational costs.

A committee member moved to approve the March 10, 2026 minutes; that motion and the motion to adopt Resolution MS-2026-03 (the Measure S expenditure recommendations for FY 2026–27, including the $15,000 pool-window allocation) were each seconded and put to voice votes. Committee members present recorded their votes in the affirmative and the motions carried; the committee forwarded the resolution and its recommendation to the city council for final consideration.

The committee did not set a final implementation date in committee; the city manager said the bid and procurement timelines for larger projects (notably Front Street and beachfront park work) will affect when some capital items move into construction. The council is expected to consider award of major contracts at a special meeting the week following April 14, according to the city manager.

Next steps: the committee’s recommendation and Resolution MS-2026-03 will be included in materials for the city council’s special meeting on award of capital projects and for the council’s FY 2026–27 budget review.