Council eyes new budget, capital projects, MCE ordinance today – Martinez News-Gazette

MARTINEZ, Calif. Martinez City Council will face a full agenda today as it reviews and votes on the 2017-19 city budget, the list of capital projects it hopes to complete through 2022 and the adoption of an ordinance that would allow Martinez to join Marin Clean Energy, a community choice aggregation program.

The new two-year budget calls for fund totals of $58,447,640 in the combined city accounts in Fiscal Year 2017-18 and $51 million in Fiscal Year 2018-19.

The largest fund is the citys operations or General Fund, with $23,055,400 the first year and $22,843,000 the next year.

In the 2017-18 fiscal year, enterprise funds would account for a quarter of the total, with $14,339,600; capital projects account for 23 percent of the budget, or $13,255,470; special revenue funds, at 8 percent of the budget, or $4,497,070; internal service funds, at 3 percent, are expected to be $2,038,800; and debt service, 2 percent, would have $1,261,300.

The next year, enterprise funds for ongoing projects that are supposed to be self-sustaining or show a profit rises to 31 percent, or $15,872,000; special revenue funds, 10 percent, or $5,240,700; capital projects, 8 percent, or $3,875,000; internal service funds, 4 percent, or $1,884,400; and debt service, 3 percent, or $1,284,900.

City Manager Brad Kilger said employees made a few adjustments to the budget since May, modifying the dispatch supervisor salary range; adding the Ward Street Undergrounding Project, to be underwritten by a grant, to capital improvements; and changing the classification of the Water System In-Lieu Tax to that of an interfund transfer rather than tax revenue.

The budget includes approved position additions and changes, including the hiring of a community and economic development director and economic development coordinator, more human resources employees, and changing the assistant to the city manager position t o deputy director of administrative services.

Dispatcher descriptions and salary ranges were made more flexible, and other employee positions and salary rates were updated.

Other changes involve how the City Council might discuss midterm amendments.

City Engineer Tim Tucker has submitted the five-year capital improvement program (CIP). As is the citys custom, the Council allocates funding for the first two fiscal years of the program as part of its budgtet process and updates its list of projects every two years as well.

A five-year CIP enables the city to plan ahead for needed major capital projects, even when funding is not yet available, Tucker wrote in his report.

This latest edition is a mix of new construction, building rehabilitation and streets and water system projects.

The list, up for approval today, will be sent to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to comply with the Measure J Growth Management Program so Martinez can receive some of that measures money, Tucker said.

The five-year list has been approved by both the Franchise and Infrastructure subcommittees.

Among the routine maintenance projects on the list are annual curb ramp work and sidewalk repair,.

Martinez offers optional removal and disposing of damaged sidewalks, and that fund has a balance of $5,050, Tucker said.

Also among the routine work are annual storm drain and creek channel maintenance, as well as a one-time repair projects to address damage from storms this past winter.

Pavement management repairs will be done throughout the city, in Rolling Hills, Morello Heights Drive and St. Mary Street. Design work will be started before the next fiscal years street work will be done.

A 6-8 foot wide asphalt trail spur will be built along the western side of Reliez Valley Road from Blueridge Drive to Corte Poquita and flashing radar speed signs will be installed on the northbound curve and near Sage Drive. The combined project is being underwritten by another grant.

The Ward Street undergrounding project would put utility lines underground between Main Street and Greene Street. This is needed to be done before a prospective Transportation for Livable Communities Grant Project can be started.

Realignment of Pacheco Boulevard also will be started, and grand money will be used to repair pavement on Green and Brown streets. More pavement work will be done on Escobar, Ward, Las Juntas, Alhambra and Court streets.

Examination of some streets will be made so the city can apply for grand money that would underwrite their improvements. Several bus stops also will be improved, too.

Routine storm damage repairs and debris removal also are on the list, as is replacement of a failed culvert at Linton Terrace. Air conditioning and second-story windows need to be replaced at City Hall

The John Muir Amphitheater, Historic Train Depot, Campbell Theater and Community/Cultural Center will be examined for inclusion in the 2018-19 budget, as will ways to address increased use of the citys sports fields.

Among the Measure H park bond projects are the renovation of Waterfront Park, Golden Hills anPark and Highland Park, upgraded paths and picnic areas in John Muir Park and Alhambra Park, and renovation of ballfields at either Morello Park or Hidden Lakes or both.

One of the enterprise funds capital improvement projects is replacement of deteriorating piping at the Webster Pump Station. St. Marys hydro-pneumatic system would be upgraded and an ozone generator needs replacing.

The downtown area needs a parking study, since Contra Costa County is planning to build a new administration center and parking garage, and the county will help underwrite that cost. In addition, more parking meters need to be replaced with those that read credit cards.

The citys marina area needs to be dredged. That project has been approved, although the Council needs to vote on the extent of the work and its actual budget.

The Council will vote on an ordinance that would approve the Marin Clean Energy (MCE) Joint Powers Agreement and authorize a community choice aggregation project such as MCE for Martinez.

This is the second time the Council has seen this ordinance, which was introduced successfully earlier this year. Once all the documentation is approved, residents and businesses will be switched automatically to MCE unless they choose to stay with PG&E. MCE will send five notices to power customers explaining the change and the procedures for opting out of receiving electricity from MCE.

The panel will hear reports from the Martinez Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Martinez, two community organizations with which the city contracts for promotional events; distribute Martinez Police Department certificates to those who have participated in the Community Emergency Response Team training class; recognize the winners of the 2017-19 Budget Photo Contest; and present a check to College Park Grad Night.

The Martinez City Council will meet at 7 p.m. today at Martinez City Hall, 525 Henrietta St.

Tags: featured, Martinez City Council

Category: General News

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Council eyes new budget, capital projects, MCE ordinance today - Martinez News-Gazette