HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Board Annual Report / Study Session HB City Council / Finance Board
Study Session
March 6, zoo6
Charles Falzon
Chairman, Finance Board
Purpose of Today's Meeting
6 Discuss the Finance Board Annual Report
and zoos activities
C Review & comment on the Finance
Board's proposed activities for xoo6
z
t
i
Background
G Council/Finance Board joint study
session of February zz, zoo5
• The Cost Allocation Plan & Fee Study
• Unfunded Liabilities
• Board Roles & Responsibilities
• Long Term Financial Plan
3
Additional 2005 Activities
6 In addition, the Board was involved in the
following items during 2005
• Financial policies
• Prevailing Wage
• Form 700
• Board Calendar Items (e g , CAFR,
Budget)
4
2
Finance Board: zoo6 Activities
Absent any additional duties or studies
from the Council, the Finance Board will
• Pursue our normal calendar activities
(based upon the Municipal code)
• And
Ti k
i -
t
Potential zoo6 Activities
Actively Pursue
• Long Term Financial Plan
• Unfunded Liabilities
• Finance Board Roles & Responsibilities
• Prevailing Wage
• Form 700
Review
• Depreciation of Assets & Infrastructure
• Grants/eCivis
• Neighborhood Improvement Districts
• Rainbow Disposal Trash Collection Proposal
3
Finance Board: zoo6 Activities
6, If the Council has potential areas of study
for zoo6, early identification will allow
more progress during 20o6
7
FE-
Conclusion/Next Steps
G The Finance Board looks forward to serving the
Council in 2oo6
1, As always, the Finance Board will work with
staff and make recommendations to the Council
Consider another Council/FB Study Session in
February zoo7 to review the FB's 20o6 activities
and set direction for zoo?
s
4
i �
Additional Slides
s
Finance Board Origination
Formed by Council action on 3/15/93
�'. Stated Purpose "The Finance Board shall act in
an advisory capacity to the City Council on
matters pertaining to financial planning "
(chapter z zog of HB Municipal Code)
Seven member advisory Board one member
appointed by each Council Member
• Note Three new Board members in zoos
�o
5
Finance Board Duties
Review and make recommendations regarding
(i) Fiscal Policies
(2) Annual Financial Audit (& Management
Letter)
(3) Debt Management
(4) Capital Improvement Plans & CI Budgets
(5) Long Term Financial Plans
(b) New & Increased Revenue Sources
(7) Proposed State or Federal Legislation which
impacts HB finances
11
Finance Board Duties (cont'd)
f. Prepare an Annual Report to the City Council,
by Jan zot"
• To do so, the Board shall review the adopted
Budget, Annual Financial Audits, Capital
Improvement Plans/Budgets, and any other
financial information determined by the
board to be applicable to its annual report
• Other duties or studies as directed by Council
12
6
City of Huntington Beach
Finance Board Annual Report 2005
INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW OF 2005
With the election of November 2004 the year 2005 saw several new members added to the
Finance Board It was also the first full year for both our new Council members and for
our City Administrator As a result of some improvements in the city's near term financial
situation, the Council was able to allocate more funds to infrastructure in the FY05/06
budget than we have been able to do at any time in recent memory The past year also saw
the direct reporting of the Finance Officer to the City Administrator and the elimination of
the city's Administrative Services department—both positive steps for our city
CITY COUNCIL/FINANCE BOARD JOINT STUDY SESSION—
FEBRUARY 22, 2005
The City Council and Finance Board held a joint Study Session on February 22, 2005 to
review the Finance Board Annual report and to discuss the Finance Board's potential
activities for 2005 The general consensus of the Council was that the Finance Board
would concentrate on (1) the Cost Allocation Plan & Fee Study (2) unfunded liabilities, (3)
the Finance Board s roles & responsibilities, and (4) a long term financial plan for the city
1 Cost Allocation Plan & Fee Study
The Finance Board reviewed the Cost Allocation Plan and Fee Study during 2005 The
prior Cost Allocation Plan and Fee Study was completed in September of 2003, using
actual expenditure data from the year ended September 30, 2002 As the Finance
Board noted at the time this resulted in FY03/04 fees being set based upon FY01/02
expenditures
The most recent Cost Allocation Plan & Fee Study was started in late 2004 using the
FY04/05 budget as opposed to a prior year s actual expenditures The Finance Board
agreed with this approach and also generally agreed with the consultant s approach of
increasing the number of bases for allocation of costs We were also pleased to note
that all city departments (except the City Clerk's Office) were included in the final Fee
Study In late 2005 the Council adopted most of the proposed fee changes representing
a 3 year catch-up in fees (FY01/02 based fees versus FY04/05 based fees) While the
Board was pleased with the overall outcome, we will work with staff during the next
effort to ensure (a) more timely completion of the overall project and (b) better
understanding of the multi-year nature of the final proposed fee changes
2 Unfunded Liabilities
During the Study Session of February 22 the Council expressed concern regarding the
city s unfunded liabilities The Finance Board offered to explore the subject to better
understand these liabilities and to assist in communicating this subject to the general
public The detailed presentation in the FY05/06 budget was a direct result of Finance
Board recommendations to staff While we feel staffs presentation of unfunded
liabilities has improved, the Finance Board will continue to examine this issue
2
City of Huntington Beach
Finance Board Annual Report 2005
3 Finance Board Roles & Responsibilities
During 2004 the Finance Board began a review of our Roles & Responsibilities The
purpose of this review was to determine if a change in the Finance Board s role could
better serve the City Council This item was continued from 2004 to 2005 Because
the Finance Board had several new members in 2005, the Board decided to defer this
item until 2006 giving the new Board members time to become familiar with the
Board s current roles and responsibilities before considering changes We expect a
subcommittee of the Finance Board to address this issue during 2006
4 Long Term Financial Plan
Historically the Finance Board has been concerned about the long-term financial health
of the city The city measured part of its financial health when it examined the long
term cost of infrastructure in the year 2000 with the IIMP study Since then, the
financial situation has continued to evolve, sometimes in a positive direction and
sometimes not The Board believes a better understanding of the city's financial future
is necessary and will benefit both the Council and the citizenry To that end during
2005 the Board has started to work with staff to develop a long-term financial plan for
our city We understand that the Council is creating a Strategic Plan, due to be
completed during the first quarter of 2006 We also understand that a consultant will
soon be engaged to work with staff and the Finance Board on the long term financial
plan We look forward to working on this item after the completion of the Council's
current Strategic Planning effort
ADDITIONAL FINANCE BOARD 2005 ACTIVITIES
Financial Policies
Subsequent to the Study Session of February 22, the City Administrator asked the Board to
review three existing city financial policies that she felt were not supportive of her
philosophical approach to budgeting The Board reviewed the policies in question and
made recommendations to the City Administrator The modified financial policies were
then forwarded to Council The Council approved the recommended changes Key
provisions of these changes included (a) the establishment of a 2nd tier reserve fund, (b) the
potential funding of the Infrastructure Fund, and (c) the reestablishment of an annual
budget versus a two-year budget
Prevailing Wage
The City of Huntington Beach has recognized the need to identify opportunities to reduce
costs and maximize funding to meet the growing needs of a developing city A number of
Council members requested that the Finance Board study the possibility of realizing
savings by eliminating the requirement to pay prevailing wages on certain projects
administered and funded by the city The Finance Board created a subcommittee to
investigate prevailing wage requirements and the Board presented its findings during a joint
Study Session with Council in October The Board learned that the city is not legally
obligated to pay prevailing wages on projects that are not funded with either state or federal
funds
3
City of Huntington Beach
Finance Board Annual Report 2005
The Board concluded that a significant savings could result from a decision to pay market
prices for services whenever possible and the Board recommended that the City Council
• Adopt a policy to accept non prevailing wage bids wherever possible, and
• Provide staff the option of sourcing funds in the budget that would maximize
opportunities to obtain non-prevailing wage contracts
The Finance Board estimates that Huntington Beach could save in excess of $1 million
annually with little or no adverse impact to the residents The city is in need of additional
funds to meet immediate and long-term needs especially in the area of infrastructure
While prevailing wages would continue to be paid on most city projects, the savings from
the Board s recommendations could make a substantial contribution to the long-term
financial needs of the city
Area unions who are steadfastly against any changes relating to prevailing wage laws have
raised the only opposition to this change While the Board emphasized that this change is
not a union issue, they continue to mount fierce opposition despite the benefits to the city
and residents Their justification is that prevailing wage laws help maintain the standard of
living for the residents but they have not established either the fact or a direct impact on the
residents of Huntington Beach The Board advised the Council that the percentage of
projects affected by this change is minimal and that the impact on residents is negligible
Further prevailing wage laws were established in the early 1930's and the laws do not take
into account the economic and legal changes that have occurred in the ensuing 75 years
The Board recognizes the difficult political position that the Council finds itself in with
regard to this issue but we unanimously recommend that the Council step up to the plate
and approve the limited elimination of prevailing wages to affect an immediate and
significant annual savings for the taxpayers of the City of Huntington Beach We stand
ready to render further assistance on this issue
Form 700
Another item that came before the Finance Board this year was the existing requirement
that Finance Board members complete form 700, the California State Fair Political
Practices Commission statement of Economic Interests Several new Finance Board
members were appointed in early 2005 as a result of the November 2004 City Council
election During our Council Study Session in February one Council member expressed
difficulty in appointing a Finance Board member because of the requirements of Form 700
and openly asked if Form 700 was truly required of Finance Board members Additionally,
a recently appointed Board member decided to resign from the Board rather than complete
Form 700 Finally a potential Board member removed himself from consideration after
reviewing Form 700 and concluding that its requirements are too invasive to his personal
privacy Clearly Form 700 is reducing the pool of qualified Finance Board candidates
After these events, the Finance Board contacted the California State Fair Political Practices
Commission and discussed the need for Board members to complete Form 700 The FPPC
consultant advised over the telephone that the Board most likely did not need to complete
Form 700—as long as their recommendations to the Council were not routinely adopted
4
City of Huntington Beach
Finance Board Annual Report 2005
unaltered by the Council Further, the consultant stated that court decisions found it illegal
to require reporting when not truly required
This led the Finance Board to recommend to the City Council that the Board be excluded
from the requirements of Form 700 On June 20th 2005 Councilmember Hansen, via an
H item asked the City Attorney to look into this matter
The Finance Board strongly encourages the Council to resolve this matter prior to the 2006
filing deadline of April l"
Depreciation of Assets and Infrastructure
As part of the Council s discussion and approval of the Cost Allocation and Fee Study in
August/September of 2003, the issue was raised as to what processes and procedures the
city would follow for cost recovery related to depreciation of assets and infrastructure In
accordance with the City Charter these funds need to be tracked to ensure they are
expended on future assets and infrastructure In 2004 staff worked on this matter for
several months and then forwarded their approach to the City Attorney s office for an
opinion The Board is still awaiting this opinion from the City Attorney s office Several
other issues can be explored once the opinion is rendered (e g street cut ordinance) The
Finance Board also intends to review staffs approach (once it is available) and to make
recommendations to Council as appropriate
Grants
In last year s Finance Board Annual Report, the Finance Board recommended that the city
subscribe to the eCivis Grants Locator Service and that the city establish standardized
departmental reporting of grant data to measure and report the benefits of the eCivis
subscription Upon Council approval the city subscribed to eCivis in April 2005 It is
understood that staff will issue a one year evaluation of eCivis during April 2006 The
Finance Board intends to review staff s report and make recommendations to Council as
appropriate
Neighborhood Improvement Districts
The Finance Board first proposed this concept in our January 2003 Annual Report
Subsequently, the city established a program similar to the one recommended by the
Finance Board To date the Board understands that staff created a brochure describing the
program but, otherwise, there has been little activity with this program
The Board commends staff for the establishment of this program Since the Finance Board
continues to support this program and its potential benefits for the city we intend to review
the program during 2006
5
City of Huntington Beach
Finance Board Annual Report 2005
PROPOSED 2006 ACTIVITIES
Actively Pursue
Long Term Financial Plan
Unfunded Liabilities
Finance Board Roles & Responsibilities
Prevailing Wage
Form 700
Review
Depreciation of Assets and Infrastructure
Grants/eCivis
Neighborhood Improvement Districts
Rainbow Disposal Trash Collection Proposal
SUMMARY
In summary the Finance Board s charter is to serve the Council, and through the Council
the citizens of Huntington Beach While 2005 was a year of change, we expect no less in
2006 We welcome Council comment on our proposed 2006 activities and we look
forward to working with the Council to address the city's financial challenges
6
R
S 1 Al E OF ( ALIFORNIA _ ARNOLD SCHWARZFNFGGER,GOVER,%OR
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS �A
DIVISION OF LABOR STATISTICS & RESEARCH ADDRESS RF PLY TO
4�D Golden Gate Avcnuc. 8" Floor h
5 in ] rancisco CA 94102 P D Box 4.20603
San Francesco C.4 94142 0603
SCOPE OF WORK PROVISIONS
FOR
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE LABORER
1N
IMPERIAL, INYO, KERN, LOS ANGELES, MONO, ORANGE,
RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO, SAN DIEGO, SAN LUIS
OBISPO, SANTA BARBARA, AND VENTURA COUNTIES
The information in this packet is not based on a collective
bargaining agreement
a
SC L11
{
STA"I E OF CALIFORNIA GRAY DAV[S GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR ADDRESS REPLY TO
455 Golden Gate Avenue 100 Floor J
San Francisco CA 94102 P D Box 420603
San Franciaco CA 94142 0603
NOTICE TO AWARDING BODIES
Subject General Prevailing Wage Determination
Landscape Maintenance Laborer
March 30 2000
Dear Public Official
The current prevailing wage determination for Landscape Maintenance Laborer in your county will
be in effect until superseded by the Director A description of the Landscape work covered is provided
below for your immediate reference Please retain this letter in your records until further notice
ROUTINE-mo-wing watering pruning trimming,weeding spraying occasional planting
and replacement of plants and janitorial work incidental to such landscape maintenance
COMPLEX-servicing of irrigation and sprinkler systems repairing of equipment used in
such landscape rnaintenance
Note This determination does not apply to work of a landscape laborer employed on
landscape construction (work incidental to construction or post construction maintenance
during the plant installation and establishment period)
Please distribute copies of this letter and wage determination to departments in your agency that may
be involved in contracting out for landscape maintenance work
If you have any questions please contact the Prevailing Wage Unit at P O Box 420603 San Francisco
CA 94142 C603 or call(415) 703-4774 Also our fax number is (415)703-4771
i
Sincerely
Daniel M Curtin
Chief Deputy Director
f
I
0
I
r
a
GLNLRAL PREVAILING WAGE DETERMINA'I[ON MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
PURSUAN f TO CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE PART 7 CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 2 SECTIONS 1770 1773 AND 1773 1
CRAFT ##LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE LABORER
DETERMINATION SC LML 2000 1
ISSUL DATL February 22 2000
EXPIRATION DATE OF DETERMINATION April 1 2000* Effective until superseded by a new determination issued by
the Director of Industrial Relations Contact the Division of Labor Statistics and Research at(415)703 4774 for the new rates
after 10 days from the expiration date if no subsequent determination is issued
Emplover Pavments Straight Time Overtime
LOCALI fY Basic Health Pension Vacation Holiday Training Hours Total 1 1/2X
Hourly and Hourly
Rate Welfare Rate
Imperial $5 75 0 115 0 17 8 b 6 035 b 8 91
Inyo Mono and San Bernardino 5 75 030 0 17 8 622 9 095
kern 5 75 0 16 0 17 8 b 6 08 n 8 955 IiA,tip'
1000 d 027 046 8 '10 73 '15 73 Idiot-
Los Angcles 5 75 089 0 115 0 14 8 b 6 895 b 9 77 C
7
Otan�'e 5 75 oil 0 11 8 n 597 n 8 845
Riverside 5 75 9020 0 16 8 n 6 11 6 8 985
San Diego 5 75 022 0 115 8 6 085 8 96
I
625 024 012 8 661 9735
San Luis Obispo 750 k 0 15 0 15 8 780 11 55
800 '0 16 016 8 832 1232
Santa Barbara 600 n 0 12 0 12 8 b 624 b 9 24
700 0 13 0 13 8 b 726 n l0 76
Ventura 5 75 0 115 0 16 8 6 025 990
700 297 10 19 026 8 b 10 42 '13 92
94 Craft is not apprentii.eable
NOI F It there are two rates the first rate is for routine work the second rate is for complex work
$0 22'iftt r 3 years of service t$0 22 after 4 years of service
Computation is based on the first years of employment This ISO 40 after 3 years of service
rue should be increased by any applicable vacation increase 'SO 23 after 2 years of service
as stated in other footnotes $0 27 after 2 years of service
$0 31 after 2 years of service a$0 38 after 3 years of service
$0 54 after 2 years of service $0 81 after 3 years of service k$0 29 after 2 years of service
$0 24 after 3 years of service $0 37 after 7 years of service '$0 31 after 2 years of service
RFCOGNI7FD HOI ID kl S Holidays upon which thin general prevailing hourly vvdge rate for I Iolida) work shall be p ud shall be all
holed ivs in the collective bargaining dgreement applicable to the particular craft classification or type of worker emplo}ed on the piojeut
which i,on life with the Director of Industrial Relations If the prevailing rate is not based on a collectively bargained rate the holidays upon
which t1%prev2ilinf,rite shall be paid shall be as provided in Section 6700 of the Government Code You may obtain the holiday provisions
for the current dc,termin itions on the Internet at littp/hvwvv dtr ca gov/DLSR/PWD Hohddy provisions for current or superseded
df.ler1n111dlloiiS nldv be obtained by contacting the Prev ailing W age Unit at(415)703 4774
I Ray LL AND/OR SIi6SIS I I NCF PAN MN N I In accordance with Labor Code Seetionti 1773 1 tnd 1771 9 contractors shall make travc,l
uid/oi ,ubsntence p ty Inert,to each worker to eXe(,LILL the work 7 ravel and/or subsistence requirements for each era el is,thc.auon or h pe of
wort ti may be obtsuied from the Prtvathnf,Wa,e tJntt it(415)703 4774
18C