Richard Knoll, the city's community development, redevelopment, housing and economic development director, took to the council the proposed memorandum of understanding with the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts, the city and the agency for the new courthouse, to be located at 675 Lakeport Blvd.
He said the goal was to address concerns about the project, including visual impacts, a hydrology study, trash storage on site, mitigation and monitoring, and infrastructure – including sewer and water impacts.
A particular concern is stormwater. “We had a serious concern about this,” said Knoll, explaining that city staff didn't want to see the project exacerbate the existing stormwater problems on Lakeport Boulevard. Portions of the street have been known to flood during heavy rains.
The MOU also seeks to have the Administrative Office of the Courts dedicate land for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Lakeport Boulevard and Larrecou Lane.
Administrative Office of the Courts staff was on hand to assure the council that they would work with the city and do their best to address its concerns.
Councilman Tom Engstrom moved to approve the MOU, which was approved 5-0.
The council then moved to City Manager Margaret Silveira's request for a hiring freeze exemption to allow her to recruit for a permanent, full-time finance manager.
The job has been open since last September, Silveira said. An interim finance director filled in until last month.
Although the city is under financial hardship, Silveira called the position “critical” to the city's well being.
She said she could recruit both for a finance director or a finance manager, the latter with less experience and qualifications. However, a manager position could be paid less and eventually mentored and trained into more complex duties, she said.
Councilman Roy Parmentier asked if the position is in the budget. Silveira said it is.
Engstrom said it may be in the budget, but pointed out the city hasn't adopted its final budget yet, and with the governor talking about serious cuts, he said he felt it was a bad time to recruit and possibly later have to lay off current employees. He said he felt doing so would send a bad message to the community and to city staff.
“I tend to agree with you,” said Councilman Bob Rumfelt.
He asked if the city can hire a part-time person. Silveira said they've attempted to find a part-time candidate.
City Attorney Steve Brookes pointed out that it's a difficult position to recruit for at this time, with a “brain drain” resulting from many people in government jobs retiring.
Rumfelt asked what would happen if they didn't hire a finance director.
“We can limp along with consultants and using more inside staff to get by,” she said, pointing out that it becomes a struggle not having the position when timely, accurate financial reports are needed for administration.
She said the consultant drives from Hollister, and has been helping them get caught up on their books. When she arrived last spring, three years of city books hadn't been closed. Just two weeks ago, they closed the last set, for 2009-10.
“It's a very terrible situation for a city to be in, to not know the accuracy of their finances,” she said.
Mattina said it seems to be a critically important position. “I don't think that we should limp along.”
Silveira noted they already have spent $30,000 on the consultant so far this year.
Engstrom said he had no problem getting a temporary candidate until the city knows its budget realities, but he didn't want to bring someone in and have it result in layoffs. “We need to do what we can to protect the people we have working here.”
Replied Parmentier, “I know we need somebody in finance,” pointing out that if the books hadn't been closed for three years, something is wrong.
Mattina moved to have the hiring exemption lifted, Parmentier seconded if they would change the motion to call for hiring a part-time, temporary candidate.
While she was willing to adjust her motion, Mattina asked, “If we hire someone part-time who's going to do the rest of the work?”
After further council discussion, Mattina withdrew her motion and moved to approve the staff-suggested motion of lifting the hiring freeze, which Mayor Suzanne Lyons seconded. The vote with 3-2, with Engstrom and Parmentier voting no.
In other council business, a contract with Ruzicka Associates for the Green Ranch parcel survey was unanimously approved. The survey is part of the necessary work to complete the city's purchase of a portion of the ranch, where a municipal well is located.
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