Clayton council all smiles over midyear budget report

It’s not only the Mt. Diablo foothills surrounding Clayton that are green this spring. The city’s midyear budget report reflected a strong fiscal standing.

“Other cities would love to be in our position,” City Councilwoman Julie Pierce said at the end of a recent council meeting at which financial director Kevin Mizuno reviewed the midyear expenses and revenues in the city’s nearly $4.7 million annual budget.

While most revenues were right on target, there were a couple of blips that Mayor Tuija Catalano questioned. Mizuno said franchise fees are lagging because Comcast is losing customers to Internet viewing options such as Hulu and Amazon. Measure J funds also were not on par with projections, but Mizuno said cities will be reimbursed after the end of the fiscal year.

The biggest decision the council needed to make was what to do with $181,000 leftover from the 2017-’18 budget. Mizuno outlined three options: Keep it in reserve for a community emergency, such as a landslide; put $50,000 in an insurance fund and the rest in the general fund; or transfer $50,000 to a pension “hedging” fund, to help manage rising pension costs, with the rest in the general fund.

A council subcommittee suggested a “hybrid” solution of putting $100,000 into pension costs and spending $50,000 for needed safety equipment, such as an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the Hoyer Room of the library where city meetings are held. There is already an AED across the hall in the library, but safety standards require one in the Hoyer Room. Councilman Jim Diaz said he hoped the Clayton Community and Business Association would help foot the $2,100 bill.

Speaker Ann Stanaway said the council should fund a $50,000 wireless system for the city’s maintenance staff. It would alert them of problems that need quick attention, such as a broken and spraying water line.

The council approved funds for the AED and wireless system, while setting aside $100,00 for pension costs.

Meanwhile, Pierce underscored the need to get started on street improvements required by SB743, a comprehensive bill geared toward improving traffic and environmental safety in California cities. She also urged that the council “get moving” on improving its permitting process. The council agreed with those suggestions.