In a presentation at Tuesday night’s Signal Hill city council meeting, the head of business development and attorney for OpenGov, Chris Young presented his company’s platform used to publish interactive budgets and allow cities to add the spreadsheet-like features to their own websites.
Maintaining that his company’s product would assist the City with transparency, Young’s presentation was intended to give details to the council in hopes of adding Signal Hill to their list of clients. According to Young, the platform is designed to help communities and governmental staff members better visualize the City’s budgets.
“Transparency is something elect- ed officials, city executives, city managers and CFOs are embracing,” he said. “Residents are also embrac- ing [it] because they are expecting more from their governments.”
During the presentation, Young said OpenGov’s budget-to-spending trend line shows viewers how much the government is over or under budget, which can help governments assess whether they can increase their spending or need to save money. He also added that the intent of the program was created to help City staff save time.
Another key function of the platform, Young said, is the public’s ability to share trend lines through social media. This will increase communication and the public’s trust.
As he demonstrated the platform, Mayor Larry Forester asked him if the program would show errors in the system, because in the past, he said, the water department had a glitch that showed a huge amount of spending in one month.
Young replied OpenGov’s annotations function allows governments to explain the reason for the sudden over-spending spike in the trend line. He said annotations are avail- able as side notes to viewers.
During the presentation, there was discussion from the council questioning if the program was necessary given that the City’s Finance Department had recently installed new software that may produce redundancy with OpenGov’s platform. According to City staff, if interested in the program, the coun- cil will request further information from OpenGov.
Lighting, landscape maintenance
According to the meeting’s agenda under public hearings, the Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 (LLMD) was formed in 1992 to provide funding for the maintenance of landscaped areas within the California Crown Tract.
In Signal Hill, the tract consists of 95 lots.
The operating budget is funded through assessments collected from property owners within the LLMD. Common wall and fence painting projects are generally performed every five years, and staff recommends these projects be performed in Fiscal Years (FY) 2015-16 using assessment funds that have been set aside for this purpose. The proposed assessments reflect an All Urban Con- sumer’s Price Index (CPI) increase of 1.349 percent for FY 2015-16.
The amount consists of an operating budget of $46,000 and a project budget of $41,000. The project budget includes $17,000 for wall painting and $24,000 for wrought-iron fence repair. The operating budget, City Manager Charlie Honeycutt said, is funded through assessments collected from property owners.
Councilmember Edward Wilson recused himself from the vote because he is a resident of the California Crown Tract. The Council voted 4-0 in favor of adopting the resolution for lighting and landscape maintenance.
Congestion management program
Another public hearing for the council dealt with the Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program (CMP), which requires cities, including Signal Hill, to participate in the CMP annually at a noticed public hearing. Agreeing with the staff’s recommendation, the city council unanimously adopted the resolution when learning that the city is in conformance with all CMP requirements.
Children’s Health Services
The city council approved two city budget grants, each worth $5,000, to assist some of the city’s children who are from low-income or underinsured families. Receiving the grants are Miller Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Clinic, both located in Long Beach.
Miller Children’s Hospital will continue to use the grant money to serve qualifying Signal Hill children with life-altering and serious illnesses.
The Children’s Clinic expects to support 400 Signal Hill patients with approximately 1,000 clinic visits. Additionally, Diane Nichols, associate director of development of The Children’s Clinic, located at 2360 Pacific Ave., stated it is now open 365 days a year.
Christina Leonard, contract manager of Miller Children’s Hospital, said the hospital has had a significant impact on Signal Hill residents. From 2014 to 2015, more than 600 residents have used its services.
“Oftentimes in our daily lives, we take the health of our children for granted,” Leonard said. “It isn’t until illness or an accident occurs that we realize how truly valuable good health is.”
Councilmember Wilson asked Nichols how the clinic’s programs have changed because of the Affordable Care Act. Nichols said although it has helped many families gain insurance, 400,000 to 700,000 Los Angeles families still don’t have insurance and also have high deductibles.
ValleyCrest Landscape, Inc.
The City unanimously approved a contract with ValleyCrest Landscape, Inc. to provide landscape and maintenance services for Hilltop and Sunset View Parks. Public Works staff recommended a two-year extension of the contract under current terms with a three-percent reduction in costs for the entire two-year term at $51,460 per year.
West Coast Arborist
The Contract Services Agreement for tree trimming and maintenance services with West Coast Arborist, Inc. was unanimously approved by the council.
The three-year term agreement is at $380,387. According to the staff report, the City is responsible for 3,667 trees. The services under the contract provides for tree trimming, removal and planting. The City has contracted with West Coast Arborist since December 1996.
Portable restroom
The council unanimously agreed to the use of the portable restroom at the Rock For Vets concert to take place Aug. 19 at Signal Hill Park.
Besides allowing for the use of the restrooms, the council approved a waiver of staff costs, approximately $829 for four hours, associated with the setup, staffing, removal and cleanup of the restroom. Rock For Vets is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disabled military veterans in the greater Long Beach area.
Proclamations for outgoing commissioners
Mayor Forester presented a proclamation to outgoing Parks and Recreation Commissioner Alisha Lopez. Ken Davis, who served on the same commission, was not at the meeting to accept his proclamation.
“Alisha is an advocate of Signal Hill health wellness, which is reflective in her work,” Forester said. “As part of a health committee, she promotes youth fitness and encourages parks to have active-play areas such as an active playset at Raymond Arbor Park.”
Outgoing Civil Service Commissioner Bill Yochum was also presented with a proclamation. Yochum stepped down two years into his four-year term.
[aesop_image img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CC-Mtg-7-7-15-009.jpg” credit=”Photo by Pilar Alcivar-McCoy ” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester (left) presented a proclamation to outgoing Civil health wellness Commissioner Bill Yochum. Yochum stepped down two years into his four-year term.” captionposition=”right”]
“Bill has demonstrated exemplary kindness and sense of fairness as his role as Civil Service commissioner,” Forester said. “Bill has acted professional in his willingness to place his concern for the public good ahead of his personal interest.”
Smiling, Yochum accepted the document and commented that he will be celebrating his 80th birthday Friday, July 10.
David Hopper was appointed to fill Yochum’s position last month.
Wille’s Tin Shop
Forester also recognized Wille’s Tin Shop for 109 years in business. Forester said the shop is known as “the Tin Man with a heart.” Owner Debbie King is retiring and recently closed the business. According to Forester, the shop is known for its unique metal works, and although
originating in Long Beach, its last 11 years were spent located at 1875 Freeman Ave. in Signal Hill.
“Parks Make Life Better”
Forester, making another presentation, recognized the month of July as “Parks Make Life Better” month. Aly Mancini, community services manager, accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Community Services Department.
Alcivar-McCoy’s Final City Council Meeting
At the end of the meeting, during new business, Councilmember Tina Hansen recognized Pilar Alcivar-McCoy on her last city council meeting before retiring as the city’s Community Services director.
“I’m glad we are the city that helped your growth and mentor other Community Service employees,” Hansen said. “Thank you for your unwavering belief that parks make life better.”
Mancini will assume Alcivar-McCoy’s position on July 20.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting will take place at 7pm Tuesday, July 21 at the Council Chamber.
Additional staff members contributed to the writing of the above story.
