A quick overview of Signal Hill’s General Fund was also part of the workshop’s presentation.
Terri Marsh, Signal Hill administrative services officer/finance director, led the presentation.
She introduced the department leaders who presented during the workshop.
The key driving force for the departments setting fiscal-year goals stems from the City’s strategic plan.
According to Marsh, every five years members of the community, council, staff and anyone involved with the City put together the strategic plan.
She said it takes time to formulate a strategic plan. The current plan took three years to develop. The City hosted public workshops to receive feedback from the community.
“You put your money where your mouth is,” Marsh said. “It’s not just something high up in the clouds.”
General fund
The workshop kicked off with a presentation on the City’s general fund.
Tax revenues make up a majority of the general fund, which is 88 percent. According to Marsh, the top three sources of tax revenue are sales tax, property tax and franchise tax.
The Signal Hill Police Department make up 44 percent of the general fund’s expenditures, followed by the Signal Hill Public Works Department, standing at 23 percent.
Administration
The Signal Hill Administration Department breaks off into three divisions: administration, personnel and economic development.
Some accomplishments of the department include the securing of bonds in 2011 for construction of the new library, starting construction for the dog park and completing the financing needed for the Well 9 water pump. The department also highlighted its success with the Signal Hill phone app and a transition into paperless agendas.
In the coming years, the department’s main goals are to oversee construction of the new library, manage construction for the dog park and participate in the Community Recreation Needs Assessment.
Also, the department plans to host a potential special election for the medical-marijuana initiative. According to Signal Hill City Manager Charlie Honeycutt, the initiative must gather 15 percent of voters in order to host the special election.
Finance Administration
Marsh said she was happy to announce that Xpress Bill Pay had been implemented for citizens to pay their water bills online. The system allows citizens to pay bills through the use of debit or credit cards.
As a goal for Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the department plans to further promote the methods of online pay for the residents of Signal Hill.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Screen-Shot-2016-06-02-at-3.59.31-PM.png” credit=”Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Terri J. Marsh, Signal Hill administrative services officer and finance director, presents a budget workshop presentation for members of the Signal Hill City Council on May 31. ” captionposition=”left”] Community Development
The four divisions that make up the Signal Hill Community Development Department are planning services, neighborhood enhancement, building safety and oil field services. The department said some of its accomplishments included the amendment of a zoning ordinance for the dog park and concentration on methods to save water.
The department plans to continue the application processes for new developments, such as a project on Pacific Coast Highway and Molino Avenue and a development agreement with Signal Hill Petroleum.
Signal Hill Police Department
The Signal Hill Police Department announced its strategic plan for fiscal years 2016-2018.
According to SHPD Police Chief Michael Langston, the department plans to strengthen internal relations, develop a resilient workforce, expand community partnerships and maximize the use of technology for the department.
The SHPD plans to hire over 15 new officers this year. The department’s goal in fiscal years 2016-2018 is to finish the training for the new officers and to push the use of technology in the field.
Community Services Department
The three divisions that make up the Signal Hill Community Services Department are community services, recreation and the library.
The department hosted over eight community events with 5,000-plus participants.
More than 1,000 meals were provided to low-income senior citizens.
Goals set by the department for fiscal years 2016-2018 include increasing the participation of preschool programs, renewal of an animal services contract with the City of Long Beach and to have the new library opened before March 21, 2018.
Public Works Department
Signal Hill Public Works Department highlighted several of its accomplishments.
The department received an $11 million Caltrans Stormwater Quality Grant to construct a stormwater capture facility. Hilltop Park’s irrigation system was upgraded with the help of a $75,000 grant.
The department requested $2 million to fund View Park Phase 2 and a recycled water pipeline.
The Public Works Department indicated that goals planned for the coming years include Capitol Improvement Program (CIP) projects geared toward parks, water services, streets and buildings.
According to information on a slide presentation during the workshop, in Fiscal Year 2017, the projected expenses for the CIP projects are $36,255,046. In Fiscal Year 2018, the department plans to spend $2,382,500 on CIP projects.
Some of the major CIP projects include completing construction for the Well 9 water treatment pump, cement overlay on Willow Street and general sidewalk repairs.
