During the April 26 Signal Hill City Council meeting, Public Works Director Steve Myrter presented the above information on the City’s available funding and proposed budget for the new library. ” captionposition=”left”] [aesop_character name=”Sebastian Echeverry” caption=”Staff Writer” align=”center”] Financial report
At the April 26 Signal Hill City Council meeting, the City received and filed the financial report for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 and the carry-over appropriations from Fiscal Year 2014-2015 to 2015-2016.
According to City Manager Charlie Honeycutt, the City’s finances remain sound. However, some concerns the City may face include a rate increase in CalPERS because of the recent recession and rising workers compensation and health insurance. Nonetheless, Councilmember Ed Wilson asked the council to attempt to increase the reserve fund from 66 percent to 95 percent in the next five to 10 years. He is confident that the City can reach that reserve goal for a “rainy day.”
RCA contract amendment
The council authorized the city manager to amend the contract between the City and Robert R. Coffee Architect and Associates (RCA) for architectural design services on the new library under the Civic Center Phase Two project. The amendment increases the $610,570 originally allocated to design services to $753,080. To keep accounts balanced, the money being added to the original design-services budget is coming from an already established amount that was to be used for methane gas safety costs. According to Honeycutt, the money had already been there, it’s just being moved to the design-services fund because RCA feels methane gas emitting from the ground can be handled with proper designs of the project.
Contract services agreement
In a unanimous vote, the council authorized Honeycutt to extend a contract services agreement with The Conservation Corps of Long Beach to three years. The Corps is a part-time support service with the Public Works maintenance operations. The extension in the contract keeps the Corps working with the City until April 25, 2019.
Presentations
During the meeting, the city council also discussed week two of the “21 Weeks to Prepare” program. That week includes a shopping list of the following items: one gallon of water, one jar of peanut butter, one box of crackers and two boxes of energy bars. Staff said that a simple trip to stores like the Dollar Tree or the 99 Cents Store should provide everything needed for the shopping list.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen-Shot-2016-04-28-at-3.13.45-PM.png” credit=”Sebastian Echeverry | Signal Tribune” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Signal Tribune newspaper Publisher Neena Strichart was named Signal Hill’s Outstanding Older American of 2016 during the Signal Hill City Council meeting April 26.” captionposition=”right”] The City named Neena Strichart, publisher of the Signal Tribune newspaper, as Signal Hill’s Outstanding Older American of 2016. Strichart said that her parents’ history of working with the City inspires her to work hard.
Miles Nevin, a representative for Long Beach City College (LBCC), spoke to the council and members of the audience about Bond Measure LB. Nevin said the $850-million bond measure looks to update and repair older classrooms, create appropriate facilities for student veterans and improve student job training. Wilson asked Nevin if the bond could help bring back career choices the school had once offered. “It would be used on infrastructure and infrastructure only,” Nevin said. “It can only help expand certificates the school already offers.” Bond Measure LB will be on the June 7 election ballot.
City staff announced the launch of Go Signal Hill, a mobile phone app designed to connect the public with the City. The app can be downloaded onto phones from corresponding application marketplaces. According to staff, app users can create a service request for the City, keep up with City events and have the ability to pay water bills.
The next Signal Hill City Council meeting with take place Tuesday, May 10 at 7pm in council chambers, 2175 Cherry Ave.
