TITLE
Recommendation to restore the $517,000 in sidewalk funds appropriated to the Fire Department on a "divide by 9" basis ($57,444 per council district) back to their original intent - sidewalk repairs.
DISCUSSION
On September 3, 2013 the City Council approved a budget that included "loaning" $517,000 of sidewalk repair funds to the Fire Department for the restoration of services. Specifically, the motion stated " ... $517,000 for two months of funding for restoration of Fire Station Engine 8 and Rescue Unit 12 taken from sidewalk repair funds with the provision that the sidewalk repair fund will be backfilled upon receipt of excess funds from the State of California GEMT/AB 678 Program"
On September 16, 2013 a motion was approved to postpone the implementation of Engine 8 and Rescue 12 until November 1,2013 and give Financial Management and the Fire Department an additional 30 days to come to the Budget Oversight Committee with further clarity on the funding of Assembly Bill 678 (GEMT). It wasn't clear at this time when the GEMT funds would be available, and it appeared that they may be less than initial expected.
On November 5,2013 the City Manager advised the City Council that the FY14 Ongoing GEMT revenue would only be $370,000 and would not cover the structural cost of adding back Engine 8 and/or Rescue 12.
As the maker of the original motion, it was never my intent for the sidewalk funds to remain in the Fire Department.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GARY DELONG
COUNCILMEMBER, THIRD DISTRICT
SUJA LOWENTHAL
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMEMBER, EIGHTH DISTRICT