Page 14 September 3, 2015 EL SEGUNDO HERALD City Council from front page a new engine and found options for three employee handle the work as opposed to to collect new fees starting in October, that years with three equal payments but also a paying prevailing state wages to an outside cost will be offset by an estimated $24,000 in finance charge of $30,000—or 10 years of contractor. revenues. Another $18,000 allocation will add 10 equal payments with finance charges of Acting Finance Director Misty Cheng (who personnel to help sustain program growth in $105,000. Council did not wish to commit provided much of Monday’s presentation) day camps, special events, adult sports leagues those dollars at this time. emphasized the dire need for her department and marketing. The Council also agreed to The present ambulances are 19 and 11 to bring on two more hires for license fund $75,000 for additional tree maintenance, years old respectively, with 10 years being permitting and administrative duties, and the $30,000 for turf repair (since the soccer field the average shelf life. Smith noted that the Council agreed to allocate $60,400 total for turf warranty just expired and full replacement department had to use a pick-up truck in certain situations when the ambulances were out of commission. One of the vehicles had “Jacobson expressed concern that local residents might not be ready for to be towed back to El Segundo from the hospital the evening of the strategic planning a tax, as they are the ones who must approve the increase and have voted session. The ambulances do not offer any against other similar initiatives in the past. In the case of the TOT, the lease or financing options. Smith indicated that the second ambulance is more of a residents are not personally affected since only hotel guests pay the tax.” priority than the additional engine, but the high cost prevented the Council from moving forward just yet. the personnel. The City Clerk’s office will is still a couple of years away), and $25,000 The Council did agree to fund $39,000 also add a part-time record technician at as seed money toward a possible float at the for two ECG monitors, but declined just $32,500 to help with increased workload. Rose Parade and other preparations to celebrate over $102,000 combined for a water-saving However, the Council decided against a the City’s centennial. Councilmember system to wash fire apparatuses, an automated new library assistant ($76,000) and opted to Marie Fellhauer said she couldn’t support scheduler, and a digital fire policy manual. The continue contracting for outside emergency putting aside the float money given the City’s $51,000 needed to purchase 15 firefighting coordinator work rather than hire a new financial state and that other items should take turnouts (heavy protective gear) will come employee at $122,900. priority. Mayor Suzanne Fuentes emphasized from outside the general fund. Recreation and Parks Director Meredith Petit that a 100th anniversary only comes around Public Works Director Stephanie Katsouleas shaved her initial $50,000 request for part-time once and the City has to get the ball rolling got her wish to hire three street maintenance personnel down to $29,000 by reducing City soon in order to be considered for a float. workers ($224,900 plus $12,500 in related lifeguard time during El Segundo Unified A centennial committee will be formed in supplies, equipment and services) to catch School District athletic programs. She noted the near future to discuss planning and seek up on long-delayed striping, asphalt repair, that the coaches themselves likely already outside sponsorships. pothole fills, and traffic delineation, among have appropriate certification to supervise After plugging in all the various numbers, the other services. The Council went ahead water activity. Though the Council approved 2015/16 budget will have an estimated surplus with the funding after learning that it would $11,000 to pay a staff person to be present of $14,203. Staff will present Council with cost the City considerably less to have an at the Campus El Segundo Athletic Fields a preliminary document at a public hearing on September 15. A special Council meeting will take place on Monday, September 29 at 6 p.m. to formally adopt the budget before the current one expires the next day. Staff and the City Attorney will also put together language for a possible ballot measure next year to increase the transient occupancy tax (TOT) assessed on local hotel visitors. El Segundo’s current eight percent TOT is lower than all neighboring communities and well below the 12.4 percent area average. According to projections, each one percentage point uptick will increase City revenues by $1.083 million in 2016/17 and $1.207 million in 2017/18—with the numbers taking into account five new hotels opening in town over the next 28 months. Councilmember Dave Atkinson thought the City should try to raise the TOT at least three percent, but preferred four percent. According to estimates, an 11 percent tax would yield an additional $3.6 million in annual revenues in 2017/18. Jacobson expressed concern that local residents might not be ready for a tax, as they are the ones who must approve the increase and have voted against other similar initiatives in the past. In the case of the TOT, the residents are not personally affected since only hotel guests pay the tax. Fellhauer pointed to the need to educate voters and voiced her preference to set the new tax rate below the regional average so that El Segundo remains business-friendly. In helping decide what figure to ultimately pursue, staff will also look into proposed TOT increases in cities such as Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach for comparison purposes. • C e r t i f i e d a n d L i c e n s e d P r o f e s s i o n a l s KEEP IT LOCAL NEW LOWER RATES! 26 weeks (6 months) is only $400 52 weeks (1 year) is only $750 If you have any questions call us at 310-322-1830. HOW TO PAY: CHECKS, CASH OR CREDIT CARDS. Include Visa or M/C number along with billing address, security code, expiration date, email address and phone number. PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE AD IS PUBLISHED! 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