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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Insider's GuideInsider's Guide for the Newport Beach City Council Meeting on November 24, 2020 Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, November 24. Items that may be of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda, and all reports, can be viewed here. Study Session: The Council will hold a study session at 4 p.m. on the City's residential refuse and recycling collection. Staff will provide an update on current and pending State mandates, along with potential operational changes to the commercial and residential refuse collection. The Regular Meeting begins at 6 p.m. and the following are items of note: On the Consent Calendar is: • Petition certification and next steps for formation of Underground Utility Assessment District No.120. At least 60% of residents within a 2 -block area of Santa Ana Avenue have signed a petition to underground utilities. Next steps will be for the City to advance funds to prepare an Engineer's Report and to circulate ballots for a property owner vote on the assessment. • An update on the City's FY 2020-21 Community Programs Grants and Special Events Grants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an update is provided on which events and community programs have taken place and received grant funds thus far. Additionally, as requested by City Council, the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race (NOSA) and Orange County Coastkeeper organizations have provided additional information on their event/program in support of their requests. Staff's recommendation is to award $10,000 to NOSA and $6,000 to OC Coastkeeper. Public Hearings and Current Business include: • Proposed amendments to Residential Design Standards will be considered by City Council. Generally, the proposed amendments would reduce bulk and mass associated with future residential development by clarifying the definition of gross floor area, regulating third floor decks, and expanding application of third floor and open volume standards to all single -unit and two -unit residential developments. • A partnership agreement with the City of Costa Mesa for the funding, development and shared use of a temporary homeless shelter facility now under construction in Costa Mesa and expected to be operational in March 2021. Under the agreement, Newport Beach would provide a one-time payment of $1.6 million for construction costs and furnishings, and $1 million a year in operating costs, with exclusive access to 20 beds of the total 70 beds at the shelter. The Costa Mesa City Council approved the agreement November 17. • Financial reports for the fiscal year-end 2019-20 and first quarter of fiscal year 2020-21. The City's General Fund revenues ended the fiscal year 2019-20 better than estimated at $229.8 million, $10.9 million higher than the projected budget, and expenditures were $211.1 million, $3.9 million lower than the projected budget. First quarter FY 2020-21 results indicate positive data to date. With these positive results, the Council will consider staff recommendations to make an additional $5 million discretionary payment to CalPERS to aggressively pay down our unfunded liability, replenish the fleet equipment reserve fund with $500,000, and move $2.3 million to fully fund the General Fund contingency reserve at 25% of operations. With the continued unknowns regarding the fiscal impact of the global pandemic, staff is continuing to closely monitor revenues and expenditures. • Consideration of contract extension options as staff negotiates with CR&R, the City's refuse collection service provider, to make the necessary changes to comply with State law regarding recycling.