Finance Committee - Regular Meeting

Alright. Good afternoon. It is 03:00, so we will get our finance committee started right here at three 3PM, March 11, and we will start with our public comment. So if we could play the recording, please.

Public comment is now open for this item. Available in both English and Spanish. Call (951) 826-8686 and follow the prompts to access the meeting in either language. To request to speak, press 9. You can also join via Zoom. The meeting ID for both languages can be found on the agenda.

Alright. We have no comment cards in the chamber, and it looks like we have no one on the line to speak as well, so we will close public comment and move on to our discussion calendar, agenda item two. And this will be our budget engagement commission 2026 work plan. So we'll turn it over to it looks like a few folks here. Oh, who am I turning it over to?

Yes. Yes. You're the chair of budget engagement. Sorry. Miss Williams, is that right?

Yes. I'm usually on the other side, so this is

I mean if you wanna sit up here and chat with No, I'm kidding. You can feel free to

Okay. This is on. Okay. And this thing here. And just go forward. Okay. I've never I work in fashion. I've never used one of these. Okay. There it is in front of me. Okay. Good afternoon. Thank you so much chair and finance committee. I'm Sarelle Williams. I am chair of the Budget Engagement Commission.

And every year, the city's various and many boards and commissions are directed to create a work plan that align with its purpose and function enumerated in the Riverside Municipal Code and ensure meaningful input and actions resulting from the commission meetings. Last month, Beck, also known as the Budget Engagement Commission, reviewed the work plan for 2026 and I will be presenting that today. It's just a brief overview of what we are doing and what we would hope to continue to do advisory wise. Okay, one second. I just read this like you do at my meetings, right?

Okay. This is why I'm a volunteer. Alright, so in February 2025, Measure Z supplemental appropriations for self contained breathing apparatuses and personal protective equipment finances were given to the fire department for that. Measure Z supplemental appropriations for tablet command incident management software, Motorola premier one tablet command interface, cradle point router kits, and panorama dual antenna and Apple iPod pros. And I believe all of that was for the fire department.

If I'm wrong, someone will tell me. In May 2025, there were proposed amendments of the fiscal year 2526 of previously adopted fiscal year '24 2024 through 2026 biennial budget and monetary support to nonprofit organizations. June 2025 saw Measure z police headquarters, Architectural Design and Project increase. October was the Measure Z Funding Reserve Ballots Policy. The first set of action items in the 2026 work plan revolve around the Budget Engagement Commission's involvement in the biennial and or the annual budget development and Measure Z reporting and funding recommendations.

This includes actions for the BEC to serve as a conduit for community engagement during the budget development process and advise council on the allocation of measures, revenue and spending priorities. In 2025, the BEC recommended that City Council approve various Measure Z items in the police and fire departments. We received presentations and recommended approval of the fiscal year twenty five-twenty six amended budget and engaged in discussions related to exploring monetary support to nonprofit organizations. Our outcome reports July 2025 we got an update on Measure Z funding allocated for seniors and individuals with disabilities. August 2025 brought performance outcomes of housing and human service programs funded by Measure Z for fiscal year twenty four-twenty five and city youth and senior homeless related programs.

And there was the always fantastic illegal firework enforcement update. November 2025 measures a pavement programs update and fiscal year twenty five twenty six project selections. In 2025, the BEC received updates and provided updates for Measure Z funding And the commission has requested additional programming and has requested updates on additional programs and those are anticipated to come in 2026. Okay. Sorry.

I'm making sure I'm staying with my notes. This is so interesting.

Okay.

The work plan also includes actions associated with the BEC receiving quarterly financial reporting and financial performance indicators. This helps enhance transparency in the city's financial performance and foster accountability in the responsible management of city finances. In 2025, the BEC received several quarterly updates, financial health indicators, and a report on our CalPERS unfunded accrued liability. Feedback during these reports provide valuable information on how provide valuable perspectives to city staff. Lastly, the work plan also includes an action for the Budget Engagement Commission to work with city staff to improve public engagement.

In 2025, the staff presented the Budget and Engagement Commission with an update on the biennial budget development process, including our proposed community engagement, and received feedback on that community engagement. We also had various budget engagement commissioners attend our community budget forums that were held in October and November. Our recommendation is that the finance committee receive a status report on the work plan and that is all.

Okay, we've already done. Excellent.

Do you have any questions?

Us turn to the, back here and see if we have any public comments. We don't have any comment cards in the chamber. And I'll see if we have no callers for item two. You did so well. No one had questions. That's great. So I'll turn now to the dais to committee member and council member

Robillard. Thank you. I have to say that you have a very great speaking voice. And the the you know, if ever you needed another job in reading Audible books or or things like that, I can list it. You know, you made that report very, very easy to go through.

Yes. The the the BEC is a big part of Measure z and how we spend the funds there with measure z. And so having the also keeping in mind with the proposed legislation that's gonna be on the ballot this year regarding extension of measure z and and the increase, you know, I think what the BEC does is very important in making sure that we are staying accountable to what we're supposed to spend that money on and how we're spending that money. And I think you guys are doing a great job of doing that, and I I think the it's always good to have a conscience for the for the for the public. Other than that, that's great.

Thank you. Perfect. And and agreed as my colleague mentioned, we have some items coming up that might be of public interest. I noticed in the report that you have ideas, it looks like, to better engage the public. Is that so it says the chair and vice chair work with staff to improve public engagement. Sounds like there is room for improvement, maybe. But more importantly, as we're coming up with this new ballot initiative, I'm sure there'll be questions. What are some ideas or what are you all thinking about?

Well, one idea that I've always championed increasing social media especially to get the younger voters. And if Measure Z is up for another vote, what is it? Eight year, ten years?

Eight year? We actually be putting it on in a few months.

Okay. For some reason, thought it expired in ten years so there would be like another vote. Maybe I heard that wrong. So, getting younger voters involved at like before their voters, the pre voters, to let them know that their allowance money that they spend on video games and gum and candy and their skateboards goes to make their roads better. I feel if you let the incoming voters know that throughout their lives there will be more ownership in their cities and neighborhoods and more of a sense of pride.

And sometimes those things are shown to reduce crime when communities feel seen and cared for. And so, I'm hoping that, you know, they focus on the the younger voter, especially for measure z that their dollar counts even if it's just a dollar.

Excellent. Well, I'm sure you'll get a bit more attendance in the months to come, maybe perhaps at some of these meetings. So, it's good to know you all are are certainly doing a lot of work and looking for ways to get that community voice in there. Thank you for this report. No other questions there. So, we will close this item then. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And we'll move on. Do we have any legislative updates?

Thank you, Chair. Actually no legislative updates, I do want to update given that I see the BEC chair here. We're in the midst of final throes of our budget development for the two year budget. April 9 will be budget workshop at the BEC. We'll be back, we'll be here April 22, finance committee to go through the April or May?

April 20. I have a different date but it's okay. And then just keep an eye on it and we're going to go back to BEC before we head to council. So, we'll take two swipes at it at BEC in April and May and the committee here in April to talk through it. So I think it's important that people are aware of that, and we get some callers out here to actually talk through the budget with us.

Yeah. This is always that that time of the year when when we see the budget multiple times. You all get immersed in it and probably it just all looks like a blur after so many pages of numbers, but thank you for that work and we'll be looking forward to seeing it multiple times. So with that, item number four, any any items for future consideration? Nothing at the moment. Alright. Then we will adjourn at 03:13. That's pretty quick. Alright. Thanks.