FINANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Meeting Report

June 27, 2001

PRESENT: Chair Pat Dando, Councilmember Chuck Reed, Councilmember John Diquisto, Councilmember Nora Campos

ABSENT: None

STAFF: Kay Winer, Bill Hughes, Jerry Silva, Eduardo Luna, Amal Sinha, Phil Prince, Wandzia Grycz, Leon Nix, Tom Manheim

The meeting was convened at 2:35 P.M.

Item f through i was handled by the Redevelopment Agency.

a. Consent Items:

1. May Monthly Report (Auditor)

Upon motion of Councilmember Reed, seconded by Councilmember Campos, the Committee approved the Consent Item.

b. Audit of Building Division’s Cash Handling and Refund Process (Auditor)

Jerry Silva, City Auditor gave a brief presentation. He stated that the Auditor’s Office had 2 Findings and 6 Recommendations and that the Building Division has concurred with and implemented them.

Councilmember Campos asked if, in the past, Building Division staff have been given formal training in cash handling.

Jerry answered that there has not been a formal training in place in the past and that this is one of the recommendations.

Amal Sinha, Chief Building Official added that the division would implement this recommendation. The division has 3 new staff members and that they will be given formal training.

Chair Dando asked if there have been any incidents where money has been missing or of not being able to balance the receipts.

Amal answered no because safety precautions have been in place.

Councilmember Diquisto asked how overcharges occur.

Jerry answered that sometimes the contractor will be given an estimate and will willingly overpay in order to speed the permit process along. In this case, the Building Division will issue the Contractor a refund. At other times it is due to human error. For example, a permit may be issued as an industrial permit when it should be a commercial permit or vice versa.

Eduardo Luna, Senior Program Performance Auditor added that refunds issued this year are lower then last year so the Division is improving.

Amal thanked the Auditor’s Office for their suggestions and added that the division will be implementing a new IDTS System on July 16, 2001, which will improve cash handling procedures.

Phil Prince, Administrative Officer, Planning, Building and Code Enforcement added that new tables have been added which clearly defines the various categories for building permits.

Upon motion of Councilmember Diquisto, seconded by Councilmember Reed, the Committee accepted the staff report.

c. Sales and Business Tax Report for Quarter ended March 31, 2001 (Auditor)

Jerry summarized the report for the Third Quarter. He stated that staff is still on target.

Upon motion of Councilmember Reed, seconded by Councilmember Campos, the Committee accepted the staff report.

d. Findings Report on Bay 101 Conditional Approval of Stock Transfer Agreement for Quarter Ending December 31, 2000 (Auditor)

Jerry stated that the audit report from Kafoury, Armstrong & Company finds that Bay 101 is in compliance.

Upon motion of Councilmember Diquisto, seconded by Councilmember Reed, the Committee accepted the staff report.

e. Audio Broadcasting of Council Committees over the Web (Information Technology)

Kay Winer, Deputy City Manager stated that this item is being presented in response to Councilmember Reed’s request approved by the Rules Committee. The Information Technology Department has looked at what it would cost to add audio broadcasting capabilities (via the Web) to room 204.

Wandzia Grycz, Chief Information Officer stated that the minimal cost to add a Web Streaming system would be $12,000. Adding a back-up system would be an additional $30,000. This system would not allow for simultaneous broadcasting from room 204 and the Council Chambers but it is rare that City Council and Committee meetings occur at the same time.

The Committee discussed the pros and cons of spending additional funds for back up and determined that it was not necessary at this time. If, in the future, breakdowns occurred at a frequency that warrants the back up, this would be reviewed again.

Upon motion of Councilmember Reed, seconded by Councilmember Campos, the Committee approved the $12,000 budget for the addition of Web Streaming equipment to conference room 204.

j. Oral Petitions

Bill Chew, public spoke on the Redevelopment Agency’s spending patterns.

k. Adjournment

The Committee was adjourned at 3:45 P.M.

Councilmember Pat Dando, Chair,

Finance and Infrastructure Committee