REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Study Issue Presentation Dates for Recommended Studies in 2019
Report
BACKGROUND
At its Study/Budget Issues Workshop on March 7, 2019, Council reviewed and prioritized the proposed 2019 Study Issues. Upon establishing the inventory of study issues, the next step in the process is for the City Manager to assess the organization’s capacity to undertake the Council prioritized study issues, evaluate their connection to the Council policy priorities and operational initiatives, and balance the study issues with the delivery of core services. This report presents, for Council consideration, the proposed start date and tentative Council presentation dates for items recommended for study in 2019.
Budget Issues presented during the workshop with a Council action to “Refer” are evaluated and approved through the budget adoption process.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.1 Legislative Management- Goals and Policies
Policy A1: Utilize the General Plan as the City’s principal long-range planning tool; utilize the Resource Allocation Plan and Program Outcome Statements as the City’s principal mid-range planning tool; and utilize the Council Study Calendar as the City’s principal short-range planning tool.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment and 15378(b)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
DISCUSSION
At the March 7 Study/Budget Issues Workshop, Council reviewed 38 Study Issues to rank and prioritize for the 2019 Work Plan. Eighteen Study Issues were ranked by Council for City Manager assessment and consideration. This year, there were four Budget Issues presented for Council consideration (Attachment 1). All but one was referred to the budget process for final evaluation.
Since the March 7 workshop, staff has assessed its ability to undertake Council’s prioritized issues, taking into consideration departmental workloads and available resources. Attached are the proposed presentation dates for the 2019 Council-ranked Study Issues (Attachment 2). Study Issues not undertaken for study are considered “below the line” and are considered deferred and brought back to Council for consideration at the following year’s Study/Budget Issues Workshop. This year three study issues were identified as “below the line,” and 15 recommended for study, along with the 15 continuing study issues from the 2018 Work Plan. The 2019 Work Plan will therefore include a total of 30 Study Issues, and three Budget Issues pending final approval through the budget adoption process. Every effort will be made to keep study and budget issues on track to meet the approved calendar. The City’s Study/Budget Issues webpage will be updated throughout the year with any changes to dates or completion status. The webpage can be found at <https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/government/council/study/default.htm>.
Revised Study/Budget Issues
During the Study Issues Workshop, Council voted to combine Study Issue CDD 18-02 Update and Review of the Heritage Resource Inventory; and CDD 19-05 Update to the Heritage Resource Inventory to Include Potential Resources Associated with Technological Innovation. Both study issues aim to study updating the Heritage Resource Inventory list and seek to explore whether additional properties, including non-residential development, should qualify to be added to the inventory list, based on adopted criteria. CDD 19-05 focuses on the history of technological innovation in Sunnyvale and would be a subset of what Study Issue CDD 18-02 would explore in its more general scope and analysis.
Council also gave staff direction to consider providing alternative recommendations in scope and cost for the three referred Budget Issues. Revisions will be made and presented as Budget Supplements in the FY 2019/20 Recommended Budget.
FISCAL IMPACT
The nine Study Issues noted below require funding and, consistent with past practice, will be considered within the context of the City’s overall fiscal condition as Budget Supplements to be considered further in the City Manager’s FY 2019/20 Recommended Budget. Staff has determined that nine Study Issues will require a budget allocation in the total amount of $795,000. Eight of the Study Issues totaling $745,000 will require funding from the General Fund. The remaining study issue to establish a Single Use Plastics Strategy ($50,000) will be funded by the Solid Waste Management Enterprise Fund.
The three referred budget issues will be presented as Budget Supplements for Council consideration with the FY 2019/20 Recommended Budget.
Study Issue |
Title |
Cost |
OCM 19-02 |
Responsible Construction Ordinance |
$25,000 |
CDD 19-01 |
Evaluation of Right -To-Lease Ordinance* |
$60,000 |
CDD 18-02 |
Update and Review of the Heritage Resource Inventory and Include Potential Resources Associated with Technological Innovation |
$325,000 |
DPW 19-07 |
Ascertain Suitable Location(s) for the Installation of Youth Cricket Batting Cages and Potential Funding Sources |
$25,000 |
DPW 19-10 |
Improving Traffic Operations at Fremont/Bernardo/Hwy 85 |
$150,000 |
DPW 19-01 |
Consider the Feasibility of Establishing an Eruv in Sunnyvale |
$50,000 |
ESD 19-01 |
Single Use Plastics Strategy |
$50,000 |
FIN 19-01 |
Evaluate Options for Revisions to the Sunnyvale Business License Tax |
$50,000 |
LCS 19-03 |
Explore Strategies to Promote Cultural Inclusion in City Programs and Services |
$60,000 |
Total Cost |
|
$795,000 |
*Consideration of a right to lease ordinance will be reviewed as part of the Housing Strategy. As part of the Housing Strategy preparation, a menu of options will be presented to City Council; the final Housing Strategy will include only those measures the City Council wants to implement. If a right to lease ordinance is selected as a priority for implementation, a draft right to lease ordinance and community engagement will follow.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Proposed Presentation Dates for 2019 Council-ranked Study Issues as noted in Attachment 2.
2. Approve the Proposed Presentation Dates for 2019 Council-ranked Study Issues a noted in Attachment 2 with modifications as directed by Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Proposed Presentation Dates for 2019 Council-ranked Study Issues as noted in Attachment 2 in the report.
Staff
Prepared by: Lupita Alamos, Senior Management Analyst, Office of the City Manager
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Director, Department of Finance
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Budget Issues Referred to the Budget Approval Process for Evaluation and Approval
2. Proposed Presentation dates for 2019 Council-ranked Study Issues