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Councilmember Sullivan asked the City Manager to provide an update on negotiations with <br /> PCEA. Mr. Fialho said the City is involved in the collective bargaining process; management is <br /> working within the parameters established by the Council, and discussions are on- going. At the <br /> time staff does have something to report, this can be scheduled for a public review and Council <br /> will take action. <br /> Councilmember Sullivan noted the operating budget does not address debt. Ms. Wagner said <br /> the operating budget addresses the golf course debt, which is the largest debt, and debt on the <br /> Operations Services Center, the Senior Center, and water and sewer. She noted it is almost <br /> $26 million and is in the Operating Budget and reflected as debt service the City pays annually. <br /> The annual debt annually on the golf course is $1.5 million. Mr. Fialho and Ms. Wagner pointed <br /> out that debt shows up on page 6 of 6 in transfers in and out, on the balance sheet and also in <br /> the audit, which is on the website. The Operating Budget has close to $4.5 million that goes into <br /> the retiree medical portion; a portion pays retiree medical and a portion goes into the trust fund <br /> to pay more to build up reserves long -term. <br /> Mayor Hosterman opened the item for public comment <br /> Kay Ayala said a presentation was made at the Bay Area Council's forum regarding City <br /> budgets and Pleasanton has a reputation for being one of the most financially stable cities, but <br /> no where does it say the City is facing a crisis, and she thinks the budgets from here on out <br /> should be zero based. Unfunded liabilities have gone up dramatically which have not been <br /> highlighted, she questioned and hoped that one workshop would address pensions, and for a <br /> priority to have pensions and benefits under control. <br /> Mayor Hosterman closed public comment. <br /> Mayor Hosterman asked Mr. Fialho to recap efforts made by the City to address the recession. <br /> Mr. Fialho said the City has revised its revenues and expenditures since 2009 consistently. <br /> Expenditures have been reduced close to $15 million over the last few years and a lot of credit <br /> goes to employees, departments and to the Council in making difficult decisions, and he <br /> recognized that services are stretched with 39 less employees. Regarding concessions, the City <br /> rolled back retiree medical and established a two -tier system with managers, hopefully with the <br /> PCEA, and hoping to approach them with police and fire as contracts become due. He said the <br /> City is also conscious of expenditures, work with revenue estimation, employee contributions <br /> making up for vacant positions, and balancing the budget so as not to significantly impact <br /> service levels. <br /> In response to the unfunded liability of the City, Mr. Fialho said the issue is serious up and down <br /> the state. The City has stated what its unfunded liabilities are in the CAFR which is on the <br /> website, and the way the liabilities are posted are in conformance with the law. <br /> Mayor Hosterman said the City Manager shared a report from the Little Hoover Institute on <br /> pension reform written by a group of unbiased individuals in the form of an open letter to the <br /> State legislature and the Governor to do something. She said the report is good at explaining <br /> frequently asked questions having to do with public and private sectors. <br /> Councilmember Cook- Kallio cited another good report, The Callister Letter, released on Friday, <br /> and noted some information is consistent and some contradictory. She suggested that <br /> everybody review all data before offering or taking a position. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 6 of 7 March 15, 2011 <br />