La Cañada Flintridge City Council balances budget, grants funds in final spending hearing
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council balanced its budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 on Tuesday, dedicating $330,150 toward community groups and service organizations that offer programs and services to the public and funding another $1.66 million in capital projects.
In their third and final budget hearing council members reviewed more than $3.1 million worth of requests, considering what to keep, cut or revise along the way. Representatives from 11 community groups presented their requests for the next fiscal year, amounting to $358,650.
In Monday’s budget hearing, speakers explained what their groups would do with the funding if granted. Tyler Wright, president and chief executive of YMCA of the Foothills, shared the organization’s plan to use a requested $36,500 to help purchase a mobile van full of STEM-related equipment that could travel to schools throughout the week.
Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with your community >>
Wright explained the vehicle was an extension of the Y’s “Garage,” an engineering-focused center for kids whose interests lean toward science, math and engineering, funded with help from the city. Ultimately, the council committed $20,000 toward the effort.
Chuck Terhune, representing the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Assn., asked for $19,175 to help make site and equipment improvements for those who work on the city’s annual float entry for the Pasadena Rose Parade.
“We want to put together a new system that allows us to use new MP3 technology,” Terhune said, explaining next year’s “Backyard Rocketeer” theme. “We want it to be more powerful because this year we’re going to have rocket engines going off.”
Funding would go toward video and sound system equipment to be used by those who drive in the parade, and toward shade canopies and heaters for some 1,200 volunteer workers who give their time to the project.
The La Cañada Kiwanis Foundation requested $2,500 to help with the design and installation of an irrigation system for a drought-tolerant demonstration garden being planned for the city’s Winery Channel Park area.
“We’re in a drought, and we’re going to be in one for a long time, so we might as well step up and give people a clue about how to [garden],” said Bob Wallace, president of the city’s Noon Kiwanis Club.
City officials told Wallace other funds could be used to complete the design and build work at a potentially lower cost, causing the request to be eliminated from the council considerations list.
Vicki Schwartz, speaking on behalf of the newly created La Cañada Sister Cities Assn., explained how the group would make good use of a requested $21,725 to help support program expenses and create a high-quality video showcasing La Cañada Flintridge for potential sister cities.
“We imagine that this video would be a marketing tool (and) an educational tool. It will be the face of our city as we reach out to communities across the world,” Schwartz said, adding that the city would be able to use parts of the video for its own purpose.
Council members cut $5,000 from the request, earmarked for two city officials to visit the new city once selected, and reduced the video production budget by another $2,500, granting $14,225 to the new group.
Maureen Bond, executive director of the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, requested $45,000 to repaint the center’s preschool, support senior programming and purchase a new electric kiln for the ceramics department. Representing the local chamber of commerce, newly hired Chief Financial Officer Carl Johnson requested $100,000 to support its efforts on behalf of community businesses and help run the annual “Festival in Lights” celebration in December.
Other recipients include: the Descanso Gardens Guild, asking for $10,000 to continue a free citywide mulch program and the ongoing maintenance of public areas near the gardens; the La Cañada High School Music Parents Assn., requesting $5,000 for the purchase of two horns and one tuba; La Cañada Valley Beautiful seeking $12,000 for the maintenance and upgrade of several local drought-tolerant garden installations; the La Cañada One City, One Book committee, which asked for $2,000 to market this year’s reading of Aline Ohanesians “Orhan’s Inheritance” in the fall; and the Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation, requesting $104,750 to support salaries and programs as well as continued restoration and conservation efforts.
Though City Council members began the budget process with a surplus of just $748,425, further identifiable funding came from taking $492,200 from the city’s general fund reserves in addition to other, more targeted sources, such as transportation tax revenue and solid waste funds.
Summarizing the city’s position, City Manager Mark Alexander reminded council members Monday they had a smaller surplus and greater requests this year, compared to 2015-16.
“Projections for revenues versus expenditures is not as bright as it’s been in previous years,” he said. “The $62,925 increase from last year is a little bit difficult to sustain if we were to see this repeatedly.”
--
Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
