Report Prepared by: Stephanie Dietz, Assistant City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Supplemental Budget Appropriation in the Amount of $100,000 to fund the Sub-Standard Property Pilot Program
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider approving additional funding in the amount of $100,000 to fund the Sub-Standard Property Pilot Program in the City of Merced.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving a supplemental appropriation from the unappropriated reserves of the General Fund for $100,000, transfer to fund 077 and appropriate the same in fund 077 to provide additional funding to support the Sub-Standard Property Pilot Program within the City of Merced
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by the Assistant City Manager; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer back to staff for further study.
AUTHORITY
Article XI, Fiscal Administration of the Merced Municipal Code - At any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As established in the FY 2017/18 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
With the adoption of the FY 2017/18 Budget, the City Council allocated an initial amount of $50,000 to support the Sub-Standard Property Pilot Program to address the problems associated with vacant and abandoned properties within the City. As a result of this action, a task force was formed to proactively address abandoned properties and establish a list of properties to prioritize workload. The task force includes members from the City Attorney’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, the DART Team, Code Enforcement, and Engineering.
As the task force works to abate properties, the team is refining internal and external processes, working to enhance the cost recovery process to improve sustainability of the program, expand the available remedies for abatement and include new external partners on the task force, including Merced County Human Services and Public Health departments. Since the beginning of the pilot program, three properties have been addressed. The task force is seeking additional funding to continue working on the remaining priority properties.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The City’s Finance Department has verified that a sufficient fund balance exists to support the additional funding. If approved, the allocation will be made to Fund 077 Substandard Housing and appropriated in 077-1301-522.29-00.