Food Security: Council Members Okay New Fees for Aquatics Program, Endorse Upgrades to the Kitchen at Senior Multi Use Center To Enhance Efficiency And Prevent Food Borne Illnesses
Food Security: Council Members Ok New Fees for Aquatics Program, Endorse Upgrades to the Kitchen at Senior Multi Use Center To Enhance Efficiency And Prevent Food Borne Illnesses
By Ben Edokpayi, Staff Writer ©
In a two-pronged action at their last council session Members adopted a Resolution to add the city’s Aquatics Programs and Senior/Multi-Use Center (“SMUC”) Fees to the Master Fee Schedule.
The fee-spike action, initiated by Louren Kotow, Public Works Director and authorized by Jim Lindley, City Manager, became imperative after a hiatus occasioned by the Coronavirus.
In her presentation Public Works Director Kotow said that In 2019, the City contracted with Matrix Consulting Group to study various departmental fees that included the Aquatics Program.
The purpose of the study was to determine the full cost recovery rate for the specified fees and to analyze departmental costs that are not recoverable through fees. California Government Code 66014(a) stipulates that user fees charged by local agencies may not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the fee is charged.
On April 7, 2020, Council adopted various updates to the Master Fee Schedule based on the study, and also approved a process for annual updates to the Master Fee Schedule. Annual updates were to be based upon the All Urban Consumers Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, February 12-Month Percent Change; and were to be effective on July 1 of the same year, after conducting a Public Hearing to receive and consider public comments.
Kotow said that Cost of Services for two Divisions, Recreation and Transit, were not considered by Council at that time, so their respective advisory Commissions would have an opportunity to review the fee study and make recommendations regarding each Division’s fees.
In April the results of the study, and corresponding recommended fees were discussed at the April 28, 2020 and May 26, 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission Meetings.
Kotow advised that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) factor makes it imperative that the matter be revisited as recommended in the study, as utilizing an annual increase mechanism would ensure that the City receives appropriate fee and revenue increases that reflect growth in costs.
The proposed increases to all Recreation fees will continue to be brought to the Commission each year, prior to Council.
Council members unanimously approved the recommendation.
Council members were also briefed on a retrofit project in the Kitchen at the Senior Multi-Use facility. The Public Works Director reported to Council that a derelict Stove, Refrigerator and Dishwashers were now operational but that the existing Cabinetry and Kitchen Countertops are porous and subject to food borne illnesses. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foodborne-germs.html
G.E., Which Traces Its Roots to Thomas Edison, Sells Its Lighting Business https://nyti.ms/2TLghf8
Honor for the Longest Tenured WH Master Chef Roland Mesnier. https://www.wiltonbulletin.com/news/article/Roland-Mesnier-pastry-chef-for-five-presidents-17402516.php
https://nypost.com/2022/08/27/beloved-white-house-pastry-chef-who-served-5-presidents-dies/ #96 #RolandRaymondHow https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-obama-chef-112408-2008nov24-story.html
A senior citizen at the meeting thanked members for the upgrade. “ This has been a long process. We have needed help. This is appreciated, she said.”
Former Council member and Independent Voice Columnist Michael Ceremello told members that while the upgrades were appreciated that this was not on the agenda. And he described it as a “Brown Act” Violation.
This is the lead article in the Sunday August 28 edition of the Dixon Tribune.
Important Footnote from Conservative Dixon. On Wednesday, who showed up at the Tribune Office? Mayor Steve Bird, a former Captain with the Police Department. Reason? He said his newspaper had been damaged by excessive water from his sprinkler. So he decided to stop at our office to get a replacement and of course a thank you embrace to Sarah Villec, Advert Manager. That’s what makes Dixon Unique.
