Council straw-polls a $4.36 million property tax increase as it finishes budget follow-up
June 9, 2022, 12:00 p.m. · Hybrid meeting
In a budget work session, council members straw-polled support for a $4.36 million property tax increase, 6-1 with Council Member Ana Valdemoros opposed. They also voted to keep Parks' two requested positions consolidated into one, declined a $600,000 plan to make part-time groundskeepers full-time, and put new growth revenue into General Fund and Library Fund balances. The council then went into closed session on real property and attorney-client matters.
From the approved minutes. Updated October 14, 2026.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Fiscal year 2022-23 budget: unresolved issues follow-up | Discussed |
| Capital Improvement Program overview follow-up | Discussed |
| Closed session | Approved · 7-0 |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Budget
Fiscal year 2022-23 budget: unresolved issues follow-up
Discussed
Council staff said new growth revenue from the county and State Tax Commission could allow reconsideration of earlier cuts. Members discussed converting part-time groundskeepers to full time, funding park irrigation changes that reduce water waste, auditing departments, and whether to reassess the proposed tax increase. Council Members Valdemoros and Amy Fowler discussed weighing the tax increase against what could be removed without one. Council Members Darin Mano and Chris Wharton said programs added through budget amendments responded to residents' requests for higher service levels. Council Member Victoria Petro-Eschler spoke of the budget's effect on residents, and Council Member Alejandro Puy listed services that could be at risk without the increase. The council added a legislative intent on reducing irrigation water waste and kept conditional appropriations, including one tying part of the police budget to restoring the city crime map. Straw polls: keep Parks' 2 positions as 1 (unanimous of those present; Fowler absent for the vote); use $600,000 to convert 25% of part-time groundskeepers to full time (not supported; Puy, Wharton and Mano in favor, Dugan, Valdemoros, Fowler and Petro-Eschler against); put new growth revenue in General Fund balance (unanimous of those present); approve the $4.36 million property tax increase (6-1, Valdemoros against); put Library Fund growth revenue into Library Fund balance (6-1, Valdemoros against); fund governmental immunity at the state maximum (unanimous). Fowler arrived at 12:55 p.m.
- Fee$4.36 million
- Budget$600,000
Item 2 · Budget
Capital Improvement Program overview follow-up
Discussed
The council received a written briefing only; no discussion was held.
Item 3 · Presentation
Previous years' legislative intents and interim study items
Discussed
The council received a written briefing only on the administration's progress on legislative intents; no discussion was held.
Item 6 · Other
Closed session
Approved · 7-0
The council voted to enter closed session to discuss the purchase, exchange or lease of real property and privileged attorney-client matters. The closed session ran from 3:05 to 3:24 p.m.; no action was reported.
What residents said
Property tax increasePark irrigation water use