4 20 2021 Minutes WS DRAFT

D R A F T
WORK SESSION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE
EL MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
10000 N. EL MIRAGE ROAD
5:00 PM -TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021
Minutes
 
           
   
1.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Alexis Hermosillo; Vice Mayor Monica Dorcey; Councilmember Roy Delgado;
Councilmember Anita Norton; Councilmember Mike Hutchinson; Councilmember David
Shapera; Councilmember Donna Winston 
2.
CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was held online and publicly; called to order at 5:00 pm.
 
3.
WORK SESSION PRESENTATION
 
1.
Presentation of the budget framework and revenue projections. (Finance)
Deputy City Manager/Finance Director Robert Nilles and Financial Analyst Macy Walker
presented.  Ms. Walker started by providing a PowerPoint presentation covering budgetary
philosophy and roles.  Mr. Nilles continued with an overview of the Citywide budget summary to
include revenues and sources of funds (which includes an additional $8.5M from the Federal
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)), expenditures and uses of funds; noteworthy budget items
included a projected transfer of funds to the Court to subsidize operations (loss of photo
enforcement fees), and no projected CDBG funds.  The recommended budget is $80,946,500
before carry forward projects, with an estimated projection of $95M to $100M after projects are
carried forward.  Mr. Nilles identified and reviewed the City's new budgeting tool, ClearGov, and
explained departments utilize this program to complete their budget data entry.  He reviewed fund
transfers, balancing funds, and historical general fund revenues, with a projected revenue of $30M
for 2021 and $40M in 2022.  The projected increase of revenues is due to Cares Act Funding and
significant projected City property ($275,000 increase to $2.6M) and sales tax ($12M) increases. 
Mr. Nilles added due to the COVID pandemic State Shared Revenue was down resulting in less
funds to cities and towns.  
Councilmember Norton asked why there was such a significant increase in sales tax and Mr.
Nilles explained the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the South Dakota vs. Wayfair case means a City
can now collect sales tax on internet transactions.  He stated the City has seen a benefit from this
added sales tax, with the biggest increase in the area of construction sales tax.  Construction sales
tax has increased from $500K to over $2M annually, primarily due to development in the southern
portion of the City.  Councilmember Shapera stated the internet sales tax was implemented two
years ago.  Mr Nilles responded when Amazon built a distribution center in Goodyear (six or seven
years ago) there was no sales tax imposed for items purchased on the internet and shipped from
Goodyear; the Wayfair decision revised this.
Mr. Nilles identified the Dial-A-Ride revenue (estimated at $95,000) to provide funding for Valley
Metro and Northwest Valley Connect.  Councilmember Shapera asked if Medicare provides any

funding to the City to offset transit expenses.  Mr. Nilles stated the City receives no funds from
Medicare; funds have to be requested to Valley Metro who in turn allots the City a set amount.  Mr.
Nilles reviewed the sanitation (increase in rates to maintain recycling), sewer, and streets revenues
through the ClearGov program.  Ms. Walker provided an overview of the budget process,
personnel changes and next steps.  
 
2.
Presentation of proposed Fire Department Study RFQ.(Fire)
Fire Chief Michael Long presented by stating the last external study of the Fire Department was
conducted in 2005.  An external study will enable management to get an unbiased view of the Fire
Department's operations.  Key areas to explore include 1) ability to provide service currently and
meet future needs of the City of El Mirage and its residents, 2) ability to meet the operational
guidelines of the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Regional Metropolitan Phoenix Fire
Service Automatic Aid System, 3) evaluate the current primary Public Safety Answering Point
(PSAP), (City of Tolleson Police Department Dispatch Center), to determine contractual
requirements and current performance in answering incoming E911 emergency and non-emergency
fire service-related calls and time taken to receive and transfer calls to the secondary PSAP
(Phoenix Fire Department's Regional Dispatch Center) for actual dispatch to EMFD units, and 4)
review the 2017 Public Protection Classification Report conducted by the Insurance Service Office
(ISO) and then compare the report to current service levels of the EMFD to determine if
improvements can be identified that would enhance the City's overall ISO rating.
Councilmembers Shapera, Norton, and Delgado congratulated Chief on a well done
proposal.  Councilmember Winston asked if dispatching was taken into consideration with the
ISO insurance rating.  Chief Long responded the City is a standalone entity and if you have an
outside dispatch service, it is figured in, but not really part of the grading; training, equipment, and
fire response are primary ratings.  City Manager Crystal Dyches asked what the best ISO rating
was.  Chief Long stated 1 is the best rating and the City of El Mirage currently has an ISO of 2.5. 
Councilmember Dorcey asked what the timeline was for completion of this study.  Chief Long
responded the estimated goal was to have it completed by the Fall and presented to Council by the
end of the year.
  
 
4.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 5:56 pm.
 
_____________________________
Alexis A. Hermosillo, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Sharon Antes, City Clerk
I hereby certify the aforementioned minutes are a true and accurate record of the El Mirage City Council Work
Session held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 and a quorum was present. 
  
2 
Work Session  - Council Minutes
April 20, 2021