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position requested and to have both matters (position and reductions) come back to Council. <br />Motion carried with CM Cook voting "No." Absent were CM Hutton, CM Sandoval and Mayor <br />Gaytan. <br />Water <br />Motion and second by CM Sanders and CM Chastain to approve the Water budget carried upon <br />unanimous vote, with CM Hutton, CM Sandoval and Mayor Gaytan absent. <br />Wastewater <br />CM Bennett stated that at a recent Utilities Commission meeting, some questions and concerns <br />were raised by that commission regarding the use of AB 1600 funds to repair a line on Mt. Vernon <br />Avenue. She understood that there was a water main break on Mt. Vernon Avenue and that Staff <br />used AB 1600 funds to repair the line. The line size was not increased. The same size of line was <br />put back into the ground; a new line was placed into the position. In reading through information <br />provided, she believed a very broad interpretation was applied and until she had more time to <br />review the matter with a legal expert, CM Bennett said she could not approve the wastewater <br />budget. <br />Utility Director Clarke stated that Staff relied on Government Code Section 66000, on the use of <br />developer fees and how those fees could be used within the City. Through investigation and <br />research, there was an Attorney General's Opinion that said developer fees could be used for new, <br />replacement and rehabilitation of infrastructure. This was a very large expense. He said it did <br />create additional capacity in that area of the City since the old line had many breaks, had many <br />clogs and a lot of infiltration. It was recommended that sewer development fees be used to <br />replace that line rather than current revenues. <br />City Attorney Biggs said she was not consulted and asked what funds were being used. Director <br />Clarke replied that sewer development funds had been used. She said that AB 1600 required that <br />there be a nexus between the specific expenditure funds and the development that paid into that <br />fund. She asked if he could track the funds to development that have benefited specifically from <br />the improvement and was it an improvement or just a maintenance. She said it could not be done <br />just for maintenance. <br />Director Clarke said it was not considered a maintenance since it was a large capital expenditure <br />and it did improve capacity to areas beyond that of the original infrastructure. She asked if he <br />would have had to replace it regardless of new development. He said he did not know. It <br />depended on how much longer the line would have lasted. He concluded that the only reason it <br />collapsed was because of a developer dig -in. City Attorney Biggs said this matter required legal <br />review to ensure the City used the restricted funds correctly. City Attorney Biggs expressed <br />concern that if there had been an error in the expenditure of those funds, then it is error that will <br />have to be corrected but did not believe that it was an error that should be compounded by not <br />completing the budget process this evening. <br />Director Clarke said the matter being discussed affected the current year's budget. The break was <br />paid for out of this year's expenditures. Finance Director Vega said the City was utilizing <br />$299,000, currently in wastewater reserves; therefore, once the issue was reviewed and possibly <br />City Council Minutes - June 30,1997 page g <br />JUN 3 n 1gg7 <br />