PRIORITIES
FORTAG Project
The FORTAG project continues to make progress with a focus on ensuring the community receives a quality product built to the standards promised.
Our diligent oversight has identified areas requiring rework which has led to delays. Changes in design plans and utility relocations have also contributed to setbacks. Those delays are very frustrating but we cannot settle for an inferior product that leads to unnecessary maintenance costs down the road.
Moving forward, we will continue to help coordinate and facilitate construction activities and provide quality control so we receive a trail we can be proud of that enhances the overall safety and recreation for all residents.
City Finances and Services
While many government agencies struggle with budget issues, our city maintains a stable budget with no need to increase taxes. This is accomplished by maintaining current revenue levels and keeping expenditures in check. We also maintain a very strong reserve fund to help weather an economic downturn or loss of a significant source of revenue.
Our long-term ability to maintain a balanced budget will become more and more challenging because our revenue sources are limited and costs and expenditures will continue to rise.
That’s why our Ft. Ord property is so important. It can expand our revenue base and increase financial stability for generations to come.
Ft. Ord Development
Every city in California is required to identity locations to build a specific amount of housing units. Del Rey Oaks selected our Ft. Ord property to meet this mandate.
Since our property has never been developed, it has unique environmental and infrastructure challenges and unexploded ordnance issues. This has resulted in developers having a difficult time making any project viable.
Recently, a developer (Shea Homes) has shown interest in the property and the city is having initial discussions with them to potentially move forward. The next step would involve a feasibility study to determine if any project would be viable and would involve many opportunities for resident input before any council decision is made.
Protecting the Environment
Protecting the environment is a priority for the city. Any building or maintenance activity has to comply with California environment laws. Additionally, the city recently integrated pollinator friendly maintenance practices and pest management procedures focused on pollinator conservation.
We also worked with local businesses to sponsor a pollinator seed giveaway at the Annual Fall Picnic and Earth Day Celebration. Pollinator plants and thousands of seeds were given away to residents.
These efforts also support my decision to take the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and my ongoing commitment to implementing programs and processes to help sustain the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.
