Dublin Council To Review Updated Budget, East Ranch Housing

DUBLIN, CA — It’s likely to be a long night Tuesday as the Dublin Council reviews its 2023-24 General Fund Budget, Five-Year Capital Improvement Program, and alternative methods for the East Ranch Development Project to comply with Inclusionary Zoning regulations.

Budget

The Council will review the Preliminary Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget. The city operates on a biennial budget process, and the Council already approved a two-year budget in June 2022. The Council will look at revised projections and significant changes to that budget, particularly relating to the city’s General Fund. Staff will also provide an update to the General Fund’s 10-Year Forecast.

The preliminary budget shows an increase of roughly $3.7 million to revenues and $2.4 million in operating expenditures from the 2022-23 budget. Total General Fund reserves are projected at $194.2 million, a $3.5 million decrease from FY ‘22-23.

Other revenue changes show that property tax revenue is up just over 6.1 percent, sales tax revenue has decreased by just under 1.5 percent, and other tax revenue is up over 3.4 percent. Salary expenditures have increased over 4.6 percent, benefit costs have decreased under 3.3 percent, and services and supply costs have increased 14.8 percent, in addition to other new costs.

See here for a full breakdown.

Capital Improvement Update

The Council will also receive a preliminary update on the 2022-27 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan that it voted to adopt in June. The full update will be presented to the Council on May 16.

The Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan refers to the $218.865 million budget for infrastructure improvements, building repairs, and miscellaneous expenditures. Major budget increases from the 2022 version include:

• $2.6 million from the General Fund Reserve for Fallon Sports Park Phase 3 (approved in September)
• An estimated $1.1 million more for disaster preparedness, which may be supplemented by federal and state grants.
• An additional $1.1 million for a bio-retention and hydromodification management facility along the Iron Horse Trail Corridor. Alameda County Transportation Committee will reimburse the city for 75% of the project’s total cost.
• $1 million decrease in Tassajara Road improvements along the Quarry Lane frontage. The costs are now being covered by the Quarry Lane School.
• $198,000 to install 60 cameras at 13 sites at or near schools and community parks. These funds could be received from Congress in 2024/2025.
• $120,000 more from the Internal Services Fund for exterior painting at various city facilities.
• $264,000 more from the General Fund for an audiovisual system upgrade.
• $30,000 from the Street Light District East Dublin 1991-1 Fund for energy improvements.

See here for a full list.

East Ranch Housing Financing

Trumark Homes has applied to build 573 homes on an undeveloped 165-acre site called East Ranch. The Council approved the controversial project in December 2021, but then repealed its approval in March 2022 after a petition opposing the development garnered over 5,000 signatures, meaning that the city would either need to hold a referendum, or the Council could repeal their vote.

Fearing a lawsuit from the developer, the Council voted to approve an amendment that it said would make the project compliant with city standards for development. Under the amended agreement, Trumark deed-restricted the number of units and would pay in-lieu fees for 40 percent of the affordable housing units.

Trumark is now requesting the formation of a Facilities Community Facilities District to finance public improvements within the development, including two neighborhood parks. Trumakr would pay in-lieu fees for 25 units to satisfy 35 percent of the affordable housing requirement.

The Council will not take any votes on the issue on Tuesday. See here for more information on the project.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Civic Center. It will also be broadcast on channel 28, livestreamed at tv30.org, and on the city website.