Mike Kirkley, a Sutter Creek resident and planning commissioner, commended efforts by the city to become more transparent in its governance. Photo by: Jerry Budrick

Sutter Creek city officials and staff made strides toward increased governmental efficiency and transparency at their meeting on Tuesday night.

City Manager Rob Duke presented an action plan for clarification of the city's chief financial officer's duties, followed by Duke's recommendations for moving forward on the city's budgets. Sutter Creek Finance Director Jeff Gardner's duties were broken down into weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually. Duke explained that the finance duties will be allocated, with city accounting done by the finance director and budget analysis by Duke and Assistant City Manager Sean Rabe.

"I want it made clear that the finance officer reports to the city manager," insisted City Councilman Pat Crosby. "The finance officer submits reports to the city manager and they eventually get to the city council."

The new plan will not be without some cost to the city. The council, in closed session, followed the staff recommendation to increase the finance director's time, which will be expanded from one day per week to two, resulting in a bottom line cost of $12,000 annually.

The action plan proposes development of a meeting schedule for a standing committees, along with a public notice procedure for city notice boards. Among the city's committees are ones for sewer, finance and personnel. "The sewer and finance committee meetings will be open to the public," Duke said.

City staff is expected to implement a finance form that will be reviewed by the finance committee. The form is intended to ensure that all council actions, budget amendments and contracts tie to the city budget. A new and simplified budget format, developed by Councilman Tim Murphy, will be used for future budgets. Murphy later shied away from taking credit for this change, saying that many people in town had lobbied for greater clarity.

Realistic revenue projections will be balanced against forecast expenses in four major categories: professional/contract services; material operating services; general fund salaries; and general fund benefits.

Sutter Creek resident and planning commissioner Mike Kirkley asked if the plan included implementation of the policy of requiring developers to deposit money into an account to cover expenses associated with their developments. Duke replied positively, adding, "Petrovich (Sutter Creek Crossroads developer) has signed the policy and put a deposit in place." Sutter Creek Crossroads is the name that will adorn the shopping center on the northwest corner of Ridge Road and Highway 49.

Costs for environmental review, traffic studies, fiscal and other analyses necessary for a development project are contracted for by the city, though paid for by the developer. In some cases, these costs can rise to astronomical levels. Prudence suggests payment for these costs up front from the developer, to avoid the danger of vanishing developers leaving cities holding the bag. Sutter Creek has such a policy on the books, but has not always enforced it.

Caution is somewhat fueled by examples like the Jackson Hills Project, withdrawn last year while owing the city of Jackson approximately $83,000 in such costs, which are now being paid to the city in installments, said Jackson City Manager Mike Daly.

After the meeting and the presentations, Kirkley said, "That's how government is supposed to work." Kirkley has been asking for substantial changes in the way the city operates and communicates with its residents. "I think that there's a move afoot to make some changes," he said. "What the public is looking for is transparency in government."

"The biggest thing that they've accomplished," Kirkley added, "is realistic revenues, not pie-in-the-sky. For example, Walgreen's was supposed to be open on Jan. 1st."

The Walgreen's Kirkley referred to is the anchor store in the Sutter Creek Crossroads shopping center.

In other news, Sutter Creek resident Loraine Davis reminded the council and audience of Saturday's Mardi Gras festivities, which include food and music on the streets during the day and a Dinner/Dance to benefit Knight Foundry Saturday night.

Mayor pro tem Bill Hepworth announced that the city is now on a new Web site: www.intownlive.com, with scads of photographs and information about the city.