Calimesa council directs staff to keep individual travel allocations, holds budget at $15,500

The Calimesa City Council gave staff direction to keep the existing approach to council travel funding — individual allocations — and to maintain the FY 2026–27 total travel budget at $15,500.

City Manager reviewed three models for allocating council travel funds: (1) individual allocations (the current approach), (2) a pre‑approved list of routine local and regional events that councilors may attend administratively, and (3) a hybrid model that requires separate council approval for major conferences. Staff presented recent travel spending (FY22/23: $12,479; FY23/24: $13,562; FY24/25: $13,577; current FY to date approx. $5,500) and recommended council direction. Under the staff example for the $15,500 budget, the mayor’s allocation would be $3,500 and each council member would receive $3,000.

Multiple council members said the city has not historically exceeded the travel budget and expressed preference for retaining flexibility under option one while adding better annual planning. Several members supported an administrative annual calendar of routine events (a planning tool staff would publish) so council can see who intends to attend and avoid duplicate representation. Council made a motion supporting option one with the allocations in the staff report and directed staff to return with formal policy language for adoption (staff said the item will likely be placed on consent once drafted).