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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/20/1979 Study Session NOVEMBER 20, 1979 381 STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW The City Council Met in session on this date at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington; Mayor Betty L. Edmondson presiding, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Don Hinman, Nadine Lee and Gordon Wonder present. Councilman Jack Sperling absent. POLICE DEPARTMENT Chief LaRue introduced his Division heads to the Council. Lieutenant Kline, Detective Division, reviewed the function of the On Guard Program and Radio Watch. He spoke of the volunteers who are serving in these programs, stating that they have contributed over 30,000 man hours so far this year. He stated that they are under the supervision of the two Community Service Officers. He reported that the Detective Division has decreased personnel in the last few years and there are now ten people in this Division, making up three squads. He stated he could not support any further manpower cuts because court appearances, vacation, sickness and training leave reduces the number of detectives on duty. Captain Clark, Detective Division, reported on the work done in the Records Bureau, Which is a service unit to the Police Department. He stated that there are eleven people in Prevention of Crime and if two Department Assistants II are eliminated from the budget this year, that division will be in trouble next year. He stated that the Bureau makes use of any volunteers or programs where they can get free help. Councilman Hinman inquired about duplication of records between the City and the County. Captain Clark stated a joint City/County record bureau would be more efficient, 'however, it would require a facility. He also stated that the two departments have different record keeping systems. Captain Capen, Division of Uniform Street Officers, stated that the City is divided into seven districts for patrol purposes. He stated that under his supervision,is traffic investigation and that there are two trained men who are capable of making detailed traffic investigations which are accepted by the Court. He stated that these officers are necessary to the, City. Councilman Wonder inquired if the City could save on capital costs, such as police vehicles. Captain Capen reported that the compact models the patrol officers are driving have a poor maintenance record and there is not that great amount of savings on gas. He also stated that it was difficult to get the prisoner in and out of the back seat of the car. Discussion followed regarding the merits of the intermediate and compact vehicles. Captain Qualley, Administrative Service Division stated that as the department has reduced its strength, his division has lost support staff in order to keep the street police officers: He stated that it is proposed that five Department Assistants 'be deleted fran the budget for 1980, of which, three of them handle the complaint counter. He stated that they are cross trained to take full reports from .citizens over the phone and that precludes sending an officer to get this information. He also reported that the clerks check for correctional citations, relieving a police officer fran doing this duty. He stated that one clerk works with the warrant officer, : calling people and requesting them to come in and take care of their warrants. He stated that if the clerk positions are eliminated, then a police officer will have to cover for lunch, do correctional reviews and, the worst aspect, would be the closing of the Police Department for eight hours at night. He reported that two of the clerk positions are being considered to be retained in the City Manager's recommendation for use of FRS Funds; however, they would be stationed in the ,'Records Bureau. - t , ASked for his opinion, Chief LaRue stated that he would recommend that the three Department Assistants be retained for the complaint desk. He stated he did not feel that uncomfortable in closing the complaint counter down at night, but is uncomfortable in losing the clerks. He reported that Yakima is below the national average in the ratio of Commissioned police officers per thousand of population. He reported that every non-State mandated police program has been deleted that can be. City Manager Zais reviewed his recommendatian for the use of FRS funds in the Police Department. He stated that $22,000 of FRS funds is recommended for the purchase of special file cabinets in the Records Bureau. Rosemarie Ulmer, Records Supervisor, stated that a State mandate for strict security on file cabinets for the protection of 'citizens' privacy has been in effect for more than a year and the City is not in compliance with that mandate. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Ed Carroll requested a copy of the Council/Citizen Cammittee on Fire Department Organization Recommendation Report. Mayor Edmondson stated that it was not a structured meeting and no minutes were kept and there was not a written report suhmitted. Discussion followed regarding 382 NOVEMBER 20, 1979 STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW the Ccmmittee's recommendation. Pete Moore, Fire Committee member, reported on the Committee's activities and stated that he did not feel there was a consensus of the Committee supporting the reccmmendations. Mayor Edmondson stated that Councilman Sparling, Chairman of the Cam - mittee, reported that there weren't any objections raised at that time by the other Committee members. Mr. Moore stated that there weren't any objections, but there wasn't a consensus either. Chief Carroll stated he is concerned about the cuts in Fire Suppression. He stated the aerial equipment is vital for any building of significant height. He stated he is also concerned about the proposed call-back status of fire personnel. Chief Carroll spoke about the Fire Marshal being assigned to Fire Investigations, stating that currently he has two people trained in Fire Investigation. He spoke about the proposed changes which would eliminate three Fire Inspector positions and put Fire Inspection under Code Administration. City Manager Zais stated that it is proposed to put Fire Inspection under Code Administration. He stated there are two openings in the Code Administration Division and two of the Fire Inspec- tors could be transferred, which would eliminate one Fire Inspector position and one Secretary. The Fire Marshal would be doing the arson investigations. Chief Carroll stated that he has some concerns with the equipment fund and maintenance and operation account. He stated that in 1978 the Council used FRS funds as seed money for the Fire Department equipment replacement fund. He stated that money has not been budgeted for this fund for 1980, thinking that the City would go to the public for a bond issue to replace equipment. He stated that it would be appropriate this Spring to request a bond issue. Chief Carroll, speak- ing about the maintenance and operation account, stated that he is charged a surcharge on all parts and on his gas. City Manager Zais stated that chief Carroll believes that he would save money by not belonging to the MUD Account. He stated that he has not made a thorough analysis of that recommendation yet. Councilman Beauchamp inquired if the Fire Department has a mechanic. Chief Carroll stated that he has five buildings to maintain and he has a mechanic to do that and develop and manufacture new equipment for the apparatus. Ken Groth, Battalion Chief, stated that the department is credited with the work done by the mchanic, hcwever, they are still charged a surcharge on gas and parts. Chief Carroll also suggested that the Electronic Division charge for its labor. He stated the Police Department uses that service the most. City Manager Zais stated that if it were in an operating fund, that would make sore sense, hcwever, it's all in the general fund. Mr. Groth stated it would distribute the cost of operating the Fire Department. Councilman Hinman reported on the information received frcm the Fire Rating Bureau. He stated that the City has an advantage in water flew by having both an irrigation and a domestic system. He stated that the City is a Class 5 City, ten being the worst rating and one being the highest. He reported that the City is 115 points away from becoming a Class II City and 385 points frcm a Class IV. He stated that if the City were rated a Class IV, the commercial fire rates would increase 16%. He reported that if the ladder truck were eliminated, the City would lose 60 points maximum and could lose 45 points for delayed res- ponse. He stated that he believes we could eliminate the delayed res- ponse. He stated that he spoke with the Bellevue Fire Chief about their paid/volunteer fire department and was told their problem was with the people working in Seattle and living in Bellevue. Councilman Hinman suggested one full-time employee at the Fire Station at the Airport, with two volunteers. Councilman Buchanan stated he has scue reservations about volunteers fighting airplane fires. City Manager Zais and Mayor Edmondson spoke about other cities using volunteers in their fire departments. Chief Carroll also expressed his concern about transferring the Fire Code Inspection under the Code Administration Division. He stated that the primary function of the Fire Department is Fire Prevention. He gave several examples of fire code violations in various buildings in tcwn and the differences of opinion between the building code and fire inspection interpreting the code. He went into detail about his recommendation that the renovated Chinook building be sprinklered. City Manager Zais stated that this is an example of difference which exists in Code interpretation between the Fire and Building Codes. He stated that a written opinion from the International. Ccde was request PA and it was determined that sprinkling was not necessary. He stated he believes that these differences can be remedied by putting-,4?:11.inspections under one department. Chief Carroll stated that there were several instances in the past where written opinions were requested from the International Code and the Fire Department was 383 NOVEMBER: 1979 STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW upheld in their reccmmendations. He further expressed concern about this change, citing instances in the past where the Code Administration had certified buildings for occupancy that should not have been. He stated that he did not feel comfortable in having - Code Administration inspectors do fire inspections. There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at the hour of 3:50 p.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY-71 - DATE zype, COUNCILMAN DATE_Z- UNCIUN ATTEST: , r ti • CITY RK (MAYOR • • I/ •