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Home My WebLink About11/20/1990 Adjourned Meeting 2 199 • NOVEMBER - 20, 1990 -- ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET'REVIEW -- - CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 9:15 in the Public Works :Lunch Room, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, Council members Clarence Barnett, George Pechtel, Skip Semon, and Bernard Sims present. -- Council member Henry present after Council member Lynn Buchanan• absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Director of Finance & Budget•Hanson, Director of Public-Works - :Copeland, -Accounting ' Manager - Wheeler, Parks and. Recreation Manager Flaherty, Parks and Recreation Accountant Tobia, Acting Administrative Assistant Meyer, and Department Assistant-'Barber also present. • • Council member Barnett thanked staff for their memorandum answering his recent budget questions. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS • Parks and Recreation Division • Mayor Berndt opened the discussion by asking -staff if the community leisure programs have decreased. - Mr: Flaherty responded, "Yes, due to the City-• no longer contracting with the Slowpitch Association ". Staff has been directed to fine tune some programs and initiate more - • programs. .Mr. Flaherty stated there are many plateaus for programs, and more programs are needed to generate dollars. - Discussion followed regarding co- sponsorship for. some of the Parks • programs., Mayor'Berndt commenting City needs some guidelines and consistency in a co-sponsorship program so the City will not have to • pay 100 percent of the - costs. Mr. Flaherty stated that is a separate report: He reported Ron King, General Manager, KYXE -KHYT Radio is willing to be a co- sponsor, based on a per team entry fee in the neighborhood of $10.00. Mr. Flaherty referred to _ tourism, explaining • for every 50 teams or 500 couples who come town every weekend it generates about $80,000. Aquatics • - . Mr. Flaherty reported it was:an exceptional year for the pools and staff does not expect to make any adjustments - - -in -revenues. Staff has set goals for the outdoor pools to recapture 30 percent of its costs and Lion's to recapture 50 percent of its costs. Council member Pechtel complimented staff on the incredible job they have done with the pools. Mayor Berndt opened the discussion for the policy' issue regarding a water slide at Franklin Park. The purchase and installation cost is - $65,000 with an additional $5,600 each year for staff. At the end of the five year lease /purchase agreement the City could puchase the water • slide for $1.00. Two additional lifeguards would be needed at Franklin Pool and staff proposes a $1.00 entrance fee. Mr. Flaherty cautioned against purchasing the slide, as the payback is a period of three years. BR/1 Z O 0 NOVEMBER 20, 1990 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW He stated the Parks cannot generate the dollars needed to pay that back in three years. Council member' Barnett expressed concern for the underpriviledged who will not be able t� use the slide if that is a pool policy. He believes it should be available to everyone. He stated he certainly would be willing to support it for everyone, not only the people who can pay a dollar to go in. Council member Beauchamp agreed. He asked about the City's liability for the slide? Mr. Flaherty explained the safety features of the proposed slide. The drop rate of the slide will not be more than 8 percent; commercial water slide parks use greater drops. - Mayor Berndt suggested a reduced rate, such as Lion's Pool. Staff suggested asking some businesses to buy sponsorships for the kids. who cannot afford to use the slide. (Henry Beauchamp absent.) - Council member Pechter agreed with Council member Barnett expressing concern for the underpriviledged. Council member Semon asked staff to find some way the` underpriviledge can earn a pass to use this slide. Ellen Lewis and Anne Byerrum were present representing the Yakima Youth Commission in support of the water slide at Franklin Park. ArtsVan - Anne Byerrum, Executive Director of the Allied Arts Council, was present to respond to questions for the City Council members. She explained the funding and the allocations for each City involved in the ArtsVan Program. Mr. Flaherty explained this Program goes to all the playgrounds, twice a week for eight weeks. Mayor Berndt asked that this be considered as a policy issue and that staff come back with some programs, for children for Saturdays, after school hours, and during the wintertime. Council members suggested asking for assistance from other ' volunteers in Yakima such as the Housing Authority, YMCA, Union Gospel Mission, and the Library. Mayor Berndt suggested staff find out what programs are available and where they are available. Council member Sims asked staff to obtain the U.S. Census statistics for the population base so a determination can be made as to that the City's needs are now. Anne Byerrum reported she will be sending information to Council regarding a grant award from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She stated, however, it requires some City funding. Tahoma Cemetery Council member Sims asked staff how many lots are available at the Cemetery and Mr. Flaherty responded over 1,000. Council member Sims suggested staff review pre -need services so a decision can be made what the Cemetery should do next, perhaps re- evaluate or develop the nine Cemetery acres available. Discussion followed on the State laws and competition of other cemeteries, staff suggesting the City -needs to develop the nine Cemetery acres. Refuse Utility Tax. Council member Barnett asked staff for the dollar amount in the proposed City utility increase and not the percentage. He expressed concern that 'utility taxes are used as a.major funding source for the Parks. City Manager Zais explained how the budget is balanced for the Parks in order to prevent cutbacks. BR/2 NOVEMBER 20, 1990 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW 2 0 1 Mayor Berndt called for a-feces'at 55 A.M. Public Works 'Administration.',` Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 11:05 A.M. for a discussion - and review of modifications to Public Works Administration. Acting. Administrative Assistant Meyer 'was present to, respond to Council's questions. She explained one increase is die to the addition in the clerical pool of the D.A. II from the Cemetery being'placed in the Public Works budget. Staff reported the Cemetery Office was moved to the`Public Works 'Administration to allow for savings and easier collection of accounts. Mrs.' Meyer stated, in addition, the new phone system was not adequately budgeted in 1990 for line charges and Scan, and an increase, was made this year. Discussion followed on changing the , Administrative Assistant position. Mr. Copeland 'stated the position is no - longer filled and - requested deleting that position and 'establishing a management position. Mr. Copeland explained there are three similar positions in the City, however, they are all different positions. City Manager Zais explained the others were Department Assistant. IV's which are requested to be upgraded. He stated this is an. administrative support staff with the basic change being made for a Department Assistant to provide stronger level support for management. It was the consensus' of the Council members' present' adjourn at - 11 :45 A.M. and continue the budget discussion following' the Council meeting if time allows. READ AND CERTIFIED': ACCURATE BY' / #///q/ / CO NCIL L- MEMBER DATE • ATTEST: COUNCIL ` MEMBER 4/ DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT • MAYOR • • BR/3