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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/27/1990 Adjourned Meeting 212 ' NOVEMBER 27, 1990 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session bn this date at 9:15 A.M. in the Council 'Chambers of City Hall,' Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, 'Council' members Clarence Barnett, George .Pechtel, and Skip Semon present. r: Council'member 'Henry Beauchamp present - after 9:45 A.M. Council member Sims absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Director of Finance & Budget Hanson, Director of Public Works, Copeland, Director of Engineering' Utilities Covell, Refuse & Recycling ' Manager Gaudette, Acting Transit Haddix, Acting Administrative Assistant Meyer, Accounting Manager .Wheeler, Transit & Refuse Accountant Jensen, and Department' Assistant Barber also present. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Transit Division Council member Barnett asked if the central district transfer station and shuttle buses should be added to the 1991 Budget. City Manager Zais explained the budget was . completed at the time " that issue was considered, and staff's intent is to place the money in reserve and come back next year with the actual cost. Council member Barnett stated on Page 300 in the 'Budget under Account 620 $4,003,933 given .for the City Shops Complex improvements. He stated he has a problem. with this policy issue. There is a variance with that.figure'and 'the given on Page 170 of the Policy Issues which Is $3,742,200 for the same item. He asked staff to review these figures: Mayor Berndt questioned why the farebox return ratio went down? Mr. 'Copeland responded staff will look into that.' Council member Barnett questioned Account 990, Interfund Charges on Page 299 of the Budget. He stated when comparing figures for plant dist_ribution, administration, and warehousing he found it was over $58,000 or a 40.9% increase for 1991 over 1990. Mr. Copeland stated staff will review this and submit an outline to the Council. Council member Barnett pointed out City Attorney Vanek's memorandum gives procedures for staff to follow to use the Transit funds for the City shops complex; one of them being there has to be a factual basis for using Transit funds to remodel the complex. He does not think the factual basis is present to support the policy issue, based upon the Master Plan. City Manager Zais stated if this policy is to be approved, the proper steps to take are: 1) amend the municipal code to change the definition of Capital Reserve Fund; and 2) staff meet with the consultant on the Master Plan, review the Plan and make an amendment before spending money for the design and facility. Mr. Copeland reported if growth occurs as predicted, there could be a 50% increase in the Transit fleet. City Manager Zais stated the policy issue could BR/1 • NOVEMBER 27, 1990 2 1 3 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW stand as it is, conditioned upon these necessary steps being followed. hen Council. receives the final policy issue list, staff will revise the language slightly so this policy issue must be contingent upon these steps occurring. -- - Refuse Council member Beauchamp expressed concern with the (reduction of 1.5 Refuse Helper positions. He commented with-the annexations there are a number of new accounts and this policy issue talks about cutting a route. Staff explained how routes are equalized and the various services that must be considered. Mr. Copeland explained the areas being annexed: have a private'hauler at this time, however, in the future, the - City will be takingrover-those routes. He stated an alternative at this point is to cut back some services or ask-for a -rate increase. Staff is planning to review these routes. Council member Beauchamp asked what the procedure is. for those citizens who haul their refuse to the landfill? City Manager Zais stated that staff will review the Municipal Code regarding those people who are not receiving private or City service. After discussion of dispersing routes, backup trucks, refuse crews, and bin costs, Council and staff reviewed the proposed rate increase. City Manager Zais explained the memorandum on Page 141 has two policy issues linked together, can /bin and 2nd can /yard /extra. Discussion occurred on the reason for the proposed rate increase. Staff reported the Utility Rate Ad Board (U.R.A.B.) suggested a multi -rate fee over a multi -year plan. Mr. Hanson explained the U.R.A.B. supported staff's recommendation, and indicated that their biggest concern is that the cash reserves be kept in balance. Discussion continued on yard service, leaf pickup,•and - spring cleanup, and Council member Semon asked staff to make it a policy issue to charge for the extra yard service. Mrs. Gaudett reported yard service is about 20 to 25 percent that goes to the landfill. Staff will do a cost analysis of yard service and report back to Council. City Manager Zais stated staff will need a rate ordinance amendment for special hauls to specify that change. Mayor Berndt called for a recess at 11:00 A.M. Streets Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 11:15 A.M. with a discussion on maintenance miles for the street sweepers. Staff explained actual miles were used for the 1991 budget, not estimates, as before. Mr. Copeland explained staff is better able to give facts now as the information is on the computer. (Council member Buchanan absent after 11:15 A.M..) Council member Barnett asked how much the City -is going to take out of the General Fund if the Street Utility Tax is implemented? His concern is the impact on the General Fund. Staff presented a memorandum from City Attorney Vanek dated November 21, 1990. In it Stan Finkelstein, Director of the Association of Washington Cities, reported the existing State utility legislation contains a number of legal flaws and it will BR/2 2 1 4 NOVEMBER 27, 1990 D MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW be resubmitted to the Legislature at its next session. Mr. Finkelstein indicated that spending street utility money for construction 'purposes is not clearly authorized under' the act. The City's Legal'Department says if Council authorizes formation of a local- Street Utility it needs to be done in concert with the State legislature. City Manager Zais stated if it is not timely to act on it this year, then it would be subject to deferral until time that action can be taken. He stated, as 'proposed, the Street Utility does not provide any matching funds, and there is no funding source at this time 'for that project in this current budget. Mr. Copeland announced the appointment of Paul.Wollenhaupt as Street and Traffic Operations Manager. Mr. Copeland thanked Joe Jackson, Steve Knopp, and Shelly Harlington.' for their effort 'in keeping the Traffic Engineering services at Public Works going. ' It was MOVED BY BARNETT, SECONDED BY SEMON, TO ADJOURN - at the hour of 11:50 A.M. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.:' Buchanan and Sims absent. c READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE' BY / / /,A/�t� r / / 7,/ COUN L 2 BER'• , DATE ATTEST: • • COUNCIL 'MEMBER ` ' -? - DATE ,g (1;? • DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT - - : MAYOR i J r r • BR/3