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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/1991 Adjourned Meeting 2 46 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 12, 1991 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW 1. ROLL CALL The City Council met in session on this date at 9:00 A.M. in the Council Chambers, at Yakima City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, Councilmembers Clarence Barnett (absent after 11:15 A. M.), Henry Beauchamp (present after 10 :40 A. M.), Lynn Buchanan, George Pechtel, and Skip Semon present. Councilmember Bernard Sims absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Director of Finance & Budget Hanson, and Department Assistant Barber also present. POLICE DEPARTMENT Chief Pleas Green introduced his staff: Donald Blesio, Detectives Captain; Reid Follansbee, Patrol Captain; and Nina Vereb, Police Administrative Services Captain. Mr. Hanson introduced his staff: Bob Wheeler, Accounting Manager; and Tim Jensen, Accountant. Chief Green briefly reviewed the drug awareness program in the Yakima area with regards to annexations and police services, and the Law and Justice Capital Fund. Mayor Berndt asked Chief Green to summarize the neighborhood policing concept. Chief Green explained the Department plans to use two commissioned officers to be in direct contact with citizens. The Department wishes to encourage a block watch program with neighborhood councils and help citizens solve their own problems. The Department would like to work in coodination with the Rebound Office, the Volunteer Fire Department, and the citizens of each neighborhood. The Department works with the Northeast Neighborhood Coalition and is receiving extreme pressure from the Southeast section for which there is not additional available forces. Councilmember Pechtel asked for a discussion regarding late response times from the Police Department when a citizen calls in. Chief Green stated the Department must prove intent of what the crime is and there is not enough staff to respond within one to two minutes. Councilmember Barnett asked if staff is asking for a 0.1% sales tax for Law and Justice expenses (police officers and support staff); how many ballot issues are going before the public? He suggested a priority list so there will not be too many issues. City Manager Zais commented if the City /County proceed in a joint process, the time will coincide with fall, 1992. The Councilmembers expressed concern that the City would have to wait until the end of 1992 or 1993 to add police officers and support staff positions. Councilmember Barnett proposed this as a major policy issue and that the Department evaluate staff's recommendation before the budget wrap -up; taking the expenses from some place else. Chief Green commented that with an increase in child abuse and sex abuse the last few years, there has been a need to increase personnel and wages for investigations. BR11.12 /1 NOVEMBER 12, 1991 47 Councilmember Barnett asked for a discussion regarding Account 420, Communications, Service Unit 119, Administration Division. His concern was the increase in telephone charges /service needs. Mr. Hanson asked that this discussion be done with the Purchasing budget, as it covers the City's telephone system. Councilmember Semon pointed out on Page 251, Administrative Services Division refers to Note 45 which does not exist. Chief Green stated the Department inadvertently left out the explanation for it. Mr. Hanson reported the State is reviewing the Police Pension funding as well as the prior pension system. They were unaware of the City of Yakima's costs and some proposals will be coming before the legislature. After a brief recess, Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 9:55 A. M. for a discussion and review of the Fire Department's Budget. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Gerald Beeson introduced his staff: Eugene Martin, Deputy Chief, Mike Meyer, Training Battalion Chief, Dave Bachmann, Battalion Chief, and Virginia Nishi, Administrative Assistant. Mayor Berndt stated there are no formal policy proposals for the Fire Department for 1992. Chief Beeson reviewed the November 4, 1991 analysis memorandum of the Fire Department's Organizational Study which compares similar State organizations with the Yakima Fire Department. He gave the comparisons used in this analysis as follows: 1) Number of uniform personnel per 1000 population; 2) Number of Firefighters for each line officer; 3) Number of staff personnel per department; 4) Square miles of coverage per station; 5) Number of paid personnel per fire line apparatus; 6) Average response times; 7) Percentage of Emergency Medical alarms compared to total alarms received; and 8) Average assessed value of cities and fire districts. Chief Beeson stated that for comparison basis, number three did not include clerical people. Councilmember Barnett asked if some of the people from other districts are paramedics? Chief Beeson explained those paramedics were not included in this Study. However, Firefighters /Paramedics were included. Councilmember Barnett asked if code enforcement, which some of these districts have, is included in this Study? Chief Beeson responded, "No." Chief Beeson commented that with the acquisition of Fruitvale Station No. 1 in 1991, the coverage area has been reduced to 3.36 square miles per station. However, if the Fruitvale Station closed tomorrow, the City of Yakima Fire Department could still protect that area. Councilmember Barnett stated his concern is with additional annexations and expansion and the level of services City -wide being less. He feels if those people don't receive full 24 -hour service, they are not getting the level of service they are entitled to. Councilmember Barnett BR11.12 /2 NOVEMBER 12, 1991 48 questioned the number of paid personnel per first line apparatus. Chief Beeson stated there are some differences there, staff will correct that. The Fire Department is prepared to give services to people when areas are annexed. In response to Councilmember Barnett's concern regarding Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Chief Beeson reported the Fire Department planned to utilize personnel from Station No. 2, however, volunteers have been used. The City has not eliminated EMS. Deputy Chief Martin explained average response time is monitored by a computer today and the computation of response time is more accurate. Mayor Berndt asked if the Yakima County Commissioners have been approached regarding the costs of manning the Airport Fire Station? Chief Beeson stated that issue needs to be discussed. He asked the Councilmembers to review this issue with the County Commissioners. Councilmember Pechtel asked staff to explain what will happen now that the State -wide Enhanced 911 issue was passed. Chief Beeson stated it is better for the City and citizens as the Dispatch must have a correct address. Councilmember Barnett asked how much more a citizen will pay and was told twenty cents more per phone line. Councilmember Pechtel asked for a discussion regarding the remodeling of the administration offices at Fire Station No. 1. Staff will come back to the Council with more information. Councilmember Barnett asked for a discussion regarding the authorized complement of Firefighters. Chief Beeson described the operation of the stations and personnel strength. (Councilmember Beauchamp present after 10:40 A. M.) City Manager Zais stated staff will come back with information on the specific personnel and what each position does. At Council's request, Battalion Chief Bachmann reported there are approximately 18 Auxiliary personnel, at this time. These people go through about 46 hours of basic training. He explained the staff, training, and guidelines to the Councilmembers. Councilmember Beauchamp asked if a determination was made why there is an excessive number of disabilities for personnel and if they were from fires? He asked what could be done to get to the core of this problem? Deputy Chief Martin stated some disabilities range from unforeseen things that happen. Chief Beeson stated the vast majority are from sickness or disabilities off the job. City Manager Zais stated the Chief and Deputy Chief began tracking sick leave last year making an effort to control it. Also, the Wellness Committee has been working with this to try to minimize sick leave. Councilmember Beauchamp asked if the 1991 retirements helped in adding to the morale of the Department? City Manager Zais said he is not sure. Councilmember Pechtel asked what the Department is doing to stop on- the -job injury situations? The Department has enforced physical fitness equipment and allows time for its use. Each year a goal is set to reduce on- the -job injuries. Deputy Chief Martin reported this year the Department is programming injuries on a spread sheet to be compared with the national statistics. Staff will submit a report to Council when that has been completed. BR11.12 /3 NOVEMBER 12, 1991 49 City Manager Zais explained the increase in Fire Training salaries to the year -end budget, which shows a savings. Chief Beeson stated a lieutenant position was not filled, so there is a savings. Councilmember Beauchamp commented on the Fire Training Division's elimination of its 1991 college degree program and establishment of a working program at Y.V.C.C. He asked staff the difference in the programs? Battalion Chief Meyer stated so people would know this class would take place; the Fire Department would make up the difference if there were not enough people. Councilmember Beauchamp asked staff how many of these people were existing Firefighters that signed up? Staff did not have this information. Councilmember Beauchamp asked whether the Fire Department covers the cost of this class? Chief Beeson stated private citizens would pay for their own. Staff will come back with the program they are using at Y.V.C.C. Councilmember Pechtel asked about the personnel minority level in the Fire Department and what is being done to increase it? Chief Beeson stated there are 14 or 15 minorities. Staff is reviewing their public education program and the need for an interpreter. (Councilmember Clarence Barnett absent after 11:15 A.M.) City Manager Zais pointed out there is a significant liability to be addressed for funding the labor negotiations with the Fire Department. After a brief recess, Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 11:20 A. M. for a discussion and review of the Code Administration Budget. COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Code Administration Glenn Rice, Community & Economic Development Director, introduced his staff: Robert Shampine, Code Manager; and Leonard Hall, Supervisor of Code Inspection. Councilmember Beauchamp asked staff for the dollar amount for permits issued. Mayor Berndt expanded, saying Council received the dollar amount, however, did not get the number of permits. Councilmember Beauchamp stated he wanted to compare the number of permits for 1991 with 1990. Mayor Berndt asked how permits are divided up with other divisions? Mr. Shampine explained the Code Administration works with the Police Department, Rebound and Refuse Divisions. Mr. Rice explained the City has been careful to confine Rebound's Office to Rebound issues. Mr. Shampine presented a handout of the October, 1991 Monthly Division Report and reviewed the permit section with the Councilmembers. Councilmember Buchanan asked for a review of the number of business licenses in each category under the General Business License Fee Schedule on Page 53. Mr. Shampine directed Council's attention to the options listed at the bottom of the chart. City Manager Zais stated staff did not budget any staff increases, the information was just included for the Council's consideration. BR11.12 /4 50 NOVEMBER 12, 1991 Councilmember Buchanan suggested a narrative explaining the timeframe to get information from this Division. Councilmember Pechtel asked if the Code Administration Division got their program? Mr. Hall responded that staff is working on computerizing permits at this time. Staff will try to have a report for Council by March, 1992. After a brief recess, Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 11:40 A. M. for a discussion and review of the Finance Department's Budget. FINANCE AND BUDGET DEPARTMENT John Hanson, Finance & Budget Director, introduced Robert Wheeler, Accounting Manager. Mr. Hanson reported the only staff increase in the Finance Department was in the Information Systems Division in 1984 and 1985. One support division, payroll, is at a breaking point. The proposed Account Clerk II position, in the budget, would be the back -up person for payroll. Discussion followed regarding monthly and bi- monthly payroll. Mr. Hanson explained with a bi- monthly payroll everything would be duplicated. Councilmember Semon suggested cross - training an employee to assist with the payroll. City Manager Zais stated whether someone is trained or cross - trained, there is an immediate problem. It was the consensus of the Councilmembers to adjourn at 12:00 P. M. and continue the budget discussion following the Council meeting if time allows. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY 'j3 ' "UNC' MEMBER D ":4",1 ATTEST: OUNCIL ME BER DATE 6Ceja DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT MAYOR BR11.12 /5