HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/09/1982 Special Meeting 336 DECEMBER 9, 1982
SPECIAL MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW
The City Council met-in session. on this date at 1:30,p.m. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Mayor Lynn Carmidiael, Clarence Barnett, Lynn Budhanan, Shirley Doty, W.
K. "Pete" Moore and Jack Sparling. Council member Henry Beauchamp
present after 1:45 p.m.
Mayor Carmichael reminded Council that due to the lack of time when
reviewing the Street Division's-budget on December 7, 1982, it was the
consensus of the Council to continue that budget discussion at this
meeting.
PUBLIC WORKS - STREETS DIVISION
Council member Barnett tegan discussion, asking questions on Service
Unit 521 - Operating Rentals and Leases. Del Kary, Superintendent of
the Street Division, responded to Council's questions. Council member
Doty questioned Servide Unit .524 regarding the ice and snow portion of II/
the budget. She also questioned the zero amount budgeted for the Re-
tirements portion of the budget. Council member Beauchamp questioned
the equipment replacement costs budgeted for 1983. Dave Rhodes, Public
Works Director, expanded on the current status of the equipaent. Dis-
cussion followed regarding the condition of the street sweepers. Coun-
cil member Doty questioned if the City is paying shift differential for
night street cleaning. Dave Rhodes informed the Council that shift
differential is paid only When overtime is involved. Council member
Barnett questioned the ratio of sand/ salt used on streets for inclement
weather. He expressed his concerns regarding the deterioration of curbs
and sidewalks. Del Kary explained calcium chloride is used with salt to
alleviate some of the problem. Discussion followed regarding different
alternatives for sanding the streets.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT - GENERAL ACCOUNTS DIVISION
Assistant City Manager Wittenberg began discussion with a brief in-
troduction informing Council of the different divisions Which comprise
Finance and General. Administration. Council member Moore questioned the
elimination of a Financial Coordinator position. Assistant City Manager
Wittenberg expanded upon the duties performed by the Financial Coor-
dinator, indicating that those were primarily payroll functions. He
stated that due to the implementation of the new payroll system on the
City's main computer, it was determined that the transfer of the pos-
ition from Finance to Personnel would benefit the flow of data entry
required for the payroll function.
CONTINGENCY FUND
City Manager Zais informed Council of the current status of the Con-
tingency Fund totaling $201,639. Council member Barnett requested
explanation of the Contingency and General Funds. City Manager Zais
expanded on the different funds. Council member Sparling questioned
auditing practices with outside services, i.e., Airport, etc. He ques-
tioned how much revenue is received on outside contracts.
FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING
II/
City Manager Zais provided a brief summary of the 1983 Budget for Fed-
eral Revenue Sharing. Council member Sparling questioned the $400,000
shortfall incurred for the 1982 Budget. Council member Moore expressed
his concerns that the 2 mils of the 5 mils sales tax designated for the
Contingency Fund may not go into that fund. City Manager Zais assured
Council that the Contingency Fund would receive .2% of the .5% sales tax
increase.
TREASURY DIVISION
Council member Barnett questioned the Impact/Productivity portion of the
budget. Roxanna Price, Accounting Technician, was available to respond
to Council's questions. Council member Doty questioned the Canmunica-
tions portion of the budget, asking if postage and phones were included
under this item.
DECEMBER 9, 1982 337
CUSTOMER SERVICE
City Manager Zais addressed the need to review Animal Control proc-
ures, indicating this will be done the first of the year. He informed
Council that Humane Society Board members will be attending the Council
meeting next week with a proposal. Council member Barnett questioned
- the number of leash law impounds recorded. Walt Feser, Manager, was
available to respond to Council's questions, indicating there was a
typographical error in the proposed budget for leash law impoundments.
Council member Doty questioned staffing functions for Customer Services.
Council member Buchanan questioned if the functions of parking checkers
would remain after Diamond Parking assumed responsibility for City
parking. Council member Doty questioned the increases indicated in the
Impact/Productivity area. Walt Feser expanded on the individual in-
II/ creases. Council member Doty requested explanation of the two sus-
pension notices sent to customers of water-sewer services. City Manager
Zais expanded on the procedures currently in the use, explaining the
second notice is a "friendly" reminder issued before the suspension
notice is sent out. He went on to explain he had received complaints
regarding the receipt of suspension notices and felt the friendly re-
minder would be good for public relations for the City. Walt Feser
:indicated each friendly reminder costs 27. It was suggested by Council
member Moore to try the system using the friendly reminder for a period
of six months only and then have staff report back to Council with cost
figures and savings incurred.
YAKIMA HEALTH DISTRICT AND ALCOHOLISM REHABILITATION
_ .
City Manager Zais began discussion informing Council of the letter from
Robert G. Atwood, M.D., Health Officer, of the Yakima Health District,
outlining the 1983 preliminary assessment for Yakima. Council member
Moore requested further explanation of the funding amount for alcoholism
rehabilitation. Bob Wheeler, Accounting Manager, informed Council
$14,300 was allocated for alcoholism rehabilitation and was included in
the_Healtb.District's estimated assessment for 1983 of $141,475. (Coun-
cil, members Beauchamp and Sparling absent after 3:40 p.m.)
_ .
LIBRARY
• City Manager Zais informed Council that the figure budgeted for 1983 is
the figure requested by the Library. He indicated that the budgeted
m amount is less than the amount contemplated by the contract the City has
with the Library.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Council member Barnett requested clarification regarding the amount
budgeted for 1983. City Manager Zais provided background infoination
regarding previous budgeted amounts for this item.
CITY COUNCIL
II/ Council member Barnett addressed the Legislation Expenditure Summary
amount that ount of $87,655, requesting at the portion relating to City Council
be separated fran all other membership fees, assessments and dues. City
Manager Zais indicated the service units could be split to have a ser-
vice unit for Council and a service unit for other legislation. Council
member Buchanan questioned Capital Outlay expenses, requesting further
explanation. City Manager Zais indicated miscellaneous items such as
leases on typewriters would fall under Capital Outlay. Council member
Barnett questioned if Council is utilizing the .25 clerical position in
r tbe Clerks ,.Office.
CITY MANAGER
Council member Doty questioned the mileage reimbursement portion of the
travel budget. City Manager Zais expanded on his travel for 1982.
Council member Doty questioned if the $5,200 budgeted for travel in 1983
is for two people. Discussion continued regarding the travel portion of
the City Manager's 1983 Budget.
335; DECEMBER 9, 1982
PERSONNEL DIVISION
, Council member Barnett questioned the increase in staff for the Per-
' Soririel Division. Bob Weaver, Personnel Officer, was available to clar-
ify the staffing changes which occurred in 1982. Council member Barnett
,.„qpestioned how many industrial accidents had occurred in 1982. Council
W-oaMber Doty requested clarification regarding the elimination of the
Affirmatisie Action Specialist position as indicated in the budget.
RECORDS DIVISION
Council member Doty questioned the expense involved regarding a special
ejection: 'karen Roberts, City Clerk, was available to respond to Coun-
cil's questions. Discussion followed regarding costs associated with
Petition No. 990, filed by citizens opposed to Ordinance No. 2637
regarding _garbage collection regulations.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Council member Barnett began discussion, questioning the status of a law
suit filed against the City Council members. Fred Andrews, City Attor-
ney', infOrMed Council that the Judge had ruled in favor of the City,
ruling that the Executive Sessions Council held were legal, valid and
Austified_and there was no personal liability on Council's part. He
- Also infOiMe Council an appeal has not been filed to-date. Mayor Car-
michael questioned how many indigent defense cases were handled in 1982.
Fred Andrews informed Council that Fred Porter, Attorney, who is handl-
ing indigent defense for the City, wished to be present today to be
available to answer any questions Council may ask regarding indigent
defense, however, he was called out of town. Consequently, Mr. Porter
has provided a letter to Council answering anticipated questions re-
garding indigent defense. Fred Andrews informed Council that there
re 460 _indigent defense cases held in 1981 and an estimated 501 cases
for i982.' Council member Barnett questioned how many traffic and crim-
inaLcases have been filed in court. Fred Andrews indicated 8,520 cases
were filed in 1982. Council member Moore questioned the percentage of
those cases filed that go to court. Mayor Carmichael questioned haw is
it determined when a person needs indigent defense. Fred Andrews in-
formed Council of the procedure that is followed by the courts regarding
indigent defense. Discussion followed regarding Fred Porter's contract
with the City for handling indigent defense cases. (Council member
Moore. absent after 4:40 p.m) Robert Bounds, City Prosecuting Attorney,
Was Available to respond to Council's questions regarding Mr. Porter's
contract with the City.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION
Cbundil Member Barnett requested explanation regarding the workload
addressed in the Policy Issues of Division 052. Dave Kohr, Manager,
informed Council the anticipated workload cannot be done with the cur-
rent staff. Larry Wittenberg, Assistant City Manager, expanded on the
history of the City's data processing needs and requirements. City
Manager Zais informed Council of the emphasis he placed on Data Pro-
cessing this year and expanded on the accomplishments to-date.
PUkcHASING:DIVISION
II/
Jean Shipman, Purchasing Agent, provided a brief summary of the Pur-
dhasing Division's 1983 Budget. Council member Doty questioned the 7%
,
increase in salaries noted in the proposed budget. Jean Shipman ex-
plained the increase was due to step increases experienced in the div-
ision in 1982. Council member Barnett questioned the step increase
system. Council member Doty questioned the travel portion of the bud-
get, suggesting travel to conferences be cut from two conferences a year
to one conference a year. City Manager Zais expressed the importance of
ehdouraging management to participate in professional associations and
obtaining officer status. He indicated this kind of participation
brings conferences to the City, providing additional revenues.
It was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Doty that this meeting be adjourned
at the hour of 5:00 p.m., to then meet on Monday, December 13, 1982 at
2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Beaudhamp, Moore and
Sperling absent.
DECEMBER 9, 1982 339
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
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COUNaL MEMBER
A ut. DATE 472 -1-4 3
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ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK tj MAYOR
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