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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/1979 Study Session STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW - WRAP-UP 405 December 13, 1979 The City Council met in session on this date at 9:00 a.m., in the Coun- cil Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington; Mayor Betty L. Edmondson presiding, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Lynn Buchanan, Don Hinman, Nadine Lee, Frank Roberts and Gordon Wonder present on roll call. PUBLIC WORKS Council members discussed the position of Street Inspector and expressed concern About the functions of this position not being entirely per- formed following its transfer to the Community Development Department. Asked if the fees could be raised to cover the cost of the Inspections, Carol Darby, Director of Community Development, stated that she is going to try to make that a self-supporting position by March or April. Willis White, Director of Public Works, introduced Daniel Newton as the new Transit Manager. Council members discussed the Fairview/Sumac bus routes, which serves people living in the County. Mr. White stated that Mr. Newton will be reviewing the bus routes - and those routes not producing 25% revenue to cover the costs will not be kept. It was the general consensus of the Council to get a report on this after the first of the year. Councilman Roberts expressed the desire to do more on bike paths. He questioned if other departments have made a com, mitment for bike paths. Council members briefly discussed refuse bin service, Councilman Buchanan stating that he understands that not all expenses on bin service is being covered. Mr. White stated that a rate increase may be expected in 1981. Mayor Edmondson interrupted the discussion to allow former Councilman Jack Sparling to distribute an envelope to the Council members regarding the Council/Citizen Fire Committee. Mayor Edmondson stated that the envelopes are marked "Personal and Confidential" and will not be referred to in Council's discussions. Councilman Wonder questioned the duties of the Fleet Maintenance Attendants. Mike Manahan, Equipment Maintenance Manager, stated that the Fleet Maintenance Attendants do preventive maintenance and fuel the buses. He stated that the operators fuel the cars. Coun- cilman Wonder stated that that could account for the inaccurate Mainstan reports. He stated that some of the people put gas in and it is not charged to the car. Mr. Manahan assured Council that once the City has been on Mainstem for a while, the reporting will be more accurate. Mr. White reviewed the maintenance and operation fees stating that the departments are charged a flat rate and then the next year an adjustment is made When actual costs are known. City Manager Zais reviewed the revenue and expenditure adjustments to the budget: Capitol Theatre $25,000 Utility Tax Adjustment 40,000 Refuse Tax Error 5,000 Additional Tax Carry-over 25,000 Total $95,000 Expenditure Library $25,000 Emergency Service 5,000 He stated that this is a savings of $115,000. He reported that the Civil Service Reclassification can't be made retroactive as there is no provision in the contract to do that. Council members next discussed the Admission Tax, Mayor Edmondson stat- ing that if one type of business is taxed, then they all should be. Councilman Buchanan suggested that the County should be approached regarding a County-wide tax. Art Zerbach, Director of Finance & Budget, stated that he thought Council is confusing the admission tax with the amusement tax. He stated that anything that has an admission charge (wrestling, theaters, concerts) are subject to paying an admission tax, except those charitable organizations not using professionals. He stated that 85% to 90% of the tax comes from theaters. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Wonder to continue with the present system on the admission tax and include $24,000 in the budget: carried, Beauchamp, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Roberts and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. Buchanan voting nay. The Council recessed at 11:00 a.m. and reconvened at the hour of 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. City Manager Zais cautioned Council that there might be a cost impact to the City for the Capitol Theatre pro- ject. He stated that there is a possibility that the City would be obligated to pay $41,000 towards retiring an $150,000 interfund loan for the rental replacement fund. 406 STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW - WRAP-UP December-13, 1979 FRS PROPOSED RESTORATION AND RECOMMENDATION Council members discussed a policy issue of trying not to use FRS funds to fund police and fire services. Council members discussed the per- sonnel cuts in the Police Department, and the impact on the service to the citizens. Councilman Wonder expressed concern about funding the $22,000 for On Guard. City Manager Zais stated that it is for file cabinet which are a legal requirement. Councilman Beauchamp ex- pressed concern about the closing of the counter from Midnight until 8:00 A.M. in the Police Station. Captain Qualley, Police Department, reported that it takes five people to keep one position working 24 hours and there are 6 dispatchers and 8 clerks now. If three are deleted, then there would only be 11 people and if no one gets sick or takes vacation or holidays, then all positions would be covered. He also stated that $4,000 of the $22,000 is for On Guard printing and material and $18,000 is for the file cabinents in the Records Bureau. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Lee to allocate funds tc reinstate uniform personnel as outlined in the report and to reinstate two Department Assistant II's and use $4,000 for the On Guard program. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Buchanan to amend the motion to eliminate the $4,000. Chief LaRue stated that the $4,000 would be used for printing of booklets and staff would be comfortable in caning back to Council in the future for additional funds, if needed. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hin- man, Lee, Roberts and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. It was MOVED by Beauchamp to restore two more Department Assistant II's to the counter of the Police Department, using FRS funds. The notion failed for lack of a second. The question was called for the vote on the motion, as arended: carried, Buchanan, Hinman, Lee, Roberts, Wonder and Beauchamp voting aye on roll call. Edmondson voting nay. Mayor Edmondson stated that she voted against the motion because of her belief in the necessity of allocating money for materials and supplies. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Lee to accept the recomnendation of the City Manager and reinstate four Firefighters at a cost of $77,700 and $25,000 for volunteer training and $5,000 for three valves for the Fire Department and further increase the: expenditure side of the budget. Mayor Edmondson stated that she still feels that the City would be better served if tbere was a gradual decrease in Fire personnel. Coun- cilman Hinman stated that the Company that is being deleted will be on standby and it is the last Company that would ever be called to respond to an emergency. Council member Lee stated that she has confidence and respect for the Citizens/Council Committee that considered these changes. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Hinman, Lee, Roberts, Wonder, Beauchamp and Buchanan voting aye on roll call. Edmondson voting nay. Council members discussed the additional funds needed to bring the seal coat program to a seven year cycle rather than the nine year cycle in the proposed budget. Council members also discussed the Street Inspec- tor II position that is requested to be funded with FRS. It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Hinman to put the $34,000 in the budget for materials and not include $17,000 recommended for the Street Inspector II position. Councilman Roberts expressed concern in deleting the Street Inspector position, stating that Council does not want to be shortsighted in the quality of the care of the streets. Councilman Beauchamp stated that he agrees with Councilman Roberts. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Hinman, Lee, Wonder and Buchanan voting aye on roll call. Roberts, Beauchamp, and Edmondson voting nay. Council members discussed the duties of the Traffic Engineering Tech- nicians and the impact of deleting those two positions. Carol Darby,' Director of Community Development, stated that the lack of the two Traffic Technicians may increase the workload of the Police Departnent. She stated that it would also require additional time to respond to citizen or Council requests. It was MOVED by Hinman to approve both Traffic Technician positions at $40,100. The motion died for lack of a second. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Roberts to accept one Traffic Technician position at $20,050: carried, Lee, Roberts, Wonder, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson and Hinman voting aye on roll call. STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW - WRAP -UP December 13, 1979 407 ®7 It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Lee to fund $25,000 of the $50,000 requested by the Parks Department and let the Parks Department decide how to use it. Following discussion on the various positions requested to be funded, the question was called for the vote on the notion: carried, Roberts, Wonder, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman and Lee voting aye on roll call. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Wonder to reinstate one Planner at a cost of $23,700. Councilman Wonder stated that this Planner will be working on the Urban Area Plan and this Plan should be completed this year. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Wonder, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee and Roberts voting aye on roll call. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Wonder to allocate zero dollars to Customer Service for one Parking Checker. Mayor Edmondson inquired about the impact of the deletion of one Parking Checker having on the City. Art Zerbach, Director of Finance & Budget, stated that it would decrease revenue about $6,000, which is not figured at the proposed bail schedule. Councilman Wonder stated that DARC is going to come to Coun- cil with a new recommendation for different enforcement of parking in the downtown area. The question was called for the vote on the motion: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Hinman, Lee, Roberts and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson voting nay. City Manager Zais reported that $586,900 for general government was proposed to be funded with FRS; Council saved $100,500 and approved $350,000. Following discussion on the Equipment Replacement Fund, it was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Beauchamp to put $138,000 into the Equipment Replacement Fund to keep it viable: carried, Buchanan, Edmond- son, Hinman, Lee, Roberts, Wonder and Beauchamp voting aye on roll call. It was MOVED by Hinman, seconded by Wonder to allocate $385,000 re- quested for Airport Operating deficit ($110,000); airport capital pro- jects overrun ($250,000); and architectural services - joint law fac- ility ($24,000): carried, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Roberts, Wonder, Beauchamp and Buchanan voting aye on roll call. City Manager Zais and Council reviewed the general revenue fund balance as follows: Contingency $272,000 Gained extra General Fund Reserve 139,000 $411,000 To fund two Police Sergeants and three Police Officers ($110,100) and four Firefighters ($77,700) would cost $187,800, subtracted from $411,000, leaves a balance of $223,200. If you fund $27,800 for two Department Assistant II's, the balance would be $195,400. City Manager Zais put the following figures on the blackboard: General Government FRS Allocated $487,300 Other FRS Allocated 385,000 Total $872,300 Available FRS $996,000 Balance $123,700 FRS Use, General Fund $215,600 FRS Balance 339,300 General Government 195,000 Balance $534,300 It was MOVED by Wonder, seconded by Lee to direct the City Manager to bring us a balanced budget based on the preliminary budget and necessary layoffs and based on the usage of FRS and general fund dollars as out- lined here: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Hinman, Lee, Roberts and Wonder voting aye on roll call. Edmondson voting nay. There being no further business to came before the Council, it was NDVED by Lee, 'seconded by Wonder to adjourn the meeting at the hour of 4:25 p.m.: carried, Beauchamp, Buchanan, Edmondson, Hinman, Lee, Roberts and Wonder voting aye by voice vote. 408 STUDY SESSION - BUDGET REVIEW - WRAP-UP December 13, 1979 READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY Ae DATE/ 3 F 40 0 karrmAi■ DATE/S"FA kip es IMAN ATTEST: def ‘-7 0 • , • CITY * 7 f MAYOR