HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/2010 Adjourned Meeting 365
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING — BUDGET REVIEW
NOVEMBER 9, 2010 – 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 NOON
COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL
1. Roll Cali
Present:
Council: Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Assistant Mayor Kathy Coffey, Council
Members Maureen Adkison, Dave Edler, Rick Ensey, Dave Ettl and Bill Lover
Staff: City Manager Zais, Finance and Budget Director DeBord, Deputy Director
Finance and Budget Epperson, Acting City Clerk Claar -Tee
2. Council Budget Review by Priority /Department/Service Unit
City Manager Zais gave opening statements. He spoke about the failure of the liquor
tax initiative which avoided a $1.1 million impact to revenue. He advised that there are
still many unknowns such as labor settlements for 2011 and issues within the state
budget that are proposed.
Public Health and Safety
• Police – Police Grants; Law and Justice Capital
Chief Granato pointed out that 85% of their budget is labor related. They have
made cuts in the non - commissioned area that has impacted the ability to input data.
They expect a significant reduction in jail costs, almost $1 million. Although they do
not agree with cutting positions, they have prioritized them if it becomes necessary
to do so. He first recommended eliminating the forensic supervisor position and
downgrading it to an evidence technician but then ultimately recommended
eliminating the position altogether. His rationale was based on the original plan of a
county -wide forensic lab that has not been realized. He claimed that those services
are supplied free by the state. Chief Granato spoke in support of the crime and
intelligence analyst supervisor position and not downgrading it as had been
suggested. Police Support Services was reduced in 2010 in anticipation of a new
records management system but that is still six months away. It is anticipated that
when that system is fully,functional, they will be able to eliminate four clerical
positions because officers will be entering their reports in real time.
A discussion ensued on moving officers from the Gang Unit and the Proactive Unit to
School Resource and Housing Authority to meet the terms of a COPS grant. Chief
Granato spoke about the need of putting officers back into patrol services if we're
going to be able to maintain minimum staffing levels in that division. They also
discussed the need to shift away from sending a police officer on every call to a
different method of allocating resources in the future. A general discussion was held
on the subject and Assistant Mayor Coffey asked that it become a policy issue.
Council Member Lover asked to be advised of the cost to replace the forensic
position and crime analyst should they leave.
City Manager Zais spoke about capital expenditures for Police in 2011; he estimated
the purchase of eight cars to replace existing ones.
• Fire – Emergency Services (EMS); Public Safety Communications; Fire Capital
366 ADJOURNED BUDGET MEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
Chief Hines spoke about how an increased demand for services while funding is
decreasing requires a decrease in service to the community and an increased
workload on remaining personnel and apparatus. He spoke about accomplishments
this year e.g. expanded partnerships with surrounding fire districts, the purchase of a
fire rescue boat with Fire District 11, pooling of resources, and looking at
consolidating and merging.
Deputy Chief Willson presented an alternative proposal to Tier 1 which had been a
reduction of $643,000 achieved by laying off six firefighters and a secretary position.
He said they have pared down to their core mission: to save lives through medical
calls, fire calls, and also property conservation. The alternative proposal would
eliminate a number of things in order to provide for that core mission. Currently the
department has six companies covering 25 square miles. The alternative proposal
drops that to five companies covering the same area. This would result in laying off
three firefighters and eliminating the Secretary II position. Because of retirement,
the Deputy Fire Marshal position would be eliminated mid -year 2011. The proposed
reduction in overtime would be achieved by having five companies instead of six.
They would not fill a lieutenant position that recently became vacant due to a
retirement. They would eliminate the YVTECH program from the Yakima Fire
Department, which would allow another firefighter on apparatus. Impacts of these
changes are the loss of depth in service. Any structure fire requires five apparatus.
We currently have six companies and when we send five to a fire, we have one
available to cover the rest of the city. If the fire has any complications, the sixth
company goes to that fire, giving more depth. We will lose that level of service and
will rely on mutual aid. With the elimination of the Secretary II position, they will be
losing 50% of their administrative support. The loss of the Deputy Fire Marshal upon
his retirement will have a large public impact. We will eliminate many programs, e.g.
the Edith House that teaches 2 graders, and other public education programs such
as fire extinguisher classes. The reduction of overtime will cause numerous
operational changes. City Manager Zais said the savings from the Fire Chief's
leaving would be the result of making an "acting" chief appointment from within the
department for a period of approximately six months.
Council Member Ensey raised the issue of priority dispatching. With the reduction of
a company, we may not be able to send a crew out to help someone in a nursing
home or where an ambulance has already been dispatched to an accident. He
asked if that was a policy issue that the Council needs to look at now? Chief Hines
explained it is being looked at right now and the County fire chiefs and the County
EMS agency are anxious to implement it; but it will take effort to do it properly. We
are on the cusp of implementing that program on a pilot basis in the upper valley.
Discussion covered the critical nature of these decisions and how people's lives are
at stake.
Wayne Wantland, Public Safety Communications Manager, referred to two policy
issues: combining Communications with Information Technology and the 911 excise
tax issue.
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ADJOURNED BUDGET MEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
• City Manager
Assistant City Manager Zabell spoke about indigent defense that is mandated by
state law. We provide defense primarily through Dixon & Lee and the Gillihan Law
firms. Although this budget category increased, public defenders appearing at
arraignment have had a positive effect on jail costs.
• Municipal Court
Cynthia Martinez, Sr. Assistant Attorney, presented the budget for the Prosecution
Division. She spoke about the positive results of implementing jail reduction
policies, home monitoring, and a diversion program. Other efforts implemented for
savings were reduced recommendations for petty offenses and not prosecuting
certain misdemeanors. They will soon be presenting an ordinance to decriminalize a
number of offenses. They are expecting the implementation of the Prosecutor Case
Management System to increase office efficiencies. In mid -2009, they lost a
prosecutor due to budget reductions. Currently, each prosecutor is handling a
caseload of 1,900 a year. National organizations recommend a prosecutor handle
no more than 600 -700 per year. They are unable to decrease services to respond to
staffing reductions. Currently, everything is dealt with on a triage basis, rather than
being proactive.
Judge Olwell and Linda Hagert, Court Services Manager, described their functions
and workloads. The Court employs 8.5 clerks which is far below the suggested ratio
of judge to clerks. They have reduced courtroom security and implemented a new
jury triage.
• Finance
Cindy Epperson, Deputy Director of Finance and Budget, presented the Public
Health and Safety portion of the Finance budget covering Criminal Justice
Tax/Information Systems, Emergency Management, etc. Also included was police
LEOFF 1 medical and pre -LEOFF pension.
• Community and Economic Development
Joe Caruso, Supervising Code Inspector, reviewed four areas; criminal justice tax
relating to Animal Control, dangerous building repair and demolition, Code
Administration, and Animal Control. After proposed reductions, there will be
limitations. Mr. Caruso recapped past reductions in the General Fund and
discussed what the budget lines cover in each area. Further cuts would include an
Animal Control Officer and a Code Compliance Officer.
• Public Works
Joe Rosenlund, Streets and Traffic Operations Manager, advised they have three
less people from last year for snow and ice control. That will mean three plows will
not be on the roads. There has also been a policy change where the drivers are not
allowed to work more than 16 hours at a time. With street lighting, they are cutting
approximately $10,000 in materials and $28,000 for utility costs by using an ARA
grant to upgrade some street lights to LED. A position was lost out of the sign and
striping crew. This will impact street striping as well as graffiti will not be addressed
as quickly. They will have to move from being proactive to reactive.
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368 ADJOURNED BUDGET MEETING
NOVEMBER 9, 2010
Council Member Edler suggested revisiting the idea of using reserves, taking a harder
stance on salaries and benefits, and to think in terms of cuts in services. City Manager
Zais reminded Council that salary reductions would have to be negotiated for all
bargaining units that are certified.
3. Adjournment
ENSEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO NOVEMBER 16, 2010
AT 9:00 A.M. UNTIL NOON IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR CITY COUNCIL
BUDGET REVIEW. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting
adjourned at 12:16 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY If
C IL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
- 1 i. . • LAL-e,
CITY CLERK MICAH CAWLEY, MA R
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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