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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. 2 367 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. 3 368 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 1 4