HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/1993 Adjourned Meeting 2 1
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
NOVEMBER 9, 1993
ADJOURNED MEETING BUDGET REVIEW
The City Council met in session on this date at 9:10 A. M. in the
Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council
members present were Mayor Pat Berndt presiding, Henry Beauchamp
(present after 9:25 A. M.), Bill Brado, Lynn Buchanan, Skip Semon
(absent after 10:55 A. M.), and Bernard Sims. Council member
Clarence Barnett absent and excused. City Manager Zais (present
after 10:55 A. M.), Director of Finance & Budget Hanson, and
Department Assistant Moen were also present.
Mayor Berndt announced Council Member Barnett is absent today due
to illness. She stated this is an informal budget session and it
will begin with a review . of the Police Department.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Chief Green introduced his staff; Captains Don Blesio
and Nina Vereb, Lieutenant Doug Bronson, and Administrative
Assistant Marsha Devine. John Hanson introduced Bob Wheeler,
Accounting and Treasury. Manager and Tim, Jensen, Accountant for the
Police Department.
Chief Green explained' the - Department retained the Police
Lieutenant position from 1,993, which is a critical leadership
position. Police Lieutenants have much administrative and
operational responsibility. The Department did not fill this
position because there was a possibility the individual might
return to work.
Staff reviewed the cost reduction impact of Initiatives 601 and
602; the. contractual Yakima County Jail cost increases, which may
triple in 1995; and a 75 percent three -year funding grant for
r commissioned officers. At the end of this period, the Department
can absorb these people into the budget. Chief. Green stated the
City's calls for services, are three times the workload of Yakima
County. The City of Yakima Police Department is working at the
maximum and he feels that credit should go back to the staff.
(Council Member Beauchamp present.) .
Chief Green explained how local laws and State laws correlate on
felony type crimes. Mayor. Berndt stated citizens are asking how
these people are getting out after all the recent shootings and
crime? Council Member Beauchamp questioned the difference between
people who commit violent crimes and people who do not pay traffic
tickets. Council member Sims asked what type of statistics the
City keeps on the rate of population and crime? Chief Green
explained the City is not allowed to ask for the status of the
records of the jail.
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John Hanson pointed out on Page 28 of the Policy Issues the Police
Department has a proposal for the Tactical Channel improvement.
Chief Green stated this should have been a•budgeted item. The
City needs some repeaters due to dead spots.
Council Member Brado referred to Page 279 in the budget, which
states from 1992 through 1993 the number of incidents went up but
the number of cases is less. He asked is there any reason? Staff
explained the City is doing more follow -up on person- contact and
not running everything through the Detective Division.
Chief Green stated on a City -wide basis two commissioned officer
and resource officer positions are being developed. Council
Member Beauchamp asked what kind of emphasis is the City putting
on community relation officers going to schools and is the
Department dealing with kid's behavior and respect for the law?
It is getting worse and there is more intimidation on the
campuses. Chief Green reviewed'the good relationship the Police
Department has with the schools. Council Member Beauchamp
expressed concern regarding the middle school children.
Chief Green explained how the Department presents the DARE (Drug
Abuse Resistance Education) program in Yakima schools.
Council Member Beauchamp asked whether the City receives any of
the money from the tickets given to motorists? Captain Vereb
explained there is a return from the forfeitures at court.
Council Member Beauchamp asked where that is in the budget.
Mr. Hanson referred to Page 149' in the budget, stating Traffic
Infraction Penalties refers to citations. When a hearing is
requested the case goes through a court.
Mayor Berndt complimented the Yakima Police Department for their
good job. She stated the Department has received compliments from
all over the State of Washington, which may be one of the reasons
Yakima has been successful in getting grants.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Beeson introduced his staff; Gene Martin, Deputy
Fire Chief, Dave Bachmann, Support Services Battalion Chief,
Mike Meyer, Training Division Battalion Chief, and Wayne Wantland,
Communications and Electronic Technicians Supervisor. John Hanson
introduced Edna Pettyjohn, Accountant for the Fire Department.
Council Member Brado asked how the Fire Department is filling
vacant positions? Chief Beeson stated the Department is the
process of filling positions. The Department chose four
candidates, that includes two females and one minority. There are
now ten females in the Fire Department. He is also trying to
address the minority issue of the City. Chief Beeson stated the
women applicants meet the same standards as their male
counterparts. Mr. Bachmann explained that affirmative action
guideline says that 45 percent of the staff should be female. The
only concern of the Department is that if they ever get to the
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45 percent, there may be._=something, consider regarding the
labor intensive work which females sometimes cannot handle.
Chief Beeson stated in no way has the Department made exceptions.
Mayor Berndt commented some individuals may resist accepting
females in this line of work. Council Member Beauchamp explained
I/ that Seattle had that concern with some initial resistance to it.
Council Member Buchanan commented the military has had to
make changes in their pre- induction physicals due to strength.
Council Member Beauchamp stated Seattle made arrangements to have
women go to the Y.M.C.A. for a body building program.
Mr. Bachmann stated the Department will fill all positions by
December 1, 1993.
Council Member Brado asked if the City accomplished its goals to
improve its rating for the Washington State Rating Bureau
Standards? Staff is working on making the changes. Chief Beeson
and Deputy Chief Martin are on a committee to grade and evaluate
the ratings for the State of Washington. They will estimate a
system that is a current rating and reviews the needs for the
State of Washington. It may take a year to complete. Staff will
be coming back for an evaluation next April and Chief Beeson says
he is confident the City will maintain its four rating.
In answer to the Council member's the rebuild
questions regarding
of the ladder tower /pumper, staff reviewed the suggestions of the
Rating Bureau. The Fire Department found to recycle would be less
than half the price of a new apparatus. It will be re- titled as a
new vehicle and takes about three months to rebuild.
Mayor Berndt stated at the =: informal meeting this morning she
mentioned contracting out for a fire investigator position. She
feels that $70,000 is too much money. Chief Beeson stated that
person will work together with every Police Department in this
county so he thinks it has some strong benefits for everyone and
to address the arson problems. Mr. Martin stated the $70,000 on
Page 27 of the Policy Issues includes start -up costs. The
Department estimates, $70,000 for year one operation cost with the
City share at 50 percent. Chief Beeson commented the first year
is getting this person on board at mid -year. Council Member Brado
asked if the State Fire Marshal position is reinstated, will there
be a reason for this position? Staff feels the position is a
central focus for investigations since the Fire Marshal is
sometimes on the other side of the state. Mayor Berndt asked if
I/ they re -fund that position in the State does staff think there
will be a likelihood of the smaller districts wanting to contract?
Chief Beeson stated he does not know. Mr. Meyer asked whether the
State plans to re -fund the Deputy State Fire Marshal position,
however, the outlook at this time is not to re -fund it.
Council Member Brado asked is it possible to do this with a
private enterprise?
Mr. Wantland reported the Policy Issues on Pages 28 and 29 are
Police Department issues. He stated the additional repeater on
Page 29 will benefit all departments.
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After a brief recess, Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review
meeting at 10:35 A. M.
FINANCE
John Hanson, Finance and Budget Director, Bob Wheeler, Treasury
and Accounting Manager, Rick Pettyjohn, Information Systems
Manager, and Bert Tabayoyon, Customer Services Manager was present
to answer questions for the Council members. (Council Member I/
Beauchamp absent)
CUSTOMER SERVICES
Council Member Brado asked what is a Parking Enforcement Officer
Lead Position's pay in comparison to a regular position? He asked
why are we requesting a lead position? Mr. Hanson explained that
a new employee would receive instructions from that person. He
stated on Page 110 under Budget Summaries, a parking checker's pay
range 8.5 is $9.70 per hour. A lead parking position is $10.14;
about $34,000 a year. He stated the addition of one more officer
may generate $25,000 additional revenue. Council Member Brado
stated he cannot support the addition of a lead position. He
asked why have a parking enforcement if you are not going to
enforce it? Mayor Berndt stated she agrees, and does not
understand why there needs to be three people. Council Member
Semon stated to effectively manage in the Central Business
District you will have to make a City Council policy decision on
people moving their cars every two hours. He stated he is an
advocate of free downtown parking. He feels the City needs to
make parking available for people to shop downtown. Then, parking
enforcement will need more people. Council Member Semon stated
other communities have dealt with this situation very effectively
and all shopping centers deal with this. He stated people working
downtown are taking up parking in the downtown area lots created
for shoppers. (Council Member Beauchamp present) In answer to
Mayor Berndt's questions, Mr. Tabayoyon stated staff made an
effort to encourage City employees to use the free transit,
however, it did not go over at all. Council Member Semon stated
the P.B.I.A. did not create those parking lots for that reason,
they are for shoppers going downtown. Mr. Hanson stated people
don't understand that the City took over those lots when Diamond
Cab walked out, with the two people we have. Council Member
Buchanan asked if the City has gotten away from the Ordinance
where a person gets a ticket if they park too long downtown?
Council Member Beauchamp stated the City needs to find a positive
way to address parking downtown. Yakima County has a parking lot
for their employees Council Member Buchanan commented that the
County bill their employees for the parking lot they use. He
stated he thinks the employees have a right to a parking lot too,
as well as downtown customers. Council Member Brado stated one
area for consideration is next to the railroad tracks across from
Track 29. He suggested the trolleys stop at that area; however,
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if the City gets involved.it may ,,get more expensive. Council
Member Beauchamp referred to'" Page 14 ' the Policy Issues and the
last paragraph on that page. He asked if the City of Yakima has
made a comparison of rates? Mr. Tabayoyon stated a couple of
years ago Yakima made a comparison and Yakima was right in the
I/ bottom. Yakima contacted Longview, Everett, Seattle, and Spokane.
Mr. Hanson suggested the City of Yakima continues as they are
doing, add another person, and add a $25:00 ticket for violations.
(Council Member Semon absent)
Mayor Berndt asked how staff determined the after -hours for
paperwork for Animal Control. Mr. Tabayoyon explained the
officers are in the field most of the time and get behind on
paperwork. The Officers have asked to deliver the Council books
on Saturday due to paperwork and some concern in the areas they
must go into. The Council members questioned whether the
officers go into these areas in response to their calls?
Mr. Tabayoyon explained when the officers go on a call, the Police
can provide a backup. Mr. Hanson pointed out a decrease in the
budget due to the DA II shifting from part -time Animal Control to
full -time City Clerk's Office.
Mr. ,Hanson stated by using a cellular mobile telephone the City
has tried to have officers in the field more. Mr. Tabayoyon
' explained if someone calls their office, the voice mail receives
the message. An officer in the field may call the office for
messages and continue on calls from wherever they may be. There
is also 'a radio system for these officers through the Police
Department that helps on travel time.
Council Member Buchanan stated the Animal Control Office and
Rebound Office is in the old fire station on 7th and
Chestnut Avenues near St. Elizabeth Hospital. There are no
lights in that parking lot and he feels it not safe for the
employees. He stated the Hospital has a security person who walks
employees to their vehicles. Discussion followed regarding this
lot and it was the consensus of the Council members to have staff
obtain lighting for this parking lot.
TREASURY /ACCOUNTING _
Mr. Hanson reported that the City combined the Treasury and
Accounting Funds into one budget this year.
I/ INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Mr. Pettyjohn stated several divisions developed the Automated
Maintenance Management System (AMMS) and implemented a budget.
Council Member Beauchamp asked how the City bills AMMS to the
appropriate people? Mr. Pettyjohn stated each division will have
their own maintenance schedule. The printer will notify each
division when this needs to be done. City Manager Zais
complimented the staff for their work, using current personnel and
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not seeking additional_ staff.
Council Member Beauchamp questioned the $577,102 budgeted for
transfer from the General Fund to the Parks and Recreation Fund in
1994. City Manager Zais stated that is included with the Parks
budget.
LIBRARY
City Manager Zais stated the Library budget was set up on the old
mil system of property taxes. He stated the City Council has the
right to increase this budget as they determine.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
Mayor Berndt stated Yakima County is considering pulling back on
all of these services and that means all the rest of us will pay
more or we must cut back on services. She stated these agencies
need to be held accountable as well. City ,Manager Zais stated one
area of concern for the City is the future Health District and
State funding.
Mayor Berndt, adjourned the budget meeting at 11:30 A. M., to then
resume the City Council meeting back in the Council Chambers at
2:00 P. M. for City Council Business Meeting.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY I/. I A aft , /. ./I -
COACIL MEMBER DA I
A-c*. " CXY
OUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
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DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT MAYOR
An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office