HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/2012 05Ai Draft Minutes 11-29-2011 Adjourned Meeting / Public Hearing4 H±
ITEM TITLE: Adjourned meeting /public hearing -- November 29, 2011
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❑ Minutes 11/29/11
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING — PUBLIC HEARINGS
NOVEMBER 29, 2011 — 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
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 Cooper, City Attorney Cutter and City Clerk Kloster
2. Public Hearings to consider 2012 Budget Revenue Options:
A. Up to 6% increase in utility taxes (i.e. Wastewater, Water, Stormwater
and Refuse) per the Priorities of Government (POG) model for General
Government purposes
B. Annual $20 car tab license dedicated to street capital and long -term
maintenance
City Manager Cooper summarized the budget as he previously presented it
to the Council.
• Mayor Cawley opened the public hearing..
Verlynn Best, 711 46th Avenue, noted she was speaking as a citizen and
understands the Council is in a difficult position; however, she supports the
taxes.
Rhonda Gabbard, 516 N. 23rd Avenue, thinks there are other areas to cut in
the budget instead of eliminating police officers.
Bill Duerr, 3206 W. Yakima Avenue, supports a tax increase and /or car tab
fee, which he feels should be earmarked for specific accounts. He thinks
management and union employees need to work together and
recommended the City Council take a 5% pay cut and see what unions will
do to follow.
Chris Wright, 107 Gilbert Drive, supports a tax increase in order to have a
safe, healthy and vibrant community. He also requests the Council have a
planned purpose for using the money and be held accountable on how it is
spent.
Rus McKinney, 2300 River Road, supports a tax increase and the car tab
fees, as he is concerned about the quality of life in Yakima and feels we
cannot lose any more police officers. His understanding is that businesses
may have to pay more for insurance because of an insufficient number of
firefighters. He also feels the streets need to be maintained.
November 29, 2011
Jim Evans, 4405 Summitview, spoke against any new taxes and complained
about City employees.
Dana Rutz, 5704 Douglas Drive, indicated nobody wants to pay extra taxes,
and the Council needs to make sure it is absolutely necessary. He
suggested letting three officers go instead of six and raising utility taxes 3%
instead of 6 %. The City should look at using cheaper paper, and not put the
city logo on every vehicle. He questioned why the car tab fee couldn't be
$10 instead of $20 and possibly delay street improvements for a year.
Charles Noel, 1101 N. 4th Street, complained about the federal government
and believes all areas in government should be trimmed. He thinks the
budget should be adjusted as needed with the money already available and
that the City should trim across the board, without eliminating police officer
positions.
Dennis Thorn, 626 Voltaire Avenue, thinks everyone should pay their fair
share, and wondered why the new City Manager received a 30% pay
increase. He noted when the power company attempted to increase rates
by 22 %, enough people complained and they dropped it to 12 %. He
believes the police officer positions should be funded. He believes pay cuts
should be from the top down since what the boss does sets an example for
everyone else to follow.
Larry Bennett, 1604 Cornell, realizes funding is a problem for all cities, and
wondered if it is possible to contract service such as garbage, street
sweeping, snow removal, water, and irrigation. He believes if the City
contracts services, it reduces the cost to the city. He also complained about
inefficient employees.
Ralph Call, 2608 W. Chestnut Avenue, thinks the City should look at the $20
car tab fee as the City's infrastructure is crumbling. If it'continues to
crumble, the cost to rebuild the streets will be more than the cost of repairing
them. He didn't feel well versed enough to speak on the utility tax issue, but
feels the City should look at contracting services out.
Lynn Harden, 913 Pleasant Avenue, does not support a tax increase or car
tab fees and favors firefighters performing inspections.
Brian McKenna, 1414 Cornell, feels the City has lost a lot of income to Union
Gap. He wouldn't mind paying more taxes to get things done.
Lynne Kittelson, 305 N. 9th Street, noted in the Council packet there is a list
of the top 23 cities in Washington State and their utility tax rates. She is
thankful she doesn't live in Grandview, Toppenish, Wapato or Granger, as
those have the highest utility taxes; Yakima is ranked 16 out of 23. Adding
6% still keeps us below some of the other lower valley cities, as well as
Vancouver. She is in favor of the taxes and would like to make certain that
the increase is also used for quality of life issues.
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November 29, 2011
Doug Lemon, 1300 S. 72nd Avenue, is against new taxes and complained
about City employees. He thinks the police officer positions should not be
eliminated; instead they could eliminate public works employees.
• Mayor Cawley closed the public hearing.
Council Member Lover does not feel the tax increases are necessary. He
thinks a blend of tax increases, spending cuts, reduction of employees' pay
and benefits, privatization, and contracting out services would be beneficial.
When it comes to competitive contracting, he said the following six questions
should be asked: Is the activity a core function of government or is it
commercial in nature? If it's a core function, can the service be provided
more efficiently and effectively through competitive contracting? Does it
provide a broad public benefit or only serve a special interest? Does it
duplicate the activities of non - profits or other private initiatives? Does it
duplicate the efforts of other state agencies or programs? Does the activity
demonstrate quantifiable performance? He thinks by answering these
questions it will ease us into privatization and performance contracting.
Council Member Edler asked the City Manager if Council wanted to move
toward a decision to impose the 6% in lieu of tax or implement the license
fees, what is the next step? City Manager Cooper replied he needs direction
to proceed and the car tab fees may take a year to put in place.
If the tax is approved, Assistant Mayor Coffey recommended setting aside a
half a million dollars in reserves earmarked for potential cuts from the state.
Council Member Ettl noted they are hearing a lot of distrust and suspicion
from some citizens and he would like to be a source of accurate information.
He stated another common complaint they have heard is about employee
inefficiencies.
Council Member Ensey noted the City's largest expense is payroll. If
Council approves additional taxes for public safety, they don't have control
of how that money will be spent. The Unions are likely to go to arbitration for
increased compensation and an arbitrator will make the decision.
Mayor Cawley stated the price of civilized society is a tax burden. He asked
the City Manager what he thinks the labor settlements may cost. City
Manager Cooper is assuming approximately half a million dollars.
CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO DEFER THE CAR TAB
ISSUE UNTIL JANUARY. The motion failed by a 5 -2 roll call vote; Coffey,
Edler, Adkison, Ettl and Lover voting no.
Mayor Cawley noted the City needs a sustainable streets program. Council
Member Edler reminded Council the street maintenance issue has been in a
Council Committee for nearly two years. He emphasized when the car tab
issue passed at the state level, it was a tool the legislature gave cities for
additional revenue. One of his goals on Council was to have a plan for
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November 29, 2011
repairing the streets. Assistant Mayor Coffey indicated she would like to see
it go forward.
Assistant Mayor Coffey noted when the County held an advisory vote five
years ago, they did not have a plan or a project associated with it; therefore,
it is not surprising it was defeated. Council Member Ettl asked if there would
be a sunset on the tax. City Attorney Cutter stated this is a Public Facility
District (PFD) type of arrangement and they typically expire when the
purpose it was created for is fulfilled. If there is a specific list of projects,
which are then completed, the PFD would end at that time.
Mayor Cawley asked if they established it for three years with a project list
how it would work. City Attorney Cutter reported he would need to do more
research.
Public Works Director Waarvick reported they have outlined a five -year plan,
which takes into account the failed street category. The Transportation
Benefit District (TBD) law allows you to sunset the TBD at the end of its
useful life or as long as any bonds that have incurred debt are still owed,
which could be between 10 and 15 years. In the RCW there is a sunset
provision inherent to the law.
EDLER MOVED AND ADKISON SECONDED TO ASK THE CITY
MANAGER TO TAKE US TO THE NEXT STEP OF IMPLEMENTING THE
CAR TAB FEE, SPECIFICALLY WITH HARD COSTS -- THAT HAS TO DO
WITH ASPHALT, SEAL, ROCK CHIPS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS
ON THE GROUND. The motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote, Cawley,
Ensey and Lover voting no.
City Manager Cooper indicated they can prepare a list of projects on a five -
year basis and how it would be implemented.
EDLER MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO ASK FOR AN
ORDINANCE TO BE PREPARED FOR A 6% IN LIEU OF TAX INCREASE.
The motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote: Ettl, Ensey and Lover voting no.
Assistant Mayor Coffey reminded Council that since 2008 the City has cut
41 positions. In this-year's standard budget, they are looking at cutting an
additional 13 positions and in the supplemental budget they are looking at
eliminating another 8 positions for a total of 62 positions. Her information
shows revenues are remaining flat, if not decreasing. Expenditures are
lower in comparison. She wants the public to know the Council has been
making budget cuts.
Council Member Edler noted the City is at the lowest number of police
officers per thousand they have ever had. Council Member Ettl believes the
citizens should vote on this. Council Member Adkison feels the City is at a
crisis point, since we are short police officers now. If they don't do
something, the City will be further behind when they receive the Governor's
next series of budget cuts.
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November 29, 2011
Assistant Mayor Coffey stated they are not talking about increasing the
police force but trying to keep it at what it should be, which isn't even
enough for the western percentages. She has heard talk about privatization,
but there are laws which prohibit it for specific reasons.
Mayor Cawley stated he takes citizen input seriously, and they have created
efficiencies such as credit/debit card bill payments and combining the
Purchasing Division with the County.
3. Adjournment
EDLER MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO THE
DECEMBER 6, 2011 BUSINESS MEETING AT 6 P.M. The motion carried by
unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
CERTIFICATION
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
0
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
MICAH CAWLEY, MAYOR