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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/1992 Adjourned Meeting 16 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 17, 1992 ADJOURNED FETING - BUDGET REVIEW The City Council met in session on this date at 9:05 A.M. in the Council Chambers, at Yakima City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Mayor Pat Berndt, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett (absent after 11:15 A. M.), Henry Beauchamp (present after 9:25 A. M.), Lynn Buchanan, Skip Semon (present after 9:12 A. M.), and Bernard Sims (absent after 10:45 A. M.) present. City Manager Zais, Director of Finance & Budget Hanson, and Department Assistant Barber also present. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Planning Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager, introduced the staff: Cindy Epperson, Finance, Staff Accountant; Don Skone, Planning Manager; Chris Waarvick, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent; Leonard Hall and Bob Shampine, Code Administration; Judy Arington, Administrative Assistant, and Joan Davenport, Planner. Policy Issues There were no policy issues for Community Development. Mayor Berndt stated she received a telephone call from one of the developers regarding the lack of information the City Council receives regarding multi - family housing. The interest is on the impact of land use and property value. Council Member Buchanan also received a call. Staff is gathering information for a report and planning to establishing a factual record for future cases. (Council Member Semon present after 9:12 A. M.) Council received a letter dated November 5, 1992 from Bill Huibregtse. Mr. Huibregtse resigned from the Urban Area Regional Planning Commission. - -The Commission feels there isn't any role for them. Mayor Berndt asked what is their role? Mr. Rice explained the Commission previously heard all of the rezones before they came before the City Council. Council Member Sims commented the Commission spends hours each III-- month working on recommendations, the Joint Board reviews this, makes changes and presents those to the elected body. Mayor Berndt suggested a review of the process used and asked for a work- session with City staff and the Regional Planning Commission. Staff will schedule a session in January, 1993. (Council Member Beauchamp present after 9:25 A. M.) Growth Management This program was restructured with staff taking on more of the work. Table I on Page 174 for Expenditures proposes $883,000 for the budget. (Council Member Barnett absent after 9:35 A. M.) City Manager Zais BR11.17 /1 NOVEMBER 17, 1992 1.7 stated staff wanted to revisit the responsibility and individual tasks and elements. It is a major shift away from consultant services. Mayor Berndt asked if the County did the aerial maps and photography and if the bill has been paid? City Manager Zais stated there is no money in this budget for that, it is not funded in this budget. One of the biggest things that happened was the drainage program. Page 11 of the Policy Issues, in the last paragraph explains the drainage element increase due to State mandated and original contractual requirements. Hearing Examiner This budget reflects no change from 1992 due to the Hearing Examiner's efficient work. Rebound This funding comes from grant awards, (DCD) Department of Community Development and (OSAP) Office for Substance Abuse Prevention. OSAP has dropped three more years. The State grant was cut in half in 1992 and last week it was cut in half again. Mayor Berndt expressed concern regarding the Lee Music Store building. She asked what more needs to be done to tear that down? Mr. Shampine explained the dangerous building code would have to be rewritten. Council Member Sims stated he feels it should be rewritten. Assistant City Manager Rice pointed out the Rebound Office does not work with that, the Code Administration does. Mayor Berndt asked staff to review this code. Staff will bring the information to the Council for review. Council Member Beauchamp asked for an update on housemoving also. Staff will bring back an ordinance amendment to the housing ordinance. Council Members Beauchamp and Buchanan felt standards for home improvements should be higher for landlords. (Council Member Barnett present after 9:55 A. M.) Code Administration Council Member Barnett expressed concern there are no provisions for the difference in the fire insurance rating. He feels this Department has ._..___.... _._ - so many things to do there is a question whether they are able to do the fire investigation adequately? Mr. Shampine stated that the Department cannot, and staff will be coming back to Council on December 8, 1992 with a report. Staff will come back with a supplement to the Fire insurance rating issue. Council Member Beauchamp referred to Page 219 and questioned the revenue decline in building permits and plumbing permits. Mr. Shampine stated the estimate is now $496,900 for the 1992 year end projection. Council Member Sims expressed concern regarding the overall expense and how your business is rated; we should have a better fire insurance rate in Yakima. BR11.17 /2 , 1 8 NOVEMBER 17, 1992 Cable TV Communications Wendy Warren introduced herself as the Manager of the Cable TV Office. She divulged the Cable budget is reduced from 1991 and 1992 because the City is not pursuing any equipment upgrade. Capitol Theatre Steve Caffery, Manager of the Capitol Theatre, stated this budget reflects some changes in the internal operations.' Staff is looking at different areas within the facility to keep current with modern technology. Yakima Convention Center Glenn Rice introduced Kathy Coffey, Manager of the Yakima Convention Center. (Council member Barnett absent after 10:18 A. M.) Policy Issues Council Member Buchanan expressed support for the premiums for the employees on Page 38. Council Member Beauchamp asked if the Sundome is getting more events due to its size? Mrs. Coffey explained the Center did not have the days available that were requested. Staff stated the Center tracks every event in the State of Washington and exchanges event calendars so the City knows what other cities are doing. Economic Development /Housing Mr. Rice explained this budget is presented each fall for the following year. The City Council has already approved this part of the budget. Council Member Beauchamp asked why Service Unit 332 - Chestnut Manor is included? Mr. Rice explained the service unit transaction is closed; the City will not be through with that item until 1993. Staff will meet with Council Member Beauchamp for further discussion regarding this service unit. City Manager Zais referred to Page 225 in the budget, the Economic Development Fund, which was created this last year. Next year's budget expenditures include legal fees, appraisals, project matching funds and professional service fees. • City Manager Zais disclosed the City received 450 applications for the position of Director of Community and Economic Development. In December, seven people will be interviewed for the position. The interview board will consist of members of the community, real estate, the Chamber of Commerce, builders, staff, etc. The City plans to hire someone by the first part of 1993. BR11.17/3 NOVEMBER 17 1992 1 9 • informed Council there was a shortage in dollars and with a reduction in staff, you have a reduction in services. Other departments are going to have to help the personnel section. Council Member Semon commented the City Council may wish to review this another way. • Sheryl Smith, Deputy Human Resources Manager stated that due to a number of large claims there has been an increase in health benefits costs for AFSCME. The increase in costs has been reflected in AFSCME's rates to be paid next year. This was worked out with the collaboration of the Insurance Committee which has been trying to help pull everyone into one large group. Mr. Rice explained it is cost - sharing and is related to ' • the workforce program. Legal Mayor Berndt questioned the number of meetings (1,745) which were attended by staff. John Vanek, City Attorney, and Director of the Legal Department, explained this number, adding a note should be included saying this includes all of his staff's meetings outside their Office, not just his meetings. Mr. Vanek stated next year one prosecuter will take up criminal requirements on a regular basis. Mr. Vanek presented a handout, "Monthly Project /Assignment Status Report ", November 6, 1992. This is an update on litigation, with a scope and depth of the work that legal has to do. This report does not include the people who come in the door for information and research. Those matters are taken care of first. Council Member Buchanan asked for more clarification regarding Legal's . computer system. The Legal Department is asking for a $25,000.00 allocation for the prosecutorial side, which would increase the efficiency. Mr. Vanek stated last year Council approved a clerical position to assist with the work in their office. He thanked Council, saying the position has been a great benefit. On Page 133, Council Member Beauchamp questioned how the number of damage claims could be projected correctly? He asked if the City is.not able to correct the problem? Many of these claims are sewer backups or minor water problems. The Sewer Division is responding to citizens and those citizens are installing backflow devices. Records Karen Roberts, Manager, expanded on the reasons for her request for professional services /summer intern to design and implement a filing system. • BR11.17 /5 2 0 NOVEMBER 17, 1992 • After a brief recess, Mayor Berndt reconvened the Budget Review meeting at 10:45 A. M. (Council Member Barnett present after 10:45 A. M.) (Council Member Sims absent after 10:45 A. M.) ADMINISTRATION Coundil Council discussed conference registration fees, dues, and subscriptions for the City's memberships with Marketa Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager. Council Member Barnett asked if a monthly newsletter is sent out with the utility bill, do we still need the Annual Report from the City? He suggested this is a way to reduce costs. Council Member Buchanan feels there is a need for this Annual Report. City Manager Zais stated the City has done the Annual Report for two years and it is a good public relations document. Mayor Berndt explained the newsletter in the utility billings is more on issues. City Management Policy Issues This City -wide policy issue proposes the City's work program workforce development and planning. Chris Waarvick, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent, Chairman of the Workforce Planning Committee, stated that continued quality improvement is a long -range effort for the City. The City is interested in recruiting and training more people through the community. Issues need to be addressed and taken to the bargaining table. Council Member Barnett stated that basically, what this does, is a supervisor's responsibility. Council Member Beauchamp stated his perception is that there is a need to have some quality training. There is a need for something more specific and good public relation training within the City's structure. The City needs some inter - personal relation training so people can better talk to one another and seek answers to problems. City Manager Zais referred to Page 35 which addresses the issue on training. Human Resources Council member Barnett expressed concern with the budget policy issue which proposes to delete one position. (Barnett absent after 11.15 A. M.) City Manager Zais stated the City must look at the need of the organization, overall. Staff responded to questions on the impact on some of the services provided. Archie Sutton, Human Resources Manager will be meeting with Glenn Rice to discuss the Human Resources Division's priorities. The City has used the workforce plan with this staff. Mr. Rice asked to make it clear, the Workforce Committee is not being run out of the Human Resources Division. The Fire Department will also be using workforce training. Council Member Semon stated he would find it unacceptable if staff cannot do a service for the public due to a workforce reduction. He asked if the City is serving the public to the best advantage and at what cost to the community? City Manager Zais BR11.17/4 - 2 2 NOVEMBER 17, 1992 Purchasing City Manager Zais stated last year there was a pending assignment to relocate purchasing. That was delayed and does not affect this budget, it is coming in a separate report. Council Member Beauchamp referred to the two Police divisions asking to purchase file cabinets. One was for $240.00 each and the other was for $275.00 each. The Police Department stated that Purchasing decides this. He asked how do we go about this and why is the price so high? Jean Reid, Purchasing Manager, explained two different vendors are involved. Mayor Berndt asked what would happen if we purchased this from Costco? Mrs. Reid stated they will not accept purchase orders. She is working with them at this time and they have been invited to bid. The City sets up contracts to fill their needs and get better prices. Mr. Rice explained some of the divisions have everyone from an administrative assistant to a clerk making purchases and paying the bills. Staff is trying to get a handle on this procedure. Some standards must be set. Council Member Beauchamp suggested this be examined continually to make sure spending is streamlined. Mayor Berndt adjourned the budget meeting at 11:52 A. M., to then resume the City Council meeting back in the ouncil Chambers at 2:00 P. M. for a City Council Business Meeting. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY 2 "' J 2- -23 - COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: COUNCIL MEMBER DATE \S2.L-yt._R„ DEPARTMENT ASS STANT MAYOR BR11.17/6