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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/22/1994 Adjourned Meeting 14 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 22, 1994 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW The City Council met in session on this date at 9:22 A. M. in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were Mayor Pat Berndt presiding, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Ernie Berger, Bill Brado, and Lynn Buchanan. Council Member Bernard Sims absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Director of Finance & Budget Hanson, Accountant Jensen, and Department Assistant Moen were also present. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Mayor Berndt opened the meeting to review the Public Works Department's budget. Public Works Director Jerry Copeland and his staff; Transit Planner and Administrative Assistant to the Director John Haddix, Equipment Rental Manager Don Toney, Streets and Traffic Engineering /Operations Manager Dave Hussell, Transit Manager, Bill Schultz, Refuse Manager Nancy Gaudette, Parks Recreation Supervisor Denise Nichols and Park Operations Supervisor John Marsh were present to respond to the Council's questions. Administration Division Policy Mr. Copeland asked the City Council to upgrade the position of Administrative Assistant to a mid -level managerial position which is now vacant. He explained the responsibilities of this position. Council Member Barnett expressed concern regarding any position upgrade. He feels the administration overhead impacts the rates and expenses to the other divisions. The cost impact to the salary was discussed; staff will clarify that information. Further discussion occurred regarding the possible impact on this position if County -wide transit is implemented, and the possibility of upgrading the Transit Planner position. Street Division Policy Mr. Hussell stated the Street Review Committee is in the process of preparing a comprehensive report on street operations. Mayor Berndt stated the Street Committee plans I/ to meet next Thursday to finalize their recommendation and options. It is to be presented to the City Council and some of it might be incorporated into this year's budget. Refuse Division Policy Mrs. Gaudette stated staff is recommending a refuse rate increase of five percent. This increase has been approved by 15 NOVEMBER 22, 1994 the Utility Rate Advisory Board and will generate approximately $65,000 annually. .`Council Member Barnett stated theoretically, the five percent increase has some justification. However, it appears the bin accounts should have a separate increase, rather than the across - the -board five percent increase. Mrs. Gaudette explained annexations I/ resulting in an additional amount of residential customers, is part of the reason for the increase for residential customers. The number of Multi - family customers stay pretty much the same. The proposal is to increase rates on bin service, residential can service and extra charges. Discussion followed regarding a previous adjustment to correct the rates charged for bin service accounts. Mr. Copeland stated staff brought the bin services back in line with what it was costing to provide the service. Council Member Brado stated the can service is mandatory and the bin service is optional so the City must be more competitive in that area. Council Member Barnett expressed concern that the can customers would be subsidizing the bins and Mayor Berndt agreed. Staff will do an actual breakdown of the costs. Council Member Buchanan asked if Yakima Waste Systems charges a lower rate for their second can. Mrs. Gaudette stated that is correct, the Washington State Utility and Transportation Commission only allows YWS to charge for costs of providing services. Mayor Berndt asked if that is changing. It is in direct conflict with everything the State Waste Reduction Act is doing. Mrs. Gaudette stated that is true; there is conflict and there are some legislative actions being discussed at this time to get Washington Utilities to change that. Mayor Berndt stated she would like staff to review that so the information would be available for the future. She believes it would encourage people to reduce refuse and also take into account people on fixed incomes. Council Member Buchanan expressed concern regarding the additional can charge as compared with Yakima Waste's charges. Council Member Barnett stated total expenses for 1995 are less if you have no rate increase than if you have a rate increase. Why are you projecting expenses more with the rate increase, than without an increase? Mrs. Gaudette stated that when revenues increase there is an increase in in- lieu -of -taxes and State taxes. Council Member Barnett asked staff to include a footnote to clarify this. City Manager Zais stated this is the first time the City has gone three consecutive years I/ without a rate increase, in the last dozen years. The Council members asked staff to prepare an in -depth review of the five percent rate increase, a different rate increase for the bins as compared with the cans and compare costs for the residential bin system on a monthly basis with the Yakima Waste Systems. 2 16 NOVEMBER 22, 1994 Parks and Recreation Division Policy Ms. Nichols stated staff proposes adding a Youth Sports Coordinator position. She reported there has been a community request for enhancing youth programs. Council Member Beauchamp asked if there would be a reduction in park maintenance. Mr. Copeland stated another person would take over those duties. Ms. Nichols explained the temporary Park Caretaker position would be eliminated and this person would become the permanent Recreation Leader. It is to be funded in a support unit. Staff informed Council the City has some equipment that is rented out through the Senior Citizens Center and some estimates are listed in the Fee Schedule for these services. Supplemental Budget Requests Mayor Berndt presented a handout, "Going Soft on Crime ", a law enforcement article in the November 14, 1994 Time magazine. The article by Jill Smolowe states, "While California's tough three - strike law falters, prevention programs are keeping kids in line." The article gives evidence of a decline in crime and juvenile- arrest rates. Discussion continued regarding the Parks and Recreation Division supplemental budget requests, Pages 121 through 142. Mayor Berndt stated these requests will be reviewed next week and she asked the Council members to defer comments until then. Council Member Barnett expressed concern regarding the annual 4th of July celebration. He would like to know if any other city or the county contributes funds for this request. Mr. Hanson stated this is an unbudgeted request. Mayor Berndt stated this concludes the review of the Policy Issues for the Public Works Department. The meeting continued with a review of the Public Works Budget. Public Works Administration Mayor Berndt asked staff to analyze the number of employees who need to attend meetings, as a general policy measure. Council Member Barnett asked what savings will be derived from the new maintenance management system, "AIMMS." Mr. Copeland stated this is a City -wide computer system that the Council approved. All work orders will be computerized and will reduce paperwork by 95 percent. Mr. Hanson explained the system and its purpose. 3 17 NOVEMBER 22, 1994 Streets and Traffic Engineering /Operations Division Council Member Barnett asked if figures showing the charges for 1994 are greater than those projected for year end. City Manager Zais explained it is the timing, this Budget needs to I/ be updated, since its printing. (Council Member Berger absent after 10:24 A. M.) Council Member Buchanan asked for clarification regarding how the street lights are changed. He stated there are lights in the area of "B" Street and First Avenue that should be checked. Transit Division Mayor Berndt expressed concern with the way additional personnel were budgeted on Page 309. Council Member Barnett asked if the City has the $262,500 in the bank for a match of FTA funds for buses. Mr. Schultz explained Federal Transit Administration (FTA) capital grant funding has been made available to the City for the purpose of applying for that program. Equipment Rental and Revolving Division Mayor Berndt asked staff to clarify the meaning of ERR and RET on Page 334. Mr. Hanson explained ERR (Equipment Rental and Revolving) is replacement funding and RET (Residual Equity Transfer) means a new piece of equipment that has no equipment funding. Staff will.make that change in the Budget. Council Member Barnett asked staff to correct the typing error on Page 331; the Table reads 1994 and 1995 rather than 1993 and 1994. Discussion followed regarding equipment. Mr. Copeland stated some of the answers are in the Streets budget and staff will bring back some recommendations. Council Member Brado stated the Street Committee found reserves for replacements for the Street Division was low. Parks and Recreation Division I/ Mr. Copeland stated Recreation Supervisor Denise Nichols and Parks Operations Supervisor John Marsh have been helping him fill in for the vacant Parks and Recreation Manager's position. Also present were Park Commissioners Bo Hepler and Mike Nixon, Gene Rostvold, Athletic Director for the Yakima School District, and Ester Huey, Director of the Yakima Substance Abuse Coalition. 4 1.8 NOVEMBER 22, 1994 Council Member Barnett stated with the decline of self - support he has a concern with subsidizing the ongoing maintenance in the Central Business District (CBD) area. Mr. Hanson explained funds from the downtown parking lots take care of that. Council Member Barnett asked if Parks has the funds to meet the increasing demands of the downtown area. Mr. Copeland stated Parks has taken over the maintenance in the downtown area, including the parking lots. Council Member Barnett asked if the City is increasing the park area to the point it cannot be properly maintained. Staff feels there will be a satisfactory level of maintenance with the existing staff. Council Member Buchanan asked if anything can be done regarding the trees on "B" Street that have roots growing under the street. Mayor Berndt stated one item that emerged from the Street Committee is that the City needs a "Tree Policy." Mr. Marsh agreed, saying the City needs a tree ordinance regarding the type, size, species, with signs, costs, irrigation, watering, what to do when the public calls in and the action they must go through. Council Member Buchanan asked if staff still has the ordinances they received from other cities. He stated one thing to consider is replacing a tree with another tree. Ms. Nichols stated the Athletic Service Unit took over the operation of the Kiwanis Park concession stand and there were some high startup costs, however, the Park broke even. Next year, staff expects a definite profit. Mike Nixon stated the recreation programs and activities have been one accomplishment; however, the City needs to reinfuse the community with some of those programs. The programs address long -term problems and he has received good comments on the youth programs. Council Member Beauchamp stated he would like some attention given to ethnic diversity in the leadership with youth in the community and have attention directed to that in the future. (Council Member Barnett absent after 11:05 A. M.) Gene Rostvold, Athletic Director for the Yakima School District, was present to say the Council's support of the youth programs is very critical. Captain Don Blesio from the Yakima Police Department confirmed what Mr. Rostvold stated. He supports the youth I/ programs which give young people a structured existence. He stated Yakima has had some reduction in vandalism and assault cases. Ester Huey stated their program has only been able to continue because of the City's support. They have a $73,000 grant from the State of Washington. They have been concerned 5 NOVEMBER 22, 1994 1 9 if that was not used it would fall by the wayside. They are open seven days a week and'one nigrit'a week and have seen a reduction in the crime rate. They operate on about a $300,000 budget a year and $90,000 has come from the City for this year. They also ask for community support to operate I/ that program. The City of Yakima's program is one of the best models in the State of Washington. Yakima's program replications are being used in other governments. Mayor Berndt stated the $73,000 would be the amount coming from Referendum No. 43. Ms. Nichols stated that Parks is also looking at partnering with different agencies if they can for those programs. Council Member Brado stated he made telephone calls to other cemeteries in this area regarding their operations. Even though they are non - profit organizations they are financially solvent. They are able to maintain themselves and have substantial reserves. One of the City's problems is that its cemetery is an older cemetery and all of the standing monuments have increased maintenance. The City neglected getting into the full cemetery business. In the future, perhaps the City, even though we are providing a service for the community, should consider a cemetery district. A cemetery district would be more generally funded than having just the City of Yakima support it. It was MOVED BY BUCHANAN, SECONDED BY BEAUCHAMP, TO ADJOURN THE BUDGET REVIEW MEETING AT 11:15 A. M., TO THEN RESUME THE MEETING AT 9:00 A. M. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1994 FOR A PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING AND BUDGET REVIEW. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Barnett, Berger, and Sims absent..... READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: COUNC,- MEMBE' DATE CO'ACIL MEMBER D/ E ATTEST: c t , c t N�& C1(9/ CITY CLERK MAYOR Minutes prepared by Department Assistant Moen. An audio and video tape of this meeting are • available in the City Clerk's Office. 6