Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/1999 Adjourned Meeting 140 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 16, 1999 ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW The City Council met in session on this date at 8:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington, Mayor John Puccinelli, presiding. Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, John Klingele, Mary Place, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council Member Lynn Buchanan was absent and excused. City Manager Zais, Rita Anson, Director of Finance & Budget, Cindy Epperson, Financial Services Manager, Edna Pettyjohn, Accountant, and Deputy City Clerk Skovald were also present. INTERGOVERNMENTAL INCLUDING LIBRARY AND CLEAN AIR AUTHORITY (Budget Pages 541 -544) Since there were a lot of people at this meeting to speak about the library, Mayor Puccinelli invited Library Director Anne Haley to begin her presentation out of sequence on the agenda. Anne Haley, Yakima Valley Regional Library Director, summarized various budget' recommendations previously presented to the Council within the last couple of months. Services being provided for the residents of Yakima are at three facilities. Those include the Downtown Library at North 3 Street, the Summitview Library at 56 Avenue and Summitview Avenue, and the Southeast Library in the Southeast Community Center. The Library's total budget is $1,411,000, which is the levy equivalent of about .50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The Rural Library Districts or the Regional Libraries levy in the unincorporated area is at. .50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The City has a levy equivalent of about .40 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If the Tier 1 ($69,000) or Tier 2 ($115,000) service reductions are implemented as outlined during the study session on October 5, 1999, then the levy equivalency rate will drop to either .37 cents or .35 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That would be more difficult for the City of Yakima to make up in the future. Ms. Haley urged the Council to grant the 0.3% increase above the 1999 amended budget, even though that is not at the same levy equivalency level as what the unincorporated area is paying. Ms. Haley also urged the Council to consider that the City of Yakima eventually work towards paying the same levy rate for library services that is being levied in the unincorporated areas. This would create equivalency between what the City of Yakima is supporting for library services and what the unincorporated area is paying for library services. Next, Ms. Haley introduced members of the Yakima Valley Regional Library Board, including Darlene Lust, President, Ernest Falk, and Victor Lara, who were also available to answer any questions. At the request of Mayor Puccinelli, Ms. Haley then summarized some of the new procedures that the Regional Library Board adopted recently to deter 141 NOVEMBER 16, 1999 - ADJOURNED MEETING children from accessing offensive sexual images on the Internet. She also noted that new technology and better solutions would continuously be sought to address the problem. Following Ms. Haley's presentation, there was a tremendous amount of discussion and quite a few questions from the Council. Mayor Puccinelli then invited the audience to comment, and the following citizens expressed their opinions both for or against various library issues: Sandra Swanson, 1180 Slave Road; Kathy O'Meara- Wyman, 5210 Glacier Way; John and Penny Milczewski, 4901 Englewood Avenue; Joyce Dennison, 1008 Crest Acres Place; Richard Ostrander, 210 South 57 Avenue; Dave Ozanne, 3203 Powerhouse Road; , Candie Turner, 1415 South 32 Avenue; Ester Huey, 707 South 68 Avenue; Paul Fitzgerald, 1526 Rosevelt; Pam Vanantwerpen, 511 McCracken, Zillah; Eric Bennett, 906 South 42 Avenue; Shirley Doty; John Schactler, 206 South 16 Avenue; Deb Treusdell, 3701 Gun Club Road; and Lynne Kittelson, 305 North 9 Street. ' The City Council recessed from 9:55 to 10:15 a.m. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED FROM 11/9/99) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Budget Pages 330) Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development, noted that a special planning assistance grant has been awarded to study telecommunication infrastructure needs in the downtown area. The study will begin right after the first of the year. Don Skone, Planning Manager, explained there has been a 'change in Commute Trip Reduction funding. Previously, CTR funds were sent directly to the City and YVCOG was contracted to provide CTR - related service; but now the procedure is one of direct reimbursement by the state. The City will not receive that CTR revenue; however, the fund balance should be expanded by promotion of the transit system and other CTR issues such as professional services. There was also a brief discussion about payments the City receives from the Larson Garage contract sale that will end next year. Don Skone noted that the proposed Landuse Fee increase proposal should be pulled and brought back next year with a CPI increase, and it would have to go to the vote of the people. I/ ENGINEERING /CAPITAL PROJECTS (Budget Pages 371 -387) Bill Cook noted that the Engineering Division has had a very successful year and then listed the projects that 'have pending funding, a co- application status, or privately funded infrastructure improvements. The remaining work on the Gateway Phase IC project is the wetland mitigation project that will also provide landscaping .funding. Mr. Cook pointed out that I -695 does not generally impact Engineering 2 142 NOVEMBER 16, 1999 - ADJOURNED MEETING projects because most are federally funded and some of the projects have freight mobility funding limitations or are PWTF and CDBG pending projects. There was also discussion about the 40 Avenue and Lincoln Avenue Right -of -Way Connectors project and how debt service payment is anticipated. Council Member Barnett asked if the water and irrigation people are paying for some of these canal projects and are we getting away from an enterprise fund process. City Manager Zais noted that the Public Works Trust Fund allows the city to use repayment sources for loans on a number of projects that cross over department lines and dedicated revenue sources that the debt is being repaid. Council Member Barnett referred to enhancement funds on Englewood and Lincoln Canal in the year 2000, and asked where is the match money coming from. Staff explained that a portion of an IAC grant, Block Grant funds, or gas tax revenue would be used as a match. Council Member Barnett wanted to make sure that no irrigation or water money is funding those covered canal projects. The City Hall Renovation project will move forward with HVAC system improvements and security improvements. City Manager Zais noted that the project is funded from 1 /,% Real Estate Transfer Tax funding. Mr. Zais noted that this is the third year of the Grind and Overlay Improvement Program which is funded from % cent gas tax dollars, state property tax, and savings from competitive bid projects. This will allow about $600,000 for projects. Council Member Place referred to the top three projects and suggested that the Englewood Avenue project be postponed; the Lincoln Avenue project be extended to 56 Avenue, instead of just to Bitterroot Way; and that the Mead Avenue, 11 to 16 Avenue, project be included. Chris Waarvick noted that traffic counts and other information on street and transportation projects will be available during the January Study Session on the Six Year TIP. TAHOMA CEMETERY (Budget Pages 536 -539; Policy Issues 130 -133) City Manager Zais noted that a decision is needed by next Tuesday at the latest for any fee increases. Council Member Sims pointed out that the Parks Revenue Fund, which is funded by property tax and utility taxes, and is part of the General Fund, is funding the Tahoma Cemetery by adding an adjustment of $105,000 that would take effect before the end of the year to be effective for next year. He noted that the real question is the number of Cemetery staff and the recommendation to allocate 60% of a DA III's duties to be added to this facility is questionable because all performance indicators say there is not going to any additional services than what has already been done in the past. He asked what justifies that. Chris Waarvick explained that the figures were just changed on paper. The present DA III position has historically been doing all those duties for many years. To help understand how their work functions happen, the DA III position was evaluated as to what they did in the "DA Pool" . The duties of that particular position has been dedicated 3 1.43 NOVEMBER 16, 1999 - ADJOURNED MEETING and assigned to work 60 percent for Cemetery and 40 percent for Refuse. What was done with that position, since it was in the " DA Pool," is to move it out of the " DA Pool" from a funding aspect. The percentage of work being removed from the Public Works Administration budget was moved into a dedicated specific funding mechanism, but the change does not increase costs nor does it add any more FTEs. There was continued discussion about how the Tahoma Cemetery rates compare with private cemeteries and the number of lots available. Denise Nichols explained that it is anticipated that it will be about 10 years before lots run out. There is currently an Equipment Operator, a laborer, and part- time temporary workers in the summer assigned to the Tahoma Cemetery. Council Member Sims noted that he has a problem with reallocation since it seems lots will all be sold. He questioned why should full -time equipment operators be reassigned and funding be reallocated to the Tahoma Cemetery when additional General Fund reductions are being proposed. City Manager Zais suggested that a proposed policy issue increasing cemetery rates be brought for Council consideration at next Tuesday's meeting. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS (Budget Pages 423 -427; Policy Issues 106 -107) Police Chief Don Blesio, Deputy Fire Chief Gene Martin, and Public Safety Communications Manager Wayne Wantland provided a Y2K status report and responded to questions about repair and maintenance of the CAD software. There were also questions and discussion concerning the 911 program and police and fire dispatch rate of pay provisions. It was noted that cellular tower space is being requested to upgrade primary dispatch equipment, several sites are available that could generate revenue, and there are other parties interested in the City's dispatch services. Council also asked questions about the ambulance locating device request. POLICE DEPARTMENT (Budget Pages 389 -406; Policy Issues 105) Police Chief Don Blesio introduced several staff members and responded to Council's questions concerning shift differential costs, LEOFF 1 costs, the County Narcotics asset seizures and forfeitures fund, the request to create three Lead Police Support Officer positions, and proposed MVET reductions. Council Members Sims and Beauchamp noted that they would like to see the Summer Park patrol program retained. I/ City Manager Zais noted that the state might allow an early retirement provision for employees within two years of retirement. Council Member Barnett reported that a letter was received from Melody Westmoreland, Director of American Medical Response, and this issue should be incorporated into the Budget Wrap -Up document concerning the Fire Department's capital request for a Transport Capable Vehicle and the Police. Department's request for a LifePak 12 Heart Monitor. It was 4 1 NOVEMBER 16, 1999 - ADJOURNED MEETING the consensus of the Council to schedule continuation of Budget Review on November 30, 1999, at 8:30 a.m. It was the consensus of the Council that the following divisions' budget review be continued to November 23, 1999. FINANCE DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEMS CUSTOMER SERVICES ADMINISTRATION WATER /IRRIGATION WASTEWATER COUNCIL CITY MANAGER LEGAL CITY CLERK HUMAN RESOURCES PURCHASING The meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY tUNCI g V APItAi 1 � 9 ` q . M MBE DATE CO C MEMBER DATE ATTEST: , CITY CLERK JOHN PUCCINELLI, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio and videotape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 5