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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/03/2002 Adjourned Meeting 210, CITY OF YAKIMA DECEMBER 3, 2002 - 8:30 A.M. - NOON ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW 129 NORTH 2 ND STREET - COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, Paul George, Larry Mattson (after 8:45 a.m), John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Rita Anson, Director of Finance and Budget; Cindy Epperson, Accounting Manager; and Linda Watkins, Acting City Clerk 2. INTERGOVERNMENTAL (Budget Page I -1) • LIBRARY It was clarified that the annexations are not in the budget at this time and if the appeal goes well, the budget will be amended accordingly. The Library's current base will be equal to what they received in the County. Monica Weyhe, Director, said their future plans are to continue to reach out to the community and market the library's services. They also will be reaching out to the Hispanic community. • CLEAN AIR AUTHORITY BUCHANAN MOVED AND SIMS SECONDED TO REDUCE THE FEE PAID TO THE CLEAN AIR AUTHORITY FROM $11,409 TO $10,000. The motion failed by a 5 -2 voice vote; Place, Barnett, George, Mattson and Puccinelli voting nay. • CONFERENCE OF GOVERNMENTS (policy Issue Page 65) The general assessment reflects a 5% reduction from $.41 to $.39 per capita, although the total amount is increased because of the increased population resulting from annexations. • YAKIMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOLISM This is a state and federal mandate that is not a new addition to the budget. It goes to Yakima County. It was suggested by Council that we ask for a report from the County Department of Alcoholism showing how this money is used. • ALLIED ARTS Council Member Barnett asked if the Millennium Plaza is being maintained by the Allied Arts Council. City Manager Zais said the Plaza was developed by fundraising and committed to finding out how the maintenance is being supported. 211 DECEMBER 3, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING /BUDGET REVIEW • HORIZON A new request for $10,000 for Pat's College Staffing has been received. Their goal is to empower people with disabilities to break away from state supported programs to living independently and enter the Yakima workforce. Council Member Barnett suggested that if we do decide to add this agency we should reduce the others to cover the cost. Council Member Puccinelli thinks the City cannot take on any new requests considering our financial condition. 3. CITY MANAGEMENT • CITY COUNCIL (Budget Page B -1) There was no discussion on this item. • CITY MANAGER (Budget Page B -4) There is funding in the salary account to hire a management intern during the summer months. This help was not hired in 2002 because of lack of time, but would be very helpful in the area of legislative support. • LEGAL (Budget Page B -7) Ray Paolella, City Attorney, Helen Harvey, Assistant City Attorney, and Linda Kuntz, Legal Assistant, were available for questions. Council Member Barnett commented about the criticism the City has received for hiring outside counsel and how the public may not realize that the City of Yakima has to provide for both defense and prosecution of indigents. City Manager Zais commented how the Legal staff is operating at maximum efficiency but the volume of litigation on special legal work requires assistance from outside counsel. Mr. Paolella explained the wide range of legal matters the City must cover. He clarified also that for some items, such as the Acquavella case, the local attorneys had conflicts of interest requiring the City to use outside counsel. Also, the City frequently has highly specialized legal work and there are no lawyers in those specific fields in • Yakima. They are trying very hard to increase the use of local attorneys. • • RECORDS (Budget Page B -14) • There were questions on the publication of agendas and hearing notices. Karen Roberts, City Clerk, said the agendas are being published at the'Yakima Herald's will. Because they were not always published, we are now paying to have them published in the legal section. Council Member Puccinelli suggested that the Clerk contact the Herald to see about negotiating a reduced rate since the City's volume has increased. In answer to questions about election costs, the Clerk said it runs approximately $50,000 for each election. Special elections will be higher. Discussion continued on the initiative process and how the public is not aware what these special elections are costing them. 2 212.. DECEMBER 3, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING /BUDGET REVIEW • HUMAN RESOURCES (Policy Issue Page 77; Budget Page B -18) Archie Sutton, Human Resource Manager, and Sheryl Smith, Deputy Human Resource Manager, were available for questions. Their policy issue is a request for the addition of a full time position. They have currently been using AARP and YVT temporaries and are limited in the work they are able to give them. There was discussion on the new HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT) mandate and confidentiality issues. Rita Anson advised that this department was reduced in staff in recent years. • PURCHASING (Budget Page B -39) Sue Ownby, Purchasing Manager, described how they have been able to use interlocal purchasing agreements with other cities and counties and by doing so have been able to avoid 28 bid processes. That has been a large savings. Mrs. Ownby also described how they have been able to use technology to reduce their inventories. • WASTEWATER (Policy Page 79; Budget Page 42) Doug Mayo, Wastewater Manager, and Max Linden, Utility Engineer, were available for questions. Mr. Mayo asked that the Policy issue to update wastewater connection charges be deferred until spring 2003. The City Manager explained the impacts of the odor litigation on resources that could have been used for capital items, noting that to date the costs are around $4 million. Rate adjustments will be made as a result of these costs. Council Member Barnett noted that for two years expenses have exceeded revenues by over $1 million. City Manager Zais said significant transfers are being made from the capital budget to the operating budget and that reserves were being depleted prior to the rate increase. The Council took a short break at 10:28 a.m. and reconvened at 10:38 a.m. Council Member Barnett asked about the charges for services for 2003 and how they are less than projected for 2002. Mr. Mayo explained that has to do with items they do that are billable. They had an inordinate amount of requests in 2002 and he felt that was unique and shouldn't expect that for 2003. Council Member Barnett requested a memo clarifying these costs be prepared. Council Member Barnett also questioned the estimated $800,000 for engineering analysis. Mr. Mayo explained that covers not only the analysis but the design services as well for plant capacity required by the new NPDES permit requirements. -PUCCINELLI MOVED AND SIMS SECONDED TO PREPARE THE FINAL WRAP UP DOCUMENT FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 3 213 DECEMBER 3, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING /BUDGET REVIEW 4. ADJOURNMENT SIMS MOVED AND MATTSON.SECONDED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: / ze l . ��. - ... K,Atti Q , Co NCIL EMBER DATE IS 3 �©3 COUNCIL MEMB R ' A E ATTEST: ACTING CITY CLERK PLACE, MAR • Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 1 4