HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2003 Adjourned Meeting 30
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL •
NOVEMBER 12, 2003 - 8:30 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett,
Paul George, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims
Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Rita Anson, Director of Finance and
Budget; and City Clerk Roberts
2. Consideration of legislation pertaining to ad valorem property tax levy for
collection in 2004:
A. An ordinance authorizing a 1% increase in the City's annual regular
levy from the amount levied the previous year
Rita Anson, Finance Director, explained the 1`)/0 proposed increase over the
2003 property tax levy, primarily required to cover medical costs for Police and
Fire LEOFF I members, mandated coverage by the state. The additional 1%
would generate approximately $129,000. The total 2004 recommended
property tax levy includes the 101% levy, levies for voted bond issues (fire
bonds), and amounts for annexations and new construction. The total operating
tax rate for next year is estimated to be $3.50 per $1,000, slightly less than the
2003 rate of $3.52. City Manager Zais interjected that staff will testify against
the County Assessor's proposal to delay new construction valuation for up to
six years because it would have a serious impact on the City's revenue. The
City Clerk read the ordinance by title; GEORGE MOVED AND SIMS
SECONDED TO PASS THE ORDINANCE. Council Member Puccinelli spoke
against the motion, opining that the City Council cannot continue to raise taxes
without looking at where the revenue is going; almost 80% towards labor costs.
The motion carried by 4 -1 roll call vote; Puccinelli voting nay.
ORDINANCE NO. 2003 -70, AN ORDINANCE relating to the annual property
tax levy; authorizing an increase in the City's regular levy from the amount
levied the previous year.
B. An ordinance fixing and levying the amount of ad valorem taxes for
the 2004 budget
The City Clerk read the ordinance by title; SIMS MOVED AND GEORGE
SECONDED TO PASS THE ORDINANCE. The motion carried by 4 -1 roll call
vote; Puccinelli voting nay.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW
•
ORDINANCE NO. 2003 -71, AN ORDINANCE fixing and levying the amount of
ad valorem taxes necessary to budget estimated revenue with estimated
expenditures for the 2004 Budget for the City of Yakima.
• City Manager Annual Review
Mayor Place announced that the City Council gave City Manager Zais his annual
evaluation. Council members spoke of Mr. Zais' strengths and talents and the
accomplishments achieved since the previous review, as well as goals for 2004.
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9:00 A.M. - BUDGET REVIEW
3. Police Department (Budget Page F -1; Policy Issue Pages 33 & 122)
Investigation (Budget Page F -4)
Police Pension (Budget Page F -17)
Law And Justice Capital (Budget Page F -18)
Budget Review
o Policy Issue: Partnership with the Yakima School District for Additional School
Resource Officer — unbudgeted - $72,000; Net $36,000
Police Chief Sam Granato introduced Dr. Ben Soria, Yakima School District
Superintendent, who spoke in favor of the policy issue. He advised that the
School District would fund half of the expense this year and place it in their
budget next year to fully fund the position. This officer would be placed at Lewis &
Clark Jr. High School. City Manager Zais stated that the City would fund this
position from the City's General Fund reserves.
Staff Introductions
Chief Granato introduced Captain Jeff Schneider, Patrol; Lt. Rod Light, Services;
Lt. Mike Merryman, Terri Greer, and Fran Nettleton, Administration; and Tim
Jensen, Finance.
o Policy Issue: Limit Police Response on Burglar /Intruder Alarms until Verified
(no direct budget impact)
Lt. Merryman stated that a verified response policy would streamline police
services by not sending an officer to respond to alarms unless an eyewitness or
an alarm company employee verified the alarm. Having studied this issue for
three years, he reported they found that 98% of the responses are for false
alarms and adding penalties for false alarms only drops it by 5 %. Staff responded
to questions concerning extra costs for the citizens and how the alarms would be
verified.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW
o Policy Issue: Funding for Repair and Replacement of OPTICOM Emergency
Traffic Signal Units — Budgeted - $175,000
Captain Schneider reported that this policy issue would fund the upgrade of
several failing OPTICOM signals and the installation of OPTICOM at other
intersections.
Council briefly reviewed the Department's budget. Mayor Place asked how many
police cars do we have, and in lieu of giving her a number, Police Chief Granato
told her that it was a closely guarded secret. Council was told that the $250,000
budgeted for police vehicles would purchase between eight and ten cars. Captain
Schneider responded to questions concerning special pay, overtime, airport
security coverage, canine performance and liability, police pension costs, and the
cost for housing a prisoner, including medical costs.
Contingency Budget
The Tier 1 reductions total $258,000; Tier 2 is $195,000 for a total of $453,000
and would eliminate three vacant patrol positions in Tier 1, plus three filled patrol
positions in Tier 2. Discussion ensued about the telephone reporting system and
the proposed security measures for the building after the expansion project is
completed.
Request for information or action:
Staff said they would provide copies of their verified response study to Council
members and to Council members - elect.
4. Fire /Police Public Safety Communications (Budget Page G -17)
Staff Introductions
Fire Chief Dennis Mayo introduced Deputy Chief Brian Schaeffer and Deputy
Chief Steve Scott.
Wayne Wantland, Public Safety Communications Manager was present to
present the Public Safety Communications budget.
o Policy Issue: Recording Equipment Replacement for Public Safety
Communications — budgeted - $45,000
Wayne Wantland des cribed what the equipment does and explained that they will
replace two five -year old units with one piece of equipment. The 9 -1 -1 Board
approved its share of the budget for this equipment. Asked about response to
alarms without verification, Steve Scott said that out of 6,000 alarms,
approximately 340 are false.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW
o Policy Issue: Technical and Data Communications Staffing — budgeted - •
$55,900 (net cost $7,000)
Rick Pettyjohn, Information Systems Manager, reported that this policy issue would add
a computer services technician to support the public safety departments. He spoke
about the workload to support all the personal computers throughout the City, and the
fact that the public safety departments are 24 -hour operations. The mobile computers
have to be protected manually as compared to the desktop computers where staff can
download virus information twice a day. Chief Mayo spoke in support of this position,
stating that in order to do more with less money, it is critical to keep the computers
operational. They have a computer in the fire truck cabs now that has the footprint to
many of the commercial properties that helps them identify potential problems such as
the location of propane tanks, etc.
5. Fire Department (Budget Page G -1; Policy Issue Pages 37 & 125)
Auxiliary (Budget Page G -4)
Emergency Services ( Budget Page -G -14)
Fire Capital (Budget Page G -22)
Firemen's Relief And Pension (Budget Page G -25)
Budget Review
o Policy Issue: Replacement of Fire Pumper — budgeted - $400,000
Chief Mayo told Council that the pumper is 28 years old and can no longer pass
the pump test. The pumper is repairable and could be sold, however, it won't sell
for very much money.
Staff responded to questions about overtime, increase in juvenile programs, and
intergovernmental revenue, and briefly discussed the Emergency Medical
Services budget. Mayor Place acknowledged that the labor settlements for 2003
and 2004 have not been settled.
Contingency Budget
The Tier 1 reductions total $132,000; Tier 2 is $66,000 for a total of $198,000 and
would eliminate two vacant firefighter positions in Tier 1, plus one filled firefighter
position in Tier 2. Chief Mayo spoke about the difficulty in making reductions in
this Department, and pointed out that he only came in $17,000 under budget last
year. If the annexation is approved, a station will be added in that area with three -
person staffing 24/7. There really isn't any staff that can be cut; we are already
below the industry standards. Following a ten - minute recess, discussion
continued about costs and plans for the newly annexed area, including sharing
facilities with the Fire District, and the transfer of assets to the City.
Request for information or action:
Mayor Place requested staff project the annexed area into the 2004 budget.
6. Finance And Budget Department (Budget Page D -1)
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NOVEMBER 12, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW
State Examiner (Budget Page D -4)
Financial Services (Budget Page D -5)
Sundome (Budget Page D -30)
District Court (Budget Page D -32)
Transfers (Budget Page D -33)
Public Facilities District (Budget Page D -34)
Contingency (Budget Page D -36)
Capitol Theatre Reserve (Budget Page D -38)
LID Guaranty (Budget Page D -39)
Risk Management (Budget Page D -40)
Cemetery Trust (Budget Page D -43)
Information Systems (Budget Page D -11; Policy Issue Pages 17 & 139)
Utility Services (Budget Page D -54)
Staff Introductions
Rita Anson identified staff members in the Department: Rick Pettyjohn,
Information Systems Manager; Pete Hobbs, Utilities Customer Services Manager;
Cindy Epperson, Financial Services Manager (not present); Tim Jensen, Treasury
Services Officer; and accountants, Edna Pettyjohn, Debbie Baldoz and Jeanne
Thompson (not present).
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Budget Review
Pete Hobbs referenced the 2003 accomplishment list on page D -3 and distributed a
memo that explains the new policy that was established to reduce the number of
estimated meter readings.
Council discussed the auditing of agencies that the City either contracts with for services
or funds through the Community Development Block Grant program. Council was
advised that the contracts with these agencies allow the City to review their books;
however, the City does not complete an audit of their books on a routine basis.
Rick Pettyjohn reviewed the services provided by Information Systems and said that
even with the policy issue, the budget is 10% less than last year's budget.
Pete Hobbs discussed the process when a utility bill is delinquent; either the service is
discontinued until the bill is paid, or if they don't have water service, the bill is sent to
collections.
Rita Anson explained that any revenue received from sales tax in excess of the amount
needed for the convention center bond would go to the Public Facilities District and is
restricted to be used for the convention center.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2003 — ADJOURNED MEETING / BUDGET REVIEW
Request for information or action:
•
Mayor Place suggested that the City should require a background check on individuals
handling money for an agency contracted with the City to provide services, especially
those funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program.
Mayor Place requested that staff provide a utility customer with information on agencies
that could assist them with their bill if it becomes delinquent. Mr. Hobbs stated he
could put Utility Customer Services' phone number on the bill and direct customers to
call for information on agencies that can assist with paying the bill.
Council Member Sims requested a copy of the ordinance that authorized the Real
Estate Excise Tax.
7. Adjournment to November 18, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. for Budget Review on Public
Works Department budget
The meeting was adjourned at 11:33 a.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
COUN MEMBER DATE
' l r re r f 3 " '
COUN IL MEMBE' IA E
ATTEST:
//S
CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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