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Home My WebLink About11/28/2006 Adjourned Meeting 249 ADJOURNED MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2006 COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 8:30 A.M. — 11:45 A.M. -- BUDGET REVIEW 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Edler, presiding, Council Members Ron Bonlender, Micah Cawley, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover, Neil McClure, Susan Whitman Staff: City Manager Zais, Director of Finance and Budget DeBord, and City Clerk Moore 2. City Management Department • Purchasing- No discussion 3. Community and Economic Development (Part 4) • Engineering Bill Cook, Director of Community and Economic Development, gave opening comments addressing, the River Road project, the Railroad Grade Separation project, and the second phase of the Yakima Avenue project. Policy issue, Engineering Department Reorganization, was discussed in detail. Tom Barrington and Yvette Lewis, representing the AFSCME union, addressed the resulting reduction of force caused by the reorganization. They requested the affected person in the eliminated right -of -way agent position be given the opportunity to assume responsibility for the front counter. This was presented to the Charter Civil Service Commission at their October meeting. Apparently the position was eliminated and they would like it reinstated for the right -of -way agent to fill. Mr. Cook advised that they would be meeting with the Civil Service Commission to discuss this proposal further. • Tourist Promotion Kathy Coffey, President, CEO and General Manager of the Convention Center, commented that this is her last budget because of her pending retirement. She introduced Connie Upton who presented the budget. There are two policy issues; An increase of $15,000 for professional services to partner with the Tourist Promotion Area (TPA) to upgrade the web site, and a $40,000 increase in the management fee. That money will support the operation crew for the convention center as there currently is not enough staffing to support the increase in event days. • Economic Development • Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) Council Member McClure referred to discussion regarding changing this organization and downtown committees. Bill Cook, Community and Economic Development Director, said there are dollars in the fund that pay for the downtown management contract. • 250 ADJOURNED BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2007 • Trolley Mr. Cook explained these funds are coming from an enhancement grant to the city for purchasing the trolley buildings and improving the line. That has not closed yet but is expected to happen the first of the year. • North Front Street Business Improvement District • Commute Trip Reduction Fund Mr. Cook explained this is a fund that has dollars going in and out related to grants we receive from the state for our GMA Comprehensive Plan update. 4. Yakima Municipal Court • Municipal Court Judge Susan Woodard gave a brief history and noted there are no policy issues this year. They currently have two unfilled positions, which they are seeking to fill. • Probation Center The recent consolidation with the County was reviewed. 5. Police Department • Police Department Chief Granato referred to the failure of Proposition 1 (Safe Community Action Plan). The Department has no policy issues. The Gang Resistant Education And Training (GREAT) grant, although awarded in August, was not funded until October. They were recently informed that the budget was from August 2006 to July 2007. Now the Grants Administrator is advising that the grant budget expires December 31, 2006. They are . trying to confirm this information. They are eligible for another $150,000 grant that would cover the cost of adding an officer next year. Chief Granato pointed out that the largest budget items (beyond personnel) are jail costs and overtime. In answer to a question about emphasis patrols, the Chief responded they have been done on an overtime basis. They are looking for another way to fund them. Lt. Gary Belles spoke about jail costs, i.e. rate increases and medical costs. A potential $60,000 gap in revenue versus expense may be experienced in this area. City Manager Zais spoke about the potential of a revised Safe Community Action Plan and funding for it. JOHNSON MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO HAVE THE LID LIFT AS A FUNDING MECHANISM TAKEN OFF THE TABLE WHEN FORECASTING. The library money will stay earmarked until there is a new plan. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. Further discussion covered a book written by a retired Washington State police chief that will help in job efficiency, collective bargaining and the potential impacts when a contract is settled. City Manager Zais pointed out that if an arbitrator makes a decision that we are to grant a substantial increase in pay for 2007, it will affect all departments. There are no new revenues to offset that, nor do we have room to make adjustments for a major settlement that won't result in a reduction of services and potential layoffs throughout the city. Every department will be affected. The arbitrator's decision is binding for pay and benefits. 2 251 ADJOURNED BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2007 • Police & Fire Pension Rita DeBord, Director of Finance and Budget, reported that at the last pension board meetings the boards voted to provide dental coverage for LEOFF I retirees starting in 2007, at a maximum of $500 per year per retiree. That could ultimately result in a cost of $80,000. It is our intent to include an estimate in both the police and fire pension budgets of approximately $25,000 for next year. That will have to be funded from reserves of the fire pension fund and the general reserves for police. • Law and Justice Capital 6. Fire Department • Fire /Police Public Safety Communications Fund Wayne Wantland, Communications Manager, gave an overview of the division. Policy Issue #1 — Add One Public Safety Dispatcher Position. There has been a 27.1% increase in incidences since 1997. Over the years, they have implemented many efficiencies, e.g. consolidation, but now the workload has caught up with the efficiencies and there is a need to add staff. Policy Issue #2 - Add One 9 -1 -1 Call Taker Position. There has been a 31.5% increase in the number of 9 -1 -1 calls since 1997. They have already received approval from the 9 -1 -1 Administrative Board and this carries no direct impact on city funds. 7. Adjournment McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PROSPECTIVE LITIGATION AND PERSONNEL ISSUES, THEN TO DECEMBER 4, 2006 AT 3 :00 P.M. FOR CONTINUATION OFA JOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH YAKIMA COUNTY REGARDING THE 2006 DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Following Executive Session, the meeting adjourned at noon. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY t/i- - .2. 1:7 C UNCIL MEMBER DATE 4 COUNCIL MEMB R DATE ATTEST: A //40001 CITY CLERK r - DAVID E•' R, MAY • Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's'Office 3