HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/03/2009 04A Draft Minutes 10-13-2009 Study SessionYAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION
OCTOBER 13, 2009 — 8:00 — 9:30 A.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — YAKIMA CITY HALL-
1. Roll Call
Present:
Council: Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, presiding, Council Members Maureen
Adkison (after 8:15 a.m.) Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Bill Lover, and Sonia
Rodriguez
Staff: City Manager Zais, Finance and Budget Director DeBord
Absent: Mayor Dave Edler (excused)
2. Review of 2010 General Government Budget Expenditure Reduction Proposals
for Public Health and Safety Priorities of Government category. The Public
Health & Safety Group includes the following department and/or divisions within
these departments-
• Police Department
• Fire Department
• City Management — City Prosecution, Indigent Defense
• Municipal Court
® Finance & Budget
• Community & Economic Development
• - Public Works
Police Department - Chief Granato and Deputy Chief Rosenow
Record Management System - They are working to merge the City and County's
record management systems within the next six months. Without that they will
have difficulty getting reports entered with the proposed reduction in personnel. In
2010 they will experience a reduction in non -sworn, law enforcement positions,
especially in the telephone reporting unit (TRU). The records. management system
implementation has been time consuming; they have spent six years in the process
already. It will be implemented in phases, but once fully functional, there should be
a reduction in staff hours required to enter reports.
Inmate Housing - The proposal is to reduce jail days to offset the. increase in County
jail rates. The Budget Forecast lists alternatives that are being researched to
accomplish this proposal.
Cops Hiring Grant - $78,000 allows for funding of positions scheduled for elimination.
Non sworn personnel reductions Elimination of two Police Services Supervisor.
positions, two Specialist I positions and all temporary positions. These reductions
are in addition to the one Specialist position eliminated in mid -2009. As a result,
the Service. Division hours were reduced to Monday -Friday from B a.m. to 6 p.m.
BUDGET REDUCTION PROPOSALS — STUDY SESSION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY PRIORITY
OCTOBER 13, 2009
It was noted that the YPPA is the only labor bargaining unit scheduled to receive a
salary increase in 2010. The settlement is approximately $360,000.
Fire Department - Chief Hines and Deputy Chief Stewart
Chief Hines noted that the lack of funding has placed the Fire Department into the
position of having to reduce service levels. The proposed reductions will further
erode services and increase workload of the remaining personnel. .
Personnel Reduction - Deputy Chief Stewart said the proposal is to eliminate a
Secretary II position that currently provides administrative support for the two
Deputy Fire Chiefs, as well as the Training and Investigation Divisions. Office
hours will be reduced and the responsibilities of handling phone service, public
disclosures and arson investigation reports will shift to the Deputy Chiefs and the
Chief's Administrative Assistant.
Canine Program - The proposal is to eliminate, the program. The effect of this
elimination is a reduction. in efficiency in the Arson Investigation Division and a loss
of our link with the ATF and assistance we receive from them. It is also a loss of a
positive public relations program.
Chief Hines advised that the City of Yakima has the distinction of being number one
on the survey of residential arson incidences in the nation for performance
measurement on the. International City and County Managers Association Center.
• Council requested a flip chart be started where they can list proposed
reductions that they would like to consider retaining if other funds could be
found.
It was the consensus of Council to add the Canine program to the flip chart for
further consideration. City Manager Zais noted that they are still in negotiations with
the firefighters' union and have recommended a 0% increase for 2010.
Fourth of July Committee — it is proposed to reduce the annual contribution by 50 %.
Council Member Ensey recommended cutting all funding to outside agencies
Public Works — Director Waarvick and Streets/Traffic Operations Manager
Rosenlund
Director Waarvick advised that one of the eliminated positions is the Supervising
Traffic. Engineer. Joe Rosenlund is handling those duties as well as responsibilities
of his current position. Mr. Waarvick described the revenue sources for Streets.
Under the Public Health and Safety Priority of Government Heading is public area
lighting, traffic control, traffic engineering, traffic administration, snow and ice
removal, and street cleaning. Street maintenance will not be covered today as it is
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BUDGET REDUCTION PROPOSALS — STUDY SESSION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY PRIORITY
OCTOBER 13, 2009
under the Economic Development priority, although the same FTEs perform the
functions under both priorities.
Mr. Rosenlund gave an overview of material submitted. Because of the reduction in
the chip - sealing program, they were able to do more street sweeping this year. With
regard to snow and ice removal, it should be adequate unless there is a significant
event. Bringing in contractors to plow residential streets in the event of a significant
storm will not be possible with the current budget.
Council Member Lover commented that he thinks there should be stormwater budget
funding to support street maintenance.
Traffic Operations
Street Lighting — cutting $20,000 in the utility bill by reducing the wattage in lamps
on the arterial roads. They have also identified approximately 500 street fights
(mid -block lights along arterials) that could be turned off if further reductions are
necessary.
Signals, Signs and Striping —A supervisory position has been eliminated to allow
for additional striping positions.
Traffic Engineering — as noted earlier, the position of Supervising Traffic Engineer
® has been eliminated.
Finance — Finance and Budget Director Rita DeBord and Information Systems
Manager Rick Pettyjohn
Information Systems - Mr. Pettyjohn said the proposed reduction for 2010 is to cut
$30,000 in temporary salaries related to supporting the mobile fleet. He explained
the significance of this reduction.
Outside Agencies - Mrs. DeBord noted that the Clean Air Authority is one that is
required by the State.
District Court — This is a slow phase out of the cost from the time prior to having a
municipal court. These dollars are an in-out accounting function.
Police Pension — required by state law. Dollars are for pension, disability, and
medical benefits for officers hired prior to. March 1970 and LEOFF 1 benefits for
members hired before 1977.
County Emergency Management — the funding is a percentage of an interlocal
agreement that we have to provide emergency management services in this area.
Alcohol prevention — a state program for which we received state - shared revenues;
2% of what we receive we are required to forward to the County for an alcohol
® prevention program.
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BUDGET REDUCTION PROPOSALS — STUDY SESSION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY PRIORITY
OCTOBER 13, 2009
Public Safety Dispatch — transfers funding from the general fund to cover our
dispatch services.
Municipal Court — Judge Olwell and Linda Hagert
Judge Olwell noted that the reduction of a Court Cashier will impact the public by
creating longer lines when operation to the public is reduced to four hours per day.
She noted that the attorneys will be impacted as well. Assistant Mayor Cawley
asked for and received consensus to put this position on the flip chart to look into the
potential of keeping it or at least keeping it at a part-time level.
Community and Economic Development - Director Bill Cook and Deputy Director
Michael Morales
Mr. Cook explained that, of the nearly $622,000 in reductions; $484,000 are staff
reductions and shifts. Everything in the Public Safety component of the budget is in
the Codes Division. They are looking to transfer a portion of our Dangerous Building
fund over to the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) because it is
an eligible activity, although it is limited to housing. There is a vacant permit
technician position that is proposed for elimination. There is a vacant fire code
inspector also being eliminated, as well as a code compliance position. There is a
planned reduction in the Deputy Director position as a result of a planned retirement
of the Director. Also, an Animal Control position will be eliminated. Mr. Morales
explained the opportunity of using CBDG and federal sources of funds for certain
eligible activities. With regard to the code compliance officer vacancyy that had been
frozen in 2009, we will be able to fill that position using CDBG funds. Animal control
is not eligible. It is planned to have the individual in the Animal Control Officer
position make a lateral move to the Code Compliance position. But that still leaves
one position less in Animal Control. The operational impact is there are only two
officers covering the entire city with only one being available for after -hours calls.
This will impact response times. They are looking for potential efficiencies. It was
the consensus of Council to put the Animal Control Officer position on the flip chart
for reconsideration.
Mr. Morales also referred to the issue of having only one Fire Code Inspector. There
are approximately 3,000 buildings that need to be inspected annually. They will look
into doing the inspections in coordination with the Fire Department.
The remaining items, City Management — City Prosecution, Indigent Defense, were
deferred to the October 27th Study Session.
3. Audience Comments (9:15 — 9:30 a.m.)
No one came forward to speak.
4. Adjournment
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BUDGET REDUCTION PROPOSALS — STUDY SESSION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY PRIORITY
OCTOBER 13, 2009
Council Member Coffey advised that she will be unable to attend the next meeting.
She also commented on the YPAC interviews of Council candidates and wanted to go
on record saying she is tired of the candidates being asked about Council integrity.
She said she is also tired of having this Council labeled as dysfunctional. She wanted
it said that she thinks "they get along very very well."
ENSEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO OCTOBER 20, 2009,
AT 5:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND
TO 5:30 P.M. FOR A COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING. The motion carried by
unanimous voice vote. The. meeting adjourned at
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
MICAH CAWLEY, ASSISTANT MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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