HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/14/1989 Adjourned Meeting •
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NOVEMBER 14, 1989
ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW
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The City Council met in session on this date at 8:30 A.M. in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were
Mayor Pat Berndt, Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, Jerry Foy, and
Bernard Sims. Council member Lynn Buchanan absent and excused: City
staff members present were City Manager Zais, John Hanson, Director. of
Finance and Budget, and City Clerk Roberts.
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND UTILITIES
Engineering
Engineering personnel available to respond to Council's questions was
Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities.
Council member Barnett expressed concern about using part of the $188,000 .
tax refund from the State for the new Urban Comprehensive Plan. He
commented that the refund should be applied towards a reduction, in sewer
rates or to cover some of the additional costs to lessen the''increase in
the future. Council member Foy also objected to using funds from other
departments to fund this Plan, which has not been approved'by the Council.
City Manager Zais commented that particular policy issue was left
unbudgeted.
There was discussion about a different procedure to review the proposed
budget, by first reviewing all policy issues, and then the individual
division budgets.
Water /Irrigation
Ty Wick, Water Division Superintendent, was present to respond to
Council's questions. Mr. Wick responded to Council's questions on the
performance statistics on pages 491 and 493, utility relocations for the
vacation of "A" Street, and the policy issue on page 515, Corrosion
Control Pilot Program, and the policy issue on page 514, Addition of
Service Vehicle to Fleet. Referring to page 500, Council member Barnett
asked that the percentage in footnote 1, be changed from 11.8% to 13%
in the final budget document. At Council member Sims' suggestion, City
Manager Zais briefly described the in -lieu tax, which is a revenue - raising
measure, starting three years ago to assess an additional 2% on
City utilities to be used for Parks operations. He further reported that
a recent legal interpretation indicates the private purveyor of water
inside the city limits could be considered a utility and be subject to
this tax. He stated the revenue, at a 6% tax rate, would be about $25,000
per year. Council member Foy asked that that be brought to Council as a
policy issue. Council member Barnett asked if the legal opinion could be
provided in the material for this policy issue. Mr. Wick also responded
to Council's questions regarding the policy issue to Conduct a Water
Treatment Plant Filter Study /Media Replacement Project. Council member
Foy suggested the specs could be written in such a way to require vendor
to demonstrate his product. Referring to the ditch charges on page 524,
Council member Barnett suggested that the citizens be notified by
inserting a notice with their bill, that the ditch charge increase to the
City affects their irrigation rates.
POLICE
Following a brief recess, Police Chief Pleas Green, Captains Nina Vereb,
In Blesio and Reed Follansbee, and Marsha Devine, Administrative
Assistant, were present to respond to questions concerning the budget for
the Police Department. Council member Barnett commented it appears this
budget seems to be implementing what Council already approved as a policy
issue in the past. Chief Green addressed the need for a holding facility,
citing the overcrowding of the County jail and the early release of some
offenders due to lack of jail space. He stated that staff has been
discussing a joint facility with the County. Council members briefly
discussed the unbudgeted policy issue on the Police Pension Funding,
Mr. Hanson stating this report is informational and no action is required.
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3 1 6 NOVEMBER 14, 1989
ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW
Referring to the policy issue on page 238, Purchase a Twenty -Five Foot
Tandem Axle Trailer, Council member Foy asked for Council support on this
request and that $3,000 be added to this request for equipment and a
communication board. Chief Green referred to the travel budget for his
Department, which increased due to increased staff levels, and stated the
travel /training budget is .3% of the Department's budget.
FIRE
Fire Chief Jerry Beeson, Deputy Fire-Chief Gene Martin, Battalion Chief
Gary Vance and Dave Bachmann, temporary acting Battalion Chief, were
present to respond to Council's questions. Referring to the performance
statistics on page 245, Council member Barnett suggested staff might wish
to segregate the actual fire emergencies from the other items included in
this category, i.e. make a separate category for calls responding to
people locked out of their homes, gas wash incidents, false alarms, etc.
There was discussion concerning the capital outlay request for a MERV
Unit, on page 268, and it was the general consensus of Council to add this
item as a separate budget policy issue. Council members discussed the
policy issue to propose that Yakima County and the Air Terminal pay a
proportionate share of the operation and maintenance costs of Fire Station
No. 4. Chief Beeson commented that staff is developing a formula to
calculate the other entities' share in providing mandated airport
protection. City Manager Zais commented staff would like some Council
involvement in these negotiations. Chief Beeson stated the Department's
travel budget was increased by approximately $3,000 to provide training to
the radio technician on the new radios installed in the City fleet. City
Manager Zais stated the issue of the fire station closure will be brought
back to Council after the first of the year.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Capitol Theatre
Steve Caffery, Manager, and Millie Dickson, Operations Manager, were
available to respond to Council's questions. Council members discussed
the policy issue on page 211, Increase Management Fee, particularly its
lack of a proposed funding source. Mr. Caffery said the item on page XLIV
included a preliminary figure, which staff and the Board will review
before coming back to Council with a firm recommendation. John
Hanson said that that $50,000 amount will be deleted from the major policy
issues. Council member Foy stated he thinks we should look at the
criteria to extend the hotel /motel tax beyond 1995. Council members
discussed the ticket prices, which have increased, and the seating
capacity of the Theatre contrasted to Tacoma's Pantages Theater. Council
members also discussed the marketing of the programs at the Theatre.
Jeanne Connors, President of the Capitol Theatre Board, mentioned that
they have not raised the rates for local non- profit users for about ten
years.
Planning
In order to accommodate citizens in the audience wishing to address this
issue, it was the general consensus of Council to discuss the policy issue
on page 151, Increase Development Application Fees. Keith Daniels, Yakima
Association of Realtors, stated his Association reviewed this issue and
arrived at about a 25% overall increase, which they think is more
reasonable and justified (copies of their proposal were distributed to
Council) . He commented there are sane costs that need to be borne by the
developer and people changing their zoning, however, the Association
believes the public is benefitting from these various rezones and
developments. He said the Association would also like all future
increases in these fees to equal the Federal cost of living index or 5%,
whichever is less. Jerry Sturgill, representing Central Washington Home
Builders Association, presented a letter, which he read, requesting the
fee increase for Class 1 reviews be deleted. He said there is no charge
for that today. Bob Shampine, Code Administration Manager, responded to
Council's questions regarding the fee increase last year. Council member
Foy stated that according to Mr. Sturgill's letter, a commitment and
promise was made last year to not increase fees for the next three years.
He asked Mr. Sturgill if the Board is saying that if the City doesn't
honor that promise, then at least adhere to the Realtor's proposal. Mr.
Sturgill stated they are supporting the Realtor's proposal, with this one
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NOVEMBER 14, 1989 317
ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW
exception. Don Skone, Planning Manager, outlined the projected revenue
from the increase in fees; approximately $13,000 annually and an
additional $12,500 from Class 1 reviews. Since the County has an
identical fee schedule, they are waiting to see the , Association of
Realtors' and Central Washington Home Builders Association's reaction to
this proposal, before increasing their fees. Mr. Daniels stated the
Yakima Association of Realtors will support their proposal, with the
amendment offered by the Central Washington Home Builders Association to
delete the fees for Class 1 reviews. Council members discussed the
Realtors Association request to increase future fees by the Federal cost
of living 5%. Mr. Shampine disagreed with that proposal, stating staff
and the Association should maintain a cooperative budgeting effort, by
determining what kind of service that department provides. He reported
that next year the Housing Committee will introduce legislation
establishing an educational program for builders, which they will need to
maintain their license. He said that will be funded by a surcharge on the
building permit, adding about $15.
It was the general consensus of the Council to adjourn at 12:15 P.M., and
if time allows, following the Council meeting, convene to continue budget
review of the Community & Economic Development Department.
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