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Home My WebLink About11/10/1987 Adjourned Meeting 16.1 ' NOVEMBER 10, 1987 • • ADJOURNED MEETING - BUDGET REVIEW The City Council met in session on this date .at 9:00 A.M. in the' Council Chambers of City Hall, Yakima, Washington. Council members present were Mayor Henry Clarence Barnett, Pat Berndt, .Lynn Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael, Jerry Foy, and Bernard Sims. Staff members present were City Manager Zais, Director of Finance and Budget Hanson', Accounting Manager Wheeler, and Department Assistant III Barber. • The Invocation was given by Mayor Beauchamp. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Jerry Beeson _introduced Deputy Chief Tom Fieldstead; the recently appointed Battalion Chief in the Support Services Division, Gene Martin; and the newly appointed Battalion Chief in the Training Division, Mike Nugent; all available to respond to Council's questions. .Chief Beeson gave a brief overview of the reorganization, stating the primary objective is to provide ;, ,, more: ,.training. Discussion followed on the status of the Deputy Fire Chief in relationship to the Battalion Chiefs on the organizational chart. Council member Foy stated he is concerned with the format of the organizational chart. Council member Carmichael agreed with Council member Foy, stating the Fire Chief needs to be very specific in enumerating the chain of command so there is no confusion. She stated there are a number of points that make it imperative that this be changed as soon as possible before the budget is passed. Council member Sims expressed concern with the organizational chart showing the Deputy Chief as a Battalion Chief. Chief Beeson explained the Fire Department does have plans for recommending further changes. In response to Council member Barnett's question about .the applicability of the figures 'on the latest Fire Department reorganization report, .Chief Beeson responded the Department'has a new re- port. • Council member Sims suggested under "Capital Outlay Requests "'on Page 209, the Department consider an automation system instead of a replacement type- writer. • Chief Beeson reported there was a meeting with the Fire Districts and the ambulance companies to discuss contracts. Council member Buchanan requested an update on the dispatching contracts with the Fire Districts. Council member Foy stated he is having difficulty with the Fire Department getting more 'and more fire alarms monitoring. He asked how many alarms of the sec - tors the Fire Department is monitoring and what the rate'of monitoring is. Mr..Fieldstead stated part of the information will be in a report coming to the City Council. Council member Buchanan asked for an update of the dis- patching contracts with the Districts. Council member Sims asked the Fire Department to review the agreement with AFSCME regarding the policy on hand tools. He suggested the'City purchase hand tools so there will not be an inconsistency among the City divisions. It was the consensus of the Council members to remove the item on hand tools on Page 217 from the budget. Council member Foy recommended entering into a letter of agreement specifying a policy on the replacement of tools what tools are needed. • Council .member Barnett referred to the narrative regarding handling of hazardous waste by individual divisions, and commented he thinks when that comes 'up he is going to challenge that because he thinks there should be some central control. Council member Barnett requested, sometime during the budget process, clarification of the statement on Page 240 under Public Works regarding hazardous wastes. Discussion followed. regarding the policy issue on physical fitness testing. Council member. Foy asked for a copy of the regulation on drivers of large trucks or equipment regarding certain tonage. Mr. Fieldstead stated this is also tied somehow to the commercial licensing and the City is exempted from specific regulations. However, there is anew federal regulation that ad- dresses the registering of each individual that drives a vehicle in excess of 26,000 pounds of gross weight, and we do fall into that category. He further stated that it is a bargaining issue. MINIII B1 162 NOVEMBER 10, 1987 POLICE Police Chief Green introduced Marsha Devine, Secretary, Captain Don Blesio, Captain Tony Wentz, and Captain Reid Follansbee. He stated the 1988 Budget shows an increase over 1987, due to salaries and jail costs. A handout regarding "Narcotics Enforcement Update" (11/10/87) was given to the Council Members. Chief Green reviewed the memo, explaining its purpose is for information only. Council members were given a handout, "Continuing Police Officer Vacancies" (11/3/87), and discussion followed on the hiring procedures of Police Officers. Council member Carmichael complimented the Department on its outstanding reserve force and suggested using that force if the Department needs extra officers. Mayor Beauchamp asked staff to let him know how long the officers working with the drug situation could stand the pressure of increased enforcement activity. Council members discussed the transfer of two officers from the Patrol Division; one to Gambling Enforcement, and one to the Drug Enforcement Task ,Force. Council member Barnett expressed concern about the drug problem, and the need for more frequent patrols in these problem areas. He asked that this issue be listed as a major policy issue. The Council members were given a handout, "1988 Gambling Enforcement Budget" (11/3/87). Council member Sims stated the City Council needs a statement regarding the City's policy regarding drug enforcement. Council member Foy agreed with Council member Sims. Referring to the capital outlay requests on Page 192, Council member Foy suggested that if Council wants a continued emphasis on drug control, Council may need to increase the number of 9mm automatic handguns. City Manager Zais explained Account 520, Jail Costs, on Page 199, will continue to reflect increases,. however, the City is looking for better options and control. Council members Barnett and Berndt asked why an electronic air cleaner was needed, and if the reason was due to the City Manager's new rule on smoking. Chief Green stated the electronic air cleaner will no longer be needed; however, he explained there is a need for air conditioning in the new radio room to protect the new dispatch equipment, which he would like request instead of the air cleaner. (Mayor Beauchamp absent after 11:15 A.M., and Assistant Mayor Barnett presided over the meeting.) PLANNING Glenn Rice, Director of Community and Economic Development, and Don Skone, Planning Supervisor, were present to answer Council's questions. Council member Berndt referred to Page 120, asking why the total columns across on the "Schedule of Activities Performed" chart did not add up to the total amount in the "Total" column. Council member Berndt stated the second sentence under Account 490 Miscel- laneous on Page 122, "...increase of 300% in Yakima County computer access charges..." is incorrect and Mr. Rice stated staff will correct it. CODE ADMINISTRATION Bob Shampine, Code Manager, was present to answer questions posed by Council. : Councilmember Barnett asked if the $20,000 given under "Major Policy Issues" on Page 133 includes the cost of the person who is to be hired for six months. Mr. Shampine explained the City does not plan to hire someone for six months, this would be done by existing personnel, and would reduce the number of fire inspections, that would normally be done. Mr. Shampine stated staff can rewrite that section. MINIII B2 163 NOVEMBER 10, 1987 • • • CABLE Dave Eyles, Cable TV Coordinator, was present to answer questions asked by Council. . Council member Foy complimented Mr. Eyles on his excellent work. Council member Barnett referred to Page 160, Item - #3 : and,asked if the travel request by'CPAC means a legal opinion on the utilization of Cable Television funds? He is concerned about the impact . on these funds.. if there is a pos- sibility this would open the door for all the Advisory Commissions to make trips. Mr. Rice stated staff will change that wording.as it does not mean that. Council member Foy stated the.City now has a rate structure for people who live outside the City. 'He stated that money is not for budget and if that is generating. revenue he .is_.in favor of•-.creating a policy that says if you have enough " by the paying public . to generate a revenue line, that revenue could be used for travel and education when needed. He stated" he has a problem 'with committee members being funded for travel. Bob Shampine, Code Manager, reported to the Council there will be no increase during the next year for the rate the County charges the City for computer access for the Assessor's records. He explained usage was $135.00 per hour in 1986 and is-$150.00 per hour now. CAPITOL THEATRE _,1 £ 'i, Steven Caffery, Manager, and Linda Favilla, Accountant, were present to answer, questions asked by Council. (Council Member Carmichael absent after 11:57 A:M.) • Council members were presented with a handout showing Operations and Capital Reserve figures for the Capitol Theatre Fund #171. Discussion followed and Mr. Caffery explained only the red carpet needs to be replaced and some painting needs to be done to stop the moisture from coming through the out- side walls. It was MOVED by Barnett, seconded by Berndt the meeting recess at 12:00 Noon, to reconvene at 1:15 P.M. Unanimously carried by voice vote. Beauchamp and • Carmichael absent. The meeting reconvened at 1:25 P.M., Mayor Beauchamp presiding. (Council member Carmichael present after 1:30 P.M.) Bob Shampine, Code. Manager reported he notified the owner of the Gabriel Building on "B" Street, the debris from the recent fire must be cleared by November 19th. He stated one lane will be closed to traffic during this cleanup. YAKIMA CONVENTION CENTER Dianne Gilliland, Assistant Director, was present to answer Council'-s ques- tions. Council member Foy asked if the ending budget balance does not provide a sufficient cash flow. Mr. Wheeler agreed there is a cash flow problem as there is not enough revenue. (Council member Carmichael present after 1:30 P.M.) Council member Foy stated he would like to have the 1984 contract between the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Yakima Center studied with the auditor. It was the consensus of the Council to have staff rewrite this contract. Council member Barnett asked what effect the "no smoking" policy would have on the Convention Center and if it will reduce the number of conventions coming into Yakima. Mrs. Gilliland explained the City owns the buildings, however, the part rented out, is licensed to use by other groups which in essence they temporarily own that space. She stated organizations would take a long look at this policy and the effect could be 15 percent would say "no smoking" at the very maximum. • MINIII B3 1`64 NOVEMBER 10, 1987 It was the consensus of the Council to discuss the Office of Housing and Neighborhood Conservation budget during today's Council.meeting at the same time the 1988 Community Development Block Grant Is discussed. Council member Barnett asked if staff could prepare a more abbreviated ver- sion of the information regarding Washington and Franklin pool closures due to reconstruction. He asked staff to give it to Council prior to that budget discussion, possibly by November 21st. There being no further business to discuss, it was MOVED by Sims, seconded by Carmichael, to adjourn. the meeting at the hour of 2:00 P.M. Unanimously carried by voice vote. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY A _ /�� , �� V � • i COUNCIL MEMBER D • COUNCIL MEMBER DATE • ATTEST: Ka_,ALe, A , /, CITY CLERK V' MAYOR / I 1 MINUTES PREPARED BY 'l� -� I 1 /C / O ,,O_Jr.z. DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT • • • __ J • • MINIII B4