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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/1987 Adjourned Meeting 170 • • NOVEMBER 17, 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 Acting M Clarence Barnett, Pat Berndt, Lynn Buchanan; Jerry Foy and Bernard Sims. Mayor Henry Beauchamp present after 9:37 a.m.. and Council Member Lynn Carmichael present -after 10:15 a.m. City. Manager Zais, Director of. Finance'•& Budget Hanson, Accounting Manager. Wheeler and City ;Clerk Roberts -also present. :: . ENGINEERING • ' ' Council 'members discussed the change in the percentage of City contributions 'to the State PERS retirement Plans I and II, and LEOFF I. Council member Foy expressed concern this percentage may increase in 1989 and requested this issue be brought to Council as a policy issue during the budget wrap -up as to Whether the savings should be held reserve, in anticipation of an increase of contributions in 1989. City Manager. Zais stated it could be included in the printout of state mandated retirement rate decreases ,so it is clear that it is reserved. He provided Council with a copy of this printout, commenting these amounts are subject to-change depending upon negotiated - management and Fire salary increases. . • Council members then reviewed the Engineering budget; Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities, and Dennis Whitcher, City _ .Engineer, available to respond to Council's questions. Council member Foy questioned the use of General Fund money in the policy issue for the establishment, of a capital improvement fund to cover the cost of minor and,unexpected, surface drainage problems. He requested staff to bring back , an . alternative using .- funds, street maintenance funds, or sewer • funds. Referring to the items listed in 142, Arterial Street Capital Fund, Council members requested the Yakima Avenue and 8th Street intersection be'°funded. Council member Sims requested staff to indicate the year these projects were funded. Council member Foy questioned the source of the $20,000 miscellaneous revenues and requested a narrative explanation be included in the budget. Council member Sims requested a breakdown of the 330 account in the 142 Fund. (Mayor Beauchamp present after 9:37 a.m. and assumed the gavel.) SEWER Responding to a request by Council member Barnett, City Manager Zais provided information on the calculations for the utility in -lieu of tax proposed increase for 1988. Council member Barnett expressed concern because the beginning cash balance for 1988 is larger than What the proposed ending balance will be. (Council member Carmichael present after 10:15 a.m.) Chris Waarvick, Wastewater Superintendent, and Mr. Covell responded to Council's questions regarding the West Valley sewer projects, and the need for increased polymer for sludge dewatering. Council members also briefly discussed the operation of the sprayfield and questioned the need for the 4 -wheel farm ATV and trailer. Council member Foy stated he has a safety question about using the ATV. It was the general consensus of the Council that a lot of their questions would have to be answered when the proposed Sewer Comprehensive Plan is brought to Council early next year. WATER • Ty Wick, Water Superintendent, responded to Council's questions regarding the capital outlay request for a snow thrower, the policy issue regarding the cross - connection control devise testing program, and the policy issue of the Water Treatment Plant reorganization. It was the general consensus of the Council to recess for lunch at 11:55 a.m., until 1:30 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 1:45 p.m., with six Council members in attendance. Council member Carmichael present after 1:50 p.m. • 171 Council member Barnett requested all those new or reclassified positions calculated for a partial year, be recalculated giving an annualized cost. Council members discussed the pay range increases contained in the Water Treatment Plant staff reorganization. Mr. Wick stated these ranges are subject to negotiation with the Union on the wages and then will be forwarded to Council for final action and approval. He further commented these ranges were • based on the comparison with the Sewer operators with the same certification level. Council member Barnett expressed a concern about possibly creating a personnel problem if these .people can't qualify for the new positions and the current positions are eliminated. Referring to the policy issue of the emergency generators and switch gear, Council member Foy suggested staff check with Pacific Northwest Bell to see if they have a 250 kw generator. John Klingele, 1312 W. Walnut, questioned the need for the emergency generators. He commented he called PP&L and asked them about the possibility of the entire West Valley area experiencing a total blackout and was told a wide spread outage is very unlikely. Be stated he could possibly- understand the purchase of one mobile generator, but not for each of the three different locations. Council member Barnett requested this item be added as an iten,for discussion during the budget wrap -up. ,It was the general consensus of the Council to recess this meeting at :10 p.m., conduct the regularly scheduled Council meeting, and then return to budget review immediately thereafter. Following the conclusion of the regular Council meeting, the. Council reconvened at 4:17 p.m., with all seven Council members in attendance. Mr. Wick responded to .Council member Foy's questions regarding the changes between 1987 and 1988 authorized personnel in the Irrigation Division. Council mmeber Foy stated he would like to ,know what financial impact these changes will have in 1988 and 1989. City Manager Zais distributed information on the proposed regulatory license fee increases. Council member Sims stated he would like to have added to this sheet the number of businesses. involved .= Discussion followed regarding the remaining budget reviews scheduled., It was the general consensus of the Council to proceed on schedule and reschedule • the budget wrap -up for December 8th. It was also the general consensus of the Council to schedule the meeting with the Trade Stimulant Operators for December 15th. - There being no further business to cane before the Council, it was MOVED by Buchanan, seconded by Berndt, that this meeting be adjourned at the hour of 4:35 p.m., to then meet on November 24, 1987 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers. Unanimously carried by-voice vote. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY,/, DATE " , R7 i itma L ID I:ER - J �� E >cle DATE /47/eJ COUNCIL MEMBER ATTEST: r / ' x.6u2 w / CITY CLERK TYOR