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
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J �� E >cle DATE /47/eJ
COUNCIL MEMBER
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CITY CLERK TYOR