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Home My WebLink About12/01/1971 Special Meeting / . 282 DECEMBER 1, 1971 SPECIAL MEETING - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1971 - 3:00 P.M. Due notice having been given in accordance with the City•Charter, Ordinances of the City of Yakima and State Statute, a special meeting for Hearing on the 1972 Budget was convened at the hour of 3:00. mi. on Wednesda Decembe 71 in the Council Chambers. Mayor Larson itv Councilmen Brown,-- keYtiirUIBE an Bin Aere pr o Councilmen Lambert and McNeice were absent on roll call. It was MOVED by Keith, seconded by Brown that Coun- cilmen Lambert and McNeice be excused from this meeting: carried, Brown, Keith, Larson, Lust and Robinson voting aye by voice vote. Councilman Lambert present after the hour of 3:35 P.M.. Councilman Robinson was excused from the balance of the meeting at 4 :30 P.M. The Invocation was given by Councilman Keith. City Manager McMicken passed to the Council members and those persons present in the au- dience, a report setting forth some changes in expenditures and revenues made in the pre- liminary budget and proceeded to discuss and explain them. He indicated that notice re- ceived October 20, 1971 on our latest two months sales tax income shows a substantial in- crease over what has been received in earlier months, and as a result of this and other in- creases now coming to light, he is proposing some revisions in the preliminary budget. Fi- nance Director,_Leonard•Crose, explained ,in detail pertain ,increases to be expected in Court Fines and Forfeitures and Sales and Use - Taxes. City Manager reported that as the result of the Council's instructions last week to prepare the alternate to increasing the utility tax 1 %, Department Heads have met and discussed the budget and all . of the contin- gency items were put into that reduction and each department was given a pro rata share of the remaining amount to reduce the 1972 budget. At this point it appears that we have the further option of not increasing the utility tax and still maintaining the preliminary bud- get fairly close to, the amouhts submitted. • The latest reviews from_the Finance Department. (November 30) show an increase of Cash on Hand of $64,000. Discussion indicated that there has been a gradual increase in utility tax revenue; there will be no salary increases, al- though $47,000 increase in City contribution to PERS is shown; there are no new employees included except those under the PEP (Public Employees Program); rate increases are proposed for Tahoma Cemetery and Solid Waste Management — refuse collection and land fill disposal. The following municipal goals established by Council members and staff members were re- viewed and progress on accomplishment was discussed by City Manager McMicken: 1. Building new public warehouse facilities 2. Improve at -grade railroad crossings 3. Modernize and update Fire Department, including new facilities and personnel and stations 4. Modernize and update Police Department, including more personnel 5. Encourage County zoning 6. Purchase new City busses 7. Build sewers in areas outside City 8. Build a Convention Center 9. Construct railroad grade separations 10. Complete streets and improvements on streets 11. Annex urbanized areas 12. Improve park facilities, acquire park land, etc. 13. Improve industrial waste disposal system 14. Improve lighting of streets, alleys, parking lots, etc. 15. Improve sidewalks and construct more sidewalks 16. Develop Urban Beautification Program 17. Complete airport projects 18. Pipe open irrigation canals and storm drains 19. Arrange for more downtown off - street parking ..20. Develop low cost public housing 21. Building a new City Hall In discussing the matter of a contingency fund in the preliminary budget Mr. Larry Robinson and Mrs. Rice, two citizens, challenged the legality of using money for City promotion through the Visitors and Convention Bureau. They were assured that the money would not be handed to the Bureau, but that some service would be arranged for by contract between the City and the Bureau. Mrs. Rice also questioned the use of City funds in a park investment on Eisenhower school grounds for a swimming pool and tennis courts. Discussion indicated that this the City would collaborate with the school district to determine the location, the matters of off - street parking, the ownership, matters of administration of these facil- ities, the maintenance and various other questions. Matters relating to off - street parking in the downtown area were discussed and indications were that $20,000 for downtown renewal proposed is still in the budget. Also, a portion of the net proceeds from parking meters should be earmarked for further development of the central business district each year. The suggestion was made that the $20,000 represents 5% of the net proceeds and $40,000 should be set aside in 1973 and $60,000 in 1974 until $100,000 a year is set aside for down town renewal. It was determined that the lighting program is still under Law and Justice Grant. The following items were listed under the contingency fund in the report at hand: 1. Visitors Promotion 10,000 2. P.A. System & Chairs- Council Room 8,000 3. Battelle N.W. .4;000 4. Housing Code Enforcement 25,374 5. Crime Information Center System Development 10,000 6. Alcoholic Rehabilitation 8,615 Total 65,989 1972 Preliminary Budget 38,488 Increase 27,501 Funded by 1 -1 -72 Cash on Hand 6,886 After due discussion of each item, it was MOVED by Robinson that $4,000 be put into the General Fund for Alcoholic Reahbilitation. This motion failed for -the want of a second. It was then MOVED by Lust and seconded by Lambert that $8,615 be replaced into the General Fund Budget: carried, Brown, Keith, Lambert and Lust voting aye by voice vote. Larson and Robinson voting nay by voice vote. McNeice absent. The Council also having studied matters of increased rates for Tahoma Cemetery and for the Refuse Department, it was MOVED by Lambert, seconded by Lust that the increase in rates for the Cemetery and for the Refuse Departments be included in the 1972 Budget and that the 283 DECEMBER 1, 1971- necessary legislation be prepared for the next regular meeting of the City Council on Mon- day, December 6, 1971:. carried, Brown, Keith, Lambert, Larson and Lust voting aye by voice vote. McNeice and Robinson absent. Mr. Pittman of the Visitor and Convention Bureau, being present, encouraged the Council to deliberate long and hard and come up with some kind of compromise so that the Bureau can continue its program to bring people to Yakima. All persons having been heard both for and against the 1972 preliminary budget, it was MOVED by Lust, seconded by Keith that we do now adjourn at the hour of 4:35 P.M.: carried, Brown, Keith, Lambert, Larson and Lust voting aye by voice' vote. McNeice and Robinson ab- sent. p . • READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ��`, n.-. -•. DATE �°' r COUNCILMAN DATE 7 y / irOUNCILMAN • • , • • ATTEST: C I T Y IP . C L E R K / MAYOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • •