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Home My WebLink About02/24/2009 04A Draft Minutes 12-01-2008 Adjourned Meeting• is • 1. Roll Call Present: Council Staff: Absent: YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2008 — 8:30 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL BUDGET WRAP UP Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley,. Council Members Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson (until 9:52 a.m.), Bill Lover and Neil McClure City Manager Zais, Budget Director DeBord (after 9:00 a.m.) and Acting City Clerk Roberts Council Member Norm Johnson after 9:52 a.m. (excused) ➢ Opening Statements City Manager Zais described the`budget process noting this wrap -up meeting is to address the policy issues. He touched on revenues, grants, and spending projections. The'total,City budget is up about 4.5% with most of that from capital projects (grant.related). There is a 3.6% dependence on cash reserves. 'At the end of 2009,'the.casl _reserves, as projected in this budget, are set at just under 9 %. It is a tight . and austere spending. plan. 2. BUDGET'WRAP. -UP OUTSIDE AGENCIES REQUESTS ➢Submitted by Council Members Cawley -and Lover. Cap and/or. eliminate all Outside'Agency funding, net savings ($100,000). Councilman Lover had submitted a written request to have all outside agency requests for,funding reviewed by the Budget Committee prior. to going into the budget. ;He was upset that his request did not go to the. Budget Committee but was put into' the budget as a policy issue. Apparently, there had been mixed directions to staff -coming from -the Budget Committee that they were not going to.handle any 2009 issues; Councilman Lover was not satisfied with that response and expressed .his displeasure. Council Member Ensey`said he will be voting no on all outside agency requests because we have to tighten our budget and the agencies should be responsible for finding their own money. Mayor Edler said he will be voting yes on all of them because of the good they do for the City with a total impact of $50,000, which they are investing.in the community. Council Member Lover stated he disagrees with Mayor Edler. ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP ➢Yakima Chamber of Commerce; General fund, $5,900, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 5 -2 roll call vote; Ensey and Lover voting no. ➢Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; General fund, $5,900, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a,5 -2 roll call vote; Ensey and Lover voting no. ➢Fourth of July Committee; General fund, $5,500, budgeted McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Ensey voting no. ➢Sunfair Association; General Fund /Fire, $1,000, budgeted McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote. ➢Yakima' Basin Storage.Alliance, Black Rock Reservoir; $30,000 -Water Reserves $18,000 (60 %), General Fund $12,000 (40 %), budgeted. Council members discussed Black Rock, many giving their personal, opinion on the project. EDLER MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE." . CAWLEY MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO.AMEND THE'REQUEST CHANGING THE GENERAL FUND PORTION TO $20,000. The motion to amend carried by a 6 -2 roll call vote; McClure and Edler voting g no The vote on the amended motion failed by a 4 -3 roll call vote; McClure, Edler, Ensey and Lover. voting no. ➢Yakima Morelia Sister City Association, Economic Development Fund $2,000, budgeted and $3,000 URbudgeted.' CAWLEY MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO APPROVE AT $2,000. The motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote; Edler, Johnson and McClure voting no. ➢Committee for Downtown Yakima; CBD Capital Improvement fund, $50,000, budgeted CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote. ➢Allied Arts ArtsVan; General fund, $5,333, budgeted. McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Ensey voting no. 2 ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 .'2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP ® ➢Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); Parks & Recreation fund, $3,000, Budgeted, In -Kind $2,000 JOHNSON MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO AMEND THE REQUEST TO FUND THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND RATHER THAN THE PARKS FUND The motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Edler voting no. The amended motion carried by a unanimous roll call vote. ➢Seasons Music Festival (new); General fund, Parks & Recreation Fund or Hotel /Motel tax, $8,000, unbudgeted. EDLER MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO APPROVE. City Manager Zais clarified that there are. two, potentially three, sources of funding for this; Parks & Recreation, the General fund, and the Hotel /Motel tax. If it is to be the General fund or Parks & Recreation, it could be acted on today. If it is to be through the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, it will have to go through a specific process and, therefore, have to be deferred. CAWLEY MOVED TO - RECOMMEND THIS BE SUPPORTED BY THE HOTEUMOTEL TAX WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. The motion died for lack of a second. Following further discussion, CAWLEY MOVED THAT /T BE FUNDED OUT OF -THE GENERAL FUND AT THE $8,000 AMOUNT, The motion died for lack of a second. City 'Manager Zais clarified that, if the`original`.motion is approved; it,will be funded by the Parks & Recreation fund. The original, motion • carried by a 5 -2 vote; Coffey and Ensey voting-no. ➢Citizens for Safe Yakima Valley Communities: Existing Community Programs; General fund, $20,000 budgeted. JOHNSON MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO APPROVE. Council Member MCC-lure said he would be voting no because he hadn't received a detailed budget that he had requested at a previous meeting. McCLURE'MOVED TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE PROVIDE A DETAILED BUDGET PRIOR TO VOTING TO APPROVE. The motion died due to lack of a second. A larger discussion ensued covering the question of what information should we be asking all of the agencies to provide with their budget requests. The vote on the original motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote; McClure, Cawley and Ensey voting no. ➢Blockwatch & Crime Free Rental Housing Support (New); General-Fund; Federal Byrne Grant; $60,000 budgeted. McCLURE MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO APPROVE. Council Member Lover raised a •number of questions. LOVER MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO HAVE THE,REQUEST GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC, SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATION. Following further discussion, Council Members Lover and Ensey withdrew their motion. The original motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Lover voting no. 3 ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP ➢Yakima Symphony Orchestra (new); Parks & Recreation fund or General fund, • $10,000 unbudgeted. JOHNSON MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO APPROVE AND FUND THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND. The motion carried by a 4 -3 roll call vote; Coffey, Cawley, and Ensey voting no. Council Member Johnson was excused at 9:52 a.m. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ➢Clean Air Authority Assessment; General.fund,=2008 $22,062 + 1.5% increase of $232 = 2009 Total $22,394, budgeted. ➢Yakima County Emergency Management Assessment; General fund; 2008 assessment $57,212 plus 3% estimated increase of $1,688 = $58,900, budgeted. Plus a 2009 estimated additional $1,037 (unbudgeted) for a 2009 total of $59,937. >YakimaValley Conference of Governments (COG) Membership Assessment; General fund: 2008 Assessment $42,581, decreased by $1,456 for a 2009 total of $41,125, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE BUDGETED AMOUNTS ONLY. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. ➢Yakima County Development Association (New Vision); General fund, $20,000 budgeted, $10,000 additional unbudgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND LOVER SECONDED TO APPROVE. Council Member Cawley gave a supporting statement. Council Member Lover requested that his request to have this put under the Intergovernmental Agency category be. withdrawn. Council Member Coffey took this opportunity to address her opinion that unbudgeted increases in Outside Agencies should not be supported. She re- emphasized the need for formal deliverables to be provided with budget requests and that we should supply a clear outline of what must be provided. The motion carried by a 3 -2 roll call vote; Johnson absent, McClure abstaining due to being a voting business member of the association. ➢Yakima Air Terminal — Premium Payments; Risk Managernent.fund; Revenue loss $33,000, unbudgeted. Historical information was given by Rita DeBord, Director of Finance and Budget. Bill Wheeler, Airport Board Chair, described their financial situation and the need for help with this payment. CAWLEY MOVED AND EDLER SECONDED TO PAY ONE -HALF OF THE COST. Following discussion, the motion, carried by a 5 -1 vote; Ensey voting no, Johnson absent. • 2 ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP ➢Yakima Air Terminal — Stormwater Payment; Stormwater fund; Revenue loss .$29,316, unbudgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO DEFER THE DECISION. FOR A FURTHER LEGAL OPINION. Assistant City Manager Zabell said that we have been advised by counsel that we do not have legal authority under the RCW to give a rate reduction in this instance. CAWLEY WITHDREW HIS ORIGINAL MOTION AND MOVED TO DENY THE REQUEST FOR WAIVING OF THE STORMWATER PAYMENT, COFFEY SECONDED. Council Member Lover asked if there are any airports in the state currently being exempted. Mr. Wheeler lobbied for the exemption comparing the runways and taxiways to City streets, which are exempted. The motion carried by a 5 -1 roll call vote; Lover voting no; Johnson absent. ➢Yakima Air Terminal 2009 Budget CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent.- CITY MANAGEMENT . Wastewater /Pre- Treatment Plant - - ➢Enhance Security at the Wastewater Treatment Plant; Wastewater Facility Capital Fund, $200,000, budgeted. McCLURE MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Stormwater ➢Reaffirm and Update Council Authorized Stormwater Program ; Stormwater fees, Add 2 positions, $94,000, budgeted. - Personnel staffing levels for 2009 — DOE Grant, $30,000, budgeted. =Begin reimbursement of Wastewater Utility for advanced funding of Stormwater program — Stormwater fees. LOVER MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO ENTER INTO A HIRING FREEZE FOR SIX MONTHS, THEN RE= EVALUATE OUR FISCAL 'POSITION AND EXAMINE THE EFFECTS THAT THE DOWNTURNING ECONOMY IS HAVING. ON OUR CITIZENS AND OUR REVENUE AND, AFTER SIX MONTHS, WE CAN HIRE UNDER EMERGENCY POLICY ISSUES OR EXTEND THE FREEZE FURTHER. During discussion, Council Member Ensey supported the motion and Council Member Cawley felt the issue should be discussed following the budget wrap -up. Council Member McClure said he did not support the motion because both the City and the Council are fiscally conservative and cannot be compared to other cities. He said it would be wrong not to support management's hard work preparing the budget. Council Member Coffey expressed frustration. at the timing of this motion and questioned why it 5 ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP wasn't brought up during the budgeting process. Mayor Edler stated that Yakima is a very well managed city; the Council is a policy making board and there seems to be a philosophical difference with some Council members desiring to micromanage. The. question was called for a.vote on the motion. The motion failed by a 3 -3 roll call vote. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 4 -2 roll call vote; Ensey and Lover voting no, Johnson absent. Water ➢Water and Irrigation Division Reorganization — Net $67,700, budgeted. ➢Add 1 Operator -in- Training Position; Water fund, $58,700. budgeted ➢Create Water Treatment Operator II and III positions; Water fund, $6,000 budgeted ➢Upgrade Department Assistant III to Water /Irrigation Administration Specialist; Irrigation fund,-$3,000 budgeted CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. Funding details were discussed. The motion carried by a"6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Legal ➢Increase.part-time Legal Assistant position to full -time; Risk Management.fund; $30,000 budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. FINANCE Financial Services /Utility Services ➢Continuation of 2008 department reorganization; consolidate Utility Service. Representative and Cashier positions; 2009 $18,100; 2010 $14,200, General Fund, budgeted. Council Member Cawley said -he would like to defer the reorganization until the new system has a chance to he in. CAWLEY MOVED TO DENY THE REORGANIZATION. The motion died for lack of a second. McCLURE MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REORGANIZATION. - The motion carried by 5 -1 roll call vote; Cawley voting no, Johnson absent. • 2 ADJOURNED MEETING —DECEMBER 1; 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP Information Systems ➢Implement a Records Management System for official City records maintained by the City Clerk's office, 50% General fund, 50% Risk Management, $85,000, budgeted. ➢Annual maintenance support; 2010 General Fund, $10,000 CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE BOTH REQUESTS. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Planning ➢Upgrade Planning Specialist position, General fund, $3,500, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Codes ➢ Increase 2009 Service Contract with Humane Society by 9.1 % or $5,722, General Fund, 2009 increase $2,516 budgeted, $3,206 unbudgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. ONDS ➢ONDS Reorganization, ($74,000), Federal Block Grant savings - Eliminate ONDS Manager position Reallocate CED Deputy Director - Special Assignment for Operations Supervisor - Upgrade Account Specialist to Financial Services Technician CAWLEY MOVED AND COFFEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Tourism Profnotion/Yakima Convention Center ➢Increase annual management fee from $645,000 to $664,350, Tourist Promotion Operating Fund, Hotel /Motel Tax Event revenue, $19,350, budgeted. ➢Equipment replacement and system upgrades, Convention Center capital, $217,000, budgeted. ➢Market analysis and visitor profile, Tourist Promotion Operating Fund, Hotel /Motel tax, $30,000, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE THE FIRST THREE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. 7 ,ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP • ➢Sports Commission allocation, Tourist Promotion Operating reserves, $20,000, unbudgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Capitol Theatre ➢Increase annual management fee from $197,000 to $209,000, Capitol Theatre Operating fund, Hotel /Motel tax, $12,000, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Engineering ➢Consideration of a continued organization development for the Engineering Division; Addition of full time Division .Manager — City Engineer, Total .Allocation $144,000: General Fund 30 %)$43,200, Wastewater (55 %) $79,200, Water (8 %) $11,500, Stormwater (5 %) $7,200, Irrigation (2 %) $2,900 ➢2009 Grind and Overlay —16'h Ave from Nob Hill to Washington Ave., REET2, $550,000, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. FIRE Support Services ➢Fire Station 94 remodel; Fire Capital Fund REET 1 Allocation, $600,000, budgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 =0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Public Safety ➢Transfer 2 Public Safety Lead Dispatchers from Dispatch to 911, Public Safety Communications Fund, ($179,000), budgeted. ➢Add 2 Dispatch positions: Public Safety Dispatcher $60,000 and Public Safety Lead Dispatcher $70,000, Total $130,000, Increase in County -wide 911 contract, net savings $49,000, budgeted CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent: 0 ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 - 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP ® PUBLIC WORKS Streets ➢40th Avenue corridor Traffic Movement Improvement study; Street and Traffic Engineering fund — Gas Tax, $35,000, budgeted: . ➢Northeast Yakima Traffic Study — Information item ➢Eliminate Vacant Senior Sign Specialist and upgrade two part-time (75 %), Sign Specialist to full -time; Street and Traffic Engineering fund, net savings ($34,000), budgeted: CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Transit >Purchase one 35' heavy duty, low floor replacement bus; Transit Capital fund /Local sales tax, $400,000, budgeted. - -CA. WLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. The motion . carried by a.6-0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Refuse ➢Upgrade Solid Waste maintenance worker position tot Solid Waste Code Compliance Officer position; Refuse Operating fund, net increase $3,000, budgeted. ➢Upgrade Solid Waste Maintenance Worker position to Solid Waste Crew Leader position, Refuse Operating fund, net increase $3,125, budgeted. EDLER MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. Following an explanation of the requirement to go through Civil Service to change position title, the motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Parks & Recreation ➢Solicit requests for proposals to lease Fisher Park starting in 2010 (no fiscal effect in 2009) ➢Develop Upper Kiwanis Park - Phase 1 financing, Parks Capital: 1) State Grant, 2) Municipal.Debt repaid from REET1, 3) 2008 & 2009 REET1 Capital Allocation, $1,225,000 ➢Feasibility Study of pocket park — no cost CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO APPROVE. Council . Member Cawley explained the pocket park. Council Member Lover suggested reducing the budget amount $225,000 by cancelling the prefabricated restroom and remodeling the existing one: Director of Public Works. Waarvick responded that the current restroom is not in the proper location,_ and the plan put forward for the grant - specifically said we would add a new facility. The grant requires us ij ADJOURNED MEETING — DECEMBER 1, 2008 2009 BUDGET WRAP -UP to follow our plan or we would lose that portion of the funding. The motion carried by a 6 -0 roll call vote; Johnson absent. Various Departments ➢Elimination of six vacant positions, ($445,590), unbudgeted. CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO APPROVE. The positions were identified as the Codes /Planning Manager, Code Compliance Officer, Permit Technician, Senior Traffic Sign Specialist, Traffic Technician Il; and Streets Traffic /Operations Manager. Council Member Cawley suggested that, since these positions have been vacant for a period of time, he felt they could be eliminated. Council Member McClure spoke against the motion as some of the positions are a result of Council requests. He also emphasi2ed the importance of good management and the danger of eliminating the management positions. Council Member Coffey pointed out that this already went before the Budget Committee and she did not understand why it is coming back now. She did not support the motion. City Manager Zais responded that he had reviewed these positions and felt they were warranted to serve the functions that exist. He then addressed each position. The question was called for a vote on the motion. The motion failed by a 3 -3 roll call vote; McClure, Coffey and Edler voting no; Johnson absent. - CAWLEY MOVED AND McCLURE SECONDED TO DIRECT STAFF TO "' PREPARE THE FINAL 2009 BUDGET, INCORPORATING THE POLICY DECISIONS MADE TODAY. The motion carried by a 6 -0 voice vote; Johnson absent. 2. ADJOURNMENT CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion carried by a 6 -0 voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY ATTEST: CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ' COUNCIL MEMBER DATE DAVID EDLER, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD. of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 10 L.J •