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Home My WebLink About01/06/2009 05A Draft Minutes 11-18-2008 Adjourned Meeting - Budget Review• YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING — BUDGET REVIEW NOVEMBER 18, 2008 – 8:30 A.M. –12:00 NOON COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council Members Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson, and Bill Lover Staff: City Manager Zais, Finance Director DeBord, Deputy Director of Budget and Accounting Epperson and City Clerk Moore Absent: Council Member Neil McClure 2. City Administration - Part II - Utilities • Wastewater • Wastewater Capital Reserves • Wastewater Collection Systems Project Fund • Wastewater Facilities Project Fund Assistant City Manager Zabell pointed out that these utilities are self- supporting and highly regulated with regard to public health and public safety. The Wastewater utility is currently in leadership transition as Doug Mayo, Wastewater Manager, is • transferring to City Engineering. Scott Schafer and Max Linden presented a video primer that gave a good overview of the Wastewater utility and its maintenance requirements to stay in compliance. These are large scale projects, each costing millions in dollars. Mr. Linden distributed a document giving status of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects through 2015 at a total projected budget of $22,905,000. This does not include costs associated with emergency repairs or other upcoming regulatory issues. Nor does it address the collection system that is over 300 miles long, is aging, and needs upkeep. Mandates account for 93% of the Wastewater division's activities and, as a result, rates have to be reviewed every three years. A policy issue to enhance security at the facility by additional lighting and an automated front gate was discussed. Increased security is required under Homeland Security. • Stormwater • Stormwater Capital Staff explained that Stormwater is another government mandate. 2009 is the third year of The NPDES Phase 2 implementation for eastern Washington will begin it's third year in 2009. Mr. Schafer explained they are working to meet the compliance schedule of 2012. The UIC requires that we inventory every one of the dry wells by 2011. The NPDES Phase 2 requires that the entire system must be mapped by . 2012. • NOVEMBER 18, 2008 BUDGET REVIEW C� Mr. Zabell advised that, with regard to the rate structure, our ordinance is more onerous than the federal regulation. That is not our intent; therefore, we will be coming back with a minor amendment to rates extending the 20% discount into 2009. There had been a request to waive the fees for the airport. Legal opinion is that the Council does not have the statutory authority to do so. The policy issue to add a second crew was discussed. It implements Council direction from last year. • Water • Domestic Water Improvement Dave Brown, Water & Irrigation Manager, gave a status report of projects. He said there have been challenges in hiring qualified staff. Their policy issue is for a reorganization that would allow for a training position to qualify people to operate the plant. They are also looking to add another level of operator as an incentive to keep staff. • Irrigation • Irrigation Improvement City Manager Zais spoke about the irrigation regulations, improvements and bond • funding. 3. Finance • Information Systems • Utility Services • Community Services • Financial Services • Police Pension • Firemen's Relief and Pension • State Examiner • SunDome • District Court • Transfers • Public Facilities District • Contingency • Capitol Theatre Reserve • Risk Management - • Cemetery Trust Bonded Debt Rita DeBord, Director of Finance and Budget, reported on the electronic bill payment system and the new utility services system. Rick Pettyjohn, Information Systems Manager, also gave project updates. Pete Hobbs, Utility Services • Manager, noted that we are seeing declining revenues and a delay in receipt of 2 • • NOVEMBER 18, 2008 BUDGET REVIEW payments as well as more non - payments. Linda Kraft of Healthy Families gave an update on that program. Tim Jensen, Treasury Service Officer, spoke about the impacts of the financial crisis on investments for the City. City Manager Zais referred to reports across the country about millions of dollars being lost through bad investments, and assured Council that we have not lost money but we are not gaining either. 4. Other Business Appointment to Regional Planning Commission — JOHNSON MOVED AND CAWLEY SECONDED TO APPOINT JOHN CRAWFORD TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. 5. Adjoumment- CAWLEY MOVED AND ENSEY SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The meeting adjourned at 10:21 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY COUNCIL MEMBER DATE COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK DAVID EDLER, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 3