Council MIN 05-19-1995 Special
1996 CITY COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION
Friday, May 19, 1995
City Council Chambers
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2:00 p.m.
Attendance: Mayor Gates; Deputy Mayor Watkins; and Councilmembers
Dovey, Elder, Gintz, Priest.
City Staff: Kenneth E. Nyberg, Philip Keightley, Iwen Wang, Greg Moore,
Cary Roe, Larry Springer, Londi Lindell, Jennifer Schroder, Mary McDougal,
Marie Mosley, John Caulfied, and Patrick Briggs.
Meeting called to order at 2: 1 0 p.m.
City Manager Ken Nyberg presented the preliminary budget packet to Mayor
and City Council. The following is a brief summary of the discussions:
I. 1996 Budget Process: Suggested process and calendar were reviewed
and the following discussions ensued:
. June 6 preliminary public hearing: A preliminary public hearing is
scheduled for June 6 to solicit input from the general public, boards,
and commissions. It was noted that the City Council are seeking new
ideas/suggestions to further the City' s priorities and ways to reduce
costs as well as needs.
. Time Commitment: Council directed staff to simplify the budget
process and take the approach of the second year of a biennial
budget. Suggestions were made by Council to police each other, to
keep focus on policy issues, and to save staff preparation time by
identifing questions prior to meetings so staff can limit the scope of
preparation.
. Committee v Full Council: Staff interpretation of this discussion was
that it is preferable that related issues first brought to Council
Committees to workout details and report/recommend to full Council
for decisions or actions.
II. Council Goals: Council reviewed their 1995 goals, current status of
those goals and made the following updates for their 1996 goals. The
updated goals in priority order are:
1.
2.
Implement the police department;
Contain contracting costs, including court, jail, and health
service contracts. (Staff to follow-up on whether the
City could opt out of County Health Contract);
Implement 1995 bond issue projects, if passed;
3.
ORIGINAL
4.
5.
Implement the Comprehensive Plan;
Continue to develop sports fields and to include
provisions for maintenance and operation;
Implement neighborhood development program; and
Implement affordable housing policy.
6.
7.
III.
City Manager Kenneth E. Nyberg presented baseline revenues,
expenditure projections, and reviewed the preliminary new initiatives
identified with Council:
.
Mr. Nyberg indicated that the COLA and PW right-of-way
inspector are the two programs he would recommend at this
preliminary stage. He then highlighted the pay plan request,
explained the administration' s designation of 1995 as .Year of
Emp/oyee' , and concern of the "at- risk" nature of the P-3
portion of the compensation plan. It was acknowledged that P-
3 is a superior system in rewarding performance with
drawbacks being subjective and laborious. Council directed the
City Manager to bring back long-term comparisons between P-3
and step increases.
.
Community Development Services: Permit counter position (0.5
FTE) should be supported by fee revenue; Sign Code inventory
needs to be implemented in 1995; Council also requested that
staff review permit/code enforcement activities and identify
those that are mandatory vs optional and evaluate if we need to
continue the optional activities.
.
Legal Department: It was suggested to use the jail cost savings
to fund the request for an additional attorney.
.
Community Outreach and Policy Planning: Allow $50,000
(instead of $80,000) in total for code revision and comp plan
implementation. Council also added $15,000 for Human
Services planning for future discussion.
.
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department: Discussion
on proposed King County property transfer took place. Council
directed staff to evaluate the proposed transfers and associated
conditions (Le. can we change use to suit citizen' s needs?)
before a decision is reached.
.
Public Works: Council directed staff to consider an emergency
management plan in conjunction with the police department
setup. Additionally, staff were asked to look at funding
inspectors through fee revenues as part of the proposed rate
structure review.
IV.
V.
VI.
City Manager Nyberg then reviewed the long-range outlook of the
baseline operation. The expenditures of the baseline operation are
expected to exceed revenues in 1997. A chart of different revenue
sources was displayed and Council indicated that:
~
Different revenue sources ma.,'be used if an equal amount of
reduction in existing sources is made.
.
.
Any new construction and/or increased level of service should
be put to vote of the people, otherwise, just maintain existing
level of services (note: the intent is to maintain the activity level
which could mean a lower level of service as the population
grow.)
.
Look at new initiatives that allow more efficiency/effectiveness.
Summary of policy questions raised during the discussion:
.
DARE program - alternatives (this may be delayed until city
department is formed).
.
Required vs. optional permit processes - what are we doing and
why?
.
Review cost recovery ratio for park and recreation programs.
.
Evaluate charge for teen nights so we are not directly in
competition with the private sector; and defray some costs to
provide security, and maintain the facility.
.
Review cost recovery ratio for bulging/land use/and public work
programs.
Other comments:
. Need to pull revenues and expenditures together in the presentation,
e.g. Visitation Retreat Center/ recreation programs.
Meeting adjourned at 5: 15 p.m.