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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-12-01 - Adjourned w CDC MINUTES OF THE 013304 CITY COUNCIL /COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JUNE 12, 2001 The City Council /Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 4:10 p.m., June 12, 2001, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor/Chairman Robert C. Winningham residing. Y � presiding. PRESENT: Council Members /Commissioners: Robert C. Winningham Mayor /Chairman Meredith H. Perkins Mayor Pro Tem/Vice- Chairman Rick Trejo Kirk 0. Cartozian Keith McCarthy ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager /Executive Director Charles Vose, City Attorney Kathleen Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Desi Alvarez, Director of Public Works John Finch, Police Chief Darrell George, Director of Community & Economic Development/ Assistant Executive Director James Jarrett, Director of Community Services John Michicoff, Finance Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Comm. Dev. /City Planner William Davis, Business Development Manager Linda Haines, Building Official Vicki Jenkins, City Librarian Bonnie Kehoe, Recreation Division Manager Kevin O'Connor, Theatre Manager Brian Ragland, Principal Engineer Ed Velasco, Manager of Housing Steven Yee, Economic Development Coordinator June Yotsuya, Assistant to the City Manager Shirley Conte, Executive Secretary STUDY SESSION -- CITY OF DOWNEY PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001 -2001. Mr. Caton referenced the City Manager's Transmittal letter in the budget, noting it explains the City's revenues and expenditures. He stated Mr. Powell will review revenues in a Power Point presentation and each Department Head will then go over their expenditures. He noted the budget document is the most important policy document the Council will review this year. He advised the City Council /Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj .) 6/12/01 -1- 01 t .,t p City receives half of its funds for general purposes, with the remainder of funds received from the State and Federal Governments, which is restricted in its use. He pointed out the budget document is not set in stone, as unexpected situations arise, such as the power plant proposed for the city of South Gate, which cost Downey quite a bit of money to oppose. Mr. Powell narrated a Power Point presentation, advising the total City Budget is $92.5 million, which is divided into three categories: The General Fund; Special Revenue Fund; and Enterprise Fund. The General Fund allows the City the most discretion for spending the money. He noted intergovernmental revenue will be slightly higher this year because of the money to be received from the State relative to the relinquishment of Lakewood. He reviewed budget highlights, which include increased electricity costs, the ASPIRE grant program, the NASA property, increased code enforcement, state reductions to the budget and capital projects. He referred to upcoming Capital Projects: Firestone/Lakewood Boulevard improvements; Imperial Street Lighting project; Transit Center project; Paramount Boulevard landscaping; Fire Station building improvements; and a proposed skate park project. He also pointed out that the City only receives $.14 out of every $1 paid by residents for property taxes. Mr. Michicoff presented the General Services and Finance Budget. He reviewed the functions and services provided by the five areas of responsibility: Accounting, Purchasing, Revenue Collections, Management Information Systems and Administration. He noted Finance is a service department, with the main focus of its budget related to salaries and benefits. He advised the total annual budget is a little over $2.1 million, which is a 4.6 percent increase. The goal for Finance is to further improve customer satisfaction. He responded to questions from the Council /Commission. Chief Finch presented the Police Department Budget, highlighting programs and areas budgeted, and pointing out the Police Department takes on many non - traditional roles, such as Code Enforcement, the school crossing guard contract and the City's share of the funding for animal control services through the South East Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA). He reviewed the master plan implemented for Code Enforcement and noted an additional full -time employee has been requested to keep up with demand. He highlighted the functions of the Police Department's three divisions: Administration, Field Operations and Detective Division. and responded to questions from the Council /Commission. Chief Sauter reviewed the Fire Department's budget, noting the department is divided into six divisions. He reviewed accomplishments, such as the hiring of ten new recruits, the implementation of a Bachelor of Arts program in management, and the implementation of a bilingual program. Goals and objectives include: Infrastructure improvements; increasing the level of training; updating rules and regulations; purchasing four new thermal imaging cameras; providing advance cardiac life support training and pediatric life support training for paramedics; renewing the nurse educator contract; graduating five new paramedics; and improving the inspection and development process. He reviewed the Basic Life Support (BLS) program and upcoming improvements for the dispatch center. He responded to questions from the Council /Commission. City Council /Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/12/01 -2- I I 01 3806 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Harold Tseklenis, 7828 Eighth Street, requested a grant in support of the Downey Symphonic rams Societ Y programs sponsored by Society. He reviewed ro s onsored b the Symphonic Society, noting the Council provided a grant of $10,000 last year, which kept this program intact. He stated they are again in need of funds due to the loss of support from the utility companies and the downtrend in investment returns. He mentioned the group of Symphonic Society members in the audience and noted Downey is unique in the area because it has and sponsors the Symphony. rman Ma or /Chai Winningham commended the Symphonic Society on the way they submitted Y g their request, noting they provided supporting documents with all the information needed for Council's consideration of a grant. The other Council Members /Commissioners indicated support of a grant to this organization. Mr. Caton referred to Page 235 of the budget, noting funds are available for a grant to the Downey Symphonic Society. STUDY SESSION — CITY OF DOWNEY PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001 -2001 (Cont.). Mr. Alvarez gave the presentation of the Public Works Department Budget, reviewing $7.8 million in J ro rant funds received and the projects that will utilize these funds. He also reviewed the g p functions and highlights of each Public Work's division. He mentioned various regional efforts the department is involved in, such as the storm water permit currently being negotiated, and advised they will be hiring another engineer, whose primary function will be permit coordination. He responded to questions and comments from the Council /Commission. Mr. Jarrett presented the Community Services Department Budget, highlighting programs included in the department's five divisions: Administration, Recreation, Social Services, Theatre and Library. He reviewed projects completed last year and noted upcoming projects for next year, such as the Intermodal Transit Center, driving range fence replacement at Rio Hondo Golf Course, the continuation of the After- school Learning and Safe Neighborhoods Partnership Grant Program ASPIRE), the design process for the proposed skate park project at Independence Park, and a new sports facility at Columbus High School. Mr. George reviewed the Community Development Department's Budget, noting this y t department has a very busy year planned. He referred to the acquisition and development of the NASA site and noted goals and objectives of the department include the revitalization of the downtown area, updating the City's WEB site, completion of the message board for the Auto Dealer Association, a new banner program for downtown, updating the General Plan and Development Code, streamlining p lan checks , promoting romoting the first -time home buyer program, and pursuing additional locations for senior apartments. He responded to questions from the Council /Commission. Cit y Council /Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/12/01 -3- Council Member /Commissioner Perkins referred to the City Clerk Department Budget, noting the title of City Treasurer was removed from the City Clerk position after the recent hiring of a new City Clerk and passed on to the Assistant City Manager. He noted this title change should be corrected in the budget on Page 57. He asked the Council /Commission to approve a title change for the Deputy City Clerk- Treasurer to Chief Deputy City Clerk and appropriate $42,612 in this year's budget for this position. • Mayor /Chairman Winningham directed the City Manager to review this title and arrange for it to be brought back before the Council, with the exclusion of Treasurer after the City Clerk, since Mr. Powell is the new Treasurer. �-- Council Member /Chairman McCarthy requested the Power Point presentations be coordinated with the budget document next year for ease in locating the information presented. He also requested an overall summary page for each department. He also referred to the amount of reductions by the State government mentioned by Mr. Powell, and was informed a baseline was used and the amount is shown on Page 11 of the Budget where Account 445 is being eliminated. Mayor /Chairman Winningham inquired if the Council /Commission wished to have a second Budget Study Session. After further discussion by the Council /Commission, it was so ordered to set a second Budget Study Session for 5 :00 p.m., June 26, 2001. APPROVAL OF CLOSED SESSION MINUTES — MAY 22, 2001 It was moved by Council Member /Commissioner Perkins, seconded by Council Member /- Commissioner Trejo, and unanimously carried to approve the Closed Session Minutes of May 22, 2001. CLOSED SESSION Mayor /Chairman Winningham announced the Council /Commission is recessing to Closed Session (7:10 p.m.) pursuant to the following Sections of the Government Code: A. SECTION 54956.8 — Conference with real property negotiator Desi Alvarez re property: 9820 Downey/Norwalk Road; negotiating parties: Calsan; under negotiation: price and terms of contract. B. SECTION 54956.9 - Subdivision (a) — Conference with legal counsel — existing litigation: Downey Community Hospital Foundation vs. City of Downey. C. SECTION 54957.6 — Conference with labor negotiator Lee Powell re: direction for labor negotiations with the Downey City Employees' Association — Maintenance and Miscellaneous, Downey Fire Management Association, Downey Firemen's Association, Downey Police Officers' Association, Police Management Association, and Downey Public Safety Auxiliary Association. City Council /Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/12/01 -4- 013309 OS D. SECTION 54956.8 — Conference with real property negotiators Gerald Caton and Darrell re George property: Parcels 1 and 2 of the Downey NASA site generally bounded by Stewart and Gra y Road , Imperial ial Highwa and Lakewood Boulevard; negotiating parties: Highway NASA; under negotiation: price and terms of payment. The meetin g � r econvened in open session at 7:38 p.m. with all Council Members/ - Commissioners present. There were no Closed Session actions to report. The meeting recessed at 7:39 p.m. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Cont.) The meetin g reconvened for Oral Communications at 7:45 p.m. (see Oral Communications under the Community Development Commission Meeting) with all Council Members /Commissioners present and recessed at 8:18 p.m. reconvened for Oral Communications at 8:34 The meeting reco p.m., with all Council Members/ - p Co present resent see Oral Communications under the Regular City Council Meeting) and recessed at 8:41 p.m. • The meeting reconvened at 9:07 p.m. with all Council Members /Commissioners prese nt and immediately recessed to Closed Session to complete discussion of Closed Session Items previously announced. The meeting reconvened at 9:50 p.m. with all Council Members /Commissioners present. There were no Closed Session actions to report. ,II ADJOURNMENT: 9:51 p.m. Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary Robert C. Winningham, Mayor /Chairman h: \cclerk\sconte \ajmn06l 2 City Council /Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/12/01 -5-