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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-05-97 - Adjourned w CDC 4 ,.{„ � ‘) • . ' j. MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL /COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING .TUNE 5, 1997 The City Council/Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 5:00 p.m., June 5, 1997, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor /Chairman Joyce L. Lawrence presiding. PRESENT: Council Members /Commissioners: Joyce L. Lawrence Mayor /Chairman Barbara J. Riley Mayor ProTem/Vice- Chairman Gary P. McCaughan, M.D. (arrived at 5:13 p.m.) Keith McCarthy Robert S. Brazelton ALSO PRESENT: Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Judith McDonnell, City Clerk/Secretary Art Rangel, Director of Economic & Community Development/ Assistant Executive Director Ron Irwin, Fire Chief James Jarrett, Director of Community Services Richard Redmayne, Director of Public Works Lowell Williams, Director of Finance Shirley Bennett, Deputy Director of Public Works Robert Brace, City Engineer Ralph Ewers, Acting Building Official John Finch, Police Captain Vicki Jenkins, City Librarian Frank McDonell, Public Works Supervisor Lisa Moske, Library Systems Manager Kevin O'Connor, Theater Manager Jan Palen, Senior Librarian Mark Sauter, Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal Kathy Simmons, Administrative Assistant Ed Velasco, Housing Manager Steven Yee, Economic Development Coordinator Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Community Dev. /City Planner STUDY SESSION - CITY OF DOWNEY PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997-98 Mr. Powell summarized the proposed City of Downey budget for 1997 -98 totaling $69,123,634, which is a two percent reduction from last year due to the completion and near completion of two large capital projects, the City parking structure and the Apollo park project. He City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/05/97 -1- 'e%r1 noted the budget has improved due to an improved economy resulting in better revenues. He felt this was an interesting and exciting time for the City due to a multitude of new developments, such as the NASA project, new developments along Firestone Boulevard, the Krikorian Theatre and Coca Cola's acquisition of the Becktel building, which will result in an expanded bottling facility. Th p g y. e budget is composed of three parts: General Funds, Special Revenue Funds, and Enterprise Funds and the p ie charts on Page 4 show the total City budget, Page 41 summarizes the complete budget, and Page 43 indicates g g ndicates staffing levels. He advised staffing levels have been reduced over the last five years, which has eased the budget situation tremendously, noting most of the changes have occurred in the Public Works Department. Council Member /Commissioner McCaughan arrived at 5:13 p.m. Chief Sauter presented the Fire Department Budget, briefly describing the six divisions comprising the department. He noted the budget has a net increase of 4.4 %, with 1% in Administration and 4% in Fire Suppression. Emergency Medical Services increased by 14 %, but this is offset by medical supplies billings, paramedic transport service and paramedic subscription service, which will generate an estimated $700,000 this year. Joint Communications, paid by all five member fire departments, has increased due to using the dispatch supervisor as a full -time dispatcher and the increased costs for telephone lines and equipment replacement, which has made the program increase by 9 %. The Fire Prevention Bureau has decreased by 6 %; Emergency Preparedness has had very little change. Mr. Williams reported on the General Government Budget starting with the Finance Budget. He advised the finance budget consists of four programs: Finance, Parking Ticket Administration, Purchasing and Data Processing, with a total budget of $1,083,873, noting this includes a slight increase for part -time help for an administrative intern working on a special project, and an administrative clerk in accounts receivable, which will generate 3 to 5 times the total salary on previously uncollected accounts. Mr. Williams then summarized the City Council, City Attorney and City Management y y y g portions of the budget, noting they are basically the same as last year with slight increases. He responded to questions from the Council. Mrs. McDonnell advised the City Clerk's Budget is almost identical to last year's, noting the decrease in contract services since there are no elections anticipated this year. She responded to questions of the Council. Mr. Redmayne advised the budget for the Public Works Department is basically the same as last year, an estimated $4,077,000, which is an increase of less than 1% (.73%). The areas covered are Administration, Physical Services, Facility Maintenance, Off- street Landscaping, On- street Landscaping, Traffic and Street Maintenance, Sanitation, Street Sweeping, State Highway Street Sweeping, Street Sweeping Enforcement, Engineering, Recycling and Keep Downey Beautiful, Graffiti Suppression, Water Supply, Water Distribution, Customer Service, Water Program Support, Bus Bench Maintenance and Street Lighting. He also mentioned various committees associated with the Public Works Department. He responded to questions of the Council. City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/05/97 -2- 4. 1 Council Member /Commissioner McCarthy referred to the field area in Golden Park, the sidewalk area on the south side of Golden between Earnshaw and Barlin Avenues, and mentioned the Traffic Commission is considering blocking off Priscilla Avenue. He stated these are items he would like to have considered in the coming year. Mr. Jarrett advised the Recreation & Community Services Department is responsible for fifteen operating programs with an increase of less than 1% this year. The $20,000 Cultural Arts Grant that was added into last year's budget has been deleted and there is a reduction in the Social Services program resulting from money budgeted for the rental of facilities to relocate the seniors during the construction period of the Senior Center, which will be completed around December and will reduce the amount for rent to outside agencies. There is a change in the theater budget with the elimination of the Youth and Family program; an additional $20,000 added to the library budget for books along with $800 for a new item in the library budget, clothing, which is for polo type shirts for Aides and Pages that will present a more professional appearance. The Library Consortium is u ry up slightly due to additional charges for coming on -line with the on -line computer system; $40,000 has been set aside to study the rehabilitation or replacement of the Golf Course club house. There will also be more tree trimming and additional landscaping performed at the golf course. He responded to questions of the Council. Council Member /Commissioner Riley asked if the School District was paid for HELPS to be housed there during the construction period and the response was no. Council Member /Commissioner McCarthy noted the golf course looks great. He asked if there was an estimate of the cost for the City to open the Library on Sundays and was advised a report was compiled in the past and a copy would be forwarded. Mayor /Chairman Lawrence noted she was in support of funds appropriated for a study of the golf course club house and was happy to see the library materials budget increased but would like to Y ry g see $50,000 allotted. She asked what the cost was of the theater operation versus what the City y receives and was advised the theater generates about $160,000 in revenue and the net expense is about $250,000. She commented she liked the idea of uniform shirts at the library. Mr. Rangel summarized the Community and Economic Development Department budget noting it is essentially the same as last year with two exceptions: One is the proposal to restore a building inspector position lost some years ago when building activity was down; and the second is the proposal to add a new program, Program No. 5112 NASA conveyance, to the Economic Development Administration Division. He noted BRAID (Business Retention Attraction in Downey) y) activity continues and he commented on the increased new jobs added throughout the City as a result of new developments, with more anticipated in the next fiscal y ear. He noted staff has been active in Gateway Cities initiatives and acquired grants that assisted the City indirectly and are working on a grant that will assist the City directly on the NASA site. The two ro rams in the Planning Division p g g have not changed except from an activity standpoint. The Building Division portion of the budget will change with the reinstatement of a building inspector position due to added activit y over the last few years. The Housing Division budget reflects little change. He responded to questions of the g p q Council. City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes ad' J) . 6/05/97 -3- Captain Finch summarized the Police Department Budget stating the department is divided into three divisions: Administrative, Detective, and Field Operations Division. The proposed budget is just over 3% more than last year's budget, which is due to the recently approved cost -of- living increase. He advised the budget includes the use of grant money from the State's Public Safety COPS Program and mentioned programs covered by these funds. He mentioned funds have been allocated for the continuation of the Neighborhood Preservation Program and concluded stating the Police Department would celebrate its 40th birthday in 45 days. He responded to questions of the Council. Council Member /Commissioner McCaughan suggested reviewing the school crossing guard program and the possibility of discussing this with the school district. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Joan Warner, Executive Director of the Downey Chamber of Commerce, 11131 Brookshire Avenue, questioned the percentage referred to on Page vi, Other Taxes, asking if this amount reflects the increase the City will receive in business license fees or if it is a percentage the license tax will be increased. She was informed it did not include a tax increase. Mayor /Chairman Lawrence asked staff to check on deadlines for use of Prop A Funds and any monies not spent that could be sold in the fiiture. She also noted a new transit yard was budgeted, and mentioned when this comes up for further discussion, she will present her ideas on where to place the transit yard. ADJOURNMENT: 6:55 p. m. The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., June 10, 1997, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall. Judith EE McDonnell, City Clerk/ Secretary Joyct., awrence, Mayor/Chairman h: \ccl crk\sconta \.dj -6-5 • City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/05/97 -4-