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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-04-19-91-Adjourned w CDC • MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL /CONMLJNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING APRIL 19, 1991 The City Council /Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 4 :30 p.m., April 19, 1991 in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor /Chairman Roy L. Paul presiding. PRESENT: Council Members /Commissioners: Roy L. Paul Mayor /Chairman Barbara J. Hayden Mayor Pro Tem /Vice- Chairman (arrived at 4:45 p.m.) Diane P. Boggs Robert S. Brazelton Robert G. Cormack ALSO PRESENT: Gerald M. Caton, City Manager /Executive Director Judith McDonnell, City Clerk /Secretary Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Ron Irwin, Fire Chief Jim Jarrett, Director of Community Services Clayton Mayes, Police Chief William Ralph, Director of Public Works Art Rangel, Director of Community Development Lowell Williams, Director of Finance Charles Baptista, Police Lieutenant William Makshanoff, Building. Official Richard Redmayne, City Engineer June Yotsuya, Assistant to the City Manager ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee, presented information on the City's expenditures for attorney fees in fiscal year 1990 -91. He requested the Council consider reductions in legal fees and travel expenses when reviewing the next fiscal year's budget. STUDY SESSION: CITY OF DOWNEY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1991 -92 Mr. Caton explained his request for this early study session on the budget is to review the philosophy behind the budget process this year and to seek direction from Council on whether he should proceed differently. He discussed the budget shortfalls due to the current recession with reductions of City revenues in Sales Taxes, Transient Occupancy Taxes, Property Transfer Taxes, and interest earnings. Mr. Caton also commented on a proposal presented to Governor Wilson to shift city revenues received from Motor Vehicle License Fees to counties, which would create an additional $3 million shortfall. He mentioned staff has been analyzing four principles in addressing the budget: Avoid employee layoffs; avoid using reserves; minimize use of fee increases to generate increased revenue; and continue to maintain public safety programs as the number one priority. Mr. Caton commented on the budgetary actions taken by Council in January. City Council /Com. Dev. Minutes 4/19/91 (Adj.) -1- Council Member /Commissioner Hayden arrived at the meeting at 4 :45 9 p.m. P Mr. Caton explained staff was asked to prepare a hold-the-line P e line budget, and the figures presented resulted in a $2,129,000 budget deficit. This would not take into account any salary increases for employees - -a 5% salary increase would add $1,062,700 to the budget deficit. He discussed the various reductions proposed by each department amounting to $1,895,000 and stated if the budget were presented to the Council g today, it would be $139,000 in the black. Mr. Caton commented on further budget reductions proposed by the departments and requested feedback from Council at this time. Council Member /Commissioner Boggs noted the number one priority would -be to maintain the reserves, and she expressed concern that not filling vacancies could create hardships in some departments. Mr. Caton explained he was given Council authorization to unfreeze a P osition if a hardship occurred. Council Member /Commissioner Boggs also voiced concern that reductions not broaden the potential of liability to the City, and she favored reviewing the travel budget and new equipment items. Mayor /Chairman Paul expressed opposition to reducing library and parks services that benefit children and youth, noting that participation in recreation programs can be a deterrent to criminal involvement. Council Member /Commissioner Hayden concurred with the importance of recreational and community- oriented programs and suggested reducing the frequency of street sweeping to save as many library and parks programs as possible. Council Member /Commissioner Brazelton agreed that reserves should be maintained but did not favor terminating planning studies currently underway. He favored maintaining community services programs which are utilized by citizens. Council Member /Commissioner Brazelton explained he would not want to reduce support for We Ti • p Cerritos Corridor, P Tip, or PTA Helps and the R p e ose Float Association because they provide useful services. He concurred with the use of part -time crossing guards if the City would not be exposed to undue l i a b i l i t y ; agreed with use of part -time employees to clean City Hall; expressed concern about curtailing employee training; is not adverse to increasing some City fees if they are not 9 Y Y unreasonable; and would be willing to review the possibility of franchising commercial trash service. Lastly, he favored accelerating the loan between the City and Golf Course Authority for purchasing the Golf Course in order to generate funds for recreation. Council Member /Commissioner Cormack said he would be opposed to any employee layoffs, fee increases or taking money from reserve accounts. Council Member /Commissioner Hayden indicated she would not be opposed to bringing the fees in line with the services provided. Council Member /Commissioner Boggs concurred with the comments of Council Member /Commissioner Brazelton regarding the need to retain Community Service programs. She questioned whether safety vehicles would perform satisfactorily beyond their normal trade -in period and was informed that staff would request flexibility to replace them when problems occurred; otherwise, the vehicles will be used for a two -year period. City Counci l /Com. Dev. Minutes 4/19/91 (Adj.) -2- The subject of legal fees was discussed, wherein Council Member /Commissioner Brazelton suggested reviewing the possibility of an in -house attorney. There were no objections. Mr. Caton commented on the items of concern raised by Council, particularly with regard to not deleting any programs in the Recreation and Community Service Budget. The Preliminary Budget will contain all of the changes as noted. There was no closed session. ADJOURNMENT: 5:39 p.m. The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., April 23, 1991 in the Downey City Council Chamber. S eZZ f (' c dith E. McDonnell, City Clerk/ Roy L. ul, Mayor /Cha'rman P ecretary City Council/Com. Dev. Minutes 4/19/91 Ad . -3- I •