HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 01-22-13 Special Meeting MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 22, 2013
The City Council of the City of Downey held a Special Meeting at 12:00 p.m., January 22,
2013, in the Community Room of the Columbia Memorial Space Center, 12400 Columbia Way,
Downey, California, Mayor Mario A. Guerra presiding.
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PRESENT: Council Members:
Mario A. Guerra Mayor
Fernando Vasquez Mayor Pro Tem (arrived at 2:25pm)
Roger C. Brossmer
Luis H. Marquez
Alex Saab
ALSO PRESENT: Gilbert Livas, City Manager
John Oskoui, Assistant City Manager /City Treasurer
Shannon DeLong, Assistant to the City Manager
Jan Perkins, Consultant, Management Partners
Mayor Guerra called the meeting to order at 12:21 p.m., welcomed Council and Staff to the
2013 Goal- Setting workshop and stated that he looked forward to a fruitful discussion today.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS:
Mayor Guerra opened up Public Comment. Having no one come forward, Mayor Guerra
closed Public Comment.
1. City Council Priorities for 2013: Administration
Mayor Guerra invited City Manager Livas to begin the discussion. City Manager Livas
introduced Jan Perkins of Management Partners, who would facilitate the discussion. Mr. Livas,
Assistant City Manager Oskoui and Assistant to the City Manager DeLong provided an overview of
the accomplishments for the past year and the status of the City Council Priorities set in 2012 for the
2012 -2013 fiscal year, including:
A Moody's rating of "Good"
The closure of a significant deficit and balancing of the budget
Reorganizations and right- sizing programs due to loss of RDA and CDBG funds
Political stability of the Council and reputation of good governance
Significant grants and outside funding (e.g.: FEMA, SAFETEA -LU, etc.)
Fair labor negotiations with cost - savings and two -tier retirement program
Progress on the Tierra Luna development
Progress on the Downtown Downey revitalization
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Special Meeting - January 22, 2013 1
Ms. Perkins facilitated Council's discussion as to how the current City Council Assignment
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List should fit into the current and new priorities. The policy and direction from Council was a follows:
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1) If time allows, a Council Member will talk to the City Manager in advance of a Council
meeting to write a paragraph on the item for the Council Agenda. The item can then be
discussed by Council and the Council can determine whether a majority would like to direct
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staff to spend time preparing a report on the item, which would include a description of the
time and resources required to fully investigate the issue.
Or
2) At a Council meeting, a Council Member may raise an item. It will be added to the Council
assignment list, either "below the line" if it is a routine matter or "above the line" If it is not a
routine matter. If it is not a routine matter, staff will place the item on the next City Council
agenda with a short description of the item, explaining the intent (if known), the resources
required to research it, and a timeline. Council would then vote whether to authorize staff to
spend time researching the issue or not. If so authorized, staff will return with a report at
which time Council would give direction on the substance.
At 1:55 p.m., the Council recessed. The Council reconvened at 2:08 p.m. with Council
Members Brossmer, Marquez and Saab present, Mayor Guerra presiding.
Ms. Perkins facilitated Council's discussion on the 2013 priorities. The City Manager noted that
his priorities for the year are:
- Focus on organizational efficiency: how can we do things better? Should we be doing them
at all? g
- Entrepreneurial perspective to save dollars through sharing resources /services with other
cities, using technology, and other means
- Strengthening Finance and Human Resources
- Establish recognition program to keep good people; work on ensuring Downey is a great
place to work.
At 2:25pm, Mayor Pro Tem Vasquez entered the meeting.
The Council adopted the following priorities. Clarification and /or direction for staff is included c uded in
the parenthesis.:
A. Fiscal Health
1. Balance the budget
2. Identify ways to increase revenue to pay for services
3. Work collaboratively with collective bargaining units on pension reform
4. Set policy regarding the funding and operation of the Columbia Memorial Space
Center
B. Economic Development
1. Aggressively pursue economic development, including marketing vacant sites
(Provide Council with options for aggressive pursuit of multiple aspects of economic
development)
2. Implement Tierra Luna
3. Connect local people to local jobs (Present Council with an option for the contract
with the Chamber that includes a provision for promoting job openings in local
businesses)
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Special Meeting - January 22, 2013 2
4. Encourage the County to move forward on development of the Rancho South
Campus (Present Council with options including hiring lobbying expertise)
5. Open the Gateway project
6. Continue improving the Downtown (Present Council with report on staffing and
resources to explore a Property Business Improvement District (PBID))
C. Quality of Life, Neighborhoods, Infrastructure
1. Prepare a long -range parks plan (include funding options in the plan)
2. Implement infrastructure improvements (provide a staff report on funding options and
solutions for a street improvement plan; explain how potholes are currently handled;
schedule a study session)
3. Firestone Boulevard repaving
4. Walkable paths and bike trails (prepare report on staff and funding requirements)
5. Implement the new branding program
6. Maintain public safety (provide report on alternative method options, explore resource
sharing; identify the funding requirements for expansion /improvement)
D. Information and Communications
1. Increase participation in community events (provide report to Council on costs and
staffing for various events; quantify staff time and other costs spent on city events in
order for the Council to determine the events the City should support in the future)
2. Implement recommendations from the Green Task Force report (Provide report to
Council on the items that can be accomplished through routine work; identify items
that have a cost and those that do not, and what could be done as part of the budget
cycle)
�--- 3. Review boards and commissions (provide a report to Council on the purpose and
activities of each board and commission; the Council could give direction on the focus
each year for each board and commission)
4. Increase information about public safety policies (Public Safety Chiefs to provide
briefing on activities, policies, annual reports, and programs)
5. Increase communication between City staff, Council and residents (provide Council
with tentative agenda planning document, more information about furlough coverage,
and more information about events).
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS:
City Manger Livas thanked the Mayor and Council for their time and efforts in setting the City
priorities for the upcoming fiscal year 2013 -2014. He also thanked staff and Jan Perkins,
Management Partners, for their assistance in setting up and facilitating the discussions.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
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AN NON DELONG MARIO A. GUERRA Mayor
Assistant to the City Manager
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Special Meeting - January 22, 2013 3