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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-05-04-76-Adjourned Regular MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MAY 4, 1976 The City Council of the City of Downey held a regular adjourned meeting at 5:00 p.m., May 4, 1976, in the Council Chambers of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Hazel N. Scotto presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: William L. Greene Richard M. Jennings Kenneth J. Miller Theodore H. Jackman Hazel N. Scotto ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager Loren D. Morgan, Police Chief Edwin H. Wood, Fire Chief Ruth Miller, City Librarian Robert E. Griffin, Manager Financial Systems John H. Saunders, Administrative Analyst Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer City Budget for Fiscal Year 1976-77 City Manager Thompson announced the budgets are still being reviewed and changes are being made. Councilman Jennings inquired if the BR-1 budget sheet for the Library does or does not reflect salary increases. Mr. Thompson replied the budgets do not include salary adjustments. City Librarian Miller reviewed the Library budget and stated that the Level of books being requested for the coming fiscal year are about the same as last year at a higher cost. A discussion followed regarding the personnel additives included in the departmental budgets. Councilman Jackman requested a list of Library personnel complete with salaries. Councilman Miller raised the question regarding temporary hourly employees in the Library. Mrs. Miller said the temporary wage is $3.00 per hour. Discussion then ensued regarding the City-wide budget increases for the last two years. Financial Systems Manager Griffin cited the possibility of a decrease in personnel expense but said operating expenses will probably increase. Discussion then followed regarding increased building space for the Library and possible use of a mobil unit for the Library system. Councilman Greene inquired as to the policy regarding part-time vs. full-time employees. Fire Chief Wood distributed a budget outline for the 1976-77 Fire Department fiscal year. After reading the outline, discussion followed regarding the equipment fund and replacement of fire pumpers. Councilman Jennings inquired as to how holiday time is prorated for Firemen. Mr. Thompson then commented on the Fair Labor Standards Act and possible code rulings involving cities having to reduce the hourly work schedules over the next five years. He said such a program will probably cost the City several hundred thousand dollars as the 28-day work cycle gradually takes hold. Many gaps on this Council Minutes 5/4/76 (Adjourned) -1- .5394 program would have to be closed with the hiring of additional employees. Also, it is possible that implementation of the 28-day work cycle program could be retro- active back to 1974. In response to a question from Councilman Greene, Chief Wood said the only alternative toward offsetting the 28-day work cycle would be to reduce services of the Fire Department. A discussion was held regarding what would possibly happen if the County were to take over the City Fire Department. Chief Wood stated that one fire station would possibly be closed and two companies would be eliminated if the County were to take over the Fire system. Councilman Miller stated the answer to savings within the Fire Department budget possibly lies in joint use of facilities and reduction of the City's fire facilities. Councilman Jennings indicated he favors a complete joint Fire Department between Santa Fe Springs and Downey. Police Chief Morgan said the Police Department budget reflects a $25,000 re- duction brought about mainly by replacement of a sworn personnel Captain by a civilian employee. He then explained the various grant programs now in operation within the Police Department and outlined a proposed 19-man reserve program. He addressed the Council to the fact that the department will soon need more people because of the changing nature of service calls and types of service requested that are not necessarily linked to the crime rate. Any additional personnel at this time would be dispatched to street service. Chief Morgan explained the "ride along" student program and the positive effect it has produced toward better communications between the public and the Police Department. He also stated that the proposed reserve officer program has received a 95 percent favorable response in a recent survey. He said the juvenile program still exists. Discussion then followed regarding "recidivism" program with the juvenile staff supervised by Mr. Mike Testi. In answer to a question from Mayor Scotto, Chief Morgan explained the courts and warrants system. Mr. Thompson said the next study session will include the Community Develop- ment/Public Works Deepartment and Parks & Recreation Department. City Clerk Shand presented the City Clerk -Treasurer Department budget. Discussion was held regarding the Equipment Fund and segregation of new Capital Outlay Equipment requests as being separate from Capital Outlay Equipment slated for replacement. Administrative Analyst Saunders then proceeded to present the budget for the Legislative Section. Councilman Jennings requested that a "Downey Column" of money amounts be included on a chart outlining preliminary grants and aid for the fiscal year 1976-77. Mr. Thompson said he will present an itemized breakdown of the Non -departmental object expenses as well as details on the Travel and Meeting expense. In discussing the Non -departmental budget, Mayor Scotto and Councilman Greene said they would like to see a breakdown of the Sister City account expense. The Council was in agreement with continuing the Meals on Wheels program and to consider the $2500 request for the program. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 10:09 p.m. Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Haze. Scotto, Mayor Council Minutes 5/4/76 (Adjourned) -2-