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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-03-22-77-Presentation of Departmental Budget MeetingMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY MARCH 22, 1977 PRESENTATION OF DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The City Council of the City of Downey held a meeting at 4:00 p.m., March 22, 1977, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Hazel N. Scotto presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: William L. Greene Kenneth J. Miller Theodore H. Jackman Hazel N. Scotto, Mayor ABSENT: Richard M. Jennings, Mayor Pro Tempers (arrived at 4:22 p.m.) ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Mr. Thompson explained the purpose of the meeting is to hear the goals and objectives of the departments for 1977-78 Budget. He said through this presenta- tion, it is hoped the City Council can determine at an early stage what will be in sore for the coming fiscal year. Mr. Thompson stated basically, if no changes are made by the Council, the 1977-78 Budget is the same as the 1976-77 fiscal year. For the record, Councilman Greene said he resents this 4:00 p.m. meeting due -o the time element and the long hours. He prefers Thursday night meetings instead. Mrs. Ruth Miller, City Librarian, outlined a major problem in the Library: Book losses of three percent. Her capital equipment budget includes a request for a Spartan Security System in an effort to overcome book losses. Councilman Jennings arrived at the meeting at 4:22 p.m. Mrs. Miller indicated she will also request a mobile building with an audio visual section and Friends of the Library. Under new activities, the Library will continue the Sunday opening. Councilman Greene raised a question regarding the eight parking spaces that will be required by the mobile unit. Presumably this space loss will be absorbed in the new parking lot across the street on the northeast corner of Firestone Boulevard and Dolan Avenue. He also commented on the possibility of enclosing the front portico of the library and converting the floor space into library use. A brief discussion followed to describe the operations of the proposed book pilferage detection system. Councilman Jackman commented that this meeting appears to be intended for dete--^mining policy with Department Heads regarding the budget. Fire Chief Wood proceeded with his presention of the Fire Department Budget. The number one item recommended for the Fire Department is a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) system to provide vital input data on the use of fire equipment. The CRT system will involve the City's computer and will prove very useful in providing data for the Federal and State government annual reporting. The CRT system will have the effect of reducing the workload in the computer center, which otherwise would have to resort to key punch cards. Councilman Jackman inquired if other cities would join in Downey's CRT system. Chief Wood replied yes, this will be possible. He said Compton is being considered to become a part of the communications network, and it will result in a reduced operating cost of approximately nine percent. Chief Wood stated cost studies are under way on the telephone lease lines. Possibly microwave trans- mission will be considered to replace the leaseline telephone system. Also under consideration is a fee schedule to be incorporated into the Paramedic transportation program. Discussion followed regarding the annual ambulance fee cost for the City. Council Minutes 3/22/77 -1- Mr. Thompson said„the City pays approximately $30,000 a year for private ambulance service. Police Chief Morgan elaborated on the Emergency Aid Plan (EAP) for ambulance service and said the rate will possibly be increased by 18 percent in the 1977-78 fiscal year. At 5:15 p.m., Mayor Scotto declared a recess. The meeting resumed at 5:35 p.m. with all Council Members present. Chief Morgan said the Police Department Budget for 1977-78 includes recommendation for replacing the full-time parking control police officer with two "meter maids". The cost would be more than offset with an anticipated $20,000 greater revenue being realized through the use of parking patrol persons using two Cushman cycles in lieu of the three -wheel motorcycle. The full-time officer would then be released for duty in the field. The Cushman scooters would be used with existing radio equipment now owned by the City. Discussion followed regarding the SEBIT Grant and the possibility the pro- gram might expire in December, 1977. Councilman Miller commented on the possibility of coordinating the Realtor Board with the Police Department in a system for spotting burglars. Chief Morgan replied that similar programs have existed; however, the time lapse between spotting a burglary suspect and the time required for a person to telephone the Police Department usually results in the suspect having left the scene by the time Police follow-up arrives. A discussion was held regarding bicycle trail problems and citing vehicles parked in front yards. Chief Morgan explained the Police Aides Program of which there are eight such personnel assisting in the Police Department. He also stated the Police Department has four qualified reservists on the staff. Chief Morgan said some of the reasons for the increases in the Police Budget are inflationary effects, salary adjustments, anticipated jump from $32 up to $45 for ambulance services, and increase from $15 up to a new rate of $18 for Downey indigents confined to the South Gate Jail. Responding to questions, Chief Morgan explained there are eight crossing guards working for the City, and the number of guards is based on need at a particular location. Discussion was held regarding the "trend" of lower arrests due to liberalizing the law. Mr. Thompson discussed the budget requests in relation to the total dollars available for meeting the new budget. Councilman Jennings suggested a "rock bottom" budget approach. Councilman Jackman concurred with the "rock bottom" approach. Mr. Wynne, Acting Director of Finance, proceeded with the details of the Finance Department Budget, indicating the most important item will be acquisi- tion of Park and Southern California Water Companies, which will affect all divisions within the Finance Department. One full-time Water Clerk and one part-time Water Clerk at 30 hours per week is requested. An additional Accountant in the Accounting Division is requested because of the additional water service. Also, the additional Accountant will service the increased accounting load created by various grants now in operation. The additional grants require special reporting and compliance with prescribed accounting sys- tems. Animal control also requires added accounting to generate input for reports that heretofore have been neglected. Grants accounting require approxi- mately 20 hours a week, and animal control will require four hours weekly. Water accounting will absorb eight hours per week. The Deffered Compensation Plan requires special accounting time. The City's independent auditors have recommended an internal audit system be established for the Deferred Compensation Plan requiring four hours per week. Data Processing Division will not require addi^sional personnel. The output capacity of the Printer is to be doubled from 400 to 800 lines per minute to take up the additional load of 32,000 dog licenses. A portion of the electronic data processing load has been alleviated because the Fire Department now has a separate computer terminal for generating fire data input, which formerly required time from the Finance Department computer keypunch staff. Additional savings are anticipated through replacement of keypunch machines with terminal input units. Council Minutes 3/22/77 -2- Councilman Jennings raised a question regarding inclusion of trash billing with water invoices. Mr. Thompson said the entire City would not fall under such a billing pro- gram because the "triangle area" is still on the Santa Fe Springs water system. Councilman Jennings called for discussion on possible overloading of the existing computer in view of the various services now being performed. Mr. Thompson discussed the various work load requirements for the present computer system bearing in mind anticipated increases in grants and cited goals for doubling output of the computer which would lead to greater efficiency. In answer to Councilman Jennings' question, Mr. Thompson does not think the City is ready yet for a larger computer. Councilman Greene feels any final decisions on increasing the data process- ing staff would be contingent upon the water system operation one year from now. Mr. Wynne cited development of more programs that have taken place due to the use of CETA personnel. He questions the status of these programs in the event CETA is terminated. Councilman Greene questioned whether or not CETA personnel would be part of the increased staff due to the water system exchange. Mr. Wynne replied no, that any additional personnel requested in the 1977-78 Budget would be regular personnel. Mr. Thompson added that anticipated grants will pay for additional employees on the data processing staff, and in the event grants are terminated, the corresponding personnel would be reduced. He stated personnel requested to assist on the Water Division staff have already been authorized by the City Council. The only person not previously authorized by Council for hire would be the staff member to handle additional grant reporting. He then reported on the status of the water system acquisition. He said C'Melveny & Myers has indicated the applications with Park Water and Southern California Water Companies are ready for submittal to the Public Utilities Commission. The schedule for both advertising and sale is contingent upon completion and processing of the PUC applications which is estimated to be approximately four -to -six weeks hence. Discussion followed regarding status of possible penalty due to delay. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Hazel . Scotto, Mayor Council Minutes 3/22/77 -3-