HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-06-10-80-Adjourned Regular MeetingMI:'UTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 10, 1980
The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at
4:30 p.m., June 10, 1980, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor
Theodore H. Jackman presiding. i
PRESENT: Council Members:
Lyell W. Swearingen (arrived at 4:31 p.m.)
Milton R. Mackaig Mayor Pro Tem (arrived at 4:32 p.m.)
James T. Quinn
Robert G. Cormack
Theodore H. Jackman Mayor
ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager
William A. Ralph, Director of Public 470rks
Ronald W. Leege, Director of Finance
Don Davis, Fire Chief
Harald J. Henriksen, City Engineer
Charles G. Eccleston, Traffic Engineer
Harry Payson, Acting Building Official
John H. Saunders, Personnel Officer
Thomas Tincher, Housing & Redevelopment Coordinator
Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer
Session on City of Downey Budget for Fiscal Year 1980-81
The study session commenced with a continuation of the Community Development
Department Budget.
Mr. Rayson presented the Buildina & Safety Division Budget, which reflects a
23 percent increase over last year, and he cited the various functions performed
by the Building & Safety Division. He commented on the procedure involved in
issuing building permits, noting that the City issues approximately 6,000 a year.
Mr. Rayson explained the 23 percent increase is mainly due to the costs of paper
and gasoline for Building Inspector vehicles. The Budget includes an amount to
cover the possibility of noise decibel tests that are made by the County, which
are charged to the City, and inspections of mobile home parks.
Councilman Mackaig inquired about incorporating two or three of the permits
applicable to a particular job.
Mr. Thompson explained several years ago staff attempted to consolidate
various City forms. A study was made in the Community Development Department and
some revisions were made.
A discussion was held regarding the Inspectors' automobiles.
Councilman Mackaig asked if there is any way the City could manage with less
than four Inspectors, and Mr. Rayson replied no.
Mr. Rayson then mentioned an Inspector makes as many as 25 to 30 inspections
each day, and he commented on the time that is spent in checking plans.
There was a discussion regarding the Building Division vehicles and office
equipment. It was noted a replacement schedule is set up for the inventory list
of equipment.
Mr. Saunders explained the amortization process of equipment.
Mr. Payson then commented on the public health portion of the Budget. This,
he said, includes funding for housing and sanitation inspections in the Housing &
Community Development Program.
Mr. Thompson explained attempts have been made to recoup most of the City's
costs for processing building permits and plan checks and stated the fees for
those services generally pay for the City's costs involved.
Mr. Eccleston presented the Traffic Engineering Division portion of the Commu-
nity Development Budget, noting the number of personnel and the Traffic Division
function. The total Budget is $492,780. He said the Division has one vehicle for
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its use. The Budcet is 17 percent over the prior year, which represents utility
increases and fuel adjustments.
Councilman Cormack inquired about the City doing traffic signal maintenance
instead of contracting it out.
Mr. Thompson explained staff has been looking at a joint cities effort for
traffic signal maintenance to see if the costs would be less than contracting with
the Countv.
Mayor Jackman asked if consideration had been gi en to contracting out mainte-
nance of the City's parks.
Mr. Thompson replied the City requested quotation several years ago, and he
explained the problem with park maintenance is that it does involve maintaining
the various picnic facilities in addition to the mowing and trimming.
Mr. Eccleston continued regarding the Traffic Division Budget, noting that
anvthing involving the movement of people on public roadways, by various modes of
transportation, and public parking lots is a function of the division, as well as
street lighting and assessments, parking zones, and street striping designs. He
explained the coordinated street lighting program with Southern California Edison
Company and distributed lighting district cost sheets by districts. Mr. Eccleston
noted that the Edison Company has projected at the end of the 1980-81 fiscal year
their rates will have increased 50 percent. He commented on the lighting zones in
the City.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 p.m.
Robert.L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer
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