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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-06-23-80-Adjourned Regular Meeting&S 9 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JUNE 23, 1980 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 4:30 p.m., June 23, 1980, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Theodore H. Jackman presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Lyell W. Swearingen Milton R. Mackaig Mayor Pro Tem James T. Quinn Robert G. Cormack Theodore H. Jackman Mayor ALSO PRESENT: Charles W. Thompson, City Manager John T. Neavill, Director of Parks & Recreation Ruth Miller, City Librarian Don Davis, Fire Chief F. D. Shade, Police Captain William A. Goggin, City Planner Harald J. Henriksen, City Engineer Charles G. Eccleston, Traffic Engineer John Thomason, Risk Manager John H. Saunders, Personnel Officer Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Study Session on City of Downey Budget for Fiscal Year 1980-81 Mayor Jackman stated there is one item he would like to include on the June 24th Agenda, and that is the City's membership in the National League of Cities. The membership fee is $2,106. He called for discussion at this time. Mr. Thompson explained the League provides bulletins and a magazine which con- tains current articles of what cities are doing around the Country. Also, the League provides updated information on legislation being considered by Congress. Mayor Jackman commented on some of the achievements of the League and said he attended one convention which he found to be helpful. He favored membership in the League and asked the Council to give this consideration for voting on at tommorrow night's meeting. Mr. Thompson mentioned there are moneys allocated in the proposed Budget for membership in the League. During discussion regarding Budget cuts, Councilman Swearingen indicated he would prefer the City Manager make further cuts. Mr. Thompson explained that if the Council approved the proposed Budget, the actual budgeted amount would not be spent because savings will occur during the year, even though he cannot predict where the savings will be. He commented on cuts that have already been made in the Budget. Mr. Thompson stated he believes the Budget will provide the level of service equal to what the City performed dur- ing the past year. However, if the Council feels any of the City's programs should be cut, then they will be cut. He said any cuts would have to be in personnel because 70 percent of the City's expenditures are for personnel. He pointed out the City's personnel has decreased over the past 12 years. Councilman Cormack requested an executive session for the Council Members only, to discuss a personnel matter. Mayor Jackman declared a recess from 4:45 p.m. to 5:07 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter. The meeting resumed with all Council Members present. A discussion was held regarding the number of fulltime and part-time personnel employed by the City. It was noted there are 392 fulltime positions, plus five positions for the Freeway corridor patrol. Mayor Jackman said the Council would like the City Manager to make every effort during the coming year to reduce the number of employees, by possibly as many as ten, in the areas where the City Manager feels it can be done. Mr. Thompson replied he will do what he can. Council Minutes 6/23/80 (adj.) -1- Councilman Swearingen feels the Council should make a decision on the Second Century Foundation disbursing the funds from Business License Surcharge. It was moved by Councilman Swearingen, seconded by Councilman Cormack, and passed by the following vote to give the funds to the Downey Chamber of Commerce, rather than the Second Century Foundation, under contract. Mr. Thompson said there is a contract between the City Council and Second Century Foundation, and by mutual agreement it can be rescinded. The contract refers to the 1980-81 fiscal year and would automatically be renewed unless notice is given by either party prior to the end of the fiscal year. Discussion followed. Mayor Jackman feels the Second Century Foundation would be better qualified to disburse the funds to further the benefits to Downey than the Chamber of Commerce because feels it would be a conflict of interest for the Chamber. Mr. Thompson stated the, agreement between the City and Second Century Founda- tion does not state specifically what type of promotion the funds are to be used for --it was left open. The Second Century Foundation is made up of representatives from the schools, hospital, Jaycees, and non-affiliated members, which was felt to be a broader prospective than the Chamber board. Further discussion ensued. Mayor Jackman would like to rescind the Business License surcharge and return it to the business people. The Council briefly reviewed the agreement between the City and the Second Century Foundation. AYES: 4 Council Members: Swearingen, Mackaig, Quinn, Cormack NOES: 1 Council Member: Jackman It was moved by Mayor Jackman and seconded by Councilman Cormack to rescind the surcharge and return the money to.the businesses. (See amended motion.) Mr. Thompson said if it is the Council's intent for future programs to be administered by the Chamber, then that would be feasible. However, he mentioned, - many hours have been spent in talking to people in the City in developing programs that are forthcoming, and if the surcharge is rescinded at this time, it will disappoint the organizations who have been recommended for receiving a portion of the funds. Councilman Mackaig proposed that the Council review the individual requests and decide which ones qualify according to the criteria established and grant those organizations money out of the General Fund, and then rescind the ten percent surcharge. Councilman Cormack suggested rescinding the tax and making an additional amendment to allow utilizing the amount that is approved and already collected, and the amount that is left over give to the Chamber. Mr. Thompson explained it would be a monumental task to refund the moneys. He suggested rather than refunding to give credit on next year's business license. Discussion followed. Councilman Cormack said at this time, he would have to vote against the motion to return the money because he feels it would be creating too many problems. It was moved by Councilman Cormack, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and passed by the following vote to amend the previous motion to rescind the tax and discontinue collecting the money. AYES: 4 Council Members: Mackaig, Quinn, Cormack, Jackman NOES: 1 Council Member: Swearingen The Council then discussed what to do with the funds that have already been collected. Mr. Thompson said the Council should actually see the list of programs that have been submitted by the various groups. Council Minutes 6/23/80 (adj.) -2- It was moved by Mayor Jackman, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and passed .. by unanimous vote to eliminate this item from the Budget and consider it at a time when all of the information has been submitted. Councilman Mackaig then inquired what would happen to any undistributed funds. Mr. Thompson replied the Council could wait for other or better programs to be submitted, and until that time the funds would be part of the unappropriated balance. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig and seconded by Councilman Cormack that the Council eliminate the driving of City cars home by any City employee. Mr. Thompson said the vehicles are primarily used by personnel who are ex- pected to be called back on duty after hours. The people who take vehicles home in the evenings are aware they are to be used strictly for City business and not personal use. During discussion, he commented on the types of incidents where employees are called out in the evenings in response to emergencies. Mayor Jackman would rather give direction through the City Manager to the departments to police this very closely and try to enforce it. He would not want to curtail driving the vehicles home. . AYES: 1 Council Member: Mackaig NOES: 4 Council Members: Swearingen, Quinn, Cormack, Jackman Failed. The meeting was recessed to executive session from 6:15 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. to discuss personnel. The meeting resumed with all Council Members present. The meeting was then adjourned at 8:05 p.m. &ZZ�4z Bert L.-Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Council Minutes 6/23/80 (adj.) -3-