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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-05-18-82-Adjourned Regular Meeting92S MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MAY 18, 1982 The City Council of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 4:00 p.m., May 18, 1982, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall, Mayor Lyell W. Swearingen presiding. PRESENT: Council Members: Lyell W. Swearingen Mayor James T. Quinn Mayor Pro Tem Robert G. Cormack Theodore H. Jackman Milton R. Mackaig ALSO PRESENT: John W. Donlevy, City Manager Dudley Lang, Assistant City Manager Ronald W. Leege, Director of Finance William F. Martin, Police Chief Don Davis, Fire Chief Ruth Miller, City Librarian James R. Jarrett, Recreation Supervisor Ronald E. Cano, Assistant to City Manager Robert L. Shand, City Clerk -Treasurer Hearing and Study Session on City of Downey Budget for Fiscal Year 1982-83 Mayor Swearingen opened the hearing on the Budget for Fiscal Year 1982-83. He inquired if the City Clerk had the Proof of Publication, and the response was yes. It was moved by Councilman Jackman, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and so ordered to receive and file the Proof. Mr. Donlevy reviewed the Budget, pointing out the format has been changed from a program budget last year to a line item budget this year, which he said will be easier to understand and to administer. The Budget is broken down into four sections: Section 1 - Budget Summary, which defines sources of revenues, operating _. expenditures, and summarizes resources and requirements by funds; Section 2 - Operating Budget, which reflects departmental consolidation and reorganization, and defines true costs of all municipal operations; Section 3 - Capital Equipment Summary, containing replacement equipment and new equipment; and Section 4 - Capital Improvement Budget. Mr. Donlevy said the Budget for 1982-83 as presented is a balanced budget, and to balance the Budget it will be necessary to eliminate 27 full-time positions. This year's recommended Operating Budget is $16,234,012, which is $961,813 less than last year. It also includes salary adjustments of 7.5 percent for all employees other than management and department head positions. Mr. Donlevy then commented on the 1981-82 Budget, noting the expenditures were less than the amount approved. The recommended Opeating Budget for this year is $200,000 more than estimated will be expended. The estimated beginning balance for the 1982-83 Budget is $2.5 million; estimated revenues are $15,582,000; and the total resources available for appropriation are $18.8 million, along with the operating expenditures of $16,234,000. Speaking to the Departmental Budgets, Mr. Donlevy said in regard to the Police Department --public Safety, the school crossing guard program has been financed in the past by the City, and staff feels it is time to work with the Automobile Club's crossing guard program. He will be meeting with the Superintendent of Schools, the Police Chief, and a representative of the Automobile Club to discuss this. The Police Department has implemented a canine program. There are no changes in the Fire Department Budget. A Fire Education Specialist was approved in last year's budget, but the position was not filled. It is recom- mended the position:be eliminated. Some of the most significant changes will be in the Parks & Recreation Department Budget, and all field maintenance operations will be combined under the Public Works Department. The Water Maintenance Facility on Stewart & Gray Road will be closed, as well as the Park Maintenance Yard at Apollo Park. The Indepen- dence Park facility will be expanded. Parks & Recreation will be a special department reporting directly to the City Manager. Council Minutes 5/18/82 (adj.) -1- 6q?� The major recommended capital improvement in the Budget this year is to re -do all the medians on Lakewood Boulevard and to upgrade the medians on Firestone Boulevard in an estimated amount of $500,000. Modification of the Street Mainte- nance Yard is another large expenditure. The Budgeted amount for the Capital Improvement Program is $6,863,000. The Public Works Budget includes a request for an additional position of mechanic, inasmuch as almost all City vehicle maintenance will be done at the City Yard. The Independence Park Maintenance facility will be expanded and remodeled. Questions were raised regarding anticipated savings to maintain City vehicles and storing necessary parts for repair work. Mr. Donlevy mentioned there is $50,000 in the Field Maintenance section of the Budget for street trees. He said staff receives more complaints regarding trees than anything else in the City. It takes the two City crews about every four years _ to maintain each tree. It is proposed to keep the two crews and use the $50,000 to contract out for additional street tree maintenance. The custodial maintenance of City Hall, will also be by contract. Mr. Donlevy then reviewed the Budget by department. There are no changes in the City Council Budget. There is $8,000 contained in the Budget for memberships in the League of California Cities, National League of Cities, Independent Cities Association, and SCAG. A discussion was held regarding whether to continue memberships in the League of California Cities and the National League of Cities. Councilman Mackaig suggested eliminating membership in the National League of Cities in the amount of $4,000. The Budget for the City Attorney and City Prosecutor was discussed. Councilman Mackaig requested a closed session on the City Attorney Budget City Clerk -Treasurer Department: There is no change in personnel, but there is a reduction over the current budget because there is no election scheduled for next year. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the City Clerk -Treasurer Budget. City Manager Budget.- Twenty percent of the City Manager's time will be charged to the Block Grant; the Assistant City Manager is funded totally out of Redevelop- ment; the Assistant to the City Manager is under Personnel; and one of the clerical positions is charged to Redevelopment. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the City Manager Budget. Personnel Departme::t: The Personnel Officer position will be eliminated from the Budget. The Assistant to City Manager is charged full time to Personnel. There are no other changes within the Budget. It was moved by Councilman Quinn, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Personnel Budget. Finance Department: The Budget is $85,000 less than what was budgeted last year. It is recommended to eliminate the Accounting Supervisor and a position in Data Processing. There are no major program changes. Councilman Jackman questioned how much of staff development is for the League of California Cities and whether it is worthwhile. Mr. Donlevy explained there are only three departments he is recommending to attend conferences out of state where they might have active participation in a pro- gram at the conference. As to the League of California Cities, he feels the departmental sessions are more worthwhile than the annual meeting. Councilman Mackaig referred to equipment rental, which is contained throughout the various department budgets. He feels this should be reviewed for possibly pur- chasing some of the equipment with surplus funds. Discussion followed. Council Minutes 5/18/82 (adj.) -2- Councilman Mackaig requested a breakdown of all leased equipment by department. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Finance Department Budget. The Non -Departmental Budget was reviewed. Council Candidates Randy Barb and Alex Baca were introduced and invited to participate in any of the Budget discussion. It was moved by Councilman Cormack, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Non -Departmental Budget. Police Department Budget. During the City Manager's review, he mentioned there has been an internal reorganization of the Department, with the reduction of three positions. The Budget is $375,000 less than last year. Councilmen Quinn and Cormack each expressed concern whether staff reduction will effect the level of service. Chief Martin replied there will be longer response time to minor crimes by the follow-up detectives. He also responded to questions regarding a proposed change in personnel positions, small tools, and the increase in medical examinations. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Police Department Budget. Southeast Area Animal Control Authority Budget: Mr. Donlevy commented briefly on the Budget and the effectiveness and success of the animal control. It was so ordered to hold over further discussion on the animal control. Fire Department Budget: The budget is $130,000 less than last year. The only major change is the elimination of the Fire Education Specialist position. Chief Davis pointed out there will be approximately $37,000 revenue savings with the City of Compton joining the Communications Center. Downey in the command center for the Area E Cities. Councilman Cormack would like to see the Paramedica being able to follow through with transporting people to the Hospital and then bill for the services. Mr. Donlevy said this is being looked into, and a report will be brought back to the Council. Chief Davis responded to questions regarding fire inspections of businesses in the City. He also discussed the procedure for the Paramedics and Fire trucks to respond to emergencies. It was noted a new ladder truck has been ordered and will be delivered next May. Further discussion ensued regarding response of Fire vehicles to eirargencies. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Fire Department Budget. Recreation Budget: Mr. Donlevy explained Recreation will be separate from the Parks, and Parks will be under Public Works. The Theatre has been placed under Recreation. Recreation has been reduced from nine to seven people. The same pro- grams will continue but there is a small cutback in part-time money of $128,000 to $110,000, which will result in a small reduction of hours the City will staff the parks. There will be no change in the responsibilities of the Recreation Commission. A discussion was held regarding equipment rental and depreciation. Mr. Donlevy mentioned the Theatre Budget contains an amount for a Theatre Manager on a contract basis. He expects to come back for a mid -year review of this once a manager has been hired. It is hoped to get the Theatre at a break-even point so that the City will not have to subsidize it, and it is also anticipated that once the hotel is built it will be a major user of the Theatre. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Recreation Budget. Mr. Donlevy reviewed the Golf Course Budget, which he said will show a break- even amount for the end of the year. He anticipates improvements at the Golf Course will result in greater revenues. It is hoped that in five -to -seven years the City Council Minutes 5/18/82 (adj.) -3- will be repaid for the $l million advanced to purchase the Golf Course. The bonds are being paid for through revenues at the Golf Course. It was moved by Councilman Quinn, seconded by Councilman Cormack, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Golf Course Budget. Transit Budget: Mr. Donlevy said due to new legislation, grant funds for the senior citizen and handicapped transit will be less. Staff will be coming back to the Council in approximately 30-60 days with definite guidelines, including Councilman Jackman's request concerning coordinating with the Norwalk Bus System. It was moved by Councilman Quinn, seconded by Councilman Mackaig, and so ordered to accept the Transit Budget and staff's recommendation to bring it back for amendment at a later date. Library Budget: Mr. Donlevy said during the next year, the Library operation will be doubled, and it is recommended that a small cutback in the hours he made during the construction period. There will be no elimination of full time personnel but there will be a cutback in part-time. There is a possibility the Library may have to close for a short period of time during construction. The City Librarian is asking her employees to hold off on their vacations until the time when the Library may be temporarily closed; otherwise they would be on leave without pay. It was moved by Councilman Mackaig, seconded by Councilman Quinn, and passed by unanimous vote to approve the Library Budget. The hearing and study session on the Budget was continued to 4:00 p.m., May 20, 1982, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall. Mr. Donlevy said the first item at the May 20th meeting will be a closed session regarding personnel. The meeting was then adjourned at 6:36 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., May 20, 1982, in the Council Chamber of the Downey City Hall. Rob rt L. Shand, C ..y Clerk -Treasurer L 11 W. Swearingen, Mayon Council Minutes 5/18/82 (adj_) -4-