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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-04-02 - Regular Meeting- 01416 !i MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JUNE 4, 2002 The City Council/Community Development Commission of the City of Downey held an adjourned regular meeting at 3:13 p.m., June 4, 2002, in the Downey Room of the Barbara Riley Community/Senior Center located at 7810 Quill Drive, Downey, Mayor/Chairman Meredith H. Perkins presiding. PRESENT: Council Members/Commissioners: Meredith H. Perkins Rick Trejo Mayor/Chairman Mayor Pro Tem/Vice-Chairman (arrived at 3:18 p.m.) (arrived at 3:15 p.m.)Kirk O. Cartozian Keith McCarthy Robert C. Winningham ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager/Executive Director Kathleen Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager Desi Alvarez, Director of Public Works John Finch, Police Chief Darrell George, Director of Community & Economic Development James Jarrett, Director of Community Services John Michicoff, Finance Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Community Dev./City Planner Roy Campos, Police Lieutenant Kevin O’Connor, Theatre Manager William Davis, Business Development Manager Mark Dryer, Police Captain Alta Duke, Social Services Manager Linda Haines, Building Official Vicki Jenkins, City Librarian Bonnie Kehoe, Manager Recreation Division Rick Nathan, Police Captain Vanessa Rojas, Special Projects Coordinator Ed Velasco, Manager of Housing Christina Vogel, Assistant to the City Manager Steven Yee, Economic Development Coordinator Shirley Conte, Executive Secretary City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj .) 6/04/02 -1- 01416 rS / STUDY SESSION – CITY OF DOWNEY PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003. Mr. Caton introduced the City’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2002-2003 as the largest in the City’s history, at over $105 million, and as the most important accounting and policy document in the City. He reviewed the City Manager’s Transmittal Letter, advising the budget increase is mainly due to increases in capital expenditures of over $9 million. He advised he requested staff to discuss current programs but more importantly to focus on new programs, which are areas the Council/- Commission will want to review. He advised the expected reduction in State funds is around $350,000, with a portion of this figure coming out of the Redevelopment Agency. He explained $5 million has already been eliminated during the budget process in order to balance the budget and leave a surplus for discussions of salary increases, which are not known at this time. Mr. Powell commended Christina Vogel for setting up the budget Power Point program for each department. He reviewed the 2002-2003 Budget’s three main sections: The General Fund (46 percent); Special Revenue Fund (38 percent); and Enterprise Fund (16 percent). He reviewed areas covered by the three main budget sections and mentioned budget highlights, such as the State budget problem, School Resource Officer program, NASA filming management program, the Downey Space Science Learning Center, and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). He pointed out the State budget declined by $23.6 billion due to decreases in income tax revenues, capital gain taxes, and stock option taxes, which will result in a loss to Downey of approximately $345,000. He mentioned the City will also pick up 50 percent of the School Resource Officer program this year, which was previously funded through a grant, and referred to upcoming capital projects. He also noted the City only receives 14 percent of what residents pay in property taxes. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Mr. Michicoff presented the General Services and Finance Budget, reviewing staffing, functions and services provided by the department’s five areas of responsibility: Accounting; Purchasing/Printing; Revenue Collections; Management Information Systems (computers); and Administration. He advised the department’s budget increased 4.8 percent due to implementation of Government Accounting Standards Board No.34, Capital Asset Reporting Requirements, which covers the way the City reports its financial statements. He reviewed accomplishments, such as negotiating a reduction in bank fees, eliminating gas and electric bill collections, revising the investment policy and expanding the Cal Card program. He mentioned the department’s goals are continued high levels of service, enhancement of the business license process, pursuit of previously uncollectible accounts, evaluation of purchasing policies and negotiation of the purchase of 165 computers currently leased. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, suggested the City’s departments take the State deficit into account and offset this reduction by reducing employee travel. City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/04/02 -2- 014168 Chief Finch presented the Police Department Budget, reviewing the department’s three divisions: Administration, which includes the subdivision of Code Enforcement, Field Operations and Detectives. He noted the number of staff, duties, and accomplishments of each group. He mentioned the increased hours and types of professional training provided; equipment changes, such as in-car videos and a computer aided dispatch and records management system; proposed changes, such as phasing out the DARE program, continuing the School Resource Office Program to have officers onsite in the high schools; increasing personnel by adding an in-house computer support training consultant, which is offset by eliminating a contract services position for the old CAD system. He also mentioned contracting with a training consultant to provide professional training to maintain the department’s present policies. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, mentioned he hoped the Citizens Academy will still be held and was informed grant funds are in place to pay for at least one class in September and one in February. The meeting recessed at 4:55 p.m. and reconvened at 5:05 p.m. with all Council Members/Commissioners present. Chief Sauter reviewed the Fire Department’s budget, noting the department’s six divisions: Administration, Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Prevention Bureau, Communications Center and Emergency Preparedness, and the duties of each. He mentioned four new recruits were hired; referred to hours of training supplied to fire staff and paramedics; the goal to increase training further; and an increased and better fitness regimen for injury prevention. He also noted an increase in training in the areas of terrorism, CPR and first aid, and mentioned that the Emergency Preparedness Committee has started meeting again. He advised the average response time is around four minutes. He explained the new Computer Assisted Dispatch Records Management System (CADRMS) system will be implemented in August and mentioned the purchase of new radio equipment and mobile data computers, which will provide better information in the field. He also noted the purchase of new thermal imaging cameras, and the receipt of two new fire engines. He referred to accomplishments such as: installation of the traffic light pre-emption system, receipt of training grants, fire station renovations, terrorism and mass-casualty training, repairs to the former NASA site fire protection system, and a film safety training program. He responded to questions from the Council/-Commission. Lennie Whittington, 8542 Manatee Street, mentioned that the film permit process in Los Angeles City and Los Angeles County requires a fire marshal be on site at all times when films are being shot. Chief Sauter responded that a film safety officer is on site when filming is conducted and a drive by inspection is utilized when sites are being built or torn down. Mr. Alvarez gave the presentation of the Public Works Department Budget, reviewing the department’s four divisions, Administration, Engineering, Maintenance Services, and Utilities, their functions, programs and projects. He noted approximately $35 million will be spent on capital improvement projects over the next year and reviewed projects scheduled: the Columbus High School ball field construction, Independence Skate Park and Tennis Center, Rio Hondo Golf Course clubhouse renovation, street and roadways improvements, and the Lakewood Boulevard and Bellflower Boulevard improvement projects. He referred to the geographic information system (GIS) and the information it generates. He mentioned the anticipated financial impact of the National City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/04/02 -3- O I & L 6 \\ Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), with its stringent regulations, which will require hiring a specialized person to manage. He advised the vacant City Engineer position will not be filled but will be replaced by this specialized position. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Mr. Jarrett presented the Community Services Department Budget, commending his staff, and reviewing the department’s five divisions: Administration, Recreation, Social Services, Theatre and Library and their scopes of responsibility. He noted this department is involved in hundreds of programs for the social and recreational needs of the community and publishes the Community Services Guide, The Communicator, to advertise these programs three times a year. He noted new projects on the horizon, such as the Downey Depot Transportation Center, the new DowneyLINK contract with MV Transportation, the State grant received by the Library to promote the English language for children in grades Kindergarten through Third and their parents, construction of the Independence Park skate park and tennis center, the new sports field at Columbus High School, the new banquet facility for the Rio Hondo Golf Course, and the development of a new park on the former Boeing/NASA property. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Harold Tseklenis thanked Mr. Jarrett for including the Downey Symphony in this year’s budget. He hoped the Council/Commission will approve the funds which help finance this program. Mike Prokop, 10444 Julius Avenue, representing the Downey Rose Float Association, thanked the Council/Commission for their past support of the Rose Float Association. He submitted the Association’s 2003 budget and noted they conduct over 20 fundraisers a year. He advised the Rose Float Association is requesting additional hInds to purchase new scaffolding, as the current scaffolding has created a safety issue, and a new communication system, as the present system is worn. He noted these items will cost about $4,600 and hoped the Council would increase this year’s support. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Mr. George reviewed the Community Development Department, mentioning the goals of the department’s Divisions: Economic Development, Planning, Building, and Housing. He noted they are the real estate arm of City Hall from negotiating development agreements, land sales and ground leases to reviewing plans, permits and entitlements through building inspection and construction management. He reviewed achievements and programs, such as completion of the Downey Landing Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report, Kaiser Purchase and Sale Agreement, filming activity at the former NASA site, completion and State certification of the City’s Housing Element, revitalization of the former Simpson/Buick site, creation of the Downey Auto Dealers Association, updating of the City’s web-site, marketing of the fagade improvement program, new parking lot signs for City lots, and new banners for the downtown area. He referred to the upcoming update of the City’s Building Code and noted the increased counter activity in both Planning and Building Divisions. He mentioned Housing programs and the hope to increase the first- time buyer program and the addition of the home modification program dealing with handicapped accessibility improvements. He ran a brief film clip of a featured story on the Channel 4 News regarding filming activity and the redevelopment of the former NASA site. He responded to questions from the Council/Commission. Mayor/Chairman Perkins thanked staff for their presentations and noted the budget study session is a very helpful learning tool for the Council/Commission. City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/04/02 -4- 01417 fl ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None other than those noted above following the individual department presentations. ADJOURNMENT: 8:10 P.M The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., June 11, 2002, in the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall. %a&g„;/ @2daza, Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk/Secretary He iith H Mayor/Chairman h :\cclerk\sconte\MINADJ-06-04-02 City Council/Community Dev. Comm. Minutes (adj.) 6/04/02 -5-