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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 06-04-04 - Regular Meeting-: , 814.771 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING JUNE 4, 2004 The City Council of the City of Downey held an Adjourned Regular Meeting at 5:00 p.m. , June 4, 2004, in the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall, Mayor Kirk Cartozian presiding. PRESENT:Council Members: Kirk O. Cartozian Keith McCarthy Anne M. Bayer Meredith H. Perkins Rick Trejo Mayor Mayor Pro Tempore (arrived at 5:51 p.m.) ALSO PRESENT:Gerald M. Caton, City Manager Charles S. Vose, City Attorney Kathleen L. Midstokke, City Clerk Lee Powell, Assistant City Manager James Makshanoff, Assistant to the City Manager Desi Alvarez, Director of Public Works John Finch, Chief of Police Darrell George, Director of Community/Economic Development Bonnie Kehoe, Director of Community Services John Michicoff, Finance Director Mark Sauter, Fire Chief Angie Avery, Recreation Manager Roy Campos, Police Captain Mark Dryer, Police Captain Linda Haines, Building Official Noreen Kimura, Theater Supervisor Ron LeVw, Deputy Building Official William McCulloch, Police Lieutenant Kevin O’Connor, Theatre Manager Thad Phillips, City Librarian Mark Sellheim, Principal Planner Ed Velasco, Housing Manager Efrain Villanueva, Senior Library Assistant Steven Yee, Economic Development Coordinator Ron Yoshiki, Asst. Director of Community Dev./City Planner Susan Domen, Executive Secretary City Council Adj . Reg. Minutes 06/04/04 -1- 014772 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Marsha Moode, Executive Producer of Downey Civic Light Opera noted that they are probably the single biggest renters of the Downey Theater. She requested that the Council consider helping the Civic Light Opera the same as they do the Downey Symphony, the Art Museum and the Rose Float Association. Gary DeRemer, President of Downey Rose Float Association, indicated that the past grant of 55,000 from the City has been greatly appreciated. Of this, $7,000 is given right back to the City. Steven Lofing, Chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, indicated he opposed the proposed elimination of the position of Fire Education Specialist. He indicated this position is not only a key link to emergency services but also in community education. Anne Millard, member of the Downey Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT), voiced her opposition to the elimination of the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator position, especially given the consideration of the challenges faced today in this area. STUDY SESSION – PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005 City Manager Caton indicated that the budget document is both an accounting document but it is also an important policy document from which the staff will accomplish the goals of the City Council. This year the proposed budget is 8123 Million, slightly down from last year. The budget is comprised of three portions: the General Fund (including public safety and quality of life activity), Enterprise Fund and the Special Fund. He reviewed the general fund expenditures amounts of increases/decreases as follows: General Government: -0.10%; Police: +11.19%; Fire: +17.14%; Public Works: -05.66%; Community Services: -4.58%; Community Development: -8.90%. There have been two major impacts on the budget: 1) in 2003 the State of California took from the City $1.9 Million and recently has informed the City that they will be taking an additional $1.1 Million; and 2) the retirement system (PERS) has gone up substantially, especially for Police and Fire, with a General Fund impact of $4.7 Million. This proposed budget does run a deficit. It had been proposed at Sl.1 Million, but now with the changes in the State budget, it is being proposed at Sl.6 Million. Within the next two years with the development of the NASA property, particularly the retail center, a balanced budget should be able to be proposed. There will be increased sales tax and lease revenue. The City has been able to put some money in the bank the last several years. This particular year, even with the State taking $1.9 Million from us, we have been able to put $1.9 Million in the bank and the prior year we were able to save $624,000. City Manager Caton stated that there are no suggestions for any employees to be terminated from the City. There are a number of positions that are suggested to be frozen this year including Police Clerk, Police Officer, Fire Prevention Specialist, etc. City Council Adj. Reg. Minutes 06/04/04 -2- 014773iI In response to Mayor Cartozian, City Manager Caton confirmed that the proposed cuts add up to $4.5 Million and that the deficit would still be $1.6 Million with those cuts. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy, Assistant City Manager Powell indicated that the City’s current General Fund reserve, beginning the next fiscal year on July 1, 2004, is approximately $12 Million. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy asked if there was any other retirement system that could be used such as PARS. City Manager Caton responded that it could be looked into and a two-tier system could also be considered. City Manager Caton pointed out that in fiscal year 2001-02 the combined Police and Fire budgets were $29 Million and the proposed 2004-05 combined budgets are $38 Million, which is nearly a $10 Million increase. In comparison, the total General Fund expenditures have went from $52 Million to $56 Million. The trend is that you are spending more and more for your Police and Fire Departments, which makes it harder and harder to run the other departments. Assistant City Manager Powell explained that the Council is being asked to agree or disagree with staff recommendations on possible General Fund reductions. He announced that there will be a Public Hearing at the regular City Council meeting on June 22 wherein the Council will consider the adoption of the City budget. The City Charter requires that a budget be adopted by July 1 each year. Mayor Cartozian noted that he and Council Member Trejo serve on the Budget Subcommittee and they have met with staff regarding the recommendations before the Council tonight. Assistant City Manager Powell reviewed the staff proposed General Fund reductions in the categories of: position reductions (vacancies frozen), service changes, new equipment reductions, replacement equipment reductions, capital improvement projects elimination and additional items to consider adding to the budget since printing. Mayor Cartozian noted that the intersection of New Street and 2nd Street needs repainting. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy questioned whether excess Golf Course revenue could be used for Theater renovations and City Manager Caton responded that if there was a surplus, it could be used for that purpose. ORAT I COMMUNICATIONS Harold Tseklenis, resident of Downey, indicated that prior to Proposition 13, the Symphony was largely supported by the City. About three years ago, some City funding was restored. He requested partial funding instead of the recommended total elimination. Bill Mannesian (sp.?), resident of Downey, indicated that he concurs with the recommended reductions by staff and feels it is appropriate to use reserves at this time. City Council Adj . Reg. Minutes 06/04/04 -3- 014774 Council Member Perkins indicated he would like to see a reduction in the cut of the Special Projects Coordinator (Community Development), he does not agree with the Firefighter recommendation, feels the Secretary of Public Works needs to be reduced and that he agrees with staff on the rest of the recommendations under position reductions. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy expressed that he does not agree with the elimination of the Fire Prevention Education Specialist and would like it maintained. Council Member Bayer indicated that she would also like to revisit this item. Council Member Trejo would like an analysis of the time and effectiveness of this position within the community and the possibility of Homeland Security funding some of this position. Mayor Cartozian would also like this item studied further. City Manager Caton recommended that the position be left in the budget and ask the Fire Chief to review the remainder of his budget to make some possible cuts. In regards to service changes, Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy would like the office supply accounts and special activity accounts cut by 10% for all departments. He indicated that the tape recorder in the Council Chambers does need to be upgraded. He suggested the $2,000 in cuts for the City Clerk supplies and services be restored for this purpose. Mayor Cartozian concurred in the 10% cuts for office supply accounts and special activity accounts for all departments and the restoration of $2,000 to City Clerk Department for upgrade of Council C'hamber recording equipment. Council Member Bayer indicated she agreed with this. Council Member Perkins indicated concern with the pest control reductions and associated public health issues and does not agree with these reductions. He also does not agree with the closure of Independence Park snack bar, would like to see a detailed report and would like the $8,400 restored. He would like to see the Holiday Home Decorating contest restored for 82,180 and $5,000 restored for the Symphony. Council Member Trejo indicated that he agreed with all of the staff recommended cuts on page two, but had questions on the Independence Park snack bar hours. Director Kehoe indicated that it is an average of fifteen hours per week, after school and weekend afternoons. Council Member Bayer would like to review the cut for the Downey Symphony and perhaps reduce it, as well as maintaining the Rose Float Association support at 85,000. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy concurred with Council Member Perkins to look at the pest control reductions. He would like the Holiday Home Decorating contest preserved and on the Symphony and Art Museum would like to see them funded at 55% of prior funding. Mayor Cartozian indicated that the changes from staff recommendations that he would like reviewed are: Holiday Home Decorating contest, and that the social services grants be across the board equal grants such as $3,200 to each of them. Council Member Perkins requested that staff provide a complete breakdown on the costs of the part-time employee for the Independence Park snack bar. He does not agree to fund the request of the Civic Light Opera in the amount of $10,000, however, he does support the one-stop development permitting process review study in the amount of $27,000. City Council Adj . Reg. Minutes 06/04/04 -4- 014775 Council Member Bayer indicated she would support Council Member Perkins’ request to revisit the closure of the Independence Park snack bar. Council Member Perkins indicated that he is supporting a salary adjustment for the general employees. Council Member Trejo indicated that he supports the one-stop development permitting process review study in the amount of $27,000. Council Member Bayer requested that staff look into a different funding source for the Learning Center Architect Project. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy indicated he would consider support in the amount of $3,200 for the Civic Light Opera. Mayor Cartozian indicated that he could support revisiting the Independence Park snack bar closure issue, supports the $27,000 for the development permitting process study, would support revisiting the salary adjustment for employees in Closed Session, and would entertain discussion of Civic Light Opera funding. A second Budget Study Session was set for Tuesday, June 15 at 5:30 p.m. and so ordered by the Mayor. Council Member Bayer expressed that she feels that the City Council should attempt to cut their own departmental budget, perhaps by eliminating $2,000 for meals before the Council meetings, or $3,600 in meeting stipends for the Community Development Commission. Mayor Pro Tempore McCarthy indicated that he appreciated the efforts of the City employees at looking closely at the challenges the City faces and thanked the public for their participation. He feels the City is being benefited by the growth at the former NASA site as it is be developed. Council Member Trejo appreciates the recommendations of staff and not eliminating any positions and with the NASA project the losses should be subsidized. Mayor Cartozian thanked City staff for their attendance and also Jenny Marder of the Press Telegram, the newly assigned reporter to cover the Downey area. ADJOURNMENT: 7:36 p.m. The meeting was adjourned to 6:30 p.m., June 8, 2004, in the Council Chamber of Downey City Hall. '%ZM#?IdMae) KATHLEEN L. MIDSTOKKE, City Clerk FKmTMIn City Council Adj . Reg. Minutes 06/04/04