HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20-2007
CITY OF
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
FINANCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 20, 2007
I. CALL TO ORDER - 6:30 PM, COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
Chair Nancy Backus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the
Council Conference Room at Auburn City Hall located at 25 West Main
Street in Auburn. Committee members present were: Chair Backus, Vice
Chair Roger Thordarson, and Member Gene Cerino. Also present during
the meeting were Mayor Peter B. Lewis, Finance Director Shelley
Coleman, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Information Services Director
Lorrie Rempher, Risk Manager Rob Roscoe, Employee Relations and
Compensation Manager John Fletcher, Public Works Director Dennis
Dowdy, and City Clerk Danielle Daskam.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of the February 5, 2007 Finance Committee meeting.
Vice Chair Thordarson moved and Member Cerino seconded to
approve the February 5, 2007 minutes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
III. CONSENT ITEMS
A. Vouchers
1. Claims
F4.9.5
Claims check numbers 359689 through 360100 in the
amount of $2,670,175.98 and dated February 20, 2007.
2. Payroll
F4.9.2
Payroll check numbers 518579 to 518693 in the amount of
$635,302.14 and electronic deposit transmissions in the
amount of $920,190.75 for a grand total of $1,555,492.89 for
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Finance Committee Minutes February 20, 2007
the pay period covering February 1, 2007 to February 14,
2007.
B. Bad Debt Write Off
1. Local Improvement District Account Number 337-006-B
City Council approve the write-off of Local Improvement
District Account No. 337-006-B in the amount of
$190,624.40.
Committee members reviewed the consent items .and briefly
discussed the bad debt write off. Finance Director Coleman
explained that the King County acquired parcel number
1321049104 (Lund Street property) due to delinquent real property
taxes in 1992. The City of Auburn purchased the parcel from King
County in September 2006. Since the City now owns the property,
staff recommends writing off the balance of LID 337-006-B in the
amount of $190,624.40.
Vice Chair Thordarson moved and Member .Cerino seconded to
approve the consent items.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
IV. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution No. 4163
F4.6.1
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington,
declaring property as surplus and authorizing its disposal
Vice Chair Thordarson moved and Member Cerino seconded to
approve Resolution No. 4163.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0.
V. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Public Works Project Number C524A, Telemetry/SCADA
System Improvements Feasibility Study
Public Works Director Dowdy reviewed the proposed
Telemetry/SCADA System Improvements Feasibility Study, scope
of work and fee schedule. Director Dowdy explained that the
telemetry system controls the pump stations, reservoirs, and lift
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Finance Committee Minutes February 20, 2007
stations for the City's three utility systems. The telemetry system
allows staff to monitor and evaluate any problems with the utility
system remotely.
Tasks to be completed as part of the project include: evaluation of
existing and planned facilities, evaluation of previously
recommended security improvements, evaluation of telemetry
hardware and SCADA software options, evaluation of a city-wide
communications plan, staffing analysis, and an optional estimate
for relocating the SCADA headquarters. Information Services
Director Rempher will be working on the project to ensure that the
upgraded telemetry system meets all the City's communications
needs.
B. Animal Control and Rescue
Employee Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher
presented the Council with a handout of the estimated net cost to
bring animal control and rescue in house. Mr. Fletcher included
information on capital and operating costs. The estimated net
annual operating cost is $44,700 for 2007.
Committee members reviewed the current King County pet
licensing fees.
The Municipal Services Committee reviewed the information earlier
this evening.
C. Parking
Risk Manager Rob Roscoe presented the Committee members
with a memo regarding Sound Transit Parking, specifically the
City's excess parking spaces available from Sound Transit.
Currently, the City has 180 parking stalls allotted for the City's
exclusive use in the Sound Transit parking garage. The City is
reserving 35 stalls for the commercial tenant spaces and 21 stalls
for the Truitt building, leaving 124 stalls available. The parking
stalls are currently available to commuters on a first come, first
serve basis for no fee.
Per the lease with Sound Transit, the City is billed by Sound Transit
for forty percent of all the structure's operating costs. In 2005, the
City paid $135,128 for the allotted parking stalls. It is estimated
that the City's 2006 costs will be approximately $130,000.
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Finance Committee Minutes February 20, 2007
Risk Manager Roscoe proposed three options: 1) lease back any
unused parking stalls to Sound Transit; 2) develop a parking permit
plan for the parking stalls; and 3) continue the status quo.
Risk Manager Roscoe noted that option 2 represents the best
economical option for the City. The option proposes that the City
develop a parking permit plan that would allow the City to charge
commuters a pro rata share of the City's previous year's operating
costs. He proposed a parking permit rate schedule of $100 per
month for Auburn residents and $125 per month for non-residents.
The program has the potential to reduce the City's cost to zero and
possibly become a positive income stream.
Vice Chair Thordarson expressed concern that the parking permit
program may be viewed negatively by commuters as other Sound
Transit parking areas are free of charge. Manager Roscoe agreed
that the City would need to conduct an extensive marketing and
education campaign for the current commuters to inform them of
any proposed changes. Committee members discussed the value
of a guaranteed parking space in the garage.
Committee members agreed that option 2 is the most favorable of
the options.
D. 2006 Fourth Quarter Investment Report
Committee members reviewed the 2006 quarterly investment
summary for the period ending December 31, 2006. Finance
Director Coleman noted a correction to the yield on the investment
purchased on February 10, 2006.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Committee, the
meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
APPROVED THE 5~~~~DAY OF MARCH 2007.
Nancy Ba u ,Chair ~- Danielle Daskam, City Clerk
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