HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2002MUNICIPAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING
OCTOBER 21, 2002
PRESENT: Sue Singer, Chair; Rich Wagner, Council; Stacey Brothers, Council;
AC Russ Vandver, Fire; Chief Jim Kelly, Police; Paul Krauss, Planning; Shelley
Coleman, Finance; Mayor Pete Lewis; Brenda Heineman, HR; John Fletcher,
HR; Nancy Krause, ADA; Mark Caillier, Police Guild; Mike Jordan, Police Guild;
Pete Connell, Fire; Greg McPherson, Police Guild; Dave Cook, Fire
Minutes of the meeting were tape-recorded and are available for review for six
(6) years from the date of the meeting. Please submit items for the agenda no
later than 5 p.m. the Wednesday prior to a meeting so packets can be assembled
and distributed Thursday afternoon.
CALL TO ORDER:
Committee Chair Sue Singer called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
Please note: The order of some agenda items were reprioritized at the meeting.
These minutes will follow the order of agenda items as printed.
CONSENT:
Approval of Surplus of Police Property: The committee was asked to approve
the surplus of equipment that was broken or no longer needed by the Police
Department. MSC
Approval of Resolution 3539: Committee was asked to approve Resolution
3539 which would authorize the purchase of an exhaust ventilation system for
the fire stations. This is a budget line item. MSC
INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
Gambling Tax Rate: The last increase was in 1999 when the gambling tax was
raised from 10% to 12%. If increased again to 15%, an additional $200,000
would be realized. The committee was asked if they advised pursuing this
avenue. The interpretation of the city statute was debated. The committee
asked for more information on the number of police calls in the area before the
Municipal Services Meeting
October 7, 2002
Page 1
opening of Freddie's Casino, the amount Pacific and Algona charge and the city
attorney's interpretation of the statute before they make a decision.
Long Term Healthcare: Human Resources Department want to offer long-term
health care to unaffiliated employees. The 173 unaffiliated employees that would
be affected receive fewer benefits than unionized employees. Committee had
concerns about the budget expense, raising citizen's utility rates while offering a
new benefit to employees and were suspicious of the Iow premium rates. After a
brief discussion the consensus of the committee was to support long-term health
care to unaffiliated employees.
Initiative 790: Information materials on the Initiative were distributed with the
agenda packet. The interpretation of Section 6(5) would not be officially made
until after the election. Giving a worse case scenario, 1-790 would cost the city
$800,000 in 2003 and $1,600,000 in 2004. Translated into police services, that
would mean cuts in Community Programs, the deactivation of the downtown bike
patrol, and the elimination of the multi-family housing officer and the DARE
program in 2003. In 2004, there would be a reduction of the number of officers in
the city, and other significant cuts in service. Mayor Lewis listed personnel cuts
in the police and fire departments and well as a decline in the level of service if 1-
790 is passed. Members of the Firefighter's and Police Guild/Union spoke to the
issue. They want to enhance their retirement benefits and have more control
over their pension funds. They encouraged the members of the committee to
remain neutral in making a recommendation on voting for Resolution #3541
opposing 1-790. The Committee questioned the influence of any
recommendation they might make. The consensus of the committee was until
they had read the entire text of the initiative they could not make any
recommendation.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 PM. The next regular
meeting is Monday, November 4, 2002, at 5:00 PM in Meeting Room 3.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Larsen
Administrative Services Secretary
Auburn Police Department
Municipal Services Meeting
October 7, 2002
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