Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-28-1995sp CITY Of AUBURN AUBURN CITY COUNCIL 1996 BUDGET WORK SESSIONS NOVEMBER 28, 1995 Preceding the City Council 1996 Budget Work Session scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM, the Auburn City Council met in a special meeting that lasted until 6:59 PM. Mayor Booth convened the budget session at 7:00 PM immediately following the Special City Council meeting. Those in attendance included Councilmembers Pat Burns, Rich Wagner, Virginia Haugen, Trish Borden, Jeanne Barber, Stacey Brothers, and Don Kurle. Coun¢ilmembers Elect Sue Singer and Gene Cerino were also in attendance. Department representatives in attendance included Personnel Director Brenda Kennedy, City Attorney Mike Reynolds, Assistant City Attorney Judy Ausman, Planning & Community Development Director Paul Krauss, Public Works Director Frank Currie, City Engineer Dennis Dowdy, Utilities Engineer Dwight Holobaugh, Police Captain Bill Pitzl, and Fire Chief Bob Johnson, Parks & Recreation Director Len Chapman, Enterprise Fund Accountant Sherri Crawford, Financial Analyst Alice Strand, Assistant Finance Director Arlene Mempa, and Senior Planner Al Hicks, and City Clerk Robin Wohlhueter. 1996 BUDGET OVERVIEW Mayor Booth gave a brief overview of the proposed 1996 Budget by using an overhead projector to illustrate the City of Auburn's Vision for the Future, Mission Statement, 1996 Budget Calendar, Recomended 1996 City of Auburn Goals, Total Revenue: 1996 by fund, Revenues Uncertain, 1996 Expense By Function, General Fund Summary, General Fund Revenue and Expense 1993- 1996, 1996 General Fund Expenditures By Fund, Reserves, 1996 Program Improvements, Change in Staff, Capital Budget, Capital Projects, Enterprise Fund Ending Working Capital, and Enterprise Ending Working Capital. Councilmember Wagner raised a concern with regard to transportation improvements being included as part of the 1996 City Goals. It was decided this concern would be looked at as a possible mid-year adjustment. Mayor Booth presented the Mayor/Council 1996 budget. The budget provides for day-to-day operational expenses of the Mayor, Council and support staff. II. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Alice Strand presented the Finance Department's budget. The basic functions include budgeting, utility billing, telephones, printing services, accounting, payroll, and purchasing. Ms. Strand noted an additional employee was added 1996 Budget Work Sessions November 28, 1990 Page No. 2 III. IV. during 1995 from the Maintenance & Operations division, and beginning in 1996 departments will be charged for printing services. Ms. Strand summarized other changes to the 1996 budget by line item. LEGAL DEPARTMENT Judy Ausman presented the Legal Department budget for 1996. Ms. Ausman explained the duties of the Legal Department and noted some of the changes reflected in the proposed 1996 Preliminary Budgett. Noted are a decrease in Professional Services because the public defense costs are reflected in Personnel; the City Clerk's cost center moved under the Legal Department, and a City Prosecutor was hired full time in 1995. Other budget issues centered around the computers for the law library, a 2nd laser printer, a fax machine to ensure confidentiality, and printing charge backs for next year. Judy Ausman also presented the City Clerk cost center which reflects elections costs, print shop charges for 1996, and code book expenses. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT Personnel Director Brenda Kennedy presented the Personnel Department's proposed 1996 Budget which includes personnel functions and includes the Municipal Court Division. Ms. Kennedy explained this budget reflects addition of the public defender contract to prevent an appearance of a conflict of interest which added approximately $20,000 to the professional services line item. Ms. Kennedy answered questions with regard to interview selection process. Ms. Kennedy stated the budget includes costs for civil service, tuition reimbursement program, and adds printing charges for 1996. Ms. Kennedy reported the Court purchased Video Arraignment Equipment in the amount of $7,500, originally proposed as a program improvement in the amount of $25, 000. The Video Arraignment Equipment allows for a video link between the jail and courtroom to eliminate the need to transfer prisoners from the jail to the court and also allows for video taping from the City's jail. POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Captain Bill Pitzl briefed the Council on the Police Department's proposed budget. Captain Pitzl highlighted increases to the 1996 budget which are reflected in salaries, benefits, and communications with the addition of six patrol officers in 1995. The communication line item reflects $45,000 user fee for Valley Com. Capital outlay proposed for next year include a jail van, furniture, update to the computer system including laptop computers and 12- personal computers, and 5-radios. Mr. Pitzl discussed program improvements in the amount of $125,000 for a watch commander, staffing a 24-hour police service, seven days per week, a police specialist, and corrections officers. At 8:10 there was a 10-minute break. The meeting reconvened at 8:20 PM. 1996 Budget Work Sessions November 28, 1990 Page No. 3 VI. VII. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Bob Johnson presented his budget to the Council and staff. Additions to the Fire Department budget include two new employees, added in 1995, and three in 1996. It also includes $20,000 for radio services with Valley Com, and $18,000 added for print shop services for a total difference of approximately $144,000. PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Planning & Community Development Director Paul Krauss indicated there is a significant cut in the Planning Department's budget as a result of King County Health funding. Mr. Krauss discussed social services funding and department line item expenses. A new Associate Planner is proposed and included as part of a program improvement. The additional position is needed as a result of the review process required to meet goal requirements of the Regulatory Reform Act. He anticipates an increase in processing environmental review applications, and hopes to expedite hearing processes. Mr. Krauss presented the Airport's budget. No additional funding is requested for 1996 because of the City's success in obtaining federal grants for improvement~ to runways and lighting. Next year approximately $100,000 will be used to construct additional airport hangers and work will begin to replace airport hangar roofs along with a direct increase in hangar rates. Councilmember Brothers questioned the number of Airport take-off and landings. According to the Master Plan there are approximately 170,000 movements (take-off and landings) per year. Currently, there is a waiting list of approximately 100 people to rent hangars. Discussion centered around human services as various Councilmembers questioned the detail presented for Human Services funding levels. In the line item for professional services, Councilmember Wagner questions whether or not a modification is required if City accepts a $9,000 increase over the Mayor's recommendation for funding. Mr. Krauss pointed out the Human Services Committee recommended $243,000 in funding for human service programs. Mayor Booth stated the funding recommendation is based on the General Fund Expenditure and is presented on page 105 of the 1996 Preliminary Budget. A budget page will be added to the budget summary section reflecting social programs funding support. Councilmember Brothers urged to reallocate human services funding by taking 4% from each program for additional funding for Child Care Resources. Councilmember Kurle felt the total funding levels for social service programs are fine as recommended. Councilmember Wagner expressed concern for the work and time the Human Service Committee did in making a recommendation for funding. 1996 Budget Work Sessions November 28, 1996 Page No. 4 VII. PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT Len Chapman reviewed the budget responsibilities for the Parks & Recreation Department. He stated they are responsible for administration and development and maintenance of the City's parks, cemetery, golf course, and other City recreational and cultural activities including senior programs. Mr. Chapman indicated the Library was place under the Parks and Recreation Department in 1995 for administration and management which is reflective of the change in the total budget amount. Mr. Chapman reviewed each line item and explained each change. Highlighted were programs that include teen programs, providing for the a plan at Olson Canyon, Bravo series, utilities, printing services, and capital purchases for playground equipment for use in the city parks. Other plans include construction of Mill Pond Park and continuing the White River Trail, and purchase of public art for the Game Farm Park. Councilmember Brothers asked about construction of a skateboard park. Mr. Chapman reported the Planning & Community Development Committee reviewed this issue six months ago. At this meeting the committee did not recommend any direction for staff. Discussion centered around other communities that have skateboard parks. Some of the Councilmembers expressed interest in studying the issue for mid year review. Councilmember Brothers urged funding of $10,000 for a study and design of a skateboard park in Auburn. Other Councilmembers brought up issues of funding for a third fire station and planning for Olson Canyon. Councilmember Borden requested an additional $10,000 to expand the late night program. Councilmember Wagner urged Mr. Chapman to position funding level for the late night program should grant money become unavailable. Mr. Chapman discussed the Auburn Public Library. He stated the Mayor's Task Force will recommend joining King County's Library system which is detailed their report. Councilmember Wagner suggested staff revisit the Library budget at mid year with regard to staff and facilities. The Cemetery cost center was reviewed. Mr. Chapman reported the Cemetery is self-supporting. Revenues are derived by providing burial services. Planned for next year is Phase 1 of Section #8. Mr. Chapman mentioned that Maple Valley will open a federal cemetery free to veterans. Mr. Chapman presented the Golf Course proposed budget. He reported plans are to rebuild the 16th green, fountains will be added to the ponds, Phase II of the irrigation system will be installed, and cart paths added to holes #1, #5, #6, #7, and #9. Further discussion centered around the golf course snack bar and plans for a new clubhouse. 1996 Budget Work Sessions November 28, 1996 Page No. 5 IX. Mr. Chapman discussed recommended program improvements for the Parks & Recreation Department to install and update a computerized registration system because the current system is ready to crash. An additional $50,000 is added to cover in house printing services. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Frank Currie presented the entire Public Works Department budget that includes the Engineering Division, Maintenance & Operations, and the Building Division. In the Building Division, Mr. Currie reported the increase reflected in the 1996 Preliminary Budget is entirely due to a 1/2 position and inflation. He discussed the increase in the supplies line items are a result of the remodeled building across the street from City Hall, capital expense reflects a decrease of 14%. He stated engineering costs reflect an increase in salaries for 27 full-time employees and project temporary positions funding. Mr. Currie stated fourteen program improvements were tied for tenth place fourteen times. He indicated there is a need to expand full time staff to include a full time traffic technician. Dennis Dowdy discussed the Arterial Street Fund account (Fund # 102) that is used to transfer federal grant assets. Frank Curries presented the Maintenance & Operations division budget includes a 16% overall increase for 1996. DISCUSSION Alice Strand reiterated changes to the 1996 Preliminary Budget. In summary changes include better wording to goals II1. F regarding traffic flow; $90,000 added to Arterial Street Fund for the Chip seal program; wording change on page 36 regarding fire equipment under Cumulative Reserve policy; reduce personnel cost center by $20,000 for the video arraignment equipment; change the Planning Department cost center to reflect the Planning & Community Development Committee recommendation for human services; look at why the Parks Department benefit salaries are increased; and add the design of a skateboard Park; and add Library Budget to budget issues; Councilmember Wagner requested staff look at fee support page to see if figures are accurate, anticipate water rate increase, and reimbursement of utility rate. Discussion centered around the budget theme and perhaps looking at Jim Shimmel's role in making Supermall inspections on a bike; timing of when program improvements are funded throughout the year; request for $15,000 to be added to provide for a skateboard facility to come out of Ending Fund balance. Councilmember Wagner favors revisiting these issues at mid-year. 1996 Budget Work Sessions November 28, 1996 Page No. 6 IX. Mr. Chapman indicated the City is looking at approximately $50,000 to construct a skateboard park, and $15,000 for design work. Councilmember Kurle supports funding 10% of the $50,000 for design of the skateboard park. It was agreed to add $10,000 for the late night program, and $10,000 for design work on a skateboard park. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM. File: Council Minutes, 1995 d:\council\95M9-281