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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-07-2010FINANCE COMMITTEE WASHINGTON MINUTES JUNE 7, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Nancy Backus called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room No. 2 located on the second floor of the City Hall Annex located at One East Main Street in Auburn. Chair Backus, Vice Chair Lynn Norman and Member John Partridge were present. Present during the meeting were Mayor Peter B. Lewis; City Attorney Daniel B. Heid; Financial Accounting Manager Dunyele Mason; Acting Planning and Development Director Kevin Snyder; Public Works Director Dennis Dowdy; Risk Manager Rob Roscoe; Police Chief Jim Kelly; Employee Relations and Compensation Manager John Fletcher; Utility and Accounting Services Manager Rhonda Ewing, Emergency Preparedness Manager Sarah Miller; and Deputy City Clerk Cathy Richardson. II. CONSENT ITEMS A. Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes of the May 17, 2010 Finance Committee meeting. Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded to approve the May 17, 2010 minutes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0. B. Vouchers 1. Claims F4.9.5 Claims check numbers 395157 through 395550 in the amount of $2,605,080.04 and wire transfer numbers 0097 through 0098 in the amount of $24,957,229.06 and dated June 7, 2010. Page 1 Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010 2. Payroll F4.9.2 Payroll check numbers 529015 to 529116 in the amount of $316,605.17 and electronic deposit transmissions in the amount of $1,147,886.55 for a grand total of $1,464,491.72 for the pay period covering May 13, 2010 to June 2, 2010. Committee members reviewed the vouchers and briefly discussed voucher numbers 395187, 395238, and 395241. Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded to approve the vouchers. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0. III. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS A. Ordinances There was no ordinance for Committee consideration. B. Resolutions Resolution No. 4597 F4.6.1 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, declaring certain items of property as surplus and authorizing their disposal Vice Chair Norman moved and Member Partridge seconded to approve and forward Resolution No. 4597 to the full Council. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3-0. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Resolution No. 4601 F4.3, 01.8, 07.1 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, amending the City of Auburn fee schedule, to adjust for rentat housing business license fees Acting Director Snyder reported that Resolution No. 4601 adjusts the City's fee schedule for rental housing business license fees for Page 2 Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010 the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. Resolution No. 4601 is a companion to Ordinance No. 6309 which adjusts the due date for rental housing business licensing fees to a calendar year. Resolution No. 4601 prorates the fees for year 2010 to reflect the change to a calendar year licensing and renewal program beginning January 1, 2011 for rental housing business licenses. Committee members briefly reviewed Resolution No. 4601. B. Ordinance No. 6309 F4.3, 01.8, 07.1 An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, amending Sections 5.10.030, 5.10.050, 5.15.020 and 5.20.030 of the Auburn City Code related to business licensing Committee members reviewed Ordinance No. 6309. In response to questions from Member Partridge, Acting Director Snyder stated that many businesses in the City of Auburn have expressed a desire to have the business license renewal on a calendar year program. C. Resolution No. 4603 04.9.1 C201 A, A3.13.4 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, authorizing the Mayor to negotiate agreements and execute documents necessary to acquire property and relocate inhabitants related to City Project C201A - M Street SE Grade Separation Director powdy displayed a map indicating the areas involved in the property acquisition related to the M Street SE Grade Separation project. Resolution No. 4603 authorizes the Mayor to negotiate agreements related to the property acquisitions and relocation of inhabitants to meet the City's needs. Director powdy reviewed the map with regard to full and partial property acquisitions. Director powdy reported on soil nailing methods used to ensure stability and longevity for walls which will go below railroad grade. Director powdy explained the need to obtain partial property acquisitions for easements from property owners on each side of the road where it goes below grade. The City can only acquire property necessary to accomplish this phase of the project. Staff began notification to property owners last week regarding the City's right-of-way and relocation plan. To date, the City has not received opposition to the proposed property acquisitions. Any Page 3 Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010 condemnation procedures would require additional action by Council. Director powdy reviewed the Federal Relocations Act which the City must follow in order to receive federal funding. Committee members briefly discussed Resolution No. 4603. D. Resolution No. 4604 04.9.1 C207A, A3.13.4 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, authorizing the Mayor to negotiate agreements and execute documents necessary to acquire property related to City Project C207A - A Street NW Extension Director powdy distributed a map of the A Street NW Extension project. Resolution No. 4604 authorizes the Mayor to negotiate agreements related to the property acquisitions to meet the City's needs. Most of the properties will be partial acquisitions for right-of way with only one full property acquisition for the storm pond. A portion of the extension was completed by the developer of the Mohawk project. The A Street NW Extention project is also subject to the Federal Relocations Act. Director powdy reported that Resolution Nos. 4603 and 4604 were reviewed in the Public Works Committee this afternoon. Committee members were inclined towards payback agreements for those properties wishing to develop in the future. E. Resolution No. 4600 A3.16.13 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, authorizing the acceptance of a grant from the Washington Service Corps to provide a full-time member to the City of Auburn, and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the necessary agreements to accept said member Chief Kelly stated that Resolution No. 4600 provides for acceptance of a grant which will provide an AmeriCorps Disaster Education Specialist. The current grant terminates in August 2010 and the new grant would begin at that time to continue the City's comprehensive disaster education. Page 4 Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010 F. Resolution No. 4602 01.1, A1.3 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Auburn, Washington, authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Auburn and King County for animal services Risk Manager Roscoe distributed a summary of costs related to King County Animal Control services and a newspaper article related to confiscation by Pierce County Animal Control of 78 animals from a home in Pierce County. Chair Backus referred to page 8, item 9.b of the agreement and inquired regarding the hold harmless verbiage. Risk Manager Roscoe stated that each entity is held harmless by the other in the event of a negligent act or omission by either party. In response to questions from Member Partridge, Manager Fletcher stated that some cities opted out of the King County agreement which increased fees for participating cities. Transition fees also increased for 2011. Mayor Lewis stated that the King County Animal Control Services agreements will be taken before the King County Council for approval. Associated fees were recommended by the King County Executive's office, but final approval rests with the King County Council. In response to questions by Member Partridge, Mayor Lewis stated that King County alleges that services under the proposed agreement will be superior to the enhanced services currently received by the City of Auburn. City staff recommends that the City delay engaging the enhanced services until such time that it is deemed necessary in order to maintain the level of service required by the City. Enhanced services can be engaged any time throughout the contract. Manager Roscoe stated that if license collections change during the course of the agreement, the contract would be audited and the figures adjusted accordingly. If license fee collections increase, then costs to King County be could reduced significantly. Page 5 Finance Committee Minutes June 712010 Mayor Lewis referred to the newspaper article distributed by Manager Roscoe and pointed out that the 78 animals confiscated by Pierce County included horses, dogs, goats, a guinea pig, cats and a duck. Significant shelter space and funding for care of the animals was required. In response to questions by Chair Backus, Mayor Lewis stated that the two islands of unincorporated property in Auburn are the responsibility of King County. Mayor Lewis pointed out that all the cities within King County, with the exception of Federal Way and a few northern cities that have made arrangements with other entities, will be contracting with King County for animal control and care services. Discussions continue with Pierce County and various cities, including the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) cities, in an effort to find alternatives to contracting with King County. The SCORE facility site might be an excellent site for an animal shelter and care facility. Labor costs could be reduced by use of inmates at the facility and would still allow for volunteer and non-profit participation. The biggest problem for Auburn is the lack of a facility for sheltering and isolation requirements. The only other option at this time would be euthanization due to lack of a shelter. Member Partridge reported that he has been monitoring a group of six veterinarians located in the City. The group has made themsetves available to the City as an advisory group. They agreed that it would take some time to develop a shelter to meet the needs of the City and expressed their disappointment in services provided by King County. The group is endeavoring to develop a plan that meets the needs and requirements of the City of Auburn. The group agrees that animal control and care is a difficult commercial venture. They believe there is a disconnect befinreen the licensing fees collected and the services provided by King County, which is why licensing collection is low in Auburn. The group is considering several sites located within the City and will continue to explore options for a shelter. Mayor Lewis spoke regarding marketing efforts to increase pet licensing within the City of Auburn which would decrease costs to King County significantly. Page 6 Finance Committee Minutes June 7, 2010 G. Boeing Water and Sewer Meters Director powdy reported that the Utility Department recently processed billing adjustments for two Boeing water meters and one sewer meter. The water meters and lack of billing were brought to the attention of the City by Boeing staff. The City is atlowed to process back billing for three years. Legal staff is researching the issue to determine if the City can process a claim for additional years. Director powdy explained the process used to determine the amount owed for the back billing based on an estimated average consumption over the time period. Staff is researching the issue further at the request of the Public Works Committee. Director powdy stated that the sewer meter back-billing was due to Boeing replacement of a sewer meter that measured flows in gallons which was replaced with a meter that measured in cubic feet. The change in measurement was not communicated from Boeing to the City. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. r APPROVED THE ~ DAY OF JUNE 2010. ~Nancy c s, Chair Cathy Ric ` rdson, Deputy City Clerk Page 7