HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-2012 9-26-2012 CITY Or - •--� Special City Council Meeting
URN� September 26, 2012 - 5:00 PM
It Auburn City Hall
WASHINGTON MINUTES
I CALL TO ORDER
The special meeting of the City Council convened at 5.05 p.m. at Auburn City Hall.
Councilmembers present included Rich Wagner, Nancy Backus, John Partridge, Bill
Peloza, Largo Wales, Wayne Osborne and John Holman
Also present were Mayor Peter B. Lewis, Finance Director Shelley Coleman,
Financial Planning Manager Martin Chaw, Chief of Police Robert Lee, Public Works
Director Dennis Dowdy, Human Resources and Risk Management Director Brenda
Heineman, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Innovation and
Technology Director Lorne Rempher, Planning and Development Director Kevin
Snyder, City Attorney Dan Heid and Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell
II DISCUSSION ITEMS
A 2013-2014 Budget Review (Coleman)
Director Coleman stated the meeting will cover the General Fund and Special
Revenue funds portion of the 2013 - 2014 Budget. The final proposed budget
will be provided to Council by November 1, 2012.
Director Coleman shared factors used to develop the budget including a slow
improvement in local, regional and national economy, permanent reduction to
the liquor taxes and profits and an increase in cost pressures from rising health
care costs and pension contributions The principles used to establish the
general fund budget included preserving the existing level of services, support
of the City's workforce, conservative financial planning and ending 2014 with a
minimum reserve balance equal to eight percent of operating expenditures.
Director Coleman shared the revenue sources and expenses for the 2013-
2014 General Fund budget. Salaries and wages make up 40 percent of the total
General Fund expenses The largest revenue sources include property, sales
and utility taxes Councilmember Osborne confirmed if the revenue included all
the fees for park and recreation activities and theater rentals.
Director Coleman reviewed the General Fund revenue challenges including the
decrease in assessed value and reaching the limit for the property tax levy,
reduction to streamlined sales tax by legislative action, suspension of the liquor
excise tax, loss of the future liquor sales profits beyond 2011 levels and the
COPS grant expiring at the end of 2012. In addition, the City's contribution for
health care and PERS 1 and 2 pension funds will increase over the next two
years
Councilmember Peloza said before the State privatized the liquor sales It was
his understanding the City would be in a better position financially with the new
system. Director Coleman said the new legislation retains the excise tax and
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the licensing fee for the State. The City will receive the profits at the 2011 level
and through legislative action, the State has taken all liquor excise tax until July
1, 2013 Councilmember Holman asked for the amount the City received from
the onetime offset from the sales of the liquor stores Director Coleman said it
was $188,000.
Director Coleman presented the Council with an overview of the 2013 - 2014
Financial Plan. She started with the Council and Mayor's budget. There are no
significant budgetary changes. There was an internal reorganization of the
departments under the Mayor Community Services now reports to the Planning
Department and the Community Services Manager has been reclassified as the
Adviser to Mayor Council discussed the staff changes and the impact those
changes will have on the Mayor's budget.
Councilmember Peloza asked for the breakdown of the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Director Coleman stated the
approximately $118,000 goes to administrative costs, $100,000 to the Green
River Small Business Assistance Center, and the balance of$240,000 pays for
home repair
Director Coleman reviewed the Human Resources budget The Court and
public defense contract is now included in the Human Resources budget The
significant budget changes include termination of the Municipal Court and the
Probation operations and resuming those operations with King County The
Risk Manager was promoted to the Assistant Human Resources Director and
still handles risk management. Councilmember Peloza requested the
Association of Washington Cities Wellness program and maintaining the City of
Auburn position in the top 20 for the prescription program be added to the goals
for 2013 She added the objective of becoming a "Well City" to receive the two
percent discount has been tasked to the employment manager and she would
include the goal to work with Council on maintaining the City's position with the
prescription drug program The City has five union contracts to negotiate in the
coming year and the court transition will be a large change to the Human
Resources Director duties. Councilmember Peloza asked for the reasoning for
the large increase in the intergovernmental charges The change is associated
with the changes in the court system Councilmember Peloza asked for the
miscellaneous charges for bus passes Director Coleman stated the City is
required by law to have a trip reduction program and the bus passes are a part
of the City's program
Director Coleman reviewed the City Attorney budget. There are no significant
changes. Director Heid stated the department's budget is the same as it was in
2000 He added the department is also doing more in house than in 2000.
Director Coleman presented the Planning Department budget. The Mayor has
recommended the following program improvements; 20-year Comprehensive
Plan update, restoration site maintenance, and national flood insurance
coordination. The changes to the General Fund portion of the budget include
elimination of the animal control services and $50,000 for canvassers. The
internal reorganization has added Community Services to the Planning
Department Council discussed the charges and allocation of funds for Facilities
and Innovation and Technology Councilmember Peloza asked what the
process is to have an approved Transportation Plan certified by the Puget
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Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Mayor Lewis stated PSRC has processes
outlined for the approval process. Councilmember Holman asked if the City has
any expected changes to the potential annexation area Mayor Lewis stated the
City has no further territorial ambitions at this point He said the long term
planning for the area around Lake Tapps needs to be considered by the cities
of Auburn, Sumner, Bonney lake and Buckley Councilmember Holman
recommended working with the other cities in the region to anticipate the
needed growth for the region. Councilmember Wagner suggested talking to
Pierce County councdmembers regarding the concerns and needs of the City of
Auburn
Director Coleman reviewed the Police Department proposed budget The Police
Department has proposed new programs including speech recognition
software, public safety security compliance, and forensic cell phone equipment
As part of the reorganization, Emergency Management is now part of the Public
Works department. The SCORE jail budget is based upon 122ADP in 2013 and
88ADP in 2014.
Councilmember Wales noted the new positions added to the budget have been
approved in 2012 budget amendments. Councilmember Holman clarified the
difference between the state and federal seizure laws. The City's seizure's are
mostly through the state Councilmember Wales asked if the revenue
generated from traffic enforcement covers the parking enforcement officer's
wages. Chief Lee said the fines and fees cover the salaries. Councilmember
Wales asked what portion of time the officer assigned to DARE spends on the
DARE program and what portion is spent on accreditation tasks Chief Lee
stated the officer spends approximately three fourths of her time on DARE and
the remainder of her time on accreditation Councilmember Partridge asked
why the emergency management personnel were reassigned to the Public
Works Department. Mayor Lewis said the duties required for this position work
more closely with Public Works than the Police Department. With the move,
the City will have a more streamlined approach to the emergency.
Councilmember Peloza confirmed the towing charges incurred by DUI
offenders are passed through to the offender He also requested the police
department monitor the idling of vehicles more closely to reduce fuel costs.
Director Coleman reviewed the Public Works Department budget The Mayor
has proposed new programs including the Comprehensive Plan update, Mobile
LiDAR funding and the Automatic Vehicle Locater. The department has two
new divisions, Emergency Management and Facilities Management Director
Dowdy stated the Automatic Vehicle locater will monitor idle time of vehicles
along with real time location of each vehicle Councilmember Wales asked if the
budget includes money to maintain the medians Director Dowdy said the
medians would fall under the Parks Department
Director Coleman reviewed the Parks Department budget The only proposed
program approved by the Mayor is the parks portion of the Automatic Vehicle
locater program Councilmember Peloza requested the Tree City USA be under
the accomplishments for 2012 Councilmember Partridge asked for additional
sites being considered as dog parks Mayor Lewis stated the City is seeing how
the current dog park does for a few seasons before expanding the program
Councilmember Osborne asked where the $30,000 for the Arts Commission is
located in the budget Director Coleman said that is part of the Capital Projects
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portion of the budget. Councilmember Partridge asked what the added
expenditure under Capital Outlays is connected to. Director Coleman
responded the expenditure is for the new flooring in the Millennium room
Councilmember Osborne asked why there is such a large bump in the printing
costs. Director Coleman said it is based upon actual usage from the prior year
Councilmember Wales asked if the Farmer's Market covers expenses Director
Faber stated it is not self-sustaining
Director Coleman presented the Finance Department proposed budget The
Finance budget encompasses many miscellaneous areas The Non
Departmental portion of the General Fund pays for the Auburn Valley Regional
Humane Society, Library bond, Valley Communications, and transfers in and
out for Innovations and Technology.
Councilmember Peloza asked if the City has a plan for collecting the funds from
Auburn Valley Regional Humane Society debt repayment Councilmember
Partridge asked about the revenue from animal licensing. Mayor Lewis said the
City is still finalizing the procedure on transferring the licensing for the citizens.
He said the City will request a refund from King County for the amount of time
citizens have paid for services not received Director Snyder said the City is in
talks with the vendor to provide online and mad in services.
The Cumulative Reserve fund has budgeted approximately $2.9 million in
transfers that traditionally have been budgeted from the General Fund for
library bonds, Golf Course debt services, loans, and fund support
The Mitigation Fees fund has $1 1 million in transfers scheduled for the Local
Street Fund and the Parks Capital and General Capital improvements.
Councilmember Partridge confirmed that the King County District Court
Contingency will cover the total expenses for the transition. Councilmember
Wales confirmed the expenditures for the Court employees severance
packages are budgeted in 2012.
III ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7.19 p m
APPRO Ed§ October, 2012
Peter B. Lewis, Mayor Shawn Campbell, Deputy C ierk--
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