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1991-06-25 Special CC Minutes
SPECIALMEETINGOFTHECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFALAMEDA JUNE25,1991 Themeetingconvenedat7:35p.m.withPresidentWithrowpresiding. ROLLCALL-Present: Absent: CouncilmembersArnerich,Camicia,Lucas,Roth, andPresidentwithrow-5. None. HEARINGS 91-444ConsiderationofapprovalandadoptionofOperatingBudgetand CapitalImprovementsforFiscalYear1991-92,andappropriationof certainmoneysfortheexpendituresprovidedinsaidfiscalyear. DonRoberts,Alameda,statedheagreeswithPresidentWithrow's approachinlookingatcostsfirstandthenrevenues;believes citizenswantFireandPoliceDepartmentsfunded;thefirstplaceto considercuttingbackareassistantpositions,e.g.,assistantto CityManager,AssistantCityAttorney. CharlesTillman,stateditisridiculoustogointolengthybudgets; hewouldwanttoconcentrateonashort-termbudgetandmakea reassessmentandaddendumstothebudgetattheendofsixmonths; thetotalamountofliterature is difficulttoreview;andagrees withMr.Roberts;onotherreviewoccasions,noonepickedupthe intentoftheauditrequirementsbecausetoomuchinformationwas beingpresentedtoCouncilandthepublictobedigested;themattershouldbesimplified. Presidentwithrowreadthestaffrecommendationfromthereport. CouncilmemberCamiciastatedCouncilmaywishtowaituntiltheState budgetispassedbeforeproceeding,becausethecitiesmaykeep gettingcutbacksbytheStateuntilthattime. PresidentWithrowstatedCouncilneedstorememberthatabudgetisa livingdocument,couldconcurwithcertainportionsofthebudget recommendationsbutholdoffonotherelementsuntilmore is determinedaboutwhatthestateisgoingtodo;andmaywanttosend thematterbacktotheCityManagerforhimtoprovidedifferentrecommendationstopursue. CouncilmemberCamiciastatedhehasnoproblemwithallowingtheCity ManagertomakedecisionsadministrativelyuntilSacramentodecisions aremade;wouldliketosee,beforeraisingfees,alooktakenat consolidatingdepartments,contractingoutservices,e.g., investigatewhytheCityhasaHousingAuthoritywhichcouldperhaps becontractedout;alsohewouldliketolookatDepartmentHeads andpossiblyconsolidatesomeofthosepositions. CouncilmemberRothagreedwiththeneedtolookatthosethings;has June25,1991 11 problemaboutwaitinguntilthecloseoftheyeartodoit. PresidentwithrowstatedtheCityhasabudgetandwhatisneededis toadjustit;manycitiesdocontractoutsomework. CouncilmemberLucasstatedshelikestheideaoflookingatthecity administration;theideaofcontractingoutsomejobsmakesalotof sensetoher;iftheeconomypicksup,questionsifmanystaff personsaretobehiredagain;inthePlanningDepartmentfor example,someoperationshavebeencontractedout;shewouldlike theflexibilityandsavingsofcontractingsomeofthatworkout, perhapslong-termsaving,whichwouldbearealbenefit,andwould liketohearfromthecityManageronthatsubject. TheCityManagerstatedthecitycontractsoutmanyfunctions;e.g., streetrepair,resurfacing,forexample,arecontractedoutanda numberofthingshavebeenlookedatforcontracting;contracting outallowssomeflexibility;sometimestherearedisadvantages, e.g.,aparkmightbemaintainedatthesamepricebycontractingout butwithouttheadvantagesofstaffusageandthereforewouldnot havethesamevaluetotheCity;somethingscanbedonecheaper in-house;however,staffcanlookfurtheratcontractors. PresidentWithrowstatedsometimescontractorssavemoneyand sometimestheydonot;hehasfoundalsothatagreatdealcanbe gainedthroughtheexperience,toproducenewwaysthatresultin loweredcostsandbetterunderstandingofaproject. CouncilmanArnerichstatedheagreeswithCouncilmemberCamicia's suggestiontofindwhatishappeninginSacramentobeforegoing forward;itappearsCouncilisaskingpeopletoreceiveless servicesandpaymore;applaudsthosewhosaypoliceandfire servicesshouldnotbecut;hehadrequestedthecostofcertain alternatives,e.g.,closingCityHallone-halfhourperday,Monday throughFriday,furloughingemployeesone-halfdaypermonth,andthe CityManagercameupwithalmost$400,000to$900,000yethedoesnot seethisinthereport;ifanumberofcutsmustbemade,e.g., closingparksonweekends,tosave$75,000,perhapsCouncilshould findapositionpaying$75,000insalary,wagesandbenefitsandcut thatonepersontokeeptheprogramsgoing;citizensareentitledto this;Councilisgoingtolookatsomepositions;hewillsupport departments100%;feesandchargesmustbelookedatcarefully. CouncilmemberCamiciastatedheistryingtothinkofbasicchanges thatdonotraisefeesdrastically,andrethinkprovisionofservices provided;andbelievesthatiswhatCouncilshoulddo. CouncilmemberLucasstatedshehasarealproblemwithCouncilmember Arnerich'ssuggestionforcuttingbackhours;intheprivatesector, peopleworkthesamehoursforlessincomeduringarecessionandshe expectsthesameofgovernmentemployees. CouncilmanArnerichstatedduringthepastweeksomecorporationsin SiliconValleyadoptedsomethingspreviouslysuggestede.g., furloughingpeopleforahalfday;closingplantsahalf-hourearly; andtopadministrationhavetaken15to25%cutsuntilrecessionis June25,1991 1 over;perhapsCouncilshouldstartlookingtosavemoneyinsteadof chargingthepublicmore. KarenLucasstatedshebelievesthevolumeofworkisdowninsome corporations;theCity'sworkvolumeisnotdownandstaffhours shouldnotbecut;aunionproblemmayoccurbutbelievestheyneed tounderstandthatprivatebusinessworksforlessduringarecession andtheyshouldalso. councilmemberCamiciastatedhecouldnotsupportreducedhours,and CouncilmemberRothstatedhealsocouldnotsupportreducedhours. PresidentwithrowstatedherequestedameetingFriday[6/28/9lJwith laborassociationswiththeCitytogettheirfeedbackonwhatthey feeltheycando,whatadjustmentsand/orcutbackscanbemade; perhapstheywillgoalongwithano-increase. CouncilmanArnerichcommentedhebelieves approach.thatisasensible Presidentwithrowexplainedwhy,inrecessions,revenuesdropbut costsescalateandmustbecovered,aswiththewatercompany [EBMUDJ. CouncilmanArnerichstatedthewatercompanyshouldhavereservesfor leanyearsandnotbuildhugebuildings. TheCityManagerstated,asthebudgetisadynamicdocument,perhaps sometentativedecisionsshouldbemadeforthisyearandsixmonths fromnow,themattercanbebroughtbackandrevenuereviewed;could findoutwhatthestatehasdone,theoutcomeofrequestsofFinance CommitteeandGolfCommission;notedBureauofElectricity(BofE) hasmadedecisiontotransfer$700,000totheCityiftheCityallows BofEtogooutfordebtfinancing;Councilcoulddosome adjustmentstonight,authorizestafftoproceedonthoseareaswith whichCounciliscomfortable;directstafftonotmakepersonnel changesatthistime,holdoffonpurchasing,capitaloutlay, supplies;notlayoffanypositionsuntilabetterlookat·this mattertakesplacearoundthefirstofOctober;atthattime,come backandtalkaboutideasCouncilhas,e.g.,consolidating, contractingout,streamliningofCityGovernment;thatwillallow timetomeetandconferwithemployees;therewillbeaclearer knowledgeofwhatisgoingtohappenandwillgiveachancetomakea littlebetterdecision. councilmemberCamiciasuggestedCouncilacceptItemNo.3ofstaff recommendation[implementPhaseIofthebudgetreductions]andNo. 3ofthealternaterecommendationauthorizingtheCityManagerto proceedwithbudgetreductionssubjecttowhathappenswithGolf CommissionandFinanceCommitteeMeeting,andallowCityManagerto makeadministrativecuts. councilmemberLucasstatedthatmakessense,butisconcernedabout waitinguntilOctober1stasshedoesnotbelievetheeconomyor revenueswillincreasethatmuch,shouldplanahead,seismicwork mustbedoneonCityHall,andpositionsshouldnotbekeptinplace June25,1991 1 untilOctober. TheCityManagerstatedhechoseOctober1stbecausegreatest reductionsinpersonnelstartOctober1st,andnotede.g.,positionsthatwillbeeliminated. Councilmember consolidation aspossible. Lucasstatedhermainconcernisthatshewouldlike ofdepartments,andcontractingout,lookedatassoon TheCityManagergavealternativesforaction,e.g.,budgetcanbe leftasisandchangedatalaterdatebutmoneysneedtobe appropriatedtopaynecessaryitems;statedstaffhasalreadyheld openmanypositions;staffwasinstructedbyCounciltocutback $1,100,000andhassavedcloseto$1,500,000. CouncilmanArnerichcommendeddepartmentheadsfordoingexemplary jobofbelt-tighteninginthepastyear;wouldlikeCounciltomove onitemsdiscussedbutnottoofast,mustdotherightthing;and shouldseewhathappenstotheeconomy. CouncilmemberCamiciastatedhewouldliketheCityManagertohave someleewayforadministrativedecision;doesnotminddiscussing consolidation,contractingout,whicharebasicstructuralchanges, butdoesnotwanttocometooclosetopersonneldecisions. CouncilmemberRothstatedthefurthercutsareheldoff,themore deficitwillneedtobemadeup. CouncilmemberLucascommentedonvotingonCabletaxatthenextmeeting. TheCityManagernotedthenextmeetingmaybetootight,perhapsin acoupleofweeksifCouncilwouldlikeaspecialmeeting,andby thentheremaybeanswersfromthestate. CouncilmemberCamiciamovedItemNo.3ofthestaffrecommendation [ImplementPhaseIofthebudgetreductionsandItemNo.3 of alternaterecommendationswhichisadministrativebudgetreductions, andwouldprefermattercomebackseptember1st.CouncilmemberLucassecondedthemotion. CouncilmemberRothstatedheiscomfortablewiththat. TheCityManagerstatedworkoncontractingouttakestime,need RequestsforProposalsandsomestudies;comingbackSeptember1st wouldgiveopportunitytobringthingsbeforeCounciland'allow thirtydaystoaccomplishwhatCouncilwantsandreturnonOctober1st. Themotionwascarriedbyunanimousvoicevote-5. ReportandRecommendation 91-445FromCityManagerrecommendingCouncilauthorizethe collectionofexistingutilityUsersTaxonCableTelevisionpursuant June25,1991 18 toOrdinance2502N.S. councilmemberCamiciareportedCableTelevisionpersonswereadvised lateaboutthemeetingandwouldlikethematterputofftoa regularlyscheduledmeeting,andhehadinformedthemithasusually beenCouncil'spracticetohonorsucharequest,andmovedtoputthe matterofftotheJuly16thCouncilmeeting.CouncilmanArnerich secondedthemotion. councilmemberLucasinquiredifthetwospeakersfromtheaudience wereamenabletohavingthematterheldover. Presidentwithrowinquiredifthespeakerswereagreeableandboth [DonRobertsandVernaMarsh]agreed. Themotionwascarriedbyunanimousvoicevote-5. 91-446ResolutionNo.12123"EstablishingFireDepartmentEmergency AmbulanceTransportFees."[Agendizedas"Establishingfeesfor variouscityservicesandpermits."] councilmember improperfee thefeesare amounts. Rothcommentedregardingfees,noted$1.00isnotan forphotocopyingbecausethatincludeslabor,however notconsistent;differentofficeschargedifferent TheCityManagerexplainedfeesarebasedontime,includinc retrievalofdocuments,sometimesarchivalresearchonotherfloors ofcityHall,blockingoutofprivateinformationasrequiredonsome Policerecords;theintentisforpeoplewhowantextraserviceto payforitsothecostwillnotreverttobeingsubsidizedby propertytaxpayers;incertainareasitisdesireabletoencourage peoplee.g.,tocomeinandgetvariances,andsomesubsidiesare appropriate. CouncilmemberRothstatedthatwasasatisfactoryanswer. councilmanArnerichnotedthecostofsubscriptionsforagendasin theCityClerks'sofficeandinquiredifthatincludedmailing,to whichtheCityManagerrepliedaffirmatively. CouncilmanArnerich instance;andadded liketositdownwith thenexttwoorthree commentedhecould itisnecessaryto departmentsand months. understandthecostinthat reviewuserfees,andwould gothroughtheuserfeesin councilmemberLucasstatedsheseesPlanningisincludedandshe suggestedincludingplanningfunctioninthecontractingreview;if thatistobedone,itdoesnotmakesensetoincreasethefeesat thispointiftheremaybeanotherchangeonseptember1st:she wouldfeelmorecomfortableifCouncillookedatfeesbutnotfor thosefunctionsthatmightbeincludedincontractingsituations. TheCityManagerstatedthemattercouldbeagendizedtothesame meetingastheutilityUser'staxandgiveopportunityforCouncilto askquestionsandbringthetwoitemsbackseparately. June25,1991 1 CouncilmemberRothstatedhewouldliketopulloutoneitemtopass, thefiredepartmentambulance;theCityissubsidizinginsurancecompanies. TheFireChiefstatedambulancefeeshavealwaysbeencomparedto privatecompanycharges,currentlythedepartmentisonlygetting about70%ofwhataprivatecompanywouldChargeforaBasicLife Support(BSL)ambulanceservice,andabout40%to50%ofwhatthe CountychargesfortheirAdvancedLifeAmbulanceService,sothe recommendationistotakethedepartmentbackto90%ofwhatprivate ambulancecompaniescurrentlychargeforBSLService;atthoserates mostprivateinsurancecompanies,Kaiser,MedicareorMediCal,will handlealmostallofthebillandthereforethecitizenshavealmostnoout-of-pocketexpense. CouncilmemberRothmovedthat Camiciasecondedthemotion.fee be increased.Councilmember CouncilmemberLucasstatedshebelievesitisagoodideatostartcollectingthefee. Presidentwithrowstateditmakessensetohim;heseesnoreasonto subsidizetheinsurancecompanies. Themotionwascarriedbythefollowingvoicevote:Ayes: CouncilmembersCamicia,Lucas,RothandPresidentWithrow-4.Noes: CouncilmanArnerich-1.Absent:None. CouncilmemberLucasmadeamotiontoputoverthebalanceofthis item,exceptforPlanningfeesbeputontheJuly16thagenda. CouncilmemberCamiciasecondedthemotionwhichcarriedbyunanimousvoicevote-5. 91-447FromCityManagerrecommendingrescissionofFebruary5,1991, actionofCouncilwhichreturned$700,000ofexcessearningstotheBureauofElectricity. TheCityManagerstatedthePublicutilitiesBoardmettheprevious night(June24,1991)andbyresolutionestablishedtheamountof transfertotheGeneralFundwhichwas$2,365,000andanadditional $700,000bevoluntarilytransferredbaseduponCityCouncil's authorizationoffinancingoftheServiceCenterBuildingProject,to makemajorrenovationtotheirbuilding;Councildoesnotneedto rescindactionbecausethePUBhasagreedtotransfer$700,000. CouncilmemberLucasinquiredwhattheBofEhasdonetocuttheir budget,andtheamountoftheirimprovements. TheCityManagerrepliednoreductionhasbeenmade,andtheamount ofimprovementsisapproximately$3,000,000. CouncilmemberLucasstatedsheisnotsurethatcutscannotbemade intheirbudgetorbuildingplan. June25,1991 18 PresidentWithrowstatedthePUBshouldbecommendedfortheirmove todebt-financinginsteadofcashbecauseduringrecessionaryperioc isthetimeapublicsectorshouldbeborrowingmoney;byfinancing inthismanner,itwilllowercostofservicefor25to30yearsfor Alamedacitizens. CouncilmanArnerichinquiredaboutthePUBmeeting,towhichthe AssistantCityManagerstatedtheBureaustaffformulatedaplanto reduce5%ofthebudgetwithanumberofcutsthatwouldhaveno serviceimpact;therewasnodesireattheBoardleveltomakeany cuts,askedtheGeneralManagerifthereisnoserviceimpact,can thoseareasthatwillnotimpactservicebepostponed,deferred,cut, andheagreedtheBureauwoulddothat;acommitmentwasmadethat whereprojectswerenotnecessary,theBureauwouldnotundertakethe projectsjustbecausetherewasmoneyinthebudget. Counci1memberLucasstatedshehasaconcernCouncilwillaskstaff toacceptcutsandmodifydemandsandyettheBureauemployeesare notbeingaskedtodoanyofthosethingsandshebelievesthatis unfair;wouldliketoseesomecutsmadeandtheimpactofthe budgetproblemsoftheCityevenedout. councilmemberRothmovedtotakenoaction[which,ineffect, notrescindpreviousaction].CouncilmanArnerichseconded motionwhichcarriedbyunanimousvoicevote-5. will the 91-448ResolutionNo.12124"AppropriatingcertainmoneysforthE expendituresprovidedinsaidfiscalyear."[Agendizedas"Approving andadoptingtheOperatingBudgetandCapitalImprovementsforFiscal Year1991-92,andappropriatingcertainmoneys·fortheexpenditures providedinsaidfiscalyear."] TheCityManagerstatedCouncilcanauthorizecontinuing appropriationstopayforbillsuntilsuchtimeafinaldecisionis madeonthebudget. councilmemberRothsomoved. CouncilmanArnerichinquirediftheactionaffirmswhat undertheHearingandtheCityManagerresponded CouncilmemberRoth'smotionforcontinuingappropriations. was yes done plus CouncilmanArnerichsecondedthemotion unanimousvoicevote-5.whichwascarriedby 91-449ResolutionNo.12125"ApprovingSupplementalAgreementtothe AlamedaPoliceAssociationMemorandumofUnderstandingforthe ExtendedPeriodJanuary1,1990throughDecember31,1992." councilmanArnerichmovedadoption.CouncilmemberRothsecondedthe motionwhichwascarriedbyunanimousvoicevote-5. June25,1991 18 ADJOURNMENT PresidentWithrowadjournedthemeetingat9:00p.m. Respectfullysubmitted, PatriciaCalbreath DeputyCityClerk TheagendaforthismeetingwaspostedinadvanceinaccordancewiththeBrownAct. June25,199~