05-01-1989 - Regular Meeting - Minutes• The adjourned regular
meeting of the West C6vina;City Council was called to order
by Mayor Bacon in the
Multipurpose Room at City Hall, 1444 W., Garvey Avenue, West -
Covina. The Pledge-of^Allegiaiice was led by_the'Mayor.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Bacon, Mayor Pro"Tem Lewis, Councilmembers Manners,
McFadden, and Tarozzi
,-Others Present:
Fast,'Meacham, Thomas, Miller, Eliot, Koniarksy, Panas,
Irwin, Wolff, Keating, Gardner, Jung, Fry, Yoshizaki,
Berry
BUDGET/SERVICE LEVELS 'STUDY SESSION .(continued from 4/22)
City Manager'Fast reviewed the session of April 22, 1989,
and the two prior study sessions of February 6 and 7.
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He reiterated thefindings.,of the Citizens Committee
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Staff presentation..
and the three scenarious presented on the 22nd incor-:--
porating various levels of budget cuts with their
corresponding impacts on the current levels of service.
He showed West Covina statistics against those of other'
cities in the areas of residential vs'commercial parcels,
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property tax, sales tax, and city budgets.
City Manager Fast acknowledged that'Council's decision
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would directly influence the continued levels of service
and economic development necessary to.sustain that service
He concluded with recommending the continuance of the
well thought out, prudent service level that is now in
place''continue to encourage economic development through
Redeye- ment'on'a,,selectibe basis, and address the-.
major capital improvement program'through.a voter
approved new revenue: source as.recommended by the
Citizens'Committee
Councilmember''Tarozzi commenced council comments with two
Council discussion
recommendations. The first recommendation was reviewing
storm drains and perhaps eliminating that need from the
capital improvementprogram until sometime in the future.
The second recommendation,included the following budgetary
cuts:
Tarozzi
a) 10% cut in Materials and'Services
b), 50% cut -in trips'and,conferences, except for
the•Police'Department and Fire Department.
c), cutting'the Business Improvement Tax by $200,000
or $250;000.
d)- Eliminate CATV,in the amount of $116,000.
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e). 5% cut in personnel in areas not covered by MOUs.
f) Impos'e_a-one�year salary freezel" r
Councilmember McFaC, fen recommended the following:
a) 10% cut in non -police and fire, either in per -
McFadden
sonnel,'or materials and,services.
b)' Utilize 25%,of the 85%.sales tax increment from
the'Fashion Plaza expansion project
c) Call up all the Redevelopment Agency obligations
legally possible.
d) Use contingency funds.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
".- Mav'1', 1989
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- Page Two
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Councilmember Manners'noted the possibility of -gas tax
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money .inthe near future, depending on legislation.. She
explained other areas in which the City may find
additional revenues: Auto Plaza expansion, cutting a
Manners
selective number,of personnel, decreasing the amounts
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used. in Materials & Services including per diems, given
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Council stipendsfor aperiod-of times, limiting the paper
reproduction that has been experienced this past year,
generating City Attorney opinions when absolutely needed,
and Eastland Towers will soon start generating revenues
for the City.
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- •. She noted her opposition to salary freezes. Making
the employees.pay for the services that will be enjoyed
by all cifizens'is not the way'to'handle the situation.
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Although she preferred not to dip into. the contingency
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fund, she felt $2 million this year just might be off-
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set by the revenues from the above mentioned items.
Mayor Pro Tem Lewis commented on research he had done in
Lewis
regards to other cities' budgets vs the size of each
city. He felt the City of West Covina was well managed
and expenses very controlled. He opposed cutbacks in
personnel as being detrimental to long range planning
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forthe.City. Be.supported maintaining the same level
of service currently enjoyed in the City.
Mayor Bacon felt theCouncil's decision for the evening
Bacon'
was whether or ,not to continue the basic level of services
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that are currently in place and -at -the same time correct
the problems that are daily getting worse. He noted the
need,to find other sources of revenues, rather than cut- ,
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ting service levels or the operating budget. He recom-
mended referring the matter back to staff, keeping in
mind the comments made this evening.
+Motion.,by�Lewis, seconded'by Manners that the levels
of'service should,not be changed (pursuant•,to McFadden's
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recommendation) and other means of funding capital
improvements'should be found', and direct the staff to
come back with some' suggestions,as to other sources of
funding. Council comments ensued.
The motion was•restated and the vote taken:
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AYES: McFadden, Mariners,, .Lewis, Bacon
- NOES: Tarozzi
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Jim Denholtz, 1302 W.,Barbara, asked why the Council
Jim Denholtz-
was giving away the sales tax.
Tom Lorincz' -
Tom Lorincz, 1020 Sandy Hook, spokeas a member of the
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Citizens' Committee and addressed Tarozzi's recommenda-
tions.
Katherine Castucci
-Katherine Castucci,.430 S._Pima Avenue, suggested taking
'from'the
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into consideration revenues Poss project, ,
closing parks and selling the"land to avert vandals.
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;the
Steve Herfert, 1124 Donna Beth, suggested Council re-
Steve Herfert
evaluate the.Citizens'"Committee recommendations and
felt there was still fat in the budget.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 1, 1989
Page Three
Kathy Howard Kathy Howard, 1428 E. Merced, felt the City has been
diverting funds from street maintenance to other areas
in the budget.
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ADJOURNMENT Motion by Manners, seconded by Tarozzi, and unanimously
carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 pm.
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ATPEST: Q`✓ t
-----Mayor Robert L. Bacon
City Clerk Janet B r
F