05-18-1995 - Special Meeting - MinutesM I N U T E S
SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
May 18, 1995
. The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order
by Mayor Herfert at 5:48 pm in the Management Resource Center at City
Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
ROLL CALL Mayor Herfert, Mayor Pro Tem Touhey, Councilmember
Wong. Councilmember McFadden arrived at 6:04 pm.
Absent: Councilmember Manners
Others Present: Starbird, Wylie, Koniarsky, Panis, Delgadillo, Ure,
Glover, Patton, Salazar, Keating, Janis, Langston,
Parker, Samaniego, Yoshizaki, Collier, Winters,
Hoppe, Anello, Bovard, Berry
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA No comments offered.
BUDGET PREVIEW The budget preview commenced with an explanation by
the Assistant City Manager about the computerized
projections on the screen. The borrowed equipment
will be used for the public meeting as well (set for
May 22), which will enable the television audience to
clearly see charts and information being presented at
the Council meeting.
City Manager Starbird presented an overview of the
current fiscal year, noting that the general fund
balance for 6/30/95 should be $10,562,117. He con-
tinued with a discussion of the fiscal challenges
facing the City for FY 95/96, including expected
revenues. He addressed service values and assump-
tions used in preparing the preliminary "budget.
Departments employed a variety of balancing measures,
including elimination of positions, and these were
discussed as the City Manager outlined each depart-
ment.
Recess Mayor Herfert recessed the City Council meeting at
7:10 pm, noting that he would have to leave the
meeting for a short time. Mayor Pro Tem Touhey
reconvened the meeting at 7:20 pm with Manners and
Herfert absent.
Police Department Police Chief Distelrath presented the Police Depart-
ment's goals and objectives for the upcoming year.
He discussed the impact on the department with the
elimination of the Crime Analyst and the Photo
Technician. Over the last five years, eight posi-
tions have been eliminated in the Police Department.
Council comment Mayor Pro Tem Touhey asked to be provided with
the exact years when those eight positions had been
removed from the Department's budget.
Chief Distelrath emphasized that in comparison to
cities similar in size to West Covina and with the
increase in crime over the years, the number of sworn
personnel in the Department should be increased. At
the present time, the response time for Priority One
calls (life -threatening) is seven minutes.
Minutes of May 18, 1995
2
Fire Department Fire Chief Greene explained the current level of
service provided by the Fire Department and six
alternative service levels that would provide a
positive impact on the General Fund by at least
$250,000 the first year. The alternatives recon-
figure the department's personnel and fire apparatus.
All the alternatives reduce the number of fire-
fighters except Alternative Service Level X, which
maintains the current number of firefighters. Alter-
native X is also the only alternative that would
reduce the overall Fire budget while generating rev-
enues at the same time. Revenues would be generated
by implementing a transport program. Transporting
victims is currently provided by ambulance companies
who charge the victims for that service. The Fire
Department would also charge a fee, but at a reduced
amount. The conservative projected amount of
$650,000 is based on the number of runs currently
experienced in West Covina and an estimate of
uncollectible billings that is likely to happen.
Mayor Herfert returned at 8:35 pm.
Fire Chief Greene explained that each of the alter-
natives was viable and are currently utilized by one
city or another. Sometime during the budgetary pro-
cess, he hoped to gain Council's direction as to
which alternative they preferred for the City of West
Covina.
Council comments Councilmember McFadden stated that he would have to
leave the meeting, but wanted it known that he was
opposed to personnel reductions in the Planning De-
partment.
Mayor Pro Tem Touhey stated that there was
plenty of work in the Planning Department now because
of.the BKK litigation issues, but once those issues
were resolved, Planning's workload would be reduced.
Councilmember McFadden left the meeting at 8:55 pm.
Human Services Human Services Director Salazar presented his depart-
ment's preliminary budget for FY 95/96 which includes
a shift of $20,000 of miscellaneous programs to Fee
and Charge and the elimination of two Recreation
Supervisors ($128,080). He discussed the impact of
these reductions, as well as the overall decrease in
reliance on the General Fund.
Council comments Mayor Herfert stated that he was not favorably dis-
posed to contracting out for recreational services at
the park centers. He also felt that the proposed
personnel eliminations were "Indians" and not
"Chiefs". Human Services Director Salazar noted that
the two Recreation Supervisors are management posi-
tions.
�. Planning Department Planning Director Collier reviewed the Department's
work program and the impact of eliminating a Planning
Assistant. He also shared Code Enforcement's city-
wide map which depicts the number and whereabouts of
each of the complaints they receive. At the present
time, Code Enforcement is experiencing a backlog of
150 complaints (three weeks worth of complaints)
before they can respond to new calls for service.
Minutes of May 18, 1995
3
City Manager Starbird stated that the next scheduled
budget session is slated for Monday, May 22 at 7:30
pm in the Council Chambers for the purpose of seeking
citizen input.
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Touhey and seconded by Herfert to adjourn
the meeting at 9:30 pm. Motion carried 3-0.
ATTEST:
City Clerk—jarie Bg y
I]
Mayor Steve Herfe