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05-20-1996 - Special Meeting - Minutes46 • • MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING OF THE WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL May 20, 1996 The special meeting of the West Covina City Council was called to order by Mayor Touhey at 6:33 pm in the Management Resource Center at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina, California. ROLL CALL Mayor Touhey, Mayor Pro Tern McFadden, Councilmembers Manners, Wong Others Present: Starbird, Wylie, Buchanan, Mayer, Bommarito, Markham, Jones, Hoppe, Miller, Fredrics, Bonaparte, Mclsaac, Glover, Ure, Collier, Samaniego, Tong, Greene, Koniarsky, Tucker, Panas, Fong, Yoshizaki, Distelrath PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA No comments offered. BUDGET STUDY SESSION City Manager Starbird commenced the meeting with an overview of the last study session (May 13) which reviewed the general revenue and expenditure picture of the General Fund and the general fiscal picture of the City's other funds for the upcoming year. In that meeting, the City's Public Safety Departments' budgets were discussed. He noted that this meeting would attempt to cover the remaining City departments' budgets. PUBLIC WORKS City Engineer Patrick Glover began his presentation with the accomplishments achieved by the Engineering,'Building and Maintenance departments in FY 1995-96. Mr. Glover emphasized that the Maintenance Department is in the middle of its transition plan, having reduced staffing from 75 to 67, resulting in $370,000 in savings to the General Fund in the current fiscal year. Mr. Glover continued with a budget comparison of FY 95/96 vs FY 96/97, noting that the outlook for FY 96/97 will produce approximately $300,000 in savings. He reminded the Council that only 8% of the total department budget was from the General Fund; adding that of the 8%, the majority was in the Building Department which charges fees to offset services. Mr. Glover cited that with the transition plan, staffing has been reduced 19.4% in three years. Mr. Glover concluded his presentation with an overview of the department's goals for FY 96/97. Council comment Mayor Touhey requested information on the process the City has been pursuing on the possible sale of the water company. Mr. Glover responded that the City has received the document from, Suburban Water Company it is being reviewed. PLANNING SERVICES Planning Director Collier began his presentation with the 1995/96 Planning, Transportation and Code Enforcement departments' accomplishments and goals for the upcoming fiscal year. During the discussion, Mr. Collier presented the idea of a "One Stop' counter of which City Manager Starbird described the concept in detail. In addition, Mr. Starbird mentioned that he had asked the Planning Director to pursue the possibility of utilizing some CDBG funding to supplement Code Enforcement efforts. He stated that the City's low -moderate income census tracts qualify for CDBG funds. Council minutes of May 20, 1996 Council comment Councilmember Wong suggested the City look into an "amnesty' program relating to work performed without permits which, in turn, may have some financial benefits to the City. Mr. Collier continued with a look at the proposed budget for FY 1996/97 noting that the total budget is approximately a 5.5% to 6% reduction with most of the reduction being in Personnel ' Services. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Environmental Services Director Miller commenced his presentation stating that the department's budget and work plan is set up on a continuing basis. He continued with a review of accomplishments and objectives of the following: Waste Management Landfill Enforcement Air Quality City Manager asked if the City is part of the group that is doing planning on the electric corridor. Mr. Miller responded yes and stated that staff has been working closely with the Council of Governments for a recommendation on what projects the City should be pursuing to be able to use AB 2766 moneys not limited to electric vehicles. Council comment Mayor Touhey requested a copy of the Siting Map and directed staff to forward one to each member of the Waste Management & Environmental Quality Commission. Mr. Miller concluded by pointing out that the total proposed department budget has an increase of only 2.2%. WASTE MANAGEMENT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY Waste Management Enforcement Manager Steve Samaniego began his presentation with highlights of the Agency's work program and its accomplishments. He stated that among the accomplishments was a decrease in the frequency of public complaints, to which City Manager Starbird asked if the nature of the complaints had changed or the number of complaints. Mr. Samaniego responded that it is the number of complaints that has changed due to the daily operations compliance. Mr. Samaniego noted an overall savings of 34.8% in the proposed FY 96/97 budget from the previous year. He explained that the Personnel Services percentage change is due to the elimination of limited service personnel, and the Materials & Services change is the result in a decrease in legal and contractual services. HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT Senior Citizens' Center Senior Citizens' Services Supervisor Pat Bommarito gave an overview of the Center's 1995-96 highlights, staffing, proposed 1996-97 budget, fee and charge revenue sources chart and goals for FY 1996/97. Council comment Councilmember Manners asked how many seniors were involved • in the computer course. Ms. Bommarito responded that the Center is not presently offering classes, but the seniors may use the computer lab for practice until a concrete program has been implemented. City Manager Starbird noted that the senior program is approximately two-thirds supported by fee and charge. He continued with the fact that many of the Human Services smin05.20 Council minutes of May 20, 1996 programs are self-sufficient (i.e. the Meals Program, the County Grant Program, Bingo Programs). Mayor Touhey asked if any of the fee and charge programs are outside of the Senior Center. Mr. Starbird responded that profits from the fee and charge programs are combined into one "pot", which makes it possible for other programs to "draw' from the ' "pot.,, Recreation Services Superintendent of Recreation Services Greg Jones reviewed Recreation Services 1995/96 highlights, 1996/97 goals, proposed 1996/97 budget and fiscal history for Recreation/Senior Center. He explained that the proposed 1996/97 General Fund budget increased by $12,000 due to limited service personnel, and Fee and Charge increased by approximately $108,000 which reflects an increase in the limited service staffing levels. Council comment Mayor Touhey asked about the increase in limited service staffing levels. Mr. Jones responded that the increase in staffing is due to an increase in participants in the daycare programs, which requires the City to maintain an 8 to 1 ratio. City Manager Starbird added that any increase in Fee & Charge means that the programs that generate fees are becoming more active. Mayor Pro Tern McFadden asked if the increase in Fee & Charge is due to the MSI study. City Manager Starbird explained that the Fee & Charge increase is the result of a marketing of services, along with the County Grant Program and removing some of the overhead burden from the General Fund. Transportation Funding Human Services Program Administrator Clarence Markham Propositions A & C started his presentation, by noting that Propositions A & C funds originate from sales taxes from the County. He then proceeds with Prop A highlights of 1995/96, the 1996/97 Prop A program and proposed 1996/97 budget. City Manager Starbird requested some comparative figures on Shuttle Service and Dial -A -Ride ridership with other communities. He stated that it would be interesting to see how the City's ridership compares to that of other cities. Council comments In addition, Mayor Touhey requested ridership hours, noting that there are times when the vehicles are without passengers. Councilmember Manners asked if the complaints had decreased on the Dial -A -Ride. She stated that she was still receiving complaints regarding having to wait too long, not keeping appointments, among other things. Ms. Manners also raised concerns about entrance and exit railings on the vehicles. Councilmember Wong asked how many complaints does the City receive on an average in one month. Mr. Markham emphasized that passenger sometimes complained about not reaching their destination on time. He explained that • there are times when there are three or more passengers that may need to be at different destinations at the same time, which . makes it difficult to accommodate everyone. He then continued his presentation on the Prop A Appropriations, stating that the proposed 1996/97 budget is basically a rollover from 1995/96, and the increase in Materials & Services is a result of contract renewals for the Shuttle Service and Dial -A -Ride, along with the increase in the prices of fuel. Mr. Markham concluded his presentation with the 1995/96 highlights of Prop C and the 1996/97 proposed budget, noting that there are no funds in smin05.20 Council minutes of May 20, 1996 Personnel Services because Administrative costs come from Prop A funds. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES and GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Assistant City Manager Steve Wylie began his presentation with an overview of highlights of the following departments: Finance Reprographic Services Information Systems Personnel Services Risk Management Office of the City Clerk City Manager's Office Council comment Mayor Touhey asked staff to research the possibility of a senior discount on pet licenses. Mr. Wylie responded that license renewal notices had already been mailed to pet owners and the City would possibly have to wait until the next licensing period to offer a discount. City Manager Starbird noted that the Council could consider a rebate for low-income senior citizens. Mr. Wylie continued his presentation with the goals for the upcoming fiscal year, including a detailed explanation of the City's proposed installation of an Internet Website and the implementation of a Geographic Information System. He concluded the presentation with an overview of the proposed budget for 1996-97, noting an overall increase of 4.6% over the FY 1995-96. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Manners, seconded by Touhey to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Motion carried 4-0. M yor Michael Touhey ATTEST: City Clerk.Janet Berry smin05.20 rd