05-14-2008 - Special Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
May 14, 2008
Mayor Lane called to order the special meeting of the West Covina City Council at 6:15 p.m. in the City
Manager's Conference Room at City Hall, '1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
ROLL CALL Mayor Lane, Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez
Councilmembers Herfert, Touhey
Absent: Councilmember Sanderson
Others Present: Pasmant, R. Olivarez, Fields, Bachman
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
CLOSED SESSION
Recess
OPEN SESSION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Absent:
Others Present:
No comments offered.
Mayor Lane commenced the closed session at 6:20 p.m. to discuss
the following matter:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
City Negotiators: Fields, Bachman
• Employee Organizations:
- West Covina Firefighters' Management Association
- West Covina Police Management Association
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RELEASE
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957
Mayor Lane adjourned the closed session at 7:00 p.m. The City
Council recessed to the Council Chambers on the 1 st floor.
Mayor Lane called to order the open session portion of the special
meeting at 7:11 p.m..
Mayor Lane
Mayor Lane, Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez
Councilmembers Herfert, Touhey
Councilmember Sanderson
Pasmant, R. Olivarez, Fields, Bachman, Swink, Yauchzee, Rush
REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Deputy City Attorney R. Olivarez reported the following:
The City Council convened into closed session to discuss
the following two items. All members were present except
Councilmember Sanderson.
Conference with Labor Negotiators — Employee
Organizations: West Covina Firefighters' Management
Special Meeting of May 14, 2008
Association and West Covina Police Management Association —
Council received a briefing, no final action was taken.
Public Employee Release — Council received a briefing, no
final action was taken.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Joanne Wilner Joanne Wilner, West Covina resident, suggested deferring the
changes in the PERS medical contract to the future due to the
City's current budget restraints; inquired about to the CDC budget,
as it didn't appear to be included in the preliminary budget being
presented; loans; general/special funds budget and whether there
were any carry over CIP items.
CONSENT CALENDAR Change in PERS Medical Contract
Retiree Health Contributions for
- Police Officers Association and
- Firefighters' Association
Change in PERS contract Recommendation is that the City Council adopt the following
POA/FF's Retiree Health resolution enabling implementation of the increase in the Public
Safety retiree medical benefits per their MOU.
Resolution No. 2008-30 RESOLUTION NO. 2008-30 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2006-95, FIXING THE
EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTION UNDER THE PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES' MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL CARE ACT.
CONSENT CALENDAR ACTION Motion by Hernandez and seconded by Herfert to waive further
reading of the resolution and adopt. Motion carried by the
following roll call vote:
AYES:
Hernandez, Touhey, Lane
NOES:
Herfert
ABSENT:
Sanderson
V MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS —
AB 1234 CONFERENCE AND MEETING REPORT
Councilmember Herfert gave an oral report on his attendance at the
Brownfield's National Conference in Detroit.
BUDGET STUDY SESSION
2008-2009 Preliminary Budget Studv Session
Finance Director Tom Bachman presented the staff report and a
PowerPoint presentation, which provided a general overview of
revenues and expenditures. The preliminary budget presented
represented a status quo budget, which contained an almost $8 .
million deficit in the general fund. Presentation included
recommendation to reduce the deficit by approximately $5 million.
Following the PowerPoint presentation Public Works
Director Shannon Yauchzee presented the 2008-2009 proposed
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget. The CIP is a 5-year
plan in which only the first year is budgeted. There is no use of
any general fund for the first year, only restricted special funds.
The report highlighted the recommended projects by category.
Finance Director Bachman addressed public safety capital
items which included the 911 radio system and Public Safety
facilities studies for future needs in both the Fire and Police
departments.
2
Special Meeting of May 14, 2008
Councilmember Touhey inquired as to auto sales, commented on
current budget issues including the sales of homes.
Councilmember Herfert stated he would like to focus on
graffiti and is interested in parking restrictions on streets.
Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez expressed concerns with proposed
recommendation of proceeding with a tax ballot measure without
first exhausting all other options to reduce the deficit.
Motion Following further comments on the state of the budget, motion was
made by Herfert to approve the following staff recommendations
to reduce the deficit:
1.
Pre -pay PERS contribution — ($1.5m)
2.
Implement department restructurings — ($625,000)
3.
Suspend police signing bonus — ($125,000)
4.
Reduce expenditures by 5% in all department including CDC —
($2.7m); and bring back for consideration in the near future the
following additional staff recommendations with more detail:
5.
Add recommended additional revenues (ambulance
subscription, overnight parking, etc.)
6.
Review fees
7.
Reduce/eliminate Fee Waivers (Waiver policy)
8.
Additional revenues for discussion: Annexations, 911 fee,
economic development
9.
Proceed with a tax ballot measure
Touhey offered a second to the motion only if Herfert would
accept adding to his motion the following:
• Draw on self insurance fund - $2 million
• Pledge some future property tax to a direct pass -through from
the Redevelopment Agency to the City.
Amendment Herfert amended his motion to have Councilmember Touhey's two
items be brought back before the budget adoption as supplemental
items.
Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez expressed his concerns with the
recommendation of suspending police signing bonuses and would
not support it.
Councilmember Touhey requested looking at refinancing all debt
and requested to agendize RFQ's at the next meeting.
Responding to inquiry by Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez,
Councilmember Herfert requested that the additional items
(numbers 5-9) be brought back before the budget is adopted with
more detail. Council can give further direction at that time.
Motion with amendment carried 4-0 with Hernandez not
supporting recommendation #3.
ADJOURNMENT At 8:50 p.m. motion by Herfert and seconded by Hernandez to
adjourn the meeting to Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the
City Manager's Conference Room to continue closed session
items. Motion carried 4-0.
Sub itted bye: j,_
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Mayor Sherri Lane