02-13-2012 - Special Meeting - Minutes•
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL
February 13, 2012
Mayor Touhey called to order the Closed Session special meeting of the West Covina City Council at
6:09 p.m. in the City Manager's Conference Room at City Hall, 1444 W. Garvey Avenue, West Covina.
ROLL CALL Mayor Touhey, Mayor Pro Tern Lane
Councilmembers Herfert, Sykes
Absent: Councilmember Sanderson
Others Present: Bachman, Alvarez-Glasman, R. Colvin, S. Apodaca, Dominguez
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
No comments offered.
CLOSED SESSION Mayor Touhey commenced the closed session at 6:14 p.m. to
discuss the following matters:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
City Negotiators: Pasmant, Bachman
• Employee Organizations
- Confidential Employees - General Employees
- Maintenance & Crafts Employees - Mid -Management
- Non -Sworn Safety Support Employees Employees
- W.C. Police Officers' Association
- W.C. Police Management Association - WC Firefighters'
- W.C. Firefighters' Association, I.A.F.F., Management Assoc.
Local 3226
City Negotiator: Pasmant
• Miscellaneous Unrepresented
including
-Assistant City Clerk
-Assistant City Manager
-Community Development
Commission Director
-Community Services Director
-Deputy City Manager
- Finance Director
- Director of Risk Management
Management Employees,
-Fire Chief
-Director of Human
Resources
-Planning Director
-Police Chief
-Public Works
Director/City
City Engineer
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING
LITIGATION
Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(a)
Guadalupe A. Lenhardt vs. City of West Covina
RECESS Mayor Touhey recessed the closed session discussion at 6:40 p.m.
to relocate, the City Council to the Council Chambers on the 1st
Floor.
Mayor Touhey called to order the'special meeting Open Session of the West Covina City Council at
6:49 p.m:
INVOCATION
Thomas Bachman
Assistant City Manager
Special City Council Meeting February 13, 2012
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Sanderson
ROLL CALL Mayor Touhey, Mayor Pro Tern Lane
Councilmembers Herfert, Sanderson, Sykes
REPORTING OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman reported the following:
Prior to convening into closed session, all items on the City
Council agenda were announced for inclusion in the closed session
discussion; all members of the Council were present with the
exception of Councilmember Sanderson.
Items on the agenda:
Conference with Labor Negotiators — Employee Organizations:
Confidential Employees, Maintenance & Craft Employees, Non -
Sworn Safety Support Employees, General Employees, Mid -
Management Employees, W.C. Police Management Association,
W.C. Police Officers Association, W.C. Firefighters' Management
Association, W.C. Firefighters' Association, I.A.F.F., Local 3226,
Miscellaneous Unrepresented Management Employees: Assistant
City Clerk, Assistant City Manager, Community Development Dir.,
Community Services Dir., Deputy City Manager, Finance
Director, Fire Chief, Dir. Human Resources, Planning Director,
Police Chief, Public Works Dir/City Engineer, Dir. Risk
Management — City Council received a briefing from the City's
negotiators with no final action taken and nothing further to report.
Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation
Guadalupe A. Lenhardt — The Council did approve a settlement in
the case of Lenhardt vs. City of West Covina with Mayor Touhey,
Mayor Pro Tem Lane, and Councilmember Sykes voting Aye and
Councilmember Herfert voting No.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Mayor Touhey addressed the rules for public comment during any
special meeting stating that speakers were permitted to only
address those items on the Special Meeting Agenda.
Carolyn Arndt Carolyn Arndt, West Covina resident, addressed the City's
financial issues.
John Shewmaker John Shewmaker, West Covina resident, spoke in opposition of
possibility of replacing public safety with County services.
Phillip M. Moreno Phillip M. Moreno, West Covina resident, inquired as to what is
the Community Development Commission debt; how much
general funds dollars have been lent to the Commission and will
the general fund recover the monies lent.
Red Williams Red Williams, West Covina resident, spoke in opposition of
contracting with County for public safety services.
Councilmember . Sanderson requested to address questions
presented by Mr. Moreno.
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman stated the staff report
presentation could answer the questions posed or it could be
addressed separately.
Councilmember Herfert proceeded , to address the
Community Development Commission debt and general fund
questions presented by the speaker.
Mayor Touhey gave an overall description of the issues
involving the redevelopment agency and the State's recent actions
that have brought about the financial situation now facing the City
detailing the history of redevelopment projects developed
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Special City Council Meeting February 13, 2012
throughout the years that included projects ' approved by other
councils, the profitability of these projects whether they failed or
succeeded and said the goal of the redevelopment projects was to
bring in revenues for the City.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Finance Department
1) Financial Restructuring Plan
Financial Restructure Plan The staff report was introduced by City Manager Pasmant who
stated that the report is designed to layout options for the purpose
of dealing with the State's actions which have created instability in
the City by the State's elimination of the redevelopment agencies.
The report will present plans to deal with these issues.
Assistant City Manager Bachman presented a more detailed
overview of the fiscal impacts of the elimination of the
Redevelopment Agency. The current project deficit is $3.8
million, however, with the loss of the RDA, the projected deficit
increases to $5.6 million for next year.
Several areas presented to the Council for consideration
and direction from Council include:
1. Staffing reductions — Staff to provide a staffing reduction
plan which may involve layoffs.
2. Salary and Benefits Negotiations — Negotiate salary and
benefit concessions to reduce personnel costs.
3. Alternative Service Models — Take a look at how services
are provided to the community to include a feasibility study
for transferring fire and police to the County.
4. Community Survey — Survey the community on what levels
of service they want and are willing to pay for to continue
or increase services.
5. Lobbying efforts — Work with Legislators
6. Economic Development Strategy — Look at options for the
preservation of the local economy with the loss of RDA
7. Legal actions — Evaluate the City's legal position.
City Manager Pasmant added that the State could continue
to raid funds and delay revenues due to cities and that the City
should analyze options while trying to provide the community with
the highest level of service.
Councilmember Sanderson inquired about RDA debt vs.
City debt; about survey options in the community; and possible
alternate pension funding.
Assistant City Manager Bachman detailed the elements of
City/RDA debt and reimbursements; provided rough estimates of
the cost of surveys and survey options.
Councilmember Herfert spoke about the loss of the
Redevelopment Agency and that the agency will have to be
dissolved as soon as possible due to the loss of funding; stated he
does not support going with County fire and police; supports
having the City Manager come back to Council with cuts.
Councilmember Sykes said it was still important to balance
the budget and that it was illogical not to look at all the options in
order to ascertain what the cost is for public safety, including
services, and supports a survey to review all options.
• Mayor Touhey expressed his opposition to County fire and
police and would not support a survey.
Councilmember Sanderson suggested that options could
include the cost of retaining the City's fire and police services and
how to keep them.
Councilmember Sykes stated for the record that his request
for a survey is not a lack of confidence or faith in the current police
and fire services but rather for financial reasons and the
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Special City Council Meeting February 13, 2012
•
•
opportunity to make an informed decision by looking at all
options.
Councilmember Lane thanked the public for coming out
and expressed her opposition to County fire or police or doing a
survey.
Councilmember Sanderson stated she would support a
report that would include options for proposed County fire services
and the cost to retain the City's fire and police services including
any hybrid options.
Motion Motion by Sanderson and seconded by Sykes to approve
staff recommendation with the added stipulation to also
incorporate costs to retain the City's current fire and police
services in the City's current situation.
Councilmember Herfert inquired about the cost of the
County fire services survey. Assistant City Manager Bachman
stated that the City would be charged for costs only if the City
went into negotiations.
Discussion ensued regarding costs from the County and
modifying all equipment to County standards and giving up
ownership of the City's equipment and stations to the County.
Call for the question Councilmember Herfert called for the question.
Following further discussion as to whether there is a cost to the
city for a survey, Councilmember Sanderson amended her motion
to include that if a cost is associated with the survey, the survey
would be brought back for council approval.
Action on Motion Motion failed 2 - 3 (Herfert, Lane, Touhey — No).
Mayor Touhey requested a motion to receive and file.
Councilmember Herfert felt it important to give the City Manager
direction and with the elimination of the Redevelopment and its
funding supported giving direction to bring back cuts to avoid
deficit spending.
Mayor Touhey also requested to include that all travel
budgets for any councilmember, commissioner or staff be frozen.
Councilmember Herfert requested the requests be two separate
motions.
Motion Motion by Herfert and seconded by Lane to direct the City
Manager to bring back a report with the necessary cuts due to the
elimination of redevelopment agency funding.
Motion carried by 5 — 0.
Motion Motion by Touhey and seconded. by Sanderson to freeze all
unnecessary travel.
Motion carried by 5 — 0.
City Manager's Office
2) Review of Cost Saving pportunities of City Commissions
Commission Cost Savings Deputy City Manager Chris Freeland presented a brief and concise
report outlining the current structure of the five City Commissions
and the following cost saving measures/options for City Council's
review and recommendation:
Staff recommendations:
1. The elimination of the Public Arts and Senior Citizens
Commissions and have the duties of these commissions absorbed
by the Planning and Community Services Commission,
respectively.
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Special City Council Meeting February 13, 2012
2. The reduction of the Community Services Commission from ten
members to seven members to make it easier to establish a quorum
at their meetings and reduce the General Fund expenses.
3. The elimination of all Commission allowance accounts with any
training opportunities to be addressed on a case -by -case basis
when a new commissioner is appointed.
4. Keep the stipends for each of the three commissions for the
months they meet at $100/month and $150/month for Planning
Commission. Also recommended a portion ($75/month) of the
Planning Commission stipend be paid out of the Art in Public
Places fund.
Lastly, depending on Council action, adopt the necessary
ordinances or resolutions to be brought forward at the next Council
meeting for approval to implement any changes.
Councilmember Herfert suggested to merge the Public Arts
Commission with the Planning Commission instead of eliminating
the commission and keep the Senior Citizens Commission and
agrees with all other recommendations.
Councilmember Sykes concurs and suggested the Senior
and Community Services commissions consist of 5 Senior
commissioners and Community Services commissioners, or, 7
members total with 3 Senior Citizens commissioners and 4
Community Services commissioners and supported the elimination
of the Public Arts Commission.
Mayor Pro Tern Lane agreed with eliminating allowances,
merging the Public Arts Commission with the Planning
Commission, reducing the Community Services Commission from
10 to 7 members or combining the Senior and Community Services
Commissions with 5 members each and supported a stipend only
on months when the commissions meet.
Councilmember Sanderson suggested the temporary
suspension of all commissions except the Planning Commission,
or, temporarily having volunteer commissioners, survey the current
commissioners to get their input, and, create an elimination
process.
Councilmember Herfert stated that the true savings comes
from reducing staff time and would not support volunteer
commissioners without a stipend.
Mayor Touhey said he supports the consolidation of the
Public Arts and Planning commissions, consolidation of the
Community Services and Senior Citizens commissions' with 10
commissioners total on this commission and keeping the other
commissions at five members each.
Motion by Herfert and seconded by Lane to:.
• Reduce stipends by 50%
• Eliminate all allowances
• Consolidate the Community Services and Senior Citizens
commissions with five members from each
• Consolidate the Planning and Public Arts commission with
five members total
• Human Resources to remain at five members
Motion carried by 4 — 1 (Sanderson.— No)
ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lane and seconded by Herfert to adjourn the meeting at
8:35 p.m. Motion carried by 5 — 0.
Su itted by
Assistant C"'Clerk Susan Rush
%II[KR%v0W=IJW1�Wy—or Michael Touhey 'It,
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