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02/23/1996 City CouncilEDMONDS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED MINUTES City Council Retreat February 23 and 24, 1996 Port Angeles, WA , Barbara Fahey, Mayor Dave Earling, City Council President Gary Haakenson, Councilmember Roger Myers, Councilmember John Nordquist, Councilmember Tom Petruzzi, Councilmember Dick Van Hollebeke, Councilmember Jim White, Councilmember Art Housler, Adm. Serv. Director Brent Hunter, Personnel Manager Police Chief Tom Miller Fire Chief Michael Springer Scott Snyder, City Attorney Phil 01brechts, Alt. City Attorney Dee McGrath, Exec. Secretary Jana Spellman, Recorder The ineeting was called to,order by Council President, Dave Earling at 9:00 a.m. Council President Earling started off with an explanation regarding the chosen iLopic for -,-'--he Friday Council Retreat A;�,*enda touching on how helpful it had been for him to have a complete overview of the �City When -fie was newly elected, and because the City prssentlyhaz three newly elected Council,.m.ember s and Mayor this was an excellent way to introduce them to the City and all of its ramifications. He then stated the Saturday Council Retreat Agenda evolved because of his concerns, over an extended period of, time, touching on the economic vitality of the City of Edmonds as we approach the year 2000. Ile expressed the need to watch City dollars closely while at the same time generating more revenue in order to avoid future economic difficulties. He stat(--d Saturday's agenda will focus on Edmonds' long-term need for finan-ial stability, long-teqn planning for City property, long-term salary needs and planning, and ihe Public Safety Capital Plan. He envisioned these items as being essential to the financial well-being of the City of Edmonds. The last agenda item on Saturday was presented by Councihne.mber John Nordquist and was designed to alert the City of Edmonds elected officials to the necessity of becoming more involved with Snohomish County Regional Meetings. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes City Council Retreat - February 23 and 24, 1996 Page I The Friday Agenda is listed below: Overview of City Organization - A. Housler Legal Department - Scott Snyder Executive Branch Presentation - B. Hunter Community Services - Paul Mar Engineering Division - J. Walker Planning/ Bldg. Division - R. Chave Public Works Division - N. Miller Treatment Plant - S. Koho 11 Finance Presentation - A. Housler Police Department - Chief Miller Fire Department - Chief Springer Municipal Court Presentation- Mayor Fahey/ A. Housler 11 I All of the participants gave a history of their department, explained the furiction of each department and/or divisions, touched on expenditures vs. revenue, and briefly summarized their plans for the future. The following City Managers/Superintendent joined the retreat after the lunch break to give their presentations: Jim Walker, Rob Chave, Arvilla Ohlde, Noel Miller, and Stephen Koho. I The information from these presentations was felt by all involved as a very positive educational experience and was immensely helpful for the new Councilmembers as they begin their terms. Steve Koho made has presentation regarding the Wastewater Treatment Plant which dovetailed with the last agenda item for Friday. Tom Petruzzi spoke to the pros and cons of privatization of wastewater treatment plants. Steve Koho, having worked both in the private sector and public, also gave pros and cons. One point Steve did make was that it takes some start-up time for a plant to run smoothly and Edmonds' Wastewater Treatment Plant is approaching a time when most of the glitches are fixed. This was in direct correlation with all of the problems with the incinerator. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes City Council Retreat - February 23 and 24, 1996 Page 2 I Dave Earling suigested the following PLAN OF ACTION: That an objective study be done to come to a conclusion as to whether the City needed to go with contracting out the operations and maintenance at the plant or keep it within City confines. He asked for Paul Mar and the Mayor to bring back to the City Council a methodology and timeline for proceeding with this study. Barbara Fahey, Mayor Dave Earling, City Council President Gary Haakenson, Councilmember Roger Myers, Councilmember John Nordquist, Councilmember Tom Petruzzi, Councilmember Dick VanHollebeke, Co.uncilmember Jim White, Councilmember. Art Housler,,Adm. Serv. Director Brent Hunter, Personnel Manager Police Chief Tom Miller Fire Chief Michael Springer Scott Snyder, City Attorney Phil Olbrechts, Alt. City Attorney Dee McGrath, Exec. Secretary Jana Spellman, Recorder The Saturday, February 24," 1996, agenda encompassed the following issues facing the City of Edmonds in the future. From the presentation given by Art Housler, it was determined that the City had the potential for ,financial shortfalls. He anticipates a mild recession occurring during the autumn of 1996 due to disinflation. Disinflation boosts the borrower's burden and makes it difficult for businesses to raise prices and expand. He sees the sales tax revenue decreasing in 1996 and. 1997. He sees projected expenditures outdistancing revenues in 1996 and 1997. He anticipates -a shortfall in 1997 ($180,000) and 1998,'($316,000). PLAN OF ACTION: Council Committee Chairs will form a task force chaired by Roger Myers to bring back to the Council long-term financial goals and _a plan of implementation for these goals.. It was felt that Art Housler should be included. Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes City Council Retreat - February 23 and 24,1996 Page 3 PLAN OF ACTION: A property profile needs to be put together for each property the City owns which would compare costs versus income. Reserve funds need to be built for each property and a need to consider shifting maintenance costs fi�m City to lessee. It should be determined if the City owns surplus property. The Mayor and staff will put together property profiles to determine these issues. Policy will have to be set which establishes the degree to which the City should be subsidizing non-profit organizations in the community. ...................... ................. ............. .............. ................ ......................... I-- ............ 111, ........ ... ........... .............. ....... ............ .................. ..... .. .. .... ......... .......... 111.111, ........ N ......................... ...... ................... ..... I ......... .......... G A P IN ............................. ....... ...... .... ............ LO.NG..RAN. E AL::::.RY. LA N. _G: ........... .............. .. ......... .. .­­ - . ......... ..... .. ................... - ..... ........ ............ ..... ......... - ........ ....... ........ ...... I ........... .............. - ...... ­1 ........... ............. Brent Hunter presented the salary outline for the future and it was determined that a long-range salary plan needs to be established. PLAN OF ACTION: John Nordquist suggested that the Salary Review Committee meet with the Mayor and Brent to review the current salary situation and how to proceed with a salary study. This plan was implemented so the Salary Review Committee would be able to come to the Council on March 26, 1996, with a plan of action for Council review and discussion during a 00 minute work session. The Mayor and Councilmembers discussed the various issues concerning the bringing forth of a bond issue and the dollar amount to be placed on the May 21 ballot regarding the Public Safety Capital Plan. The Mayor stated that there were many individuals willing to put forth an effort in this regard that may not be able to for a future bond. She felt that time was of the essence in this matter. PLAN OF ACTION: It was decided to bring this bond issue before the February 27, 1996, Council Meeting so that it could be passed in time for the May ballot . The approximate dollar amount agreed upon for the bond proposition was 9.25 million. It was increased to 9.275 million at the Council Meeting. I Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes City Council Retreat - February 23 and 24, 1996 Page 4 PLAN OF ACTION: Toward the beginning of the 3rd Tuesday Council Meeting, Committee chairs will report on the prior weeks' committee meeting. Committee meeting summary minutes will be kept by staff. When committee recommendations are placed on consent agenda, Councilmembers should make every effort to contact staff or committee members to answer any questions Councilmembers may have prior to the meeting. John Nordquist addressed the issue of what ' he felt was a need for Edmonds City Councilmembers to participate more in Snohomish County regional meetings. He stressed the fact that the Mayor and the City Councilmembers would be able to keep a better finger on the pulse of what is happening in Snohomish County and would be able to input some of the needs of this City while also being able to take advantage of any programs that come available to city governments. PLAN OF ACTION: It was decided that the Mayor and Councilmembers would keep a higher profile with regard to Snohomish County Regional Issues. Taped minutes of this retreat are available in the City Clerk's office. With no ftu-ther business, the meeting recessed at 4:10 P.M. —BARBARA S. FAHEY, MAYOR c:wordata\jana\crm96- 3/13/96 -SANDRA S. CHASE, CITY CLERK Edmonds City Council Approved Minutes City Council Retreat - February 23 and 24, 1996 Page 5