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