04/13/2010 Finance CommitteeFINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 13, 2010
6:40 PM
Present: Councilmember Bernheim
Councilmember Buckshnis
Councilmember Wilson
Councilmember Peterson
Councilmember Orvis
Councilmember Fraley-Monillas
Staff: Al Compaan, Chief of Police
Noel Miller, Public Works Director
Stephen Clifton, Community Services Director
Sandy Chase, City Clerk
Debi Humann, Director of Human Resources
Lorenzo Hines Jr., Director, Finance and Information Services
Gerald Gannon, Assistant Police Chief
Leonard Yarberry Building Official
Leif Bjorback, Assistant Building Official
Kernen Lien, Associate Planner
Brian McIntosh, Director, Parks and Recreation Department
Mary Ann Hardie, Human Resources Assistant
Public: Ron Wambolt
Don Hall
Roger Hertrich
Councilmember Bernheim called the meeting to order at 6:40 PM.
A. Upcoming Labor Negotiations
Councilmember Bernheim invited Ronald J. Knox, Attorney, Garvey, Schubert, Barer
and Laurence Shapero, Principal, Riddell Williams P.S., to discuss attorney utilization for
labor negotiations. This discussion covered the different roles an attorney can play
during labor negotiations. Debi Humann, Director of Human Resources informed the
Finance committee that the City has historically utilized attorneys for labor negotiations,
most recently current City attorney, W. Scott Snyder, Ogden Murphy Wallace P.L.L.C.
The meeting relocated from the Council Chambers to the jury room. For information
only, no further action required.
B. Health Insurance Transition
Debi Humann briefed the committee on the purpose and activity timeline of the City's
efforts to secure health insurance after its current policies expire on December 31, 2011.
Her overview/timeline has been incorporated in these minutes. For information only, no
further action required.
04-13-10 Finance Committee Minutes, Page 2
Item C: Discussion concerning potential cost cutting measures
There was general discussion regarding budget reduction possibilities. Councilmember
Buckshnis requested information regarding attorney expenditures from City staff. For
information only, no further action required.
Item D: General Fund Report for March, 2010
Lorenzo Hines, Director, Finance and Information Services, presented revenue and
expenditure trends for the General Fund and current forecasts for the City's major
revenue sources. For information only, no further action required.
Item E: Public Comments
Comments were presented by members of the public that were present.
Ron Wambolt stated that he supports labor negotiators and that our largest problem is the
trade and labor unions. He said the papers are daily bringing this issue up. He stated that
according to the press the Sheriff of Snohomish County makes less money than our
police chief.
He was totally opposed to the 5.8 percent increase granted last year. He said he fought it
and his voice was not heard. He also stated that in regards to the second floor, he felt
there must be too many planners because of much less construction going on; many ADB
meetings have been cancelled. He suggested retaining a labor negotiator and not because
salaries have to be reduced, but increases should be less.
Mr. Wambolt also stated we should look into an internal vs. external attorney and that
because of all the lawsuits, he believes the City paid $600K in 2009 and some funding
went to firms outside of Mr. Snyder's. He agreed with Ms. Buckshnis in that the code
rewrites are an expensive use of an external attorney.
Roger Hertrich stated the City Council needs to be bold and show leadership in regards to
labor negotiations. He said there are plenty of unemployed people willing to work just
for health insurance. He brought up the hearing examiner and why we are still paying
them huge fees when no work is being done. He also said that the city attorney seems to
lose when it comes to citizens involvement and that the City Council should look into an
internal attorney, as if you look at Mr. Snyder's firm, a lot of the work is "farmed out" to
other attorneys.
Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00 PM.