19831221 City Council Minutes291
• December 21, 1983 - Special Meeting
A special meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called,to order at 7:10 p.m. by Mayor Pro tem Jo-
Anne Jaech in the Plaza Meeting Room of the Edmonds Library. All present joined in the flag salute.
PRESENT ABSENT STAFF PRESENT
Jo -Anne .laech Harve Harrison, Mayor Art Housler, Finance Director
Ray Gould Laura Hall Pat LeMay, Personnel Director
Larry Naughten Bobby Mills, Acting Public Works Supt.
John Nordquist Mary Lou Block, Planning Director
Bi1,1 Kasper ,lack Weinz, Fire Chief
Jack Wilson, Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney
Councilmember Elect Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
DISCUSSION OF 1984 BUDGET
Different portions of the budget were discussed and, regarding salaries, Councilmember Nordquist
said it was his intent that the Council would approve a dollar amount for salaries but not get into
the structure so the new Mayor will be able to make any shifts in personnel he decides to do. He
said the $4,110,255 designated for salaries i,!ill not include any new people except for a secretary
in Public Works. After some further discussion, Councilmember Gould proposed, in addition to what
they had decided in previous work sessions, $111,000 for people, $58,000 for reduction of the
utility tax (electricity onl,y), $8,000 for repair to the gymnasium, and $2,000 for a combo plane.
COUNCILMEMBER KASPER MOVED, SECONDED BY COi_!NCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, TO APPROVE COUNCILMEMBER GOULD'S
PLAN. MOTION CARRIED.
A discussion followed regarding the Parks and Recreation Department where some Councilmembers
thought some cats should be made: Some revised figures were provided by that department, following
• which COUNCiLMFMBF.R JAECH MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GOULD, TO SUBSIDiZE THE P",RKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMFNT PROGRAMS TO A MAXTUM OF $90,000. Councilmember Could said he seconded the motion because
the staff had come out with revised figures projecting $235,200 in revenue. THE MOTION CARRIED.
City Attorney Wayne Tanaka provided a resolution which would give the City the option of nursuing a
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separate municipal department, either alone or in conjunction r,,ith other South Court, cities, in the
event the filing fees for District Justice Court cases make continued participation ir, the District
Justice Court economically unfeasible. There was indication from the Council that they feel it
important that Edmonds again have its own court. COl1NCILMFP9RER OOIJi_D MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL -
MEMBER NAUGH TEN, 1-0 PASS RESOLUTION 574, PETITIONING-; THE SNOHOMISH. COUNTY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH A
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT JUSTICE COURT FOR THE CITY OF EDMONDS. MOTION CARRIED.
There followeda discussion regarding the Salary Ordinance for ronrenresented employees. The City
Attorney clarified that there were no changes in the ordinance except for the exhihits which provide
for a 3% salary increase and the same increase in ranges. Questions arose about the increase in
ranges and it was explained that without the increase in ranges a number of the nonexempt employees
who are at the top of their ranges could not receive an increase. COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST MOVED,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GOU LD, TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 2411, ESTABLISHING THE SALARY RANGES AND SALARIES
FOR EXEMPT AND NONRF.PRFSFNTED, NONEXEMPT PERSONNEL (3% increase). MOTIOM CARRIED, WiTH COUNCILMEMBER
KASPER VOTING NO. Councilmember Kasper said he was not willing to vote for any salary ordinance
until there are reclassifications.
Before passing the budget ordinance, Councilmember Nordquist had some questions about the patrols at
the port and the hospital, and he asked if the people used for these services are employees of the
City or if they are on contract. It was explained that, they are City employees and the City contracts
with the port and the hospital for those services. Councilmember Mordeuist did not want the City
subsidizing the port or the hospital. Councilmember Kasper noted that the City has a responsibility
there in the.first place and he said it also gives the Police Department sortie flpxibility in manpower
to have those uniformed policemen there. After some discussion, COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST MOVED,
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SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NAUGHTFM, TO PASS ORDINANCE 2412, ADOPTING THE FiNAL BUDGET CF TFE CITY OF
EDMONDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 1984, WITH THE CHANGES AS DISCUSSED AND WiTH THE
* SALARY AMOUNT OF $4.111,255, NOT INCLUDING BENEFITS. MOTION CARRIED.
Councilmember Naughten asked, for purposes of planning for next year's budciet process, what the
weaknesses were in this year's budget planning. Councilmember Gould said it went to the City
Council and it was not the budget the administration wanted. He said the system should be that the
.administration gets together as a team and goes to the Council in agreement, and the Council should
not have to go through it to figure out what the priorities will be. He said the staff should not
be asking for anything else once it has been worked out with the administrator and presented to the
Council. Councilmember Nordquist added that they have had to use some of the weaker departments in
the City which really do not have the strength to fight for their programs because they do not have
the numbers or the popularity to get what they need. He hoped it would be restructured so each
department has its own strength and can submit its own budget for the things it needs. Councilmember
Gould thought there should be an analysis of what can be productively done in the City to do more
with less; e.g., how can the same.services be provided with fewer people. He thought the computer
to be the answer to that, and that it will pay for itself ultimately. He also felt there to be
other things that can be done. Councilmember Kasper said this is the difference in the City Manager/Counci
situation and the Mayor/Council situation, and when ,you have a political situation .you will have
more of this than with a City Manager situation. Councilmember Naughten said one of the weaknesses
he sees is a lack of money for maintenance. Councilmember Gould agreed, saying there is not a good
program for rebuilding and repairing roads and sidewalks. Councilmember Nordquist suggested that
sometime they should try allocating a dollar amount and letting the department heads build a budget
system.. Councilmember Gould cautioned the Council that they have been running on some one-time
revenues for about three years and they will he likely to.find.themselvcs really short sometime and
will have to cut services.
There was no further business to come.before the Council, and the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
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*See Minutes of January 3, 1984