HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 1.A-Minutes 06/21/2004June 1, 2004
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June 21, 2004
C'zty of Petaluza Cali ornia
X 85$ ✓ MEETING OF'THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT City.Council, Budget Workshop. Minutes
Tuesday, June 1,2004 -.6:00 P.M.
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER
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A: Roll Call
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Present: Glass, Harris, Healy, Moynihan, O'Brien, Thompson, Torliatt
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Absent: None
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B. Pledge of Allegiance
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C. Moment - of Silence
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PUBLIC COMMENT - There was no public input.
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CITY COUNCILCOMMENTS
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Council Member,,,Torliatt commented on haying attended the Memorial Day Event at
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Cypress Hill Cemetery, indicating it was a wonderful day of remembrance.
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Council Member Torliatf also commented on the recent Bike to Work Day on May 20 and
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thanked everyone who participated.
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CITY MANAGER COMMENTS
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City Manager Bierman commented on I documents he had placed before the City
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Council, which ;included variance reports for Community Development and Water
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Resources; as well as position control reports for employees Citywide.
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Vice Mayor Moynihan questioned .when the City Council would be discussing
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compensation issues.
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City Manager Bierman ,responded the Council would have the opportunity to. discuss
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various 'issues relating to the overall presentations, at their wrap -up budget meeting
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scheduled for June 14, 2004. He explained the City Council will be asked to adopt the
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City's' operating, budget on Mondcy,,,June 21., 2004 and that the PCDC and CIP budgets
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will be discussed a "t a later date, as .those' are not time sensitive.
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Vice iMayor Moynihan indicated the desire to have a compensation policy discussion
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and re= evaluate the elimination of vacant positions.
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It was noted that discussion would be scheduled on the June 14, 2004 Budget Workshop
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agenda.
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City Manager Bierman then noted he had reorganized: the Community Development
Department oto now include, Housing Administration and GIS, as well as they will be
moving into an Enterprise Fund Department.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Continuation of Discussions and' Overview of Proposed :FY" 2004- .2005 B'udget to
include presentations by thefiollowing departments:
1. Community Development
Mike Moore, Department Director, gave an overview of the proposed
budget. Mr. Moore commented on their- cost of service study_ and flee
structure changes, which have created anew revenue source. He noted
the department has been operating on a cost recovery basis for the last
1'8 months.
Council Member Healy commented on Code Enforcement and agreed
With the needed emphasis. Mr. Moore noted there is a need to.:change
the nuisance abatement procedure to be "an administrative 'hearing
process.
Mr. Moore indicated by putting this new pr"ocess1n place, staff will be able
to pursue more compliance ,issues and staff would take a look of the cost,
of the new process.
City Council .discussion ensued regarding the change in counter hours for
the Community Development Department, with Council Member O'Brien
expressing he does not agree with limiting the hours.
Council Member Torliatt commented on the on -line permitting process
and staff noted not all permits are available online, and that the revenue
for permits is expected to be the same.
Council Member Torliatt also commented on the ability to take over
mobile home park enforcement and staff responded that is not currently
in the budget.
Council Member Torliatt also commented on: her desire to use Community
Development employeesto' perform the p'lanner's function and indicated
she is :not a :fan of "contract planners
Staff responded that they" have utilized contract planners due to very low
staffing and fhey Were needed to fill the gap. Applicants have "paid' for
the contract staff. If, was. noted things "have changed and staff is now
working on bigger. projects. The plan is to phase out the use of contract
planners.
Council Member Torliatt inquired if the City has looked, at closing City Hall
on ce din days ; -i.e., every. other Friday. She would like this issue added_ to
the 'list of issues to be discussed on June 14.
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City Manager Bierman noted he is� .not in favor of closing City Hall on
certain 'days:
Council Member Harris commented on the website efficiencies the
Community Development Department has: facilitated.
Mayor,;:Glass commented' :on. „the move toward making the Community
Development Department an Enterprise Fund. He also clarified there are
very few projects that are under the old fee schedule. Discussion ensued
regarding subsidies and if -was noted that on smaller applications, often
there is much more staff time involved where there is no cost recovery.
Council Member Torliatt commented, on the City's major sidewalk
problem and inquired if someone wanted to replace their sidewalk, the
money jo replace and permit fees (if there were fees) would be
overwhelming. She expressed concern with the overall liability of the City's
sidewalks.
In conclusion,. Council Member Torliatt commented that the Community
Development Department has improved "by leaps and bounds” and
added the working conclitions.have really improved.
Mr. Moore thanked his staff,, George White. and Craig Spaulding for their
Offbrts..
Council' Member O'Brien indicated he had received some phone calls
with concern that - there was not enough staff to respond to questions
while staff was on vacation. He ,asked how the Department is working to
respond to that issue.
Mt.. Moore indicated staff is °Ftrying. to cover as best they can and are cross -
training employees. He indicated with the Enterprise Fund perhaps they
W ' e depth of their employee availability.
Dula b
e able to add to th
Vice .Mayor Moynihan expressed, a desire to see their revenue sources
broken out in greater detail.
Bonne ,Gaebler, Housing Administrator, presented the Housing
Administrati.o'nBudget overview:
In response to questions, Mayor Glass: explained the history of the housing
in -lieu fees.
Council by questioned if there was a .commercial linkage fee
' income projection for fs f year and staff responded there is none yet.
Vice Mayor,Moynihan asked "if the commercial linkage fee issue could be
revisited, as-Petaluma is the only city in Sonoma County initiating the fee.
He asked that this issue be added to the issues to be discussed on June
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Council Member Todidtf commented that the linkage fee has not
negatively affected economic development and concluded by stating
jobs being created create the need for affordable'housing`in Petaluma.
2. Water Resources and Conservation
Mike Ban;, Director of Water Resources and Conservation, gave an
overview :of, the departmental budget.- He commented on challenges
facing the department which included ,proactive maintenance, storm
water Maintenance, Security, the Petaluma river and the City's water
supply.
Council Member Torliatt asked 'for and received an'update on -the flood
control project. She also indicated she would like to see the department's
- conservation programs broken..ouf separately in the budgets She added
she 'is :looking forward" to a presentation on ''Hold °the Flow" and their
overall strategy for conservation programs.
With respect to water reclamation; Council' ,Member Torliatt indicated if
the City were to cap the ;acre- foot, it should reduce the overall costs. She
indicated she would like to see that issue discussed on June 14.
Vice Mayor Moynihan, with respect to the ,rate setting that was done in
2002, indicated: assumptions were, made for capital costs that have now
grown. He asked how that shortfall would be addressed.
Sfaffz responded they will `;b:e addressing that through a rate study being
done this summer, which would be brought back to the Council in the
late fall.
Vice Mayor Moynihan had various questions regarding transfers in and out
of the departmental enterprise'fund.
Council.Me.mber O'Brien questioned the -nuf mberof employees taking City
vehicles home at night. Staff responded there are currently fourindiViduals
taking City vehicles home. It' was' noted these employees would be
responding "on call when there is an emergency.
There being rn'o further comments on *the,- Water Resources_ and
Conservation Budget, the meeting was,adjourned.
ADJOURN
The Budget Workshop adjourned at 7:3& p.m.
David Glass; Mayor -
Attest:
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