HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05/16/2001May 16, 2001
Vol. 36; Page 133
1 City ofi Petaluma, California
2 Minutes of a Special
3 City Council Meeting
4 •.
5 Budget Wsorkshop
6 Wednesday, May' 16, 2001
7 Council Chambers
8 -
9
10 The Petaluma City Council met at 7:00 P.M. on this date in the'Council Chambers.
11
12 ROLL CALL
13
14 PRESENT: Vice Mayor Caller-Thompson; Council Members Healy, Maguire,
15 Moynihan, O'Brien; Mayor Thompson.; Council Member Torliatt
16
17 ABSENT: None
18
19 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
20
21 At the request of Mayor Thompson; Matt Connolly; Chelsea GCA Realty, and his son
22 led the Pledge of Allegiance.
23
24 MOMENT OF SILENCE
25
26 At the request of Mayor Thompson, a moment of silence was observed.
27
28 PUBLIC COMMENT
29
30 Terence Gamey, 83 Maria D.riue,, congratulated City Management and staff on their
31 timely completion of the budget document. He referred to his questions of some weeks
32 earlier regarding the wastewater treatment plant, and wondered when those would be
33 answered.
34
35 Council Member Healy replied that an extensive staff report on that subject•was
36 included 'in the packet: materials for the meeting of Monday; May'2'1. He suggested Mr.
37 Garvey review that document. _
38
39 City Manager Stouder mentioned that a report in question/answer format was being
40 prepared and, would be ready on .Friday, May 18. Mr. Garvey could pick it up that
41 afternoon, or it could be delivered to h`is home.
42
43 Jessica. Vann. Gardner,. Petaluma Visitors Program.; 800 Baywood Drive, congratulated:
44 City Management and staff on the timely, easy-to-.read budget document. She wanted
45 to be sure that the public had the opportunity to participate. She asked if the PCDC
46 Five-Year Plan had been formally adopted:
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.May 16, 2001
2 City ManagerSfouder° _replied, thaf it had; however, possible changes to the plan would
3 be discussed~~at a meeting to be scheduled within the next. two weeks.
4
5 Matt Connolly.;. Chelsea GCA Realty, commended. City Management and. staff on the
6 budget document, and thought it imperative that Capital Improvement Projects.. be
7 revenue-generating projects.
8
9 Diane Reilly=Torres, .Rainier Drive, thought that the City was: intentionally preventing
10 citizens from accessing information by charging $.15/page for. photocopies of agenda
11 items, and thought the entire agenda packet should be made available on the City's
12 'web site.
13
14 COUNCIL COMMENT
15
16 Council Member Torliatt asked to have a 10-..minute. item added to the.agenda for the
17 May 21, 2001 meeting to allow the Airport Commission to present their proposafs for
18 airport hangar expansion. She .also noted that appoinfinents to the Local ;Agency
19 Formation Commission (LAFCO) and Association of Bay Area. Governments (ABAG) -
20 needed to b.e agendized.
21
22 She had received a .call regarding policies.~and selection of projects by the Transient:
23 Occupancy Tax. (TOT) subcommittee, and. wondered if a meeting had been scheduled
24 for that purpose.
'25 a
26. Council Member Healy replied that the subcommittee. would meet Monday, May 21, af.
27 1:30 P.M.
28
29 Council Member Maguire. noted that he would like to be reappointed to the
30 Sonoma/Marin Area Rail Transit Commission. He referred to a memo Council received
31 at places regarding. an additional $2.1 million for reprogramming of funds for .the I'ayran
32 Reach Flood Management Project tcansition'channel. This `allocation will allow
33 continuation of'the. construction of the transition channel this July. He congratulated. City
34 Manager Sto.uder, Directorof'Water Resources and Conservation Tom Hargis, and
35 Director of :',.Economic Development and Redevelopment Paul Marangella on ,this
36 achievement.
37 '
38 Mayor Thompson concurred that this reprogramming would not have been possible
39 without.the efforts=of Mr.-Stouder; Mr. Hargis and Mr. Marangella.
40 ~ -
41 Council Member O'Brien agreed.
42 -
43 Council_ Member Healy: agreed, and explained that this money will. also allow design
44 work #o be completed on the trestle. He noted: that construction funds are still. being '
45 sought.
46
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May 16, 2001
Vol. 36, Page 135
1 Council Member Torliatt pointed out that .there were many City employees who
2 deserved :thanks as well., saying that,- "it takes a village" to make this work.
3 .. K,
4 Mayor Thompson announced that seueral Council Members had stated they would be
5 unavailable forthe budget .workshop ,meetings scheduled for Wednesday, May 23 and
6 Thursday; May24. He suggested those meetings be rescheduled for Wednesday, May
7 30 and Thursday, May 31; at 7;00 P.M. He also asked to schedule a meeting for
8 discussion of Council goals and priorities :for 1Vlonday, June 11, at 7:00 P.M.
9
10 Council concurred..
11
12 NEW BUSINESS
13
14 1. Budget"Workshop
15
16 Finance Direactor Bill Thomas provided an overview of the FY 2001-2001
17 Preliminary Budget and the financial` opportunities and challenges it presented.
18
19 .City Manager Stouder noted that this may be the first time in thirty years that the
20 budget has been ready by the date specified in the City's Charter. He thanked
21 Mr. Thomas, ,lVlr: Marangella and City employees for their hard work in preparing
22 the budget., He stressed. that the budget makes it clear that the City must find
23 ways to 'increase revenue. The City does not have adequate personnel,
24 equipment or other financial .:resources fo sustain and meet growing mandates
25 and citizen and'Council expectations.. .
26
27 Mr. Thomas outlined the City's revenue sources and compared figures for 1950
28 and 2000, adjusted for inflation..
29
30 Council Member Healy, .noting that citizens have asked why, for example, the
31 City of~Sarifa Rosa is able to provide a higher level of services to the community.,
32 explained that Santa Rosa has a utilify-tax. Petaluma's voters have rejected this:
33
34 Mr. Stouder~stated that a minimal utility surcharge would make many services
35 possible.
36 ',
37 Mr. Thomas explained. the General Fund figures.
38
39 Mr: 'Stouder mentioned` That the City', has paid "a big price" for not having
40 adequate personnel to manage compleX projects..
41
-42 Council Member Heal asked Mr. Thomas when the City received information
43 regarding property tax revenues,
44
45 Mr. Thomas explained. "
46
Vol. 36, Page 1:.36
May 16, 2001
1 Council Member Torlatt asked 'if mitigation fees for new development were:
2 included in the estimates. `
3 -
4 Mr. Thomas replied that they were not. He did notexpect those nu_ tubers to be
5 ready until August "or September..
6
7 Nlr: Stou"der thought.;that if-the City were: nearing build-out,; those fees would be a.
8 .moot poin. t..He thought the fees"were' Viewed as a bigger source of revenue.-than
9 they really were:.
1~ . .
11 Counc
1`2 TOT it Member Moynihan asked for clarification on Transient Occupancy Tax
( )fund figures..
13
14 Mr. Thomas explained the figures.
15
16 Council Member Moynhan liked the addition of summary pages to the bud.gef.
17 He asked if a breakdown~of' revenues and expenditures for I'CDC had been
1$ completed. .
Mr. Thomas replied ~that'it .had not.
Council Member Moynihan stressed that. revenues and expenditures for all City
funds must "be equal. He reminded Council .of 'his challenge to therrm to budget. $5
million for street; repairs in this: budget. He (hough°t the Council needed to
recognize that't :was underfunding street mantenance -:and that the City would
"pay the price"' in fhe long run, if this maintenance continued to be deferred. He
tho:ught.Council: needed to determ, ine where.:budget cuts could be made; be it
through layoffs„ hiring freeze, a 1~0%° cut per departrrient; etc-. He thought a truly
"balanced'' budget would; have dealt with needed treet maintenance..
31 Mr: Sto.uder replied that Council could, f'they so desired,;. give direction :to .City
32 Management ta, return: in two weeks time with possible budget.cuts. He :added.
33 that the. way to 'find money to maintain streets was, to 'increase, revenues and
34 taxes. He distributed a list of "budget:. brainstorming" 'ideas department heads
~3"5 hatl~ compiled:. ~ .
37 Co,uncif Member Maguire thought Council ,Membe.r. Moynihan's suggestions were
38 complete)"y unrealistic. He pointed out that infrastructure costs were'prim_arily
-39 related to;automobile traffic.. He thought emphasis should,be~on alternative'.
4.Q modes; of transportation, e.g.,, trolley; bike .paths,, to encourage citizens to get out'
41 of -their .ears. He "believed the budget was balanced, as presented'. "
42
43 Council, Member Torliatt thanked City Managem"ert and staff' for their fine job on
44 the budget, and recognized that it, was a "huge job:" She thought that; while it:
45 was obvious that the `'infrastr.ucture of the City was aging,.. instead of°focusing on
46 the facf that the roads are, in need of repair, Council should be oolong for "
May 16, 2001 Vol. 36, Page 137
1 "concrete suggestions" on where revenues can be found.
2
3 Council Member Healy pointed out. that ,the 5-year expenditure plan for
4 red'eve'lopment indicates $8 million to be spent on street reconstruction.
5
6 Council Member O'Brien stated that while: he knew that Council needed to make
. 7 a commitment to street repair, he would not agree to any cuts to Public Safety
8 personnel.
9
10 Vice IVlayor Cader-Thompson thanked Mr. Thomas for the "countless hours" of
11 effort he and his staff dedicated to preparing the budget.
12
13 City Council
14
15 Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty summarized the FY 2001-2002 budget for
16 the City'Council. He noted that it included dues to the Local Agency Formation
17 Commission (LAFCO) and the League of California Cities, neither of which has
18 been paid in the past.
19
20 Council Member Moynihan asked if the budget for City Council could be reduced.
21
22 Council Member Torliatt asked how thaf could happen.
23
24 Council Member Moynihan asked if he should go into. detail.
25
26 Discussion followed, regarding the process for the evening's meeting. Mayor
27 Thompson explained that it was to be a_ n overview of .the budget. No voting would
28 occur.
29
~~ 30 Council Member Moynihan wanted clarification of Risk Management figures.
31
32 Coun, cl .Member Maguire. stated. that City Management -and staff had produced
33 the Cfy's budget for many years. In his years as a Council. Member, he had
34 learned that one could proceed on the assumption that the budget and
35 recommendations were sound. He suggested Council meet for a final session to
36 receive clarification they needed.
37
38 =Mayor Thompson again reminded Council that the meeting was a Budget
39 Workshop. No action would be taken.
40
41 Council Member Moynihan wanted, to reduce the City Council budget from
42 $228,000 to $200,800. He did'-.not think if fair for City departments to be asked to
43 .reduce their budgets by 10% if the Council did not do the same. He asked City
44 Management to come back to Council with recommendations on how this could
. 45 be accomplished.
46
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May fib, 200.1
Vice Mayor Caller-Thompson thought the purpose of the meeting wa"s to allow
City Management to present the budget. Council could ask general questions.
C.ounciL;Member. Healy agreed ;that Council should set an example Hof budget
reduction, perhaps by cutting goal. setting: facilitation or seminars andtraining.
Council Member Maguire disagreed, saying he found goal .setting facilitation
impo;rtanf and seminars very valuable. He pointed out that Petalu.ma's City
Council budget; compared ;to all other cities in the County., was "nothing."
Vice Mayor Cader=Thompson found.. seminars offered. very valuable information.
13 Council Member Torliaft noted that budget'.increases, in some cases; were the
14 result of City Management's choice of department in which to place a budget line
15 item:. She didn't think'it prudent to review the budget line 'by line. If that were
16 done; she did not think Council would get the budget approved before the end of
17 the year..
1.8
19 Mayor Thompson suggested Council schedule an additional budget workshop to
20 discuss areas .about which they were. concerned.
Council Member Moynihan. thought Council was. "giving up on the City's streets."
He thought budgets cuts needed to be made.
25 Mayor Thompson noted that Council had not discussed or adopted Council
26 Member Moynihan's $5 million figure for street repair.
27
28 .Council Member Maguire stated that "inflammatory rhetoric" was not constructive
29 towards reaching, agreement on adoption of the budget... He liked Mayor
30 Thompson's suggestion that Counci( meet for an additional ..session to discuss
31 particular concerns.
32
33 City Manager. Stouder thought it unfair to say that. the City "was giving up on
34 streets.."
36 Mayor Thompson reiterated that this evening's meeting was intended as a
37 budget overview by City Management and staff. `This was not the tune to decide
38 on budget cuts. He suggested As istant City Manager Beatty continue his
39 presentation.
41 Council Mem,be;r Moynihan thought Council needed to ask questions and receive
42 answers from City Management, in order to determine how ao fund streef repair
43 and'. maintenance.
Vine Mayor Cader-Thompson announced that she was leaving the meeting, (9.:.00.
P.M.)
May 16, 2001
Vol. 36; Page 139
1 - .
2 Cou-Heil Member Tor.liatt suggested: that"Gouncil agree on a dollar amount by
3 which,the bud~gef should be.cut; and'~allow City`Management to return with
4 suggestions for accomplishing this. She did not want to go through the budget
5 line by line.
6
7 Mayor Thompson, be ieved it imperative'that Council hear'City Management's
8 summary presentation in order to: :determine where cuts could be made.
9
10 Council Member Torliatt agreed
11
12 Council Member Maguire agreed„.:and added that Council had not made a
13 collective.decision about how much shoo d be.spent on City streets. He thought it
14 important~to first understand the budget document.
15
16 Mayor Thompson arinounced that he would meet, with City Manager Stouder
17 tomorrow to discuss the process and format of the budget workshops.
18
19 Council Member Healy 'pointed out. that there were issues other than streets
20 needing attention..
21
22 Council Member Moyn,ha"n stated that he had a number of issues with various
23 department' budgets: He wanted the opportunity to question the budget figures,
24 and would not be bullied out of doing so.
25
26 City Manager
27
28 Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty summarized the budget for the City
29 Manager's Department.
30
31 Council' Member Moynihan questioned the number of positions allocated to the
32 department, .and `wondered if any of ahem:. could be combined. He also asked for
33 a breakdown of consultants by department. and project.
34 Mr. Beatty' pointed "out that in some eases, under a line item figure, examples had
35 been included, but the list may not be inclusive, and so may not add up to the
36 total. line item figure.
37
38 Information Systems:
39
40 Assistant City Manager Gene Beatty introduced highlights of the FY 2001.-200.2
41 Information Systems Department budget, He described.the budget as a
42 "maintenance budget." - .
43
44 Council Member Maguire asked if Information Systems had°an estimate of how
45 much would be saved by making Gouneil Meeting. agenda. "packets" available on-
46 line.
Vol. 36, Page 140'
May.`1~~6, 200.1
2 City, Manager:S,tou~der pointed out,that. placing agenda. items on line.would not
3 result in.'less paper being used -,as individuals.would print outihe''itemsw He
4 ~ thought that. while technology increased potential. accessibility, it. ditl~ not decrease
5 costs.,
6
7 Information, Systems Manager Tim V1/illiam, sen said a figure :had, not'yet been
8 reached for'placing agenda items. on-line.
1Q Mr. Stouder pointed out that accuracy and attention to detail were each
1'1 department's responsibility. He did not think all departments were consistently
1'2 achieving this.
13
14 Councif Member Torliatt would like the'City Clerlcto provide an estimate of time
15 required each week;for maintenance,of the City's web presence. Sfj;e thought
16 that: having the, agenda, item information, available on-I_i_ne wo.u.ld reduce the
17 amount. of time staff spent answering questions by phone, etc. She described
18 today's society as an ".Information Society," citing citizeris° increased desire. for
19 infgrrnaton..One of her goals was to make'this available.
Council Member Moynihan -asked if mai'nteriance of the City's web site will be
transferred to the Information S'ervices:;Department with..the resignation of. City
.Clerk Beverly Kline:.
Mayor Thompson replied -that this would be-.discussed when the City .Clerk
Department budget, was discussed.
Councif'Member. Moynihan questioned line items in the Information Systems
budget.
Mr. 1Nillamsen exp aine~d that one item resulted from the City' phone bills being
centralized :in the, l'S ..Department, A number of the bills were formerly charged to
the respective departments. Costs for software maintenance we_ re a_I_so
centralized. '
Council Member Moynihan.. asked for a list of other budget items that. had' been
centralized.
,3.9 PUBLIC COMMENT
40
4`1 ,Diane Reilly-Torres, Rainier Avenue, asked if sh:e. could a-:mail que tions to Council
42 regarding the.budgef. She thought that. Council Member Moynihan was not foll9wing the
43' me"eting agenda. She challenged him to find ways to increase revenue instead; of
44 focusing on ways to cut services.
45
46 Geoff Cartwright; 56 Rocca. Drive.:, was glad'to see that Council was not rushing; to cut
May 16,.200].
Vol. 36, Page 141
1 services. He wondered if there were any grants to which the City might be entitled for
2 road repair. He commended Council and City Management and staff for their hard work
3 on the Payran Reach Flood Control Project.
4
5 City Manager Stouder noted that the City owes a debt of gratitude. to Congresswoman
6 .Lynn Woolsey for~her efforts on its behalf, and to Stacy Levandowsky, Legislative
7 Director for Congresswoman 1Noolsey.
8
9 ADJOURN
10
11 The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 P.M.
12
13
14
15 E. Clark Thompson, Mayor
16
17
18 ATTEST:
19 .
20
21 Claire Cooper, Clerk Pro em
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28 ******