HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 07/21/1999July21, 1999
Vol. 33, `Page 223
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
City of Petaluma, California
Minutes of a Regular
City Council Meeting
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Council Chambers
The City Council of the City of Petaluma met on this date in the Council Chambers at
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Cader-Thompson, Hamilton, Healy, Keller, Maguire,Thompson, Torliatt
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Thompson requested Katherine Thompson lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Thompson requested a Moment of Silence.
MOMENT OF.SILENCE
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Geoff Cartwright, 56 Rocca Drive, spoke in opposition of the Rainier Cross -Town
Connector and Interchange project.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Torliatt reported_ she had received a call from a neighbor on North
Webster regarding a drainage ditch on school property of which Council had
addressed during discussion about Bantam Terrace Subdivision The neighbor
reported there was a lot of debris in the ditch. She asked that City Management
send a note about this to the School District. She notedthat the School District had
completed some safety enhancements to the sidewalk along North Webster near
Petaluma High School and expressed her appreciation.
Council Member Keller referred to and read a statement from the Planning
Commission minutes,relative to the Chevron gas station expansion, "Council had
considered and rejected a moratorium." He explained that this statement was
incorrect, as the Council had not had a discussion on a moratorium. He stated he
would bring a proposal back for consideration to place a temporary moratorium on
construction in the floodplain from Lakeville upstream where floodplain depths, as
Vol. 33, Page 224
July 21, 1999
1 mapped by FEMA (Federal Emergency Map Act) were .one. (1) foot or more. He
2 was in favor of a moratorium until, a surface .water management plan, engineering,
3 and technical manual was in place. He thought thatwould take two to three years.
4 It would provide Council some time without being inundated with development
5 proposals on an ad hoc basis during the interim. He wanted it clarified to the
6 Planning Commission that the discussion had not happened yet. He'hoped it would
7 be scheduled on the agenda with the RMI presentation in August,or shortly
s thereafter.
9
10 Council Member Healy reminded Council Member Keller that there had been a
11 discussion by the Council and that two Council Members stated they were, not in
12 favor of a moratorium., He noted that to pass a moratorium more than' a "simple
13 majority vote was necessary. He was not opposed -to having the discussion
14 brought back to the Council.
15
16
17 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Discussion and, Review of Budget for Fiscal Year 1999-2000
Finance Director David Spilman presented a revised list of Service Level
Enhancements (SLE), prioritized by department directors, a revised Revenue
section; including the Capitol Improvement Plans (CIP's) and Revenue Sources,.,and
a Special Projects section. He reviewed some of. the revenue sources. He pointed
Out thatenterprise funds couldn't be co -mingled., He stated that the Council ,should
consider, that the water utility and water pollution, control revenue projections were
essentially "flat" asthey were governed by rates and growth in population. The
Council. may need. to consider rate increases in late fall. He stated that he had
incorporated into the budget document, the Community Development Commission
Budget as requested by the Council.
B referred to the building permit. fees on page two :of the General Fund Revenue.
Section and asked if the City planned a ten percent increase in fees.
Mr. Spilman explained that the ten�_percent increase was based on the fact that the
value, -of b.u'ilding.permits had' been changed in January 1999'.
Council Member Healy asked about .the increase in sales and use tax. He said he
would bike to see a list of .businesses showing trends in different categories.
Mr. Spilman stated he would provide that information.
Council: Member Keller commented that property taxes only brought in three million,
seventy4ive thousand dollars to the City_ , which he felt was �a small amount of
revenue
224
July21, 1999
Vol. 33, Page,225
1 Council. Member Maguire referred to "Revenue Estimates under the "Percentage"
2 column and asked,what 'it meant.
3
4 Mr. Spilman responded that it was a software formula error that could be read as
5 either a zero or one hundred percent (0 or 100%).
6
7 Council Member Torliait asked about the status of legislation for reimbursement of
8 bookings fees.
9
10 Mr. Spilman responded that legislation had been adopted and the amount was
11 included (on page 18), of the Preliminary Budget Report under "Aid to Local
12 Agencies."
13
14 Council Member Keller stated that this year's "Motor Vehicle In -Lieu" fees were one
15 million, four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) and asked Mr. Spilman if that
16 would be reduced over the next four or five years.
17
18 Mr. Spilman explained that one million, four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000)
19 was the base 1998/99 amount. The other two numbers, five hundred sixty-one
20 thousand dollars ($561,000) and two hundred twenty-four thousand dollars
21 ($224,000), are the estimated ;reductions noted in the Governor's budget to reduce
22 DMV fees paid by the public. He stated that the. State had "back -filled" those
23 reductions to fund cities by a combined total of seven hundred eighty-five thousand
24 dollars '($785,000) for this fiscal year., He added that future back -fills would be
25 subject to annual State budget action.
26
27 Council" Member Maguire pointed out the increase in the "1997/98 Property Tax
28 Actual" was approximately seven point five percent (7.5%), yet was now projected
29 as a three point four percent (3.4%) increase year r to year. He asked for an
30 explanation. -
31
32
33. 'Mr. Spilman explained that the'property tax increases had come from Corona -Ely
34 over the last seven years. This area was now virtually built -out. He stated that the
35' Hwy.101 corridorvas within the redevelopment area and was not allocated to the
36 City. The City would start to see property taxes flatten out. He explained that the
37 sale of houses added .as much to annual increases as assessed valuation did. He
38 pointed out that the section- on the "Property Transfer Tax" showed increased
39 activity in the real estate market:
40
41 Council -'Member Torliatt. requested an update about "Ambulance Services" relative
42 to the twenty=one thousand dollar ($21,000) decrease in revenues.
43
44 Mr. Spilman-explained that revenue generation from "Ambulance Services" was
45 very complex and plagued with the same problems as health care providers.
46
Vol. 33, Page 226
July 21, 1999
1 General., Government/City Council Section
2
3 Mayor Thompson stated the expenditure for the City Council had "jumped one
4 hundred, and thirty-one,percent (131%) and asked why.
5
6 Mr. Spilman explained that level of'services andsupplies to the City Council on
7 page six.. He pointed out that an additional fifteen thousand dollars, ($15,000) was
81 identified for "Goal Setting and had not been in previous years' budgets. He
9 referred to page seven, which showed thirty-one thousand dollars ($31,000) °for
10 meetings and conferences, an increase over 'prior years" estimated actuals;. On
11 page eight, a new line it of - forty-seven ,thousand. two hundred dollars
12 ($47,200.00) reflected the cost of Council, meetings., in previous budgets,; those
13 costs were consolidated into non -departmental or other department budgets. This
14 budget reflected- costs more accurately, which was in line with. performance
1.5 budgeting.
16
17 General Government/City Clerk Section
18
19 Council, Member Healy stated he would like the new, City Clerk to review and make
20 recommendations on goals and priorities.
21
22 General Government/City Attorney Section
23
24 Council Member Keller,stated'he would..like the Council to.:consider bringing.
25 legal services in-house during the next -year.
26
27 Council. Member- Cader=Thompson agreed with Council Mem. ber Keller on
28 supporting an in-house position.
29
30 Mr. Stouder stated he would return to Council with 'a report of the +process to
31 establish in-house legal counsel.
32
33 Council Member Keller commented. that re-organizationissues had budget
34 implications.
35
36 General ,Government/City Manaqer Section
37
38 Council. Member Healy pointed out that the. "Performance Measures" were. outdated
39 and incomplete.
40
41 Mr. Stouder stated that he had not revised it yet and felt it :would'*be: best to
42 complete the budget first. "Performance. Measures" could be discussed, during his
43 annual evaluation.
44 ._
45 Mayor Thompson, asked for clarification on the fourteen thousand four :hundred
46, dollars ($14;400) for General Services.
47
226
July 21, 1999
Vol. 33, Page 227
1 Mr. Spilman explained that the fourteen thousand four hundred ($14,400) reflected
-2 Copying Costs, which .will be on each department's budget and includes the internal
3 mail services.
4
5 Human Resources/Personnel
6
7 Council Member Healy asked to have the first Performance Measure under "Risk
8 Management" (page 58) expanded upon.
9
- 10 Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Mike Acorne explained that
11 he had formalized a "Sidewalk Inspection Program" to reduce "trip and fall" claims.
12 He pointed out that the program would impact the Capital Improvement budget. He
13 wanted the program to begin in the downtown area, and the entire City inspected
14 within fifteen years. He stated the .need for a full -lime Risk Manager in the future,
15 and that he would come to Council with a request.
16
17 Council Member Cader-Thompson asked if residents shared responsibility for
18 sidewalk repairs.
19
20 Mr. Acorne referred to an Ordinance that stated the sidewalks were the
21 responsibility of the property owner. In cases where the sidewalk was displaced by
22 the roots of a tree planted by the City, that is in the median between the curb and
23 sidewalk, the City was ,to assume fifty percent (50%) of the cost of repairs, if the
24 property owner agreed. Trees on the property owners' side of the sidewalk were the
25 owners' responsibility.
26
27 Council Member Maguire asked if the ordinance pertained to commercial property.
28
29 Mr. Acorne explained that it pertained to all property in the City.
30
31 Council Member Healy asked if the .program was designed as a program the City
32 could use as a legal defense in slip and fall cases.
33
34 Mr.. Acorne stated it had been designed to provide an added defense and could
35 result �in cost, savings.
36
37 Council Member Healy stated he was open to accelerating the program as a cost
38 saving measure.
39
40 Mr. Acorne added that it was an expensive project.
41
42 Council Member Cader-Thompson agreed that she wanted the program expedited.
43
44 Mr. Acorne explained that although the resident was responsible, he or she might
45 not necessarily repair the sidewalk. He estimated that eighty to 100 (80 to 100)
Vol. 33, Page 228
July 21, 1999
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33.
34
35
36
37
38
39
4.0
41
42
43
44
45
46
hours were needed to inspect the downtown, district and complete the paper work.
He reviewed the amount of'money necessary to begin the program.
Council Member Keller;suggested that up to five, thousand dollars ($5,000) be used
to begin the program. He felt the first, phase (the downtown district) should be a
high priority. The results should be reviewed before the following year's budget and
the next step .determined.
Mr. Acorne stated he'woul-d try to have the downtown district finished by February
2000 and present a report at mid -year. He reiterated" that the CIP (Capital
Improvement Program) budget would include sidewalk repairs.
Council, Member 'Torliatt felt it should come. out of the Risk Management budget.
She stated that Council had not seen the CIP budget and would like to see it soon
in order to address sidewalk issues. She asked' whether the Counci[ Chambers
improvements would come out of the Council budget or out of Community Facilities
budget:. She asked how the public "input would be addressed on the budget
process.
Mayor Thompson stated he would ask for public input at each budget meeting at
8:45 p.m.
General Govern ment/Fi'nance and,'Non-Departmental Section
No questions.
General Government/Special Proiects Section
Council Member Torliatt asked that Lafferty be moved to the Parks and Recreation
Section.
Council consensus was to defer questions On "Special Projects" to the next meeting
in order to give Council adequate time to review the material since. they had just
received it.
Citv Debt'Service Section
To be reviewed at the next Budget Meeting.
Citv Trust; and Agency Funds Section,
Council, Member Maguire asked .that the Thomas Lee Charity be rolled into Housing
budget for -next year's budget along with Block Grants.
228
July 21, 1999
Vol. 33, Page229
1 Police Chief Pat Parks explained that the Thomas Lee Charity was administered by
2 the Police Department 'because people who were in need come into the Police
3 Department. He had noproblem with the Housing Department assuming
4 responsibility, adding that the Police Department would assist them.
5
6 Police Section
7
s Council Member Maguire commented that a lot of the "Performance Measures"
9 were quantified by the number of tickets and arrests, rather than by a reduction in
10 incidence of bad behavior.
12 Chief Parks explained that since drug dealers were the main perpetrators of
13 property crime, the arrest and conviction of drug dealers (as well as street gang
14 members) would directly impact the incidence of crime.,
15
16 Council Member Maguire expressed concerned about possible "hysteria problems"
17 in connection with the proposed "Sex Offender Notification Program" noted on page
18 145 in the Investigations Section.
19
20 Chief Parks explained that they currently* did not have high' -risk offenders'in the
21 area, but if that changed, he would contact the City Manager's Office.
22
23 Council Member Maguire commented .about,.the Drug Awareness, and Resistance
24 Education (DARE),program and asked whether the program''s' effectiveness had
25 been measured. He asked that improvements in dfug and .alcohol education be
26 explored for the year.
27 .
28 Chief Parks responded that an evaluation of the program's effectiveness was in
29 progress, as were discussions about_ possible improvements and enhancements.
30
31 Council Member Hamilton stated_ wanted City 'Management +to explore drug
32 education for junior high school students during the next year. `
33
34 City Manager Stouder asked for clarification on whether C_ ouncil,was interested in a
35 survey on DARE or other alternatives.
36
37 Council Member Keller stated that prior to doing a survey, he wanted a sense of
38 what the objectives were, and what the intended results were.
39 .
40 Mr. Stouder stated he would bring back a report on cost and time frame for a
41 survey and what other programs could achieve the same objectives as DARE.
42
43 Council Member Healy supported Council Member Maguire's earlier comments
44 about the "Performance Objectives." He was concerned about possible implications
45 that officers were expected to meet "production quotas." He explained that
46 Objectives One and Three on page 162 were problematic, but the remainder was
Vol. 33, Page 230
July 21, 1999.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
"wonderful." He thought Objective Two was a good example of the type of objective
Council preferred.
Council Member Maguire referred to the Investigations Section, and asked: if some
Child Abuse duties should be shifted to Domestic Violence.
Chief Patrick Parks explained that the Police Department had considered a. Family
Violence Unit that would work hand in hand with Domestic Violence to include family
violence and child abuse.
Fire Section
Council, Member Maguire referred to page 192, and questioned the write-off of two
hundred thousand', dollars ($200;000) under Ambulance.
Mr.. Spilman explained thatJhe� "Ambulance Revenue" was a complex subject: Of the
one million two' -hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,00'Q) that was billed, between one
hundred fifty and two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1.50,000,and $200,000) per
year was, typically, written off as bad debts. He describedi the size of the debt as
typical;.for health.- roviders:. Statistically; seventy-five to eighty -percent (75% to. 85%)
of billings had been collected..All u6collectibles were referred to a collection agency.
Council, Member' Keller 'referred to' -Performance Measure Two on page 191, which
referred °to. the maintenance - of .one (1) -ambulance in the district at, all times, and
stated thatthere were many tunes when, there were no ambulances in the area.
Fire Chief Terry Krout stated that one of the Department's goals this year was to
have the- records management,'system up and running so that numbers could be
quantified. 'He explained that on two, hundred seventy (270) occasions last year, for
an average :of twenty (20) minutes, the City was without an ambulance: 'This could
increase, response time. He stated the strategy to implementing Objective: Two (2)
would include reallocation of'_labor and increasing the ridmber of paramedics. :He
explained he, was looking at :it as a. mid -year adjustment. All options and program
costs would be developed within the .next four (4). months,. and then presented 'to the
Council. He reviewed all the options available.
Council Member Keller questioned staff's availability, simultaneously, with
ambulance service, the new ladder truck, and other equipment.
Council Member Cader-Thompson stated'. that the Citizen Committee's top priority
was to have an ambulance service at all times.
Council Member Torliatt asked who on the Committee was to make
recommendations.
230
July21, 1999
Vol. 33, Page 231
1 Chief Krout explained that the Committee was comprised of Fire Department staff
2 that would discuss recommendations from a citizens advisory committee. He
3 explained that the staff committee had not yet been formed but it would be
4 comprised of'befween nine (9) and twelve (12) staff members from all divisions of
5 the department.
6
7 Council Member Cader-Thompson questioned the targeted response time of four
8 (4) minutes compared to the average response time of two (2) minutes and asked
9 where the two (2) ambulances -were located.
10
11 Chief Krout stated the average time was two and a half (2 1/2) minutes. One (1)
12 ambulance was'located at the Main Fire Station at the drawbridge, and the other at
13 Station Three at 831 South McDowell Boulevard.
14
15 Council Member Healy referred to "Total Operating Expenses" for the Fire
16 Department on page 192 and asked why the figure for Ambulances was one
17 million, one hundred ninety thousand dollars ($1,192,0000) on that page, while the
1.8 "Ambulance Service Fund" figure on page 12 of the Revenue Account is one
19 million, four hundred seventy thousand dollars ($1,470,000) almost three hundred
20 thousand dollars (_$300,000) more. He wondered if the Ambulance Service Fund
21 was being used to support other services, or was self-supporting.
22
23 Chief Krout explained that Ambulance Services was currently in the black and
24 building rUp reserves even with the bad debt write: -off. He explained that their
25 operating system was set up. in 1981 as an Enterprise Fund and the only debt
26 loaded into it was paramedics.
27
28 City Manager Stouder, felt this should be 'reevaluated over multiple years and
29 include capital costs, as there are some longer -range investments and fees that
3o need to be dealt with. He felt the program would not be self-supporting if a bigger
31 look was taken.
32
33 Council Member Torliatt stated that the Fire Chief's time and other administration
34 were probably not added into the fund.
35
36 Council Member Keller noted that the Council needed to determine what was
37 meant by "response time." Did this refer to the time the call was placed to the time
38 emergency personnel arrived on. the scene of the emergency, or from when they
39 left the Fire Station to their arrival on the scene?
40
41 Council Member Cader,.-Thompson asked if the Advanced Life .Support (ALS) was
42 going to be implemented in the interim before the City would have another
43 ambulance.
44
Vol. 33, Page 232
July 21, 1999
1 Chief Krout explained that they should be able to make some of those decisions :by
2 the beginning of the year. He: assured that they were not, going to take a "do-
3 nothing stance" while exploring the possibilities.
4
5 Council Member Torliatt referred. t0 Performance Measure One; Providing
6 Emergency Assistance in the Most Direct .Manner, and asked how it would be
7 quantified.
8
9 Mr., Stouder explained that it was not a; clear goal and they were still working to
10 clarify all the goals.
11
12 PUBLIC COMMENT_
13
14 Bryant Moynihan spoke in favor of the budget structure that included PCDC. He
15 felt that the "place holders" discussed that week were, not incorporated. He did not
16 think the Service Level Enhancements should be part of. the budget as they were a
17 "wish ,list," .and ,not -budgeted .expenditures. He stressed that the CIP budget was
18 necessary to tie the PCDC and the General Fund together.
19
20 He stated the Special ,Revenue Expenditures were blank and the Re.ve.nues were
21 inconsistent. He noted that the budget is still missing the Comprehensive Summary.
22 He submitted and reviewed'.a Comprehensive
23
24 Summary:that he prepared, Iillustrating City fronds and a., deficit of ten. million .dollars.
25 He -pointed out that the;Special Revenue, Funds Audited Financial Statements show
26 eight million; nine, hundred thousand dollars ($8;900,000) revenue; the budget
27 shows eleven million,. two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($11,250,000). He would
28 like a complete breakdown during the, budget process: of the Storm_ Drainage
29 Funds,.
30
31 :He stated that the audit of, 1:1996 made some observations on revenues and he did
_32 not feel they had 'be.en dealt with relative to -transfers from other funds. 'He pointed
33 - out that the estimated' revenues and appropriations of the. City were not recorded
34 accurately in the General Ledger and resulted in .inaccurlte budget reports used
35 during the fiscal -year for internal purposes. He, felt it, would be good to .go back to
,36 last year's Compliance Section. He pointed out, increases in the General
37 Government section.
38
39 Mr. Stooder Clarified, the Community Enhancements section was not a "wish list,"
40 but a disclosure of what'it would taker to provide the services.
41
42 Council Member Torliatt stated she agreed with Mr. _ Moynihan regarding,. the
43 compliance section.
44
45 PUBLIC COMMENT .CLOSE®
46
232
I
1
2
3 NONE
4
I
5
6
7 NONE
8
9
10
11 The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
12
13
i
14
15
16
17 ATTEST:
18
19
20 - 4:,� � IUD
` ; Beverly J. Kline, City blel A
v 22
23
24
25
I
I
i
i
July 21, 1999 Vol. 33, Page 233
COUNCIL AND 'STAFF REPORTS
CITY -MANAGER REPORTS
ADJOURN
E. Clark Thompson, Mayor