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City Council Minutes June 29, 1998 |
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City Council Minutes June 29, 1998 |
REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL MAYOR DIANE HOWARD VICE MAYOR IRA RUSKIN
CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD S. CLAIRE
COUNCILMEMBER JIM HARTNETT
COUNCILMEMBER JEFF IRA
COUNCILMEMBER MATT LEIPZIG
COUNCILMEMBER IAN BAIN
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 29, 1998
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 p.m., Mayor Howard presiding
ROLL CALL
Council present: Bain, Claire, Hartnett, Ira (arrived at 7:10 p.m.), Leipzig, Ruskin and Mayor Howard;
Council absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Everett; Assistant City Attorney Sorba; City Clerk Jorgenson; Assistant to the City Manager Moore; Library Director Chen; Finance Director Ponty, Manager, Financial Services Somers, Information Technology Manager Gipe, Manager, Billing and Collections Holmquist-Rogers; Police Chief Bolanos and Captains Vermeer and Warner; Fire Chief Montez and Administrative Chief Vella; Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Griffiths and Superintendents Centeno and Hover; Community Development Director Nelson and Manager, Engineering and Construction Patterson; Public Works Services Director Ingram and Superintendents Rosas, Barwacz and Mann; Human Resources Director Rivera-Pena, and I.T. Analyst Mike Batsford, (Council Volunteer Art Balsamo is on a short leave);
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Council Member Bain
INVOCATION: A moment of silence was observed and Pastor Ron McKinney, Salvation Army, gave the invocation;
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1. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
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2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (203)
A. John Murphy, 421 Lull Lane, thanked the Mayor and the Council for wishing him a speedy recovery at the May 18, 1998 Council meeting. He said that based on the number of time consuming meetings the Council Members were assigned to attend, some of which he also attended, he retracted his statement that reducing Council Meetings from four to three per month was equivalent to a pay raise. Mr. Murphy said that Council Member Hartnett was paid $100 to attend the SBSA meetings. He advised that the 90-day trial period of three Council meetings per month had expired and asked the Council to review the modified schedule.
Mr. Murphy said that the June 22, 1998 regular Council Minutes, as submitted at this meeting, had been tape recorded and the tapes were available to the public. He said the City Clerk did an outstanding task of editing; however, if the Council’s intent was to have working Minutes as opposed to verbatim Minutes, the Minutes could be "very much shortened." He recommended that the Minutes "be returned to staff for editing, rather than approval this evening" and suggested appropriate wording. He also asked why the category "Public Comments" was included on the June 22, 1998 Closed Session agenda.
MEMO 6/30/98
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3. CONSENT CALENDAR
M/S: HARTNETT/RUSKIN TO WAIVE READING OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR, ADOPT THE RESOLUTIONS AND APPROVE OTHER ITEMS.
ADOPTED BY UNANIMOUS ROLL CALL VOTE OF MEMBERS PRESENT (6)
A. Approve the Minutes of June 18, 1998 Interview Session, June 22, 1998 Council Closed Session and Regular Meeting, as submitted;
MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-165
MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-166
C. RESOLUTION NO. 13374 DECLARING CERTAIN DESCRIBED CITY-OWNED PROPERTY SURPLUS; AND AUTHORIZING SALE THEREOF; (609)
D. RESOLUTION NO. 13375 AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF LETTER PERMIT TO POST "NO PARKING" SIGNS TO PROHIBIT PARKING ON CERTAIN STREET ON AUGUST 2, 1998, DURING THE TOUR DE PENINSULA (THE PENINSULA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER); (604)
E. RESOLUTION NO. 13376 APPROVING AND ACCEPTING PARCEL MAP NO. 98-2, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS; APPROVING AND ADOPTING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT THEREOF; AND APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR SAID SUBDIVISION (Martin/Campus Associates, L. P.) (304)
F. RESOLUTION NO. 13377 CONFIRMING CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT AND ORDERING SPECIAL BENEFIT ASSESSMENT TO BE LEVIED AND COLLECTED - REDWOOD SHORES LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1995-1 (Fiscal Year 1998-99); (507)
G. Approve warrants dated through June 29, 1998; APPROVED
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4. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
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5. BOARDS, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS
None
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6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
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7. MATTERS OF COUNCIL INTEREST (205)
MEMO 6/30/98
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Ira joined the Meeting at this time.
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8. STAFF REPORTS
None
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9. CLOSED SESSION
None
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10. ADJOURNMENT
M/S: RUSKIN/HARTNETT ADJOURN THE MEETING TO THE SCHEDULED BUDGET SESSION, AND THEN TO 7:00 P.M., MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1998 FOR AN ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A COUNCIL BUDGET SESSION IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER, 1017 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, REDWOOD CITY.
CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE AND MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:12 P.M.
Arlyn C. Jorgenson
City Clerk
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
BUDGET SESSION
JUNE 29, 1998
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:13 p.m., Mayor Howard presiding
2. ROLL CALL
Council Members present: Bain, Claire, Hartnett, Ira, Leipzig, Ruskin and Mayor Howard;
Council Members absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Everett; Assistant City Attorney Sorba; City Clerk Jorgenson; Assistant to the City Manager Moore; Library Director Chen; Finance Director Ponty, Manager, Financial Services Somers, Information Technology Manager Gipe, Billing and Collections Manager Holmquist-Rogers; Police Chief Bolanos and Captains Vermeer and Warner; Fire Chief Montez and Administrative Chief Vella; Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Griffiths and Superintendents Centeno and Hover; Community Development Director Nelson and Manager, Engineering and Construction Patterson; Public Works Services Director Ingram and Superintendents Rosas, Barwacz and Mann; Human Resources Director Rivera-Pena, and I.T. Analyst Mike Batsford, (Council Volunteer Art Balsamo is on a short leave);
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3. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
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4. BUDGET STUDY SESSION (501)
A. Welcome and Review of Agenda - Ed Everett, City Manager
REPORT: Bound, Proposed Redwood City Budget 1998-2000 (Available in the Finance Department and the City Clerk Department.)
City Manager Everett described the three proposed Budget Sessions, and explained that the proposed Budgets were a reflection of Council direction over the past year including the priorities the Council identified at the workshop in January. City Manager Everett advised that the Council had already approved Memoranda of Understanding with most of the labor organizations in the City, and the amount of the contracts represented approximately 70% of the General Fund. He said those decisions "fashioned this budget." City Manager Everett said that people seeing this budget for the first time might think the Council is seeing it for the first time as well, but "that’s misleading." He said, "for most things, not everything, but for most things, the vast majority of things in that document, you have (provided) direction." City Manager Everett said most of the major increases in this fiscal year budget as compared to FY 1997/98, "are MOUs, the Police Department staffing, the Fire Department, both the Paramedic program and the new Fire Station, and the Parks, both the (Redwood Shores) Community Center and Lido landscaping." City Manager Everett said these proposed increases represented the end of a long Council process. He said that during this Budget Study Session the Council could review its priorities and make sure they were included in the proposed Budget for FY 1998/99 and 1999/2000 or make adjustments. City Manager Everett said that Department Heads and their staff tried very hard to fashion their budgets to reflect the Council’s priorities and directions.
City Manager Everett used an overhead to describe the number of projects and policies that had been approved by Councils beginning in 1995 through this spring that were now budgeted for FY 1998/99 and 1999/2000. Some of these projects are: the Redwood Shores Community Center; many Memoranda of Understanding with all the labor organizations; the new Redwood Shores Fire Station and Maintenance Center; Stulsaft and Stafford Park renovations; the Policing Study which will result in new officers this year; the Paramedic program; the direction to move up Maddux Park renovation; the Woodside Road Widening Project; Community Development Block Grants, a federal program, and the Human Services Financial Assistance program from General Fund monies; the Capital Improvement Project program review and direction; and the sewer and water Ordinance. City Manager Everett said the directions from the Council had been specific and numerous and were incorporated in the proposed Budget. He said the proposed Budget was the culmination of a long process, and the Budget was the largest policy document that the Council can use to secure policies and direction for the City.
B. Introduction and Budget Overview - Brian Ponty, Director of Finance and Financial Planning
Director Ponty explained that a Public Hearing and introduction of the proposed Budget Ordinance would be held on July 27, 1998. He said, "Overall the economic circumstances in which these Budgets have been prepared, are as robust as we have seen in the last ten years, as evidenced by the local unemployment rate in San Mateo County under 2.5% for practically all of the last twelve months." Director Ponty said that as a result, there were "healthy increases in practically all of our revenue sources, property tax, sales tax, and the Transient Occupancy Tax. We should keep in mind, however, that we are not immune from the business cycle, and that boom periods turn quickly to bust periods, as we saw in the early 1990s."
Director Ponty referred to Pages Roman Numeral 9 through 11 of the Budget Report, which described the Council’s priorities and objectives and how the Departments had built their Budgets on that foundation. Director Ponty said major Council priorities included the "six police officers, three sergeants, two dispatchers, and three community service officers that were approved in December, 1997…." A full year of staffing through overtime for the Fire Station in Redwood Shores; the Citywide Paramedic program, start up costs and operating costs for each of the next two years, and finally staffing the Sandpiper Park Community Center and maintenance of the new parks in Redwood Shores." Director Ponty said that all of the Fund categories in the proposed Budget were balanced, and the Redevelopment Agency Budget would be presented on July 6, 1998.
Director Ponty used seven overheads to show the remarkable consistency between the percentage of revenues and expenditures in1993/94 and 1998/99. He said the two primary sources of financing for the General Fund continue to be sales tax and property tax: "Five years ago they were practically even (29% and 28% respectively.) Now sales tax is moving up approaching one-third of the General Fund financing and property tax is dropping down approaching ¼ (31% and 26% respectively.)" Director Ponty said most of the other revenues have been fairly stable with the Transient Occupancy Tax and Property Transfer Tax increasing slightly, "reflective of a very robust local economy." He showed that in 1993/94 police and fire were slightly less than half of the General Fund expenditures and in 1998/99 they are slightly more than half. He described the increase in Parks and Recreation expenditures. Director Ponty said, "By and large there haven’t been real dramatic changes, our expenditure patterns and trends tend to be remarkably consistent as well as the revenues."
In response to Mayor Howard’s questions regarding why Public Works Services is shown as only one percent of General Fund expenditures, Director Ponty explained that only one percent of the Department’s activities were funded through the General Fund, and the rest were funded through Enterprise Funds, and Special Revenue Funds, such as the Gas Tax and Traffic Safety Fund. He said if the Department needs additional funding, funds were transferred out under the "Transfers Out" category established at 6% in 1993/94 and remains 6% for 1998/99.
Director Ponty showed more overheads and said the four main expenditure categories were employee cost at 69%, supplies and services at 17%, Internal Services at 13%, and Fixed Assets at 1%. He said that the Gann Appropriations Limit formula (amount of the tax revenues a City receives that can be appropriated) established a limit of $61,736,000 for Redwood City. Director Ponty advised that staff is requesting the Council to approve appropriations of $37,939,943, an amount considerably less than the top limit.
Director Ponty used an overhead to show a Five Year General Fund Projection summary (Report, Roman Numerals 14 and 15) through 2002/03. He said that these figures reflected a projected 4% increase in salaries and benefits, and all other city expenditures to increase at 3% per year; property taxes and sales tax to increase at 4.5%, with other revenues increasing at 3.5%. Director Ponty said these projections included the commitment to CIP with $700,000 transferred from the General Fund each year. He said the revenues were beginning to "reflect the decline in development revenues… as we reach build out in the Redwood Shores area." He said these figures do not include the proposed Pacific Shores Development.
Director Ponty said the Budgets were balanced in each of the next two Fiscal Years, and beginning in the third year the projection was for a deficit of .96% in 2000/01, .85% in 2001/02, and .72% in 2002/03. He said each of those figures represented less than one percent of the General Fund, which is "very manageable."
City Manager Everett said that Director Ponty had done a great job in using strict criteria to estimate projected revenues within 2%, the standard used to measure projected budgets. He said, "If you use that 2% category, you basically are looking at somewhat of a balanced Budget." City Manager Everett said that as 2000/01 approaches they would be able to factor in the current economic indicators and make better and more accurate estimates of revenues and expenditures.
In response to Council Member Leipzig’s comments, City Manager Everett concurred that if the future numbers were "2% off in a good direction" the projected deficits would disappear, and if the opposite occurred, the projected deficits might double.
Director Ponty showed a graph of the sales tax received since 1994 through 1997 with construction, food products, and miscellaneous holding firm, general retail rising slightly by 1997, and transportation peaking in 1997 and then slightly declining due to the loss of an automobile dealership. He said the sixth category, business to business services, now the leading sales tax revenue producer, showed the most dramatic growth but, as evidenced on the graph, was quite volatile. He said there were no economic models to explain or predict business to business revenues. Director Ponty said that category was dominated by a handful of businesses and the City was becoming quite dependent on that revenue. He said that the State Board of Equalization advised there were approximately 5,600 sales tax permits in Redwood City, and the top five businesses account for almost one-fourth of the City’s sales tax revenues, the top ten account for a little over one-third, and the top twenty-five businesses account for over one-half of the sales tax revenues. He said, "This tells us that not only is this a very volatile source of revenue, but it is also a very concentrated source. The good news that we are seeing in the Budget for each of the next two years can quickly go away depending upon a couple of business decisions made in this community."
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions, Director Ponty advised that the top five businesses in Redwood City were Oracle, Boardwalk Dealership, Towne Ford, Granite Rock and probably Enterprise Network Systems. City Manager Everett said State Law prohibited the disclosure of actual sales tax figures.
Council Member Ira said that the assumption of a 4% increase in salary and benefits wasn’t feasible, "especially with the unemployment that we have in San Mateo County. I think last week, just because of the problem we are having with competition, that we ended up giving an increase to IT (Information Technology Department.) I think we really need to keep that in mind. I think that is probably a really low number for an assumption, especially in light of the fact that 69% of our Budget is comprised of salary and benefits. It can have a major impact on those figures in subsequent years. Council Member Ira said it was very important to remember that 57% of the City’s revenues come from sales and property tax and "pretty much, they go out the door to Police and Fire which comprise 52% of our expenditures. Over half of our revenues are immediately predetermined…. That leaves 48% for the balance. As Brian mentioned, if the sale revenues decrease… you will have to look for other revenue sources to fund Fire and Police. That’s important to keep in mind."
MEMO 6/30/98
C. Departmental Presentations - 5-10 Minutes per Department:
Assistant to the City Manager Moore described the proposed increases in the City Council Budget. She explained that $49,000 for funding for Shelter Network had been included in the Council Budget, but could be moved into another Budget if the Council wished to do so. (CDBG funds of $30,000 have also been allocated for Shelter Network.) She said the City Clerk Department would now be managing funds required for Council support services for Council and citywide receptions, city plaques, proclamations and awards, and Council meals. She said the proposed Budget included an increase to the Mayor’s Fund of $3,800, totaling $5,000, to provide emergency funds for Council approved projects such as local teams or cheer leading squads needing funds to travel and represent Redwood City.
Council Member Claire advised that Council Members had not received a raise in the last seven years and suggested that the situation be reviewed. He described the numerous committee, board and task force meetings they all attend, the number of hours per week they all devote to Council work and the people of Redwood City, and the extra expenses they incur for which they are not reimbursed.
Council Member Claire referred to a letter from Pete Hughes delivered at the Meeting who asked why the City Council Budget was $215,000. He asked that the City Manager respond to Mr. Hughes.
MEMO 6/30/98
Vice Mayor Ruskin described the Council support for Shelter Network, but said it was misleading to place it in the City Council Budget, and asked that it be moved to a more appropriate place.
Council Member Bain described the funding for Shelter Network from the federally funded CDBG which is a very competitive process. He also asked that the funding for Shelter Network be removed from the Council Budget. Council Member Bain said he would like to have Council Meetings televised on Cable TV. He said he would like to have a Council discussion on that issue in the very near future.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Hartnett agreed that Shelter Network funding should be placed in a more appropriate Budget. He said he was not interested in televising Council Meetings during this Budget process if it involved a significant cost to the City. Council Member Hartnett said the priorities set by the Council, specifically Police and Fire, "have real big price tags to them, and we have to be careful that we don’t over commit ourselves." He said if the Council debated and agreed that philosophically, televising Council Meetings would be productive, and if it was economical, then he would be interested in that discussion.
Council Member Bain said the comprehensive report on this matter by Assistant to the City Manager Moore included costs, and a tape delay broadcast would cost about $9,000 a year. He said the Council had a goal of better communications, and he suggested that the proposed Communications Specialist position be taken out of the City Manager’s Budget and that some of that money be used for televising Council Meetings. He said this would be one of the best ways to communicate with the public and get the word out, unfiltered. He asked that the Council consider this issue tonight.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Leipzig said he did not support televising Council Meetings. In response to Council Member Leipzig’s questions, City Manager Everett said that not every item in the proposed Budget had been debated by the Council, but increasing the Mayor’s Fund had been briefly discussed at the Workshop in January. He said the increase (from $1,200 to a total of $5,000) was just a suggestion and the Council could vote for it or not.
City Manager Everett said that the funding for Shelter Network would be removed from the Council Budget and placed elsewhere.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Ira described the proposal that the Mayor and Vice Mayor would form a Council subcommittee to work on funding for Shelter Network and bring a recommendation back to the full Council. City Manager Everett described the need to develop a long term policy for Shelter Network funding, and the proposal for two Council Members and two members of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee to work with Shelter Network on an appropriate policy.
MEMO 6/30/98
Vice Mayor Ruskin concurred that the Committee would meet with representatives of Shelter Network to develop an approach that honors the contract made in previous years, and a report with recommendations for Fiscal Year 1999/2000 and beyond, would be made to the full Council.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Claire said the Mayor’s fund had not been increased in twenty years, and it had never been adequate to meet the unexpected expenditures for special circumstances that the Mayor and the Council had wanted, such as sending local athletes to competitions to represent Redwood City.
Mayor Howard said that increasing the Fund to $5,000 doesn’t mean it has to be spent. She described several occasions where the Mayor's Fund allowed local groups to travel for community promotion, and for welcoming expenses for Sister City events. She also agreed that a policy for Shelter Network should be established, and that this fiscal year’s funding should be moved to a different Budget.
City Manager Everett said, "It’s gone."
MEMO 6/30/98
Assistant to the City Manager Moore said the changes in the City Manager’s Budget focus on the Council’s priorities and goals set during his evaluation. She highlighted Regional Transportation, a ten-year, long range planning effort, ICMA Performance Measurement program, Fourth Amendment to the Redevelopment Agency Project No. 2, Site Specific Plan for the Whipple/Industrial Area and others, completion of a build-out analysis, aesthetics, playing fields and park improvements, code enforcement and clean-up with all Codes reviewed.
Assistant Moore described the request for matching funds for the Healthy Start Program and advised that $30,000 of the $50,000 requested is included the City Manager’s Budget. She described the emphasis on Healthy Start going into the community for more funds and how they intend to leverage funds. She said the Council’s goal of efficiency and effectiveness was addressed by proposing $14,000 for the ICMA Performance Measurement benchmarking program to identify "best practices." Assistant Moore said the City Manager’s proposed Budget included four items of Community Promotion: the Chamber of Commerce request for an additional $7,500 in FY 1998/99 and $8,200 in FY 1999/2000 (currently the City contracts with the Chamber at $30,000 per year); becoming an investor in Joint Venture Silicon Valley (no funds are included in this proposal at this time); San Mateo Convention and Visitor’s Bureau's request for additional funding of up to 4% of TOT (currently providing $30,000); and the Council’s priority for better communications includes leaving the $45,000 allocated for the City’s newsletter, The Connections, in the Budget, with a formal proposal for the best use of these funds coming to the Council in August.
Assistant Moore said the $52,000 increase between FY 1998/99 and 1999/2000 reflects employee costs including 2% at 55, and slight increases in supplies and services.
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions, Assistant Moore said JVSV did not request a specific amount. She said cities of similar size pay between $10,000 and $15,000.
Council Member Leipzig said he had lots of questions about issues and there were lots of issues in Mr. Hughes' letter that should have been included in the proposed Budget.
In response to Council Member Ira’s questions, Assistant Moore said there was $45,000 set aside for improved communications and no funds had been included for the request for additional funding received by the Council from JVSV, the Convention Bureau or the Chamber.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Leipzig said he was "definitely opposed to spending any tax payer money on any kind of effort to dilute or filter information to the public." He said people attended meetings, the press covered the meetings, and Minutes were available to anyone, and that was sufficient. Council Member Leipzig said that money could be used for, "parks, police and for important things." He said the Chamber was doing very well in Redwood City with almost 1,000 members, they have taken in non-profits and government and the focus had changed. He said $7,000 or $8,000 "would be useful towards the JVSV project which is strictly in the private sector." He said the City could offer a reasonable amount to join JVSV and it would probably be approved. Council Member Leipzig said the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s was asking for 4% from every City in the County, but he recommended that a slight increase would be appropriate. He said the Bureau was doing a great job, but that Redwood City with only one large hotel did not realize the benefits of the Bureau as other cities that had many hotels.
Council Member Claire said he concurred that the Council should have had more detailed information and that was a flaw with a Program Budget. He said he believed that a Communications Specialist could be helpful and did not see it as a position that would deal with the press, but would assist staff in getting cogent and direct information out to the people across a broad spectrum of issues. Council Member Claire said the City as a whole needed to do a better job communicating with the public about City business, and he would support a Communications Specialist.
Council Member Hartnett said he agreed that. "We should not create a position that would be a manager of the media or be a position in which access to or messages from the Council are diluted in some way by having to be filtered through some other person." He said anyone should be able to access staff directly. Council Member Hartnett said, "We need to continue to consider ways to more effectively make known to the citizens the services that are available from the City", and to alert the public to projects and issues in their neighborhoods. He said $45,000 was a reasonable amount to set aside for this effort, and the Council should debate the best use of these funds after the City Manager’s recommendations are presented. Council Member Hartnett said that in past years when he was a member of the Chamber’s Board he could not participate in decisions, but at this point he was just a member and would be able to participate. He said if the City was serious about partnering with the Chamber and enhancing the business environment, then it would be wise for the City to invest in that endeavor. Council Member Hartnett said he preferred investment in the Chamber’s activities than joining JVSV if the Council had to choose between the two. Council Member Hartnett said that he would not be deliberating nor voting on any portion of the Budget having to do with the San Mateo County Convention and Visitor's Bureau as he is retained by the Bureau from time to time to provide legal advice.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Bain said he agreed with Council Member Leipzig that a Communications Specialist wasn’t a good idea. He said that communications is a Council priority, but there were better approaches, such as an unfiltered approach. He recommended that the Council discuss how to break up the $45,000 into pieces, perhaps using $9,000 for televising Council Meetings, and $9,000 for JVSV.
Vice Mayor Ruskin said he favored increasing the expenditure to the Chamber based on the services provided to the City. He said the Chamber did almost all of the work in developing the Economic Development Strategy of the City in the area of how the City can best attract, retain and expand business. Vice Mayor Ruskin said the City was not making a donation to the Chamber, it was providing services, and the fees had not changed for years. Vice Mayor Ruskin said he was opposed to hiring a Communications Specialist whose job it was to communicate with the Press. He said people needed to have faith that information was not being distorted nor filtered. He said there are matters that need better communication in the City, such as notices of street work, etc. Vice Mayor Ruskin said the Council needed to discuss this whole issue at length, including the possibility of televising Council Meetings. He said that in today’s busy world where most people work, being able to watch the Council Meetings from home might be very helpful. He said that joining JVSV might also be beneficial. Vice Mayor Ruskin agreed that the $45,000 for Communications should be held in the Budget and the matter of improved communications debated at a later date. He spoke in favor of an increase to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and to any group that performs a valuable function for the City, but not from $30,000 to $80,000. He suggested a more reasonable increase, perhaps $35,000 or less. Vice Mayor Ruskin said he also agreed that more details with specific items proposed in the Budget should have been provided to Council. He spoke in favor of increasing the Mayor’s Fund to take care of emergency requests such as the one from the Cheer Leaders, but recommended a total of $3,000.
City Manager Everett explained that the proposed Budget did not contain a specific plan to improve communications, but merely set aside $45,000 for that effort. He said a report with recommendations would be presented to the Council in August, and the decision for the Council at this time was whether or not to leave that amount in for future use as the Council saw fit, or to reduce or increase it.
Council Member Claire requested that the City Manager's staff prepare a Report with an itemized list of the proposed increases in the City Manager's Budget, and the justification for each of them, and schedule the discussion for the next Budget Session.
City Manager Everett said the list would be prepared and presented to Council at the Budget Session, July 6, 1998.
MEMO 6/30/98
Mayor Howard discussed the Healthy Start Program and the City’s assistance. She also emphasized the need for Healthy Start to look to the community and acquiring grant funds to finance its activities. She said she looked forward to the Report that will be presented to Council on the specific items just discussed.
Finance Director Ponty said that the City Attorney’s Office had gone several years before 1997 without an increase, at which time it was set at $390,000 per year. He said the next two budgets would increase about 3% per year.
Council Member Claire, member of the Council Legal Committee, along with Council Member Hartnett, advised that the City Attorney had not asked the Committee for an increase, and the 3% proposed increase was a staff request. He also said the editorials stating that the City had a $1 million attorney were false, and the City Attorney’s services were some of the least expensive in the County.
City Clerk Jorgenson said the Legislative function of her proposed Budget focused on the Council’s priority of improved communications by requesting expenditures for an Optical Imaging System. She explained that $50,000 had been set aside for such a system in the ITSC Budget and the $8,000 requested in her Budget was for implementation of the program. City Clerk Jorgenson said that Assistant Moore had already explained the $9,300 increase to the City Clerk's proposed Budget, representing the transfer of certain Council support services from the City Manager’s office.
City Clerk Jorgenson advised that Election expenses had almost doubled from the 1994 Election to the 1995 Election from $9,508 to $18,407, and increased almost $11,000 in 1997 to $29,023. She said further increases were to be expected and an additional $7,000 was budgeted for that event.
In response to Council Member Claire’s question regarding City run Elections (not consolidated with the County), City Clerk Jorgenson said that in the last City run Election in 1990, County costs were $6,400 but the total Election costs to the City were $35,253. She said a City run Election today would cost in the neighborhood of $50,000.
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions regarding the reasons for the increases in County costs, City Clerk Jorgenson said that purchase of new Election equipment several years ago was one reason, and County Clerk Slocum had advised that the County had undercharged all the cities in the County for decades, and the County had been trying to bring City costs into balance with actual costs of County Election services.
In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding an earlier release of Election results, City Clerk Jorgenson said that State law regulates how Election results are tallied, and then it becomes a policy decision on when the results are released.
Council Member Hartnett expressed support for the investment in an Optical Imaging System in the City Clerk Department.
MEMO 6/30/98
Finance Director Ponty said the most substantial changes in the proposed Finance Department Budget were in the Information Technology Division, where three additional IT analysts were being requested. He described these positions and advised that one of the positions was already approved by Council with half of the time to support the new building permit application system and the other half on contract with SBSA. Director Ponty said the City of Burlingame has offered to contract for services of a full time analyst for its Network and desktop computers. He said other cities IT serves have also inquired about expanding services, and internal users have growing needs as well. Director Ponty said these three positions are funded through charges to other cities and internal departments. Director Ponty described the $76,000 in savings IT accomplished through an internal telephone review project which discovered and eliminated many unused lines.
Director Ponty described the proposed financial software conversion project that will dominate his Department’s activities over the next two years. He said an RFP would be issued in August and he hoped to have a recommendation ready for Council before the end of the calendar year.
Director Ponty said his department is "trying to manage our balance sheet more effectively." He described the refinancing of the 1991 Series A Bonds, and advised that he was planning to bring Council a recommendation on City Hall Reimbursement Bonds in August.
Director Ponty said that approximately 13% of utility customers participate in the Automatic Payment System and more efforts would be made in signing up more users, with a goal of 20%. In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions, Director Ponty described how the "lock box" concept involves having a bank or financial institution receiving direct payments.
In response to Council Member Hartnett’s questions, Director Ponty described the profit the City receives in having its IT analysts perform services for other cities or entities, while increasing the pool of analysts available to the City to cover vacancies or emergencies.
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions, Director Ponty described the revenue derived from CCAG’s contract with the City for financial services.
In response to Council Member Claire’s comments regarding a question in Mr. Hughes’ letter about the $7.5 million debt service listed under supplies and services, Director Ponty said it was primarily principal and interest payments on the City’s outstanding debt along with the Trustee fees for handling the City’s payment. Council Member Claire asked for a breakdown of what percentage of the $7.5 million represented principal and what percentage represented interest.
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In response to Mayor Howard’s comments about the competition to hold onto qualified analysts in the IT Division, Director Ponty said that that situation would continue as long as "we are in a very hot job market here…. The software industry is very competitive." Mayor Howard commended his IT analysts for their expertise, patience and wonderful customer service especially in light of the fact that they are overworked.
Council Member Claire said he hoped the City could stay up-to-date in the computer area. In response to Council Member Claire’s question, Director Ponty said the financial software conversion costs were not included in the proposed Budget, because there were no formal proposals at this time. Council Member Claire described a company he was familiar with that had 325 employees and had set aside $15 million just to solve the year 2000 computer problem. He expressed concern that the City might not be allocating enough money to complete the financial conversion. Council Member Claire said he didn’t know if the Council, except Council Member Ira who works with computer programs, fully understood the complexities of the City’s system. He said that when the formal proposal was presented to Council it would probably exceed the $1 million estimate.
Fire Chief Montez described the significant changes and cost impacts that have taken place over the last two years, including: the loss of revenue from Service Area 8; the opening of Redwood Shores Fire Station No. 20; the new MOU; new minimum staffing policies; the Citywide Paramedic Services with its training costs; and updated computer costs. He said Station 11 would be renovated in December, 2000. Fire Chief Montez said the Department was requesting a half time Plan checker to be assigned to the Permit Center to improve turn around time from four weeks to two weeks, and the position would be funded from plan checking revenues.
Fire Chief Montez said the Budget was fashioned to "prevent and minimize the impacts of fires and other natural disasters to the community’ provide a quality service that best serves the community by focusing on public education and enforcement of life safety codes and City standards; and continue to seek improvements in how best to serve the public."
Fire Chief Montez described the new Emergency Medical Service Division to implement fire based Paramedic service, to provide a better accounting of the costs of the City’s Advanced Life Support Program and Basic Life Support Program in place.
Fire Chief Montez described an incident that occurred last Thursday, which related directly to the Council’s decision in 1996 to implement the Paramedic Program. Fire Chief Montez said that Engine 10 was dispatched on an EMS call, and upon arrival they were told that a child had found his father, dead in his bed, and he couldn’t open the front door. They forced entry into the house and found a man unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Fire fighter/Paramedic Chris Cottle began advanced life support care assisted by Fire fighter Daryl Liggins and Captain Dave Raymaker, and continued with assistance from AMR 25. Fire Chief Montez said that before the patient reached Sequoia Hospital he had a heart rate, a blood pressure and was breathing on his own. Engine 10 made repairs to the door jamb, and with the Redwood City Police Department helped locate the child’s relatives. He said, "On behalf of that child, I would like to thank this Council for … our Paramedic program."
In response to Council Member Claire’s questions listed in Mr. Hughes’ letter, Fire Chief Montez said that new Fire Captains and reduction of firefighters was necessitated by staffing requirements at new Fire Station 20. He said the new Station required three new Captains positions for three shifts. Council Member Claire asked that Chief Montez discuss this matter with Mr. Hughes.
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City Manager Everett said that he would have the appropriate Department Heads respond to each of Mr. Hughes’ questions, and all the responses would be listed in one letter to Mr. Hughes. He said he would provide a copy to the Council.
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In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding the purpose of the analysis of functions in the administrative and support staff to improve efficiency listed as an Objective in the proposed Budget, Chief Montez said a regular review process was always valuable. He said that with the opening of the Permit Center those related functions performed at the Fire Station would be transferred to City Hall, and that would free up some time in the office to address some long standing needs.
In response to Mayor Howard’s questions regarding Fire Station 11 renovations or new construction by December, 2000, Chief Montez said that the date was generated by the City's Service Area 8 contract with the County which requires improvements to the Station by December, 2000. He said analysis of which approach to take is under way.
In response to Council Member Ira questions regarding the EMS salaries of $25,000, Chief Montez said that the "$25,000 represents the MOU agreement for ten Paramedic students who will be fulfilling the last portion of their Paramedic training." He said that their salaries appear in a different section of the proposed Budget. Council Member Ira said the Council congratulated the Fire Department on the "great work they did in saving that man’s life. We are very excited about the program as well." In answer to further questions, Chief Montez described the staffing changes necessitated by new Station 20, and the use of overtime instead of hiring new fire fighters. Chief Montez described how the fire fighters voluntarily agreed to decrease the minimum staffing requirement in order to staff the new station.
Council Member Claire said that the "Fire Fighters Union was very accommodating in that issue…. Without that accommodation, the cost of maintaining the Fire Station in Redwood Shores would have been prohibitively high. We always knew the construction of the station was not the issue," but staffing it was the real issue. He said the Union and management worked very hard to come to an agreement, and both should be congratulated for making it work. Fire Chief Montez said the Union was working very diligently on the Joint Powers Agreement for Paramedic Services in the County, and they have been very accommodating.
Mayor Howard thanked the Chief for his report and for describing the incident of Advanced Life Support services saving the life of a Redwood City man. She said that at least 85% of all fire calls were medically related, and the Council was proud that the City had Paramedic services.
D. Public Comments;
1) Pat Dixon, 18 Admiralty Place, described the terrible problems with widgeon weed in the Redwood Shores Lagoon, and said she did not see any funds set aside in the Budget to attack that problem. Mrs. Dixon thanked the Council for installing the stop sign at Redwood Shores Parkway and Marlin, and said it has made a tremendous difference.
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2) Francis Ludwig, 3050 Goodwin, suggested that the Council Meetings be video taped and made available at each of the Libraries.
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Mayor Howard asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one else came forward.
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Mayor Howard declared a recess at 9:12 p.m.
Meeting reconvened at 9:29 p.m.
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F. Continuation of Departmental Presentations - 5-10 Minutes per Department:
Human Resources Director Rivera-Pena presented her proposed Budget and said the increase in employee costs reflects the addition of three-fourths of a full time employee, the receptionist/administrative clerk who will be shared with the IT people who occupy the adjoining offices.
Director Rivera-Pena said Human Resources had 47 recruitments in FY 1997/98 and 30 have occurred in the last six months. She said at least fifteen recruitments would occur in the first three months of the new fiscal year. Director Rivera-Pena described the training programs managed by HR, including a focus on team development into the next two fiscal years. She said HR is seeing a trend towards more customer defined, specific training. She said she has four fully trained facilitators on her staff who can also do program design. Director Rivera-Pena described the surveys and assessments HR will use to develop data and strategies.
Director Rivera-Pena said HR would also focus on employee safety with the goal of reducing lost work time due to injury by 10%. She said HR would also focus on continuous improvement for HR’s internal customers to meet Council’s priority of efficiencies.
Director Rivera-Pena said HR is planning to develop a more collaborative negotiation process and a new employee welcoming process.
In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding the negotiation costing process goal of 50% agreement, Director Rivera-Pena said that would just be the beginning of a new system that focuses on all parties agreeing "on how we arrived at the data. So that there aren’t any conflicts… It is very time consuming when we go off and do the data and then present it, and they have questions, or don’t understand, and then we have to go back and forth. This way will be more efficient, they will feel part of the process, and they will understand how we arrived at the numbers." Director Rivera-Pena said that once the process was finished, based on feedback, HR would make improvements to the system. She said 50% was only a first time baseline, but HR hoped to reach a much higher level.
In response to Council Member Ira’s questions regarding increased employee costs in FY 1999/2000 on Page 126, Director Rivera-Pena explained the impact of the most recent Public Employees Retirement System adjustments.
City Manager Everett and Finance Director Ponty further explained the PERS adjustment’s impact on every Department in the City, and the statutes involved. They said that PERS has dropped the employer’s contribution to zero in 1998/1999 but will greatly increase the contribution in 1999/2000. City Manager Everett added that the employee cost increase in FY 1999/2000 due to the new 2% at 55 PERS program plus the higher PERS employer’s contribution explains the huge fluctuation in projected employee costs between the two fiscal years.
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Mayor Howard said that it was a pleasure to watch the new administrative clerk/receptionist, Cecilia, do her job. She said, "anyone coming in and meeting this young lady as the first contact for Redwood City would definitely want to work here. She is just delightful." In response to Mayor Howard’s questions regarding the cost of orientation, Director Rivera-Pena said no analysis has been done yet, but she believed it was an important time for new hires to learn about the City’s values. She said HR had an intern who will review the process, and she described a possible video and the current City handbook. Mayor Howard agreed that a video of the City would be very helpful, and Director Rivera-Pena said it would also be used for recruitment purposes. Mayor Howard asked for a copy of the City handbook.
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Executive Director Chen acknowledged the three Library Board members in the audience, Nicet Santos, Wayne Kingsford Smith and Francis Ludwig. Director Chen said she had just arrived back from Washington D.C. where she had attended the annual conference of the American Library Association. She said that despite the vigorous economy, many libraries across the country are suffering financially. Director Chen thanked the Council for its continuing, strong support for Redwood City’s wonderful Library system.
Director Chen said the Library’s proposed Budget was "more of the same." She said there was one area that did reflect a small increase, and that was the salary for Library Pages. Director Chen said the proposed Library Budget included a 15 to 18% increase for the Pages based on a study that revealed Redwood City’s Library Pages were the lowest paid in all the County’s Libraries. She said there had been a very high turnover, and if the requests were granted, the salaries would be in the median range.
Director Chen said the Library was also asking for a tiny increase, only $6,788, for expanded story times at Day Care Centers. She explained that the request was for restoration of the hours lost when the Voluntary Time Off (VTO) program was instituted and the Youth Services Librarian participated in that program. That policy included restoration of the hours when the participant dropped out of the program or when the Department needed those hours.
Director Chen said she had redeployed one Youth Services Librarian to Schaberg to round out the services at that Branch, and it was done without impacting the Budget. Director Chen said the Library had made some internal adjustments that would allow the Library to increase its books and audio visual materials budgets by 7.4% without impacting the total Budget.
Director Chen described the Library’s Budget Objectives and the Library’s Strategic Three Year Plan created by the Library Staff, which she described as a Herculean task. Director Chen said the Council would soon receive copies. Director Chen said there were many objectives in the Plan that supported formal education, and she described the Library’s initiatives on Page 138 of the Budget Report, which included collaboration with schools, colleges, universities and occupational programs. Director Chen said the Library wanted to expand Project Read’s very successful Kids in Partnership Program to reach four more schools. Director Chen described the Library’s goal of expanding the use of the Internet both for children and adults.
Director Chen quoted from an article in the Washington Post which described the "Millenium Generation" and said the number of children in the U.S. had reached its highest point since the Baby Boom peaked. She said the article described a wide range of new initiatives that Libraries had created to reach at-risk teen mothers, pre-reading programs for 2-year olds, programs for children as young as six months to help parents learn how to read to their children. Director Chen said Page 140 listed the Library’s objective to reach out to parents and helping them see the importance of reading to their children, so they are reading-ready when they enter school.
Director Chen said the proposed Budget objectives will help the Library realize its new Mission Statement: The Redwood City Public Library is the learning center of our community, and the place where people turn to for the discovery of ideas, the joy of reading, and the power of information. Community needs drive our services and we take a personal interest in insuring that they are delivered in a welcoming, convenient and responsive manner.
Council Member Bain thanked Director Chen and the Library staff for taking on extra responsibilities of the City’s Web Site. He said the Web Site is being redesigned and information is being posted on a regular basis. He said all the work on the Web Site had only cost the City $100 for its domain name, www.redwoodcity.org. Council Member Bain expressed support for the Library’s plans for an electronic interactive computer in the Redwood Shores Community Center and asked about the plans for stocking books and materials. Director Chen described a grant the Library had written for funds for the interactive computer, and her plans to ask the Friends of the Library for assistance to fund a deposit collection at the Center.
Council Member Claire said the Library was doling an excellent job with the Elementary School District. He asked if Director Chen had plans to talk to the Belmont School District regarding a partnership to provide Library Services in the Community Center. Director Chen said she had discussed many ideas with the District, and she had every intention of pursuing a cooperative solution.
Vice Mayor Ruskin complimented Director Chen on the many creative ideas in the proposed Budget, specifically the expanded the computer learning experience for children and adults by creating a mini-lab at Schaberg, and having quarterly downtown breakfast seminars for business people and educators, etc. He suggested that it would be a good time to ask for their input on what their needs might be. Vice Mayor Ruskin said that the business forums and parenting skills workshops planned for the North Fair Oaks area would be equally effective in the other Library locations as well.
In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding the Kids in Partnership Program, Director Chen said it was a literacy program sponsored by Project Read which pairs a teenager with an elementary school student, and it had been very successful.
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Director Griffiths said the slight increase in the proposed Budget and the addition of one full time employee were based on the needs of the Lido Landscaping District in Redwood Shores which will increase in acreage as build out continues. He said the Belmont School District contribution of $302,000 for FY 1998/99 is for the salaries that are associated with operating the Community Center which will come on line in July or August, 1998. He said the 2% at 55 program and past MOU approvals also account for that slight increase. Director Griffiths described the revenues and grants the Department will receive.
Director Griffiths said the proposed Parks, Recreation and Community Services Budget addresses the Council’s priorities of community aesthetics, including median landscaping along Seaport Boulevard and around Five Points and Woodside Road. He said the PRCS will continue to maintain the City’s Parks at the highest standard. Director Griffiths said PRCS "will be partnering with appropriate groups to increase sports fields this next year… and how we can improve that usage with cooperative partnerships, particularly with the schools and the College District."
Director Griffiths said the last priority PRCS will work on the next fiscal year, is the quality of life, coordinating more youth and teen programs through the Redwood School District and Redwood City 2000.
Director Griffiths said work on the Redwood Shores Community Center actually started in 1991, but the costs were coming online now. He said the maintenance center in Redwood Shores, another long term project, is also coming online now and will provide a way to increase productivity and maintain more acreage with few employees. Director Griffiths described the survey planned for the Redwood Shores residents that will allow PRCS to tailor the activities to the needs of the community.
Director Griffiths described proposed innovations in the PRCS Department to achieve efficiencies and greater productivity, and the new marketing strategy that will be employed. He described the efforts for new grants, fellowships and other revenues, as well as maintaining current programs up to date.
In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding the goal of reducing use of irrigation water, Director Griffiths said that PRCS was working with Public Works in using new techniques to reduce the amount of water used on the site, whether it is irrigation systems to satellite programs. Director Griffiths said PRCS is working closely with the Youth Advisory Council on the Skateboard Park as well as activities both at the Recreation Center and the Teen Program.
In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s question from Mr. Hughes’ letter regarding Special Interest, Marketing for approximately $600,000 on Page 171, Superintendent Centeno said the Special Interest Programs were all the adult recreational classes for which fees were charged. She said the total for that category was $586,349 for FY 1998/99 and it included the Sandpiper Community Center costs. Superintendent Centeno said the "marketing includes the cost of our brochure, and we are charging this particular Manager who also has the responsibility for Sandpiper Community Center for marketing our activities. A lot of what we do in Recreation we generate revenues. We have facilities that we rent out. We wanted to put more emphasis on that, because we realize that a lot of the City dollars needed to go towards public safety and other things. We wanted to take full advantage of what we could to raise revenues where appropriate."
City Manager Everett said it wasn’t a new position. He said PRCS was taking existing positions and redefining some of the responsibilities to free up time to spend on this Program.
In response to Council Member Hartnett’s questions regarding a Council Priority listed on page 153 under Aesthetics, Goal No. 2, a written agreement with the schools and organizations for athletic field usage, Director Griffiths said PRCS would like to have an agreement with the Schools for use of their facilities, similar to previous agreements back in the late 70s and early 80s. He said the Program was discontinued due to a law suit, and he expressed support for establishing a written agreement with specific terms that would allow use of School property. Director Griffiths said it "would be beneficial down the road for some of the things we are talking about, particularly with some of the Schools in the County area", and Council Member Hartnett agreed. Council Member Hartnett referred to Council Priority No. 4, playing fields and parks improvements, working with the College District and SBSA to establish an additional playing field, listed on Page 153, and said it was a great goal. He said the City’s efforts towards that goal also include working with the County and the Elementary School District.
Council Member Hartnett asked for clarification on the Quality of Life Priority on Page 166, initiation of new Middle School After School Sports programs. Superintendent Centeno said this goal reflected the desire to put all youth sports together. She said there was a half time position of Middle School Sports Coordinator in the Budget, and the other half they hope to have funded by the Police Activities League, which has been managing Elementary Sports programs. She said there were five Middle Schools and each wanted different programs, so PRCS needed to put more emphasis on coordinating efforts.
Council Member Hartnett said there were so many good things in all of the Department Budgets, but he just had to mention how important this issue was to him and how happy he was to see stated Objectives of better and closer coordination with PAL, "so that we not only, (eliminate) duplication, but we have better delivery of services to the youth where they are. I think this is excellent."
Council Member Claire asked that other leagues impacted by PAL be included in the process, such as Senior League and some of the basketball and soccer leagues. He said he is somewhat concerned that PAL recruits at the same time Senior League and others were recruiting.
Superintendent Centeno said this position is in a unit supervised by PRCS Supervisor Bill Wooten who also coordinates all the League use of the fields. She said they had purposely put all the sports programs together which should improve coordination of effort.
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions regarding a Skateboard park, City Manager Everett advised that this issue was located in the CIP which would be discussed next Monday night.
Council Member Ira requested that Council pull the funding for the Fox Theatre, and suggested that he and "the Mayor could put together a ‘strings attached’ deal to see if we can get some more use out of the Fox Theatre." Council Member Ira said he would like to see if a more definitive arrangement could be made to open it up more to the public.
Council Member Claire said that decisions regarding the Fox Theatre should include the Civic Cultural Commission. City Manager Everett said that when the Fox Theater was last discussed, there was some mention of one or two Council Members meeting with some Commissioners to talk about the whole issue. He said some of the Civic Cultural Commissioners were upset that the Council put the money for the Fox Theater in their budget, but did not give them discretionary authority regarding its use.
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Mayor Howard suggested that the Council wait until the new appointments to the Commission were made before any decisions were discussed. She said that she and Council Member Ira could sit down with the newly constituted Commission to see if they would like to tackle this issue. She said if they choose not to, then she and Council Member Ira would do it. Superintendent Centeno said that Peninsula Center Stage (for Fox Theater) has a large grant request in front of the Commission right now, and asked if it was the Council’s direction to have the Commission postpone a decision on the request from PCS. Superintendent Centeno explained the Commission’s policy to hear all the grants at one time and then make all grants at one time, in July.
Council Member Claire said he would like this issue referred to the Cultural Commission and make it clear that if the Council did not fund the Fox Theater initially, it doesn’t mean the Council would not fund it after a review of it with the Cultural Commission.
Vice Mayor Ruskin said that the many Council Members had an interest in seeing "if we can strengthen the contract for the good of the City. My only concern is… whether what we are doing may seem precipitous, and could lead to some effect that we are not intending."
In response to Council Member Hartnett’s request for clarification on pulling the Fox Theater Funds, Council Member Ira referred to Page 149, and said he wasn’t trying to take the funds away from the Civic Cultural Commission, but just provide an opportunity for Council to attach some strings to that grant.
Council Member Hartnett said the FY 1998/98 Budget doesn’t show a line item amount of $37,000 for the Fox Theater. He said the Commission had asked for direction regarding a grant to the Fox. Council Member Hartnett said that a previous Council had approved a grant for the Fox, and the same grant had been included in subsequent Budgets with the aim of benefiting the downtown. He said the Commission’s Budget would not be as large were it not for that grant, and in a sense, removing those funds would be removing funds intended to help the downtown. Council Member Hartnett said, "The broader question would be, is that how we still want to help the downtown?"
City Manager Everett suggested that staff members speak to the Civic Cultural Commissioners, define the issues regarding the Fox Theater, and bring back recommendations to the Council next Monday night. Mayor Howard said that would be a good solution.
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Mayor Howard thanked the PRCS staff members for all the fine work they do in the community, including staffing four boards, committees and commissions. He said these boards, committees and commissions were invaluable to the Council and the community can really make a contribution through them. She also thanked Director Griffiths for all the cooperative work he does with the School District.
Police Chief Bolanos said the significant increases in the Police Department Budget reflects the Council’s commitment to public safety. He said the additional seventeen new positions and the accompanying costs such as uniforms and training. Chief Bolanos said the Department’s objectives reflected the Council’s priorities and included measurable, tangible goals which focused on efficiency, customer service, planning and the quality of life of Redwood City residents. He described the up-to-date training programs for every position, a commitment to the Strategic Plan, and the Department’s implementation of Team Policing. Chief Bolanos said a major goal was to reduce juvenile crime and truancy.
Chief Bolanos referred to the three categories provided by the Police: service, enforcement and prevention. He focused on quick response times, 24-hour service in the entire City including Redwood Shores, officer response to all citizen requests, and friendly staff on the phone and at the front counter. Chief Bolanos said a proposal for a new Detective position is included in the proposed Budget which will allow quicker investigation follow-up. He said an additional motorcycle officer had been included in the proposed Budget. Police Chief Bolanos said an additional traffic officer would increase the Department's ability to meet the traffic citation goals identified in the Staffing Report.
Chief Bolanos said the Police Department plans to continue cooperative efforts with the Sheriff's office with the Street Crime Suppression Team, focusing on juvenile gangs, narcotics and sex offenders. He described the Department’s continued efforts with the County Narcotics Task Force and the County Vehicle Theft Task Force which gives the City access to lots of County resources.
Chief Bolanos said the category he wanted the Department to focus on the most was prevention. He described the Middle School Resource officer positions funded by the School District; the D.A.R.E. program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, in English and Spanish; Police Activities League; and a Juvenile Detective who administers the Tattoo Removal Program, sponsors Job Fairs, and tries to divert first time offenders into counseling rather than detention;
Chief Bolanos described the Department’s use of the Police Boat, obtained at no cost, which is also assisting the City in cleaning up the waterways. He described the Citizen’s Academy and partnerships with the community.
Chief Bolanos described the seventeen new positions authorized by Council for FY 1998/99 and 1999/2000 including three trainees, otherwise known as overhires. He reported on the aggressive recruitment practices that have today resulted in the Department being only one position down, as compared with being seven positions down when Council authorized the new hiring plan last Fall.
Chief Bolanos described the new Computer Assisted Dispatch Records Management System, which will be purchased with federal grant funds. He said there would be a large increase in the FY 1998/99 Budget to cover the costs of equipment for the new personnel, such as vehicles and radios. Chief Bolanos described all the grants the Department had written and received and will receive to offset increased costs.
In response to Council Member Hartnett’s questions regarding Redwood City’s effective recruitment while other cities are still having trouble recruiting, Chief Bolanos said that Captain Scott Vermeer, who runs the Administration Division, put together a recruiting team who went out and aggressively targeted highly qualified candidates in the Academies and elsewhere. Chief Bolanos also credited Human Resources for that Department’s assistance. He said it was a lot of hard work, and there were also some secrets that he couldn’t share.
In response to Council Member Bain’s questions about Team Policing and its costs, Chief Bolanos said cost was an important factor that was considered. He said he had worked collaboratively with the Police Officers Association and the Police Sergeant Association to look at alternative schedules that will allow the Sergeant and his or her team to work and train together. He said alternative schedules were very attractive as a positive inducement to recruitment, especially for the newer officers who couldn’t afford to live in this area.
Council Member Bain said he definitely supported Team Policing, but asked about the cost estimates. Chief Bolanos said it was being tried on a trial basis, to see exactly what if any, the costs might be. He described the agreement with the POA that allows either side to say it isn’t working and still maintain a cooperative working relationship.
In answer to Council Member Leipzig’s questions regarding Spanish Language classes to all officers and the pay differential, Chief Bolanos described the introductory course given to all new hires, and said that the program did not qualify the officers for the pay differential. In answer to Council Member Leipzig’s questions, Captain Warner said the PAL goal of reducing juvenile delinquency by 20% was over a three-year time period. In response to Council Member Leipzig’s questions regarding the response time for abandoned vehicles, Chief Bolanos said that an officer would respond to the site and tag the car within 24 hours, and the car had to be moved within 72 hours or it would be towed. Council Member Leipzig suggested that the phone Hot Line message be changed to make that policy clear.
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Vice Mayor Ruskin said he was glad to see the stated goals for reducing the violent behavior of young people and reduced drug use. In response to Vice Mayor Ruskin’s questions regarding conflict resolution listed on Page 188 under PAL programs, Chief Bolanos said the programs will involve the general population, not just at-risk young people, and the stated goal of an 80% reduction was just a baseline number. City Manager Everett said the violence referred to included even schoolyard fights, and the program was aimed at teaching alternative ways of dealing with conflict at school and with each other.
Council Member Hartnett said he was pleased again this year with the emphasis on prevention in conjunction with other departments and other jurisdictions. He said, "As we have in other Departments within our City, we have an exemplary Police Department… and people don’t realize the breadth and nature of the programs that come through the Police Department and other Departments. When I look at the objectives of the Police Department, there is very little that I would consider to be traditional from the times when we grew up. And there is a great dynamic to the Police Department as there is in the Fire Department and others. I wish it would get recognized more… I’m very pleased with the Budget and the programs."
At 10:57 p.m., M/S: CLAIRE/BAIN TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO 11:15 P.M.
CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS BAIN, CLAIRE, HARTNETT, IRA, RUSKIN AND MAYOR HOWARD
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER LEIPZIG
MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-167
3) Public Works Services - Public Works Services Director Ingram;
Director Ingram said the Department’s Budget was strongly influenced by the Council’s priorities. He used overheads to highlight the goals of the Department – "planning for the future and being efficient and effective with the business we deliver."
Director Ingram said long range planning, Goal No. 1 under Priority No. 2, on Page 200, described the proposed comprehensive Water Supply Master Plan, updating the Five-year Urban Water Management Plan and other work on water issues. He explained that San Francisco PUC is planning to produce a major, long term water supply Master Plan, and it was necessary to prepare for it now. Director Ingram said Priority No. 2 on page 224, also addresses long range planning, extending the current water enterprise fund five-year business plan to ten years and CIP projects for system replacement out twenty years. Also on Page 24, Director Ingram described the SBSA program for recycled water.
Director Ingram said Priority No. 2 on page 226 described long range planning for the City’s sewer enterprise fund and the proposed variable rate structure. He said that on Page 228, the City’s leadership role is highlighted in the programs designed to address the flooding problems throughout the City. Director Ingram advised that lagoon management falls under Objective No. 2, Page 228, and that bodies of waters such as the lagoon are highly regulated. He said Permits are required for management and discharge activities. Director Ingram said that the City has been under a federal mandate to discontinue any chemical treatment of those waters whatsoever, for the last four years. He said the City had been experimenting with alternate means of controls, but they had only been marginally successful. Director Ingram said that lagoon management was a continuing concern, and research is ongoing.
Director Ingram said that the Council’s priority of Aesthetics was addressed under the improvements to the City’s parking lots, Page 212, the sidewalk replacement project and street tree recommendations on Page 216, as well as street signs on Page 218.
Director Ingram said that throughout the Public Works Services Budget there were several Performance Related Objectives.
Director Ingram said that on Page 1 of the Budget Document, the Public Works Services Budget was shown as $19,601,020 for FY 1998/99 and $21,130,196 for FY 1999/2000, which excluded the entire division of MSC and fleet management. He said those were internal fund accounts and appeared in other Department's Budgets. Director Ingram said increases in the proposed Budget were directly related to the Objectives just described, and required financial resources. He said with such a small staff of managers, the Public Works Services Department does not have the time nor the expertise to conduct major rate studies, water supply Master Plans and other specialized activities, and will rely on outside consultants to complete those tasks.
Director Ingram said that the Public Works Services Department staffing has stayed flat over the last five years with 88 positions, and there were no proposed changes in the Budget.
Director Ingram related a story having to do with Street Cleaning, describing the kinds of efficiencies his Department is trying to achieve. He said they had tried to measure the cost of street cleaning and found they were about the median when compared to surrounding cities. But the street cleaning crew said that kind of measurement doesn’t really tell the whole story of all the things they do to try and keep their customers happy, the intangibles. Director Ingram referred to Page 223 and noted the decrease in Internal Services from $169,334 in FY 1997/98 to $110,402 in 1998/99. He said the $50,000 savings was a direct result of the street sweeping crew working with the mechanics in the shop to keep the sweepers on the street and out of the shop. He said the crews also make sure the machines are always clean and shining. Director Ingram said that was one example of a genuine, measurable efficiency that was the direct result of employees cared and worked together.
Vice Mayor Ruskin said that as the Tree Preservation Task Force moves forward there more than likely will be a change in the performance indicators used to evaluate and sustain the street tree population. On another subject, Vice Mayor Ruskin described his discussions with City and County officials about beautification projects including entryways. He suggested that one way to beautify one of the City’s entryways at Woodside and Veterans would be to hide the Yard from public group, and advised he had asked Director Ingram to look into the costs of such a project and report back to the Council.
MEMO 6/30/98
Council Member Claire said that Mr. Hughes suggested in his letter that flood control be listed as one of the Council's top priorities. Council Member Claire said it had been one of his top priorities for a long time, and referred to Council Priority No. 2, Goal No. 1, on Page 228, which described the proposal to develop a long term strategic plan to deal with flooding.
Council Member Bain said he appreciated the street sweeping cost efficiencies in the Public Works Services Department. He described the discussion he had with Director Ingram regarding how street sweeping resources were allocated and whether the needs of the Neighborhoods were being met. He said that having an effective program was more important to him than having an efficient program in this area. Council Member Bain asked that the subject of allocating street sweeping resources be scheduled for a future Council discussion.
MEMO 6/30/98
Mayor Howard directed Director Ingram to write a letter to Pat Dixon explaining the lagoon maintenance policy he described earlier.
MEMO 6/30/98
In response to Mayor Howard's questions regarding the proposal for developing a decision making process for disposal of City owned surplus properties, Council Priority, Long Range Planning, Goal No. 1, Page 224, Director Ingram said this proposal was drafted in response to the constant requests from the development community. He said the Council Utilities Committee will review this matter and make recommendations and the proposed policy will come before the Council for final review before "we go out and do anything." Director Ingram said the Community Development Department will also be involved as the policy is developed, as the policy will include a process to determine which surplus properties are needed for future City uses and which properties are not.
At 11:15 p.m., M/S: RUSKIN/CLAIRE TO CONTINUE THE MEETING TO 11:20 P.M.
CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
MINUTE ORDER NO. 98-168
Mayor Howard complimented Director Ingram and the Public Works Services Department for their outstanding efforts in dealing with the damage caused by El Nino and their response to the people of Redwood City. She said 88 PWS employees "covering a City of 73,000 people during El Nino was amazing."
MEMO 6/30/98
G. Public Comments;
Don Saye, 2021 Broadway, Civic Cultural Commissioner, stated his apprehension about the Civic Cultural Commission's plans for funding the Fox Theater. He said the Fox Theater was extremely important to the revitalization of the Downtown and was supported by the Downtown merchants. Mr. Saye described the performing arts center in Mountain View and San Mateo and the number of people they attracted to their cities. He said the Fox Theater's viability was vital to the cultural image of Redwood City.
MEMO 6/30/98
Mayor Howard asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one came forward.
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5. ADJOURNMENT
M/S: LEIPZIG/BAIN TO ADJOURN TO AN ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AND A BUDGET SESSION TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING WHICH WILL COMMENCE AT 7:00 P.M., MONDAY, JULY 6, 1998, IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER, 1017 MIDDLEFIELD, REDWOOD CITY.
CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE AND MEETING ADJOURNED AT 11:20 P.M.
Arlyn C. Jorgenson
City Clerk
City of Redwood City | City Council
Copyright © 1998. The City of Redwood City. All rights reserved.