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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-03-1973 MinutesMINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING CALL TO ORDER: DECEMBER 3, 1973 43 Meeting was called to order at 7:02 P.M. by the Honorable Donald D. Linton, Mayor. ROLL CALL: By Clerk's representative. Present were: Councilmen Adams, Denney, Hunt, Larsen, Linton and Wilkins. Councilman Al Schor was absent. Mar Winegar, City Manager; Harry Kinzer, Finance Director/City Clerk; Sandra Stanley, City Engineer; Iry Kau, Public Works Director; Dick Erickson, Director of Parks/Recreation and Ben Rea, Senior Planner. Jan Tidrick, Councilman -elect and Judge Fred Staples were also present. City Attorney D. Wayne Campbell was absent. PUBLIC HEARING - PROPOSED 1974 CITY OF PASCO BUDGET: MAYOR LINTON DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 1974 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PASCO OPEN. The Mayor invited questions or comments from any interested citizen on any part of the proposed 1974 Budget for the City of Pasco. S.S. BROWN addressed the Council on behalf of the Park and Recreation Advisory Board. He thanked the Council and City Manager for things that had been done in the past in working with the recommendations of the Board. He cited Senior Citizens bus transportation, tennis courts resurfaced and lighted, lights on Memorial ball field, swimming pool study and landscaping at the golf course - and thanked the City on behalf of the Board. He advised that for the last 20 years, the Board had recommended to the City to put aside and add to a Capital Improvements Fund. That has never been done. He referred to the recently proposed swimming pool which the City is unable to finance by itself and would need participation from the School District or others. The School District is unable to participate. such a fund could now be used as matching money for applications of grants. The Board recommends to the Council that if they have any money left, that they now create a Capital Improvement Fund for Parr'-& Recreation. The second recommendation: That the City provide for a full time recreation supervisor for the Housing Authority Complex. Their program through HUD had provided for 1/2 time recreation supervisor (the City also providing 1/2 time recreation supervisor). This was for a specified time. HUD has now required the Housing Authority to remove their 1/2 time alloca- tion. This full time supervisor allocation is necessary for compliance to the items set out by HUD. JUDGE STAPLES submitted a letter (attached hereto) to the Council concerning the matter of contribution to the Probation Services for the Court. He said the letter was self-explanatory except that it was now his understanding that $6,000 was not a definite contribution by Richland. Judge Staples says that this program is essential and although the formula was 60% contribution by County and 40% from the City, actually the services were more 50 - 50. He strongly recommends that the City allocate $2,000 toward the Probation Services for the Court. The current program is funded through August of 1974 and the recommended allocation would allow the program to go the full year. Councilman Wilkins inquired if the City allocated $2,000 and the other jurisdictions did not allocate their share, would this then be refunded to the City? Mr. Winegar explained that inclusion of the money in the budget does not; in fact, mean the money will be paid out. If it -were in the budget, the actual expenditure of the fund would be subsequent, sometime in 1974 along with other agencies that requested funds. MR. RUSS WISEMAN requested a budget for review and was furnished a copy. Mayor Linton reported that at the November 27th Workshop Meeting of the City Council, they had been requested to allocate $10,000 -for the Library for carpeting. Mayor invited comments or questions on this matter. There were no comments offered from the audience. MR. WISEMAN inquired whether the budget in the form presented is subject to change, and was advised it was subject to change until its adoption during this month. No final decisions would be made during this budget hearing. He inquired as to street maintenance in comparison to last year's budget. He had suggested to the Council a year ago that there was a need for street maintenance. During the time he was on the Council and when the City was doing some street improvements, the subject of moral obligation was set out that we would attempt to do some maintenance work on these 44 MINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING DECEMBER 3, 1973 streets when they become broken. In the L.I.D. area of his residence, the streets-' are becoming cracked and broken. (Meridian, Marie, etc.) He fears without some maintenance, the 40 -year streets may become 25 -year streets. Mr. Winegar reported the 1973 budget with supplemental budget amounted to $262,000; the proposal for next year is $277,000. Mr. Wiseman replied that it appears to him it's a status quo. PAUL LAWRENCE, Apartment Owner's Association, asked three questions: 1) Any provision in the 1974 budget for utility deposits and was this a revenue in the City. Mr. Winegar answered that the deposits were discussed at Workshop Meeting of the Council and it is nota part of the budget but a companion Ordinance re: deposits - $20.00 deposits rather than $10.00 and calling for refund after two years showing no delinquency. This is not a revenue for the City; however, the interest income on investments can be. This would be a decrease, however, because of the number of good accounts. 2) Apartment owners wished to know if the renters now will sign up for their own utilities billing? This was in the material furnished at the last Workshop in a Manager's report. At the request of the Mayor, the City Manager read Paragraph 2 and 3 of that report. "Utility Deposits. Approximately $47,500 of customer deposits are being held. A substantial amount of this is in long term accounts which have never been delinquent. The water rules and regulations provide that after 2 -years, deposits may be refunded. I feel this should be implemented contingent on appropriate requirements. On the other hand, with billing now being done every two months rather than monthly and with the inclusion of solid waste charges, the present deposit of $10.00 is inadequate. As a result, I suggest consideration be given for raising the minimum deposit to $20.00 for new accounts. Solid Waste. As mentioned in my transmittal letter included with the draft budget, a decision needs to be made as to whether there should be a small reduction in rates, an increase in services with no change in rates, or the matter held in abeyance for another year. In addition in multiple family residences without separate water and sewer service, possibly the occupant, at the option of the owner, should be required to make a deposit rather than using a lien as a leverage for payment.. You recall at least one owner appeared before the Council reciting his problems with liens. In addition at least some of the apartment owners, at their option, would like direct billing to tenants." The instructions of the Council was to prepare a draft Ordinance for review of the Council at the next Workshop Meeting. 3) Solid Waste. re: small reduction of rates, etc. - which you have been working on, we didn't know if this was in the budget or not. The Manager replied that the instructions of the Council at the Workshop Meeting was to attempt to negotiate or commence negotiations with the contractor to work out some rules and regulations. MR. LAWRENCE asked if there were any increases in the amount allocated to the Humane Society for picking up stray dogs. The Humane Society in their budget indicated they will be working with the same allocation as in 1973, no change. Mr. Lawrence advised that members of the Apartment Owners Association had re- quested that he inquire - they are concerned about the number of dogs roaming without leashes. Recommended increased diligence. Mayor Linton reported that the Committee on Council salaries.had submitted their recommendations. He thanked the Committee for their service. The committee had been selected to look into the matter of council salaries because there had been no increase since 1962. Their recommendation is that Councilmen salaries be increased from $40 to $90 per month. They also recommended that the Mayor's salary be increased from $80 to $200 per month. Two additional recommendations were submitted: PASCO POLICE COURT December 3, 1973 City Council Pasco, Washington 99301 Gentlemen: I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention the matter of the budget as it relates to probation services. As you know, probation services are furnished to the Court through the Benton -Franklin Volunteer Probation Service, which is utilized by and funded by the Franklin County District Court, Pasco Police Court and the Richland Court. I understand that the sum of $1,100.00 has been tentatively allocated by the City of Pasco to help fund this service and I consider this sum to be inadequate. I originally proposed that the County would contribute 60% and the City of Pasco would contribute 40% of the funding required for our share of the services. Franklin County has contributed $4,000.00 for its share of the funding. I understand that Richland has contributed $6,000.00 toward funding this service. It cannot be operated with a con- tribution of $1,100.00 from the City of Pasco, first, because this would not provide sufficient funds, and, secondly, because this would be grossly disproportionate to the contribution of the other entities using this service. $2,000.00 is an absolute minimum in view of both of these factors. City Council Re: Probation Services Page 2 I realize and appreciate the problems faced by the Council in attempting to allocate the funds available on an equitable basis among the various competing agencies; however, it should be remembered that the Court is a self supporting agency. In fact, the Court also provides substantial revenue toward the General Fund. It should be remembered that the function of the Court is to enforce the law and attempt to rehabilitate those who come before it. Raising revenue for the General Fund of the City is not one of the major purposes of the Court and I object to the utilization of Court revenue for non -judicial purposes until the Court is allowed sufficient funds to enable it to function adequately. In my 12 years as Judge in Pasco, I do not believe that I have made any undue requests for funds. In fact, the City does not and has not paid its fair share of the cost of administering justice in the lower Court system in this County for many years. If one of the contributing agencies utilizing the probation system does not contribute its share, the whole system will collapse. We cannot do without it and we must have at least $2,000.00 for this purpose. FRS : pw Sincerely yours, Fred R.` Staples/-"`-- Judge 1 1 1 45 MINUTES PASCO '�IL�Y COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING DECEMBER 3, 1973 1) That the council review the council salaries at least every five years. 2) That these recommended increases take effect as soon as legally possible. The Mayor explained that he reported on this committee recommendation at this time so that if any interested citizen wished to comment and invited questions or comments. Councilman Denney addressed the Council. He stated that he wished to make clear that he had not at any time agreed to accept the report of that committee. When it is brought up before the Council at regular meeting, I will make a motion for $160 per month for Councilmen and $320 for Mayor per month and will support my position. Mr. Wiseman said he was speaking for himself, not the committee, but it was the concensus of the committee, after research, and due deliberation, that this was a fair recommendation and was submitted in that light. This was a recommendation only and that the Council was not bound by that recommendation. Mayor Linton said the report summary would be submitted to Council formally at their regular December 4th meeting and that he would be recommending its adoption. Councilman Wilkins agreed with Councilman Denney in his recommendation for a higher rate of salary for Councilman and Mayor. Councilman Hunt clarified for the record that there were 6 members on the committee, two of which were previous councilmen with expertise on the subject, one person of the committee - Wallace Webster, moved out of town to Ellensburg and was unable to meet with the committee. The Mayor appointed the Committee, the Committee was confirmed by the Council with no dissenting votes from the Council. We asked people to volunteer their time at a lower rate than the Council compensation. He said he wouldn't mind going to $100 a month for Council with $200 per month for the Mayor, but to stretch to $130 would be out of line with the recommendation of the Committee. Mr. Ballard admitted that some raise was in order and yet he wanted the Council to consider in this relationship that the School Board members serve with no pay whatsoever. Councilman Hunt asked: In the original draft budget, there was $55,000 in unallocated funds. The City Council has definitely put $20,000 of that in Social Programs requested by various agencies. Is there anything else from that $55,000 that is definitely locked in? At the CBD Task Force Meeting with the consultant last week, there was a strong indication of surphus.property at Payless at $18,000 would be a good buy. Assessed valuation including building is $25,000 at 50% real value looks like a good purchase, plus any possible assistance in the CBD area, making a total possible committment of $38,000. Based on recommendation of committee , salaries of councilmen and Mayor plus fringe benefits would be approximately $4,500. What is the final date for passage of the budget? December 18th, short of an adjourned meeting to a specified time. Under the law, it has to be adopted prior to the end of the year. Allowing for publication time, adoption should be by Christmas. No further comments, Mayor Linton explained items will be on December 11th Workshop for Meeting adjourned at 7:55 P.M. ATTEST: HARRY D. KINZER, PfRECTOR OF FINAJE AND EX -OFFICIO CITY RK ((// that further discussion regarding budget adoption mf Budget Ordinance on the 18th. DONALD D. LIN ,,MAYOR PASSED and APPROVED this__y day of /Y , 1973.