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Home My WebLink About1998-07-20 City Council Special MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JULY 20,1998 The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona,was held on July 20,1998 at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Coleman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present:Mayor Coleman Vice Mayor Surra Councilmember Durbala Councilmember Urich Councilmember Insalaco Councilmember Eck Staff Present: Others Present: (There is one vacancy on the council.) City Manager Curtis Shook Assistant City Manager George Hoffman City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Joel Stern Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Bell Library Director Pam Loui Finance Director Keith Lewis Public Works Superintendent "B"Hoyt Associate Planner Rudy Esquivias Assistant Planner Paul Michaud Long Range Planner Kate Morris DISCUSSION ON TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 )Mayor Coleman opened the item to council discussion. Councilmember Urich commented she would like to have the three new patrol officers hired in September,December and March instead of hiring one each in September,January and June. Councilmember Eck commented he thought they were being hired at that time to coincide with the openings for the training academy. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 1 OF 6 Councilmember Urich stated this is just upping it a couple of months. Councilmember Durbala added the reason for hiring at the proposed times had something to do with the training cycles at the training academy. Councilmember Eck agreed. City Manager Curtis Shook stated that has some effect.The reason for the spacing was for budgetary reasons; i t followed a pattern of fairness.However,the further they got into the budget,things changed with the police academy.Cadets can no longer go through the academy and pay for it out of their own pockets.They now have to be sponsored by a municipality or another entity.That is what pushes out our ability to hire someone. Councilmember Durbala asked if an additional burden on their training would occur if these were moved up;would three officers have to be pulled off the street,causing a shortage,in order to train these new officers simultaneously. City Manager Curtis Shook stated it could but it may not in this case. Councilmember Urich commented they are only talking about a couple of months. Vice Mayor Surra asked if the budget had to be specific or could it be left to the police department as to when they should hire. City Manager Curtis Shook stated they can set those as target dates,but it does not necessarily mean that they can meet them. Councilmember Urich stated she would like to try to get more officers on the road quicker. Vice Mayor Surra stated she would like to leave it up to the chief. Councilmember Durbala agreed with the vice mayor. Councilmember Eck agreed that i t should be left up to the chief.He asked if the chief could hire sooner if he felt those positions were needed sooner. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 2 OF 6 thought he had salary figures was quarterly, monthly. Councilmember Urich stated she been specific in the budget proposal. City Manager Curtis Shook stated the in the budget are for the hiring dates that were given. Vice Mayor Surra stated that budget and asked if they were added to the budget quarterly or City Manager Curtis Shook stated in most cases i t is quarterly.The June 1st hiring would be with the end of the fiscal year. Vice Mayor Surra asked if it would make a difference dollar -wise as to when they are actually hired. Finance Director Keith Lewis stated it would. Vice Mayor Surra asked if he would have to show a variance if he hired someone sooner. Finance Director Keith Lewis stated that was correct.They are scheduled to go in on certain days and their salaries are figured from those hire dates. City Manager Curtis Shook commented if the change is made,a certain amount of money would have to be added to the tentative budget adoption. Mayor Coleman commented he is comfortable with the recommendation and he would prefer it be left the way it is.He does not see where a couple of months will make that much difference. Councilmember Urich commented she hoped he was right. Councilmember Insalaco asked that the council add to the Managed Proposal for Benefits Changes the following: that staff bring back guidelines and a retiree health insurance benefit that has the city contribute to health coverage for employees who retire with a minimum of twenty years of service to the city. Councilmember Eck asked if he was asking for a study. Councilmember Insalaco did not want a study.He commented the city manager stated he could have something for SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 3 OF 6 them in 30 days and he would like to see it implemented.He would like to see the city pick up part of the retirement hospitalization costs.He did not want particulars,he just wants staff to start working on it,starting with this year's budget. Councilmember Urich agreed. Councilmember Eck asked when this was supposed to be implemented. Councilmember Insalaco stated it should be implemented when they have an employee retire after twenty years of service.Though no one is retiring right now,this needs to be started. Vice Mayor Surra commented that i f this fiscal year brought someone retiring with twenty years of service,then that should be covered in this budget.It would have to be added into the budget some place. City Manager Curtis Shook stated they have developed a nonfunded liability within the budget in his opinion. He was under the impression he was to establish guidelines under which the city might make a contribution to extending someone's health coverage after they retire.He believed Councilmember Insalaco asked that if the council agreed with him that staff be directed to come up with a proposal that would carry that out.He believes there is enough money in the benefits line to fund it this year in the likelihood that there be any expenditure this year. It would not be a big ticket item this year,but possibly in the future. Vice Mayor Surra stated there are no dollars allocated right now but it could come out of the contingency funds. City Manager Curtis Shook stated it would be a small amount.He added the request is to come up with a proposal that would have guidelines to determine whether someone qualified for that benefit. Councilmember Insalaco stated he wanted them to find out the best way to help the employee and the best way for the city to implement it. Durbala and Urich agreed. be some retirees in 1999. a good incentive to stay with the city. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 4 OF 6 Mayor Coleman and Councilmembers Vice Mayor Surra added there might Councilmember Eck added it would be Mayor Coleman closed the discussion with no further comments from the council. PUBLIC HEARING: TENTATIVE BUDGET AND CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO.98-22,ADOPTION OF TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 AND GIVING NOTICE OF FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION )Mayor Coleman opened the public hearing on the item.There being no one wishing to speak,he closed the public hearing and called for a motion. Councilmember Durbala MOVED THAT RESOLUTION NO.98-22,A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA,FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA,FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998-99,HEREWITH SETTING FORTH THE TENTATIVE ESTIMATES FOR THE MONIES NECESSARY FOR THE PUBLIC EXPENSES OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA,FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE DATE,TIME AND PLACE FOR HEARING TAXPAYERS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET,BE APPROVED WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:THAT STAFF BRING BACK GUIDELINES ON RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS THAT HAS THE CITY CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEES WHO RETIRE WITH A MINIMUM OF TWENTY YEARS SERVICE TO THE CITY;AND THAT FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION BE HELD AT THE MEETING OF AUGUST 4 AT 7:00 P.M.FOR APPROVAL. Councilmember Eck SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT )Mayor Coleman adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. NSVCTIEDOTHi l i TAY—OF DAY OFE JUNCTION,ARIZONA:1998,BY THE MAYOR AND CITY SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 4TH DAY OF AUGUST ,1998. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 5 OF 6 ATTEST: DOUGLAS COLEMAN Mayor CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction,Arizona,held on the 20th day of July,1998.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 21st day of July,1998. City Clerk ELLY SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JULY 20,1998 PAGE 6 OF 6