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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-06-01 City Council Special MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 1,1992 The special meeting of the City Council of the City of Apache Junction, Arizona,was held on June 1,1992 at the Apache Junction City Council Chambers pursuant to the notice required by law. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Damiano called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmen Present:Mayor Damiano Councilwoman Barker Councilman Perkins Councilwoman Alger Councilman Coleman Councilman Cox (Vice Mayor Eidson was on vacation.) Staff Present:City Manager Michael Lee City Clerk Kathleen Connelly City Attorney Glenn Gimbut Interim Dir.of Development Serv./ Planning Division Mgr.Jim Nakagawa Director of Public Safety Bill McDaniel Director of Public Works Rich Broman City Engineer Gordon Grandy Dir.of Parks & Rec.Jeff Bell Library Director Pam Loui Director of Finance Keith Lewis Engineering Admin.Asst.Theryn Hansen Librarian Spencer Paden Operations Superintendent Doug Dobson DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF ON FY 1992-93 BUDGET )Mayor Damiano called upon the city manager to speak on this item. City Manager Mike Lee stated that Council requested this meeting to discuss salary increases and potentially adding other projects to the proposed financial package for the police building.He then asked direction from the Council. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 1 OF 10 Councilman Perkins supported a 3% COLA for all employees below the level of grade 50 on the scale,instead of a merit increase. Councilwoman Alger agreed with Councilman Perkins and stated there are several employees that are off the pay plan and over grade 50,so that all the employees under grade 50 can get something. Mr.Mike Lee commented there are eleven employees that are at or above the grade 50 scale;of which three are at 1%,one is at 3% and two limited at 4% for the merit increase. Councilman Perkins asked if that would not affect upper division managers. Mr.Lee replied he was not sure what the range 50 scale is. Councilwoman Alger stated there are about eight or nine employees that would be affected. Mayor Damiano commented there are employees that are producers while there are others that are not producing and it is those not producing that he did not want to see getting a merit increase;if they approve a COLA for all,then everybody will get it. would not affect upper division managers. the range 50 scale is. Councilman Perkins stated if that is the case,the Council is stepping onto personnel matters that should be handled by division managers or supervisors;it is not the Council's duty to decide who individuals will or will not get a merit increase. Mr.Lee stated that a 3% COLA for everybody can be justified;people in effect are taking a decrease if the cost of living raises and their salaries don't;that he also believes in the merit system because it's one of the tools that supervisors and managers use to motivate and provide incentives to the work force;and that he would prefer the merit system over a raise for everybody. Mr.Lee stated he has personally talked with each of the department heads who are above the grade 50 level who would be affected and they all sympathize with the problem the Council is facing with the budget;that all of them have agreed to voluntarily give up their merit increase this fiscal year. Councilwoman Alger asked if all the employees don't receive a 5% merit and the ones at grade 50 and above don't receive COLA,is it conceivable that the $91,000 is enough to give merit increase and a 2% COLA? SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 2 OF 10 the 2% COLA alone is about $100,000. Finance Director Keith Lewis replied Mr.Lee pointed out that COLA is for the entire year and the merit increases are not necessarily so since some employees don't receive it until almost the end of the fiscal year. Mr.Lewis stated the total for COLA would be about $85,000. Mr.Lee clarified that the $91,000 that was estimated for the general fund additional revenues is now $319,000. for COLA and merit increase. Councilwoman Alger asked how much is Mr.Lewis asked at what percentage. Mr.Lee stated that a 5% merit excluding department heads would be about $92,000. Councilwoman Alger commented that if not everybody gets a 5% merit increase,then less than $92,000 would be used. Mr.Lee replied that is right. Councilwoman Alger commented Council could give merit increases,a 2% COLA,and also a full-time library clerk. Mr.Lee stated that Mayor Damiano was interested in proposing $20,000 for some drainage improvements at a mobile home park east of Tomahawk Road that has been having recurring problems for seven years. Councilwoman Alger commented the Council could also put an additional $6,000 for Health and Human Services. Mr.Lee stated they want to also add $3,000 for Pinal County Governmental Alliance dues and $10,000 for an employee benefits consultant to develop a wellness program. Mayor Damiano suggested to give Parks and Recreation $1,000 for a name plaque wall at the gazebo. Councilman Perkins asked what would happen if the Council decided on a Municipal Property Corporation financing package that would include park expansion,the Senior Center and other projects. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 3 OF 10 Mr.Lee replied that would depend on the timing of when they would want to do the projects. Councilman Perkins asked what would happen if the Council decided to start planning and have Mr.Bell start with the paper work for getting matching grants for parks improvements. Mr.Lee asked if that is not suppose to be done until fiscal year 1993-94. Councilwoman Alger commented that if it were put into the MPC project,then it would be available for Parks and Recreation next year. Mr.Lee replied they can also keep it for three years before they have to spend it. Councilwoman Alger asked if library improvements were added to it,it would be probably a couple of years before they would be able to supply the staff that would be needed.She asked Library Director Pam Loui how many more people would be needed for the library expansion. Mrs.Loui replied that for the ten years they figured thirteen people total,but they have not decided on that because they still don't know how large an expansion they're talking about. Councilwoman Alger asked what is covered in the $285,000 that is in the Capital Improvement Program. Mrs.Loui replied that was for the 5000 square footage expansion to the building,but since that time there has been some talk about other possibilities. Mr.Lee stated that questions on these other possibilities would be addressed in the master plan that CIA is working on. Councilwoman Alger asked if more money were put into the MPC package,what provision is needed to be made in this budget for any additional funds. Mr.Lee replied they would have to make the best estimate possible and put another $50,000 but it would depend on what projects they add and what the timing is on those.He explained that the full annual debt service doesn't start until FY 1993-94 with the police building because of the time that takes to construct and design;if they had a project that only took 12 months they would need more of that money sooner and he would say about $250,000. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 4 OF 10 Councilman Coleman stated he is interested in the main street project;that he has talked to people from the Chamber of Commerce who say that the City would need to make a $50,000 commitment. Mr.Lee stated the City has $20,000 already in the budget and that other communities have raised significant funds through the private sector to help meet those kind of commitments;that his expectation was that the Chamber would do the same. City Attorney Glenn Gimbut commented that a matter that's been considered by the Judicial Review Committee is the possibility of having a full-time in-house assistant attorney instead of having prosecutor services on contract;that the estimate would be an extra $20,000 a year over what has been already budgeted for prosecutor services. He stated this will be presented to the Council on June 16th. Councilman Perkins commented that the Chamber of Commerce wants to sell their building and move and that they will ask for about $100,000.He stated the City could use it as office space and if they wanted to buy it,would they want to do it this year and put it into the MPC? Mr.Lee stated they should put it in the MPC and that he thought the City could use that space. an asbestos study on it. needed an appraisal on it too. Councilman Perkins recommended to do Councilwoman Alger stated they Mr.Grandy asked about the landfill. Mr.Lee stated that according to the county manager they will probably not need a transfer station for Pinal County because of the Laidlaw landfill that may be constructed 15 miles away. Mayor Damiano asked if that means we can forget about our idea of a landfill for Apache Junction. Mr.Lee replied no and that the possibility of the Laidlaw landfill does not rule out having the new landfill also. Councilman Coleman stated he would like to see a supervisor in Parks & Recreation. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 5 OF 10 recreation coordinator. be probably $30,000. Mr.Lee asked if he meant a Mr.Lewis stated the position would Councilwoman Alger commented that in order to have a recreation coordinator they would have to take either main street or the drainage out of the budget. Mayor Damiano stated he would like to see the drainage stay there. Councilwoman Alger commented they could take $10,000 back out of MPC and the main street for the recreation coordinator. Councilman Perkins commented there has been some discussion about whether they want a parks coordinator or an assistant attorney and he asked Mr.Gimbut if his figures are high,low or middle. Mr.Gimbut replied he thinks the present prosecutor does the job and that he's not saying that he sees an absolute need for this at this time nor he is saying that he personally recommends it,but he presented it to Judicial Review as one of the things to review in the court in general;that the figure is a middle number. Councilwoman Alger asked what is included in the figure given for an assistant city attorney. Mr.Gimbut replied that includes the assistant city attorney plus employee benefits;clerical assistance plus benefits;word processing equipment plus desk and chairs;office space could be in the development services department. has asked for bids on attorney services. know what another attorney would want. Councilman Perkins asked if the city Mr.Gimbut replied no. Councilman Perkins asked if he would Mr.Gimbut replied no,except that one quote he received is for $80 per hour;that most places will not do it on a flat fee but will charge by the hour. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 6 OF 10 Mayor Damiano asked what is the salary of a lawyer as a prosecutor per hour. Mr.Gimbut replied he thinks that the city's prosecutor is charging $120 to $125 per hour. Councilwoman Alger asked how many cases are being prosecuted each month. Mr.Gimbut replied he did not have the exact number broken down that way;that he has a three-month period of time in his records;he asked Judge Brundrett if he would have that information. Judge Brundrett replied he did not but he could get it for him,except it's very hard to determine how much time is spent on the cases. Mr.Gimbut stated he has a different system for how cases are handled,for example,in all cases of the department of development services,whether an attorney appears or not the prosecutor is involved in all of the pre -trials. Councilman Perkins asked if a full- time assistant attorney knowing prosecution would make a difference in the service that the city provides in this area. Director of Public Safety Bill McDaniel replied that it would enhance all of the city positions;they could have him available to look at all of their search warrants before these go to the magistrate.He gave his recommendation on that a change was necessary. Judge Brundrett agreed with Chief McDaniel. Councilman Perkins stated that is something the Council should consider seriously and provide the funds needed in case that is what they decide to do after the Judicial Review report is brought back to the Council. Councilwoman Alger asked if they take out of the $30,000 for the parks coordinator,$20,000 for the assistant attorney,there is an extra $10,000;she asked if that would benefit Parks & Recreation to have it for instructors fees. Parks & Rec.Director Jeff Bell's response was that it would be nice but that it was also necessary to have someone to coordinate the events. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 7 OF 10 City Clerk Kathy Connelly asked if there could be a kind of a time window where they would be in the hiring process for the assistant attorney and the clerical staff and yet still need somebody to do the prosecution or if Glenn Gimbut would be able to do both. Mr.Gimbut replied that would be something he would have to coordinate personally and would have to talk with Mr.Hirsch about;that his ideal provision is to continue Mr.Hirsch at $5,000 per month until a new person comes in. Ms.Connelly commented that in other words it wouldn't necessarily cost the full amount this budget year. Mr.Gimbut replied that is correct. Councilwoman Alger asked that in light of that,because it would take both Mr.Bell and Mr.Gimbut hiring time, if it's feasible to have both positions placed in the budget. Mr.Lewis replied he would make it work out. Councilwoman Alger MOVED THAT THE FOLLOWING DIRECTION BE GIVEN TO STAFF REGARDING THE BUDGET FOR FY 1992-93: TO LEAVE THE 5% MERIT PROGRAM THE WAY IT IS AND TO GIVE A 2% COLA,TO ACCEPT THE VOLUNTARY FREEZE BY GRADE 50 AND ABOVE EMPLOYEES;AND TO PUT $15,000 FOR DRAINAGE;$6,000 FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES;$3,000 FOR DUES;$10,000 FOR THE CONSULTANT FOR THE WELLNESS PROGRAM;$1,000 FOR THE GAZEBO NAME PLAQUE WALL;AND $20,000 INTO THE MAIN STREET FUND;AND THAT AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY POSITION BE PROVIDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY $20,000;A PARKS COORDINATOR FOR WHATEVER SALARY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE CAN WORK UP;THE REMAINING INTO THE M.P.G.PROGRAM;$21,000 FOR THE LIBRARY CLERK;AND ADDITIONAL FINANCING FOR THE M.P.C.PROGRAM WOULD BE $250,000 FOR PARKS AND RECREATION;$285,000 FOR THE LIBRARY;AND NOT -TO -EXCEED $100,000 FOR PURCHASE OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING,AND THAT AN APPRAISAL BE DONE ON THE BUILDING. Councilwoman Barker SECONDED THE MOTION. Mayor Damiano disagreed on the Assistant City Attorney position. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 8 OF 10 VOTE:In favor:Councilwoman Barker,Councilman Coleman,Councilwoman Alger, Councilman Cox,Councilman Perkins. Opposed:Mayor Damiano. The motion carried. The special meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. ACCEPTED THIS 7TH DAY OF JULY ,1992,BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF APACHE JUNCTION,ARIZONA. SIGNED AND ATTESTED TO THIS 8TH DAY OF JULY ,1992. THOMAS DAMIANO Mayor ATTEST: KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 9 OF 10 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 1st day of June,1992.I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this 19th day of June,1992. KATHLEEN CONNELLY City Clerk SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL JUNE 1,1992 PAGE 10 OF 10