Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12151997 . . . PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF DECEMBER 15, 1997 The City Council ofthe City of Port Townsend met in regular session this fifteenth day of December, 1997, at 6:37 p.m. in the Port Townsend Community Center, Mayor Julie McCulloch presiding. ROLL CALL Council members present at roll call were Bill Davidson, Kathryn Jenks, Ian Keith, Diane Perry- Thompson, Forrest Rambo, Ted Shoulberg, and Mark Welch. Mayor McCulloch administered the Oath of Office to new council member Forrest Rambo AGENDA CHANGES OR ADDITIONS Mr. Rambo moved that agenda items VIII through XIII be placed beyond new business and public comments. Mr. Shoulberg seconded. There was no discussion and the motion carried unanimously, with 7 in favor. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Shoulberg moved to pull item E. (ADA Engineering contract) from the Consent Agenda and place it under New Business as Item H. There was no objection. Mr. Welch then moved for adoption ofthe following items on the Consent Agenda. Mr. Keith seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Approval of the following Bills and Claims: Fund 010 Current Expense Fund 094 Garbage Fund 110 Street Fund 120 Library Fund 130 Park Fund 150 Hotel-Motel Transient Tax Fund 180 Capital Improvement Fund 411 Water-Sewer Fund 412 Storm and Surface Water Fund 500 Equipment Rental Fund 610 Fireman's Pension and Relief 33,793.78 34,087.44 9,110.44 1,378.64 14,373.54 20,355.08 8,622.51 101,000.87 11,365.01 6,658.25 523.42 TOTAL 241,268.98 City Council Minutes Page 1 December 15 & 16, 1997 . . . Approval without reading of minutes from November 17 and November 25 Appointment: Patricia E. Spaeth to the Arts Commission Appointment: Roger Wilson to the Community Oriented Policing Advisory Board Appointment: Russ Hoover to the Civil Service Commission RESOLUTION 97-123 A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an amendment to the Perteet Engineering contract for additional services for the San Juan Ave. Improvements Project Communications: Date Author Topic and Proposed Action 10,11-97 12-1-97 Public Works Monthly Report - for information R. Wojt, D. Harpole, G. Huntingford Transfer of Community, Park & Recreation Facilities to City ofP. T. - for information 12-1-97 Minutes from Joint Growth Management Steering Committee, Nov. 18, 1997 - for information 12-2-97 Building & Community Development Department K. Jackson Pending Land Use Cases - for information ] 2-5-97 Comments on Public Facilities- referred to Public Facilities Committee PUBLIC COMMENTS The following citizens spoke against approval ofthe 1998 budget: Mel Mefford Jim Inman Corky Morris Bob Murray Max Plattner Michelle Plattner Bo b Carter Vern Garrison Orabelle Connally spoke in support of the budget. John Floyd spoke in favor of organizational study, urged delay of 1998 budget approval: Julia Cochrane opposed garbage fees Also speaking against approval of the 1998 budget were: Phyl Speser City Council Minutes Page 2 December 15 & 16,1997 . . . Tammy Sukert Hank Sukert Allan Youse Don Fristoe Eileen Rogers Ted Rogers Lee Nelson Michael Anderson (also commented on ADA Engineering contract) Lyn Hersey Tim Lambert Cheryl Morgenstern Roger Murphy Lisa Welch stated her support and appreciation to the council Speaking against approval of the 1998 budget were: Bob Sokol Richard Spindor Jim Ramey Byron Ruby Madge Wallin Sandi Youse "Artis" stated he had no viewpoint, but commented on the number of citizens present Speaking against approval of the 1998 budget were: Brad Hoover Carey Johanson Sharon Dordat Bob Hinton Will Brown Peter Badame: Hood Canal Bridge decisions, Walnut and "w" Street barriers, asked council to adopt operations & maintenance but not capital budget. Joe Breskin: spoke about flawed budget process Tim Lambert (second comment re budget) Vern Garrison (second comment re budget) John Floyd (second comment - spoke about difficulty of obtaining a draft budget) Lyn Hersey (second comment re budget) Allan Youse (second comment re budget) City Council Minutes Page 3 December 15 & 16, 1997 . . . RECESS Mayor McCulloch called for a 10-minutes recess at the conclusion of public comments. The meeting was reconvened at 9:05 p.m. Mr. Welch suggested beginning with Item G under New Business. ORDINANCE 2617 AN ORDINANCE FIXING AND ADOPTING THE 1998 BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL CITY GOVERNMENT, THE WATER-SEWER UTILITIES, THE STORM AND SURF ACE WATER UTILITY, BOND REDEMPTION FUNDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. Mr. Welch moved that the vote on the budget be separated into two parts, operations and maintenance, and capital. Ms. Jenks seconded. The motion carried, 5-2, with Shoulberg and Rambo dissenting. Mr. Rambo moved to place a hiring freeze on any unfilled Public Works positions, existing or proposed. Mr. Shoulberg seconded. The motion was defeated 2-5, with Mr. Rambo and Mr. Shoulberg in favor. Ms. Jenks moved to adopt the operations and maintenance portion ofthe city budget for 1998. Mr. Keith seconded. Mr. Shoulberg proposed a friendly amendment that employees earning more than $43,300 be entitled to a salary increase based on the national average CPI index times the median income in Port Townsend, rather than the standard bargaining unit cost of living adjustment.. Mr. Rambo seconded the motion. City Attorney Tim McMahan reminded council that union employees are under contract and cannot be included in this proposal. Mr. Shoulberg clarified that it would be only for non-union employees. He then restated the motion: all salaries for non-union employees making over $43,300 per year, that the cost ofliving average for 1998 be based on the national CPI times whatever source the mayor feels is reliable for median income ofthe residents ofthe county. Ms. Jenks suggested that the motion be made in concept so that the Finance Committee can work out an equitable solution and suggested language "work on a scale which would be appropriate in a manner as yet to be determined by the Finance Committee". Mr. Shoulberg accepted the amendment. The vote was taken on the motion that council authorize the Finance Committee and appropriate staff to amend the salary schedule of non-union employees to have a gradual sliding cost of living increase. Mr. Rambo agreed to the amended motion. The motion then carried unanimously, with 7 in favor. City Council Minutes Page 4 December 15 & 16. 1997 . . . The vote was then taken on the main motion for adoption ofthe operations and maintenance portion of the 1998 budget. The motion carried 5-2, with Mr. Shoulberg and Mr. Rambo opposed. Mr. Welch then made the following motion regarding the capital component ofthe 1998 budget: Move to approve the 1998 Capital Improvement Program, and proposed funding sources, including councilmanic and general revenue bonds, with the following provisions: Issuance of any bond included as a funding source in this CIP shall be contingent on Council approval of an aggregate Capital Improvement Work Plan for the years 1998-2002. This plan will contain at a minimum: (1) a narrative describing of the nature and scope of each included project. (2) a prioritization of each CIP project with a rationale for their placement and inclusion in the CIP hierarchy (3) Approximate timeline including start date, major milestones, and projected duration. (4) Estimated Budget for each project including specific funding sources, overall costs as a percentage of the total CIP budget, and likely representative costs to individual citizens whether through rates or taxes. (e.g. project X will result in an average $ Y monthly amount from rates form Utility Z) (5) Projected staff resources involved. (6) The specific projects relationship to other capital projects. Including capital projects reasonably anticipated, but not delineated within the 1998 CIP (e.g. Police Facility). (7) Other criteria established by Council before January 31, 1998. Additionally: Expenditures from any Revenue or Councilmanic bond issued under the above provisions shall further be contingent upon Council approval of a project specific work plan, which, in addition to the previous information, shall specifically identifY and delineate: (I) Project management (2) Outside consultants and/or engineering required (3) Itemized budget (4) Specific timeline including: estimated staff time for each phase, specific milestones, and relationship to concurrent projects. (5) Delineation ofthe project specific and, cumulative demands of staff resources required by the individual and currently ongoing projects. (6) Other criteria established by Council before February 28, 1998. Except that the following continuing and ongoing D.O.H. agreed ordered, and 1997 CIP & earlier projects and expenditures shall be exempted from the above provisions until March 31, 1998. City Council Minutes Page 5 December 15 & 16, 1997 . . . (1) Planning, engineering, and property acquisition for the CT Pipeline and Tri-Area Well Improvements (DOH Agreed Order) (2) Water System Master Plan, Waste Water Master Plan, Storm Water Master Plan (3) Dungeness-Quilcene implementation (4) Tier I Engineering Ms. Jenks seconded and suggested the following changes: munbering in last sequence corrected; paragraph before last numbered sequence should end with a colon instead of a period (after "March 31, 1998") The second sentence number (5) , insert existing operations and maintenance commitments after " . . . by the individual projects and" and before" and currently ongoing projects." Councilmember Shoulberg objected as a point of order, stating the motion was too long and contained unrelated items. The chair ruled the motion to be in order. Ms. Jenks then proposed another amendment, to add "revenue or councilmanic bond" after "Issuance of any . . ." in the second paragraph ofthe motion. Mr. Welch proposed the addition of an amendment that the library technology grant be added as number (5) under the last paragraph ("exempted from the above provisions until March 31, 1998:" The seconder did not concur. Mr. Keith then moved to amend the motion to add the Library Tech Grant matching funds as item 5 in the last numbered sequence of the motion. Mr. Davidson seconded. After discussion, the motion carried by voice vote with 6 in favor, Ms. Jenks dissenting. Discussion continued on the main motion. In answer to a question by Mr. Keith, Mr. We1ch stated it was not the intent of the motion to have all information task and date specific, but to give information to the council's level of satisfaction before making decisions. Ms. Jenks spoke in support of the motion, stating bond approval will not go forward until the majority of the council approves project tasks and deadlines. Mr. Keith noted that if the motion were approved, the provisions would absorb a great deal of staff resources over the next couple of months and stated the council needs to be clear about what City Council Minutes Page 6 December 15 & 16,1997 . . . the cost will be in terms of (for example) the opportunity to have better information for the basis of the process next year, rather than slowing down the job costing and allocation system. This delay must be part of the choice. Mr. Welch disagreed and said it depends on the level of comfort of the council with some major elements of the capital improvement program, noting that many major elements are already exempted. After more discussion, Ms. Jenks called for the question. A 2/3 majority was not obtained in favor, and discussion continued. Mr. Davidson wanted some reassurance that passing the motion will not halt the process of the overhaul of the financial system for bar code revision and job costing. Mr. Legarsky stated that staff availability is a critical component and Mr. Wheeler stated his hope that passage of the motion will not jeopardize the job costing work. Mr. Shoulberg called for the question. There was no objection. The motion then failed 4-3 by roll call vote, with Mr. Keith, Mr. Shoulberg, Mr. Rambo and Ms. Perry- Thompson opposed. Ms. Jenks moved to continue the meeting to Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 at the Pope Marine Building. Mr. Welch seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was recessed at 11 :45 p.m. . -- /, i,. -- Pamela Kolacy, City Clerk " PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM THE CONTINUED MEETING OF DECEMBER 16, 1997 CONTINUED FROM DECEMBER 15, 1997 The City Council of the City of Port Townend met in continued session this sixteenth day of December, 1997, at 6:30 at the Pope Marine Park Building, Mayor Julie McCulloch presiding. ROLL CALL City Council Minutes Page 7 December 15 & 16, 1997