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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2002-11-06 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL MEETING CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM 400 GRAND AVENUE NOVEMBER 6, 2002 (Cassette Tape No. 1) 1. Call to Order 6:05 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Councilmembers Femekes, Green and Matsumoto, Mayor Pro Tern Gonzalez and Mayor Mullin Absent: None. Staff present: City Manager Wilson, City Attorney Mattas, Assistant City Manager Moss, Fire Chief Lee, Police Chief Raffaelli, Department Directors Gibbs, Sommer, Van Duyn, Nagel, Steele, Quinn, Bower and Hollis, Maintenance Services Deputy Director Bordi, Assistant City Attorney Johnson, Assistant Finance Director Woo, Superintendent of Recreation Ranals, Deputy Fire Chiefs White and Lucia, Chief Planner Sparks and Principal Planner Kalkin 3. Public Comments Ms. Mina Richardson, 127 Cherry Avenue, stated that Maintenance Services Deputy Director Terry White told her in 1998 that Cherry Avenue was on the list of streets to be repaved. She described its current condition and asked for Council's consideration that it not be removed from the list when re-evaluating the City's budget. Mayor Mullin directed staff to look at the Capital Improvement Plan to determine when Cherry Avenue is to be repaved and to re-inspect it, along with Greendale and King Drives. 4. Study Session: a) Options for balancing the budget for FY 2003-04 City Manager Wilson presented an overview of the Budget Strategy Report. He reported that the Council subcommittee (Femekes and Green) worked with staff on the proposal and it is being presented at this time for Council's input. He requested that the subcommittee remain active for the next twelve to eighteen months. He further reported that the subcommittee looked at each department on an equal basis. Councilwoman Matsumoto questioned the proposed maintenance and public safety service level reductions. Mayor Mullin questioned the proposal to increase cable franchise fees from 2½% to 5%, and suggested that it may encourage residents to opt for satellite dishes. Councilman Femekes asked if the City receives revenue from the RCN fiber optic lines and City Attorney Mattas stated he will report back to Council. Finance Director Steele presented the summary of reductions and revenues, proposed increases, and the general fund projections. Mayor Mullin further discussed the proposal to increase cable franchise fees and staff reported that South San Francisco is the only city in San Mateo County that does not charge a 5% cable franchise fee. Mayor Mullin discussed the ramifications of an increase and staff indicated that current cable rates on the Peninsula are either comparable or less than South San Francisco's. Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez questioned the proposal to increase child care fees and suggested that other areas of the recreation program be explored. Mayor Mullin discussed with staff the proposal to charge market rent to the City of San Bruno for the WQCP. Director Gibbs reported a new JPA with San Bruno is being prepared as a result of the plant expansion and that this provides the opportunity to discuss the rental charge. Staff reported a letter of opinion from Keyser Marsten was received stating that it is a legitimate practice to charge rent and an updated land appraisal is being prepared. Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez questioned the proposal to close the Grand Avenue Library on Saturdays and its impact on the community. Council discussed using volunteers for non-essential tasks and the concern that employee units may have. Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez stated concern regarding the Council's conference and training budget being reduced and the importance for Council to represent the City at functions. Councilwoman Matsumoto questioned the non-departmental budget and suggested that the subcommittee look at funds appropriated to subsidize community programs. In response to Mayor Pro Tern Gonzalez's concern regarding child care fees, City Manager Wilson suggested that staff look at using a sliding scale. Councilwoman Matsumoto suggested that bare maintenance of parks be continued as the public sees this as a quality of life. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 2002 MINUTES PAGE 2 Chief Raffaelli responded to Councilwoman Matsumoto's concern regarding public safety reductions, and explained his approach to re-evaluate department positions to maintain community programs and a strategy to adjust hiring practices. Mayor Mullin summarized for the subcommittee to look at the City's subsidizing programs, park maintenance schedules, child care fees and closing Grand Avenue Library on Saturdays. City Manager Wilson reiterated that the decisions that the departments had made during this phase of budget cuts were the effortless cuts. (Recess: 7:56 pm - 8:06 pm) b) Consideration of modification to City Council resolution adopting a military leave policy for non-career National Guard or military reserve personnel Human Resources Director Bower distributed the staff report to Council for their review. Councilman Fernekes informed Mayor Mullin that he requested the item be brought before Council. Mayor Mullin and Councilmembers Femekes and Green questioned Director Bower on the process used to notify the firefighter whose twelve months under the policy is ending. Councilmembers Femekes and Green stated their support that the policy be extended and that there is a concern that more employees will be called-up if there is a war with Iraq. Councilwoman Matsumoto stated that she has empathy, but the financial liability facing the City is a concern and that volunteering for the reserves was the employee's choice. Mayor Mullin questioned what other communities are doing and Director Bower reported that only half-a-dozen other cities are extending their policy. Mayor Mullin stated he agreed with Councilwoman Matsumoto and that volunteering for the reserves runs a risk. Chief Raffaelli reported on the military reserve issues that have affected his department and the leaves that employees take for training and promotions. He discussed the benefits of being in the reserves, which includes retirement. Mayor Mullin and Councilman Green further questioned staff on the potential number of employees that may be called for active duty, the procedure used to notify employees of the policy and how it was tracked. Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez felt there was a hardship on the department and a financial hardship on the City. He stated that he could not support the policy being extended. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 2002 MINUTES PAGE 3 Councilman Femekes requested a vote. Motion-Femekes/Second-Green: To extend the policy for twelve months. On the question: Mayor Mullin confirmed that the motion and second is to extend the policy for twelve months and Councilmembers Femekes and Green stated yes. Motion continued. The motion failed by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen Fernekes and Green. NOES: Councilwoman Matsumoto, Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalez and Mayor Mullin. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 conference with Labor Negotiator Bower on City Manager Time entered into Closed Session: Time reconvened into Open Session: Report from Closed Session: 8:28 p.m. 8:50 p.m., all Councilmembers present. Direction given/no action taken. 6. Adjournment Motion-Matsumoto/Second-Femekes: To adjoum the meeting at 8:50 p.m. Unanimously approved by voice vote. Submitted by: Sylv{i~tM. Payne, City Clerk/ City-of South San Francisco Approved: ~/ ~_ Eugene R. Mullin, Mayor City of South San Francisco SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 2002 MINUTES PAGE 4