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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1991-02-20Mayor Jack Drago Council: Richard A. Haffey Gus Nicolopulos John R. Penna Roberta Cerri Teglia AGENDA ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1) ROLL CALL: 1. Policy Direction on 1991-92 Budget. MINUTES City Council City Council Conference Room City Hal 1 February 20, 1991 ACTION TAKEN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING 7:10 p.m. Mayor Drago presiding. Council present: Council absent: Haffey, Nicolopulos, Penna, Teglia, and Drago. None. City Manager Armas related: that he and Councilwoman Teglia had spent the day in Sacramento attending a Senate Local Government Committee meeting; government is altering sales tax from the point of sale; Senator Maddy bill will withhold property tax; imposition of booking fees; vehicle registration fees to County rather than local government, etc. Councilwoman Teglia stated that they were there to protest the sales tax question on point of origin or per capita, etc. Finance Director Margolis gave an in- depth status of the current budget and preliminary estimates for the next fiscal year. Discussion followed: paying the County booking fees; downturn in building per- mits due to no activity on Terrabay and other projects due to a lack of finan- cing; whether staff was collecting busi- ness license fees from all businesses; that clear Council direction had been given last year to the Fire Dept. to check to see if new businesses had licen- ses during their inspections; that building permit activity was down and plan checking was up; that plan checking funds came from the applicant; authoriza- tion for a building technician to do counter work had been given; review of all department fees; child care fees were down because of a lack of facilities in 2/20/91 Page 1 A G E N D A A C T I 0 N T A K E N ~i! ~ Policy Direction - Continued. that the School District did not provide a portable classroom; loans for the GSA building, expansion of the Shearwater Development, and the Downtown Central Development made up $2.6 million; the $1.9 million shortfall; transfer of funds to the Capital Improvement Fund from Social Security and other funds; maximum exposure to City; Memorandums of Understanding; staff assumptions on reve- nue; $500,000 earmarked as reserves; TOT was the third largest revenue; effects of the recession; effects on Police through booking fees and other State mandated costs; various Council and staff lobbying efforts to change legislation; not adding any new positions to the budget unless there is an identified revenue source; status quo on non labor items; out of State travel prohibited unless there is an outside reimbursement from an outside agency; City Manager wanted Council to authorize these things as a thrust in preparation of the budget; to review per- formance standards of each department; an update on implementation of Council suggestions in the budget; dealing with the effects of the downturn in the econ- omy, etc. Mayor Drago stated those things he wanted to see as policy direction to the City Manager, and made the following comments: see out cost reduction without sacri- ficing services on line activities; streamlining government costs; intra city cooperative measures between cities as in sharing specialized equipment and man- power which might relieve Samtrans and Caltrans on overlapping services; set up pools when there are shortages in the clerical field; departments should look at volunteerism, such as using seniors as security in the parks; to reduce the number of personnel covered in the mana- gement units which now represents 23% of the workforce; an in-house analysis to see those positions that actually meet the intent of the standards set down both by Fair Labor Standards and City policy - which could be done in-house; he felt 2/20/gl Page 2 AGENDA Policy Direction - Continued. ACTION TAKEN some of it was being misinterpreted in the definition given years ago in setting up the different units; direct City Manager to make an effort to obtain an in- house analysis for a simpler, more mana- geable classification system, rather than using 5 or 6 titles for electricians rather than using supervisors, journeyman or whatever; to expand the list of those positions directly under the City Council; felt the elected official was the only representative of the community, and if he was going to be held accoun- table to the public for the actions of certain staff members, then he certainly wanted to have control of their direction and accountability; he sometimes felt that the existing power structure did hamper his ability to govern as an elected official; suggested modification of the existing ordinance spelling out those positions that showed the greatest concern to him the Fire Chief, Police Chief, Labor Negotiator, Finance Director and Conference Center Director because they were overly sensitive positions to the community and had impact; he felt the other department heads had public involvement through commissions, and had a check and balance system through public involvement. He stated that the ordinance had been passed four years ago, and he had been against it at that time and cited some of the reasons given: management staff would be more secure if they were not under the direct influence of the elected official - when in fact he had seen more movement in top management in the last three years than he could remember. He stated that it did not serve the purpose at that time, and there was the fear of being fired - he could count on one hand the number of department heads fired in the last ten years. He stated that he was trying to get a consensus tonight on the in-house classification analysis to reduce the number of mid-management people. 2/20/91 Page 3 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. Policy Direction - Continued. e Orange Park Master Plan Implementation. Discussion followed: that some of the items mentioned would be handled in the course of the budget and others by the subcommittee on reorganization composed of Mayor Drago and Councilman Haffey; Acting City Attorney Halle reminded the Council that this was a study session for discussion and to take information only, and a vote could not be taken because it had not been agendized as such; Mayor Drago and Councilman Haffey, as both the Finance Subcommittee and Reorganization Subcommittee, would meet on the items introduced; reference to the newspaper quote from Councilwoman Teglia on "government by politics" in relation to a change in the City Manager form of government; Mayor Drago had a better fear "government by staff;" Councilman Nicolopulos stated that after 35 years of working with the bureaucracy felt there were two important ingredients - control and accountability; he had also voted against the City Manager having total authority to hire and fire; felt there was not a problem with what the Mayor was suggesting, because the chain of command would still be followed, etc. City Manager Armas spoke of Council dir- ection on this matter during adoption of the budget, and staff had looked at the numbers and had made an assessment and had put forth choices. He related the following: it could be done, but not all of the project at a cost of $9.6 million; potential funding to carry it off; need to relocate the Corporation Yard to No. Canal for a cost of $3 million; pro- ceeding with the park expansion; over a time money would be amassed for improve- ments, using park in-lieu funds for a community wide benefit, funds from the sale of Chestnut and Grand property, reserves from Workers Compensation, and the balance the General Fund would handle; borrowing from the Sewer Fund to enable financing of the improvements; City allows businesses to use public rights of way for the conduct of business such as PG&E and the Scavengers who pay a 2/20/91 Page 4 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. Orange Park - Continued. franchise fee in-lieu of property tax; imposing a franchise fee against the sewer fund for other businesses for use of the public rights of way to repay monies borrowed from the fund; projected sewer rate increases to pay for plant improvements; acquisition of the Mazzanti property on an installment purchase plan of $1,878,000; the Mazzantis require a two year notice if the City desires to obtain title before 1996; consider building a more modest Corporation Yard if the City wants to purchase the Mazzanti property early; that there was not a consensus of the Council Subcommittee on this project, etc. Councilwoman Teglia stated that the Subcommittee had met but it was apparent each member was going in a different direction. She proceeded to give her report on financing alternatives which are attached and a permanent part of the record of this meeting: to give Mazzantis early notice of acquisition of the property; to process the design and move on the Corporation Yard during the two year period with a loan from the Sewer Fund; set a $3 million cap on the Corporation Yard; move the Corporation Yard out of the park in two years; recommended that Option 1 be adopted, etc. Vice Mayor Nicolopulos stated that the Subcommittee had met, but it had ended in enemy talk and the dialogue had stopped, and he had been told he was not creditable by the other Subcommittee member. He cited his comments and recommen- dation: that staff should be commended on the report; concerned about the City's financial status because the Council was dealing with assumptions; changes in the economic climate in the future; recom- mended that the Council be given an over picture of the full financial costs of this project of $9 million; concerned that this would clean out the City's 2/20/91 Page 5 co~. 2/20/91 Page 5a 2/20/91 Page 5b ~ption 1 Develop Phases A, B, and C, and Linear Park (Budget Estimate - $5,908,005) Option 1 produces the following features: Refurbishing of existing sports and play facilities (one adult softball field, one "colt" baseball field, and one soccer field). New athletic field lights for both the soccer and colt fields. Two additional youth baseball fields with lights. Rehabilitation of existing recreation building. One tennis practice wall with half court. Renovation of "caretakers" residency/garage for park maintenance use. Two restrooms to rehabilitated. One (additional) new restroom/concession building. Replacement of existing group picnic shelter area with new shelter. Additional off streetuarkin~ at two location~ totally 200 spaces. -- ~j'~ ~~ ~ ~.'~ ~3/~~ ~,~. /~c~ Redesign of both park entrances' off of Orange Avenue. Redesign of park fence along Orange Avenue. Landscaped walkway on west side of Colma Creek between Orange Avenue and Spruce Avenue. Total Estimated Cost $5,908,005 Option 1 deletes the following features: Two-story community center (24,000 square feet to accommodate in-door recreation programs). (Although the center was identified in the plan as desirable, it did not receive the high priority that outdoor facilities received. By not building the center at this time, the community can continue to be adequately served by existing facilities. Phase D (one lighted youth baseball field, seventy off-street parking spaces, one restroom/concession building, and three picnic areas). Acquisition of Cal Water Property including relocation of water lines. Total Estimated Savings $6,199,240 2/20/91 Page 5c AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. Orange Park - Continued. reserves in the event of a disaster or economic downturn; also concerned about promises made to the baseball people, etc. Discussion followed: Mayor Drago related that a commitment had not been made to any organization other than a moral com- mitment; that this project had been discussed for several years; Vice Mayor Nicolopulos wanted to know the exact encumbrances and not assumptions; he felt it was important in the next two years to make the City's tax base stronger; that a commitment had been made to the Mazzantis to purchase their pro- perty; that 50% of the purchase price had been paid; a conservative approach had been taken in the budget, and specific revenues had been identified for this project; there had been a similar discussion on Magnolia Center Project when Councilman Haffey had been elected; that the park was over used and needed expansion and improvements and Councilman Haffey would be disappointed to have to wait until 1994 to do the pro- ject; that the cost of the water company land would not allow the City to have another ballfield; Councilwoman Teglia's earlier recommendation had been aimed at when the money was available; that Mr. Mazzanti had built a new nursery in Half Moon Bay; that the City had wanted the Mazzanti property for the past 13 years of Councilwoman Teglia's tenure; getting the property without an election or a bond issue; Councilman Penna wanted staff to approach the water company with a pro- posal for a 100 year lease at a minimal fee; Mayor Drago felt the City had not aggressively gone after the land; that the water company was not receptive to a lease in prior meetings with the City Manager, however there was new management and more meetings would be held; renova- tion of the athletic fields; Consensus of Council - to pursue lease with California Water; staff to talk to the Mazzantis about early acquisition; and to proceed with Phases A, B, and C. 2/20/91 Page 6 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 0 Closed Session for the purpose of the discussion of personnel matters, labor relations, property negotiations and litigation. RECALL TO ORDER: ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned to a Closed Session at 9:37 p.m. to discuss the items noticed. Mayor Drago recalled the meeting to order 9:45 p.m., all Councilmembers present, and no action was taken. M/S Haffey/Te§lia - To adjourn the meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 9:30 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, City of South San Francisco ROVED. ~ k Drago, Mayor // y of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communications, arguments, and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the Office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 2/20/91 Page 7