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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1978.06.14 A G E N D A STUDY MEETING June 14 , 1978 7030 p . m . 1 . Budget Restrictions for Wage Negotiations Mr . William Ward Desires to Confer Executive Session 2 . Progress on Departmental Budget Revisions 3 . Building , Public Works and Planning Fee Adjustments 4 . Transient Occupancy Tax Increase 5 . Other BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL Special Study Meeting June 14 , 1978 PRESENT : COUNCILMEMBERS AMSTRUP , BARTON , CROSBY , MANGINI , MARTIN City Clerk Hill ; City Treasurer Sommer Staff : Schwalm , Coleman , Kirkup , Argyres , Hoffman Wagner , Palmer , Fricke , Bergsing The City Council met in executive session at 7 : 40 and convened to a special study meeting at 8 : 30 p . m . in Conference Room B of the Burlingame City Hall . Councilman Amstrup reviewed Council ' s attempt to compile a final budget which would accomplish a 25% cut from the preliminary department submissions , hope- fully without requiring personnel cuts other than through attrition . Council - man Mangini referred to his Fire Department budget evaluation and emphasized that every effort should be made not to reduce manpower in that department because it would result in great damage to the City . Councilwoman Barton said that although it is necessary to maintain the parks to the bar minimum , personnel would have to be included to achieve a 25% cut in the Park Depart- ment . Councilman Martin agreed that Council should attempt a 25% reduction but pointed out that when it is known what the State is going to do revisions can be made . If the State returns 40% of the property tax , only a 13% reduction will be necessary . Councilman Amstrup continued that there has been discussion of the need to reduce the proposed budget from $ 1 . 7 million to at the least $1 million . Though there are reserves , their use would be a temporary measure . Councilman Martin added that there have been discussions that the State will make up for all school and welfare losses , and that Burlingame would be adversely affected if the State ' s approach is by population . Councilman Amstrup asked Mrs . Bergsing for discussion of her proposed budget . Mrs . Bergsing explained that her original budget listed personnel and operating items separately ; however following a staff meeting earlier that day she attempted to present budget cuts in the manner that the Police Department sumitted its proposed cuts , by listing priorities with the lowest beginning on page 1 . Each priority has a price , and the total is $135 , 000 , which is 25% of the Library ' s budget . Councilman Amstrup explained Council ' s intent to make a temporary decision on each item and make the information available to citizens , hopefully with the cooperation of the newspapers , so the public will have an opportunity for input . In answer to Councilman Amstrup ' s question about the recommendation regarding �— retention of the Easton Branch , Mrs . Bergsing pointed out that her proposed budget suggestions had reached the 25°' without disposing of the Branch , and she would not advise closing it . She said she listed the annual savings of closing the branch at approximately $ 50 , 000 . Councilman Martin asked if the $50 , 000 1 affects items in the $135,000 reduction listed by her. Mrs. Bergsing explained that her suggestion included closing the Branch every evening but one, Monday, and closing the Main Library on Sundays. Also shortened hours were proposed for the Branch library, one to six on weekdays and from one to five on Satur- days. She added that part of the $50,000 was included. Councilwoman Barton questioned shutting the Library on Sundays because she felt it was well used then by people who could not come at other times. Mrs. Bergsing explained that her computations showed the cost of keeping the building open on Sundays is close to $10,000 because it requires seven people, plus the cost of utilities. .In addition, with a possible staff cutback, staffing schedules would become too complex. Councilman Amstrup suggested that closing the Branch might result in better operation at the Main Library. Councilman Martin requested that Mrs. Berasing prepare more complete figures on the cost of closing the Branch and the effect of closing the Branch on the $135,000 budget cut she had prepared. Councilman Crosby pointed out the problem of security in connection with the Branch were it closed. Councilman Amstrup suggested that Council consider the items listed as Bullet Biters in Mr. Argyres' memorandum of May 31st. He referred to Item No. 9 - Reduce Street Sweepers, and pages 82 and 83 of the budget. He and Mr. Kirkup discussed the two street sweepers and two operators. It is their suggestion that only one piece of equipment be used except for approximately two months of the leafy season. The resulting savings would be approximately $14,900, in- cluding fringes. Mr. Kirkup added that if one sweeper were down for repairs the other sweeper could be used, and that the second operator would be reduced to maintenance worker except for the time when both sweepers were in operation. The result is the elimination of one position and a savings of approximately $3,000 on equipment. Councilman Martin said he would like to have detailed amounts, including amounts of fringes which appear in a different account. There was no objection to the proposal. Councilman Amstrup called attention to the Training and Safety Program account which appears in almost all budgets and asked if there were any objection to pulling most of them. Councilman Martin questioned the advisability of in- cluding the Police and Fire Departments. Chief Palmer explained that the $18,000 in the Police budget for this item is in effect a revolving account which is reimbursed to the City along with approximately 60% of the salary of the officer involved. Also many of the programs are mandated. Councilman Mangini questioned whether the programs in some departments are not required by OSHA. Councilman Amstrup said the account would be checked in each in- dividual department and removed if the program is not necessary. With respect to Item 17, Supervisory Training and Civic Arts, Councilman Crosby recommended that the entire amount of the account,$7,500, be eliminated. There was no objection. Mr. Kirkup reported that San Mateo decided to add the cost of their garden pick-up to the charge for regular garbage pick-up. He said that should Burlingame decide to do the same, it would add approximately 79 cents per month to the home service charge, but the City would have to carry the service for a few months, which would result in a savings of only $40,000, not $48,000. Councilwoman Barton expressed concern about requiring citizens to pay for a service formerly provided by the city. Mr. Kirkup was asked to come back to Council with more precise figues concerning the cost to citizens and savings to the City. 2 In answer to Councilman Amstrup ' s question about the total savings by reason of elimination of summer help , Mr . Argyres st-ated that he would have to get more information from the Library and Recreation Department where summer help is an integral part of the program . Councilman Martin said that summer help does not include the Library ' s part-time employees , and that he estimated the savings at $28 ,000 . Councilman Crosby , referring to Item 14 , Reduction of Tourist Bureau Contract by 50% , reported a conversation with Mr . John Condon in which he advised that San Mateo had raised its hotel /motel tax from 6% to 8% . He also said he had received a letter from the Hyatt House commending the efforts of the Convention Bureau . Councilman Amstrup added that it is estimated that the City will re- ceive approximately $525 ,000 in hotel tax at the 6% rate , and that the City pays the Convention Bureau 15% , which would amount to $78 ,000 . He said that the hotels are running 85% of capacity which is largely due to the efforts of the Convention Bureau . Councilman Crosby commented that the convention industry is the second largest in the area , and that San Mateo and Redwood City have raised their tax to 8% , and the newspaper reports that Millbrae has raised its , to 7% . Councilman Amstrup said that it appeared that the County will withdraw its support though they collect $200 , 000 tax from the Hilton Hotel and have paid $100 ,000 to the Bureau . He recommended that Burlingame continue its contri - bution to the Convention Bureau because they pursue the large conventions which bring a great deal of money to the area , and Burlingame will lose more income than any other community . Councilman Martin asked if it would be possible to increase the tax rate to 8% but not increase the amount contributed to the Convention Bureau , calling attention to the fact that Burlingame has paid 35% of the total amount received for the Bureau budget . Mr . Coleman was directed to prepare an urgency ordinance increasing the tax rate for consideration at the Council meeting of June 19th . Councilman Amstrup said he would call Mr . Steen concerning the increase of tax rate without an increase in the amount paid to the Bureau . Councilman Martin reported that ABAG dues will be cut about 60% . He pointed out that ABAG has A-95 review rights so that if a city is a non-member it must paya fee of 1 /10 of 1 % of any grant . Mr . Kirkup stated that there are some grants pending , and he does not consider $1 ,800 too high a charge . Councilman Martin suggested that another membership the Council should look at carefully before dropping is the League of California Cities because the City needs every bit of information that is available . In discussion of Item 18 , Citywide Civic Promotion , it was decided to eliminate the open bar from the Commissioners ' dinner . Council asked for estimates , including consideration of combining the Auxilliary and Commissioners dinners . Councilman Amstrup suggested that transfer of retirement and fringe benefit costs to water and sewer charges be discussed at the next meeting , as well as Item 4 ( use of Federal Revenue Sharing for general operations ) and Item 5 ( increased use of Gas Tax Funds for general operations ) . 3 With respect to Item 7, increased Planning and Building fees, Mr. Coleman stated that the new building fees would be before Council on June 19th with an urgency provision so fees will go into effect immediately. He would also like to have a resolution before Council at that time regarding fees for permits. Councilwoman Barton questioned comparison with fees of other cities. Mr. Kirkup replied that at the time new fees were proposed they were to be uniform throughout the county, but he understands that some cities .have increased fees since Jarvis-Cann. Our fees for sidewalks, etc., are considerably behind presently. Councilman Martin pointed out that there is a difference between planning and building fees. With a planning fee in many cases the permit is turned down by the commission. He felt an applicant should not pay a fee if the application is not granted and if an appeal is upheld the fee should be refunded. Councilman Martin said Items 10 and 11, relating to crossing guards and reduction of parking enforcement are discussed in the Police Department budget. Item 12, reduction of Library hours, had been discussed, but Councilman Martin pointed out that there will be a whole series of items, such as the Police Lab, Civil Defense, and the Hillsborough library contract, which will cause add backs to our budget. Chief Palmer commented that the Sheriff's Department will have a crime lab and we may be able to use it on a fee basis. In connection with Item 13, elimination of the Chamber of Commerce contract, 1 Councilman Flangini asked Mr. Kliewer how close the Chamber is to being self- sufficient. Mr. Kliewer reported that there was a $2,300 deficit at the end of 1977. He had recommended a three year program but that aspect is not in the program until next year. He said that he could not speak for the Board. He pointed out that the retail merchants bring a good part of the $3,000,000 sales tax revenue to the City and compared the City's 15% contribution of hotel tax to the Convention Bureau. He said that he felt the members of the Chamber had in the past six months made the organization valuable to the community, and he thought Council should consider an incentive basis for the Chamber similar to that of the Convention Bureau using the $2.8 million sales tax as a basis. Councilman Crosby asked the amount of membership dues, and called attention to the Recreation Department's efforts to make its program self-supporting. He recommended more support from members and possible con- sideration of an incentive basis. Councilman Martin asked that the Chamber consider the matter and come back with a proposal. Councilman Mangini commented that the Sister City Association is working on the convention, and Councilman Crosby agreed that this would be a poor time to withdraw support. Councilwoman Barton asked if the association has not attempting to become self-supporting and asked what the $1,000 is used for. Councilman Crosby responded for convention expense and entertainment when representatives of Cuernavaca come up here. Councilwoman Barton suggested that money could be raised to cover expenses. Mr. Schwalm said he believed the amount could be eliminated from the budget. 4 �.. Referring to Item 19 , insurance advisors , Mr . Coleman said he found them valuable , but he felt the brokers the City has used have been fair and that competition is good . Councilman Martin said he did not feel there is anyone in the City experienced enough in insurance matters to warrant elimination of the advisors . Councilwoman Barton felt that the advisors might save the City in excess of $1 ,800 . Mr . Amstrup suggested leaving the expense in the budget . Councilman Amstrup said Item 21 , defer capital outlay , and Item 22 , miscellaneous reductions in operations and maintenance accounts , would be covered in the review of department budgets . Councilman Amstrup directed attention to page 86 of the operating budget , street lighting and electric . He and Mr . Kirkup recommend making the assistant electrician the city electrician in place of retiring Buzz Taylor and not filling the assistant ' s job which will result in a $20 ,000 savings , including fringes . Mr . Kirkup added that the department will be supplemented with labor from the Street department , and that summer help in the amount of $1 , 563 will be eliminated by the Council ' s _ decision . Mr . Amstrup continued that the clothing allowance will be reduced by $100 . Also utilities will be cut $5 ,900 . Mr . Kirkup explained this would be effected by a cut in lights in the business areas which are the largest lights in town , 1 ,000 watt sodium vapor . Also the remaining lights in capital outlay will be converted to 4-way sodium lights similarly to the former program . Councilman Martin questioned the $18 ,000 for replacement of existing mercury power lights , which would take three years to recover . Mr . Kirkup stated that capital fund gas tax may be used instead .. of general fund for this project . Councilman Martin asked if any part of the $172 ,000 utility item could be paid from gas tax . Mr . Kirkup responded that the lights on the select system could be paid from the gas tax . Councilman Martin asked to have the figures on the 'portion of the utility cost that could be paid from that source . Mr . Kirkup added that $120 ,000 of the cost is paid from traffic safety money . He will have the information available by next Wednesday ' s meeting . 2107 funds are already being used and 2106 funds can be used only for maintenance on select streets . Councilman Amstrup emphasized that it is important that each department list its most important and least important priorities aiming toward a 25% cut in the budget . Mr . Argyres said that 25% is the old figure ; that the worst that could happen would require a 21 °10 cut , but that if we receive the City ' s share of the 1 % it will be only a 13% cut requirement . Councilman Martin recom- mended that the departments list cuts beyond the 21 °o point because Council may revise the priorities . Councilman Martin commented on the form of proposed revisions submitted by Chief Palmer and suggested that each department proceed similarly . Councilman Mangini asked for direction in connection with the San Mateo Operational Area Civil Defense and Disaster Organization whose funds would be substantially cut by the County . Councilman Martin suggested that he use his best judgment . Councilman Mangini said he would bring as much in- formation back from the meeting scheduled for June 15th as is available . �-' The meeting adjourned at 10 : 35 p .m . Noted : A. Keating 5