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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 07/01/1987 } y y OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES July 1 , 1987 COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Bailey Steve Dowell Christi Houser STAFF PRESENT: Brent McFall 0\ Tony McCarthy Mike Webby Alana McIalwain OTHERS PRESENT: None APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS All claims for the period ending June 30, 1987 in the amount of $648,170.48 were approved for payment. FURNITURE FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE City Administrator McFall and the Mayor's secretary Alana McIalwain presented a proposal to purchase $3,500 in furniture and artwork for the Mayor's Office. It was noted that the Mayor's 1987 budget included $1,300 for furniture and that the 1986 Budget also had an amount of $700 which was not spent. City Administrator McFall noted that the Mayor has a number out-of-town visitors and the furniture that is currently in the office is pretty old and unsatisfactory. Part of the purchase will also bt-y some artwork selected by the Arts Commission. The Committee unanimously approved the purchase of this furniture and artwork directing that the budget request be put on the July 7 Council Agenda. MAY FINANCIAL REPORT Finance Director McCarthy briefly summarized the May financial report noting to the Committee that he will have a full presentation on accounts receivable at their next meeting. He also noted that though the May report showed increasing funds available for the 1988 Budget information just received on the June 30, 1987 sales tax disbursement showed a substantial reduction from the budgeted plan. The complete information will be available upon publication of the June report which is in plenty of time for analysis of funding for the 1988 Budget. 66F-IF Operations Committee Minutes i July 1, 1987 Page 2 With respect to this issue, Councilman Bailey discussed with the staff ideas for incentive and productivity improvements. The staff noted that this type of study is part of next year's operating program. At that time the City will do a much more detailed review of its financial condition and long-term health, analyzing the impacts of such things as annexations and the condition of City facilities and infrastructure. With respect to the question from Councilmember Houser, related iro utility tax, the staff explained that the undercollection of utility tax is related to a warmer than usual winter impacting the payment from Puget Power and Washington Natural Gas and the reduced garbage rates associated with the transfer of the garbage business to a private hauler. Also discussed was the nature of the building permit activity which seems to be falling off from the 1986 level but is still above budgeted amounts for 1987. SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION SERVICES As a follow-up to the June 15 meeting, Assistant City Administrator Mike Webby distributed a written memo to the Committee requesting the upgrade of Michael Aichlmayr from pay range 24 to pay range 30. It was noted at the previous meetings that Mike's job has greatly expanded from his initial efforts related to small PC projects and to his current involvement in the technical aspects of data communications, portable computers, telecommunication wiring, mapping and telephone systems. The Committee confirmed the approval of this request following the presentation of a written proposal . The item will appear on the July 7, 1987 Council Agenda. PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFFING MODIFICATION Assistant City Administrator Mike Webby presented the Planning Department staffing modification request. The request ask ,$for the restructuring of a Planning Assistant position currently vacant to a more experienced professional planner position. The cost of this request is $4,000 and allows the Planning Department to 66F-IF Operations Committee Minutes July 1, 1987 Page 3 hire a more experienced person to deal with all the upcoming projects and issues in the Planning Department. The Committee approved the request unanimously, for inclusion on the July 7, 1987 Council Agenda. SELF-FUNDED MEDICAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT As an information only item, Assistant City Administrator Webby distributed to the Committee the first annual report on the City's self-funded medical insurance plan. He noted that the plan serves 128 of the City's employees and provided the City with substantial information that had not previously been provided by Blue-Cross. The program allows the City to analyze its expenditure trends ,in addition to saving substantial sums of money. It was noted that the plan allowed for the built-up of $124,318 in first year surplus. WORKERS COMPENSATION SURETY REQUIREMENT Assistant City Administrator Webby explained to the Committee that. the City's Worker's Compensation Plan had been reviewed by the Department of labor and Industry. Based upon that review the City no longer has to provide a surety bond. Thus the City is able to delete its bonding requirements because of the actuarial soundness of the plan thus saving about $2,200 a year. WASHINGTON CITIES INSURANCE AUTHORITY DIRECTION Assistant City Administrator Webby distributed to the Committee a summary of the latest report of the Washington Cities Insurance Authority. The report described the benefits of the program and noted that the Insurance Authority, currently at 54 cities, could be expanded to 70 cities in the near future. Also discussed was the plan for the Insurance Authority to go completely bare with a decision to be reached by May 1988. Currently the Authority spends about $1.3 millilon a year to purchase excess insurance up to $10 million. Going completely,,bare would allow the savings of this $1 .3 million in insurance expense and the buildinrrup to the completely self-insured levels by 1992. 66F-lF