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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 02/16/1988 - i OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES February 16, 1988 COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Christi Houser 0 Steve Dowell D EPaul Mann D Jim White MAC � ?988 Berne Biteman, STAFF PRESENT: Brent McFall " CITY OF KENT � . Tony McCarthy CITYCLERK Mike Webby Marie Jenson Alana McIalwain Nancy Leahy OTHERS PRESENT: Dee Moschel, Chamber of Commerce Lyle Price, Kent News Journal Dick King, Shearson Lehman and Hutton APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS All claims for the period ending February 16, 1988, in the amount of $722,492.01 were approved for payment. RECLASSIFICATION - TEAMSTERS BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES Assistant City Administrator Mike Webby presented a proposal to the Committee to reclassify seven Public Works employees. These requests- for reclassifica- tion had been submitted by the Public Works Department in December and the Personnel Department reviewed the reclassifications similar to the review given non-represented employees. Based upon the review, they are proposing to - reclassify seven positions at a cost of approximately $550 per month. The Committee reviewed the list of positions and the information provided and approved that the item be included on the consent calendar for the February 16, 1988 meeting. PAY AND CLASS STUDY IMPLEMENTATION City Administrator Mike Webby reviewed the implementation scenario for the City's pay and class study conducted by Bill Ewing and Associates. Mike noted that the implementation scenario based on the study already accepted by the City Council would be within the $50,000 budgeted amount, would provide that everyone be moved to the correct salary range, would provide for no cut in Operations Committee Minutes February 16, 1988 Page 2 salaries for existing employees and would provide that employees who would normally be recommended for moving to an A step would move to a B step if they had been with the City for longer than one year. In explaining this process to the Committee, Mike reviewed with 'them a number of examples. Following Mike's presentation, City Administrator McFall explained to the Committee modifications to the Consultant's recommendations. Some of these modifications were to implement the Mayor's reorganization of the Administrative employees. The Committee recommended that the proposal be brought to the Council for their consideration. A few staff people spoke to the implementation expressing their concerns about the consultant changes and the City modifications. CLID 316 BOND SALE Finance Director McCarthy told the Committee that Dick King of Shearson, Lehman, Hutton, would be present at the Council meeting of Mach 1, to present a proposal to purchase approximately $1.5 million in CLID Bonds. Prior to that presentation, though he wanted to have the Committee brought up to speed on the current conditions in the market for the sale of these bonds. Dick King presented the trend data of interest rates noting that interest rates over the last couple of months have decreased dramatically from a recent high at the end of October and that the City is into the bond market at a very good time. He also discussed with the Committee his proposed interest rate at this time of approximately 7.42 percent and explained his gross underwriting spread of $23 per bond. Following the presentation the Finance Director noted that this was information only item at this time and would be coming back tothe Council at their March 1 meeting. The Council appeared satisfied with the presentation by Mr. King and did not need him back for the Committee meeting, but he will be back for the Council meeting of March 1. Operations Committee Minutes February 16, 1988 Page 3 OFFICE SPACE ACQUISITION City Administrator McFall told the Committee of a pending sale of the law offices located across 4th Avenue from City Hall. He noted that the law firm located there is looking to sell the facility to move to larger quarters. They are asking $580,000 with a 20 percent down payment and a seven year contract at 9 percent. He noted that the firm would be moving out in the spring and the City could basically move right in. This would greatly relieve office space problems currently in City Hall but it would be realized as only a short term solution to those problems. The Committee asked about connecting up computer lines and was told there would be no problem with either connecting these to the phone lines or if needed to channel across the street for that purpose. Also discussed was the pending proposal of a public/private partnership to build some office space on City-owned properties between City Hall and the Engineering Building, but it was noted that that project is at least two years from completion and that the City does have some immediate offfee space needs. Based upon this, the Committee moved the recommendation of the acquisition following receipt of additional information related to appraisal and tax records. COUNCIL CHAMBER REMODEL City Administrator McFall spent an additional amount of time with the Committee reviewing the Council Charger remodel plans discussed with the Council as a whole at their 2/9 meeting. The presentation included the three alternatives as proposed by the architect following his meetings with the Mayor, Brent and certain Council members. Brent noted that all -designs were inhibited because of the current design of the Council Chambers,and that the fact that the walls are brick and there are low ceilings in various areas. The Committee took the information under advisement and would like to schedule a relook at the plans at their March 1 meeting and decide from Itheft. whether to go ahead with the proposal or not. Council members Dowell proposed a short Operations Committee Minutes February 16, 1988 Page 4 term solution of converting the existing Council Chamber by improving the sound system and cutting an aisle through the existing rows of chairs. "fhis alternative will be reviewed with others at the 3/1 Operations Committee meeting. DECEMBER FINANCIAL REPORT Finance Director McCarthy reviewed briefly with the Committee, because of the time constraints, the December financial report noting that a full presentation would be made at an upcoming Council workshop. His presentation noted that the City finished the year at slightly better financial position than had been forecast at the time of the 1988 budget, but the increase was smaller than had incurred in previous years. This will be discussed in more detail at the Committee meeting at an upcoming Council workshop. 66F-01F