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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 09/01/1988 i L _ 0 0 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES September 1 , 1988 COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Christi Houser Paul Mann Steve Dowell Jim White STAFF PRESENT: Brent McFall Tony McCarthy Rex Tippery Norm Angelo Bill Williamson Kevin Kearns Marty Mulholland Bob Olsen Alana McIalwain Jim Hanson OTHERS PRESENT: Leona Orr, Citizen Doug Clackinbaum, Developer Bob Fadden, Architect APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS All claims for the period ending August 31 , 1988, in the amount of $809,564.86 were approved for payment. OFFICE BUILDING PROJECT City Administrator, Brent McFall , brought the Committee up to date on the proposed public-private partnership project. He noted in his presentation that the City population has doubled since the initial City Hall was built twenty years ago, resulting in increased staffing needs. He also noted that in an attempt to address the City's space needs, the City is also trying to stimulate downtown revitalization. In an effort to do this, weave; asked for a Statement of Qualifications to build a building on City-owned Tend, to meet both staffing needs and downtown revitalization efforts. 0 Operations Committee Minutes September 1 , 1988 Page 2 Brent, the Mayor, Council Member Woods and department representatives from Public Works, Fire and Planning reduced the eight responses to the Statement of Qualifications to three, and selected Sound Ventures as the firm to develop the project. Brent introduced Doug Clackinbaum, the developer who provided preliminary plans to the Council on the layout of the building. He noted that this would be a Class A office building, and that he had heard there are many tenants in the area who would be desiring to move out Class B office space into Class A office space. The facility would be a five-story building, with the first floor being retail , the second floor containing the City Permit Center (which would have direct access from the parking lot), and third floor for use by other City staff (with a pedestrian bridge connecting it to existing City Hall ). The fourth and fifth floors would be rented out to private individuals, with leases structured so that the City would have the option to move into that space at future times. This would encompass Phase I of the project, which would be approximately $7-8 million project. Phase II would be to demolish the Engineering Building and construct a $4»6 million compatible building on that site. The two-phase construction allows the City to remain in the Engineering Building until completion of the project. With questions from the Council Members it was noted that building would be owned by Public-Private Partnership, which would purchase the land frm both the City and the Catholic Church and that the parking garage associated with the facility would add 156 new parking spaces above that taken away by the new building. Based on this input, City Administrator McFall asked the Council for permission to continue working on negotiations related to land sale, street closure, and lease terms and to provide updated information to the, Committee and to the Council prior to obtaining authorization to sign those agreements. After much discussion, the Committee felt comfortable with the process. They were hesitant at first, concerned that maybe the staff was moving ahead to fast, but were assured that no final negotiations would be contemplated until future reviews with the Committee were undertaken. The timeline for the project, assuming Council approval at second Council Meeting in September, would be for construction to be complete in November 1989. 0 Operations Committee Minutes September 1 , 1988 Page 3 INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS City Administrator McFall introduced the subject by saying it was a policy issue, and although there will be cost and some administrative process, the Council should decide the issue based on policy. City Attorney Williamson noted that his studies revealed that the City of Yakima is the only city in the State who has had a recent initiative effort; it cost approximately $25,000, which amounted to a 250 per signature for validation. This study was verified by a similar process in California. Before instituting a process, Bill noted that there are other factors to consider: Whether there are other ways to get the public information to the Council and the Mayor, based on an open-door policy; Whether the process could be abused by having many issues that don't really qualify; The drafting of ballot issues is a controversial subject and is time-consuming; Possibly considering an opinion poll , as opposed to this process; and That our City Ordinances would have to wait an additional 30 days prior to implementation, with this kind of a process. Following the presentation, the concept of an advisory ballot was discussed as an alternative. The Attorney felt this process could be allowed within the City, and wouldn't be as costly as the other process, as there would be no validation signatures, etc. The results of such a ballot would only be advisory. B it would be there for the Council to consider. Based on this, the Attorney's office will provide additional information about advisory ballots. CONTRACTS FOR COMMAND DATA FOR FIRE Firefighter Kevin Kearns told the Committee that the Fire Departent had been looking long and hard at computerization. He noted that Command, Data had been an early choice of both the Fire and the Police Departments. Police had Mw Operations Committee Minutes September 1 , 1988 Page 4 already implemented the Command Data System. The City has acquired portions of fire systems from a former vendor, but that vendor was no longer operational . Command Data has recently produced a fire product-that runs on Hewiitt Packard. The Fire Department would like to negotiate the contract with Command Data, with the capital costs of such effort coming' out of the Public Safety Bond Issue Project, with minor amounts for annual maintenance coming out of the City's General Fund. The Council Committee unanimously approved this request. DRINKING DRIVER TASK FORCE FURNITURE City Administrator McFall noted that the Drinking Driver Task Force recently moved to the Commons on a temporary move until the Police Department is relocated in the Library. Prior to their move, they had been working with old, used furniture and had shared a very crowded work environment. Based on this, he is asking for an additional supplemental appropriation of $2,750 for new furniture. The Committee unanimously approved this request. JULY SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT Finance Director McCarthy noted that the July Financial Report, continued to show a strong economic gain for the City. Building permits were up substantially, running 61% ahead of budget estimates. He noted that this activity provides future property, sales and utility taxes fqr the City. Thus, the City continues to have a strong economic outlook. Based upon this information, 1989 Budget has been forecasted and provides approximately $1 ,000,000 for program improvement items, including: all new people, any new capital outlay items, tools, and furniture. More information on the 1989 budget will be brought back to the Council at future meetings. CUSTODIAL STAFFING Finance Director McCarthy introduced Custodial Supervisor Rex Tippery, and noted that the Council knew Rex better than most City staff, because he's always around when they have their Council Meetings. The request before the Operations Committee Minutes September 1 , 1988 Page 5 Committee is to convert a regular part-time person and a temporary part-time person to one full-time position, with an additional appropriation for four part-time hours per week. The request is based on -the fact that Rex has assumed the custodial duties not only at the City Hall , Library and Engineering Building, but also the City Shops. That takes him away from some direct work within City Hall . In addition, the City has added a recycling program, had additional carpeting areas and remodeling of the Police Department, and now picks up trash outside the City's facilities. These additional tasks have added approximately four hours per week, and can be absorbed by converting 2 part-time positions to full time, with a net cost of approximately $4,000 per year. The Committee had no problem with this request, approving on a 3-0 vote, and noted that Rex and his staff have done an excellent job in keeping the building clean. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HARRY HANSON TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL POLICE OLYMPICS Lieutenant Bill Mitchell of the Police Department noted that Officer Harry Hanson had been with the City for approximately one year, but has been in law enforcement for 20 years. Harry recently competed in the regional and national Olympics, winning a combination of 9 gold medals. He had participated in these events through use of his own funds, and contributions from the Police Guild. His efforts have qualified him to compete in the International Police Olympics in Australia in October. To do this, he must raise approximately $3,000 to make the trip. Part of this money will be raised by individuals, and local businesses. Officer Mitchell asked the City for a contribution of about $500, noting that he has provided the medals to the City, and is representing both the City and the Kent Police�,,Department. Based on this, the motion was made to authorize the payment, f rj1,rhsportation and accommodations, up to $500, from, the City's General Fund. 't fji Operations Committee Minutes September 1 , 1988 Page 6 COUNCIL CHAMBERS REMODELING City Administrator McFall noted that the call for bid will be done in late September, with authorization planned for the October 18 Council Meeting. Construction is to begin in November, to be completed by February 1989. Council Members thanked Brent for that input, noting that sometimes these small projects take longer to get going than large private-public project discussed earlier in the meeting. r 66F-OlF