HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Operations - 06/28/1995 OPERATIONS COMMITTEACNUTE S
JUNE 28, 1995
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Jon Johnson-Committee Chair, Christi Houser, Leona Orr
STAFF PRESENT: Jim Harris,Bob Hutchinson,May Miller,Brent McFall,Kelli O'Donnell,Margaret
Porter
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None
The meeting was called to order at 9:33 a.m. by Chairperson Johnson.
Wroval of Vouchers: All claims for the period ending June 15, 1995, in the amount of$1,624,478.29
were approved for payment.
Planning Department - Request for Secretarial Suj2port Staff August through December 1995:
Planning Director Jim Harris stated that he was asking for additional secretarial support. He explained that
the requested position is authorized to be fill at the first of the year through the Meridian Annexation
budget but he was asking to fill the position August 1 st. Harris explained that the AFSCME contract limits
temporary employees to five months which a current temporary has exceeded this limit. He stated that if
hired as regular part time this position would be utilized for the prezoning and census of the Meridian
Annexation. After discussion by the Committee, Committeemember Orr moved to recommend
authorization for the Planning Department to hire a full-time Administrative Secretary 1 position budgeted
for the Meridian Annexation beginning August 1995 utilizing $6,239 from the Planning Department
budget and$9,447 from budget savings with the necessary budget changes.
Plan Review Workload:
Committeemember Houser explained to Chairman Johnson that this item was at the request of
Committeemember Orr and herself from the last Operations Committee Meeting. Building Official Bob
Hutchinson stated that he had summarized the information in the memorandum distributed with the agenda
which shows that this position is needed to meet current plan review workloads. He explained that the
proposal would try to eliminate or greatly reduce the permits contracted out for review. He recommended
that the position slotted for the Meridian Annexation be added now and watched closely as we proceed
with the annexation to assess if further personnel are necessary. Houser added that$60,000 had been spent
so far on contracting out permit review and Dan Ivanoff had come in to present this item at the last meeting
and voiced his concern that the contractors often had different interpretations of the rules. During farther
discussion, Hutchinson noted that outside plans examiners cannot pull together issues from different
departments. McFall added that an outside vendor is good for peaks but this appears to be a new plateau.
Houser stated her feeling that it is important to gear up now before the annexation- Houser moved to
recommend that the 1995 budget be amended to authorize the creation and filling of one additional plans
examiner position immediately,with further analysis during the first quarter of 1996'to better assess plan
review workloads and staff resource adequacy.
Max Financial Report/Finance Forecast for 1996:
Finance Division Director May Miller reviewed the May Financial Report with the Committee. On page
one she noted that the overall cash picture is strong and that the general fund is down due to retroactive
pay that was paid this year. During her review of the general fund expenditures on page nine,Miller stated
that expenses were over budget in April and May which may be due to retroactive pay throwing off the
trend and the early payment of the insurance program as well as the new teen program getting up and
running. McFall added that department heads have been put on notice to watch expenditures. While
reviewing sales tax revenue on page eleven,it was noted that sales tax was down partially due to a top ten
vendor not turning in a payment which accounts for $30,000 of the shortage adding that this will be
OPERATIOO COMMITTEE MINI E ,-,, CONT.
IT ENE 28, 199-5
watched closely. On page fifteen the trend shows we are $91,851 over budget wh*supports the need
for a plans examiner,Miller stated, adding that this does not include the Regional Justice Center project.
On page sixteen,Miller noted the RJC project was included which will be taken back out since it is exempt
from property tax. Miller completed her review of the remaining financial report.
Budget Calendar:
May Miller distributed the proposed budget calendar noting that it was up to the Council how they wished
to review the budget. In reviewing the calendar she noted the CFP workshop is scheduled for August 1 st
with a public hearing with a tentative adoption date of August 15. Miller explained-that there are more
needs that dollars and the goal for adoption is September 1. In discussing the review�of the proposed
budget,McFall noted that it was up to the Council whether the Operations Committee would like to review
it in detail and bring it forward to Council with a recommendation. Orr recommended that the Council
President be consulted. Miller noted that the proposed budget calendar shows a August 15 workshop to
review the baseline which is optional. During further discussion, Houser suggested-the workshops be
combined.
Cable Channel
Orr asked to add an item, Johnson asked her to proceed. Orr stated that there had been an unfortunate
problem with the cable channel on Saturday evening and praised Dea for her quick response in fixing it
but asked if it was possible to provide a cable hook up to review programming prior to being aired. McFall
stated that this is being looked at. Information Services Division Manager Spang noted that the
Corrections facility staff has agreed to help in monitoring the station and a call up system for cable staff
and backups to call to pull programming is being completed.
Lobby-imdSuburban Cities Updates:
Houser asked to add an item also,Johnson approved. Houser asked for a report of wlw was being lobbied
in Olympia. Orr agreed noting that she had only seen two or three reports. McFall responded that it could
be added as a regular agenda item to routinely report to the Committee. Johnson stated that a written report
would be fine and stated his concern that the City become more involved in Suburban Cities Association
and that the Council be briefed on what was going on. Johnson added that Kent was becoming more of
a regional player and will be forced into discussions on major issues. Houser asked for a report on
Olympia stating who had been lobbied and what about.
Chairman Johnson asked if there was any more business to be heard. There being none the meeting was
adjourned at 10:22 a.m.
Page 2