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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 10/10/2020Pending Approval City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Date: Time: Place: October 10, 2020 8:07 a.m. THIS IS A REMOTE MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Council President Troutner provided opening remarks. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Toni Troutner Council President Present Bill Boyce Councilmember Present Brenda Fincher Councilmember Present Satwinder Kaur Councilmember Present Marli Larimer Councilmember Present Zandria Michaud Councilmember Present Les Thomas Councilmember Present Dana Ralph Mayor Present II.PRESENTATIONS 1 2021-2022 Biennial Budget Department Directors Finance Director Paula Painter reviewed and responded to questions submitted by the Councilmembers. Question #7 “Why is the medical increase so high even though we did an increase last year?” Painter compared medical rate increases with Associated Washington Cities as well as the Public Employees Benefits Board for the years 2012 - 2020. Kent's averages over the last 7 years is approximately 6.77%. Question #39 Page 29 “Why is the Culture & Rec budget reduced by $662,830 in 2022?” Painter clarified that there is not a $662,830 budget reduction for culture and recreation programs for 2022, it was an accounting error and a corrected page will be provided. Question #40 Page 29 “Why the reduction in Health & Human Services in 2021?” Painter addressed the reduction in Health and Human Services budget for 2021 and indicated a part of it was a carry forward from 2019/2020 in which she provided details on. She indicated that this every year there are some City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Kent, Washington Page 2 of 6 levels of carry forward. Question #46 Page 60-61 “Is this the actual policy wording? For example, does the policy state, “These funds may not be used to establish or support costs that are recurring in nature” or “Fund balances shall not normally be applied to recurring annual operating expenditures.”” Painter spoke about the policy wording and confirmed that it is indeed accurate. Question #53 Page 95 “Why a reduction of $315,320 for Parks budget in 2022?” Painter indicated that the proposed reduction of $315,320 for Parks in 2022 was an accounting error. Question #54 Page 95 “Why is the Police budget increasing $1.5ishM each year?” Painter spoke about the Police budget increasing $1-1.5 million per year. This increase encompasses budget, salary, benefits, supplies and services as well as expenses for medical care to inmates. Question #55 Page 95 “Why a 36.5% increase for HR in 2022 ($589,000)?” Painter explained a 36.5% increase for Human Resources for 2022 by discussing expenditures and detailing services and allocation increases. A huge factor in this is the new Workday system that is being rolled out. In 2024 HR and Finance will allocate fees for this to each department. Question #57 Page 105 “What does the Police Criminal Just Fund expenditures consist of ($3,913,540 & $4,280,430)?” Painter reviewed the Police Criminal Justice fund expenditures in more detail. Question #58 Page 105 “What are Police Special Programs? Can I get a breakdown? please ($3,075,260 & $2,720,810)?” Painter discussed the police special programs such as school zone and red- light cameras and proposed expenses as well as the revenues for both. Question #29 Page 46 “I just want to reiterate my interest in working with the lot owners and seeding grass over the "penguin plot" in downtown. It would be nice if we could coordinate this improvement with the reinstallation of the penguins.” City Attorney Pat Fitzpatrick spoke to the request regarding seeding grass in the "penguin lot" in downtown. He indicated that this would be a significant City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Kent, Washington Page 3 of 6 project with a significant expense that would also require entering into a lease agreement. Question #43 Page 32 “Is the $1.8M being specifically earmarked for anything?” Painter indicated the $1.8 million for outdoor storage tax would be allocated to capital projects. Question #60 Page 115 “Why is Park Orchard Park Improvements listed without funding?” Painter indicated the Park Orchard project should be removed from the budget. Parks Director, Julie Parascondola reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Councilmembers Boyce and Fincher both requested more information on allocations and overhead for the golf course. Parascondola provided information on the reduction of not funding lifeguards at Lake Meridian. The Mayor will ensure that the program to provide lifeguards for Lake Meridian will be funded. Councilmembers Boyce and Larimer both spoke about youth programs and reaching the more diverse populations. Parascondola indicated that Parks is engaged with the Kent School District and that they are 100% aligned when it comes to these programs and partnerships. Court Administrator Margaret Yetter reviewed the Municipal Court’s accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. City Attorney, Pat Fitzpatrick reviewed the Law Department’s accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Economic and Community Development Director, Kurt Hanson reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. The Councilmembers all expressed their appreciation of Kurt and his staff for all the work they have been doing this past year. City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Kent, Washington Page 4 of 6 Human Resources Director, Teri Smith reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Kaur inquired as to whether funds from the CARES grant would be used for internet access at home for employees, to which Smith indicated it would not be. Police Chief, Rafael Padilla reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. There was discussion around complaints filed with the police department, which have decreased. When there is a discrepancy with what was perceived and what happened the situation or complaint results in a resolution after the facts are presented. The body worn camera program is a huge factor in reviewing and resolving these issues. Boyce indicated he is not in support of defunding the police department. Chief said a 20% cut would be a loss of 50 sworn officers and a 50% cut would be 70-75 sworn officers and 25-30 support staff. With Kent being minority-majority community, cutting funding would cut valuable services to people of color and it would likely affect the safety of officers. There was discussion around school zone camera funds and possible implementation of more cameras. Councilmember Kaur indicated that she would like to see systematic changes, not to defund the police but more of a co-responder model as there is currently a greater need for one community. She is requesting data analysis and co-responder positions, and stated that we cannot count on the state to help fund these types of positions or programs. Councilmembers Larimer, Michaud and Fincher echoed what Councilmember Kaur stated and requested a collaborated effort with other cities for funding. They also requested confirmation that if the state does not move forward with data analysis/co-responder programs that we would implement something. There was also a request for how much these types of positions or programs would cost for both IT and the Police Department. There was discussion regarding how the Police Department is engaging with high risk youth. Chief Padilla reviewed the make-up of the schools and how they can't help but reach youth of color. Councilmember Larimer requested more intentional outreach. City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Kent, Washington Page 5 of 6 Council President Troutner and Mayor Ralph provided details on the Game of Life conference. Chief Padilla reviewed the capital budget asks in more detail. IT Director, Mike Carrington reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. He discussed capital projects and software and hardware life cycles. Carrington also detailed the Tiburon replacement project which will cost approximately $1.8 million. Councilmember Kaur inquired about Axon, the program that houses digital evidence and body worn camera videos. She would like to know what could be used in this system for data analytics. Councilmembers Larimer and Michaud inquired further about the potential use of Axon for data analysis including a work plan, implementation costs and timeline and data specifics. Interim Public Works Director, Chad Bieren reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Chief Administrative Officer, Derek Matheson reviewed the departments accomplishments, base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Councilmember Boyce requested there be a strategy in place for when the Equity Manager position begins. This position is designed to help determine the City's needs and find areas where we can provide funding. There was further discussion about the strategic plan driving the position of Equity Manager vs. the Equity manager steering the strategic plan. Communications Director, Bailey Stober discussed his team’s capital requests including Sprout Social Media Management and Multimedia Asset Management Software (MAMM). Stober provided details on the new management systems and confirmed that there will be an opportunity to pull and provide statistics on engagement of residents. Stober provided information on the structure of the Communications Department and indicated who is involved in the Neighborhood Program, who is specifically Communications and who provides internal services such as print shop, graphics, videos and other multimedia services. He also indicated that they are currently running under budget for the year. Finance Director, Paula Painter reviewed the departments accomplishments, City Council Workshop Workshop Special Meeting Minutes October 10, 2020 Kent, Washington Page 6 of 6 base operating budget, funding sources, base operating services, new appropriations and unfunded needs. Chief Administrative Officer, Derek Matheson requested the Council start a log of some sort to propose specific changes to the budget. This log should include how funds should be shifted or generated if there are costs associated with their proposals. Then, during Council Workshops they could work through the proposed changes. Council President Troutner provided closing remarks and adjourned the meeting. Meeting ended at 3:21 p.m. Kimberley A. Komoto City Clerk