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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12/01/1990 1749 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Port Angeles, Washington December 1, 1990 I CALL TO ORDER Mayor Sargent called the special meeting of the City Council to order at 9:00 A.M. II ROLL CALL Members Present: Mayor Sargent, Councilmen Cornell, Hallett, Lemon, Nicholson, Ostrowski, Wight. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Manager Pomeranz, AttorneyKnutson, Clerk Upton, S. Brodhun, M. Cleland, B. Collins, K. Godbey, L. Glenn, J. Pittis, B. Titus, L. Danks, Y. Ziomkowski. Public Present: H. Dawley, C. Whidden, L. Lee, K. Noonan, C. Hulse, J. St. Claire, G. Mattson, Z. Barton, J. Glass, E. Veltkamp, P. Northrup, S. Enbysk, P. Downie, S. DelaBarre, T. Hawksworth, T. LaRue, R. & N. Waddell, A. Butler, W. & L. West, F. Platt, G. Knutson. III - VII - SUSPENDED VIII LEGISLATION Consideration of Special Agency Requests In conjunction with the 1991-1992 proposed Biennial Operating Budget, the City Council heard presentations from various special agencies requesting funds from the City of Port Angeles. Representatives of these agencies addressed Council on such matters as past accomplishments, future goals and objectives, and the planned usage of the requested funds. Requests received were as follows: Clallam County Human Services, $130,464; Clallam County Health Services, $61,891; Economic Development Council, $12,500; Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, $49,735; North Olympic Peninsula Visitors & Convention Bureau, $47,250; Olympic Peninsula Travel Association, $2,300; Clallam County Historical Society, $10,000; Arthur D. Feiro Marine Lab, $9,432; Derby Days, Inc., $5,000: Friends of Fine Art Center, $2,500; and Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra, $5,000, plus $1,500 for a scheduled trip. Upon completion of a presentation submitted by Helen Dawley on behalf of Clallam County Human Services, a motion was made by Councilman Wight to approve the Human Services' request for funding in the amount of $130,464. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nicholson. In the ensuing discussion, Councilmembers agreed it would be more appropriate at this time to render provisional approval to the special agency requests. Accordingly, the motion was withdrawn by Councilmen Wight and Nicholson and by a show of hands, Councilmembers gave provisional approval to the request. Manager Pomeranz informed Council the request submitted by Clallam County Health Services in the amount of $61,891 is non-discretionary, in that such financial support is required by Statute. Therefore, by a show of hands, Councilmembers gave provisional approval to the request submitted by Clallam County Health Services. No one was present to submit the request of $12,500 for the Economic Development Council. Mayor Sargent spoke on behalf of the EDC, noting it was her observation City funds had been spent wisely in the past. By a show of hands, Councilmembers gave provisional approval to the Economic Development Councilfs request. Before giving consideration to the remainder of the special agency requests, all of which are funded by the Hotel/Motel Tax, Council discussed its decision of last year to retain 25% in a reserve fund for the Convention Center and the improvement of meeting facilities. In discussions that followed, Council -1- 1750 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 1, 1990 reaffirmed its intention to set aside these funds. The question was raised as to whether current requests to upgrade the Vern Burton facility should be funded via this reserve or with the remainder of funds available once the 25% has been set aside. If the improvements were totally funded by the reserve, $12,750 would remain to be placed in the reserve for the coming year. After lengthy discussion, the majority of the Councilmembers agreed to proceed with their deliberations, with the intention of setting aside the reserve of 25% and fund the Vern Burton improvements outside the realm of the reserve. Councilman Cornell agreed, but only if a long-range comprehensive plan is formulated with regard to upgrading and improving the Vern Burton Convention facility. Carol Wagner, Chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee for the Chamber of - Commerce, presented the Chamber's request in the amount of $49,735, noting the Chamber is trying to determine the effectiveness of its advertising and will be encouraging cooperative advertising among businesses. Supporting the Chamber request was Erl Hansen, Executive Director of the Chamber, who provided additional information as to the Chamber's need for City financial support. Council recessed for a break at 10:02 A.M. and reconvened at 10:16 A.M. Council heard a presentation submitted by Clint Hulse, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Conference and Convention Division. Mr. Hulse referenced previous efforts to finance convention facility upgrades by a levy, but voters chose not to approve such a request. The improvement of the Vern Burton Convention Center remains an urgent need and Mr. Hulse urged the City Council to commit to planning and funding the necessary improvements in order to encourage convention/tourist trade in the City. He further offered the expertise of the Conference and Convention Division members in any deliberations that may take place in the planning process. Kay Noonan, President of the North Olympic Peninsula Visitors & Convention Bureau, presented a request for funding in the amount of $47,250. She reviewed the VCB's intention of expanding conference sales and service and shared her commitment to marketing the City of Port Angeles. Supporting the request was Brian Gormley, manager of the Red Lion-Bayshore Inn, who indicated a desire to receive assistance from the Visitors & Convention Bureau in the area of group bookings. Also, Jerry Glass spoke on behalf of the Port Angeles Bed & Breakfast Inns in urging Council support of the VCB request. He indicated the Bed & Breakfast facilities have expended a great deal of money in promoting the City of Port Angeles. Mayor Sargent queried as to why Port Angeles had been overlooked in the video released and also encouraged a focus on the untapped market of Canada and Victoria. Brief discussion ensued concerning the need for a more coordinated advertising effort on the part of the various agencies marketing on behalf of the City of Port Angeles. Presenting a request for the Olympic Peninsula Travel Association was George Mattson, requesting $2,300 for advertising in the travel guide. For an unknown reason, this expenditure had not been made a part of the Chamber of Commerce request. In response to an inquiry from the Mayor, Mr. Mattson indicated distribution also includes an area by the ferry in Victoria. The cost of a full page ad in the travel guide would be $2,300, as compared to $1,445 for one-half page. Stan Enbysk, President the Clallam County Historical Society, submitted a request for $10,000 in order to expand the capacity of the Museum. Additionally, it is the intent of the Historical Society to actively pursue the display of historical items in the Downtown area in an effort to assist in Downtown revitalization. Mayor Sargent expressed her appreciation to the Historical Society for its active participation and support of the City's 100th Birthday Celebration. Discussion followed concerning trust funds and monies from the Parks Service which have been set aside and invested to create investment income for a future building for the Museum. The Museum must vacate its present location by 1998 and it is hoped investment income will financially assist in new housing for the Museum. A request was submitted to Council for the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Lab in the amount of $9,432. Speaking on behalf of the Marine Lab was Terry LaDuron, Director, who reviewed the educational and tourist promotion efforts on the part -2- 1751 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 1, 1990 of the Marine Lab. The summer program will continue as in the past, and City funds would be allocated to that program. Derby Days President, Nancy Waddell, requested funding in the amount of $5,000. This funding would match the amount raised by Derby Days~ fundraising efforts, not to exceed $5,000. Lengthy discussion involved the financial statement and the possibility of increasing fundraising activities. Council recessed for lunch at 11:40 A.M. and reconvened at 12:35 P.M. The Friends of the Fine Art Center presented a request in the amount of $2,500 for the purpose of purchasing a laser printer to complement the proposed computer. Frank Platt, a Director of the Friends of the Fine Art Center, indicated it has been quite costly for the Director of the Center to travel to Seattle on a regular basis to get the Center's publication printed on a laser printer. Also speaking in support of this request was Jim Butler. Consideration was then given to a request submitted by the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra for funding in the amount of $5,000 plus $1,500 for expenses involved with a trip to Spain and southern France. Speaking on behalf of the Symphony was Gay Knutson, who outlined the Symphony's intent to purchase printed programs, special music, and other printed material with the $1,500 trip request. The programs and other printed material would contain information promoting Port Angeles. In discussion that followed, Councilmembers asked they be provided a copy of the Symphony's revenues, as only expenses were noted in the written request. Council deliberated at length concerning the special agency requests and the amounts to be approved. By averaging the total of all Councilmembers~ suggested amounts, the following tentative conclusions were reached for allocating the approximately $110,000 of available Hotel/Motel tax revenue: Derby Days in the amount of $5,000; Port Angeles Symphony in the amount of $2,500 plus $1,000 trip funds: Arthur D. Feiro Marine Lab in the amount of $9,000; Friends of the Fine Art Center in the amount of $1,500; Clallam County Historical Society in the amount of $6,500; Olympic Peninsula Travel Association in the amount of $1,000; Vern Burton Convention Center in the amount of $15,000; Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $46,000; and North Olympic Peninsula Visitors & Convention Bureau in the amount of $24,000. Additional discussion resulted in a preliminary agreement that of the approximately $35,500 available for the reserve, $9,000 would be allocated to the Vern Burton Convention Center upgrades, thereby funding reserve at an approximate level of 18%, or $26,500. Councilmembers were in agreement this matter should be contemplated further and will be a matter of discussion at another budget work session. At 1:50 P.M., the City Council heard the remainder of the budget presentation as submitted by City Manager Pomeranz. In discussion concerning the Street/ Arterial Street budget, Councilman Lemon requested the matter of the City laying sidewalks for private property owners be revisited, perhaps at the time the City's sidewalk program is presented. In addition, the Capital Improvement Program will need to be amended prior to budget adoption to include the Library parking lot project. In conjunction with the proposed one percent utility tax increase, the City Council will need to adopt an ordinance authorizing the increase. However, Attorney Knutson advised Council there will need to be a sixty-day time frame set aside to allow voters the opportunity to seek a referendum via a petition drive on the rate increase. It was noted the Utility Advisory Committee had recommended approval of the tax increase if Council determined the revenues a necessary part of the revenue side of the budget. Attorney Knutson agreed to prepare the proposed ordinance for consideration at the December 18, 1990, City Council meeting. In response to an inquiry, Manager Pomeranz indicated the revenues generated by this tax increase are necessary to maintain a balanced budget. Council recessed for a break at 3:10 P.M. and reconvened at 3:15 P.M. With regard to the Water/Wastewater budget, it was requested that amounts for the Secondary Treatment Plant be treated as a separate line item. Limited discussion was held concerning Solid Waste and the recent bid solicitation for curbside recycling. The matter was addressed by the Utility Advisory Committee and it was the consensus of those members that related costs -3- 1752 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING December 1, 1990 should be shared by all concerned. In that additional time is required to analyze the true cost structure and possible means of payment, the bidders have been asked to extend the bid for sixty.days. Manager Pomeranz advised Council he has requested that Administrative Services Director Godbey undertake a review of Equipment Rental rates and equipment rates for further consideration by the City Council at a future date. In considering the Information System budget, discussion was held concerning the possible need for additional personal computers in the budget. Director Godbey indicated it is essential that personal computers be provided in order to accomplish the goals of financial services. As such, she advised Council the figure of $15,000 would be workable as part of the budget consideration. Lengthy consideration was given to the City's Self-Insurance Program and the fact insurance is lacking in certain areas. It was agreed this matter deserves further consideration, perhaps in the form of a special meeting. IX CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS/LATE ITEMS No items were submitted. X ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION There was no need for an executive session. XI ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 4:05 P.M. Clerk ~ ~ / .... May CC.191 -4-