HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12/01/1995 3167
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
Port Angeles, Washington
December 1, 1995
CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Sargent called the special meeting of the Port Angeles City Council to order
SPECIAL MEETING: at 3:45 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Members Present: Mayor Sargent, Councilmembers Braun, Doyle, Hulett,
McKeown, and Ostrowski.
Members Absent: Councilman Schueler.
Staff Present: Manager Pomeranz, Attorney Knutson, B. Becket S.
Brodhun, K. Godbey, B. Titus, K. Ridout, D. McKeen
and Y. Ziomkowski.
Public Present: G. Wiggins.
1996 Proposed Budget The meeting began with a discussion of the Fire Department's request for an
(Continued) additional Firefighter/Paramedic position. Fire Chief Becket distributed a memo to
the Council explaining the need for this position. Dan McKeen, Medical
Officer/Paramedic, explained that currently he is the paramedic that goes out when
an emergency call is received. As he is also the full-time medical officer, he is
frequently forced to put in overtime, and his job is becoming very stressful resulting
in signs of a burn out. Mr. McKeen went on to enumerate his current job duties and
how hiring an additional person would benefit the City.
Councilman Braun supported the Fire Department's request. He felt it was important
to have back up personnel to respOnd to second calls when the first string is still out
in the field.
Mayor Sargent pointed out that the fire truck purchased in 1991 had the capability
of responding to emergency medical calls. The medical unit attached to this rig was
one of the chief reasons for purchasing this particular truck. Mayor Sargent felt the
General Fund was incapable' of funding this new position in addition to a Fire
Marshall and a new ambulance and did not feel it was necessary to hire an additional
Firefighter/Paramedic. Councilmembers Doyle, Hulett and McKeown agreed with
Mayor Sargent. Chief Becker explained that the lifesaving unit attached to the new
fire truck did not serve the intended purpose, and that he felt the additional personnel
was necessary.
Councilmembers Doyle and McKeown inquired as to liability problems should the
City not be able to respond to emergency medical calls within a certain time frame,
and Chief Becker responded.
Councilman Braun felt this issue should be revisited in six months.
City Manager Pomeranz concluded the General Fund budget discussion, summarized
the Special Revenue Funds which include: the Convention Center, Street, Real Estate
" excise tax, Criminal Justice, and PenCom, and discussed the various sources of
revenue accounted for in the funds. The total Special Revenue Funds budget
amounts to $2,497,244. Discussion ensued regarding the hotel/motel tax allocation
process. Manager Pomeranz suggested the Council approve the Committee's
recommendations, which was agreed upon. Manager Pomeranz then addressed the
remaining special revenue funds.
The Debt Service Fund, with a budget of $1,328,660, was summarized by Manager
Pomeranz. The Debt Service funds account for property taxes which are used to pay
debt on capital projects. The major increase in this fund type is a result of a
$324,500 levy on behalf of the new library.
The Enterprise Fund budgets account for the utility operations and amount to
$36,015,601. The City Light budget amounts to $23,881,178. Manager Pomeranz
noted that 50 % of City Light revenue is generated from two customers, Daishowa
and ITT Rayonier. City Light's budget decreased in all areas except debt service,
as a result of a 1995 bond issue. City Light projects a 6 % reduction in rates if
Bonneville Power Administration decreases its rates by 10 % as predicted.
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3168
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
December 1, 1995
1996 Proposed Budget As a result of BPA's reorganization, conservation funding is being reduced and will
(Continued) be totally eliminated in 1997. Consequently, City Light proposes to lay off two
Energy Analysts in an effort to keep rates down. Manager Pomeranz pointed out
that the Port Angeles electric rates are still relatively low as compared to other
comparably sized cities.
The Water/Wastewater Fund amounts to $6,998,132. Rates for these two utilities
are expected to increase as part of a two-year ordinance and are necessary to cover
operating expenses and increases in debt service. Debt Service increased by more
than $1 million over the past three years due to financing the secondary treatment
plant and other water/wastewater projects.
The water/wastewater capital improvements amount to $2 million and are funded by
the 1994 bond issue. Water/wastewater rates are also lower than comparable sized
cities.
The Solid Waste budget amounts to $5,136,291. Approximately 50% of all solid
waste revenues are generated from landfill charges. The 1996 solid waste operating
budget increased by 9 % largely due to increases in labor, sewer leachate costs, and
equipment services charges. The future of the landfill poses a challenge to the City
as it is required by the FAA to close the landfill in 1998. A solid waste committee
is currently being formed that will select aconsultant to design a cell extension, a
transfer station, and a planned closure.
Internal Service Funds account for services provided by one fund to another and
includes Equipment Services, Self-Insurance, and Information Services. The Internal
Services budget amounts to $1,761,476. Equipment Services provides fleet
maintenance and replacements and is funded by charges to user departments. The
Equipment Services budget amounts to $886,567, an increase of only 1.9 %. Vehicle
replacement amounted to $358,816. Manager Pomeranz indicated that the Council
will review these requests before any vehicles are purchased.
The Information Services budget amounts to $328,816, a 27% decrease over the
1995 budget. Manager Pomeranz commented on how 1996 would be the last year
of debt service payments on the Integrated Finance Service System and City
Network. The next phase of the long-range automation plan is imaging, a process
that enables the electronic storage and retrieval of documents.
Self Insurance has a $562,455 budget and provides the following self-insurance
programs: vision, dental, workers' compensation, property and liability. The City
changed from self-insuring medical benefits to the AWC in 1994, saving thousands
of dollars.
Manager Pomeranz discussed Fiduciary Fund budgets, including: Firemen's Pension,
Esther Webster Trust Fund, and recreational activities. The Fiduciary Fund's
budgets amount to $187,437.
Manager Pomeranz then discussed the 1996 Capitai Improvement Program amounting
to $9,538,634. The bulk of the program is the $4.2 million library project. Other
improvements include: Waterfront Trail, Volunteer Field enhancements, downtown
sidewalk and watermain program, Lanridsen Boulevard/Airport Road realignment,
and miscellaneous utility projects.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
City Clerk~ ~/
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