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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 12/13/1988I CALL TO ORDER II ROLL CALL Members Absent: None. Staff Present: III VI SUSPENDED VII LEGISLATION CITY COUNCIL MEETING Special Budget Meeting Port Angeles, Washington December 13, 1988 Mayor McPhee called the special meeting of the City Council to order at 7:03 P.M. Members Present: Mayor McPhee, Councilmen Gabriel, Hallett, Hordyk, Lemon, Sargent, Stamon. Manager Flodstrom, Attorney Knutson, Clerk Maike, D. Wolfe, R. Orton, J. Pittis, P. Carr, L. Glenn, M. Cleland, S. Brodhun, T. Smith. Public Present: R. Gruver, C. Cervinski, D. Gearey, L. Beil, J. Didrickson, C. Braun, V. Bingham, P. Downie. 1. Consideration of Councilmember Apvointments to Human Services Advisory Boards 1989 Councilman Sargent suggested the Council consider using a rotation schedule of the Committees on which the Council are members, which would allow for Councilmembers to have a better perspective of the issues and programs. Councilman Hallett echoed Councilman Sargent's sentiments. Following further discussion, Councilman Sargent moved to table the matter until the December 20, 1988, City Council meeting. Councilman Lemon seconded and the motion carried. 1237 Councilman Gabriel requested a schedule of the committees, the times and dates they met, as he would like to attend more of them. Councilman Lemon also requested a full list of the times and schedules of all the City related committees prior to making any decision, as he felt the membership of these committees should be on a voluntary basis. 2. Consideration of Financial Support for Recent Thanksgiving Day Celebration Councilman Stamon posed a question to Attorney Knutson regarding the legality of funding the request after the fact, if this would cause a problem. Attorney Knutson stated yes. The problem is agreeing to pay for something when the City legally did not have to pay. This would be considered the same as a gift, which is prohibited under Article VIII, Section 7, of the State Constitution. However, if there had been a previous commitment by the City to pay for the items, then that would raise a different issue. Whether the payment would be from the Hotel /Motel Tax Funds or whether the City could sponsor the event and pay it from the General Fund. Without the legal obligation to pay prior to the celebra- tion, it was Attorney Knutson's opinion that it would be illegal to pay them after the fact, unless there were some items which could be characterized as City related, such as the refreshments provided at the Senior Center. Councilman Stamon asked Manager Flodstrom what was the approximate cost for providing refreshments at the Senior Center. Manager Flodstrom stated he believed it was under $50, and the only commitment made by the City was to pick up the cost of the refreshments at the Senior Center. -1- 1238 CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 13, 1988 Councilman Hallett asked whether the Council had funding request guidelines for organizations such as this. Manager Flodstrom stated yes. Councilman Hallett suggested in the future this organization, or any other, could follow the guidelines, which would allow the Council to entertain the request with enough information prior to the event to give it fair and due consideration. Councilman Hallett moved, in light of the discussions held prior to the event, that the Council remit up to $50 to cover the cost of food and beverages served at the Senior Center. Councilman Stamon seconded and the motion carried. 3. Further Consideration of 1989/90 Preliminary BudEet and Tentative BudEet Amounts Yet to be Set Planning Department Councilman Lemon moved that Council increase the Administrative Assistant position to full time; allocate $20,000 for professional services in 1989; increase Line Item 4150, Other Professional Services, by $300. Councilman Sargent seconded. After some discussion, Councilman Stamon offered an amendment to increase Line Item 4960, Printing and Binding, from $700 to $1,000; increase Line Item 4310, Travel and Subsistence, by $500; and add the part -time com- pliance technician funding amount of $13,400. Councilman Hallett seconded. Councilman Sargent was not in agreement with the issue of the part -time compliance technician, as she felt it may be more appropriate to come back to that item at a later date. Councilman Gabriel also was opposed to the part -time compliance technician. Following discussion, the question was called and the amendment failed, with Councilmen Stamon, Hallett, and Hordyk voting "Aye Councilman Stamon offered an amendment to add $500 to Travel and Subsis- tence, and to restore the Printing to $1,000. Councilman Hallett seconded. Following discussion, the question was called and the amendment carried, with Councilmen Lemon, Hordyk, and Mayor McPhee voting "No Councilman Hallett offered an amendment to the motion that Council, on or before the final meeting in April, 1989, revisit the issue, review the Planning Department's budget and consider the budget as a whole, and any possible adjustments. Councilman Sargent seconded. On call for the question, the amendment carried. On cal for the main motion, the amended motion carried unanimously. Port Angeles Light Opera Association Councilman Sargent moved the Council support PALOA.in the funding amount of $2,000. Councilman Lemon seconded. Councilman Sargent stated she felt the Port Angeles Light Opera Association is viable as a tourist attraction. Councilman Hallett asked Councilman Sargent if her reason for making the motion was based on the merits of the organization. Councilman Sargent stated yes. On call for the question, the motion carried unanimously. Clallam County Museum Councilman Hallett moved the Museum be funded at the original request of $10,000. Councilman Stamon seconded. Following some discussion, the question was called and the motion carried unanimously. -2- Tourism /Convention Association of Clallam County 1239 CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 13, 1988 Councilman Stamon moved the Council fund the Tourism /Convention Association of Clallam County in the amount of $22,239; and further that the Council invite the Executive Director of the organization to come before the Council in July, 1989, and petition at that time for support for the remainder of the budget request. Councilman Hallett seconded. Councilman Stamon, in speaking to her motion, stated there needs to be support of TCACC's on -going projects. She submitted to Council the budget of TCACC with some figures which she had revised. She also felt it was important that Council remember the $35,000 request was a significant reduction from the initial request of approximately $60,000. She felt some of the reasons the Council should support the funding request were a petition Council had received at the December 6th City Council meeting with approximately 123 signatures urging the Council's support, as well as other letters received. She believed there is broad -based support in the County for the organization. Councilman Lemon stated he was in support of the original motion to not fund the TCACC. His first and foremost concern was with the use of the Hotel/ Motel Tax in accordance with the RCWs. The tax is allocated for the construction or funding of convention centers, art centers, and stadiums. Second, the advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting visitors and encouraging tourism expansion when a City has imposed such tax. Councilman Sargent stated she felt the size of conventions the City of Port can accommodate are brought here by local groups and service organizations. She expressed her concern in the top -heavy administration of TCACC, and further that there has been no attempt made to revise the budget since the original request was made to the Council. Councilman Hallett stated whenever looking at an organization whose primary job is marketing, you must recognize the fact that it is a labor intensive activity. Therefore, more costs go to labor than to operation. Following further discussion, the question was called and the motion failed, with Councilmen Hallett and Stamon voting "Aye Councilman Sargent moved to fund TCACC in the amount of $11,250. Councilman Gabriel seconded, contingent upon the return of a summary of how the money is to be spent, within two weeks. Councilman Lemon offered an amendment that total funding be off season, regional advertising be subject to the approval of the Council; a new budget realizing the proposed revenue and expenditures, excluding miscellaneous fund- raisers, with explanations; a satisfactory audit done by a CPA chosen by the City Council over the past two years; that the moneys granted were spent in accordance with the budget presentation at the time moneys were granted; TCACC would adhere to the by -laws of the organization and actions would be governed by the Board; and of that Board, three representatives be from Port Angeles, two from Sequim, and two from -the West End. Councilman Hordyk seconded. After discussion of the amendment, the question was called and the amendment failed. Councilman Hallett requested to ask Erl Hansen, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, a question regarding the main motion. Councilman Hordyk stated he felt Council should vote on the motion prior to asking questions, and he objected to the questioning of Mr. Hansen. Councilman Hallett appealed to the Council to overrule the Mayor's decision to not allow the question to be asked. Mayor McPhee stated the question is, does the Council agree with Councilman Hallett and is it appropriate for him to ask questions at this time. The Chair was overruled with Councilmen Hordyk, Lemon, and Mayor McPhee voting "No -3- 1240 CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 13, 1988 Councilman Hallett asked Mr. Hansen if it was correct that the Chamber's position, as it pertains to TCACC's request, is that the Chamber supports the TCACC and supported their original budget request. Councilmen Lemon, Gabriel, Hordyk, Sargent and Mayor McPhee were opposed to the question. Following further discussion, the question was called and the motion failed, with Councilmen Stamon, Sargent, and Gabriel voting "Aye Councilman Lemon moved that no funding be allocated to TCACC. Councilman Hordyk seconded and the motion failed, with Councilmen Lemon, Hordyk, and Mayor McPhee voting "Aye Councilman Hallett moved the Council approve funding of TCACC in the amount of $11,250; to return to the Council with a revised budget at the December 20th City Council meeting, showing how the moneys have been allocated. Councilman Stamon seconded. Councilman Stamon offered a friendly amendment asking the TCACC to return to Council with the information requested from the Port when it is available. Councilman Hallett concurred. Councilman Lemon, as a point of order, stated this was not a motion to reconsider. Mayor McPhee ruled against the motion as reconsideration. Councilman Hallett asked Attorney Knutson about the ruling. Attorney Knutson stated Council could make a new motion that is different from the motion that was defeated. If, however, the Council wished to reconsider the motion, then it would technically be done in two steps: One as a motion to reconsider and then to make a new motion which would either be the same or slightly different than the motion that was made. Councilman Hallett stated in Attorney's Knutson observation, was the Council complying? Attorney Knutson stated they are not complying with the technical way to do a motion to reconsider. However, what they are now doing is a new motion, which is technically proper under Robert's Rules. Mayor McPhee disagreed with Attorney Knutson and therefore the Council would need to vote on the matter. Following a lengthy discussion of the motion, the question was called and the motion failed, with Councilmen Gabriel, Hordyk, Lemon, and Mayor McPhee voting "No Councilman Hordyk moved the Council authorize a $1,000 payment to the Peninsula Tourism Council Region 8. Councilman Lemon seconded. Following discussion, the question was called and the motion carried, with Councilmen Hallett and Stamon voting "No .4 Councilman Stamon moved to fund the Tourism and Convention Association of Clallam County at $11,250, with the understanding that prior to any allocation of those funds, they provide Council with a budget which defines where those funds will be spent and further provide Council with a new budget that takes into consideration the reduction in their funding level, and also has information from the Port as to their contribution when it is available; also with the understanding that the Council will receive the information in the same manner as is done with the extra allocation funds to the Chamber. Councilman Sargent seconded. Mayor McPhee stated the Council has heard from members of the organization who have dissatisfaction with their own Board and the way the money has been spent. Councilman Stamon rose to a point of order, stating that Council has dis- cussed this and she believed this motion could possibly find some agreement on the issue and the points the Mayor is making have already been con- sidered. -4- Councilman Sargent called for the question. Mayor McPhee called for a vote on calling for the question. Councilmen Hallett, Stamon, Sargent and Gabriel voted "Aye" to calling for the question. The question was called and the motion carried with Councilmen Hordyk, Lemon, and Mayor McPhee voting "No Port Angeles Symphony Councilman Sargent moved to fund $2,000 to support the Port Angeles Symphony, on the condition that the Symphony provide a free concert for the public on a holiday week -end. Councilman Gabriel seconded. Following discussion, the question was called and the motion failed with Councilmen Sargent and Hordyk voting "Aye 1241 CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 13, 1988 Councilman Lemon moved that Council concur with the original funding level of $5,000 to the Symphony, subject to one free concert during the summer, and if the Symphony is not charged with the rent increase, that the City be reimbursed. Councilman Gabriel seconded. Councilman Hallett stated he did not feel it was appropriate for Council to provide expenses to cover rent. Councilman Sargent stated the organization is not a tourist attraction and opposed providing funds for rent. The question was called and the motion carried, with Councilmen Sargent, Stamon, and Hallett voting "No Councilman Sargent moved to authorize funding $1,500 to the Centennial Committee for 1989. Councilman Stamon seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Council discussed at length the recycling issue. Councilman Stamon proposed setting aside $20,000, not to be expended without prior Council approval, but simply as an allocation within the Solid Waste budget to build a fund for the City's waste reduction and recycling programs. She then moved that the Council set aside $20,000 in the Solid Waste budget and ear -mark it as a beginning fund. Councilman Sargent seconded. Manager Flodstrom, Council and staff discussed the matter. Following discussion, Councilman Stamon offered a change to the motion, based upon the information provided. She moved to direct the City Manager to include within the budget narrative a discussion on where the City is with the matter of recycling, and expand upon the brief comments made so there is recognition that the City is fully intending to proceed with the recycling issue and funding of those activities, as they are identified, and at the proper time. Councilman Sargent concurred. On call for the question, the motion carried unanimously. BREAK Mayor McPhee recessed the meeting at 9:20 P.M. for a 10- minute break. Councilman Hordyk had left the meeting at 9:20, due to illness. Councilman Hallett moved to add 5% to the Human Services request. Councilman Stamon seconded. Following lengthy discussion, the question was called and the motion failed, with Councilmen Gabriel, Lemon, and Mayor McPhee voting "No IX ADJOURNMENT Councilman Lemon moved for adjournment. Councilman Sargent seconded. -5- 1242 CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 13, 1988 CC.46 Councilman Stamon stated the process now is that the Council will receive a budget ordinance which contains all the changes the Council has made and that will be acted upon at the December 20th City Council meeting. On call for the question, the motion carried, with Councilman Hallett voting "No The meeting adjourned at 9:43 P.M. Clerk 711"...149 Mayor