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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 2007/11/01 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA November I, 2007 4:00 P.M. An Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers: Castaneda, McCann (arrived at 4:39 p.m.), Ramirez, Rindone, and Mayor Cox ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Garcia, City Attorney Moore, City Clerk Bigelow, and Senior Deputy City Clerk Peoples PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE I. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPOINTING THE CITY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING AND CONFERRING WITH THE CITY'S EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS In accordance with the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act as contained in Government Code Sections 3500-3511, Council must designate representatives for labor negotiations. Adoption ofthe resolution complies with this requirement. (City Attorney) Staff recommendation: Council adopt the resolution. ACTION: Mayor Cox introduced the item and offered the resolution, heading read, text waived. Deputy Mayor Rindone seconded the motion, and it failed 2-2 with Councilmembers Castaneda and Ramirez voting no. City Attorney Moore suggested the item be trailed pending the arrival of Councilmember McCann. Councilmember Castaneda explained that he voted in opposition as he felt every possible cut should be reviewed prior to asking represented employees to return to the bargaining table. CLOSED SESSION Mayor Cox stated that Closed Session Item 2 would also be trailed pending the arrival of Councilmember McCann, and that Item 3 would be removed from the agenda and not discussed. 2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 . Agency designated representatives: David Garcia, David Palmer, Marcia Raskin, Sharon Marshall, Ed Van Eenoo, Maria Kachadoorian . Employee organizations: CVEA, IAFF, POA, WCE, and Unrepresented Groups CLOSED SESSION (continued) Item 3 was not discussed and no action was taken. 3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING INITIATION OF LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(c) Two cases Mayor Cox requested Public Comments be heard at this time. PUBLIC COMMENTS Bob Thomas, a member of the Chula Vista Fire Department's Citizens Adversity Support Team (CAST), commended staff on the Chula Vista evacuation center they had established, stating that the community support was overwhelming. He then thanked and praised the Fire, Police and Parks and Recreation departments for their excellent leadership and expressed gratitude to everyone who pitched in and helped. Deputy Mayor Rindone commended Mr. Thomas for being a "role model", who was one of the first residents who arrived to assist in any way possible. Councilmember Castaneda also thanked Mr. Thomas, stating that he exemplified true spirit and core of community. He then thanked the many volunteers who came forward and did whatever needed to be done. Mayor Cox recessed the meeting at 4:20 p.m. Mayor Cox reconvened the meeting at 4:39 p.m. with all members present. Item 1 was heard at this time. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 2007-264, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPOINTING THE CITY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR tHE PURPOSE OF MEETING AND CONFERRING WITH THE CITY'S EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS In accordance with the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act as contained in Government Code Sections 3500-3511, Council must designate representatives for labor negotiations. Adoption of the resolution complies with this requirement. (City Attorney) ACTION: Mayor Cox offered the resolution as amended to reflect the addition of Scott Tulloch as a designated member of the City's Management Team, heading read, text waived. Deputy Mayor Rindone seconded the motion, and it carried 3-2 with Councilmembers Castaneda and Ramirez voting no. Councilmember Castaneda stated he was not opposed to the resolution, but rather the sequencing of the items to be considered. Further that he and his staff, along with Councilmember Ramirez had come up with proposed cuts, which he wanted considered prior to voting on opening negotiations and going into Closed Session. Page 2 - Council Minutes November 1, 2007 . ~~-----...o CLOSED SESSION (continued) Mayor Cox convened Closed Session for Item 2 at 4:44 p.m. 2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 . Agency designated representatives: David Garcia, David Palmer, Marcia Raskin, Sharon Marshall, Ed Van Eenoo, Maria Kachadoorian . Employee organizations: CVEA, IAFF, POA, WCE, and Unrepresented Groups ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember Ramirez voting no, to appoint the City's Management Team for the purpose of meeting and conferring with the City's employee organizations. Mayor Cox reconvened the meeting at 5:26 p.m. with all members present. 4. BUDGET WORKSHOP Mayor Cox discussed the phasing of the budget workshop. City Manager Garcia provided a brief introduction. Finance Director Kachadoorian provided the fiscal status update and quarterly financial status report, and Budget and Analysis Director Van Eenoo provided an update on the development activity and recent revenue enhancements. City Manager Garcia next, provided the five elements of the proposed budget reduction plan and Assistant City Manager Tulloch summarized the major departmental reorganizations. Mayor Cox presented the Council Budget Subcommittee recommendations. Deputy Mayor Rindone reemphasized that the entire department should have at least a 10% cut, as articulated by the Mayor, along with at least a 10% cut in each of the 5 offices, the Councilmembers having the flexibility to determine what they would cut within their block budgets to total a minimum of $15,51 0 in each office. Councilmember Castaneda offered alternative recommendations. ACTION: Mayor Cox moved to approve the Budget Subcommittee recommendation that the Department of Mayor and City Council offer up $148,857 in a targeted reduction, and that each Councilmember make a 10% reduction. Councilmember Ramirez requested discussion. ACTION: Deputy Mayor Rindone seconded the motion for discussion. Page 3 - Council Minutes November 1,2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Councilmember Castaneda recommended that each line item be reviewed, and noted that the Mayor had four times the budget of the other Councilmembers. He then provided a handout of the budget alternatives he had identified that amounted to a 13 % reduction. Councilmember Ramirez expressed the need for equity in legislative resources, and spoke in support of Council member Castaneda's proposed reductions. Councilmember McCann agreed to take the 10% cut just like everybody else, and requested the details be debated later. Also, he stated he was interested in seeing what happened with the proposed retirement program and other cuts. ACTION: Councilmember McCann called for the question, which failed 2-3, with Councilmember Ramirez, Deputy Mayor Rindone, and Mayor Cox opposing. Deputy Mayor Rindone provided a historical perspective for his colleagues on the resources for the Mayor and Council offices, and restated the purpose of the Budget Subcommittee recommendation, was to establish a floor basis of a 10% cut tonight, which could be brought back for further cuts in the future. Mayor Cox agreed to the call for the question. Deputy Mayor Rindone called for the question. Councilmember Ramirez asked for clarification of the motion. Mayor Cox noted that the amount of $148,877 would be cut from the department of Mayor and City Council. Deputy Mayor Rindone added that the recommendation of the subcommittee was reflective of at least 10% within the Councilmember's departments. ACTION: The original motion carried 5-0. Mayor Cox offered the protocol for review of proposed budget cut Item Nos. I through 137. ACTION: Motion by Mayor Cox, seconded by Deputy Mayor Rindone, to remove Item 124 - Fire - Staffing for Urban Search and Rescue - close one fire station, from the cut list. The motion carried 5-0. The Council identified which items they would like to discuss. Mayor Cox called on the following members of the audience who had requested to speak: Terry Strauwald, Spring Valley resident and President of the Chula Vista Employee's Association stated he believed more vacancies could be added to the list before laying anyone off; he would be providing an updated list to the Council tomorrow; felt that positions which a lowered work level could be shifted to other positions; and requested more time to review the information with the Council to provide input into each item without the need to reopen the contracts. Mr. Strauwald also requested that the whole budget process be reviewed line item by line item to look at spending habits and avoid making the budget cuts on the backs of the employees. Page 4 - Council M inules November 1, 2007 j BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Richard Preuss, Spring Valley resident, representing the Chula Vista Employee Association and SEIU, stated that his organization had provided a reorganized list to meet the financial goals of the City without the need to layoff employees. Chuck Schrader, Chula Vista resident representing the Chula Vista Employees Association stated that the CVEA was the backbone of the City and the City should look for alternatives to laying off employees. Emerald Randolph, Jamul resident and member of the Fire Departments' Citizens Adversity Support Team, spoke in support of the police and fire departments and encouraged Council to not cut public safety. Bob Thomas, Chula Vista resident, encouraged the Council to increase the effectiveness of safety, be creative and look for additional revenues, as well as analyze the impacts on the citizens of Chula Vista and the additional workloads on remaining employees if layoffs were to occur. Carmen Alvaraz, Chula Vista resident and Fire Department Dispatcher, spoke also for colleague Cristina Johnson, against proposed cutting the fire dispatch center. Debbie Nasta, San Diego resident, spoke in opposition to proposed cutting the fire communications center. Catherine Caloca, Chula Vista resident, stated that she was one of II people who would lose their jobs should the fire dispatch center be cut. Summer Noyes, Lemon Grove resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed cutting of the fire dispatch center. Floyd Wergeland, Jr., Bonita resident, spoke for Susan Fuller, Chair of the Chula Vista Nature Center, and stated their Board supported the budget recommendations with two exceptions. He then requested on behalf of the Board, that Director Beintema be allowed to review all current accounts in order to provide support to the staff and support fundraising capabilities, including possibly increasing the hours operations and increasing fees. He then requested Item Nos. 66, 73, and 112 be pulled for further discussion and review. Margarita Holguin, Chula Vista resident representing the Healthy Eating Active Community and Chula Vista Community Collaborative, spoke in opposition to the proposed cuts for the Parks and Recreation Department. Elizabeth Chopp, President of the Western Council of Engineers, stated that most of their departmental positions were not funded by the General Fund, and requested every option be looked at prior to laying off employees, including how many take the retirement incentive and other vacant positions. Page 5 - Council Minutes November 1,2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Theresa Acerro and Jackie Lancaster, Chula Vista residents representing the Southwest Civic Association, requested Council follow more sustainable budget practices in the future; provided a handout with jobslhousing information; encouraged Council not to rely on development fees for ongoing maintenance; and to find alternative ways of doing things. Jose Preciado, Chula Vista resident and President of the South Bay Forum, requested Council reconsider outsourcing police and fire; review how the current proposed projects could have a negative impact on the general fund; conduct a study of the executive/senior staff compensation for consistency with the size and scale of the city; and consider all possible cuts. Devonna Almagro, Chula Vista resident, stated that this was an opportunity to exert leadership and come together for the greater Chula Vista, and encouraged the Council to work together and find solutions to allow Chula Vista to reach its potential. Kevin O'Neill, Chula Vista resident, thanked everyone for the work done on the reduction proposals, noting that Chula Vista was a City Manager form of Government and implored the Council to work with him for the community, giving him all the cooperation possible and lead by example. Jacob Regulado, San Diego resident representing the Chula Vista Employees Association and SEIU Local 221, rescinded his request to pull and discuss 100 items, stating he would be meeting individually with the Councilmembers over the next 10 days; expressed concerns with the process and the way the budget review was handled stating that the City Council needed a full review and analysis of each departments budget, and stated that his organization would be submitting a proposed budget document that would not include layoffs. Mayor Cox noted that the following people submitted speaker slips but did not speak: Doc Anderson, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed fire department cuts. Sharon Dizon, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed fire department cuts. Michael Nash, Chula Vista resident, representing Fire Local 2180, opposed to proposed fire department cuts. Stephen Nelson, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed fire department cuts. Christina Johnson, Ramona resident, opposed to proposed fire dispatch cuts. Rich Sherard, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed fire and police department cuts. Lucille Besch, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed fire and police department cuts. David DiDonato, Chula Vista resident, representing the Chula Vista Employees Association, opposed to proposed general budget cuts. Elroy Kihano, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed general budget cuts. DJ Barahura, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed general budget cuts. Herb Young, San Diego resident, representing the Nature Center Board of Trustees, opposed to proposed Nature Center budget cuts. Tanya Rovira-Osterwalder, Chula Vista resident, representing the Healthy Eating Active Communities, supported the proposed parks and recreation budget cuts. Page 6 - Council Minutes BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Brian Kingston, Chula Vista resident, opposed to proposed budget cut No. 143. Council reviewed the items removed for discussion. Councilmember Castaneda, referring to a list of all employee positions, bargaining unit, salaries and vacancies, noted that 21 of the 84 vacant positions had been vacant in excess of one year. He then requested staff match those 21 positions against the proposed budget cuts to determine if any of the 21 were not on the proposed cut list, and evaluate them as to whether they really needed to be filled. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 7, 8, and 10 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Concensus of the Council was for Item Nos. I through 10 to remain on the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 14 and 15 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Concensus of the Council was for Item Nos. II through 20 to remain on the cut list. Item 29 - eliminate the supervisIOn. Councilmember Ramirez requested a review of the posItion in the future to management position and have someone else in the organization provide jail Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 26 and 30 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 21 through 30 to remain on the cut list. Item 31 - Councilmember Castaneda stated that Council needed to move forward with clean energy programs. Conservation and Environmental Services Director Meacham stated that the cut would affect the relationships the City had developed over the years and requested the item be restored to the budget. Deputy Mayor Rindone stated he was the one who had introduced lCLEI (International Council for Local and Environmental Initiatives) to the City as well as the C02 reductions, and was the force behind the EP A awards, and felt amount was not going to negatively curtail the success of the City, and therefore the item could remain on the cut list. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember Castaneda opposed, to return Item 31 to the cut list. Page 7 - Council Minutes November 1,2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Item 36 - Councilmember McCann and Deputy Mayor Rindone expressed opposition to cutting this item from the budget due to potential safety issues. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember Ramirez opposed, to remove Item 36 from the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 35, 38, 39 and 40 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 31 through 35 and Items 37 through 40 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember Castaneda opposing the return of Item No. 31 to the cut list, and Councilmember Ramirez opposing the removal ofltem 36 from the cut list. Item 42 - Councilmember McCann requested that Item 42 be revisited after the early retirement results are known and would not support until then. ACTION: Council voted 4-1, with Councilmember McCann opposed, to return Item 42 to the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 49 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 41 through 50 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember McCann opposing the return of Item No. 42 to the cut list at this time. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 51 through 60 to remain on the cut list. Item 66 - Nature Center Director Beintema, stated Chula Vista Nature Center Boardrnember Wergeland, whom he believed had an issue with the reclassification of the position, had pulled the item and requested Director Beintema have further review of the budget to determine where the cuts could be made. Mayor Cox suggested Item No. 66 be removed from the cut list with Item Nos. 73 and 112 to remain, and requested the City Manager to work with Mr. Beintema to come up with the requested savings where he sees fit, a report to be provided to the Council indicating what cuts were substituted. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item No. 66 to be removed from the cut list. Item 70 - Counclmember McCann stated he was opposed to the removal of Item No. 70 from the cut list due. Page 8 - Council Minutes November 1, 2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) ACTION: Council voted 4-1, with Councilmember McCann opposing, to return Item 70 to the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 68 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 61 through 65, and 67 through 70 to be returned to the cut list, with Councilmember McCann opposing the return of Item No. 70 to the cut list. Mayor Cox called for a brief recess at 9:54 p.m. Mayor Cox reconvened the meeting at 10:13 p.m. with all members present. Item 77 - Councilmember Castaneda stated he believed this to be a core service and he therefore would not support the cut. ACTION: Consensus ofthe Council was to remove Item 77 from the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 71, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 71 through 76, and 78 through 80 to remain on the cut list. Item 82 - Councilmember McCann stated he did not want to eliminate the position, but would support freezing it for the remainder of this fiscal year and consider filling it during the next fiscal year budget cycle. Item 83 - Councilmember Castaneda stated he could not support leaving Item No. 83 on the cut list as he felt it to be a core service. ACTION: Council voted 4- I with Councilmember Castaneda opposing, to put Item 83 back on the cut list. Item 87 - Councilmember McCann stated he did not want to eliminate the position, but would support freezing it for the remainder of this fiscal year. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember McCann opposing, to put Item No. 87 back on the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 83 and 86 remaining on the cut list. Page 9 - Council Minutes November I, 2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 81 through 90 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember Castaneda opposing the return of Item No. 83 to the cut list, and Councilmember McCann opposing the return of Item No. 87 to the cut list. Item 92 - Councilmember McCann requested staff work with corporate sponsors to find private funding to continue the program. Item 94 - Councilmember McCann stated he did not want to eliminate the position, but would support freezing it for the remainder of the fiscal year. Item 100- ACTION: Councilmember McCann requested the item be removed from the cut list. Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember McCann opposing, to put Item No. 100 back on the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 93 and 99 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 91 through 100 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember McCann opposing the return of Item No. 100 to the cut list. Item 110 - Deputy Mayor Rindone inquired and Fire Captain Ramirez responded, requesting that the Fire Department be allowed to continue their negotiations with Heartland and San Diego Fire and bring back proposals and recommendations for Council consideration. Mayor Cox suggested keeping the item off of the cut list to allow the department time to obtain figures from the other agencies and bring recommendations back to the City Council within 10 to 30 days. City Manager Garcia explained that the current system the City had was not state of the art and that he believed technologically superior systems were available for half of what the City currently pays by contracting out. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was to remove Item 11 0 from the cut list temporarily, with a full report and recommendation to be brought back to Council within 30 days. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 105, 106, and 107 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 101 through 109 to remain on the cut list. Page 10 - Council Minutes November 1, 2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Item 113 - Councilmember McCann expressed concerns for the elimination of the position under Item No. 113 as he felt it to be a core position. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember McCann opposing, to put Item No. 113 back on the cut list. Item 114 - Councilmember McCann expressed concerns with the elimination of the position under Item No. 114 as he felt it to be a core position. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember McCann opposing, to put Item No. 114 back on the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 117, 118, and 119 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Council voted for Item Nos. III through 120 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember McCann opposing Item Nos. 113 and 114. Item Nos. 122 and 134 - Deputy Mayor Rindone confirmed that the hours reduced at the two libraries, be different days and hours so that a Library is always open in the City. Item 129 - Councilmember McCann stated he did not want to eliminate the position, but would support freezing it for the remainder of this fiscal year. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item Nos. 121, 125, 126 and 127 remaining on the cut list, and that Councilmember Ramirez would be abstaining from participation on Item No. 122. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 121 through 123 and 125 through 130 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember Ramirez abstaining from participation on Item No. 122. Item 132 - Deputy Mayor Rindone requested all but the Yuletide Parade funding under this item remain on the cut list, staff to pursue public donors for the other events. Councilmember McCann stated he felt all events should be treated equally. ACTION: Council voted 4-1 with Councilmember McCann opposing, to put all but the Yuletide Parade funding for Item 132 back on the cut list. Mayor Cox noted that the Chula Vista Employees Association had registered concerns with Item No. 133, 135, 136 and 137 remaining on the cut list. ACTION: Consensus of the Council was for Item Nos. 131-13 7 to remain on the cut list, with Councilmember McCann opposing the Yuletide Parade Funding being removed on Item No. 132. Page I I - Council Minutes November 1.2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP (continued) Mayor Cox requested Budget and Analysis Director Van Eenoo provide revised copies to the Council in the morning for review. ADJOURNMENT At 12:38 a.m., Mayor Cox adjourned the meeting to the Regular Meeting of November 6,2007 at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Page 12 - Council Minutes November 1, 2007 _ ,,_...-J