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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1996/06/20 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING/WORKSESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Thursday, June 20, 1996 6:08 p.m. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: ABSENT: ALSO PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER Council Conference Room Adtmnistration Building Councilmembers Alevy, Moot, Padilia, Rindone, and Mayor Horton. None John D. Goss, City Manager; Ann Y. Moore, Acting City Attorney; and Beverly A. Authelet, City Clerk. BUSINESS 2. FINAL REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS Supplemental Budget Memo 21: Mr. Goss stated that citizens have made comments that the proposed cuts should be made eqtmlly, that other departments should be cut rather than the one being proposed, or there are other ways to cut. Council had asked for information as to how departments have fared during this time of budget reductions. Mr. Goss responded to some of the questions which have been asked as follows: Need to Cut Back Management Positions: MIS, Personnel, and Administration has gone from about 44 positions to about 29.5 positions over the past three years. How Important Is It To Have a Full-time Cultural Arts Coordinator: Increasing the Coordinator from 1/2 to 3/4 time comes from art funds which are restricted tbr art purposes. What Would Be The Impact of "Y" Rating: It would mean that there would be no layofls, but people would be positioned at their current salaries. Library Hours Reductions: When these decisions were made with the department and the Library Board, it was an issue of cutting hours or cutting the materials budget. They thought it would be better to cut the hours than the books. Closing of Norman Park Center on Saturday Afternoons: Staff was suggesting that there were other alternatives such as using the Library Auditorium on Saturday afternoons or Norman Park Center on Sunday afternoons. Summer Reading and Tutorial Program: According to the Library Director these programs would continue but at other locations. How Can National City Add Police and Raise Salaries: About 75 % of National City's revenue base is sales tax; ours is 1/4 to 1/3 of the total. In the past, they have made drastic cuts. Recently they are experiencing an increase in sales tax. We are currently addressing the issue of where the expenditure levels should be. National City has already addressed this issue in the past. Issue of Revenues - Parks and Recreation Department: Mr. Goss went over what it would mean in revenues if a facility-use fee was charged for the various city t~tcilities. Minutes June 20~ 1996 Page 2 Councilman Rindone inquired what the fee would be for Norman Park Center. Senior Recreation Supervisor, Sunny Shy, stated that staff was preparing a new rental rate for the auditorium which would be for the whole facility not the individual compartments. It would be a new revenue of $100 per hour for resident rate and $150 per hour for non-resident rate for the 3200 square foot hcility with a 400 person capacity. Director Valenzuela stated that the previous rate orS10 per hour was the rate used fi3r all other centers. Although there has not been a lot c~f use of the Norman Center, it has been used for various functions. What we are doing is increasing the fi~e fi~r that facility because of the large social hall and the improvements which have been installed into the facility. We are suggesting that it be a different fee from the other community centers. Mr. Goss felt we should come back with some additional information on Tuesday. He was aware of rentals for wedding receptions at that hcility where they were paying more than $10.00 per hour. Councilman Rindone stated we have two problems: 1) Is the increase in fi~e from $10 to $100 accurate since it was a ten-lbld increase, and 2) He did not want to cut into the programming for the seniors and wanted to know what the demand was lbr this Center. He f~lt it should only be rented when there was no conflict with our scheduled activities. Mr. Goss presented Level I revenues on which the budget was based and proposed new revenues which could be added to the hndget. Staff has not had time to do any real analysis, but his quick analysis is that we have enough new revenues without these that are already in the basic revenue plan to address many of the concerns in the Library and the Parks and Recreation. On the expenditure side, there are many one-time revenues supporting this budget, so what you are doing is putting off potential problems to another year. Council also has the issue of mid-year budget review and the issue of negotiating with various labor groups. There are a number of potential unknown expenditures, that is why he urged them to look at some revenue enhancements. Council directed staff for additional information on: Master Fee Schedule Increase: Youth Sports Leagues Fee: Parking Fee at Rohr: Redevelopment Special Use Permit Fee: Allow Business License Tax to Increase: Franchise Fees on Additional Utilities: Apply Utility Users Tax to Wireless Technology: Vacant Building Surcharge: SDG&E Power Plant on Utility Roll: Expansion of Bayfront Project Area to Include Port Tidelands: Sanitation Fee for Street Sweeping: consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at consensus to look at Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 3 Utility Users Tax Increase to 5.5 %: consensus to look at City-wide Assessment Districts for Landscaping and Street Lighting: consensus was no Mr. Goss went over the list of recommended expenditure adjustments as follows: · Reduction in Town Centre 1 Certificates of Participation payment - estimated savings: $100,000 · Personnel Department (reduce the Sr Personnel Analyst to .5 FTE)- add back into budget $16,236 · Planning Department (Associate Planner, Sr Administrative Office Specialist) - add back into budget $14,452 · Administration: Deputy City Manager (freeze position, add in hourly wages) - net savings of $74,262 Councilman Rindone recommended eliminating the Deputy City Manager position on a permanent basis and having two Assistant City Managers at the same level because the responsibilities will be greatly enhanced. He would like this to come back to Council to be considered along with distribution of the duties and responsibilities. · Adding access to Internet E-mail tbr the Council - cost of $819.00 to the Council budget. · Travel budget adjustment - an adjustment to several departmental budgets to correct the Proposed Budget to reflect a city-wide policy of a maximum of $750 fbr travel per department, thereby reducing the budget by $3,450. · Increased Fuel Costs - because of the increased fuel costs, there is a need to increase funding to $32,511. · Cultural Diversity Training - to reappropriate funds set aside for Police Department Cultural Diversity Training in the current budget which were not spent but will be needed in FY 96-97 of $10,000. · State Grant Funding fur South Bay Community Services - a pass-through of funds from the State to South Bay Community Services of $7,150. · Refuse Cost Savings in Parks Division - the Conservation Coordinator has been able to identif~, additional savings in the processing of refuse from city parks of $5,000. Mr. Goss stated that the total expenditure adjustments is a minus $101,544. He went on to identify items which will result in additional costs for the FY 96/97 budget which related to options for the Parks Division and Library as follows: · Parks Division reorganization whereby positions which are vacant are fi'ozen. There would be one promotion and several employees bumped to lower classifications. The impact on the budget would be Zero; or Have no organizational change in the Parks Division and the two vacancies being filled which would require an increase of $192,868; or Have no organizational change in the Parks Division, but freeze the twe vacancies tbr $115,979; or Reorganize the Parks Division budget by use of "Y" rating for $81,381; or No organizational change in the Parks Division, but transfer 1.00 FTE Gardener II to Open Space Section and with no backfilling for $153.267. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 4 Aquatics - to reinstate the Aquatic Coordinator and the Pool Manager positions returning to .75 level for each pool and reduce the number of Senior Lifeguard hours to current benefitted status for $49,245. Cultural Arts Coordinator - increase the Coordinator from .50 to .75 with the proposed increase to be funded from the Fine Arts Fund thereby not impacting the budget. Norman Park Center Closure on Saturday afternoons - maintain the Saturday afternoon staffing to accommodate the Chamber Orchestra practice time at an additional cost of $4,000. Norman Park Center Closure on Friday evenings - maintain the current staffing level for 4 hours of staff support ti>r bridge and chess groups at an additional cost of $3,000. (The groups may be willing to pay $8.00 per hour to cover the cost). Oxford Senior Program - maintain the program at the existing level with .22 FTE Recreation Specialist coordinating the program at a cost of $4,986. After-School Recreation Program Proposed Consolidation with other sites - consolidation of three sites with non-profit programs operated within walking distance of the schools and one near a city recreation center. Would be a savings of $40,200. · Library Hours - reinstatement of current level of hours at all library thcilities at a cost of $147,550. Other issues - there are a number of cuts experienced over time in the sewer and streets; reductions such as the Parks and Recreation Administrative Secretary; one clerical position in Personnel at $39,400; layoffs of two or three people fi~ll time employees, a Management Assistant Position and the Bookstore Manager at the Nature Center would require another $82,000. Finally, negotiation issues which need to be addressed for those currently not under contract. City-wide a 1% pay increase would cost $156,146. Councilman Alevy asked what did the revenues come to which we have identified that are in addition to what had been originally submitted in the proposed budget Mr. Goss responded that the new revenues which the budget is based on is approximately $900,000 which is already included in the budget. Councilnmn Alevy stated thai it was his preference that all the items listed under Table 8 be reinstated which would be $446,316. He did not want to reduce any employees or services. Councilman Padilia stated that if we are looking at taking in additional expenditures into the budget, then we must start getting some policy decisions made on what extra revenue sources that we are going to examine and what their realistic potential may be and how much of those we are going to utilize at what priorities. Mr. Goss stated that with sales tax, we have decades of historical data in order to analyze and set trends; but with some of the new revenue ideas, we have no historical basis at all. Councilman Moot asked that if we restored everything in the Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Library hours, although he disagreed with the after-school hours, how close would we be to balancing? Councilman Rindone stated that the issue is where the program needs are for the elementary children. Those facilities which appear to be in a reasonable walking distance are not being programmed for the age group and the type of activities that they currently have. Thereby those after-school programs would be different because they would not have access to similar programs for children at those schools. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 5 Councilman Moot stated he has three children that go to the Boys and Girls Club which is within walking distance of Gregg Rogers School. The Boys and Girls program is heads and tails above the after-school program. In the after-school program, they put a hundred kids out on the playground and let them run wild; they only have two people watching them; that is not much of a program. Mayor Horton stated that what we need is for staff to come back with a report and share with us the types of programs that the other facilities ofl~r versus the after-school program, so we can have a clear understanding of what we are dealing with. Mr. Goss, responding to Councilman Moot's question regarding how close to balancing would the budget be, stated that if you take the revenues and expenditures you want to add back you are out of balance by about $98,000. Council has restored all the park maintenance, all the aquatics, all the Norman Park closures, the after-school recreation program, and the library hours. This also includes the parks division reorganization but does not include the Administrative Secretary position. Those addressing Council were: ® Carmen Sandavol, 666 Rue Avalon, 91913, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Comtmssion, stated they were heartened by the considerations given to the department. Councilman Rindone asked Ms. Sandavol what was the Conumssion's position on the elimination of the playgrounds at the three sites which are near other public facilities. Ms. Sandavol stated that there were four schools at issue: Rice, Gregg Rogers, Lauderbach, and Parkview. She stated she would have to double check this since it was a difficult issue which they grappled with and was not certain what the actual vote was. There was concern about one site which was close to a busy street. Councilman Alevy asked what was the position of the Comn'dssion regarding the reduction of the recreation program during the winter holiday. Ms. Sandavol replied that this was a split vote and that they voted to allow the cut. Mr. Goss stated that this was included in the budget which was $98,000 out of balance. · Maggie Helton, 162 Mankato, 91910, member of Parks and Recreation Commission, stated when they went into the budget process, they were told they had to make 10% cuts. Last year they took aloss of $285,000 which left them at bare bones. This year they were told to find $450,000. They have one of the best preventative services in the City. She felt the people needed to stop worrying about raising fees. She also felt that parents should pay something for the after-school programs. She felt that we needed to take a good look at things that have been provided for free; we can't do it any more. · Carlos Pelayo, 244 East Naples Street, 91911, representing Cultural Arts Comrmssion, felt it was a good direction that Council was going for the Cultural Arts Coordinator going from a 1/2 time to a 3/4 time position. They were one of the least funded commissions. They are not able to have access to fedderal and state grants because they do not have a hill time coordinator. Mr. Goss responded that if the MCA amphitheater comes through, there will be funds available ti~r this. · Sylvia de Jesus, 230 Ash Avenue, 92104, spoke on behalf of the Crime Prevention Unit. She spoke in support on not reducing this function. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 6 Steve Palma, 176 Montgomery St., 91910, representing Parks and Recreation, stated that the Park and Recreation Commission was unanimous in its motion to not accept the closure of any after-school programs. They did not favor cutting services. Michael Rose, 1109 Helix, 91911, Senior Volunteer under Crime Prevention, stated he did not want to see any cuts in the Police Department. Larry Livesay, 456 Shy Lane, 9191 I, stated that he was not for any cuts in Parks and Recreation. However, in Parks and Recreation, there were no cuts proposed until they got into the "working class." He spoke against the proposed cuts. William Tuchscher, 3633 Bonita Verde Drive, 91910, Planning Conumssioner, stated that last year they cut their budget by 34%. This year they looked at education which means workshops and conferences. The $1,245, although a small reduction, has a long-term impact. David Pease, 4716 50th Street, San Diego, 92115, Senior Mechanic, spoke in opposition to the cuts in the maintenance department. John Willett, 97 Montebello Street, 91910, representing Parks and Recreation, urged retention of the Administrative Secretary position in Parks and Recreation. He opposed the proposed cuts, and felt there would be a morale problem in "bumping down" people. He did not concur with the elimination of the playground sites. Esperanza Newton-Blair, 1082 Paseo Entrada, spoke in opposition to the cuts in Crime Prevention and having volunteers run the program. · Richard Preuss, spoke in opposition to the elimination of the Crime Prevention program. Council recessed at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened at 9:14 p.m. Council excused the Acting City Attorney Moore from the remainder of the meeting. Ms. Moore lea at 9:25 p.m. Mr. Goss suggested that Council deliberate and give direction on what staff should bring back next Tuesday. Councilman Padilia stated he wanted to add an item to the expenditure side regarding the Police Department budget and the FTE position on the Crime Prevention Unit. He asked what was the degree of involvement of the Crime Prevention Specialist in analysis and crime prevention activities. Chief Emerson responded that there were two people assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit, a Crime Prevention Specialist and a Community Service Officer. They run approximate 250 to 300 presentations per year. They have looked at those presentations and have a plan which would allow them to do those in an alternate fashion which may mean a different delivery of service or a different level of service. This means that Neighborhood Watch presentations that now have 10 to 12 people in attendance will be doubled up so that there is a minimum of 25 people in attendance. The number of presentations would be decreased and absorbed by either volunteer staff or beat officers as part of their community-based police efforts. These are some of their initial plans to assume that kind of cut. Councilman Padilia felt that taking a trained Crime Prevention Specialist and substituting a volunteer, there would be concerns as to how that position would fit into the over-all operation of the department. He asked if there were possible grant funding alternatives that we could look at, or half year alternatives where we could fund it for half Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 7 a year and have the Chief come back with some grant opportunities. He t~lt we should avoid cutting a Crime Prevention position in the department. Councilman Alevy stated that we must maintain our services to the citizens, and he opposed any layoffs. He t~lt this was a position that we can't lose. Councilman Moot offered the following guidelines: He wanted to see council: restore the proposed cuts in the Maintenance and Parks and Recreation Departments of approximately $192,000. restore any senior programs which are being considered for cuts and not close Norman Park Senior. 3. restore the Library hours. The goal would be to find additional revenues to make sure that we have the money in the budget to cover those key and important items. He suggested that we look at the revenue proposals presented by the Manager on Table 2 to cover the revenue expenses. Councilman Rindone felt that this was appropriate but out of sequence. He fi~lt Council should respond to the budget supplements first. Once we see where we are on those, then we can look at the revenues. Supplemental 9, Reduction of Police Captain's Position: M (Rindone) not to reduce the Police Captain's posihon as proposed for this year. Councilman Padilia stated that he was comtbrtable with this tbr the short term only. He t~lt the decision should come back. If we have additional revenues, then we can add this. Councilman Moot felt this should be reviewed at the mid-year budget review process. Councilman Rindone felt that the continuity even for 6-8 months was critical to an organization which was so significant to the City on its day-to-day operation. He felt we needed to find resources, even in the short term. Motion died for a lack of a second. Supplemental 12, EastLake Performing Arts Center: Mr. Goss stated that it would be difficult to stretch the Fine Arts Funds ti'om the Redevelopment Agency to support the $50,000 request. If the law suit is settled with MCA and the theater is built, we will have a revenue stream of over $100,000 per year for cultural art purposes. This would play into this perti~ctly. Councilman Padilia stated that this is a lot of "ifs". What we are talking about now is laying people oft'. Mr. Goss stated this was an old issue with the Sweetwater District, and they wanted some type of communication on this. He was asking for direction as to whether we should dump this project altogether or proceed with the process so that if additional restricted revenue is fi~rthcoming, we can bring the agreement back to city council. Councilman Moot stated under those circmnstances, yes. But it will have to bc paid out of the MCA fund and don't commit us to the $50,000 unless the money is there. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 8 Councilman Alevy stated that the reality is that if we put priorities on things, this is not his highest priority that we are trying to find funds for. He was more intent on making sure our services are taken care of. Supplemental 16, Add Three Unclassified CBAG Positions in the Police Department: Mr. Goss stated this was fbr the Calitbrnia Border Alliance Group in the Police Department. These are employees of others that are administering the program tbr the Department of Justice. We get a processing rate of approximately 2% of the expenditures. This was inadvertently omitted from the Police Department Budget. This is to let Council 'know this is in there. Supplemental 17, Public Works Equipment Replacement Program: This provides for equipment to be purchased and that there is additional money in here for fuel because of the recent increases in the rates. A policy question is whether we continue with those same rates and assume that they are going to be at that level fur the entire fiscal year or part of the fiscal year. We are guessing that it will be for part of the fiscal year. If that is wrong, then staff will have to come back for some mid-year adjustment. Supplemental 23, COPS Hiring Program: Mr. Goss stated that we are recmnmending that the Council authorize the Chief of Police to explore the funding options fi,>r six new police officers under the COPS Universal Hiring Program and to work with the City Manager and Mayor to establish a local advisory board li~r purposes of allocating funds received under the local law enforcement block grant program and develop a proposal for the use of such funds as required by the grant. Councilman Moot expressed that anytime where funds do not come out of the general fund and we get it from a grant, staff can assume that Council will likely support it. Councilman Rindone stated that Council needed to be aware that there is a matching component and must come out of new monies. There are also some significant changes in the current COPS proposal so that it does not restrict us to just personnel. Supplemental 24. City Services ~r Downtuwn Business Association's 1996 Promotion Events: Mr. Goss stated that there would be a need to add $10,000 in the budget tier expense related to crowd control, trash cleanup, portable stage, barricades, traffic control, etc. fBr the Third Avenue Festival and Yule Parade. This is an information item only. Supplemental 25, Training Coordinator Position: Mr. Goss stated that this is the individual which has the ability to provide the Ethics Training which is currently funded one half in the Library and one half in Persormel. Staff is recommending that the training half in Personnel be deleted and be placed into the Fire Department in order to implement the State-mandated Disaster Preparedness Training program. There may be a need to put additional money into the budget for this purpose. This individual would still have the time and capability to do the Ethics Training as necessary. Supplemental 26, Deputy City Clerk: Mr. Goss stated that there is a recommendation to move the position from mid-management to unclassified and unrepresented. It is designed to put the position more at par with other comparable positions in the City such as the secretaries to the Redevelopment Agency and to the Planning Commission. There will be a need to add to the Clerk's budget $9,250 for overtime to implement that recommendation. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 9 Councilman Rindone stated that he did not feel we needed to raise this at the same level. Councilman Moot felt that what staff is saying is that they are going to have to hire a replacement and they are going to have offer that person a salary and are going to need to know how much salary they can offer that person. Mr. Goss stated that the salary is not as critical as whether overtime is going to be allowed. City Clerk Authelet stated that the position is currently mid-management, but the pay is very low. It didn't include the amount of time that was really spent in overtime. It was irritating to the individual when there were other positions in the City that were paid a higher rate and did not have the responsibility that the Deputy had, nor did they work the number of hours in overtime that she did; and yet because they were paid overtime, they would end up with a higher pay. We are trying to deal with the issue now before we him someone. In 1994~95, there were 171 hours spent in overtime just at City Council meetings. Them were another 70 plus hours at Redevelopment meetings as well as overtime spent in putting together the Council agenda packets. Councilman Padilia stated that there are two options: set the salary base at a level that is attractive with no overtime but they will put up with all the overtime hours or set the salary lower and allow for overtime. He was wondering if would be better to have the Deputy's position set at a low salary with overtime. He asked if there was a way, based on the position's responsibilities, that the number of overtime hours could be reduced. City Clerk Authelet responded that she would try to stagger the hours in order to reduce the overtime. Councilman Alevy asked if the previous deputy had any compensation time off in lieu of the overtime. City Clerk Authelet responded that she had just the management leave of five extra days a year off. Mayor Horton stated that staff needed to come back to Council with some backup data showing what some of the comparables are for this type of position throughout San Diego County or Southern California. Director Emerson stated that her concern was that the position was not truly a mid-management position. It didn't fit well anymore with the level of duties and responsibilities of mid-managers. Originally it was designed to be an office supervisor with the span of control being greater. Since a position has been deleted from the Clerk's budget, it doesn't make sense to have the Deputy supervise the office when there is only one other employee. This takes away a significant part of what made the classification mid-management. That, combined with the fact it is so similar to two other classifications that aren't mid-management, creates an equity issue. Councilman Moot felt that what has been proposed makes sense. He felt that before Council approved this, they would want to know what a comparable position gets paid in other cities of similar size to make sure we are not over paying the position. Nature Center Budget: Mr. Goss stated that Council had not discussed this budget since the Director was not here. One of the layoffs in the budget was the Bookstore Manager. The proposal is to backfill this with volunteers and some part-time hours. This budget is down but fluctuates during the year because there are grants which are received for Capital Improvement Projects. There are some reductions in some of the accounts such as promotions, some of the utility costs in anticipation of the flow-through sea water system to be installed. The general fund and the redevelopment agency basically subsidizes most of its operation. This is treated as a loan that maybe some day in the future it will be paid back. Councilman Alevy stated he was comfurtable with the budget as proposed. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 10 City Council Budfret: Mr. Goss stated that there is a proposed reduction of $33,000. One of the ma./or issues to discuss is whether the part-time council staffing should be deleted or not. Councilman Rindone stated that it was difficult to establish the part-time Council Aide positions. What would be desirable would be to have five full-time elected officials, but it is not practical nor does the City justify that, nor does he propose that. This is very minimal. but to have even this is beneficial. He supported the City Council budget as proposed with that exception and would like to see the positions retained. Councilman Padilia t~lt it would be t~tir tier Council to take some of the cuts that we are asking other people to take. There was an alternative to simply eliminating these positions whereby we could realize the same amount of savings if we budgeted based on our actuarials from previous budgets. On the average, most of the Council Aides are not actnally spending what we was budgeted. He wanted to preserve those positions. Armando Buelna, Assistant to Mayor and Council, stated that on the average, the number of hours that the Council Aides work per week varies. For the total lbr the year, they average about $30,000 which is approximately $20,000 less that what was budgeted. It would be possible that we could establish a pool where we would have a fixed amount of money in the pool and the Council Aides work the same hours that they are currently working. The problem would be if the number of hours varied toward the end of the fiscal year, then we could have some trouble with exceeding our prqjections. We budget fbr 10 hours per week. but on the average the Aides are working about 6 hours per week. Some work 2-3 hours per week while others work l0 hours, so the number varies based upon each pay period. Councilman Alvey stated that perhaps one of the options could be instead of eliminating this completely that we use the average and make it 6 hours per week per Council Aide. Mr. Buelna stated that this is a possibility. We would also have to budget in the PARS which is an additional figure which might reduce the number of hours even further. In addition to the hourly wages, the benefits would have to be added back in which we have estimated to be close to $1,000. Councilman Padilia asked if the reason that we are not realizing the maximum amount is because we have only four of those filled because the Council Assistant works more closely with the Mayor, thereby she does not use the Aide? Mayor Hotton stated that she tries to be frugal and not hire the I/4 time person. Since she had to help develop the budget, she felt strongly that what the other departments are having to do we also had to do our share in reducing our budget. It was very difficult, we are at the bare minimum. The only areas where she felt we could cut was in this category. Before she became Mayor, she did not use her 1/4 time person. She felt it would not look good to the constituents to spend that extra money even though we had that option. There is a solution. It might be beneficial to hire a college student who would be willing to do this for free. Most of what the assistants do would be perfect for a college person. Councilman Rindone stated that initially he did not fill the position. When he finally did, he realized how valuable that service was with the increased constituent service that was available. The thing he liked the most was the flexibility it provided. He has used his assistants at times when he was not available. You do not have the same flexibility with college students, although it would be the next best option. Mayor Horton stated we have a receptionist, a secretary, and a Council Assistant to all of us. That is more than any other city, other than the City or the County of San Diego, has. This is a luxury and this is not the year to have the additional expenditure when it can be done without spending the extra $30,000 to $50,000. Minutes June 20, 1996 Page 11 Councilman Padilia felt that the point is that we do not have to layoff the existing Aides in order to realize these savings. We have the ability to realize savings in our budget and pay our share without getting rid of people which some have and want to retain. Councilman Moot stated he felt that if they were the functional head of the City and to lead by example, we had better lead by example and not be unwilling to make a sacrifice that we are asking every other department head to make. Councilman Rindone stated that if we are talking about reducing the support to the Mayor and Council, then perhaps we need to eliminate one of the full-time positions. We would provide greater savings, but would not hinder the flexibility that has been very desirable and difficult to obtain. Mayor Horton reminded Council that when this issue was originally brought up, it was never the intent to have someone represent them at meetings. She did not understand what was meant by flexibility. Councilman Alevy felt that we did not have to make a decision right now. He asked staff to come back at the next meeting with two or three options regarding this. Mayor Hotton stated that the figure under promotional expenses did not include anything fbr the Odawara visit. This should be increased to $18,000 to cover this event which will be held in October. Councilman Alevy stated he wanted to see Council do everything possible to keep the level of service and the current employment in tact. We have talked specifically about Parks and Recreation and Library. He would like to fred a way, if possible, for the Administrative Assistant in the Parks and Recreation to be maintained. His intent is for the budget to return those two departments to their previous funding and to make all eftbrts to aw~id having to layoff any people. He also felt that the Crime Prevention positions should be maintained. Councilman Padilia stated that there has been some discussions about some itemized revenue estimates that have been given the nod. There is an area of additional revenue sources that need to be examined. From the discussion, we want to avoid the layoffs and reduction in services even if we have to look at increasing the revenue sources. Councilman Rindone wanted to reiterate his support in restoring the services for the Library and Parks and Recreation Departments. This should include the four playgrounds at the areas near other community centers and with a proposal to reduce the third position in the City Manager's office and to have two Assistant City Managers. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. OTHER BUSINESS 3. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT(S) Mr. Goss stated he needed some direction regarding Council's recess since one of the times (June 25) has been scheduled for a special meeting. MSUC (Horton/Alevy) to have a recess scheduled for July 2 and July 9. Substitute motion MS (Rindone/Padilla) to recess July 2, July 16, and July 30. Approved 5-0. Minutes June 20. 1996 Page 12 4. MAYOR'S REPORT(S): None. 5. COUNCIL COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adiuumed at 10:50 p.m. to the regular City Council meeting on July 2, 1996 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Respecttiflly submitted, ~Authelet, CMC/AAE City Clerk