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Home My WebLink Aboutcc min 2010/10/05MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA October 5.2010 4:00 P.M. A Regulaz Meeting of the City Council of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 4:03 p.m. in the Counci] Chambers, located in City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilmembers Bensoussan, Castaneda (arrived at 6:28 p.m.), McCann, Ramirez, and Mayor Cox ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Sandoval, City Attorney Miesfeld, City Clerk Norris, and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Bennett PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND MOMENT OF SILENCE Deputy Mayor Ramirez led the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENTS Daniel Green, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the City. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. RESOLUTION NO. 2010-238, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING PENSION REFORM, WHICH REFORM SHALL REQUIRE THE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY CLERK, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE EXECUTIVE, SENIOR MANAGER, MID-MANAGER UNCLASSIFIED, MID- MANAGER CONFIDENTIAL, PROFESSIONAL UNCLASSIFIED, PROFESSIONAL CONFIDENTIAL AND CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE GROUPS TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO CALPERS FOR OPTIONAL BENEFITS, TO SHARE PENSION COSTS WITH THE CITY; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A SECOND TIER CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN FOR THE MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY CLERK, AS THEY ARE NEWLY ELECTED OR APPOINTED, AND NEW EMPLOYEES IN THE AFOREMENTIONED EMPLOYEE GROUPS; AND PROVIDING AUTHORIZATION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO EFFECTUATE PENSION REFORMS STATED HEREIN Page 1 -Council Minutes October 5, 2010 CONSENT CALENDAR (Continued) To address a significant budget shortfall for Fiscal Yeaz 2011/2012, the Mayor, Councilmembers, City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and employees in the Executive, Senior Manager, Mid-Manager Unclassified, Mid-Manager Confidential, Professional Unclassified, Professional Confidential, and Confidential Employee Groups have expressed a willingness to participate in necessary pension reform. Adoption of the Resolution implements that pension reform, requiring officials and employees in the above classifications to contribute (8% or 9% depending on their Ca1PERS member category) toward their pension benefits; and directs the City Manager to establish a Second Tier Ca1PERS Retirement Plan for the newly elected, appointed, or employed individuals in those classifications. (Director of Human Resources) Staff recommendation: Council adopt the resolution. Human Resources Director Bacon gave an overview of the proposed pension reform. ACTION: Councilmember McCann moved to approve staffls recommendation and offered Consent Calendar Item 1, heading read, text waived. Councilmember Bensoussan seconded the motion, and it carried 4-0. ACTION ITEMS REPORT ON THE CITY MANAGER'S FISCAL YEAR 2011/2012 BUDGET BALANCING PLAN The Five-Year Financial Forecast, presented to Council at the August 17, 2010 Council meeting, indicates that the City's General Fund has a projected deficit of $12.5 million for Fiscal Year 2011/2012. Given the magnitude of the projected deficit, City management has prepazed abudget-balancing plan designed to address the budget deficit. This report provides an overview of the City Manager's plan to close the budget gap. (City Manager) City Manager Sandoval presented an overview of the 2009 Fiscal Health Plan. Finance Director Kachadoorian gave an overview of the five-yeaz financial forecast. City Manager Sandoval introduced financial consultant, Craig Hoshijima, who presented an overview of the results of his review of the City's budget. Finance Director Kachadoorian then presented the proposed budget reduction plan to close the $12.5 million budget gap. Willard Howazd, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of continuing the Fourth of July celebrations in the City. Page 2 -Council Minutes October 5, 2010 ACTION ITEMS (Continued) The following members of the public spoke in support of maintaining services at the Norman Park Senior Center: Linda Parkhurst, Chula Vista resident Carol Ann Taylor, Chula Vista resident Chequita Falls, Spring Valley resident Daniel Siso, Chula Vista resident, representing the Chula Vista Employee Association, spoke in support of retaining the City's Ranger Department. The following members of the public spoke in support of keeping the public libraries open: Matthew Anderson, Chula Vista/Bonita resident Beth Roach, Chula Vista resident Susan Botts, Chula Vista resident Louise Swinney, Chula Vista resident Susan Lipp, Chula Vista resident Ginny Taylor, Chula Vista resident John Finch, Chula Vista resident Kathy Zwick, Chula Vista resident Maria Del Castillo, Chula Vista resident Laura Bianchi, Chula Vista resident Michael Monaco, Chula Vista resident The following City staff requested that their positions be retained in the tree division, which was slated to be eliminated as part of the proposed budget reduction plan: Roy Jennings, Chula Vista resident Angel Lopez, Bonita resident Franchicio Silva, Chula Vista resident Mitch Thompson, Chula Vista resident, encouraged employees to agree to the pension reform, spoke in support of maintaining current staffing levels, and suggested expansion of redevelopment into residential areas. Christopher Lewis, Bonita resident, suggested having staff work with the Nature Center to identify and attract additional revenue sources to sustain the facility. Susan Fuller, Imperial Beach resident, representing the Nature Center, did not speak, but indicated support of the comments by Christopher Lewis. Mayor Cox recessed the Council Meeting at 6:04 pm. The meeting reconvened at 6:28 p.m., with all members present. Page 3 -Council Minutes October 5, 2010 ACTION ITEMS (Contintued) Georgie Stillman, Chula Vista resident, spoke in support of maintaining librazy services. Claudia Rengito, spoke in support of maintaining library services and the Loma Verde Pool. Rusty James, El Cajon resident, representing the Chula Vista Employees Association, asked for Council consideration to maintain City resources, and to treat the employees fairly in the labor negotiation process. Chuck Schrader, Chula Vista resident, encouraged the community to vote in favor of Proposition H. Stewart Payne, Chula Vista resident, suggested that the City utilize the graduates of the Citizen's Leadership Academy as volunteers in the City; and to look at ways to identify new revenues for the City. David Walden, Chula Vista resident, encouraged Council to look at identifying new revenue sources, and to work collaboratively with other cities on how to do business and to share resources. Theresa Accero, Chula Vista resident, questioned the costs associated with outside counsel for labor negotiations. She spoke in favor of Proposition H. Bettina Batista, Chula Vista resident, spoke in opposition to staffing cuts in the Police Department. Jose Lopez, Chula Vista resident, spoke in opposition to cuts in Public Safety Services. Phil Collum, San Diego resident, representing the Chula Vista Police Officers Association, spoke in opposition to cuts in Public Safety, and asked for Council consideration of fairness and respect in the labor negotiation process. John Hale, representing the Chula Vista Employees Association, spoke in opposition to the proposed eight percent employee contribution to the City's pension system. Frank Carson, Chula Vista resident, and City Recreation Supervisor, spoke in favor of maintaining recreation services and programs and the Norman Park Senior Center. Don Abel, National City resident, representing the Woman's Wellness Center, spoke in support of the Norman Pazk Senior Center. City Manager Sandoval responded to some of the speakers' comments, and spoke about efficiency studies of City departments, the Goodrich LEAN program, recommendation of a second tier pension plan for new hires after January 2011, negotiations with bargaining groups to address pension contributions, and elimination of pay increases. ACTION ITEMS (Continued) Page 4 - Counci] Minutes October 5, 2010 Discussion ensued about the proposed budget balancing plan. It was the consensus of the City Council to have staff come back in two weeks with information in response to a memorandum submitted by Councilmembers Castaneda and Ramirez, dated October 5, 2010, with the following requests: We ask the City Manager to roll back all raises or ongoing enhancements to pay in the last three years to all unrepresented employees including step increases. 2. We request that the City Council undertake a department by department budget review to determine the appropriate staffing levels for each. 3. We request further review of consolidation of existing departments to reduce expenditures for managerial positions. 4. We request a comprehensive analysis of opportunities to consolidate department operations into available City facilities, which will yield excess capacity with the potential to be leased to outside entities. OTHER BUSINESS 3. CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS There were none. MAYOR'S REPORTS There were none. COUNCILMEMBERS' COMMENTS There were none. ADJOURNMENT At 8:13 p.m., Mayor Cox adjourned the meeting in recognition of the recent marriage of City employees Emma McClees and Gary Harris, to the workshop meeting on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 4:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers; and thence to the regular City Council meeting of October 12, 2010 in the Council Chambers. Lorraine Bennett, CMC, Sr. Deputy City Clerk Page 5 -Council Minutes October 5, 2010