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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 09-03MERIDIAN CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 3 1997 The special meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order by Mayor Robert D. Corrie at 6:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Walt Morrow, Glenn Bentley, Charlie Rountree, Ron Tolsma: OTHERS PRESENT: Will Berg, Wayne Crookston, Gary Smith, James Hayes, Raymond Voss, Richard Donahue: ITEM #1: PUBLIC HEARING: AMENDING 96-97 FY BUDGET: Corrie: This is an additional sum of $1,308,000 to be appropriated out of the revenues for the fees from Sanitary Service to be used for authorized activities. Is there anyone from the public that would like to issue any testimony on the amended 96197 fiscal year budget? Hearing none? I will close the public hearing. ITEM #2: ORDINANCE #771 — AMENDING 96-97 FY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE: Corrie: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO, AMENDING THE ORDINANCE #741 THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1996 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1997. APPROPRIATING ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT ARE TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO IN THE SUM OF $1,308,000; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Is there anyone from the audience that would like to have Ordinance #771 read in its entirety? Hearing none 1 will entertain a motion from the Council. Morrow: Mr. Mayor, I would move that we adopt Ordinance #771 with the suspension of rules. Bentley: Second Corrie: Motion made by Mr. Morrow, second by Mr. Bentley to approve ordinance #771 with the suspension of rules, roll call vote. ROLL CALL VOTE: Morrow —Yea, Bentley — Yea, Rountree — Yea, Tolsma — Yea MOTION CARRIED: All Yea ITEM #3: PUBLIC HEARING: BUDGET FOR 97198 FISCAL YEAR: Corrie: At this time I will open the public hearing and ask if anybody from the audience has any questions or statements they would like to make at this point? Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 2 James Hayes, 1871 Santa Clara Drive, Meridian, was sworn by the City Attorney. Hayes: My name is Jim Hayes I live in the Vineyards over here, I operate businesses here in the State of Idaho. I have ten nursing homes, a couple of pharmacies and some home health agencies. 1 had the opportunity the other day to look at the 1997/98 budget. I was absolutely astounded at what I saw. I was looking at the appropriation for the fire wages. My understanding in the last couple of years of the of the budgets that 1 had access to that the amount that was appropriated is about $255,000. This year that was appropriated was about $213,000. 1 don't know that represents what about a 15% decrease, the amount that we are spending for fire wages. I understand that the fireman's average wage is somewhere around $25,0000 a year. I don't know how you can consider that to be a living wage. I certainly don't and I don't know how you keep a good fire staff on. I understand that there are only two firemen on full time at any one time and if the population of the City and the area that the fire area serves I have been told somewhere around $60,000. 1 understand at the same time you are doing that you are going to spend several hundred thousands dollars building a golf course. My suggestion is you take that money and train the fire department people to be paramedic qualified. That you purchase a pair of medic equipped ambulance. That you add at least one person on over at this place so that you could have three people on at any one time. I think cutting the amount of money that we are going to spend for fire protection is absolutely criminal. I think that the firemen are not paid a living wage and I think you need to rectify that. That is all I have to say. Corrie: I guess Jim, what you said there the fire department has less this year than last year. Hayes: The appropriation that 1 was looking at was $213,000 and the previous years that was looking at was somewhere around $255,000 represents a significant cut in the wages. My concern is how do you retain a professional fire staff on $25,000 a year. know I couldn't raise my family on that amount and I know there are firemen working for the City that have a very difficult time struggling along. I think if we are going to have a fire department that is worth its salt you are going to have pay a wage that will attract good people. I think having two people on full time for the amount of people that we have in this City is really poor. I understand that our rating for our fire department is somewhere around a five on a scale of one to ten. It makes me as a resident feel awfully uneasy about the kind of protection I would get if my house started to burn down. Bentley: I am not sure where you got your figures from, but I am looking at 97's budget and FY 97 is $376,000 and the proposed budget for next year is $459,423 that is just wages. Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 3 Hayes: I was looking at three budgets through August I think (inaudible) I have a friend that works on the fire department that gave me that information, he received it from you. So the information came from this group here. It was right off your computers. Bentley: Well there is the budget is right there, I am not sure what you looked at. Hayes: I just looked at what you gave the fire department. I will still reiterate, if you want me to back off on the numbers and concede that is correct. I still understand that you are still only 2 people on at any one time. 1 don't know about you but I don't feel good about that. If you have two people down on the freeway helping somebody and my house starts to burn down you are going to rely on some younger people and volunteer firemen to come over there I don't think I am going to get the coverage that I need. I really think that we need to spend more money and increase the staffing in that fire department. Bentley: They are currently under negotiations with the City right now and also when the people that are on duty are out they are covered by qualified people. They come down to the station, they cover the station while one unit is out. Hayes: 1 do not believe that when those people are out that there is somebody over there covering them. I don't think that is happening. Corrie: I guess you have some firemen here i guess you can ask them. Hayes: They can make their statements and I can make mine. I am just telling them like I see it. Corrie: That is fine that is what this is for. You made a comment about ambulance, I didn't quite understand? Hayes: I understand there is one paramedic ambulance in that station somewhere east of here maybe near St. Luke's or somewhere like that. Most of our firemen I understand they are only EMT qualified. I think that we ought to have a paramedic qualified unit right here in the City that can respond to the City needs. Corrie: That is set up by County law, the EMT ambulance. We are trying to get the sub station the second one in hopefully we will have an ambulance ordered there but that is taken care of by Emergency Medical Services of Ada County. The fire department here we have an emergency run unit that is qualified, the firemen are qualified EMTs. They run the same time the ambulance runs. They, I would say many more times they are there before the ambulances are. Hayes: The EMT's Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 4 Corrie: Right but the paramedics is out of Ada County not any fire station. Hayes: I understand that, that is why, I don't argue the fact that it is up to the County. would prefer to have one in the City however. I would like to see one closer. Corrie: I am with you I would too. Hayes: That is all 1 have to say. Raymond Voss, 1158 W. 8t" Street, Meridian, was sworn by the City Attorney. Voss: On the salaries that are in your physical year 97-98 budget they do include the fire chief and the fire Marshall. The previous salaries in the other budgets did not include those two personnel. So that would make a big difference in the salaries that the gentleman was talking about. Bentley: The point too he stated that we cut it down to $218,000 and those two positions aren't worth $250,000. Corrie: Anybody else? Richard Donahue, 1237 E 2'/, Meridian, was sworn by the City Attorney. Donahue: I have a problem with the fire department budget. I understand they are going to add another fireman or something like that to try to staff a three man truck or something. Outside of covering the calls those firemen are on that doesn't really do a lot for the coverage of the Meridian Fire Department. They need two response units available in the Meridian Fire District to respond to fires. One call comes in okay they are on their way. Two calls come in at the same time both life threatening you flip the coin and decide who dies today that is what they are faced with. It is not a matter of if they are not going to respond to call, it is a matter they don't have a choice they can only go to one location at one time. So if you have two life threatening situations they have to respond to one but whatever the choice is somebody could die at the other situation. That is a fact. There is a lot of money being expended, I see a lot of budget increases but I don't see much of an increase. From $932,000 to $1,806,000 for the fire department that is not much of an increase. Looking at the other increase up here from 95/96 budget $1.5 to $2.6 over a two year period for the police department that is about $1.1 million and averaging it out for the fire department it is only about a couple hundred thousand. Somewhere the priorities for the Council are just not there. You state there is no money, all I have is a piece of paper for a public hearing. I don't have what you got (inaudible) you are duplicating the police department, apparently the police department is going to do their own dispatching 24 hours a day. I ask Glen Bentley is that true? Bentley: Yes it is Meridian City Council Special (Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 5 Donahue: So you are duplicating what Ada County Sheriff Vaughn Killeen is doing Bentley: No we are not duplicating what Ada County is doing. We are taking, Ada County will be doing the 911 emergency, Boise Police will be handling their own in house calls plus the fire or the water and sewer. Corrie: You mean Meridian Donahue: I was confused now you are going to Boise. Bentley: Meridian is going to be covering their own units and plus the water department and the sewer department, the radios for the vehicles. Donahue: Is Ada County no longer wanting to dispatch for us I don't understand. Bentley: We are having, we are experiencing delays where the officers are being delayed out on the street waiting to get the information they need on traffic stops and information they need for arrest. Donahue: Was this taken up, they don't have computer aided, I mean basically they don't have the computers in the police cars to run all that stuff? Bentley: Do we have them all in now Chief? Gordon: Yes we do. Donahue: Then your point is they don't need a dispatch here. If there is a problem with dispatch you need to take it up with the Sheriff not all the sudden just throw a bunch of people out here for duplication and then ignore the fire department. The money is needed at the fire department, I am not just talking to you Glenn all of you. We have a priority at the fire department. It seems like the only priority is the police department. That doesn't make any sense. Corrie: Let me interject here just minute Richard. The $1,086,065 is the City's budget, there is rural on top of that. I just want to make sure you understand that. This is just the City's not the rural's added part to that. Donahue: There is just too big of a discrepancy in budgeting where everybody is bending over backwards giving all sorts of money. I presume this will be 17 employees in two years that the police department, Glenn is that correct? Bentley: What do you mean 17 employees? Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 6 Donahue: Well if I remember right you added 8 employees to the police department last year. Bentley: That is correct Donahue: And I read that you are adding four officers plus at least five dispatchers this year, that is 17 employees at the police department in two years. All you are proposing is maybe one employee at the fire department in two years. Your priorities are wrong, I hope (inaudible) heaven forbid you are off base. You don't need duplication of dispatch service you don't, you need people at the fire department, you need another fire station. The City doesn't have the money but the money is right there. All I have is one piece of paper you have pages and pages. But I can tell the difference between priorities and just don't flat out care for a fire department. That is (inaudible) Bentley: I don't think that is the appropriate statement to be making either. Donahue: I am not here to please you or any of the Council. This is the problem with the City Council they need to look out for the residents of the City they serve and this is not looking out for the residents they serve on emergency service on the fire department part you just don't cut it. They (inaudible) if there is a fire at St. Luke's there is no fire department, no trucks out here can even fight a fire. (Inaudible) Zamzows or any large schools they don't have anything except 30 men on shoulders to fight a fire. (inaudible) and then they have another fire department that isn't out on their own fire and hope they can send something over that can help them out. That is kind of a sad thing, but I don't want to (inaudible). I think you are wrong in what you are doing. I do have a comment on the parks, I do think I have to credit Mr. Rountree here for at least doing a pretty good job on the parks. At least somebody is doing something. I don't approve of a lot in this thing but it has been noticeable that it is at least doing something. Rountree: I will interject Richard that is not necessarily my doing, it took a lot of work on the part of the City for many years. Donahue: It is nice to see something being done. A lot of years of nothing on the parks. Lots of years. Sorry to testify on some of this stuff because this is just a joke when all you give out is a piece of paper. It is hard to testify on stuff Corrie: Richard, this whole thing is back there on the table Donahue: Well it wasn't when I got here. Corrie: Well it is back there now. Donahue: I will let somebody else have the platform. (Inaudible) Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 7 Corrie: Anyone else now with questions or testimony? Hayes: Glenn you were talking about as I sat down to think about that you were talking about the old budget being $390,000 Bentley: $376,000 for administration and staff wages. Hayes: And then it went to what? Bentley: $459,000 Hayes: And then that gentleman that just testified said that the wages of certain administrative personnel weren't included in the old budget but they are included in the new budget? Bentley: Well they were included in the old also. Hayes: So that $375,000 includes those salaries? Bentley: That is correct Hayes: So you are actually increasing the salary budget by about $75,000 and what percentage is that about? Bentley: About 20% Hayes: Is that 20% increase going to added personnel or is it going to increase plans (inaudible) Bentley: One added plus wages. Hayes: Would that be one full time addition? Corrie: So there will be three on a truck all the time. Hayes: Thank you Corrie: Anyone else from the public that would like to issue testimony on the budget? Donahue: They were talking about golf course money. Corrie: There is no golf course money anymore. Morrow: I will handle this, your question is? Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 8 Donahue: Was there money allotted for the golf course last year or something? Morrow: If you will recall Richard from the budget (inaudible) we have to recognize anything as income and anything as outgoing. The golf course expansion came at no property tax or any other tax revenues in terms of the golf course being expanded. The golf course the nine holes were expanded and added onto under budget at a cost of somewhere around $375,000 that included a line from the sewer and water enterprise fund that was borrowed to be paid back by impact fees if you will from the lot sales immediately surrounding the golf course. By the time the donations were added to those monies it totaled a little bit over $400,000. In answer to Mr. Hayes point there are no property tax dollars involved in anything. The information you got is patently incorrect. So the issue with the golf course Donahue: So the money comes out of the enterprise funds on a loan is what you are saying. Morrow: It comes out of an enterprise Donahue: How much money Corrie: Mr. Donahue let him finish, and then you talk, one at a time Morrow: The money comes out of the enterprise fund based on a loan we have documentation from those in that particular field that it is best to invest in your own superstructure with your funds. Those funds are being repaid with the impact fees that are being generated as those units are started and built. So at this juncture the golf course or the expansion or our portion of the expansion of the golf course is completed and will become open for play within a matter of the next couple of weeks. Donahue: I just had a question, how much you are saying it was $375,000 that was loaned out, how much was paid back? Morrow: To this point? Donahue: It doesn't list anything here. Morrow: I couldn't tell you with respect to the number of units that have been built out there over the course of the last two years. Donahue: Well out of $375,000 can you say it was $100,000 that was paid back, $50,000? Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 9 Morrow: The treasurer would have to furnish you that information, I cannot give you those exact figures. Donahue: Well if you could inform the treasurer. Morrow: There are 555 lots at approximately $650 a piece. Donahue: How much was paid to up to September, has been repaid to it? Morrow: That is information that the treasurer would need to give you. Donahue: Well I am just asking whoever on the Council if you could get that to me on that. Corrie: Sure, all you have to do is come in and make the request. Donahue: Well I am making it in public, as public record I would like, I am making it on public record. So make sure it gets forwarded on the public record I would like to have it forwarded. Corrie: I would like for you to come in and pick that up because what I am saying is we don't have it with us now. What we will do Donahue: If you could inform the City Clerk or whoever to make a notation tonight to do it. I have to be in Boise tomorrow so I don't have time to be here. Corrie: I don't have time to run after you either. So if you want it Donahue: And that is why I said send it to me. Corrie: No, come in and ask for it. Donahue: I just asked for on the public record and if you don't want to that is up to you guys. Corrie: I am trying to tell you Mr. Donahue come in and we will give it to you. Donahue: I have one other comment, I used to work for this City for 19 years and stuff like this. I have been threatened when I worked for this City, threatened when I left the City. (Inaudible) I was threatened by him (inaudible) Corrie: Mr. Donahue no you are not, you are going to stay on the subject. You did this last year we investigated what you charged and there is no substantial evidence of any Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 10 of it. Now you stick with this and don't be making accusations any more of this kind. You stay with the budget. Donahue: I would just like to point I am unable to testify due to I believe violation of State Code intimidating witnesses by the City Council. Corrie: Thank you, anybody else on the budget? Council, any questions or comments? I will close the public hearing at this point. ITEM #4: ORDINANCE #772 — ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE: Corrie: THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1997 APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $21,429,107 TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR AUTHORIZING A LEVY OF SUFFICIENT TAX UPON THE TAXABLE PROPERTY AND SPECIFYING THE OBJECTS (Inaudible) FOR WHICH SAID APPROPRIATIONS IS MADE. Is there anyone from the audience that would like Ordinance #772 read in its entirety? Hearing none I will entertain a motion by Council on Ordinance #772. Morrow: Mr. Mayor, I would move that we adopt ordinance #772 with suspension of rules. Tolsma: Second Corrie: Motion made by Mr. Morrow, second by Mr. Tolsma to approve Ordinance #772 with suspension of rules. ROLL CALL VOTE: Morrow — Yea, Bentley — Yea, Rountree —Yea, Tolsma — Yea MOTION CARRIED: All Yea Corrie: That is the agenda for this evening, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. Bentley: So moved Tolsma: Second Corrie: Motion made by Mr. Bentley, second by Mr. Tolsma for adjournment, any further discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? MOTION CARRIED: All Yea MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:04 P.M. Meridian City Council Special Meeting September 3, 1997 Page 11 (TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS) ATTEST: WILLIAM G. BERG, JR., CI G�`LERK a I 1 L j$jVV =TI_\ c BEAL A///!/Il ii7f i7fYY555555`5`