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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-22 Finance and Safety Minutes City of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes October 22, 2013 5:30 p.m.; Conference Room #3 PRESENT Councilmembers: Dennis Robertson, Chair; and Kathy Hougardy (Absent: Verna Seal) Staff: Peggy McCarthy, Vicky, Carlsen, Stephanie Brown, Kim Gilman, Shelley Kerslake, Brendan Kerin, Nora Gierloff, Christy , Bruce Linton, Laurel Humphrey Guest: Chuck Parrish CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Robertson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. OrdinanceCivil Service Commission Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance that would revise Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 2.42, Civil Service Commission, to reflect the current provisions of Revised Code of Washington 41.04.010, governing the use of VPoints in hiring and promotional processes. Candidates eligible for The UNANIMOUS proposed ordinance is also in alignment with recently revised civil service rules. APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 4 REGULAR CONSENT AGENDA. B. ResolutionCouncil Benefits Staff is seeking Council approval of a resolution that would update health insurance benefits for Councilmembers in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2007. Since 2001, Councilmembers have received a benefit in which they can receive reimbursement for eligible medical expenses up to $3,400 per year, but this option is prohibited under the PPACA. Enrollment in the City Self-Insured Medical Plan or Group Health Cooperative will be the medical benefit options for Councilmembers as of January 1. The monthly premium for individual Councilmembers would be paid by the City as it is for employees ($509.94 for City Self-Insured and 717.98 for Group Health). As follow up to the October 8 committee discussion, staff returned with an updated draft resolution that includes the option to enroll in the Group Health Cooperative and adds a recital explaining the impetus for the change. Staff also provided clarification on the tier of coverage for a Councilmember already UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. third. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 28 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. C. ResolutionCancellation of Past Due Accounts Receivable Staff is seeking Council approval of the annual resolution that would declare the cancellation of uncollectible accounts receivable. The total for this year is $30,702.97, which is higher than last year due to a complete foundation and signal pole assembly replacement as well as a hit and run damage to a pedestrian pole. Staff reviewed the rigorous process by which items are determined to be uncollectible. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 4 REGULAR CONSENT AGENDA. Finance & Safety Committee Minutes October 22, 2013 Page 2 D. Permit User Fee for Technology Investments Staff is seeking Council direction on the adoption of a new technology fee on building, public works and land use processing system as well as potentially fund the cost of preserving and providing electronic access to current and historical permit records. A combination of technology fee revenue and funds from the microfilming/digitizing budget would enable the Digital Records Coordinator position in the Office of the records repository through Laserfiche, providing web-based accessibility of finalized permit records to the public, and would result in less staff time spent on processing public records requests. A survey of other local jurisdictions indicates that many cities are applying a technology fee, and it is either a flat fee, fee per sheet, or percentage of the permit fee ranging from 1.3 to 5%. Materials in the Committee packet provide estimated revenues from technology fees at varying percentage levels for the past several years as well as for an average permit revenue of 1.3 million dollars. For example, a technology fee set at 5% is estimated to bring in $65,000 annually. Staff recommends that Council consider imposing the technology fee at the 5% level. resolution that would impose a technology fee at the recommended 5% level, eliminate hourly fees imposed on complex permits, and finally, consolidate various but related fees into one schedule. There is a companion draft ordinance that would remove permit fees from Tukwila Municipal Code 16.04, Buildings and Construction, in accordance with this consolidation. The Community Affairs and Parks Committee also received a briefing on this proposal at its October 14 meeting, and in response to questions that arose then, the memo was updated to include information about the level of service provided by the comparison cities in Attachment A. None of the surveyed cities offer online accessibility to finalized permit records as Tukwila would under the 5% fee proposal. The revised Attachment A also includes a column indicating whether the comparison city imposes a B&O tax. A new table was added that shows a 10 year payback period for Trakit and the remaining available funds at different fee levels for digital records and technology replacement. After discussion and clarification of questions, Committee members were supportive of the fee at the 5% level. Decision-making regarding the level of funding for records management will be part of the 2014 FORWARD TO OCTOBER 28 COMMITTEE OF budget review if the fee is approved by Council. THE WHOLE. E. OrdinanceInterfering with Traffic Staff is seeking Council approval of an ordinance that would establish new regulations relating to interfering with traffic to be codified as Chapter 9.21 in the Tukwila Municipal Code. Conduct by pedestrians interfering with traffic in City rights-of-way not only causes congestion but is a public safety concern. This proposal would replace the current ordinance prohibiting certain types of solicitation, which does not address traffic interference by all types of pedestrians. The proposed ordinance would prohibit traffic interference in a public right-of-way and establish penalties for violation. In practice, officers who observed such activity would give the violator a written warning before issuing the infraction. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER 28 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. F. OrdinanceEthics Code October 8 meeting, City Attorney Shelley Kerslake returned with a proposed ordinance that establishes a single ethics code for elected officials, appointed officials, and City employees. The proposal establishes an appointed Ethics Board which would receive complaints of ethics violations and make an initial determination of sufficiency. Following an investigation by an independent investigator, Council would make the final determination based upon the facts. The revised proposal also includes a new section regarding penalty options for elected officials. Finance & Safety Committee Minutes October 22, 2013 Page 3 Ethics Board that would make the initial determination of sufficiency and then continue its role as adjudicator for the entire complaint. If a violation is determined it would then go the Council for the penalty phase. The Board would also have a dual role of issuing advisory opinions which would be a benefit for City officials and employees. language appears be underlined for Committee of the Whole discussion. Councilmember Quinn added that he would like to see a stringent qualifications component relating to the appointment of board members. Committee Chair Robertson then brought forth a suggestion that, instead of establishing a new board, the standing chairs of existing boards and commissions (e.g. Planning Commission) receive appropriate training and form an ad hoc ethics committee when an incident arises. If an individual did not wish to participate the next senior member would be approached. By virtue of their existing appointment these individuals would already have experience in City operations as well as the ethics code. The Committee was not unanimous on this proposal but requested it be prepared for further discussion. After further discussion, the Committee requested the following be prepared and presented at another Finance and Safety meeting prior to advancing to the Committee of the Whole: Option proposing an appointed Ethics Board with a makeup of five members, two to be appointed by the Mayor and three by the Council. The proposal will include rigorous standards of qualification. This option would have the inve because of those rigorous standards. Option proposing an Ethics Board comprised of current chairs of existing City boards/commissions, then adjudication by the Council after an investigator produces findings of fact. Option proposing an Ethics Board comprised of current chairs of existing boards/commissions, then adjudication by the ad hoc Ethics Board after an investigator produces findings of fact. Addition of definitions that may include e Cover memos explaining each option. sentence. In Section 7, TMC 2.95.045 (A), add the Mayor, Councilmember, and City Clerk to the list of those receiving a copy of a complaint. DISCUSSION ONLY. RETURN TO FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE. rd G. Police Department 2013 3 Quarter Report Assistant Chief Linton shared a presentation that updated the Committee on items of significance that occurred in the Police Department during the third quarter. The information included highlights, crime statistics and crime reduction strategies. He also distributed a staffing updates chart, Seattle Times blog post relating to the guilty pleas by the owners of the Travelers Choice and Great Bear motels, and a map of INFORMATION ONLY. residential burglary case reports. III. MISCELLANEOUS Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 5:30 p.m. Conference Room #3 Committee Chair Approval Minutes by LH, Item F reviewed by SK