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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-22 Committee of the Whole MinutesSeptember 22, 1975 7:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Letter from U.S.T.M.E. by Gary Crutchfield requesting meeting with City Council TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES GARDNER, STERLING, HARRIS, JOHANSON. Tukwila City Hall Council Chambers MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, THAT COUNCILMAN STERLING ACT AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING IN THE ABSENCE OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT TRAYNOR. CARRIED. Chairman Sterling called the meeting to order at 9:25 P.M. MOVED BY JOHANSON, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE AGENDA BE AMENDED AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CONSIDER THE UTTER SUBMITTED BY GARY CRUTCHFIELD, PRESIDENT OF U.S.T.M.E., AND ADDRESSED TO THE CITY COUNCIL. CARRIED, WITH HARRIS VOTING NO. Chairman Sterling read the letter addressed to the City Council stating that the members of the Unincorporated Society of Tukwila Municipal Employees had recently met to discuss alternatives for an agreement to be entered into with the City Council pursuant to Resolution #488 defining all benefits to be extended to USTME members for the 1976 budget year. President Gary Crutchfield, President, stated that the meeting had resulted in a proposed agreement and they would like some direction from the City Council as to the direction they should proceed. Al Pieper stated that he was representing Gary Crutchfield and the USTME Group at the meeting and was requesting the City Council to put this matter into the Personnel and Finance Committee tonight and establish a special meeting of that Committee to discuss the item in Executive Session, so the results of that meet- ing could be on the agenda for the October 6 meeting of the City Council. Councilman Johanson asked what the outcome of the request would be. Al Pieper stated that there is a time problem as the budgets are being made up at this time and the Department Heads have nothing to put into the budget to make it a budget. He continued that the group had some requests they are going to make and whether they are accepted or rejected will be up to Council action. He stated that due to the time limit they were request- ing that the matter be put in the Personnel and Finance Committee at this time, that they hold a meeting and discuss the requests, so the matter can be on the October 6 agenda of the City Council Meeting. Councilman Johanson said that if the concern is deter- mining the budget it is up to the City Council. Al Pieper said that is part of the concern, but not the concern. He continued they can forsee a situation whereby if the City Council does not agree to their request and USTME does not agree to the City Council offer they could go into next year without an agreement. thisis undesirable. This is why the group wishes to have a meeting with the Finance Committee and get this hashed out. Councilman Johanson stated that he did not see the urgency if it is regarding the money because until the budget is finalized by the Council we have until that time to establish the amount of money. Al Pieper stated that part of their request is that they do have a time problem, this is in part of their package request. Councilman Johanson stated they have up until the time the Prelimin- ary Budget is finally adopted by the Council to get their request in. Al Pieper stated that they would like to get going on this as soon as possible so there will be an orderly budget hearing, and they do not want a public hearing, they want to have an Executive Session. He said his next request would be to have an Executive Session on October 6, 1975 at the regular City Council meeting, to discuss the USTME contract. Councilman Johanson stated that normally a letter is introduced at a City Council Meeting and then it is referred into Committee. He added that it takes two City Council Members to request a Committee Meeting and one of the members of the Personnel and Finance Committee is out of town. Councilman Sterling stated that the proper way to accomplish this would be to introduce the letter at the City Council Meeting and have it go into Committee at that time. Al Pieper said that he for one would be unhappy to go into 1976 not knowing what he was going to be making. Councilwoman Harris said she TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Letter from U.S.T.M.E. by Gary Crutchfield requesting meeting with City Council Contd. Park Board Memos re: Helen Walkup property as a senior citizen's center and bus for senior citizens (Ref.: ltr. from Mayor Todd, dtd. 8- 14-75, same subj.) /33 could recognize and sympathize with the issue but the budget is open for the rest of the year and even if there are no agreements signed between the City and any of the employee groups, the 1976 budget can be amended to reflect those financial increases that result from agreements with the various employee groups. The thing that could be advised for the different Department Heads is to submit in their preliminary budget the figures that exist at this time for 1976 for all wages and benefits, and then as negotiations continue and each of these things are agreed to farther down the line then they can be reflected in the revised budget or the amended budget if it goes beyond January 1, which she said she hoped it would not. Al Pieper stated that he did not wish to be argumentive about this matter, but he recalled what happened last year to wages and the USTME group does not wish to go into 1976 not knowing what their wages will be, it it not going to be a happy situation. He added that the Department Heads could not make up their budgets unless they have some input. Councilman Sterling asked Councilman Johanson if this matter was put into Committee at the City Council Meeting on October 6 when could a meeting of the Finance and Personnel Committee be held. Councilman Johanson stated that a Committee meeting could be held the following night on October 7. Al Pieper stated that he did not feel the USTME group and the Committee would be able to get together during the first meeting. Councilman Sterling stated that the City Council had accepted the presentation but would take no action tonight, the letter will be presented at the next City Council Meeting on October 6, 1975 for action at that time. Mayor Todd entered the meeting at this point and stated that he had been told that in the Special Meeting on the Foster Golf Course held previous to the present Committee of the Whole Meeting it had been entered into the Minutes of that Special Meeting that he had refused to notify an appraisal firm that the City Council had ordered a reappraisal of the golf course. He stated that this is not true, that when the City Council approved a motion into the record to reappraise the golf course they gave the Mayor no direction to contact the appraisal firm. He added that he was told that the remark was made in the previous meeting that Kjell Stoknes was given the direction to do so and he (the Mayor) had refused to sign the letter. He stated that he, to this day, has not seen a letter presented to him by Mr. Stoknes. He said, however, being alarmed that the time was passing rapidly and the fact that he had not heard from the City Council he had taken it upon himself to send to Ballaine and Halliday a letter author- izing them to up -date the appraisal. In the letter he said he sent a certified copy of the Minutes approved by the City Council, and he did not want the people of the City to think the appraisal firm is not working on the reappraisal because they are, on his authorization based on the Council authority in the Minutes. Councilwoman Harris asked if the City Council could have a copy of the letter that was sent. Mayor Todd answered that a copy was given to Council President Traynor the day the letter was sent. The discussion continued between Mayor Todd and Councilwoman Harris regarding the letter Mr. Stoknes had prepared and Mayor Todd stated a letter presented to him by Mr. Stoknes was not in good form for the reason that the Council had not at that time authorized the expenditure of funds. Councilwoman Harris stated that the Council authorized the funds out of the Land Acquisition Fund the same night they authorized the reappraisal. Mayor Todd stated that the reappraisal was in process because he had taken it upon himself to write the letter requesting the action. MOVED BY HARRIS, SECONDED BY JOHANSON, TO AMEND THE AGENDA AND CONSIDER AT THIS TIME MEMOS WRITTEN BY THE PARK BOARD REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF THE HETF,N WALKUP PROPERTY AS A SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER AND A LARGER BUS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. CARRIED. Bill Moore, Chairman of the Park Board, read the two memos he had written to the Community Affairs and Legislative Committee regard- ing the acquisition by the City of property owned by Helen Walkup and an additional large bus for Senior Citizen Program. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Park Board Memos re: Helen Walkup property as a senior citizen's center and bus for senior citizens (Ref.: ltr. from Mayor Todd, dtd. 8- 14 -75, same subj.) Council Budget for 1976 1976 Priorities Mr. Moore stated in his letter that the Park Board had reviewed the subject of the possible acquisition of the property owned by Helen Walkup for the exclusive use in developing a Senior Citizen's activity facility. He said that he felt a separate and exclusive Senior Citizen's facility would not best suit the needs of the City at this time and the Park Board is concerned about the acquisition of property and development of a recreational facility that would serve as broad a cross section of our population as possible. He stated that last year a portion of the budget was approved that included funds which would allow very substantial progress toward that goal, that some progress has been made and a secondary "exclusive" facility at this time would only detour their progress. With reference to the additional large bus for Senior Citizen Program, Mr. Moore stated the Park Board realized the special enjoyment and companionship that the occasional trips have offered to the Senior citizens. The Park Board felt that expansion of the program should be made in other activities for the Senior citizens rather than in expansion in forms that required travel. He added that they are also concerned as to whether it is more economical to buy or rent a bus, since it is possible on occasion to rent a school bus at no profit to the school district, they could not see the "less expensive" feature in owning one. His memo stated that there is, however, sufficient growth in several of the programs to justify adding some flexibility to transporta— tion. With the intention of developing the maximum potential of local programs and using the transportation factor required only to do that, we feel it is desirable to add to our present bus another just like it. This would provide 100% more flexibility and 100% more capacity. The memo continued stating that beyond these needs, the Park Board felt that travel that is of such dis— tance and importance to the participants where their numbers are large enough to require a big bus, those participants should assume the cost. Mr. Moore said the Park Department has many plans being made and they want to involve every one. Councilwoman Harris said her Committee would continue their discussion on these matters at their Committee meeting on October 1, 1975. Councilwoman Harris wrote the figures on the blackboard showing the Preliminary Budget requests for the City Council. The figures were as follows: 4 Councilmen $200 /month $9,600 3 Councilmen 40 /month 1,440 11,040 1 Extra Labor $3.00 /hr. 3,500 FICA 5.85% 8 5 1 Total Personal Services 15,39 Supplies 500 Other Services and Charges Professional Services Transportation Miscellaneous Total Other Services Charges Total City Council /2.5 20,000 1,400 150 21,55 37.4 Councilwoman Davis arrived at the meeting at 10 :40 P.M. Councilwoman Harris wrote on the blackboard the priorities that the City Council would consider accomplishing during the 1976 year. In the order of their importance the following projects were listed: TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOT,F MEETING September 22, 1975 Page 4 DISCUSSION Contd. 1976 Priorities Contd. Mayor's letter re: Billings by Cabot Dow Assoc. ADJOURNMENT 11 :56 P.M. /3S-ed 1. City Hall /Police Station 2. Land Acquisition (parks, trails, land for community center) 3. Underground wiring program a. Neighborhood Input Street development improvement center 4. RAYS Youth Counseling and Crisis Center a. Study needs to be made and evaluated funding unknown at this time. 5. Bookmobile King County Library 6. Water Storage/Pressure 7. Principal on the Strander Bridge Signal at 58th Interurban 8. Citizen's Public Safety Review Board Councilman Sterling read letter from Mayor Todd dated September 22 wherein he stated that the City Council had stated the budgeted money to be spent on the salary for Cabot Dow and Associates would be limited to $1,500. The letter stated that the billings by Cabot Dow are now in excess of $2,100 and it is noted from the news media that the Police and Fire Department contract negotia- tions are at an impasse. It is also noted that the Teamsters contract negotiations have not been initiated yet. It is re- quested that the Council advise the Mayor as to what limit of expenditures they have placed on the labor negotiations account, if any, and from what source(s) the costs will be funded. Councilwoman Harris stated that the money in excess of the $1,500 should come out of Professional Services. Councilman Johanson requested that a memorandum be written to the Mayor stating that since the Police Guild and Fireman's Union have refused all offers of the City and the wage negotiations are now in arbitration causing the billings to Cabot Dow and Associates to exceed the expected $1,500 the City Council requested the Administration to honor the approved warrants for payment to Cabot Dow and Associates and they be drawn from Item 511.60.31.00. MOVED BY DAVIS, SECONDED BY STERLING, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING BE CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 24, 1975 AT 7:00 P.M. CARRIED. Northa Booher, Council Secretary