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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-01-30 Committee of the Whole MinutesJanuary 30, 1978 TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL 7:00 P.M. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSION Contd. Prop. Res. establishing a wage salary plan for all fulltime permanent positions providing for administration of such plan M I N U T E S BOHRER, HARRIS, HILL, JOHANSON, SAUL, TRAYNOR, VAN DUSEN. a o4/ City Hall Council Chambers Council President Van Dusen called the Tukwila City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting to order. The Meeting had been recessed from January 23, 1978. Mayor Bauch answered the questions of Councilman Bohrer regarding exempt and nonexempt employees, stating exempt employees work in policy establishing categories. If an exempt employee works at all during a day he is paid for the entire day. A nonexempt employee is paid only for the number of hours worked and is also paid overtime. He said it is not usual to pay an exempt employee overtime, although it can be done under certain circumstances. Councilman Bohrer referred to Section II, b.1.(b). Mayor Bauch said this was put in the resolution to imply that steps are not mandatory. Councilman Harris said she would like a little explanation about prior experiencE and education. She said she would assume that a person gets the position in the first place because he is best qualified. If he is over educated, the City will be paying someone for something that is not needed. Mayor Bauch said the last sentence explains it by saying that eligibility for educational credit is dependent upon degree relation to the specific position and application of learned skills to the duties of the position. Discussion continued regarding the education and experience necessary for an employee to step into a job and be fully utilized in about one month rather than waiting six months or one year. Mayor Bauch said there are minimum qualifi- cations for each job. Mayor Bauch said a good salary plan is one that you keep reviewing so it can be up -to -date. Twenty years ago a planner was hired by experience; there were no formal education programs for him. The same thing forty to fifty years ago you learned law by reading with a lawyer. Councilman Bohrer referred to the last page of the proposed resolution, paragraph (c), he wondered if the City needs written procedure on how to make an eval- uation. Mayor Bauch said it is needed and we will be adopting guide lines so every Department Head will apply the same criteria. John McFarland, Administrative Assistant, said he had looked into the salary plans of the City of Seattle and King County and they would not apply to Tukwila. We need to develop one that is suited to this City. The plan is before an employee can move from Step 1 they will have to receive a satisfactory performance evaluation from their supervisor. They would have to sit down with their supervisor and talk over the job. The evaluation will be placed in the indi- vidual's personnel file. If they receive a satisfactory evaluation and recommendation they will be put in the next step. There are lots of evaluation systems that can be bought but they do not fit this City. Chris Crumbaugh, audience, said he noted the Building Official and the Lead Mechanic are in the same salary category. This does not seem right insofar as their responsibilities are concerned. Several Councilmen agreed they had wondered about that. Councilman Hill said he thought the proposed resolution needed more study, but to show good faith to the employees the Council should adopt the program. This represents an 8% increase and maybe they will accept this. The police were given an 8.8% increase. This presents a step plan and gets things started. Councilman Bohrer said he thought the Council should indicate this is an interim plan that is subject to further modification. Councilman Hill said he thought USTME members should be able to give input into this resolution. Councilman Bohrer said five had worked on this and one was a member of USTME. John McFarland said Resolution No. 488 says salaries shall be set by December 1. It is now two months overdue. He said he thought the Council should either amend the resolution or revoke it. This involves approximately one -third of the City employees. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION BE ON THE FEBRUARY 6, 1978 AGENDA OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 30, 1978 Page 2 DISCUSSION Contd. Prop. Res. estab. wage salary plan contd. RECESS 8:10 8:20 P.M. Medic I MOVED BY BOHRER, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION HAVE THE WORDS "AN INTERIM" INSERTED SO THE TITLE READS "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM WAGE AND SALARY PLAN FOR ALL FULL -TIME PERMANENT POSITIONS WITH THE CITY OF TUKWILA AND PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH PLAN." Councilman Saul said it would be his intent to put the resolution in Committee if it does not pass, then the problems could be resolved. *CARRIED. CARRIED, AS AMENDED. MOVED BY BOHRER, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING RECESS FOR TEN MINUTES. CARRIED. The meeting was called back to order by Council President Van Dusen, with all members present as previously listed. MOVED BY VAN DUSEN, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, THAT THE AGENDA BE AMENDED SO CONSIDERATION COULD BE GIVEN TO f1EDIC I DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME. CARRIED. Councilman Bohrer said the Medic I program is in financial difficulty, They have $163,000 available and need an additional $140,00 to $145,000 to operate through the end of the year. He said there has been considerable comment in the news media. He said most of us feel Medic I serves a useful function. Council President Van Dusen said he understood they were considering having the user pay a fee of $65. Mayor Bauch said this was a good time to consider the backgrounc of Medic I. The so- called provider is an advisory group and they have no control whatsoever. We have no input or control over the expenditures. It is a function of the Valley General Hospital. They get $1.50 per person for the user area and it goes to Valley General Hospital to run Medic I. This is a contract with emergency medical services. This would allow Valley General Hospital to charge a patient user fee to augment their fees. Council President Van Dusen said the advisory group had asked them to implement their plan of a user fee. Mayor Bauch said the Council could pass a motion or adopt a resolutior to send the resolution to the County and the hospital to address the issue. They are the only ones involved. The County is saying something should be done. The indication was that they were going to try to get some people together. Councilman Harris asked how we know there are no more funds available. Mayor Bauch said it is part of the hospital budget. The hospital has been arbitrary about it. At first they said they did not have any place for the Medic I people to stay so they came to the City and asked through Chief Craw- ley if Medic I could operate out of Fire Station 1. The hospital then came back saying they were going to buy a trailer to have at the hospital. About a month ago they broke some of their equipment and borrowed from Tukwila. Medic I is called by the Fire District. The user does not call direct. Councilman Hill said he doubted the legaility of charging a user fee if the Fire District calls Medic I rather than the user. Dick Goe, audience, said there are any number of rumors spread around about sources of money available through donation. He said he would like the Mayor to find out the truth about these rumors and see if there is money available and why nothing has been done about it. He said he would encourage a study of who is administering the Medic I and explore the possibilities for income before we let them turn to a user's fee. Mayor Bauch said the $1.50 per person comes out of the County tax, they return $1.50 of it for Medic I. There are 105,000 people living in the Medic I area and it amounts to $105,000. Council President Van Dusen said this is one of the better government services you can get. Dick Goe, audience, said Govenor Ray has said there is money available to support these programs. Mayor Bauch said we have kept our nose out, but now is the time to go out and see what is available. He said he had talked with the Mayor of Renton and he is getting a lot of inquiries about this. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECT THE MAYOR TO PURSUE THE MEDIC I FUNDING FIASCO BY COUNCIL MOTION. CARRIED. TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 30, 1978 Page 3 DISCUSSION Contd. Annexation Policy Data Book (Prelim- inary) Appointment of Council Committees o Kjell Stoknes, OCD Director, said he had discussed the Preliminary Annexation Policy and Data Book with the City Attorney and he had suggested it be adopted by resolution as a policy of the City. He said the City Council had reviewed some of it last March. Councilman Traynor said it was put in Committee but he felt it should be worked on by the entire Council at a Committee of the Whole Meeting. Mr. Stoknes said this is a fourth draft and they appreciated the input that had been given. Mayor Bauch said it represents the policy of the City with respect to annexation. The members of the Council, Mayor Bauch and OCD Director Kjell Stoknes discussed the Preliminary Annexation Policy and Data Book page by page and concurred on changes with respect to wording and intent. MOVED BY BOHRER, SECONDED BY HILL, THAT THE ANNEXATION POLICY AND DATA BOOK (PRELIMINARY) BE REVISED, AS CONCURRED BY THE COUNCIL, AND IT BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL SO THEY CAN SET A DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. CARRIED. MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE COUNCIL CONCUR WITH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION AS TO APPOINTMENTS ON COMMITTEES. CARRIED. Council President Van Dusen said Councilman Saul had made some suggestions for additional committees and Councilman Traynor had suggested a Union Negotiating Committee. Councilman Saul said one of his suggestions was a Sister City Chairman. Councilman Traynor said with respect to the Union Negotiating Committee he thought it would be a good idea to have three people from the Council make decisions on what is going to be offered for salaries and how high the Council is going to go with respect to fringe benefits. They could look into revenue and expenses in the City and know what they have to negotiate with. Council President Van Dusen expressed the thought that the duties that have been described would fit in the existing description of the Finance and Personnel Committee. Council. man Traynor said he just did not want Cabot telling what we are going to offer, he felt the Council should say what they will offer. Mayor Bauch said when Cabot has been here and has been told what will be given, he has told negotiators that is it. Councilman Hill said the fact is there should be at least three members of the Council who are aware of what other cities are paying and what we have to work and budget with. It may be that Departments will have to decide whether the amount they have coming into the Department will be used as wages or new equipment. Mayor Bauch said a Depart- ment can be told this is all of the money we have and you can say how you are going to increase your productivity with the money. Mayor Bauch said about a month ago he had asked John McFarland, Administra- tive Assistant, to make a survey as to how many cities used City Council members on a negotiating team. Hoqiam was the only City. Mayor Bauch suggested that one Council Member sit in during a negotiation session and then come back and explain it to the rest of the Council. Councilman Bohrer said there are quite a few tasks still in Commit- tee. He said he felt someone on the Council should be appointed to keep track of legislation that is pending and action taken on it and bring the information back to the Council; also one Committee should work on a full time administrator for the City, as interest has been shown in that subject. John McFarland, Administrative Assistant, said he had been appointed to keep pace with government progress and legislation which he passed on to the City Council. Councilman Bohrer said he would suggest the Council take the unfinished work and assign it to Committees and define what the status is. Council President Van Dusen asked if the top -named person on each appointed Committee would call a meeting of the Committee and elect a Committee Chairman and set the next meeting time and day. He said Resolution No. 529 set the time, date, and place of the various Committee meetings. They are: TUKWILA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING January 30, 1978 Page 4 DISCUSSION Contd. Appointment of Council Committees contd. Noise Survey Backhoe Bids Zoning Land Use Flow Chart Union Negotiations Swim Trim Reorganization of two City Depts. Foster Golf Course ADJOURNMENT 10:30 P.M. aadi7 Public Safety Committee, meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. at the Fire Station, 444 Andover Park East. Community Affairs Committee, meetings on the first and third Wednes- day of each month at 5:30 P.M. at the City Hall Annex, 6230 South center Blvd. Public Works Committee, meetings on the Thursday immediately follow- ing each regular City Council meeting at 4:30 P.M. at the City Hall Annex, 6230 Southcenter Blvd. Finance and Personnel Committee, meetings on the last Tuesday of each month at 12:15 P.M. at the Foster Golf Course, 13500 Interurban Avenue South. Council President Van Dusen stated Mr. Hickok, noise researcher, is going to have an article in the next issue of the Hazelnut and it will state when the Public Hearing will be held. MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE CALL FOR BID ON THE BACKHOE BE ON THE FEBRUARY 6, 1978 AGENDA OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. CARRIED. Kjell Stoknes, OCD Director, said the Flow Chart was ready to bring tc the Council so the zoning ordinance could be revised. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY HILL, THAT THE OUTLINE OF STEPS ON THE ZONING AND LAND USE FLOW CHART AND FORMAL MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO THIS PROCESS BE ON THE FEBRUARY 6, 1978 AGENDA OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. CARRIED. MOVED BY TRAYNOR, SECONDED BY BOHRER, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION BE DIRECTED TO WRITE A LETTER TO MARY ELLEN KRUG OBJECTING TO THE RECENT RULING ON REPRESENTATION WITHIN UNIONS. CARRIED. Councilman Traynor announced a "Swim and Trim" class each Thursday night at South Central Pool from 8:15 to 9:00 P.M. Mayor Bauch said he had distributed a letter of reorganization of two of the City Departments. It stated Mr. Ron Swanson would be Director of Finance and reporting to him would be the Accounting Offi- cer, Utility Accountant, Accounting Clerk, and the Computer Operator. All of the functions performed by these persons are transferred to the Finance Departments. In the Department of City Clerk, the muni- cipal court function is transferred to the Department of City Clerk. Mayor Bauch said he would like to bring to the Council next Monday a resolution to allow him to enter into a purchase agreement for the Foster Golf Course. There is a deadline and the City will have to move forward in order to get everything done and not pay interest. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, THAT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE FOSOTER GOLF COURSE BE ON THE FEBRUARY 6, 1978 AGENDA OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. CARRIED. EXECUTIVE SESSION MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY HARRIS, THAT THE COUNCIL GO INTO EXECUTIVE 10:16 P.M. 10:29 P.M. SESSION TO CONSIDER TEAMSTER NEGOTIATIONS. CARRIED. MOVED BY SAUL, SECONDED BY TRAYNOR, THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURN. CARRIED. MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY SAUL, THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING ADJOURN. ary (fan rusen, City Council President Norma Booher, Recording Secretary