HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-28 Finance MinutesCity of Tukwila
City Council Finance Committee
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes
October 28, 2019 - 5:30 p.m. - Hazelnut Conference Room, City Hall
Councilmembers: Thomas McLeod, Chair; Verna Seal, De'Sean Quinn
Staff: David Cline, Vicky Carlsen, Jay Wittwer, Eric Dreyer, Juan Padilla, Wynetta Bivens,
Gail Labanara, Tony Cullerton, Aaron Williams, Laurel Humphrey
CALL TO ORDER: Chair McLeod called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
I. PRESENTATIONS
II. BUSINESS AGENDA
A. Tax Levy Legislation
Staff is seeking Council approval of two annual ordinances relating to property tax: one that
would increase the City's Regular Property Tax Levy from 2019, and one that would levy general
and excess property taxes. According to the King County Assessor, the projected assessed value
for Tukwila is $7,329,542,191. The ordinance to set the general tax levy also includes the excess
levy related to the Public Safety Plan, which will be assessed as long as the bonds are
outstanding. The total excess levy requirement for 2020 is $3,450,000 with an approximate levy
rate of $0.47 per thousand. The maximum allowable levy is estimated to be $3.50180, but due
to the 1% limitation, the preliminary levy rate is estimated to be $2.23978. UNANIMOUS
APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 12, 2019 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
B. Non -Represented Employees' Compensation
Staff is seeking Council approval of a 20201.53% cost of living increase for the non -represented
employee group to keep pace with the market and maintain internal equity with the
represented employee group. Staff also recommends moving to a market -based compensation
system as the decision band methodology (DBM) no longer supports the Council's policy and is
inadequate with regard to regression analysis and its inability to have multiple benchmark
positions. Committee members asked clarifying questions and expressed support for the
proposal. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 12, 2019 COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
Finance Committee Minutes 0ctober28, 2019
C. Resolution: Fire Department Service Levels
Staff has prepared a resolution that would formally adopt the current level of Fire Department
service and fulfill the requirements of the RCW. As previously discussed in Committee, the draft
resolution would adopt the following current service levels:
• turnout time of 03:01 for fire calls and 02:38 for EMS calls
• response/travel time for the first arriving engine company to a fire suppression
incident of 07:59
• response time for the arrival of the full complement of a 1st alarm response of
09:20
• response/travel time for the arrival of the first emergency medical unit of 07:52
The draft resolution also requires the following services: fire suppression, basic life
support/EMS, rope rescue, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue,
machinery rescue, swift water rescue, water -craft rescue, floodwater rescue, urban search and
rescue. Chief Wittwer stated that the proposed budget amendment for 2019 supports the
service level described in the resolution. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER
12, 2019 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
D. Fire Department Budget Considerations
Chair McLeod shared that the Committee is ready to move forward on a recommendation
regarding the Fire Department's budget amendment request for 2019 and 2020. The
Committee will recommend to the Committee of the Whole approval of the 2019 amendment,
but not of the 2020 amendment until the following items are fulfilled:
1) Annual report delivered by Fire Chief in February of the following year.
2) Quarterly reports to Committee of the Whole by the Fire Chief
3) July 2020 report to Committee of the Whole by the Mayor/City Administrator
4) Third -party consultant hired to review training, overtime, sick leave, supplies
5) The Fire Department will use new revenue as well as trim costs in 2020, and if a
budget amendment is still required at the end of the year the Council will consider
it at that time.
Committee members spoke to the need for additional accountability to the City Council and
public as well as fairness to the other departments. The recommendation will go to the
Committee of the Whole, and if approved will serve as a budget proviso for the amendment
ordinance at the next Committee meeting. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO OCTOBER
28, 2019 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
III. MISCELLANEOUS
Adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
AICommittee Chair Approval
Minutes by LH