HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 1987 - Authorize Mayor, City Administrator or Designee to Implement Cost-Saving Measures Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)of
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Resolution o.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, CITY
ADMINISTRATOR, OR DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS
COST -SAVING MEASURES TO ADDRESS REVENUE
SHORTFALLS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
WHEREAS, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its rapid
progression in Washington state and throughout the United States continues to threaten
the life and health of people, as well as the economy; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2020, United States Health and Human Services Secretary
Alex Azar declared a public emergency for COVID-19, beginning January 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed a State of
Emergency in Washington state due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed a
proclamation of emergency due to the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in King
County; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, Tukwila Mayor Allan Ekberg signed Proclamation 2020-
03-09, declaring a public emergency within the City of Tukwila due to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national
emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the Tukwila City Council approved a motion to endorse
Proclamation 2020-03-09, declaring a public emergency within the City of Tukwila due to
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an initial budget shortfall (March
through May 2020) of $6.1 million that has been addressed with significant, one-time, non -
personnel -related departmental budget cuts, and based on current economic indicators, the
City expects to experience an additional budget shortfall in 2020 of approximately $6 million
for a total revenue shortfall in 2020 of approximately $12 million; moreover, in 2021,
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continued expenditure reductions are needed to address an ongoing loss of revenue
projected at $6 million; and
WHEREAS, nearly 70% of the City's expenses apply to personnel costs, and these
significant, projected budget shortfalls in the amount of funding needed to sustain the current
level of general operations through 2020 require more extreme, sustained cost -saving
measures to achieve ongoing personnel cost savings to address the projected budget
shortfalls, including such measures as the implementation of voluntary retirements and
separations; reductions in force through attrition, voluntary or involuntary unpaid furloughs,
layoffs; and/or pay reductions, or some combination thereof, in 2020 for represented and
non -represented employees; and
WHEREAS, consistent with WAC 296-128-533, deductions from the salary of a public
employee for absences where authorized by law due to a budget -required leave of absence
will not disqualify the public employee from being paid on a "salary basis" except in the
workweek in which the absence occurs and for which the public employee's pay is
accordingly reduced; and
WHEREAS, in order to achieve long-term budget savings, the Mayor, City
Administrator, or designee, shall be authorized in collaboration with the City Council to
implement various cost -saving measures as more specifically described in Section 1 of this
resolution, including but not limited to such measures as implementing voluntary retirements
and separations; reductions in force through attrition, voluntary or involuntary unpaid
furlough days, layoffs; and salary reductions for designated non -represented employees,
and/or reductions in operating and office hours, closure of offices or departments or
reductions in levels of operations or services, or some combination thereof as needed;
further, the Mayor, City Administrator, or designee, shall continue to collaborate and
communicate with the Council as to what actions will be taken based on collective
bargaining negotiations currently underway with the City's labor union partners and shall
report back to the Council on the effectiveness of these various cost -saving measures for
the remainder of calendar year 2020;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Implementation of Cost -Savings Measures Authorized. To achieve
budget savings, the Mayor, City Administrator, or designee shall be authorized to implement
one or more of the following cost -saving measures through December 31, 2020:
(A) voluntary retirements and separations; (B) reductions in force through attrition; (C)
furloughs; (D) layoffs; (E) pay reductions; (F) reductions in operating and office hours,
closure of offices or departments or reductions in levels of operations or services; and/ or
(G) review of capital projects, as needed.
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Section 2. Report Required, The Mayor, City Administrator, or designee shall
continue to collaborate and communicate with the Council as to what actions will be taken
based on collective bargaining negotiations currently underway with the City's labor union
partners and shall report hack to the Council on the effectiveness of these various cost -
saving measures at least twice monthly for the remainder of calendar year 2020.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this (t i;l- day of �4" 1, , 2020.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Office of the City Attorney
s
De'Sean Quinn, Council President
Filed with the City Clerk: s-4-2g�,
Passed by the City Council: '(
Resolution Number: t
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