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Home My WebLink About2007-11-19 Finance and Safety MinutesFINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes November 19, 2007- 5:00 p.rn. City of Tukwila Finance & Safety Committee PRESENT Councilmembers: Jim Haggerton, Chair; Joan Hernandez and Dennis Robertson Staff: David Haynes, Dennis McOmber, Kim Gilman, Bob Giberson, Gail Labanara, Jack Pace, Jane Cantu, Christy O'Flaherty, Kevin Fuhrer, Cyndy Knighton, Shelly Kerslake, Rhonda Berry and Kimberly Matej Guests: Chuck Parrish, Pam Fernald, George Fernald, Larry Hang , Barbara Bader and Mary Koontz CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Haggerton called the meeting to order at 4:58 p.m. The agenda amended to include a discussion under item IV. Miscellaneous. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Ordinance Regarding Domestic Partnership Benefits Staff provided brief background information on the formulation of domestic partnership benefits for City of Tukwila employees. Personnel Department and City Attorney staff created a draft ordinance addressing these benefits and eligibility requirements. Subsequently, a policy and appropriate partnership paperwork has been drafted for implementation of these benefits. The forms, as distributed at the Committee meeting, are currently drafts and do not incorporate suggested changes recently submitted to staff. The benefit package will include: medical, dental, vision, sick leave, bereavement leave and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The implementation of domestic partnership benefits is estimated to cost the City approximately $50,000. This estimate is based on information secured from King County and Seattle who currently offer similar domestic partnership benefits and report that approximately 2 to 3% of their eligible employees participate in this benefit. Due to upcoming bargaining processes, these benefits will be applied to non - represented employees first, effective January 1, 2008. IRS regulations determine that this benefit will be considered as taxable income. Staff is also developing forms for married couples to fill out prior to gaining or terminating benefits. The defmition of domestic partner includes same and opposite sex partners. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 26 COW. B. Resolution Regarding the Non - Represented Employees' Salary Schedule Staff presented recommendations for non - represented wages and benefits for 2008. In accordance with City resolutions, in odd numbered years non - represented wages will reflect a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) and in even number years non - represented wages will reflect an external comparables and internal equity adjustment. Currently, there are 41 non - represented employees working for the City. Research conducted for the 2008 non - represented employee salary schedule determined that employee classifications bands A, B, C and D61 are currently compensated above the market comparisons; and employee classifications bands D62, E, and F are currently compensated below market comparisons. As a result of this research, the A, B, C and D61 bands would not receive any salary adjustment in 2008 based on strict comparisons. Therefore, staff is recommending these band Finance & Safety Committee Minutes November 19, 2007 — Page 2 levels receive an adjustment based on 90% of the CPI. In contrast, band levels D62 -F will average a 4.06% salary schedule increase per employee based on market comparisons. After a lengthy discussion, the Committee requested that the maximum and minimum range of salary increases be included in the informational memo submitted to full Council. Councilmember Robertson inquired about information received from comparable cities as well as how the classification bands work. He will schedule a meeting with Viki Jessop to discuss this detail which is largely based on the level of decision - making responsibilities of each employee. Gail Labanara, a non - represented City employee, requested the Committee consider recommending the re- establishment of merit raises for non - represented employees. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 26 COW. C. Renewal of Contract with M.J. Durkan for 2008 Lobbying Services This is a renewal contract for professional services with M. J. Durkan, Inc. for local lobbying. The contract amount is the same as last year and has remained the same for three consecutive years. After discussion, the Committee requested that two changes be made to the contract: • Add a clarifying statement that monthly invoices shall provide detailed information on services performed relative to each monthly billing, substantiating the scope of services. • The current contract states that "The total amount to be paid shall not exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000) per month plus expenses." Since M.J. Durkan, Inc. has not invoiced for less than $4,000, the Committee would like the statement to read, "The total amount to be paid shall be four thousand dollars ($4,000) per month plus expenses. Councilmember Robertson expressed interest in researching other lobbyists /consultants and what services they can offer the City. Committee Chair Haggerton and Councilmember Hernandez did not agree with this suggestion. Chair Haggerton suggested moving this issue forward to the full Council to determine if there is consensus to research other opportunities for these services. Unanimous approval did not exist. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 26 COW. D. Renewal of Contract with Ball Janik for 2008 Lobbying Services This is a renewal contract for professional services with Ball Janik, LLP for the representation of the City of Tukwila in Washington, DC and on federal issues. The most extensive contract changes are in Exhibit A which outlines the Scope of Work and Specific Service. A majority of the changes are related to language clarification. The Committee requested one contract modification regarding the expectation to meet with councilmembers on an annual basis. The request is to specify an annual meeting in Tukwila so that the meeting in Washington, D.C. is not consider as the annual meeting referred to in the contract. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 19 REGULAR MEETING. E. Parking Issues on East Marginal Way Police staff showed a Powerpoint presentation and provided information on issues surrounding community concern of semi -truck parking on East Marginal Way. The issue was addressed in the following areas: • Zoning as a Neighborhood Commercial Center • Parking Regulations • Unsafe Parking • Abandoned and Junk Motor Vehicles Finance & Safety Committee Minutes November 19, 2007 - Page 3 Community members in attendance at the meeting expressed concerns regarding the semi -truck in question blocking a speed limit sign as well as potentially limiting access for fire trucks and aid units. Additionally, comments were made regarding drivers running stop signs in the area and driving two vehicles deep /wide on a single lane roadway. Staff shared that as a result of conducting research on these concerns, the resident who owns the semi -truck purchased the property specifically because the truck could be parked in the neighborhood. The area in question is zoned as a Neighborhood Commercial Center (NCC), and parking the semi -truck in this area does not violate any codes or requirements. Councilmember Haggerton stated that the issues such as these must be controlled and responded to within the law. After further discussion, the Committee determined that we should look at all areas zoned as NCC in the City. These areas should be evaluated for impacts of making changes to parking regulations. Consideration should be given to what surrounding cities have implemented in their ordinances regarding the regulation of trucks. Jack Pace summarized that he will provide the following in response to the Committee's decision to review NCC zoned areas: • Provide a map highlighting all NCC zoned areas • Review of surrounding cities who are regulating trucks parking on streets • Impact of parking regulation changes on businesses and residents • Overview of parking problems on Military Road This issue will be discussed at a future Finance and Safety meeting once staff has been able to conduct the above research. DISCUSSION ONLY. F. 2007 Third Quarterly Reports to Council The Committee reviewed the status of program goals as outlined in the Third Quarter Report. Councilmember Robertson inquired about the steps to take if Council determined that they would like to televise City Council meetings on the City's new cable channel. Rhonda and Kimberly will discuss this with Frank Iriate to see what costs would be associated with taping the Council meetings. INFORMATION ONLY. [I. ANNOUNCEMENTS No announcements. V. MISCELLANEOUS Rhonda stated that the she was going to discuss Council interest in review and consideration of creating a Public Facilities District for Starfire at Fort Dent Park. This District would create a taxing authority which would buy out Starfire's assets and control its operations. However, the City Attorney determined that state law prohibits the formulation of Public Facilities Districts in cities within King County. Since the law prevents this, discussion is irrelevant at this time. Starfire personnel made the original request for this discussion. Meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, December 3, 2007 — 5:00 p.m. — Conference Room 3. J/ m 19 Committee Chair Approval Minutes by KAM