04-22-04 SS MINUTES
YELM CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2004
5:00 P.M., YELM PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY
1. Mayor Rivas called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Council: Don Miller, Joe Baker, Bob Isom, Ron Harding and Pat Fetterly
Staff: Shelly Badger, Stephanie Conners, Tim Peterson and Agnes Bennick
Others: Tom Skillings, Skillings Connolly Inc.
3. Agenda Approval. The agenda was accepted as presented.
4. Presentations
a. Executive Department – Shelly Badger reviewed some of the projects under her
supervision. Department staff includes Dana Spivey and Stephanie Conners.
Discussion concerned an industrial reclaimed water user, the possibility of using
volunteers to perform cleanup along the rail line, future IT service changes and park and
ride lot, landscaping for city entry signs, scheduling a sign ordinance review for a future
study session, and progress on the city hall remodel.
b. Administration/Financial Services Department - Agnes Bennick provided a department
activity cycle calendar for work performed by department staff including Barb Bange,
Janine Schnepf, Gretchen Fennell and Diana Clevenger. Tasks discussed included
limiting notary services to in-house needs, council packet mailings, utility work load
growth, payroll, spring cleanup planning, the model B&O Tax Ordinance and the
importance of moral building activities.
Staff also provided ten-year comparisons for population growth, 102% increase, and
utility customers increase of 98%. Changes permitting the department to operate with
the same number of employees for the ten year period include technology, training,
outsourcing, and development and staffing in other departments. Additional discussion
concerned staff car parking, utility billing services evaluation, and city payroll options.
c. Initiative 864 – Agnes Bennick provided an overview of a staff report identifying the
potential impacts of I-864. A recent initiative reduced maximum ‘regular’ tax increases
from 6% to 1% per year. If I-864 passes, the new initiative further reduces ‘regular’
property tax collections by 25% per year. Passage would result in 2005 property tax
revenue falling $142,000 short of the amount received in 2004.
Tables comparing initiative pass/fail scenarios demonstrated a property tax revenue
loss of $187,800 comparing 2004 and 2005 amounts if the initiative passes.
Accumulated losses over the next seven-year are estimated at $1,685,789, with
unadjusted dollar amount restoration to 2004 levels occurring in 2012.
Applying projection increases to other revenue sources to help offset losses resulted in
a $92,000 shortfall for 2005. Annual losses will continue building and in 2010 (assuming
no increases in operating costs) existing current fund reserves of $703,000 would be
depleted.
Staff provided handouts including an Association of Washington Cities fact sheet
concerning the initiative, state-wide loss estimates, and a Public Disclosure Commission
Fact Sheet.
Discussion concerned possible ways to provide information to the public about the
various services funded from property tax revenue, obtaining public input on service
elimination preferences, possible reduction/elimination areas (animal control and parks).
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Department head involvement will be coordinated to identify and recommend possible
program reductions for the 2005 budget requests. Elected officials discussed their role
in gathering and providing public information.
Mayor Rivas and Council thanked Shelly Badger and Agnes Bennick for providing
department information.
5. Mayor/Council Initiatives
1) Department Reporting Format (from 3/25/04 Study Session) – Discussion concerned
both format and frequency of department reports. Some support was voiced for
continuing the current plan for the remainder of the year; some for returning to monthly
reports being provided in council packets for informational value, some wishing to
receive police stats, and some wanting only frequent updates on business and
development activity.
Council concurred that the current reporting schedule would continue for the remainder
of the year. However, activity reports on new development will be provided to all on a
regular basis, and Councilmember Fetterly will also receive monthly police department
activity statistics.
6. New Business – None Scheduled
7. Old Business
a. Sewer Rates, (analysis and discussion continued from 3/25/04 Study Session). Tom
Skillings provided a spreadsheet model allowing insertion of various rate increase
percentages and demonstrating impacts of increases on sewer reserves. A cash flow
minimum reserve of $200,000 is needed to meet debt service payments and pay
monthly bills. The City must also plan and accumulate a repair and replacement reserve
for equipment life-expectancy replacements and to allow equipment failure recovery.
And planning for future plant expansion.
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A variety of rate increases were demonstrated. There was some support for a large 1
year increase with moderate subsequent year increases; some support for an annual
set percentage increases to address annual operating increases such as insurance,
power, and inflation, and some for a combination of rates.
Consensus supported a 2004 mid-year 10% increase (monthly rate increases to $38.50)
along with 2.5% annual increases effective on January 1 of 2005-2008.
Rates increases need to be in place by mid-year to facilitate cash flow reserve recovery.
Discussion concerned options to make information available to the public and
conducting a public hearing to receive public input on a preferred increase structure.
Staff will begin working on informational materials.
8. Adjourn: 8:00 p.m.
__________________________________
Adam Rivas, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________________
Agnes Bennick, City Clerk
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