Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Min 1980-12-15 :-8(512-15-80 Seal Beach, California December 15, 1980 City City Council of the City of Seal Beach met in regular adjourned session at 6:30 p.m. with Mayor Kredell calling the meeting to order with the Salute to the Flag. I ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Kredell' Councilmembers Laszlo, Seitz, Supple, Vanderstaay (Councilman Seitz arrived at 7:37 p.m.) Absent: None Also present: Mr. Thomas, Acting City Manager Mr. Johnson, City Engineer Chief Dorsey, Lifeguard Department Mr. Zaharas, Acting Finance Director Mr. Joseph, Assistant City Manager Mrs. Yeo, City Clerk DISCUSSION - BUDGET REDUCTIONS Acting City Manager, Mr. Thomas, stated this was the second City Council/departmental session to discuss budget reductions for the coming fiscal year and that the City Engineer/Director of Public Works and Lifeguard Chief were present with their respective reports. I ENGINEERING/PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Mr. Johnson reviewed an organizational chart of the Engineering/Public Works Department and compared the staff level of 54 employees in 1977-78 to the present 49 positions, which includes 7 vacancies. Mr. Johnson explained that two positions were deleted in 1977-78, and as a result of Proposition 13 five additional positions have been deleted, that two positions had been added, a water meter reader and a garage serviceman which was approved but not filled. The City Engineer also reported Public Works has deferred replacement of vehicles for the past two years and anticipate no replacement in 1981-82, and noted two street sweepers are also due for replacement. Councilmember Vanderstaay asked if sweepers could be borrowed from surrounding cities and Mr. I Johnson explained that Seal Beach does participate in a West Orange County Equipment Sharing Agreement, however cities have been unwilling to share street sweepers. He also stated the department would continue to repair and maintain the sweepers as long as possible. Mr. Johnson offered several suggestions for budget cuts through the reduction of 12-15-80f3f.2i I service levels to the community, such as reduction of street sweeping to every other week which would eliminate one sweeper operator and savings of fuel costs for an estimated reduction of $40,000 and also delay replacement of one sweeper. Councilman Supple inquired as to how long the existing sweepers could be used before replacement; the City Engineer estimated a maximum of two years. Mr. Johnson reported that landscaping maintenance costs in the City are in excess of $165,000 per year and suggested Council may wish to consider establishing a landscaping maintenance assessment district which would cover the cost of park maintenance, median island upkeep, etc. with an estimated annual cost per lot between $12 and $20. Mr. Johnson explained this could be accomplished by one public hearing before the City Council to obtain citizen input and enacted by the Council by a simple majority vote. The City Engineer also suggested a street lighting maintenance district be considered, enacted by'the same procedures, to cover the city's annual $120,000 cost, and that assessment would be about $17 per legal lot. It was clarified that a fee may be legally assessed as long as it is justified through the cost of the related services. Mr. Johnson explained the assessment districts could be dissolved at such time as the city's financial situation is resolved and offered to provide indepth information if the Council wished to consider the assessment districts. Councilman Supple asked that a report be provided regarding street sweeper reduction and the assessment districts. Councilman Seitz recommended that a termination clause be included in any proposals for assessment districts. Mr.' Johnson continued his summary of the Public Works budget noting there are some services that are historically provided by the city that Council may wish to consider eliminating, such as city services relating to the Band Review, placement of Christmas decorations, Clean-up Week operations, daily cleaning and wash down of Main Street, adjustment of the special trash pick-up fee or elimination of that service. Mayor Kredell asked that a cost breakout for each of the items suggested be provided the Council along with a proposed rescheduling for street sweeping. The City Engineer reported that new street sweeping signs I I 00612-15-80 would cost approximately $4,000 to $5,000 and would be necessary in order to cite for sweeper violations. In conclusion, Mr. Johnson stated that due to past personnel cuts the Public Works Department is presently operating with minimal personnel and that further cuts would severely effect or eliminate certain services to the community. LIFEGUARD DEPARTMENT Chief of Lifeguards, Mr. Dorsey, presented an oral and written report detailing the operational methods and responsibilities of the Lifeguard Department on the city's one and three quarter miles of beach area. Chief Dorsey specifically noted certain duties of the Department, including preventative rescue procedures, medical aids, beach disturbances and maintenance of lifeguard equipment. Chief Dorsey reflected on boating, surfing and fishing related functions. The Chief referred to a recent United States Lifesaving Association survey which rated the danger factors of specific areas and noted that Seal Beach is presently understaffed and operating below minimum safety levels. With reference to proposed budget cuts, Chief Dorsey stated a $70,000 reduction would result in the loss of eighteen lifeguards; $100,000 reduction would mean termination of twenty-five guards and serious cuts to service levels. Mayor Kredell questioned the' cost of operating the rescue boat' and suggested the city utilize Long Beach or Huntington Beach Harbor Patrol or Coast Guard services. Chief Dorsey responded that the cost is estimated at $15,000 during the summer season. Chief Dorsey suggested flexible scheduling wit~ six hour shifts rather than eight, and' exploring the possibility of requesting Huntington Beach to provide lifeguard services to the Surfside area on a contract basis, which would eliminate two field towers and one jeep for an estimated saving of $10,000. Chief , Dorsey stated that should the Lifeguard Department be substantially reduced it would be necessary to adequately post the beach with signs warning of limited lifeguard services. Councilman Supple expressed concern regarding the liability of the city if adequate warning or safety system is not provided and requested a comparison of services with that provided on State beaches. Chief Dorsey stated this city presently provides a quality'lifeguard service and was the first Department to initiate the perimeter guarding system that is now used throughout the world and I I I 12-15-80~ I expressed concern with providing an adequate lifeguard safety service even with a minimum $30,000 budget reduction, noting that night guarding and services considered secondary to actual rescue operations would be eliminated. Mr. Dorsey stated that Coast Guard and rescue vessels of other jurisdictions hesitate to respond to Seal Beach due to damages incurred from furf conditions in the past. Mayor Kredell asked that the Lifeguard Chief provide Council with a report prioritizing budget reductions of approximately $50,000. Chief Dorsey stated he would also provide a comparison with service levels provided by the State should the Lifeguard Department be cut $30,000 to $50,000, as requested by Councilman Supple. I Acting City Manager, Mr. Thomas, stated more detailed reports regarding establishment of assessment districts would be forthcoming in a City Manager Newsletter and that the other items of discussion would be presented to Council during the initial budget presentations tentatively scheduled for February. Councilman Laszlo reported Seal Beach as the only Orange County city providing its own animal control service; Mayor Kredell suggested reducing that operation by one employee. Mayor Kredell stated he felt the Council did not want to eliminate the paramedic services and requested that the Fire Chief seriously consider five man engine companies with paramedics included on the trucks. Assistant City Manager, Mr. Joseph, reported that wo paramedics have submitted resigna- tions effective the first of the year. Mr. Joseph also suggested the city may wish to consider contracting with an ambulance company for medical services; Mayor Kredell asked that staff investigate that possibility and further requested information regarding the number of firemen that are paramedics and the seniority status of each Fire Department employee. Mr. Thomas reported that the City Attorney has provided an opinion regarding the procedures for personnel layoffs, an analysis of which will be provided to the Council. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS INSTITUTE - ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Seitz moved, second by Vanderstaay, to authorize the Assistant City Manager, Mr. Joseph, to attend an Employee Relations Institute commencing January 21, 1981 in San Francisco at an estimated cost of $300. I 3Q~ 12-15-80 / 12-22-80 .J AYES: Kredell, Laszlo, Seitz, Supple, Vanderstaay NOES: None Motion carried ADJOURNMENT Kredell moved, second by Laszlo, to adjourn until Tuesday, January' 6, 1981 at 6:30 p.m. to continue budget reduction discussions with the I remaining city departments. AYES: Kredell, Laszlo, Seitz, Supple, Vanderstaay NOES: None Motion carried The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. ex-off' io clerk of City Council App~d,~ttf{~; Attest: I Notice of Cancelled Meeting Notice is Hereby Given that the City Council did, at their regular meeting of December 8, 1980 unanimously approve the cancellation of the December 22, 1980 regular Council meeting. The next regular City Council meeting will be held January 12, 19B1 at 7:00 p.m. Dated this 11th day of December, 1980. I