HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - June 22, 1994 SMCITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1994
7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members - Mann, Pennino, Snider and Sieglock (Mayor)
Absent: Council Members - Davenport
Also Present: City Manager Peterson, Assistant City Manager Glenn, Administrative Assistants
to the City Manager Evans and Keeter, Community Development Director
Schroeder, Public Works Director Ronsko, City Engineer Prima, Community
Center Director Lange, Parks and Recreation Director Williamson, Police Chief
Hansen, Librarian Andrade, Finance Director Flynn, Accounts Manager McAthie,
City Attorney McNatt and City Clerk Perrin
2. ADOPTION OF 1994/95 BUDGET
Mayor Sieglock welcomed the public and presented a recap of the Adjourned Shirtsleeve Session
that was held that morning regarding recommended budget reductions and informed the public of
the direction the Council gave to staff.
City Manager Peterson reiterated the following directions that were provided by Council:
• Restored Graffiti Abatement Program in its entirety;
• Restored Aquatics Program in its entirety;
• Restored the Playground Program in its entirety;
• Restored the Recreation Supervisor position;
• Restored the contribution to the Arts Commission in its entirety;
• Restored the Street Sweeping Program to its existing level;
• Restored the Water Conservation Program; however, reduced the funding by 25%;
• Reduced the Library funding by $50,000 rather than $75,000.
City Manager Peterson informed the public that more reductions from the State may be
forthcoming and the City may be forced to make further reductions in the near future.
Mayor Sieglock assured the public that Camp Hutchins was not being recommended for
elimination.
Assistant City Manager Glenn presented an overview of the recommended reductions in the
budget (copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office) which takes into account the directions
that Council provided earlier. Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Sieglock opened
the matter for public comment. Speaking on the subject were the following persons:
1. Dee Porter, 103 Koni Court, Lodi, presented the City Council with a letter of support for
Recreation Supervisor Rudloff, Ms. Porter also recommended that the City Council consider
a "Flea Market" in Lodi, similar to Gait's, in order to generate revenue;
2. Don Shephard, 215 South California Street, Lodi, expressed opposition to cutting the Library
funding and to the "abatement charge" against the Library;
3. Robin Knowlton, 410 West Oak Street, Lodi, also questioned the "abatement charge" against
the Library and explained how these cuts will affect the Library's programs;
4. Bud Sullivan, President of the Library Board, 1221 Lakewood Drive, Lodi, expressed
opposition to the cuts in the Library funding and to the "abatement charge";
Continued June 22, 1994
5. Roberta Preslie, Director of the Illiteracy Program, 1738 Colombard Circle, Lodi, expressed
opposition to cutting the Library funding;
6. Chad Meyer, Parks and Recreation Commissioner, 250 Ticknor Court, Lodi, thanked the City
Council for reinstating the recreation programs which were slated to be cut and further
expressed the importance of maintaining positive recreational programs for the youth of this
community;
7. Brian Ochoa, Lodi, also expressed the importance of recreational programs which keep kids
from joining gangs and becoming involved in drugs. Mr. Ochoa suggested cutting the
part-time hours for the youth activities by only $17,000 instead of $22,000;
8. Gabrielle Crescini, Senior Recreation Leader at the Parks and Recreation Department, 20125
Mountain View Court, Lockeford, thanked the City Council for restoring the Parks and
Recreation programs that were recommended for elimination and presented to the City
Council letters written by local children supporting the programs (on file in the City Clerk's
Office);
9. Walter Meryman, 1620 Brandywine Drive, Lodi, presented the City Council with a prepared
statement regarding the Arts Commission funding (a copy of which is on file in the City
Clerk's Office) and thanked the City Council for restoring this money;
10. Frank Alegre, 2000 Edgewood Drive, Lodi, stated he was glad that some of the programs
were restored in the budget; however, he would still like to see the parking lot/alley
maintenance program restored and the $80,000 for Parks and Recreation Capital
Improvement Projects (CIP), and expressed opposition to the elimination of parks
maintenance workers. Mr. Alegre feels the funding for an economic development intern is a
waste of money, and the City Council should trim the vehicles, eliminate car allowance and
reduce employee salaries, benefits and administrative, vacation, holiday and sick leaves;
11. Frank Winston, 118 North Cherokee Lane, expressed his disappointment that Council
Member Davenport was absent from this budget meeting and commended the four Council
Members for their good work. However, Mr. Winston requested that the City Council
reconsider the action it took at the last meeting regarding the Civic Center improvements and
use the money elsewhere like the Library and Parks and Recreation;
12. Laurie Stiles, 705 East Cypress Run, Woodbridge, thanked the City Council for sparing the
Parks and Recreation programs and expressed her opinion that she would be willing to pay
double for the after school program because it is a worthwhile program. Ms. Stiles further
expressed support for the business license tax increase;
13. Warren Mantz, 424 East Lodi Avenue, Lodi, expressed his dissatisfaction with the State
taking away money from the cities and urged everyone to rally against the State legislators to
stop this;
14. Carlos Ruiz, City of Lodi employee, 3039 Main Street, Acampo, reminded the City Council
that the smaller staff gets and the larger the City gets, the tougher it will be to provide quality,
needed services to the citizens of this community; and
15. Mary Pell, 512 South Lee, Lodi, expressed her support of the Library and requested that the
City Council not cut its funding.
There being no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Sieglock closed the public comments.
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VCunlinued June 22, 1994
Public Works Director Ronsko informed the City Council that his Department did not recommend
the elimination of the tree trimming program; however, eliminating the tree trimming program and
the proposed parking lot and alley maintenance program for one year should have no major
effect on the City. He emphasized that these programs should be reimplemented next year. Mr.
Ronsko reminded the City Council that the major cuts in staffing and funding over the last two
years would seriously reduce the services provided. He will give the City Council and the citizens
a list of the services which the Public Works Department can no longer provide.
Public Works Director Ronsko indicated that the Water Conservation Program has proven to
save the City dollars and requested that the Program not be cut further. He reminded the
Council that, at its request, the budget had already been reduced ten percent over last year. Mr.
Ronsko pointed out that a cut in this Program would increase our pumping costs ($15,000 to
$20,000) and the City's peak water demands. If all our wells can be kept operational, we will,
hopefully, be able to meet this summer's water demands. However, it could mean that we would
have to use our standby wells which are now off line due to dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
contamination. If we are required to use these wells more than the allowed fourteen days a year,
the City could be faced with a fine of $1,000 per day per well. Mr. Ronsko requested that Frank
Beeler, Assistant Water/Wastewater Superintendent, be allowed to give a brief report regarding
the effects of increased demands on our DBCP water problem. The Council indicated it
understood and chose not to hear the report.
Following a request by Council Member Snider, Assistant City Manager Glenn and Finance
Director Flynn presented a history of the Library funding. The Library has been receiving its fair
share of funding from the property tax revenues which the City recently increased from
approximately 17% to 20% because of the State's reduction in property tax to cities. Without this
change in the formula, the Library would have received a lot less funding. Over the past few
years the Library's expenditures have also increased. The City also reduced the Library's
contribution/payment for the administration of property tax which gave the Library approximately
$41,000 more. In addition, the Library is charged an "abatement charge" as are four other
primary activities: electric, sewer, water and transit. Librarian Andrade and Mr. Sullivan of the
Library Board answered questions from the City Council Members regarding the Library budget.
Mayor Sieglock indicated that the City Council and the Library Board should schedule a Joint
Meeting for some time in the near future.
Following further discussion, the City Council, on motion of Council Member Pennino, Sieglock
second, adopted Resolution No. 94-78 approving an operating budget for the support of various
departments of the City of Lodi and a Utility Outlay Budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
1994 and ending June 30, 1995 including the recommended budget reductions as presented at
this evening's meeting by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members - Mann, Pennino, Snider and Sieglock (Mayor)
Noes: Council Members - None
Absent: Council Members - Davenport
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, Mayor Sieglock adjourned the
meeting at approximately 8:58 p.m.
ATTEST:
�niferM.n
City Clerk