HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - December 14, 2004 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2004
A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The Special City Council meeting of December 14, 2004, was called to order by Mayor Beckman at
7:04 a.m.
Present: Council Members — Hansen, Hitchcock, Johnson, Mounce, and Mayor Beckman
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: Interim City Manager Keeter, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Blackston
NOTE: The following items were discussed and acted upon out of order.
C. CLOSED SESSION
At 7:04 a.m., Mayor Beckman adjourned the Special City Council meeting to a Closed Session to
discuss the following matters:
C-1 Public employment — Council Appointee — Job Title, City Manager — pursuant to
Government Code §54957
C-2 Conference with Labor Negotiator, Kris Kristensen — Government Code §54957.6 —
Unrepresented Employee — City Manager
The Closed Session adjourned at 7:26 a.m.
D. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION / DISCLOSURE OF ACTION
At 7:29 a.m., Mayor Beckman reconvened the Special City Council meeting, and City Attorney
Schwabauer announced that there was no reportable action taken in closed session.
B. REGULAR CALENDAR
B-1 "Appointments of City Council Members to fill vacancies, expiring terms, and consider
reassignments on various boards, commissions, and committees"
The following appointments were recommended by Mayor Beckman and voted on as noted:
➢ Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission — JoAnne Mounce
➢ Lodi 2x2 Committee — JoAnne Mounce and Bob Johnson
➢ San Joaquin County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Service Authority —
JoAnne Mounce
➢ San Joaquin County Community Development Block Grant Program —
JoAnne Mounce
➢ San Joaquin Council of Governments — Larry Hansen, Delegate, and
Susan Hitchcock, Alternate
➢ San Joaquin Partnership — Bob Johnson, Alternate
➢ Smart Growth Task Force — Bob Johnson, Delegate
➢ Transmission Agency of Northern California — Larry Hansen, Delegate
Interim City Manager Keeter stated that Council received a "blue sheet" (filed)
communication from the San Joaquin Council of Governments informing Council of a
vacancy on the Delta Protection Commission. Mayor Beckman asked that a response
letter be sent offering his interest in serving on the Commission.
Continued December 14, 2004
Council Member Mounce expressed her interest in serving as an advisory member of the
Eastside Improvement Committee (EIC), to which City Attorney Schwabauer explained that
it would require an amendment of the existing EIC bylaws. Following discussion,
Ms. Mounce was encouraged to attend the EIC meetings on an informal basis until the
matter of amending the bylaws was addressed by the Committee.
City Clerk Blackston noted that the Greenbelt 2x2x2 Committee was no longer viable and
would be removed from the roster.
MOTION / VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Council Member Hansen, Hitchcock second, unanimously
concurred with the recommended appointments noted above.
B-2 "Discussion and appropriate action regarding a proposed Budget Committee"
Interim City Manager Keeter reminded Council that a Budget Advisory Committee was
formed to provide input on the 2004-05 Financial Plan and Budget. She noted that former
City Manager Flynn had selected the following individuals to serve on that Committee:
Randy Snider, Annette Murdaca, Kent Steinwert, Dennis Bennett, Joanne Mounce, Debbie
Olsen, Bob Wheeler, Leon Zimmerman, and Bill Huyett. Ms. Keeter offered three options
for Council to consider in forming a Budget Committee: 1) each Council Member could
recommend one member to Council for appointment; 2) accept applications from interested
members of the public and Mayor Beckman would make member recommendations to the
Council for appointment; or 3) a combination method using both options one and two. Ms.
Keeter also suggested that Council consider including labor representatives on the
Committee and have it staffed formally by the City Manager and Finance Director.
Mayor Beckman suggested that a standing, ongoing Budget Commission be formed that
would meet as needed in regard to preparation of the budget each year and to follow up to
ensure that the budget is being implemented appropriately. He recommended that it be
comprised of five members, selected from an open application process. Each Council
Member would review the applications and make one recommendation. Each
Commissioner's term would coincide with the Council Member's term in office. The
Commission would work in conjunction with the City Manager and Finance Director to
develop a budget to recommend to Council.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock preferred an application process and felt that representatives
from each bargaining group should also serve on the Budget Committee.
Council Member Hansen also favored an application process. He suggested that there be
no more than two labor representatives and one management representative, as he felt it
was important to keep the size of the Committee manageable. He preferred that the
members serve a set four-year term, rather than being tied to Council Member's terms in
office. He believed it would be imperative to give clear direction on what the Committee was
assigned to accomplish.
Council Member Mounce suggested that members of the Budget Committee serve three-
year terms on a trial basis. In addition, she recommended that labor group representatives
rotate annually.
Council Member Johnson recalled that a similar concept was attempted previously (i.e. the
Efficiency Committee), which was unsuccessful. He agreed that clarification on the Budget
Committee's mission would be crucial. He asked whether the recently conducted
community survey addressed the public's priorities for City services as they relate to the
budget.
2
Continued December 14, 2004
Ms. Keeter replied that the survey did rank the public's priorities of City services, programs,
and projects. She reported that DataCycles, who conducted the survey, established a
database of citizens willing to participate in future surveys. DataCycles could conduct an
additional survey of these citizens for $3,000.
Council Member Hansen suggested that a presentation be given at a future Council meeting
on the survey results, as a refresher and for benefit of new Council Members.
Finance Director Krueger cautioned that if the Budget Committee were comprised of a large
group it could cause difficulties. He stated that it would be important for the Committee to
have a strategic, long-term view for potential expansion of services in the future and in the
short-term to be in a tactical "retraction" mode. He noted that if labor representatives were
included in the Committee it would serve as a good educational opportunity for them to hear
about issues faced in each department as well as an overall City view. He recommended
that Council decide specifically what it wants the Committee to accomplish.
Council Member Hansen pointed out that there may not be enough time to form a
Committee for the 2005-06 budget. He suggested that a plan be developed outlining goals
and objectives for the Committee. It could then review the budget process for 2005-06 and
begin operating for the 2006-07 budget.
Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock agreed with Mr. Hansen's comments and suggested that
the Council could serve as the Budget Committee in the meantime.
MOTION / VOTE:
There was no Council action taken on this matter.
E. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10
a. m.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk