Minutes 93-11-15 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL
HELD
November 15, 1993
The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. on
Monday, November 15, 1993, in the Administrative Conference Room, West Wing, City
Hall, 5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, Mayor Gail Kerry presiding.
PRESENT: Councilmember Age, Bowman, Nicholson, Partin and Kerry
ABSENT: None
Also present were City Attorney John Cavanaugh and staff members Barrett, Eynon and
Storey. Also present was Traffic Consultant Steve Sasaki.
WORKSHOP SESSIONS:
1. Continuation of Consideration of Transportation Issues
The Planning Director introduced the Traffic Consultant Steve Sasaki and she announced
that they had met with the Business owners today for the purpose of issue
identification. The business owners were assured that they would continue to be
involved in this process and there would be additional meetings held.
Mr. Sasaki stated that the two authorities that the City needs to comply with are
Measure M and the General Plan update which requires the specific plans be consistent
with the General Plan. Mr. Sasaki provided a brief overview of the fee process for the
General Plan Circulation Element, examining the traffic projections, defining and
determining the cost of the mitigation needs, and providing alternatives to pay for
those mitigation costs. So far, there has been no opportunity for the consultant to
determine any future funding through Measure M and he will be requesting direction
from Council soon. The Engineering staff costed all the proposed improvements and
provided those figures to the consultant.
The business owners, at today's meeting, provided comments for the Council's
information. The concerns are as follows: double dipping; list of public improvements
(CIP); Holder and Lincoln (opening of Holder and right-of-way on Lincoln); what if
buildout is less than allowed by specific plan/EIR (will fee be based on build out or
market); at what point will fees be accessed (plan check, building permit); TDM
monitoring; competitiveness of fees with competing business parks in other cities and
exceeding project density (credits, refunds).
The Planning Director requested that the workshop be continued to the Council Meeting
of November 22, 1993. She also clarified that the Council wanted staff to review the
mitigation measures and how they apply, a list of the projects and the financial offset.
Staff will provide answers to Council's questions at the next Council meeting.
RECESS: Mayor Kerry recessed the meeting at 6:35 p.m. and reconvened at 6:45 p.m.
with all Councilmembers present. Also present were CFA Committee Members Carroll,
Elkin, Jones and Solheim, along with staff members Essex, Bacock, Barrett and Storey
were also present.
1. Joint Meeting with Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee (CFAC)
Mayor Kerry advised that the Council had asked for the meeting with the Citizens Fiscal
Advisory Committee (CFAC) to determine if any further direction was needed and so the
Council could be provided with an update on their activities. Chairman Elkin stated that
the Committee had prepared a rough draft of recommendations and then he reported
on the Committee's progress. He also stated that here have been no definite
conclusions made. He felt that the staff had done an excellent job in the orientation of
_ the Committee and he reported on the Committee's efforts and progress to this date.
He handed the Council the Committee's report in rough draft form.
Committee Members all agreed that all the recommendations had merit and should be
investigated further. Committee Members didn't feel that the City should be chained to
what had always been done in the past and be creative in setting new ideas. They
recommended things that would achieve financial stability for the City through the year
2000 and there probably needs to be a fundamental change in the way the City
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES November 15, 1993
addresses its services. Committee Member Carroll referred to the handout and
proceeded to explain the information on each page. The Finance Director explained
that the maintenance of effort numbers were brought down to exactly what the City
needs in order to obtain Measure M money. The question of why all the Assistants were
needed when no one reports to them, six levels of supervision seemed a lot for 200
employees and the recommendation of the Committee would be to eliminate one level
of management.
Committee Member Solheim reported that their preliminary investigation showed that ~
the average City employee makes about S60,000 (salary plus fringe). Census information
reveals that the average City resident that works makes approximately 546,000 (salary
plus fringe). It appeared that the City workers are getting paid a significant amount
more than the City residents. Councilmember Bowman mentioned the study that the
City of Irvine did and it is available.
The overtime on the 9/5 Plan in the Police Department is a big controversy in the eyes
of the Committee and something that should be addressed immediately. Committee
Member Jones stated that this item also ties into a stronger negotiating team. The City
employees should not be exempt from taking cuts in pay. It was mentioned that
employees should pay a greater portion of their medical costs and this City pays a larger
portion of the medical costs compared to other cities. Committee Member Carroll
commented that the cost of paid leave of absence should be included in the fringe
benefit figure. The Committee mentioned the car and car allowance that some of the
employees had and their information was that no other cities offer it. Committee
Member Jones stated that no member of the CFAC could support a tax increase without
a thorough investigation of some of the things the Committee is bringing forth.
Chairman Elkin commented that either the City has to save money or go out and get it
and the study has attempted to look at both alternatives.
The Committee Members mentioned the staffing levels in the Planning Department in
addition to the consultant services utilized by the Planning Department. They
questioned the staffing level and the subcontracting of work and whether or not the
high head count is necessary.
The subject of consultants was discussed, i.e., the MSI study and PARS.
Committee Member Solheim advised that the Committee believed that azero-based
budgeting concept should be tried by taking the work that needs to be done and build
it from the bottom up, irrespective of what was spent in the past. One recommended
area was the tree trimming. They recommended budgeting for a two year period and,
if possible a three year budget.
A staff reduction strategy was mentioned with the layoff of some people, thereby
possibly providing raises for those employees remaining and improving morale. They
believed the staff could be reduced, and the same level of service could still be
provided. Landscaping maintenance costs appeared to be too high. The Committee
believed that the same level of service can be purchased for half of the cost and for less
hours by subcontracting out some of the landscaping.
Regarding police costs, is the D.A.R.E. officer a solution to the drug problem. Is there a
good alternative means for accomplishing the same goal of educating the children that
is less expensive. The Committee Members questioned whether two, three, even four,
police officers were needed at a given function, i.e., "Red Ribbon Week". Is it something
that one person could cover and provide the proper police presence. The Committee
feels the Police Department reacts to many things that are not police matters. The
Committee reported that the Orange County cities with the approximately the same,
population count as Cypress actually have lower total dollars in their police budget.
The Committee mentioned that alternate methods of service delivery and
subcontracting of the police vehicle maintenance would be an avenue that bore further
investigation.
Councilmember Age brought the Committee's suggestion of contracting police services
with the Sheriff's department. The Committee responded that they haven't reviewed
the financial cost difference, but the newspapers reported a S2 million savings.
Chairman Elkin stated that this is being presented to the Council and if they desire that
this aspect not be pursued then the Committee would ask for that direction.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES November 15, 1993
Councilmember Bowman commented that the first step would be internal
reorganization and consideration of all other alternatives. He suggested that the zero-
based concept be utilized versus the way the budget has historically been done.
Committee Members suggested a complete revamping of the Maintenance organization
such as police vehicle maintenance, street sweeping, tree trimming and weed
abatement.
Chairman Elkin mentioned the subsidized program costs and briefly reviewed the
committee's recommendations.
In referring to the MSI Study, Mayor Kerry commented that she thought their cost
recovery fees were somewhat excessive. Committee Members advised that they were
suggesting the use of the concept and what recovery level does the City want. The
study is two years old and it might be worthwhile to have the City staff revisit those
recovery costs. Councilmembers concurred.
Responding to Councilmembers, Chairman Elkin replied that at the beginning of
December, the Committee will compile all their notes into their recommendation to the
City Council for final form the first two weeks in January 1994.
Chairman Elkin mentioned the Senior Center, the recouping of those costs and the
attitude displayed by some of those who frequent the Center. The Committee has been
told that there is no problem with financing and the operation of the Center.
Councilmember Bowman mentioned that what the City expends on senior citizens in
this community is tremendous.
Committee Member Jones advised that when the CFAC puts together their final plan
with their recommendations, they will not have cost comparisons.
Committee Member Carroll mentioned that less than 50% of the Recreation & Park
District is spent on client services.
After some discussion, Committee Member Jones challenged the Council to implement
some of the changes because there is no one on the Committee that would support any
type of utility tax. Mayor Kerry stated that there many things that the City did not fund
in the 1993-94 budget.
There was discussion on the cost of the American Disabilities Act, input from citizens
and receipt of the CFAC's final report.
CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Kerry then recessed the meeting at 8:50 p.m. to enable the
Council to enter into a Closed Session to discuss matters of personnel. The meeting
reconvened at 9:30 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Kerry adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday,
November 22, 1993, in the Administrative Conference Room, West Wing, City Hall, 5275
Orange Avenue, Cypress.
MAYOR OF THE CI PRESS
ATTEST:
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CITY CLE K E CITY F CYPRESS
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