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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-07-03MINUTES ADJOURNED PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING THURSDAY JULY 3, 1991 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Snyder convened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Excused Absence Councilmember Jean M. Benson Councilman Buford A. Crites Mayor Pro-Tempore Richard S. Kelly Councilman S. Roy Wilson Mayor Walter H. Snyder Also Present: Bruce A. Altman, City Manager David J. Erwin, City Attorney Sheila R. Gilligan, City Clerk/Public Information Officer Ramon A. Diaz, ACM/Director of Community Development Richard J. Folkers, ACM/Director of Public Works Paul Shillcock, ACM/Director of Economic Development Patrick Conlon, Director of Building & Safety John Wohlmuth, Environmental Conservation Manager Larry McAllister, General Services Director Janet Moore, Acting Finance Director III. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 1991-92. (Continued from the meeting of June 27, 1991.) Mr. Altman noted that this matter had been continued from the City Council meeting of June 27, 1991, at the request of Councilman Wilson. He asked for Council comments and questions, and the following issues were raised: MINUTES ADJOURNED PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 1991 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Councilman Wilson asked that in the future Council be provided with the proposed resolution for salary classifications and compensation during the study session so that it can be better prepared to make a decision at the public hearing. In addition, he requested a copy of the previous year's resolution at study session time. Councilman Wilson expressed concern with the proposed increases, noting that while the figure discussed in study session was 6% for market adjustments and cost of living, in reality many employees would be receiving 8 % after being moved to the next highest step. Councilman Kelly asked what the total percentage and dollar amount of the increase would be compared with what the wages are today and added that he would be embarrassed not to be able to tell a constituent how much the increase would be. He said for wage packages he was used to working with figures on what wages were last year, what they are this year, and what the percentage increase is. He asked what the City paid in wages last year and what was expected to be paid this year. Mr. Altman responded that the proposal was for a 6% basic across the board increase with only a few exceptions. He said the payroll was approximately $5 million, and the increase would be approximately $300,000. He also showed a graph of the payroll for the last five years. Councilmember Benson questioned the addition of step "J" and said she thought Council had decided not to include the new step in this year's budget but to instead look at it and decide what should be done about longevity increases. Mr. Altman responded that the Minutes of the June loth meeting reflected that longevity increases were approved by a 4-0 vote with amendment that the increases would occur at five-year intervals. He added that the five years would be from 1992 forward. Mayor Snyder moved to approve the plan to use 1992 as the starting year for five-year longevity increases. Motion died for lack of a second. Councilman Wilson stated he felt the confusion was that Council did not know whether it was approving five years versus two years or an additional step. Since it was not going to start until the 1992/93 fiscal year, he suggested referring the matter to the committee for further review. Upon motion by Kelly, second by Wilson, and unanimous vote of the Council, this matter was referred to the committee for further review. 2 MINUTES ADJOURNED PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 1991 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - Definition of "Y" Rating Mr. Diaz stated that it was his experience that once a person is "Y" rated, that salary is not increased either through market adjustments or through cost of living adjustments until it reaches the market rate. However, in the past, individuals who were "Y" rated have been granted cost of living increases. Upon question by Councilman Wilson as to why these persons had received cost of living increases, Mr. Diaz responded that one reason was that the cost of living increase was an across the board increase. Councilman Wilson added that agencies he had worked with would freeze salaries until the market caught up. Mr. Altman suggested referring this matter to the Personnel Committee for review and a report on how best to deal with the "Y" rating. Upon motion by Wilson, second by Kelly, and unanimous vote of the Council, the "Y" rating matter was referred to the committee for review and report. - Section 2. Group B of Resolution 91-83 Upon motion by Kelly, second by Wilson, and unanimous vote of the Council, this matter was referred to the committee for review. Mr. Altman noted that the above items would be deleted from this year's budget and would come back before Council at the first meeting in September. - Temporary 10% Increase for Director of Code Compliance While Serving as Acting. Director of Human Resources Mr. Altman stated that the ordinance provided that if someone is in an acting capacity, that person will be given at least a 5 % increase while in that acting capacity. He suggested referring this matter to the committee and if it is approved in September, the increase would be retroactive. Upon motion by Wilson, second by Kelly, and unanimous vote of the Council, this matter was referred to the committee for review, with increase to be retroactive if approved. - Assistant Planner Position Title Mr. Altman stated this should not have been included because it will be considered by the committee. Upon motion by Kelly, second by Wilson, and unanimous vote of the Council, this matter was referred to the committee. 3 ?VHNUTES ADJOURNED PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 3, 1991 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Auto Allowance& Councilman Wilson said he felt this was something that should also be referred to the committee for review. He felt since everyone would be receiving a nice raise this year, now would be the time to stop giving auto allowances and instead use the money to purchase a fleet of cars that would be available to any staff or Councilmember who needs to go anywhere on City business. He added that the City would soon need to deal with Regulation 15 regarding ride sharing. Councilmember Benson stated she would agree with purchasing City vehicles. Councilman Kelly added that he had brought up the issue of a City van but felt a regular vehicle might be less expensive. Mr. Altman said he had no problem with referring this to the committee but because of the existing MOU, this matter would require negotiation with the Employees' Organization. He said Council had directed staff at the June loth meeting to look into ride sharing and added that it would be given high priority. Upon question by Benson, Councilman Wilson responded that Regulation 15 would go into effect when the City had 100 employees. Mr. Wohlmuth stated that a ride sharing meeting had been scheduled for next week and said that although Regulation 15 applied when there were 100 employees on the same site, it might be reduced to 50 employees on the same site. He said he had indicated in his report that there would be a plan this year and added that staff could have a majority of it done by October. Councilmember Benson suggested leaving the auto allowances in the budget for this year, with an alternative plan for next year. She said she was very much in favor of having some City vehicles available to staff members to compensate for the auto allowances. Councilmember Benson moved to leave the auto allowances in the budget for this year, with an alternative plan for next year. Motion was seconded by Kelly and carried by a 3-1 vote, with Councilman Wilson voting NO. Councilman Wilson asked that another matter be referred to the committee dealing with investigation of the existing procedure of salary comparisons. He said he felt the City should be above the average for employee salaries but did not think it should be based on the 11 cities currently being used but rather based on the national average. In addition, he asked that the committee look at the issue of percentage increases and alternatives to that. He said there were individuals managing departments of four to eight people who were making almost $90,000 a year, and he felt it was a lot of money for that level of responsibility. He asked that the committee 4 MINUTES ADJOURNED PALM DESI::-AT CITY COUNCIL. MEETING JULY 3, 1991 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * look at salaries at other agencies, such as Sunline, and said we were in a position where government salaries were out of kilter with the non -governmental. Councilman Wilson moved to refer this matter to the committee for review. Motion was seconded by Kelly and carried by unanimous vote of the Council. Councilman Kelly moved to waive further reading and adopt Resolution No. 91-83, rescinding Resolution No. 90-$ and adopting allocated classifications, authorized positions, compensation plan, related employee benefits, and new Memorandum of Agreement for the 1991-92 Fiscal Year, effective July 1, 1991, as amended by Council actions noted above. Motion was seconded by Benson and carried by a 3-1 vote, with Councilman Wilson voting NO. TV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - A None V. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Wilson, second by Kelly, and unanimous vote of the Council, Mayor Snyder adjourned the meeting at 4:10 p.m. ATTEST: ,,�� l /. -117:.� SHEILA R. GILLIGAN„ Y CLERK CITY OF PALM DESE, CALIFORNIA WALTER H. SNYDER, M OR 5