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2010/01/26 City Council MinutesMINUTES OF THE ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL Community Development Commission Rohnert Park Financing Authority JOINT REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, January 26, 2010 MEETING LOCATION: CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBER 130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California The Rohnert Park City Council, Community Development Commission of the City of Rohnert Park, and the Rohnert Park Financing Authority met this date for the Joint Regular Meeting scheduled to commence at 6:00 p.m. with Mayor Stafford presiding. 1. CITY COUNCIL, CDC & RPFA JOINT REGULAR MEETING - Call to Order /Roll Call Mayor Stafford called this meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Present: Pam Stafford, Mayor Gina Belforte, Vice Mayor Amie Breeze, Council Member Joseph T. Callinan, Council Member Jake Mackenzie, Council Member Absent: None Staff and /or consultant participants: Daniel Schwarz, Interim City Manager; Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, City Attorney; Sandy Lipitz, Director of Administrative Services; Cathy Orme, Accounting Manager; Linda Babonis, Housing & Redevelopment Manager; Brian Goodman, Housing & Redevelopment Assistant; Darrin Jenkins, Director of Development Services; John McArthur, Director of Public Works & Community Services; and Judy Hauff, City Clerk. Community Media Center staff present for the recording and televised production of this meeting: Josh Jacobsen, Video Technician and Josh Cimino, Video Techincian. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Tyler Allen, 4th Grade Student, Marguerite Hahn Elementary School led the pledge of allegiance. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS — Mayor Stafford opened public comments at 6:04 p.m. 1. Jim Baker shared comments in support of retaining public safety officers and his belief that the city's public safety concept works. 2. Angie Smith, President of Rohnert Park Employees Association (RPEA), with Kristina Owens, Vice President of RPEA, shared written comments (copy attached to original set of these minutes) regarding city department employee comparisons with Rohnert Park Public Safety Association (RPPSOA) information distributed to the community over the past weekend. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (2 of 10) January 26, 2010 for City Council /Community Development Commission / Rohnert Park Financing Authority 4. REPORT on RESULTS of CITY & CDC JOINT BUDGET WORK SESSION (held from 1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. on January 26, 2010 at the Performing Arts Center) Mayor Stafford shared opening comments on results of this afternoon's budget work session which included: no stone will be left unturned to resolve budget issues; it was extremely productive; expressed appreciation to all participants; and urged citizens to call anytime with ideas. 1. Staff Report — Interim City Manager Schwarz summarized results of the budget work session held this afternoon 2. Council /CDC comments - Council Member Callinan shared comments for the record on why he left the meeting this afternoon. He was informed last week that the budget work shop meeting would be held at the Performing Arts Center. He had expressed his concern to the City Manager that it should be televised as they would be talking about the budget and cuts to public safety officers. He talked to the Mayor who said the work shop would be held at PAC regardless. He disagreed as Council will be going to the public in the near future about a ballot measure. They had the meeting anyway. He understood one of the topics was to look at City Attorney fees which the city has spent $1.13 million to date. He shared that it doesn't matter which funds are used to pay the bill, it's as simple as having two check books and is still coming out of city funds. He indicated noticing the budget still has over $100,000 for Assistant City Manager and questioned why we still have that. He said to look at the list and save money. He commented our Mayor has taken the approach to go to Target without Council approval, used the city seal and shook hands with citizens on behalf of the city without Council permission, and the City Manager sent out a flyer without Council approval. He indicated these are reasons why he left the work session today and because the public was not able to watch the meeting on television. Council Member Breeze shared she was also present at the meeting this afternoon but did leave after sharing her public statement and would share again now for the record (copy attached to original set of these minutes) which reviewed her reasons for expressing disagreement with the time and location for the budget work session due to 1:00 p.m. being an inconvenient time for the working public to attend and not being televised denies transparency to the public. She responded further to comments made at the dais about while she was Mayor last year and not finishing one of the items for bargaining units until after the new Mayor came in, that they couldn't finish the line item budget until after negotiations were finished. She indicated that the difference in the meetings she called as Mayor at the Performing Arts Center was that there was no one who had called and said don't have it without televising and no Council Member requested a televised meeting. She shared that if that had been the case, she would have acknowledged the requests and would have changed the meeting to hold it here in the Council Chamber and be televised. She stated because of that, she left the meeting this afternoon because of no transparency. Further Council comments reviewed highlights of this afternoon's budget work session and options to be considered as soon as possible toward resolving budget issues. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (3 of 10) January 26, 2010 for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority 3. City Resolution for Adoption: a. 2010 -07 Amending the Budget for the City of Rohnert Park for Fiscal Year 2009 -10 Director of Administrative Services Lipitz reviewed the highlighted areas of the amended budget. L Council motion by Council Member Mackenzie to adopt City Resolution No. 2010 -07, seconded by Vice Mayor Belforte ii. Council discussion ensued during which Interim City Manager Schwarz, Director of Administrative Services Lipitz and City Attorney Kenyon responded to Council questions on this item. iii. Council vote CARRIED 3 — 2 with Council Members Breeze and Callinan dissenting, reading of the resolution was waived and said motion was APPROVED. 4. CDC Resolution for Adoption a. 2010 -01 Amending the Budget for the Community Development Commission of the City of Rohnert Park for Fiscal Year 2009/10 i. CDC motion by Commissioner Member Mackenzie to adopt CDC Resolution No. 2010 -01, seconded by Vice Chair Belforte ii. CDC discussion ensued. iii. CDC vote CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, reading of the resolution was waived and said motion was APPROVED. 5. SSU STUDENT REPORT - Jesse Schwartz, SSU ASI Legislative Representative, Sonoma State University Associated Students, Inc. reported on current activities at SSU which included: University wide level Spring Promulgation, January 28, 2010, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Person Theater to discuss SSU's future in these challenging times; Green Music Center now offering tours to the general public with schedules on SSU's website; a chestnut tree sapling in memory of Anne Frank, one of eleven being placed throughout the state, will be planted at SSU to be placed in three years at the Holocaust Genocide Memorial Grove by the campus lake; and ASI's next meeting will be on spring initiatives including officer awards, optimizing ways to register for classes, and ASI's budget for next year. 6. PRESENTATIONS 1. Mayor's presentation of Proclamation Recognizing the Accomplishments of Curtis Shinn of the Rohnert Park Piranha Swim Team for Ranking #1 Nationally in Breaststroke at the Far Westerns Championship Swim Meet in San Jose — Mayor Stafford read the proclamation recognizing the accomplishments of Curtis Shinn and made the presentation. 2. Cultural Arts Commission and ArtStart proposal to install a decorated bench in the Civic Center Plaza depicting the early history of Rohnert Park with presentation by Kathy Kaufman, Executive Director of ArtStart - Ms.Kaufman distributed a flyer at the meeting and provided a power point presentation for this item and responded to Council questions. Discussion concluded with Interim City Manager Schwarz confirming that staff could put this item on the City's website to provide an opportunity for citizens to donate toward the purchase of a decorated bench in the Civic Center Plaza. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (4 of 10) January 26, 2010 for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority 7. CITY MANAGER / CITY ATTORNEY / DEPARTMENT HEAD BRIEFINGS 1. Infrastructure Funding for Road Work - Deputy City Engineer Barnes provided this report advising the city is currently competing for infrastructure funding for road work, including requirement to discuss in open session with Council. He explained the proposed roads involved for these funds via power point that, if successful, could amount to $2.5 million, could only be used for this purpose and the contract would have to be signed by the City Manager by May 8th. Council commended this effort. 2. Rohnert Park - Cotati Library Newsletter — Interim City Manager Schwarz called attention to the Rohnert Park - Cotati Library Newsletter he received recently and shared a paragraph of one of the articles on Chief Masterson reading a children's story and stopping patiently at intervals to respond to questions and interruptions from children. 8. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Stafford advised all items on the consent calendar were considered together by one action of the City Council, the Community Development Commission, and /or the Rohnert Park Financing Authority, whichever is applicable, unless any Council Member or anyone else interested in a consent calendar item had a question about the item. Council Member Callinan pulled the city bills. Mayor Stafford pulled Resolution No. 2010 -09. 1. Approval of Minutes for: a. City Council Portion of Regular Concurrent Meetings —January 12, 2010 b. CDC Portion of Regular Concurrent Meetings — January 12, 2010 c. RPFA Portion of Regular Concurrent Meetings— January 12, 2010 2. Acceptance of Reports for: b. CDC Bills /Demands for Payment c. City Cash/Investments Final Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009 d. CDC Cash/Investments Final Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009 e. RPFA Cash Investments Final Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009 f. City Cash /Investments Report for Month Ending December 31, 2009 g. CDC Cash/Investments Report for Month Ending December 31, 2009 h. RPFA Cash/Investments Report for Month Ending December 31, 2009 3. City Council Resolutions for Adoption: a. 2010 -08 Adopting Revised Manual of Standard, Details, and Specifications for the Sanitary Sewer System MOTION by Council Member Mackenzie to adopt the Consent Calendar with the exceptions of Item #2.a on the bills and Item #3.a, Resolution No. 2010, seconded by Council Member Breeze, CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, reading was waived and said motion was APPROVED. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (5 of 10) January 26, 2010 for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority Items for consideration: 2. Acceptance of Reports for: a. City Bills /Demands for Payment Council Member Callinan called attention to the City Attorney bill for $213,000. Mayor Stafford responded this was one of the items discussed during the budget work session held earlier today and noted that what is seen on the bills does not take into account what the City Attorney has saved or brought into the city. MOTION by Council Member Callinan to accept the report for. payment of the City Bills, seconded by Council Member Breeze, CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, said motion was APPROVED. 3. City Council Resolutions for Adoption: b. 2010 -09 Rejecting the Insufficient Claim of Juel Bortolussi (re: Injuries from fall on alleged uneven sidewalk) Interim City Manager Schwarz explained the reason for this resolution to be pulled from consideration because the corrected claim was received today so is moot to proceed with rejecting this one. 9. 2008 -09 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS — Director of Administrative Services Lipitz introduced representatives of Odenberg, Ullakko, Muranishi (OUM) and Company, for the presentation listed next on this evening's agenda, and called attention to the Certificate of Award received by the City for these reports for the 22nd consecutive year. 1. Presentation by Odenberg, Ullakko, Muranishi (OUM) and Company, LLP, CPA of the 2008 -09 Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports — OUM Representative Scott Miller provided this presentation and responded to questions. 2. City Council- CDC -RPFA Acceptance Concurrently of 2008 -09 Reports: a. City of Rohnert Park — Comprehensive Annual Financial Report b. Community Development Commission — Independent Auditor's Reports, Management's Discussion and Analysis, Basic Financial Statements, and Statistical Information c. Rohnert Park Financing Authority — Independent Auditor's Reports, Management's Discussion and Analysis, Basic Financial Statements, and Supplemental Information d. City of Rohnert Park — Single Audit Reports on Federal Awards Programs for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2009 e. City of Rohnert Park — Independent Auditor's Report on Compliance with Transportation Development Act (TDA) for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2009 f. City of Rohnert Park — Independent Accountants' Report on Applying Agreed -Upon Procedures, June 30, 2009 g. City of Rohnert Park — Fiscal 2009 Report to Council MOTION by Council Member Mackenzie to concurrently accept the above Annual Financial Reports listed as "a" through "g ", seconded by Council Member Breeze, and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, reading was waived and said motion was APPROVED. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (6 of 10) January 26, 2010 ,for City Council /Community Development Commission/Rohnert Park Financing Authority 3. CDC Resolution for Adoption: a. 2010 -02 Acknowledging and Accepting the Completion and Submission of the Annual State Controllers Report, Independent Auditors Report and Financial Statement (Audit Report) and the California Housing and Community Development Report (HCD Report) filed on behalf of the Community Development Commission of the City of Rohnert Park (CDC) for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009 i. Council motion by Commissioner Mackenzie to adopt CDC Resolution No. 2010 -02, seconded by Vice Chair Belforte ii. Council discussion - None iii. Council vote CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, reading was waived and said motion was APPROVED. 4. City Council Resolution for Adoption: a. 2010 -10 Receiving, Acknowledging and Accepting the Annual State Controllers Report, Independent Auditors Report and Financial Statement (Audit Report) and the California Housing and Community Development Report (HCD Report) from the Community Development Commission of the City of Rohnert Park (CDC) for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009 i. Council motion by Vice, Mayor Belforte to adopt City Council Resolution No. 2010 -10, seconded by Council Member Mackenzie ii. Council discussion iii. Council vote CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, reading was waived and said motion was APPROVED. 10. PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY - City Council review of results of public opinion survey conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maulin, Metz & Associates (FM3) to determine public funding and service priorities and assess revenue options for the City. 1. Presentation by Curtis Below, Senior Researcher of FM3 — Mr. Below reviewed results of this public opinion survey via power point presentation and responded to Council questions. 2. Public Comments Mayor Stafford opened public comments at 8:25 p.m. No one responded. 3. Council discussion /direction — Discussion ensued on review of the key findings from the survey on revenue options and concluded toward consideration of a general purpose one -half cent sales tax measure in June or November 2010, which included acknowledgment that a unanimous Council vote on a fiscal emergency is required if interested in proceeding in June. 4. Revenue Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee formation a. Consideration of establishing an Ad Hoc Committee for Revenue Enhancement Interim City Manager Schwarz explained this item recommended by Catherine Lew of the Lew Edwards Group if Council anticipates moving forward with a sales tax measure. i. Council discussion /direction /action - Discussion concluded in MOTION by Council Member Mackenzie to establish a Revenue Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee as recommended by the Lew Edwards Group, seconded by Council Member Callinan, and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, said motion was APPROVED. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (7 of 10) January 26, 2010 . for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority b. Mayor's appointments to the Revenue Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee Mayor Stafford indicated she would like to appoint Council Members Breeze and Mackenzie to the Revenue Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee. Both acknowledged acceptance of the Mayor's appointment to this Ad Hoc Committee. 11. SKATEBOARD ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - City Council consideration of amending the Rohnert Park Municipal Code to prohibit the use of skateboards, roller skates, in -line skates, coasters, scooters, and other similar devices on city -owned property except city parks. [Continued from 1/12/10 Council meeting] 1. Staff Report — Director of Public Works & community Services McArthur reviewed the staff report for this item and responded to Council questions. City Attorney Kenyon indicated a non - substantive change should be made when this ordinance is presented for adoption on page 2, paragraph (a) to include language to say, "a valid and administrative permit ". 2. Public Comments Mayor Stafford opened public comments at 8:49 p.m. No one responded. 3. Ordinance for Introduction: Waive Further Reading and Introduce Ordinance by Reading Title: a. No. 819 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 10.70, Skateboards, to Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code i. Council motion by Council Member Mackenzie to introduce Ordinance No. 819, seconded by Council Member Callinan ii. Council discussion None iii. Council roll call vote CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY reading was waived and said motion was APPROVED. 12. CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS - City Council review of Campaign Contribution Limits in accordance with Rohnert Park Municipal Code §2.65.030 requiring this review in January of every fourth year commencing in 2010 to determine whether the $500 limitation shall remain the same or be increased or decreased. Any amendment of the limitation must be done by ordinance and shall be preceded by at least one public hearing. 1. Staff Report — City Attorney Kenyon reviewed the staff report provided for this item and responded to Council questions. 2. Public comments Mayor Stafford opened public comments at 8:55 p.m. No one responded. 3. Council discussion /direction — Discussion concluded in Council indicating agreement to retain the $500 limit as previously established and COUNCIL CONCURRED to bring back an ordinance to amend the wording in the designated section of the Municipal Code on penalties to include the language "knowingly and willfully ". Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (8 of 10) January 26, 2010 _for City Council/Community Development Commission / Rohnert Park Financing Authority 13. STANDING COMMITTEE / AD HOC COMMITTEE / LIAISON REPORTS 1. Standing Committee Reports - None 2. Liaison Reports - None 3. Other Reports a. Mayors' & Councilmembers' Association Special Study Session on Landfill Solid Waste, 1/22/10 (GB /PS) — Vice Mayor Belforte provided the report on this meeting held at the North Coast Builders Exchange which included: confirming she and Mayor Stafford attended; this meeting basically revisited history; and the first actual Task Force meeting is February 22"d. b. Sonoma County Waste Management Agency (SCWMA) Board, 1/20/10 mtg. Interim City Manager Schwarz reported on his attendance at the recent meeting of the Waste Management Agency Board which included: a recruitment brochure will be out shortly for the position of Executive Director of the Agency; held line on budget for the recruitment so will be no increase in costs although the structure of the job was changed a bit; and Town of Windsor is chairing this Board this year with Christie Johnson of Windsor as Chair. 14. COMMUNICATIONS - Copies of communications were provided to Council for review prior to this meeting. Council Members desiring to read or discuss any communication may do so at this time. No .action may be taken except to place a particular item on a future agenda for Council consideration. Council Member Callinan called attention to numerous communications on the proposed Wa1Mart expansion received to date and speculated on the percentage of messages for and against the proposed expansion. Council Member Breeze indicated she received a phone call this afternoon from Brandon Davidge requesting her to read his letter since he was unable to attend the Council meeting due to illness. Council Member Breeze shared contents of the letter from Brandon Davidge, a Public Safety Officer and Rohnert Park resident, opposing cuts in the Department of Public Safety positions. Council Member Breeze called attention to 'two additional communications she received on the proposed WalMat4 expansion of whi-l. ist and two were for the Department of Public Safely positions, one was for cuts and one was against cuts. Council Member Mackenzie indicated he has also been inundated by communications both for and against the proposed Wa1Mart expansion. Director of Development Services Jenkins responded to Council question that the Planning Commission is projecting to hold a public hearing on the WalMart expansion proposal at its second meeting in March. 'CORRECTION made by Council Member Breeze at the February 9, 2010, City Council meeting. (Additions underlined /deletions stricken.) Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (9 of 10) January 26, 2010 for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority 15. MATTERS FROM/FOR COUNCIL 1. Project Graduation request for waiver of fees for use of the Callinan Sports Center, June 4, 2010 a. Council discussion /direction /action — Discussion concluded in MOTION by Vice Mayor Belforte to approve the request for waiver of fees for use of the Callinan Sports Center for Project Graduation on Jun 4, 2010, seconded by Council Member Callinan, and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, said motion was APPROVED. 2. Mayors' and Councilmembers' Association — City Council consideration of supporting letters of interest for vacancies: a. Sonoma County Child Care Planning Council L Council discussion /direction /action - Mayor Stafford noted there have been no letters of interest received to date on this vacancy. b. North Bay Division, Leagues of California Cities, Executive Board L Council discussion /direction /action — Mayor Stafford noted one letter of interest in this vacancy was received from Kathleen Shaffer, City Council Member, Sebastopol. MOTION by Council Member Breeze to indicate support of Kathleen Shaffer to fill this vacancy, seconded by Council Member Mackenzie, and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, said motion was APPROVED. 2. Mural Project with Sonoma State University (SSU) — Vice Mayor Belforte reviewed this project discussed at a recent Education Committee meeting to combat blight, at a minimal cost to the City, pertaining to interest in having art students submit a sign that would be incorporated into their. class curriculum to paint murals for designated areas by the railroad tracks on the Golf Course going east and on the wall by the Golf Course. SSU saw where they could fit this into their curriculum. Interim City Manager Schwarz responded to Council questions on this project which included confirming the minimal cost would be from Redevelopment funds used to combat blight. a. Council discussion /direction Discussion concluded in COUNCIL CONCURRENCE to move forward with this mural project with SSU as reviewed. 4. Calendar of Events - Mayor Stafford indicated this item was provided for informational purposes. 5. City Council Agenda Forecast- Mayor Stafford indicated this item was provided for informational purposes. 6. Other informational items a. Council Member Callinan recommended items on the next Council meeting agenda to include status of Redwood Equities' options on stadium lands and an item on attorney fees. Discussion ensued and concluded in Council expressing agreement to include on the next agenda, as appropriate, an update on the status of options on the stadium lands and City Attorney performance evaluation. b. Vice Mayor Belforte commended the success of the recent 'events for the Explorers including a Pancake Breakfast and an event at Mary's Pizza which resulted in the Explorers raising $230. She expressed appreciation to the public for coming out and supporting the Explorers and to the Rohnert Park Police Officers Association for all their volunteer efforts with the Explorers. 'Administrative CORRECTION by City Clerk on original set of these minutes. (Additions underlined) Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT REGULAR MEETING (10 of 10) January 26, 2010 .for City Council /Community Development Commission /Rohnert Park Financing Authority c. Interim City Manager Schwarz noted the CDC workshop indicated on the Agenda Forecast for the February 91h at 4:00 p.m. would be moved to the February 23rd Agenda to accommodate the City Attorney's request for a session with the recruiter for City Manager. d. Mayor Stafford reported on her recent attendance at the State of the County Address by the Economic Development Board with the main speech by Dr. Jerry Nicholsberg, Senior Economist from UCLA Anderson Forecast, advising that basically the recession is ending and the economy will start to improve, but unfortunately, it will be slower for government to improve. e. Mayor Stafford indicated that two people approached her this past week to commend the work of our city departments which included Mark Ide, former Sonoma County Sherriff, who commended the City's planning/development department, with Darrin Jenkins, Director of Development Services; and Pacific Gas and Electric Representative, Joe Horrack, commending the City's Public Works Department, with John McArthur, Director of Public Works. Both commented on how great it is to work with the staff in these departments. f. Interim City Manager Schwarz advised he would be out of the city next week for a conference and Director of Public Safety Masterson would be Acting City Manager in his absence. 16. PUBLIC COMMENTS — Mayor Stafford invited public comments at 9:28 p.m. 1. Peter Duccini submitted a speaker card but was not available at this time. 2. Corey Vincent indicated she was not a resident of Rohnert Park, but her husband is a police officer here. She expressed support of retaining officers and urged Council not to cut public safety officer positions. 17. ADJOURNMENT of City Council- CDC -RPFA Joint Regular Meeting — Mayor Stafford adjourned this meeting at 9:30 p.m. Jud auff, tity City of Rohnert Park Pam Stafford, Mayor City of Rohnert Park Ty e` f� Distr. @ tg. Of:� /,Zb�,� 4 MEMORANDUM cc: cc: Date: January 26, 2010 File: File: To: Honorable Mayor Stafford, Members of the City Council and Citizens of Rohnert Park From: Council member Amie Breeze Re: Rohnert Park City Council & CDC Joint Special Meeting 1/26/10 i would like my comments to be for the record. This special meeting that is about to take place is a Line Item Budget Session, as noted on the city council's calendar of events. It is the first step that the council will take this year in tackling a very difficult 2009 -2010 budget, with a remaining $4.4 million to cut in order to balance the budget. Today, you will hear the City Manager's suggestion to eliminate 12.5 full -time equivalent positions as part of his "2010 Workforce Reduction Plan ". I received this plan last night on my doorstep sometime after 5pm. I was not aware of this plan until I opened my packet at 7pm last night. Mayor Stafford has called this special meeting, as only the Mayor has the authority to do. Mayor Stafford has also chosen the time, t pm, when most individuals are at work. Mayor Stafford has chosen the location, Spreckles Performing Arts, where it will not be televised or video recorded so that the citizens of Rohnert Park can tune in at a later time to witness the important discussions that are about to take place. i have repeatedly requested Mayor Stafford, the City Manager, and City Attorney, that this meeting be held at city hall so that it could be televised and transparent to the public. The Mayor has refused my request even though our Council Protocols read on page 17, "The Council may meet in a study/work session at such times or at such places as may be determined by the Council for the purpose of. hearing reports from the staff and reviewing, discussing and debating matters of interest to the City." I do not agree to holding this meeting at a time that is not convenient for the public to attend. I do not agree to holding a Line Item Budget Session that is not televised. By doing so, the public is denied true transparency of the budget. We as council members have a fiduciary duty to represent the interest of the public. If the City plans to go to the public this year and place a Tax Initiative on the ballot, the City needs to have total financial transparency. Holding a special budget meeting that is not televised and is at an inconvenient time for the working public, is not transparent. Last year, in June 2009, when the council was adopting the 2009 -2010 preliminary budget, I was Mayor at the time. Council member Mackenzie requested during the meeting that the council not proceed with any Line Items on the budget because Council member Stafford was not present at the meeting and he felt very strongly that. all 5 members of the council be present. I honored council member Mackenzie's request and honored you as well, Mayor Stafford. I ask you today, as I asked you over a week ago Mayor Stafford, that the 6th Council Member, the public, be honored today by holding this meeting in a place that it can be properly televised. I want to participate in this meeting' as long as it is a transparent meeting. I will participate if this meeting is televised for the public. If it won't be televised, I will not be participating today and will wait for a later time when the meeting will be available for all that wish to view it. Lastly, for the members of the public who are present today, I want to say that I do not agree with the Public Safety Officer cuts that have been suggested in the City Manager's Memo to the council. This is not the right thing to do and I. am not in favor of it. The council asked the Public Safety Department to help make the City of Rohnert Park the °Safest City on the 101". The Public Safety Department has delivered on that request. Last year, Rohnert Park had the lowest Part 1 Crimes in the history of Rohnert Park. I believe that you get what you pay for It is true that Public Safety is the largest portion of our budget, but our budget crisis does not fall squarely on their shoulders. There are many other areas of our budget that we can explore in order to balance it and avoid the damaging and crippling layoffs that have been suggested. I look forward to having these discussions with the full council, staff, and the watchful eyes of the community. TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members FROM: Angie Smith, RPEA President 111�15 Kristina Owens, RPEA Vice President DATE: January 26, 2010 RE: Budget Work Session - Public Comment Distr. @ tg. Oft If, � 6 IU:1 cc: cc: File: File: Honorable Mayor and Council Members, my name is Angie Smith, President of Rohnert Park Employees Association and resident of Rohnert Park, beside me is Kristina Owens, Vice President of RPEA and resident. RPEA represents the employees that serve the public in all City buildings and departments, including Public Safety. We are here today to clarify some important facts and address concerns that the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association misrepresented in both their public'press release and stand in at Safeway over the .weekend. Fact #1 RPPSOA didn't lose 8 officers due to budget cuts; however 6 took an early retirement. option known as the Golden Handshake and only 2 were laid off, with 1 officer becoming a dispatcher. They were not the only department to face layoffs in 2009, RPEA went from 45 members to 31 that is a 31% cut and now an additional 3 members have the potential of being laid off. Through these layoffs the work load has only increased for the remaining staff it was not eliminated. Fact #2 During the 2009 contract negotiations, RPPSOA was requested to pay 1% of their PERS at a total cost of $70,000 a year; however chose not to. This would potentially save one (1) officer. RPEA, SEIU and Management have been paying a percentage of their PERS Retirement since 2007. Fact #3 During the 2009 contract negotiations, RPPSOA was asked to roll back their retirement plan from 3% at 50 to, 2% at 50; however chose not to and this could have potentially saved one (1) officer. RPPSOA's PERS for sworn personnel is a 34% cost to the City while Miscellaneous Employees is only 16 %. Yet the miscellaneous employees saw the financial crisis the City. was facing and rolled back the PERS retirement to the 2006 plan of 2% at 55. RPPSOA is still receiving the 3% at 50 retirement plan. Fact #4 RPPSOA mentioned they took pay.cuts in the 2009 -2011. However, they failed to mention they received wage increases of 7 -11% based on rank and stipend increases of 2:5 -5% in their 2007 -2009 contract. This increase potentially increased their salary by more than 27 %. RPEA has not received any wage increases in the past two contracts. Fact #5 RPPSOA reopened their contract in 2008 to add an in- district stipend that pays each officer that lives in a 10 mile radius an additional $150.00 per month. RPEA employees receive $60.00 for living in Rohnert Park. Fact #5 The City's revenues amount to $19.2 million of that $16.5 is Public Safety's budget RPPSOA has failed to acknowledge the financial crisis that is surrounding our community, when in fact tonight the Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School .District is holding their 3rd community meeting on the potential closure of the fourth school within the district. RPPSOA has failed to acknowledge that not only are our children losing an institution of learning, but the teachers that- taught these children have the potential of losing their jobs. RPPSOA has failed to acknowledge the number of foreclosures and bankruptcies that are affecting our community and the citizens that live and walk among us, are pleading for any extension possible to make ends meet. No :one is superior or immune during this financial crisis and by the actions that RPPSOA has shown in the last few days, demonstrate otherwise The City of Rohnert Park has a highly qualified and experienced Public Safety Department and they will continue to PROTECT and SERVE the community and residents of Rohnert Park regardless of budget cuts. RPEA .has made. great. strides in reducing salaries and benefits in. order to help the City during this financial crisis and -to help ensure the City.will . be here to support the community in the future. It is now time for RPPSOA to do the same.