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2010/01/26 City Council Minutes (Special Meeting)MINUTES OF THE ROHNERT PARK CITY COUNCIL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JOINT SPECIAL MEETING Tuesday, January 26, 2010 MEETING LOCATION: Spreckels Performing Arts Center 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park, California The Rohnert Park City Council and the Community Development Commission of the City of Rohnert Park met this date for the Joint Special Meeting scheduled to commence at 1:00 p.m. with Mayor Stafford presiding. 1. CITY COUNCIL & CDC JOINT SPECIAL MEETING - Call to Order/Roll Call Mayor Stafford called this meeting to order at 1:03 p.m. Present: Pam Stafford, Mayor Gina Belforte, Vice Mayor Arnie Breeze, Council Member (Left early as indicated in these minutes) Joseph T. Callinan, Council Member (Left early as indicated in these minutes) Jake Mackenzie, Council Member Absent: None Staff participants: Dan Schwarz, Interim City Manager; Michelle Marchetta Kenyon, City Attorney; Sandy Lipitz, Director of Administrative Services; Cathy Orme, Accounting Manager; Darrin Jenkins, Director of Community Services; John McArthur, Director of Public Works and Community Services; Brian Masterson, Director of Public Safety; Terri Mazzanti, Technical Services Division Manager; Linda Babonis, Housing & Redevelopment Manager; and Judy Hauff, City Clerk. OPENING COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Stafford commented on the flyer distributed recently by the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers Association (RPPSOA) pertaining to the City's budget. She clarified that no decisions have been made on the budget items being reviewed during tonight's work session and that no vote will be taken at this work session. She reviewed the background of other special meetings held by the Council last year, with one held about a year ago at this location for budget purposes, so this is not unusual. She explained the reason for having the meeting at this location was to have a more relaxed space to receive public input and get down to work. Mayor Stafford noted that staff spent more than a week to find a compatible time for everyone to meet for this work session and there are no ulterior motives here. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT SPECIAL MEETING (2 of 4) January 26, 2010 for City Council & Community Development Commission Council Member Breeze shared written comments for the record (copy attached to original set of these minutes) reviewing her reasons for expressing disagreement with the time and location for this 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. Her memo also included: reasons for expressing disagreement with the Public Safety Officer cuts suggested in the City Manager's Memo provided to Council for this work session; and indicated she would not be participating in this work session if not televised and would wait for a later time when the meeting would be available for all that wish to view it. Council Member Callinan shared comments for the record indicating agreement with preceding comments by Council Member Breeze and also concluded that if this meeting is not televised, he could not participate today and hoped the rest of the Council could respect that. Council discussion ensued during which City Attorney Kenyon responded to Council questions on protocol which included: confirmation that this is a properly noticed and scheduled legal meeting; the Mayor is the presiding officer; and the question of timing on allowing comments and /or responses to comments is up to the Mayor. Mayor Stafford noted that this is an open transparent meeting and advised this budget work session would proceed at this time as scheduled. Council Members Breeze and Callinan left the meeting at 1:30 p.m. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS —Mayor Stafford opened public comments at 1:30 p.m. 1. Donna Cincera, resident, shared comments supporting no more layoffs of public safety officers and urged Council to look at other considerations for budget cuts. 2. Tom Thunderhorse, resident, shared comments supporting no more layoffs of public safety officers and urged Council to look at other considerations for budget cuts. 3. Rich Gingras, resident, shared comments supporting no more layoffs of public safety officers and urged Council to look at other considerations for budget cuts. 4. Angie Smith, President of Rohnert Park Employees Association (RPEA), introduced herself and Kristina Owens, Vice President of RPEA, present with her at the podium, and shared written comments (copy attached to original set of these minutes) reviewing budget concerns in response to the recent Rohnert . Park Public Safety Officers Association (RPPSOA) public press release and stand in at Safeway over the weekend. 5. David Patton, resident, asked if a quorum of the Council is present to proceed with this meeting now that two Council Members left. Mayor Stafford confirmed the three Council Members at this meeting represents a quorum present to proceed with this meeting. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT SPECIAL MEETING (3 of 4) January 26, 2010 .for City Council & Community Development Commission 3. WORK SESSION for REVIEW of CITY & CDC BUDGETS — Interim City Manager Schwarz referred to the working outline distributed at this meeting for review of this item on the City and CDC Budgets and the meeting proceeded accordingly as follows: 1) Opening Comments (City Manager and Council) - goals, objectives, issues Opening comments on goals, objectives and issues pertaining to the challenges of current budget constraints and related matters were made consecutively and separately by the Interim City Manager and each Council Member present at this meeting in the following order: Interim City Manager Schwarz, Council Member Mackenzie, Vice Mayor Belforte and Mayor Stafford. 2) REVIEW: FY 2009 -10 Year to Date (City Manager & Admin Services Director) - Adoption of Preliminary Budget - Activity since July 1, 2009 - Changes reflected in Budget Book - Other changes - Status of Major Funds Interim City Manager Schwarz described the items provided for this portion of the work session and Director of Administrative Services Lipitz reviewed the material provided for these items. Interim City Manager Schwarz, Director of Administrative Services Lipitz and City Attorney Kenyon responded to Council /Commissioner questions throughout this review. Discussion ensued. RECESS: Mayor Stafford recessed this meeting during review of the above item at 2:40 p.m. RECONVENE: Mayor Stafford reconvened this meeting at 2:52 p.m. with all Council Members present except Council Members Breeze and Callinan. Council continued review and discussion of above item #2 and related budget concerns. 3) ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION OF BUDGET (Council and Staff) - Discussion ensued. 4) OPTIONS (Council and Staff) - Reduce expenditures - Increase annual revenues - One -time revenues Interim City Manager Schwarz reviewed these options per his memo provided on proposals to address budget issues and responded to Council /Commissioner questions. Discussion ensued. Minutes of the City of Rohnert Park JOINT SPECIAL MEETING (4 of 4) January 26, 22010 _for City Council & Community Development Commission PUBLIC COMMENTS — Mayor Stafford invited public comments at 4:22 p.m. 1. Donna Cincera, resident, expressed agreement with options being considered to reduce expenditures and commented that if certain city facilities close or things like pools shut down, people would realize it does affect them and might influence them to consider a ballot measure. 5) LONG -TERM STRATEGIES (City Manger and Council) — Interim City Manager Schwarz, Director of Administrative Services Lipitz and City Council /Commission reviewed options to consider for this item. Discussion ensued. 4. ADJOURNMENT of City Council & CDC Joint Special Meeting - Mayor Stafford adjourned this meeting at 4:43 p.m. udy auff, City Cl Pam Stafford, Mayor City of Rohnert Park City of Rohnert Park 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 1 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, fpm, 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 Cityy plans to e Distr. @ Mtg. Of: 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 1 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, fpm, 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 Cityy 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 Kristina Owens, RPEA Vice President DATE: January 26, 2010 RE: Budget Work Session - Public Comment 1 / 4'&. �G 3 w des s Distr. @ tg. Of:_T ,6 4v0 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. RPPSQA 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 RPPSQA 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.