HomeMy WebLinkAboutSPJT Minutes 1984-06-27SRCC/SRRA Minutes (Sp. Joint) 6/27/84 Page 1
In the Webb Room of the San Rafael Public Library, Wednesday, June 27, 1984,
at 4:00 PM.
Special Joint Present: Lawrence E. Mulryan, Mayor/Agency Chairman
Meeting: Dorothy L. Breiner, Councilmember/
Agency Member
Gary R. Frugoli, Councilmember/Agency Member
Richard P. Nave, Councilmember/Agency Member
Jerry Russom, Councilmember/Agency Member
Also Present: Robert F. Beyer, City Manager/Executive Director
Jeanne M. Leoncini, City Clerk/Agency Secretary
Peter Muzio, City Attorney/Agency Attorney
RE: BUDGET, FY 1984/85 (CM) - File 8-5
Mayor Mulryan opened the budget hearing, and asked City Manager Beyer
to summarize his budget message. Mr. Beyer pointed out that he has
amended the budget message by a memo involving the Motor Vehicle In -
Lieu Fees, which could provide an additional $710,000 to the City of
San Rafael. However, due to the Jarvis initiative (Proposition 36)
on the November ballot, Mr. Beyer recommended that this revenue not
be considered at this time. He pointed out that the projected revenue
for FY 1984/85 is $18,502,400, which is up 6.6% from the previous
fiscal year; and that the general fund will increase about 7.6% com-
pared to this present year. Mr. Beyer added that the 1984/85 expend-
iture program for municipal services represents an increase of 4.1%.
The first proposed budget to be considered was that of the City
Council, which is up $3,844 from last fiscal year. Assistant City
Manager Nicolai explained the increase, indicating that it includes
salary increases granted in 1983, and increase of $1,000 in travel
and conference to more accurately reflect actual expenditures over
the last four years, and a slight increase in printing, advertising
and office supplies.
Councilmember Frugoli moved and Councilmember Breiner seconded, to
approve the City Council budget for a total of $47,087.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Breiner, Frugoli, Nave, Russom & Mayor Mulryan
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
It was pointed out that this, and subsequent approvals of the pro-
posed budget, are conceptual approvals pending review of the entire
budget at the end of the hearings. Mayor Mulryan added that it is,
in fact, unnecessary to have a formal motion on each individual budget.
Assistant City Manager Nicolai informed the Council that the City Clerk's
budget is $107,316, up from $98,355 last year. This is due to the two-
year contract for salaries, and an increase of $900 in temporary help
and vacation coverage; increases in costs of printing and advertising,
$3,100 for the Municipal Code update; and an increase of $300 for
maintenance of equipment.
Councilmember Frugoli moved and Councilmember Nave seconded, to approve
the budget as proposed, including a 5% merit increase for the City
Clerk.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Breiner, Frugoli, Nave, Russom & Mayor Mulryan
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
The City Attorney's budget was the next to be considered, and Assist-
ant City Manager Nicolai briefed the Council, informing them that while
there is an increase for the three authorized positions there is a
reduction in the contractual services account for outside attorneys'
fees. Also, in the fringe benefits there is a decrease because the
City Attorney is no longer included in the retirement system. There
is a slight increase in travel and conferences of $300, an increase
in maintenance of equipment of $100, and books for $250.
Councilmember Breiner moved and Councilmember Frugoli seconded, to
approve the proposed budget for the City Attorney's office at $133,690,
including an increase in salary for the City Attorney to $2,400 per month.
SRCC/SRRA Meeting (Sp. Joint) 6/27/84 Page 1
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AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Breiner, Frugoli, Nave, Russom & Mayor Mulryan
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
The City Manager's budget was then considered, and Assistant City
Manager Nicolai informed the Council that this budget includes five
full positions, where in the past one position was split between the
City Manager's account and the General Services account. Ms. Nicolai
mentioned that the salary figure includes the City Manager's adjusted
salary which was recently negotiated, and the salary adjustments in
the two-year contract for other personnel, as well as the full funding
for the Administrative Assistant, half of which was previously charged
to General Services. Included in the Supplies and Services account
is a $10,000 allocation for training of management, mid -management and
first-line supervisors. There is also a $2,000 increase in Travel
and Training as w ll as Q f'ce lies and maintenance. or $550, as
well as $3,500 under cape. ll ouu for a memory typewriter.
Councilmember Russom informed the Council that he, Councilmember
Breiner and City Manager Beyer had met some time ago with represent-
atives of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants Association
regarding forming some sort of marketing effort for downtown San Rafael
to come up with some ways to enhance the City's ability to compete with
the new shopping centers. The possibility of the City taking the lead
and being a catalyst in a program along those lines, was suggested by
Councilmember Russom, who recommended that funds be allocated to hire
a parttime professional to play the coordinating role. He suggested
that City Manager Beyer put together some thoughts along that line
with some indication of what the cost might be, and bring the inform-
ation back before the budget is finalized. The Council agreed.
The Council unanimously approved the City Manager's proposed budget,
at $242,099.
The Finance Department budget was reviewed by Assistant City Manager
Nicolai, indicating a decrease of $5,409, due to funds which were
previously budgeted in Finance for computerized accounting being trans-
ferred to Central Services. It was noted that there were no changes
in fulltime staffing.
Ms. Nicolai called the Council's attention to the Parking Citations
budget, also administered by the Finance Department, decreased by
$9,137 due to the computerized system being transferred to Central
Services.
The Finance Department budget, at $259,134, and the Parking Citations
budget at $36,587, were approved.
In reviewing the Personnel Department budget, Ms. Nicolai informed
the Council that the increases, other than the customary salary
contract, were in contractual services ($4,100) and advertising
($4,000) to more accurately reflect the current costs for recruit-
ment, testing and re-employment physicals. Also included are a
$400 increase for travel, a $75 increase in office supplies; and
under Capital Outlay, $750 for a computer terminal work station.
The Personnel Department budget was approved at $104,162.
The Library budget was then considered, and Assistant City Manager
Nicolai noted that while no changes were requested in fulltime person-
nel, there is a requested increase of $4,000 in parttime help to
allow the Children's Room to open two more evenings a week. In addition,
there is a request for $10,000 from the general fund for the book
budget, which will probably receive an additional $15,000 from the
Davidson Bequest fund. Upon questioning by the Council, Ms. Nicolai
indicated that the $15,000 Davidson money is not included in the pro-
posed $529,213 budget.
Councilmember Breiner inquired about nonresident use of the Library,
and Director Stratford informed the Council that about 3070 of those
using the Library are nonresident, but this is balanced by the cooper-
ative agreement which allows San Rafael residents to use the other
libraries throughout the County. There is a yearly report on usage,
which indicates an even distribution of users.
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Also, there is $800 budgeted under Capital Outlay for a better
quality printer for the microcomputer.
James S. Greenan, Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees, expressed
concern over the continued use of the Davidson Bequest funds, which
were to have been used for permanent improvement of library services.
He felt it was not wise to use the funds for normal operating expendi-
tures, although this was originally done because of the financial sit-
uation of the City. Since the City is now in a more secure financial
condition, this need no longer exists.
Mr. Greenan then spoke regarding the Library Outreach Program, which
serves shut-ins, and requested a $5,000 allocation from the General
Fund to keep this valuable asset operating. Lyman McBride of the
Library Board also spoke in this regard, citing the work of the Outreach
program and urging the allocation. Mayor Mulryan asked what the Board's
position would be if the $5,000 would be taken from the Davidson monies,
and Mr. McBride stated the Board would not like to see that done unless
the City actually did not have the money to allocate. Mayor Mulryan
pointed out that this is a tightly balanced budget and does not allow
for additional expenditures at this time. Councilmember Frugoli men-
tioned that this might be an item for the Buck Foundation, on a sharing
basis. Councilmember Russom agreed this is a worthwhile program, and
the Council discussed the possibility of coming up with the $15,000 for
the book budget out of some other expenditures which might be cut back,
and taking the $5,000 for Outreach from the Davidson funds. Council -
member Breiner recommended that an endowment -type program could be set
up, for bequests to the Outreach Program, possibly while people are
alive that they could be contributing.
Councilmember Frugoli moved and Councilmember Russom seconded, to approve
the library budget of $529,213, plus an additional allocation of $15,000
for the book budget from the General Fund, or some other source, but not
from the Davidson Bequest funds; and that regarding the Outreach Program,
if no funding is found by September, to come back and possibly take the
$5,000 from the Davidson funds.
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Breiner, Frugoli, Nave, Russom & Mayor Mulryan
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Assistant City Manager Nicolai briefed the Cultural Affairs budget,
indicating an increase in the number of hours budgeted for the cur-
ator, which has also been transferred from the contractual services
account to parttime, resulting in a reduction. $2,600 is requested
for janitorial services and $800 for a typewriter to replace a worn-
out machine. The Cultural Affairs budget was approved at $107,838,
with no changes.
The Recreation Department budget was described by Ms. Nicolai as com-
prising two segments - the General Fund and the Revolving Fund, and
explained their interrelated functions. She mentioned that the
$108,645 increase is partly explained by the additional $99,000 for the
Pickleweed Community Center, involving fixed costs to operate and
maintain the facility. With regard to the Revolving Fund, it is
anticipated that the Recreation programs should generate a profit of
$94,440, which will be transferred back to the General Fund.
Councilmember Nave recommended that staff look into reducing the fees
for the softball teams, perhaps in cooperation with the Softball Assoc-
iation. Ms. Nicolai agreed to do so. It was agreed that this could
probably be accomplished by adjusting administrative costs, while keep-
ing up the maintenance of the facility.
The Recreation budget was given conceptual approval, at $352,771 General
Fund and $1,228,960 Revolving Fund.
After a brief recess, the General Services budget was considered.
Assistant City Manager Nicolai explained that this budget incorporates
the internal programs of Building Maintenance, Purchasing, Duplicating
and Management Information Services (a new program). This budget
reflects the transfers from Finance and the Non -Departmental account
for the various finance/payroll services and the centralized mail function
The refurbishing of City Hall - rugs, etc. was discussed, and the
Council agreed that this will await the results of the November
election.
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The Council unanimously gave conceptual approval to the General
Services budget, at $697,607.
The Planning Department budget was the next to be considered, and
Assistant City Manager Nicolai mentioned upgrading of one position,
Associate Planner, to Senior Planner, for $2,000, $23,000 for a
temporary Planning Technician to fill in while the Senior Planner
is on special assignment; also, $3,000 for overtime. The Capital
Outlay request is for a memory writer typewriter at $3,000, to
replace old equipment.
The Planning Department budget was approved at $429,683, on a con-
ceptual basis as were all of the budgets during this session.
Councilmember Breiner indicated she had received a communication
addressed to the City Council, from Barbara Cerrutti, Tennis
Volunteer, 35 Grove Street, San Rafael requesting Council
consideration to allocate a specific amount ($50,000) for the
purpose of improving the surface of Albert Park tennis courts
and landscaping the surrounding grounds.
The Special Joint Meeting of the San Rafael City Council and
Redevelopment Agency adjourned to the second budget hearing on
Thursday, June 28, 1984, at 7:30 PM in the Webb Room of the
Public Library.
JEANNE.- E NCINI,Ci y Clerk Agency
Secretary
APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 1984
LAWRENCE E. MULRYAN, Mayor/Agency Chairman
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