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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-11/10/1998-AdjournedNovember 10,1998 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Council -Manager Form of Government Adjourned Meeting - 7:55 p.m. An adjourned meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on Tuesday, November 10, 1998, at 7:55 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Fort Collins City Hall. Roll Call was answered by the following Councilmembers: Azari, Bertschy, Byrne, Kneeland, Mason, Smith and Wanner. Staff Members Present: Fischbach, Krajicek and Roy. Ordinance No. 208,1998 Being the Annual Appropriation Ordinance Relating to the Annual Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 1999 and Amending the Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 1999, and Ending December 31, 1999, and Fixing the Mill Levy for Fiscal Year 1999, Adopted on First Reading The following is staff s memorandum on this item. "Executive Summary At its regular meeting on November 3, Council postponed consideration of Ordinance No. 208, 1998, to allow additional discussion at the Study Session regarding Pay Plan Implementation. This Ordinance amends the 1999 Budget in the amount of $337, 984, 621 for the City of Fort Collins and $2,441,126 in 1999 for the Firefighters' Pension Fund. The Net City Budget which excludes internal transfers between funds and Firefighters' Pension is $243, 676, 043 for 1999. The Net City Budget is allocated to: Adopted 1999 Operations $175,053,906 Debt Service $ 5,502,818 Capital $ 55,321,315 391 Amended 1999 $182,126, 930 $ 5,502,818 $ 56,046,295 November 10, 1998 This Ordinance also sets the 1999 City mill levy at 9.797 mills, unchanged from 1998. The levy distribution is as follows: General Fund 8.717 Parks Debt Service 1.080 The General Fund will contribute 67.09% of the operating property tax generated by the 8.717 mills to Poudre Fire Authority in accordance with the adopted Revenue Allocation Formula, or a lesser amount as may be imposed by the growth limits associated with Article X, Section 20, of the State Constitution. In addition, the property tax generated by one mill will be contributed by the General Fund to PFA for capital use. BACKGROUND: City Council adopted the 1998 and 1999 Biennial Budget and appropriated monies for expenditure in fiscal year 1998. Council is required by the State and by the City Charter to adopt an annual appropriation for the ensuing fiscal year (1999) based on the adopted budget. Because the City adopted a two-year budget plan, it was anticipated that some changes or exceptions to the 1999 budget plan would be necessary. In March of this year, the Finance Committee reviewed and concurred with the process and the criteria for considering amendments to the 1999 budget plan. The criteria were: ✓ Needs and adjustments related to current services that, without adjustment, willsignifcantly impair the provision of that service ✓ Those specifically directed by the City Council/City Manager ✓ New programs or enhanced services requested by the community The Finance Committee and the Council, at its September 22, 1998 Study Session reviewed the recommended amendments to the adopted 1999 budget plan. No changes to the recommended amendments were suggested. From the review by the Finance Committee and at the Council Study Session, the amended 1999 Annual City Budget represented by this Ordinance is presented to Council for its consideration and adoption. Final adoption is scheduled for November 17. Changes to the 1999 City Manager's Budget Service Areas submitted a number of items to be considered for adjustments to the 1999 budget plan. The requests for adjustment totaled $3,436,894 in ongoing and $2,283,484 for one-time dollars. Of these total amounts, the requests for budget adjustments to the 1999 General Fund budges amount to $1,606,889 ongoing and $1,482, 727 for one-time dollars. The Transportation Services 392 November 10, 1998 Fund requested $366,328 in ongoing, the Transit Services Fund requested $110, 000 in ongoing and $800,757 in one-time adjustments. The Light and Power Fund requested an ongoing adjustment of $1,353,677. After reviewing these requests in relation to the criteria and in relation to the long-range projected revenues and expenditures, the City Manager is recommending only a few amendments to the 1999 General Fund budget plan, together with the amendments requested by the Transportation Fund, Transit Fund, and the Light and Power Fund. The recommended amendments are: Ongoing One -Time a. Street Oversizing $ 300, 000 b. Contractual Engineers for Development Review (2.0) $100,496 c. School Resource Ojfcers $ 76,724 d. Police Dispatchers (2.0) $ 123,688 $ 39,800 e. Clerical Support for Building & Zoning (50) $ 19,136 f. Contractual Plans Analyst for Development Review (1.0) $ 45,000 g. Emergency Management Staffing $ 37,500 h. Assistant City Attorney (50) $ 22,392 I. Municipal Court Supervisor* $ 30,783 j. Library: move technical services from Main Library to offsite location $ 50,000 $ 2,750 k. Light & Power: Purchase Power $1,353,677 1. SmartTrips $ 366,328 in. Transfort/Dial-a-Ride $ 110.000 $ 800.757 TOTAL $ 2,113,504 $1,365,527 * Funding for this position will be supported out of Camera Radar revenues. Package Descriptions a. Street Oversizing - ($300, 000 one-time/Sales & Use Tax Fund -Use Tax Carryover reserve) -in March, 1998, modifications to the Street Oversizing Fee Program were adopted by City Council. The increase in the General Fund commitment was included in the recommended modifications to the Street Oversizing Fee Program. The current General Fund contribution to Street Oversizing is $200, 000 per year. The modifications that were adopted by Council included increasing the General Fund contribution by $300, 000 for a total commitment of $500, 000 per year. The recommended adjustment is use of one-time dollars for 1999 and ongoing dollars for 2000 and ensuing years. 393 November 10, 1998 b. Contractual En ig'neers for Development Review - ($100,496 one-time/General Fund) - two full-time contractual civil engineering positions were included in the 1998 budget. The present workload for the current staff of five (5) engineers who review development proposals (and this includes the two contractual positions) is approximately 130 projects - this is roughly 26 projects per engineer. The average project load should be 25-30projects per engineer to be efficient and available for customer service and meetings. It is anticipated that the workload will continue at present levels. Consequently, these two contractual positions need to be continued in 1999 to maintain present levels of efficiency. C. School Resource O :cers (SRO) - ($76,724 one-time/General Fund) - the Poudre School District (PSD) has asked Fort Collins Police Services to expand the current School Resource Officer program to include three officers for the six junior high schools (Blevins, Boltz, Lesher, Preston, Webber, and Lincoln) and one officer dedicated to Mountain View School on LaPorte Avenue. In order to be able to accommodate this request, an additional sergeant will be added to supervise the Youth Services Unit. PSD has agreed to f nance the majority of the cost of four officers. For first year program costs, PSD will provide $150, 000 on January], 1999followed byan annual contribution on September 15, 1999 of$297,740plus a school finance act increase for each future year. In addition, Police Services has been awarded a grant totaling $375,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice under the COPS UNIVERSAL program (Clinton Cops Program). This grant is in effect for three years and will provide partial funding ($25,000 per officer per year) for four additional school resource police officers and one Youth Services sergeant. The General Fund will provide $76, 724 for the first year. The funds from PSD and the COPS UNIVERSAL grant will be appropriated along with the General Fund amount in the 1999 budget appropriation. No additional General Fund monies will be needed in years two and three. Once the grant funds have been depleted the General Fund will finance the cost of the sergeant and remaining SRO's cost of approximately $130, 000 beginning in 2001. d. Police Dispatchers - ($123, 688 ongoing/General Fund; $39, 800 one-time/General Fund) - to eliminate under staffing and begin to operate at a level approaching an adequate level of efficiency, two additional dispatchers were hired in 1998. While resources cannot be provided to staff the dispatch/communications center to the level that all possible contingencies could be comfortably handled, staffing must occur at a level that ensures the ability to properly handle likely emergencies. Therefore, in 1998, two dispatchers were hired with anticipated savings from vacancies in personal services (resources earmarked for employee compensation) of the Police Services budget. Because this is a continuing obligation, ongoing funding is being recommended as an adjustment to the 1999 budget. e. Clerical Support for Building and Zoning Services - ($19,136 ongoing/General Fund) - this is to increase the Building and Zoning department's currently authorized half-time (50FTE) secretarial position to full-time (1.0) status. This high priority need has appeared in the Service Area (Community Planning and Environmental Services) budget request for the past 394 November 10, 1998 three budget cycles. To keep up with the workload, the department has hired temporary clerical assistance. Resources for the temporary position had come from setting other improvements aside, e.g., the document conversion project. However, the turnover in this position has been high -four vacancies within one year, primarily because of the temporary nature of the job as well as the uncertainty of the funding from one year to the next. f. Contractual Plans Analyst for Development Review - ($45, 000 one-timelGeneral Fund) - this is a continuation of a Plans Analyst contractual position in the Building and Zoning department. This position was funded in the 1998 budget to address the rising workload to review plans before a building permit is issued. The position is also used to augment the field inspection staff in times of heavy workloads and inspector absences. Building permit activity - plans reviewed, permits issued, and inspections performed - continue to increase. g. EmerQencvManagementStafnQ-($37,500ongoing/General Fund) -the City has supported a moderate Emergency Management Program for a number of years. With the food last year and the emerging needs to find ways to improve the ways in which our community can prepare for and respond to a variety of emergency situations, the City and Poudre Fire Authority have aggressively pursued and secured federal grant monies to upgrade our notification procedures and better prepare the entire community to successfully deal with emergencies that will undoubtedly occur. These General Fund resources ($37,500) will be added along with additional resources from Utilities and transferred to the Poudre Fire Authority to provide the necessary staffing to carry out the grant activities to which the City is now committed and to provide training and support that will enable staff to continue to improve its capabilities for emergency response. h. Assistant CitvAttorney - ($22, 932 ongoing/General Fund) -The City Attorney has proposed to reconfigure a part-time contractual position that has served as a Municipal Court Prosecutor to a three-quarter time (75 FTE) position as an Assistant City Attorney. The funding requested is to bridge the gap between the resources that are currently budgeted for the part-time position and to bring funding up to a level equivalent to a three-quarter time Assistant City Attorney position. 1. Municipal Court Supervisor - ($30, 783) ongoing/General Fund - Camera Radar) - the Municipal Judge relinquished a ha f time (50 FTE) Administrative Clerkposition which was vacant, and reallocated those resources to the position of Municipal Court Supervisor. Because a majority of the workperformed by the Court Supervisor is related to the Camera Radar program, resources from this program are recommended to be used to round out the funding for this position. Camera radar funds which cover this item have already been appropriated in August 1998 by adoption of Ordinance No. 13Z 1998. KISI November 10, 1998 j. Library: Move Technical Services from the Main Library to an O(fsite Location - ($50, 000 ongoing/General Fund; $2, 750 one-time/General Fund) - moving technical services offsite would free space for public uses and provide the necessary room for staff to process the volume of acquisitions which has increased with the opening of the Harmony Library. In order toprocess acquisitions more efficiently and to cut down on workrelated injuries, more space is needed. There is noway to expand Technical Services in the Main Library without taking space away from the public. The City needs to rent at least 3,000 square feet close to the Main Library for Technical Services. k. Lizht & Power Fund/Purchase Power - ($1,353,677 ongoing/Light & Power Fund) - this budget adjustment is necessary because of the unanticipated increase in Purchase Power required to pay Platte River Power Authority for the additional energy requirements for Hewlett-Packard and Celestica. The expense will be offset through the electric utility revenues collected from these customers. SmartTrios - ($92, 000 ongoing/Congestion Mitigation Air Quality; $274, 328 ongoing/Small Urban Allocation of Federal dollars) - additional revenues from federal transportation dollars has been approved by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the amount of $366,328. The $366,328 along with other funding will be used to effectively implement the adopted North Front Range Transportation Demand Management Plan and reach the City's mode shift targets; carpooling, van pooling, telecommuting, and working with transportation representatives of businesses. In. Transfort/Dial-a-Ride-($110,000 ongoing/CSUStudent Fees; $625, 000 one-time/Colorado Coalition Grant (Federal TransitAdministration); $175,757one-time/Colorado Department of Transportation) - this adjustment is necessary to account for grants and other revenue. The City will participate in the Colorado Coalition grant request for fiscal year 1999 with a request for $625, 000 from the Federal Transit Administration. These funds will be used to buy new buses for expanded service and for improvements to bus transit centers. Matching funds of $156,250 will be provided from capital reserves. Colorado State University students passed a referendum in April to increase student fees by $2.75 per semester in order to fund night transit service when CSU is in session. This service will be provided seven nights a week and is open to the general public as well. It is anticipated that the additional fees will generate approximately $110.000 per year in additional revenue. In 1998, the City, through Transfort, agreed to administer the grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation for rural service in Larimer County. The funds are passed through to participating agencies. Funds are alsoprovidedfor administration ofthe grant. The projected amount of the grant is $96, 000 with $79, 757 provided by matching funds from participating agencies for a total of $175.757. 396 November 10, 1998 1999 Employee Compensation 1999 Employee Compensation - ($1,158,541; $879,141 Productivity Savings Reserve; $279,400Use Tax Carryover Reserve) - The implementation of the 1998-1999 Pay Plan included a phase -in of costs over a two year period. However, duringpreparation for implementation, several issues were raised dealing with the fairness of a phase -in as well as the fact that there will be a significant increase in medical benefits costs next year. Those employees at the top of the old pay range expected that they should be moved to the top of the new range since they were performing duties consistent with the requirements of the top of the range. Likewise, those employees within the old pay range expected to be moved proportionately within the new range, consistent with their duties and responsibilities. The second issue ofthe increase in medical benefits costs was identified in mid - October by the consultant to the Benefits Fund. The consultant recommended that because ofrising medical costs and because ofminimal increases in the amounts allocated for medical benefits over the past several years, a 20% increase to the employer share of the medical portion is required along with an increase for the employee share. These appropriations of $879,141 from the General Fund departmental Productivity Savings Reserve and $2 79,400from the Use Tax Carryover reserve in the Sales and Use Tax Fund are the additional amounts needed to address the issues of fairness and the increase in medical benefits costs. These additional funds along with amounts already included in the 1999 adopted budget will fully address the issues. Those amounts already in the 1999 adopted budget are $378,139 (included in the adopted 1999 budgetfor inflationary adjustments to non personal services costs), $1,563,320 (included in the 1999 adopted budget for personal services), and $100, 000 (included in the 1999 budget for the Street Oversizing Fee Exemption Program which was suspended by Council for an indefinite period). The total will be pooled in the General Fund and distributed during the fiscal year. At that time, an appropriation ordinance will be presented to Council that will transfer monies to those funds that have employees subsidized by the General Fund. Staff believes that this is the fairest method to implement the Pay Plan and to address the increased medical costs to the City's General Fund. This is why we are proposing to take 100% of the productivity savings on the books as of the end of 1997 less any appropriations from productivity savings thus far in 1998 ($879,141) which means we only need $279,400 ofadditional General Fund support from the Use Tax Carryover Reserve. The staff believes that, although it will be more difficult in preparing the 2000-2001 budget, the staff will be able to present a balanced budget for the City Council. 1997 Revenue Retention ($331,016 - one-time/Sales & Use Tax Fund- Use Tax Carryover Reserve) In 1992, voters approved an amendment to the Colorado Constitution (Amendment 1) that places limits on revenue and expenditures ofstate and all local governments and agencies. Even though the limit is placed on both revenue and expenditures, in practice the limit most directly impacts 397 November 10, 1998 revenue collections. Growth in revenue is limited to the percentage increase in the Denver -Boulder Consumer Price Index plus the percentage increase in local growth (new construction and annexation). This combined percentage is added to the preceding year's revenue base, giving the dollar limit allowed for revenue collection in the ensuing year. In November 1997, Fort Collins' voters approved a ballot measure that allows the City to retain revenues that exceed the imposed growth limit. The measure was effective for 1996 and ensuing years. The approved measure also specified that any retained revenue over the growth limit must be used for certain designated purposes. ✓ Public health and safety (including, but not limited to, environmental monitoring and mitigation) ✓ Transportation ✓ Growth management ✓ Maintenance and repair of public facilities In 1997, revenue exceeded the growth limit by $331,026. Of the $331,026, $262,789 was from General Fund general revenues and $68,237 was from fees or other restricted revenue. The $262, 789 must be used for projects within the four specified purposes approved by the voters. The $68,237 is further restricted in that use of those funds must be for the purpose for which they were collected, in addition to the requirement that they be used for the designated purposes in accordance with the voter approved ballot measure. The $331,026 is held in reserve within the funds in which the revenue was collected and accounted for. The City Manager recommends that for 1997 revenue that exceeded the growth limit, Council substitute General Fund general revenues held in reserve for the $68,237 collected from fees or other restricted revenue. Substituting general revenues would allow the total $331,026 to be allocated for transportation uses and used for the following purposes in 1999. Local match for Transportation Planning proiects ($60.000) - These funds will provide the Fort Collins share of participation in the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for 1999. The funds are needed to provide the City's portion of local matching funds for various projects and plans. As a general rule, the local share is 18% with the remainder provided by state and federal funds. For some projects, the local portion is split with other members of the MPO. On other projects, such as the Harmony Bikelane project, Fort Collins provides all of the local matching funds. About $40, 000 of this request is for the Harmony Bikelane project. The total for all projects and plans that will be matched by this request is about $374, 000, with the City's share being $62, 785. This effectively leverages cityparticipation at a rate of 17% local funds and 83% state and federal funds. Examples of other projects that will be funded include general MPO support (administration, member assistance, planning), the North Front Range Transportation Alternatives Feasibility Study, the I-25/Hwy 14 interchange study, and Regional Urban Street W. November 10, 1998 Standards, among others. A detailed list of all the projects and plans is contained in the MPO Unified Planning Work Program and the Regional 2020 Transportation Plan. Pavement Management ($271, 026) - The Pavement Management Program has the largest unfunded need ofall the maintenance needs identified in transportation, with a deficit in 1998 of $1,275,000. This program provides regular refurbishment and maintenance ofpavement throughout the city, including patching, crack sealing and pavement overlays. Specific pavement projects are determined on a priority basis by Engineering staff with the assistance of a computerized pavement management program. Housekeeping Budget Adjustments There are a number of adjustments to the 1999 budget plan that are necessary to transfer and appropriate funds for 1999 uses. The adjustments adjust or redirect where the monies were placed in the adopted 1999 budget plan to the purpose originally planned or accounts for revenue to be received as a result of Council action in 1998. These are in addition to those adjustments addressed above. ✓ Offzce Building Lease/Purchase Payment -funds were set aside in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for the annual lease/purchase payment for the new office building. The total amount set aside and included in the 1999 budget is approximately $900,000. Original estimates called for payment to begin in 2000 so, rather than have the dollars that were set aside not being used, the monies were included for various one-time projects such as major building maintenance and Facilities Master Plan activities in the 1999 budget. However, because of the timing of the financepackage for the office building and the parking structure, $660, 078 is needed for a payment in 1999 and the dollars will be redirected from uses included in the 1999 budget plan. The full $900, 000 ongoing for the lease/purchase payment will be allocated in 2000. ✓ Parkin Structure Lease/Purchase Payment - $300,000 was included in the 1999 General Fund budget. In addition, $300,000 is to be received from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in 1999 but was not included in the 1999 budget. An adjustment is needed to appropriate the $300, 000 from DDA for the 1999 parking structure payment. ✓ Parking Structure Operation and Maintenance - dollars were included in the 1999 General Fund budget to be used for the operation and maintenance of the parking structure for a partial year. An adjustment to the 1999 budget is needed to transfer $17,541 from the General Fund to the Transportation Fund and appropriate the use of those dollars. ✓ Equipment Loan Funds - these funds allow General Fund departments to borrow from an equipment loan pool to "bridge " the period of time between when the equipment is needed and the next available lease/purchase package. These funds lapse or are held in the Council approved reserve Designated for Equipment Loans. Amounts held in this reserve are 399 November 10, 1998 appropriated each year for use and any unused balance lapses back into the reserve. The amount that would be available for 1999 was unknown at the time the biennial budget was adopted and therefore, not included in the 1999 budget plan. This adjustment is needed to appropriate $600, 000 from the Equipment Loan Reserve for use in 1999. ✓ Corporate Graphic Position - in order to provide organization -wide graphic services, a graphics position was transferred in 1998 from the Transportation Fund to the General Fund. The position in the Transportation Fund was supported by the General Fund. This adjustment is needed to reduce the transfer from the General Fund to the Transportation Fund by $39,854. Appropriations have been reduced in the Transportation Services Fund by the same amount. ✓ Street OversizinQ - Council adopted modifications to the Street Oversizing Fee Program in March 1998. The fee revenue expected from the modifications was not included in the 1999 budget plan. This adjustment of $730, 000 is needed to account for the anticipated revenue from the Fee Program. ✓ Sales and Use Tax Fund - Sales tax collections for 1999 have been revised based on the latest 1998 estimated collections. The adopted 1998 budget estimated a 6.6% increase over 1997 collections. Based on 1998 collections through September, the projected increase in collections has been revised to 9.2%. The 1999 estimated sales tax collections has been revised downward from 6.7% to 5.5% but, because the percentage is applied to a higher 1998 base, the projected dollar amount of collections is greater. An additional $327,969 is included in the appropriation ordinance for transfer to the General Fund. The $327,969 is for the increase in sales tax only. There is no change in appropriations for use tax. Any collections over the 1999 ceiling will be held in the Use Tax Carryover Reserve in the Sales and Use Tax Fund. ✓ Choice Streets Program - Council recently approved a series of amendments to sections of the City Code relating to the Choice Streets System Comprehensive Program. This program was developed to improve the technical standards and regulative authorities governing the construction and maintenance ofstreets, alleys, sidewalks, and other related infrastructure in the City. Elements ofthe plan include: (1) the development ofa construction permit and infrastructure construction inspection fees; (2) establishment of a two-year maintenance guarantee and a five-year repair guarantee associated with the construction of streets, curbs, gutters and related drainage structures, sidewalks and bikeways; (3) development of a uniform set of standards for street repairs and reconstructions; (4) revised licensing and bonding requirements for contractors working in City rights -of -way; (5) developing revised fees for street cuts; and (6) development ofregulations concerning annexed streets, private streets, and private drives. M November 10, 1998 This item appropriates $320, 000 in the General Fund from the estimated fees to be collected from construction inspection fees. This will allow the General Fund to reallocate $320, 000 for transfer to the Capital Projects Fund Pavement Management Program. In addition, $350,000 will be appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund Pavement Management Program from the revised fees for street cuts. Finally, $27, 000 will be appropriated in the General Fund Engineering budget from newly -developed construction permit fees and contractor licensing fees to offset construction inspection and administrative costs. " Councilmember Wanner asked if all individuals who are in the librarian category have degrees. City Manager Fischbach stated that information can be obtained for the Council. Councilmember Bertschy asked about the impact on the total budget. Doug Smith, Budget Director, spoke regarding the gap between the personal services budget and the amount for full implementation for Option #1. Councilmember Wanner made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Smith, to adopt Ordinance No. 208, 1998 on First Reading, including Option #2 as presented in the Study Session Agenda Item Summary to provide that additional dollars are to be taken first from productivity savings until such time as those funds are depleted and giving direction for a similar approach next year, and giving direction to staff to prepare a revised Ordinance reflecting this motion for Second Reading. Councilmember Bertschy spoke in favor of setting a maximum dollar cap. City Manager Fischbach stated that Option #2 does reference a $200,000 dollar cap. Councilmember Wanner stated that the intent is that the General Fund pool for personal services of approximately $1.5 million and all other monies should be taken from productivity savings this year and that a similar approach be followed next year. Councilmember Mason commented that Option #2 translates to an approximate 2.1% average increase for all employees over the 4.5% increase already budgeted, and asked if there would be any way to determine the average increase excluding the library and transit workers. City Manager Fischbach stated that this does include the library and transit workers, and staff will determine the average increase for all other employees. Councilmember Byrne offered a friendly amendment that on Second Reading a provision be presented to have the benchmarking done during the off years of the biennial budget every four years. Mayor Azari suggested considering that as a separate motion. City Manager Fischbach summarized his understanding of the motion: that the General Fund pool of $1.563 million shall remain; that the amounts of $378,139 and $100,000 and $231,746 all shall 401 November 10, 1998 come from productivity savings; that an effort be made to use productivity savings again next year; and that there is no other change in the appropriation ordinance. Kelly Ohlson, 2040 Bennington Circle, expressed appreciation to Council for their action and commented on the need for fairness to the taxpayers. Councilmember Smith spoke concerning salary data gathered during the creation of the fiscal and environmental impact model and noted that the City has a flat pay structure compared to other organizations, which indicates the City's efforts to be equitable across the board. Councilmember Kneeland stated that the original intent of the payplan review was to refine systems that were in place and to ensure fair and equitable compensation. She stated that the process has been poorly managed and has not contributed to building the relationships between the citizens, the elected officials, and the City staff. Councilmember Byrne spoke concerning the principle of fairness and the Council's commitment to the financial health of the community. He stated that under Other Business he will propose deliberate steps to ensure periodic policy reviews. He commented on the need for trust among the Council, citizens, and staff. Councilmember Bertschy stated he has researched public sector salary increases for the area. He stated that he will support the motion and expressed concern that the considerable cost of full implementation of the pay plan was not anticipated sooner. Councilmember Mason stated he will support the motion and expressed concern that the cost of full implementation came as a surprise to the Council. He spoke concerning other funding issues and community problems the City faces. He stated that there is a need to focus on total compensation. Councilmember Azari spoke concerning the cost of funding a service organization and the need for a good relationship between the executive staff and the employees. She expressed a concern that the next Council must carry out the second portion of these adjustments and stated that she would be supportive of full implementation at this time. She noted the City Manager's recommendation for full implementation and Council's accountability for the decision to approve an option that is not recommended by the City Manager. She stated that she will not support the motion because she would like the discussion to continue on this issue prior to Second Reading. The vote on Councilmember Warmer's motion was as follows: Yeas: Councilmembers Bertschy, Byrne, Kneeland, Mason, Smith and Wanner. Nays: Mayor Azari. 402 November 10, 1998 Other Business Councilmember Byrne suggested a need for benchmarking to occur more frequently and for regular pay plan updates not to exceed every four years on off budget years, and the submission of a Resolution for Council consideration to update the policy. Councilmember Smith asked about the rotation ofbenchmarking to review approximately one-third each year. Councilmember Mason asked if data sources for salary reviews are changed periodically. City Manager Fischbach stated that the data sources are not changed. Councilmember Kneeland clarified that the City compares total compensation with salary and benefits of other organizations. She requested that information within the next few weeks. Councilmember Byrne requested that a Resolution be prepared for Council consideration concerning the policy for pay plan updates. Councilmember Bertschy requested that the Finance Committee review the Resolution before it is presented for Council consideration. Councilmember Kneeland spoke regarding the Library Board's discussion concerning locating the library in the downtown and requested that the Resolution adopted by Council in July be brought back to clarify Council's intent that the Resolution relates to the "main" library. Councilmember Bertschy reported on the Neighborhood Task Force block captain meeting and the ongoing nature of the task force. Councilmember Kneeland spoke concerning information included in the Council packet showing development fees comparisons between Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley. City Manager Fischbach stated that staff will be reviewing development fee comparisons with the Growth Management Committee. November 10, 1998 Adjournment Councilmember Smith made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Byrne, to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss legal issues pertaining to litigation, potential litigation, and personnel matters. The vote on the motion was as follows: Yeas: Councilmembers Azari, Bertschy, Byrne, Kneeland, Mason, Smith and Wanner. Nays: None. THE MOTION CARRIED. The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened at 9:45 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. ayor ATTEST: N --�l City Clerk 404