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HomeMy WebLinkAbout041202 MINUTES Citizens Commission on Council Salaries Tel 360-478-5926 Fax 360-478-2333 239 4th Street Bremerton, WA 98337 MINUTES 4/12/02 STUDY SESSION PRESENT: Joanne Morris, Alan Strange, Mariwyn Tinsley, HR Staff-Charlotte Belmore, City Auditor-Michael Stephenson, Assistant City Treasurer-Cathy Johnson ABSENT: David Grindstaff, Jan Hillman Alan Strange sat as the Chair in the absence of Jan Hillman. Discussion with the Assistant City Treasurer and The City Auditor on the City’s Budget: The Commission asked what the budget capacity is and how it would be affected if the Council members were to receive an increase in salary. Cathy handed out a spreadsheet that showed what it would cost the City to increase Council salaries in fifty-dollar increments starting at $650 and topping out at $1,000. The figures included what it would cost the City if every Council member were to enroll in PERS. Currently there are only two Council members enrolled in PERS. The spreadsheet also showed what percentage of the General Fund each increase would be. Michael Stephenson explained that the Council members salaries would come out of the General Fund portion of the City Budget, which is $27,936,729. The Commission asked whether or not the City has to maintain a cash reserve. Michael explained that the City has a contingency reserve fund of $870,000. He also explained that there are two other reserve funds the risk management fund and the equipment rental reserve fund. The two funds are specific use funds. Mariwyn asked if she was right in looking at an increase in the Council salaries as a minor problem. Michael explained that the City is looking at some constraints next year and in the future. He also explained that among all the other issues the City would have to deal with this would be a minor one. Cathy agreed. Discussion on Council Salaries: There was a lengthy discussion on whether the ordinance submitted would go into effect in 2002 or 2003. Alan asked if the Commission could recommend that it go into effect in 2002 or does what ever they recommend have to go into effect in 2003. Charlotte explained had discussed this with the City Attorney and that it could go into effect in as little as thirty days after it has been filed with the City Clerk. The Commission asked that the City Attorney verify this.  Page 2 April 12, 2002 Because of the short time the Commission has to file the ordinance, Joanne wanted to know if the Commission could file an ordinance that would raise the Council salaries enough for them to be eligible for PERS in 2002 and file a separate one later for 2003. Michael said he felt that this was a question for the City Attorney. Alan suggested that the Commission should meet again on Monday to discuss the issue after we had answers from the City Attorney. Charlotte raised concern about not having time to get out a public notice. It was suggested that Charlotte ask the City Attorney the questions raised in today’s meeting and e-mail his responses to the Commission on Monday. There was some discussion on what information the Commission is responsible for providing to the public during a public meeting. Mariwyn asked for a definition of public hearing and public input. Charlotte said she could not give them the definitions but that she could tell them what the City Attorney said their responsibility is and that he had told her that during the Public Hearing the Commission’s responsibility is to listen to what the public has to say and that they did not need to answer questions. The Commission asked that Charlotte obtain a definition of “Public Hearing” and “Public Input”. They also asked her to find out whether or not the Commission is responsible for telling the public what they are considering. Alan explained that he thought there should be a packet of information available to the public and that it should include a cover statement explaining what the Commission is doing. He suggested the following: “This is the Citizens’ Committee to evaluate City Council Wages and this is a Public Hearing to take public input on that issue.” Mariwyn requested that Charlotte ask the City Attorney the following question, “Do we have to present a proposal for the public to respond to?” There was some discussion about the number of meetings Council members miss. The Commission suggested that the City Attorney be asked whether they can amend the salaries to be on a per meeting attended basis. It was noted that based on the survey information several cities do pay a base wage and Council members receive an additional amount based on each meeting they attend. They also asked whether this would be considered a decrease in Council salaries. There was discussion about the additional duties of the City Council President. The Commission asked, “Do they have any additional duties outside of chairing the Council meetings?” They noted that in the survey some Council Presidents were paid significantly more than the Council members. They requested that a copy of the City Charter explaining the duties of the Council members and Council President be obtained. The question of whether PERS is a benefit or a right was brought up and the fact that the City ordinance on Council salaries states, “Council Members shall receive no medical, dental or other employee benefit.” They asked that the City Attorney be asked if he concurs with David St.Pierre’s e-mail regarding the issue of whether PERS is a benefit as oppose to a right?  Page 3 April 12, 2002 There was some concern about trying to make these changes with only two meetings. Because of the time constraints on the Commission, they would like to know if they have the st right to ask for a delay of the May 1 deadline to be able to do more research. The Commission decided to get together Monday at 3:30 PM to determine what information should be put in the public information packets for Tuesday’s Public Hearing. They asked that the City Attorney be asked to attend the Public Hearings. Approval of Minutes: M/S/C/U (Tinsley/Morris) Meeting Adjourned at 6:25 PM.