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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 06/28/1988PRESENT Mayor Betty Turner Mayor Pro Tem Bill Pruet Council Members: David Berlanga, Sr. Leo Guerrero Clif Moss Mary Rhodes Frank Schwing Mary Pat Slavik Absent Linda Strong MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 28, 1988 3:00 P.M. City Manager Juan Garza City Attorney Hal George City Secretary Armando Chapa Mayor Betty Turner called the meeting to order in the Council Chamber of City Hall. City Secretary Chapa called the roll and verified that the necessary quorum of the Council and the required charter officers were present to conduct the meeting. Mayor Turner referred to the Minutes of the June 20 & June 21 Council Meetings, and City Secretary Chapa noted that he had been out of the office ill and was unable to approve the Minutes, noting that they will be presented for approval at the July 5, 1988 Council Meeting. Mayor Turner referred to the presentation on the David M. Griffith Cost Recovery Study, and City Manager Garza noted that the proposal prepared by the David M. Griffith Company is a solid report which contains good data from which to base the recommendations for the budget proposal. Mr. Harry Read and Ms. Mildred Ellis -Farmer presented the Council with a report on the David M. Griffith Cost Recovery Study. Mr. Read noted that their firm contracted with the City to do a cost of services review study to find out how much the General Fund is subsidizing certain activities. Mr. Read highlighted the basic precept of the study and elaborated on the objectives of the cost of services analysis. After discussion and questions by the Mayor and various Council Members, Mr. Read stated that his firm did a cost analysis on various areas which the MICROFILMED Minutes Regular Council Meeting June 28, 1988 Page 2 City is currently charging and a cost analysis on various areas where the City was delivering services without charge. He stated that their objective to the City was to do only the cost analysis and determine what the costs of providing those services were, noting it was not an efficiency study. Dan Hobbs, Management and Budget Director, noted that the David M. Griffith firm was retained by the City and their main goal was to help the City answer the question of the true costs of the 210 different activities, including direct and indirect costs. Mr. Hobbs pointed out that in terms of recommending the fees, it is the staff's recommendation and not the David M. Griffith Company. Some explanations provided by Mr. Read were the results of the study by department, the implementation of costs and implementation options available. He noted that the City has been provided with an information tool for a data base and point of reference to work from in finding areas to increase fees and revenues to the City, noting that they have turned over the data base to Dan Hobbs and will train his staff on its use. After some discussion, Mr. Read reiterated that his firm specializes in doing cost analysis work for local units of governments, noting that they did work for 1500 local units of government. Mayor Turner called for consideration of Item 1 on the agenda pertaining to the recreation fees and charges, inquiring as to how the staff arrived at their recommendations for fees. City Manager Garza noted that this is a judgement made by the staff along with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, noting that several factors were considered, and he elaborated on the factors. Mr. Garza stated that this is not a consistent recommendation; it is the staff's best judgment as to what they feel would be acceptable, noting that the Council should feel comfortable with what they will recommend. Council Member Guerrero indicated that the Council must assume that the information presented is correct at a 100 percent recovery. Mr. Guerrero expressed the opinion that he opposes taxes, noting that the user fee is probably the fairest of all taxes if there is to be any type of taxation. Assistant City Manager Hennings referred to the spreadsheet pertaining to the fees, explaining the different columns for the fees at 100%, 40% and 507 recovery including the recommended fee. Mr. Bob Bruner, Parks & Recreation Director, noted that there are two items under consideration, one being the ordinance change, and the other pertaining to the schedule of fees. Mr. Bruner provided an explanation of the fee schedules, noting that the Staff recommends that the cost recovery for adult and youth sports be reduced to forty percent, providing that charges not be set below the T r 1 Minutes Regular Council Meeting June 28, 1988 Page 3 current level. Mr. Bruner referred to the Griffith Report, indicating that in some cases the staff agreed with their recommendations. He noted that there were four fees which were not included in the study, including field rentals, and he elaborated on those fees which were not included in the study, along with the rates for the rentals of the fields. Mr. Bruner indicated that the ordinance will provide the flexibility for the staff not having to come before the Council with every fee. Discussion followed on the various fees for the different sports, and Mr. Bruner indicated that the staff would like some policy from the Council on how much the City wants to recover. Mr. Bruner explained all the recommendations, elaborating on how they were determined. He also commented on the recreational classes, indicating that the staff recommends a 60% - 40% split. Mr. Bob Kenney, a former Park & Recreation Department Athletic Director, spoke in opposition to the flag football fees and the field rental charges. He spoke briefly about the necessary costs for flag football and presented information to the Council. Council Member Berlanga expressed the opinion that the $325 fee for adult softball should remain, and the fee for flag football should be lowered. Council Member Rhodes inquired about the high fee for flag football, and Mr. Bruner explained that the increased costs are for the use of the fields. Various members of the Council expressed concern about the high fees for flag football, and Mr. Bruner explained about the cost recovery. He stated that there needs to be a policy decision, noting that other representatives from other sports will request lower fees. He stated that consideration is being given to combining the fields for different activities. Council Member Guerrero expressed the opinion that the Council cannot start playing politics and start picking and choosing. He noted that either the costs are correct or incorrect and that the City should get on the right track and recover what they want, noting that if the Council starts picking and choosing, the burden will be placed on someone else. Mr. Bruner noted that the figures are correct; the ordinance will enable the staff to discuss the fee with the user; and that costs may be able to be tailored. Council Member Berlanga noted that the Council should render a policy which is fair to everyone and should be balanced. He made a motion to table this item so that the staff can present a more equalized rate for softball, flag football and soccer. The motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Dusty Adams, 5026 Middlecoff, a softball player, spoke in favor of the 40 percent recovery for adult softball at $214, noting that they will be in T T Minutes Regular Council Meeting June 28, 1988 Page 4 opposition if there is a change in the services which are provided. He requested a breakdown of the rental fees for the fields. Mr. Rodney Lee, 610 Vaky, referred to the user fees, noting that he does not want his tax dollars to pay for the direct costs of the programs. He spoke in opposition to the charge for the field rentals. Mr. Manford Walter, affiliated with Girl's fast pitch, spoke in opposition to the field rental fees. Mr. Dean Webster, 302 Troy Drive, stated that every effort has been made to study fee increases and no consideration has been given to the revenues which the sports activities bring into the City, referring particularly to tennis. He spoke in opposition to the junior tennis fees. Mr. Bob Mapes, 754 Brock, a tennis pro at the HEB Center, spoke in opposition to the tennis fees, referring to the tennis tournaments, noting that they generate 2} times their costs just in tax dollars which the City receives. Several Council Members expressed concern over the tennis figures, and Mr. Bruner explained the rates. Mr. Lonnie Lenningham, a softball and flag football player, spoke in opposition to alcohol at the Grandstands, noting that he is not against privatization. He spoke in opposition to the field rental fees and complimented Lamar Turner, a representative of the Parks and Recreation Program. Mr. Manny Gonzales, 1038 Zarsky, a softball player, and Ms. Rose Garst, 1441 Maryland, spoke in opposition to the field rental charges. Ms. Janet Shiner, 6926 Aswan, an Aerobics Plus instructor, spoke in opposition to the 60% - 40% split, noting that she will have to find another place to teach. Mr. Curtis Rich, 5314 Crossridge, a representative of the Grandstands, spoke in favor of the 60% cost recovery of $325 for adult softball. Mr. Elroy Griffin, 10817 Mayfield, affiliated with girl's fast pitch, spoke in opposition to the field rental fees. Mayor Turner noted that the City has to increase the fees, noting that she has serious reservations about increasing any activity 100 percent. Mr. Bruner again pointed out that no study has been done on the field rentals, explaining the field rental fees. Council Member Moss made a motion to amend the ordinance before the first reading of the recommendation submitted by staff with the following ceilings: T Minutes Regular Council Meeting June 28, 1988 Page 5 youth charges not to exceed 40 percent and no other fee increase to exceed 25 percent over current fee for the following year. Council Member Berlanga requested that adjustments be made to soccer, flag football and softball fees before the second reading of the ordinance. Council Member Rhodes seconded the motion made by Council Member Moss, noting that she would like to see an adjustment of how much revenue will be produced and what the difference will be. Mayor Pro Tem Pruet expressed the opinion that the staff should look at ways to lower the costs of the services the City offers instead of raising the fees. Council Member Slavik inquired if the staff will consider the possibility of phasing out some activities which the private sector could do better, and Mr. Bruner replied in the affirmative, elaborating on the situation with the Grandstands, noting that it is hard to find someone who could do the services the City does, pointing out that the City is unique in what it does. The aforementioned motion passed unanimously by those present and voting; Strong absent. City Secretary Chapa polled the Council for their votes and the following Ordinance was passed as amended: 1. FIRST READING AMENDING THE CITY CODE, CHAPTER 36, PARKS, RECREATION, CULTURAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES, BY AMENDING SECTIONS 36-1 THROUGH 36-5 AND SECTIONS 36-7 THROUGH 36-8.1 TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF RECREATIONAL CHARGES FOR FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES, AUTHORIZING THE PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR TO ADJUST THE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES WITHIN CERTAIN LIMITATIONS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER, AND AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION OF CHARGES TO EVENTS WITH SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL NEEDS OR REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. The foregoing Ordinance was passed on first reading, as amended, by the following vote: Turner, Pruet, Berlanga, Guerrero, Moss, Rhodes, Schwing, and Slavik voting, "Aye"; Strong absent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mayor Turner referred to Item 2 pertaining to the City's vacation and sick leave policy, noting that the Council has decided to hold this item for discussion until next week's Council Meeting. 2. WITHDRAWN r Minutes Regular Council Meeting June 28, 1988 Page 6 AMENDING-ARNFNANGE-4-7-7.2.87-3'418- G-1- -8-G0?4PEN6A•T-ION--AIF&-6bA66bFIGASIGN-PLANT REGARDING-TRE-APARITA£,-A ii6E-4)F- FHFIPr- -C44 AMR-PS&69NAb-LEAVE-BAF-GIT* EMPLO3FEE81--PROVIDING--3RA3-- A3iF,E6---PAY--41bBW- =143--FARTI-GIPATS--UNDER DIFFERENT--LEAVE--PLANS#--REVISING--TRE--GIWYIS--DISABILII*--LEAVE--POIAGYt PROVIDING-FOR-SEVERANCE-AND-DECLARING-AN-EMERGENGV-. Mayor Turner called scheduled on the agenda. Mr. Philip Rosenstein, Times pertaining to various cap and read excerpts from that some of the citizens Council Members. * * * * * * * * * * * * * for petitions from the audience on matters not 949 Bobalo, referred to an article in the Caller Council Members' remarks concerning raising the tax the article. Mr. Rosenstein expressed the opinion are being misled with false statements by certain Mr. Raymond Hasker, 1813 Wallace, referred to the meeting that morning, noting that questions are duplicated and a voter never gets an answer to a question. He referred to the airport and remarks made by Assistant City Manager Hennings and asked where the money is coming from to pay off the bonds that the government already refunded to the City to repay. Mr. Trian Serbu, 14310 Playa del Rey, an architect and builder, expressed some serious concerns about what is proposed for Packery Channel, noting that he is not opposed to Lake Padre Development and is for a proper Boat Pass. He expressed the opinion that Packery Channel is the least desirable place to put the Boat Pass, elaborating on several reasons, noting that there are four other pass locations possible. Council Member Slavik referred to the Sister City Committee, noting that Ted Schoenberg will resign in September. Mrs. Slavik requested that the Council consider Ms. Sandra Langberg as the Chairman -Elect. A motion was made by Council Member Guerrero to appoint Sandra Langberg as the Chairman -Elect of the Sister City Committee. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pruet and passed unanimously by those present and voting; Strong absent. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Turner declared the Council Meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m. on June 28, 1988. * * * * * * * * * * * * * I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of the City of Corpus Christi of June 28, 1988 which were approved by the City Council on July 5, 1988. WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, this the rI4Ki. day of I )' Armando Chapa, City Secretary City of Corpus Christi B tty Turne', MAYOR