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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/13/2010 Special Council Meeting Minutes~f~~ ~~~~ i~ ~f ~.~~ SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, April 13, 2010, at or after 6:00 PM Ed Honea, Mayor Herb Kai, Vice Mayor Russell Clanagan, Council Member Patti Comerford, Council Member Carol McGorray, Council Member Jon Post, Council Member Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Honea called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Mayor Honea announced that Council Member Ziegler was out of town on business but would be participating by telephone. Town Clerk Bronson called roll. All Council Members were present, including Council Member Ziegler by telephone. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE Led by Mayor Honea. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve moved by Council Member McGorray, second by Council Member Posz Motion carried unanimously. CALL TO THE PUBLIC There were no speaker cards presented. PROCLAMATIONS MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS Council Member Comerford reported on the dedication of the San Lucas Park this past weekend. She noted that the developer paid for the cost of the event. She also thanked the Parks staff who helped make it a great event. Council Member Comerford also reported on a Special Olympics event she attended, where several participants from every category from Marana High School who all qualified for the state trials at the end of the month. Lastly, she reported on the Concert in the Park series which is sponsored by Marana and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and the Rotary groups. These take place on Saturdays through April 13, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes September at the Crossroads at Silverbell Park. The concert was well attended and a wonderful weekend of positive events in Marana. Council Member Clanagan attended the Marina Memorial at the airport on Saturday. He said that it was a moving experience and gave us the opportunity to be thankful for the things we have because of the sacrifices of military personnel who put their lives on the line every day. He also referenced a television excerpt on Matt Lauer's morning show highlighting the Ritz Carlton, Marana, Arizona. Council Member Ziegler was reporting on the weather in Chicago when she lost transmission with the meeting at 6:05 pm. She rejoined the meeting at 6:07 pm. Council Member McGorray also reported on the Marine Memorial event and a discussion with one of the family members who came out to honor her Marine. Mayor Honea reported that he spoke at the Marine Memorial; noted that there was a dedication of the Northwest Fire District station at Thornydale and Tangerine; the San Lucas Park dedication where there are about 300 homes into a vibrant community. MANAGER'S REPORT: SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS PRESENTATIONS CONSENT AGENDA LIQUOR LICENSES BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES COUNCIL ACTION A 1: Resolution No. 2010-35: Relating to Personnel; approving and authorizing staff to implement employee benefit rates for fiscal year 2011; and declaring an emergency Presented by Deb Thalsitis who began her presentation on behalf of the Human Resources, Manager and benefits committee, stating she had good news to impart regarding. the employee benefits for the coming fiscal year. With Gallagher Benefit Services, staff went out to bid on all of the benefits. Cigna will cover the town for a rate decrease often percent in the coming year. She discussed how the costs would be shared between the town and the employees. Delta Dental will be a new dental provider, guaranteeing their rates of three years and the ability to continue for an additional two years at an increase of five percent each year. Their provider list is significantly higher than the current provider. Seventy percent of employees currently use out of network dental providers, so their costs are significantly higher. Delta Dental will cover most of those providers. The town will continue to keep EDS as a secondary provider, but there .are few employees using this plan. The Flexible Spending Account provider will change. There will be almost a 13% decrease in that cost, with athree-year rate guarantee. There are no changes in life ADD and short-term disability. She stressed that even though there will be change in providers, employees will have no change in plan design. About 97% of the Cigna providers are the same as Blue Cross. There maybe some employees using a provider currently who will not be covered under Cigna - a small number -but staff is working on a transition plan for those employees. Ms. Thalasitis further stated that with the new plans, the town will save approximately $275K and employees $66K annually. To individual employees that will be significant. Staff is proposing that the savings the town will achieve be put aside for future increases rather than support ongoing programs in the general fund. Apri129 will be a benefit fair for employees to learn about the options. From May 3 to June 3, there will be an open enrollment period for employees to sign up for the providers they wish to use. She named and thanked the benefit committee 2 April 13, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes members: Julie Bailey, Rodney Campbell, Judy Capen, Dina Chavez, Jennifer Christelman, Adam Lawson, Marilyn Payton and Steven Vasquez. She also thanked Erik Montague and Vince Lorefice. Motion to approve moved by Council Member Comerford, second by Council Member McGorray. Motion carried by way of a unanimous roll call vote. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION D 1: Relating to Budget; approval of the recommended strategies and reductions outlined in the Town Manager's General Fund Operating Balanced Budget proposal for FY 2011 and direction to staff to prepare a FY 2011 budget for tentative adoption on June 1, 2010 Town Clerk Bronson noted that there was a typographical error on the agenda regarding the date the tentative budget will come back to Council for approval. The Council materials stated. the tentative budget date as June 2, 2010. Mayor Honea stated the parameters for the presentation, starting with Mr. Davidson's comments. The Mayor will then open the meeting to anyone putting in a speaker card who wishes to speak on the issue. Speakers will have three minutes. Then the Council will offer questions and comments after Mr. Davidson's presentation. Gilbert Davidson started by giving an overview of the recommended strategies approved previously by Council which was used to structure the general fund operating budget for the coming fiscal year. He highlighted the core values and the ten strategies. He also gave some background on the financial environment requiring the change to a business model and the challenges of the past two fiscal years. He noted that the strategies and reductions necessary to align ongoing expenditures with a projected 11.1 percent decrease in operating revenues to the general fund for FY 2011. These changes required identifying operating expenditures by $4M, which he noted. that he and staff believe they have accomplished while still following the Council's directives. He further noted that this budget will come back to Council on June 1 for tentative adoption, and June 15 for final adoption. Mayor Honea reiterated that there were four budget open houses, Council and staff visited four HOA boards and have had six meetings with the citizen advisory commissions to talk to representatives of the community. The Council laid out a clear direction in February to not raise taxes and live within the town's financial means. Over the past two weeks, Council has heard from parents about the after school programs. He suggested to Council that they move forward with the budget recommendations as presented, but asked to make a slight change by directing staff to develop a modified summer camp program that fully recovers the town's costs. This will allow some of the parents an opportunity to have an opportunity to take about five months to find other resources when the school year starts. Council Member Comerford moved to adopt that strategy, seconded by Council Member McGorray. Mayor Honea then called on the speakers who had submitted requests to speak on the issue. April 13, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes Janet HIine addressed Council as a member of the senior community, noting that she had attended several town meetings on this issue. She thanked the Council for being transparent and giving citizens the opportunity to speak their minds. She expressed the need to continue to support programs for seniors given the challenges they face to stay healthy and mobile. She made another comment regarding Council Member Clanagan's comment that the seniors were disrespectful to him when he tried to speak to their group. Ms. HIine acknowledged that she was the person who told him he was interrupting their class time. She then went on to explain the reason for her comment and ended her remarks by stating that her statement was not intended to be disrespectful but to let him know how important these classes were to the participants. Verla O'Donovan addressed Council, stating that she had read the budget several times, and commended Mr. Davidson and his staff for the hard work they have done in creating this proposed budget. She was present to advocate for the Marana Senior Center, noting how important the senior program has been for her during several surgeries and the social interaction that provided support and encouragement during those difficult times. She stated that she had tried other programs that did not meet her needs. She heard from a friend about the Senior Center, and once she started attending she began to get better. She noted that the Senior Center staff are some of the most caring and supportive individuals she has ever encountered. She asked Council to make as few cuts as possible. She also remarked on the water aerobic program at the Marana pool. David Saylor from the Valley of the Sun RV Park-came forward and announced that he had found a pair of glasses on the floor and will leave them with the security counter. Mayor Honea then asked Council Members to respond to the presentation and comments from the public. Mr. Davidson added an additional comment that the water aerobics will still be a function at the Marana pool and has always been contained in the budget document. Council Member Ziegler asked if the seniors had presented a list of their priorities -the programs that were most important to them. Mayor Honea responded that they have provided this information. Council Member Comerford commended staff for the responsible manner in which they compiled and presented the budget proposal. She also thanked the members of the senior community who stepped forward to volunteer and offer supplies and services to keep many of the programs going. She addressed the families who are concerned with the cuts in the summer program and the after school program -Council will continue to work with those groups and help them find solutions to offset the cuts necessary to balance the budget. Council Member Clanagan thanked Ms. Kline for her comments. He also noted that he had gone to many senior groups to learn about their programs with the hope of adopting their business model. He noted that it was not his intent to do anything to limit the seniors' ability to exercise and do the things they need to do to stay healthy. He also thanked Mr. Davidson and staff, recognizing the difficult times we are facing, especially the seniors and parents of children who must find alternatives to the town programs they previously enjoyed. Council Member Post acknowledged that in February he was somewhat harsh in his directive of where he wanted to go with the budget. He apologized but felt it was important. Most of the things he and his family enjoys are taking deep cuts in the proposed budget. When he made his comments he knew how serious the situation was 4 April 13, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes and even though he and his family will take cuts, he feels like that was the direction the town needed to take. He, too, commended Mr. Davidson and his staff, and noted that everyone will have to face the facts of this economy. Mr. Davidson thanked Council and the public for their comments and support through this monumental project. He noted being two months ahead of schedule to give Council and the community notice of upcoming changes. There was no easy way to deal with this fiscal reality. Staff had to prepare for the long haul, not just for this year. He stated that he hoped the Council as policy makers, citizens and staff who live in and work for this community would never stop working for tomorrow - to make Marana the best place live. This community has pulled together time and time again with limited resources and created amazing programs and facilities. Further, he noted that the current staff is committed to regroup and find new ways to operate under a new business model and the realities we face as a community, a state and a nation. He is very proud to serve in the organization and along side the men and women of the organization. He concluded by thanking Council for their leadership during this difficult time. Council Member Comerford called for the question. Mayor Honea noted that the question had been called and asked the Town Clerk to call roll this important issue. The motion presented by Council Member Comerford and seconded by Council Member McGorray passed unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Honea closed the item by reiterating that difficult choices had to be made for the overall future and best interests of the community. He believes the choices made show leadership for the community and to work forward. He stated he would like to set up a committee within the next couple of weeks to include Council Member Comerford and a couple of people from the senior community and a couple of people who have children in the youth programs to work on some options, perhaps even inviting other civic and social organizations to participate.. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS E 1: Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A)(3), Council may ask for discussion or consultation for legal advice with the Town Attorney concerning any matter listed on this agenda FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn moved by Council Member Post, second by Council Member McGorray. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minu Council meeting held on April 13, 2010. I further certify that a celyn C. ronson, Town Clerk 5 April 13, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes