The City Council met in Work Session on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 6:56 p.m. in Room 326, Committee Room, City County Building, 451 South State Street.
In Attendance: Council Members Carlton Christensen, Kyle LaMalfa, Luke Garrott, Jill Remington Love, Charlie Luke, Stan Penfold, and Søren Simonsen.
Staff in Attendance: Cindy Gust-Jenson, Executive Council Director; Jennifer Bruno, Executive Council Deputy Director; David Everitt, Mayor’s Chief of Staff; Edwin Rutan, City Attorney; Karen Halladay, Council Budget and Policy Analyst; Lehua Weaver, Council Policy Analyst; Mary DeLaMare-Schaefer, Community and Economic Development Deputy Director; Debra Alexander, Human Resources Director; David Salazar, Human Resources Compensation Program Administrator; Jodi Langford, Human Resources Benefits Coordinator; Skye Garcia, Risk Manager; Brian Roberts, Senior City Attorney; and Cindi Mansell, City Recorder.
Guests in Attendance: Mike Wilson, Metropolitan Water District General Manager; Mike DeVries, Metropolitan Water District Assistant General Manager; and Tom Godfrey, Metropolitan Water District Board Vice Chair.
Councilmember LaMalfa presided at and conducted the meeting until 8:16 p.m. Councilmember Love conducted the remainder of the meeting.
The meeting was called to order at 6:56 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
#1. 6:56:40 PM INTERVIEW MARGARET PLANE PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF HER APPOINTMENT AS THE SALT LAKE CITY ATTORNEY. View Attachments
Councilmember LaMalfa said Ms. Plane’s name was on the Consent Agenda for consideration during the formal meeting.
#2. NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (UPAC) View Attachments
a. Resolution: Authorizing the Issuance and the Sale of Sales and Excise Tax Revenue Bonds for Financing the New Performing Arts Center (UPAC). The Council will receive a follow-up briefing with respect to the issuance of the City’s sales and excise tax revenue bonds to finance a portion of the cost of acquiring, constructing and equipping a performing arts center and related improvements and the potential economic impact that such performing arts center and related improvements will have on the private sector.
b. Ordinance: Budget Amendment No. 5 New Performing Arts Center.
The Council will receive a follow-up briefing regarding an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 adopted budget that creates a budget of $116,000,000 in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Fund to facilitate construction of the New Performing Arts Center.
Written Briefing Only.
#3. 7:08:12 PM FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 BUDGET ITEMS. The Council will receive a briefing and discuss items related to the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Annual Budget. View Attachments
a. 7:08:43 PM Overview of the Mayor’s recommended budget for Salt Lake City. View Attachments
Jennifer Bruno briefed the Council from attachments. She identified major budget themes such as structural deficit, maintenance of assets, implementing operational efficiencies, and unfunded efficiency opportunities. She reviewed the status of Council-Requested Initiatives and options going forward. The Council requested additional information relative to Public Engagement funds ($15,000 funded in CED) including how the funds would be used.
b. 7:38:29 PM Metropolitan Water District Operating and Capital Budget. Salt Lake City is part owner of the Metropolitan Water District, which treats and sells water. The District has several large scale capital improvement projects that help provide additional water resources and may impose taxes and fees to help pay for such projects. View Attachments
Lehua Weaver, Mike Wilson, Mike DeVries, and Tom Godfrey briefed the Council from attachments. Mr. Wilson reviewed debt service, expenses, additional bonding, revenue/tax rate increases, and conservation from decreased water sales/weather. He discussed dynamics resulting in the need for future rate increases to maintain reserves and debt service coverage while meeting fixed expenses. He said they already ran a lean operation (including staffing), but he wanted to explore other cost saving methods.
c. 8:00:54 PM Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Overview. The Council will discuss the Mayor’s recommended budget for Capital Improvement Program (CIP). View Attachments
Karen Halladay briefed the Council from attachments.
Discussion followed relative to public outreach on proposals, ways to gauge how the public felt about proposed projects, and adding CIP-funded projects not included in the 10-year plan. Ms. Gust-Jenson said this was the first year a current 10-year plan was provided.
d. 8:18:00 PM Human Resources. Mayor’s recommended budget for the Human Resources Department. View Attachments
Karen Halladay and Debra Alexander briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held on compensation issues relating to elected official salaries. Ms. Gust-Jenson said the Administration compared elected official salary ranges to various cities in an attempt to set salaries at a fair mid-level.
Discussion was held on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) audit relating to exempt/non-exempt employee classification, creating an effective/welcoming work environment, doubling the amount of employee issues addressed, encouraging employees to express concerns, and an increase in employee and leadership training.
The Council raised concerns about potential impacts associated with the Affordable Care Act and how to address them. Ms. Alexander said those policy decisions still needed to be made and would involve the Council and Mayor. She said the City did not have to comply until July 1, 2014 or the first of their plan year.
e. 8:40:30 PM Insurance & Risk Management. Mayor’s recommended budget relating to the Insurance and Risk Management Fund. View Attachments
Karen Halladay, Skye Garcia, and Jodi Langford briefed the Council from attachments. The Council asked about premium discounts based on good driver behavior. Ms. Garcia explained the City was self-insured and staff had entertained ideas of tracking driver performance utilizing GPS equipment.
f. 8:46:08 PM Compensation. Mayor’s recommended budget relating to the Compensation for City Employees. View Attachments
Karen Halladay, David Salazar, and Brian Roberts briefed the Council from attachments. Discussion was held about increasing Council Member salaries, increasing positions that were below market, compensation policies, and statutory requirements regarding Council Members potential for full-time employment.
Councilmember Garrott said the Council Members were not like other employees and felt a policy decision should be considered about whether or not to make them full-time positions. Direction was given for Council Staff to research this question as well as estimated budget increase amounts to accommodate those full-time positions.
Mr. Roberts updated the Council as to status of Union negotiations; he said tentative agreements were made with all three groups.
#4. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF COUNCIL INFORMATION ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Council may give feedback or staff direction on any item related to City Council business.
Item not held.
#5. REPORT OF THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.
Item not held.
#6. (TENTATIVE) CONSIDER A MOTION TO ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION, IN KEEPING WITH UTAH CODE § 52-4-204, FOR ANY ALLOWED PURPOSE.
Item not held.
The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as other items may have been discussed; please refer to the audio or video for entire content.
This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the City Council Work Session meeting held May 14, 2013.
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