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2012 06 14 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 14, 2012 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 5:02 P.M., in the Council Chamber of the Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance: Brandon Capetillo Robert Hoskins David McCartney Mercedes Renteria Terry Sain Scott Sheley Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Stephen DonCarlos Mayor Robert D. Leiper Ron Bottoms Kevin Troller Ignacio Ramirez Leticia Brysch Keith Dougherty City Manager Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager City Attorney City Clerk Sergeant at Arms Mayor DonCarlos convened the June 14, 2012, City Council Regular Work Session with a quorum present at 5:00 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member Mercedes Renteria III who arrived at 5:06 P.M. Mayor DonCarlos stated that the agenda would be taken out of order and consider item l.b. before La. 1. DISCUSSIONS b. Grant Application for U.S. Department of HUD 2012 -13 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds - Planning and Development Services. City Manager Leiper presented the agenda item and stated that the Community Development Advisory Committee ( "CDAC "), comprised of ten (10) citizens appointed by City Council, is charged with preparing a Community Development Block Grant ( "CDBG ") budget recommendation for City Council's consideration. Senior Program Manager of the Planning and Development Services Department, Ms. June Tyler stated that staff solicited funding proposals from local organizations for programs designed to benefit low to moderate income persons and areas in Baytown. Ms. Tyler stated that there were 20 proposals submitted totaling $1,522,326 in requested City Council Regular Work Session June 14, 2012 Page 2 of 4 funding and that the CDAC held two (2) public hearings to hear the requests and ask questions of applicants, as well as, a second meeting to discuss the proposals and prepare a budget recommendation. She introduced some of the CDAC members: Chairman, Norman Barnett, Jerry Smith, Donna Terpening, Simmie Robinson, and Randy Casey. Chairman, Norman Barnett presented the CDAC's process for the applicants and stated that they received 20 applications and held two public hearings, held two deliberation budget meetings, one public hearing regarding budget recommendations, and are requesting 15 projects of the CDBF funds. Ms. Tyler stated that the Amount Budgeted and Source of Funding were FYI 2 CDBG Annual Entitlement $612,718, Anticipated FY12 Program Income of $63,272, and previous Years and FYI 1 Anticipated Unexpended Funds of $419,638 with an estimated total available of $1,095,628. Ms. Tyler stated that the anticipated FY 12 program income is in line with the previous year and presented the 2012 -2013 proposals as follows: Central Heights Park Splash Deck $154,235 Pelly Park Lighting for Basketball Court $ 5,000 Lincoln Cedars Park Playground $ 7,400 Substandard Structures Abatement $ 84,636 Bay Area Homeless - March Forward (Demolition for this site) $ 5,500 Housing Rehabilitation $478,875 Residential Sewer Line $ 16,950 Homebuyers' Assistance $102,264 Senior/Disabled Transportation $ 66,870 Baytown YMCA - Swim Safe $ 3,000 Baytown YMCA - Youth Sports $ 6,000 Communities in Schools - A+ Splash (Incentive for at risk youth)$ 5,000 Baytown Resource - Clothing/Shoes $ 12,000 Baytown Optimist - Youth Football $ 7,500 Bay Area Homeless - Level Start (childcare assistance) $ 5,200 CDBG Administration $135,198 Total $1,095,628 Ms. Tyler stated that the budget was published in the Baytown Sun and posted on the City's website in May 2012, with the public comments open till June. She stated that as of July 02, 2012, there were no public comments received and proposed for the budget recommendation to be adopted at the July 12, 2012 meeting. Ms. Tyler stated that the action plan is due to HUD by August 15, 2012 and funds would be available for use October 01, 2012. Council Member Sain inquired of the amount spent on the youth sports for the YMCA and Optimist being that they are seasonal sports. Ms. Tyler stated that both programs funding supports the registration for the participants as well as their uniforms. She also City Council Regular Work Session June 14, 2012 Page 3 of 4 stated that the Baytown Optimist targets to assist about 100 participants in their program and the YMCA provided assisted 66 participants in the prior year. Council Member McCartney stated that the funds for the rehabilitation of houses would be more beneficial if it was shared among more houses instead of putting a lump sum into one house in which would prevent it from getting to a worst stated. a. Discuss the Results of the Fire /EMS Merger Study - Administration. City Manager Leiper presented the agenda item and stated that on July 14, 2011, the City Council discussed the possible transfer of the EMS Division from the Health Department to the Fire Department. However, the discussion at the meeting was limited and it was decided that the City Manager's Office would facilitate a study of the different organizational options for the City's EMS Division and report back to Council. He stated that an agreement was made for the study to begin after the adoption of the FY2011 -2012 budget. City Manager Leiper stated that the study committee was comprised of members representing: Fire, EMS, Human Resources, Legal, the Professional Firefighter's Association, the Paramedic's Association, and the City Manager's Office, with City Manager Bob Lciper serving as the meeting moderator. An initial organizational meeting was held on August 23, 2011, where the format and standard meeting dates /times were established. The first official committee meeting was held on September 21, 2011, followed by meetings on October 05, October 19, November 16, December 07 and January 18th. It was decided, at the January 18th meeting, that enough information had been compiled to present Council with an initial report, in order to obtain further direction if needed. This report, developed at meetings on February 1st and 15th, is a presentation of the organizational structures developed within the limitation of State and Federal statutes (such as State Civil Service and Federal Wage and Hour laws), as well as, comments /concerns identified by the participants. City Manager Leiper stated that one of the recommendations was to do "plug in play" which moves the civilian EMS Division from under the Health Department to the Fire Department. With this plan there would be no costs and the division would continue to operate much the same but within the structure of the Fire Department, as opposed to being under the Health Department. City Manager Leiper stated that in researching this option, it was determined that under the Civil Service rules, plug in play can not be done in Baytown, Texas. He further stated that if the civilian employees were moved under the Fire Department, they would be become eligible for Civil Service, and because they would not have been hired in conformance with the Civil Service laws, their actual positions would be at risk. City Manager Leiper further stated that he agreed that plug in play was not a viable option, but presented another option which is to make the EMS a fire based EMS, which would provide Civil Service protection for the current EMS staff and it would provide for the eventual staffing of all ambulance units by firefighters. City Manager Leiper stated that the transfer is not as straight forward as the plug in play, but it is doable. However, this option will take some work and require to be processed through the collective bargaining agreement. City Council Regular work Session June 14, 2012 Page 4 of 4 City Manager Leiper stated that if Council's desire was to explore a fire base EMS further, he recommended having this committee do further research and bring back a transitional plan and budget for the Council's review. Council Member McCartney stated that in order to determine whether or not to move forward with the fire based EMS option, further research was required and a detailed cost estimate needed to be submitted to the Council for further review. City Manager Leifer stated that the dollars are important in terms of impact to the City's budget, but that the details are also important in terms of the employee's careers. Mayor DonCarlos inquired if the cost of the phased in plan would be the difference of paying more for a firefighter /paramedic only. City Manager Leiper stated that in addition the firefighter /paramedic cost, there would also be training costs and overhead costs in terms of uniforms and equipment that needed to be taken into consideration. City Manager Leiper stated that a Firefighter/Paramedic makes more money than a Firefighter/ EMT and most cities do this through an assignment or education pay. Mayor DonCarlos stated that he is supportive of doing further research and obtaining the budgetary impact this would have, but stated that if there was no urgency to the transition, then it should wait until such a time when it was affordable for the budget. Council Member Capetillo recommended including a fourth ambulance and EMD's. Council Member Renteria inquired if other cities have the EMS division under the Fire Department. City Manage Leiper stated that he estimates that about 90% of cities use the model where EMS is provided by a fire based EMS, which is paid through tax dollars. 2. ADJOURN With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the June 14, 2012, City Council Regular Work Session at 5:32 P.M.