The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About06-21-1978MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA June 21, 1978 The meeting was called to order at 5:00 P.M. in the City Coun- cil Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, by Mayor Vernon S. Evans. The following Council members responded to roll call: Gordon Bricken, David F. Ortiz, Harry K. Yamamoto, John Garthe, David L. Brandt, James E. Ward, and Mayor Evans. Staff members present were City Manager Bruce C. Spragg, City Attorney Keith L. Gow, Assistant City Manager Daniel E. Stone, Deputy City Manager Manuel Rede, Planning Director Charles C. Zimmerman, Director of Personnel Donald E. Bott, and Clerk of the Council Florence I. Malone. INVOCATION PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the Invocation was given by Councilman Ward. MEETING OBJECTIVES Mayor Evans announced OUTLINED BY MAYOR that the Council would hear a status report on the wage and salary negotiations by the City's Chief Negotiator, Donald Bott, Direc- tor of Personnel, and would review the 1978-79 recommended budgets for the City Attorney and Planning Department; that oral communications would be heard at 6:20 P.M., with adjourn- ment at 6:30 P.M. WAGE & SALARY NEGOTIATIONS City Manager Bruce Spragg STATUS REPORTED reported that salaries and wages have a signifi- cant impact on the Budget; that the morning newspaper carried an article in which the negotiator for the public safety employees criticized the City's current proposal. He requested Mr. Bott to provide specifics on the status of the meet and confer process. Mr. Bott stated that meet and confer meetings have been held with representatives of the three recognized employee associations due to the expiration of existing contracts on June 30; that one of the rules they established prohibited any release to the media of preliminary proposals unless an impasse were to occur; that the rule was violated on June 19, when without formally respond- ing to the City's final proposal, one of the negotiators uni- laterally declared an impasse during an interview with the "Register" reporter. Mr. Bott stated that his purpose today is to put into the record what precisely that final proposal represents; that today a City press release had been distri- buted indicating that in total the proposal represents an aver- age of 5 per cent reduction in salary and also represents higher cuts among management and supervisory people; and that implementing resolutions and an emergency ordinance for Coun- cil's consideration and adoption on June 27, to take effect July 1 are in process of preparation. Mr. Bott read the City's final proposal submitted to the Santa Ana City Employees' Association dated June 21, 1978 as follows: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 249 JUNE 21, 1978 Out of consideration of the fiscal crisis which has be- fallen the City as the result of severe tax revenue reduc- tions and at the conclusion of meet and confer conferences involving Santa Ana City Employees' Association and City representatives, the following comprises the City's final proposal to become effective July 1, 1978: Reduction of current salaries of represented classes 4.0% with the exception of represented first-line supervisory classes which will be reduced 4.5%. Reduction of City contribution to health insurance plans for first-line supervisory classes to 75% of the NEW premium cost for both "Employee Only" and "Employee an~ Dependent" coverages. Ail other represented classes will receive 90% of the NEW premium cost for both "Employee Only" and "Employee and Dependent" coverages. 3. Discontinuation of all City contribution to all dental plans. 4. Discontinuation of all the following pay additives: a. Assignment Pay. b. Bilingual Pay. c. Shift-Differential Pay. Discontinuation of premium pay for overtime and "call back". (Ail overtime compensation will be computed at straight time rate.) As previously agreed upon, the S.A.C.E.A.'s Chief Spokesman will provide the City negotiator with a response by 4:00 P.M., Friday, June 23. He then read the City,s final proposal submitted to the Fire- men's Benevolent Association, dated June 21, 1978, as follows: Out of consideration of the fiscal crisis which has be- fallen the City as the result of severe tax revenue reduc- tions and at the conclusion of meet and confer conferences involving Firemen's Benevolent Association and City repre- sentatives, the following comprises the City's final pro- posal to become effective July 1, 1978: Reduction of current salaries of represented classes 4.0% with the exception of Fire Captain which will be reduced 4.5%. Reduction of City contribution to health insurance plans for Fire Captain to 75% of the NEW premium cost for both "Employee Only" and "Employee an---d--Dependent" coverages. Firefighter and other represented classes will receive 90% of the NEW premium cost for both "Employee Only" and "Employee and Dependent" coverages. 3. Elimination of all City contribution to all dental plans. 4. Elimination of all the following pay additives: a. Assignment Pay. b. Educational Incentive Pay. c. Bilingual Pay. d. Shift-Differential Pay. Elimination of premium pay for overtime and "call back". (Ail overtime compensation will be computed at straight time rates.) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 250 JUNE 21, 1978 6. Elimination of "Step-Up" pay program. 7. Reduction of Retirement Plan Benefit Formula for NEW "Safety" employees to 2% @ age 55. As previously agreed upon, the F.B.A.'s Chief Spokesman will provide the City negotiator with a response by the evening of Friday, June 23. Mr. Bott then read the City's final propdsal submitted to the Police Benevolent Association, dated June 21, 1978, as follows: Out of consideration of the fiscal crisis which has befallen the City as the result of severe tax revenue reductions and at the conclusion of neet and confer conferences involv- ing Police Benevolent Association and City representatives, the following comprises the City's final proposal to become effective July 1, 1978: Reduction of current salaries of represented classes 4.0% with the exception of Police Sergeant and Criminal- ist which will be reduced 4.5%. Reduction of City contribution to health insurance plans for Police Sergeant and Criminalist to 75% of the NEW premium cost for both !'Employee Only" and "Emp--~yee and Dependent" coverages. Police Officer and other represented classes will receive 90% of the NEW premium cost for both "Employee Only" and "Employee and Dependent" coverages. 3. Elimination of all City contribution to all dental plans. 4. Elimination of all pay additives: a. Assignment Pay. b. Career Incentive Pay. c. Bilingual Pay. d. Shift-Differential Pay. Elimination of premium pay for overtime and "call back". (Ail overtime compensation will be computed at straight time rates.) 6. Reduction of Retirement Plan Benefit Formula for NEW "Safety" employees to 2% @ age 55. As previously agreed upon, the P.B.A.'s Chief Spokesman will provide the City negotiator with a response by the evening of Friday, June 23. Responding to a question from Councilman Ortiz, Mr. Bott stated that the information in the June 21 "Register" article was given without his prior knowledge and prior to an agreed-upon submis- sion of the City's final proposal which had just been read into the record; and that, in his opinion, it was a bad faith gesture in terms of the spirit of the negotiations. CA 50.1 CITY ATTORNEY 1978-79 BUDGET City Attorney Keith 15% REDUCTION Gow distributed a report TENTATIVELY APPROVED of 0.24, 10 and 16.24 per cent proposed reduc- tions from a total proposed operating budget of To achieve a 6.24% reduction, one vacant City Attorney II position ($31,250) would be eliminated; to achieve a 10% reduction, the outside counsel for anti-pornography litigation CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 251 JUNE 21, 1978 would be eliminated ($50,000) to achieve 16.24% reduction, both the position and outside counseling services would be eliminated ($81,~S0). Mayor Evans moved to tentatively reduce the City Attorney's budget by 15 per cent. The motion was seconded by Councilman Garthe, and carried 6:1, with Councilman ~?ard dissenting. The motion further instructed the City Attorney to determine how the reduction could best be effected. CA 65B PLANNING DEPARTMENT 1978-79 BUDGET Planning Director Charles 5% REDUCTION Zimmerman distributed TBNTA%IVELY APPROVED a report of S, 10 and 15 per cent proposed reductions from a total proposed operating budget of $449,000. To achieve a 5 per cent reduction, eliminate one Engineering Aide position ($1S,000), reduce overtime and training and transportation accounts by $5,000 and $3,000, respectively; to achieve a 10 per cent reduction, add the elimination of one Planning Techni- cian ($19,000), one vehicle ($1,200) and reduce salaries for temporary help by $2,300; to achieve 15 per cent, add the elimination of one more Planning Technician ($19,000), reduce office supplies by $1,?00 and cut salaries for temporary help an additional $1,700. Mr. Zimmerman stated that of the 15 largest cities in the State, Santa Ana's Planning Department operates with the least number of personnel; thatin 1975-76, the Department responded to the need of the City Council and gave up 5 positions, representing a 33% reduction in clerical personnel, in order to accommodate the Community Oriented Policing Program; and that despite any further reduction the Department will attempt to maintain a high level of service with every management decision possible. Councilman Bricken's motion to reduce the Planning Department operating budget by 5% was seconded by Councilman Brandt, and carried 6:1, with Councilman Garthe dissenting. The motion further directed the Planning Director to determine how the reduction could best be effected. During the discussion prior to the vote on the motion, Councilman Bricken stated that the Planning Department would be able to eliminate its dependency on the CETA Program under the proposed reduction. Councilman Garthe favored no reduction in the Department's budget because of the building increase the City is experiencing. Councilman Yamamoto stated his opinion that the department budget should not be reduced, but that it is not a matter of choice but of necessity. CA 65B ORAL COMMUNICATION Mrs. Pat Lindros, 1907 S. UTILITY USERS TAX Maple, inquired if the 3% Utilities Users Tax is used to fund the Police Department operations. The City Manager responded that these tax funds support the COP and paramedics programs, as was the original intention. CA 65B ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 P.M. to Saturday June 24, at 8:00 A.M., in the City Council Cham- bers, on the unanimously approved 7:0 motion of Councilman Brandt, seconded by Councilman Garthe. FLORENCE I. HALONE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 252 JUNE 21, 1978