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Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38.431.02, notice
is hereby given to the members of the City Council and to the general public
that the City Council will hold a meeting open to the public on Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:00
P.M. located in the City Council Chambers, 200 West Jefferson, Phoenix, Arizona. Council members may participate by
telephone. As indicated in the Agenda,
the City Council may vote to go into Executive Session, which will not be
open to the public, for the purpose of discussing those matters listed on the
Agenda.
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THE TIMES LISTED FOR AGENDA ITEMS ARE ESTIMATED. ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED EARLIER OR IN A
DIFFERENT SEQUENCE.
Action Taken:
Mayor Gordon called
the meeting to order at 2:08 p.m. Vice
Mayor Neely and Council members Baier, Mattox, Nowakowski, Stanton, and Williams were present. Council members Johnson and Simplot were
absent.
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ESTIMATED
1. 2:00 P.M.-
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COUNCIL
INFORMATION AND FOLLOW-UP REQUESTS.
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This item is
scheduled to give City Council members an opportunity to publicly request
information or follow-up on issues of interest to the community. If the information is available, staff will
immediately provide it to the City Council member. No decisions will be made or action taken.
Action Taken:
There were no
information requests.
CONSENT AGENDA.
There is no Consent
Agenda for consideration this week.
Action Taken:
There were no
Consent Agenda items.
CALL FOR AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A vote to call an
Executive Session may be held.
Action Taken:
Vice Mayor Neely moved that the Phoenix City Council, pursuant to
Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 38-431.02.A, meet in Executive Session on
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 1:00
p.m. in the East Conference Room, 12th Floor of the Phoenix City Hall, 200 West
Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
Councilwoman Williams seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
REPORTS
BY THE CITY MANAGER.
This item is
scheduled to allow the City Manager to report on changes in the City Council
Agenda and provide brief informational reports on urgent issues. The City Council may discuss these reports
but no action will be taken.
Action Taken:
There were no
reports.
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ESTIMATED
2. 2:30 P.M.-
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VALLEY FORWARD ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (NO REPORT)
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Staff: Seelhammer
(Presentation 10 min.)
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This item is for
information only. No City Council action
is required.
Action Taken:
Deputy City Manager
Rick Naimark introduced the item as well as Diane Brossart, President of Valley Forward Association, and Lori
Singleton, Manager of Environmental Initiatives for Salt River Project (SRP).
Ms. Brossart stated Valley Forward is proud to be a partner
with the City and recognizes the City as a leader in the environmental
movement.
Ms. Singleton
expressed SRP is honored to be a sponsor of the Valley Forward Awards and
congratulated the City for winning so many awards.
Mr. Naimark provided a video presentation of the nine awards
received by the City which included:
· Category: Buildings and Structures, Historic
Preservation
Recipient: Franklin Police and Fire High School, Historic
Preservation Office
· Category: Buildings and Structures, Historic
Preservation
Recipient: Memorial Hall at Steele Indian School Park, Parks and
Recreation Department
· Category: Buildings and Structures, Industrial
and Public Works
Recipient: Camelback East Village Core Pedestrian
Streetscape and Underpass, Street Transportation Department and Office of Arts
& Culture
· Category: Buildings and Structures, Public
Works
Recipient: Neighborhood Resource Center, Neighborhood
Services Department
· Category: Site Development and Landscape,
Trails
Recipient: Rio Salado Equestrian
Trailhead, Parks and Recreation Department
· Category: Environmental Technologies, Public
Sector
Recipient: Rio Salado Habitat
Restoration Area – Solar Irrigation Enhancement, Public Works Department
· Category: Environmental
Education/Communication, Public Sector
Recipient: Recycling Changes
Everything – On The Weekend, Public Works Department
· Category: Livable Communities, Master Planned
Communities
Recipient: Henson Village HOPE
VI Development, Hope VI Project
· Category: Livable Communities, Public
Policy/Plans
Recipient: Arts, Culture and Small Business Overlay District,
Planning Department and Office of Arts & Culture.
Mayor Gordon
pointed out various efforts the City has made to become more sustainable such
as the recycling program, alternative fuel vehicle fleet, and incorporation of
the LEED certified building standards.
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ESTIMATED
3. 2:40 P.M.-
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SPECIAL REVENUE TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS
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Staff: Fairbanks, Krietor, Zuercher,
(Presentation 10 min.)
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The purpose of this
report is to provide recommendations from the Special Revenue Task Force and
request authorization to further study and develop implementation plans for the
revenue generation concepts.
With Council approval,
the goal is to begin implementation by March 1, 2009, and generate a target of $7.5 million in
new revenue by June 30, 2010.
This item is for
information, discussion and action.
Back-up included in
Council packet/City Clerk's Office.
Action Taken:
City Manager Frank
Fairbanks introduced the item. He
indicated the purpose of the task force was to generate non-tax revenue
possibilities. He explained the task
force came up with over 100 ideas and those were narrowed down to the top ones
that could be implemented quickly and would generate the most funds.
Mr. Fairbanks
requested the Council consider recommendation of the ideas presented so City
staff could research them further and begin looking into implementation. He pointed out that some ideas can be
implemented immediately while others would require Council approval.
Deputy City Manager
David Krietor related the task force represented 20 City departments and they
produced approximately 300 ideas. He
commended the staff that worked on the task force for their great work. He stated the ideas presented today were the
ones that were deemed most feasible.
Mr. Krietor asked
the Council for their authorization, input, and suggestions to the ideas so
City staff could move on to the next step which is to research them and develop
implementation plans.
Mr. Krietor stated
the goal was to generate $7.5 million in revenue by the beginning of the next
fiscal year.
Mr. Fairbanks
pointed out there were many ideas relating to enterprise departments which were
passed on to them because the task force was specifically looking for ideas to
generate revenue for the General Fund.
Deputy City Manager
Ed Zuercher clarified staff is asking Council to
approve further research into the ideas.
Mr. Zuercher provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Special
Revenue Task Force Recommendations which included information on the
following:
· Revenue decline
· Task force objectives
· City departments and functions that formed
the task force
· The top ten ideas:
1.
Develop
an on-line component to normal City surplus auctions to generate more bids
2.
New
naming, logo and ad opportunities
3.
Create Phoenix affinity credit card
4.
Review
unused or underused City-owned land and buildings for lease or sale
5.
New
parking meter rates and hours, and consolidate parking management functions
6.
Review
new cost-recovery opportunities in Police and Fire Departments
7.
Fully
charging for use of City right-of-way
8.
Advancing
reimbursement of Federal grant draws
9.
Lowering
threshold for referring past due accounts receivable to collection agencies
10. Review opportunity to lease City-owned
property for cell tower use
Vice Mayor Neely
suggested staff not only look at the potential for
revenue generation but also potential costs or risks for each recommendation.
Mr. Zuercher agreed that staff will conduct further analysis on
the pros and cons of each idea.
Mr. Krietor added
some ideas have legal issues that would have to be discussed with the Law
Department.
Mayor Gordon
suggested partnering with entities that share the same goals or have similar
services in order to maximize revenue or reduce expenses. He cited an example the Channel 8, downtown
facilities suggesting sharing facilities, equipment, or position costs.
Mr. Zuercher stated after Council approval of the ideas City staff would return in four to five months
with a request to approve a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for
Qualifications (RFQ) process.
Mayor Gordon
suggested potential revenues may come from licensing a preferred vendor
designation for City contracts.
Mr. Krietor
commented there are several opportunities for such licensing which have already
been done by other entities such as cities and large universities. He added those entities contracted out to a
professional marketing firm and the City may need to do the same.
Mayor Gordon
suggested the City require the bids to include the cost of City personnel that
will oversee the contract.
Vice Mayor Neely
recommended City staff look into services neighboring cities do not provide
which the City could provide in order to generate more revenue.
Mr. Krietor stated
that idea was included in the list generated by the task force however it was
very close to the top ten and staff is looking into it.
Vice Mayor Neely
inquired if there was a time line for the implementation of the ideas.
Mr. Krietor
responded that research and implementation are expected by March 2009.
Mr. Fairbanks added
some ideas will be implemented before others.
Councilman Nowakowski suggested using high technology such as sending
water bills electronically to save money.
Ms. Williams added
she hopes the task force recommendations are very lucrative but in the future
the Council will have to look into other ways to raise revenue in order to
offset the deficit.
Councilman Stanton
recalled previous efforts at naming rights of Symphony Hall. He requested that report be reviewed in order
to learn from it as City staff move forward with current efforts.
Mr. Krietor
indicated current naming rights efforts are broad and professional help in that
area will help the City decide which efforts are worth pursuing.
Vice Mayor Neely
moved approval of staff’s recommendation on the task force
recommendations. Councilwoman Williams
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
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ESTIMATED
4. 2:50 P.M.-
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ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
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Staff: Fairbanks, Gleason
(Presentation 10 min.)
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Major
construction projects stimulate the economy by putting people to work. The construction workers spend their income
in local businesses. This report conveys
the results of our review of planned capital projects to advance as many
projects as possible to stimulate the local economy.
Our
bond committee process requires that departments obtain approval to move projects
forward from their individual Bond Committee Chairs. To assist them in this, staff requests that
the Mayor and Council endorse the outlined schedule for advancing capital
projects.
This item is for
information, discussion and action.
Back-up included in
Council packet/City Clerk's Office.
Action Taken:
City
Manager Frank Fairbanks introduced the item by stating the Budget and Research
Department has reviewed planned capital projects with little or no operating
costs to determine whether any could be advanced. He added the City’s capital budget remains
strong despite ongoing pressures on the operating budget.
Mr.
Fairbanks explained major construction projects stimulate the economy by
putting people to work. He added the
construction workers spend their income with local businesses which in turn
raise sales tax revenue.
Mr.
Fairbanks then introduced Budget and Research Director, Cathleen Gleason.
Ms.
Gleason provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Economic Stimulus Package
which included:
·
Benefits
·
Issues
considered
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Projects
proposed to advance to 2008-09
·
Projects
proposed to advance to 2009-10.
Mayor Gordon inquired if carpeting is
considered a capital project.
Deputy Budget and Research Director Mark Cernetic stated in order for carpeting to be considered a
capital project it must be a major renovation.
He added there is a planned Bond project for renovating the Council
Chambers.
Mr. Fairbanks stated renovating the building
would require ADA improvements as
well.
Mayor Gordon inquired into the feasibility
of replacing or removing the carpet as part of the planned Bond project that
would not incur a high cost.
Mr. Fairbanks
replied staff would look into the matter.
Mayor Gordon asked
how much money is part of the package.
Ms. Gleason
responded approximately $40 million over the next two years.
Mayor Gordon
requested the number of jobs that would be created adding that this package is
not only a benefit to the City but also the State and the public should be
aware of it.
Mr. Fairbanks
stated staff will provide that number to the Council. He emphasized that no projects are being
delayed and in fact City departments are encouraged to move forward with
planned projects.
Vice Mayor Neely
moved approval of staff’s recommendation of the economic stimulus package. Councilwoman Williams seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
ESTIMATED
3:30 P.M. -
ADJOURNMENT
Action Taken:
Mayor Gordon
adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
For further
information, please call the Management Intern, City Manager's Office, at
602-262-4449.
For reasonable
accommodations, call the Management Intern at Voice/602-262-4449 or
TTY/602-534-5500 as early as possible to coordinate needed arrangements.
Si necesita traducción en español, por favor llame a la oficina del gerente de la
Ciudad de Phoenix, 602-262-4449 tres días antes de la fecha de la
junta.
PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilwoman Baier
Councilman Johnson
Councilman Mattox
Councilwoman Nowakowski
Councilman Simplot
Councilman Stanton
Councilwoman Williams
Vice Mayor Neely
Mayor Gordon
City Council Announcements
City Council Policy Session
September 23,
2008
COUNCILWOMAN
WILLIAMS
Councilwoman Williams referenced a memo written to City Manager Frank Fairbanks regarding
the Block Watch Oversight Committee. She
explained that $170,000 had been committed to the Jolts Program, however they
have since learned costs could be three times as much. She requests that the commitment be voided
and the money returned to the oversight committee for use in other areas.
COUNCILMAN
NOWAKOWSKI
Councilman Nowakowski
expressed appreciation for those involved in the Coronado,
Encanto, and Willo Neighborhoods post-storm
cleanup. He also expressed his thanks to
the Phoenix Police Department Gang Task Force for meeting with the District 7
Youth Council.
COUNCILWOMAN BAIER
Councilwoman Baier
offered her condolences on the passing of Phoenix
resident Ruth Hamilton, noting Ms. Hamilton's commitment to conservation and
her role in the development of Phoenix's
mountain preserves. Councilwoman Baier mentioned the possible creation of a scholarship at Arizona State University in
Ms. Hamilton's honor and encouraged people to participate.
