COUNCIL WATCH…
A Report on Council

Notes and commentary on the 4-20-09
Petaluma Council Meeting presented by the Council Watch Team of Petaluma Tomorrow

Agenda Item 3.A.: Resolution Approving Professional Services Agreement Between the
City of Petaluma and Thomas Evers and Liz Evers, dba Forevers Aquatics, for Operation and Programming of the Petaluma Swim Center and Cavanagh Pool and Authorizing City Manager to Execute Said Agreement. (Brodhun)

What’s At Stake: Necessary City budget reductions required cutting swim facilities from 34 to 17 weeks. Following a first step in cost reduction by an arrangement for swimming lessons to be done by Ebers Aquatics, a licensed operator, Ebers and the City developed a Professional Services Agreement for Ebers Aquatics to operate all aspects of the swim facilities from May 23rd to Labor Day. Although swim lessons are up at $105, they are less than the $140 anticipated City rate and the cooperative nature of the agreement may allow further reductions.

Council Questions /Clarifications: Mayor Torliatt commended Park and Recreation Director Scott Brodhun for working out this favorable arrangement. Barrett agreed but felt the possible profit level at 25% was too high. Brodhun explained this target level was unlikely to be achieved but gave flexibility to the City and incentive to Ebers. Healy also
questioned the swim lesson rate urging that further reductions were desirable.

Public Comments: Veronica Noel complained that the swim lesson rates were too high.
Andy Ebers, principal of Ebers Aquatics, commented on the nature of the public/private
agreement, that they would use local high school and college students for staffing, and the work he had done with lesson scholarships in the past.

Council Comments and Votes: Harris stated it was a good agreement. Renee urged reductions in the lesson fee. Healy urged that the project strive for an April season start
in the future. Favorable vote was unanimous. (Rabbitt recused – daughter’s lifeguard work)

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Agenda Item 3.B.: Presentation and Discussion of Financial Impact on the City’s Future Costs of Offering the Two Years Additional Service Credit under PERS to
Miscellaneous, Police, and Fire Employees; and Possible Direction to Grant Another Designated Period for Two-Years Additional Service Credit. (Brown/Robbins).

What’s at Stake: Following the October 2008 to January 2009 offer to provide two years of additional service credit toward retirement, the Council is to consider a second round to achieve further employee cost reductions and limit layoffs. The offer is limited to employees 50 years or older and at least 5 years of service. Of 91 employees qualified, 20 opted for the benefit and retired in the first round. Substantial benefits accrue to the City if the retiree’s position can continue vacant and less benefit for those which have to be filled ( mainly Police & Fire) due to entry rate pay levels. It appears that an additional 15 may be interested if a second round is offered.

Council Questions/Clarifications: Harris asked what part of the 15 positions, if left open by early retirement, would have to be filled. Brown stated that the effort would focus on those who were interested that had jobs that could be kept open for as long as possible. Rabbitt asked about the breakdown of the 15. Brown said 7 were scheduled for layoff. Healy asked about alternative approaches. Robbins (City Staff) said that would have to come from the Council. Healy noted that 3 possibles were safety employees. Brown responded that there would be smaller City benefit based on entry level salary for replacements and that he would be discussing minimum level staffing with the Unions.

Public Comment: Mr. Destiny urged the Council to take care of the people.

Council Comment and Votes: No further comments. Unanimous vote in favor.

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Agenda Item: Resolution Approving Allocation of a New Position of Assistant City
Manager and Eliminating the Position of Director of Parks and Recreation. (Brown).

What’s at Stake: City Manager Brown has encountered a great expansion of duties with the consolidation of city jobs and recommends that Scott Brodhun, Director of Parks and Recreation, be made Assistant City Manager (ACM) retaining his supervision of Parks and Recreation and adding City managerial assignments. Brodhun has achieved substantial
savings in consolidation of Park activities, has 26 years of park and athletic management experience and has demonstrated excellent managerial skills. Savings achieved will more than offset his new pay rate. 25 to 30% of his time will be on park and recreation matters with the balance carrying out duties directed by the City Manager. The need for an ACM position has been noted by a number of past City Councils but has not been filled for many years due to budget issues.

Council Questions/Clarifications: None

Public Comment: Bill Phillips endorsed Scott Brodhun’s managerial skills based on interaction on park matters starting over two years ago and then read some qualification comments from City Manager’s report.

Council Comments and Vote: Healy thought it was an excellent plan and noted that the office being set up for Brodhun contained two computer screens so Scott could multi-task. Harris stated that this kind of consolidation was a good thing. Renee commented on the good things she’d heard. Rabbitt felt it was a good solution. Barrett stated this was a good selection by Brown. Mayor Torliatt commented this was a good move consistent with other consolidations. Unanimous vote in favor.

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Analysis: Action on these three Agenda Items shows the high level of cooperation and commitment by the Council and City Staff to reducing City overhead.