Loading...
Meet and Confer Minutes - 03/04/2010 MEET AND CONFER CITY OF WICHITA FALLS &WICHITA FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT MARCH 4, 2010 PRESENT: Darron J. Leiker, City Manager § Jim Dockery, Assistant City Manager/CFO § Earl Foster, Fire Chief § Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney § City Administration Tammy Guerra, Civil Service Director § Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary § Chris Duncan § International Association of Nick Hiliner § Firefighters, Local 432 Bobby Whiteley § 1. CALL TO ORDER. Darron Leiker called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. He welcomed the attendees. 2. DISCUSSION OF STAFFING (2 PERSONNEL PER SHIFT TO MEET 4-MAN REQUIREMENT FOR ENGINE CREWS AT EACH LOCATION). Bobby Whiteley said this topic needs to stay on the table for safety reasons, in spite of the City's economic situation. Mr. Leiker said they discussed the grim budget picture during December's meeting; unfortunately, the financial forecast has since worsened. He understands the importance of staffing, but adding to the City's payroll would be very difficult. In fact, the City is looking at ways to reduce costs and staffing, such as through the early retirement incentive. He hopes the shift scheduling will cover well enough. Chief Foster said he has developed a system to meet the 2 in/2 out rule most of the time. Mr. Whiteley said there has been a long history of distrust of City Administration among Association members. These meetings have created a sense of fairness, and the Association appreciates the opportunity to meet. Mr. Leiker said he is happy the representatives carry information from these meetings to the Association, as messages often get lost in a large organization. The saving grace is that the City is not alone in this economic downturn, nor is it falling back while other cities proceed forward. Other cities have made draconian cuts; he hopes Wichita Falls does not get to that point, but he has yet to see signs of things turning around. Mr. Whiteley said it will get better, and at that point, the Association wants their issues back on the front burner. Mr. Leiker said there MEET&CONFER—CWF&WFFD MARCH 4, 2010 2 are new jobs being created in the community that will mean more sales tax revenues to the City. At this time, however, property tax revenues, while not shrinking, are not increasing at 5% to 10% as he would like to see. 3. DISCUSSION REGARDING ABSENT CITY BUSINESS (PAID TIME OFF FOR ATTENDING ASSOCIATION FUNCTIONS). Mr. Leiker said this is not a new issue, and he still has a philosophical issue regarding the request. It is each Association officer's personal decision to serve, and is not a core job requirement to attend Association functions. The City is looking at ways to reduce Absent City Business as a way to save money. He then asked that the Association send information to Chief Foster regarding any future function they wish to attend. Chief Foster can then make the case to him, and if the event is not just Association business, but will also benefit the City, he will consider it. These reviews will be performed on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Whiteley said continuing education requirements and safety issues have been developed by their Association. In addition, they get first-hand knowledge about grants being offered on the national level. It all ties together, and the City would get something for the money expended. He said this is a great start offered by Mr. Leiker. Chief Foster said if he is presented with a request, he will have no problem considering it. 4. DISCUSSION REGARDING REINSTATEMENT OF THE STEP PLAN. Mr. Whiteley said he liked the formality of these meetings in order to keep certain goals on the table, such as reinstatement of the step plan. Mr. Leiker said that unless revenues turn around, it will be very difficult, as staff is making every discretionary cut imaginable at this time. The step plan reinstatement is a priority for everyone, and ranks in importance alongside preservation of benefits. Mr. Whiteley said that when Councilor Glenn Barham attended the December meeting, he discussed the public's perception of the expenditure of tax dollars. Many members of the public do not do not differentiate between the different funds and how tax dollars can be spent. Mr. Leiker said he recalled Councilor Barham stating that if the Waterpark purchase is completed, the City did need a campaign to set the record straight on how various funds can be used. He is contemplating programming on channel 11 that would explain the difference between 4a and 4b funds, the general fund, and the water and sewer fund. The City newsletter or a separate communication could be used to provide a basic explanation to City employees, as well. Mr. Whiteley said the City Council recently voted to spend $1 Million on intersection improvements on 8th Street. Despite his efforts to educate Association members, there are some that still do not understand the difference in City funds and how they can be used. Some of them expressed aggravation that the step plan has been withdrawn, yet the City will spend $1 Million to redo sidewalks. MEET&CONFER-CWF &WFFD MARCH 4, 2010 3 Jim Dockery said the City is statutorily limited in the amount of sales tax that can go into the general fund. Mr. Leiker said the key message is that the City would be in the same budget situation it is in today if it did not have the 4a and 4b funds - except that it would not have all of the projects that have been made possible through that sales tax. When the 4a and 4b sales taxes were put in place, a component was property tax reduction. Some people perceive that the City gave up a greater capacity for use of property taxes for a sales tax with more strings. Mr. Leiker said the Council struggles every year with the property tax rate, and it was not easy to get them to agree to a one cent property tax hike last year. Mr. Whiteley said the Association wants all employees to prosper; they are fighting not only for the Fire Department, but for all employees. 5. DISCUSSION REGARDING SICK TIME BANK FOR FIREFIGHTERS. Mr. Hillner said the City already had a sick leave bank, but they are asking for a bank exclusively for firefighters. The details have not been worked out yet, but ideas being considered include the matching donation of vacation and sick leave time; only those who donate can benefit from the bank; and the establishment of a waiting period to use the bank. Chief Foster would make the final ruling on the granting of the requested leave. Julia Vasquez said the City's current policy does not require that an employee must donate to the bank in order to make a request for leave time. Mr. Leiker said he spoke with Lou Franklin, who chairs the City's sick leave pool. The program is in its seventh year, and no fire department member had ever applied for the leave, and only one member had donated to it. He told the Association to present their proposal to him for review; they do not need to wait until the next meeting to do so. Mr. Dockery thought it might be a good idea to expand representation on the City's existing bank to include the Fire Department. Mr. Hillner said the department likes to take care of their own, and the Association members would be more receptive to donating to its own leave bank, especially due to its shift work hours. Mr. Whiteley asked if it would be acceptable to have quarterly meetings. Some Council members have pushed for monthly meetings. Mr. Leiker said quarterly meetings would be fine. 6. ADJOURN. The meeting was adjourned at 3:44 p.m.