ت 1 City Council Ron Mullen Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Roger Duncan Sally Shipman Mark E. Spaeth Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge City Clerk FOUNDED 1339 Austin City Council MINUTES For September 20, 1983 - SPECIAL CALLED MEETING 4:15 Ρ.Μ. Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: Mayor Mullen called to order the Special Called Meeting of the Council for the purpose of conducting a Public Hearing on the Proposed 1983-84 Financial Plan. Mayor Mullen also noted the presence of all Councilmembers. Charles Woodriff, Chairman of the Environmental Board, said that the Environmental Board presented a proposal for upgrading the map-based information pertaining to recharge on this limestone terrain. There are two complementary facets involving both the private and public sectors. The private sector entails hydrogeologic assessments at the developers expense. The second is a proposed amendment to the budget. : Councilmember Duncan pointed out to the Council that this is a two-phase proposal, the first to be funded by private developers and the second part by the City. Richard Halpin, of the American Institute of Learning, appeared and said they were not recommended by the HSRT for funding through the City but it did receive recommendation to the county. Haplin said they didn't receive City funding recommendation because they work with school drop-outs. The HSRT said this is not a City responsibility. An unidentified man said he was tired of increases in water and electricity. He wants the City to cut expenses. Also he suggested no pay raises for the City Manager and Department Heads. Luis Amezquita, a community volunteer worker, supports bond elections and budgets as a means of growth and services. Amezquita wants to address the problems of the railroad inside of the City and also free police escort at funerals. Otto Pagnini wants the Council to support the tax freeze and also the request of the Environmental Board. Council Memo 2 September 20, 1983 Joe Sullivan, citizen of Austin, says the three minute time limit that is being imposed causes him to wonder if the Council really cares what the people who are footing the bill really think. The budget proves that no one is managing Austin, managment of Austin is inept. Sullivan wants the Council to reject the budget and wants no tax increase. David Van Os, of the Affirmative Action Committee, appeared and read a resolution concerning the benefits for part-time City employees: Whereas, The Affirmative Action Plan of the City of Austin mandates a goal of Equal Employment Opportunity for all City of Austin employees; Whereas, the goal of Equal Employment Opportunity is not being met if substantial inequities exist between the economic compensation to females, as a class, as compared to males in the City work force; and Whereas, the City of Austin currently employs over 400 part-time employees; and Whereas, the mean earnings for part-time employees are significantly lower than the mean earnings for all employees; 1.e., $5.80 per hour as compared to $8.90 per hour; and Whereas, 68% of the part-time employees in the City of Austin work force are women; and Whereas, these figures show a significant disproportionate concentration of female employees in lower paying jobs; and Whereas, part-time employees do not currently receive such fringe benefits as are received by full-time employees; and Whereas, the provision of fringe benefits to part-time employees on a prorata basis per their weekly hours worked would result in an immediate, tangible improvement of this situation; Therefore be it resolved, that The Affirmative Action Advisory Committee recommends that the City Council budget sufficient funds to provide to part-time employees on a prorata basis such fringe benefits as are normally provided to full-time City employees. Evelyn Aldridge spoke to the Council concerning the Hyde Park neighborhood. Val Liva, Vice President or AFSCME, requested the following for the budget: 1) Flat rate - $80.00 across the board pay raise. 2) increase take home pay 3) disability insurance 4) dental coverage - Council Memo 3 5) benefits for part-time employees 6) auto insurance for city drivers 7) merit ratses for frozen employees September 20, 1983 Ann Martinez, Office of Neighborhood Rehabilitation, discussed dental insurance. Martinez wants the City to consider the City to raise its coverage for major work from 50% to 80%, Carole Guthrie feels that part-time employees that have been working for the City for several years deserve the benefits in the package mentioned earlier. An unidentified man appeared and spoke to the Council concerning merit pay especially for frozen employees. Kim Watts, of AFSCME, adressed the Council concerning deferred retirement. He wants the City to pay for pension before taxes. There would be no additional costs to the City. This also allows for the employee to defer the taxes until they are in a lower tax bracket. Jim Lumpkin with Brackenridge Hospital says that the 5% pay increase is unfair. Take home pay is what is the important thing, not what you get off the top. The flat rate of $80.00 is the way to go. Stuart Hersch, Building Inspections, addressed the issue of dependent insurance. He asked that the Council not set deductibles to discourage insurance use. Jason Justice, President of AFSCME, supports an $80.00 pay increase across the board for all. Peter Fears of AFSCME gave an overview of the proposed employee pension/compensation requests. An $80.00 increase would insure that no employee would take a pay cut. He also recommended changes in retirement, merit dates, and dental insurance. Also he spoke of deferred taxation. B111 Redding, a City bus driver, wants to expand the regular route service. He thanked the Council for all the support they have given to mass transit in Austin. Motion The Council on Councilmember Urdy's motion, Councilmember Rose's second, voted to close the public hearing. (7-0 vote) ADJOURNMENT : The Council adjourned its meeting at 5:25 P.M.