| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OFFICE OF CITY CLERK
COUNCIL MINUTES
April 6, 2009
The City Council of the City of Mesa met in a Study Session in the lower level meeting room of the Council Chambers, 57 East 1st Street, on April 6, 2009 at 5:03 p.m.
COUNCIL PRESENT |
COUNCIL ABSENT |
OFFICERS PRESENT |
Mayor Scott Smith |
None |
Christopher Brady |
Alex Finter |
Debbie Spinner | |
Dina Higgins |
Linda Crocker | |
Kyle Jones |
||
Dennis Kavanaugh |
||
Dave Richins |
||
Scott Somers |
1. Review items on the agenda for the April 6, 2009 Regular Council meeting.
All of the items on the agenda were reviewed among Council and staff and the following was noted:
Conflicts of Interest: None
Items added to the consent agenda: None
Items removed from the consent agenda: None
Items deleted from the consent agenda: None
2. Hear a presentation, discuss and provide direction on the “Shop Mesa-Get the Arts” Program.
Mesa Arts Center (MAC) Executive Director Johann Zeitsman displayed a PowerPoint presentation (A copy is available for review in the City Clerk’s Office) and reported that the “Shop Mesa – Get the Arts” Program would reward the public for shopping in Mesa and promote the Arts and Cultural Department as a value to the City. He stated that the program would also provide an opportunity for more patrons to attend various Arts and Cultural shows that would otherwise have empty seats.
Mr. Zietsman explained that individuals who purchase taxable products in Mesa would receive “Mesa Bucks” for the value of their sales tax, rounded up to the nearest $5, from the Arts and Cultural Department. He said that a customer would present a sales receipt for a purchase made in Mesa to the MAC Box Office and staff would verify that the item was purchased in Mesa (retroactive for receipts dated April 1st), stamp the receipt to ensure that it is not re-used, and make a copy of the receipt prior to the issuance of the “Mesa Bucks.” Mr. Zietsman noted that the customer would be issued “Mesa Bucks” to the value of 8.05% sales tax (combined City and State tax) on the receipt in denominations of $5, $10 and $20. He also advised that a maximum of $200 in “Mesa Bucks” would be issued per receipt. He added that staff would stamp and validate the “Mesa Bucks” to ensure that they are not photocopied.
Mr. Zietsman further remarked that individuals could present the “Mesa Bucks” as partial payment for attendance at the MAC, the Arizona Museum of Youth (AMY) and the Arizona Natural History Museum (ANHM) (i.e. Buy One, Get One with “Mesa Bucks”). He stated that the “Mesa Bucks” would be stamped “Redeemed” so that they could not be reused. Mr. Zietsman also advised that “Mesa Bucks” could not be redeemed for cash and would only be used for limited and identified programs.
Mr. Zietsman indicated that “Mesa Bucks” would be issued between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 during an initial pilot period and said they would continue to be accepted until December 2010. He commented that the program would be evaluated for expansion and said that staff is working with local malls to assess the feasibility of issuing “Mesa Bucks” on site. Mr. Zietsman added that merchants and restaurants might wish to participate in the program and accept “Mesa Bucks” as discount vouchers for products and meals.
Councilmembers Higgins and Finter expressed appreciation to Mr. Zietsman and his staff for their efforts to bring individuals to downtown Mesa.
Mr. Zietsman clarified that Performing Arts Center Administrator Randy Vogel and his wife came up with the idea for the “Mesa Bucks” Program.
In response to a question from Mayor Smith, Mr. Zietsman explained that during the last year, approximately 250,000 individuals attended programs at the MAC, AMY and ANHM.
Mayor Smith stated that one of the City’s objectives is to increase the number of people that visit downtown Mesa and experience the MAC and the local museums. He thanked staff for their creativity in developing the “Mesa Bucks” Program, which would enhance those efforts.
Mayor Smith thanked Mr. Zeitsman for his presentation.
3. Hear a presentation, discuss and provide direction on the COPS Grant Program.
Assistant Police Chief Mike Denney reported that this is a follow-up to the April 2, 2009 Study Session, at which time he provided an overview of the Federal government’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grant. He explained that April 14, 2009 is the application due date for the grant and said that $1.5 billion is available nationally to fund the salaries of new police officers.
Chief Denney advised that in speaking with the Grants Program Specialist for Arizona, staff was informed that the submission of the grant application would not commit/obligate Mesa to hire and retain all of the officers that it requested. He also commented that it was unlikely that any agency, including Mesa, would receive the total number of officers it requested. Chief Denney noted, however, that if that were to occur in Mesa, the City would have the option to hire some, all or none. He added that if fewer officers were hired than what was awarded, it would be necessary for the City to send a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting modifications to the grant and stating the reason for those changes.
Discussion ensued relative to the process that would occur if the City of Mesa received an award from the COPS Hiring Grant Office; that Mesa could accept the award as written (i.e., the grant would provide funding for entry-level salaries/benefits for three years for newly hired officers and at the conclusion of the Federal funding, the City would retain those officers and assume all costs in year four), return the grant, or request a modification through the COPS Grant Office if, at the time the award was made, the City was experiencing financial hardships; that if Mesa was unable to incur the additional personnel costs for year four of the program, the City could ask for a waiver of the retention requirement; that if the request was granted, Mesa would be prohibited from applying for additional COPS grants for one year; and if the waiver was denied, the City would be prohibited from applying for additional COPS grants for three years.
Chief Denney further commented that after conferring with the City Manager’s Office this morning and based upon Mesa’s uncertain financial future, staff recommends that Mesa apply for 50 officers (a reduction from 100 officers proposed at the April 2, 2009 Study Session) as part of the COPS Hiring Grant. He said that the primary emphasis of the new officers’ duties would remain the School Resource Officer Program and Community Policing.
City Manager Christopher Brady expressed appreciation to staff for their hard work in responding to the Council’s inquiries in a prompt and thorough manner. He acknowledged that Mesa needs more police officers, but said that decreasing the number from 100 to 50 would still pose a significant challenge for the City. Mr. Brady also explained that in speaking with representatives from the surrounding communities and other contacts in Washington, D.C., staff was informed that if Mesa received a grant award of 10 to 15 officers, “the City would be doing well.”
Mr. Brady remarked that he has reconsidered this matter since meeting with Police staff this morning and would recommend that Mesa apply for 25 officers, with a special emphasis on the School Resource Officer Program. He stated that he would prefer to not create expectations in the community if Mesa applied for 50 officers and was not awarded the full amount. Mr. Brady added that once the City receives a grant award, the matter would be brought back to Council for additional follow-up discussion and reevaluation of the City’s financial condition at that time.
In response to a question from Mayor Smith, Chief Denney clarified that it is not a requirement of the COPS Hiring Grant process that Mesa’s application designate the specific programs to which the newly hired officers would be assigned. He suggested that it would be appropriate for the Council to address those issues after the City receives a grant award.
Mayor Smith commented that the Council is “attempting to balance a great need and opportunity with the realities of the financial wellbeing of this community.” He stated that although it is easy to be drawn into the excitement of Mesa possibly receiving stimulus monies, it is also important to remember that the COPS Hiring Grant would create financial obligations for Mesa if the City chose to commit to such a program.
Further discussion ensued relative to the fact that the total City cost for the four years of the COPS Hiring Grant is estimated at $7.8 million (50 officers), $3.9 million (25 officers) and approximately $2 million (10 to 15); that the City would incur certain upfront costs in the current year’s budget for equipment and vehicles; and that Police staff would prefer to apply for 100 officers, but acknowledges that it would commit long-term City resources that are currently unavailable.
Councilmember Kavanaugh commented that Mesa would be competing against many other communities throughout the country for the grant funding. He said that if the City was awarded funding for 10 to 15 officers, those individuals would strengthen Mesa’s Community Policing efforts.
Councilmember Richins inquired regarding the feasibility of the City setting aside $1 million each year for the next four years in order to hire the same number of police officers that might be awarded to Mesa as part of the COPS Hiring Grant. He suggested that it might be a more cost effective process that would not financially encumber Mesa on a long-term basis. Councilmember Richins added that his first commitment is to reinstate the 2% reduction in employee compensation to Mesa’s police officers.
Mayor Smith clarified that the purpose of today’s discussion is for the Council to provide direction whether staff should proceed with the COPS Hiring Grant application, which is due April 14th. He noted that if Mesa receives a grant, the Council would then make a formal decision whether to accept the grant and could also address the issues that have been raised by Councilmember Richins.
Mr. Brady stated that in the meantime, staff would be happy to conduct an analysis with regard to Councilmember Richins’ inquiry.
Further discussion ensued relative to the pros and cons of staff applying for 25 police officers or 50 officers; and that the Police Department has not been provided the criteria that the Federal government will use to award the COPS Hiring Grant.
Councilmember Richins stated that he is supportive of staff applying for 25 police officers in the COPS Hiring Grant. He noted, however, that if there are insufficient funds available in the City’s budget to restore the 2% reduction in employee compensation, he would oppose the hiring of new police officers under the grant.
Councilmember Higgins stated that she would prefer that the City apply for 50 police officers.
Mayor Smith directed that staff proceed with the COPS Hiring Grant application process and that the City apply for 25 police officers.
Mayor Smith thanked staff for the presentation.
4. Hear reports on meetings and/or conferences attended.
Councilmember Somers: “Walk for Water Safety” Event
Councilmember Kavanaugh: Dobson High School Concert Band Event
Councilmember Richins: Mesa Library Volunteers Recognition Luncheon
Mayor Smith: Tour de Phoenix Event at Red Mountain High School; Special Olympics Event; “Relay For Life” Cancer Walk; “One Heart-One Umbrella” Fundraiser at the Broadway Palms Theater
5. Scheduling of meetings and general information.
City Manager Christopher Brady stated that the meeting schedule is as follows:
Thursday, April 9, 2009, 7:30 a.m. – Study Session
Saturday, April 11, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – District 4 Pancake Breakfast, Fire Station 201
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 7:30 a.m. – Study Session Cancelled
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – East Valley Partnership Breakfast with U.S. Congressional Representatives Jeff Flake and Harry Mitchell
6. Items from citizens present.
There were no items from citizens present.
7. Adjournment.
Without objection, the Study Session adjourned at 5:46 p.m.
________________________________
SCOTT SMITH, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_______________________________
LINDA CROCKER, CITY CLERK
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session of the City Council of Mesa, Arizona, held on the 6th day of April, 2009. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
___________________________________
LINDA CROCKER, CITY CLERK
pag