HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CC - 03/08/2010 - 03-08-10 W.S. Mins (Migrated from Optiview) (2)Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
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This summary is provided as a convenience and service to the public, media, and staff. It is not the intent to transcribe proceedings verbatim. Any
reproduction of this summary must include this notice. Public comments are noted and heard by Council, but not quoted. This document includes limited
rr.w presentation by Council and invited speakers in summaryform. This is an official record of the Milton City Council Meeting
proceedings. Official Meetings
are audio recorded.
The Work Session of the Mayor and Council of the City of Milton was held on March 8, 2010 at 6:00 PM,
Mayor Joe Lockwood presiding.
Council Members Present: Councilmember Karen Thurman, Councilmember Julie Zahner Bailey,
Councilmember Bill Lusk, Councilmember Burt Hewitt, Councilmember Joe Longoria, Councilmember Alan
Tart.
Mayor Lockwood:
• Work Sessions are an informal setting to update Council on business items.
• No votes will be taken during these sessions.
• There are six (6) items on our Agenda tonight.
• Public comment is allowed that is germane to an Agenda Item.
• If you wish to speak you are required to fill out a comment card and turn it into the City Clerk staff.
• Public comment will be allowed for a total of 10 minutes per agenda item and no more than 2 minutes per
person.
• Public comment will be heard at the beginning of each Item.
• Once the item is called, no other comment cards will be accepted.
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #1.
1. Discussion on the Formation of a Milton Economic Development Commission
(Presented by Alan Tart, Councilmember)
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #2.
2. Discussion on Amending the Purchasing Policies of the City of Milton
(Presented by Chris Lagerbloom, City Manager & Ken darrard, City Attorney)
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item Q.
3. Presentation of the Status of the City of Milton Highway Design Guidelines Document
by the Highway 9 Design Guidelines Committee
(Presented by Highway 9 Design Guidelines Committee)
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #4.
4. Presentation of the Proposed Historic Preservation Ordinance to Establish a Historic
Preservation Commission, Provide for Designation of Historic Properties and Districts
and Issuance of Certificates of Appropriateness
(Presented by Historic Preservation Committee)
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #5.
5. Discussion on Tree Ordinance
(Presented by Tree Preservation Committee)
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
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• The Ordinance establishes purpose, authority, exemptions, applicability and notice and violation
procedures.
• The Administrative Guidelines provide technical details of how the Ordinance is implemented.
• The purpose is to cultivate and encourage a high level of tree conservation; to preserve, maintain and
replant trees in the City; and to provide standards for the conservation of trees as part of land
development, building construction and tree removal activities.
• It is the intent to insure that individual properties retain the required minimum tree densities when land
development, building or tree removal permits are required.
• Protected trees are trees which are required as a condition of zoning, condition of permit approval or as a
condition of the Tree Conservation Ordinance and Administrative Guidelines. They consist of.
o Specimen Tree — high value because of type, size, age, other professional criteria; and
o Stand of Specimen Trees — a contiguous grouping of trees of high value; mature even aged stand;
stand with purity of species composition or rare or unusual nature; historically significant stand or
exceptional aesthetic quality.
• Tree removal permits are issued by the City at minimal cost (no cost if LDP or BP issued), required
before removal of any tree greater than 8 inch DBH, required before removal of more than 6 trees (under
8" DBH) in a 12 -months period (less than 6 requires notification to City); all subsequent permits must be
consistent with the TRP; must use an approved list of companies.
• Tree Removal Exemptions: emergency tree removal; ROW maintenance by utility companies; removal
for agricultural purposes; commercial nurseries or tree farms; government -directed tree removal; dead,
diseased or hazardous trees.
• Methods of Enforcement: Notice of Violation (N.O.V.), Stop Work Order, Citation, Fines and Penalties,
C.O. Release.
• Tree Removal Application Items: Related to Development (LDP, BP), Not Related to Development (Tree
low Removal), Improvements to parcels with existing structures, Timber Harvesting.
• A tree density unit value is determined by tree size. The larger the tree trunk, the greater the density
value.
• Minimum Density Standards: Agricultural — 15 units per acre; Single Family — 20 units per acre;
Commercial; and all other non -single family — 30 units/ac.
• A specimen tree is one that is unique due to size, age, species and historic relevance.
• Maintenance responsibilities include property owner responsibility; maintain health of trees and
immediate environment and replacements.
• Guidelines also provide for: Methods of planting, planting in the right-of-ways, protective measures,
"Tree Save" sign during construction, pruning techniques and tree species list — acceptable replacement
trees.
Interim City Clerk Gordon read Agenda Item #6.
6. Discussion of Employee Retirement Programs for City of Milton Employees
(Presented by Sam Trager, Human Resources Director)
Sam Trager, HT Director:
• Types of Pension Plans:
o A defined benefit plan pays a retirement benefit based on a formula that is based on a multiplier
(2.75%), years of service and final average earnings. Employees currently contribute 3% to fund
this plan while the City's contribution varies annually based upon an actuarial evaluation.
o A defined contribution plan is simply based on the amount contributed to the plan. Currently
both the city and employees each contribute 3.75% to the plan.
o An employee matching plan where the City matches employee contributions of up to 1% of
salary if the employee contributes 2% or more.
• Defined Benefit Plan is very conservative.
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
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• We have a very young employee population. Only 2 are over the age of 54. The median age falls in the
NOW. 35-39 age bracket.
• The plan is funded at the 98% level.
• We have established a "normal" retirement age of 65. Anyone who retires earlier will incur an actuarial
reduction.
• Police and Fire do not have early retirement incentives.
• The City does not offer any additional retiree benefits. Many organizations offer health insurance and
other benefits that need to be paid for while the employees are working or they become a liability later.
• When the City transitioned from CH2M Hill, we added several employees to the plan. This will
ultimately increase our covered payroll and annual contribution.
• Many of the employees who were added to the plan this year may have been previously vested under
other GMA plans, which could lead to a possible increase.
• The GMA Pension Board reduced the investment rate of return from 8% annually to 7.75%.
• The Board also adopted a sliding scale for expected salary increase based on age. In our case, this could
also lead to a possible increase to our annual payment.
• No survey has been conducted for employee satisfaction.
• Until better data is available, we should try to maintain status quo of plan and not offer enhancements.
• Sometimes when you do a survey, there is an expectation that changes will be made as a result of that
survey.
• Milton's Pensions vs. Social Security: Milton is exempted from Social Security; had we been in, fixed
cost of benefit is 15.3%.
• Due to the current set-up of benefits, the City is able to provide a more generous benefit at a nominal
increase in price.
• Social Security will replace about 39% of income in retirement; Milton's plan has a better replacement
�rwr value.
• Based on our current plan design and projected costs, it is recommended that no changes should be made
to any of the pension plans at this time. Due to all of the changes that recently occurred from an
employee standpoint, the City and actuarially, it is recommended that the City wait until the 2010
actuarial valuation is completed and again re-evaluate the plans.
After no further discussion, the Work Session adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Date Approved: , 2010.
Sudie AM Gordon, Interim City Clerk Joe Lockwood, Mayor
Work Session of the Milton City Council
Monday, March 8, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Page 3 of 3
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• We have a very young employee population. Only 2 are over the age of 54. The median age falls in the
Now 35-39 age bracket.
• The plan is funded at the 98% level.
• We have established a "normal" retirement age of 65. Anyone who retires earlier will incur an actuarial
reduction.
• Police and Fire do not have early retirement incentives.
• The City does not offer any additional retiree benefits. Many organizations offer health insurance and
other benefits that need to be paid for while the employees are working or they become a liability later.
• When the City transitioned from CH2M Hill, we added several employees to the plan. This will
ultimately increase our covered payroll and annual contribution.
• Many of the employees who were added to the plan this year may have been previously vested under
other GMA plans, which could lead to a possible increase.
• The GMA Pension Board reduced the investment rate of return from 8% annually to 7.75%.
• The Board also adopted a sliding scale for expected salary increase based on age. In our case, this could
also lead to a possible increase to our annual payment.
• No survey has been conducted for employee satisfaction.
• Until better data is available, we should try to maintain status quo of plan and not offer enhancements.
• Sometimes when you do a survey, there is an expectation that changes will be made as a result of that
survey.
• Milton's Pensions vs. Social Security: Milton is exempted from Social Security; had we been in, fixed
cost of benefit is 15.3%.
• Due to the current set-up of benefits, the City is able to provide a more generous benefit at a nominal
increase in price.
• Social Security will replace about 39% of income in retirement; Milton's plan has a better replacement
value.
• Based on our current plan design and projected costs, it is recommended that no changes should be made
to any of the pension plans at this time. Due to all of the changes that recently occurred from an
employee standpoint, the City and actuarially, it is recommended that the City wait until the 2010
actuarial valuation is completed and again re-evaluate the plans.
After no further discussion, the Work Session adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Date Approved: April 12, 2010.
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Sudie AM 6oraon, Inter7oity Clerk
Joe Lockwood, or