HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-07-13 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2005
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber reconvened the Budget Workshop Meeting
of the City Commission on Wednesday, July 13, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105
of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco,
Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof and
Commissioner Karen L. Roberts.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Deputy City Manager Michael
C. Cernech, Interim Assistant City Attorney D. J. Doody, and City Clerk Marion
Swenson.
Mayor Schreiber led the pledge of allegiance.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino explained the program
modifications for Human Resources.
Commissioner Roberts asked if the city had used testing services before.
Human Resources Director Swanson said we have and explained there will be
additional testing this year.
Mayor Schreiber questioned the summer camp positions; Commissioner Portner
asked how many camps Tamarac runs, the number of attendees, and the camp
hours. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner responded two locations
with 400 children in attendance, drop-off and pickup from 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Camp hours are 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Commissioner Sultanof asked about non-residents' attendance at camp and
Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said everyone is
accommodated; there are about 50 campers who do not reside in Tamarac.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if the camp was at capacity and Interim
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said due to available facilities it was
capped at 400 this year — usual capacity is 450.
Commissioner Portner asked if food was provided and Interim Director of Parks
and Recreation Warner said the campers bring their own food.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino discussed Risk Management and
Mayor Schreiber questioned the increase in insurance. Human Resources
Director Swanson said it is due to the increased property values and new
facilities.
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July 13, 2005
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Commissioner Portner questioned page 9-10; item 23-02. Human Resources
Director Swanson discussed budgeting of health insurance within a range and
based on historical choices by employees.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 9-10; item 97-00. Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino said there is always contingency built into the budget.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 9-11; item 45-28, claims -public officials.
Human Resources Director Swanson explained the term `public officials'
encompasses the elected officials as well as senior level staff. The numbers
reflect the probability of costs occurring based on the work force, budget, etc.
Commissioner Portner questioned the loss experience for the last five years.
Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski explained there may have been claims but
no payments were made.
Commissioner Sultanof questioned page 9-11; item 45-03, and asked whether
the city facilities were declassified by FEMA. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski
explained the additional structures caused an increase in the numbers.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino explained the IT program
modifications.
Mayor Schreiber questioned page 10-3, capital outlay. Management and Budget
Officer Sammartino explained that pages 10-4 through 10-9 cover the capital
outlay.
Mayor Schreiber questioned page 10-10; item 41-02. IT Director Sucuoglu
explained these are due to the program modifications.
Commissioner Roberts questioned pages 10-4 and 10-5; the difference between
field devices and wireless service. IT Director Sucuoglu explained field devices
work through the wireless service to ensure availability of information at the site,
maximizes inspector productivity, improves agency productivity and decreases
data entry errors.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 10-9, data center and furniture. IT
Director Sucuoglu said this is a new room behind IT; rehabilitation of the storage
area; the furniture is racks for the equipment.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned the employee computer purchase
program. IT Director Sucuoglu said the program is going well.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 10-10; item 14-01. Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino said there is only one support person who works
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July 13, 2005
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more than the standard 7 hour day.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 10-10; item 49-99. IT Director Sucuoglu
said this is pay back for equipment sold to employees.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino explained the program
modifications for Parks and Recreation.
Mayor Schreiber questioned the bereavement group and Administrative Services
Manager Maldonado said there has been an increase in demand for this service.
Commissioner Portner questioned the sessions and Administrative Services
Manager Maldonado said the clients learn coping skills and have an opportunity
to express their grief.
Mayor Schreiber questioned page 11-3, other operating expenses and page 11-
21, item 34-00. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said this is tied
to program modifications.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned page 11-4, 'dive in movie'. Interim
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said this is tied to the opening of the
aquatic center.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 11-20, capital outlay, and asked which
item is not necessary, and questioned the baseball field machines and utility
vehicles. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said all are necessary
and Parks Superintendent Moll said the equipment is used every day and is part
of the replacement program.
Mayor Schreiber questioned page 11-22; item 52-15. Management and Budget
Officer Sammartino said this is related to the program modifications.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 11-22; item 64-01. Finance Director
Chapman said this is for the opening of the aquatic center.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 11-22; item 57-01 and expressed
disappointed with the fireworks display. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation
Warner explained we have one more year on the contract and have used the
same vendor for the past years; after next summer we will explore other vendors.
Commissioner Roberts suggested adding $5,000 to the fireworks for next year.
There was no interest on the part of the commission to do this.
Commissioner Sultanof asked if renovations will be needed to the Tamarac
Community Center fitness room after it is vacated and Interim Director of Parks
and Recreation Warner said no.
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Commissioner Portner asked if the Turkey Trot would be held again this year and
Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said it would.
Mayor Schreiber left the room at 10:22 and turned the gavel over to Vice Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino spoke of program modifications for
Public Works.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 12-20 and Public Works Director Strain
said the increase was based on the best information from trade magazines and
people in the industry.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 12-21 and Public Works Director Strain
said the tires are made from a bi-product of petroleum which follows gasoline
cost increases.
Commissioner Sultanof questioned page 12-23 and Public Works Director Strain
explained that a plotter is used to print maps.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-19, fleet management capital outlay.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino spoke of the vehicle replacement
program.
Mayor Schreiber returned to the meeting at 10:35 a.m. and Vice Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco returned the gavel.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned page 12-8. Public Works Director
Strain spoke of completing landscape projects.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-24; item 29-02, and Management
and Budget Officer Sammartino said this is due to the addition of people using
cell phones.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-24; item 41-01 and Public Works
Director Strain explained reallocation of costs.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-25; item 52-02 and Finance Director
Chapman said this relates to the program modifications.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-25; item 53-01 and Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino said this is tied in to item 52-02.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-25; item 64-05 and Finance Director
Chapman explained the increased cost of heavy equipment replacement.
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Mayor Schreiber questioned page 12-24; items 43-01 and 43-02. Management
and Budget Officer Sammartino said this is the electricity cost discussed
yesterday.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino spoke of stormwater increases and
said without a rate increase, growth in the revenue stream will not cover costs.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino discussed program modifications.
Commissioner Sultanof asked if there was money available from the government
for chemicals and Public Works Director Strain said not for vegetation
maintenance. Commissioner Sultanof questioned page 12-29, crew leader.
Finance Director Chapman said this is an additional crew leader and the
budgeted amount includes benefits.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-29 and asked if the person would be
hired from within. Public Works Director Strain said whoever is qualified and
applies will be interviewed.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 12-30 and Public Works Director Strain
said this is for four part time people.
Commissioner Roberts questioned the fee increase from $6.00 to $8.00 which
will generate $900,000 additional revenue, and asked where the money would be
used. Public Works Director Strain explained finance analyzed costs and if no
program modifications were approved the money as it stands now would only last
1 1/2 years before a deficit sets in; Finance Director Chapman spoke of small
COLA increases. Commissioner Roberts said with the additional $900,000 she
did not see the need for COLA increases.
Mayor Schreiber called for a recess at 11:10 and reconvened the workshop
meeting at 11:20 a.m. with all present as before.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 12-32; item 58-00. Finance Director
Chapman explained these are indirect charges throughout the city.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino spoke of the increase in the fire
assessment rate from $125.00 - $129.00 per year for residents.
Mayor Schreiber asked why there are seven lieutenants for each shift and
Deputy Fire Chief Schuldt explained there are seven operational units on the
street and each unit has a lieutenant. This is similar to other cities.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned the items that were not
recommended and Finance Director Chapman said these either were not top
priorities or are grant items. Commissioner Roberts said if $250,000 were to be
taken from the millage increase for the facades, that money could be used to
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purchase those items not recommended.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 7-2, meeting with homeowner
associations. Deputy Fire Chief Schuldt said in the past measures were for
meetings with citizens; this year there is a change in that measure and staff will
be meeting with homeowner groups as well.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 7-9; item 34-00 and Deputy Fire Chief
Schuldt said this realigns budget lines for biohazardous waste removal, radio
maintenance program, and the maintenance agreement for telestaff.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 7-9; item 34-02 and Deputy Fire Chief
Schuldt said this is for anticipated increases for the medical director contract and
the GSG mailing for fire assessment.
Commissioner Sultanof questioned page 7-9; items 22-01 and 22-03.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said as payroll costs rise, pension
contributions increase, and city contributions increase.
Commissioner Sultanof questioned page 7-9; item 24-00 and Finance Director
Chapman said this is based on past experience for the city.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 7-10; item 52-15. Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino said the FY04 figures are actuals, and it is hard to
make comparisons in equipment. Finance Director Chapman said the FY04
figures also relate to the new firehouse.
Commissioner Portner asked if an inside barbeque was planned for Fire Station
78 and Deputy Fire Chief Schuldt said it was not.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said in response to Commissioner Roberts'
suggestion regarding the fire station facades, if the Deputy Fire Chief says they
are okay with what they have in the budget, then she appreciates the Deputy Fire
Chiefs input.
Mayor Schreiber questioned page 7-3 benefit increases and Finance Director
Chapman said this is due to pension increases.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 7-8; item 45-20 and Deputy Fire Chief
Schuldt said there are three facilities and the fire department does not currently
have a program to make sure the living facility items are replaced regularly.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino spoke of program modifications for
utilities.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-5 salaries and wages. Management
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and Budget Officer Sammartino said the utilities department is reorganizing and
moving positions.
Commissioner Roberts questioned the security consultant and Utilities Director
Gagnon explained it is not for consulting services but rather to implement the
findings of the consultant from two years ago.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-13 and Utilities Director Gagnon
explained this is related to water conservation.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-20, contingencies. Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino said we are looking at growth for the first full year
under the new fee schedule. The contingency falls within the required 3%.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-20 item 441, non -departmental.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said this is due to less money
being transferred into the R&R fund.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-24; item 49-33 and Management and
Budget Officer Sammartino explained this is for added services to residents.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-24; item 64-02 and Finance Director
Chapman said this is a typographical error, the amount should be $2,000;
however, line 64-01 should be $92,500.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-24; item 97-02, and Finance Director
Chapman said we are transferring less to capital and more money is available.
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 13-25; item 49-40. Finance Director
Chapman responded since there is no tax paid by utilities, every year an
equivalent amount of money goes to the general fund. Utilities Director Gagnon
added this is called for under the bond covenants
Commissioner Roberts questioned page 14-53, the CIP budgeted to FY09 for
$100,000 and asked why this was not being done sooner. Utilities Director
Gagnon said this is a single source of flow and is not a high priority at this time.
It is part of the five-year plan; however, if it becomes an emergency situation it
will be taken care of immediately.
Finance Director Chapman discussed the next steps in the budget process. At
the regular meeting tonight there are two resolutions on the agenda, one for the
fire assessment and one setting the millage. The proposed budget is predicated
on 5.9999 mils with none of the projects previously discussed at earlier
workshops included. In order to accomplish these projects, which will cost $9
million, an increase in the millage of .25 mils is necessary. Should the Mayor
and City Commission desire to take that under consideration, the millage must be
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adopted at the higher rate of 6.2499 at tonight's meeting. The Mayor and City
Commission can back out the amount in September, but the TRIM ad must
advertise the cap; it can not go higher than advertised. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco asked if there is any way to fund the fire station improvements other
than what is being discussed now and Finance Director Chapman said the
difference between the June 1 and July 1 figures from the property appraiser will
realize an additional $240,000 for Tamarac. We only added $5,000 to the
proposed budget for agency grants, which would leave $235,000 that could be
transferred to the CIP fund for some improvements with no change in the tax
rate. Public Works Director Strain said we might be able to do Station 78 with
that money. Commissioner Roberts added when the commission first talked
about the renovations the amount was $250,000 for facade improvements for the
two fire stations. Then an additional $350,000 was added for interior work for
both stations. Commissioner Sultanof asked what the cap is to publish the
proposed millage rate and Finance Director Chapman said the cap is what the
commission sets; if we want to do $9 million worth of projects we will need to
increase the millage .25 mils. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said
it is better to advertise an amount close to that which the commission expects will
be needed, as the advertised amount will be what is included on the TRIM notice.
Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she thinks the projects are fabulous, but
proposed the city continue looking for grant funding for the projects without going
to the pubic at this time. Commissioner Portner said the city could also go to
referendum for bonds. Finance Director Chapman responded time is running out
should the commission decide to move forward with bonding. Commissioner
Partner asked Finance Director Chapman to explain the benefits of increasing
the tax rate vs. going out for bonds. Finance Director Chapman said with bonds
the Mayor and City Commission would have to place the question before the
public via a referendum; the public would then in essence be taxing themselves.
When the bond millage is set it does not count against the 10 mil cap, and as
growth continues in the city the bond millage declines over time. The downside
is that the public may choose to vote against bonds. Increasing the millage gives
more flexibility in paying debt payments. The down side is the commission
makes the decision to increase the taxes. Commissioner Portner asked if the
commission wished to go for the full $15 million would the millage have to
increase by .50? Finance Director Chapman said we would try to keep it at .25
and do some creative financing to extend the term and do something with the
principal amounts pushing the funding further into the future. Commissioner
Roberts said she talked to the residents in her district and they overwhelmingly
prefer to increase the millage by .25. Finance Director Chapman explained .25
mil amounts to $30.00 for a $150,000 house. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
said there are varying schools of thought in District 2. Mayor Schreiber asked for
an expression of interest for increasing the millage by .25 and Commissioner
Roberts, Commissioner Portner, Commissioner Sultanof, and Mayor Schreiber
were in agreement. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she preferred pay as
you go and increased grant funding.
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1
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission,
Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 12:30 p.m.
MARION SWE SON, CIVIC
CITY CLERK
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July 13, 2005
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