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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-07-12 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesBUDGET WORKSHOP THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Budget Workshop to order at 9:10 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2001, in Room 105, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Gertrude Mishkin, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, Interim Assistant City Manager/Personnel Director Maria Swanson, Finance Director Robert Lange and City Clerk Marion Swenson. UTILITIES: Utilities Director Gagnon gave a presentation and budget overview. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked if the Fire Department tests the fire hydrants, and Utilities Director Gagnon said they do. Mayor Schreiber asked when the last water and wastewater rate study was done (page 221), and Utilities Director Gagnon said it was done in 1995 and the last increase in rates was 1997. Commissioner Roberts questioned printing, (page 226), and suggested educational information be included in water bills. Mayor Schreiber asked about regenerating meters (page 231). Commissioner Partner asked about the status of the water conservation program, and Utilities Director Gagnon said Lake Okeechobee is still 3.5 feet under norm. There was discussion about back pumping. Commissioner Roberts questioned the increase in line item 4001 (page 237). Utilities Director Gagnon explained the change in the legislative requirements for Professional Engineers, which caused the increase in this line item. Commissioner Roberts asked about the difference in line items for radios (page 236) and Utilities Director Gagnon said they are two different divisions. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Community Development Director King gave a presentation and introduced David Ofstein, Planning and Zoning Manager, Cindy Diemer, Code Enforcement Manager, and Tammy Reed -Holguin, Economic Development Manager. Planning and Zoning Manager Ofstein gave a presentation and Commissioner Partner asked about the status of the corridor studies. Planning and Zoning Manager Ofstein said the studies should be presented to the Commission in August. Mayor Schreiber asked why the corridor studies are being conducted. Planning and Zoning Manager Ofstein explained it is to insure that development in Tamarac is stable and successful. Commissioner Roberts asked about CRA Phase II (page 90), and Community Development Director King explained the needs study and said the City has not received the final back from the consultant. There was discussion of the $99,000 recommended in contingency, and Finance Director Lange said it is in non - departmental, contingency for special projects: Commissioner Portner asked about including areas east of 441, and Community Development Director King Budget Workshop July 12, 2001 1 explained the City is now looking at non-residential areas for CRA monies. Economic Development Manager Holguin explained how CRA monies are used. Commissioner Roberts questioned line item 3100 (page 91), and Community Development Director King said this is for professional services for CRA. Commissioner Roberts asked about the increase in line item 3421 (page 91) and Community Development Director King said this is for lawn mowing and debris removal done through code enforcement. Mayor Schreiber spoke about sidewalk repair and Code Enforcement Manager Diemer discussed Code Enforcement's responsibility. Commissioner Portner questioned the increase in benefits (page 88), and Community Development Director King said this is due to the relocation of three occupational license staff members to the Economic Development Division. Commissioner Portner asked why only $10,000 was recommended for the National Marketing Campaign (page 89). City Manager Miller said this is the first year of the initial marketing campaign, and the approach will be on a lower scale that originally envisioned. If it proves to be beneficial to the City, more funding will be made available in future years. Commissioner Roberts asked if a code could be devised for tree trimming, and Code Enforcement Manager Diemer said she would review the code. Commissioner Roberts questioned the increase in line item 5215 (page 92), and Community Development Director King explained this is for accessories for the digital camera. Commissioner Roberts asked about the increase in line item 5224 (page 92), and Community Development Director King explained the budgeting of protective clothing. Vice Mayor Sultanof said at the Northwest Conference of Mayors, the Lauderhill Mayor spoke about a trade show in Philadelphia and asked various cities to join him. Vice Mayor Sultanof said Tamarac should try to piggyback with other cities to go to trade shows. Code Enforcement Manager Diemer gave a presentation. Commissioner Portner asked about the presentation made by Angela Galloway, from HOPE, at Wednesday evening's meeting, and Code Enforcement Manager Diemer said Ms. Galloway represented a company that does the administrative work for HUD grants, and the City is capable of handling the paperwork on its own. Economic Development Manager Holguin gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke about the stores between the school and University Hospital that have stood vacant, and asked whether this area could be revitalized. Commissioner Mishkin said the owner never seems to want to rent the stores. Mayor Schreiber called a recess at 10:25 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:40 a.m. with all present as before. PARKS AND RECREATION: Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber spoke about the service Tamarac provides to the nearby malls by bringing Tamarac residents to shop, and asked if discussions could be opened so that the stores would be reciprocal with the City. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this can be discussed with the shop owners, Budget Workshop July 12, 2001 2 and a suggestion to have merchants support City programs came out of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Commissioner Partner asked how the idea of selling more than one time use of transportation was sold to the residents, and City Manager Miller said everyone who used the service and was on a waiting list was contacted, and the benefits of the program were explained. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said one of the biggest assets to the Parks and Recreation Department is Nancy Wilson. Commissioner Portner said he received several calls regarding where the buses park, and asked if they could be moved. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said she would look into it. Commissioner Portner questioned overtime (page 177) and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this represents about 467 hours worth of overtime, and asked the Commission to remember that many events are held on holidays. Mayor Schreiber asked if there is always staff in the fitness room and asked about the air conditioning. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the fitness room is always staffed, and the air conditioning is being discussed with the contractor. There was discussion about the reclassification of several positions. Commissioner Portner asked about the fees, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said she is doing research now to see if an increase in private rentals is warranted. There was discussion about the fitness room fees, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said she would come back to the Commission this fall with recommendations to increase the fees. Commissioner Roberts asked if more instructors are being added for the computer classes, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this is being revamped. Mayor Schreiber asked about the time frame to complete the aquatic complex (page 253), and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it must be started within 3 years. There was discussion about the location of the aquatic center and whether the ball fields needed to be moved. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the Tamarac Park Parking Lot Lighting Renovation (page 254) and the Tamarac Park Sports Field Lighting Upgrade (page 255) would not be done until the pool issues are resolved. Mayor Schreiber questioned the Sports Utility Vehicle (page 178), and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it was needed in order to transverse the fields and undeveloped land. There was discussion about the ice machine (page 179) and sponsorship for the machine. Mayor Schreiber asked about the increase in line item 5700 (page 183) and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this is for employee events. Commissioner Roberts asked about line item 5706 (page 183) and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this was moved to youth services. Commissioner Roberts spoke about July 4t", and said some residents told her they liked last year's display better. Commissioner Roberts asked about the unfunded item, Come Out To Play, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it is a series being put on this summer, and it was requested at mid -year. Commissioner Roberts questioned the upgrade to events, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it was for July 4t" and a Holiday Tree. There was discussion about purchasing a holiday tree, and Commissioner Portner said he preferred a natural tree. Vice Mayor Sultanof suggested Parks and Recreation Director Margoles get together with Target to see if they would give Budget Workshop July 12, 2001 3 the City a Holiday Tree. No changes were made to this item. Commissioner Roberts questioned the unfunded hockey scoreboard. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it is a portable, indoor scoreboard that has been used outdoors and has been a source of problems. Mayor Schreiber asked if participation in hockey has diminished and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it has not. City Manager Miller said the scoreboard is a perfect item for sponsorship, and the sponsorship policy needs to be revisited. Commissioner Portner questioned the raised wood floor for the exercise room. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest to fund the raised wood floor, and Commissioner Portner, Commissioner Mishkin and Commissioner Roberts all agreed. Commissioner Roberts asked about the fence around the sports complex, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it is included in the third challenge grant. Mayor Schreiber called a recess at 12:10 p.m. The Budget Workshop reconvened at 12:40 p.m., with all in attendance as before. FINANCE: Finance Director Lange gave a presentation. Controller Nealon gave a presentation on the accounting division. Mayor Schreiber questioned the $50,000 for a professional consultant (page 98), and Controller Nealon explained this is due to the additional level of reporting required. Commissioner Roberts asked about the new position (page 98) and Controller Nealon said it is a temporary position for the outside consultant. Commissioner Portner asked how this GASB differs from the previous one, and Controller Nealon and Investment Accountant Williams explained that this report would make a government's financial report correspond more with that of the private sector. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino, Senior Buyer Lodato and Investment Accountant Williams gave presentations. Commissioner Roberts questioned line item 4405 (page 106), and Investment Accountant Williams explained this is not a rent increase but an increase in common area maintenance and contribution to the real estate tax. There was discussion about a government entity paying tax. Commissioner Portner asked if there was only one employee at Satellite City Hall, and Vice Mayor Sultanof asked about security. Investment Accountant Williams said the site is secure and there is one employee there from 10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m., Monday -Friday. Mayor Schreiber asked about the bank services bid, and Investment Accountant Williams said it was moving along. Customer Service Supervisor Bonilla gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked about the procedure for shutting off water service, and Customer Service Supervisor Bonilla explained the steps. Commissioner Portner asked when the customer service department would be in uniform, and Customer Service Supervisor Bonilla said she is in negotiations with the uniform supplier. Mayor Schreiber questioned the increase in salary (pages 108 and 109), and Finance Director Lange said it is due to reorganization and the addition of two people. Budget Workshop July 12, 2001 4 Vice Mayor Sultanof asked if the fee schedule is being reviewed, and Finance Director Lange said he would like to know whether the Commission is in favor of an increase or not. There was discussion about investing in Israeli Bonds, and investment Accountant Williams said the City's current investment policy does not allow for purchase of debt from other countries. COMMISSION BUDGET: Special Projects Manager Phillips gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber said he feels $600 a month automobile allowance is excessive and he is not in favor of it. There was discussion about taxes charged on automobile allowance, and Mayor Schreiber suggested adding the amount to the salaries rather than an automobile allowance. Commissioner Roberts, Commissioner Portner and Vice Mayor Sultanof disagreed, and Commissioner Portner said the automobile allowance brings Tamarac into line with other cities. Commissioner Portner asked to have line item 8213 (page 130) increased by $500. There was discussion about increasing the charitable contributions, and the following was agreed upon: Increase by $500 each — Brookwood Home for Girls (Commissioner Mishkin), Women in Distress (Vice Mayor Sultanof), Tamarac Bulldogs (Commissioner Roberts), Lauderdale Lakes Alzheimer's (Commissioner Portner), and Alzheimer's Association (Mayor Schreiber). Commissioner Portner suggested cutting line item 3111 (page 129) to $20,000, and asked that the lobbyist only lobby in Broward County and not in Tallahassee. Commissioner Roberts said she agreed and suggested keeping the line item at $18,000. Special Projects Manager Phillips said the line item is for lobbyist activities and is not tied to a particular individual, and asked if the Commission wished to change the amount for lobbying. City Attorney Kraft said there are two issues being discussed, the amount of money budgeted for lobbying and the actual lobbyist. The lobbyist's contract expires in October and the Commission can make changes in what the lobbyist does at that time. Mayor Schreiber suggested leaving the line item as it is at this time. All agreed. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES: Commissioner Roberts asked about line item 5220 (page 154) for Veteran's Affairs, and Special Projects Manager Phillips explained. Vice Mayor Sultanof said the veteran's assembly was paid for by sponsorships. There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the Budget Workshop at 2:10 p.m. MARION SWE SON, CMC CITY CLERK Budget Workshop July 12, 2001 5 I 1