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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-18 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP Colony West Golf Course 6800 NW 88 Avenue Tamarac, FL 33321 June 18, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the budget workshop meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June18, 2008, at Colony West Golf Course, 6800 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL. PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Patte Atkins -Grad, and Commissioner Harry Dressler. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr, Deputy City Manager Michael C. Cernech, Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, Financial Services Director Steven Chapman, BSO Chief Marc Duguay, Fire Chief Jim Budzinski, Public Works Director Jack Strain, Director of Utilities Ray Gagnon, Human Resources Director Maria Swanson, Building Operations Manager Ken McIntyre, Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Warner, I.T. Director Levent Sucuoglu, Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley, Public and Economic Affairs Officer Andy Berns, Management and Budget Analyst Kareyann Ashworth, City Clerk Marion Swenson, Acting Assistant City Clerk Pat Teufel. PUBLIC PRESENT: Diane Glasser. City Manager Miller gave an introduction and said the total proposed budget is $101.8 million, which is a decrease of $3.7 million from last year. City Manager Miller recommended establishing a millage rate of 4.9999 which would provide all property owners with a reduced tax, if this is coupled with a utility tax at 10%. If the Mayor and City Commission decide not to implement a utility tax, then the recommendation is to move the millage to the rate provided for by the state legislature which is approximately 5.3. The recommended increase to the fire fee is 80% of the allowable amount, which is a $31.00 increase and would bring the fee to $172.00. If the Mayor and City Commission do not implement the utility tax, then they may wish to consider raising the fire fee to either 90% or 100% of the allowable amount. Property tax reform makes this year's budget challenging, and City Manager Miller said he is pleased with the department directors' efforts on this year's budget. This is a no frills budget. Financial Services Director Chapman gave a presentation on budgeted expenses by department; budgeted revenues by category, and budget projections (expense/revenue) for future years. Commissioner Portner left the room at 8:45 a.m. and returned at 8:48 a.m. City Commission Budget Workshop June 18, 2008 Page 1 of 3 Commissioner Dressler asked that for the next budget a mechanism be found to identify one-time expenses vs. recurring expenses. Vice Mayor Sultanof left the room at 8:59 a.m. and returned at 9:02 a.m. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned franchise fees and the recycling. City Manager Miller, Financial Services Director Chapman and Public Works Director Strain addressed the resident and commercial trash contracts and the compensation for waste avoidance. Commissioner Dressler left the room at 9:10 a.m. and returned at 9:12 a.m. Director of Utilities Gagnon, Public Works Director Strain and Community Development Director Bramley gave presentations on the Capital Improvement Plan, discussing past and future projects through 2013, and the Community Appearance Initiative. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the Community Appearance Initiative is important to the entire City and she would like to have more discussion regarding the program in order to determine how the Mayor and City Commission can be supportive. The meeting recessed at 9:45 a.m. and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. with all present as before, in addition to Jeff Rackley, of GSG Consulting and Crystie Carey, of Nabors Giblin. Financial Services Director Chapman introduced Jeff Rackley of GSG Consulting and Crystie Carey, of Nabors Giblin. Mr. Rackley and Ms. Carey discussed the Fire Fee. There was discussion regarding the cost to fully fund fire services. Commissioner Portner left the room at 10:25 and returned at 10:27. Mr. Rackley spoke of combining nursing homes with institutional businesses. Mr. Carey discussed non-specific calls and said there is a case pending with regard to non-specific calls, and she cautioned charging 100% of the allowable fee for fire services until the case is settled. City Manager Miller added the City could advertise the rate at 100% and then, if the Mayor and City Commission wished, they could roll back the rate. Mr. Rackley and Ms. Carey left the meeting at 10:40 a.m. Public and Economic Affairs Officer Berns and Community Development Director Bramley spoke about focus groups; in particular the purpose of focus groups and the types of questions that were asked of the groups. Deputy City Manager Cernech added the electric utility tax is not calculated based on the entire electric bill. City Clerk Swenson and Vice Mayor Sultanof left the meeting at 11:00 a.m. Commissioner Dressler spoke of the current economic conditions, recession and foreclosure issues and said we need to determine what is right for the City of Tamarac. Public & Economic Affairs Officer Berns said communication and education of Tamarac residents will be vital moving forward. Commissioner Portner said we must be realistic in City Commission Budget Workshop June 18, 2008 Page 2 of 3 1 our approach in order to remain solvent and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the Mayor and Commission are taking this very seriously. Commissioner Dressler left the room at 11:03 a.m. and returned at 11:05 a.m. and Commissioner Portner left the room at 11:04 a.m. and returned at 11:07 a.m. Financial Services Director Chapman gave a presentation on the Utility Services Tax and the impact that Property Tax Reform is having on the City's budget. Finance Director Chapman said that Tamarac is one of two full service cities in Broward County that does not have a Utility Services Tax and discussed different options regarding the impact the different Utility Services Tax percentages would have on the City's budget. Financial Services Director Chapman gave a presentation on the Millage Rates and provided examples of fund balance forecasting for FY09-FY13 with various scenarios using different Millage rates and Utility Service Tax percentages. Commissioner Dressler said he would like to see more than just the three scenarios at tomorrow's meeting. Finance Director Chapman discussed the pros and cons of the different revenue options and said not everyone in Tamarac pays property taxes; however, everyone in the City would pay a Utility Services Tax. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked why they had not discussed budget reductions and City Manager Miller said budget reductions would be discussed at the meeting tomorrow. Commissioner Dressler questioned the timing of a new tax and Commissioner Portner asked how many people in Tamarac do not pay property tax. Finance Director Chapman said that 2% of Tamarac's residents do not pay property tax There was a general discussion regarding the Fire Assessment Fee, Utility Services Tax and Millage Rate. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she would like to revisit the Millage rate discussion at tomorrow's meeting and would like handouts in addition to the power point presentation. City Manager Miller said the Commission will be provided with the handouts at tomorrow's meeting Commissioner Portner left the room at 11:54 a.m. and returned at 11:56 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m. ,2 Marion Swenson, CNfC City Clerk City Commission Budget Workshop June 18, 2008 Page 3 of 3