HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-08 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Budget Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac
City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Karen L. Roberts, Commissioner Edward
C. Portner, Commissioner Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, and Commissioner Marc L.
Sultanof.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft,
Assistant City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Schreiber led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Partner apologized for the events at Monday's workshop.
City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller gave an overview of the budget and said the four
purposes of the budget are policy, financial plan, operational guide and action plan.
City Manager Miller discussed the strategic goals, financial highlights, necessity to
increase the budget, and reviewed highlights of the general fund, fire rescue fund, and
utility fund. City Manager Miller reviewed the next steps in the budget process.
Management and Budget Officer Sammartino gave an overview of the general fund
revenues and appropriations. Commissioner Portner asked where the $1 million from
gas tax goes and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino responded that it is
required by statute that the money is spent for transportation and related services.
Finance Director Newman made financing recommendations for capital projects,
explained that some projects are better suited for financing than pay as you go, and
recommended that the Commission consider a bond issue for those projects that must
be accomplished within the next year or two, have a long and useful life, have
significant cost per project, and have an existing related revenue stream. Finance
Director Newman suggested 20 year revenue bonds for stormwater and utility projects
that fall into the above -stated categories. Mayor Schreiber asked about the interest and
Finance Director Newman responded she has no estimate of the total cost over 20
years. Mayor Schreiber spoke about the possibility of securing state funding for the C-
14 pumps, and discussed FMIT funds. Finance Director Newman said the pumps need
to be done soon and there are many stormwater projects that may be eligible for bond
funding. Commissioner Portner said he spoke to Lobbyist Ron Book about possible
funds from Tallahassee, and whether there is money available. Commissioner Sultanof
said he heard there was money available specifically for stormwater pump programs.
Mayor Schreiber asked about our debt ratio, and Finance Director Newman said we
have a low debt ratio. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if the $6.00 monthly stormwater fee for
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City Commission Budget Workshop
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new families moving in was included and Finance Director Newman said it is not a
significant amount. Commissioner Sultanof said a 20 year projection is better at this
time because of the minimum interest rate. The infrastructure is 40 years old and has
not been touched in all these years, and he is in favor of Finance Director Newman's
recommendations. Commissioner Portner disagreed and said he does not want future
generations to pay for what is being done now. Finance Director Newman said all
customers would derive the benefit of the projects over the next 20 years and would
participate in repayment.
IT Director Sucuoglu introduced Glenda Christian and Gary Feinstein and gave a
presentation. IT Director Sucuoglu said the IT Department participates with all other
departments in the overall wellbeing of the City. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if there is a
fee that the City pays when customers pay for services via credit card and IT Director
Sucuoglu said there is based on the type of transaction, and it ranges from 1 % - 2.1 %.
Mayor Schreiber questioned salary and benefit increases. Management and Budget
Officer Sammartino responded that the increase in benefits is consistent throughout the
budget; there have been significant pension increases due to the return on investments
and the actuarial study. Mayor Schreiber asked if this is legal and Finance Director
Newman said the pension plan is a defined plan for employees and there are laws that
must be followed. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino added that other
insurance plans have also increased and spoke of the workers' compensation line item
allocated to each user department which better quantifies the cost of doing business.
Commissioner Sultanof clarified that benefits are those items not related to salaries.
Mayor Schreiber asked that the section of the law regarding pension funding be
provided to him.
Commissioner Portner questioned depreciation and Finance Director Newman said
depreciation is shown in the statement received from the auditors in conjunction with
GASBE 34. Mayor Schreiber questioned page 10-4, Wireless Access, and asked how
many years are being considered. IT Director Sucuoglu said the total cost for the first
year is $19,500 plus the $7,500 for the wireless access service. Mayor Schreiber
questioned page 10-5, and the increase in item 46-02. IT Director Sucuoglu said since
many services were introduced in support of the City's growth, maintenance contracts
are now coming up. Mayor Schreiber questioned the automobile allowance increase for
directors from $300 to $500. Vice Mayor Roberts said this puts directors on the same
level as the Commission.
Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works Director Cernech introduced City
Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director John Doherty, Project Manager (Solid
Waste/Recycling) Amber D'Amato, Operations Manager Doug Ritchie, and Fleet
Supervisor Vince Sciacca. Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works Director
Cernech gave an overview of the Public Works Department and said the department
has been providing services at the highest level ever in spite of the fact that the new
public works director will be the fourth director of the department in FY03. Assistant
City Manager/Interim Public Works Director Cernech thanked Operations Manager
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Ritchie, Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato, Assistant Public Works
Director Doherty, Project Manager Rowbotham, supervisors, crew leaders and
employees of the Public Works Department for a tremendous job. Assistant City
Manager/Interim Public Works Director Cernech spoke of additional responsibilities of
the Public Works Department: stormwater division maintenance of canals, landscaping
division additional medians and municipal facilities, fleet division maintenance of fire
trucks, and capital improvement projects. Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works
Director Cernech thanked Finance Director Newman, Management and Budget Officer
Sammartino, Management and Budget Analyst II, Gresek, and Management and
Budget Analyst 1, Wadsworth for their help.
Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato reviewed program modifications.
Commissioner Sultanof asked if FPL was obligated to trim trees that hit the power lines
and Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato said FPL hires a contractor to do
that work. Commissioner Sultanof asked about the bulbs on the poles and Operations
Manager Ritchie said the new poles are higher than the old ones and the bulbs have
increased lumens. Mayor Schreiber asked who pays for the light poles and Operations
Manager Ritchie said Broward County and the State pay for respective lights they
install. Mayor Schreiber asked why recycling is diminishing and Project Manager (Solid
Waste Recycling) D'Amato said more education is needed. Mayor Schreiber spoke
about giving back to the residents in the way of a reduced recycling fee. Commissioner
Sultanof suggested educating residents through the Tam -A -Gram. Vice Mayor Roberts
questioned page 12-15 and asked where the difference between the amount collected
and that paid to the contractor went. Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato
said it goes into the general fund, and the $10,000 for printing is merely asking for the
authority to spend the appropriation in this manner. Vice Mayor Roberts said she felt
part of the drop in recycling was due to more families eating out. Commissioner
Sultanof suggested calling John Ferguson of All Service, as the CRC is being
reestablished. Mayor Schreiber asked what other cities do with regard to cleaning
canals, and whether we are obligated to do this work. Assistant City Manager/Interim
Public Works Director Cernech said it is Tamarac's responsibility to maintain the canals,
and we have already established a high service level in this area. Commissioner
Sultanof asked if there is money available from the federal government or the EPA to try
to strike a balance between what growth the fish eat and the new growth that they will
not eat. Assistant to the City Manager Phillips said she would look into this.
Commissioner Sultanof asked how many miles of canals Tamarac has and Operations
Manager Ritchie said 635 acres of canals. Commissioner Partner commended the
Public Works Department for keeping the canals clean and said the residents are
happy. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned page 12-18, Development Services Building
Janitorial Services and Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato clarified it is
just for cleaning services. Commissioner Sultanof asked what the savings to the Fire
Department would be by incorporating fire vehicles into the fleet program and
Operations Manager Ritchie said it will cut down on the down -time. Vice Mayor Roberts
asked if the new position is just for fire apparatus and Operations Manager Ritchie said
it would be the main function of this position, but if the person has time available they
would work on other things and be used as needed. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned
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City Commission Budget Workshop
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page 12-23, Item 34-05 and Project Manager (Solid Waste Recycling) D'Amato said
currently a portion of the cleaning services is funded in Parks and Recreation and a
portion in Public Works. For FY04 all will be funded in Public Works. Vice Mayor
Roberts questioned page 12-24, items 52-01, 52-02 and 52-03. Project Manager (Solid
Waste Recycling) D'Amato said fleet was moved from separate funds to a general fund.
Commissioner Portner questioned page 12-24, item 52-10 and Project Manager (Solid
Waste Recycling) D'Amato said it is related to fleet. Mayor Schreiber questioned page
14-9, the turn lane, and asked why Tamarac is doing this, not the County or State.
Assistant Public Works Director Doherty said this section of Commercial Boulevard's
right of way is owned by Tamarac. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned the $40,000 and
why the City had to do this work, and Assistant Public Works Director Doherty said the
new bank will give a $40,000 contribution as well as additional land, plus it is a safety
issue. Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works Director Cernech said it is the cost
of doing business. Vice Mayor Roberts asked about page 14-12, vehicle replacement,
and said she thought this was covered in the jump-start at mid -year. Finance Director
Newman said it has to be budgeted in order to be spent. Vice Mayor Roberts
questioned page 14-13, Item #8, the cost of the Dodge fire vehicle and Operations
Manager Ritchie said this is gotten from the County contract and Fleet Supervisor
Sciacca said it has an upgraded engine and is considered a pursuit vehicle. Mayor
Schreiber asked if it is less expensive to lease vehicles and Finance Director Newman
said under our replacement plan there are no finance charges so it is less expensive to
purchase. Vice Mayor Roberts asked about page 14-15, and when the BSO fuel tank
was last replaced. Operations Manager Ritchie said it was the above -ground tank for
emergency generator to which Vice Mayor Roberts referred. Assistant Public Works
Director Doherty reviewed page 14-17 the Stormwater Master Plan, and Mayor
Schreiber asked where the $400,000 was derived from; Assistant Public Works Director
Doherty said it is an estimate.
Assistant City Manager/Interim Public Works Director Cernech spoke about stormwater
projects and said changes in design are being made to accommodate the Southgate
Linear Park. The City wants to go out to bid so work can begin after the new year
(January 2004). Things that must get done are the stormwater master plan, Boulevards
drainage improvements, and Woodlands subdivision internal road drainage study, which
is in this year's budget. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said an item
which did not get into the budget book, but has no fiscal impact, is movement of two
positions from Utilities to Public Works.
Mayor Schreiber called for a recess at 11
Budget Workshop meeting at 11:35 a.m.
Portner.
15 a.m. Mayor Schreiber reconvened the
with all present except for Commissioner
Community Development Director King gave an overview of Community Development
and said Code Enforcement has been relocated to the Building Department and
because of that there have been some organizational changes in Community
Development; Occupational Licenses is now its own division. The Department will
continue to hold its performance at a high level. This has been a productive year with
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City Commission Budget Workshop
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the Consultant's Feasibility Study for the 57ffi Street Project and finishing land use
elements, and the department looks forward to another productive year with more
Economic Development activities and a focus on the Main Street Project; Planning and
Zoning Manager Thies reviewed the program modifications. Mayor Schreiber
questioned page 14-4 and asked why the GIS project needed equipment and furnishing.
Community Development Director King said this is computer hardware and software.
Commissioner Sultanof asked about the consultants, and Community Development
Director King said after the consultants finished their work a marketing company will be
engaged to promote Main Street and enhance development. Vice Mayor Roberts
questioned pages 5-8 through 5-10 and salary changes. Management and Budget
Officer Sammartino said this represents inter -departmental movement of the Code
Enforcement Division. Mayor Schreiber asked about input from the Commission toward
the Main Street Project and Planning and Zoning Manager Thies said guidelines would
be designed for businesses with input from the Commission. Commissioner
Flansbaum-Talabisco asked how many years we are looking at and Planning and
Zoning Manager Thies said we expect build out in a couple years.
Human Resources Director Swanson gave an overview of the Human Resources
budget. Mayor Schreiber asked for an explanation of Human Resources and Human
Resources Director Swanson said it is recruitment and selection, administration of
benefits, classification and pay, labor relations, training and risk management. Mayor
Schreiber asked about expanding union contracts to four years and Human Resources
Director Swanson said it is dictated by state law. Vice Mayor Roberts said if the
classification study is being done in the spring why not put it in the mid -year budget, and
Human Resources Director Swanson said the mid -year budget does not come to the
Commission until the end of April and she would like the RFP issued prior to that.
Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski reviewed program modifications regarding
insurance premiums and the Safety Coordinator position. Mayor Schreiber questioned
page 9-9 item 40-02. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski said money was taken from
item 52-21 and moved to 40-02 for safety training. Human Resources Director
Swanson discussed the city's contribution to the pension plans.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the budget workshop meeting at 12:10 p.m.
,I -A 4Y� ti
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
July 8, 2003
City Commission Budget Workshop
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