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Home My WebLink About2002-07-10 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Budget Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to order on Wednesday, July 10, 2002, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Gertrude Mishkin, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, Assistant City Manager Michael C. Cernech, Management and Budget Officer Chris Sammartino, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Vice Mayor Portner spoke about lobbyist services and cooperation and respect between commissioners. Non -profits: Vice Mayor Portner requested a reduction for Red Cross. Commissioners Roberts and Sultanof, and Mayor Schreiber expressed interest in keeping the amount as it is proposed in the budget. Vice Mayor Partner requested an increase of $500 for Challenger Baseball, an increase of $500 for Tamarac Bulldogs, an increase of $500 for Lauderdale Lakes Alzheimers, and an increase of $500 for Lighthouse of Broward. All agreed. Commissioner Roberts requested an increase from $100 to $1,000 for Kids Voting Broward. All agreed. Vice Mayor Portner spoke about increasing future Vice Mayor salaries $1,000. Commissioners Roberts, Sultanof and Mishkin disagreed. Mayor Schreiber questioned the amount of money for Public Information Committee and Public Information Officer Crockett said this is for printing and mailing the Tam -A -Gram. Commissioner Roberts questioned Public Information Committee events, and Assistant to the City Manager Phillips responded Board/Committee luncheon and City Hall Tours. City manager: Assistant to the City Manager Phillips gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts questioned Line item 13-02 and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said this is for two management interns. Commissioner Roberts said this should be changed on page 8-8 to temporary rather than part-time. Public Information: Public Information Officer Crockett gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts questioned the increase in office supplies and decrease in supplies other. Public Information Officer Crockett said the categories had been shifted. Vice Mayor Partner questioned item 5215 equipment less than $750, and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino explained these are items that are not inventory tagged. Non -Departmental: Management and Budget Officer. Sammartino gave a presentation and responded to questions from the Mayor and Commissioners regarding line items. There was discussion about the $8.5 million for the road renovation program. July 10, 2002 City Commission Budget Workshop 1 Public Works: Commissioner Roberts commended the Public Works Department, in particular Doug Ritchie, for his quick response infixing a pothole. Interim Public Works Director Linares gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Portner questioned the contaminated area on 22"d Avenue and Project Manager Dupuis said he expected a report the end of July. Commissioner Sultanof questioned paving on 80th and 108th Terrace, and Interim Director Linares said paving would be coordinated with the developers. There was discussion about landscaping, and Interim Director Linares said landscaping would be put in within six months of completion of paving. Commissioner Roberts said there is a problem with garbage collection in her neighborhood, and Project Manager Dupuis said he would look into the matter. There was discussion about painting of city buildings and maintaining the canals. Assistant City Manager Cernech spoke about a program modification for an algae harvester and an employee to operate the equipment. There was discussion about the benefits of using this type of equipment to clear the canals. There was an expression of interest from all to add into the budget the metered engine oil dispensers and Sun VAT 45. Mayor Schreiber asked who pays the electricity for the street lights on Commercial Boulevard, and Superintendent Ritchie said FPL is doing a study and he should have the information shortly. Commissioner Roberts questioned the salary adjustment for street and stormwater employees, and City Manager Miller said this falls under reorganization of Public Works; Human Resources and the Budget Department must put forth a study and this will be brought back before the Commission at a future date. There were discussions about fire alarm registration/enforcement and about the pump stations, and Vice Mayor Portner asked if money is found in Tallahassee whether the $2.00 per month assessment for stormwater could be refunded. City Attorney Kraft said refunds are governed by state law and there is no provision for refunding of such fees. Commissioner Roberts left the room at 11:10 a.m. Mayor Schreiber recessed the budget workshop at 11:15 a.m., and reconvened the budget workshop at 11:30 a.m., with all present. Information Technology: IT Director Sucuoglu gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked his opinion of HTE, and City Manager Miller said it is the best off the shelf software for local government at this time. Vice Mayor Portner questioned the unfunded disaster recovery policy development, and IT Director Sucuoglu explained this would provide an insurance service as a backup to our disaster recovery system. There was discussion about radio system improvements; IT Director Sucuoglu said the County is involved, and he wants to make sure funds are available to keep the system current. There was discussion about e-government. Vice Mayor Portner asked about the city's employee computer purchase program, and after discussion regarding item 6403 on page 10-7, Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said the note would be taken off the page. City Manager Miller said a note would be put on item 4926 explaining it is a revolving fund. Personnel/Human Resources: Personnel Director Swanson gave a presentation and said the department would be known as Human Resources. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts left the room at 12:20 p.m. and returned at 12:30 p.m. July 10, 2002 City Commission Budget Workshop 2 I'I Mayor Schreiber questioned an increase in claims, and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said the increase reflects the increase in premiums and deductibles. Community Development: Community Development Director King gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Portner questioned the staffing of the Chamber of Commerce and asked where they stand at this juncture. City Manager Miller said they are going to continue to operate, and the Board is checking accountability. City Manager Miller said he is pleased to see the Chamber's direction; membership and renewals are being generated. There was discussion about the increase in fees to compensate for the new planner position, and Commissioner Sultanof asked about special exception fees. Community Development Director King said more work is involved in that process. Finance: Finance and Policy Officer Williams, Controller Nealon, Management and Budget Officer Sammartino, Purchasing/Contracts Manager Flurry, and Interim Customer Service Supervisor Sims gave presentations. Commissioner Roberts questioned the Satellite City Hall lease and suggested a mobile city hall that would travel from community to community. Vice Mayor Partner and Commissioner Mishkin did not agree with the recommendation. Vice Mayor Portner asked if the city's total worth could be determined under GASBE. Vice Mayor Partner questioned page 3-20, increase in salaries over previous year, and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said this is all general government functions, not just salaries. Vice Mayor Portner questioned the decrease in debt service, and Finance and Policy Officer Williams explained amortization of principal and interest vary slightly from year to year. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino distributed information on the Fire/Rescue Assessments. Vice Mayor Partner asked the City Manager to initiate negotiations with a Tallahassee Lobbyist. After discussion, Mayor Schreiber, Vice Mayor Portner, Commissioner Roberts, Commissioner Sultanof, and Commissioner Mishkin agreed on Ron Book. There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the Budget Workshop at 1:35 p.m. Marion Swenson, CMC City Clerk July 10, 2002 City Commission Budget Workshop 3