HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-14 - City Commission Special Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC SPECIAL WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009
UTILITIES COMPLEX
10101 STATE STREET
TAMARAC, FL 33321
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco opened the special workshop meeting at 9:05 a.m. on
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at Utilities Complex, 10101 State Street, Tamarac, FL 33321.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice -Mayor Patricia Atkins -Grad,
Commissioner Pamela Bushnell, Commissioner Diane Glasser, and Commissioner
Harry Dressler.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial
Services Director Michael C. Cernech, Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, Assistant
City Attorney Jacob Horowitz, Public Works Director Jack Strain, Utilities Director Ray
Gagnon, Interim Fire Chief Jeff Moral, I.T. Director Levent Sucuoglu, Director of Human
Resources Maria Swanson, Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande, Parks and
Recreation Director Greg Warner, BSO District VII Chief Marc Duguay, Community
Development Director Jennifer Bramley, Public Information Officer Andrew Berns,
Division Chief -EMS Tom Sheridan, Management and Budget Analyst Kareyann
Ashworth, Management and Budget Analyst Sheron Stewart, Marion Swenson, City
Clerk, and Patricia A. Teufel, Assistant City Clerk.
City Manager Miller presented an outline of the budget process, which is aimed at
establishing the millage rate, and added staff is not recommending a change to the Fire
Assessment fee.
City Manager Miller presented highlights of the proposed 2010 budget, spoke of the
millage rate, fire assessment, revenue trends and positions, and addressed budges
projections, general revenue trend projections, stormwater revenue trend projections,
and utilities revenue trend projections.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech gave an overview of
the budget and spoke of declining property values. Deputy City Manager/Interim
Financial Services Director Cernech discussed revenues and the roll back millage rate,
contingency fund, Fire Rescue appropriations, CIP, Stormwater fund, Utility fund, Utility
R&R fund, Risk Management fund, and unfunded positions.
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Commissioner Glasser questioned the number of people who have been let go and City
Manager Miller said we started the process to reduce the workforce two years ago and
now have an additional 16 vacant positions, said positions are shown in the budget as
not funded. There was discussion regarding the personnel complement and unfunded
positions.
There was discussion regarding the 18% water conservation surcharge, the percentage
of residents who do not pay taxes, and cutbacks.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 10:45 a.m. and reconvened the
special workshop meeting at 11:00 a.m. with all present as before.
City Manager Miller said our role as staff is to run the services as best we can. The
Mayor and City Commission's role is to decide what services to provide and at what
level.
City Manager Miller and BSO Chief Duguay spoke about the BSO contract and
negotiations with Sheriff Lamberti. There was discussion regarding a standardized
agreement between BSO and the cities. There was an expression of interest from the
Mayor and City Commission to keep the current level of police service with BSO.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 12:05 p.m. and reconvened the
special workshop meeting at 12:50 p.m. with all present as before.
City Manager Miller and Interim Fire Chief Moral discussed Tamarac Fire Rescue, the
transition from three to two firefighters per truck, and replacement of vehicles.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech discussed the CIP
and budgeting of projects.
Public Works Director Strain discussed the Capital Improvement Program and future
projects as follows: Fire Station at Rock Island Road and Commercial Boulevard,
Monterey Park, Community Center East, Tephford Park Phase 2, Multi Purpose Center
Rehabilitation, guard rail repair/maintenance, sidewalk repair/maintenance, and traffic
calming, BSO impact window project, HVAC/Refrigeration repair and replacement, fire
apparatus/emergency medical equipment, GIS, stormwater, culverts, and stormwater
gates installation.
Commissioner Dressler left the room at 2:15 p.m. and returned at 2:17 p.m.
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Director of Utilities Gagnon spoke about R&R, CIAC, and pay as you go.
City Manager Miller discussed the union contracts and employee compensation and
recommended honoring the current FPE agreement, negotiating modest increases, if
any, with the IAFF, and continuation of the non -represented employee pay for
performance plan. Human Resources Director Swanson expanded on the discussion of
union contracts and non -represented employees.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 3:40 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 3:50 p.m. with all present as before.
City Manager Miller explained the proposed budget is based upon a millage rate
adjustment 6.3 for FY10. The 6.3 millage rate is the roll back rate and provides for
collection of the same amount in ad valorem revenues as was collected in FY09.
Revenues drive the budget, and there are two types of revenues - those that we cannot
control and those that we can control. Those that we cannot control are as follows:
sales tax, state shared revenue, gas tax, building permits, and grants. Those that we
can control are franchise fees, service fees, program fees, programming assessments,
and ad valorem. There was discussion of the roll back rate of 6.3, which is lower than
that of many other cities.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech spoke about the new
rules set by the legislature regarding millage, explaining that should the millage rate be
set below the roll back rate the revenue loss compounds going forward. Management
and Budget Analyst Ashworth discussed the advertisement of the budget hearing.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the first day of the special workshop meeting at
4:15 p.m.
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Marion Swenson, CIVIC
City Clerk
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