HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-07-15 - City Commission Special Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC SPECIAL WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
UTILITIES COMPLEX
10101 STATE STREET
TAMARAC, FL 33321
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco opened the special workshop meeting at 9:00 a.m. on
Wednesday, July 15, 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 Julie Klahr, 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 gave an overview of the day's discussions, which would include the
following: 1) Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech and
department directors to present individual department budgets to show where
reductions have been made; 2) review of the personnel complement page in front of the
budget; 3) Director of Utilities Gagnon and City Manager Miller to discuss the 18% water
conservation surcharge and options; 4) Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services
Director Cernech to discuss implementation of the roll -back rate and review the statute;
and 5) Management and Budget Analyst Ashworth and City Manager Miller to review
the legal advertisement for budget hearings and preliminary budget resolution.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech recapped previous
discussions regarding reductions.
Chief Building Official/Director Grande gave a presentation on reductions in the Building
Department.
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Community Development Director Bramley gave a presentation on reductions in the
Community Development Department.
Commissioner Dressler left the room at 9:53 a.m. and returned at 10:00 a.m.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she would like to see the Code Compliance Division
restructured immediately to go out on weekends.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech gave a presentation
on reductions made in the Financial Services Department.
Interim Fire Chief Moral gave a presentation on reductions in the Fire Department.
Commissioner Dressler left the room at 10:14 a.m. and returned at 10:25 a.m.
Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad left the room at 10:20 a.m. and returned at 10:23 a.m.
Assistant City Manager Phillips gave a presentation on reductions in the Mayor and City
Commission Offices. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she would like to see what is
being paid for dues and memberships. Commissioner Glasser said she is not
comfortable with lobbyist services as a line item in the Mayor and City Commission
budget. After discussion, City Manager Miller said staff would look into the matter and
perhaps find another area in which to place this item. There was discussion about the
grants and aid and possible discretionary amounts for each Commissioner to make
donations to the organization of their choice with approval of the Commission. Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco said we are working with taxpayer dollars, and Deputy City
Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech suggested the Mayor and City
Commission give to organizations that requested funding. Staff will make minor
adjustments in the budget to accommodate the Mayor and City Commission.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 10:55 a.m. and reconvened the
Special Workshop meeting at 11:15 a.m. with all present as before.
Assistant City Manager Phillips gave a presentation on reductions in the City Manager's
Office.
Public and Economic Affairs Officer Berns gave a presentation on reductions in the
Public Information Office.
Assistant City Attorney Klahr gave a presentation on the City Attorney's budget.
City Clerk Swenson gave a presentation on reductions in the City Clerk's budget.
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BSO Chief Duguay gave a presentation on the BSO contract.
Human Resources Director Swanson gave a presentation on reductions in Human
Resources and Risk Management.
I.T. Director Sucuoglu gave a presentation on reductions in the I.T.
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner gave a presentation on reductions in the Parks
and Recreation Department.
Public and Economic Affairs Officer Berns and Community Development Director
Bramley left the meeting at 10:10 p.m.
Commissioner Bushnell questioned the savings as a result of closing Satellite City Hall,
and City Manager Miller and Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said they would
get back to the Mayor and City Commission with the information.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 12:30 p.m. and reconvened the
special workshop meeting at 1:10 p.m. with all present as before except Public and
Economic Affairs Officer Berns, Community Development Director Bramley and
Assistant City Clerk Teufel, who had left the meeting.
Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation on reductions in the Public Works
Department. There was discussion regarding elimination of the security guard. City
Manager Miller said staff would get back with the Mayor and City Commission between
now and October 1 St with a recommendation.
Director of Utilities Gagnon gave a presentation on reductions in the Utilities
Department. City Manager Miller discussed the water conservation surcharge and said
while we are not in a drought situation at this time; we still follow SFWMD's suggestions.
SFWMD has struggled with taking us off drought regulations because of various special
interest groups. City Manager Miller said if it is the Mayor and City Commission's
pleasure, staff would prepare the appropriate paperwork for the August meeting to
relieve our rate payers of the 18% water surcharge until the next drought. Director of
Utilities Gagnon added he is proposing a more generically written resolution so the
Mayor and City Commission have more control over whether to assess a surcharge or
not. The City is credited for having a surcharge for purposes of conservation so we
would like to keep the ability to add it to the bills, if necessary. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco asked what the average savings would be and Director of Utilities Gagnon
said he would research it and get back with the Mayor and City Commission.
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Commissioner Dressler said he would like to make sure there are no financial
consequences or regulatory impacts on the utility bonds. Deputy City Manager/Interim
Financial Services Director Cernech responded staff will come back to the Mayor and
City Commission at the beginning of the year for a rate study to make sure the residents
are paying what they should. Assistant City Attorney Klahr said the City Attorney's
office would research the Code of Ordinances. There was a unanimous expression of
interest to move forward with a resolution to relieve our rate payers of the 18% water
surcharge until the next drought.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 1:50 p.m. and reconvened the
special workshop meeting at 2:00 p.m. with all present as before.
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech presented following
alternative reductions to the budget, which staff did consider but is not recommending.
Service: Head Count Reduction: Total Reduction:
Para -transit services 5 employees $355,000
Social Services 2 employees $154,000
Special events 3 employees $300,000
Close Tamarac Community Center and parks
two days a week
Eliminate local/state/federal lobbyists
5+ employees $500,000
$50,000, $66,000, $95,000
AADRC
$75,000
Tamarac Chamber of Commerce
$7,500
Eliminate HPO/Sterling Initiative
1-2 employees
$165,000
Eliminate Tam -A -Gram/
Public Information pieces
1 employee
$180,000
Building Department personnel reductions
3 employees
$200,000
Benefit options
$500,000
Financial Services personnel reductions
8 employees
$750,000
Compensation (including contractual obligations)
$580,000
Fire Rescue personnel reductions
8 employees
$750,000
Total alternative reductions
36+employees
$4,177,500
Unintended consequences from alternative reductions:
No or drastically reduced summer camp
Federal appropriations/grants/State aid dramatically reduced or eliminated
Most residents get City information from the Tam -A -Gram
Communication with the community will be dramatically diminished
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Building Department service levels decrease while inspection time increases
Fire Union will vigorously oppose reductions in personnel and reduced staffing on
rescue units
Must declare fiscal urgency to deal with the Unions if contractual obligations are not
honored
Employee morale will suffer and as a result customer service will suffer and your citizen
satisfaction will decrease
Elimination of para transit/social services — fire rescue transports will increase
Youth typically in summer camp will be left unattended
Does not serve to improve property values
Increase in citizen complaints/calls to City Commission
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech said in focus group
discussions, which consisted of the current and prior Tamarac University students,
advisory board members, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers, it
was determined that the majority of the residents are willing to pay more to retain the
services we have now. There was discussion regarding the average taxable value of
residences in Tamarac and tax implications. There was discussion regarding the
maximum 10% reserves allowed by Charter. There was discussion regarding the roll
back millage rate and the consequences if we do not go to the roll back rate.
Commissioner Dressler left the room at 3:06 p.m. and returned at 3:09 p.m.
City Manager Miller said this FY10 proposed budget is 1.4% lower than last year's
budget, which was 5% lower than the previous year's budget. Government is getting
smaller and it is hopeful we will be able to advertise the roll back rate after Wednesday's
Commission meeting. The final rate will be set once the budget is approved in
September. Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech added
we will try to get information from the property appraiser's office as to what affect this
will have on condominiums/townhomes, and ask the property appraiser to tell us the
._percentage of homes in Tamarac where the market value remains above the save our
homes. Commissioner Dressler asked is if there is some appeal process to the
property appraiser that can be made with regard to mitigation on increased taxes.
Assistant City Attorney Klahr responded the only appeal process is for the amount the
property appraiser determines an individual's property is worth. The website shows the
proposed assessed value. In September, the property appraiser will post the final
value, and then there is a time period within which one can challenge the assessed
value. Commissioner Bushnell asked how the foreclosures fit into the scenario and
Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech explained we still get
paid the taxes on the property either from the bank or the purchaser or both. City
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Manager Miller reminded the Mayor and City Commission there are no fee increases
included in this budget.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called for a recess at 3:30 p.m. and reconvened the
meeting at 3:45 p.m. with all present as before.
Commissioner Dressler suggested the unfunded positions be removed and if required,
staff can come to the Mayor and City Commission to add them back. City Manager
Miller explained that should there be a need to fill the positions, a budget amendment
would be required. City Manager Miller explained on Wednesday the preliminary
millage rate resolution will come before the Mayor and City Commission for a vote and
staff recommends the roll back rate. The resolution, after it is approved by the Mayor
and City Commission, goes to the property appraiser, and when she receives it the
TRIM notices are created and sent out in August; there is no millage rate on the notice.
Management and Budget Analyst Ashworth added the TRIM notices go out beginning
August 24th along with the Fire Assessment rate. The notice includes the date, place
and time for the first public hearing and does not show the proposed millage rate. Two
to three days prior to the second public hearing, which will be held on September 23,
the City advertises the second hearing in the newspaper, accompanied by the budget
summary. The notice tells the millage rate, as well as the time and place of the second
public hearing.
The following expression of interest was given for the proposed roll back millage rate of
6.3752: Commissioner Glasser "yes", Commissioner Dressler "yes", Commissioner
Bushnell "yes", Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad "no", Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco "no decision".
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the Special Workshop Meeting at 4:05 p.m.
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