HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-08-11 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCity Council Budget Workshop Meeting.
8/11/93/KJ
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CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1993
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bender called this meeting to order on
Wednesday, August 11, 1993 at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room #1 of
City Hall.
Mayor H. Larry Bender
Vice Mayor Irving Katz
Councilman Norman Abramowitz
Councilman Henry Schumann
Councilman Joseph Schreiber
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager
Mary Blasi, Finance Director
Thelma Fagelbaum, Deputy Finance Director
Karen Willard, Comptroller
Michael Couzzo, Director of Public Services/Assistant
City Manager
Roberta Bonavia, Public Service Office Manager
Glenda Christian, MIS Director
Kline Jones, City Engineer
Gordon Sparks, Assistant City Engineer
Angie LoSasso, Customer Service Office Manager
Karen Jackson, Secretary
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HIS - Page 354
Mr. Kelly said the salary line remains the same but there are
employees starting on longevity pay. He reviewed the benefits.
C/M Schreiber questioned the increase to $10,400.00 on Item 340.
Ms. Christian said the additional $10,000.00 was for a study for a
computer system in the Utilities Department. She said this is to
coordinate the various systems currently in place throughout the
Department. Discussion was held regarding this.
Mayor Bender said there are many companies that provide this type
of service.
Ms. Christian said this is a company which is independent of any
hardware or software vendors. She said there have been other
companies who have attempted to sell their own product.
Mayor Bender asked why the information needed is not provided to
the City from the people the City purchased the equipment from.
He said it behooves the City to get free consultation and test the
market. Further discussion was held regarding this.
C/M Abramowitz said cheapest is not always the best. He said if
the equipment is needed to improve the department, then it should
be done.
Ms. McDermott said when Utilities presented their original budget,
they had a list of various types of computers and software that
they wanted.
Mayor Bender said he would like the market tested for this.
C/M Schreiber questioned the increase in Item #515-Minor
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Equipment.
Ms. Christian said many of these items were previously included
under office equipment.
C/M Schreiber asked about the $9,000.00 increase in the Purchase
Requisition Account and Ms. Blasi said MIS took over the
purchasing of all computer hardware and software for all
departments.
C/M Schreiber stated that MIS is an excellent candidate for
privatization. He recommended that the City Manager's Department
look into private organizations handling this type of work.
Ms. Blasi said MIS is an intricate part of Finance and work daily
with the Department to do accounts payable, payroll and the
requisitions system. She said the City would need the same number
of employees if the City went with a private company. She said it
would not be cost effective or efficient to have a private company
handling the work from outside. She said the MIS Department
currently does 99% of the programming for every system in the
City.
C/M Schreiber asked if the City investigated the opportunities to
do this type of service and the cost.
Mr. Kelly said he would have an analysis done.
Ms. Christian said the City would lose a lot of response time
using an outside service to have someone on call when there is a
problem with a system or other type situation.
C/M Abramowitz said the Department has a young man who handles all
the computer problems immediately. He said he has nothing against
privatization and there is nothing wrong with inquiring about it.
C/M Schumann questioned Items #463 and $641 regarding office
equipment.
Ms. Blasi said Office Equipment Repairs - #463 was reduced more
than $5,000.00. She said Council approved a maintenance contract
on the McDonnell Douglas mainframe which is $26,400.00 per year,
including 100% coverage for parts, labor and everything on the
mainframe.
Ms. Blasi said MIS purchased all of the hardware and printers for
the computers for the Utilities Department and all of the other
departments. She said the original request of $95,000.00 was
brought down to $32,000.00, which is for required hardware.
C/M Schumann asked if these are different than #518 - Computer
Supplies.
Ms. Blasi said computer supplies includes paper, ribbons,
diskettes and other such supplies.
C/M Abramowitz asked if 59C is for a change of accounting
procedures and Ms. Blasi said, yes.
C/M Abramowitz recommended that the $10,000.00 remain in the
budget.
FINANCE - Page 53
Ms. Blasi said the Finance Department's budget has decreased. She
said there was a proposed $20,000.00 budgeted for miscellaneous
audit work under Item #340 - Other Contractual Services, which was
stricken.
C/M Schreiber questioned Item #515 - Equipment.
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Ms. Blasi said the major item is $3,300.00 for 20 replacement
cabinets for the file room in the department. Discussion was held
regarding the cost and accessibility of the file cabinets.
Mayor Bender asked if Staff checked into what is available through
the State contract.
Ms. Blasi said Staff will research all avenues for the best
prices.
C/M Schreiber suggested checking into used file cabinets.
CUSTOMER SERVICE - Page 278
Ms. Blasi said the City has eliminated a part-time 30-hour file
clerk position and a part-time position in Finance to make it into
one, full-time position.
C/M Abramowitz referred to the Water Management District proposal
and asked how the City will handle billing the multi -family units.
Ms. Blasi said this will be added to their water bill, just as is
done for the single-family units.
Discussion was held regarding the billing of the upcoming Water
Management District proposal.
Ms. Blasi said the only property which is left to bill
independently are those who have commercial property with separate
meters and the owner will need to be billed, instead of the
individual renting the property.
C/M Abramowitz said the City needs to review the method the meters
are read. He said there are always problems with this. He said it
is impossible for someone to use 170,000 gallons of water when the
usual amount utilized is 90,000.
Angie LoSasso, Customer Service Office Manager, said she had an
account this past week that normally uses 80,000 gallons and was
read to be using 472,000 gallons and it was found that there is a
leak under their foundation. She said this was in a one -month time
period. Discussion was held regarding this.
C/M Abramowitz said it behooves the City to look for wet spots and
do some preventative investigations to avoid this from happening.
Ms. LoSasso said there are many people who are unaware that there
are problems.
Ms. Blasi said it is not the City's responsibility to detect
leakages.
C/M Abramowitz requested that someone on Staff write an article
for the Tam -A -Gram regarding leakage problems. Further discussion
was held regarding the method of reading the meters.
Ms. LoSasso said the City sends out educational messages on the
back of the water bills for saving water.
C/M Abramowitz asked how the City is sending out the water bills
and Ms. LoSasso said by bulk mail and there will be more billings
going out with the new single-family homes being built.
Ms. LoSasso said she contacted the post office and they do not
anticipate any rate increases.
Mayor Bender said any printed matter which is not a personal
letter should be sent out on bulk rate.
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Ms. LoSasso said all of Customer Service's mail is sent out at
bulk rate with the exception of the out -of -country mail.
Mayor Bender recommended that all notices of meetings and other
printed matter be mailed at the lowest rate possible.
Ms. LoSasso said the City has a permit stamp which can be used for
mailing if there is a minimum of 200 items, the mail can be sent
for 17 cents as opposed to 29 cents. Further discussion was held
regarding postage.
REVENUE - Page 23
Mayor Bender asked if All Service Refuse is satisfying the
customers. He said he has received a number of complaints.
Ms. McDermott said in the new Tarn -A -Gram, there will be
instructions printed for the single-family homes to educate the
residents.
C/M Abramowitz said most of the complaints he has received are
regarding the time of day the garbage is picked up. He said the
only thing that All Service did wrong was that he would have
insisted that they go out on Waste Management's routes.
Ms. McDermott said All Service is currently doing that. Further
discussion was held regarding this.
PAGE 2
C/M Schumann asked what the City is doing about delinquent ad
valorem taxes.
Ms. Blasi said the ad valorem taxes are part of the proceeds the
City has received from Broward County. She said these are taxes
that had been paid which were due in previous years.
C/M Schumann asked who receives the penalty when they are paid
delinquently and Ms. Blasi said the City receives its portion.
C/M Abramowitz asked if Mr. Markham gets a portion for collection
and Ms. Blasi said she is sure that they do.
C/M Abramowitz said these people need to be watched carefully.
C/M Schumann said if the City is looking at $40,000.00 in
delinquents and projecting only $2,000.00 in penalties, something
is wrong somewhere.
Mayor Bender said there is also something wrong in the amount of
taxes. He said $40,000.00 is a very small percentage.
Ms. Blasi said the City has no control over this. She said the
City is remitted monthly by a wire transfer, unless the City does
an audit of all of their collections for taxes. Further discussion
was held regarding this.
Ms. Blasi said the State allows the City to discount its total ad
valorem revenue proceeds by 5%. She said every year when the City
budgeted the 95%, the City usually came right in line with the
dollar amount. She said this year, since the 18 million dollars
was taken away from the City by the Value Adjustment Board, the
City will not meet the 6.2 million dollars. She said July's wire
was significantly less than last year.
Ms. Blasi said it is good that the City's permit fees are coming
in greater than what was estimated, which will more than offset
the figures.
C/M Abramowitz asked if the Value Adjustment Board sends the City
copies of the decisions they made and the properties that they had
devalued.
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Ms. Blasi said they do not
but she contacted their office and
requested that information.
She said it is an injustice to the
cities, the County and the
School Board, because they are not able
to adjust their millage at
C/M Schumann asked how the
the end of the year.
City can show a $600,000.00 increase.
Ms. Blasi said the 18 million
dollars that was decreased, the
current 1993 property assessed
value comes out to be 18 million
dollars higher, which is a
wash. She said then the City has the
new construction which went
up 14.2 million dollars, which was 1%
of the City's total. Further
discussion was held regarding this.
Mayor Bender asked if the City falls under the category within the
5% and Ms. Blasi said she always budgets 95%, but this year, the
City will not reach the 95%.
Ms. Blasi said over the last five years, the City has collected
95% of the total tax levy. Discussion was held regarding the
delinquencies.
C/M Schumann asked if the City has access to a printout from Mr.
Markham's office as to all of the figures of all the Tamarac tax
bills and Ms. Blasi said the City Clerk's office receives that
annually.
C/M Abramowitz asked if there is a way that the City can make a
determination whether or not the City is receiving the franchise
taxes without paying consultant fees.
Ms. Blasi said all of the commercial haulers submit quarterly
reports, but in order to verify whether or not the numbers are
correct, the City would have to do an audit of each of them.
C/M Abramowitz asked if Finance reviews the tax bills for errors
and Ms. Blasi said, yes. Discussion was held regarding the
reviews.
Mayor Bender said when the City took in the unincorporated area of
3,000 people, there were no taxes collected, because they were
never placed on the tax rolls. He said at the end of the year, the
income was increased to compensate for it. He said the following
year, the unincorporated area was dropped off the tax rolls again.
He said he was told that these names were removed from the
computer. He said these are the types of things that need to be
checked into. Further discussion was held regarding this.
Mayor Bender said he has reservations as to whether or not the
amount of money currently being collected from the franchises is
accurate. He recommended that these be given to the attorneys for
review.
V/M Katz said he reviews his electric bill every month and
consistently, this year, his bill has increased due to the heat
throughout the summer. He said the franchise fees that can be
expected should be higher than last year.
Mayor Bender said the City has records of this. He said people
leave for the summer but the amount of electricity being consumed
is steady. Further discussion was held regarding the franchise
fees being collected.
Ms. McDermott said Council needs to consider the fact that with
all the new construction, there are more units being built with a
heat -recovery system, which cuts down the electric bill
dramatically. She said even though there are new users corning in
on the system, it will be at a lower rate.
Mayor Bender said he found one year, a considerable drop in
City Council Budget Workshop Meeting
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revenue which cannot be accounted for and he cannot get an answer
from FP&L. He said he has given it to the attorney for review.
Ms. Blasi said this is a problem of every municipality in South
Florida at present. She said meetings are being held regarding the
franchises because it is so costly for each individual
municipality to have in-house people do this, plus the expertise
is not there. She said this should be done every five or ten
years.
Mayor Bender said he has been reading the recommendations from MAS
as to how the City can improve the City's financial position. He
suggested that the City examine the recommendations made by MAS on
every one of the utilities companies. Further discussion was held
regarding this.
Ms. Blasi said the utility tax for propane is coming in very well.
She said the estimated amount for building permits was $602,000.00
but is being changed to $750,000.00, which will offset the top
line of the decrease in the ad valorem.
Ms. McDermott said all new development is projected when the
budget is created, which shows a lag in planning and a lead in
building because the planning process occurred prior to the budget
being prepared.
Ms. Blasi said the sales tax half -cent estimation has increased
considerably, which was a nice surprise. She said she is expecting
1.95 million dollars to be coming to the City this year and the
State gave her an estimate of 2.187 million dollars for next year.
C/M Schreiber asked about the prospect of increased gasoline tax
within the County, with the possibility that the City may see some
revenue with this.
Ms. Blasi said that is not figured into the budget because it has
not been approved by the County.
C/M Abramowitz said there is a movement to discard the proposed
County increase in gasoline taxes, but there is also a move afoot
for a 1% increase in sales tax. He said this was brought before
the Broward League of Cities for their thoughts on the matter. He
said the League has taken a positive position, with a stipulation
that the current money be 50/50. He said they are trying to
increase the sales tax by one cent with a guarantee that 62-1/2%
will go to the construction of schools and the balance will be
split between the municipalities and Broward County. He said this
is in lieu of the County gas tax. Further discussion was held
regarding this.
Mayor Bender questioned Item #369 - Administrative Service Fees.
Ms. Blasi said that is the fee the City charged Utilities West for
the administration of General Funds. She said since Utilities East
and Utilities West are basically an Enterprise Fund to be handled
like a regular organization, they do not pay for any of the Fire
or Police Services. Discussion was held regarding this.
C/M Schumann asked about Item #381-251.
Ms. Blasi said this money represents the City's franchise fees
from Southern Bell. She said the City had allocated these revenues
when the City went out for the Fire Station loan and any excess of
those revenues is a transfer back to the General Fund. She
explained the franchise funds.
C/M Schumann asked about the request by the Fire Department for a
fan and Ms. McDermott said it is for the bunk room where the
firefighters sleep.
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Ms. McDermott said the diesel fumes go into their living area.
Mr. Kelly said their health requires this and he agreed with the
request.
Ms. McDermott said NFPA, Code 1500, requires this fan and the room
is already air-conditioned, but does not exhaust the quantity of
fumes that exist in this area. She said this year the NFPA Code
was changed to include this. Further discussion was held regarding
this.
V/M Katz referred to Item #383-100 and asked what the $1.00 is for
and Ms. Blasi said that is just to keep the line item open to
allow for the Council to provide for a lien/purchase for equipment
and vehicles, which are currently in the budget.
C/M Abramowitz asked if Council is going to discuss the revenue
from the City's investments and Ms. Blasi said, yes.
Herman Gross, member of the Investment Advisory Board, said there
are 3 million dollars worth of securities coming due in February,
1994. He said the City cannot expect to receive the amount of
interest the City is currently earning to be repeated. He said the
City may drop $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 of interest income in the
upcoming fiscal year.
Ms.
Blasi said that would
just be in the General Fund. She said
the
majority of the City's
investments are through the Utilities
Fund.
Ms.
Blasi said the 3 million
dollars is in the pool system and is
not
allocated just to the
General Fund. She said the majority of
the
interest revenue goes
to the Utility and Impact Fee Fund
because that is where the
reserve and impact monies lay. She said
the
General Fund, at any
one time, averages 2-1/2 to 3 million
dollars maximum.
C/M Abramowitz said he wants to be sure that the City is not
overestimating and giving a false sense of security as far as
income is concerned.
Ms. Blasi said she would discuss this further with the Investment
Advisory Board. She said the Investment Advisory Board has been
very helpful in determining where the money should be placed once
the securities become due. She said in the past couple years, the
City has made some very good investments, prior to the interest
rates changing.
MATCHING GRANTS - Page 170
C/M Abramowitz referred to the Nob Hill Beautification and
questioned the matching funds on Part A - Commercial Blvd. He said
Part A lists $116,202.00 and the grant the City received gave the
City $40,000.00.
Ms. McDermott said there are two grants in Part A. She said one is
from the Broward County Tree Trust for trees only, which is to buy
trees equaling $39,624.00. She said the other grant is from the
Sawgrass Expressway Authority, which is approximately $43,000.00.
She said when this project was started, the costs were lower, but
since then, the industry costs have increased significantly.
TAPE 3
Ms. McDermott said if the City chooses to do this project, it is
going to cost the City more because of the cost of the trees
involved.
C/M Abramowitz asked how much the City will need to spend and Ms.
McDermott said it will cost the City $96,174.11 for Project A. She
said there are two different companies and the company being
quoted is not the company the Staff is recommending for bid.
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C/M Abramowitz asked how much the City received in grant funds and
Ms. McDermott said $82,953.00 and requesting $9,616.00 for
matching grants. Further discussion was held regarding the
matching grants for this project.
C/M Abramowitz said he agrees with Part A, but is opposed to Part
B.
C/M Schreiber asked what the City is going to do regarding Part A
and Ms. McDermott said this is total median construction,
consisting of ground cover, trees, shrubs, irrigation, curbing and
pavers.
C/M Abramowitz said this would mean that the City is going to take
over the maintenance instead of the County and Ms. McDermott
agreed.
C/M Abramowitz asked whose responsibility it would be for the
balance of McNab Road and Ms. McDermott said she will speak with
the City Attorney regarding this for an interpretation.
C/M Schreiber asked if the County would be responsible if in the
future Nob Hill Road is expanded to three lanes and would have to
reduce the median.
Ms. McDermott said DOT is working with the City and, if the City
wants to remove certain trees, the City can keep the trees and DOT
will demolish the rest. Further discussion was held regarding the
road widening and funding.
Ms. McDermott said she estimates spending most of the money in the
matching grants account to complete Nab Hill Road and the
Boulevards.
Ms. McDermott said there are other projects, such as the Street
Tree Inventory, America the Beautiful, etc. She said the City
applied for grant funding for additional training for the Fire
Department, handheld computers for the Fire Department, Urban
Forestry Landscape Master Plan and others. She said she would like
to have the ability to maintain money in the budget for grant
possibilities. She said the money which is not spent will go back
into the General Fund.
C/M Abramowitz said Ms. McDermott has been very successful in
achieving the grant funding. He said it is most important to be
able to state that the money is available for application
approval.
Ms. McDermott said additional points are gained on the grant
applications if a drug -free workplace applies. She said this is
being discussed during the labor negotiations.
BONDS/LOAN FUNDS - Page 211
Ms. Blasi said this is the budget for refinancing the City Hall
and Public Service Administrative Complex (PSAC). She said it is a
little higher this year because the City took a greater savings
last year when the refinancing was done. She said there was a
decrease in the millage rate.
C/M Schreiber asked what the cost was in 1991/92 and Ms. Blasi
said for the G.O. Bonds that the City refinanced, the net present
value savings was $396,000.00.
C/M Schreiber asked what the payment was in 1991/92 and Ms. Blasi
said the City is probably saving approximately $30,000.00.
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Ms. Blasi said the transfer from Contingency of $100,000.00 needed
for the Berkowitz case was not taken into consideration when
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8/11/93/KJ
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planning this budget. She said this will completely deplete the
Contingency Account for this year with this transfer to Non -
Departmental Legal.
C/M Abramowitz said this City should have more money in the
Contingency for emergencies.
Ms. Blasi said the City budgeted $350,000.00 this year and with
this transfer it will reduce it close to $70,000.00, then there
will be another request by Public Services, which will deplete the
Contingency in the current year.
V/M Katz said this is why the City must maintain 5% of the budget
in the Contingency. He said it is not known what will happen in
the future. He said the money must be available and if it costs
another quarter in taxes, then so be it.
C/M Schreiber said if the City runs short on money it can be
borrowed.
Ms. Blasi said the only thing this effects is her estimated ending
fund balance of 1.8 million dollars. She said at present the City
is using 1.5 million dollars to reduce the budget revenue
requirements, leaving the City $300,000.00. Further discussion was
held regarding the income sources.
UTILITI$3/ENGINEERING -- Page 67
Discussion was held regarding the Draftsman position.
Mr. Kelly said there is a 15% reduction due to the salary changes.
He said Engineering falls under the General Fund.
Mike Couzzo, Director of Public Services/Assistant City Manager,
said there are no additions to the Engineering Department. He said
the City is eliminating the Public Services Operations Manager
position, which was split -budgeted from Engineering and Utilities.
Mr. Couzzo said there are overall decreases in the costs to run
Engineering. He referred to Page 70 regarding Special Equipment
and said there is an appropriation this year, which has not been
expended, for an approval of a bid to purchase special hanging
files for plans in the Engineering Department. He said this will
be presented to Council in a couple of weeks.
STREET LIGHTING - Page 140
C/M Abramowitz asked if the City has a list of which light poles
will be 15 years old and ready for replacement.
V/M Katz said even though the City may have a pole which may fall
into the 15 year bracket this year and it conforms to the present
Code, there is nothing that FP&L will do to it.
WATER TREATMENT - Page 258
Mr. Couzzo said this budget is primarily for the operation,
maintenance, and production of water that comes out of the water
treatment facility on NW 61 Street.
Mr. Kelly asked for the rationale for the Water Plant Operator
position which is being added to the budget.
Mr. Couzzo said this is due to the difficulty the City has been
having with the lack of personnel on the night shift and complying
with safety standards and procedures. He said this position is to
assist with the night shift operation because at present, there is
only one individual. He said for safety and to comply with OSHA
standards, it would be to the City's advantage and then the City
would be able to do some additional maintenance work at night. He
City Council Budget Workshop Meeting
8/11/93/KJ
Page 10
said if something were to happen to the one individual currently
working, there would be nobody to help. Further discussion was
held regarding this.
C/M Schreiber questioned Item #310, Professional Services and the
increase from zero to $17,500.00.
Mr. Couzzo said $10,000.00 is for engineering services to maintain
that the City is in compliance with the changing regulatory
standards and rules.
C/M Schreiber asked if this would fall under Other Contractual
Services.
Mr. Couzzo said Contractual Services is normally for performance
base services if the department needs modifications to a plan or
other such situations versus a professional service. He said one
of the problems with the infrastructure of the utilities system in
the City is that there was a model done 25 years ago, but now the
model is inadequate to the service being given.
Mr. Couzzo said the City is coming into some systems that require
changes but the model should reflect it. He said it is hopeful
that the new developers will cost share in the changes because
they are causing the impact.
C/M Schreiber inquired about the $20,000.00 increase in Item #340-
Other Contractual Services and Mr. Couzzo said that is
specifically designated for the demolition and removal of the old
purchasing/customer service building located at NW 61 Street,
which is used now for nothing more than storage. Discussion was
held regarding the funding for this.
Mayor Bender asked about Item #462-Building Repairs and Mr. Couzzo
said that is for the installation of a new roof and support beams
for the lime area. He said this is a continued maintenance and
modification to the plants. He said it will provide an overhang
which has deteriorated.
C/M Schumann referred to the $25,000.00 in the Beautification.
Mr. Couzzo said this is for landscaping at the Water Treatment
Plant. He said the plan is to eliminate the Australian Pines on
the north side of the property which abuts the golf course and put
in a barrier and the landscaping at the plant needs to be
improved.
C/M Abramowitz asked why the foliage from the nursery cannot be
used. He said it is necessary to find a way not to spend
$25,000.00 to beautify the water plant. He suggested something be
worked out with the owner of the golf course.
Mr. Couzzo said he would check into it.
TAPE 4
C/M Schreiber asked if the budget for beautification at the Water
Treatment Plant is going to be changed from $25,000.00 to
$15,000.00.
Mr. Couzzo recommended that Council reduce the budget on item WE
from $18,000.00 to $8,000.00.
C/M Schumann asked about Item #4RX and Mr. Couzzo said the other
problem will be when the building is removed, landscaping will
need to be done there also.
C/M Schreiber questioned Item #503.
Mr. Couzzo said there is a wall plan which is being proposed for
this location. He said the plan is to remove the Australian Pines
which run south to north on the west side which abut a residential
City Council Budget Workshop 'Meeting'4
8/11/93/KJ
Page 11
development and replace it with a CBS block wall for security.
C/M Abramowitz asked for clarification.
Mr. Couzzo said one building is going to be removed and that area
will be landscaped, which is on the east side of the property. He
said the wall will be built on the west side of the Water
Treatment Plant and will run from the south end of the property
line going north. Further discussion was held regarding this
proposal.
C/M Abramowitz suggested that the City place a cyclone fence in
this location instead of a wall, rather than beautify Green
Thumb's property. He said the cost will be much less. Discussion
was held regarding this.
C/M Abramowitz said the removal of the trees is a cost-effective
move and should have been done some time ago. He recommended that
Mr. Couzzo get pricing on a fence for this location.
Mr. Kelly said Items #4RX, WE and #503 will be readdressed.
C/M Schumann suggested that the City just sod the area where the
building is being demolished rather than beautify it.
Vernon Hargray, Public Services Operations Manager, said the wall
was proposed for containment of the sludge but if a fence is
installed, the sludge will run through the fence onto Green
Thumb's property. Further discussion was held regarding the
dredging and sludge.
C/M Schumann suggested a berm be placed there and Mr. Hargray said
there is not much space for a berm to be built. He said the sludge
piles higher than the building at times.
C/M Schumann asked what contains the sludge at present and Mr.
Hargray said nothing.
Mr. Hargray said when it rains the sludge runs. He said the City
had to pay $60,000.00 to pump the running sludge from Colony West.
C/M Schumann asked why there is a proposal for beautification if
this is only for sludge removal.
Mr. Hargray said the beautification is not in this particular
area, but in'the front and side of the property for the
residential areas. Further discussion was held regarding the
location.
C/M Abramowitz said the South Florida. Water Management District
will not allow sludge ponds within the next year or so. He said
they will be looking for holding tanks which will cost $300,000.00
easily. He suggested that the Department do whatever needs to be
done at present but do not expend a lot of money.
Mr. Couzzo said if there is enough room, possibly a berm can be
placed here. He said it will be researched.
C/M Schreiber asked about Item #648-Lab Equipment.
Mr. Couzzo said the equipment was purchased in 1978 and needs to
be replaced. He said the Water Treatment Facility is regularly
inspected.
C/M Schumann asked if the equipment is giving inaccurate readings.
Mr. Hargray said the City has failed tests due to the equipment.
He said the parts required for the City's current equipment are
very difficult to obtain. He explained the functions of the new
equipment and the testing required. Discussion was held regarding
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Page 12
this.
Mr. Hargray said the current equipment has been giving the Staff
many problems throughout the year.
Mayor Bender asked how the City handles the current requirements
and Mr. Hargray said the tests are sent out to private labs.
C/M Schumann asked if this is sole source procurement or does the
City need to go out for bid.
Mr. Couzzo said the City would need to go out to bid.
C/M Schumann said he would not want to purchase from the same
vendor or manufacturer if they cannot keep the parts in for more
than 15 years.
Mayor Bender said even if the parts were available, the equipment
is obsolete.
Mr. Couzzo said not every city can provide an in-house laboratory
analysis. He said,other cities have requested that Tamarac
consider running their lab samples and this will be looked at as a
revenue generating source. Further discussion was held regarding
the lab equipment.
TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION - Page 266
C/M Schreiber questioned Item #643.
Mr. Couzzo said there is $1,950.00 for (3) 12-volt submersible
pumps which will pump out areas in which the City is preparing to
remove the water. He said there is $3,000.00 budgeted for a sod
cutter, which will eliminate the cost of having to purchase the
sod and eliminate the inconvenience of the homeowner. He said
there is also a $25,000.00 jack and bore piece excavating
equipment budgeted, which gives the City the availability to go
under a pavement surface without destroying and having to restore
the pavement surface.
C/M Schreiber asked about Item #6HK and Ms. McDermott said this
has been reduced and should now be $110,000.00.
C/M Abramowitz asked what the $110,000.00 will be spent on and Mr.
Couzzo said the City is currently in litigation on a couple areas
of land.
Mr. Couzzo said there are approximately 40 meter locations that
the City needs to secure easements for and arrange agreements with
the individual property owners to relocate the meters, which means
the City needs to remove the meter boxes, change the meters and
possibly change the deteriorating water lines.
Ms. McDermott said this is under litigation and recommended that
this discussion be monitored carefully.
C/M Abramowitz said he would like to find out if anybody spoke
with the County to see if the City can mitigate some of this.
Mr. Couzzo said he would discuss this with the City Attorney.
WATER ACCOUNTABILITY - Page 365
Mr. Couzzo said the only change is the meter reader position,
which now not only reads the meter but changes them out and
analyze the needs.
Mayor Bender asked about Item #505, Repair Service Lines, and Mr.
Couzzo said these are service lines to the person who has a meter.
He said the City has accelerated the meter change -out program.
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Discussion was held regarding this.
V/M Katz questioned Item #668, Back Flow Preventers, and asked
where the City is placing back flaw preventers.
Mr. Hargray said the City has some back flow preventers located in
some of the condominiums and on all City property. He said the
City is responsible for all the back flow preventers on its
property. He said the $7,000.00 is for installations at City
facilities. Discussion was held regarding this.
Mr. Hargray said the Staff has been making a list of all hazardous
locations in the City, which includes City -owned and private
properties.
V/M Katz asked if there is a revenue item in the budget for this
money and Ms. Blasi said, yes.
C/M Abramowitz said the Law states that the back flow preventers
must be inspected annually. Discussion was held regarding this.
Mr. Kelly said the exact locations of these back flow preventers
will be provided to Council.
WASTE WATER COLLECTION - Pago 284
C/M Schreiber referred to Item #640 and asked what it is for.
Mr. Couzzo said it is to replace a vehicle with a four-wheel drive
vehicle in order to provide certain emergency services.
C/M Schreiber asked about Item #643 and Mr. Couzzo said this is
provide emergency backup power sources in the event of a power
outage with these generators.
C/M Schumann referred to Item #6HK and Mr. Couzzo said these are
capital projects, including a force main which services Shaker
village and Sunflower Heathgate. He said there have been five
breaks in the line over the last year. He said there were two lift
stations planned for renovation. He said 60% of this will be
funded out of the Operating Account.
V/M Katz asked what the City is doing to the lift stations on Nob
Hill Road. He said the City is requiring another lift station in
Land Section 8 and asked if it is in this budget.
Mr._Couz-o said that is not coming out of this budget, but is
coming,out of the Capital Replacement Fund. Further discussion was
held regarding this.
TAPE 5
Discussion was held regarding the utility taxes.
C/M Schumann recommended that the ad valorem be reduced and a 5%
Utility tax be implemented. He said this way, all residents will
be paying it. He said at present, there are many single and multi-
family residences that pay no taxes at all.
Mr. Couzzo said Council is not discussing ad valorem at present,
but utilities and the mechanism to accomplish what is being
suggested is under an Enterprise Fund.
C/M Schreiber referred to Item #647, Special Equipment.
Mr. Couzzo said the City has the ability and expertise to do the
repairs in-house and this piece of equipment will provide the
means to accomplish this.
Discussion was held regarding the location of various lift
stations.
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Ms. Blasi explained the document describing the charges to
Utilities East and Utilities West for water and sewer. She said
this report breaks it down between single-family and multi -family.
V/M Katz asked where the break is between the 12% and 4%. He said
the City has three different water purveyors and asked where the
break is in the sewer.
Ms. Blasi said Utilities East has the water and sewer services
provided by the City of Ft. Lauderdale.
V/M Katz asked where the dividing line is based on the three
purveyors. He asked if Broward County and Ft. Lauderdale are
considered the 4% and Ms. Blasi said, yes. Further discussion was
held regarding this.
Ms. Blasi said the sewer is treated by the County and Ms.
McDermott said there are two separate rates.
Ms. Blasi said next year, the City will index 3% on all rates,
fees and charges. She read from Resolution R-92-110.
Mr. Kelly said the City Attorney's budget and all additional
information requested by Council will be discussed at a meeting
next week. He said there are a number of capital items to be
discussed, along with a possible short-term loan.
Mr. Kelly said the relocation of the Social Services Department is
being handled this weekend.
Mr. Kelly said he met with FP&L regarding permits and summarized
the outcome of this meeting. He said there is some concern
regarding franchise fees and permits with FP&L.
With no further business, Mayor Bender ADJOURNED this meeting at
12:20 p.m.