HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-08-12 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1992
Tape 1
CALL TO ORDER : Mayor Bender called the City Council Budget
Wor s op to order at 1:05 P.M. in Conference Room #1, City Hall.
PRESENT :
Mayor H. L. Bender
.Vice Mayor Henry Schumann
Councilman Norman Abramowitz (arrived at 1:07 P.M.)
Councilman Irving Katz
Councilman Joseph Schreiber
ALSO PRESENT :
Jv n P. Kelly, City Manager
Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager
Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney
Mary Blasi, Finance Director
Kelly Carpenter, AICP, Director of Community Development
Dan Wood, Chief Building Official
Phyllis Polikoff, Secretary
Page 28 PLANNING
Page , Department Personnel
Total Personal Services
#120 - Regular Salaries
Mr. Kelly said Ms. Carpenter's proposed transfer into the Building
Department reflected the difference between $115,174 and $164,673.
Ms. Carpenter said Ruth Russo would also be transferred into the
Building Department but her position would be left vacant and a
Development Review Planner with a $25,000 salary would fill that
position. She said Me. Russo, Zoning/Landscape Inspector, would
function better in the Building Department.
C/M Abramowitz asked if'Ms. Russo did the work of a Development
Review Planner and Ms. Carpenter said Mike Vonder Meulen did that
and he would now have more responsibilities.
C/M Abramowitz asked who in the Building Department was doing what
Ms. Russo would do and Ms. Carpenter said, no one. She said Ms.
Russo would fill an already budgeted vacancy left by Caroline
Gilbert and she wanted to hire a Development Review Planner.
C/M Abramowitz said he did not want to hire a Development Review
Planner with a $25,000 salary. Ms. Carpenter said her departure
from the Planning Department would leave a void and an entry level
person would be hired to fill that void.
C/M Abramowitz asked who did Ms. Russo's work in the Building
Department. Ms. Carpenter replied, Ms. Russo, who was being paid
from the Planning Budget. C/M Abramowitz reiterated he did not
want to hire someone unless the Department could not function
otherwise. Ms. Carpenter said her Department had been
understaffed for several years.
C/M Abramowitz suggested leaving Ms. Russo in the Planning
Department. C/M Schreiber said the new position was being created
because the Planning Department was short-handed and that Ms.
Russo could do her job in either Department.
Mr. Kelly said Ms. Carpenter was physically working in the
Building Department. Mayor Bender asked why she was moved without
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City Council. Budget Workshop
8/12/92/PP
Page 2
Council approval and Mr. Kelly said he could physically move
someone to an Acting position but he did nothing which affected
salary. Ms. Carpenter disagreed and said the Code Enforcement
people were physically moved although their positions were
unaffected.
Mayor Bender asked if a private contractor was assisting Fredalyn
Frasier, the GIF Specialist. Ms. Carpenter said, no. C/M
Schreiber asked if it was worth the salary for the person and the
equipment. Ms. Carpenter said, yes, and Me. McDermott agreed.
C/M Katz said much of the money expended could be recovered
because people from the outside would be charged for its use. He
said Council approved hiring the person and purchasing the
education and equipment.
V/M Schumann asked when the MAP Graphics system would be
operational. Ms. Carpenter said anywhere up to two years. C/M
Abramowitz asked if someone else could be trained to work on this
system and if Ms. Frasier would have other functions. Ms.
Carpenter said someone could be trained and Me. Frasier would have
other functions after the system and information was installed.
C/M Schreiber asked if Ms. Frasier could also function as the
Development Review Planner. Ms. Carpenter said Me. Frasier could
not do both jobs at the same time.
C/M Abramowitz recommended eliminating the $25,000 Development
Review Planner. C/M Katz agreed.
C/M Schreiber said that the vacant position should remain vacant.
Mayor Bender agreed and suggested that $25,000 should be removed
from the budget. Mr. Kelly said the total amount of $35,310,
including FICA and benefits, would be removed.
Mr. Kelly stated that the proposed budget indicated the amounts if
Council approved the recommendation to reorganize the Department.
He said Council had to look at each line -item.
#161 - Longevity Pay
#170 - Paid Vacation
Mr. Kelly said if the transfer was approved, the decrease would
reflect Ms. Russo's position.
#172 - Paid Sick Leave
#230 - Health insurance
Ms. Carpenter said #172 represented Ms. Russo and #230 represented
the 15% proposed increase in health insurance. C/M Abramowitz
said #230 also included the proposed Development Review Planner.
Tape 2
Total Direct Operating_Expenses
#318 - Engineering Services
Ms. Carpenter said $3,500 of the $5,000 represented retainer fees
for Traffic Engineering Services and a Traffic Impact Fee Study.
#323 - Planning Services
Ms. Carpenter said to -date nothing had been expended but the
balance of the Grant monies would be spent on the Consultant
working on the Land Development Code.
#402 - Travel - Other
Ms. Carpenter said this amount was over -estimated but in 1993 it
world be used for the American Planning Conference. She
City Council Budget Workshop
8/12/92/PP
Page 3
recommended reducing the 'amount to $1,100.
#463 - Office Equipment Repairs
#470 - Printing and Binding
Ms. Carpenter said #463 was self-explanatory and #470 would be for
printing the new Land Development Code.
#515 - Office Equipment -Minor
Ms. Carpenter said this was for additional equipment.
Total Personal Services (Continued)
#225 - Deferred Compensation Plan
C/M Katz asked who no longer was on Deferred Compensation. Ms.
Carpenter referred to herself and said her dollars were in the
Building Department's budget.
Page 53 BUILDING
Page 100, Department Personnel
Ms. McDermott said changes such as moving Ms. Carpenter and Ms.
Russo into the Building Department were indicated in this budget.
Total Personal Services
#120 - Regular Salaries
#340 - Other Contractual Services
Ms. Carpenter said about $62,000 would be saved if Planning and
Building stayed as they did last year.
Mr. Kelly said Councilmembers had asked if the Inspectors were
needed and he said, yes, because it was cost effective. He said
consideration was given to contract Inspectors on a part-time, as
needed basis, but insurance and risk factors were involved and the
idea was dropped.
Ms. Carpenter suggested eliminating Item #340 and using those
funds to hire a permanent, part-time Inspector.
C/M Katz asked what protection did the, City of Tamarac have if
another City erred with a plan review or inspection. Ms.
Carpenter said a Mutual Aid Agreement between the Cities of
Tamarac and Oakland Park for Building Inspections and Plan Review
was on this evenin 's Agenda and more information could be
ascertained at that time.
Dan Wood, Chief Building Official,.said a Mutual Aid Agreement
between the Cities of Tamarac, Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill was
already in effect.
C/M Katz said he was confused because inspections could not be
done because the Staff was short-handed and a part-time Inspector
was needed but the City was able to do Inspections for outside
Municipalities. Ms. Carpenter said 371 electrical permits were
being withheld due to FP&L's on-call.disruption installations and
she did not know if or when the Department could catch up'without
additional assistance. C/M Schreiber disagreed and said the delay
was due to a procedure which needed to be resolved.
C/M Schreiber said the Department had a Chief Building Official
and a Chief Building Inspector. He asked why they could not be
the same person. Mr. Wood said the Chief Building Inspector,
reviewed plans, answered questions at the counter and did physical
inspections. He said the Chief Building Official mainly
functioned in-house and sometimes did physical inspections.
Mr. Kelly said the Chief Electrical Inspector would be out a great
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City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 4
deal. Ms. Carpenter agreed and said last year Lou Marks, an
Electrical Inspector, was cut from the budget and put into Public
Works but she needed part of that person back.
C/M Katz asked about Mr. Marks's qualifications. Mr. Wood said
Mr. Marks was a certified electrician but not certified to review
plans and he could do inspections on a temporary basis. Ms.
Carpenter agreed.
#140 - Overtime Pay
Ms. Carpenter said this was,when the Building Inspectors worked
weekends. Mayor Bender asked if the work week could include
Saturday and Sunday and taking two days off during the week
because service should be given seven days a week. Ms. Carpenter
said the Inspectors would lose a benefit if this was done but it
was a Management decision. Mr. Kelly agreed.
#172 - Paid Sick Leave
#225 - Deferred Compensation Plan
Mr. Kelly said the increases were due to the proposed transfers of
Ms. Carpenter and Ms. Russo, although #225 referred only to Ms.
Carpenter.
V/M Schumann asked about #172. Ms. Blasi said it was accumulated
sick leave not used and 50% of its worth over the cap would be
reimbursed to the employee at the end of the fiscal year.
There was discussion regarding #172 - Paid Sick Leave.
Total Direct Operating Expenses
#340 - Other Contractual Services
Mr. Kelly said almost the entire amount would be reduced if a
part=time employee was hired. Ms. Carpenter said the City secured
the services of an outside Electrical Inspector --Plans Examiner and
a Mechanical -Plumbing Inspector and Plan Reviewer. She reiterated
Mr. Kelly's comments regarding the insurance and risk factors and
the matter was dropped.
Ms. Carpenter said two part-time permanent Inspectors, on call,
would cost a total of $26,486 per year plus 50% of benefits and no
health insurance. She said the two people would function as
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Inspectors.
Mr. Kelly said #340 would be reduced to zero and $26,486 would be
carried over to #120 - Regular Salaries.
There was discussion regarding a salaried employee versus the
insurance, liability and risk factors for the contract employee.
Tape 3
Ms. Carpenter said she did not believe vendors would provide the
limits of liability which would allow the Risk Manager to
comfortably sign an agreement.
C/M Katz said if the reorganization was approved, Joann Zambuto
and Pam Allen would move into Building and Planning, respectively.
Ms. Carpenter agreed and the moves would cost an additional $2,000
annually.
Page 56 CODE ENFORCEMENT
Page 101, Department Personnel
Total Personal Services
#120 -- Regular Salaries
11
a
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S/12/92/PP
Page 5
Ms. McDermott said effective July 10, 1992, BSO was issuing
parking citations and Mary Falor, who handled parking citations,
was no longer needed to function in that capacity. Mr. Kelly
recommended putting Ms. Falor into Code Enforcement as an
Administrative Secretary at a salary of $30,615.
C/M Abramowitz asked if Ms. Falor could be placed elsewhere in the
City at a lower salary. Mr. Kelly recommended retraining Ms.
Falor as an Administrative Secretary. C/M Abramowitz suggested
moving Ms. Falor into Telecommunication Services at a salary lower
than $30,000 and moving Lillian Marcus into the City Clerk's
Office. He said it was wrong to pay Ms. Falor an entry-level
salary.
There was further discussion regarding Ms. Falor and Mayor Bender
suggested that a position should be found for her with a salary
range no higher than $25,000.
C/M Katz asked about Judy Yacobellis' salary and Ms. Carpenter
advised Ms. Yacobellis was an Occupational License Supervisor and
her salary was the same but it would be reduced. She said Ms.
Yacobellis and the three Code Enforcement Aides would be
reclassified to Code Enforcement Officers. She said Ms.
Yacobellis's present duties would be divided among the four Code
Enforcement Officers, the City would be divided into four
Districts and one Code Enforcement Officer would service each
District.
C/M Katz said he believed Jerry Weinreb was not qualified as a
Code Enforcement Officer and asked why Mr. Weinreb was being
reclassified. Ms. Carpenter said she proposed having Ms. Falor
fill the Administrative Secretarial position and Ms. McDermott
agreed that Mr. Weinreb was qualified as an Administrative
Secretary. Ms. Carpenter said if Council disapproved her
proposal, Mr. Weinreb would revert back to Administrative
Secretary.
Mr. Kelly suggested having Ms. Falor fill the Code Enforcement
Officer position.
Ms. Carpenter asked if Council approved her proposal of the four
Code Enforcement Officers and also to reduce Ms. Yacobellis'
salary because her current position was being eliminated.
V/M Schumann asked why the Code Enforcement Aides were being
reclassified to Code Enforcement Officers. Ms. Carpenter said it
was due to Occupational Licensing duties being incorporated into
their job descriptions. She said Millie Hammel, Josephine Forti
and Gary Phaneuf would get an additional 5% above the C.O.L.A. and
Occupational Licensing inspections would now be part of the Code
Enforcement Officers' responsibilities. She said their job
descriptions would be amended to reflect the new responsibilities
with an increase in salary.
C/M Abramowitz disagreed with reclassifying the Aides to Officers.
C/M Katz said in his opinion, Code Enforcement Inspectors were not
qualified or trained to know what occupational license to look
for. C/M Abramowitz suggested that Building Inspectors should
also know what occupational licenses to look for. C/M Katz
suggested that Building Inspectors should also be cross -trained.
There was further discussion regarding the Code Enforcement Aides/
Officers and the responsibilities they would now have.
C/M Schreiber asked if it was cost effective or would it cost the
City more for the same services. Ms. McDermott said four people
would do what three people were already doing and have a better
control of their areas.
V/M Schumann suggested that each Code Enforcement Aide/Officer
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City Council Budget Workshop
6/12/92/PP
Page 6
should carry a checklist. C/M Abramowitz said Ms. Yacobellis was
experienced to know what to look for and suggested that a form,
indicating which types of occupational licenses were applicable,
should be completed by each business.
Tape 4
Walter Rekuc, resident, expressed his opinion and concerns with
regard to Code Enforcement.
Mayor Bender expressed his concerns regarding job classifications
and suggested that job titles should remain the same but that the
descriptions should be rewritten. Mr. Kelly said it was a
monumental task and the Union had to give their input.
C/M Abramowitz said Broward County would be asked not to issue
their own licenses only unless the City issued theirs or for the
City to issue a Broward County license and get paid for it. He
agreed with Mr. Kelly's suggestion about reclassifying Ms. Falor
as a Code Enforcement Officer. C/M Katz disagreed.
Page 44,'POLICE SERVICES
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Page 96, Department Personnel
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Total Personal Services
#120 - Regular Salaries
#161 - Longevity Pay
#170 - Paid Vacation
#174 - Paid Annual Leave
#175 - Incentive Bonus
#220 - Pension Contribution
#240 - Beath Insurance
#235 - Life Insurance
#270 - Benefit options
Ms. McDermott said these were all zero because they reflected Ms.
Falor's salary.
#155 - Temporary Employees Wages
Ms. McDermott said the School Crossing Guards would stay in this
budget which included the 4% C.O.L.A.
Ms. Carpenter said the Senior School Crossing Guard supervised the
other Crossing Guards and the vacant School Crossing Guard
position would be filled.
Total Direct Operating Expenses
#340 - Other Contractual Services
#463 - Office Equipment Repairs
#470 - Printing and Binding
#494 - Photographic
C/M Schreiber asked if these items were part of B5O's contract.
Ms. McDermott said they were used by Ms. Falor and all these items
would come out. Mr. Kelly said I.D.'s would be done through the
Personnel Department. Ms. McDermott agreed.
Ms. Carpenter suggested moving #470 and #494 to the Personnel
Department Budget.
C/M Abramowitz suggested leaving the I.D.'s status quo and that
Mr. Weinreb should do it. Mr. Kelly said he would look into the
matter.
#33D - Police Protection Services
Mr. Kelly said the Estimated Budget was reduced from the Amended
Biidget because Judy Kitograd left BSO. He said the difference was
City Council Budget Workshop
8/12/92/PP
Page 7
absorbed by BSO because Ms. Kitograd's position would not be
refilled and the City was reimbursed.
C/M Katz said the six-month probationary period was. over and he
asked what the status was with regard to the people who moved from
the Tamarac BSO Office to cover Unincorporated Fort Lauderdale.
Mr. Kelly said the 11 people were currently doing their job and
the City was not paying for the service. Mayor Bender said the
City should revisit the agreement with BSO and a new agreement
should be prepared. C/M Abramowitz requested that BSO should pay
the City. Mr. Kelly said he would research this matter as soon as
possible.
Pa a 46 POLICE BUILDING
Total Personal Services
V/M Schumann asked what these charges represented. Ms. McDermott
said the City budgeted these Items and BSO paid for maintenance
services. Mr. Kelly said this was over and above the rental
contract. Ms. McDermott said the entire POLICE BUILDING budget
was $75,851 but the City was reimbursed $70,000. She said the
maintenance was for their entire building, inside and out.
Mayor Bender ADJOURNED the Budget Workshop at 3:30 P.M.
40L A. EVANS .�
CITY CLERK =`
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