HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-27 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting MinutesTA
O ITY OF TAMARAC
7525 Northwest 88 Avenue P Phone (305) 722-5900
Tamarac, Florida 33321-2401 �� �,� Fax (305) 722-4509
August 21, 1991
NOTICE OF
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1991/92
There will be a Budget Workshop Meeting on Tuesday, August 27,
1991 at 10:00 a.m. in Conference Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall,
7525 N.W. 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
The subject of this meeting is final review of the Fiscal Year
1991/92 Budget.
All meetings are open to the public.
Carol A. Evans
City Clerk
CAE/nr
THE CITY OF TAMARAC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
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1
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1991
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this budget workshop
to order at :00 a.m. in Conference Room # 1 of City Hall,
7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT:
Mayor Norman Abramowitz
Vice -Mayor Dr. H. Larry Bender
Councilman Irving Katz
Councilman Henry Schumann
Councilwoman Diane Glasser
ALSO PRESENT:
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager
Mary Blasi, Finance Director
Thelma Fagelbaum, Assistant Finance Director
Mike Couzzo, Director of Public Services
Alan Levine, Operation Manager of Public Works
Randy Correll, Fire Department
Ellen Wood, City Clerk's Office
Mayor Abramowitz said there was a request by the Director of
Public Services to bring to the attention of the City Council
the needs of the Public Works department. He said they have a
lack of equipment and in reality no money has been spent on
equipment. He said it is difficult to keep up with the
appearance, beautification and cleanliness of the City and it
is the first introduction to the City of Tamarac. He said a
document was prepared on August 26, 1991 that has an
inventory of equipment currently in the office for ground
maintenance.
Mr. Couzzo said they are asking for four more men, two for
irrigation and two for ground maintenance.
Mr. Levine said the truck
with grass maintenance. He
on each side of town with 4
whereas without this truck,
trucks to operate. He said
trucks for the grass crew
operation.
is essential to increase capacity
said the cab will allow one truck
to 5 men assigned to each truck,
it would take a minimum of three
this would reduce the amount of
and allocate one for the spray
Mayor Abramowitz said the two biggest complaints in the City
are the grass cutting and the lakes. He said he feels another
truck is necessary.
Mr. Levine said right now the lawn maintenance is on a 10 to
14 day schedule; this is when all the equipment is running
and all the trucks are on the road. He said with this truck
and men, the schedule will come down to 6 or 7 days during
the hurricane months, May to October. He said without this
type of equipment it would be difficult to improve the
operation from May to October. He said this type of equipment
is also being used by neighboring :municipalities. He said the
equipment being used now does not have readily available
parts.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if it was cost effective to have the
21" and the 36" equipment or to have five 21" cuts.
Mr. Levine said it is most effective just the way it is
proposed. He said the 21" is used on medians and the 36" walk
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Page 2
behind for safety around berms, by the lakes and parks. He
said interchanging equipment would not assist the department
in any way.
C/M Schumann asked where the prices came from.
Mr. Levine said the mowers came from State contract. He said
the trailer is a proposed estimate from a supplier.
Mayor Abramowitz said this department does need help in
performing in order to make the City look good.
C/M Katz said the five year capital improvement plan is being
narrowed down to one piece of paper. He said a department is
hoping to get this capital equipment in the first year of
what should be a five year program. He said instead of
needing $125,000 at one time, it should be part of a longer
term program.
Mr. Couzzo said this will not take care of the next five year
growth and maintenance of the City. He said equipment listed
as inventory will need to be repaired or replaced. He said
there is a five year improvement plan that is not part of
this $125,000.
City Manager Kelly said the Capital Improvement Program that
was filed with the State are things that are over $20,000,
not things in this category. He asked if the equipment is
purchased it will sit without the men.
Mr. Couzzo said some of the smaller equipment is needed to
implement the program now. He said some of the larger
equipment would assist the department when the large equip-
ment is in need of maintenance. He said right now, three of
the larger pieces of equipment are down while waiting for
parts. He said some of the equipment is 7 and 8 years old and
breaks down on a regular basis. He said it would be helpful
to have the personnel but only two of the people are for
grass maintenance. He said the department is trying to
minimize the number of trucks in the field, to cut down on
maintenance costs, gas, and duplication of effort. He said
two 21" mowers could be placed on the back of a truck, but
they play hopscotch all over town looking for 24" medians to
cut. He said a crew is sent out with large and small mowers
and they do everything in that area before they relocate to
another area. He said this is done to get the best
utilization of the manpower. He said one of the smaller
trucks is going into the spray program. He said canal
maintenance will be done in the water with a boat and on the
land with a truck -mounted spray unit. He said there is still
a shortage of vehicles and many are very old. He said Public
Works did get three vehicles this year.
Mayor Abramowitz said this is a result of neglect over a
period of years. He said if this is what is needed to make
the department run efficiently, then he feels it should be
given consideration.
Mr. Couzzo said this is not a wish list, it has been needed
for a number of years. He said the City has not been in the
position to buy capital equipment for the last three years.
City Manager Kelly said $126,000 is a 1.86% increase from
what is in the budget. He said the proposal for the grass is
for the period of May to October and the crisis this year
will be over with the adoption of the budget. He said if next
year revenues change or a budget review is done in six months
then consideration should be given.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if any other money was available other
than the general fund, such as grants or money from FP& L.
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City Manager Kelly said it has not been addressed. He said
the FP& L money is not freed up. He said when the budget
review and a six month review are done it will be the time
that they are looking for the money.
V/M Bender asked for an explanation of the $125,000.
City Manager Kelly said the $125,000 cannot be used because
the interest has to be paid if it does not go through. He
said the title has not cleared.
V/M Bender said it is available because he has spoken to the
attorney. He said based upon the progress. made, the money can
be used.
City Manager Kelly said the City can gamble on using it.
V/M Bender said there is no difference. He said this money is
not in the budget.
C/M Schumann asked if there was still a cloud on the title.
City Manager Kelly said yes.
C/M Schumann asked who held the title.
Mayor Abramowitz said the cloud on the title is an attorney
in Miami who will not sign off. He said FP& L feel very
hesitant about starting to spend the money until it is signed
off. He said the property has changed hands and a warranty
was taken instead of a quit claim so this attorney will not
sign off.
V/M Bender said he was told that he would go for eminent
domain so he will get the ground.
Mayor Abramowitz said no one wants to raise the tax.
C/W Glasser said the equipment is not needed until April, it
could approved in January, providing other things come into
place. She said if the City Council can hold off until
January and then review this, Public Works should be able to
get the manpower and the equipment in place by April.
Mayor Abramowitz said money was spent for beautification and
it was useless because there is no irrigation. He asked what
could be done to get money from other sources so that the
budget is not affected to get the job completed.
C/M Katz asked if there is a $45,000 balance in the fleet
fund and asked if there was money in a beautification of
median fund.
Ms. Blasi said the fleet fund was closer to $35,000. She said
there was money given to the. City by Broward County to
beautify the medians next to the Sawgrass entrance.
C/M Katz asked if manpower could be allocated to that money
since it is needed to beautify.
Ms. Blasi asked what the cost would be. Mr. Kelly said this
is a non -recurring revenue source.
C/M Katz said there are other sources of revenue that hope-
fully are going to be resolved. He said a capital improvement
that this Council is asked to act upon due to negligence in
the past should not put the taxpayers in that position if
other money is available.
City Manager Kelly said a suggestion is to take the $250,000
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Page 4
and add it to the revenues but put a freeze on it.
C/W Glasser asked if it would be less expensive to put in
irrigation than manually doing it.
Mr. Couzzo said the water source would have to be looked at,
either wells or canals, electricity and piping. He said each
situation would have to be looked at individually. He said he
would lake to get the irrigation system going in the City.
Mayor Abramowitz said the bushes on Pine island Road were
received from the County and one of the big problems is that
there is no irrigation. He said the truck went out to water
for the first two or three weeks but it was not a rainy
period so in other areas they died. He said the City does not
have the equipment or the manpower to use the equipment. He
said to make a marked improvement, the City will have to
start somewhere. He asked the City Manager to research and
find the money to spend. He asked if the City waits until
January, then how long will it take to receive the equipment.
C/M Katz said the City has a zeroscape program and this
program should be utilized on these medians where there is no
irrigation.
Ms. McDermott said the xeriscape program still needs a degree
of irrigation.
Mr. Couzzo said the majority of the medians in this City are
grass. He said to enter into an extensive xeriscape program,
the capital outlay for the planting material would be very
large. He said it would have to be supplemented with an
irrigation system, at least initially to get it started. He
said it would be very extensive. He said primarily, the City
needs irrigation, at the moment, to keep grass at a certain
level and then think about xeriscaping and whatever type of
planting material is needed.
C/M Katz said that is the other question. He asked whether
the City has to maintain grass on medians rather than
xeriscape or bushes.
Mr. Couzzo said the City can plant it but it would require
purchasing all of these and installing them to get started.
He said as the Mayor indicated sometimes when they are
started and irrigation is not available, it would put the
City up against the wall.
Tape 2
C/M Katz asked if the City has started with the Nursery
Program.
Mr. Couzzo said the nursery is just getting on its feet. He
said some small plants have been purchased that are going to
be generated in the nursery. He said they would start with
very small pots and continue to move them up and develop a
tree farm.
Mayor Abramowitz asked how many years and Mr. Couzzo said it
is going to take a few years.
Mayor Abramowitz said anything in this City that is beautiful
has not been done by the City, it was done by the developer
to enhance his own property and to make it sell.
C/W Glasser said this applies to everywhere.
Mayor Abramowitz said if this City wants to do a xeriscape
program, it would cost millions. He asked the City Council
what they wanted to do. He suggested that City Manager Kelly
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Page 5
research and come back to the City Council to tell them what
is available. He asked if anyone objects to the concept of
buying the equipment and the manpower.
City Manager Kelly asked when the Mayor proposed to do this.
Mayor Abramowitz said if dollars are available it does not
have to be done in time for the Budget Hearing.
City Manager Kelly said the purpose of the workshop today was
so that the Finance Department could wrap it up and put their
package together so that the City would be ready for the
first Public Hearing on September 4th.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if the City Manager could do that and
get back to the City Council. He said the tendency seems to
be that the Council is in favor of doing this. He said what
they do not want to do is use available funds that do not
have an impact on the proposed tax rate.
Ms. McDermott said her concern is the funding that Ms. Blasi
had mentioned, the Sawgrass Beautification. She said the City
applied for a grant under the Urban Forestry Council last
month. She said the City Council,approved it and that grant
funding is the City's match. She said that grant funding is
already earmarked for that project, which is at Commercial
Boulevard and Nob Hill Road.
Mayor Abramowitz said that is if the City gets the grant.
Ms. McDermott said when a grant is applied for, the money has
to be allocated.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if there was a Budget Item that was
for grant matching funds.
Ms. McDermott said there were fifteen grant projects pending
to date and five more to apply for by September 30th.
C/M Katz asked if the City had an eighteen month period to
match.
Ms. McDermott said that is only for the State EMS Program for
the Fire Department and it is completely separate from
Beautification. She said depending on which program it is,
either State or County, the money must be up front and the
City has to commit to it.
C/M Katz asked if all the programs where a grant has been
applied for are for beautification.
Ms. McDermott said two of them are and three are for other
programs including a pedestrian bike path. She said the
dollar figure account that was discussed is used as the
City's match for the Urban Forestry Grant and the City should
hear about the grant within a month.
C/M Katz said then that money should not even be looked at.
Ms. McDermott said that is correct for now.
Mayor Abramowitz said that is up to the City Council. He said
he has done what he feels is the way to go. He said the City
can just stay the way it is and go on to the next thing.
City Manager Kelly said he has been given no direction. He
said he needs it clarified as to what is to be done. He said
the $250,000 can be budgeted as revenue, such as what was
done with the old City Hall. He said the equipment aspect
could be budgeted with the $250,000 as revenue with an
asterisk and then if the money comes in, a portion can be
l
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Page 6
spent on the $43,000 for equipment. He said this should not
be used for personnel because the $250,000 is not coming back
and there is a MIS department that will have to be refunded
next year.
Mayor Abramowitz said he realizes it is not recurring but the
new Council members were aghast about the twenty year hiatus
where no equipment was purchased and the same thing is being
done now.
City Manager Kelly said the City has made much progress. He
said all of the vehicles at the Public Service dedication
were incredible.
Mayor Abramowitz said he was only talking about grass
cutting.
C/M Katz said he felt that progress has been made with the
grass cutting as well. He said there are places that the City
can look for funds and if the City Manager comes up with a
list of potential sources, it will be easier for him to
digest this and make a decision. He said how much would come
out of ad valorem or what is available.
C/W Glasser said if other sources are being looked at, it
will not affect the budget.
C/M Katz said if the figure of $126,000 and $100,000 is
available, then $26,000 has to be found and it could affect
the budget. He said he would like to know what is available.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Council needs to give the City
Manager some direction.
City Manager Kelly said after the close out audit, the City
will know more definitively what money is available. He said
in January or February, this should be readdressed because
more will be known. He said by tomorrow he could be aware of
a couple thousand more and by the end of September even more
but that is always going to fluctuate due to emergency
expenditures.
City Manager Kelly said realistically the close out audit is
needed. He said in January it will be known whether the FP& L
money is freed up, whether more revenue has come in through
the gas tax, whether money is coming in from the towing
franchise and the fees in the Recreation department.
C/M Katz said this repeats what the Mayor said in that
hopefully something will happen and something may never
happen. He said if Council looks at what is available today
and does not play with the future, he would be more
comfortable about reviewing it again and making a decision
prior to the first Public Hearing.
City Manager Kelly said this Workshop today is to try and
wrap up.
Mayor Abramowitz said when this workshop is over, direction
has to be given today so that the Finance Director can put
it all together for the Public Hearing. He said on September
4th, changes can be made.
City Manager Kelly said that every change made must be
calculated by the Finance Director before the City Council
can leave the meeting. -
Mayor Abramowitz said this is the legal aspect of it. He said
he agrees that right now he would like to proceed but the
tendency seems to be that no one wants to disturb this. He
said there are dollars there. He suggested' that the City
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Page 7
Manager come back to the City Council and say this money is
available. He said Mr. Kelly suggested that the $250,000 go
in the General Fund with an asterisk that says this money
will be available and it will affect the bottom line.
City Manager Kelly said it would not affect the bottom line
because it is put on both sides in the ledger. He said there
would be a freeze on it until there are free funds.
City Manager Kelly said it would not affect the bottom line
and Public Hearings would not have to be held in January or
February to authorize those expenditures.
C/M Schumann said the City Manager said to put the $250,000
in revenues and expenditures which changes nothing.
Mayor Abramowitz said that is correct with the stipulation by
Council that when it does come due the equipment asked for by
Public Services can be taken out of the $250,000. ire said it
does not touch the 3.49 at all. He said nothing happens until
that money is freed up.
C/M Schumann asked what happens if the money is not freed up.
Mayor Abramowitz said then they do not get it. He said this
way the Council did something without affecting the bottom
line.
C/M Schumann said this will -be used on a condition that the
$250,000 becomes available to the City.
C/M Katz said that is what has been complained about before
that everything that is done here was based on the coming and
the coming never happens.
Mayor Abramowitz said the difference is that the old City
Hall has not been sold. He said the City has the $250,000.
C/M Schumann said it is not the City's, the title has not
passed on that money.
Mayor Abramowitz said the contract says as long as the City
does not hold them or deter them in granting the permitting,
then that money is the City's.
C/M Schumann said that money is there with a condition
subsequent, not a condition precedent.
Mayor Abramowitz said it will go through even if it is
eminent domain. He said the City has done the work already.
C/W Glasser said $250,000 is the amount of money but actually
the amount to spend is $126,000.
Ms. Blasi said as a revenue item she would put in whatever
the City Council decided to spend. She said the entire
$250,000 does not have to be put in.
C/W Glasser asked how it affects the budget.
Ms. Blasi said it will affect the entire bottom line but it
will not affect the ad valorem rate. She said those monies
will not be allowed to be spent until that money is freed up
from FP& L, just as the capital items this year without
Council approval were not able to be spent because the sale
of the old City Hall has not gone through.
Mayor Abramowitz said there is a vast difference. He said the
capital improvements over the years were based on the sale of
the old City Hall. He said this $250,000 is the City's and,
as C/M Schumann said, if there is still a problem with the
title, they will go for eminent domain unless the Council
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Page 8
says it cannot be done.
C/M Schumann asked what is done with the interest on the
$250,000.
Ms. Blasi said it is going into the general fund. She said if
it is used, the City would have to reimburse them.
C/M Schumann asked what is the amount of interest collected
on that money.
Ms. Blasi said it is approximately 7% annually. She said the
City received the check about ten months ago. V/M Bender said
roughly about $20,000 a year. C/M Schumann asked if the City
was in effect using that money and Ms. Blasi said yes.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City uses all the interest money
from all the interest accounts and always has.
C/M Katz said the only problem he has in allocating this
project to the $125,000 is that he would like to get a list
of how else the City could fund. He said if the $125,000 is
available there are other items that it could conceivably be
used for., which the City may not be able to by grant or by
restrictions.
C/M Katz said he would like to restrict this program
specifically to $125,000, which may be deposited from the
$250,000. He said he would like to say it will be subject to
other monies which may be available. He said if the $125,000
is transferred, at least there is an alternative but if there
are other places from which to take it then that is where he
would like it to come from.
Mayor Abramowitz said during the negotiations, FP& L gave the
City the $250,000 earmarked for beautification and the City
fought them not to have a specific use put on it. He said he
suggests that the Council leave it the way it is and
continue.
City Manager Kelly said he had other comments to make. He
said if this amount is earmarked and personnel is included in
this cost, those personnel costs which are now $81,000 will
be over $84,000 next year with a 4% increase. He said that is
a 1% increase in the budget unless revenue offsets it. He
said he is opposed to it going onto operational.
Mayor Abramowitz said in the following years it has to come
out of the taxes.
City Manager Kelly said he was aware of that but he wants to
make certain that everyone understands.
Mayor Abramowitz said there is an alternative: do not do it
and do not hire people. He said it is the same way with any
other department, if someone is hired, next year they are
going to get more money.
City Manager Kelly said he is not arguing against it, he is
simply stating that everyone should be aware of the
implications when it comes back next year.
Mayor Abramowitz said they should allocate the $126,000 with
an asterisk and it will not affect the bottom line at all. He
said when it does come into place the Council knows the money
is there to go out and do what has to be done.
C/M Katz said with the other reservation that he has
requested, there may be other funds available specifically
earmarked for this type of program. He said the City does not
jump and use the $125,000 first and then leave this money in
r
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Page 9
11
�l
a reserved fund not being able to be utilized.
Mayor Abramowitz said he agrees.
City Manager Kelly said the reclasses concern the people who
had been increased in the Public Service Department and
several other people that were discussed during the Budget
Workshops.
Mayor Abramowitz said they should do the first one that on
the bottom line shows a decrease of $383,597.
City Manager Kelly said if the Mayor wants to address the
first part, that is fine.
Ms. Blasi said these are all the cuts the Council made during
the Budget Workshops in the General Fund. She said it shows
the cuts made to get the ad valorem tax down to an increase
of 3.49%.
C/M Katz asked about the, Cost Allocation Study being done
about the Administration costs and how long it will take.
Ms. Blasi said the study was finished last Friday. She said
the City should have preliminary numbers by the end of this
week.
C/M Katz said this may affect this year's budget if
Administrative costs to TUW increase to our City getting it's
fair share, then conceivably the ad valorem taxes could be
reduced.
Ms. Blasi said correct as long as the figures are received
before the Public Hearing.
C/M Katz said these people should be told that the City has
to have it before the Public Hearing.
Ms. Blasi said the consultants from David Griffith have been
called and, hopefully, she will hear something by the end of
the day. She said they have been talking to the people who
actually did the study.
Mayor Abramowitz called a five minute recess.
Mayor Abramowitz said the meeting is reconvened and the
people present before are present now. He said. the City now
goes to changes in Personal Services.
City Manager Kelly said there is concern regarding the
positions that were reclassified or changed during the
creation of the Public Services Department. He said there
were five personnel impacted: Mike Couzzo, Alan Levine,
Roberta Bonavia. Pete Procopio and Ed Doyle. He said there
should not be any concern regarding Ed Doyle and Pete
Procopio because they were not given any increases when the
reorganization took place. He said Ed Doyle will be given a
5% increase and Pete Procopio, a 3% increase effective with
passage of the Budget as proposed right now.
City Manager Kelly said Roberta Bonavia received a 4.5%
increase, which brought her to $24,558. He said she is
supervising people that are making considerably more than
that and has one of the more difficult jobs there. He said if
she is not entitled to this COLA increase, they will all get
that 5% and she loses. He said she should be entitled to the
5% increase, otherwise, she is 1/2% behind.
City Manager Kelly said Alan Levine assumed considerable
additional responsibilities in the Public Works Department
and was compensated at that time with a 7.7% increase to
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Page 10
$35,301.. He said the proposal for him is the 5% increase
because he is still considered under the Supervisory
classification by the Personnel Pay Plan. He said if Alan
Levine is not given it, the others under him will be given a
5% increase which means his net increase for all his
responsibility is 2.7%.
City Manager Kelly said Mike Couzzo was given an 8.2%
increase bringing him to $54,0001 which is still a very
modest salary for the overall responsibility and all the
divisions for which he is responsible. He said Mr. Couzzo is
replacing someone who was at $60,000. He said the proposed
increase is 3%, absent that, his net increase is 3.2% and
that would be unfair. He said these need to be addressed
separately from the 2 employees at the bottom which are
called "other".
City Manager Kelly said during the course of the review City
Council approved for Tom Gagnon, a Senior Construction
Inspector and Plan Reviewer, a 5% increase and a 5% COLA,
which amounts to a 10% increase. He said Tom Gagnon has taken
on additional responsibility and he is extremely valuable to
the City and it is a position the City cannot afford to lose.
City Manager Kelly said a 15.1%, increase has been proposed
for Kathy Calabria in Insurance, which seems high, but a
Consultant has been eliminated at $20,000, in order to afford
her the $3,000. He said she has assumed the responsibility of
the review. He said she went to $27,000 and with the 5% to
$28,900.
C/M Katz said as a one time bonus.
C/W Glasser said tl
should have taken
said she is new on
said she feels app:
though it could be
manner and it sent
ze timing on this was atrocious and that it
place beyond the increase for COLA. She
the Council and it was a rush job. She
rehensive about what was going on and even
perfectly okay, it was done in the wrong
the wrong message.
C/M Schumann said he sees an 8.2%, 7.7%, 4.5%, 5% and 15.0%
increase. He said the 8.2% was over an original basic salary
and because of a new title and not an increase in the work
load. He said it was a $4,134 raise. He said now the City is
looking at a 3% increase to that. He said the same is true
with the Public Works Operations Manager, 7.7% and if he does
not get the 5% now he only gets a 2.7%. He said this does not
change anything, it is still 7.7% of $32,781, it does not
drop to 2.2% if he does not get a 5% COLA.
City Manager Kelly said the net increase is 2.7%.
C/M Schumann said the net increase is one thing, the
positions have other people in the line who are staying in
their same position and are going to get the COLA, if the
Budget is passed. He said these are brand new defined
positions that were put in just prior to this COLA coming up,
just as C/W Glasser said, and he feels that these raises are
substantial for these positions. He said he is against any
COLA increase for all five of them. He said this would be a
double increase.
City Manager Kelly said the observation was made that he got
a new title and no additional responsibility.
C/M Schumann said that he did not see any real big increase
in responsibility. He said it is all title.
City Manager Kelly said no, it is not. He has all the
additional responsibility of the Utilities Department
reporting to him now. He said he is overseeing Union and
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 11
Labor agreements and it is a lot of responsibility.
V/M Bender said he made his feeling known when the reorgan-
ization was proposed and it should be done after the budget.
He said he expressed himself at that time and the
organization should be down -sized to the right size. He said
he felt like C/W Glasser, uncomfortable that it was put
through at that time and he had asked if it could be post-
poned until after the budget.
Mayor Abramowitz said he agrees that the timing was not right
but not for the same reason as V/M Bender. He said next year
the Council will be smarter than they were this year. He said
the big difference between City Manager Kelly and the City
Council is that as much heat as he takes from Council,
Council takes ten times as much heat from the public. He said
John Kelly behaves in a professional manner and he feels
there is a professional and a sensible way to do it.
Mayor Abramowitz said there is not one person who is not
entitled to the dollars commensurate with the position. He
said Alan Levine is valuable, works hard and he deserves the
money. He said he can only go by what the professionals say,
but he feels Ms. Bonavia is also entitled to the raise. He
said Mr. Couzzo should get a six month review and not a COLA.
V/M Bender said the Council made a comment concerning the
timing of the reorganization, Council did not attack anyone's
salary. He said all Council is saying is that the timing was
bad. He said comments were not made about any individual,
whether they deserve it or not is not the issue right now. He
said the issue is that this was presented right before the
budget and was an inappropriate time.
Mayor Abramowitz asked what Council suggests. He said
everyone has their own personal views and comments. He said
he is just telling Council the way he feels about what they
have done.
V/M Bender said right now all the Council has to make a
decision on is the overall view on this reorganization
proposal.
Mayor Abramowitz said that is not the purpose. He said the
purpose is whether Council accepts or rejects it. He said
this has nothing to do with the reorganization.
C/W Glasser said there are comments people want to make and
they should be entitled.
Mayor Abramowitz said he told the City Manager he was going
to be uncomfortable if he comes down the road with a COLA. He
said he wanted to do a six month review after that.
C/M Katz said he reviewed the transcript of several meetings
and he highlighted where C/W Glasser and he questioned at the
time of the reorganization, that the COLA was coming and City
Manager Kelly agreed that this was not going to happen.
C/M Katz said they do not have to be granted today, they can
be granted at the six month review. He said when Alan
Levine's raise was denied by the Mayor and Council at the
time it came up originally that was the time he should have
gotten the raise. He said he did not react to it because he
was not part of Council at this time. He said that was the
time Mr. Levine's raise was forthcoming and he has no idea
why it was turned down. He said Kathy Calabria was brought up
at the Budget Hearing and it was decided that she would not
get a COLA.
Ms. Blasi said what Ms. Tillman and Mr. Mack suggested was
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City Council Budget Workshop
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Tape 3
that she get a $5,000 raise and not a COLA on top of that.
She said these numbers reflect only a $5,000 raise.
C/W Glasser said this is the first time she has gone through
the process and the same thing is not going to happen a
second time. She said one learns by experience.
C/W Glasser said she resents the fact that this was done
prematurely and it is being done piece meal because there are
other people in the City looking for increases and maybe
rightfully so. She said in preparing a budget, Council should
see the whole picture and not just a small portion and then
two months later someone else comes up. She said in doing a
budget and trying to put all the numbers together, in the
future all employees should be looked at and Council should
be given an overall of what the City would like to see them
get. She said this is the only way to do a true budget and
know where the money is going, at least regarding employees.
City Manager Kelly said there are two employees on the bottom
in that category where Council made the decisions during
deliberations. He said Mr. Doyle and Mr. Procopio are not
involved in it because they received no raises before. He
said they are reflected in this because Council asked for the
full five from the reorganization.
Mayor Abramowitz said everyone in the City is getting a
raise. He said Mr. Doyle and Mr. Procopio do not even belong
on this list. He said they are getting what everyone else is
getting.
Ms. McDermott said Council wanted a recap of all individuals
involved in the reorganization.
C/M Schumann said there is no problem with Mr. Doyle and Mr.
Procopio. He asked why they were not given raises at the time
of the reorganization.
City Manager Kelly said Mr. Procopio, at a salary of $53,000,
had volunteered that he would stay this year and did not need
the additional compensation. He said Mr. Doyle had been with
the City for such a short time that he did not warrant a
raise. He said Mr. Doyle was shy of his probation at that
point and put on hold.
Mayor Abramowitz said that takes care of Mr. Doyle and Mr.
Procopio. He said the City Manager needs a sense of direction
as to what Council wants done. He said Kathy Calabria is as
the Council agreed. He said her raise was just broken into
two pieces.
Ms. Blasi said Ms. Calabria gets $5,000 with no COLA but
since she is a confidential employee, it needs to be shown as
a COLA and subtracted from her raise. She said it is the same
$5,000 and shows a COLA with a lesser increase for the
position change.
C/M Schumann said at the Budget Hearing the figure from Susan
Tillman was $3,820 and here it says $3,621 and $1,379.
Ms. McDermott said there is a cost savings because part comes
from the General Fund and part from Pension.
Ms. Blasi said the Pension Fund was going to provide $2,500
of the total cost so that it would not be charged to the
General Fund or the Utility West Funds.
C/M Schumann asked if they are speaking of $28,953 or
$27,574.
F.
L
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City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 13
City Manager Kelly said $28,953 is a $5,000 increase from
$23,953 which is her original salary. He said Ms. Blasi has
broken down the $5,000 so that Ms. Calabria can show that she
did get a 5% increase when everyone else did on the COLA.
Mayor Abramowitz said the dollars are still the same.
City Manager Kelly said that during deliberations, Council
agreed with the upgrade for Tom Gagnon, allowing a 5%
increase in his position and a 5% COLA.
Ms. Blasi said Mr. Gagnon is a Union employee and would have
to get the 5% COLA.
C/M Katz said he had no problems with either. He asked, based
on Mr. Gagnon's position, what would have been the maximum
level.
Mr. Couzzo said he did not know but there is a similar
position in the Building Department.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if giving Mr. Gagnon this position has
actually saved the City any money.
City Manager Kelly said he could not say that. Mayor
Abramowitz said he is doing someone's work.
Mr. Couzzo said he is the one that will be doing plan review
in the department. He said previously Mr. Schuty was doing
this work. He said because of the reorganization some of the
workload has been restructured. He said the department is
doing different things and it has plans for the future.
C/M Katz asked what salary Ed Shuty was making and no one
knew. City Manager Kelly said Ed Shuty had been with the City
a long time.
Mayor Abramowitz said so has Mr. Gagnon. C/M Katz said if he
is doing the same job, he should receive the same money.
Mr. Couzzo said Roberta Bonavia was the Public Works Office
Manager and she had four people to supervise. He said she
supervises the entire office operation which is a staff of
eight. He said there are internal office procedures and
systems that need to'be looked at and revised so that there
is a greater efficiency in the workload between what used to
be two departments. He said most of the people in the depart-
ment make 20% more than she does.
Ms. Blasi said if Ms. Bonavia had not gotten the increase
during the reclassification, she would be making more by just
getting her COLA. She said without the COLA she will be
making less than what she would have made if she had stayed
in her same position. She said Ms. Bonavia received a 4.5%
increase.
Mayor Abramowitz said that does not make sense in reality.
Mr. Couzzo said the comparative analogy between Ms. Bonavia
and Mr. Gagnon is very similar. He said the level of
responsibility has increased.
C/W Glasser said raises are not being discussed. She said
Council is discussing COLA's. She said the raise was
approved.
Mr. Couzzo said a COLA was approved for Mr. Gagnon and the
situations are similar.
Mayor Abramowitz said the timing was terrible and this is a
City Council Budget Workshop '
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Page 14
bad position.
C/M Schumann said he expressed his opinion already.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if it was okay with Roberta Bonavia.
C/M Katz said he feels they all fall in the same
classification and Alan Levine should have been entitled to
the raise from the last administration and he does not know
why he was denied the raise.
Mayor Abramowitz said Mr. Levine did not get the raise
because it was before an election.
C/W Glasser asked what that had to do with anything.
Mayor Abramowitz said that is why Council is sitting here
fighting right now.
C/W Glasser said that is why they are not there anymore.
Mayor Abramowitz said it was incorrect then and that does not
mean it should be correct now.
C/M Katz said he feels that after reviewing the tape and his
comments about what the tape reflected, he feels bad that Mr.
Levine is in a position with his raise nullified because
someone that sat here previously did not approve what the man
was entitled to.
Mayor Abramowitz said absolutely correct.
C/M Katz said he was going to hold to what he asked for
before and the response he got on the tape and that was that
his raise would come from the review. He said he was going to
make a blanket statement regarding the three that were
involved that the raises are going to be effective on the 6
month review.
C/W Glasser said if Ms. Bonavia's is looked at in particular,
she is inclined to go along because she is coming out with
less.
Mr. Couzzo said he has listened to everything and he agrees
that it was confusing at the Council meeting about what the
intent was. He said the situation with Mr. Levine and Ms.
Bonavia have been talked about and seeing that this Council
has chosen him to serve as the Director of Public Services,
he volunteered to forego his raise until after the six
months. He said he feels the Council should think long and
hard about Ms. Bonavia and Mr. Levine's situations. He said
these individuals probably put in 60 to 70 hours in a week.
He said they do whatever is asked of them at any time of the
night or day. He said based upon their current salary
positions the two 5%'s are not unwarranted and he would
recommend them.
C/M Katz said he changes his position.
Mayor Abramowitz said they are talking about Ms. Bonavia.
C/W Glasser said if, in fact, she does not get the COLA
increase then she has received less money with her raise then
she would have if she had not received the raise. She said
Council has to go along.
V/M Bender said he had no objections.
C/M Schumann said no comment.
1
Mayor Abramowitz said Ms. Bonavia is okay. He said Mr. Couzzo
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 15
has voluntarily said that he is out of the picture so Council
has Alan Levine.
C/M Katz said he has no problems with giving him the raise.
He said the previous administration was derelict in. -,.not
giving it to him before.
C/W Glasser said she has mixed feelings but based upon the
fact that he should have gotten the increase awhile back, no
comment.
Mayor Abramowitz said she had to make a comment.
C/W Glasser said the prior increases were untimely and she
felt at that point that the 5% COLA should be based upon the
salary before the increase.
Mayor Abramowitz said the 5% should be based on the $32,871.
Mr. Couzzo said it would change about $100.
C/W Glasser said it is a matter of principle and not money.
V/M Bender said he would go along.
C/M Schumann said no.
Mayor Abramowitz said Mr. Levine is okay. He said Mr. Couzzo
has voluntarily agreed to wait until his 6 month review
regarding his position.
C/M Katz said he had a personal comment to make. He said he
thinks the Council was remiss at the time of the request for
the interim increase in pay. He said he agrees that he is not
entitled to it based on the information given at the time of
the reorganization but if Council did agree to his raise, it
is after the fact. He said if Council agreed to his raise, he
was entitled to the interim pay for that raise when he
acquired the title and increased responsibility. He said he
does not agree that he is entitled to it today but that he
should have gotten that interim pay.
V/M Bender said it will cost the City $30,592 for all the
increases. He asked the total dollars that this is going to
cost the way it is presented including the contribution to
the pension fund and anything else.
Ms. Blasi said she would have to run a tape.
V/M Bender said he is talking about the original salary, the
increased salary plus the COLA's.
Ms. Blasi asked if this includes the raises that are already
in effect.
V/M Bender said yes, for this given year.
Ms. Blasi said these three are already in effect, they have
nothing to do with this budget.
V/M Bender said he totaled the columns to see what it comes
to and he has $30,592 but then there is a comment on the
bottom, $2,500 pension fund 10.4%.
Ms. Blasi said that is just for Ms. Calabria.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if anyone had anything else.
City Manager Kelly said at the last meeting, the City Council
asked if there was any response from the County, any idea
regarding the Fire Department. He said Ms. McDermott, Jim
Budzinski and he met with Mr. Jordan at the County to see if
,,
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 16
there were any numbers that they were willing to devulge
regarding the cost saving the City of Tamarac might accrue if
the City went County.
City Manager Kelly said the unsubstantiated position they
held was about $200,000 a year. He said they gave no backup.
He said the County said that the City was under -manned by
their standards. He said the City will not receive the type
of savings other cities might expect. He said the County will
look at Tamarac's payrolls.
City Manager Kelly said Mr. Budzinski and Mr. Correll know
what has occurred and Council would be advised of it publicly
today. He said the Union should have been provided with the
contract that was recently entered into with the County and
Oakland Park and spreadsheets should have been sent here.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if the statement that Tamarac is
under -manned means that they will provide more bodies and
still save $200,000.
City Manager Kelly said yes, that is what they said. He said
they would put another man on the ladder. He said they would
provide three more bodies.
Mayor Abramowitz said there would be three more bodies and
$200,000 saved. He asked if there was an indication that as
time goes by the savings could be increased.
City Manager Kelly said that is substantially correct, but
there is nothing to back them up.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Manager is being as careful as
he possibly can.
City Manager Kelly said Council could play games with all of
that. He said he has to see it on paper.
C/M Katz said in the event that Ray Briant retires, Jim
Budzinski, Acting Fire Chief, could be appointed as permanent
Chief. He said no increase in salary was discussed because he
is presently at the top of where he would be if he were
coming into that job.
City Manager Kelly said he did not say that. He said if an
employee gets additional responsibility they would be
compensated also.
C/M Katz questioned whether that would be above what he is
making. He said that is not the way he understood it.
C/M Katz said Mr. Budzinski makes $47,000 and the pay scale
for someone coming in for Chief would be $47,000. He asked if
that was the pay scale for someone coming in for the
position. City Manager Kelly said that could not be stated
until it was advertised.
C/M Katz said this will help him know what to do if and when
the subject comes up regarding the County.
Mayor Abramowitz said there are no numbers to look at but
this has been a very viable subject. He said he knows the
City Manager well enough to know that when he is very
hesitant about something it is because if it comes out
differently he will be unhappy.
C/M Katz said he is not looking to put words in the City
Manager's mouth. He said the bottom range of the Fire Chief
is about what he is making now and that would not necessitate
an increase in pay.
V/
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 17
C/W Glasser said in review of what has happened in discussing
the budget in terms of a part-time City Attorney versus a
full time City Attorney, she would like to have some reviews
made as to what full time attorneys are making in other
cities. She said it should be reviewed so that a decision can
be made as to whether the City's part time attorney is
working budget wise or if, in fact, the City does need a full
time City Attorney.
Mayor Abramowitz asked the City Manager to get the numbers.
City Manager Kelly said the Miramar City Attorney resigned to
go back to school to get another degree. He said he had been
there for two years and was leaving at $96,000.
City Manager Kelly said he wants Council to understand that
they do not leave the meeting until any changes made are
calculated so that the final line can be approved.
V/M Bender said he reviewed Bernie Hart's request for funds.
He said he would like to recommend that the matter be turned
over to the Risk Manager to investigate the fact that the
City was insured at the time. He said the City policy would
cover that. He said there are many legal technicalities
involved in this matter. He said the City has an instrument
to go back to and a claim should be filed with them.
City Manager Kelly said the critical thing is the Ethics
Commission has not made a ruling.
V/M Bender said meanwhile there are legal expenses corning in.
He asked what is going to be done with them.
Mayor Abramowitz said if the determination was made that the
City had to pay he would rather have the League of Cities pay
then the City of Tamarac.
V/M Bender said if a person is guilty it is handled one way
and if not guilty it is handled another. He said he does not
want to get into the mechanics. He said the City had a policy
that covered the Mayor at that time. He said since this
incident occurred during that time that policy was in effect,
he wants the Risk Manager, who is responsible for that, to go
back and file the claim with them and see what happens.
C/M Schumann said place them on notice.
City Manager Kelly asked if they should -file the claim now.
V/M Bender said the City has a bill on it now. He said action
has to be taken on it.
Mayor Abramowitz questioned what was being said.
V/M Bender said there is a bill in house and there is a
procedure set up to handle it. He said the procedure is that
the City had an insurance policy at the time and the bill
should not be held up. He said to send it where it belongs
and let them decide whether they want to hold it up or not.
Mayor Abramowitz said if information is wanted as to whether
they are responsible for it, he agrees, but to send a bill is
an indication that the City agrees with the bill and wants it
paid.
V/M Bender said Council has no comments about the bill one
way or another. He said the bill has been presented to the
City and they should let the insurance company decide whether
they are going to pay it or not. He said when something is
given to the insurance company, they are not being told to
pay it. He said the insurance company makes that decision. He
City Council Budget Workshop
8/27/91/elo ,
Page 18
said no one here is qualified to make that decision. He said
if it is an adverse determination then the City can worry
about it.
City Manager Kelly asked what constitutes an adverse
position. C/M Schumann replied if they deny liability.
V/M Bender said let the attorneys fight it out. He said
meanwhile the City should not be waiting for someone to
decide whether he is guilty or not guilty.
City Manager Kelly said it is not being suggested that the
bill be submitted for payment.
V/M Bender said submit it for whatever action they want to
take. He said this is procedure. He said the City does not
have to make comments as to whether they agree or disagree.
He said it is a claim for money based on a lawsuit.
Mayor Abramowitz said he would like to get an opinion of
whether they will handle the litigation. He said he is
uncomfortable just submitting the bill.
V/M Bender said by contract the City is required to notify
the insurance company if a bill is submitted. He said the
procedure should be followed. He said the City had no
knowledge of this until the bill was received so the City
must follow the procedure as if that insurance company is
still with the City. He said it cannot beheld because then
the City will be remiss and in trouble.
C/M Schumann said it should be submitted with a cover letter
requesting that it is being submitted for the action deemed
appropriate. He said they will either assume liability and
pay it or not pay it and still give a qualified defense. He
said they have claims people that will look it over. He said
the City should not become guilty by holding it.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Attorney's and the Risk
Manager's opinions are needed before sending anything.
V/M Bender said his conversation began with a recommendation
of giving the bill to the Risk Manager to let her follow the
procedures established.
Mayor Abramowitz said he is not comfortable with that. He
said he wants Risk Management or the Attorney to come to
Council and say that they recommend sending it or do not
recommend sending it.
V/M Bender said the Risk Manager is obligated to discuss it
with the City Attorneyi
and CityManager and come to a
i
conclusion. He said that s what is n the Resolution.
City Manager Kelly said he would check the Resolution and
then follow the procedures.
Mayor Abramowitz said, regardless, he would like the City
Manager to bring it to the Council.
C/M Katz said $67,000 equals 1% of the budget. He asked if
money was set aside for franchise review.
Ms. Blasi said in the Finance Budget there is other
contractual services of $28,000 for an external auditor or a
study.
C/M Katz asked if the COLA for the temps was approved.
City Manager said, yes.
f
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 19
Tape 4
C./M Katz asked about the 2% cost of living increases for
retirees. He asked if that would affect the participation of
the City for that amount of money.
Ms. Blasi said approximately a 2% of actual salary increase
goes for pension contribution.
C/M Katz asked what the number was that the City would
actually have to participate.
Ms. McDermott said $181,000.
V/M Bender asked that it be sharpened up a bit before
finalizing. He said this is a guess.
C/M Katz said a previous employee claimed that she was
getting $16-$19 a month pension.
V/M Bender said when a person applies for a pension it goes
to an Actuary and is computed by them. He said it is given to
the individual to examine and resolve any problem. He said
all the facts are needed.
Ms. Fagelbaum said her pension is based on a prior plan, the
plan in effect at her retirement. She said at that time
employees only contributed 1% of salary not 5%.
Ms. McDermott said right now the way the pension plan is
written, the employees who retired on the previous pension
plan are not entitled to any additional benefits of the new
pension plan. She said they have retired and signed off.
C/M Katz asked if all retired employees are entitled to the
increases.
Ms. Blasi said all retirees are entitled to the 2%.
Mayor Abramowitz said there is a request from Representative
Peter Deutsch to hold a Town Hall meeting here. He said it is
held here every year with Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Graber and
this year Mr. Deutsch wants to do it on his own in December.
He asked if anyone had any objections. Council had none.
Ms. McDermott said during the Council Workshops last week,
C/W Glasser brought up the fact that the Broward Homebound
Program requested funding from the City when it reviewed the
Area Agency on Aging and the Child Care Development Program.
C/W Glasser said she brought up Homebound and also to
research any agencies that are doing any work in the City of
Tamarac.
Ms. McDermott said she had a letter from the Broward Home-
bound. She said there is a grant from the State of Florida,
Department of Transportation, and the deadline is September
30th. She said this is for a bicycle/pedestrian program. She
said the City could do a bicycle and sidewalk path audit. She
said this provides for a State funded position on staff for
one year. She said the City would pick up the salary for the
person the second year.
Ms. McDermott said she proposes a joint grant application
with the City of Sunrise. She said they would cost share this
program. She said $22,000 funding is available for salary.
She said this person would audit both cities and put together
an actual master plan for sidewalks and bike paths in both
cities.
V/M Bender said the funding is only for salary and not for
City Council Budget Workshop
8/27/91/elo
Page 20
the paths or sidewalks.
Ms. McDermott said the presentation is to see if the City can
get the grant and then jointly with Sunrise so that each City
would receive a year of service. She said this would give an
actual physical study in addition to what Engineering has
already done. She said the State would provide the
guidelines.
V/M Bender said a referendum on sidewalks was placed before
the people and it was defeated, so now the City wants to have
a study to say that the City should have sidewalks and
reconstitute the whole thing. He said he was not comfortable
with this.
Ms. McDermott said that is why she is bringing it to Council.
She said when she receives a grant, Council has to be
interested before she uses a great deal of time preparing the
grant.
Mayor Abramowitz said the referendum was whether the City
should borrow a million dollars to do sidewalks.
V/M Bender asked what the difference was, the purpose is to
do sidewalks. He said money is going to be needed for the
sidewalks.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City had bicycle paths here that
were just removed on 57th Street.
V/M Bender said he did not see any need for it at this time.
Ms. McDermott said the Resource Recovery Technical Advisory
Committee met yesterday and there are available grant funds
in Broward County that will be distributed to cities who
apply for it. She said she approached the north cities
representative, Diane Phillips, who is the Recycling Co-
ordinator for containers for drop offs for City Hall. She
said she requested $1,600 in grant funds.
V/M Bender asked about the memo on the census where the
figures used can be modified upwards based upon the
percentage of diviation or error. He said he would like this
investigated because the City went on record with a letter
saying that the City objected. He said the City should see if
they can get a higher count.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City is part of the litigating
process that is suing the government.
V/M Bender said the City needs to get up to 50,000 population
to be in a better position.
Ms. Blasi said if the other cities get theirs to go up, this
City's proportionate share will go down if this City stays
the same. She said the City has to push as much as the other
cities.
Randy Correll, Labor Relations for the Fire Department, said
he disagrees that the County can give the City more people
for less money. He said the bottom line is that they can give
a minimum manning of nine people a day. He said the City has
more than nine people in the Department. He said the Fire
fighters of Tamarac would be going out of the City to cover
other areas of the County. He said there are unfunded
liabilities if they become part of the County. He said he is
not for or against anything, he just wants to bring it all
out. He said the two trucks being paid on for the next year
are not worked into the deal at this point.
Ms. McDermott said the trucks are negotiable.
[7
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 21
Mr. Correll said the City Fire Department is lean and
efficient. He said they do a good job and have never let the
City down. He said they have a signed contract until October,
1993. He said the Firefighters like being in Tamarac. He said
he does not agree that the City will get better service with
less money.
With no further business, Mayor Abramowitz ADJOURNED the
Budget Workshop at 12:30 p.m.
CAROL A. EVANS ---
CITY CLERK
"This public document was promulgated, at a cost of $ 256.47
or $ 5.70 per copy to inform the general public, public
officers and employees of recent opinions and considerations
of the City Council of the City of Tamarac."
11
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