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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-07-20 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes0 CITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, JULY 20, 1998 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop to order on Monday, July 20, 1998, at 9:30 a.m., in Conference Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 Northwest 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joseph Schreiber, Vice Mayor Larry Mishkin, Commissioner Karen L. Roberts and Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof. ABSENT AND EXCUSED FOR CAUSE: Commissioner John E. McKaye. ALSO PRESENT: Robert S. Noe, Jr., City Manager, Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney, Tim Hemstreet, Assistant to the City Manager and Carol Gold, City Clerk. Tape 1 1. 7/22/98 Commission Agenda Items a) EDP Audit - Madsen, Sapp Vice Mayor Mishkin questioned Parks and Recreation Director Margoles about the cost related to item 8f, professional childcare services. With regard to item 8g, Vice Mayor Mishkin expressed displeasure for commercialization of the City. Vice Mayor Mishkin requested the former resolution regarding item 8j, library agreement, and Mr. Hemstreet said it was the same agreement, but contained different legal language. Mayor Schreiber questioned next year's library funding. Vice Mayor Mishkin questioned the amount of money to be spent for the Veterans Memorial, item 8k. Mayor Schreiber questioned items 8d regarding electronic data processing auditing, 8e, grant funding, 9, solid waste disposal service, and 11, the millage rate. City Manager Noe explained items 8c, d, and g. Commissioner Roberts requested Ms. Margoles explain the benefits associated with the Pepsi contract. 2. Senior and Community Center Information Program Kathleen Margoles, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Jay Moore, Public Information Officer, made a presentation regarding the Public Information Program. There was discussion about whether the information was politically correct and attendance of the Commissioners at various civic associations to inform the public about the program. Kathleen Margoles and Jay Moore addressed questions. Jay Moore said there would be a press conference on Wednesday, July 22, 1998, at 11:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers after the Commission meeting. 1 7/20/98 3. Employee computer purchase plan City Manager Noe explained the worthiness of this program. Levent Sucuoglu, Director of MIS, made a presentation. Mr. Sucuoglu said the program would generate no cost for the City. Mayor Schreiber felt that this might not be an appropriate expenditure of public funds, and he would rather wait until after the Senior and Community Center bond referendum. Commissioner Sultanof said he would like to see the contract to make sure it contained an iron clad section regarding chattel, and that the City should look into doing business with Gateway because they have a corporate policy. Commissioner Roberts said she does not feel it is the wrong time to enter into such a program. Tim Hemstreet, Assistant to the City Manager said the program would not begin until September, at the earliest. 5. E-mail system Commissioner Roberts expressed concern that the e-mail was down for five (5) days, and that there are many problems with the HTE system. Levent Sucuoglu, Director of MIS explained that the e-mail had undergone maintenance and upgrading of the archive system. Commissioner Roberts questioned whether MIS needed more help. 4. Space improvements -customer service Bruce Abrahams, Interim Finance Director, and Jim Berkman, Public Works Coordinator, explained the space improvements contemplated for Customer • Service, which consist of making four (4) offices out of the large room, using reusable walls. Mr. Abrahams explained that because of a program change there was a utility billing error that resulted in miscalculation of a due date. He discussed a letter prepared by customer service explaining to the customers that there would be no late fee for the billing cycle in question, nor would there be disconnection for failure to pay by the actual due date. Vice Mayor Mishkin said the letter, as it stood, was very confusing and requested that a letter be sent only to those customers who were late in remitting payment. Mr. Hemstreet acknowledged that the letter would be re -addressed. City Manager Noe said that Senator Campbell would be recognizing the Dorcean family on Wednesday. Mayor Schreiber said the Investment Advisory Board wants to meet with the Commissioners to discuss investment policy, and he asked about the status of utility deposits. City Manager Noe said the refund of utility deposits was being worked on and would be discussed at a workshop. 2 7/20/98 6. Budget overview City Manager Noe made a presentation on the FY99 Proposed Budget and said the theme this year is no tax increases. He gave an overview of the general fund, fire rescue, stormwater, MIS, fleet, insurance and utilities, and recognized those who put the budget together. John Ralston, Management and Budget Officer, made a presentation regarding the budget and the five (5) year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Mr. Ralston explained changes to the budget document, including reduction in size, summarizing, performance measures, quality, effectiveness and benchmarking. Commissioner Sultanof expressed his desire to have the budget distributed earlier next year in order to give the Commissioners more time to study the budget. Tim Hemstreet, Assistant to the City Manager explained that the information is timely, and Mr. Ralston said the process could be started earlier. Vice Mayor Mishkin questioned why the City is holding the millage rate. City Manager Noe said a steady tax rate should be maintained. Mayor Schreiber had several questions and concerns regarding the proposed budget and City Manager Noe said his questions would be answered during the departmental budget presentations. 0 Mayor Schreiber adjourned the Workshop meeting at 11:55 a.m. • Caro old City Clerk 3 7/20/98