HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-15 - City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes7525 NORTHWE5T 88TH AVENUE • TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321-2401
TELEPHONE(305)722-5900
NOTICE OF
CITY COUNCIL
BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS FOR FISCAL
July 31, 1991
YEAR 1991/92
The following Budget Workshop Meetings will be held in Conference
Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 N.W. 88th Avenue, Tamarac,
Florida:
City Manager Budget Message
Revenue Review
Millage Summary
Division
105
City Council
106
City Attorney
110
City Manager
178
Economic Development
Division
112 City Clerk
712 General Services
713 Telecommunication
115 Finance
501 MIS
502 Central Stores - Purchasing
872 Non Departmental
Special Revenue Funds
Debt Service Funds
Grand Opening
Public Services Administration Complex
LM
142 Community Development
227
Building Department
235
Code Enforcement
223
Fire Department
226
Ambulance Services
9QQ a.m.
to 12:00
noon
Division
178
Personnel
Department
607
Social Services Board
Safety Advisory Board
704
insurance
Administration
705
Insurance
Operations
709
Insurance
Claims
739
Insurance
Loss Reserve
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
Division
220 Police Services
167 Charter Board
170 Public Information Committee
181 Consumer Affairs Board O
183 Veterans Affairs
Division
405 Public Works Administration
407 Grounds Maintenance
191 City Hall Operations
193 General Government Buildings
222 Police Building
411 Streets/Roads
417 Canals Drainage
•l
550 Recreation Activities
552 Multi -Purpose Recreation Center
555 Park Facilities
503 Fleet Services
D1n.misi nn
155 Engineering
413 Street Lighting
Utilities
All meetings are open to the public.
Carol A. Evans
City Clerk
CAE/nr
City Council Budget Workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 1
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1991
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this budget workshop
0 or era 1:00 p.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
Kelly Carpenter, Director of Community Development
Dan Wood, Chief Building Official
Steve Oxenhandler, Director of Developmental
Services
Jim Budzinski, Acting Fire Chief
Rex Van Mehren, Fire Commander
Mike Couzzo, Director of Public Services
Kline Jones, City Engineer
Ellen wood, City Clerk's Office
1) DIVISION 142 - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Mayor Abramowitz said Community Development has seven
current positions, whereas it had 11 positions.
Ms. Carpenter said there are seven budgeted and two are
vacant Planning Interns. She said the Interns were for
special projects: tree canopy survey and the digitizing of
the maps. She said all of the maps used are manual. She said
the department is functioning with current staff. She said
the Intern positions are not luxury positions, however, they
are not part of any mandated function.
Mayor Abramowitz said it is crucial to review the Code so
that Tamarac can maintain the same level of life and take
anything out that is a detriment to development. He said Ms.
Carpenter has said she is working on it. He asked when it can
be seen.
Ms. Carpenter said she is prepared to discuss the amendments
to the Code and what has been drafted whenever the City
Council wants to call a workshop. She said it is about a four
inch pile of information and there is more in progress. She
said it is a continuing process.
C/M Katz asked if the department has the equipment for the
digitizing or if Engineering had the equipment.
Ms. Carpenter said the Auto Cadd System can be used but it
does not do everything that is needed to make the system
functional. She said line item 440 had the digitizing listed
for $ 6,900, that is shared equipment with the Utility
Department. She said it would be half funded out of that
department.
Ms. Carpenter said it is a lease and after three years it is
purchased outright for $ 1.00. She said the Auto Cadd System
City Council Budget Workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 2
is a free standing machine. She said the lease/ purchase is a
whole geographic information system that entails attribute
data and can put it in map form. She said it will map census
information, water usage based on water bills and fires. She
said all that information can be interacted. She said the
Auto Cadd System does not do that, it draws a map. She said
software is what is needed to make the system more active.
C/M Katz asked if software could be purchased for the
equipment that the City has.
Ms. Carpenter said the bulk of the purchase is in the soft-
ware and the training. She said the machines owned are not of
sufficient capacity to run the programs.
Ms. McDermott said not only does it help Engineering and
Utilities it helps all departments. She said with this system
all the fire hydrants within the City can be shown, also EMS
grants, water lines, sidewalks, etc. She said they are shown
in detail and it layers it. She said it can be on one map and
color coded.
C/M Katz said this is currently being done in Engineering. He
said other information needs to be plugged in.
Ms. Carpenter said the Auto Cadd system does not tie back
into the data base of the building permits, code data base or
the master file system. She said it makes the Auto Cadd
System do what is needed and it would be a similar expense.
Mr. Kelly said Bob Foy wanted this two years ago and now it
can be interacted between departments.
C/M Katz asked about the Engineering Services.
Ms. Carpenter said the Engineering Services need to be looked
at in conjunction with 323. She said the Engineering Services
are viewed as $5,000 to put a Traffic Engineer on retainer
for the City. She said the concurrency management system is
continually going to be challenged to justify impact fees for
example. She said there is no one on staff that can do this.
She said the second portion shown as planning services is for
the service of the transportation planning or Traffic
Engineer because the City needs a defensible rationale for
the spending of the local traffic impact fee money.
C/M Schumann asked if the planning interns were going to be
hired.
Ms. Carpenter said yes, this is the second year it has been
budgeted. She said if hired it would be next summer. She said
they would be hired to do a tree canopy survey in support of
the Master Landscaping Plan and the Urban Design Program and
to begin an effort of digitizing the maps that are in the
department. She said these people would probably be graduate
students so they may or may not have experience. She said the
positions are in the budget for $ 8.00 an hour.
C/M Schumann asked if this was line 156 for $ 8,888.
Ms. Blasi said the total cost with FICA is $ 9,568.
Mayor Abramowitz said he is opposed to hiring any new people
unless it is absolutely needed.
Mr. Kelly asked what value the Canopy Study is to the City.
Ms. Carpenter said' the Planning Department, in conjunction
with the Public Works Department, is doing a Master Land-
scaping Plan and a Streetscape Plan for the City and to make
an estimate as to where the street tree planning system
should be put in place, the City needs to know where it is
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 3
now. She said the department does not have any way of knowing
what is needed without the study.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Council is trying to tighten
up and avoid mass lay offs. He said the reorganization plan
was started with Judy Yacobellis and making a sweep of people
not licensed in the City so Code Enforcement is helping and
there was discussion regarding the Building Inspectors
helping when not busy. He asked in the long run if this is
going to make money for the City, is this something that is
absolutely necessary.
Ms. Carpenter said
necessity to be done
said it is something
not happen this ye
could affect the abi
might come out next
base but that is the
these positions are not of absolute
in 91/92 nor are they luxury items. She
that needs to be done and, if it does
ar, nothing will fall apart. She said it
Lity to get an urban forestry grant that
year because there would not be a data
worse case scenario.
Mayor Abramowitz said he would like to suggest that these two
positions be put on hold and if and when they are a necessity
the City Manager can come to the City Council and make some
changes. He said he does not want to hire more people.
C/M Schumann asked graduate students of what subjects would
apply for these positions.
Ms. Carpenter said the tree canopy survey would be a land-
scape architecture and the digitizing of the maps would be a
planner or a geographer. She said if hiring one, she would
choose the digitizing position first.
C/W Glasser said to hold off on both and not to put them in
the budget.
Mayor Abramowitz said to remove them from the budget.
C/M Katz asked if the digitizing equipment is needed since
these two positions would not be filled.
Ms. Carpenter said yes. She said once Abbe Hoctor is freed
from working on the grants then she can begin digitizing.
2. DIVISION 227 - BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Ms. McDermott said the Building Department is on page 48.
Mr. wood and Mr. Oxenhandler entered the meeting.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Building Department had twenty-
three positions and now has eighteen budgeted.
Mr. Oxenhandler said there are eighteen filled positions in
the Building Department.
Mr. Kelly said there were sixteen current staff members, and
two are vacant due to two employees resigning, so they are
not filled.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the unfilled positions are the
Mechanical Inspector, the Temporary Mechanical Plans Examiner
and a Data Entry Operator. He said the Mechanical Inspector
and the Temporary Mechanical/Plumbing Plans Inspector are to
be eliminated.
Mayor Abramowitz said there are fifteen filled positions in
the department. He said the three vacant positions are
resignations.
Mr. Oxenhandler said there is a Chief Mechanical Inspector on
staff and the part-time position has not been filled in
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 4
Fi
awhile. He said the Data Entry position has been
redistributed throughout the office. He said the Structural
inspectors are doing the technical work on the signs.
Ms. McDermott said when the budget was printed the employees
were still here and now they are vacant.
C/W Glasser asked if the two positions were to be eliminated.
Mr. Oxenhandler said these positions are not needed. He said
the department would like to add a line item - Other
Contractual Services to do the mechanical and plumbing if
needed.
Mr. Kelly said he spoke to Mr. Wood and Mr. Oxenhandler to
make it a part-time position which would have limited it to
one discipline. He said as a contractual, a person could be
brought in for any discipline as needed.
V/M Bender said the City offers services to other Cities, so
can this City get services in return.
Mr. Kelly said the City may be able to do that.
Mayor Abramowitz said the number of inspections the
department has done this year is almost the same as last year
even though the revenue generated is dramatically less. He
asked if the Inspectors can be utilized or elevated to allow
the inspections done to generate more income.
Mr. wood said there are several items out there for which
permits are not required that could be brought into the
system. He said one item would be cable hook-up. He said
since January he has been working with the Board of Rules and
Appeals to justify annual inspections and asking them legal
opinions. He said historically the City of Tamarac was making
annual inspections by the Fire Department and, if they found
violations of the Code, they would notify the Building
Department. He said the Attorney said the Fire Inspector can
not make an inspection for a Structural or Electrical
Inspector. He said the department is forced by Code to have
annual inspections which means a fee schedule will have to be
created. He said these annual inspections would apply to all
commercial and multi -family buildings.
Mr. Oxenhandler said this will be a fee generating activity.
Mr. Wood said multi -family does not include going into each
apartment but it is for the common grounds. He said the City
Council will determine the fee not the Board of Rules and
Appeals. He said about 80% of the cities do have a fee
schedule. He said he wants to cover the cost of the
Inspectors going out. He said a Structural and an Electrical
Inspector will have to inspect and; hopefully, it will
coincide with the Fire Department so that it is more
convenient for the occupant.,
Mr. Kelly asked if there is a time frame to set the fees.
Mr. Wood said it has to be addressed but not right now and
there is no time frame.
Mayor Abramowitz said there are three Plan Examiners in the
department.
Mr. Wood said they are qualified to do plans examining and
they are also inspectors.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the net savings by reducing these two
positions would be $24,052.
Mayor Abramowitz said if the contractual services are not
11
City Council Budget workshop
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Page 5
needed the savings would be as high as $49,000.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the department is operating with four
less support staff members and is only down 4% of the number
of permits during that time period. He said the department is
streamlined, cross -trained and has combined positions. He
said the department delivers permits and is faster than any
one else in the County. He said it is a very efficiently run
department.
Mr. Kelly said line 340 would be added for contractual
services for $25,000, and is it excessive.
Mayor Abramowitz said if needed it has to be available and if
it is not needed it will not be spent. He said if an
Inspector is needed they will go to another City and borrow
an Inspector and pay the City for his work.
C/M Schumann said if this City sends someone to Margate, is
the individual paid or the City.
Mr. Kelly said the City is paid. He said these agreements
with the other cities need to be reviewed and updated for the
salaries.
Mr. Kelly said he is very impressed and pleased with the
lease and maintenance of the LazerScan which is the property
records of Broward County. He said it is on a disk and
updated monthly and a help in researching for Code Enforce-
ment, economic development and property values within the
City for taxes generated from certain areas.
Tape 2
C/M Schumann said Item 587, Miscellaneous Refunds, is a zero.
Mr. Oxenhandler said that is money the department would
refund back to people and he is trying not to return money.
C/M Katz asked if the contract people would be used for
reinspections and how the volume is anticipated to establish
a fee to eliminate a budget and go with a contract. He said
annual inspections mean a Structural and Electrical Inspector
covering the City on all commercial and multi -family.
Mayor Abramowitz said the buildings are going to be inspected
not the units.
C/M Katz asked if the department will be able to accommodate
these inspections with current employees or based on contract
people.
Mr. wood said normal staff will be used for annual
inspections. He said these inspections will be done a day or
two a week and correlated with the Fire Department. He said
the contractual Inspectors will be used only when needed,
such as when an Inspector is out sick and it is necessary
that the position be covered.
C/M Katz asked if the additional paper work would be
completed without a Data Entry Operator and Mr. Oxenhandler
said the Structural Inspectors will take care of the
paperwork from the annual inspections. He said he wants to
keep the Data Entry position funded but not filled at this
time. He said a person in Code Enforcement is being utilized
in the Building Department at this time.
V/M Bender asked if the budget is being reduced
proportionately to the work the department is doing.
Mr. Oxenhandler said staff has been reduced by 38% since
1989. He said work has reduced only 4%. He said there is a
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 6
big difference in income.
v/M Bender said if the money is not coming in, the City has
to operate on what it can afford.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if $25,000 should be put in for
contractual and if it is needed it will be used. The City
Council members agreed.
The City Council agreed to cut the two positions for
Mechanical Inspector and Temporary Mechanical/Plumbing
Inspector and leave the Data Entry Operator in the budget.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the department wants to eliminate the
vehicle, Item 640 and the City Council agreed.
3. 235 CODE ENFORCEMENT
Mayor Abramowitz said this department has two more people.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the Occupational License Supervisor was
moved over about five months ago to assist the Code officers
to bring in more revenue and enforce the businesses to get
licenses. He said the Data Entry Operator helps with
occupational licenses and also helps in the Building Depart-
ment.
Mayor Abramowitz said he felt $25,000 to $30,000 would be
picked up by sweeping the City and that it was an on going
program. He asked how three or four people can be doing Code
Enforcement and licenses. He asked if the Building Department
can help.
Mr. Oxenhandler said it is being done. He said when a
business does not have,a license, they also do not have a
Certificate of Occupancy so they need a permit. He said the
Inspectors are utilized everyday.
Mayor Abramowitz said this should be a priority program. He
said if the business is here, it has to pay.
V/M Bender said the Fire Department makes annual inspections
in businesses so they should be checking on the licenses.
Mr. Kelly said the departments are helping each other.
v/M Bender asked if records were being kept on how much
business is being picked up by using the Fire Department. He
said records should be kept to see how effective it is.
Mr. Oxenhandler said the Firemen go into the common area of
these places.
V/M Bender said the County and the City both require
occupational licenses.
Mr. Oxenhandler said they receive lists of Tamarac businesses
that have County licenses and the list is checked to see that
they also have a license from the City. He said Code
Enforcement cites businesses that have delinquent fire fees.
He said $7,000 has been brought in for these fire fees.
Ms. McDermott said sometimes businesses need more than one
license such as for hair, skin and nails and they are
operating with one license.
V/M Bender said when a business is Sold the new people need a
new license.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Broward League is introducing
legislation to allow the municipality to collect the
licensing fee for the County and the City and then charge the
County a fee and send it to the County. He said Broward
Fj
Li
J
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 7
I
County does not ask for a municipality license but the
municipality asks for the County license. He said this is a
big source of revenue.
V/M Bender said the City should be collecting fees for all
the categories that the County has. He said the City and the
County should not be different.
C/M Katz said the Code needs to be changed so that the City
has access to people licensed in Sunrise and do business in
Tamarac. He asked why people are not cited for rubbish and
uncut grass.
Mr. Oxenhandler said today they issued the first citation. He
said this should be revenue producing. He said he intends to
represent the City in.court for these citations.
Mary Blasi was excused from the meeting.
4. 223 FIRE DEPARTMENT
Jim Budzinski, Acting Fire Chief, and Rex Van Mehren, Fire
Commander, entered the meeting.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Fire Department is on page 43. He
said three vehicles have been requested on Item 640,
Vehicles.
Mr. Budzinski said two sedans are to provide the fire
prevention personnel with cars. He said one vehicle they have
is beyond repair and two vehicles have been given to Public
works because they are not serviceable and not safe on the
road. He said the pick-up truck is out of service and at
Public Works.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if there is any way not to spend this
kind of money on vehicles.
Mr. Kelly said he would want to 'at least kept a Cavalier for
the Inspector, whereas Mr. Budzinski would prefer the Ford
Rancher. He said one vehicle would be $8,800.
C/M Schumann said $27,200 would buy 3 vehicles.
Mr. Budzinski said the department has a boat and trailer that
needs to be transported to emergency scenes and the pick-up
would be used for that purpose. He said a hitch can be put on
any of the vehicles. He said the department does not have a
way to transport materials from station to station unless
they use fire apparatus. He said the department is looking at
the possibility of using it for the Inspector if it could be
changed to a mini -van.
C/M Katz asked if there was a vehicle fund with $120,000 in
it.
Ms. McDermott said that Ms. Blasi recommends that a certain
amount be left in that account for reserve in case of a major
.emergency.
C/M Katz said this money should be used if it is needed.
Mayor Abramowitz said one vehicle would suffice. He asked if
there was a problem with one vehicle.
C/M Katz said he would like to accommodate while getting the
best value and use for the dollar.
Mr. Budzinski said the $8,800 car would get the Inspectors
transportation, which is of primary importance. He said
$9,600.00 would get the Ford Ranger pick-up as an emergency
response vehicle.
City Council Budget Workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 8 '
Mr. Kelly asked if the Ford Ranger pick-up qualified under
the Hurricane Emergency Account. He asked if that would not
yet expended all that monies in this years and that it is not
all committed out and more is generated for other things,
such as chain saws.
Mr. Budzinski said it could qualify and that some of the
money was set aside now, however the pick-up would take a
portion and there is enough.
Mayor Abramowitz asked how much is the Ford Ranger. He said
the City Manager feels one vehicle would suffice. He said he
agrees and asked which vehicle.
C/M Schumann said Mr. Budzinski should decide which vehicle
would best suit his means.
Tape 3
C/M Schumann asked if one vehicle was going to be enough.
Mr. Budzinski said it is difficult for him to say which
vehicle is going to break next. He said they are all aging.
He said the Inspectors travel 20-25 miles a day.
Mayor Abramowitz suggested they agree on one vehicle of Mr.
Budzinski's choice and the most it can be is $9,700. He said
it should come out of the Fleet Fund as suggested by Mr. Katz
and the City Council agreed.
Mr. Kelly said Item 627 then goes to zero.
C/M Schumann said Item 644 should be reduced by the grant. He
said $109,500 is reduced to $25,000.
Mayor Abramowitz said the $150,000 goes to zero. He said Item
644 should be zero and the vehicle amount of $27,200 goes to
zero. He said $9,700 will come from the fleet account.
C/M Katz said there is still $84,000 to be spent but not from
this budget. He said the City has,fifteen months to match the
grant.
C/M Schumann asked what Item 464, Repair of Machinery and
Equipment, was for.
Mr. Kelly said it includes air conditioning units,
appliances, bay doors and water heater for both Fire
Stations. He said an additional $10,000 can be taken out of
this account making it $31,200.
Mr. Budzinski said with the refurbishing contract entered
into this year, the department now has two trucks that major
maintenance will not have to be done on. He said $10,000 was
for major repairs on the two vehicles that the City will no
longer have. He said the $31,000 is for the specialized fire
equipment that Public Services cannot do.
Mayor Abramowitz said there is a half million dollar
escalation from the 89/90 actual. He asked if they are
contractual or union obligations.
Mr. Budzinski said line 120, . the salary line, are
contractual increases of 5% come October 1. He said the
incentive pay is also contractual to the union and is based
on base salary. He said Emergency Medical Technicians receive
5% above basic Firefighter pay. He said Paramedics receive 2%
and an Associate of Science Degree for Fire Science gets 3%.
C/M Katz said this is not on evaluation and merit but on
credentials.
City Council Budget workshop
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Page 9
Mr. Budzinski said Tamarac used to be a training facility for
larger cities and it is no longer the case. He said the
Firemen are no longer leaving the City.
C/M Schumann said there is a 100% increase over 90/91 and a
300% increase from 89 to 90.
Mr. Budzinski said they are going to school and staying with
the City longer. He said the Pension increase is due to
increasing salaries, incentives and step increases that are
maturing and accumulating. He said the City pays more as the
salaries get higher.
V/M Bender asked about the State contribution on line 175.
Mr. Budzinski said the total going into the Pension Fund is
considerably higher.
Ms. Fagelbaum said the Actuary makes a determination as to
how much has to be contributed into the Pension Fund in the
Firefighters portion. She said they take that figure and
subtract out of it the State contribution and then what
remains has to be the City's.
C/M Schumann said the State's portion is based on the
insurance sold by the State.
C/M Katz said Oakland Park went with the County. He asked the
total of the personnel services and how radically it could
go up or down if the City went that route.
Mr. Budzinski said it would depend on the arrangements that
are made.
Mayor Abramowitz said to look at Item 503.
Mr. Budzinski said it is maintenance to land, buildings and
improvements. He said the bathrooms in Station # 2 are
inadequate. He said Station # 1 also needs repairs in the
bathroom and the trailers need to be maintained.
Mayor Abramowitz ask d what it will take to function properly
and he asked if ask
Fire Department could make due with
$10,000.
Mr. Budzinski said no. He said they hoped to start repairs on
the main Station after the new budget and it would probably
take six months.
Mayor Abramowitz said cut the $24,000 to $14,000 and if there
is an emergency the City Council can act on it. He said this
is out of line.
Mr. Budzinski said the work is done by Public Services and
also the Firefighters do the work.
Discussion was held on the employee wellness program and the
$7,500 in the account.
C/w Glasser asked what amount of money is needed to bring the
Stations and trailers to appropriate working conditions.
Mr. Budzinski said $18,000. The City Council members agreed
to this amount for Item 340.
C/M Schumann asked about Item 340, $7,500, Other Contractual
Services.
Mr. Budzinski said this is for the annual pump and ladder
test. He said this is for certification for the insurance
services office. He said it is also for testing the ground
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 10
ladders, exterminators, medical testing on new employees and
employees back after injuries, servicing of fire
estinguishers, permits for hazardous materials, licenses and
storage tanks and a preventative maintenance program for the
Station generators.
Mayor Abramowitz said the first payment on the half million
dollar truck is not in this year's budget.
Mr. Budzinski said the two vehicles have staggered payments
and the first payment on the first vehicle is now due. He
said it is Items 716 and 726.
Ms. McDermott said a grant is pending for $25,000 with
Broward County Emergency Medical Services for the additional
education and training that the Fire Department does for the
homeowners, condos and clubhouses for CPR, first aid, and
emergency preparedness for hurricanes.
C/M Schumann asked at a point when the fire department goes
with the County, are the present radios being purchased
compatible with the County.
Mr. Budzinski said they are identical radios.
5. 226 AMBULANCE SERVICES
Mayor Abramowitz suggested that the ambulance service be the
same as last year at $104,600.
C/W Glasser said the City can absorb the increase up to and
no more than 7% in a year.
Mr. Kelly said the County wanted 4.6% and that is what they
got. He said Mr. Cohen had indicated that he would consider
holding it at this price if the City could get him a place
within the City of Tamarac but the City does not have that
room. He said Mr. Cohen is in the hospital and will not be
available for awhile. He said his Assistant, Ms. Lind,
advised that they are willing to stay at this price and hope
that the City will work with them to get them a place.
Mayor Abramowitz said he would like to offer them less.
C/W Glasser asked about sharing monies received from Medicare
and anything they get over.$141,000, the City shares 50/50.
She asked if the City has ever received money from this.
Tape 4
Mr. Kelly said the City has never received money from this.
He said Fire Chief Briant feels that this year the Finance
Department should look at it because there is a chance that
the $141,000 will be met, because reimbursement costs have
gone up. He said Medicare will pay more but no reimbursement
will be made unless they are admitted into the hospital. He
said reimbursement takes 18 months or 6 months beyond the
fiscal year.
C/W Glasser asked how the City knows how much money is
collected form any agency.
Mr. Kelly said the County maintains that record since the
City receives a monthly report from the County.
Mr. Kelly said the generation of runs and the maximum
reimbursements are calculated and they would not reach the
level needed at this point.
C/W Glasser said the ambulance has to give an accounting of
how much received from the various insurances. She asked why
the City could not get a copy of that.
City Council Budget Workshop
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Page 11
Mr. Kelly said the City can but Mr. Briant said at this point
it was not needed.
V/M Bender said the County was responsible to audit the
books. He said the County validates and the information is
there if the City wants to go get it. He said Fire Chief
Briant said the information available in the County will show
all reimbursements. He said Fire Chief Briant looks at the
bottom line and if it does not affect the contract he does
not do anything. He said C/W Glasser wants to see how much
the ambulance service is actually getting and the City can
get that.
C/M Katz asked if Ms. Lind is taking over for Mr. Cohen.
V/M Bender said the contract was revised September 26, 1989.
He said it contains a note where it was reduced to $100,000
from $105,000. He asked if there was a later contract then
this.
Ms. McDermott said it expires in September and needs to be
renegotiated.
V/M Bender said it was decreased from $105,000 to $100,000
and the maximum it could go is 7%.
Mr. Kelly said the next year Mr. Cohen came in and said
$100,000 is not enough, so the City gave 4.6% like the
County.
C/W Glasser asked if the County was going to give an increase
in the budget they are currently working on because, if so,
the City would be obligated to that increase.
C/W Glasser said Mr. Cohen is willing to formulate a new
contract with the City and accept $104,600. She asked if he
was willing to accept a contract with no increase regardless
of what the County does.
Mr. Kelly said yes, but only for one year.
C/W Glasser said she would rather go in for $100,000 for two
years and let him come up to $105,000.
The City Council agreed to negotiate a two year contract at
$100,000 with no increase with the ability to negotiate to
$104,600.
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Walter Rekuc, resident, said the Building Department has
thirteen Inspectors and six Chiefs. He said he feels the
Chiefs should be looked at.
Mayor Abramowitz said each Chief is a department and every
Chief is out on the road doing inspections.
Mr. Kelly said one is needed for each discipline.
Mr. Rekuc said there is one man that the law does not
require. He said he was pleased that the Building Department
was looked at very hard even though it was not hard enough.
He said Community Development is going to have less plans
submitted and should be looked at harder.
Mayor Abramowitz said they are redoing the entire Code, along
with the plans. He said the personnel has been reduced.
7. 155 ENGINEERING
Mike Couzzo, Director of Public Services, and Kline Jones,
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 12 ,
City Engineer, entered the meeting.
Mayor Abramowitz said page 18 is Engineering and one position
is being reduced from this department.
Mr. Couzzo said Gordan Sparks is being transferred to
Utilities.
Mr. Kelly said this is being done so that he can work closely
with Pete Procopio.
C/M Katz asked if he was part of the Plan Adjustment Review
and who would be replacing him.
Mr. Couzzo said the justification for transferring Mr. Sparks
to the Utilities budget is that the Engineering Division of
the department provides engineering services to Utilities so
instead of proportionately taking a piece of what Kline Jones
does and what other staff people do, one person is the sum of
all the parts, which is Mr. Sparks, and that will be charged
to Utilities. He said Mr. Sparks will still be doing
Engineering functions for other departments but it will be
charged against the Utility Fund.
C/M Katz said expenses to particular departments are not
being justified. He said if a man does engineering work, he
should be charged to Engineering or if he is working though
Utilities then 50/50.
Mr. Couzzo said previously it was done like C/M Katz is
suggesting and the Finance Director felt it would be easier
to charge one person out rather than several in smaller
percentages.
Mr. Kelly said it is because each individual line item is
affected.
Ms. Fagelbaum said administratively it is much simpler to
charge one person a full percentage. She said the dollars
come out the same.
Mayor Abramowitz said Ms. Blasi has made the budget simple.
Mr. Kelly said this department is.looking for additional help
and not cuts.
Mr. Jones said since the reorganization, everyone has had to
take on additional duties. He said Tom Gagnon has taken on
alot of additional duties that the Engineers have been doing,
such as permitting and paperwork. He said Mr. Gagnon did not
have to be asked, he just stepped in and did the work and he
is working out of his classification. He said Mr. Gagnon is
doing necessary work and he should be reclassified as
inspector/Plans Reviewer. He said Mr. Gagnon has been with
the City for 13 years and is an asset. He said it would be a
5% increase.
Mr. Couzzo said they want to adjust the job description so
that it more accurately describes what he does. He said his
base salary is $38,664 so the increase will be about $2,000.
He said he has greater responsibility.
C/M Katz asked if Mr. Gagnon is doing what Ed Schuty used to
do.
Mr. Jones said it is similar. He said Mr. Gagnon stepped in
and did Mr. Schuty's job until Mr. Sparks was hired.
C/M Katz said he does not want qualified people to leave the
City. He said if the job classification had other
ramifications it could make it difficult, such as if other
people do about the same thing.
i
L%
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 13
Mr. Couzzo said he is the only person in the department that
would perform that function. He said it would have to be
posted internally.
Mr. Kelly said this involves a 10% increase. He said it is a
5% increase and a 5% COLA.
C/M Schumann asked if this was coming out of the senior
Construction Inspectors, where two are listed.
MY: Kline said, yes, and Mr. Gagnon would become a Senior
Construction Inspector/Plans Reviewer. He said the Assistant
City Engineer is Gordan Sparks.
Mr. Couzzo said the position of Senior Construction
Inspector/Plans Reviewer will be posted and the position of
Senior Construction Inspector will be eliminated to one.
C/M Schumann said the budget should read one for the Senior
Construction Inspector and one for the Senior Construction
Inspector/Plans Reviewer.
Mayor Abramowitz said the job reclassification should be done
legitimately and he should be paid for it.
C/M Katz asked if there was anyone else in the department
that could fill that job classification.
Mr. Kelly said the other Construction Inspector would not
qualify.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Department Head should explain the
procedure to Mr. Gagnon to make sure that he understands.
The City Council agreed. He said $2,000 will be added to the
budget. He asked who was going to be doing the travelling.
Tape 5
Mr. Couzzo said there are local seminars for some of the
Inspectors and Mr. Jones will attend a water Pollution
Control Federation that will be held next year in New
Orleans. He said this Conference is 5 days. He said this
issue is important to all municipalities because of the
regulatory implications of the water quality.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if Council was aware of the storm
drainage.
Mr. Kelly said there are new State requirements on storm
drainage. He said Kline Jones, Abbe Hoctor and Gordan Sparks
participated in a session at the Multipurpose Center that was
conducted by the Office of Natural Resource Protection. He
said Broward County has been designated the lead applicant
and they have invited the municipalities to participate with
them in complying with these standards. He said the issue of
storm drainage and wastewater is going to be very serious for
all municipalities in the future.
C/M Katz asked if the department needs anything in the event
of a disaster or power outages to support any function that
may be needed on the street.
Mr. Jones said they will not have to work like the Utility
Department. He said they would be part of the disaster
assessment team and all that is needed is transportation.
Mr. Couzzo said it does not apply to this particular budget.
Mayor Abramowitz asked Mr. Rekuc to please finish.
Mr. Rekuc asked where the $60,000 savings was in Engineering
City Council Budget workshop
8/15/91/elo
Page 14
that was promised.
Mr. Kelly said it was not $60,000 in Engineering, it was in
the consolidation of Public Services and Utilities and the
elimination of Mr. Foy"s position.
Mayor Abramowitz said it was a very conservative estimate.
with no further business, Mayor Abramowitz adjourned this
meeting at 4:30 p.m.
ARi7L A. EVANS .
CITE' CLERK
"This public document was promulgated at a cost of $ 269.75
or $ 6.00 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."
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