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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08162006 Special CIlY OF ~ ~.:..."..."':-::C::-. _.e._^"m. . . HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL FY2006/2007 BUDGET WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2006 - 6:00 P.M. MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 3. ROLL CALL City Council Present: Mayor Brian Burkeen Council Member Andrea Coy Council Member Nathan B. McCollum Council Member Sal Neglia Council Member AI Paternoster Staff Present: City Manager, AI Minner City Attorney, Rich Stringer City Clerk, Sally Maio Deputy City Clerk, Jeanette Williams MIS Systems Analyst, Barbara Brooke Airport Manager, Jeff Manning Building Director, Wayne Eseltine City Engineer, David Fisher Finance Director, Shai Francis Human Resources Director, Debbie Krueger Golf Course Director, Greg Gardner Growth Management Director, Rebecca Grohall Police Chief, Jim Davis Police Lieutenant, Michelle Morris Police Lieutenant, Bob Lockhart Police Lieutenant, Greg Witt Public Works Superintendent, Jerry Converse Stormwater Superintendent, Tim Walker Parks Superintendent, Chris McCarthy City Council Budget Workshop August 16,2006 Page Two 4. FY2006/2007 BUDGET A. Citizen Budget Review Advisory Board Report John Oakes, Vice Chairman on behalf of Chairman Smith, wished Mr. Smith a speedy recovery and presented the committee's recommendation to include two adjustments. B. BudQet Presentation/Overview - City ManaQer The City Manager gave a Power Point presentation, which he said will be followed by Council questions for department heads and Charter officers. The Power Point presentation is attached to these minutes. He advised that general liability and health insurance have created a $285,160 difference in a balanced budget since the first proposed budget came out. He advised at the next Council meeting, he will have numbers for health insurance costs and a sidewalk schematic. Mayor Burkeen called recess 6:52 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. All members were present. Mr. McCollum asked how the proposed positions would impact the budget if they were unfilled for six months or three months. The City Manager stated the amount is $64,000 divided by two. Mr. McCollum asked if the environmental position could split be 75% building department and 25% general revenue instead of 50-50. The City Manager explained he has received complaints regarding slow turn around for site plans so a planner is needed before the environmentalist so if it is combined, the City will have a win-win situation. Mr. McCollum asked if the excavator can be taken out of DST and the City Manager said it must be taken from the renewal/replacement line. He then asked if the $230,000 from reserves to accomplish the mowing will impact general revenue fund and the City Manager said it would not. Mr. Neglia asked if the City funded two police officers and one planner and went to 3.2449 if that would that be a better choice. The City Manager said it would a conservative route and his recommendation, but the ultimate decision and policy choices are to be made by Council. Mr. Neglia asked if the City went to 3.2449, would the City save $300,000. The City Manager explained if you go to 3.05 rolled back, the City will save $285,000 but you will have to make cuts or go into reserves to do so - he advised not to keep going to reserves to make tax cuts. Mr. Paternoster asked for the bottom line of contingency fund spending. The City Manager replied 2% of general fund spending-$230,OOO. He asked if the figures are based on a 5.5% increase for CWA employees and it was. City Council Budget Workshop August 16, 2006 Page Three C. Department Questions 1) City Council - none 2) City Manager - none 3) City Clerk - none 4) City Attorney - none 5) Finance/MIS - none 6) Human Resources - none 7) Growth Management - Ms. Coy asked the cost of the environmental planner position. The Growth Management Director directed everyone to the third page of the budget book - Planner II - $49,050 plus benefits. The Director also stated this is provided the City could get someone with dual experience. Mr. Neglia asked for an explanation of GIS technology. The Growth Management Director stated the City is looking at $30,000 for all costs to be utilized by many departments, that most data can be acquired for free, she has experience building GIS systems and the City would work with other agencies to build our data. She stated it would provide better management of city assets, could help with the ditch cleaning project and updates with maintenance are $400 per year. Mr. Paternoster asked how many site plans are in hopper and the Growth Management Director replied 14 currently. The Mayor asked if the dual position would help with the four month processing of site plans and she replied definitely. The City Manager said the position would serve several functions with an environmental twist on issues. The Mayor asked if a full time planner is needed and possibly subcontract environmental services. The Growth Management Director explained that has been considered but there is a tangible benefit to have an environmental planner on staff because of the City's dynamic ecological community. Ms. Coy pointed out that developers provide their own environmental consultants and the City would have better control if someone was staff. a) Code Enforcement - none 8) Police Department a) Administration Mr. McCollum asked if City still needed the line for the consolidated 911 service and the Chief said yes because the amount is to improve radio consoles. Mr. Paternoster asked how many patrol officers are there on a shift. The Chief said 2.5 officers. Mr. Paternoster asked what is recommended and the Chief said 2.4 to 3 per 1,000 residents and the City is at 1.8 per 1,000 residents now. The Chief stated the City is 12 officers understaffed at this time. City Council Budget Workshop August 16, 2006 Page Four b) School Resource Officer Unit Mr. McCollum stated he still believes this should be funded by the School District budget. Mr. Neglia asked if the School District could pay for crossing guards and the Chief said they cannot per state law. c) Patrol Division Ms. Coy stated she does not want to take away an officer to have an environmental specialist because crimes are prevalent. Mr. Paternoster asked about transferred items to special operations. d) Community Policing - none e) Detective Division Mayor Burkeen asked if more detectives are needed. The Chief said the City is getting to need one and there will be a request in next year's budget. f) Support Services - none g) Dispatch Unit - none Mayor Burkeen asked what the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee's concerns were regarding dispatch and the City Manager replied there has been a high turnover and pay was attributed to the turnover. h) Special Operations - none i) Professional Standards - none 9) Engineering Mr. Paternoster suggested filling some of the positions with college students who are in work study programs. The City Engineer explained the City has had over 30 students within the past four years. Mr. Neglia asked who the Sign Technician I was. The City Engineer stated he is the one with a lot of seniority. He also asked if the Department was budgeting money that is going to be paid back to the City. The City Manager responded yes, the Airport fund will pay back the general revenue fund. 10) Public Works a) Roads and Maintenance Division - none. City Council Budget Workshop August 16,2006 Page Five b) Stormwater Utility Division Mr. Paternoster asked how much is left over for repairs. The City Manager stated after the culvert pipes and sod, roughly $120,000 that will come up through the course of the year. Mr. Paternoster asked if the repair calls would come out of stormwater. The City Manager explained if rear flooding is the City's fault then standard operation would pay for the repair. He further explained that situations that are a result of the homeowner must be decided by Council if the City should pay to correct something the City didn't create. He said this is in an investigative stage and Council must decide if they want to take on property owner problems. c) Central Garage Division - none d) Parks and Recreation Division Ms. Coy stated she would like to be a Tree City again and did not see the budget needed to go towards trees and Arbor day. The City Manager stated $2.00 per resident must be spent to qualify and the budget is sketchy on where to put the trees; however, the Growth Management Director is looking into the Tree City qualifications. Ms. Coy pointed out that the boards are not given a budget. The City Manager said $40,000 could be put in the non-departmental division and tree improvements at the Park could count towards the tree designation but budget modifications would be needed. e) Cemetery Division - none f) Building Maintenance Division - none 11) Non-Departmental - none 12) Golf Course - none 13) Building The Mayor reiterated this is where 25% would come from for the environmental position and the City Manager confirmed this. 14) Airport Mr. Paternoster asked about the City's proposed fuel sale profit. He also asked about plans for the building itself. The City Manager said the plan does not really address the building but Engineering and Public Works are scheduled to be housed there with possible commercial renting in the future but not at $1.00 a year as with some of the City's leases. City Council Budget Workshop August 16, 2006 Page Six Mr. Paternoster asked about an Operations Specialist III and Maintenance Worker I and why they are under the Public Works Department. The City Manager explained their duties which are specific to the Airport and that the two positions are needed. Mr. Neglia asked how much space will be rented out. The City Manager explained if the City does-rent the new building, about 25%, but it would need further future discussion. Mayor Burkeen asked if there has been budgetary considerations to promote the Airport's business aspects. The City Manager said future staff levels will probably be lower and monies available could be used for promotion. Mayor Burkeen would like the promotion to be done by staff. Mayor Burkeen called recess 8:15 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:21p.m. All members were present. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Randy White, former Police Chief, spoke on the need to add more police officers. He pointed out that the Department had 36 officers when he left in 2000 and 38 officers now which is not right for all of the growth Sebastian has experienced. He suggested a formal staffing study be done with a blueprint for the future. Linda Lohsl representing the CWA Local Chapter stated City employees are concerned with their salary increases and benefits and would like to continue to work for the City. She stated the citizens would benefit from the attention to employee concerns. Damien Gilliams expressed support for City employees; suggested the next Clambake profits go towards the City's problems and the City needs to do more for economic development. John Oakes stated government does not get involved in economic development. He requested the police positions not be cut and suggested benefits will help keep dispatch employees. Eugene Wolff said the two police positions should be filled. He stated there are unfilled positions in Public Works and questioned how the Department will get caught up. He said there are more urgent priorities than the environmental planner and certifying Sebastian as a Tree City. 6. COUNCIL COMMENTSIDIRECTION Mr. Paternoster expressed concern with the CWA impasse and hopes Council understands the cost of living and take home pay. He recommended three new police officers and supported the GIS system. He asked how many city employees there are. The City Manager responded there are 125 (full-time) employees with 50 in the Public Works Department as there were five years ago. Mr. Paternoster stated with the growth experienced, the City employees are overworked and underpaid. City Council Budget Workshop August 16, 2006 Page Seven Mr. McCollum said he does not believe staff is underpaid. He stated dependent coverage discriminates against the single employees. He also stated when the PBA negotiated their contract, they understood the trade-off for their benefits would be less staff. He said he hears that citizens need help with their taxes. Mr. McCollum suggested taking $230,000 paid back from stormwater, leaving a deficit of $70,000, hold off on the two police officers and planner for a budget quarter the City would reach rolled back. Ms Coy said she would give up a planner to get the police officers. She suggested the City look to St. Lucie as to why the City should monitor and manage the City's environmental resources. She would like to see rolled back but needs to be realistic. She said she is happy with the stormwater budget because it is being addressed. She thanked department heads for not putting fluff in the budget. Mayor Burkeen thanked Budget Advisory Review Committee and Shai for the budget and thanked the City Manager for the great strides with stormwater problems. He would like to see the $40,000 for Tree City and the committees come from contingency funds. He still supported the environmental planner and supported Mr. McCollum's suggestion of delaying the positions. Mr. Neglia supported the new positions and the budget. The City Manager explained the $230,00 payback is doable, making the budget $70,000 short with the additional $50,000 needed for the planner so $150,000 would be needed. He explained he could fund the positions partially but recommended more service from the positions; so he recommended going back to the contingency fund for $100,000 and bringing the positions on staff for extra nine months. Mr. McCollum asked if this would get the City to rolled back and the City Manager confirmed it would. He suggested following the City Manger suggestion to get to the rolled back rate of 3.0519 which would cover the items the City Manager just explained. The City Manager stated this would still leave $100,000 in the contingency fund. Mayor Burkeen asked where the Barber Street realignment monies are and the City Manager said DST monies. Mr. McCollum said if there was another way to reach rolled back, the City Manager could use his discretion because there are two more public hearings scheduled to hear his comments. 7. Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m. Approved at the September 13th, 2006 Regular City Council Meeting. ATTES: /-j \/~. Brian Burkeen, Mayor