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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-08-16 Workshop City Commission Meeting MinutesROLL CALL: P resent: Mayor: Vice Mayor: Commissioners: City Manager: City Attorney: City Clerk: MINUTES DANIA GITY COUiIISSION WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 16, 1994 Bob Mikes Bobbie Grace John Bertino Bill Hyde Albert Jones Robert Flatley Frank Adler Wanda Mullikin 1. City Manager Flatley mentioned that revisions have been made to the Pier Restaurant proposal from the Venice Pier Group, Inc. and that Carl Adler, Esq. has been involved with the changes on behalf of the City. Mr. Flatley recommended to include a percentage instead of a flat rate on the sliding rent scale. He felt that this was fair since Venice Pier will be putting in a half-million dollars in building renovations the first year. Dania would gain on the percentage method based on gross income from the following audit reports for Venice Pier Group: . 1.5 million in 1990o 2.3 million in 1991o 2.7 millionin1992r 2.9 million in 1993 Mr. Flatley recommended a one year temporary Bait Shop/Concession operation in an effort to increase revenues while the agreement is being solidified and to consider a study by a consulting firm on the dollar projections. Carl Adler enlisted his legal expertise regarding the language in the contract but recommended the Commission to consider hiring an accountant to determine the reasonability of the proposed figure projections. Mayor Mikes mentioned that the City is at a disadvantage because there was only one bidder for the Pier Restaurant project. The Commission commented on whether it would be cost 1WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 16, 1994 effective for the City to operate the pier as was done in the past. Commissioner Benino felt that the longer negotiations are drawn out the closer the City's position is to being forced to accept what is offered. Commissioner Bertino felt that the City did a good.job when they operated the pier in the past as an Enterprise Fund. His opinion was that profits were impossible based on equipment being retired in a short period of time. He recommended to build a Bait Shop/Restaurant structure to be leased out later. If leasing becomes a problem, the City could operate the facility. Commissioner Jones suggested to consider an operation similar to the Washington D.C. Seafood Wharf Restaurant which includes fishing. Carl Adler, Esq. expressed his disappointment that Venice Pier Group changed their initial proposal once a contract was prepared and mentioned their lack of architect or financial preparation on the proposal. He advised that restaurants don't make money the first five years and that Venice Pier should assume the financial responsibilities and not impose this on the City. Mr. Adler felt that Venice Pier Group is an excellent operation and that the City may want to consider a contract with them for a smalier operation. The Commission agreed to have City Manager Flatley hire an architect familiar with restaurant constnrction to determine the options available to the City and presented this information at a workshop meeting. ITEM 3 \ilAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 1. ITEM 2 \TAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 5 2. Mike Smith, Personnel Director, explained that compensation is only one facet out of many that contributes to an employee's job satisfaction. Employees need to identify with an organization and obtain self-esteem from their jobs based on the value an employer places on their work. Employees need to feel a personal sense of accomplishment and a sense of community in the work place. He mentioned the need for employees to be fairly compensated and to also recognize when they are fairly compensated for a position. Mr. Smith felt that the City has been working with an old style functional pay plan that puts people in various specific specialized areas and that this does not work in a small organization like Dania. Employees are expected to be flexible and take on and adapt to multiple tasks and that there is a need for a change in the City's approach to the compensation issue. Vice Mayor Grace didn't feel it was necessary to be addressing employee upgrades at this time since all employees will be receiving a 6.40/o salary increase effective October 1.,1994, and based on the City's current financial position. Mayor Mikes feit that the union should have negotiated for merit raises instead oI the 6.4o/o across-the-board increase that is approved for October. He mentioned the impact to the City when firefighter disability benefits were increased to 58olo and two Firefighters retired under disability within two weeks after the approval. 2WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 16, 1994 City Attorney Adler reminded the Commission that the hiring and promotion of personnel, other than Department Heads, is the sole responsibility of the City Manager and that the City Commission is not suppose to interfere with this according to the City Charter. Mayor Mikes felt that the Commission made a decision to hold the millage rate so that taxes would not be increased and that taxes would have to be increased in order to grant the upgrades. City Manager Flatley mentioned the need for the Commission to take action on the Public \Works/Utilities realignment and that Leo \Tilliams needs an increase since he is being moved to Superintendent. Bud Palm, Utilities Director, felt that Leo Williams is moving to a new position with greater responsibility which warrants an increase. Vice Mayor Grace felt that it is wrong to increase one person when no one else is being given this consideration. The Commission directed City Manager Flatley to come back at the beginning of the fiscal year to give his recommendation on the upgrade and to address the organizational chan at the next regular meeting. Commissioner Jones felt that the maintenance on the mechanic work should be contracted out and Mayor Mikes mentioned that the City has taken action to extend vehicle warranties. Commissioner Jones disagree with hiring an employee to operate the new Vac-Con Sewer Cleaning truck and felt that someone in the Public Works Depanment should be trained for the position. Mayor Mikes mentioned the financial impact that the Fire Depanment has on the City and the need to get out of the contract with Broward County at the end of this year for the fire rescue services in the Griffin area. City Manager Flatley stated that the fire inspection fee revenue is being increased to $35,000 a year. The new Fire Inspector who has been hired on a part-time basis is a retired Fire Marshall from Pembroke Pines. All other inspections will be done by on-duty employees and Mr. Adler mentioned that the City is now charging for the first inspection vzhich was free in the past in an effort to increase revenues. The meeting adjourned after this item. 3. \fil Allen, Growth Management Director, presented a proposed budget for the 9fth Birthday Celebration showing an esrimated rotal cost of $84,495.00. After donations, the City needs fund raising of approximately $35,000. Mayor Mikes asked for a breakdown of the $18,120.00 projected for entertainment and asked to include a dedication of the Nyberg/Swanson house in the event. Discussion followed on the $2500 being donated by the 3WORKSHOP MEETING AUGUST 16, 1994 Commissioner Hyde felt that it is not the Commission's position to be addressing individual value judgments on employees and that each department head should make employee determinations. Commissioner Jones felt that upgrades, reclassifications or raises should be addressed if there is money in the depanment budgets and that there is a need for the City to change there procedures when dealing with employee increases. 3 \TAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 1 Broward County Historical Commission and the need to organiz,e a fund raising as soon as possible. 4. 'Will Allen, Growth Management Director, presented an amendment to Section 8-3 "Fee Schedule for Permit Fees" that would increase the minimum fee from $27.50 to $35.00 and generate an approximate $10,000 increase in revenues. Mr. Allen also presented a list of proposed changes to the schedule {or the plumbing, electrical and mechanical disciplines. The Commission generally agreed with the {ee increase. ITEM 6 \TAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 4. ITEM 5 \TAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 6 5. Kevin McCabe, Coastal Technology Corporation, updated the Commission on revisions made to the permit sketches for the Whiskey Creek Dock. He commented on communication received from the Depanment Environmental Protection and presented the City's options on a fixed or floating dock structure. The Commission agreed with the modifications required by DEP and asked that Mr. McCabe go forward with obtaining a permit for a fixed dock. ITEM 2 NTAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 5 ITEM 6 \7AS HEARD AFTER ITEM 4. 6. City Manager Flatley mentioned that the Commission continued the approval for the resurfacing of the tennis court at Meli Park from the last meeting and staff was directed to review all of the tennis court needs at each park. A video was shown on the condition of the tennis courts while the Commission reviewed improvements for each park. The Commissioner directed the City Manager to go out to bid for a better price for resurfacing improvements to the tennis, basketball and racquetball courts at various parks, to make repairs to fencing to save cost and Mayor Mikes asked to remove the sprinklers near the tennis courts at Nonhside Park. TTF-M 5 \TAS HEARD AFTER ITEM 5 This ryorkshop meeting adiourned. a- City Clerk Auditor WORKSHOP MEETING Mayor"Com AUGUST 16, 1994 M 4