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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-23 Budget Workshop City Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES DANIA CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, 1997 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mikes at 9:05 A.M. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor: Vice Mayor: Commissioners City Manager: City Clerk: Bob Mikes Jim Cali John Bertino John Etling Bill Hyde Mike Smith [\/arie Jabalee 1. Budget review for 97/98 fiscal year city Manager smith introduced scott woodburn, Executive Director, for IGFA. Mr. Woodburn presented-a large Blue tVlarlin fish to be displayed on the City's Conference Room wall The City bommission generally agreed to continue this presentation to the next regular meeting for public involvement. Garaqe Servic es/Street Pavinq - CitY Manager Smith advised that options are being reviewed on possibly contracting with outside companies for garage services. He presented a drawing showing street repaving improvements and a breakdown on Public Works maintenance zones Donatio ns-$5,OOO.OO was set aside for non-profit organizations Pier Bait Shoo/Restaurant - City Manag er Smith reported that Karl Adler, Esq. is preparing a lease agreement to be presented to restaurant operators for the Pier. Plans are being prepare for the City to build the restaurant structure and the Commission must determine a dollar amount. ln regards the bait shop, the current operators are willing to build a bait shop independent of the restaurant provided that they receive a long enough lease. Discussion followed on the lack of interest that the City has received from restaurant operators to build a restaurant structure due to financing problems and there being a need to run a 24-hour operation for securitY reasons.Vice Mayor Cali suggested the idea of offering the Pier restauranubait shoP oPeration to Bass Pro since they have the expertise in fishing and ability to obtain financing. The facilitY could be called "Bass Pro Pier at Dania Beach"and could tie the oceanside and western Portions of the City together to draw business to other parts of the CitY. d CityManagerSmithmentionedthataCanadiangroupisinterestedinbuildinganoceannarium _ a structuie tnat would be lowered down into the water near the reef to provide undersea "i"J"gl; p"6i. city staff is researching the feasibitity of the project and the background on the Canadian ComPanY. 1BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, I997 aritable anization -Commissioner Etling raised the idea of reviewing areas in thebudget where funds could be used to increase the $5,000.00 amount being budgeted for non-profit organizations. The consensus ofthe City Commission was to use all of the bus benchrevenue ($7500.00) for charitable contributions and allow the Human Relations Board todetermine the amounts and organizations to receive the donations. salarv Raises - city l\/anager smith advised that all employees are receiving a 4yo increase according to collective Bargaining Agreements. city Manager smith recommended increasingMonica Griffith, Personnel Director, from $4O,OOO.OO to a salary of $47,000.00. The Commission only agreed to a 4% increase for Monica Griffith since the management salary for the position was set last year at $40,000.00 and does not require the flexibility as other department heads because city Manager Smith has personnel expertise. Mr. smith advised that the assignment pay for Ken Koch would be removed since Terry Virta is now on board as the Growth Management Director. Policv on manaqement buvouts at departure- City Manager Smith advised that all employees hired prior to '1995 receive 100% of their accrued leave. Employees hired after 1995 receive 50% of their accrued leave. The cap on sick leave is 400 hours and 2 years on accrued vacation leave. Buyback on vacation leave is allowed to keep the amount down. BSO - Rick Frey explained that BSO exceeds the contract requirements for car and bicycle patrolling in the six zones in the City. He agreed to provide weekly duty rosters for review by the City Commission. ln an effort to increase visibility, a Citizen Observer Patrol Program is being implemented involving two citizens driving neighborhoods in patrol cars. The City Commission generally agreed to train and participate in the Citizen Observer Patrol Program City Manager Smith mentioned that discussions are expected soon with BSO to determine a bottom line figure for the budget. Chief Frey presented a breakdown of the 34,000 police calls handled this past year in relation to the discussions on conducting a Public Safety Study to determine the costs for regional impact on Dania. Streetlights - Discussion followed on using the City's Law Enforcement Trust Fund to improve street lighting by defining the project as a "Crime Prevention lnitiative." Chief Frey agreed to look into the suggestion for all sections of the City and to see if DOJ grant funds could also be used for streetlights. The current balance in the Dania Law Enforcement Trust Fund is approximately $1 1 7,000. Vice Mayor Cali recommended initiating of PAL (Police Athletic League) to supplement the recreation programs with a minimum of $120,000 allocation from the paid telephone trust fund Vice Mayor Cali suggested to use a Deputy or a Community Service Aide for traffic accident investigations that would be paid out of the County Law Enforcement Trust Fund and to see if the Public Safety Study can possibly be funded from the County LEF fund. Chief Frey stated that a data program would have to be created to provide a breakdown on the types of traffic calls handled in the City. Mayor Mikes presented information on the taxable value of various classifications of properties in Dania that was dated 3126197. He mentioned the possibility of shifting some of the Fire Rescue Assessments into industrial usage to save cost to residents. BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, 19972 City Manager Smith advised that the new rate from the appraiser office shows a 2% grovvth forDania. City Clerk Jabalee advised that the original figure was $853,000,000.00 and the new rate is $869,000,000.00. As a revenue source, commissioner Bertino suggested to have city Manager Smith look into conducting an interim population census. - Acting Fire Chief, Ken Land, mentioned that a revised rendering of the on is expected before noon and that green space has replaced the driveway ite plan. A possible revenue source could be to implement non-emergency Fire Department proposed fire stati on the proposed s transport services with the use of EMT's and existing vehicles. Acting Chief Land stressed the need to research the legal issues and operating information from Pembroke pines who has started the service. Fire Rescue Assessment fees - Actin g Chief Land stated that the Fire Rescue Assessment fees were based on recommendations by Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A. who has expertise setting fees with other municipalities. Discussion followed on the difference in fees between lndustrial and Commercial categories and whether changes could be made to the amounts with the time frame for the public hearing and notices to be sent out. Commissioner Hyde recommended combining commercial and industrial and advertising the fees as commercial. City Clerk Jabalee agreed to check with Mark Lawson, Esq. on the legal requirements for changing the rate. Commissioner Hyde suggested to utilize the statistical data collected in the pen base system by the Fire Department to determine service impacts on the City. Fire lnspections- Actin g Chief Land advised that there is no set schedule with Code Enforcement for fire inspections. Vice Mayor Cali suggested to develop a schedule and list of priorities for a Code Team to include representation from the Fire Department, BSO, the Building Official, Occupational Licenses and Code Enforcement to address specific property issues on a regular basis. Battalion Chief Mulford advised that revenues from transporting and inspecting services has increased this year and that the two new positions requested in the budget are better than using overtime for the minimum manning requirements. Vice Mayor Cali recommended to implement a general obligation bond issue for 16 to 20 million dollars to cover the costs for renovating the existing fire station, building a new fire station, public safety, neighborhood master plan improvements, and parks & recreation needs. City Manager Smith reminded the Commission that $57,000 has been budgeted to renovate Fire Station #1 and that a bond issue will hold up the needed improvements at the station. New positions: City Manager Smith recommended to hire an Assistant to the City Manager, an Accounting Clerk position which would be equivalent to an Administrative Assistant to the City ClerUFinance Director, two Paramedic/Firefighters, a parttime Clerk in Growth Management Department for records management, and a part{ime computer technician. Mr. Smith advised that a maintenance position is being eliminated in the Parks & Recreation Department due to an employee retiring and the duties being turned over to the Public Works Department. Data Processinq: Commissioner Hyde reported that the City is using NT for its network. He recommended to budget for the MUNIS upgrade requested by the Finance Department, but to hold off on the purchase until the production version is ready. ln regards to the part{ime computer technician position, Commissioner Hyde did not believe that network experience 3BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, 1997 would be necessary and that a person with basic computer skills would be able to handle thejob. Further comments were expressed on the City,s telephone voice mail system. Capital Purchases - City Manager Smith recommended making vehicles a priority of theCapital Program based on the bad condition of the current fleet. Mr. Smith recommended topurchase new vehicles, take good care of them, and replace them soon after two or three yearsat book value to reduce maintenance costs. Discussion followed on purchasing a used loader for the Public works Department and a 1 50 pickup instead of a 4x4 as requested by the Growth Management Department. Vice Mayor cali recommended applying for the grant program where municipalities can use electric Ford Rangers at a reduced cost. City Manager Smith recommended purchasing a mini van for City Hall use to carry items and to transport more passengers when needed. Commissioner Bertino questioned the need for a mechanic at the garage when extended warranties are provided on vehicles and fire department vehicles are serviced outside. Mayor Mikes stressed the need to have a mechanic with expertise who is familiar with vehicles and heavy equipment for safety reasons and to handle general maintenance problems for the City fleet. Commissioner Bertino questioned Growth Management's request to budget $700 for the purchase a typewriter when $300 should be sufficient. The City Commission generally agreed to purchase the following vehicles: Vehicles: Growth Manaqement Dept. :4 pickup trucks and one mini van Construction & Maintenance: -1 pickup truck 1 step van Public Works:1 Front End Loader - $70,000 on Cat program 1 Skid Loader 1 Dump Truck Cemetery -1 pickup truck Discussion followed on Meli Park, chickee huts at the beach, and shelter, lighting and benches for a shuffle board court at Frost Park. City Manager Smith advised that a picnic pavilion is being constructed over the shuffle board surface. The City Commission generally agreed to have staff obtain insurance information to provide a skateboarding facility at the parks and to have the City Manager determine the need for a PC at the Civic Center and computer desk for recreation administration. Water Departmelt - Commissioner Bertino suggested to look into changing the method for reading water meters. Bud Palm, Utilities Director/Public Works Director, advised that some of the meter boxes are flooded and that it would not be safe or cost effective to install electronic meters. He mentioned that the City has a program where meters are replaced on an annual basis. 4BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, 1997 Bud Palm, Utilities Director/Public Works, stressed the need to retain a mechanic at the Garageto handle the small equipment work, special equipment needs, and work that is not coveredunder the vehicle warranties. The City Commission agreed to wait for the RFp to be advertisedfor fleet maintenance. Liens - Vice Mayor cali urged better monitoring of the code liens by implementing anaggressive collection procedure to foreclose on non-residential proferties before i-he fines getout of hand. A legal opinion is needed in regards to dealing with the Code Enforcement Boardliens. Vice Mayor Cali mentioned the need to be serious about the liens in an effort to improvebeautification in the city and to report liens on an individual's credit history to encourage compliance on residential properties. City Manager Smith agreed to research the lienlssue with other cities, work with Earl Gallop, Esq. on a collection policy for liens, and implement a receivables tracking program with MUNIS. The City Commission directed City Manager Smith to initiate a tracking program to ensure a better method for completing their requests on a timely basis. The commission directed staff to reduce capital Projects by $190,000 by financing the vehicles, negotiate with BSO on a final flgure and submit a millage rate between 6.2o/o and 6.3%. Further discussion followed on the Commissioners being given additional computer access into city files from their residences. This meeting was adjourned CITY CLER -AUDITOR AYOR-M IONER 5BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING JULY 23, I997