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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-24 Budget Workshop City Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF BUDGET WORKSHOP DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2005 - 3:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order Mayor Castro called the workshop to order at 3:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Mayor: Anne Castro Vice-Mayor: Patricia Flury Commissioners: Bob Anton. John Bertino C.K. McElyea City Manager: Ivan Pato City Attorney: Thomas Ansbro City Clerk: Louise Stilson City Manager Pato noted the list distributed to the Commission is a compilation of items discussed privately with each Commissioner and is a menu of choices to consider. Many of the items are not proposed by staff, but were proposed by the Commissioners. Mayor Castro asked the Commission if they had any items to add to the list. Commissioner Anton clarified based on the original budget, some of the new positions were based on a new Retirement System and there could be a $60,000 increase in pension benefits. Commissioner.Bertino questioned the revenue for building fees. Laurence Leeds, Director of Community Development, responded our fees are based on what we think will happen next year; the problem is if some of the projects do not happen as scheduled it can throw our estimate off. He feels comfortable with the building fees estimated. 3. Citizen Comments Honey Malloy, 38 SW 51h Street, questioned how the Commission could consider eliminating the Lifeguards and postponing Police services. She indicated we could save money by eliminating fringe benefits for, employees and Commissioners. She remarked the City takes in a lot of money from parking fees and parking violations. George Jason stated Kurt Ely is out of town and asked him to speak on behalf of the I.T. Parker Advisory Board. He asked that the renovations to the I.T. Parker Center not be cut from the Budget. Joe Van Eron, 1500 SW 2nd Avenue, remarked he does not know if we should cut out the CRA Director or cut back on the BSO District. He did not see a dedicated fund for neighborhood redevelopment in the Budget and asked the Commission to consider adding it to the Budget. He indicated he does not see any possible cuts to the Budget and implored the $100,000 Economic Development money not be cut. Kathy Sajdak, representing the Estates of Ft. Lauderdale and Ravenswood Estates, asked the Commission to fulfill their annexation promises that were made in 2001; including and specifically, increasing the number of Deputies in the Broward Sheriff's Office. 4. Commission Discussion ➢ Savings from contracting out Lifeguard Services ($190,385) Commissioner Bertino:is against contracting out the service. Vice-Mayor Flury is concerned about the City's liability because the beach is inadequately staffed. She is in favor of contracting out the service. • Commissioner Anton complimented the Lifeguards and Beach staff, however a decision was made to cap our taxes and something needs to be cut from the Budget. He has concerns but is in favor of contracting out the services. Mayor Castro commented this was a hard decision to make, but favored contracting out the service. Commissioner McElyea commented the Ellis Group are professionals in their field and he is inclined to move in that direction. ➢ Traffic Study ($175,000) Vice-Mayor Flury does not have a problem, provided the Contingency does not change. Commissioner McElyea does not see this as a necessary item at this time. He thinks Dania Jai Alai should help pay for the study. Commissioner Anton agreed with Commissioner McElyea. Commissioner Bertino had no objections. • Mayor Castro had no objections. Minutes of Budget Workshop 2 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday, August 24, 2005—3:00 p.m. • ➢ CRA Director ($52,000) The Commission consensus was to remove this from the Budget. ➢ Impact Fees for 803 Debt Service ($33,639) Finance Director Varney explained the levy of the Impact Fees can only be used for expansion of services, and has to be capital. Legally we can use the Impact Fee to pay for the Debt Service. The Commission consensus was to remove this from the Budget. ➢ Police Additional Zone Effective 111106 ($131,816) Vice-Mayor Flury agreed it was time to add the zone, but it will take the Chief months to hire five people. She asked Chief Cowart if he could have all five people by January 1st. BSO Chief Bryan Cowart responded he could hire all personnel for January 1, 2006, based on the directive of the Commission. Vice-Mayor Flury thinks this is a reasonable date and we should take advantage of the savings. Commissioner Anton disagreed and asked if it was possible to have five Deputies on October Is'. • Chief Cowart responded yes, if it was the directive of the Commission. The Commission consensus was to keep the date as October 1, 2005. ➢ Reduce Fire Reserve for medical subsidy ($61,514) Either or ➢ Reduce 100% of FY 2006 Fire Reserve ($159,259) Not both Commissioner Anton asked what the impact would be on nursing homes and if we had discussed it with them. City Manager Pato responded we have not discussed it with them because it would have been premature. But the Commission has already taken steps over the past couple of years to reduce the dependency on the subsidy. This could be the last segment in the progression. Finance Director Varney advised we cannot increase the rate this year because we have already certified the rate for Fire Assessment. We are talking about the Fire Reserve money of 1991- 1995. The Commission consensus was to eliminate the $61,514. ➢ Eliminate Engineer position (net impact$32,700) ➢ City Planner effective 111106 ($18,622) Minutes of Budget Workshop 3 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005 3:00 p.m. . Commissioner Anton remarked we cannot afford to cut Community Development, they are understaffed and if we are serious about redevelopment we cannot cut positions. Commissioner Bertino agreed with Commissioner Anton. He also thinks the City Planner position should be left alone. Vice-Mayor Flury has no problem with keeping the Engineer position if we eliminate some of the money budgeted for Project Management. City Manager Pato commented he is comfortable with taking money out of Project Management, provided the Commission protects a sound Contingency Fund. The Commission consensus was to keep the Engineer and City Planner positions, and to take $75,000 out of Project Management. ➢ Other Legal (Labor Attorney) ($40,000) City Manager Pato explained we would need at least $50,000 because we have labor issues on a daily basis. The $40,000 would reduce the fund to $60,000. He indicated he is comfortable with this because Contingency would be available if additional funds were required. The Commission consensus was to cut $40,000 from Other Legal. • ➢ Phone System ($56,990) The Commission consensus was that this item could be cut from the Budget. ➢ Commissioners Benefits ($41,909) There was no discussion on this item. City Manager Pato suggested recapping what we had covered. Finance Director Varney responded we were at $684, 528, and still needed to cut $15,136. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked the projected revenue from I.T. Parker is almost disgraceful. We have never gone that low and she questioned why we were projecting that we would not rent the facility. Commissioner Anton commented we need to look at the Executive Salary ranges and adjustments need to be made in some of the positions. He noted we need to be somewhere in the mid-range if we want to continue to attract good people. He was surprised to find out it would cost $40,000-$45,000, including benefits, to bring the salaries into range. • Minutes of Budget Workshop 4 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. . City Manager Pato confirmed we needed $40,000-$45,000 to bring everyone up to date. He noted we just received a comparable update from our Consultants, which is different from the internal figures we were working with. We need to make some adjustments in our present plan in order to be competitive. We currently have positions that are way under the mid-level of the market from the old study. He noted he is comfortable working with the original figure and would be able to make adjustments in order to retain the good people we have or if we needed to recruit. Vice-Mayor Flury thinks it is inappropriate to bring this up at the last second. She thinks we should be above the mid point, however, salaries to date are under budget. She does not know why the City Manager has not made adjustments if the money was available; he does not need the Commission's approval. Commissioner Anton commented this was brought up at the last Budget Workshop, and there was consensus that we would do this. He thinks it is something that warrants looking at. City Manager Pato commented he has limitations as to the range he can play with. We have one position that is under the market by $10,000 in just salary. Mary.McDonald, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, commented there is one position that is $21,000 below mid-range and we have somebody who is below the minimum. City Manager Pato remarked if we don't have direction today, how does he know whether to go • forward or not. Commissioner Bertino commented we have a full compliment of people. The Pay for Performance Plan should reward people for hard work. He noted he does not like hiring from outside. He would assume to leave this alone for right now, but requested documentation. City Manager Pato disagreed. He noted we did the right thing for the General Employees when we moved to Pay for Performance, and the Commission spent a great deal of money in adjusting the salaries. He wants to do the same thing for the Executive Staff and every position that reports to the City Commission. Mayor Castro commented she is not worried about attracting people, but we need to retain staff. She thinks we need to pay people what they are worth, and if we are underpaying people by 15%-20% it is abominable, and we should be ashamed of ourselves. She would like to see the $40,000 available to correct those situations. She noted the Commissioners are part-time and are paid and receive full benefits. We are talking about hiring people who we haven't been able to hire until now because we would not even offer them benefits for full-time work. That's another $60,000 we haven't talked about that we need to add back into the Budget. She thinks you pay people what they are worth and if we have been doing it wrong it is not an excuse to continue doing it wrong. Vice-Mayor Flury asked why the Executive people were excluded from the Pay for Performance • Plan. Minutes of Budget Workshop 5 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday, August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. • Ms. McDonald explained there are two components and what the City Manager was referring to was the market adjustment, which was separate from the Pay for Performance. The Pay for Performance was a move from an entitlement mentality to a performance based mentality, and all future'increases are based on performance. The other piece of that project included a market adjustment. City Manager Pato commented he made some adjustments based on the Budget's ability to afford it. We are under budget in salaries because of the positions we could not fill because of the benefit issue. He does not feet comfortable making further adjustments without the support of the Commission, one of which includes the position of the City Manager. He is not going to give himself an adjustment without Commission approval. Mayor Castro requested the City Manager to provide a list by person and the proposed increases. City Manager Pato responded this was requested before and has been distributed. Mayor Castro and Vice-Mayor Flury indicated they never saw the list. Commissioner Anton suggested the Human Resources Director and Finance Director get together and make recommendations, including the City Manager position. He was just looking for consensus. The Commission consensus was to move forward. Mayor Castro brought up the City Attorney's evaluation. She requested her evaluation be withdrawn because she has only worked with him for three months. City Attorney Ansbro distributed his evaluation ratings to the Commissioners. Commissioner Bertino suggested placing it on the next City Commission agenda for the salary adjustment. Vice-Mayor Flury asked that we increase the rates at I.T. Parker. Finance Director Varney responded as of today, revenue is $39,971. Commissioner Bertino remarked it is a business and should be run as such. Commissioner Anton remarked the City Manager needs to address this. (Vice-Mayor Flury requested a verbatim transcript of the Chamber of Commerce discussion.) Mayor Castro would like to see $10,000 in the Budget for the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Bertino remarked definitely. Minutes of Budget Workshop Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. Commissioner Anton commented put in a request for something from Bus Benches. Jessica Spiers-Feig, Past President of the Chamber, remarked I stepped in to help the Chamber in October 2003, and prior to my arrival the City gave a portion of the Bus Bench funding to the Chamber to use for Economic Development, and really prior to my arrival they did not use any of the funding. I outlined briefly and have sent in a request for the Budget for $10,000. What was distributed to the Chamber was $3,337.86 and they have used those funds to attend the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, which was held at the Diplomat Hotel, but the program was put together by Don Dolton, the president of the Hollywood Chamber. It was a full training of how do you get more involved with membership, how do you get more businesses into the Chamber of Commerce, how can you help your members benefit from being a member. That was $525; then there was the Trade Show which is the Greater Fort Lauderdale Lodging Hospitality Expo, which was in July 2004. We have also participated and are still advertising at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport and that is $400 per quarter. And you know all the people that travel through the airport, Dania Beach really is the first City you're hitting as you go south. And you know for our members it's great exposure; it says hey, when you leave here you can eat in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, and it helps benefit the members, of course. And that is why everybody becomes a member of a Chamber of Commerce, of course, increase their t revenues, get more exposure, build their businesses. We also worked with a gentleman who created the window, and what else did we do here; and that is where we are. We actually spent more than the Bus Bench funding which was $3,975, so it is more than worth it and if you look around at the cities that surround us, Hollywood gets over $200,000 from their city; I do not know the exact dollar figure, as of today, but I did research that information last year of the five cities that surround us: Plantation, Hollywood, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale and I forget the other one, off the top of my head. But, $3,000 really is not very supportive and the opportunity to help the Chamber of Commerce grow in every avenue, I mean you can't really put a dollar figure on it, but again, that is pretty much where we are. I mean, we are looking to help of course, the City out with other things as far as the City of Dania Beach we do a map; you guys currently don't have a map of the City of Dania Beach. The Chamber of Commerce produces it, the members support it, you're getting exposure here in town, as well as participation. We would like to help participate, donate some funds to the Super Power Boat Races, we don't mind doing that, it is great exposure for us, we can get our members involved and help the City of Dania Beach. What else here? I mean different magazines, the Broward Alliance, Van Tours, we can host some of those, bring you know some travel agents into the area; sell Dania Beach, bring people, not just the residents, but also the business community and that's really where we are. Commissioner Anton remarked I have a couple of issues there and don't take these personal. Broward Alliance, I will not vote for any money coming out of this City's coffers to go anywhere near the.Broward Alliance. If that is what you are all looking to spend your money on, then I am not voting for that because those people have clearly voted against Dania Beach on every airport related issue and have been staunch defenders of and advocates of increasing the size of the airport, and have basically blown us off, and if we are involved, and our Chamber is involved with them, then I'll be frank with you, I'm going to resign from the Chamber because I did not realize.that that was happening. • Minutes of Budget Workshop 7 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday, August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. Ms. Spiers-Feig responded but we haven't done anything with the Broward Alliance. Commissioner Anton remarked let me finish, please Jessica. Thank you. But that is how strong I feel about the Broward Alliance. The other thing and I don't have an issue with you getting the Bus Bench money, and I don't have an issue with you or the Chamber, other than what we are mentioning here. Where I do have some problems, we tried to come up with some money to offset the $50,000 that we were committed to the Super Boat Races. The Chamber is made up of all the business people throughout our community; they never stepped forward and came up with any money; I never,saw anything in the way when the last time we talked to the City Manager, we didn't have anything in the way of donations. I know Bass Pro is a member of the Chamber, a very large corporation. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked sure we've got several large corporations. Commissioner Anton remarked 10,000 people a day are going in and out of that store. I could probably finance most of their stuff from what I've done in there. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked that is mainly what I'm trying to get across here. Commissioner Anton remarked you've got a number of.these different people that are involved in that and until I start seeing some of these businesses starting to get involved and work with us, I'm not inclined to be throwing a lot in their favor. Again, please don't, you know how I feel about the Chamber; I've worked with you in the past, this is not a personal attack on you. • Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked I'm not taking it that way. Commissioner Anton remarked I want you to understand that. But these are just some issues I have. The one with the Broward Alliance is not even negotiable; there is nothing we could even discuss there. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked there are several different areas. This is just a brief, I mean this is nothing. Commissioner Anton remarked some of these other areas we need to do a little better job in the Chamber of getting involved and supporting some of these things through our business people. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked I agree, I agree a hundred percent. I mean, what we're trying to do is try to say we'd like to participate more, but we do need extra funding from it's City where the businesses are based at. Commissioner Anton remarked in addition to that, you know we gave you $3,000 last year, but also we provide Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked in 03. • Commissioner Anton continued we provide the office that you use. Minutes of Budget Workshop $ Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. • Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked if I am not mistaken, I believe that house was donated to the Chamber of Commerce for the use of the Chamber. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked that is not true; you are mistaken, there was no Chamber. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked okay, is there someone that can make that clear for me. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked there was.'no Chamber of Commerce when that house was moved. It was a defunct Chamber of Commerce that had gone belly up due to, what do you call that when people steal money. , Mayor Castro remarked malfeasance, financial malfeasance. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked yeah and the Chamber was closed. It was a year and a half or two years after that I came before this Commission personally and asked permission to use the house and they were kind enough to grant us permission to utilize two rooms in the house. Mayor Castro remarked Commissioner Bertino. Commissioner Bertino remarked yea, you know on that point and then I have some things I want to say, but on that point, way back and'Mac knows much better than I do about this. But way back when that building was built for the Chamber, you were one of them that did it, now that belongs to the Fire Department, that building was built, say that in the mike for a second. Commissioner McElyea remarked I said built out of our pockets, Johnny Susser, Rodney McCombs and Frank Ebie and numerous citizens of the City, that was built out of our pockets personally back in 1963. I think Johnny run for City Commissioner at the time, and then they, but this has gone on and on. That building even behind there was built out of our pockets for the Boy Scouts was taken by the Fire Department; a little wood framed building back there, then they took the Chamber building that was built by the members of the Chamber exclusively out of our pockets. Commissioner Bertino remarked and that was for the Chamber. Commissioner McElyea remarked for the Chamber. Then they come in here Rose Lizana remarked can I interject something cause I've been here for a long, long time and Pat before you got,involved cause I remember you were my neighbor and I was the one that said you need to get involved in our City and I think I got you kind of involved in the.Chamber. I mean, those of us that have been here for many, many years remember that the City did take the Chamber building because it was on City property after the old Chamber went defunct. But this house, the Nyberg House, the people who originally owned it, and Mac and the people involved, yes it was donated to the City, but it was always, always said`for the sole purpose of giving the Chamber of Commerce a place and I think people have forgotten that, that the people who originally donated it wanted it to be for the Chamber of Commerce. Minutes of Budget Workshop 9 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005'—3:00 p.m. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked why did I have to come in front of this Commission six years ago and at your request, you and Mimi asked me to come because I was new person on the block and beg for permission to use two rooms. I'm the one who did that, remember? Ms. Lizana remarked well we had to formally come up and say that we definitely wanted to be in the Chamber and we had a kiosk here at City Hall, so I mean they knew that we needed a place. Commissioner Bertino remarked well at that time, as I remember Ms. Lizana remarked the Adlers and who the Nybergs and the Swansons and Mac, I mean it was all Commissioner McElyea remarked C.F. Field Ms. Lizana remarked it was always said that it would be a place for the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioner Bertino remarked and as I say what happened is that the Chamber of Commerce building that was owned by the Chamber of Commerce on City land, that building was moved back near the Fire Department. It was moved back, Concurrent conversations by Commissioner Bertino and Ms. Lizana: Ms. Lizana: for the specific purpose of giving room for the Nyberg House. Commissioner Bertino: we jacked it up and towed it back and we put down a thing. Then the Nyberg Swanson was put there. That was everybody agreed for the Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Lizana remarked it wouldn't have moved the old Chamber building back there if they weren't going to put the Nyberg House there. Commissioner Bertino remarked it was for the Chamber of Commerce, and that was what it's intent was, that was the City's total intent and we said to the Chamber at the time, don't worry about giving up your old building to the Fire Department you have, you will have the Nyberg Swanson House. Ms. Lizana remarked cause we'll have the new place as soon as it's refurbished and we appreciate it. We really have appreciated being in there, it's perfect because people stop there for tourism. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked nobody is talking about kicking you out; that's not an issue. We are on the $10,000. Ms. Lizana remarked we formally asked for $7,750 on top of the $3,000 that we had gotten several years ago. Commissioner Bertino remarked Mayor I have the floor, I think. Mayor Castro responded you do. Minutes of Budget Workshop 10 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. Commissioner Bertino remarked thank you. You know, you know what I see here is the fact that the Chamber is, I think, grossly underfunded by the City, and I think the City has a good point in that they want to know what they are spending their money for. They don't want to spend their money on something that they don't think is benefiting the City. For everything we do we always have, you know our Human Resource Department is running all over and checking what everybody else gets and what everybody else makes and they are running all over the world checking figures. What I think we need to do is to find out what our adjoining cities, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Ms. Lizana remarked we did that. Commissioner Bertino remarked give to their Chambers, take and rectify that according to population, we're only 30,000, they are 150,000. Then also find out what that Chamber provides for those cities, and what they do and then come to some type of agreement on hey we're going to fund the Chamber for x amount of dollars that is what the surrounding Chambers are getting funded for and we can quantify for these things and this is what the surrounding Chambers are doing because for a City, a strong Chamber of Commerce is good for a city. There is no two ways about that because it gives you a strong business community and that is a strong city. But again, I think you know it just keeps bouncing back and forth like a ping pong game and I think we have to quantify this and say hey this is what we feel we ought to give based upon what other cites are giving to their Chambers because that's the way we figure a lot of things out up here and what other people do, and you should do this because this is what their Chambers do; you should do the like things for our City and then we are all on the same page. Ms. Lizana remarked can I, I'd like to address Commissioner Anton's concerns too. The reason we had talked about.the Broward Alliance Bob, is because that's the place that brings in people from;out of the area to look at Broward County and they are part of the movers and shakers so you naturally think about we should be involved with them. But I understand how you feel, same,way with Fort Lauderdale Chamber, I get so frustrated because they are all so gung ho for the airport. Commissioner Anton remarked absolutely, and it was way out of line. Ms. Lizana remarked well Broward Alliance too. Those are mostly Fort Lauderdale people. Commissioner Anton remarked and the City is no longer a member of Broward Alliance and I don't think it's something that we need to be supporting. Ms. Lizana remarked well we don't need to be involved with them, we had mentioned that because we felt that they were the people to bring in outside people and we want them to look at our City too when they are considering, I mean just like we got World Water Sports, that was because our Chamber Director went to Broward Alliance and kept going to everything and then as this man was coming in looking for a place, you know we were there saying hey we got a greati little town, come look at us. Commissioner Anton remarked that had a lot to do with Outdoor World being next door to it too. Minutes of Budget Workshop 11 Dania!Beach City Commission Wednesday, August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. • Mayor Castro remarked Vice-Mayor Flury. Vice=oing Flury remarked the $10,000 that you are asking for, first of all, I, you know John's idea an assessment of all the other Chambers it sounds like a good idea, but this City is a little different than Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. I belonged to the Hollywood Chamber for many years; I belonged to the Weston Chamber; I belonged to a dozen Chambers and was required to do so as a part of,my employment. And the one thing I can tell you about the Hollywood Chamber, as well as the Fort Lauderdale Chamber, is that there was a two way street there: In other words, the Chambers just like this Chamber, they did a good job, they worked hard for the businesses but the business community reciprocated. And there was a collaborative thing there, they worked together for the benefit of whatever the issue/project/whatever was. And we don't have that here yet, and maybe it's because this is still a young Chamber, it's still a growing Chamber, hopefully, it is a growing Chamber. But we haven't reached the point where the Chamber and the business community have melded together in a working, moving in the sameidirection. We, now you may have some good relationships with some of the businesses but we have never been able to get any cooperation from any of the businesses and it's just not quite there yet and maybe we don't have enough businesses yet in this community. That day will come. Ms: Lizana remarked I think we have to remember though too, we are a small town and we do have a handful of large corporations, but the majority of our members are the Mom & Pop little operations. • Vice-Mayor Flury remarked exactly Rose we are saying the same thing. I agree with you 100%. So we're not a Hollywood Chamber and we shouldn't try to act like a Hollywood Chamber. Now, of the $10,000, and remember Jessica, I know, you say this City doesn't support the Chamber very well but keep in mind that you know the house is worth a good $15,000-$20,000 in rentals; the membership book, the City gives you $5,000 every year for that book. Now an additional $3,000 last year for Economic Development, or whatever that was for. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked it was 03. Ms. Lizana remarked 2003 Pat. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked so my question, well you remember that we did give you the $5,000 and that was maybe two years ago. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked but Pat, again you know you, as Vice-Mayor Flury remarked let me finish my sentence. We gave you the money with the understanding that you know you'd come back with a report, and you never came back with a report. I mean this is the first time you appeared here in those two years. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked that is incorrect though because I did give Ivan a printout of where Economic Development money is going Minutes of Budget Workshop 12 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. • Vice-Mayor Flury remarked okay, I stand corrected. So the $5,000; of the $10,000, is $5,000 for the membership directory as we do every year? Ms. Spiers-Feig responded un-un. Ms. Lizana responded no. This is Vice-Mayor Flury remarked have we done that last year. City Manager Pato remarked we do it, yes. We have that in the Budget this year. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked we do give the $5,000. City Manager Pato responded yeah, in addition Vice-Mayor Flury asked is that budgeted. City Manager Pato responded yes, in my Promotional Fund. Ms. Lizana remarked.the money we asked for is above that Pat. We were asking for money to host Van Tours and to advertise in Nautical and Economic magazines and for our Airport advertising and our different special events and you know for the map that we put together. • Vice-Mayor Flury remarked see I would go along with the $5,000 again this year, I mean those are expenses that we should share, and new membership should generate Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked if I can interrupt you, I mean the $5,000 is great, but again, you know you guys don't have a book. That book goes, is distributed everywhere, not just to the Chamber members, I mean that's everywhere, that's in the hotels, that's everywhere. And I mean that's exposure for the City; that's something that Ms. Lizana remarked that is mailed out, out of town, when people call asking about our City. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked people call for information, I mean the Chamber of Commerce I know you say oh well we occupy the house, but I tell you what, there is not an Information Center here in this City, and where do they go? First thing they do is either they come here and they are directed straight to go to the Chamber. And whether it's a directory, a map, I mean there's nothing else that the City has in that aspect. Ms. Lizana remarked we're-your PR; we're the Public Relations. Mayor Castro jumped in because she brought them up and didn't plan this. I'm kind of the new kid on the block and I'm looking for the new day in Dania; that's kind of my theme. I agree the Chamber hasn't always been very giving to the City, but I'm not sure the City has always been very giving to the Chamber; there seems to have been a lot of hostility going back over the years. Minutes of Budget Workshop 13 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. ® I'm trying to get over and out of that; we have some serious redevelopment going on here, which is going to include new businesses cause everything we are approving is mixed use with businesses on the bottom floors. We are going to have to attract businesses; we are going to start generating business; we are going to try creating business. Now, if I give you a few conditions and then I can get the Commission to vote with us: 1) no Broward Alliance. Ms. Spiers-Feig responded that is fine. Mayor Castro remarked 2) if the City Manager will,indulge me a little bit and look at his Economic Development Fund and maybe carve out the $10,000 with the understanding that he works with you on whatever on whatever promotion monies you are going to spend out of that $10,000. Do you have an issue with that? Ms. Spiers-Feig responded not at all. Actually, there is opportunity for joint venture in that as well. Mayor Castro remarked okay, is that acceptable to everybody so that gives your control to the City Ms. Spiers-Feig asked that's the $10,000 on top of the $5,000? Commissioner Bertino responded yes. Mayor Castro responded yes. That would give control to the City through the City Manager who is going to be doing promotional stuff with the Economic Development money anyway. So we might as well do it in conjunction with the Chamber. Now I'm sure it's no secret in town that we are working on hopefully, a Business Development Council which would also reach outside of Dania Beach, hence you don't hopefully need the alliance to do that which the big hitters will come in and play and they will pay to play, I think. So they will fund themselves, can I get some consensus on that thought? Commissioner Bertino remarked I agree wholeheartedly. Commissioner Anton remarked as long as it comes back to the City Commission for approval, you know that it comes back through the City, it is not just you know that that $10,000. I mean you asked for $7,750 Ms. Lizana remarked on top of the $3,000 that they gave us before. Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked and the $5,000 that is. Mayor Castro remarked they are still relying on Bench money. Commissioner Bertino remarked as long as out of that $10,000 it comes in front of Commissioner Anton remarked we keep piling on. Minutes of Budget Workshop 14 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. . Vice-Mayor Flury remarked you're up to $15,000. Mayor Castro remarked correct, $5,000 for the book. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked I'm not in favor of$15,000. City Manager Pato remarked I'm unclear with what was just what, we were talking about and now a little nervous. We just went from $10,000 to $15,000 in my head. Mayor Castro asked do you have $5,000 in the Budget for the book? City Manager Pato responded please let me explain where I am coming from. We have $5,000 for the book; we have also in this present year, twice purchased additional Centennial Books to aid the Chamber, we used it well but we have a lot of them left. We have a brochure now, we've had it for a couple of years, in fact we just met with the marketing people to update the Dania Beach, It's All Here brochure, and I'm just probably, I don't have the final numbers but it will probably be another $15,000 of City money reprinting that book and updating it to our, it's an evolving thing which will now be Historic, yet undiscovered. I would feel comfortable working with the Chamber on a case by case basis on a marketing program that helps us move the City forward, jointly. I'm a little uncomfortable because I have a marketing background; the way marketing programs work well is when they're compatible with each other and not, in other words, you're not zigging when I'm zagging. So, if I could retain some control. Mayor Castro remarked that's what we just said. Commissioner Bertino remarked yeah, Bob and I said the Commission City Manager Pato remarked that's where my confusion is. What needs to come to the Commission because I'm not clear when should I bring it to you or when they should come to me. Commissioner Anton remarked any issue needs to come to the Commission that you and the Chamber don't agree with. If the Chamber comes to you and they are going to play a role and they should play a role in any marketing strategy we put out. I do agree with that aspect of it, but I don't want to just throw good money after bad and I don't want to throw a lot of money at this until I start seeing some of the business people, what the Chamber's made up of, it's not made up of taxpaying residents, it's made up of taxpaying businesses, and I haven't forgot businesses pay taxes too, but they also earn quite a living here in this City as well. If they are not kicking into the kitty, and not getting involved in helping sponsor some of these things, cause we are not a rich City, then I, to be honest with you, have a problem. I was terribly upset with the way the Chamber came through on that Boat Race thing, and the fact that we got nothing out of that period, out of the Chamber. Commissioner McElyea remarked I'm a member of the Chamber and I put in $5,000 of my • dollars. Minutes of Budget Workshop 15 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. Mayor Castro remarked yes you did. Commissioner Anton remarked that came from you Mac, and that's because you wanted to support that; you were there; you were at the races before and you would have done that. But you were the only person in that Chamber that did that. Where was Johnny Morris and his people from Bass Pro? Where was Dennison and some of these other people? Commissioner McElyea remarked were they solicited? Commissioner Anton remarked they were according to what I was told. Am I not correct? Commissioner McElyea remarked I thought those marinas, we've got 37 marinas and AP Downs and all those Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked if I can, I'd like to have our businesses help the City and vice versa, you know all these upcoming events, I mean, sometimes they are not even advertised and some of the businesses don't even know, or it is last minute and right then and people put a budget in place for their whole year of marketing dollars or wherever their monies are going to be spent. Commissioner Anton remarked that all boils down to a communication problem between the Chamber and the City. ® Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked which we want to work on. Commissioner Anton remarked and that's where having you go work with the City Manager or with the Assistant to the City Manager or whoever is involved with this. Ms. Spiers Fieg remarked perfect. Ms. Lizana remarked the same way with my newspaper; I couldn't get a straight answer either on the Super Boat Races; people said they weren't sure it was going to happen. So again, in my paper it was after the fact. Commissioner Anton remarked it was voted on in an open Commission meeting and the City committed $50,000. Ms. Lizana remarked but when I would ask about it everybody kept saying they weren't sure it was going to happen. I didn't get information from anybody. City Manager Pato remarked that's because they chose not to deal directly with us until the last minute. You know they had a little special clique working behind the scenes and they only came to us a few days, or a few weeks, to this Commission before it was a done deal. Now, to call it like it is, the pre-condition for us doing any business with the Super Boat Races in the future is going to be a nine month lead time. This Commission doesn't need to be surprised at the last • minute with somebody coming and asking for $50,000. Minutes of Budget Workshop 16 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. • Mayor Castro remarked and this year if they tell us they are doing the PR, we're doing it anyway because they didn't do it last time. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked look, I would be willing to support the request provided they work directly with the City Manager and it's his decision on a project by project basis, and I don't want to see it. Commissioner Bertino remarked I want to see it; I'm like Bob, I want it to come back to the Commission. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked I think that's a mistake because you're going to get into the same contest you have right now. Commissioner Anton remarked I don't want to see it either unless there is a problem. Commissioner Bertino remarked right, unless there is a problem. Vice-Mayor Flury remarked I don't want to see it even if there is a problem because if they can't work it out, I'm not a babysitter. Mayor Castro remarked work it out, and they will work it out. I think it will be fine. • Commissioner Anton remarked I don't have a problem. City Manager Pato remarked I don't have a problem working with them. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree and we move onto the next chapter. Ms. Lizana remarked we pretty much keep you in tuned of where we're going. City Manager Pato remarked I'm fine with that. Ms. Lizana remarked when we lost our Office Manager, I came to you. Commissioner Bertino remarked Anne suggested $10,000 over the $5,000 that has already been in there. Mayor Castro responded yes. Commissioner Bertino remarked a consensus here. Mayor Castro responded yes. L Ms. Spiers-Feig remarked awesome, thank you. • Ms. Lizana remarked thank you so much. Minutes of Budget Workshop 17 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m. Finance Director Varney asked for discussion of pension benefits for new positions. Commissioner Anton remarked if we don't go with FRS and stay with the City Pension, based on the new hires, we are looking at an increase of$60,000 to the budget. If the contract comes back and there is a Pension re-opener and we are able to negotiate with the Unions based on the re-openers, and we are able to get the Unions to agree to this, then the $60,000 is a moot point. But if that does not happen, we will have another $60,000 that may be coming out of the Contingency Fund. Mayor Castro commented that brings Contingency down to $810,000. She asked if everyone was comfortable with this. Finance Director Varney clarified it would be $820,000. The Commission consensus was to take the $60,000 out of Contingency. Fire Chief Ken Land and BSO Chief Bryan Cowart provided an update on Hurricane Katrina. Chief Cowart asked the Mayor to sign the Declaration of Emergency at the same time the County signs theirs. Chief Land remarked we may need to send people home tomorrow. • City Manager Pato advised the Department Heads there would be a Staff Meeting following this meeting. 5. Adiournment Mayor Castro adjourned the workshop at 5:15 p.m. CITY OF DANIA BEACH ATTEST: ANNE CASTRO MAYOR-COMMISSIONER 'LOUISE STILSON CITY CLERK Approved: September 13, 2005 • Minutes of Budget Workshop 18 Dania Beach City Commission Wednesday,August 24,2005—3:00 p.m.