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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-27 Workshop Meeting City Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MARCH 27, 2003 4:00 P.M. 1. Call to order Mayor Anton called the meeting order at 4:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor: Bob Anton Vice-Mayor: C.K. McElyea Commissioners: Robert Chunn Pat Flury Bob Mikes City Attorney: Tom Ansbro City Manager: Ivan Pato City Clerk: Charlene Johnson 3. Discussion of city manager contract. • Overview of accomplishments and Goals (City Manager) • Upcoming challenges • Commissioner's Comments/Performance Review of City Manager • Contract Renewal City Manager Pato briefly recapped a memorandum outlining the accomplishments that have been experienced and also pointing out some of the challenges that the City faces. He explained that during his employment for the past 15 months he was able to accomplish the following: • Assembled a strong professional staff • Instituted internal financial controls that were missing from the system • Successfully negotiated grants with the County and State in order to dredge the Dania Cut-off Canal and the finger canals • Established the first three-year capital improvement plan • Completed the City's first major redevelopment plan • Mounted an effective campaign opposing the airport's south runway extension • Instituted a monthly reporting system to keep the Commission well informed • Obtained grants for improvements to the Commission Chambers MINUTES 1 MARCH 27, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING • Created the first ever brochure designed to make people aware of the qualities and opportunities of the City and put Dania Beach on the map • Completed the construction of the gateway sign project on Federal Highway and New Griffin Road • Completed an employee classification program • Completed the reconstruction of the BSO substation and Community Center at 803 NW First Street and the acquisition of the adjacent parcels to the rear and to the side of the building • Facilitated the development of the Swim Central project at Meli Park • Brought in project management expertise in order to complete projects on schedule and under budget • Established the position of a grants specialist and special projects coordinator— Bonne Temchuk Goals - • Approval from the County regarding the CRA • Remain highly involved in the airport expansion issues • Improve the City's tax base by promoting home ownership and quality commercial development • Move forward with a plan to modernize the infrastructure and improve the public works and public utilities complex • Improve worker productivity through better supervision and effective performance evaluation of employees ® • Continue the pay-for-performance efforts to bring forth a plan that is fair to the employees and beneficial to the City • Continue to establish policies and procedures city-wide • Working closely with the Civil Service Board to update the Civil Service Rules • Improve customer service in all levels of the City in all departments • Promote home ownership development as opposed to rentals • Strengthen financial disciplines and maintain adequate contingency funds in future budgets • Continue to improve the City's image and perception • Improve public safety • Strengthen the drug-free workplace policy • Continue to give high priority to the parks • Improve street lighting and implement new lighting for the annexed areas • Work hard to make the centennial celebration a memorable one Challenges — • Negotiations with the Firefighters and General Employee groups • Negotiation of a new contract with B.S.O. for police services • Negotiation of a new Harbour Towne Marina lease • Pier Restaurant project • CRA MINUTES 2 MARCH 27, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING • Airport expansion • Improvement of Infrastructure • Changing the entitlement culture • Investigate more cost effective ways to deliver city services rather than burdening the taxpayer • Address the rising cost of health insurance and other benefits • Pursuing public and private partnerships to deliver government services City Manager Pato stated that the City needs to effectively manage the taxpayers' money and he personally believed that it could be done with strong disciplines in professional management at all levels. Commissioner Mikes agreed that the City needs to address some tough issues that have not been addressed. He felt that the City is not efficient in some issues and there has been no attempt at investigating whether abuse is happening in the areas of workers' comp, disability claims and frivolous medical charges. He stated that there is no room for abuse in order to deliver these services efficiently. He was of the opinion that the City should retain an outside professional consultant to investigate these issues. City Manager Pato advised that he failed to delete Section 10 on Page 4 of the contract proposal he distributed and wanted that section deleted. City Manager Pato agreed that the best way to address future city managers ® would be through revising the City Charter. The City's current Charter does not permit the ability to issue contracts for city managers that are competitive and attractive. He pointed out that the only change to his existing contract would only be for him and only for a two-year period and only until such time as the Charter is reviewed and changed. Commissioner Flury was of the opinion that the City has made some really good progress in the last 15 months, but was still concerned about the City's health plan, workers' comp, case management, computer capabilities, records management, fire/rescue costs. She mentioned that most of the problems were due to years and years of neglect. She commended City Manager Pato for assembling an outstanding management team. She stated that the problems in the financial area would take a little longer to clean up, but was pleased with the progress so far. She mentioned the significance of the public works infrastructure study that was completed and the financing mechanism attached to it. She commended City Manager Pato for bringing Bonnie Temchuk, Grants Coordinator, on board. She was pleased with the progress made in the area of parks and recreation. She was pleased with City Manager Pato's good relationship with the County, which has been very fruitful for the City. She felt that the City was making progress with their image due to the professionalism of the staff and due to the mannerism of the Commissioners. She felt it was very important for the City Manager to have the support of the Commission and his staff in order to fight hard on behalf of the City. ® MINUTES 3 MARCH 27, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING Vice-Mayor McElyea, agreed that City Manager Pato has corrected a lot issues, but there are still some things that need to be addressed. Mayor Anton stated that City Manager Pato is a man of great integrity, which is extremely important for the City. He was of the opinion that the City needs to move forward with a contract for the City Manager. He stated that the City Manager needs to be somewhat isolated from political pressure. He mentioned that, during his campaign, he received a large amount of very positive comments on the performance of City Manager Pato. CONTRACT— City Manager Pato stated that some changes were made to the first contract. He stated that he was not asking for any significant changes to his salary or benefits. The proposed contract included a clause that would require a 4/1 vote to terminate the city manager's employment "without cause". The proposed contract also included a six month severance package upon termination of the city manager"without cause". He advised that the average term of a city manager's contract is 32 months and the average severance package is closer to 9 months for terminating a city manager "without cause". Commissioner Chunn was of the opinion that the 4/1 vote "without cause" would strengthen the city manager's position but would not weaken the City's position. Commissioner Mikes was of the opinion that City Manager Pato had one foot in retirement and one foot in the position of city manager and was concerned that City Manager Pato might not be able to devote the amount of time necessary for a period of two years. City Manager Pato advised that he was averaging ten to twelve hours per day and made the commitment to devote the hours necessary to accomplish what needs to be done. Commissioner Mikes felt that it was very important for the City Manager to spend a lot of time at City Hall, not traveling to meetings and conferences. Vice-Mayor McElyea was of the opinion that City Manager Pato has done a great job since he's been with the City, however he did not agree that a contract was necessary for the city manager, nor did he agree with the 4/1 vote in order to terminate a city manager"without cause". Mayor Anton mentioned that he witnessed the political pressure that the past city managers had to deal with. He was in favor of the 4/1 vote to terminate a city manager "without cause" and was very comfortable with the proposed contract submitted by City Manager Pato. • MINUTES 4 MARCH 27, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING • In response to Commissioner Mikes, City Attorney Ansbro clarified that to remove a city manager "for cause" he would have to be convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. Commissioner Mikes requested that language be added, that if a city manager withholds significant information from the Commission that would impede the ability for them to do their job, should be considered "cause" for termination of the city manager. Commissioner Flury requested that the performance evaluation of the city manager should be conducted either in the month of September or annual from the date of the contract. Commissioner Mikes suggested that it be conducted after finalization of the budget. It was generally agreed that the performance evaluation would be conducted in the month of October. Commissioner Flury questioned the term "comp time" listed in the contract. City Manager Pato clarified that he does not receive comp time and agreed to delete the term "comp time" from the contract. Commissioner Mikes requested that the contract also include a 3/2 vote for termination of the city manager due to gross mismanagement errors. City Attorney Ansbro clarified that the proposed contract included a condition that the City would be required to give the city manager 60 days advanced notice if he was terminated "without cause". 4. Adjournment. • The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m. ATTEST: Bob Anton � k�v Mayor—Commissioner C arlene John n City Clerk Respectfully submitted by Nanci Denny Approved: October 28, 2003 MINUTES 5 MARCH 27, 2003 • WORKSHOP MEETING