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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-17 Workshop Meeting City Commission Meeting Minutes MINUTES DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2003 4:30 P.M. 1. Call to order Mayor Anton called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor: Bob Anton Vice-Mayor: C.K. McElyea Commissioners: Robert Chunn Pat Flury City Attorney: Tom Ansbro City Manager: Ivan Pato City Clerk: Charlene Johnson • Absent: Commissioner: Bob Mikes 3. Discussion of Sterling Council's Leadership Conference. (City Manager) City Manager Pato stated that he and Mayor Anton, by invitation of the Florida Sterling Council, attended the Council's Fifth Annual Leadership Conference in Orlando. He felt it would be advantageous to learn more about the process and the possible benefits to the City of Dania Beach. City Manager Pato introduced John Pieno, Chairman of the Florida Sterling Council. John Pieno, Chairman of the Florida Sterling Council, gave a brief overview of this management system. He explained that he had been using this management system for the last 12 years and stated that it was the predominant system worldwide. Mr. Pieno explained that the Council was a public-private partnership that begun in 1992 and that there were 65 board members representing all sectors and all regions of Florida, as well as all sizes and types of organizations. He stated that the Sterling Council was housed in the Office of the Governor and its mission was to enhance the competitive edge for Florida by promoting a self-assessment system modeled after the National Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. He stated that role model organizations were recognized with the goal that these organizations would share with others what worked and did not work for them. Chairman Pieno explained the two elements necessary in understanding the system: It was a continuous improvement system; 2) It was management by facts. He showed the seven categories that made up the basic criteria. Mr. Pieno stated that the process would promote an MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 17, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING • increased energy focus and drive for the organization and its people that would eventually result in a change in the culture of the workplace. He illustrated that although typical organizations had clear objectives, 55 percent were going in different/wrong directions. He stated that in using the Sterling Process, organizational strengths and opportunities for improvement would be identified. He felt the success of an organization was also determined by how well a workforce was trained and stressed the importance of strong leadership support for the success of the program. Mr. Pieno spoke of the three tools of getting started with the process -- The Sterling Navigator, The Sterling Performance and Excellence Challenge and the Governor's Sterling Award, and strongly encouraged a site visit. He also stated the whole concept was built around a set of core values. Mr. Pieno stressed the need to identify five to seven things most critical to organizational success. Mayor Anton stated that the primary issue was the perception of the citizens that the City served. He felt anything the City could do to improve efficiency would be important and stressed that everyone must "buy into it," not just the Commissioners and department heads. City Manager Pato wanted to see the process applied to Dania Beach. Commissioner Flury agreed with Mayor Anton in that it was a good process. She felt the people needed to have a greater understanding of what it was, due to the fact that there would always be some "fall out." She felt that if done right, it would separate the leaders from the followers and that it was a big commitment for the Commissioners. She felt it was a good program, but was concerned that there would be some union issues that could arise and would be the equivalent of going to war because some people would not be receptive to changes. She clarified that she was very much in favor of it. • Chairman Pieno clarified that the process also showed what people were doing right. Commissioner Chunn felt that the process would begin with the Commission and their ability to put their "big egos" aside and be honest with themselves. Mayor Anton recommended that City Manager Pato identified some of the key people on staff to rotate through Coral Springs during their October 3rd Open House and discuss it at a subsequent staff meeting. He thanked Chairman Pieno for coming and recognized the benefits of the program. 4. Discussion of Tallahassee Lobbyist. (City Manager) City Manager Pato stated that this item was requested by Commissioner Mikes but because he is not present, it would be brought back at a future meeting. 5. Discussion of pool project at Patrick J. Meli Park. (City Manager) Bonnie Temchuk, Assistant to the City Manager, updated the Commission on the Meli Park Pool Project. She stated that the pool had been built as a competitive pool, six feet deep from end to end, but that Swim Central required that a portion of the pool should be no deeper than three feet in order to teach children how to swim. She reported that additional costs would be incurred to retrofit the pool. She explained that the project manager, general contractor, architect, and pool manufacturer were in the process of determining the best approach and that • they would update the Commission once staff found a favorable plan. MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 17, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING ® Mayor Anton recommended that some of the options be presented to the Griffin Civic Association in order to get some input from the people who would be using the facility before making a decision. Commissioner Flury clarified that the pool had already been designed and under construction and felt that a mistake had been made on the application. She determined that there may only be one or two options and that the insurance company should be consulted to determine which one was the best. She felt the time to involve the public would be after the decision was made or after the options had been evaluated. Mayor Anton clarified that he did not intend for the public to make the decision, but felt that in the future, the City should solicit input from them. Kristen Jones, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that during the Griffin Civic Association 40th Anniversary celebration on October 7t", she could update the neighbors on the pool project, announce that it was moving forward and reveal the opening date. Commissioner Chunn agreed with Mayor Anton that the public should be made aware of what was happening, but also agreed with Commissioner Flury that the decision should not be left open to public opinion. City Manager Pato felt the insurance and attorney liability issues were most important and would be carefully considered as the solution was determined. • 6. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. B B ANTON MAYOR-COM ISSIONER ATTEST: MIR AM NASSER ACTING CITY CLERK Respectfully submitted by Jill Fiorentino APPROVED: February 24, 2004 • MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 17, 2003 WORKSHOP MEETING