HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 050108 - Budget Workshop1
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CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
BUDGET WORKSHOP
MAY 1, 2008
The May 1, 2008 Budget Workshop of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 6:04 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the
Municipal Complex, located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
by Mayor Eric Jablin.
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
II. ROLL CALL
The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found to be in
attendance: Mayor Eric Jablin, Vice Mayor David Levy, Councilmember Joseph Russo,
Councilmember Jody Barnett and Councilmember Robert Premuroso.
Mayor Jablin welcomed all to the budget workshop and announced another will be held
on May 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
III. WORKSHOP
a. Citizen Budget Workshop — Comments from the Public. Mayor Jablin invited all
those wishing to speak about the upcoming budget to fill out a card and give it to the City
Clerk. Mayor Jablin then asked that the clock be readjusted from 2:00 minutes to 3:00
minutes.
Pat Hughey, Palm Beach Gardens, asked a question regarding Human Resources. Mayor
Jablin stated City Council is not prepared to answer specific questions, but would like to
take comments. Answers to specific questions will be prepared. Ms. Hughey asked more
questions regarding staffing, the City Manager's contract, City Council position
requirements and information regarding the new Police Department radio transmission
antenna.
Eileen Tucker, Shady Lakes, stated her objections to a bill from the City for $183.49 for a
public information request. Ms. Tucker asked questions regarding Human Resources, the
City's take -home -car policy, Code Enforcement issues, special event costs and suggested
non - residents pay to attend special events.
Roger Blangy, 11658 Hemlock Street, Palm Beach Gardens, Garden Woods,
representative on the Kyoto Gardens Drive railroad crossing issue, stated his objections
to the unsafe condition created by the Kyoto Gardens Drive railroad crossing and
suggested an overhead bridge. Mr. Blangy requested the amount of money paid to the
Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad so far. Mayor Jablin stated the information will be
provided.
John Chaplik, Palm Beach Gardens, discussed declining property taxes, capital
expenditures, fleet purchases and maintenance, and employee salaries and benefits. Mr.
Chaplik spoke favorably of the change to the Florida Retirement System (FRS).
Carolyn Chaplik, Palm Beach Gardens, suggested: elimination of the salary and benefits
study in June, salary and benefit cutbacks for new hires, and education reimbursement.
Ms. Chaplik questioned the need for an on -site emergency operations center (EOC) that
would house the Information Technology (IT) department and suggested a nightly off -
site backup.
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Terry Brady, Lacey Oak, Palm Beach Gardens, stated his concern for how the Police and
Fire Departments' contracts are negotiated and suggested guidelines the City can set for
the union negotiators.
Paul Auerbach, Gardens of Woodbury, asked why specific budget items were not being
discussed, when the budget will be available for review, how the City plans to save
money and for the status of the flyover artwork repairs. Mr. Auerbach stated his
objections to Mrs. Tucker's bill for $183.00 for her public information request.
Mayor Jablin thanked everyone and asked if anyone else had any comments. Seeing
none, he asked Council for their comments.
Councilmember Russo stated the workshop was to listen to residents for their suggestions
going forward. Work on the budget is in the preliminary stage. Councilmember Russo
acknowledged the suggestions of Eileen Tucker to charge non - resident fees for City
activities and John Chaplik regarding extending the life of our fleet and stated that staff
has already begun looking into them. The salary - related issues and health, safety and
welfare will be looked at internally. Councilmember Russo stated the importance of
Recreation to the families of the community and asked if programs should be cut.
Councilmember Russo stated he is in favor of the salary survey in relation to government
and does not agree with eliminating raises or salary cuts as a reward for good work and
great ideas. He reiterated that the budget workshops are for exchanging ideas, not for
discussion of dollars and cents.
Mayor Jablin stated the City will not know how much money it will be getting until the
Property Appraiser provides the figures in late June or July. There is no budget at this
time. City Council is seeking ideas that can point them in the right direction. Mayor
Jablin stated he would like to hear from more of the 55,000 people that live in this City.
City Manager Ferris stated staff has been meeting and discussing ideas for revenue
generation and expenditure cuts for several months. Staff has met with City Council.
Salaries and benefits have been discussed, as have union contract requirements.
Adjusting the costs of benefits and employees' contributions are being considered.
Creative revenue - producing and cost - cutting ideas are being sought. Suggestions from
residents are welcome.
Pat Hughey Palm Beach Gardens, stated her understanding of a workshop is an exchange
of information. Ms. Hughey suggested that residents could provide more constructive
feedback if they knew the ideas staff was considering.
Mayor Jablin stated the process is just beginning and all of the information is not readily
available. He restated the objective of community input to the process. Mayor Jablin
stated that responses will be provided for questions.
Councilmember Barnett stated she asked not to have presentations specifically so there
would be time to hear residents' comments. She acknowledged the concern for protecting
Police and Fire as much as possible. Suggestions regarding FRS, the City vehicle policy
and Public Works can be looked into. Councilmember Barnett requested areas that
residents would like to see cut and areas they would not like to see cut, but could stand to
see reduced and still maintain the quality of life in the City.
Pat Hughey, Palm Beach Gardens, stated she understands the Police and Fire
Departments have unions that negotiate their contracts. Ms. Hughey stated she does not
believe there has been an exchange of ideas and asked to hear from staff the things that
they are looking at.
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Councilmember Russo stated he did not agree with eliminating the presentations. He
stated he has met with staff and they are looking at FRS, the fleet, and all of the money-
saving suggestions that were made. Councilmember Russo stated that if Police and Fire
are untouched, Growth Management is zero - based, Engineering is developer- reimbursed,
Finance and the City Clerk are required, one of the few things left is Recreation and he
believes that is why people come here to live.
Pat Hughey, Palm Beach Gardens, suggested questions that could be considered when
reviewing Recreation projects.
Vice Mayor Levy stated the Recreation Department is considering non- resident fees,
especially with the Youth Athletic Association (YAA). Vice Mayor Levy is looking for
priorities from the community. Maintaining the quality of Police and Fire services is
important to residents, but they represent about 53 percent of the budget. Recreation fees
pay for most of their costs. Many of the events mentioned are paid for through
contributions. Many of the ideas suggested are already being considered, specifically,
extending the lifetime of vehicles from 5 to 7 years and considering the FRS system for
Police and Fire.
Pat Hughey, Palm Beach Gardens, stated Palm Beach Gardens High School is the State
lacrosse champion.
Vice Mayor Levy stated that Ms. Hughey took his item of resident interest away.
Eileen Tucker, Shady Lakes, Palm Beach Gardens, stated she is happy with the Parks and
Recreation program but believes City employee salaries should be cut. Ms. Tucker
suggested a round table discussion at the Burns Road Community Center.
Mayor Jablin explained the need to hold the meetings in Council Chambers is for
recording purposes.
Joan Elias, 1009 Diamond Head Way, Palm Beach Gardens, stated the budget workshops
were announced at the president's council at the Palm Beach Gardens Property Owners
Association (PGAPOA) where members expressed their confidence in City Council to
budget wisely. Ms Elias stated Parks and Recreation does a wonderful job and she is glad
to see the golf course is now making almost what is being spent, but suggested the
possible sale of the golf course because of the expensive equipment that is used. Ms.
Elias suggested reviewing the aspects of the take -home car policy. Ms. Elias stated that
when there is talk of no raises, it should be remembered that staff also lives in Palm
Beach Gardens, pay taxes, and buy groceries and gas, just like the rest of the residents.
Ms. Elias stated we all must suffer together and not put the burden on one marvelous
group of people that live in this City.
Councilmember Russo stated the golf course is not marketable when the debt service is
taken into consideration because a private buyer would pay a higher amount for financing
than the City pays for bonds. Councilmember Russo explained that because of the
limitations initiated by the Governor and the State Legislature we can't tax, but must
meet the millage rate and provide the services the community wants and it will be
difficult.
Carolyn Chaplik suggested eliminating the car allowance and just paying for mileage;
charging artists for their displays in City Hall; eliminating accumulative sick time and not
paying hourly workers for comp time.
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XIV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion at the Workshop, a motion for adjournment was made
by Vice Mayor Levy, seconded by Councilmember Russo and approved unanimously,
5 -0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Patricia Snider, CMC
City Clerk
David Levy, Vice Mayor
JosepVR. Russo, Councilmember
Jody Barnett,
Robert G. Premuroso, Councilmember
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
All referenced attachments on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
05.01.08
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