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CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
JULY 8, 1999
The July 8, 1999, workshop meeting of the City Council of the City
of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex located at
10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and
opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials
were found to be in attendance: Mayor Joseph R. Russo, Vice
Mayor Lauren Furtado, Councilman Eric Jablin, Councilman David
Clark, and Councilman Carl Sabatello.
CITY MANAGER
PRESENTATION
Mayor Russo thanked everyone for their work on the budget, and
recommended that the City Council accept the changes as offered
by each department or reject the whole budget. Councilman
Sabatello expressed his opinion that certain areas might need to be
changed. Vice Mayor Furtado expressed concern whether the
proposed budget changes were something the City could live with..
City Manager Herakovich reported the City would be on Good
Morning America Monday morning in a positive report showing
how efficient the Police Department was, and that the City's ALS
team had placed 2nd out of 62 teams statewide.
The City Manager reported that staff had identified budget
alternatives to increase balance available in reserves, Department
Heads had identified reductions in their respective areas, resulting
in a millage rate increase from 3.7265 to 3.9088, which combined
with debt service reflected a 6.17% increase. Assuming property
values remained stable, a taxpayer with property assessed at
$100,000 would experience an additional cost of $25.09 annually --
no more than the cost of a pair of tennis shoes. The City Manager
reviewed items remaining in the budget after cuts had been made,
and explained this was a tight budget with no room for flexibility,
but that the level of service had been maintained. The City Manager
expressed concern there was no flexibility in administration in order
to help departments during the year when they needed money, and
commented she would like to have a survey in the next issue of City
Line to find out if residents were willing to pay enough to recover
• CITY COUNCII. WORKSHOP MEETING, 7/8/99 2
the cost of a RV/Boat storage lot. Finance Director Olson
reviewed budget cuts proposed by various departments. City
Council Contingency was requested to be cut by $20,000. Vice
Mayor Furtado questioned whether franchise fees discussed at the
last meeting had been lost, to which the Finance Director responded
he believed those funds had been lost but could be collected going
forward and he was unaware of other fees of this type which were
not being paid. Councilman Sabatello suggested that the City
Attorney review the franchise agreement and require proper
payment of fees. Vice Mayor Furtado questioned the necessity of
two people attending a conference at the same time. This item was
discussed. A written policy on attending conferences was
requested. It was clarified that the funds discussed the prior year for
Engineering had been removed before the final budget.
The Fire Chief explained the proposed refurbishing of rescue
vehicles and bidding one new vehicle, keeping the older vehicles in
reserve; and explained that delaying refurbishing one year would
mean two vehicles would need refurbishing next year. The City
Council agreed that one vehicle should be refurbished this year.
• The City Manager reviewed cuts made to the Administration
budget, recommended using privatized services wherever possible,
and suggested business sponsorship of neighborhood services
projects. Amounts budgeted for appraisals were discussed.
Consensus was to check with the City Attorney regarding the
legality of having developers pay for appraisals and if so to change
the code to accommodate that. It was decided to reduce the
budgeted appraisal amount by $10,000. Secretarial requirements
for Administration were reviewed, and a proposed cut in the
secretarial staff was added back into the budget. Discussion ensued
regarding other budget items, including engineering fees to residents
and ways of reducing engineering costs. The need to have
flexibility in order to hire an employee to replace the computer
technician who recently left was discussed. It was decided to add
$6,000 into the Administration budget to provide flexibility. During
discussion of time to process development applications, it was
suggested applicants might wish to subsidize consultants hired by
the City to speed their applications in order to allow staff to
maintain the current level of service to residents. During ensuing
discussion regarding level of service to residents, it was pointed out
• that requests from City Council made during the year to the City
Manager should be carefully considered regarding time required and
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 7/8/99 3
cost. The City Manager suggested that if she did not attend the
Florida League of Cities conference, approximately $200 could be
saved.
The Finance Department budget included one additional staff
person. During discussion of the General Services budget, Mayor
Russo commented that next year the City should decide whether to
stay in the golf course business and if so to re -do the bonds to
realize a savings. The Police Department had cut the number of
bullet proof vests requested, however, every officer would still have
a vest. During discussion of the Fire Department budget,
Councilman Sabatello commented that the new fire station had
provided a dollar amount which could be used for future stations for
new development negotiations to assure that the City was collecting
enough dollars to build stations and provide equipment for those
stations. Mayor Russo expressed concern that there must be
concurrency for fire protection with 5 minute response time for new
communities. Councilman Sabatello expressed his opinion that
projections were needed of when new fire stations would be needed
so that taxes could be raised in small amounts over time instead of
• a drastic increase in the year a station needed to open.
Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning expressed comfort
with the department's budget which allowed for hiring consultants
when necessary. Classifying professional staff to exempt status was
anticipated to reduce overtime. Councilman Sabatello expressed his
opinion that more staff was needed for building inspections.
Director Manning compared the City's inspection procedures to
other municipalities. During discussion, it was pointed out that the
cost of a new building inspector would be covered by fees paid by
developers, and that a trainee was in the process of certification.
There were no questions regarding the Recreation Department
budget.
During discussion of the Public Works budget, Public Works
Director Bob Patty explained that two positions would be eliminated
and some roadway maintenance would be contracted out.
Vice Mayor Furtado stated for the record she was not in favor of a
utility tax. Following a break, the meeting was reconvened.
• The City Council Contingency Fund was discussed again and the
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 7/8/99 4
decision was made not to reduce it by $20,000. The necessity of
keeping the surplus account over a certain amount was discussed.
It was pointed out that this year and next year were going to be
difficult years Level of service to residents was discussed. Finance
Director Olson listed additions and deletions to the budget and
recalculated the budget increase at $106,000 not including a
building inspector since that would be offset by increased building
permit fees. A report of income and expenditures under the
forbearance agreement was requested for a future meeting. Finance
Director Olson reported total millage rate would change to 4.3484%
or $434.84 per $100,000 home, a 6.95% increase. Total increase
over rollback rate would be 10.136 %. Finance Director Olson was
requested to break out the percentage attributable to the new fire
station. Mr. Olson calculated the tax increase would be 4.8% over
rollback if the fire station was not being added. Mayor Russo
commented that the original budget showed $1.7 out of reserve but
now only $1.1 would be taken out.
Mayor Russo stated if residents came in and felt a 101/6 increase was
too high he might not vote in favor of this budget, although he
believed it was needed, and stated he was not comfortable with a
double digit tax increase. The Mayor explained that he would meet
with the business community, neighborhood association, and
homeowner associations. Dates for budget hearings were set for
September 9 and September 21 at 7 p.m.
Utility Tax Mayor Russo expressed his opinion that the proposal for a utility tax
should be explored by the City Council. City Manager Herakovich
commented there were several options for utility tax: electric,
telephone, water, gas, and telecommunications. A source of
revenue would be needed in future years to operate two new fire
stations, and continue capital improvements. Finance Director
Olson commented that property taxes would need to be raised every
year by virtue of hiring more employees. The Vice Mayor
commented once a utility tax was instituted it would never go away
and property taxes could still rise every year. The City Manager
commented the most obvious source of additional funding for
operations and capital improvements was a utility tax, which was
why it was being proposed, and that in the future revenue would be
needed from some source. Mayor Russo recommended the Finance
Director present a proposal to be explored showing pros and cons
• of a utility tax. It was the consensus of the City Council to explore
and understand a proposed utility tax.
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 7/8/99
to explore and understand a proposed utility tax.
5
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by
Councilman Jablin, seconded by Councilman Clark, the meeting
was adjo d 10• P.
APPROVAL:
/14A'%J068APH R. RUSSO
LAUREN FURTADO
A MAN PINE ERIC JABLIN
COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
COUNCILMAN CIARL SABATELLO
ATTEST:
I. KOSIER, CMC, CITY CL RK