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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 062499• 0 is CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 24, 1999 The June 24, 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 City Manager Herakovich reported two items which had impacted the budget were a new fire station and tax cap legislation. The City Manager announced that since the City would issue fewer dollars in bonds than anticipated, debt service millage would increase from .3394 to .4106, which was not as much as originally thought. The proposed operating budget increase was from 3.7265 to 3.8767. Procedures which had been followed by staff to lessen spending were to consider part-time or contracted work, using volunteers, etc. Finance Director Kent Olson reviewed major budget items for different departments, and stated that General Fund expenditures had increased by .9 %. Mayor Russo expressed concern regarding spending budget surplus funds. The Finance Director explained that under the Save Our Homes legislation, property taxes could increase 3% or the rate of inflation, which last year was 1.6 %. A taxpayer with a home valued at $100,000 would experience a tax increase of approximately $23.00 per hundred. Mr. Olson explained it had been six years since the City had raised taxes. Police Department Budget Chief FitzGerald presented the Police Department budget, and stated that operating costs had increased $4,910 over the current year, and total personnel services had increased $724,000. Chief FitzGerald reviewed personnel needs, efforts made to reduce overtime, and training facilities. Contracting with Palm Beach County for dispatch services was discussed. Chief FitzGerald • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/24/99 2 reported no contract had been signed with the County to date, and that for the City to operate dispatch properly, seven dispatchers would need to be hired. Vice Mayor Furtado reported the Chief was working on becoming a part of the gang task force. It was requested that holiday pay be removed from the overtime amount to get a true picture of overtime. Chief FitzGerald commented he was comfortable that with the additional personnel requested, the level of service to the residents could be maintained. Mayor Russo requested the City's policy regarding Department Heads attending conventions, so that discussion of this item could be held by the City Council, and commented that Department Heads attending conventions during the next year might need to be limited. Fire Department The Fire Chief reviewed proposed programs, and stated it was believed the current level of service could be maintained with the additional goals and projects presented. The Administration budget was reviewed, the high cost of bringing in a new Fire Station was discussed, and impact fees were also discussed. The City Manager reported the response time of over five minutes throughout the City was being challenged Other costs, including the cost of additional • EMS personnel, were discussed. Human Resources Human Resources Director Waldron explained the proposed budget, which included heavy emphasis on training. The 8% turnover rate was considered good compared to other cities. Councilman Clark requested research on turnover rates for prior years, and also that the introduction to the budget be updated. Parks & Recreation Parks & Recreation Director Sue Miller presented the goals included in the proposed budget, including completion of the skate park, concession/rest room facilities for the roller hockey facility, a parks equipment storage facility, development of the church property after relocation of the Fire Department, and Lake Catherine lakeside property improvements. Requested lightning detectors were discussed. Mayor Russo emphasized that use of lightning detectors would necessitate a strict program whereby fields must be cleared when the alarm went off. The Vice Mayor requested a breakdown of demographics for each recreation program, to which the City Manager responded that figures would have to be based on the 1990 census. The District Park was discussed. It was reported that an agreement was being worked-out with the County, who planned to purchase the property and have the • City develop the park. Consensus was that the City should hold title • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/24/99 K3 to the land. Vehicles for employee use and car allowances were discussed. A list of personnel for whom cell phones were furnished was requested. Obtaining sponsors for the City's birthday special event was discussed. Possibile locations for fireworks were discussed. Golf Course Raising rates to play golf was proposed for next year. Maintenance and advertising costs were reviewed. Public Works Director of Public Works Bob Patty described proposed goals and objectives: to identify a new site for a public works complex, to reorganize divisions to accommodate a stormwater utility, to improve quality of service in all divisions, to minimize flooding city wide, and to privatize areas where appropriate for better levels of service. Mr. Patty highlighted major costs, and explained that elimination of two positions would allow funding to hire Total Maintenance, a local company which would take care of maintenance of Holly Drive, Military Trail, PGA Boulevard, and interchanges at I -95 and Northlake and I -95 and PGA Boulevard. The difficulty of keeping personnel because of salary limitations was • discussed. Mr. Patty introduced Hal Beard, new Public Works Assistant. The overall Public Works budget increase was approximately 4 -1/2 1/o; however, grant funds were anticipated which would actually reduce the budget by approximately 4 %. Space requirements for storage of public works equipment were discussed. Facilities maintenance, canal dredging, mosquito control, certification of mechanics, and gas tax figures were reviewed. Mr. Patty provided input regarding his car allowance and cell phone use. Growth Management Growth Management Director Roxanne Manning expressed her opinion that Planning & Zoning was properly staffed to continue to provide the level of service achieved during the past two years, but not to do special projects. Revenue and expenses for Planning & Zoning and Building were discussed. Proposed changes in Code Enforcement staffing were described, and concern was expressed regarding the need for obtaining and keeping Building inspectors and other Growth Management personnel at current salary levels. Increasing the budget for this department and decreasing in other areas was discussed as a possibility, and projection figures were requested in order to make that decision. Finance Director Olson explained that an extra $1 million in tax revenue would increase the • millage rate by .7 %, or 4.5842% overall. During review of budget figures, Director Olson explained that personnel services were • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/24/99 accelerating and capital outlays were decelerating, and that overall expenses had not increased greatly in this year's budget. Mayor Russo expressed concern that adding additional employees this year would increase expenses too much the following year, and that an 8 % -9% tax increase would be needed to accommodate the budget and increase reserves. Mayor Russo requested the total cost of adding additional employees and the total budget for next year, and commented that all proposed projects might not be able to be done this year. The high cost of adding a new fire station and its impact on the budget was discussed. Privatizing for vehicle maintenance and in other areas was suggested. Postponing hiring personnel until additional tax revenue and impact fees were received from anticipated development was suggested. The possibility of adding an additional fire truck at an existing location temporarily was discussed. Councilman Sabatello pointed out that police negotiations and adding a new fire station made up 75% of the budget increase. Mayor Russo summarized that the Fire Chief needed to come back to the meeting on July 8, that possibly Code Enforcement could go another year without personnel changes, and that some projects might need to be eliminated to get through the next two years, since a double -digit tax increase next year could scare off future corporate relocations to the City of Palm Beach Gardens. The Mayor indicated that the highest tax increase he could five with was 7% for this year and 7% for next year. The City Manager commented the only proposed position which she could think of that might be changed to a contractual position was a proposed additional parks maintenance person. Staff was directed to come back with similar suggestions for reducing the budget, while providing a surplus of $500,000, and a projection of how things would then stand next year. All Department Heads were requested to attend the July 8 meeting with proposals to reduce costs; Growth Management Director Manning was requested to address the "bare bones" Planning & Zoning situation; and Finance Director Olson was requested to project revenues which could be realized from building permit fees, inspection fees, application fees, etc., which could be passed on. Budgets for Administration and Finance were to be reviewed before July 8, 1999 so that the budget could be finalized at that meeting. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/24/99 5 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilman Jablin, seconded by Councilman Clark, the meeting was adjounP p. APPROVAL: ' M . RU SSO VICE LA FURTADO C - PR M RIC JABLIN COUNCILMAN D CLARK COUNCILMAN ARL SABATELLO ATTEST: � KO-SIER,"CM-C, w�V. CITY CLERK