Loading...
1996-07-15 Regular Meeting• •t IM B. CITY OF OKEECHOBEE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Call Meeting to order on July 16, 1996. Invocation offered by Reverend John Paul Ziegler; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk. C. Mayor and Council Attendance: Mayor James E. Kirk Council Member Noel A. Chandler Council Member Michael G. O'Connor Council Member Robert Oliver Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Staff Attendance: City Attorney John R. Cook City Administrator John J. Drago City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea Mayor Kirk called the regular meeting to order on July 16, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. Reverend Ziegler offered the invocation; Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance. Deputy Clerk Gamiotea called the roll: Present Absent Present Present Present Present (entered chambers at 7:08 p.m.) Present Absent Present D. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Sum- Council Member O'Connor moved to dispense with the reading and approve the mary of Council Action for the Regular Council Meeting of Summary of Council Action for the July 2, 1996 regular meeting; seconded by Council July 2, 1996. Member Oliver. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. X X X X PAGE 1 OF X JULY 16, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 5 REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL OR WITHDRAWAL Mayor Kirk asked if there were any additions, deferrals or withdrawals of items on today's OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. III agenda. There were none. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Discuss financing for the new fire truck - Councilman Council Member Watford advised that Finance Director Delorme had asked how the Watford. Council wanted to purchase the new fire truck when the bid award was discussed and nothing was decided. He felt that the Council needed to give direction to Administrator Drago and Finance Director Delorme in order to prepare the 1996/97 budget. He asked Administrator Drago if he had any suggestions for the Council. Administrator Drago recommended the present and future budget measures as follows: That Council borrow the full two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.) for the fire truck and the extra twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000.) for the equipment for the truck. Breakdown the hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) that is presently in the budget as: a yearly lease payment of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for the truck and equipment; fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.) for pay adjustments; and ten thousand dollars ($10,000.) for other fixed costs such as health insurance, pension, FICA, service bonuses and those types of things. Further stating that he took a closer look at the salaries, and if the Council adheres to the policy of sticking to the pay plan, it is possible to reduce the "red circled" employees from four to one (the Maintenance Foreman). In order for this to work the following has to happen, next year other than capital equipment for Public Works, which is paid for out of the gas tax revenue, and the expenditure of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000) for fire equipment, no other capital equipment would be purchased. 1)nn LY 16 J U 1996 - REGULAR GU MEETING - PAGE OF 5 G 3 ll.. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Discuss financing for the new fire truck continued. Second, take the current one hundred thousand figure ($100,00) that is in the budget I, and use it this year to upgrade the Police Department computer and communication equipment, therefore, you do not look at that fixed expense next year. The hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) gets utilized next year for the for the lease purchase of the truck; the salaries; and other fixed costs. Following these recommendations everything will fit. The Council will get a foundation to use the same hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the following years. And not have to raise property taxes within the next two years. Council Member Oliver asked, these recommendations are based on the assumption no capital expenditures for any other department; and do we know that is possible? Administrator Drago advised that for the next year it was possible, if the Council allows him to use the money this year to upgrade the Police Department which would have been done next year. Public Works budget does not count because gas tax revenue is involved and the twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000) we have already said will get used to buy whatever capital equipment the fire truck needs. The other departments have gotten their new computer equipment. Council Member Watford commented this information was a surprise and most unexpected. Administrator Drago stated that this was a good meeting to discuss this because if the Council agrees to his recommendations he would be in a position to complete the budget quicker, it would be giving the Mayor specific directions as to how the budget is to be designed when he goes into the meetings with the Department Heads and the Council can receive the budget quicker. Council Member Watford asked for clarification, what type of communication equipment? Administrator Drago responded radios for the cars, a new consol because one of the things we need to take a look at, is when the addition gets done from enclosing the stairwell, Chief Mobley is considering moving the dispatch out into the additional two hundred square feet developed from open space. As communication equipment gets more sophisticated if the Police Department has the proper consol then they can handle more with the same level of people. 201 - JULY 16, 1996 REGULAR MEETING -PAGE 4 OF 5 ...:.:::........................................ ...........€%,::..:::..:............................................................. ::.::.:::....................... .N. <' E. NEW BUSINESS Mayor Kirk and Council Member Watford asked what was the advantage of doing this 1. Discuss financing for the new fire truck continued. tonight instead of carrying it over and including these items in the next budget year? Administrator Drago responded it avoids spending another hundred thousand dollars over and above this and could accelerate the process of developing the specifications, sending them out and getting them awarded. So, if in fact there was some kind of cost increase coming down the road we could avoid that. Council Member Watford stated, we have the hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in our hand, with the 3.94 mills for next year we are going to get anther hundred thousand ($100,00) because that is where we were going to pay the forty, fifty and ten thousand. We still have the same amount of money. He continued that he was not trying to argue any of the equipment for the Police Department, but at least it goes through the budget process. It is in the budget as a capital expenditure for the Police Department and we get to discuss it and take a look at what is there and what we want to do. It kind of violates the spirit of the budgeting process. That is his only concern he stated and he did not have a problem with spending the money for the equipment. The plan looks very logical and a way to do it, but he would prefer carrying the hundred thousand dollars over. Mayor Kirk asked Chief Mobley how long would it take to get the bids back for award? Chief Mobley responded, thirty to sixty days. Mayor Kirk pointed out then the Council would be just about through the budget process. We could direct Chief Mobley to get the bids out, earmark the money in the 1996/97 budget and award the bid after October 1 st. Council agreed to do this. Council Member Watford then asked in the bidding process of the fire truck there were certain discounts available, is that still an option or something the City should take advantage of? Administrator Drago responded that he would not recommend the City doing any of the prepayment. He recommended the City pay for the truck when it gets delivered and accepted. The City needs to do an acceptance test to make sure the pump operates, turn on all the lights and sirens for four hours and run the pump, if the truck fails it will be the manufactures responsibility not the City's. 202 JULY 16, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 5 E. NEW BUSINESS Discuss financing for the new fire truck continued Adjournment - Mayor Kirk. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. A tape recording of this meeting is on file in to -City lerk's Office,; ATTEST: Bonnie S. Thomas, CIVIC, City Clerk ,-�t E. Ki(k, Mayor Council Member Watford asked Finance Director Delorme if he felt this was a feasible plan. Director Delorme felt that the financing of the fire truck was feasible. Council Member Oliver asked if the Council should determine the length of financing? Administrator Drago advised that when he sends out the proposals he will tell them here is what the City wants to pay, you tell us how long it is going to take to pay it off, they will give the amount of years and that would tell them how much interest to charge and that way the Council will know the true cost of the two hundred fifty thousand dollars. The advantage to doing it this way is it is easier to budget. Council Member Oliver then asked how much is budgeted for the addition behind the Police Department? Administrator Drago responded he thought it was in the forty thousand dollar range. However, that comes out of a separate amount of money and there is a good possibility that forty may not be enough. What he is going to do is when the bids get sent out it is going to be on a unit price contract so that we will know what every unit will cost, then we can pick and choose. We can do a certain amount this year and finish it up the following year or two, then we have an idea of what the cost is. The Council agreed to the Administrator's recommendations except the hundred thousand dollars will be carried over and earmarked in the Police Department Budget as a capital expenditure, however, they may proceed with sending the bids out for the communication and computer equipment. There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.