1996-08-28 Budget WorkshopCITY OF OKEECHOBEE
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL DISCUSSION
A. Call Workshop to order on August 28, 1996 at 7:00 p.m.
B. 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
C. 1996/97 Fiscal Year Budget Discussion.
Mayor Kirk called the budget workshop to order on August 28, 1996 at 7:00 p.m.
Clerk Thomas called the roll:
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Present
Mayor Kirk began discussion on the 1996/97 Fiscal Year proposed budget draft. He
advised that due to job demands at the school he was not able to meet with the
Administrator and Departments Heads and that Council Member Watford filled in for him.
He then asked Council Member Watford to guide the Council through the budget and
explain any areas of concern or discussion that took place during the meetings with the
Staff.
Council Member Watford thanked Mayor Kirk for allowing him the opportunity to meet in
his place, he thanked the Department Heads for their time and honesty while meeting
with them on their respective budgets. An overview of the budget is that basically all,
except for a couple of employees, will be receiving a raise. Fifty-one thousand dollars
($51,000.) will be used for salary increases. The first lease payment on the new fire truck
is structured to be paid October `97 therefore that is not reflected in this proposed
budget.
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C. 1996/97 Fiscal Year Budget Discussion.
AUGUST 28, 1996 - BUDGET WORKSHOP- PAGE 2 OF 5
The Police Department executive salary is extremely increased, that is due to the
possible retirement of employees in that department which have to be figured in.
Overtime from last year and anticipated expense for this year has increased, he asked
the Department Heads to "roll up their sleeves" and do as much of the work themselves
as possible to keep overtime at a minimum.
Going through the proposed budget draft, page by page the following are comments and
discussion on particular items:
Revenue and Expense Summary, Operating Expenses there is a two percent increase
from last year. Revenue Resources Totals are proposed to be $8,516,040.00. Proposed
Expenditures Total $4,588,249.00, leaving a fund balance of $3,927,791.
Debt Service Summary, Debt Service Ad Valorem, the General Obligation Bond has
been paid in full and that will no longer show on the property tax bill.
Emergency and Disaster Relief Services Fund Summary, this is a new item this year. The
$440,793.00 in this fund is from the "true -up" money after the Public Utilities were
transferred to the OUA. The money is in the State Pool earning interest. The money can
be used in other areas of the budget but it would have to be transferred out of this
account by action of the City Council only.
Legislative proposed budget is $63,055.00. There is an increase in the life and health
insurance.
Executive proposed budget is $96,210.00. The salary increases are noted.
Emergency and Disaster Relief Services Fund proposed budget is $93,275.00. The
expenditures in this fund are for hurricane protection for City Hall, shuttering is going to
be installed and Improvements to the Public Safety Building for enclosing the stairwell
and engineering fees to do that.
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AUGUST 28,1996 -BUDGET WORKSHOP - PAGE 3 OF 5
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C. 1996/97 Fiscal Year Budget Discussion.
Financial Services proposed budget is $105,870.00. The salary increases are noted.
Finance Director Delorme again expressed his comments for bringing the accounting
back in-house and availability to the Internet. Those two items are noted reflected in the
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budget. Following discussion Council did not feel at this time that they wanted to bring
the accounting back in-house nor did they want the Finance Department to have access
to the Internet, someday, they understood they will probably have to but, not at this time.
Legal Counsel proposed budget is $30,000.00.
City Clerk proposed budget is $83,000.00. The salary increases are noted. Council also
discussed whether the eight thousand dollars ($8,000.) would be enough to cover all City
advertising. Clerk Thomas explained that line item is difficult to estimate because you
never know how many ordinances are going to be proposed for adoption, how many help
wanted advertisements you will have and when the State puts new guidelines for
advertising that also has to be figured in.
General Services proposed budget is $185,180.00. The Program Coordinator position
has been deleted. Line Item 3100, Professional Services $15,000.00 is the retainer for
H.L. Bennett. Line Item 3400, $45,000 is additional cost from H.L. Bennett and the
contract with Okeechobee Rehab Animal Shelter. Council discussed whether to contract
the custodial work out and decided to go with Administrator Drago's recommendation to
leave it as a City employee position.
Law Enforcement proposed budget is $1,112,820.00. Increase in salaries noted. The
provision for two possible retirements are included. The overtime was discussed and
Chief Mobley will continue to do all possible to keep overtime at a minimum. Line Item
4400 Rentals/Leases $57,000.00 is for the police cars and the tower rental for the police
cellular phones. Line Item 6400 Equipment, $75,000.00 is the capital outlay for the
radio's, walkie talkies, computers, this includes police and fire departments.
Following discussion Council agreed that the amount that will be needed for the
two new computers and the radio equipment for the fire department should be
listed in the fire department's budget not the police department's budget.
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C. 1996/97 Fiscal Year Budget Discussion.
Council then discussed adding an additional police officer to be used as a "beat cop" to
patrol on foot or bicycle in the downtown area. After a lengthy discussion Council
requested Administrator Drago put the additional officer in the Law Enforcement
Budget so they could review it again at the first public hearing September 3rd.
Fire Protection proposed budget is $426,190.00. Line Item 4000 Travel and Per Diem,
$4,000.00 includes one trip to Wisconsin to review the new fire truck before it is
delivered. Chief Tomey had requested $5,000.00 to go to Wisconsin for the pre -
construction conference, it can be done over the phone and through faxing and mailing
or in person, Council agreed that if Chief Tomey could get the manufacturer to pay for
the trip he could go, otherwise they felt it could be handled over the phone or through
faxes and mailing. Overtime was also discussed, Chief Tomey is to gather information
for the Council on the guidelines the fire department is required to follow concerning how
many men can fight fires and be on the scene. The current way it is handled is four men
have to be on the scene before anyone can enter the building unless it is a life and death
situation. Chief Tomey acts as the fourth man on the scene to keep from having to wait
on volunteers to get there.
The equipment for the new fire truck was discussed. The bids are to be out prior to the
truck being ready, the equipment should be delivered here and ready to send to the
truck's manufacturer to put on the truck so that when it arrives it will be ready for service.
Public Works, Road and Street Facilities proposed budget is $663,470.00. Line Item
3100 Professional Services, $10,500.00 is for extra engineering fees. Line Item 3400,
Other contractual Services, $60,000.00 is for street sweeping and turf maintenance.
Public Works, Public Facilities Improvement Fund proposed budget is $993,000.00. The
capital Outlay list the new fueling system to take the below ground tanks out and have
new above ground tanks installed. Citizen Lowry Markham also advised the Council of
a new system they have just come out with in using your current system and upgrading
it. Council suggested when Director Elders bids this project out that he check into the
new system Mr. Markham was speaking of. Council briefly discussed the street paving.
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C. 1996197 Fiscal Year Budget Discussion.
Adjournment - Mayor Kirk.
Administrator Drago then discussed the with Council the salaries for department heads.
He advised that he kept the fifty thousand dollar mark they had discussed at the July
23rd meeting. He would like to go back and review those salaries. The Council in the
past had agreed that there should be a "gap" between department head salaries and
employees salaries, over the last two years that has not been looked at close enough.
Council agreed that Administrator Drago could adjust those salaries and present them
for Council consideration at the first public hearing.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Kirk adjourned the budget workshop at 9:08
p.m.
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 tl gCity Clerk's Office.
E. Kirk, Mayor