Loading...
1991-08-28 Budget WorkshopC I T Y O F O K E E C H O B E E C I T Y C O U N C I L B U D G E T W O R K S H O P August 28, 1991 - 7:00 P.M. -gnMMARV nF MrNCTT. nTSCQSSION Page I oU 7 COUNCILMBMBBRS/ACTION VOTE ABSENT 77 A. Call workshop to order. Mayor Kirk called the workshop to order at 7:00 P.M. B. Mayor and Council attendance: Mayor James "Jim" Kirk Present X Councilmember R.R. "Nick" Collins Present X Councilmember Danny Entry Present X Councilmember Jerry E. Walker Absent X Councilmember Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Present X Staff attendance: Attorney John R. Cook Present X Administrator John J. Drago Present X Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Present X C.1 Deputy Clerk S. Lane Earnest Absent X C. BUDGET OVERVIEW - GENERAL FUND: Mayor Kirk explained to those present the purpose of this workshop was for information and discussion of the City's proposed 1991- 1992 budget by this panel (City Council) only. He further advised, however, that others may be allowed to provide input throughout the workshop if necessary. Discussion began with the five page budget overview letter which was received by Council in their agenda packets. Specific items discussed as follows: VGFE COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION C. BUDGET OVERVIEW - GENERAL FUND: Item No 10 - $25,000 00 - New Computerized Fuel Management System Councilmember Watford questioned this item and the feasibility of the City purchasing its fuel outside. He felt this should be checked into. Item No. 11 - $55,000.00 - Repairs_ for Railroad Crossing at N.W. 9th Ave. Councilmember Collins suggested again, that the speed limit for the train could be lowered and could result in the railroad company assisting the City with the cost of correcting the bad crossing by getting it repaired. Mayor Kirk reminded the Council of the high number of school buses having to travel over that bad crossing daily. Administrator Drago will write to the railroad company expressing Council's wishes to get the crossing repaired and to solicit funds from the company to offset the cost. However, since the Department of Transportation has already intervened on the City's behalf in an attempt to get the company's assistance in this matter to no avail, Administrator Drago explained that he did not feel the railroad company would assist with the repair; and that the contract the City has with the railroad company states this expense is the City's responsibility. Item No. 16 - $20,000.00 - Yearly Lease of Heavy Equipment to Drain Ditches Councilmember Watford inquired to Public Works Director Elders regarding this item and it was explained that it had been a budgeted item the previous year but was not yet purchased and is a needed piece of equipment for his department. Because of its high cost, staff felt it would be in the best interest of the City cost -wise to use the lease/purchase approach. YES t 28, 1991 - Budge-t workshop - Page 3 of 7 VOTE C. C. BUDGET OVERVIEW - PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT - GENERAL FUND: COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION Item No. 6 - $40,000.00 - 3 New Vehicles Councilmember Collins asked what these employees were driving now and could we allow the Public Utilities Department to buy two of the police package cars and save the City money on this item? Administrator Drago explained the police vehicle package contract and that another City has already shown interest in purchasing the vehicle package from us as in previous years. Councilmember Watford felt there may be a cheaper way to go on item number six but to leave it as proposed for now and move on to the next item. Councilmember Collins felt Council should consider this item very carefully before spending the $40,000.00 for three new cars as proposed in item number six. Capital Improvement Project for Public Utilities Brief discussion included a question as to how much, originally did we figure that new ground water project was going to cost? Administrator Drago stated $3.5 million to $4.5 million depending on the treatment of the water. A two million gallon per day plant. As opposed to $7.5 million down there to get two million gallons per day. Council expressed concerns regarding the general fund revenue summary of pages two and three. Finance Director Parker explained the revenue estimating formula and that the revenue amounts are realistic. Calculations are made on data at seven and ten month intervals and the budgeted amounts are strictly estimates. NO Augu,st 28, 7991 - Budget WoAkzhop - Page 4 o� 7 VOTE C. PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT - GENERAL FUND: COUNCILMBMBBRS/ACTION Administrator Drago informed the Council that we do not let any revenue items exceed more than 100% of the last two year averages. We do not want to be put in a position, in case a revenue shortfall occurs and the expenditures are set on the high side, to have to make budget cuts. The first place you would cut is personnel so we were trying to avoid that so that the work force remains stable, the public gets the service and we are still meeting our budget. Council agreed that use of historical data for calculating the general fund revenues for budgeting purposes was a good process. Councilmember Watford discussed the car for the Administrator. We will take the car that the Fire Chief is currently using and his budget will take that lease. Council and staff discussed the possibility of changing auditing firms periodically after this year in order to have the City's financial processing looked at from a different perspective. Council felt it would be a safeguard also. Council questioned budget program 514-Legal Council Cost. Administrator Drago explained the amounts were necessary to provide for the City Is Comprehensive Plan and two other upcoming issues. Administrator Drago felt the $10,400.00 was a realistic figure. Councilmember Watford asked about program 522-Fire Protection specifically the Cascade System: $5,000.00 for a half-share cost of a Cascade System with Okeechobee County Fire Department. This system will enable both departments to refill air bottles more quickly and reduce future cost for air and transportation. YES August 28, 1991 - Budget Wontkshop - Page S oU 7 VOTE C. PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT - GENERAL FUND: COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION ouncilmember Collins further discussed the railroad crossing paving, the Public Utilities Department request for three new cars and the following: 1. Public Works - $50,000.00 Backhoe 2. Public Works - $20,000.00 Drainage Ditch Cleaner Councilmember Entry asked about the Health Insurance $100.00 deductible and the feasibility of increasing the amount of the deductible. Administrator Drago was instructed to research the item. Mayor Kirk mentioned the proposed list of streets to be paved_ and resurfaced that is to be discussed at the next meeting. Salaries: Councilmember Watford stated that he had two concerns number one being that it appears that each department head received a certain raise. One who is not really a department head did not fall into that category. But everybody else it appears received a certain dollar amount. The Clerk did not receive the same dollar amount. Councilmember Watford continued, that he met with Administrator Drago and I understand his theory behind that. Had it been different I would not have this problem with it but it is hard for me to justify that every other department head received a certain amount. And I just feel that if every other department head is going to receive that amount whatever that amount is I feel like the Clerk should receive it also. The next problem I have is three or four years ago we said this is how we are going to do the raises: one year we give raises to these type of employees, the next year these type of employees and then the next year the Department Heads. It is unfortunate one department got quite a few raises and no other department did. I think it is going to create a problem and I do not know the solution to it but it looks bad. YES Augu,st 28, 1991 - Budget WoAkzhop - Page 6 ob 7 U514 COUNC H MBMBFRS/ACTION C. PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT - GENERAL FUND: Councilmember Collins asked Councilmember Watford, on the Clerk's salary, you are saying raise that up but are you saying leave the $1500.00 car allowance in there or take it out? Councilmember Watford responded, to answer your question directly it ought to be left in there because that was part of the salary and the salary adjusted. Mayor Kirk commented, I know things are tight and the economy is tight but we need to look at the salaries that have been proposed before us and decide whether we are going to go with what has been recommended or if we are not. Mayor Kirk continued, I agree with Councilmember Watford. That one sticks out there like a sore thumb and I guess the first time it hit me in the face was when I saw it in the paper. It bothered me. But, sometimes when you are looking at numbers going through them yourself you do not always catch them, but that did. That stood out to me. I do not feel like that one was equitable. I think that when we look at these and soul search and look at what has been recommended here that we give the consideration that they should be equal. Whether we want to go with the raises that is there or not. It is something we will have to vote on. Councilmember Collins stated, Mayor, I would like to say that the reason it did not stick out to me like a sore finger was because I thought she was getting the $24,380.00 plus $1500.00, but that was not the case. Other discussion on salaries included the proposed increases in the Utility Department and the City's pay plan goal to get the salaries up to the average. Councilmember Collins suggested Council consider salary increase on a year to year basis in the future. Mayor Kirk reminded Council of the "red circling" of some positions in the present pay plan and that it had corrected a lot of salary inequities. Augu,5t 28, 7991 - Budget WoAkshop - Page 7 o{ 7 VOTE C. PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT - GENERAL FUND: ADJOURNMENT Mayor Kirk: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT IF ANY PERSON SHOULD DECIDE TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE AT THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SUCH PERSON WILL NEED TO INSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING IS MADE WHICH INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS BASED. A COPY OF THE RECORDING CAN BE OBTAINED IN THE CITY CLER ' OFFICE. J mes E. Kirk, Mayor Attest: COLINCILMEMBERS/ACTION Administrator Drago explained that in the present pay plan that some years there will be increase for some and none for others. Council was asked by Mayor Kirk to think about the raises and come back with their proposals at the next meeting (September 3, 1991-1st Public Hearing). Mayor Kirk adjourned the workshop at 8:45 P.M. NO