Budget Workshop

08-29-18 City Council Workshop Agenda

Call to Order……………………………………………………………..00:00:00

Mayor Dale Massad called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

Pledge of Allegiance……………………………………………..00:00:29

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Roll Call………………………………………………………………………..00:01:17

The roll was called. Mayor Dale Massad, Vice Mayor Terrence Rowe, Councilwoman Jennie Sorrell, Councilman Richard Bloom, City Attorney James Mathieu, and City Manager Vincent Lupo were present. Councilman William Dittmer was absent.

Comments from the City Manager…………………….00:01:50

There were no comments from the City Manager.

Review of FY 2018-19 Budget Document……….00:02:15

City Manager Vincent Lupo reviewed the details of the proposed budget and provided visuals of the various revenues and expenditures through a PowerPoint presentation.

Mayor Dale Massad asked about the cost of the Police Department’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

Mr. Lupo explained that the potential cost for the CAD is distributed among multiple line-items and may be up to $200,000.00 in cost. However, he suspected the final cost would be much lower than the budgeted amount. He also explained that the CAD has become necessary due to recent state and county regulations.

Councilwoman Jennie Sorrell asked about the water billing system. She specifically asked about the bidding process.

Mr. Lupo explained that the change in the billing system came about due to a change in banking services. He stated that with the new banking services, the branch offered to take over the billing process in conjunction with the banking services they offered to the City. He explained that this would save the City a substantial amount of money by reducing the staff required to perform the same service.

Councilman Richard Bloom asked how much the service would cost and save the City. Staff explained that the annual cost of the service was the same amount of money the City pays in postage alone which would also be covered. The total annual cost was around twelve thousand dollars. Councilman Bloom asked how much the City would save. Staff advised that the cost of the three personnel that were removed from that department cost approximately $150,000.00 for salary, benefits and other associated costs.

Council and staff reviewed and discussed several points throughout the budget.

Councilwoman Jennie Sorrell asked for a list of each member of staff, their salary, the breakdown of their pay out of each fund, and also the pay changes and promotions for each employee over the last four years.

Vice Mayor Terrence Rowe asked where the three employees mentioned regarding the personnel savings with the new utility billing system had gone. Staff advised that one employee retired, another resigned and the final would be consolidated with another position.

Councilwoman Jennie Sorrell asked staff to explain the difference between carry-over and reserves. Staff advised that carry-over funds were a remaining balance from the prior fiscal year and reserves were derived from the City’s savings account that may or may not have restrictions. Councilwoman Sorrell asked for staff to prepare quarterly budget updates in the next fiscal year, staff agreed. She also asked staff to provide a breakdown or report of the non-revenues indicated in the proposed budget.

Staff and Council discussed the budget further.

Mayor Dale Massad asked about the expenses for the generator. Staff advised that the City now owned the generator but the City would continue to incur maintenance costs. Mayor Massad asked staff for the numbers for the generator.

Bill Colombo: 7810 Chasco St. – Spoke about the generator cost being discussed by Council. He explained that when the City leased the generator, he was serving on Council at the time, the agreement included a buyout option. He explained that the size of the generator was to supply power for up to two buildings at the time, however, the second building was never built. He stated that the cost of the generator was much more than the proposed maintenance expense for the year which is a specialty service.

Staff confirmed Mr. Colombo’s statements.

There was further discussion amongst Council and staff.

Vice Mayor Terrence Rowe asked about the expenses associated with dispatch on behalf of the many inquiries he received from the public. Chief DeCanio advised that if the City outsourced dispatch to the County, not only would it cost the City more money but it would cripple the officers because the Police Department would lose the FDLE issued ORI number that is required to access all criminal intelligence terminals. He further explained that the building is required to be manned twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to maintain the ORI number. The City would either lose the ORI or pay personnel to man the station while also paying the County for dispatch services. He also advised that the County may offer an introductory rate for the first couple of years and then increase the rate at a later time which may cost more than what the City is currently paying.

There was a discussion amongst Council and staff.

Adjourn………………………………………………………………………..00:54:22

MOTION:
Councilman Richard Bloom made a motion to adjourn. Vice Mayor Terrence Rowe seconded the motion. All were in favor.