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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 07-09-2002 Workshop CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING CITY HALL ANNEX 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida TUESDAY July 9, 2002 5:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: Council Members Present: Council Member Jim Morgan Mayor Pro Tem Buzz Petsos Mayor Rocky Randels Council Member Larry Weber Council Member Richard Treverton Others Present: City Manager Bennett Boucher City Clerk Susan Stills City Treasurer Andrea Bowers Building Official Morris Reid Recreation Director Nancy Hanson Public Works Director Ed Gardulski Commander George McGee, Canaveral Precinct Lt. Gary Young, Canaveral Precinct Fire Chief Dave Sargeant, CCVFD DISCUSSION: 1. Review of 2002/2003 General Fund. Mayor Randels provided background on the budget process and explained how the City Manager used the Goals Session Meeting to formulate the budget goals for the fiscal year. There was a difference of opinion on implementing the full one mill expenditure for the fire ad valorem tax. Questions arose in the Property Appraiser's determinate of the tax rolls as Mayor Randels asked if the proposed budget figures were the newly revised. Ms. Bowers affirmed that these were the revised figures. She stated that 95% of the ad valorem taxes are computed and explained that the figure used factored out new construction. Mayor Randels clarified that the Council did not wish to figure on an amount that would be reduced later. Mr. Treverton p ointed out that the assessed property values have historically increased. Mayor Randels asked the Council if they would like to conclude at a specific time. Council Members agreed on 7 P.M. and any further discussion would be concluded at the next scheduled workshop meeting on Thursday, July 11 Mayor Randels clarified that a consensus of the Council on an item would be the goal to proceed through each fund. Mr. Boucher asked how Council would choose to proceed. Council chose to start at the beginning of the book. City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Budget Workshop Meeting 1 July 9, 2002 Page 2 I Revenues Mayor Randels inquired about Florida Power and Light utility tax. Ms. Bowers stated that it would fall under utility taxes. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos stated that the $565,000 figure was on page four. Mr. Treverton pointed out the 232 percent increase under the ad valorem for the Fire Department. Mayor Randels addressed the 18 percent in I Building Permits. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos stated that Council was aware that this would I I be a conservative figure. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos questioned about the Local Half -Cent Sales Tax. Ms. Bowers stated that the figure was an average over eight months. Mayor 1 Pro Tem Petsos queried about the recycling fee revenue. He asked if the City were tied in a contract on adjustments. Mr. Boucher stated that those were the actual fees based on the billing. Mr. Morgan questioned the 5 percent increase on Mobile Home Licenses. Ms. Bowers replied that this is a projection from what the City is now receiving. Mr. Morgan also asked about the Alcoholic Beverage Licenses. She stated that that is an estimate based on trend. F 1 Mr. Treverton asked about the 18 percent increase in Fines and Forfeitures. Ms. Bowers replied that this revenue is obtained from traffic violations. Mr. Morgan inquired about the negatives on items such as Interest Income Investments. Mayor Randels u replied that the interest rate has decreased significantly. Mr. Morgan also questioned 1 about the Interest Income — Tax Collections — Police Service. Ms. Bowers explained I that this is income derived from taxes paid late. Mr. Morgan questioned about the 60 1 percent decrease in the Refund of Prior Year Expenses. Ms. Bowers replied that this would be income paid in a catastrophic event such as through a FEMA grant. Mayor Randels pointed out the 100 percent decrease in the Appropriated Fund Balance in that in this year there was no need to take money from the savings account to make any capital purchases. Mr. Morgan asked if a note could be generated and the money repaid to the fund. Ms. Bowers stated that a note has been generated for the fire truck. Y Legislative I Mayor Pro Tem Petsos inquired about the decrease in Awards and Recognition spending. Ms. Bowers replied that the final decision on this is the Council's. Mayor Randels inquired about the decrease in the Memberships and Training budget. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos reminded that the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference is forthcoming. Council concurred to increase the proposed budgeted amount for Legislative Memberships and Training from $2,240 to $3,285. 1 Administration 1 Ms. Bowers stated that the salaries reflect merit increases. She also stated that merit Ce increases are based on performance with an applied 3 to 5 percent. Mayor Randels stated that 1.6 percent was applied for a Cost of Living Increase. Mr. Morgan said that he would like to see a dollar amount applied in order to benefit the lower paid employee. He stated that the merit increase should be equal based on achievement. Mayor Pro t i i c City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Budget Workshop Meeting July 9, 2002 Page 3 Tem Petsos asked why Workers Compensation increased by 66 percent. Mayor Randels explained that each class of worker is broken down by cost. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos inquired about the increase in Communications. Mr. Boucher replied that a new billing rate has not been incurred. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos questioned why the desktop computers were replaced with laptops. Mr. Boucher replied for convenience of recording meeting minutes and emergency management purposes. Mr. Morgan asked if there were a plan that would provide for a no cost prescription plan. Chief Dave Sargeant informed that there was no such plan for small groups. Mr. Morgan inquired about the 16 percent increase in the Retirement Contribution. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos clarified that this is due to an increase in wages. Mr. Morgan inquired about the breakdowns in the Salaries and Wages, for example the Administrative Assistants. Mr. Boucher responded that some of the differences in salaries are based on tenure. Growth Management Mayor Randels outlined that this fund includes Planning and Zoning and the Board of Adjustment. Mr. Reid stated that he requested a full -time secretary in this year's budget. Mayor Randels reminded that the Building Department acquired a truck proposed in a later years budget in this year's budget. He pointed out that the budget for Growth Management was also broken down into other categories. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos Ce asked for an explanation on the lower $1,500 budgeted for Publishing. Mr. Boucher stated that minimal legal ad publishing was anticipated. Police Service Ms. Deborah Barker, Finance Officer, Brevard County Sheriffs Office asked if each Council Member had a copy of the handout. Ms. Barker introduced the other members of the precinct in attendance and opened her presentation with a review of the handout. She explained how lowering the crime rate is part of Sheriff Williams' vision. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos asked if there were any statistics on the decrease in juvenile offenses. Commander McGee replied that Cape Canaveral's problem with juveniles is minimal compared to larger cities. Mayor Randels said that he was looking for substantive measurement of the Sheriffs office goals. Ms. Barker replied that the goals of the Sheriffs office reflect the City's goals using proactive measures in law enforcement. She reviewed the changes in law enforcement since the September 11 incident. Ms. Barker stated that most of the demands and financial burdens have shifted to the local level. Since January 1, 2002 18,000 leads have been followed. Lt. Gary Young stated that the City has high profile neighbors such as the Port and the Kennedy Space Center. He commented on activity in the area that raised concerns and warranted increased security. He stated that due to consequence management, biohazard suits are now a requirement in vehicles. Ms. Barker stated that a request was made for $300,000 from the Brevard County Commission for advanced lab equipment to assist with evidence checking. She displayed statistical data in that Traffic Citations ranked 969. Mr. Morgan inquired about the 19 juvenile offenses. Ms. Barker displayed a crime statistic chart and the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Budget Workshop Meeting July 9, 2002 Page 4 C increase in Aggravated Assault and Larceny/Theft crimes. Lt. Young commented on attacks by strangers. Ms. Barker pointed out the spike in burglaries during the summer timeframe. She then showed two years of statistical data the largest of which was Calls for Service at 16, 602 and 17, 893 for 2000 and 2001. Mr. Treverton commented on the breakdown in domestic assault and assault by a stranger. Mr. Morgan questioned about the increase in Narcotic/Gambling /Prostitution. Lt. Young stated that these are individuals that have moved from other areas. Ms. Barker informed that the jail has reached its maximum capacity of 1,300. She related how prisoners are charged for personal effects. Ms. Barker turned the presentation over to Commander McGee for the accident statistics, fatalities and DUI (Driving Under the Influence) charges. Commander McGee stated that incidents have decreased in spite of the recent construction in the area He pointed out the spike in DUI's in 1998. The Sheriffs office received a grant and activated a DUI task force. Mr. Treverton inquired about the gambling ship traffic and asked if that were part of the DUI problem. Commander McGee replied that after 10:00 P.M. on SR A1A there is an increase in intoxicated drivers. Mr. Treverton inquired about the use of cell phones to find people. Lt. Young responded that he has used his cell phone to assist in arrest. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos inquired about how many arrests were from residents or out -of -town people. Officers in attendance responded that the arrests Co, were equally distributed. Mayor Randels asked what more could be done. Lt. Young replied that penalizing the bar owners would not be fair or practical. Ms. Barker focused on some of the prior year's accomplishments such as implementing a proactive crime prevention strategy; volunteer clean -up campaigns, community relations programs and juvenile mentoring. Mayor Randels asked if there were a change in ownership of Camp Chance. Ms. Barker said that she was not aware of a change. Commander McGee replied that there were not enough deputies available for supervision and therefore fewer children were eligible to participate. Ms. Barker reviewed the new position requests. She stated that front line road patrol is the City's best defense. Commander McGee explained that the K -9 Patrol Unit is the tool to assist the Deputy on vehicle stops and potential drug arrests. A dog is non - discriminatory and a deputy would not be endangered. Ms. Barker commented that the K -9 is a good deterrent. Mr. Morgan asked if there were a way to rotate to fill the void of days off. Commander McGee replied that there is variance in the schedule and the K -9 could be used from 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. Mr. Treverton asked is there were a possibility to coordinate with Merritt Island for seamless coverage. Pat Dean is working with the school and fundraising efforts are underway to secure a dog. A community - policing project is being scheduled for August 24 at Cape View Elementary School. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos asked how many deputies the City has per precinct. Ms. Barker replied that she would supply a figure and approximated 2.1 per precinct. Ms. Barker then turned the explanation of the prospective changes to the General Crimes Unit Sergeant over to Lt. Young. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos inquired why he or the Commander would not be front line supervision for this unit. Lt. Young responded that he has Limited supervisory responsibility. Lt. Young replied to Mr. Morgan that five City of Cape Canaveral, Florida City Council Budget Workshop Meeting July 9, 2002 Page 5 people are the span of control. Commander McGee informed that business operations have doubled and the need has expanded equally. Mr. Morgan inquired about laptop use and both Commander and Lt. Young affirmed their use. Ms. Barker commented that laptops were beneficial in maintaining visibility for the community- policing officer. Lt. Young replied to Mayor Pro Tem Petsos that the intent is to redirect this position from a social perspective to a proactive policing position. Ms. Barker explained that the community policing functions would need to remain for one full year after the final draw from the current grant. Lt. Young explained that the deputies in these units are highly complementary of one another. Mayor Pro Tem Petsos asked if there were any discussion on sharing a K -9 unit with the Port. Commander McGee responded that the Port needs a bomb- sniffing dog and the two types of dog are trained differently. The Council agreed to continue the meeting in order to complete the Sheriffs Department budget. Mr. Treverton reminded that he would like to see a joint use Law Enforcement facility with the Port. Mr. Morgan expressed that although one dog could not be used for both the City and Port, we could exchange uses of two dogs. Ms. Barker concluded her presentation and thanked the Council. Mayor Randels clarified the requests as one new road deputy, one K -9 unit and a General Crimes C ise Unit with a $386,000 increase. Ms. Barker replied to Mayor Pro Tem Petsos that she would attempt to respond to any of this evening's questions for the next workshop meeting although she would not be in attendance. Mayor . 4 ., t. r _t‘os inquired about the General Fund Tax. Ms. Barker responded that ,' . k ` Pa Y.01: 'ttAhe jail and for the overall support of law enforcement. All u ;" = 'o,rporated arms' y Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU). " , • 5 I S S, C ITY,o E; " (se