Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-17-2011 special-budget policy — reading text

Final Minutes- - City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Tuesday, May 17, 2011 5: 00 PM im miraeie Sblp Perk. vay Fort Walmn Bced, FL 32545 CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5: 00 pm. 5: 00 PM Meeting was called to order on May 17, 2011 at Council Chamber, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat 1 Present Joyce gossom Council Seat 2 Present Dennis Reeves Council Seat 3 Present Trey Goodwin Council Seat 4 Present Bobby Nabors Council Seat 5 Present Bull Rigdon Council Seat 6 Present Dick Rynearson Council Seat 7 Present 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. FY 2011 -2012 BUDGET POLICY The Mayor advised Item 3. 8, Contracting with OCSD for Law Enforcement Services, would be discussed before the budget policy issues. Discussion of Budget Policy Issues Synopsis: City Council will provide policy direction to staff on the ad valorem taxes, levels of service and expenditure preferences. The City Manager explained the budget process and that what is being discussed is a five -year forecast for the City. Brandy Worker, Finance Director, advised the budget policy issues will be discussed and voted on and discussed how future budgets for the City will be impacted. ofPorr Walton Beach Page 1 Printed 512012011  Minutes 17, 2011 2. Contracting with OCSD for Law Enforcement Services The City Manager advised this item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councilman Griggs. Mr. Griggs stated this is a request for information in order to investigate the option, and not a motion for consolidation of public safety service with the Sheriffs Office. Tony Taylor, City resident and retired police officer, spoke in favor of the City maintaining the police department and noted the many services that City residents received that are not offered by the Sheriffs department. Steve Hull, City resident and member of the police department, discussed the many off d- uty services the police department provides at a lower cost than would be provided by the Sheriffs Department. Henry Kelly, Oakland Circle, feels it would be a good idea for the City to request a bid, just to see what the numbers would indicate. Michael Barnes, Eglin Parkway, discussed a request he e- mailed to Councilman Griggs that has not been responded to. Evan Taylor, Miracle Strip Parkway, would like to see additional information to enable him to have an informed decision. Joe Foster, Park Circle, spoke in favor of the Police Department. Amy Jameson, City resident, spoke in favor of the Police Department. Lori Herrington, Fliva Avenue, discussed the role the Police Department played in a situation that occurred, and asked that the Police Department remain. Steve Menchel, Destin, stated he was a candidate for sheriff and spoke in favor of the police department. Thom Gossom, Bay Drive, urged Council to consider their decision carefully as their integrity is at stake. Millie Thrash, Sudduth Circle, stated the police and fire departments are considered quality of life issues for the City, and urged Council not to consolidate these services. Tim Black, Virginia Drive, questioned the cost of doing a proposal if there is no interest Mr. Griggs moved that the City of Fort Walton Beach ask the Sheriff of Okaloosa County to provide this City with information to determine the yearly cost of utilizing the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office as the provider of public safety in the City of Fort Walton Beach. As part of this request I propose that the City also request information on the cost of partial service, to include communications and records. Mr. Rigdon seconded motion. Cary CmomII ofF I Wall,, 8 each Page 2 P, wed 5202011  89 Special Meeting Minutes May 17, 2011 Council discussion included the need to obtain a cost estimate to enable Council to make an informed decision; that the City police gives residents something extra to make it a benefit to live in the City; that consolidation is an irreversible decision; and that the issue has been discussed for years and that an estimate is needed to resolve the issue once and for all. The vote on the motion carried by a vote of 4 to 3 with Griggs, Goodwin, Nabors, and Rigdon in favor and gossom, Reeves, and Rynearson opposed. RESULT: APPROVED [ 4 TO 31 MOVER: Bobby Griggs, Council Seat 1 SECONDER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 AYES: Bobby Griggs, Trey Goodwin, Bobby Nabors, Bull Rigdon NAYS: joyce gossom, Dennis Reeves, Dick Rynearson 3. General Fund Reserve Level Charlotte Dunworth, Budget /Grants Manager, described the General Fund Reserve Level and the policy options. The motion to maintain the General Fund reserve level at 30% of total annual expenditures carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Rynearson opposed. RESULT: APPROVED [ 6 TO 11 MOVER: Bobby Nabors, Council Seat 5 SECONDER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon NAYS: Dick Rynearson 4. Millage Rate Ms. Dunworth defined the millage rate and discussed the impact and the policy options. The motion to maintain the current millage rate of 4. 5383 carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dennis Reeves, Council Seat 3 SECONDER: joyce gossom, Council Seat 2 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson 5. Employee Performance Incentive Program Ms. Dunworth discussed the Employee Performance Incentive Program and the policy options, including endorsing a lump -sum performance incentive payment up to $ 900; maintaining the current practice of awarding vacation hours; or not providing any adjustments or incentives. Mr. Nabors moved to maintain the current policy of awarding vacation hours based on an employee' s annual evaluation score, with the option of allowing the employee to choose a monetary equivalent. Mr. Rigdon seconded motion. Cary Cmarcd o( Fon W. 11 Beach Page  Minutes 17. 2011 Ms. gossom amended the motion to remove the annual performance evaluation as part of the criteria. Mr. Rynearson seconded the amendment. Discussion included the need to show appreciation to City employees and noted it's been three years since employees received any monetary incentives. The vote on the amendment to remove the annual performance evaluation as part of the criteria failed by a vote of 2 to 5 with gossom and Rynearson in favor and Griggs, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, and Rigdon opposed. Mr. Nabors moved to offer a performance bonus based on last year' s criteria with the option of employees receiving a monetary incentive, vacation hours, or a combination of both, based on an employee' s annual evaluation score. Mr. Rynearson seconded motion and it carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED ] UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Bobby Nabors, Council Seat 5 SECONDER: Dick Rynearson, Council Seat 7 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson 6. Voluntary Defined Contribution Plan Ms. Dunworth discussed the Voluntary Defined Contribution Plan available to employees and the policy options, including whether participation in the plan should be voluntary for new hires. The motion to amend the Defined Contribution Plan be voluntary for new hires carried unanimously. RESULT: APPROVED ] UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dennis Reeves, Council Seat 3 SECONDER: Dick Rynearson, Council Seat 7 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson 7. Community Facility Consolidation Ms. Dunworth discussed the four community recreational facilities operated by the City, and the policy options including closing facilities as repairs become expensive; developing a capital improvement program for current facility repairs; and developing a master plan to consolidate recreational centers and ball fields into a centralized location. Jeff Peters, noted the difficulty in maintaining the current facilities and feels a centralized location would be beneficial to the City. Mr. Rigdon moved Policy Option 3, to develop a master plan to consolidate recreation centers and ball fields into a centralized location. Mr. Nabors seconded motion. Mr. Rynearson amended the motion to include Option 1, that if facilities are closed due to becoming cost prohibitive, that recreational programs will be switched to an alternative location. Mr. Rigdon accepted the amendment. ca) Council gfra,, Walton Beach Page 4 Printed 512012011 Special Meeting Minutes May 17, 2011 The vote on the motion as amended carried unanimously. RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [ UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 SECONDER: Bobby Nabors, Council Seat 5 AYES: Griggs, gossom, Reeves, Goodwin, Nabors, Rigdon, Rynearson 8. Surplus Land Sales Ms. Dunworth informed the City has several parcels of land that are vacant or underutilized, and discussed the policy options including endorsing the sale or long -term lease of surplus properties, or taking no action on surplus properties.