Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 03-24-05 — reading text

functioning of the Council. The Council I adopted the following Rules of Conduct and Protocol on June 8, 2004. 1. Representing the Council. I Individual Council members should not publicly assert a position of the City or the Council unless such position was established by a vote or consensus of the Council. From time to time, Council may select a representative of the body to act I as aspokesperson negotiator for the Council. As such,the selected or representative shall only express the opinion of the Council for which he or she was selected to represent. I 2. Complaints from Citizens. Council members should refer all complaints, including personnel issues and I disputes between private citizens, to the City Manager as soon as possible for investigation and resolution. I 3. Lobbying of Staff. Council members should not attempt to influence individual staff members' views on issues that are under study or review for later consideration by the entire I Council. 4. Use of Staff. I Council members should be mindful of the limited resources and time of the City Staff. Therefore, Council' s main point of contact for any issue of business with the Staff should be the City Manager. Council members should visit City Hall for I business matters only, avoid socializing there during business hours, and should endeavor not to use Staff for personal business. Further, inquiry by Council of any Staff:as allowed by the Charter, should follow these guidelines: I a. The scope of inquiry to any Department Head shall be a subject directly related to the job, duties, and scope of work of the Department Head. b. The inquiry must be directly related to official City business and must not I require: 1) the production or copies of files, paperwork, or documents used in the course of duties by the staff member; I 2) communications with other staff members or third parties to the City; 3) the expenditure of an unreasonable amount of time on the part of the staff member. I c. If an inquiry will require b. t, b.2, or b. 3, the Department Head shall inform the inquirer and the City Manager. Thereafter, the inquirer and the I City Manager shall determine the appropriate method of responding to the inquiry. I I 2 I II. 5. Policing Problems. i Council has the responsibility to police and correct any problem among the II. members of the Council. Council members who intentionally and repeatedly do not follow proper conduct may be reprimanded or formally censured by the entire Council. Serious infractions of protocol, as determined on a case by case basis by majority vote of the Council, may lead to other sanctions. To address violations of filii protocol or these rules, Council members should point out to the offending 1 Council member or to the parliamentarian at a public meeting or in written correspondence, a copy of which shall be filed with the City Clerk for inclusion into the public record. The offending Council member shall then be entitled to defend himself either at a public meeting or in a written response. The Council shall then,at a public meeting, determine what further action,censure, or sanction should be imposed. 6. Dissemination of Information. All Council members, the Mayor, and Charter Officers shall receive the same 1 information about any matter that relates to business items for the Council's consideration. II. filii L. II. i 1 i. 3 I. l' iliiii Fiscal Overview The core City's Budget process places an emphasis on sound fiscal of the management and operational decision-making in accordance with the goals and l' III objectives established by the citizens of Fort Walton Beach, City Council and l' iliiii staff through the City's Vision Plan. The budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 is balanced at $ 30, 341, 823. The budget, when adjusted for inflation, is 1. 61% lower than the previous year budget and 2.40% lower than the fiscal year 1995- 1996 budget of ten years ago. In addition, the ad valorem tax rate is sustained at the relatively low level of 4.97 mills for the eleventh consecutive year. This Budget continues the City' s commitment of using the Vision Plan as the blueprint for providing services and programs for the betterment of the community' s citizens and businesses consistent with the values expressed in the Plan. l' iliiii The City will continue to encourage new development, support redevelopment of obsolete or underutilized commercial and residential properties, and encourage l' iliiii our business community to expand employment opportunities for our families and II.. children. Our citizens along with a new generation of families, will build new or renovate aging dwellings to realize the City' s Vision on their personal level. l' iliiii a.. Further, we will continue to be good stewards of this beautiful area and provide the amenities that give our residents a superior quality of life. l' iliiii II. filii fill III l' iliiii fill fill III 4 i.. III FY ZOO4-OS Budget I~ CIT~' MA~ A€~ I- X~(-~ I~ J~ I: ~/ I~'~ ~ l;/"/~' l";-~ It is the MISSION of the City of Fort Walton Beach to be a leader among cities and in the region at large in delivering outstanding quality services to all citizens through innovative and efficient use of resources. This document summarizes the City's proposed budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. FY % 05 Vision Plan Goals 004- Public Safety III 30, 341, 823 Estimated Revenues: $ Create an urban environment where residents and visitors Other Financing feel safe and protected from harm to property and person. Interest & Misc. Ad Valorem Sources Revenues Taxes F.Ines. an d 11. 4% Neighborhoods till Build upon existing neighborhood assets to create safe, Forefeltures 1. 0% 2.6% 16.0% stable, and beautiful neighborhoods that are the pride of all the residents. i Transportation *' Provide a safe, pedestrian- friendly, efficient, cost effective, and un- congested transportation system that accomodates today' s demands, but also plans for reasonable anticipated growth in the City as well as the surrounding region. IiIIIt Business Economic Development . Licenses & Expand the diversity of the economic base in the City to Bldg. Permits, etc. create a well- rounded economy that provides quality job 1. 2% opportunities and provides the community with diverse, high quality goods and services. Government Relations IJiIiI WHERE THE MONEY GOES. . . Create a council system encouraging public participation Estimated Expenses: $ 30,341, 823 and responsive to the citizens' Vision for the City. Infrast~ cture iIII Debt Service Police, Fire, Provide state- of-the art treatment, delivery, and collection