Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-16-08 workshop agenda — reading text

states: The Town Attorney shall: With approval of the Town Council based on criteria determined by said Town Council appear for and protect the rights of individual officers, members of boards, commissions, committees and agencies in all actions, suits or proceedings brought by or against them. Avon Town Charter, 6. 1. 1( v)( b). Other situations, such as dealing with labor relations or bond issues, may justify retaining outside counsel rather than adding to the city attorney' s responsibilities. Implicit in the council's power to make investigations of the conduct of a city department (§ 2. 09) is the power to engage special counsel in the unusual circumstances in which the council requires independent legal assistance, for example, if the city attorney would otherwise have a conflict of interest. Some cities have proposed creating separate positions of city attorney, one for city council, and one for the city manager or mayor. The eighth edition discourages this because of the belief that local government should be unitary. Section 4.04. Land Use, Development, and Environmental Planning. Consistent with all applicable federal and state laws with respect to land use, development, and environmental planning, the city council shall: 1) Designate an agency or agencies to carry out the planning function and such decision -making responsibilities as may be specified by ordinance; 2) Adopt a comprehensive plan and determine to what extent zoning and other land use control ordinances must be consistent with the plan; 3) Determine to what extent the comprehensive plan and zoning and other land use ordinances must be consistent with regional plan( s); and 4) Adopt development regulations, to be specified by ordinance, to implement the plan. The designated agency, the city manager, and the mayor and council shall seek to act in cooperation with other jurisdictions and organizations in their region to promote integrated approaches to regional issues. Commentary. Regulation of land use and development is a council function and an important aspect of home rule, allowing local governments to manage growth and enhance quality of life in the community. However, federal and state laws on land use, development, and environmental protection impose not only regulation but in some cases specific procedures on local governments. The Model provision provides the needed flexibility for the city to establish workable structures and procedures 29  I I for exercising the planning function within the context of constraints imposed by higher levels of government. Most cities are integral parts of metropolitan and other regions. The planning and development policies of a city have implications beyond its boundaries. The overall health of a metropolitan region is dependent on some integration of local and regional planning. In addition to establishing appropriate processes and relevant agencies, a city should seek consistency with regional plans in its planning endeavors. Article V FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Introduction. This article provides for the development of a comprehensive financial program, allowing maximum flexibility within the boundaries of sound fiscal practices. The budget and the budget approval process constitute the most visible and important activity undertaken by the government. The annual operating budget and multi -year capital plan are the products of the translation of disparate and often conflicting community goals and objectives into comprehensive financial documents. The financial planning process establishes a set of short- and long -term goals for the community and aids in resolving disagreements that arise in the execution of the operations of the government. The complete financial plan involves two major elements: 1) the current annual budget, and 2) the multi -year capital program which is coordinated with the annual budget. Section 5. 01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the city shall begin on the first day of and end on the last day of Commentary. It is strongly recommended that the fiscal year be set so that fiscally sound municipalities will not have to borrow for short terms in anticipation of taxes except in emergency situations. It is recognized, however, that before changes in the fiscal year can be made consideration must be given to the fiscal patterns of the other taxing jurisdictions affecting the city. The dates when the state usually pays significant amounts of grants in aid to the municipality should also be considered in developing an advantageous fiscal calendar. Section 5. 02. Submission of Budget and Budget Message. On or before the day of of each year, the city manager shall submit to the city council a budget for the ensuing fiscal year and an accompanying message. W Commentary. The specific submission date will depend upon the fiscal year but in any case it is suggested that it be at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year to allow time for public input and council deliberation. Section 5. 03. Budget Message. The city manager's message shall explain the budget both in fiscal terms and in terms of the work programs, linking those programs to organizational goals and community priorities. It shall outline the proposed financial policies of the city for the ensuing fiscal year and the impact of those policies on future years. It shall describe the important features of the budget, indicate any major changes from the current year in financial policies, expenditures, and revenues together with the reasons for such changes, summarize the city's debt position, including factors affecting the ability to raise resources through debt issues, and include such other material as the city manager deems desirable. Commentary. The budget message should clearly present the manager's program for accomplishing the council' s goals and priorities for the community for the coming year as translated into financial terms. Programs of the various city departments should be explained and the debt position city's summarized. From a careful reading of the budget message, members of the council and citizens should be able to obtain a clear and concise picture of what the manager expects to accomplish in the coming year, the estimated cost, sources of revenue and changes in the city debt. Section 5. 04. Budget. The budget shall provide a complete financial plan of all city funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year and, except as required by law or this charter, shall be in such form as the city manager deems desirable or the city council may require for effective management and an understanding of the relationship between the budget and the city's strategic goals. The budget shall begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in detail all estimated income, indicating the proposed property tax levy, and all proposed expenditures, including debt service, for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. It shall indicate in separate sections: 1) The proposed goals and expenditures for current operations during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed for each fund by department or by other organization unit, and program, purpose or activity, method of financing such expenditures, and methods to measure outcomes and performance related to the goals; 2) Proposed longer -term goals and capital expenditures during the ensuing fiscal year, detailed for each fund by department or by other organization unit when 31  d practicable, the proposed method of financing each such capital expenditure, and methods to measure outcomes and performance related to the goals; and 3) The proposed goals, anticipated income and expense, profit and loss for the ensuing year for each utility or other enterprise fund or internal service fund operated by the city, and methods to measure outcomes and performance related to the goals. For any fund, the total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of estimated income plus carried forward fund balance exclusive of reserves. Commentary. The budget is the translation of disparate and often conflicting community aspirations into a comprehensive financial document that reflects the governing body' s goals. It is a complete financial plan for all funds and activities that includes both revenues and expenditures. Expenditures for current operations and capital outlays should be shown separately with the source of financing indicated. The Model does not provide a detailed classification of revenues, expenditures, and specific funds because classifications will be developed by ordinance or administrative order, if they are not established by state agencies concerned with local finance as part of a uniform accounting system. Proposed current expenditures are to be presented in terms of the work programs of the respective offices, departments and agencies; this approach is the fundamental feature of program or performance budgeting. Performance measures used in the budget may include input, output, efficiency, and outcome measures with comparisons over time so as to encourage the government to benchmark its performance for continuous improvement. A city should strive toward development of outcome measures which reflect actual impact of a program, service, or project on its citizens. Citizens, council, and city staff should work together to undertake performance measurement subject to the year -to -year needs and demands of the community. Section 5. 05. City Council Action on Budget. a) Notice and Hearing. The city council shall publish the general summary of the budget and a notice stating: 1) The times and places where copies of the message and budget are available for inspection by the public, and 2) The time and place, not less than two weeks after such publication, for a public hearing( s) on the budget. b) Amendment Before Adoption. After the public hearing, the city council may adopt the budget with or without amendment. In amending the budget, it may add or increase programs or amounts and may delete or decrease any programs or amounts, except W