Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-18-08 special miinutes - budget — reading text

consultant. She said if it fails then they will have to amend the budget. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Reeves moved to approve the Debt Service Fund budget as presented. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). Capital Proiects Fund The Finance Director reported the Capital Projects Fund has no activity budgeted this year. It was asked if there was a list of capital projects recommended by Department Heads in case Council wished to put them in. The City Manager acknowledged there is but those projects would not be put in this fund, they would go into the Departmental unit; this fund is for big, one time capital projects. She said no action is needed on this budget. Res. 08-31: Oud!! et Transfer Establishin!! : Procedures The resolution was read by title. A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE BUDGET TRANSFER PROCEDURES AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Finance Director explained the purpose of the resolution is to formalize an internal administrative policy that has been in place for many years. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Minich move to approve Res. 08- 31. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). RECESS The meeting recessed at 7: 45 p. m. RECONVENE The meeting reconvened at 8: 00 p. m. POLICE DEPARTMENT Ted Litschauer, Police Chief, said for the past five years they have participated in the State of Florida Law Enforcement Challenge and came in third place two or three years ago and each and year they participate place they receive a piece of equipment. He reported Corporal Steve Hull, who represents the City, came back this morning with first place for their division from the State. He said this will translate into $ 12, 000 of DOT money where they can select equipment from a web site in the next few weeks.  225 Special Council 8- 18- 08 POLICE DEPARTMENT cont. The Police Chief also mentioned the fund raiser held for the K- 9 program not only funded the purchase of two canines but because the community was so generous it has funded the operation. He said there has been some success with the K-9 program and there have also been a couple of pitfalls that he will share. He reported they have lost one handler due to a back injury and will retire soon, so that has limited some use of one of the canines. He said the replacement for that officer inured his shoulder and is currently in a cast but he will be back on duty soon. He reported they have had some difficulties with the other canine that did not meet the specifications provided in the purchase so the City Attorney is involved now in attempting to get a replacement. He explained the animal is a good animal and does not have any false alerts but has about 50% on alerts, and that is not good enough for the investment the members of the community donated. Review included the increase in responses to high priority and low priority calls, and decrease in traffic accidents and emergency response time; and the decrease in revenues received. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. The Police Chief noted the Police Department was re- accredited this year for a three year accreditation and mentioned the Department received a zero issue inspection. He stated every member of the Department worked toward that significant achievement and one person, Captain Tony Taylor, did as much as everyone combined. Mr. Garvie moved to approve the Police Department budget as presented. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). Law Enforcement Trust Fund The Police Chief noted there is a State portion and a Federal portion to the Law Enforcement Training Fund. He said they have had no input into the federal portion for a while and when those funds are exhausted the expenditures will have to come out of the General Fund. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Minich moved to approve the Law Enforcement Trust Fund budget as presented. Mr. Garvie seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). Law Enforcement Trainine Fund The Police Chief is received from every citation to go into this Fund to pay for explained $ 2. 00 travel/ training outside the Department. He said they try to provide as much of their mandatory and specialized training inside the Department and they continue to look for ways to provide training beyond the minimum as efficiently as possible. The City Manager pointed out this Fund pays for the school crossing guards as the City does not receive any reimbursement from the Schools or the County. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed. Mr. Garvie moved to approve the Law Enforcement Training Fund as presented. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor Miller ( absent). 226 Special Council 8- 18- 08 FIRE DEPARTMENT Mike Dutton, Fire Chi,:f, mentioned the upcoming retirements of personnel will create promotion opportunities for employe:es to move up the ranks. He reported the Department will be going to 800 MHz radio system courtesy of a $ 100, 000 State grant. He pointed out the budget includes a reduction in overtime due to everyone having 1been promoted that can be promoted or made a paramedic that can be made a paramedic. He mentioned the donation of a vehicle received from the Sheriff's Office and they are working on getting it in service. He mentioned there was some question on what the Battalion Chief does compared with the Captain. He explained the Battalion Chief is the commander in the field in charge of all the troops at the scene of a fire, the Captains are in charge of the individual fire units who attack the fire. There was a request on clarification on the early retirements and early outs not working out as anticipated and will cost additional funding. The Fire Chief explained they anticipated certain people to fill certain positions after they qualify and take the test, then a promotional list is made. He said the promotional list did not add up to the list used to project the budget. There was some question on the unfunded Fire Inspections Captain position. The Fire Chief commented there is a Fire Marshall and Fire Inspector left to do the inspections, and will not suffer due to they anything a lack of an Inspector in that position. He explained one of the main jobs was public education, so they will suffer greatly in public education. The question was posed on the safety role of the Fire Inspections Captain on scene. The Fire Chief explained since he has been Chief h,: has detailed one fire fighter, either an Inspector or a Captain from the inspections division to be specified as the safety officer for the Department and it is within his realm to to all respond fires and do nothing but to watch for safety concerns of the personnel. The question was posed on the difference between the safety officer and the on scene Commander or the Battalion Chief, and what will be lost in safety if that position is unfunded. The Fire Chief explained the person who does the overall scene control dictates where the water goes, what people to save, and ofthings that nature. He said the safety officer, which is FPA enforced OSHA required, ensures that no one does an unsafe act while he is on the fire ground, and he can override the fire ground commander to say it is an unsafe act and stop it. The question was posed on who monitors the life monitoring systems of the firefighters. The Fire Chief explained that is another staff position called a personnel control board and is another responding Chief or the Battalion Chief that will do double duty. The impact of losing the Fire Inspections Captain position was questioned. The Fire Chief replied there is an impact, there is a safety t:lctor that will not be there and they will have to rely on the personnel to police themselves on safety. The question was asked on the hours worked for that position, and whether that designation can be given to the Fire Marshall or other Fire Inspector. The Fire Chief explained that position works five days, nine to five, and is usually given a car to take home and responds from his home to all fires within F ort Walton Beach. He said he cannot designate it to the current personnel but perhaps in December when the current Fire Marshall retires he can designate the new Fire Marshall. He confirmed is training and there are