Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-16-2010 special — reading text

203 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 16, 2010 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 5: 00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes; joyce gillie gossom; Dennis Reeves; Mike Minich, Bobby Nabors; and Dick Rynearson Seat 6 Vacant Also Present: Robert Mearns, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, then state his or her name and address for the record. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. RESIGNATION OF CITY ATTORNEY The City Manager advised that on August 11, 2010, the City received a letter from the City Attorney announcing her resignation effective September 30, 2010. The City Manager continued that Section 3 of the City Attorney' s contract states a 90 -day resignation notice will be given and since it is less than 90 days, Council has to acknowledge the 90 -day notice is waived for a 45 -day notice. Mr. Minich moved to accept the 45 -day notice of resignation from the City Attorney Toni Craig. Mr. Nabors seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 6 vacant). PROCESS TO REPLACE CITY ATTORNEY The City Manager explained that Sec. 53 of the City Charter requires the City Council to appoint the City Attorney; since there are 45 days remaining before the departure of the present City Attorney, there is sufficient time remaining to advertise and solicit applicants for the position and conduct interviews. The City Manager informed that Staff recommends the City Council direct advertising to begin immediately to secure the services of a Florida Bar member or firm to serve as City Attorney through the Request for Information process, which will allow applications to be distributed as they are received. The City Manager continued that advertisements will be placed on the City website; the Escambia- Santa Rosa and Okaloosa -Walton Bar Associations; the Florida League of Cities Datagram; the Florida Municipal Attorney' s Association; and the Northwest Florida Daily News directing interested proposers to the City' s website. Applications will be accepted until September 8, 2010, at 2: 00 pm. 204 Special Council 8/ 16/ 10 PROCESS TO REPLACE CITY ATTORNEY (CONT) The City Manager concluded that special meetings will be required for the replacement process, and suggested special meetings be set for September 14th at 5: 00 pm to review and select three candidates for Council to interview, and at that time set a date for a special meeting for interviews and City Attorney selection. Staff recommends September 21 st at 5: 00 pm for interviews and selection. Council received clarification that when a new attorney is appointed they take over the duties of the City Attorney immediately, and that the current City Attorney will be available to help with the transition. The Mayor opened the public hearing. Dean Covey, 270 Brooks Street, was informed that the current City Attorney does not have a backup. Council received clarification that the position description for the City Attorney is inclusive of the City Attorney' s duties, and that the language " other duties as assigned" is included in the description. Mr. Minich moved to direct that advertising begin immediately to secure the services of a Florida Bar member or firm to serve as City Attorney through the Request for Information RFI) process; the RFI will state the duties and responsibilities of the position as well as the contract price for said services, and will be advertised on the City Website, the Escambia -Santa Rosa County Bar Association, the Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association, the Florida League of Cities Datagram, the Florida Municipal Attorney' s Association, and an announcement in the Northwest Florida Daily News directing interested proposers to the City' s website; applications will be accepted until September 8, 2010; a Special Council meeting will be held on September 14, 2010 at 5: 00 p.m. to review and select three to interview; and a Special Council meeting will be held on September 14, 2010 at 5: 00 p.m. for interviews and City Attorney selection. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 6 vacant). ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5: 09 pm. APPROVED: of MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK lve Date Completed: 8/ 18/ 10  MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 10- 11 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 16, 2010 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Monday, August 16, 2010, at 5: 30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, joyce gossom, Dennis Reeves, Mike Minich, Bobby Nabors, Dick Rynearson Seat 6 vacant Also Present: Bob Meams, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors PURPOSE The purpose of the Special Council meeting is to discuss the proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 -11. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Reeves moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Minich seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, gossom, Reeves, Minich, Nabors, and Rynearson in favor (Seat 6 vacant) PRESENTATION OF 2010 -2011 BUDGET The Finance Director went over the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010- 11that totals $ 35, 708, 090 and is 358, 601 ( 1. 0 %) less than the prior year and which was developed based on the direction of Council to keep public safety whole, keep as many services as possible, keep as many employees as possible, provide an employee compensation incentive if possible, and keep the millage rate below 5 mills. She gave a brief outline on how the goals were achieved to keep public safety whole with no reduction in service levels or response time and not staffmg reductions; to keep as many services as possible with no reduction in athletic or recreation programs, use of inmate labor for right -of way - maintenance, and library hours reduced 3 hours a week during non -peak times; to keep as many employees as possible with 19 employees that took advantage of the early retirement incentive program resulting in a decrease of 17.42 FTE' s or 5. 5 %, 2 new part-time positions in purchasing and utilities, with a payroll savings in salaries and benefits of $1. 4 million; to provide an employee compensation incentive if possible with vacation hours in lieu of pay increases on a sliding scale in 4 hour increments corresponding to an employees evaluation score, police bargaining unit members ineligible due to pending contract negotiations; and to keep the millage rate below 5 mills with the general fund balanced at the rolled back millage rate of 4. 5383 which will generate the same amount of ad valorem revenue as the prior year to provide the same program and service levels. The Finance Director then went over the use of General Fund Reserves to fund one -time, non -recurring expenses for the 1999 Golf Bond payoff, retirement payouts, inmate labor program start-up costs, automated minutes software, police department OSSI upgrade, police vehicles, LDC revisions, Hedrick Center improvements, City Hall Annex roof, Science Center roof, City Hall Energy Efficiency Lighting, Council Chambers HVAC, Butler Drive paving, and Howell Drive paving. 206 Special Council 8 -16 -10 PRESENTATION OF 2010 -2011 BUDGET cont. Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/Grants Manager went over the General Fund highlights with no support for Chamber, EDC, or Advocacy Group; no support for BMX Park; school crossing guards, police training transferred from LETF; computer replacements; police vehicle replacements; Seabreeze /Oakland Park door replacements; 72" riding mower replacement; Ferry Park tennis court resurfacing; library books and publications fund from Harvey Trust; utility body retrofit for truck; and the annual street resurfacing program. Ms. Dunworth went over the CRA Fund highlights with five funded positions; a focus on marketing and economic development; street resurfacing; Heritage Park improvements; sidewalk installation; nuisance abatement; economic incentive program; and Soundside demolition and infrastructure. Ms. Dunworth went over the Utilities Fund highlights for GIS mapping; water well maintenance; water tank maintenance; lift station rehabilitation; sewer system flow monitoring; and pump station maintenance. Ms. Dunworth went over the other Enterprise Fund highlights for the Sanitation Fund, the Golf Fund, and the Stormwater Fund. Ms. Dunworth went over the highlights for the Special Revenue Funds for the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, the Law Enforcement Training Fund, the CDBG Fund, the Debt Service Fund, and the Beal Memorial Fund. Ms. Dunworth concluded the presentation with the staff request that Council approve the proposed FY 2010- 11 budget ( any increase in spending in one area will require a reduction in another area or increase in the millage rate); to approve the Hedrick Center improvements ( water intrusion correction and gym cooling system are estimated at $ 100, 000 in FY 2010 -11; additional improvements estimated at $ 250, 000 would extend the life of the building about 15 years and permit operations at the center to continue status quo); to approve the annual purchasing waivers for computers, library books, fuel, street, paving and sidewalk construction; and cost allocation plan waivers for the golf and stormwater funds. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. Richard Moak, 207 Wright Parkway and retired City firefighter, commended staff and City Council for reaching the rolled back millage rate goal and to keep staff especially in the public service departments. He commented that the employees cannot perform at their maximum capability when worried about job cuts and expressed the hope that the rolled back millage rate will help to ease the fears of employees worried about job cuts. Nancy Reynolds expressed support for keeping the city services whole and her hope that the police and fire services will not be affected. David Cheek, 305 Cecelia Drive spoke in support of the rolled back millage rate that will keep staff and the services provided. Shane Stewart spoke in support