Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-13-1991 Workshop — reading text

on Council in the and Staff must event of shortfalls in expenditures estimates. In other words, the expenditures might be " too close for I comfort. " CAPITAL OUTLAY The City Manager noted Council had been given information requested on the capital outlay of each department along with justification for overtime. He brought attention to the sheet in the budget which lists capital outlay by department. He noted the first four lines which were City Council, City Manager, Assistant City Manager. and City Clerk were zero. The Finance Director commented the City Clerk fell under the special projects. The City Manager explained in the budget there is $ 23, 000 for special projects which are projects carried over from previous years. He informed $ 13, 000 of that $ 23, 000 is shown on the first sheet they have for the City Clerk' s Capital Outlay. He felt the items listed on the City Clerk' s memo were needed. The City Clerk remarked the items listed, ( conference recording system for Council Chambers, typewriter, and microfilm processor - recall & copy), were in the budget this year and was put off another year. The City Clerk justified the items listed, commenting that she does intend to look into the option of contracting someone to microfilm records and all would be needed would be something that could be used to make acopy of it. She commented the $ 1, 500 allocated for overtime is to cover Council meetings, workshops, Boards & Committees, and they try to limit it. A question was raised regarding the automated pumping station calimeter that was in the budget for 1988 or 1989. and again in 1990. The Public Works Director responded they are trying to get specs finalized on that now. and money is in this year' s budget for that. The City Manager observed that they are authorized to pay a person comp time rather than pay, but they cannot force a person to take comp time rather than pay because of the Fair Labor and Standards Act. I ATTORNEY FEES It the The was decided departments City Manager reminded that to address before any decisions the capital outlay a were made. question concerning of all of legal fees had been raised and noted legal fees were included in the memo from the Finance Director. 254 8- 13- 91 ATTORNEY FEES ( CONT.) The City Manager pointed out the firm Christiansen, Dehner & Watts, which has been paid $ 12, 006. 49 this year, has been involved in the Firefighters Pension Plan for the past three years. This is one of the costs Council never actually sees, because the Pension Plan pays the attorney fees. The City must keep the plan actuarially sound. The City Manager went over the other attorney fees listed. The City Attorney had been paid $ 30, 326. 12 from the General Fund and $ 2, 872. 50 from CRA this year, with a total of $ 33, 198. 62. Mr. Flowers, from Chesser, Wingard, Barr, Whitney, Flowers & Fleet. represents the Police Department in the process of ceasing vehicles, equipment, money. etc. That is a civil process and has to be accomplished through court. He has received 6, 671.07 this year, and practically all of that has come out of the Law Enforcement Trust Fund. Moore, Kessler & Moore represents the City on the Thornber, Franklin, Grant case, and has received 10, 365. 90 this year. Mr. Norton, from Hogg, Allen, Norton, & Blue, is the labor attorney for the City, and has received $ 10, 896. 30 this year, When asked if the new Council had been informed of the background on the Thornber, Franklin, Grant case, the City Manager replied he had not done so. A suggestion was then made that background be provided to the new Council members since a lot of money was involved. Messer, Vickers. Caparello, Madsen & Lewis were the attorneys hired by the City for the Comprehensive Plan Administrative Hearing. They have received $ 5, 702. 78. Sale, Smoak, Harrison. Sale, McCoy, & Thompson provided a legal opinion to the City involving the Comprehensive Plan, and they have received $ 1, 298. 00 Smith, Grimsley & Remington provided a legal opinion and received $ 166. 66. The City Manager commented that is what has been spent so far, and at this time, he sees no reason to adjust the figures in the budget for the coming year. CAPIT AL OUTLAY The City Manager informed Capital Outlay for the Finance Department is $ 10. 000 for special projects. A question was asked if that $ 10, 000. 00 is for a computer, and the City Manager replied part of it.  255 8- 13- 91 CAPITAL OUTLAY ( CONT.) The City Manager read the information provided by the Purchasing Agent supporting capital outlay and overtime requirements. There were no comments or questions, and the City Manager suggested Council read the information provided by each Department themselves and discuss them. Mr. Smith recommended the Department Heads read the information provided, inserting their own comments. I Chief Council outlay Council confiscated Vesey from and the went the overtime Police