Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-09-08 regular agenda — reading text

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 Training Fund The Police Chief explained $ 2. 00 is received from every citation to go into this Fund to pay for 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 Minch in favor (Miller absent). 226 Special Council 8 -18 -08 FIRE DEPARTMENT Mike Dutton, Fire Chief, mentioned the upcoming retirements of personnel will create promotion opportunities for employees 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 been 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 Sheriffs 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 they will not suffer anything due to 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 he 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 respond to all 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 things of 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 factor 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 Chief explained that position works five days, nine to the Fire Marshall or other Fire Inspector. five, and is usually given a car to take home and responds from his home to all fires within Fort 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 training is required and there are funds designated for the training. The City Manager pointed out the authorization for the position remains so if things change financially they can amend the budget to include funds for the position.  227 Special Council 8 -18 -08 FIRE DEPARTMENT cont. The question was posed if there was someone who could be moved into the position if it were funded. The Fire Chief replied they would have to hire from the outside and there have been inquiries from individuals interested in the position. The question was asked if it was a do all, catch all, fill in if short position. The Fire Chief explained the main function of that position is public education, he goes into the schools and makes sure the fire safety house is at City functions, and at any time there is a fire in the City he is designated to stop what he is doing to respond to the scene. The question was posed whether the position satisfies OSHA, and whether it would open to possible liability. The Fire Chief stated there is a possibility if someone on the fire ground is not designated as the safety officer, then if there is an unfortunate accident, the City could be liable. The City Manager did not think the City is subject to OSHA. The Fire Chief confirmed they were not. The question was posed if the City would not be eligible for grant funding to cover safety programs if there is no one in that position. The Fire Chief replied they would not apply for grants. The City Manager commented unfortunately the grants do not pay for personnel, just for supplies and materials for the programs. The Mayor opened the floor for public input. As no one wished to speak public input was closed, Mr. Hartwell moved to approve the Fire Department budget as presented. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Holmes moved to amend the motion to fund the Fire Inspections Captain position. The question was posed on the cost to fund that position. The City Manager replied approximately 73, 463. 00 depending on who is hired and level of experience. Motion to amend died for lack of a second. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to approve the Fire Department budget as presented and it carried by a vote of 5 to 1 with Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor and Holmes opposed (Miller absent). RECESS Being no further business, the meeting recessed for the evening at 8: 50 p.m. MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK ddm  MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 2.29 REVIEW OF PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 08109 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 19, 2008 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Dennis Reeves, Bill Garvie, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Absent: Virgil Miller Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Brandy Wunker, Finance Director; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors PURPOSE The purpose of the Special Council meeting is to review and discuss the proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2008/09. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. RECAP Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/Grants Manager, gave a recap of the changes to the budget to the General Fund based on what was discussed by Council last evening. Ms. Dunworth advised the boat launch fee revenues were not included in the general fund budget but that has been adjusted pending approval of the Parks and Recreation budget this evening. Ms. Dunworth informed the General Fund was amended to include an additional $ 10, 000 for fireworks, and that the Fire Department wages adjustments and contingencies were reduced to account for fire department wage increases. Ms. Dunworth reported the General Fund budget has increased $ 10, 000 overall and now stands at $ 19, 041, 763. 00, and with the boat launch fees in the budget the revenue currently exceeds expenses by $ 18, 000.00. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Mayor advised the order of business will be Recreation & Cultural Services; Public Services; Utility Services; and the Golf Fund. Mr. Reeves moved to approve the agenda as the business of the day. Mr. Holmes seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor (Miller absent). RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES Jeff Peters, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, discussed the many services the department is responsible for and pointed out a loss of nine positions and a reduction in hours of seven positions. Mr. Peters advised there is a proposal to reduce library hours from 64 hours to 53 hours, which would reduce the budget by $ 70,000. 00. 230 Special Council 8 -19 -08 RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES ( CONT) Mr. Peters announced the proposed hours of the library to be Monday and Tuesday from 9 am to 8 pm; Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm; Friday from 10 am to 5 pm;