Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-20-08 special minutes - budget — reading text

239 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING REVIEW OF PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 08/ 09 OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 20, 2008 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Wednesday, August 20, 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. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 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). RECAP Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/Grants Manager, advised Council has before them a budget update which includes the additional $ 3, 000 that was added previously for Kid' s Day. She noted that in the previous version of the budget, the general fund revenues exceeded the expenses and in order to have a balanced budget an adjustment has been made in the contingencies line item. Ms. Dunworth reported that as of now there is a net balance increase of $28, 000 from the proposed budget Council received on August 1. The millage rate update presented showed that the proposed millage rate of 4.4190 would generate about 289, 000 more revenue than the proposed millage rate of 4. 1986. Ms. Dunworth explained that Staff has kept track of add- backs to the budget and how many additional funds remain from the tentative millage rate, and that the general fund had an additional $ 237, 183. 00; therefore, $ 10, 000 was used for fireworks and 3, 000 for Kids' Day, leaving $224, 183 in the general fund. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMS Ms. Dunworth briefly went over the projects that have funding for FY 08/ 09. GENERAL FUND City Hall Renovation Ms. Dunworth reported an additional $ 25, 000 in funding for replacement of the City Hall Annex roof to be added to the already budgeted amount of $50, 000, for a total of $75, 000. 00. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. 240 Special Council 8- 20- 08 GENERAL FUND ( CoD1D Pavement Improvement Ms. Dunworth informed this project is budgeted at $ 75, 000 and will pave approximately . 86 miles of street surface. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. CRAFUND Downtown Gar=~ Parkin!! Ms. Dunworth advised the first project in the CRA Fund is the downtown parking garage for 267 parking spaces; this is first year funding for this project and will extend over several years. Discussion ensued as to whether the City would have to make payments to Landmark for the garage prior to the structure being built. The City Manager advised there was a payment plan and to her recollection payments begin the year the structure was completed, and to her recollection Council has final approval of that. The City Attorney explained the question being asked is whether Council could not budget the funding when it is time to pay, and tht~y probably could; and that the City would be facing a possible lawsuit if this occurred. The Mayor asked for public input. Kabe Woods, 240 Brooks. Street, received clarification that the two projects, the Landmark Center and the accompanying parking garage, are linked; however, Landmark representatives do not want to spend funds on building a parking garage without building the facility. There was no further publiic input. Beal Parkway hborbood Plan Nei!! Ms. Dunworth eXplained that $ 190, 000 is budgeted for completion of Phases I and II of the Chester Pruitt Park Master Plan and the development of the Gateway Entrance Park and Clock Tower. The Mayor questioned why a gap existed between fiscal years. Missy McKim, CDS Director, explained that in the master plan there were a number of prioritized projects within Chester Pruitt, and this funding is for what Council directed staff to do; there are additional elements that could be added in case expansion is desired in the future. The Mayor asked for publiic input. There was none. MainStreet Streetscape Ms. Dunworth noted that $ 296, 137 is funded for the Phase II development and implementation design and construction plans to add streetscaping, pedestrian access, landscaping, etc., on US Highway 98 from the intersection of Brooks Street and Eglin, extending west to Beal Parkway. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Chestnut Avenue Streets1cape Ms. Dunworth advised that $ 125, 000 is budgeted to improve the streetscape on Chestnut Avenue from First Street to Perry A venue. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. The Mayor recapped that $ 1. 2 million is going into the CRA area through these projects.  241 Special Council 8- 20- 08 UTILITIES FUND GIS Asset Manaeement Ms. Dunworth explained this is the implementation of the Utilities portion of the GIS program, and $ 300, 000 is budgeted for this project. Michael Beedie, Utilities Operations Manager, advised it is estimated it will take about four years to complete the field data, and the remaining cost is to ensure everything is implemented, and depending on the cost, the project could be finished in less than four years. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Water Tank Maintenance Ms. Dunworth noted this is an ongoing maintenance program among the City' s four water tanks, and this year is the interior renovation of the 200, 000 gallon elevated tank in the Kenwood area. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Water Meter Replacement Ms. Dunworth reported that $ 140, 000 is budgeted for the replacement of the remaining 1 ~" and 2" water meters. Discussion ensued on moving the offices of Water Operations and the City Manager explained Staff is looking at utilizing Water Operations Staff at the former Purchasing offices. Also discussed was the option of upgrading meters to a radio-read system, but at this time that is not a feasible option. Michael Beedie, Utilities Operations Manager, explained that Staff will come forth with a recommendation, but for this year the touch-read meters will be used. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Lift Station Rehabilitation Ms. Dunworth advised that $ 46, 000 is budgeted to rehabilitate Lift station # 8, and the continuation of the rehabilitation of Lift Station # 17. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Sewer Svstem Flow Monitorine Ms. Dunworth explained that $ 50,000 is budgeted for the purchase of 10 flow monitors to collect data during dry and wet weather to assist in determining those areas that are in need of replacement or repairs. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. Pump Station Maintenance Ms. Dunworth informed that $ 35, 000 is budgeted for the purchase of new spare parts for Pump Station # 1. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. GOLF FUND Cart Path Development Ms. Dunworth advised that $ 10, 000 is budgeted to construct new cart paths on the Oaks Course from the # 16 tee to the green. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. 242 Special Council 8- 20- 08 STORMW A TER FUND Water Qualitv Initiative Ms. Dunworth reported that $ 20, 000 is budgeted for stormwater separators, and advised that Staff will pursue grants to be used to supplement funding for the stormwater separators. The Mayor asked for public input. There was none. The Mayor asked if there was public input on any of the 5- year Capital Improvements Program discussed by Ms. Dunworth. Kabe Woods, 240 Brooks Street, questioned how much sidewalk can be built for $ 40, 000, which is the amount budgeted for future years. The City Manager stated it was difficult to determine with the amount of concrete, etc. Mr. Garvie moved to 3lpprove the Capital Improvements Program for FY 2008/ 09. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Garvie stated his feeling that Staff did a great job of narrowing down the projects that are critical at this time. The Mayor called for th(~vote on the motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Reeves, Garvie, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor Miller ( absent). PRESENTATION OF OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING REQUESTS The City Manager advised that Council approved the PAWS request previously. Economic Development Council ( EDC) Larry Sassano, President of the Economic Development Council ( EDC), discussed the major growth issues identified by businesses wishing to come to the area, including lack of available space and finding available qualified labor, and what the EDC does to correct these problems. Mr. Sassano advised the EDC is working with representatives of the Landmark Center and is working to market the City' s efforts to promote this project. The EDC is also a member of the City' s Vision Stewardship Committee and is assisting the committee' s effort to " brand" the City, and is assisting on the Sister City Program. He also stated the EDC is involved with other programs and initiatives including the Defense Support Initiative:, the Housing Initiative, the Florida LambdaRail, and the Technical Enrichment Center. Mr. Minich questioned which cities were not funding the EDC. Mr. Sassano replied Mary Esther and Laurel Hill do not provide funding. Mr. Minich noted there are several Class A office space areas in the City ready for tenants, including Sailwatch and offices on Beal Parkway, and planned spaces including Station