Loading...
09-03-2003 Special Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at Jenkins Auditorium. Mayor Hal Turville called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following Council Members present: Council Members Ash, Caputo, Mullins and Renick. Other City officials present were City Manager Saunders, Finance Director Van Zile, City Accountant Lisa Strickland and Deputy City Clerk Warren. Mayor Turville welcomed those present and explained the budget hearing process to the audience. 2003-2004 Ad Valorem Millage Rate - Tentative Resolution No. 1320 City Manager Saunders stated that Florida Statute requires that the first substantive issue discussed at this meeting be the percentage increase, if any, in the millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the proposed budget. City Manager Saunders advised that the proposed millage rote of 3.729, is the same rate as last year. Mayor Turville read the Resolution in its entirety and asked for public comment. No public comments were given. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Ash, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1320. 2003-2004 TENTATIVE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET RESOLUTIONS Resolution # 1321 2003-2004 General Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the hearing to the public. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. Council Member Caputo referring to the Fire Department and the tentative hiring of three additional firefighters next year, asked if funds could be used from the remaining funds in the Fire Department's overtime and volunteer accounts in order to expedite the hiring of needed personnel. Mr. Saunders pointed out that unused funds remain in reserves and do not rollover to the next fiscal year. Mr. Saunders advised if additional new hires were approved by the Council, funding would have to come out of reserve accounts and thereby create a larger deficit than currently indicated. Mr. Saunders pointed out three fire fighters are scheduled to be hired on or about October 1 and two additional firefighters are scheduled to be hired later in the year. Council Member Ash suggested that if additional personnel were hired at this time, the City would be able to limit some of the expense associated with overtime and the volunteer programs. Council Member Caputo stated it was his opinion it would be in the best interest of the City to hire the additional personnel at this time rather than wait until nfid-year. Mayor Turville pointed out that the Fire Chief has the option to request that the Council review the future hire dates for additional personnel and can expedite the process if he feels it is necessary. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 Council Member Ash stated she was also concerned with the need for additional personnel and requested that staff review the Fire Department Budget on a month to month basis in order to ascertain when the necessary funds will be available to hire additional personnel. Council Member Renick pointed out if Council wanted to hire additional personnel for the Fire Department without going into the reserve funds, perhaps they should have considered raising the millage rate. Council Member Renick stated she is uncomfortable with reaching into the reserve' and pointed out that the millage rate has been advertised and cannot be changed at this time. Council Member Caputo stated he did advocate raising the millage rate. Mr. Herb Schley, 2151 St. Ives Court, stated he felt there was enough extra money in the budget to fund hiring of additional personnel for the Fire Department without going into reserves. Mr. Schley suggested a review of the budget would produce the funds needed. Mr. Saunders pointed out that at the beginning of the budget process, the budget was reduced by 1.8 million dollars. Mr. Saunders stated he would not feel comfortable reducing any of the accounts at this time and further stated if Council wanted to fund the hiring of additional personnel for the fire department, funds would have to come fi.om the reserve accounts. Council Member Ash suggested reviewing the Fire Department Budget in December to determine the status of funds available for hiring additional personnel. Mr. Schley asked how the overtime of the Police Department had become so high. Mr. Saunders pointed out there are several items that contributed to overtime expense. There was an unusually high number of lengthy illnesses, the death of a police officer and the expense of a DEA officer currently assigned to the Police Department. Additionally there have been incidents when Police Officers working are on a case and their shift ends and the officers stay to complete the investigation. Council Member Caputo stated he is very concerned about the overtime hours that the Police Department has generated and suggested it is a major concern that should be reviewed and addressed by the Police Chief. Council Member Caputo pointed out that one police officer had accrued a significant amount of overtime while working on an investigation out of the City limits. Mr. Saunders pointed out there are Mutual Agreements with other Police Departments and the County, in which officers from Clermont assist other cities and vice versa. City Managers Saunders advised Council that he has spoken with Police Chief Story regarding the overtime and has requested that the Chief address the overtime issue as well as provide a plan to better handle the overtime expenses within the Department. Council Member Renick suggested it would be beneficial to have a workshop with Chief Story in attendance to address the overtime expenses of the department. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 Council Member Ash stated she was concerned with the continual monthly expense of overtime and questioned if any restraints are in place by the Police Department to reduce the number of overtime hours. Council Member Ash requested that Finance Director Van Zile provide Council with a monthly report of the overtime expenditures of the City. A motion was made by CouncilMemberMullins, seconded by CouncilMemberRenickfor tentative adoption of Resolution 1321 Discussion of the motion. Council Member Ash requested that the motion be amended to provide Council with a report on 12/1/03 to determine if funds are available for the hiring of two additional firefighter as of 1/1/04. Motion was carried bY a unanimous vote_for tentative adoption qf Resolution 1321. Resolution #1322 2003-2004 Infrastructure Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. Mr. Saunders advised this is the 1 Cent Sales Tax and funds can only be used for infrastructure projects. A motion was ~nade by Council Member Mullins, seconded b_¥ Council Member Renick, and carried unanimousl_¥ to tentativel_¥ adopt Resolution No. 1322. Resolution #1323 2003-2004 Recreation Impact Fee Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. City Manager Saunders stated that the next five Resolutions are all Impact Fee Budgets. This particular Resolution is for Recreational needs and the funds are restricted for only infrastructure items. City Manager Saunders advised Council it is the intention of staff to have Council review a proposal to hire a consultant to review the City's current Impact Fees. Council Member Ash stated that she has visited most of the parks in the City mad they are in need of some maintenance and equipment replacement. ,4 motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1323. Resolution #1324 2003-2004 Police Impact Fee Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 ,4 motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member Mullin , and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 132¥. Resolution//1325 2003-2004 Fire Impact Fee Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were g~ven and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Caputo, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1325. Resolution//1326 2003-2004 Water Impact Fee Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were gxven and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to tentativel_¥ adopt Resolution No. 1326. Resolution #1327 2003-2004 Sewer Impact Fee Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were g~ven and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Caputo, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 132Z Resolution #1328 2003-2004 Community Development Block Grant Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unammousl¥ to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1328. Resolution #1329 2003-2004 Sales Tax Bond Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were g~ven and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Council Member Caputo, seconded bY Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1329. Resolution #1330 2003-2004 Public Improvement Bond Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public heating. No public comments were g~ven and Mayor Turville closed the public heating. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 ,4 motion was made bY Council Member Renick, seconded by Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1330. Resolution #1331 2003-2004 Water/Sewer Bond Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A motion was made bY Council Member Caputo, seconded bY Council Member Mullins, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1331. Resolution #1332 2003-2004 Building Construction Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. A ~notion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Renick, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1332 Resolution #1333 2003-2004 Sanitation Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public hearing. City Manager Saunders advised there will be a proposal presented to Council for a reduction in the monthly rate fee of $1.50. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Renick, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1333. Resolution #1334 2003-2004 Community Redevelopment Agency Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public heating. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Member Renick, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resohttion No.1334 Resolution #1335 2003-2004 Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund Budget Mayor Turville read the Resolution by title only and opened the public hearing. No public comments were given and Mayor Turville closed the public heating. A motion was made by Council Member Mullins, seconded by Council Me~nber Renick, and carried unanimously to tentatively adopt Resolution No. 1335 CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING September 3, 2003 City Manager Saunders advised that Council may want to consider an increase in the purchase price of a Cemetery plot and pointed out funds received from these purchases are for the perpetual care of the cemetery There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Tra~y Acl~yd, City Cle~ Hal Turville, Mayor