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07-02-1986 Workshop Meeting e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING July 2, 1986 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held on Wednesday, July 2, 1986, in the City Hall Conference Room, The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pool at 7:00 p.m. with the following Council Members in attendance: Council Member Huff, Council Member Dupee, and Mayor Pro Tem Turville. Other City Officials present were City Manager Saunders and Finance Director Van Zile. BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS The tentative dates for Budget Workshop Meetings were discussed, and it was the consensus of Council that meetings would be held on Monday, July 14th, Tuesday, July 22nd after the Regular council Meeting and on Tuesday, July 29th. If further meetings are needed, the will be scheduled at a later date. CERTIFICATION OF TAXABLE VALUE FOR 1985 City Manager Saunders reported that the City had received the Certification of Taxable Value from the Property Appraiser's Office, and reviewed the schedule with the Council. It was pointed out that the current millage rate was 2.249. The roll-back rate for next year would be 2.243. However, it was suggested by both the City Manager and Finance Director that the City keep its current millage rate, instead of adopting the roll-back rate. This would provide the City with approximately $15,000 in extra revenue for the 1987 budget year. Much discussion ensued concerning which millage rate should be adopted. It was the consensus of Council to retain the 2.249 millage rate due to the termination of the Federal Revenue Shar- ing Program and the fact that the City would not be receiving any funds from Lake Apopka Natural Gas. COST OF LIVING INCREASE A Cost of Living Increase for all City Employees was discussed in detail. In the past, the City had tried to gear the increase according to the Consumer Price Index and inflation rate. Mr. Van Zile stated that the most recent information, based upon the Consumer Price Index, showed the projected increase to be between three and four percent~ Mr. Van Zile then explained the dollar difference on the total budget that a one percent change in the cost of living would make. After much discussion concerning the increase, it was the consensus of Council that the tentative budget would reflect a 4% cost of living increase. City Manager Saunders then explained that the City would be retain- ing the same merit system, and that an overall 2% of total salaries would be budgeted to be allocated by Department Heads for merit increases. It was further explained that an employee's merit increase would be based on performance, and that he could receive an increase, on the average, from 0 to 3%, Only in special cases would an employee receive more than 3%. The longevity award also will be retained. An employee with five years of service will get an additional 1% per year, an employee with ten years will get an additional 2% per year, and an employee with fifteen or more years of sevice will get an additional 3% per year until, reaching the top of his scale. After reaching the top of scale, an employee is only eligible for cost of living increases as granted by Council. Mr. Van Zile pointed out that the City has a number of employees who have or are close to reaching the top of their scale. e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING July 2, 1986 Page -2- REQUEST FOR NEW EMPLOYEES POLICE DEPARTMENT City Manager Saunders explained that Chief of Police Tyndal, had requested additional officers for his department, There are times when the City has only one officer of duty without any backup, and there is a definite need for one additional officer, if not two. Much discussion ensued concerning the additional personnel, and it was the consensus that two officers should be added to the department in order to provide needed services. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT The possibility of hiring a part-time person to help with building maintenance was discussed. It was the consensus of Council that this position should be added. CAPITAL OUTLAY REQUESTS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Each Council Member was given a copy of the Capital Outlay requests from the various departments which were reviewed in detaml. City Manager Saunders explained that the expenditure of $38,000 by the Public Works Department for a new backhoe-loader could not be justified. The request for $17,000 for a new flatbed dump truck chassis and body was also questioned. After a brief discussion, it was decided that more information concerning this request was needed, and that it would be discussed further during the next Workshop Meeting. It also was the consensus of Council that the City did not need a $4,500 tractor accessory piece of equipment for the City's street edging program. Instead, a heavy-duty edger could be purchased for approximately $500.00. It was the consensus of Council that all other Capital Outlay requests were justified and should remain in the proposed budget. UTILITY DEPARTMENT The Council requested that more information be obtained concerning the request for a replacement truck for the Utility Director. City Manager Saunders stated that he would obtain additional information and present it during the next Workshop. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Finance Director Van Zile and City Manager Saunders explained the City's need for a new computer system at City Hall. Justifications for the system were presented, and after some discussion, it was the consensus of Council to budget the system. GENERAL COMMENTS City Manager Saunders stated that preliminary budget document would be presented at the next Council Meeting which would include the Capital Outlay items discussed tonight. It was explained that the Library Board had requested to appear before Council at a Workshop to discuss their requests for the new budget. Their presentation has been tentatively set for the July 22nd Workshop following the Regular Council Meeting. It was explained that for pre- liminary budget purposes, the same amount of money budgeted for the e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING July 2, 1986 Page -3- current year has been placed in next year's library budget. Since there was no further budget discussion, Finance Director Van Zile excused himself and left the meeting at 10:00 p.m. NON BUDGETARY ITEMS DISCUSSION FUNDING FOR BUS RENTAL City Manager Saunders explained that Jack Gaines had approached the City concerning helping to fund the cost of a bus to take area youths to a Track and Field event to be held in Tampa. Th~s activity is not part of the Summer Recreation Program, but is being sponsored by one of the coaches at the High School. It was the consensus of Council that since this was not part of the Summer Recreation Program, it would not be in the best interest of the City to fund such a trip at this time. TREE PROJECT It was reported that the City was going ahead with the downtown tree project, and was in the process of requesting bids for the Drake Elm trees. The planters in the downtown area will be removed in the near future. RESOLUTION NO. 531 Each Council Member was given a copy of Resolution No, 531 which supports a moritorium on the permitting of mobile home parks in Lake County. This matter will be on the agenda for the July 8, 1986 Council Meeting. City Manager Saunders asked that if any Council Member wished to change the Resolution, that they contact him prior to the meeting. ANNEXATION OF PROPERTY NORTHEAST OF THE PRESENT CITY LIMITS Mrs. Dupee stated that the owners and managers of the two industrial uses just outside of the City Limits, north of Grand Highway had in- dicated that they would be interested in annexation into the City. Mrs. Dupee then asked the Council if they were interested in pursuing this matter. It was pointed out that there are two parcels between the properties in question and the existing City Limits which also would have to be annexed in order to be contiguous. Mr. Saunders stated that he would contact other property owners who would be involved to see if they were interested in voluntary annex- ation of their properties. There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Ro&tt~ Attest: City Clerk