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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 06B_08/12/20039f.~ VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA VILLAGE COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES July 1, 2003 I. Call to Order and Roll Call The Tequesta Village Council held a Budget Workshop meeting at the Tequesta Recreation Center, 399 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, Florida, on Tuesday, July 1, 2003. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Resnik. A roll call was taken by Mary Miles, Village Clerk. Councihnembers present were: Mayor Edward D. Resnik, Vice Mayor Russell J. von Frank, Councihnember Geraldine A. Genco, and Councihnember Pat Watkins. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Attorney Scott D. Hawkins, Village Clerk Mary Miles, and Department Heads. Councilmember Joseph N. Capretta was absent from the meeting. II. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Vice Mayor von Frank made a motion to approve the Agenda as submitted. Councilmember Watkins seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-0 vote. III. Discussion A. Introduction and Opening Remarks Mayor Resnik commented this was a budget planning workshop meeting, which to his knowledge was the first of this type Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 2 meeting. In January after he had consulted with the Village Manager, Mayor Resnik had developed a draft of five objectives to be used by the Village Manager in his planning during the year and for budget planning guidance, subject to changes from the Village Council. Mayor Resnik listed the five objectives: Plan for Village Hall construction phased over 2004-2005 with completion in 2005 and with no added debt service; plan for improved, expanded Recreation Center in Constitution Park facilities in 2004-2005; plan for phased expansion of the Water Plant from 2004 up to 2007 with no added debt service; and plan for a zero base budget with no reduction in services and a possible millage rate reduction. Mayor Resnik reported he had presented this in a cover letter to the Village Council in January for review during January because it was not on the agenda, and it was scheduled for the March agenda. In March the Village Council had elected to give the objectives to the Manager without further discussion for his review and application and he was to come back to the Council with his recommendations relative to the application of the goals and objectives to budget planning. Mayor Resnik had then asked for this meeting to be scheduled for the Village Manager to present his plan for the 2003-2004 budget in light of the stated objectives, in light of the intensity of the budget planning process due to increased personnel costs imposed this year by union, state, and insurance companies, along with the need for fair competitive salary adjustments for all employees, and in light of the significant increase in ad valorem tax revenue expected in 2003-2004 due to the significant increase in taxable property. B. Comments from Citizens Mayor Resnik noted he had planned to ask for resident Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 3 comments; however, only Mrs. Von Frank was present and she declined comment. C. Presentation by Village Manager The Village Manager welcomed this opportunity for preliminary budget discussion and development of philosophy to craft a budget incorporating that philosophy. Village Manager Couzzo introduced and welcomed Village Attorney Scott Hawkins. The Village Manager introduced the Department Heads in attendance who helped develop an overall philosophy for budget development. Mr. Couzzo reported planning for the next fiscal year's budget had already begun and he had met extensively with all department heads and with Village consultants. The Village Manager commented that the Village was once again fortunate to have a substantial increase in assessed property values of approximately 14% increase over last year. Mr. Couzzo commented that the Village remained an extremely desirable community in which to live. In developing next year's budget the Village was faced with significant challenges in addressing increased personnel costs, particularly for health insurance, pension contributions, workers compensation, and liability insurance. Administration was currently in contract negotiations with the two labor unions, FOP and CWA. The Village Manager noted that although the challenge was considerable, he was confident that budgets would be developed that would continue to allow the delivery of superior services, infrastructure improvements, competitive salary and benefits for employees, and the opportunity for a millage rate reduction. Correspondence had been provided in the backup materials regarding Village funds summary and recommendations. Mr. Couzzo provided a breakdown of balances for each individual unreserved fund along with his Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 4 recommendations for designation of those fund balances. Finance Director Forsythe explained that she had broken out cash and investments. The Village Manager expressed his opinion that all of the proposed capital improvement projects could be accommodated with reserves and without incurring additional debt. Discussion ensued regarding the proposed water plant expansion. Investment of unreserved funds was discussed. Councilmember Genco suggested possibly changing the management of investments to the Village to increase the rate of return. Phased water utility improvements in order to have a totally independent, self sufficient, and profitable water company with no reduction in level of service was considered top priority. Village Manager Couzzo indicated that as in past years, this year's budget would be developed with a conservative bias, and that revenues from property values and other sources were expected to continue to rise at a rate considerably higher than national averages and national or regional CPI's. Annexation strategy was discussed. Mr. Couzzo reported that Administration was currently evaluating alternative benefit options to inhibit the constant double-digit increases. The desirability of property in Tequesta was discussed. The Village Manager stressed that a concerted vigilant effort must be constant to insure that operational costs did not exceed revenues, thus jeopardizing the Village's ability to provide services. Mr. Couzzo explained that the budget would incorporate funding that would allow continued improvements, modernization, and beautification of the Village, and expressed his belief that in the development of this year's general fund budget there was an opportunity to provide Village residents with a reduction in the millage rate calculation of possibly 3-1/2%, cautioning that was based solely upon projections for this fiscal year and would require annual evaluation. During resulting discussion, the Village Council `s Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 5 unanimous consensus was to provide a millage rate reduction, with which the Village Manager expressed his agreement so long as superior levels of service were maintained. D. Comments and Recommendations by Council Members Vice Mayor von Frank expressed his opinion that Parks and Recreation Director Corbitt had done a tremendous job, and commented he was wondering if the advisory committee was still needed, especially since for the last two meetings a quorum had not been present. The Vice Mayor indicated he believed Mr. Corbitt was capable of handling the situation without a committee. Discussion ensued. Mr. Corbitt expressed his opinion that an advisory committee was not needed due to the small size of the Village, and suggested as an alternative to hold an open house possibly twice a year. Also, surveys similar to the one sent out previously gave residents an opportunity to express what recreation programs they would like. Mayor Resnik and Councilmember Watkins expressed their opinions that if the committee was not serving a purpose it should be disbanded. Council Member Genco indicated it would be nice to get the committee's statement that they had accomplished their task and request that the Village Council disband the committee. Mr. Corbitt indicated he would bring up that approach at the committee's next meeting, which was scheduled for the next night. Councilmember Genco questioned if Community Development Department application forms were available on the website and if Mr. Newell had budgeted for this service. Mr. Newell responded that this was something that had been worked on for awhile, that he had supplied all the forms to the Village Clerk, and the work was currently in progress to put them on the Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 6 website. Councilmember Genco asked if Mr. Preston had any budget wishes for infrastructure improvements this year. Director of Public Works Gary Preston responded this would be the first year in the past twelve that asphalt overlays would not be needed; and the beautification from Beach Road to Country Club Drive had been completed. Mr. Preston reported that 231 streetlights in the Country Club area had been installed over the past three years and although criticism had been received over the way it was done, the lights were now turned on and the people were very happy, calling it the best project the Village had ever done. Other areas would be receiving streetlights in the upcoming year. Additional landscaping for Seabrook Road would be done. Councilmember Genco asked Assistant Police Chief Garlo if additional personnel would be needed to service newly annexed areas. His response was that current staffing would be sufficient. Assistant Police Chief Garlo commented that the budget his department was presenting was very conservative. Staff had worked very hard with the Village Manager, and levels of service had not been compromised, and had been improved in some areas. The Village Manager had given staff the task of finding creative ways to provide benefits for employees other than pay raises. The Village Manager commented that some of those things would be discussed during contract negotiations and there were some interesting approaches to provide benefit to the employee and to the community without adding cost. Village Manager Couzzo commented that everyone was trying to start thinking outside the box. Councilmember Genco commented that she was just taking this opportunity to get a generalistic overview before Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page ? getting into the dollars and cents; that it made her feel more comfortable when she started looking at numbers if she knew what people wanted. Councilmember Genco asked what would happen when the Village got Waterway Village, and commented they would want another fire truck or something. Fire Chief Weinand responded that he was looking at replacement of a fire truck, not in this budget, but probably the next year. Fire Chief Weinand commented he agreed with Assistant Police Chief Garlo that both the police and fire departments had been included in the budget process and he was very comfortable with where they were in the process. Services would be expanded to include new programs, and a new program would be for students to work. Vice Mayor von Frank commented that was wonderful. Councilmember Genco asked if that would be for people who wanted to go into medical or fire fields, to which the response was yes, and she commented that was great. Village Manager Couzzo advised it was an internship program with some salary, and the Village would benefit from having more people in the field. Mayor Resnik commented that was a good plan. The Village Manager commented it was innovative, and one of the nice parts was for the past few years great strides had been made in changing out equipment and vehicles, and there were plans to do something innovative in the police department with the police cars. Councilmember Genco commented she was sure Jody had them all scheduled. Councilmember Genco commented the biggest change for her was that the Village Council got this kind of information and got backup for it when needed and got prompt answers, and she could not say enough about the staff, it had been such an improvement. Mayor Resnik stated he would like to say to all-well done, a hearty well done-and to the Village Manager, outstanding well done. Mayor Resnik stated he thought the Manager and staff were a great team. Mayor Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 8 Resnik stated he thought the Manager and staff had done well by the Village, for the Village, and would continue, and it was a pleasure for him to be able to associate with any of them, and he would say that again when some residents were present-that they really were great. Councilmember Watkins stated she would like to piggyback on that, being the newbie on the block, and that when you were elected you were sort of thrown into this-that as Mr. Couzzo had told her, you jump on a running train, and that was what had happened-and all of a sudden you're hit with budgets coming and panicking. Councilmember Watkins expressed her appreciation for everyone welcoming her and making her comfortable when visiting the departments, and being very forthcoming in answering her questions and trying to help her understand this process a little better, particularly Mrs. Forsythe and Mr. Couzzo, and stated she was very impressed with how things worked, how all of the staff worked together and came out with a master plan for the Village that made it the great place to live that it was, and she could not compliment them enough. Village Manager invited Councilmembers if they would like, to schedule time with him during the next few weeks at their convenience, and commented that the move from the planning stage to the implementation stage would be done quickly, and he would be happy to sit with each one to explain the process, and department heads would also be available to go through it. Village Manager Couzzo indicated that the numbers for both general and water were now correct, that it had already been a long process with department heads spending a lot of time and they should be congratulated; that they had done the best job he had seen since he had been with the Village and it would be a less strenuous process than in the past, and was easier than last Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 9 Village Manager Couzzo commented that obviously Greg Corbitt had done a wonderful job as Parks and Recreation Director and the programs were expanding and blossoming at an exponential rate. A splash pad was being discussed. The facade for the building front had been taken off the board until possibly sometime in the future because there were other things that took precedence. The number one need identified was exterior rest rooms. A plan was being developed which would be brought to the Village Council to show them some of the costs involved. Councilmember Genco asked why not just put a door to access the existing restrooms. Mr. Corbitt responded the only problem was if this building was open with kids using the bathroom and also people coming in from the outside using the same bathroom; and he had asked the architect to come up with a plan to work off the existing bathroom to lessen the number of pipes, pointed out the area on the rear of the building where the new restroom would be built, and advised it would only be open during hours the park was open. Councilmember Genco asked why not just knock put a wall to the existing restroom. Village Manager Couzzo responded that there would be times the exterior restrooms would be open when this building would be closed, and another thing was the park was generating more and more use. Village Manager Couzzo asked the Council to think long-term regarding the adjacent property owned by Lighthouse Center for the Arts, which he saw as a natural extension of this facility down the road. Councilmember Genco commented chances were the Village would not have the gallery after a couple of years so that would probably be very viable. The Village Manager reported he had spoken with them, and there would be a cost to it, but the community should look at that since it would be a natural extension to use that property. Mayor Resnik commented he had come to the last few events scheduled at the Recreation Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 10 Center, and there had been a lot of children and adults, and growth and attendance would continue as the population grew and the demographics changed, and rather than coming inside to use the restrooms they could be accessed from the exterior. The Village Manager indicated plans would be considered and an effort made to come up with the most efficient and economical approach, and the architects, Gee & Jenson, were working on an almost identical facility for Jupiter beach. Village Manager Couzzo announced that grants would be pursued next year, and that grants for this year had been annihilated. Vice Mayor von Frank commented the report from the state had been worthless-that of all the pork barrel he wanted to know how much he got, and it made him annoyed to get the report. Mr. Couzzo indicated it had come to him and he had thought the Council might be interested in seeing what a lengthy process the state had gone through, and how a lot of projects had been cut. The Village Manager predicted that the state would pass on costs to municipalities in the future, and staff would closely monitor what would impact the Village. Mayor Resnik commented he believed this had been a worthwhile session from the standpoint of everyone, including the department heads, and expressed his appreciation. The Village Manager commented if anyone did not understand the accounts or figures in the budget, to feel free to request the information, and reported that a draft budget would be available in three or four weeks. IV. Adjournment MnTTnN: Vice Mayor von Frank moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Genco seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-0 Village Council Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes July 1, 2003 Page 11 vote. The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Mary Miles Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: