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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_08/19/2003• VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 19, 2003 I. Call to Order and Roll Call The Tequesta Village Council held a workshop meeting at the Tequesta Recreation Center, 399 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, Florida, on Tuesday, August 19, 2003. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. A roll call was taken by Mary Miles, Village Clerk. Council Members present were: Mayor Edward D. Resnik, Vice Mayor Russell J. von Frank, Council Member Joseph N. Capretta, Council Member Geraldine A. Genco, and Council Member Pat Watkins. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Clerk Mary Miles, and Department Heads. II. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Vice Mayor von Frank made a motion to approve the Agenda as submitted. Council Member Watkins seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote. III. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Resnik led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. IV. Presentation of Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2003/2004 Mayor Resnik reminded those present that the budget represented a dedicated effort by the Village Manager and staff and provided for necessary personnel costs, competitive pay adjustments, continued outstanding across-the-board programs and services for residents, and met all debt obligations--while still permitting the Village to reduce its millage rate from 6.7302 to 6.498. Tonight's objective was for the Council to insure in their best judgement that the proposed budget provided a sound financial plan for administration of the Village for the next fiscal year. Village Manager Couzzo explained he would make introductory remarks, then the Finance Director would make introductory remarks, then Department Heads would make remarks about their individual budgets. • The Village Manager commented that this year there had been challenging economic conditions-uncontrolled increases in health and other insurance premiums; significant Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 2 ----------------------- increases in pension contributions as a result of less-than-anticipated returns on investments; the need to develop a competetive compensation package for employees through collective bargaining; controlling personnel, operating and capital expenses while the demand for services continued to increase; and effectively dealing with stagnent or reduced state revenues and the possibility of future unfunded state mandates. Finance Director Joann Forsythe introduced Finance employee Michelle McDowell who had worked a lot on the budget. Ms. McDowell had requested information from the department heads for their different areas, and she and Ms. Forsythe had reviewed the information with them and then with the Village Manager. The Finance Department had then developed revenue projections and had come up with the difference between what each department head felt was needed and what they could actually live with. The Manager then sat down with the Finance Department and the department heads and discussed budget cuts. Also, during the year the Manager had reviewed water utility projections that showed what could be expected over the next ten years, and the budget would insure that the Village would have a very healthy water utility department. Ms. Forsythe concluded that everyone had worked together to bring the Council a budget they • could be proud of. Village Manager Couzzo indicated the budget would be reviewed by fund, beginning with the general fund, and looking at the revenues. Councilmember Capretta noticed the percentage of revenues from ad valorem taxes was abnormally high this year and commented it would be going up for a couple of years, then would drop back to normal. Mr. Capretta commented that in the biggest year of revenue from ad valorem taxes, the public safety department had been unable to stay within that and had spent every cent, and more, which would have to come out of something else. Council Member Capretta noted that the Town of Palm Beach reserved 3 mills for their public safety department. Councilmember Genco asked about intergovernmental revenue, which Ms. Forsythe explained was made up of revenues received from the county and shared with other governments. The Village Manager reviewed expenditures, and noted that Department 100 was the Village Council, and stated he had mirrored the expenditures from last year to this year. Mr. Couzzo explained there had been an increase in requests for contributions to organizations this year, and asked the Council to think about when and how to best appropriate for these requests. Council Member Genco commented she saw the per diem for individual council members had been. increased, to which the Village Manager responded the number was the same as last year-it had been increased last year--but • some people did not use them last year. Ms. Genco commented now the Council had their own coffers to give to community organizations. Council Members Genco and Watkins commented they felt the line item plus their individual accounts was enough. Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 3 ----------------------- Council Member Watkins requested that the Council consider some sort of donation to the environmental program at Jupiter High School, which they came close to losing this year, and explained that she planned to send a letter to Jupiter, Juno Beach, and Jupiter Inlet Colony requesting support for this program so that the School Board would have to maintain this program. Council Member Genco noted that organizations looking for donations were to present their requests in writing so that the Council could decide on the amount, etc., and although there had been promised amounts in the past to specific organizations, to her knowledge there were no promises at present. Mayor Resnik commented he had donated on behalf of the Village $500 from his account for the cancer society, and he thought each Council Member had donated about $100 to the school, and each could donate as they desired. Mr. Couzzo commented the two normal donations in the past were $10,000 to Lighthouse School of the Arts and $1,000 to Project Graduation, which was where the $11,000 in the line item had come from, and advised that if the Council wanted to put in more money to meet other requests, now was the time. Council Member Capretta commented the area that was really in trouble was education, and expressed his opinion another $5,000 or so should be added. Mayor Resnik commented • he did not see why each Council Member could not contribute individually from their accounts, since they still had significant funds of approximately $7,000. Council Member Genco commented that with acceptance of this new budget those amounts would be rolled over into the general fund--not kept for the council to use after September 30. Council Member Genco suggested to Mrs. Watkins to have the kids come to the next council meeting while those funds were still available and each member could allocate a portion from their fund. Mr. Couzzo explained there would be some expenses, and approximately $6,000 would be left. Council Member Genco suggested allocating to the different groups when they came in; however, they did not always come in. Village Manager Couzzo confirmed with Ms. Genco that it was her preference to leave the numbers the way they were and to work on allocations. Mr. Couzzo confirmed that it was the consensus of the Council to leave the amount in Department 100 Council Expenditures at $39,500, the same as last year. The Village Manager called for questions on Department 110--the Village Manager's budget. Mr. Couzzo explained his budget had been reduced because Robbie Russo had been reclassified as Assistant to the Village Clerk and her salary would now be charged to the Village Clerk's budget. Mr. Couzzo reported the comparisons showed less had been spent than was originally proposed in the budget. Council Member Genco asked if Kim Vardavas' position had been reclassified, to which Mr. Couzzo responded, yes. Mr. Couzzo explained his salary was shared 60/40 between this budget and the utility • department since he also functioned as utility director. Council Member Genco commented he was hiring a true Assistant Manager, because it looked like a big salary. Mr. Couzzo responded it was a thousand less than Kim's salary had been and the position Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 4 ----------------------- was actually Executive Assistant to the Manager. Council Member Genco commented that life and health department insurance was a big increase; Mr. Couzzo explained that increase would not be as large as had been anticipated and was being negotiated at this time. Department 111 - Mr. Couzzo reported Dan Gallagher was apart-time contract employee functioning as head of the Human Resources department. Mr. Gallagher reported the major change was that another part-time person was anticipated to be hired to help him and to train employees, since establishing a training program was one of the goals for this year. Management development for middle level managers was the training proposed. Mr. Couzzo explained that MIS services were also needed, and these would be done on an hourly basis with contractural people. Mr. Couzzo indicated having two part-time people should fill the void until it was decided to hire afull-time Human Resources Director. Council Member Genco asked why that was not done this year, to which Mr. Couzzo responded, cost. Mayor Resnik asked if there was more benefit from two part- time people than one full-time, to which Mr. Couzzo responded it was believed so. • Discussion ensued. Council Member Genco expressed concern that it was proposed to go from one part-time person to two part-time people for a total budget of $95,250 which seemed like enough to cover one full-time person and still have something left, and questioned why one full-time person was not being considered now. Council Member Genco expressed her opinion it was unfair to the employees to have apart-time person handling Human Resources, because if they had a problem on Monday they should not have to wait until Wednesday or Thursday. Mr. Couzzo reported Mr. Gallagher worked Monday through Thursday, leaving early on Thursday-a 30-hour week; and the second part-time person would work Tuesday through Friday-also a 30-hour week, so all the days would be covered. Council Member Genco commented she must have just called on the wrong days for the past six months. Mayor Resnik commented if another person could be found who was as qualified as Mr. Gallagher to work 30 hours and Mr. Gallagher worked 30 hours, the Village would get a pocketful for their money. Mr. Couzzo noted they would get 60 hours, not 40 as with afull-time person, and the second part-time person would be for management training because promoting from within was not always possible since people did not understand budgeting, employee evaluations, etc. Council Member Genco explained that was her reason to go with afull-time person, for consistency, and she did not know how many more years Mr Gallagher planned to work, and there should be someone trained and knowledgable about the Village's issues. Mr. Couzzo commented he would like to go this way for a year, which could be changed if it did not work, and contract employees did not get benefits, which was a huge savings. Mr. • Capretta commented management training and MIS were apples and oranges and he did not believe one person could be found to do both. Mr. Couzzo explained his original goal had been to bring in a management training person, but MIS services were also needed. Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 5 ----------------------- Council Member Genco expressed her opinion the MIS services were needed more, and FAU offered 2 and 3-day management courses, every department had funds in their budgets for this, and strongly encouraged that once a year each management person be required to take one of those classes. Mr. Couzzo reported six people would go on September 16. Mr. Couzzo reported the first person from the fire department had attended the National Fire Training Center, which was free. Ms. Genco commented it was more important for employees to attend outside training than training within the Village, because that was where they would get new ideas. Mr. Couzzo advised that the budget would be revised to include MIS and the $95,000 figure would go down significantly. Village Clerk's Budget -Mary Miles, Village Clerk, explained that the most significant change in her budget was due to addition of a staff member as Assistant to the Village Clerk. Ms. Miles reported this employee had been helping her all along with different clerk duties but had also helped other departments, and she was the lucky recipient of Robbie Russo's services. Ms. Miles reported changes in federal law now required all • election materials also be published in Spanish, which was an extra expense for translation and publishing in two different publications. Codification expenses had gone down since the codification process was almost completed and had already been paid for, and in the future only the regular codification of ordinances would be needed. 130 Finance Budget -Finance Director Forsythe reported the Finance Department budget had stayed constant-increases were only due to merit increases and savings had been realized in personnel costs. Operating expenses would drop because of new software, and no capital costs were projected. Mr. Couzzo reported there was only a 5% increase in the Finance budget. Ms. Forsythe explained two employees had left and their salaries had been used to upgrade computer systems. 140 Legal Budget - Mr. Couzzo reported the original budget for this year had been $135,000, but he was suggesting $105,000 for next year, roughly a 30% decrease. More documents and decision-making were being done in-house. Current cases were discussed. Council Member Genco asked if monies had been recovered in the Landgraff case, to which Mr. Couzzo responded that he did not think the Village had pursued legal fees. The Council requested that be pursued. Council Member Capretta suggested the legal budget be separated into ongoing support attending the meetings, and lawsuits. Mr. Couzzo explained there was no contract with the attorneys who had been there for 29 years, but a retainer that basically said for $1,000 a month they would come to the • Council meeting, which did not include prep time, so that part of the budget would only be approximately $12,000 plus review of documents before special meetings. In the past, the attorney had attended budget hearings, which cost $1,000, and Mr. Couzzo stated he Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 6 ----------------------- did not see the need, or for workshops, unless the attorney was going to brief the Council on legal matters. Mr. Couzzo noted to date this year legal expenses were $58,000 and he hoped to keep them well under $100,000 this year. General Government -Finance Director Forsythe explained that General Government incorporated a lot of accounts used by different departments. The major difference in personnel services was compensated absenses-vacation and sick time to be paid to employees who were leaving--and last year quite a few long-term employees had left, which was not anticipated this year, although that could change. Mr. Couzzo added that the Village was going to try to come up with a program to provide incentives to employees to buy back their sick leave, to reduce unfunded liability in the future. Ms. Forsythe reported the only other increase was overall insurance-not health insurance, and Mr. Gallagher indicated 10% was the liability. Mr. Capretta asked the cost to retire a person and if the impact to the pension plan had been considered with a lot of employees retiring at once. Mr. Couzzo explained that the pension plan had an actuarial study to consider those types of situations, but that did not consider regular sick leave and • vacation. Mr. Couzzo noted there were options--(1) develop a plan to buy back unfunded liability (2) fund it every year or (3) have those funds in reserve. Police Budget -Police Chief Allison reported this budget had been increased to approximately $130,000. Personnel services was up in all divisions, and operating and capital were down in all of the budget. One full-time dispatcher was being added, and insurance had gone up. Chief Allison jumped ahead to page 33 in the budget book -the Code Enforcement Budget, and reported code enforcement went up since it was coming back to the Police Department with a sworn officer doing that job as of January 1, and if there was a need to respond in an emergency an officer could do that. Council Member Genco stated, in other words, there had been a problem using a civilian as code enforcement officer. Mr. Couzzo indicated the difference was you would have the impact of all the police behind a sworn officer in addition to having the sworn officer supporting the police when not doing code enforcement work. The Village wanted to continue to achieve compliance through education and communication, and the ability to effectively deal with the residents. Mayor Resnik commented the Village would receive double duty for their money. Council Member Capretta commented that code enforcement was getting revitalized and most people believed issues in the Country Club would be on the agenda and discussed. Chief Allison noted getting a new officer for a net effect of $9,000 was a very good deal. Council Member Capretta recalled reading that the cost increase for public safety was 15%. It was determined that the blended rate for police and fire was • closer to 11 %. Costs for personnel were discussed. Mr. Couzzo reported the negotiations were to be finalized on Friday and the discussions had been interesting. Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 7 ----------------------- Fire Budget -Fire Chief Weinand discussed the EMS division budget, which had increased $4,372 over last yeaz primazily due to community equipment, first response equipment, and hurricane tracking software update. The fire patrol department budget contained most employees and the major bulk of services. One full-time firefighter position would be reduced for next year and three interns would be added who would get $5,000 towazds the cost of college tuition and books for one yeaz of service. Fire Chief Weinand explained that the department was looking to reduce the work week from 52-1 /2 hours to 48 hours per week, consistent with other fire departments in Palm Beach and Martin County. The other big expense was personal services--$177,000 over the amended budget this yeaz, with $38,655 attributed to the intern program, $45,766 for salazies, $43,980 pension contribution increases, $35,344 workers comp rate increases and $12,260 for educational reimbursement program. The operational cost was 5.3 percent in the amended budget, and capital costs were up $12,220 primarily due to replacing the Chief's vehicle and a few air packs in the department. Total cost for Fire Rescue with debt service included was in line. Mr. Couzzo reported three vehicles were needed and he was suggesting not to outright purchase them but to put enough money in • the budget next year and the year after to zero finance them. EMS Services Budget -Chief Weinand commented this budget provided all the medications and services in the field, as well as three of the paramedics. Significant increases were in salaries, pension contributions, health insurance, and workers comp, and operational costs--which were up primarily due to medications and bandage costs. Mr. Couzzo advised if the Council did not object, the divisions would be combined next yeaz into one department. Now there were 16 people in the Fire Department and four budgets. Same thing for the Police Department. That would be easier for the Council to review. The other thing that would be recommended next year was collapsing the Community Development Department as an independent fund and bringing it into the general fund. Council Member Genco commented that should have been done two years ago. The reserve would go into general fund reserves. Mr. Couzzo commented the Village was the only municipality in the County that did it the way it was being done. Council Member Genco commented there did not have to be separate funds for everyone to have recognition. Council Member Capretta commented many yeazs ago that department was a loss leader but now it was the most profitable department the Village had. Mr. Couzzo commented Fire, Police, Community Development would all be done that way next year, and probably also Parks and Recreation. • Chief Weinand commented the EMS Transportation budget was the cost of running and maintaining ambulances-revenue was $158,250 and costs were only $22,080; and the EMS transportation collections were over 90%. Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 8 Gary Preston presented the Public Works budget, noting one major increase over last year-streetlights, but noted that they were also a major benefit. Additional funding for building maintenance and repairs were also added to this budget. 296 out of 3201ights were on. One capital project was work on swale drainage, curb and gutter, and additional landscaping at the northern end of Seabrook Road. Projections for kiosks (bus shelters) were included, and the public would be encouraged to buy plaques. Country Club Circle drainage improvement was to be completed in this year's budget. Parks and Recreation Budget -Director Greg Corbitt commented parks was divided from recreation programming. Parks had one person, Ron Smith, the Park Supervisor for Tequesta Park. Another man lived in a trailer at the park and provided basic security, but he was not an employee. In programming, the increases were for personnel services- skate park positions and the recreation supervisor, Mr. Corbitt's position, and the front desk position. No full time positions were anticipated, only two part-time skate park personnel and one for recreational programming. Mr. Corbitt reported there were always • at least 10-15 kids using the skate park on a daily basis and no complaints had been received. The staff had a lot of activities planned for the next year to take kids offsite, a program to be run through the recreation department, and also planned contests and special events. Council Member Genco noted the Village had been making a contribution to the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association through the parks department. Mr. Corbitt reported they also made a contribution to the fireworks. Mr. Corbitt advised there was no down side to the skate park. Mr. Corbitt explained that there was an increase in operating expenditures, which was a result of moving items that had been in parks to the recreation budget. Mr. Corbitt reviewed the budget for the Capital Improvements 5-year plan, noting that the Constitution pathway resurfacing was for the trail in Constitution Park and was usually done every 5 years. Recreation Center renovations that were needed were electrical and plumbing, more storage space, and noise reduction, as well as a lot of other miscellaneous items. There was no signage, and Mr. Corbitt suggested thinking about renaming the building, possibly Tequesta Community Center and possibly next year to put in a centrally located lighted interchangeable sign. Council Member Genco addressed Mr. Preston, commenting the entry way signage landscaping was looking shabby. Mr. Preston reported it would be changed in about six weeks. Council Member Genco commented the heart trail was scheduled for improvement next year and the year after, and asked if a heart trail had been considered near the EMS facility. Mr. Corbitt • explained there was a walking trail meandering through the passive Village Green Park. Mr. Corbitt reported people used the heart trail early in the morning at Constitution Park. Council Member Watkins asked if there was a problem with skateboarders on sidewalks Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 9 mowing over the walkers, to which Mr. Corbitt responded that was one of the things that was being worked on. Mr. Couzzo commented funds earmarked in this year's budget to build a fire training tower would be used to build exterior restroom facilities on the recreation building and there was an amount included as a planning concept for future expansion of the building. Mr. Couzzo asked if there were any questions on general fund debt service, and noted that there was a breakdown on page 26. Council Member asked why copy machines were not purchased outright. Mr. Couzzo explained that mid-year the copy machine being utilized in the Clerk's office did not come close to providing the number of copies needed so a new machine had been leased, but he thought in the future the machines would be purchased. Council Member Genco commented she had thought the Sutphen pumper was being purchased but it looked as if it was being leased. Ms. Forsythe explained it was a capital lease which was like a loan and the Village ended up owning the vehicle. Mr. Couzzo commented that ended the general fund review. Mr. Couzzo commented the fact that personnel could be increased to meet the service level and accomplish what the • Village wanted to do spoke for itself. Mr. Couzzo commented everyone had worked to be able to do that, there were sacrifices in some areas and down the road it would be caught up. Community Development Department Budget -Director Jeff Newell explained that the increase in the planning department covered the expense of the Village planner, which allowed for the 58% reduction in operating cost, reducing dependency on an outside consultant. An 18-year employee from Building and Zoning had transferred to another department and her salary had transferred with her. Mr. Newell noted there had been a 50% reduction in costs to the Village and they had upgraded their software and redistributed all of the job responsibilities. There was a good working environment and his department would continue to look for where they could streamline costs. Mr. Couzzo noted they had far exceeded their revenue projections and he believed their revenues would be strong for the forseeable future. Mr. Newell commented there was a lot of interest in development in the northeast portion of the Village, particularly in the entire campus of The Crossings. Mr. Couzzo commented the GIS system was up and running. Additional data was needed from the Fire Department. The equipment had been in the Village for the last five years but it had not been utililized. Village Planner Carol Lux was a GIS person and would be running the equipment. Mr. Couzzo commented he relied on Russell White, who had been there 24 years and knew what was in the ground; but if he was not here, the information would be on the GIS system. Mr. Couzzo • commented that Community Development was budgeting for a transfer of $450,000 from reserves to the Water Department for expansion of the system-the water piping. Village Council • Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 10 Mr. Couzzo referred to page 69, the Water Department. Mr. Couzzo commented that even though customers had been lost in the north Jupiter area, the revenue only showed a 3% reduction. Mr. Couzzo commented that charges to services still looked good, although it looked a little skewed because of the $450,000 being transferred from Community Development. The Village Manager commented that with expansion of the system to the Tropic Vista area and the addition of customers from the Spear development, and others, no adverse effect was anticipated from loss of Jupiter customers. Mr. Couzzo reported he was working with Martin County to finalize the Tropic Vista and it would have to go back to them for a decision. Mr. Couzzo commented water administration was basically the 40% of his salary. There was also some legal and engineering charges. Some general charges were taken care of under other areas. Mr. Couzzo reported overall water administration was up $2,000. The water budgets would not be consolidated just to give a better read on what happened, but kept separate as an enterprise fund. There was a reported 2.74 reduction in pumping and storage. Distribution-taking the water from the plant and running the expansion to the system-was showing less than a half percent increase in overall cost. Mr. Couzzo • estimated there was a 1 % overall operating decrease for water. Council Member Genco asked why there was such a huge difference from the prior year to this in personnel, which Mr. Couzzo indicated would be checked. Council Member Genco questioned the reason for the transfer from another fund of $450,000, to which Mr. Couzzo responded that would cover engineering and construction of the raw water piping from the Public Safety facility back to the plant. Council Member Genco recalled that had been included as a cost to the public when building the Village Hall, and commented it was now being broken out and placed in the right fund, so when evaluating the available options, the cost of each option had to be looked at, whether the Village Hall would be at the JMZ Center or at Village Green. Ms. Genco advised that when the total cost of each option was evaluated, the cost of having to do this water connection at this time was considered, and although it appeared the cost was the same for either location, it really was not. The Village Hall and Village Green were allocated toward this water service, and it really could not wait any longer, which was why it was being done now. Mr. Couzzo commented that next year, as discussed, although it would not be funded the well would be bid also and if the right number were obtained he would suggest appropriation of funds from reserves. Council Member Capretta commented that he looked at the $450,000 transfer as the water company could not afford their share of the new Village Hall, and could not even run their own water company because their funds were so depleted. Council Member Genco commented a lot of that came about with the old way they did bookkeeping with a lot of the money going into a slush fund that was not allocated, and it was now being straightened out; that maybe some funds should have been accruing the whole time toward this new well, and she thought that was another thing the public misconstrued. Council Member Capretta commented the past Councils had been • Village Council Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 11 reluctant to do that--to lock themselves into anything. Mr. Couzzo commented it was being done now. Mr. Capretta commented the Village must come up with $4 million in the next year, and if the water company kept running the way it was it would be self- sufficient in a few years. Mr. Couzzo noted that a key to look at was the water department could not be looked at as a piggy bank. Mr. Capretta commented Jupiter ran their whole city on their water surplus. Village Manager Couzzo commented the ten-year study on how to operate the water department so it remained solvent and independent had been completed, which hopefully the Village Council would follow for the next ten years. There was a little over $3 million in the fund currently, and the actual RO expansion did not have to be done until 2006, and if a real good bid could be obtained to do the well and the piping he thought that was critical. Mr. Capretta expressed his opinion there was too much debt-approximately $13 million--and the Village paid over a million a year in interest-so he would have preferred to pay the debt early instead of having a tax decrease. Council Member Genco commented the only debt was a line of credit, water revenue bonds, and public safety. Mr. Couzzo noted the way it was set up the Village • could not at this time refinance to get a lower rate. Mr. Couzzo commented the Village did well on the pumper, and he thought exceptionally well on the public safety building, and fortunately would have the reserves to do what was needed with the water, possibly with the exception of 100% funding for RO, and everything else would be done on cash basis. Council Member Watkins asked if the Village was finished with water infrastructure for a number of years. The Village Manager responded yes except there could be a failure on another well for some reason, it could be lost through salt water intrusion, etc. The Village's goal was to get off Jupiter's water in buying the bulk rate. Mr. Couzzo commented the Village would save a huge chunk of what they paid Jupiter, possibly $500,000 out of the $668,000 paid now. Debt service was discussed and how to get from here to 2007 and staying with the plan. Mr. Couzzo suggested that one of the possible finance mechanisms in 2005 or 2006 was ashort-term--less than Syear--loan with a low interest rate because %2 million or $700,000 might be needed to do the RO facility. Council Member Genco commented that a letter offering to the current bond holders could be done for nothing. Annual debt service on the water plant was discussed, which was $527,330. Mr. Couzzo indicated he was extremely pleased with the water and felt the Village would get to 2007 without a significant problem. Council Member Genco commented that connections on the Rood property and in other areas plus the usage would make a big difference. Mr. Couzzo commented one of the things the Council would hear at the budget presentation was that the Village needed to continue to be aggressive and pursuing customers where there was a cost benefit, and cautioned that the Village would need to continue operating extremely lean unti12007. Council Member • Genco asked what the bottom line was that would be put into reserves this year, to which Ms. Forsythe responded that everyone was supposed to get all of their invoices in so Finance would know exactly what they were spending. Mr. Couzzo commented not to • Village Council Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 12 expect too much. Mr. Couzzo commented that a couple of people needed to move some dollars here and there. Council Member Genco commented this was one of the best budgets she had seen. Stormwater Utility Budget - Mr. Couzzo reported the Village had really done an incredible job of improving their stormwater utility facilities throughout the Village in the last couple of years, and most of the big improvements had been done. South Cypress was scheduled to be finished in December. No increase in stormwater rates was proposed. Refuse and Recycling Budget - Mr. Couzzo reported that no increase to the residents was anticipated. Some money would come from reserves to offset the 2.76%. The Village Manager commented the contract with Nichols Sanitation was a great contract. Special Law Enforcement Trust Budget -The Village Manager explained that this was • money from confiscated materials in drug cases, and it was noted that $5,000 from a burglary had recently been added. Mr. Couzzo congratulated staff on the budget. Consensus of the Village Council was that a second budget workshop was not needed. Mr. Couzzo reminded the Council that two public hearings would be held. Mayor Resnik commented it was a good budget and he felt the public should know staff had done a good job, and it should not be just passed off in a resolution. Mr. Couzzo indicated that a budget summary handout would be prepared for the public and staff would make presentations. Village Clerk Miles announced that the first public hearing would be September 3 and the second would be September 18, both at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Miles reported that the Finance Department had already created a budget presentation for the public in summary form, which would be available at the hearings and in Administration. Mr. Couzzo announced that an executive summary would also be done, as in the past two years, and those would be available. 'V. Adjournment MOTION: Vice Mayor von Frank moved that the meeting be adjourned Council Member Watkins seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous S-0 vote. The motion was therefore • passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. • Village Council Meeting Minutes August 19, 2003 Page 13 Respectfully submitted, q~ n Mary(~M(~iles Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: •