City Commission Meeting Summary - April 9, 2008
The City Commission met in special budget workshop session and took the following action:
Reviewed revised downward revenue estimates and revised projected deficits of ($628,777) in FY08 and ($8.5 million) in FY09, as well as the staff's responses to a number of issues previously raised by the Commission and the staff's recommendations on actions that could be taken to address the projected deficits.
Discussed and voted 5-0 to approve the Take Home Vehicle reductions as recommended by staff, for an annual savings of $$99,903 ($10,500 to the General Fund); and requested that the staff provide information on
- the impact that eliminating that privilege for some of the Police non-union employees would have on crime prevention;
- the impact on vehicle depreciation;
- the potential for impacting employees' job performance; and,
- clarification of the long-term FY09 impact to the General Fund.
Discussed and voted 3-2 (Commissioners Marks and Gillum opposed) to approve the staff's recommendation to reduce the City's funding of the School Crossing Guard Program by $50,000
Voted 5-0 to approve the staff's recommendation to implement, by June 1, 2008, a $2 surcharge on every parking violation issued, with the proceeds dedicated to the School Crossing Guard Program, and the proposed implementation of a $5 surcharge on every traffic violation issued, with the proceeds to be deposited in the City General Fund
Discussed making expenditure reductions to meet the cost recovery shortfall of ($130,778) in the Adult Sports Program, and voted 5-0 to direct staff to bring back a recommendation for some cost reductions and fee increase to allow full cost recovery of the Adult Sports Program
Discussed providing some additional compensation to City employees, and voted 3-2 (Commissioners Katz and Mustian opposed) to approve a 1.5% salary increase for non-union employees, effective April 1, 2008
Voted 4-1 (Commissioner Katz opposed) to approve the staff's recommendation to use a portion of the Floridan Lot sales proceeds, in the amount of $927,256, in the General Fund in FY2008
Voted 5-0 to approve the City Manager's reorganization, including the elimination of two director positions, i.e., Economic Development Director, and Gas Utility General Manager, for a FY08 savings of $76,905 in the General Fund.
Discussed cuts in the travel budget in recent years and directed staff to bring back some analysis of reducing travel to fund 50% of the employee increase in FY2008
Voted 4-1 (Commissioner Katz opposed) to use $5 million to defease the Neighborhood Improvement Enhancement Program (NIEP) debt service by $1 million annually for five years beginning in FY2009, with the expectation that the issue would be brought back if the economy improved
Discussed selling some excess City properties and concurred to proceed with the sale of the properties over the next two to five years at a fair market rate, not expecting all to be sold
Voted 5-0 to approve the recommendation to relocate the North Monroe Street Drive-thru Utilities Payment facility to the old drive-through facility adjacent to the Civic Center, contingent on locating a buyer for the North Monroe Street location
Ascertained that the issue of Utilities transfers to the General Fund would be analyzed by the Financial Viability Target Issue Committee and brought to the Commission
Requested some analysis of potentially selling Hilaman Golf Course before issuing an RFP for management/operational privatization
Discussed reducing the City's costs expended for the Friday night "Downtown Get Downs"
Reviewed the Northwest Park development issue
Ascertained that the staff was evaluating the permitting staffing level in relation to the downturn in the development industry
CTC:RM:ecg:04-11-08