City Commission Meeting Summary - September 16, 2009
The City Commission met in special budget workshop session and took the following action:
Discussed updated final budget adjustments and received input from the City Commission on potential changes to the proposed FY 2010 Budget.
Received information on additional cuts totaling $424,000 being recommended in the General Fund budget. Recommended cuts in Star Metro routes, reduction in executive travel, and reduction in the City’s internal training programs.
Recommended reprogramming the 2004 bond series funding, which includes the neighborhood infrastructure funding.
Received information from the City Manager regarding a PBA proposal regarding third year contract salary increases. The submitted proposal was voted on by the membership of the PBA. Under the proposal, the PBA will receive a 4.5% step increase on October 1, 2009, but will delay implementation of the 2% across the board increase, which will result in a savings to the City.
Discussed updated potential cost in savings as directed by staff/commission.
Discussed savings from the Voluntary Separation and the Drop program. Savings from the VSI & Drop program resulted from eight additional positions being eliminated, with critical review of other positions to determine which are essential to be refilled, hiring of new employees at reduced rates (no more than 25% above the minimum), and delayed filling of positions by an average of three months.
Discussed the use of existing 2004 bond proceeds from the Neighborhood Infrastructure Program to offset projects that were scheduled for new debt.
2004 Bond Series Summary
- Neighborhood Infrastructure Undesignated Balance - 15,150,000
- Cascade Park Remediation Balance - 4,000,000
- FY10 General Fund Dedicated for Joint Dispatch - 1,000,000
- Total Available - 20,150.000
Proposed Uses for 2004 bond Series Balance
- Weems Road - 2,500,000
- Major Intersection Improvement/Fleischmann Road - 1,675,000
- Bradford Road (Meridian to Thomasville) - 4,000,000
- Joint Dispatch (prior year debt thru FY10) - 6,675,000
- FAMU Way - 5,000,000
- Total - 19,850,000
- Balance Used to Reduce GF Contribution - 300,000
The Commission directed staff to delay the Weems Road and the Bradford Road projects for further discussion and possibly scaling the projects back before committing to borrowing money to complete the projects.
Discussed the Fire Debt service fund, the construction of the fire administration building and the direction of joint dispatch.
Discussed alternatives for reduction of the General Fund Transfer to Star Metro.
Potential route changes are as follows:
- Delete midday service on 80X-no service 9:30-2:30 provided to Southwood
- Delete 7:00 pm Trip 6-removes last trip of the day from Tallahassee Mall
- Delete 7:00 pm Trip 24·removes last trip of the day from High Road/Ocala Rd/Bradford Manor area
- Reduce Headway on Routes 13 and 14 to 40 minutes during the midday (9:30 to 2:30)
- Delete All City Holiday Service Except Friday after Thanksgiving
- Delete Sunday Service Routes 13-14, 28-33 - no service will be provided on Sunday
Directed Staff to bring back more information on the deletion of all City Holiday Services.
Discussed alternatives for passing on the increased cost of health care insurance to employees. Two options were presented. Both options resulted in additional cost to the City. Option one at $30,120 and option two at $50,143. The proposed budget includes payment by the City for the full cost of the increase in premiums. The total cost to the City is $325,428.
Option one proposes that employees pick up the increase in health care cost and keep one furlough day for employees with salaries greater than $50,000.
Option two proposes that employees pick up 5% increase in health care cost while the City pick up 1% and keep one day furlough for employees with salaries greater than $50,000.
Commissioners Gillum, Mustian, Marks and Ziffer were in favor of Option 1. Commissioner Lightsey was in favor of option 2.
Received expenditure detail for donations as requested at the September 10, 2009 public hearing. Reductions totaling $211,087 (9.2%) are currently included in the proposed budget.
Suggested the need to clarify the difference between unclassified contractual services and unclassified professional services for which staff will bring back information in regards to this discussion.
Discussed the letter received from the PBA that also discussed the number of positions that were restored by the COPS grant reallocation. Discussed the possibility of trying to keep as many positions as possible.
Discussed the issue of take home police vehicles and the value of having police vehicles through out the community. Also discussed the cost for officers to drive their own vehicles to work.
Discussed concern with human services. Commissioner Gillum expressed the desire to revisit a commission policy that states that a certain percent of the City’s budget would go toward human services.
Expressed concern with the closure of the Palmer Munroe Community Center and potential uses for the facility. Commissioner Gillum agreed to bring back more detailed information for further discussion in regards to the Palmer Monroe Community Center.
CTC:BW:nc:09-16-2009