Tarpon Springs City Hall Board of Commissioners 2018, 25 Jul 2018

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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners July 25, 2018

Description

Budget Workshop

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The person taking the picture drives a black sedan Commission. What color nothing.

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C

Everyone I now called to order the budget work session of the Board of Commissioners of the city of Tarpon Springs on Tuesday July, 25th 2018 at 6:30 p.m. roll call. Please is.

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This yeah vice mayor Panthers mr. Sieber, here first you're, kicked out here. Mister car.

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Announcement, the purpose for tonight's meeting is for the Board of Commissioners to study issues together and to analyze information and to clarify questions. No votes are conducted during the work session. No public comments will be allowed tonight on this budget, however, will be allowed doing the two public hearings that are scheduled for Wednesday September, 5th 2018 and Tuesday September 18 2018 to 6:30 p.m.

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item number one general fund budget, the Enterprise Fund and the CIP discussion.

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Off with a presentation for mr. herring is the overview of the whole budget.

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Good evening mayor commissioners round hearing finance director, as you probably know, in June 22nd you've got the executive summary book where we try to summarize everything in the actual proposed budget book. I know we like paper and Finance. So we have this nice three inch binder of paper here. That's the detail, but your book, but I'll go into a brief presentation here of the different funds in the in the city of Tarpon Springs.

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First I just want to go back to a little bit brief history in March 2018 the department started entering their budget in April finance compiles the budget document with the expenditure requests and revenue projections made 1724 in 31st, a budget visor II committee met with departments and went through their their budgets spending about two hours each session, so I know they spent numerous hours with all the departments going over their budgets, June 22nd, the the budget books were were provided to the commissioners and July 25th 2018 we're here for the first budget workshop, or maybe the only one, just starting out with a summary of the total city.

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The total City proposed budget is fifty-seven. Point. Nine million it's an increase of 1.8 million or three point: two: seven percent over last year's approved budget and I'd like to show the major funds of the five largest funds general fund is twenty four point: nine million water and sewer fund seventeen point: nine sanitation, five million penny fund, 2.4 million stormwater fund; one point: five million for a total of almost 52 million those five funds make up 90% of the total city budget and down below I like the show the capital.

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That's part of the budget, the capital improvement projects and capital outlay. Nine point: five million: it's sixteen percent of the budget. Water and sewer is a majority of that at five million capital projects, funds, two point: six million and the balances and some other funds total one point: eight million for a total of nine point: five million in capital projects and just a I know: I mentioned the five phones up there.

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But if you wanted to know where the some of the other funds are there in total in the executive summary there on page 22, which shows all the individual funds and their balances and just sum the total of the budget assumptions and the budget book here, all funds are balanced.

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The general fund is balanced without using any unassigned fund balance property taxes certified by the property appraiser on July 1st citywide. It's a six point, seven, two percent increase, which includes a CRA, the CRA alone. It's a ten point, two three percent increase, the millage rate is unchanged at five point. Four two: the increase for the general fund is five hundred forty three thousand for the CRA fund.

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Forty two thousand and total revenues budgeted and the general fund is nine point: two million and in the CRA fund, two hundred forty nine thousand for a total nine million four hundred and fifty five thousand from the property taxes.

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Some of the assumptions going into the budget here, while the expenditure ones a salary increase with benefits total seven hundred thirteen thousand police union increases, are eighty nine thousand Fire Union increases. 112 thousand general fund is funded at three point: five percent for a total five hundred eleven thousand health dental and life insurance. We originally estimated ten percent for a total three hundred thirty two thousand we have since got an update and as below written below their health is coming in at six percent.

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Dental zero percent and life is still estimated at ten percent because we don't have the final numbers yet for a total increase of one hundred. Ninety two thousand nine forty eight and a decrease of one hundred thirty nine thousand. Under the one hundred three hundred thirty two thousand. We originally budgeted workers comp. We still, we don't know the final numbers. Yet we've got a ten percent increase in their or fifty seven thousand property insurance.

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We don't have the final numbers if and we got a ten percent budgeted for an increase of a fifty eight thousand retirement accounts funded per the actuary requirements. Please we're at eleven point eight six percent, which is an increase of a hundred four thousand. We have an update that might go to fourteen percent because there might be an additional benefit.

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A hundred percent death been a death benefit which will cost at roughly about forty six thousand, so that would make the total increase one hundred and fifty one thousand fire funding it at eight hundred thirty, three thousand five. Ninety eight, it's an increase of eighty seven thousand over last year and general employees we're still budgeting the same eight point: seven percent, the total. The above assumptions is a 1 million three hundred fifty three thousand with the updated numbers.

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Total comes to 1 million two hundred sixty one thousand: a decrease of ninety two thousand 604 new positions in the budget. Well, there's a two new police officers, but they're really they're approved this year during the fiscal year 2018 and they are funded by the Pinellas County School District, like I, say: there's, none new positions in the budget, but possibly there's going to be a part-time position and the City Clerk's office changed to a four time position.

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That will be brought forward next month with the salary changes going into the general fund general fund, a total budget of proposed, as twenty four point: nine million an increase, almost 1.2 million over last year's, a five percent increase, as I mentioned before no one assigned fund balance is being used to balance a general fund.

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Some of the similar assumptions from the previous screen, but the general fund portion, but the police is all in the general fund. So police union increases eighty nine thousand, the fire union hundred twelve thousand the general employees in the general fund. For the three point: five percent phone: it comes to three hundred nineteen thousand two new police officer. What's SRO was one hundred and fifty one thousand health, dental and life insurance at the ten percent was two hundred twenty thousand, which there's an update down below saying them.

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The amount will decrease eighty eight thousand because there's six percent health insurance workers comp at ten percent, thirty, nine thousand and there's a land development code rewrite in the budget for seventy five thousand and the Police and Fire pension funding increase is told about one hundred. Ninety two thousand two twenty four and those are the 1.2 million of increases in expenditures in the general fund.

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Revenues to offset those expenditure increases the property tax values at six point: seven: two percent: at five hundred forty three thousand we're adjusting the interfund transfers from the enterprise funds to seven percent from six percent.

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That's two hundred ninety five thousand school resource, our officer funding, increase it's going up to three hundred forty eight thousand I think it's been one hundred and forty five hundred forty three hundred forty five thousand in the past transfer from the e BCD is the employee benefit cost deferral fund, which is a fund set aside just for insurance creases for general employees. We're using that money to help offset the that general fund, the employees for the health insurance, but that'll decrease since we're not going to be using.

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The ten percent will be down to the six percent health insurance reserve, other police fire in the ninety nine thousand. We have a reserved within the general fund, set aside its money from refunds that built over over the last 15 20 years. We've were so we're using that for the other portion for the police and fire increase is a 99 thousand other revenue changes net is a sixty one thousand eight eleven and that's a mix of we.

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Have like a hundred and.

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Fifty revenue items and a general fund, but that's just netting it out to the 1.2 million of increases the revenue increases to offset the expenditure increases.

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The general fund, major revenue source I'm, sorry just went over that.

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Sorry technical difficulties here, I'm computer, challenged I'd like to show the slide of the general fund expenditures up top. It shows that 2018 and compares it to 2019 and what the major increases as the highlighted in yellow on the side as personnel is the largest increase at 1.1 million and down below I like to show that of the general fund for the current year. 74% of the expenses as personnel next slide is showing the taxes and it's showing that um going from 2018 to 2019 $595,000 increases taxes in the general fund.

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Taxes are 54% of the general fund and down on the bottom, I try to say it's: that's not property taxes, it's property, taxes, utility taxes, Communication Service taxes and local business taxes.

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I'd like to show this site here it just so, it shows the history of it, of the millage rate, the tax values and the revenues to the city and, as you can see on the far left slide there.

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It shows the millage rate going from four point: nine, four, five, four back in 2005 2008, it dips down to four point: three: oh eight, nine and then in 2011 goes up to five point: four: five and 2017 that little took a little dip down to five point: four two, which is maintained that five point four to next to it, the taxable values you can see back in 2005 we're about 1.3 billion and in 2008 the taxable values went up to 1.9 billion three hundred and thirty-eight million, which we still haven't gotten back up to, but we're getting close to their dip down in 2013 the 1.3 billion about the same as in 2005 and now currently in 2019, we're back up to 1.8 billion and with the two above, the millage rate and the taxable values.

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That's what makes up the revenue. So, as you can see, the revenue sort of take the similar.

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Rollercoaster right here as a as a taxable values: where was six million of revenues in 2005, 8.1 million in 2008 dipped down the 2013, the 6.7 million, and then this year? What we're budgeting is 9.2 million of revenues and a general fund I.

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Put in this slide this year, because it affects the third homestead exemption, just trying to show you the effects of it with the property tax values and the and the revenue they'd be coming to the city I, based it on basically sort of conservative I, based it on 4% increase in a taxable value. So, if you look on the far left, graphs of property tax values, you'll see the number highlighted in yellow the 1.8 billion. That's our current value. This year. The blue line going forward is as a 4% increase.

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If there was no, if the exemption, the third homestead exemption is not passed, the brown line is the taxable values with the increase, but if the homestead exemption has passed- and basically that's mentioned down below it's about, a 90 million dollar is exemptible exempt taxable values and lis. That would be less on the taxable values graph on the far right, basically the same, showing that in yellow the 9.2 million.

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If we had a 4% increase going out from 2020 to 2024, we would be in the blue line there, and the brown line is if we get the 4% increase, but then the homestead exemption does pass and like as mentioned down below and both of them like in the graph on the left. The difference is basically the 90 million and then a graph on the right is a four hundred. Eighty two thousand. We would not be getting each year if that homestead exemption has passed.

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I went ahead and tried to be in sync in a homestead exemption. I projected out the revenues and expenditures this last week for the last five years, I didn't want to show all five years to 2024, but what it basically got into is a bottom line down there with a 3% increase, I'm, foreseeing that or there'll be a budget projection shortfall in 2020 when we're working on the budget of roughly about seven hundred. Ninety five thousand goes up to about a million seventy thousand and 2021.

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Well, what's the new contributing to that? Well, the homestead exemption, the four hundred eighty two thousand, some of those little smaller things, the hospital men, but you know where we're getting in three hundred thousand, but now you know I mean we would have been getting in three hundred sixty two thousand eight fifty six page up based on the original lease. But now it's going to be three hundred thousand the cell tower. If that passes, but there'll be about four to forty eight forty, two thousand nine.

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Ninety one of revenue less in the general funds, I just want to point out little things when I'm trying to balance the budget. It's just okay, I!

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Don't have that anymore to balance the budget so just trying to project out and with the homestead exemption, mainly what the shorteez, maybe in 2020, unless we get some other revenue, sources of expenditures, cuts or going into capital improvement projects just trying to list all the capital improvements shop, projects that are, and then there in the back of the executive summary there and pages there, but going by type general government a disaster, Hall recovery servers, 110 thousand City Hall building improvements.

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Forty thousand other building improvements, sixty thousand public safety police vehicles, 350 mm self-contained, breathing apparatus for the fire department, three hundred thousand now, hopefully they did apply for a grant, and so we might not need that, but they haven't been turned down yet so we might get a grant to offset fire staff vehicle annually. We have a fear fire vehicle, replace that's a 60,000, the ELC Creston and transmitting transmitter receiver surface helpouts.

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That's for the EOC, the 99 thousand 999 thermal in thermal imaging cameras for the fire department, there's three of them for twenty six thousand station 69 exhaust system. Seventy thousand I've gunned down the transportation. We've got brick Street and Road reconstruction, 150 thousand court street improvements. Three hundred fifty thousand annual street paving two hundred sixty thousand annual sidewalks. Ninety thousand extend Pinellas Trail at north and khloé a 93 hundred ninety one thousand that one might be moved out to 2021, but we're not sure yet I'm, sorry, 2020.

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Going on the culture and recreation we've got: Dorset Park field renovations, 80,000, Riverside field, tennis, court area improvements, forty thousand Sunset Beach. We have interest sway improvements. Restaurant restaurant said that again yesterday, restroom remodel sidewalks pavilion deck for a total hundred forty five thousand sizzler field, restroom roof, dugout improvements. Ninety four thousand Heritage Museum restaurant off its improvements; thirty three thousand north and close entranceway; eight ten thousand splash Park parking lot; five thousand train depot deck replacement, twenty five thousand and going down the storm water.

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We have distant, Avenue, Center, Street hundred fifty thousand stormwater action plan out of two hundred fifty eight thousand Colburn Drive west of Florida, thirty nine thousand, and then we get in the water and sewer and I there's a lot of the water and sewer project.

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So I just tried to put a lot of them by the Department I just below some I highlighted some of the larger ones like for the water plant, there's 1.7 million, but 1.3 million of us for new our new raw water wells, water supply, 85,000 water distribution, 1 million eighty-one thousand, includes five hundred thousand for water pipe valve replacement. Meter change outs, 125,000, we budget for annually. It's a new radio, read meters going into sewer.

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We have sewage collection, 885 thousand, which includes two hundred twenty five thousand four manhole sewer lines and two hundred ten thousand for sea breeze engineering, sewage treatment, plant, seven hundred twenty thousand sewage lift station three hundred twenty thousand for torille water and sewer four point: nine million and total capital improvement projects of eight eight million one hundred fifty thousand seven. Ninety one.

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We wanted to show you this slide, it's capital project, a lot of them are all in the slide you just saw, but this is a penny fund. So this is a projects that we're just mentioning, but these are the ones that are in the penny fund. Somebody likes say the some of the same ones: City Hall, the citywide.

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The public safety like I could go through them, but too long, the same ones with Public, Safety, transportation, cultural and recreation for total of two million four hundred thirty seven thousand, and then what we're trying to show down at the bottom there's a two hundred fifty seven thousand six hundred. Seventy one dollars left in the fund with budgeting for these projects but, like I, say through the extend Pinellas Trail, the three hundred ninety one thousand that might be moved out a year and self-contained breathing at breathing apparatus as if we get a grant well.

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Hopefully, we won't need that in there and I think it's a 10 percent grant, so we would have to pay a little bit but been three thousand.

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This is capital items at work requested, but we took out of the budget. Let.

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Me talk. Let me talk about this page. A little bit. Explain kind of why have this page in these are a variety of things you see in this page. Some of them are not gonna go back in the budget. Some of them are are ones that we're hoping if we have extra money at the end of this year's budget to use a few of them may go, but some of them may go back in the budget. These are just again.

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A variety of lists of things that are not gonna be funded, may be funding depending on the role over. A money may be put back into the budget by the time you see the budget again, so it's just a variety of things we put out there.

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Obviously, what will be tonight is looking at a list of some things that you have to add to this budget to add to this page, um so we can take them all together and figure what's going into the budget, what's not going into the budget, so this is just our worksheet that will continue on tonight. We talk about the particular items that the Commission would like to see in the budget, and you can see some of the things in here.

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I know at least a few of them are things that you're gonna want to make sure you see into this budget so kind of we'll leave this until we get to the to the commissioners, because they'll be adding things to this list and then we'll be deciding when we're gonna do them next.

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Water and sewer fun, since it's the second biggest fun start thought we should go into a little detail: the water and sewer the proposed budget. Seventeen point: nine million, an increase of 1.9 million over the eleven and eleven point. Eight nine percent over last year's approved budget graphs, similar the one in the general fund, showing the expenditures and just trying to show the biggest increase from two thousand eighteen and nineteen is the capital outlay of 1.1 million one hundred forty eight thousand.

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The total capital is five million budget in the fund and down on the left side. It shows that of the 2019 budget, thirty percent is personnel, twenty three percent is operating and twenty eight percent is capital, the other side of it the revenue to offset that is the main increase which is charges for services for the user fees of 1.2 million and says down below ninety five percent of the budget to cover that is 95 percent of the charges for services.

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The main revenues in the general fund of the have the fun bounces. You know the fund total of seventeen million nine forty nine is water sales. Nine nine point: six million sewer sales, six point, two million and reclaim sales 407,000 for a total 16 million three. Oh nine and those three total ninety-one percent of the budget.

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It's based on the four percent increase sanitation fund, a budget of almost 5.1 million, an increase of 119 thousand over last year's, a 2.4 1% increase the main revenues: sanitation fees, almost three point: nine million recycling, five hundred sixty thousand yard waste 320,000 for a total of four million; seven hundred sixty three thousand there.

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Ninety four percent of the budget, the rate increase for next year in sanitation is one point: nine, eight percent, it's based on the CPI per the contract with waste management we are currently in the third year of the five-year contract with waste management and the city. Administrative fee is twenty percent, the expenses out of the sanitation fund, as for of course, for the contractor solid waste, a waste management, 3.2 million recycling to waste management. Four hundred forty thousand and yard waste to mothers organics is two hundred thirty, eight thousand.

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For a total three point: nine million stormwater fund a budget of almost 1.6 million. It's a decrease of from six hundred fifty eight thousand from last year, based on some budgets that are being budget of that word budget last year, but was waiting on the grant funding in the coming years. So that was a decrease.

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Stormwater fund fifth-largest fund, at the one point: six million, it's a stormwater department and the project administration department, project administration Department, is also in the water and sewer fund in the general fund. Stormwater fees toll during one point: five million- the the rate for next year will be seven point: six five per ESU: it's a fifty cent increase per the ordinances and the last slide going forward. August.

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Second, second budget workshop, if necessary, August 20th, the county mails, the trim, notices, September, fifth, first public hearing on the tentative millage rate and budget September, 18, second and final public hearing and then October. First, the first day of the new fiscal year. I do.

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Want to note that my recommendation, I, don't think: we've had a second budget workshop meeting in two three, four or five years or whatever, what I'm recommending in case. We need it and stuff that we can add a work session at the end of the meeting the 7th or the 21st like we do, the regular mean there could be a way.

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If there's any issues we have to come back and discuss, then we can just go straight from the regular session into a work session if we find out tonight afterwards, and that would be my recommendation instead of the second. But if we can talk about that, that later is that we can deal if there's some issue here we got to get back to on. um Then we can do that. I think that same recommendation, I made the last two years.

C

You finished excuse.

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Me and he did it at under a half.

F

An hour like he was, he was.

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Wasn't 101 under.

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Half hour yeah.

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Yeah I've been directed to keep. It short, of course,.

C

Mr. Heric staff budget advisory commune. Oh well! Thank you all. Congratulations! We'll have a very good budget and we appreciate that very much. It is encouraging to see that look at the slide number three.

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That our budget has been increased, 1.8 million dollars, which is three point, two seven percent, so every year is getting better and better and we're still keeping the same millage for the third year in a row which is 5.4.

C

Mr. lacor is to support the increase that you were budgeted for the salaries of the employees. Three point: five: we need to bring the salaries up. The level will be compatible to the other cities and be a very good um paycheck going home, but also, but doing that we're gonna keep our people here, actually we'll get them training. As you know, in the past that didn't work better we're doing that.

C

Flight number six.

C

Shows the new positions that we budgeted, the two police officers, which is the S or are they already been approved, but as I keep I'm going to ask the same thing as the last time that we need to have a marketing specialist position to help Karen, even if the part-time we need to start. Are you and I would discuss that several times so I think it's very important that we have that to market. The city also do promote the businesses in town and that will increase the revenue of the city. We're.

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Talking about that later, yeah.

C

Okay, but also I, guess the the pay scale you're gonna bring it to us later. Yes,.

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C

F

As you know, in the past years, usually the last thing I do in the budget is the pay scale. Cuz, obviously, I have to look and see what the budget is so I'm. Working on that now, I can tell you now, although we proposed an average of 3.5, um the majority of raises are gonna, be 3% and that's pretty much consistent all throughout the counties that we know now from the other cities.

F

The reason is three point: five, and what I'm working on now with various department heads is um again, as you see we're getting to. You know this little beetle out this this budget, we're gonna, go backwards, the next two years and have at least two years of a tough budget. It's gonna be tough. These next two years now, we've been through a lot tougher with the recession when I first became sitting there, so so we'll deal with it, and but it's gonna be tough.

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So why I'm, taking a little longer I really want to look at those lower positions we spent. We spent a lot of years um worries you seen.

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Those variable raises to try to move the lower ends of our salary up um right now, I'm trying to and the schedule is I'm still working on, that I'll be going before the budget Advisory Committee on August, 9th and bringing it to them and then I'll be bringing it to you as I, usually do because we go to a regular meeting and bring salary stuff on the 16th, I'll be bringing it to you, but the thing I'm looking at now right now as I look at it I'm we're, probably gonna, lose grade 4 and grade 5.

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Only because grade 6 will be starting couple pennies under 12 an hour I want to make sure you know. We talked about reaching the point where the lowest paid bullet would be $12 an hour and we can reach it this year. um But to do that, I'm probably eliminate grade Sporn 5 I'm, looking at grade 6, probably up to 11 and 12 to see where they are, where the low paid employees aren't there to move them up. So we don't have compression. So we're dealing with a lot of things.

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We're dealing with compression but I can guarantee you none of its at the top end of the salaries. It's all the lower end and to try to work on moving up. Have we've heard to the living wage and move we've had some they've had some good increases. um As you see the lower pay scale over the last three or four years, where those graduated look wait, I want to try to finish, be close to finishing off.

F

We'll still have some we'll need to do next year, so the main thing you're gonna see and budget you're gonna see that I think there's only one major reorganization, um Diane wooden Cultural Affairs, has had her first year and it's a pretty major reorganization and in that is part of the piece we'll discuss a little bit later, but mostly we'll discuss, and we get the salaries about some abilities with her reorganization to combine her department and resources of marketing to to deal with what we've heard from from the commissioning and increase in marketing for the city.

F

I think there may be a way to do that again. As we see the shortfalls coming up and like I told them last night, when we all of a sudden came up with this sustainability position, it's almost with the decrease is looking at. It's almost to put any positions on now and some of the people out here who need positions.

F

Also I've told it's just irresponsible to try to put them on now because of what we may be facing in November, but as we've always done short of money and shorter things in stuff, there may be some internal ways where we can accomplish what we can. Maybe there isn't, but we're going to talk about them a little later as we do and we bring the salaries to you and we bring that reorganization to. You will tell you some of the ideas that we're still meeting and working on how?

F

Maybe we can work that market and component into there and and have the concentration of money that you add to this budget and that the list where I told you we're gonna look at in our our sheet to see what's going in the budget is not going because you know we can spend 40 50 60 70 thousand dollars on a position, but you're gonna put that position use all your money and you're gonna have no money to go out there and market. Where are you gonna get the ads? Where are you gonna?

F

Do you have no money left there? So that's what we're going to talk about later on, not tonight, because we're still working on that to bring back to you so salad, but that's the general thing. What the salaries are gonna be again. They may be food. Few grade changes. Some of the great changes are not having money attached to them. They just need to be moved up within the organization.

F

We've got some positions, we're moving because they're antiquated from the job description, but it's gonna be basically what you've seen and and again it's gonna ball, mostly lower salaries or positions that have just grown, and you read the job description. The people are are really doing a lot more in the job description saying so, there's nothing be out standing and in there and we'll be bringing those back to you. Mr.

C

Leak wears you down like a reorganization, streamline that just.

I

Over the years, yes,.

C

By doing it, this way that will give us the American specialist responsibility, looking I'm hope.

F

I'm hoping they can see that, but.

C

Yeah, thank you before we move down to the other items, which is what I give before I invite to the podium. The budget Advisory Committee chairman, if you please cover I, mean comment all those things that would be employee salaries as well as the presentation a little oh nice man thank.

A

You I just wanna again start by saying thank you to all of our employees, especially our department, heads I, started five years ago and even way back I was on the advisory boards about ten years ago now, y'all are dealing with a very tough situation and we had some budget meetings that weren't as pleasant as this one and I would put you all up against any staff anywhere. They know I'm in the county and I and I do mean that.

A

So thank you for what y'all have done and the good gears I think I'm and in the bad years it has been notice, nothing that goes to the overall stability that we have here in Tarpon Springs.

A

This morning, I was at my my meeting at the STA, which is not fiscally stable and I sit between a mission, clear water and one from Bonita, and they were talking about I forget it was raising or lowering that they were having to adjust their military and Tarpons been pretty stable in in our military I think that's been more more fair to the citizens. I would say we have to charge for the services that, with that with that, we provide it and I think it's been fiscally sound with not play games with it.

A

So that goes to credit from the budget Advisory Committee to missions before me in this one, so I think that's to our favor that we do that and I do want to thank the budget. Advisory Committee I served two years on that I know it's not the most appealing board. We have, but it's a very important board and the fact that you all, which are you know more, are very seasoned experts in budgeting. You have your eyes on this budget.

A

I know that you all go line by line, so so so so we don't have to and I appreciate that I look forward to your recommendations there in a minute I have a few random things more there's nothing! That's surprising! I've always talked about health insurance, but I promised you I will worse that, but um I just you know if we never put the vendor on any kind of notice that we're looking at other options, there's no incentive for them to decrease our rates or not decrease our rates with decrease the amount of an increase.

A

So you know in the future, I'd always keep that in mind Iran. What is the number of our unassigned fund balance? Projected I must have missed that I'm. Sorry, eight.

G

Point five million in.

A

The general fund, okay, this is Mark our I- think it's our third or not, or is it without the general fund without using the at the end?

A

Because when I came on, we we we were using a significant amount. We.

G

Weren't eight point eight million, but we did. We used three hundred thousand for the FEMA in hurricane Irma, but we're still hopefully waiting to get most of that money back.

A

During Emma there was the county and some other I'm. Just honest. I didn't have the reserve that now that we have and you look what I, what I, what a barely category one storm did and how much that cost us stuff bill. We get a a bigger storm. We will need those funds. So again, thank you to those in the past that have that have a support of having that balance. I do think, though, this for future reference, I wouldn't increase the reserve fund above that I think it did get back before the crash.

A

It did get inflated. I think they got their love. A million I think that that is too high I, don't think that's responsible budgeting I think eight point. Five. Nine million is a good range for the unassigned fund balance to be at obviously when the budget, the husband, really grow it, but for now I think. That's a healthy, arrange, mark I know I talk to you about the fire station, sorry least having a small fire Bo I see, but that in the budget and.

F

A

For those and for my colleagues that's we obviously have the fire boat, which one day will be at the marina whence or whatever clears that up, but um mrs. Burrell like shallow water rescue as Sunset Beach and things like that, were they at larger boat and yes, I. Think that's a wise any money, Ron I recall a while back something with there was some law coming about about retirement accounts being fully funded off. Unlike wait was that our balance sheet, or something maybe I'm, just it was a while back.

A

There was some new rule that would like accounting you had to you had to account for like being fully funded or something or am I missing. That I'm.

G

Not familiar with that I I know the police and and on the fire they have their funding and I think they're at a good percentage with it, with their pension funds.

A

And for the homestead exemption I know you've. Given this to me before I know you you didn't, show us and thank you the amount that it would be Greece what deal off the top your head, the millage rate, we we we would have to propose to make up that difference. Well,.

G

If you're talking 482,000 you're talking about a quarter of a mil and.

A

You know obviously I won't I won't be on the Commission.

A

The money has to come from somewhere and I believe this was a tax shift from from from from Tallahassee to us and I, don't you know know we can cut five hundred thousand dollars in it in our budget, so I certainly I know it's never popular to raise taxes, but I think it's. We continue to educate the public on voting against this, which is good, wait, wait to which of which is a very hard sell.

A

We we talked about what we would have to potentially raise the the military to make up for that that difference mark for the for the police vehicles I saw we are moving to all all SUVs correct. Yes, so the Dodge Chargers will phase out when they're done, I think that that makes much more sense for the flooding and.

F

It works now great with the storm events and.

A

Then what this is almost engine, but what's the status of Fort Street, you know I saw on the budget what's going into design.

F

Now we're preparing for the budget.

A

F

Already to our engineers to start designing.

A

Okay, so I assume that.

C

Is the format that we cover less.

J

You know colleagues sit here and we say every year. Thank you to our staff. You guys are all of you are out just such an outstanding job and again you do. You know we're expecting you to do more with less each year and somehow our budgets increased and we're finding the money to cover that so again, you're all just you're outstanding in such a great great family that we are here and I appreciate everything all of you do all of your employees do and I was talking to mr. Sulu before the meeting and it's it's.

J

This committee here has really helped us in the past few years that they've come around. You know we did go page by page line by line sitting up here, looking at water coolers and things like that, and it was ridiculous. So we appreciate your help and your extra set of eyes on your committee as well. It's really made our job a lot easier and we look to you for your expertise, because this is what your backgrounds are. So thank you again.

J

So Kim can I I do think I do a support, the increase for our employees for salary increase. We need to keep up with, of course, the cost of living. So you think of three percent or three and a half the.

F

Average, but a lot of most a lot of the salaries are gonna, be three where the extra half percentages is something lower. Salaries are gonna, be maybe four or five six to get them up the lower place so average. Hopefully it's gonna come to the 3.5 range, because.

J

You know, I do see other cities what they're paying their staff and we are at the lower end. I. Even look at you know, which way. No, we don't run the fire in the police department when I see what some of these people are, making it and they're putting their lives on.

F

Right now, I think 75 or 80 percent of the city's is the reaper's, so we'll we'll be moving consistent with all the other cities that we're competing against at 3%. Okay,.

J

J

And I've said before in the past: I know it's not in the budget now or anything, but I think we need to start looking at the future with the library and expanding our library. Just that's always been on my mind. That's.

F

A good thing with the penny pass and that's why it's it. You know when you see, and we start talking about those out years, did you see their to start looking at that debt? That's already the price, one of Bob Robertson's thing on his list to start preparing for and I think.

J

It's real important and of course you know, we don't know, we don't know, what's gonna happen with this in November, with the vote on the extra exemption. So you know we're kind of in the air. I mean we're looking at what happened: half a million dollars, I'm losing income, so I mean this is really. This can really hurt us, so you know there's so many things that I want to see. I'm. You know that I just don't know if it you know, if we'll be able to do that, I did have a suggestion.

J

I talked to mark about I, don't know if this is a time to discuss it or not, where we give five thousand a year to the homeless leadership, and then we give five thousand a safe harbor, so safe harbor, now correct me mark, explained it safe harbor is where the explain.

F

We find people who need us, that's where that's where we bring them, they directly are the ones that accept our people to try to get them help.

J

So they directly help us in our community, um the homeless, leadership I'm, not exactly sure where that five thousand goes to I, don't know. If maybe we want to try and keep it more local I know our Shepherd centers trying to build, or we could split it to two different few different places: I'm, not sure but I. You know it's something I'm thinking about is why don't we try and give that five thousand and keep it local in our community? So I, don't know how you know we vote on now we just take a yeah.

F

I think probably what we'll get on to the general fund? Okay,.

J

F

Want to look at so.

J

I'll, say then: I'll save all these for for later on, but again we're very lucky to have the staff that we have here and again I. Thank you for everything that you do for us.

C

Thank you also mark when you preparing the pay scale. If you please include the sed man just a scale as well as the city clerk, we delay.

C

I

Of course I want to thank you Ron. Thank you for this presentation. It's so easy to understand, of course, being on the budget. Advisory Committee really helped me to understand the budget and I appreciate all that. You guys do and thank you and thanks to all the department, heads and all your hard work and how you make this this budget balanced, because it takes all of you to help do that without using our unassigned funds.

I

I had a couple of questions run on that page with general fund revenue, resources to offset expenditure increases in the health insurance GF reserve at ninety nine thousand. Eight hundred thirty-seven does that deplete that those reserves now I'm.

G

Sorry, what with using the ninety nine thousand it brings it down to about two hundred thousand all right. It's.

I

G

In the general fund and the.

I

Other question I had I see that we've funded for the tennis courts at riverside. Is there? Are there any plans for craig park and its courts any funding or.

F

That's one of the questions that tom.

I

I hear from residents that play there a lot that there's a need for that. I know.

F

There's a schedule there's.

I

It was curious about that thanks, Ron, and you know the mayor brought up marketing. Of course, I've brought it up every year for four years and I'm just not talking just about advertising our city. We need to do more than advertise. We need a marketing specialist that collects data and goes to TDC meetings and and does a lot more than just advertising.

I

We do help advertise with the merchants association in the chamber, but I feel that that position and I know you're talking about reorganization and cultural services, and you know there may be some marketing person there, but I really feel that that person would be appropriate aid to Karen our economic development manager, and maybe this person could be placed even in the new little building, we're leasing, but it's necessary for us, as a city I think to have a marketing specialist I. Think most cities around us.

I

Have them I'd like to see the data on that, but a lot of the cities I know do have them in our area and this position would be doing marketing research as well. So we need to do a study on branding attend the TDC meetings, as I mentioned earlier and report.

I

What what they've discussed and what they've shared you know. I know that I've gone to some of them and they paint a pretty good picture of how things are increasing. The hotels are doing better. The airport is doing better with with high rates of visitors.

I

Maybe we can piggyback on some of their studies to include tarpon springs. We need to do like some trends of business licenses issued what types of businesses and their locations- and we welcome many new businesses every year, but we also have a lot of businesses. Leaving do we do exit interviews?

I

Do we reach out to those businesses leaving what is our net net I just drove down Athens Street on my way here and I saw ten businesses gone on Athens Street, and that concerns me because in the last three years, as a business owner, I have heard from many business owners, especially on the docks that their numbers have been decreasing, and you know we need to find out why what's going on, some businesses are down thirty to fifty percent and tourism is their number one industry in this town.

I

So if we start losing that I just feel like, we need to to start doing something, not just letting things stay. The way they are I know that we may lose some of that homestead exemption money, but- and we may not have the funds right now, but I feel that we need to do something lean. I know: we've unified our efforts with merchants associate and the chamber and I think we need to do more work on an advertising plate plan.

I

I know that I created a brochure several years ago to go in the visitor centers when I was president on the Merchants Association I, don't know if that's still being done. I know before that I'd go through the visitor centers and see that Homosassa and Silver Springs and st. Pete and Clearwater and Busch Gardens were all in there, but not talking Springs, so I wonder whether we we have any kind of literature in our visitor centers at this point, so we do need to conduct research and what our other surrounding communities are doing.

I

We need somebody who's, not just hired to advertise, but who has experience in marketing research as well and again, I think that that position would be good and a good aid to care and she's. The last few years done a lot of other jobs and has had a lot of other responsibilities and- and she does a great job, but we I think she needs some help.

I

So those are my ideas and I. You know whatever we can do, I think we need to start somewhere. So, let's wanted to maybe my opinions.

C

K

You mayor can I just have clarification. What is appropriate to comment right now? Well,.

C

If you just comment on the presentation and the employee salaries, okay,.

K

C

That I'm going to turn it over to the budget. Advisory Committee, Chairman, okay,.

C

The general thanks.

K

Ron, thank you for the presentation and thank you all for being here tonight and your hard work for the city for this past year and then moving into the future of this coming year. In the budget season. I know it's always super exciting. For all you guys to talk about. I do have a couple concerns, although our millage rate did not increase, we do have a tax increase for our residents due to the property, values increase and that's something that really hasn't been discussed.

K

Although a homeowner at a normal house within the residence residents of our pan, there hasn't changed. Their tax increases have also their tax requirement has increased so to them they're, seeing a tax increase, although we're not calling it attacked increase, because the millage rate has stayed the same to me. That's somewhat concerning we're increasing our revenues. I think it was about 1.8 million dollars. So it's a pretty significant increase to the tax base to the residents.

K

E

Businesses you're.

K

Correct it's business owners, commercial properties, the same I do think we do need to start planning ahead for the future. I do support. Obviously the increase in and the personnel increases I think it's important to make sure we're paying our staff members appropriately. We require a lot out of them and they really step up to produce a lot of great information for our meetings and for the residents and they go above and beyond. I think a lot of aspects. So thank you all for doing that.

K

Again, though, this is an area that we saw an increase of 1.2 million dollars for this coming year, we're looking at shortfalls in 2020 and 2021, so I'm curious to see what our plans are for moving forward into the future and how we're gonna address these shortfalls in the near future.

K

I would also caution on positions that are added before we look at reorganization aspects and due to these costs and due to the revenue decrease over the next couple years, but the majority of my items that I would like to talk about are gonna fall in some of these other categories. So thank you. All.

C

Thank you to the podium, the budget, Advisory Committee. Remember.

H

Thank You Raj salut, chairman of the budget, Advisory Committee, I'm gonna, do the same thing that you've all spoken to, and that is to thank the city manager and the staff for the work they've done in putting the budget together.

H

I've been involved in this I guess for eight or nine years, and there's been a dramatic improvement year on year on year on the quality of the budget that you guys receive you've you've. Given us thanks for looking at the detail. Frankly, that's not as true as you might think, I think the members of your organization in the city have done a good job at looking at the detail as well. We've asked some questions, but we don't find areas that need major change.

H

The city manager has already done that by the time we see the budget and this year. In fact, he took a rake through the budget and said anything that's in the budget and these small numbers that add up that wasn't spent the year before we're just not got a budget at this year, so that we've taken some additional funds out of the budget, and we would certainly agree with the actions that were taken. Your finance director has educated us and I believe you've made a presentation to you on.

H

Where do all of those sort of exciting mysterious funds come from and go.

H

And it was these funds that I don't know four or five years ago, as people were going through the election process, we're kind of claiming that it was found money, and we shouldn't do this- we ought to borrow and not trade. It off actually he's doing an outstanding job, they're, finding ways to fund and fund internally.

H

It's a lot cheaper than going out and borrowing and just keeping money in the bank that we don't earn much money on so they're doing an outstanding job of managing the finances and the resources and the assets of the city.

H

Now one of the big difference that we see is the budget Advisory Committee, that's different than normally a public company would do, is how do you handle capital and unfortunately, that's kind of the accordion that lets you guys balance the budget, as you recall, when we came up with the we had approved the funding, or at least the rate setting for your water sewer system.

H

It came upon the folks here who said it was a little high and they took it down and they did it by reducing the capital. They reduced the money that came in and out of the money that comes in is gonna have to pay for the capital. We don't think they got too close to the thin ice at the edge of the pond.

H

I think it'll be fine, but it is something that you should be concerned about, as you look to make sure we're putting the right amount of capital into these assets to make sure they're serviceable long-term. When we look at ways of saving money and the easy answer is to put off doing something, that's capital related.

H

All it does is raise the risk that something's gonna break between now and when you finally spend it so I would caution the Commission to look carefully as you save money, by putting something off pull that cash forward to spend it operationally this year. I think we've gotten a great balance in this budget and I'm very happy to bring it forward to you and recommend we do it.

H

I think one of the things that the city manager has done is to draw a line in what is approved and recommended, which is what you see in your book and offer you a sheet of things that didn't make the cut but recognize. There is probably more funds available that that can fund. There will be some things. Ron had spoken to some areas that will be a little less than what's anticipated and I.

H

Think we've gotten some of the discussions already this evening have gotten into looking at what are the things that we could add to it, I'm not sure, there's much that we would recommend you take out, but I think there are things that can be added to it. I think there's resources for it. I agree with you, folks and I think the committee would as well the big issues.

H

What happens in November, four hundred and seven thousand dollars is a big hole to fill and if we fill it easily by just pulling back your capital, you run the risk of having more water problems, as we did buddy 18 months ago, mark down on on the trail when we start losing water mains and having major rework. That has to be done, so my caution would be be careful as we try and postpone doing things like that. I would give great credence to your finance and your operations. People they've done a great job.

H

The budget came this year without many changes at all, I think the budget was well presented. I think it was well done.

H

I think we'd recommend that the budget, as it's now situated, be the base to which you look at what to do with extra funds and what's ahead and already the the construction and the discussions is not about little things. But what can we add as major individual projects and add-ons to doing things for the city? Tarpon springs and that's your role. You guys do the strategic stuff and pick the right areas to go. We'll figure out how to pay for it after the fact I.

H

Thank you. I've enjoyed the operation of being with the budget advisory committee parties here. If he wants to make some comments, that's fine as well, but I think you've guys have got an incredible group behind the scenes in the city of tarpon springs that are doing the work for the residents. Citizens of tarpon springs. They should be pleased as punch they've got the folks they've got and you are not the Illinois and Connecticut issues where we aren't funded.

H

We are we're funded, we're making up if there shortfalls it's being made up with the both the police and fire and we're filling up any gaps in the shortfalls for funding. We don't have those and eight and a half million dollars is a wonderful cushion to have when the next cap, two or cat3, shows up in Tarpon Springs.

H

Thank you. Thank.

C

You, the pair's you want to make succumbing.

C

Okay, well I, just like to mr. Sulu. If you convey my gratitude to all the budget advisory committee members- and we are very very glad that we have you make yeah, you made it very easy for us, as it was mentioned from you, my counterpart, that you guys analyze in each line item and you making it easier for us and I'm glad that we have the budget Advisory Committee interpreting.

C

Any comments on this item any comments.

C

If not, we go to the general fund discussion, yeah.

F

I've got as you see, I have everybody in the audience. So, as you look at the general fund and have questions there, Oh patiently waiting out there to answer your questions on whatever area or departments that comes out from the general.

C

Fund Carol fun begins on slide number seven.

C

Well, the general fund this year increased by 1.1 million five point: six, five point: zero: six percent, it's pretty healthy increase- and this is the third year in the role that we have by balanced budget, as it was mentioned earlier, without the use the emergency funds, even though that we still have money coming from the FEMA, though again it congratulations to everyone involved from the finance director, the city manager, you all the staff and again to the budget, Advisory Committee I am glad that the health insurance this year came lower than we expected.

C

The increase was 6% instead of 10%, as was projected, so we save some money in there via dental had no increase at all the.

C

As the car just mentioned that the property tax value has been increased, it was increased six point, seven, two percent, which is five point four three, of course, that happens to all the things and all the other cities raised in the Middle East, but we keep the same business we're doing well, I think, but if the voters approve the homestead exemption, that will reduce the other budget about half a million dollars for next year, so something that we all have to be concerned. One question that I have to mr.

C

Harry: how do you see any revenue from the hotel tax.

C

G

The motel tax you're talking about the bed tax that goes through the county, the county gets that money and from what I understand you have to there's an application process. If you want to get the bed tax money.

C

G

We can find out about it, but yeah the money goes to the county and I believe there's a submit or process for it I'm just not sure the total process on it, but we can look into that.

I

You know that follows up with these kinds of things.

I

C

That's the comes that I want to make on.

C

K

Piggyback on that one mayor, thanks for bringing that up as one of my questions I had as well to me when you read the papers- and you see these other communities like Dunedin Clearwater, st. Pete, Clearwater Beach. You see a lot of these that are like forty twenty million dollars. Forty million dollars for these large capital projects and a lot of them are public or private combination. So I do think. Tarpon springs is really missing out on this opportunity for some capital projects for the bread for the bed tax throughout the county as well.

K

I would like to encourage the city manager to look in to how we can assign somebody to look at this and get involved. I'm happy to write letters to the board. I know, there's a committee that sits I, believe it's the County Commission that sits on this board to allocate funds throughout the county and Karen.

F

Do you want to talk a little bit about the bed tax and the challenges that we could have the best marketing director Ron and you have trouble with the bed tax yeah.

L

The bed tax essentially funds, the st. P Clearwater, CV, being all their marketing and tourism efforts, the they also have two funds: one is a capital fund and one is a fund for large events, and cities can apply for both of those. The capital funds are used for, like the Blue Jays stadium.

L

Now Clearwater is looking at and renovations for spectrum field. Those are some of the large projects that cities apply for so unless we had something that was an enormous project that wouldn't be a fund that we would apply for the tourism event, funds are for large events that draw people from not only across the region across the state and across the country.

L

So these are our large festivals. The clear water sand festival some of the large, the Jazz Festival in Clearwater, some of the very large events, the the not the Daytona, the speed event. That's how the st. Pete Grand Prix. Thank you that's how every year, those are the the big events that get the funding from that fund. So we have some large I mean our largest event is probably snow place and our first Friday's. Those are not eligible funds.

L

You also have to prove that people are coming here from all over and staying in the hotels they look at how many people are staying in hotels in your community. How are we drawing people from outside of the into staying in our hotels? So there's a lot of and I can get you more information on the details.

F

Of it, what I was asked is to get to educate what, because it may seem like we're. Not looking haven't, looked at, haven't tried or haven't done. If you get that information, so we can talk about.

A

It later meetings.

F

So they see what kind of prop maybe get the funding of the projects for the last three or four you. If you compile all the information, get it to commissioners, so we can discuss it in okay,.

L

Because we've looked at all of those.

K

I mean we've got a great asset right for tourism and the sponge docks. So somehow we need to be able to leverage those numbers of the people that come if it's, regional or national, and although our hotel population is a very small footprint and carbon springs, I still think we do have hotels in nineteen and a couple of areas in town that do pay that do pay bed tax, so I do think. There's an opportunity and, like I, said, I'm happy to fight as a commissioner for some of these funds down County we'll.

F

Get the information will.

C

Tell tax is actually designed for that, a large series. We should be able to complain and do something with that because, like a commission car says we do have functions and it's a small fee that we can actually get. Some assistance like like the the largest cities, do so again.

F

Will show you the criteria and we can talk about it and we'll get that criteria to you. But.

I

C

Not easy, you see, we have a quick.

I

Could, since we do bring people from outside this area and outside of the state for epiphany with that, even though it's a church event would that be eligible for funding? For you know no.

F

I'm not sure what you'd be funding. What would you be well.

I

We pay for our Police Department I, don't.

F

Think we'll again we'll get you the criteria and show you I, don't think I. Don't think that would be we'll get that back. We.

E

Look at all the information.

F

Stuff and see- and you know everything- we've looked at events we have and stuff they wouldn't qualify for so we'll show you we'll get it to you again and let's.

K

Build something then I mean if the the Bluejays could get thirty million dollars for their stadium and don't even.

F

Fight first year stuff, but you have to change the criteria, because if you can't meet the present criteria, there's no so they have to you have to change the criteria and have them recognized in small places like that. So I'm not saying we don't try to do something, but under the present format we could have the best in the country in here. Unless we're gonna last a host, the team, you know one of the places we may be able to get money in the future. For that we've talked about I know the mayor's been involved.

F

We talked about possibly spring training for an MLS team. Now that may be an opportunity for our Sports Complex. If we were able to get the MLS team and we Major League Soccer right now, I think I. Think oldsmar one of them's got New York that comes down here.

F

I think one of the Canadian teams, the there's about four cities that have those and they've enhanced their complexes because they have requirements so there'd be a money impact that we'd have to improve our Sports Complex to get them in, but they're you're talking about and we've been talking several years. I know the mayor met with us out with some people that are looking at possibly doing that. So that may be so now that and the money we need to improve our field to do that spring training for there.

F

That would be an older project um to submit, because, because we'd want that funding, if we're going to bring a major league soccer team here, which again um the team that is Canadian team and since you're down there um in that time of year, where a lot of people are down here at draws that meets the criteria of drawing people from outside the state, the country. So that would be the one that we've been looking at and and possibly getting money. For, though- and we'll talk more about that, we get that information back to you.

C

K

Vice mayor mentioned, something along the lines of bidding the health insurance and I would completely support that I. Completely support bidding any insurances, I feel insurances will take advantage of companies and individuals the longer you're with them. If you don't bid them out and get competitive bids I, don't recall the last time we did it. I'm sure you know so. I would encourage that as well for the general fund, especially with the significant increase we saw close to $400,000 this year and and.

F

Again, I won't give my speech because it's long and hard, but when we do better, remember we've got a health center. We've got your number one benefit that you give to the city employees out of here in our clinic. That is the number one benefit that's tied with their health.

F

So yes, and we go out and do something, but we're certainly gonna go out and do it and as I've told you in the past years every year we monitor the health that all the city's their health ends, what we've got and with what we got in what we pay.

F

We are probably the best health plan for employees, so I understand the glod bidding, keep them competitive and believe me they have heard commissioner bath there I think we've done good by hearing him and doing I think our rates could be a lot different, because that's the fluctuation you got to realize here with us. We have got and again there's rules. You can't talk. We've got at least one or two employees here that have major major draws on our health. I mean major I'm talking one six data, maybe twenty!

F

Twenty-Five thousand dollars a month of a medical thing that you can bid that. However, however much you want and that's gonna be a problem that you have to assume. Obviously you can't help an employee that has major claims or major things, and we've got a couple of them and that's what driving up we were lucky the year we didn't get an increase, but you know we have to deal with the bids. Those type of things too. Obviously you can't say employee.

F

Why is one employee taking that much money a month from the health plan, but there's a lot of factors to go and look at and we have talked about, and they know at the end of this present three years where the health clinic is but I guarantee. You forget about money, forget about anything else. If this commission decides to do something with that health clinic goes away, you're gonna destroy the morale of these employees and things. That's probably one of the number one benefit you provide for I.

F

Think we have the best plan overall and stuff so but but we'll be talking about then the future. When this one, we will then something you're doing and believe me, I'm gonna tell them just cuz Commissioner bathrooms, going off the board that there's a watchdog on them in their rates and that we've been others on the commission. That's gonna be washed to make sure and and again when this year comes and all the cities have their help.

F

We're gonna, compile them getting back to you and show you for what we pay. We still the best value for the dollar of health plans for employee in this county. So thank.

K

You for your speech.

F

K

Want to and don't take this wrong way. I just want to remind everybody, we're running into a potential deficit over the next couple years, and we've got to get creative and howling I mean we want to pay our employees a top dollar that we can.

K

We want to make sure they have the best benefits, that's important, but we've got to come up in the outline creative ways to cut back on health insurance, potentially or other areas in the budget to where we're not going to limit our services and then having to raise our taxes to our residents as well. So keeping our staff well salaried and then also competitive and also the benefits, are important. But again this guy I'm, looking down the road and looking at the future.

F

K

Things that we want to probably put on a checklist to say we might want to run down here and just put some scenarios together and say: if this happens, what can we look at? What can we look at to make it work so I'll.

F

Give you my for my short 40-year speech in 40 years of being with the city every time we've done that Ghana every time, 100 percent. Every time we've gone out, there got the cheaper bids done that stuff. We have regretted it the next year or two and we've crawled back to the place where we were now. That's a 40 year, short story. Experience that I guarantee use happens, though just have to remember all those things got.

K

It okay, thanks for your history, on that, a couple other things that we like I said: we've got a great staff I reached out to multiple staff departments. Just to ask questions all the time. I do think we can help the department heads by allocating some more funds for customer service training for some of their staff members that may be new and just encouraging them because, as we remember, we're here to serve the residents and a happy joyful voice in the other side of the phone is always a great thing to be received.

K

When you're calling at a department, we've got a lot of great department. Individuals in the departments but I think just giving some additional resources. Any training I think helps even on my own I love being able to have the opportunity to go to training any opportunity. I can so yes,.

F

That will be incorporated into this year's training and then.

K

Can we can you just touch base I'm, just wanting to have a better understanding on the general funds about the marketing dollars? I know, we've talked a couple aspects about marketing employees. What is the I thought I saw? It was like twenty thousand dollars of matching funds that would be used to like the Merchants Association or the chamber. Ron.

F

About that you have that sheet of the breakdown in and on the bottom non-departmental, where we have that yeah.

G

We have $20,000 in non-departmental for the tourism.

F

Categories because we got the brochures that we do, that we talked about the brochures and distribute you'll, find that in the part mantle in your budget tell them what page I.

K

I saw it was twenty thousand I remember, seeing it I just.

F

That's not just our.

K

Brochures as well I remember seeing that.

F

When you add all the brochures total for too close to.

I

Forty thousand there's.

G

Also, some money I know in the Diane's cultural Department, but I'm not sure. If that's for other items there about thirty five thousand there and I know there's about another twenty thousand and Performing Arts Department before that's, probably for something specifically there but like say: there's the other. Twenty thousand and non-departmental I.

K

Do think it would be an eating opportunity to see if there's an operating, an opportunity to increase that a little bit if it's the Merchants Association.

K

If it's a Chamber saying hey, we'll match you with this, if we could all three come together, I'm sure we do in some circumstances, I'm not as well-versed in this as a yes, we do as I should be, but I think there's a if we could increase that if there's an opportunity there, if there's a another five ten thousand dollars for the year and then if they come back and are able to raise some money amongst the businesses and they know that city's behind them I think that's an important thing to show I just.

I

This year in advertising and and to have partnered with the city on several things, okay,.

K

Thanks I've got all my other question is pretty much pertain to capital so hold off. Thank you.

A

I do support, obviously the employees, salaries and I do as a per usual when I give bees blink, rhesus city manager in and the NBA and the NB City Park. Well, some I'm in support of that and I'll piggyback I just got some piggyback Thomas sports are things that that my colleague said um well, no I, guess you'll hear me talk about health insurance, again October one day back right, so you go. We got one more time, but this yeah and all right, I will repeat, though, and I've said this.

A

A hundred times when I say go out to bid does not mean that we picked the cheapest option. I'm fully aware our employees are not raking it in here and we supplement an average salary to them by giving them top top notch. Okay, I'm gonna stand the lead, but I fully admit there might be be be be be very best option. We don't know that until we do it.

A

Obviously, anything we even go out to bid which I assume with the budget advisory as well, would have to include a medical facility, as we have now I think we would not take that away, even though I was in supported Lee at the hospital doing it and I still would be and not having a clinic and our brochure with oldsmar I would ever take that benefit away.

A

You know, I, don't know what any Commissioner I think so that needs to be put in put in put in perspective or as tax doesn't good mayor's I got in my lane. Tell me taxes, Commissioner Khare, mentioned about our residents, our our the way that we're not raising the millage rate. They are paying more because their property values go up. Obviously, that's not something we can we can. We can control I. Think if you look at bronze brats from 2005 now, there's enough, uh there's have an equilibrium.

A

I think that that levels out and there will be a downturn soon, I, don't think the downturn we saw in doe Inouye to make an to the market are not there, but I do think real estate prices are way too high for homes and there will be some some kind of leveling out, not a drop like we had, but so there will be, along with our foreseen shortfall of the homestead exemption. We're gonna be seeing I'm sure at least a leveling out of home value.

A

So I'm not too worked up on that and- and you know, I'll say it I'll only personal board that I would say this I would be in full support of raising the military. If we have the homestead exemption pass, because there's I unless there's bluffing this budget, ah that I'm unaware of and by the conversation I hear tonight, I don't think there is I can tell you this you can we can.

A

We can drop the millage rate, a few points or whatever for political reasons, and you hold your other you're, probably Bennett, going going and going to get a thank you because a special car said residents paid typically more each year because values go up, but the minute we've got services did the done again they're going to to to start following us. So we are. We are a full-service city. That's why our millage rate- it's not three point: five. We we have water.

A

We have water, police, fire, etcetera, etcetera, so you have to pay for what we have. That's just the hard truth on that IIIi am in support of looking to how we get our hire a marketing person sometime in the future or mark. Well, you mentioned about the collaboration with with with the arts department or whatever I do think. We need that person. I, don't know. I know the chamber is on life support here, I, don't know there could be some kind of elaboration with that, but something does need to be done.

A

Iii I do agree with it with a commissioner Sieber about someone who is tasked with mark, though that I know that's any person or what you're doing with the Arts Department something with the chamber, but I do think we have to eventually get his big gate, get something in place, but I can't off ball Aaron or somebody else. I fully support the bishop because comments on the on the all, mostly leadership board. We give them five thousand dollars a year. I know I stood on that efficacy per serving that for many years.

A

um They currently want to look. We don't have anybody going because of our schedules and I have other comments, but I won't say them on here in we offered send I, think our homeless outreach officer right mark, it was I, think, is the best person to go and I think honestly the need to teach them some things and their self I don't know so.

A

I think we need to you know, maybe if there's consensus put them on notice that if you won't allow us to do that and we're gonna have to direct those pawns to another advantage, Terry enough for that that directly affects Barton Springs, because otherwise we're just paying a $5,000 membership fee. It's honest to god, I I'm, serving on that board. Unless things have changed. Mr. Seabrook in chime in I think we do a far better job here with our hlb.

A

I mean sorry with are almost leadership officer with our with our with our, in with our community partners in Lord of those cities. Do on that board, so I would I would maybe put a harbor pulse over them and if they still say no, then those funds may be dumb either.

A

Oh I sent elsewhere, and that's it so. But yes, I do support the employee salaries increase and I mean my other comments would be. The unfunded would be an under capital current or the unfunded projects. You listed, okay.

J

Yes, I know: it's come up many years now that we hire a marketing a full time, marketing person or somebody other give Karen some more help with that. So you know if I'd like to I'm I'm kind of anxious to see what you have in mind with the cultural civil service department to see what you know you're talking about with the marketing person and I. Don't honestly, don't think that the chamber and help us with that and I, don't think that's their responsibility anyway, that they have their own things going on over there.

J

So I think that we should keep them separate from our marketing plan.

J

Let me see cultural and civic civil services. I know we spoke, I spoke with, I am was, and Ray and I have Commissioner, zebra and I, and when we have events here, I don't know. If this is the proper place to talk about this, but we're talking about generating some more income, yeah and I know that that's a little bit of a problem, but selling concessions, maybe beer and wine during events that stay out there don't come in in here, big.

F

J

I know you do but other.

F

Not this is I know.

J

F

County, of course, you've got to have regulations on this, isn't what he used to call me to plead the right kind.

J

You know a piece people would would want that and people that come to watch these shows and before and maybe an intermission so but I know there was a problem with Alec with the funds and how you well.

F

There's a bigger problem with alcohol, because the requirements about people who serve alcohol and they have to be trained and go through training can't be violent. It's and we'll get all that in for a chart. We'll get all that information. There's a problem with how you do it and who you have serving.

J

It's called tips, training and it's it's not it's its class. It's nothing honestly, I'm very well aware, but I think it's something that we need to look into. I honestly think that could help generate some more income and I know people would probably you know they enjoy that they come out in the afternoon. They want to have a cocktail before the show or maybe an intermission. You know yeah.

M

J

But I just think: that's one way to help generate income it but I know you had some issues with with with other concession, sales and stuff and collecting money, and all that and I know that needs to be worked out, but again, I think it's something. We really need to look at.

J

Let's see I also saw building and development services is how to ask for more training, so I support any training that any department wants. You can never learn enough about your jobs and, of course, I said early about the library I. You know we really need to consider looking to expand soon. I noticed in the budget that our ball fields are being taken. Care of and I appreciate that, because I'm getting some phone calls from some of the leagues asking me to do throughs with them so I'm glad to see that's in the budget.

J

I can now point that out to them that it is being well.

F

Another thing in general fund: let me add, because there is some general fund they, those are some extra major projects, but there's still some things within general fund public works ability like rusted out places stuff like that that wouldn't be in the major project portion that would be in this general fund.

F

We've well aware: um if Little League baseball will get with the routine we've got a routine set up for Little League baseball to deal with their fields and do it one? Doesn't he use the vice president and that contacts us with the needs and do it? We've had problems with them because its parents, one way by it's all over the place, we've tried to combine them. We want your layers on with our layers on to do, but but there are other things beside the project you see and see.

F

If P there's things in general fund, I'm, Commissioner, Khare and I did a walk around and sister field son. So there are other maintenance things that we've got incorporated into the general fund in the Public Works budget that aren't project wise, but still clearing up rusted places. um Changing some things. um Tree fund that trees and landscaping on there, so you got a lot of other different funds, not just what you see for the dugouts and that sort of stuff.

F

So within this budget there are other things so so there are plenty of things that in Sisler fields, one of the main sports complexes, but that's one of the main main ones that you'll be seeing. Improvements with and there's general fund money budgeted to do that within the public works. In addition to the major projects on the CIP, okay,.

J

And like I stated earlier, you know in in vice mayor has commented about the funds for the homeless leadership. I, don't know when or how we can reallocate funds for you know from them like or cutback what we give them now, I'm, not sure, but I really would like I'll.

F

Bring you little ones, we thought when we talking one of the one of the next ones, I'll bring those back for you. You just decide what you're gonna fund, because we I know we got some requesting that we'll be bringing back to you, because this is the time they come in. So there's some other places that have I mean some simple ones like two one one, which is a great service for people.

F

You got needs to go they're really asking for $500 I'd be glad to find 500 in there for them, because they are somewhere and I know our Senior Center in other places, tell call this number and so there's some of those. So what I will breed.

J

Allocated what bring in the.

F

Future is the one who've done it, and then you take that put that pot of money. That's.

J

F

J

Think that's great. We need to keep it local. We can I. Do have a question about the safer grant ken well my question: can we reapply for that.

F

We'd, like for you.

J

N

To redo another one to add additional firefighters or we.

J

N

Have we can there's a two-year I believe at the end of this there's, a two-year extension you can apply for if I'm correct, is that what you're asking or are you asking to do additional one after this.

F

N

Can I believe there's a two I'd have to double check but I believe there's a two-year extension that we can apply for.

F

J

Would be great and.

F

I think the homestead exemption would be a good remaining.

E

F

Because we're you know for.

E

F

That we put in that's a lot of for people for the boys. A lot of obligation with this hurtness I think that would be good grounds, but you love everybody applying for.

J

It I'm sure there'll be a deadline for that, so yeah, that's uno. We can look at that and since you're up there, chief I have a question. I I've been seeing a lot about these hoods special hoods that the firefighters have to wear. Do we have those we.

N

Do not have those yet we're looking into them. The data isn't in on those yet they've only been out a little over a year, they're about a hundred to one hundred twenty dollars a person for those hoods, so some departments are jumping at it, but we've kind of been waiting. The sales guy has talked to me about it. He says just to wait, give it another six, seven months to see if the data really shows they're doing what they're doing to spend that extra money right now.

N

Hoods cost us about $40.00 a person, so that increase is significant, I'm, not against it. If the data is there, I'll definitely get them, but it's just let's make sure before we spend the money that it's what we want to do.

J

Okay, great thank you yep. We can look into that yeah.

F

Definitely so the availability they work and doing our people don't have it. You know we've.

J

N

As everyone, our.

F

J

F

N

That's good. The data so far is good, but they just want more time to make.

J

Because I know, when I did that the fire ops, they spoke about I'm having two sets of uniforms and all that and you'd, be amazed that some fire departments don't have what we have. We.

N

Have we are we're? We are one of the few that have two sets of everything for our firefighters. The hoods are the only thing that we don't. We just purchased the extra set of gloves this year for them, so the hoods are the only thing we have two hoods. We just don't have two of those. Oh.

J

Good yeah I was I was really pleased to hear that that they have the protective gear that they needed. Okay. Great. Thank you very much.

J

Economic development uh Karen she does such a good job, but I know she I think she needs help, I think another part-time person or something to help her. She sent so much and she's been here, because I really think that we should have some presence down at TDC. I know that the chamber goes but again.

J

Actually the chamber is not going well. She told me she was going and you know she's like out of sight out of mind. You need to be there. You need to be so I think it's something that I need to get their schedule and see if I can start possibly going first Wednesday of every month the first Wednesday 10 o'clock I can make that Wednesday's are good for me. Okay, so I don't know mark it because there's nobody else.

J

Because do you have staff on Wednesdays right yeah, so nobody from staff would be able to go.

F

I mean you know, we make there's other meetings that people often miss Wednesday's for staff, yeah.

J

Okay, so we'll talk about that, cuz I really think it's important that we have some presence down there. I know when we did years ago. I know mr. Belarus went down there quite bit and it was very helpful to our city, so I'd like to see that we can start that again and I think well, there's an open position in in the HR department. That's been open for many years. Are we planning on filling that position? We.

F

Are advertising riad, vert, izing and in looking we've been unable to get a qualified candidate for in there? Well.

J

Maybe she I don't know, should we look at it even.

F

Chief coaching was assigned to assist them and trying to get a good candidate. What we're we're not just looking for me, we're looking for, um but we're gonna be talking about. We we just might have to have to bring somebody in that, doesn't have what we need. You can work on training. A word were to that point now of trying to bring why the public sector by our sector is not got people in HR they're, all in the private. No that's another problem with with other places and stuff. So we have talked about and we've.

J

Had this position open for I, don't even know.

F

We've got some candidates that we just may have to lower expectation and do train. That's gonna take a long but we're sitting anyway. So if.

J

You lower the expectations, maybe we can lower the salary I.

F

Don't know well, it would be like we bring him in and then when they build up and get the train stuff, we need. We move their salary, though I was.

K

Gonna say: have you have you reached out to any recruiters about this? If this is a struggle, getting applicants to have a recruiter actually through their recruiting on behalf of the city, I? Don't.

F

Think we use the recruiter.

J

Though they even get phone calls, if people say I see this I see this many phone calls. You know this position posted and it's been posted for years. It's like you, know, I'm sure we could bring somebody in and train them. Well.

F

We've got candidates that will have to do it a different way and we're almost at the point is we're. Gonna fill the thing. We're gonna, we're gonna fill it soon, so we just we just may need to do that. We've got a couple. Candidates they're still available that that may be available. For that, though, it believe me, it's gonna be filled as soon as I can get a filled.

J

That's all I have thank you.

C

I

There are a couple of comments that my colleagues have made that I agree with first of all, having served on that homeless leadership board for many years and they haven't found a replacement for me. I also suggest that our homeless outreach officer, because you know that would be the best option- I feel they wanted an elected official. So maybe we need to hold that over them. We're gonna stop our funding. If you don't, you know, ask you know, send us send someone else, and maybe we can use that funding to help our resource officer.

I

Use it somehow here I'm there, some cities who have teams of people for the homeless that go out and I know we're not talking about another position here, but you know somehow use our funds to help our resource officer or help other areas. So I agree with that. I did want to touch on what you said about serving beverages during the events and you're. Looking at me, crazy.

F

Change it I just.

E

F

Just want to get you all. The information decide three votes to change it again, we'll get you information for our liability carrier and the possibilities of what caused, what great that might cause them as covered there's a lot of shortfalls and but I'd be glad to give you all the information. Three votes will decide what goes on out there, but I just.

E

I

You to see everything in.

E

I

Cities and, of course, cultural centers, and it's not some how they deal with it. Most of the people will come to you know, plays here or musicals or our seniors. There I think gonna be causing that much trouble, but yeah I'd like to see what other cities are doing and compared, because that could be an extra way to make some money here and and I think it would be a good asset. Yeah.

E

I

I can't think of anything else right now, thanks.

C

To liqueurs, when you prepare that information to give us make sure you no what the revenue the possible revenue will be and what expenses will be and what supply build most.

F

Of those I don't know how I see if Diane can gauge the drinkers in her audience and stuff. So.

I

The expenses would be overcome by the revenue, so I think it would be a money-making situation just have to look into the licensing. Okay,.

C

Now we're going to enterprise funds, mr. core.

C

Well, I got a couple of things to say about that: powering depart spawns are very healthy. Our sewer department has increased 1.9 million dollars, which is eleven eighty nine percent. That's very good! There's on slide number 24. There's a question I like to ask mr. Heric: this is a depth service is two million forty one thousand.

C

Can you tell me what that is the.

G

Water plant two million forty four thousand: it's a water plant debt between the principal and interest; okay,.

C

G

The you want the principal portion and the interest portion of the debt for the water plant. We have about the about twenty seven years left on that that on the water plant, this.

C

Is what's costing this every year to me that every year, yeah.

G

The two million forty four thousand every year.

C

Thank you, the Sanitation font is I, have no questions with that. The stormwater fund has decreased by one. What is it one? Six.

G

Hundred fifty eight thousand yeah she.

C

Turns away well.

G

They had some projects budgeted the previous fiscal year, 2018 they didn't get to him, I think it's mostly the the bowl over there, Penn Street I, think they're waiting on the grant, funding and I believe that's going to be coming up, not sure if it's this year or next year,.

B

Good evening, sorry mr. function couldn't be here today here that to death and his family I'm standing in for him. Hopefully answer your questions thoroughly. That was kind of an interesting year. We finally procured three cooperative funding projects from Swift mud which pays us. In essence, they match funds up to 50% of a certain amount.

B

The pet project was I, guess in the works for years, probably the largest project, definitely largest project in the last five, and maybe going back I know Bob working about that one of the first things we spoke about when I got here. So it goes way back. So those funds are coming in once we start construction, October or late eighteen 2018 for the pet project. We will be reimbursed for our design fees and then oh, that will carry on as well for the Palm Avenue and the GIS as we move forward.

B

The other thing in excuse me in budget talks with Ron and Tom, and our stormwater engineer some of the projects we felt could be backed off if he--if in time move forward to 2001 21 22. Because of the importance we did not want to lose, the grant funding close to a million dollars and million dollars saved is pretty good thing. So we we kind of moved some scheduling back and it just so happens. We have that apparent decrease.

C

Right, we haven't seen any information on a golf course in Marina d, heaven.

G

I can grab the detail book and go over that. If you want is.

C

Any any I know we did a lot of improvements on the golf course, but do we have any concerns for next year.

G

Basically, the the revenues are meeting the expenditures for let for next year, yes and we're trying to reduce the inter fund transfer to try to help out that fund to keep it on and even though that's like I say so. The revenues are gonna, be offsetting the expenditures we're trying to limit the capital because, as you know, the the you know, the Golf Course is in the negatives fund, balance wise, but a like I say operationally wise. It's keeping on the plus side.

C

G

There's this loan I think it's a couple hundred thousand or still paying back.

C

G

You know a lot smaller fund that they're they're doing a little bit better this year. I think we budget right around eighty. Ninety thousand I think they're doing a little bit more slip riddles this year, so I saw I've seen the revenues going up this year, but it's a fund. You know it's like an 80 $90,000 budget fund for the marina.

C

G

C

It pay for itself. Yes, yes, thank you.

J

Well, it was about that alone that work. Is it forty thousand dollars a year they're paying back on the loan yeah.

G

It's a separate as part of the fees there's a CIP surcharge when the golfers play it's a smaller fee, but yes, it's. It usually runs about forty thousand at accumulates and that CIP surcharge revenue at the end of the year. We take that and pay back the loan based on that.

G

Yeah I think it's a little over two hundred thousand.

J

I see that you know we're paying for to lease our golf carts. It's like sixty, three thousand or so a year I mean. Is it feasible like what would it cost for us to purchase golf carts and then my other question is going to be. You know we talked about expanding the a snack shop.

J

Do we have funds for that.

F

Somewhere in some years coming up, maybe in the penny money.

O

Okay, so leasing versus owning your golf cards. Golf cart costs about $5,000. We have 75 of those, so I don't have the math in my head didn't know. We were gonna talk about only into golf course.

O

Okay, so that's $375,000! So if we wanted to own our golf course, obviously we would have to go purchase a fleet. Okay, now, typically a golf electric golf car last you about three years with the batteries. Okay, especially the amount of use we get out of them, the amount of play we get so after three years you have to replace the batteries. Batteries cost you about five to six hundred dollars a cart.

O

So when we least we can lease a golf cart, as you said, for sixty three thousand dollars a year, and you know three years, we turn them back in. We get. We get a new fleet if we go purchase golf carts to make that pay off in the long run, you've got to have to run them for about five to six years. Okay. Now, if you can get a five to six year, life out of a golf cart then owning it.

O

Probably will make sense because you'll be able to pay it off, but you're gonna have the repair expensive. New batteries tires, etc, leasing. We don't have any of that issue. So if you can, if you've got the stam, if you've got maintenance in place to be able to take care of the golf course for five or six years, then it only might be a viable option and maybe a little bit cheaper, but we don't have that kind of staff.

O

At a golf course I mean we don't have a full-time repairman to look out the golf carts, so you know we would have to have help with that. But for us it's much easier to be able to turn them back in after three years. We don't have to worry about the batteries. We don't have to worry about any other and our maintenance on our golf course. There's only about $2,500 a year. That's what we budget and we usually don't even spend that. But that's because we keep a fresh fleet.

J

Is our best option right now? Thank you in.

O

The short term it really is, and- and it keeps our course new customer- comes up- he likes to get in a relatively new golf cart. You drive a golf cart for five years over the golf course. It's not gonna look very new Ibiza and.

J

What about the snack shop well.

O

We're looking at some improvements to do with that with we had a little meeting with the is that a rake board I think it was the recreation board and they gave us some recommendations of things that we can do to kind of spruce things up. So we've taken those recommendations into account and we're going to move forward with some of those things. A major overhaul go for the snack shop. That's gonna have to be way kind of down the road. As you know, we got to repay our our loan that we did.

O

Our greens with I think part of that loan was to Greece renovation in 2014, a new cart barn that was before me. Paul. Do you know when the car barn was built? I think that was 2012 lady or something like that.

P

O

So that's all in that too. huh What do you say Ron to our thousand, so we kind of right need to get that paint off somewhat before I think we go into any kind of major renovation. Okay, not it's not needed, but I think we got a you know.

J

Of course, you know it's got such a great direction. It's just you know. People want to play here now, so I just want to make sure that yep and.

O

I think if we continue on that track, we'll get there yeah.

J

K

I'm sorry I forgot to ask this question: recycling falls into this category, I'm, not sure if you all are avid recyclers, but typically my recycling is falling out of my Bend when I take it to the road I. Don't know if there's an opportunity to look at increasing the size of our bins or getting a larger Bend I know some.

K

Other cities have looked at actually using cans instead of like a bin to encourage more recycling, it's easier for the residents to roll it out, instead of tripping over the bend or backing over the bend when you're leaving out of your driveway also. So, if I could encourage us to look into something with waste management, what we can do to make that better? Okay, thanks.

C

We're now go to the CIP Kapoor booth, with projects vice mayor.

A

A

Okay, this is all the stuff. That's on page 21, one good stuff, that's unfunded, I! Guess these are you know stuff you have on your radar right, I, definitely support. You know when I'm gonna say support not commit same with the budget as we allow. The security cameras I think are crucial both for the citywide parks and there was one in the public works, I think anywhere, where we get surveillance that is appropriate and allowed by law of thoughts and and obviously have our dispatch there.

A

Mom, though, having having monitor those feeds is, is why, especially in the parks with the issues that that we're facing you.

F

Know one of the reasons why that was pulled out of the budget is I want to look at a more comprehensive camera system for our city properties, our parks, our restroom city, buildings, downtown, and so that was one of the things pulled out.

F

Cuz those little I want to work those little pieces in the bigger plan to bring back to you back to you and stuff, and that's why that's on that's on there, because I want to increase the scope of it, because I really think that's the thing that could solve a lot of our problems in the future and dealing with it damage to city pray. It could be a saver in the future and we've talked about it for a long time, and so that's going to come back as part of a bigger project to you and.

A

Station bathrooms.

A

Before these break machines or the Rec Center, to provide more of that one or or improve them, you give people that can afford a de membership and option for real blade training. Do we stop doing the like? We do the mayor's Fitness Challenge? Have we have we done that.

A

I think that you know it might be nice to do that again. The fall I think residents like that and.

A

We try to doing them do. Do we have a health okay, so it.

F

May be some more Fitness events coming up in the next, because that seems to be a theme, so that may be one of the things we looked at first for City event, some type of that theme involving now that we are getting yoga studios, Fitness things all over the town and stuff to involve all them into some some fitness, maybe events and stuff the upcoming year.

A

Tv station lose our rights to broadcast no.

F

And again, Suzanne is not here, but on Breen we are one major part breaking from that TV station that for putting down our TVs day, we we have an antiquated system, we've been told, we cannot get parts for it and stuff, so we have to look in some scope and we're investigating it more. That's gonna have to be plugged in somewhere in into the budget, because one of the major components of that goes wrong. Now we have no TV station.

A

You're saying no, this is this is like what the Nina says, you're saying, or our existing isn't.

F

A

Cable, if it breaks we've.

F

About ended, the things of being able to get parts be able to fix and stuff, so we are still looking at that, but I think that's something we'll have to plug in somewhere, because obviously we do have some people in the calls I get after the meeting do watch do watch the means we can't have that good out, but we're still in the investigative stage for that, but but that's kind of one of the ones sitting out.

F

That I can almost assure you that's going to have to go back somewhere into the budget, either cutting moving another project or doing something because again I just don't think we've got so many people used to we're also looking at within that is, for instance, with our meetings. With this meeting here we had a meeting. That's upstairs more of adjustments, we're also looking at a prospect of the room. That's up.

F

There were Ron so calmly, gonna take his stuff and it's going out of there and we're also thinking of a little room right next up there, and when we do this change, that that could be a televised room for different beings or if we go up there for a meeting or something to tell them like we couldn't do the workshop with it right accessible that we bring it in and not only have the new system for here, but have a satellite system.

F

So you'd have a room big enough where you could do the second meeting and have it first of the workshop would have been a good meeting to have televised.

A

F

That's all in that thing that we're looking at I'm, probably gonna, bring back to you and now that we have the availability up there. It's.

A

Not raining I was like I, don't want to create a TV station. Obviously.

F

This is so we can operate a system because our system is very old, antiquated and now we can't get parts and I think.

A

You want to maintain that for our residents that watch that, however I, would urge us to track metrics, because there's gonna come a point in time where that's not gonna be feasible and all right department isn't a great job with livestream and.

E

A

Where things need to go, as almost everybody has a cell phone so.

A

I know I don't want to have a radio station. We don't need a full-time radio station here again. Well, we capabilities for a storm, so I think there needs to be I, know I'm, not sure I mean all I have. Is my ham, radio license I'm, not sure what it would take or to us to have rights to brought it wouldn't be too much be able to broadcast the range of the city you have access to some AM frequency during a storm could tell residents to tune in to that station for updates. So.

A

We can look at the RF CIC or our FCC life I'll expire on that so I think that that needs to be looked at, but only for emergencies not for daily use and then, lastly, like he told me the status of the city, the old city hall, refurbishment they're, not the window issue, but the status of painting and all that stuff. It's.

F

All the scope, the scope is being written to go out to bid and I want to start on that as soon as possible.

A

If being on, this ball will see work on that. Oh.

F

Yeah yeah we got to get going because I stays looking bad. You know all right.

A

The whole everything.

F

We're doing everything together and getting it done and Robertson is working with the perk that the scope and get it out the bid as soon as possible and go just that's. The project I want to start as soon as humanly possible. So.

A

C

C

K

I've got some comments. Thank you. Mayor I would like to echo what Vice Mayor is talked about with the security cameras. I do completely support that as well in the public areas where we do typically have some issues around town. So thank you for bringing it up. Vice mayor, I, there's a few things in the capital budget that I'd like to point out and also express my supporting four, is additional paving in sidewalk budgets.

K

There's a lot of areas in town that need help for sidewalks to be added or replace, and there's definitely some roads that we need to address as well. I know that we have a standard recurring budget every year and we've got some additional funds this year, so I'm excited to see that and then of the residents will be excited about that as well.

K

Secondly, also the the improvements that Sunset Beach looking at parking, looking at the bathrooms and looking at some of the areas we've talked about in the past airing, our other workshops I'm excited to see that come to fruition as well. So thank you for including that in this budget there are a few things that I would like to talk about.

K

I know: there's some unassigned funds, there's potentially another 390 mm for the bike trail that might not be done this year and there's also the 300 thousand and the breathing apparatuses that we potentially could get a grant for. So that comes out to be about nine hundred and forty nine thousand dollars. So here's just a couple other ideas that I'd like to just bring up. One thing that wasn't talked about was what can buy you improvements along South, Spring, Boulevard I know: we've had some discussions.

K

It's been a couple years now that discussions have been going on about the rocks that need to be addressed, the lack of sidewalks and then somehow extending the larger sidewalks around the Bayou to encourage safer recreation for everybody that travels that area. I would like to see that potentially added I know. You've mentioned that we need to talk with Bob about some options that are available so I'm, looking forward to learning more about those, but there's an opportunity for at least getting some designs and this year and taking a next step forward would be good.

K

Another thing that we talked about and worked a public workshop with the Commission was the signage around the public buildings and the parks we're starting to see a lot of those fall apart and rot away and I. Believe you mentioned that that is included. But I just want to confirm with you that that is included and.

F

We will check and look at the numbers again if we need to increase that a little bit, we'll look at that or look at that. That may be a place. We need to increase okay.

K

One of the things I've gotten complaints about too from a recreation standpoint, is at the boat dock at Craig park when you've got multiple boats coming in there. The dock is the floating dock. It's a great asset to have, but it's too small it needs to be wider, is what I'm hearing from a lot of different people? So if there are some funds to extend that out, I know there's already the davits already there for the extension. If we could just add some additional small.

F

K

Water yeah not not towards the. What do you call that back towards the ramp of the other direction so and then, if there's an opportunity to do a kayak launch or a paddleboard launch in that area too? That would be helpful because it was kind of a mess during fourth of July when I was watching the kayakers and the paddle boarders and people dropping their boats in there at the same dose.

J

That ramp was not made for kayakers or dangerous.

K

J

Boards at all, that was for regular motorized boats. Just so you know that's what, because that was one of my projects there I wanted. You know something there. I didn't necessarily agree with what split there, because it is small, but they did take the cleats off of the seawall. So now you can't even tie up to the you all if you want to people are tying up to trees and stuff out there, which is absolutely ridiculous.

J

So I have asked before if we could put the cleats back, at least if we don't, if we don't extend the the rent of the dock at least put some cleats out, and that I think you know would help quite a bit. Okay,.

K

J

K

Sorry I chime in on yours often so return the favor.

J

Wanted to stress it that was definitely not made for kayakers to use, or there.

K

May be an opportunity like in the south side of the the ramp to make a area for kayakers or paddle boards to drop in there, but again there's issues with the rocks and the boulders right, there's also but I'm confident we can look at something and come up with a great solution.

K

The last one I want to bring up is pertaining to a way to maybe address some of the budget cuts, we're gonna be seeing in the near future and looking at solar power and looking at I, don't know what our bills are for: City, Hall or what our bills are for the libraries or what our high utilizers are and I know. Paul and his team are looking at items for the water plant for the use of solar.

K

So if there's an opportunity to get something in the budget for solar use, that would help us reduce the power bills and years to come and to help offset that budget aspect. I think that would be a good idea to look at moving forward and focusing the high utilizers, not necessarily like a small building that doesn't use a whole lot of electricity, but, like I, said I'm sure we could pull those power bills and see which ones are the highest I just run through here. Real quick.

K

And also I'm happy to see that the entrance signs were working on the gateway signs. Also, so thank you for listening to us and the workshops that we've had over the past year and moving forward and making sure we're or taking a step forward with the beautification efforts as well.

F

Item on the proposed before I think we really need that 40 I'm gonna need that $40,000 I have down there additional beautification there's room for it in the budget without hurting anything else. So that's why that's in it's not! This is idea.

F

I knew was gonna, come up here from the workshop that we all had and description of stuff, so I fully plan without objection that that's definitely one that's gonna be out of this budget, so I'm gonna need it for the overwatch for lights, for the different things we're going to be doing, we've got other sources. Obviously we sold the building in the CRA, so we've got additional CRA money. So a lot of the projects um we need funding for this kind of thing.

F

We've got the new availability plus with the weather, going up the property tax going up at the CRA. There's extra money, so I'm not even concerned about the CRA and money available to do those beautification, but for the other areas and stuff. That's where this area and we've got several places in there to do a lot of the things that make the long list- and you know we'll be talking about again, probably the next time we do a workshop, the long list and which ones we're going to start to do so.

F

We've got several multiple sources in this budget work on all the things that we talked about in the workshop for beautification of our fields or signs and lighting all those different things that both the Sponge Docks downtown in and other areas and stuff. So so this budget does allow that and allows us to do enough work that oh it'll get us through the whole year to start moving towards accomplishing what you want to accomplish in beautification Thanks.

K

I've no further comments. Yes,.

I

I agree with all these items here and also what vice mayor banther said. All the points that you brought up I'm not going to repeat all that to add to what Commissioner Carr said. I know that Bob's been working on South, Spring and we've looked at ideas.

I

It's it's become even worse. During the summer with the boat traffic and I have residents complaining to me that the trailers are parked on all the streets down there and sometimes even in front of their driveways, where they can't get out, because there are so many boats and we don't have enough parking for boat trailers. They used to use at Hoffman's property, but I, don't know what we can do to.

F

It's a sacred cow and brands, but there are Tom, has had on the Shelf, of course he's afraid to try to get people. Gentlemen. There is a plan. The shelves and I'll be sharing it with you just to share you be aware, people will be coming at you touching Craig Park, but there is a plan to increase and help the boat parking to keep those trailers off. That involves the shuffleboard courts and those area where the walls are. Firstly, it's sitting there, it's gonna be controversial.

F

People are gonna, be angry, but but, like you say, if we've seen with someone to park in the streets, we we just got the way that, but that's something for the future, and that plan is there. So that's something to talk about a later time, but.

I

There comes a point where we need to start.

J

I

Something so I think we need to look at this because residents can't you can't drive two cars down pineapple or you know some of these other streets because of the boat, trailers and and and South spring. If you have.

I

F

Money within this, that's not a major cost of the major part of the project. The cost.

F

We can bring that sooner toward you just look at conceptually and then hear what the public has to say. We.

I

Talked even about widening the ramp I know that you talked about extending the dock, but even widening the ramp there so that it's just so congested in that area. So that's that's a thought to that. I wanted to bring up. That's it! Thank you. Thank.

C

You I'm not going to repeat everything.

I

That was said, I.

J

Was I'm in the middle of writing? Something and I I'm sorry can I can I just talk about the shuffle forth again. You know: we've been discussing this for quite some time because um you know I was using the ramp a lot and I am an avid boater. I now have my boat storage, so you know, but it's still it's an issue down there that the the traffic or ever since they put the stone along the street there.

J

You can't park along the streets, nobody's parking on the side streets now, so it it is an issue.

F

J

Anyway, I know they weren't, but we did so it's it's taken away, so um the shuffleboard courts I spoke with Tom about this. Isn't, but possibly if this is such an issue that we don't even use them so I, don't know why it's an issue.

F

Losing the shuffleboard court well.

J

Because we would have to move, I said how about we move the shuffleboard force over? To that I mean.

F

J

That's what the issue is: that's.

F

Not the issue, people want pristine. If you do anything at Craig Park, you better be putting grass or something green and not putting something like that. You should not sup. No one uses I'd put them somewhere else, but nobody uses them. That's not the issue. People think that should be a passive, pristine, Park and the thought of adding anything like parking or something and set people off for years. Well,.

J

We don't need to put that in their head, so we're just gonna say this is what we you know, we're proposing I think it's only gonna add from what I remember, maybe ten parking spots for boat trailers, because we, you know, had a flange drawn at it. Somebody draw the plan out and everything. So it's not that it's adding up, but ten is better than nothing. That's.

F

Pretty big for some of the most of the days now, that's.

J

Pretty big and then we talked about move moving, though within.

F

J

Right so again, this has been going on for years. It just hasn't been done yet and I. Think honestly, it really. It needs to cuz I. If I lived in that area, I would be up here complaining every weekend, but I really would I don't know it's just this is this is aborting communities that we need to to work, and that was the other thing why we, we dicks the rampant, Sunset Beach to help with that issue as well. But again, this is this.

J

Is the boating community and people come from other places to launch here? So sorry,.

C

On page 17, the extended Pinellas Trail North, look we budget 381 thousand dollars more about that.

F

It was an obligation that we have to do for anklet Nature Park, it's committed in when we took over the park. It's uncommitted to do wide. You've seen that in the budget for the last five years is because we have an eagle's nest. That's right in the path it doesn't allow us to do it until that resolves or we can get a piece of land to go around it or something installed.

F

We cannot take it out of our budget because it's an obligation, I forget whose the obligation to but a governmental obligation that we put that that through so we have to leave it in the budget, but right now the eagle's nest inhibits our ability to do that on the path that we did and again, unless there's another piece of land or to go around this stuff. We're gonna happen till that nest becomes dormant or otherwise um we keep having to wait for the opportunity to do that. Bob is working.

F

There are some land possibilities of that. There are some possible land opportunities to reroute it that's what we're working on. So that's what we're kind of leaving it there. It's probably gonna go to the next year, but we are looking at some possibilities of a different route, but we are obligated to do that. So we keep telling people we got it in the budget and again the eagle's nest. They cannot come at us for not doing it because obvious is not gonna tell us to go through and disturbing eagle's nest.

F

So it's just one of those that you've seen that for probably five years in the budget, so hopefully we're gonna complete it. It's on my bucket list, so hopefully we'll complete it mom. Here, okay,.

C

On page 18, the recreation areas I support that 100%, something that we really need I be getting a lot of phone calls for oh yeah on the same page down on the bottom stormwater action plan. I know mr. Robinson had created that few years in the past. Do we have a list of all the your projects that it involved? That can you share that with us sometime whenever you get a chance, because.

F

You got that list, nobody, you can tell you about the list, then we can get a copy of it to you.

M

Yeah, just real quick, the stormwater action plan projects are updated periodically and the most recent one is on the website. I didn't notice that so that you can get it on the city's website and I'd be happy to email it to you directly too. If you want.

C

Now next page is number 19, I know we're doing a lot of water plants. A lot of plan water plant improvements, 1 million 695- is that we're going to need more work bills or are we getting Bob and you uh please come forward I? Think.

F

The mayor's up someone you just stay down here in the state of.

M

Miss my workout tonight, but.

C

M

Water wells, yeah, there's three new wells that are gonna, be drilled, the that's a shovel-ready project, three wells that are designed and permitted ready to go for the new fiscal year, yeah.

C

What's our goal with 2325, we.

M

Have a twenty two that are allowed to be drilled in the permit? So that's our goal. This would give us 17, 18 and 19.

C

Don't go away: okay,.

M

I'll stay right here.

C

C

As you know that we have many sensitive areas and they need to destroy all these houses that still have septic tank, mm-hm and many places we have to look and see if we can install a throw line, is there possibility, don't be a action playing on the place? Is that in all of the pilot projects that we working on with the shoreline, just like you do with the water? Just like you do yeah sure.

M

F

Without that and.

M

F

The yellow zebra sea sea breezes, the next thumb bliss coming up so.

M

F

Gonna update that I think it's due for an update. I think we need updated, but.

C

M

Lake tarpon, yes, yes, project is waiting for DEP clearance to.

F

M

Getting people hooked up we're.

F

Into the last phase, yep.

F

And, as you see.

H

F

The engineering for sea breezes isn't that on that page, that you have.

C

The water meter change out we budget 125,000 will do every year. Are we getting close to finished with our project.

P

Bob you're on such a roll there we're about 60 to 70 percent, complete with that. What's taking some time with that project, we're completing it in-house, you know some places will actually contract out a company to come in and do it in a shorter amount of time, but it's a multi-million dollar way to go. We feel like this is working well for us we're making good progress, but we are taking some time to get it done. We've already seen some real benefits from having these meters installed and we're planning to continue moving forward with it.

C

Thank You mr. liquors, if you please extend my thanks to the employees, we do many project.

C

Sections of the budget, you will have any other comments. Question.

J

There was I had gotten a request and I don't know if if we can accommodate or not it's a Craig Parkin, this has to do with the Rec Department Craig from the dance group. You know that use the practices and everything in our main, you know with the rec center, but they also I guess used the room over at Craig Park. Sometimes they were asking about the flooring. I don't know if we have extra flooring anywhere whatever. If we could do something with the flooring in there I just throwing it out, though,.

F

Well, look at it, but again we got a lot of other uses there and we put the blob sea floor whatever you call it over all.

J

Right yeah, they love the floor at the Rec Center. They.

F

Should for what it cost them brand new floors.

I

J

F

Should I'm not.

J

Asking for that floor out there, but if there's something we could do with the flooring, I don't know, I told her. We said: maybe we had extra floors and somewhere I. Don't know, though, anyway that was just.

F

Craigers happy you asked the question about dance though, and.

J

I'm happy to see it, you know we just looked at last night. You know the it was in our backup last night and you know it's a great idea. It was a win-win for us and for their dance group and we're making money. They're, making money and the children are learning to dance and it's competition is bringing people to the community I think it was this is that was a great, a great collaborative effort in both parts and III. Thank you for that.

J

I

I just want to echo that, because yeah, you all are doing a great job there and it's been a great partnership with Just Dance Academy. They they appreciate it. Thank you.

C

Thank you. Well. That concludes the budget work session and before I adjourn I want to thank everyone. That's been involved with the budget.