Skip to content
New Port Richey Online
Work SessionTue, Jul 16, 2019

Council reviewed proposed FY2019-2020 budgets for City Manager, Clerk, Council, HR, and Tech, weighing a plan to charge 30% of manager and attorney salaries to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).

3 items on the agenda · 2 decisions recorded

On the agenda

  1. 1Call to Order - Roll Call0:00
  2. 2

    You arrived here from a search for “Local Discretionary Sales Tax — transcript expanded below

    Review of Proposed FY2019-2020 Departmental Budgets

    discussed

    City Manager Manz presented proposed FY2019-2020 departmental budgets for the City Manager, City Clerk, City Council, Human Resources, and Technology Solutions departments. A key change is the recommendation to charge 30% of the City Manager's and City Attorney's salaries to the CRA fund rather than the General Fund. Council discussed special events funding ($65,000 recommended), CRA expenditure caution, and requested a breakdown of travel/training expenses by council member. State revenue-sharing figures had not yet been released, delaying final budget completion.

    • direction:Council directed staff to provide a breakdown of FY2018-2019 travel and training expenses by council member in a future Friday communication. (none)
    • direction:City Manager will review the CRA plan document to confirm whether charging portions of City Manager and City Attorney salaries to the CRA is contemplated. (none)
    ▶ Jump to 0:24 in the video
    Show transcript

    Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

    [00:00:24] So we have one item on the workshop, which is talking about budgets for departments. [00:00:29] Ms. Manz, would you like to kick us off here? [00:00:32] I do. [00:00:33] I would, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:34] Thank you very much. [00:00:35] I think it's most appropriate to comment to you that we still do not have the information [00:00:44] that we need in respect to the state funding sources. [00:00:51] We do have a number of them that have been released, and one of them is the local government [00:01:00] sales tax program, where we're seeing an increase of 4.1 percent. [00:01:07] The other two that have been released relate to local option gas tax, and the first is [00:01:21] indicating a 4.9 percent increase, and the second is 5.7 percent. [00:01:26] The funds remaining at this point to be released are the local discretionary sales tax, our [00:01:35] municipal revenue sharing program, and the communications service taxes. [00:01:41] They are among our largest funding sources, so we're anxious for those numbers to release. [00:01:48] Typically, they come in sometime the end of June. [00:01:53] They've extended into July, never this far into July, though. [00:01:58] We're very surprised that the numbers haven't been released, and we check those with regularity [00:02:05] attached to it, and as soon as we have that information, we can finish crafting a budget [00:02:09] for you to consider further. [00:02:14] Tonight's presentation will be of the City Council budget, the City Manager's budget, [00:02:19] the City Clerk's budget, technology solutions, and human resources, and with your approval, [00:02:30] Mr. Mayor, we can start with the City Manager's budget, as Councilman Davis has requested [00:02:38] that we defer discussion on the Council budget until he is in attendance. [00:02:48] The City Manager's budget appears to be significantly reduced from previous years. [00:02:58] The reason for that, in large part, is because this year the Finance Department and I are [00:03:09] recommending that 30% of the City Manager's salary, as well as 30% of the salary for the [00:03:17] City Attorney, be paid for out of the CRA fund, rather than out of the City's general [00:03:24] fund, based on the fact that a very high percentage of our work relates to CRA activity. [00:03:33] So you can see in the Department Head Salaries line item, my salary has been reduced from [00:03:41] $123,010 to $88,690. [00:03:49] Resultantly, Social Security matching and the Florida Retirement System contribution is down. [00:03:56] We have also reduced dues and memberships, as well as operating supplies. [00:04:05] Therefore, the total expenditure in the City Manager's budget was previously $251,120 during [00:04:16] the 2018-19 fiscal year, and in the upcoming fiscal year is projected to be $207,400. [00:04:25] How do you think our County Commissioners and State Legislators are going to view using [00:04:30] CRA funds, even though I know you're working with CRA a lot for you and the City Attorney? [00:04:34] Because like the City of Portagee, I don't know the specifics, but they get so much negative [00:04:38] press, and we have County Commissioners trying to do away with CRA, and have kind of made [00:04:43] that quite clear that they're not in favor of it. [00:04:45] The City of Portagee has received some very negative, negative exposure from using CRA [00:04:52] funds to pay their staff. [00:04:54] Is our City Attorney totally okay with the CRA funds being used to pay part of your salary [00:04:59] and Tim's salary? [00:05:00] I have reviewed the matter with the City Attorney, and we both feel comfortable that the percentage [00:05:07] that we're requesting is appropriate and fair, and I'm not aware of the specific criticisms [00:05:14] in the City of Portagee, but I do believe that their percentage was much higher than [00:05:20] that, and that may have been the cause of some questions. [00:05:28] I'll let the record show Councilman Davis has joined us. [00:05:32] Mayor? [00:05:33] Yes, sir. [00:05:34] Yeah, on that note, I know that there has been a calculation on the revenue side of [00:05:40] the General Fund for the amounts due for different departments for different purposes. [00:05:50] As an example, the billing and collection is primarily funded by a percentage that's [00:05:56] paid to the General Fund by the Water and Sewer Fund, and I know that there have been [00:06:01] calculations done in the past as well for the CRA. [00:06:05] I'm not sure what they are, but will this potentially result in a reduction of the transfer [00:06:16] from the CRA to the General Fund? [00:06:19] It's sort of like you're now making a direct calculation up front. [00:06:25] How does that differ from some of these schedules that we've done to see how much time, for [00:06:31] example, is being used for CRA business in other departments? [00:06:36] At this point, we are planning to make a transfer from the CRA to the General Fund budget. [00:06:45] It is not as high as it has been in previous years. [00:06:49] We'll be presenting that to you at the time that we talk about the CRA budget, but in [00:06:55] addition to the transfer, we believe that a percentage of these salaries is appropriate. [00:07:04] Point being, the calculation won't double up on the transfer. [00:07:10] You're doing this directly in the budget so that you can reflect your time being spent with the CRA [00:07:15] versus that. [00:07:17] There wouldn't be another percentage of the remainder, the General Fund remainder, to be paid for by [00:07:25] the CRA of the city manager's department. [00:07:28] That's correct, Councilman. [00:07:31] Yes. [00:07:34] Any other questions? [00:07:36] I just want to say at League of Cities last year there was discussion about CRAs and the monies that [00:07:41] were being transferred from employees. [00:07:45] That was some of the questions that the state had and attitudes about CRAs. [00:07:50] So it was not only New Port Richey, but there was other cities that had taken advantage. [00:07:57] Let me put it that way. [00:07:59] So they're going to be looking at us, you know. [00:08:08] Next. [00:08:11] The next budget that I would like to present to you is the city clerk's budget. [00:08:17] Last year, the city clerk's budget was total expenditures of $68,270. [00:08:27] This year's recommended funding for the department is $69,220, which is about $1,000 difference. [00:08:40] And it's noted in Social Security matching as it relates to staff, a percentage of Judy Meyer's time is [00:08:52] programmed into this budget. [00:08:56] We've also decreased legal advertising a bit, $2,000, and increased elections by $2,000. [00:09:12] And with that, we have staff costs in the amount of $19,470. [00:09:19] We have operating in the amount of $49,750, which brings us to the $69,220 number. [00:09:30] Questions, anyone? [00:09:32] I didn't saw any flowers. [00:09:35] Just kidding. [00:09:40] They're still alive. [00:09:42] That's all they are. [00:09:43] That's the... [00:09:47] With your permission, Mr. Mayor, then I'll move on to the city council budget. [00:09:51] Very good. [00:09:54] The city council budget includes wages for the elected officials in the amount of $20,030. [00:10:05] It also has a line item, pardon me, for city attorney services. [00:10:13] Again, 30% of which will be charged directly to the CRA budget if you approve that recommendation of mine. [00:10:23] And we are showing $92,400 for attorney services. [00:10:33] We have increased professional services by $5,000. [00:10:39] We have increased travel and training by $6,000. [00:10:45] We have reduced postage as we've transferred the postage for the city newsletter to another funding area. [00:11:01] We have a new appropriation for the environmental committee in the amount of $5,000 to support their activities. [00:11:13] We are recommending an appropriation in the amount of $20,000 for the cultural affairs committee budget. [00:11:27] We have reduced the printing cost in the budget also because we have transferred the newsletter completely into the library budget [00:11:39] as a result of the fact that they are the department currently handling the responsibility of that publication. [00:11:49] The recommendation for you in respect to special events is an appropriation of $65,000, which is $10,000 over last year's appropriation. [00:12:04] At this point, I do not have completed applications from all of the event organizers, [00:12:16] but I'm hopeful that $65,000 will be a suitable amount. [00:12:24] As is the case, though, I'm certain that their requests may exceed the amount of funding available. [00:12:35] We have also increased other charges by $2,000 that in large part covers the costs associated with our volunteer appreciation event. [00:12:54] During the 18-19 fiscal year, our combined budget for the city council was $265,400, and the recommended budget amount for the 19-20 fiscal year is $239,800. [00:13:18] Where in this do we go to the League of Cities and things of that sort? [00:13:22] That would be handled under the travel and training line item. [00:13:30] Can you get a breakdown on how that was used last year? [00:13:33] I can provide a breakdown of how it was used last year. [00:13:39] Seems like I went to a couple things, he went to a couple things, but I'm not sure whatever, you know, whatever, what else. [00:13:47] I was trying to think the last time I put in a travel check. [00:13:50] Yeah, that's what I'm saying, it's been a while. [00:13:52] My trips to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council are out of town, and so I put in travel for that. [00:13:59] Also, I don't know, but this would be where if... [00:14:03] That's where League of Cities is and stuff like that. [00:14:06] League of Cities, I'm on the FRA board, so I had a trip to Tallahassee, so most of it probably came through my travel. [00:14:13] I'm glad to see it increased. [00:14:14] I think the most common thing we hear at these conferences is the need, particularly the FRA conference, [00:14:21] which is primarily CRA staff, is that they wish that more elected officials would come and take advantage of that [00:14:30] versus having the staff have to come back and then plead their case to the board. [00:14:34] So this year, that conference is in Tampa, so we're in luck. [00:14:41] When I do the Tourist Development Board and it's Dave City, I charge for gas, [00:14:45] but I don't do it when it's a county building on the west side. [00:14:49] I'll just take a look at it. [00:14:52] I'd be glad to provide a breakdown. [00:14:54] I mean, you know, it's... [00:14:56] I appreciate the fact that you two are willing to... [00:15:00] Due to some of these. I wasn't going to put it quite that way. Now that you mention it. With my family situation, it's getting out of town for extended periods is difficult right now. [00:15:15] Yeah, I just. So I appreciate it. [00:15:18] I just, you know, they all have their, you know, breakdowns and I thought we should have our breakdowns. [00:15:27] Yes, and this man has to break it down like per council member who used what last year? [00:15:31] Yeah. [00:15:32] Is that the breakdown you're looking for? [00:15:33] Yeah. [00:15:34] And if it's acceptable, I can provide that in a future report to you for my Friday communication. [00:15:43] Yeah, that'd be fine. [00:15:44] Yeah. [00:15:45] I just, you know, I mean, if we need four grand more, six grand more in there, you know, good, but, you know, we may need more if we get somebody else to go out of town. [00:15:56] Except on vacation. [00:15:57] Murphy's going to the League of Cities this year. So that'll be three of us instead of two. [00:16:01] Main Street coming up this month too. So yeah, next couple of months. [00:16:04] Right, yeah. [00:16:05] Yeah. [00:16:06] It would be nice to make sure that none of us felt like we were either overtaking a portion or blocking someone else from having access. If it's not used, it isn't. I would like to mention special events when we get off of that. [00:16:20] Yeah, no, I'm happy there. I'm done. [00:16:23] That's good. Do you want to talk about this? [00:16:25] On the special events, just a couple of things. One, and also the cultural affair events and the environmental committee events. [00:16:37] These committees are designed to advise the city council what to do. They've morphed a little bit, and I'm not complaining because the Lopak Festival is a great thing, and it's one of our newest unique events that we have. [00:16:54] The discussion we had before about trying to have CRA, what's that called, economic and cultural enhancements to attract more people to the city and to advance our city, to have it fund certain things. [00:17:19] There are three events that are long-term city events that wouldn't be representative, I think, of redevelopment trying to do more. The Chasco, the Fourth of July, and the Christmas parade. [00:17:33] I don't know with the chambers merging if they may actually be stronger to do the Christmas parade than they were last year, but after last year's Christmas parade, it was like, we don't know how we can do this. [00:17:47] The Main Street program focused so much on events, and it had been in the past, as Marilyn knows, one of the things that the board and everybody wants to have done, but not the full four points and not the direct engagement with the business community. [00:18:07] And then, of course, the Chasco Fiesta was a New Port Richey chamber, West Pasco chamber, now separate committee sort of joint program. [00:18:20] I think those are the three long-standing city events that ought to, as I think Councilman Murphy said, nothing going to happen to the Chasco, or the turnout we have for the fireworks. [00:18:32] I was here when we first did the fireworks, and after a couple of years of anxiety with the population and the fire issues, it's been pretty popular, but I can say that those events are not revenue generating for the entities that kind of have been solely putting those together. [00:18:57] I would love to see those events reflected in here for support, but I would like to suggest that the CRA could, we could change our way of looking at things, and Councilman Starkey, I remember you talking about what brings business and the big events and the small events. [00:19:16] It would really be nice to try to tie economically these big events easier for reporting to the Tourism Board and making sure that they're benefiting the town towards its goal to market itself. [00:19:30] I'm thinking it could help the general fund to kind of just pick these big three and say these are the three we're really going to put our money behind and go to the CRA and see what efforts that could be supported by the CRA if they have to directly pay for some of the municipal costs or help to support paying for the fireworks, for example, to help attract people into our city. [00:19:58] It's just a thought. [00:19:59] I know she's trying to help find more ways to make the general fund work. [00:20:04] Just a suggestion. [00:20:06] Do we, those three events, there's a lot of in-kind, is that correct? [00:20:11] They are all supported with in-kind, yes. [00:20:14] So that's not reflected in here at all? [00:20:17] No, this is the total amount that I'm recommending you dedicate for the purpose of providing in-kind support to our annualized special events. [00:20:30] That's the $65,000. [00:20:32] Oh, okay, that's the $65,000. [00:20:36] I think we do need to keep in mind, though, and we saw in the city manager's report the numbers from Chasco Fiesta, which apparently this year lost a breathtakingly large amount of money, which I think that's something the Chasco folks are going to have to grapple with. [00:20:56] They didn't apply to the Tourist Development Board, one thing, and then the Tourist Development Board needs kind of our support, because they're focusing on this sports coast thing, and that Chasco Fiesta is a sports coast event. [00:21:12] So we have to, I think, put our face out there and say, hey, we need the support. [00:21:18] I did talk to Liz Meismer this past week. [00:21:23] I had a chance to sit down with her to share some of the observations I had on Main Street Blast, because I wound up trying to help the trolley get through, [00:21:34] and there was charitably a fairly generalized screw-up in how that was handled, starting at the set committee, special event team set committee. [00:21:52] Related to transportation? [00:21:53] Related to how the trolley was going to be used, what routes it was going to take, and everything else. [00:22:01] Came up with some observations, including one from the Kia driver talking about where a good point would be to have for a drop-off for the park, [00:22:17] which his suggestion was actually right in front of Rich Williams' office at the corner of Grand and Central. [00:22:26] Instead of trying to come all the way down to Bank, simply because of the amount of people. [00:22:33] And they need a map. [00:22:37] They need to draw out where the routes are going to be and a lot of stuff just to better organize it. [00:22:42] Well, you've got so much part of the north part of the circle blocked off because of safety. [00:22:49] And as part of that, she shared with me that they did not do particularly well financially. [00:22:56] And I'm sure monsoon-type rain, both Friday night and Saturday evening, didn't help that matter. [00:23:06] It's one of the downsides. [00:23:08] And I've said this before at previous meetings. [00:23:13] Depending on gate or people showing up and buying stuff at some of these outdoor events [00:23:22] makes you highly, highly dependent on having really perfect weather. [00:23:28] Otherwise, you're going to get clobbered. [00:23:31] And they apparently did, again. [00:23:34] Mr. Mayor? [00:23:35] Yeah. [00:23:36] I would just urge caution, once again, when we're talking about CRA expenditures. [00:23:40] I don't remember, since I've been up here, us using CRA funds to pay part of our city attorney or city manager's salary. [00:23:47] And I don't think I'm okay with it if our city attorney says it's legal and we're good with it. [00:23:51] But I don't know how it would be viewed if we try using CRA funds to buy fireworks, to be honest with you, by our state legislators. [00:23:57] I'm just urging caution is my point. [00:24:00] Well, I would agree with you as to the caution part. [00:24:04] But when you talk about a $3 million, $3.5 million budget, [00:24:08] and you talk about marketing and increasing activity and increasing business, I think it probably is satisfied. [00:24:20] I'm sorry. [00:24:23] But as far as the county commission, having to satisfy the county commission, [00:24:27] it's my understanding from talking to some commissioners that they're not having a problem with this. [00:24:33] So if they are, they might want to talk to Pinellas County, who's starting to create CRA, [00:24:38] so they can take advantage of the tax increment of their own government to do redevelopment. [00:24:44] I got a binder when we had the visit from Jeff Burton a couple weeks ago, [00:24:49] and put together by the staff of the economic development. [00:24:54] And it included all of the studies. [00:24:56] But when you start back with the smart growth study, and then you go to which was produced by the county, [00:25:04] that study indicated a plan to be enacted. [00:25:11] And the biggest problem, I think, with use of CRA funds for non-CRA things is using them for things that were always paid for by the city. [00:25:22] Now being paid for by the CRA, sort of just supplanting the budget, fire department budget, police department budgets, [00:25:28] and general budgets. [00:25:31] I don't think I've heard of any substantial aggravation over the administrative cross portion of it. [00:25:38] If that were the case, we could just have the CRA directly employ, as I think it has in the past directly employed the director. [00:25:48] I'm not sure who. [00:25:51] Your assistant, so to speak. [00:25:54] You're the director of the CRA, but the administrative support directly. [00:25:58] So that's the other approach is to just make it a CRA department and make it funded directly from those without being a transfer. [00:26:07] That would include a reduction in the salary of the city manager and a secondary salary for the CRA to have those checks paid directly. [00:26:15] Maybe that's another option to think about. [00:26:19] CRA budget comes up for review. [00:26:22] I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, I don't recall what meeting that's slated to occur at. [00:26:29] But what I'd like to do, with your permission, is look a little further into our specific CRA plan. [00:26:38] I'm not certain that those type of expenditures are contemplated, which may be an issue. [00:26:45] They certainly are allowable under the state law, but I want to make sure that they're in our plan document as well. [00:26:53] And that way Deputy Mayor Starkey might feel more comfortable. [00:26:58] I'm sorry. [00:26:59] No, that's good. [00:27:00] And as a follow up to that, though, and back to Councilman Starkey, I still would like to see us say these are our three events. [00:27:11] These are the three things people say New Port Richey puts on. [00:27:14] And we're relying on third parties to do that. [00:27:19] As to all the other events, I know we have a, you know, I guess the biggest one after that is going to be the Bike Fest and a few of the other events that are out there. [00:27:27] But, again, the old law said the city would handle crowd control when you have a parade, when you have redirect traffic. [00:27:36] If the entity that was putting it on is a civic organization or a nonprofit organization and they request it and the city agrees to sponsor it, [00:27:47] there are a lot of events that go on that are straight rental of the park, I think. [00:27:54] I think if we've got to make sure we protect those three events is what I'm saying. [00:28:00] And to the degree that more come in, I hate to see them competing with other events. [00:28:07] If it took two line items, that would be my request, if nothing else. [00:28:11] I would tend to agree those are the three biggies. [00:28:14] But, yeah, definitely let's look at that when we get to the city. [00:28:18] I will. [00:28:19] The applications are due to my office next Friday for special events. [00:28:25] They'll then be forwarded to the Cultural Affairs Committee for a recommendation, [00:28:29] and then the Cultural Affairs Committee recommendation will be forwarded to you for your consideration. [00:28:35] Is there anything else on City Council in that case? [00:28:41] The Cultural Affairs will be separate from the in-kind then? [00:28:46] Yes, it is. [00:28:48] That's not changing. [00:28:50] Right. [00:28:52] Bernie's coming up, so that must mean Human Resources is up next. [00:28:55] Yes, she's up. [00:28:56] I didn't know if I cut Brian off or not. [00:29:00] I just jumped right out in front of him. [00:29:03] You're next on our list, anyhow. [00:29:06] Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of City Council. [00:29:09] I'll be presenting the Human Resources budget. [00:29:21] There's been no personnel changes or no capital projects requested for the division. [00:29:28] I'd like to begin with account 43111, Labor Attorney Services. [00:29:35] This line item has been decreased slightly from $11,900 to $7,500 due to the upcoming fire union negotiations. [00:29:45] They're the only ones that are slated for negotiations this budget year. [00:29:50] The next account is 43133, Employee Assistance Program. [00:29:55] It has been decreased to $4,500. [00:30:00] In the past, this program has been administered through a third-party administrator. Their [00:30:05] name is BayCare Life Management. For this upcoming year, the City will utilize some [00:30:09] EAP services provided through the City's medical insurance coverage. [00:30:14] The next account is 43199 Professional Services Miscellaneous. This has been increased from [00:30:26] $7,500 to $20,000 for the upcoming pay and classification study. [00:30:34] Our expectation is that that will cost $15,000. [00:30:43] The next item is 44011 Traveling Training. This has been increased from $500 to $1,000 [00:30:53] for additional staff education and some continuing education. [00:30:59] The next four accounts that I'd like to discuss with you are 44511, 44521, 44522, and 44523, [00:31:15] which are the General Liability, Building and Contents, Pollution, and Automobile Insurance. [00:31:24] The City does belong to Public Risk Management, which is the pool insurance for Florida. All [00:31:29] the members are seeing rate increases for the state of Florida. However, we've been [00:31:34] able to keep our increase to a minimum of 9% spread across all four of these accounts, [00:31:43] and we have budgeted that. The City Manager and I will be meeting with them in September. [00:31:52] Next item is 45243 Computer and Operating Supplies. This account has been increased [00:32:01] from $500 to $3,180, as both computers in the Human Resources Division are due to be [00:32:09] upgraded. Lastly, I'd like to talk about the health insurance. The City Manager and [00:32:17] I are currently in discussions with our health insurance provider representatives, and the [00:32:23] City does continue to have a favorable group experience. However, no final rates has been [00:32:29] turned in to the City Manager and I. We're expecting those rates the end of July or the [00:32:34] 1st of August. And the reason that there was a delay in presenting the information [00:32:43] is because we have had a couple of catastrophic claims this year, and UnitedHealthcare wasn't [00:32:51] embracing us as a client as much as we thought should be the case, and so we're shopping [00:32:58] alternate coverage programs at this time. [00:33:02] I just have one. You have an education reimbursement. Is that someone in another department that [00:33:09] takes a course, and once they get a good grade or whatever, then they get reimbursed? [00:33:15] Yes, sir. Yes, it is. [00:33:17] So people aren't taking advantage of that? Is that what we're kind of seeing? [00:33:25] I'm sorry. We believe that we've programmed an appropriate amount based on the level of [00:33:29] interest that we're seeing. [00:33:31] I'm just surprised. If my employer paid for me to go to school, I'd probably go to school. [00:33:41] Thank you, Bernie. [00:33:42] Did we pass out the amended budget sheets for Brian? [00:34:01] Yes, we did. [00:34:02] All right, so they should be at everybody's places. We took note earlier today of a clerical [00:34:08] error, and so you have a revised sheet. [00:34:11] If it's stapled in, otherwise we don't have it. [00:34:15] Yes. [00:34:16] Oh, okay. Okay. [00:34:17] Good evening, Mayor and Council. The technology solutions budget as a whole has a 5% decrease [00:34:29] in the upcoming fiscal year. As Ms. Mann has alluded to, our personnel costs will remain [00:34:35] the same in the upcoming fiscal year with the one addition of $3,000 to our overtime [00:34:43] budget. We anticipate some additional after-hours work in the upcoming year. [00:34:49] In our operations budget, we have added $5,000 to our contractual services. This is mostly [00:34:57] due to some GIS work that we want to pursue with regards to some mapping and some additional [00:35:04] work related to Tyler for some imports in order to increase some functionality. [00:35:09] There is a slight increase in our data lines, basically just based on cost of service. In [00:35:17] our software rent, there is an increase in several different softwares. Our social media [00:35:25] archiving software is in this to the full amount now, and as we add additional accounts, [00:35:31] that cost is increased. Our online streaming software that we utilize required some additional [00:35:38] enhancements in order to stay compliant with ADA. And then we are at this point fully licensed [00:35:45] on Tyler, so there's a $103,000 licensing fee for that, and we have started our departure [00:35:54] from SunGuard, so there's a reduced amount in here for our SunGuard licensing that hopefully [00:36:00] will be reduced more as we move forward with modules such as utility billing, which has [00:36:06] got a projected date currently of October, and then the remaining modules by the end [00:36:11] of the calendar year. So we hope to reduce that as we move forward. Additionally, I've [00:36:17] had some discussion with SunGuard with relation to items that were going into the database [00:36:22] for view only, and they're working on getting me a quote for reducing those modules to a [00:36:28] view only status. Our capital projects for the upcoming year are a software deployment [00:36:38] that is a combination of software and hardware for the network. It's a security enhancement. [00:36:43] It allows for 24-7 monitoring of the network, so it allows us the ability in a situation [00:36:50] such as ours where we're minimal staff to have the network monitored off hours and after [00:36:55] hours on the weekends so that if a security threat occurs, we're instantly notified and [00:36:59] action can be taken. We also have a data migration in the rec center. The parent company or a [00:37:08] parent company purchased the existing software, and they are no longer going to put development [00:37:14] into the software that's in place, so there's an initiative to move to their parent product. [00:37:21] Our fire department will be making a change in their software from their current ZOL platform [00:37:27] to a new software with a migration of about $5,000. The new software allows them a lot [00:37:37] more robust reporting and gives them additional tools that they currently don't have in the [00:37:42] package they have today. And then last but not least, under special purposes, we have [00:37:48] the expansion of our voice over IP telephone system into the last remaining building, which [00:37:53] is the public works complex, bringing them into the rest of the solution. And I can answer [00:38:01] any questions you have. [00:38:02] Is your security going to give us some protection against the crypto attacks that some other [00:38:08] cities have had? [00:38:09] That is the idea. Yeah. In fact, if it calls out to any server that's a known issue or [00:38:13] someone's monitoring and sees a high influx of traffic, we can actually set up default [00:38:18] action for them to take. So even if they can't get a hold of me, they can lock down [00:38:22] a port or shut down access all together. [00:38:23] There have been two or three cities just in the last few weeks that have paid astronomical [00:38:30] fees to get their data back. [00:38:33] Absolutely. [00:38:34] $600,000 plus a million dollars worth of new equipment. [00:38:44] Tom, I just have a question. We discussed this last year and it really didn't come up. [00:38:48] And I think it's even more important this year as cameras downtown to... [00:38:53] Actually program money into our capital improvement project to install cameras. [00:39:02] Is that under this? [00:39:03] No, it's in our larger capital budget. [00:39:07] Yeah, it's a phase one, phase two project. [00:39:09] Just because of a couple instances lately, you know, it's even more important. [00:39:12] Cameras where? [00:39:13] We discussed it last year. [00:39:14] Cameras where? [00:39:15] Pardon me? [00:39:16] Cameras where? [00:39:17] Downtown. [00:39:18] All over downtown? [00:39:19] Yeah, view the outside, you know, view the street activity. [00:39:21] Right. So I guess my question there is, at that point, do we need to have more budgeted [00:39:25] for the police department? Because we need someone at the police department monitoring [00:39:28] these cameras. We've got a bunch of them already, so I'm not opposed to cameras downtown, but [00:39:33] to have them down there and have no one monitoring them, to me, is like, what's the point? [00:39:37] Other than catching people and reviewing it after the fact. [00:39:40] If we're going to put cameras downtown, I think we need the proper resources at the [00:39:45] police department where we're actually monitoring them. [00:39:49] Deputy Mayor raises a good point. [00:39:52] We believe that, at this point, additional staff is not warranted, but we will fully [00:39:59] vet that before we make a presentation to you on your capital budget. [00:40:04] I don't know if you can, how many employees do we currently have, like, on average, monitoring [00:40:10] these screens at Sims Park and City Hall and where we have them, the cameras? [00:40:14] Normally there are two. [00:40:15] Can we get into the microphone if we're going to have this? [00:40:17] Sorry, can you come up? [00:40:18] Chief, come up. [00:40:21] Brian might have known, I'm sorry. [00:40:22] Yeah, sorry. [00:40:24] There are always two dispatchers working on a, at certain times of the day, then the [00:40:30] supervisor is also working in there, but doing supervisory responsibilities. [00:40:35] The dispatchers, are they monitoring the screens and taking incoming calls? [00:40:40] Oh, they're doing 911, they're doing the normal dispatching. [00:40:43] That's an awful lot. [00:40:45] They're doing everything. [00:40:46] Yeah, bringing in phone calls, trying to watch screens. [00:40:48] We had a bunch more cameras. [00:40:50] I'm sure I'll give you all a lot of time to come up with a plan, but it just seems like [00:40:54] it's an awful lot for two people to do. [00:40:57] Well, it is. [00:40:58] Unless something draws their attention to the camera, some activity on the street, then [00:41:03] they'll click on it and make it take up the entire screen, but it's not usually them [00:41:10] seeing it because they're too busy doing other things. [00:41:13] They're typing and all the stuff you can imagine. [00:41:18] And just to make a point of clarity for the respect to the project, the project is to [00:41:22] scope out a network infrastructure for a wireless network to support those elements, [00:41:27] such as cameras. [00:41:29] Mr. Altman has made the comment before about streaming music in certain areas of the downtown, [00:41:33] so this would be the platform that all those systems connect to. [00:41:41] Anything else? [00:41:43] In that case, we will adjourn until 7 o'clock. [00:41:46] I have a, I guess before, could we add on these budget work sessions in the future an [00:41:51] item that's just like a general budget discussion? [00:41:54] We're having these partial discussions, so if one of us has a follow-up to, let's say, [00:42:00] our cumulative sort of collective knowledge, we can put, bring it out to each other. [00:42:06] Absolutely, yeah. [00:42:08] Thank you. [00:42:10] Right now or just in the future? [00:42:12] No, I didn't have something now. [00:42:13] It's just like a communications type thing? [00:42:15] Yeah, I mean, to kind of just talk about the budget in general or something we might want [00:42:19] to suggest or talk about. [00:42:20] No, we've got time if anybody's got any questions. [00:42:23] Just to, I'd like to follow up on Jeff's important comment. [00:42:27] I want to make sure you understand that we, how serious I take it as well that we protect [00:42:34] and use that CRA fund properly and not only to inoculate ourselves away from the resistance [00:42:40] of others, but also just to make sure we have a good solid plan that's going to expand the [00:42:46] city's population base and the economic growth that we anticipate. [00:42:52] In that regard, I was talking to someone about the capital improvement plans, and I would [00:42:58] again urge that as we look at what our capital improvements are, let's say our downtown streaming [00:43:04] for example, that may be a very definite improvement that's going to enhance our business community [00:43:10] and our downtown, which I'm asking for a capital improvement plan that we look at these [00:43:17] elements and decide which ones could be funded by the CRA and have that clearly defined. [00:43:23] The comment was made to me about another city that got into trouble for just sort of identifying [00:43:29] something but not separating it. [00:43:30] So to the degree of your comment on the capital side, if we've got our brother sitting here [00:43:39] from the CRA and we're on the city council, it's helpful to have us all thinking about [00:43:47] what could be funded from which side and making it clear. [00:43:50] I think that will help us to defend whatever we're doing if we act in that regard. [00:43:56] And I trust Ms. Manns and Mr. Driscoll. [00:43:58] I'm sure they're not going to put us in any kind of predicament where we're going to backstep. [00:44:04] We're talking about using CRA funds for things that we haven't used since I've been up here, [00:44:08] so I wasn't making my statement to you. [00:44:10] I was making it in general, just urge caution. [00:44:13] I just wanted to follow up because I think it's important that we have that discussion, [00:44:18] and I would agree with you. [00:44:20] So I'm happy to determine that if it's not appropriate or it's not in our plan, we won't. [00:44:27] But I appreciate the resources we have, the important moment in time we're at right now, [00:44:35] and I just continue to repeat it. [00:44:37] This is our chance to rebuild our city after 100 years, and it's very exciting. [00:44:43] Welcome to our new member of the staff, and it's very exciting. [00:44:47] Thank you. [00:44:50] Councilman Davis. [00:44:51] I don't know if you did this before I got here, but did you offer the public a chance to talk? [00:44:57] No, actually we did not. [00:44:58] Did anybody from the public? [00:45:00] I wouldn't say anything. Seeing no one rush forward. I guess not.

    This text was generated automatically from the meeting video. It is not a verbatim or official record. For exact wording, consult the video or the city clerk.

  3. 3Adjournment45:05