On the agenda

1. 1Call to Order - Roll Call▶ 0:00
2. 2

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “Utility Sufficiency Analysis” — transcript expanded below

   Review of Proposed FY2019-2020 General Fund Revenues & Departmental Budgets

   discussed

   City Manager and department heads presented preliminary FY2019-2020 General Fund revenues and departmental budgets, including Public Works (Supervision, Streets/ROW, Stormwater, Water Production, Facilities Maintenance, Water/Reclaimed Distribution, Construction Services), Parks & Rec (Grounds Maintenance), Fire, and Finance. Key requests included reinstating a Landscape Worker I, converting an admin clerk to full-time, adding two utility mechanics and a project manager, and various capital purchases. Revenue projections from the state were not yet available, so millage rate discussion was deferred.

   • direction:Council reviewed and discussed the preliminary FY2019-2020 departmental budgets; no formal vote taken pending receipt of state revenue figures. (none)

   📍Beach Street📍Grand Boulevard culvert📍Sims Park🏢Duke Energy🏢FDOT🏢SWFWMD (Swiftmud)🏢Verizon👤Councilman Altman👤Cynthia👤Debbie Manns👤Robert Rivera👤Tim#Account 4331 Trash Removal#Account 43454 Contractual HVAC#Account 43499 Contractual Services#Account 43699 Buildings & Grounds#Account 45251 Janitorial Supplies#Account 6431 Special-Purpose Equipment#Aggregate taxable value $625,274,347 (preliminary, ~8.74% increase)#CRA / Redevelopment funding#Communications Service Tax#Division 102 Streets and Right-of-Way Maintenance#Division 103 Stormwater Utility#Division 107 Water and Reclaimed Water Distribution#Division 109 Construction Services#FY2019-2020 General Fund Budget#Millage rate (currently 8.9)#Penny for Pasco#Renewal & Replacement (R&R) program#State Revenue Sharing#Utility Sufficiency Analysis

   ▶ Jump to 0:17 in the video

   ▸Show transcriptHide transcript

   Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

   [00:00:17] Here. [00:00:18] The next item on the agenda is the review of the proposed Fiscal 2019-2020 General Revenue [00:00:27] Fund and Department Budgets. [00:00:29] Would you care to elaborate at all? [00:00:32] I will, Mr. Mayor. [00:00:34] I will, with your permission. [00:00:35] As I indicated to you at your meeting on July 2nd, the department heads, the finance director, [00:00:43] and I have been working since April to put together a presentation to you of departmental [00:00:52] budgets. [00:00:54] Unfortunately, the revenue projections haven't kept up with us, and although we do have some [00:01:02] detail from the property appraiser, we do not have revenues yet from the State Department [00:01:10] of Revenue. [00:01:11] So, I had hoped that we could have a bigger discussion tonight about the millage rate, [00:01:20] which, as you all know, is currently 8.9%. [00:01:24] I'm not prepared to do that. [00:01:27] And the presentations that we have for you this evening are very preliminary, as additional [00:01:34] changes may be warranted once we have all of our revenue figures from the state, the [00:01:42] revenue figures that we're expecting, our revenue sharing, communications service tax, [00:01:51] both of which we're expecting to be a little bit less than what we've received in the current [00:01:57] year, and all the more reason that we have to be prudent in our spending plan. [00:02:02] With that being said, the department heads received instructions from the finance director [00:02:09] and I to keep their spending within a 1-2% increase from their previous year's spending. [00:02:19] And tonight, we're prepared to present to you, although preliminary, the Public Works [00:02:26] budget, which is our largest department in the city, relying on the most diverse set [00:02:38] of revenue sources. [00:02:41] The Fire Department, Parks and Rec Department, and Finance Department, who rely more exclusively [00:02:49] on the city's general fund budget and the source of some of the state revenue that we're [00:02:55] not aware of. [00:02:57] The revenue figure that we do know at this point, and the finance director just advised [00:03:04] me that although the preliminary estimate from the property appraiser indicated an aggregate [00:03:11] taxable value for the city in the amount of $625,274,347, which is roughly 8.74% of an [00:03:25] increase over previous years, it came in a little bit less than that, and I'll be able [00:03:30] to report to you in your city manager's report on Friday what that exact number is. [00:03:37] With that, I will let Mr. Rivera start with Public Works supervision in respect to the presentation. [00:03:47] What I'm going to do with each one of these divisions is just take and do a broad overview. [00:03:54] A lot of these line items didn't change, or they were minimal. [00:03:58] I'll call out the larger amounts or the things that we are requesting, and then if you have [00:04:04] any questions, I will answer that before I proceed to the next division. [00:04:09] As Ms. Meanz had stated, this is Public Works supervision. [00:04:12] Out of all of these operating line items, I think the maintenance and repairs equipment, [00:04:18] which is $44,621, that is the largest increase that we had out of this division, and that [00:04:25] was for the water maintenance contract that we have now. [00:04:30] Other than that, personnel services went up accordingly, and this division had no capital [00:04:38] purchases scheduled for the year. [00:04:42] This division includes the Public Works Director, the Assistant Public Works Director, [00:04:48] the Administrative Office Manager, and the GIS tech. [00:05:02] Available for any questions. [00:05:05] The next division that we have is 102, the Streets and Right-of-Way Maintenance Division. [00:05:14] We pretty much have kept this the same, except for we have requested that additional [00:05:23] Landscape Worker 1 be reinstated back into the division. [00:05:28] This was a position that was lost back around the recession period. [00:05:33] And it was the other half of the Streetscape Maintenance Worker for all the right-of-ways. [00:05:39] And so any of the increases that you see in any of these line items are directly related [00:05:44] to that position. [00:05:48] And again, we had no capital requests for this division either. [00:05:53] It's a full-time position? [00:05:55] Excuse me? [00:05:56] It's a full-time position? [00:05:57] Yes, sir. [00:05:58] Okay. [00:06:01] The next division that we have is the Stormwater Utility 103. [00:06:05] This is a revenue-generated, not part of the general fund. [00:06:10] We currently have a request for a new stormwater utility. [00:06:18] We currently have a request to make the administrative clerk an existing part-time position [00:06:27] to a full-time position. [00:06:29] We currently are taking and using our GIS technician to perform some of our admin services. [00:06:37] And the idea is that with our workload, we need to really get back to her producing maps [00:06:42] for the utility. [00:06:44] So making this position a full-time position would allow us to do that. [00:06:52] The only capital purchase that we had in this division was under our special-purpose equipment. [00:07:02] And that item was a mid-size rider sweeper, basically a miniature Zamboni or street sweeper. [00:07:10] This would allow us to be able to get into Sims Park and more frequently clean the sidewalks [00:07:17] after the events more efficiently. [00:07:19] We'd be able to get to the downtown area that we've been having to clean more frequently with the sidewalks. [00:07:28] What number is that? [00:07:30] This one would be on... [00:07:34] If you go from the first page of the stormwater utility, [00:07:37] go to the third page under the five-year capital equipment improvement program, [00:07:42] it would be down at the bottom, 6431. [00:07:51] And the cost of that piece of equipment is $48,000. [00:07:57] And then the additional piece of equipment that you see underneath that for 15 [00:08:02] is the hydraulic pump that we would like to install on the water tank truck that we have now. [00:08:10] And this would allow us, instead of having to keep that truck moving to adjust our spray, [00:08:15] we'd be able to stop at certain locations that maybe are dry areas [00:08:19] and we'd still be able to keep the same velocity of water coming out. [00:08:24] Robert, if I may, just for ease of working through the document, [00:08:28] if there are any items listed as capital, [00:08:32] there will be an accompanying page behind it [00:08:35] that will provide you the detail of what makes up those capital purchases. [00:08:39] If it says in parentheses R&R, that's renewal and replacement? [00:08:43] That's right. [00:08:44] Yes, sir. [00:08:45] Typically what we do is we take the cost of the equipment. [00:08:48] If it's an example, if it's a vehicle that is 10 years or 100,000 miles, [00:08:53] we'll divide the cost of that vehicle by the 10-year increments, [00:08:57] and that's how you get your R&R. [00:08:59] So the Ford F-550, the top item, [00:09:02] you're basically just stocking away five grand each year towards its replacement? [00:09:08] Yes, sir. Correct. [00:09:09] And although it might look like you have an inflated budget, [00:09:12] you've been saving that money in basically a savings account to be able to pay cash for it. [00:09:18] While you're on that topic, I believe during my day we eliminated some of the R&R. [00:09:24] Can you explain to me, is it because you've stopped tracking your cash flow over the term? [00:09:31] Because really you could have just easily identified the year of purchase and cash flow yourself out. [00:09:38] The R&R, you've brought it back because you like it? [00:09:44] I think it's an effective financing tool [00:09:47] and helps us plan for capital improvements to the fleet. [00:09:53] Yeah. Is it used in every case? [00:09:55] I mean, if there's projects in the capital improvement funds that are out, [00:09:58] I guess anything that you replace in public works you want to R&R. [00:10:04] Exactly. [00:10:05] How did that conversion back to R&R go? [00:10:07] Was that, I mean, because there was a point you didn't have R&R. [00:10:12] Correct. [00:10:13] And what we ended up doing was we took an inventory of our existing fleet [00:10:19] and took the age into account and then applied that methodology, [00:10:23] and so that came up with each annual amount. [00:10:26] In other words, if we had five years left on a vehicle instead of $10,000 a year, [00:10:33] it became $20,000 to be able to catch up and be able to replace that vehicle on schedule. [00:10:39] Now, we did not start the R&R back up in the general fund for obvious reasons, [00:10:44] but the revenue, the utilities and things like that that we were able to, we went back to. [00:10:50] That kind of answered my question. [00:10:51] I think in the general fund was the area that we had stresses, [00:10:55] and that was the area where it was important for us to track how much money was coming [00:10:58] and when and what you would buy. [00:11:00] The other thing about an R&R is it comes back to the board and says, [00:11:03] oh, we've got that money, we've saved it, that's what it's for, and we're going to use it. [00:11:06] Maybe it's a good management tool, [00:11:09] but it doesn't get as much reflection for justification [00:11:13] when you come and tell us that you've been saving money for it, which is fine. [00:11:18] How long do things last now? [00:11:20] Cars, for example, are now being financed over seven years instead of five. [00:11:25] In theory, they're lasting longer. [00:11:26] I know there was a period when the cars were made out of real metal, [00:11:30] and everybody said cars aren't worth what they used to be. [00:11:32] Now I'm not sure if it's changed. [00:11:34] The tune has changed. [00:11:36] Those amortization periods are a whole other game. [00:11:41] Anyway, thank you for the answer. [00:11:42] That satisfies me. [00:11:51] The next division is the water production. [00:11:54] This is the water treatment plant. [00:11:56] This is a revenue division. [00:11:59] The only increase that we had, which was minimal, actually, [00:12:04] was the account 4331, the trash removal. [00:12:08] This was directly due to the solid waste assessment fee increase. [00:12:15] We did have some... [00:12:16] What's the number again? [00:12:18] Excuse me? [00:12:19] What was the number again? [00:12:20] 4331. [00:12:27] Oh, I'm sorry. [00:12:28] 54331. [00:12:29] Okay, okay, okay. [00:12:30] He's dropping the first digit on us. [00:12:35] Is there a page number to what we're looking at that you can reference as well? [00:12:38] Page 9. [00:12:39] Because I've got an extra set if that's helpful. [00:12:43] Oh, you don't yet. [00:12:44] Page 9. [00:12:51] I'm sorry. [00:12:52] May we go back to page 8? [00:12:54] The capital? [00:12:59] Okay. [00:13:05] The... [00:13:09] You've always had this miscellaneous flood control projects. [00:13:13] Part of that was going to be Beach Street, [00:13:15] and I know that we had talked the other day about trying to... [00:13:21] We were trying to get a grant. [00:13:22] We didn't or something. [00:13:23] You had indicated there was an issue with Beach Street. [00:13:29] You identify that. [00:13:31] Is that identification for the 1920 year, [00:13:34] or is that just telling you what you're next in line of miscellaneous flood control? [00:13:39] Or that is the Beach Street. [00:13:42] You're not putting 350 a year. [00:13:44] Is that like an R&R? [00:13:45] You're just trying to set... [00:13:46] I'm not sure what that is. [00:13:49] The... [00:13:50] And stormwater is a little bit different bird, [00:13:52] so we do have a lot of reactive projects that get identified. [00:13:57] And so that 300, or in this case it's 340 this year, [00:14:03] directly addresses that. [00:14:04] We do have some miscellaneous projects. [00:14:06] An example would be the Grand Boulevard culvert. [00:14:10] That was a project that was identified through numerous complaints and flooding occurrences. [00:14:17] And so that's where a lot of that money goes to and is considered miscellaneous. [00:14:21] We have had incidents where we have to go in and take and clean out [00:14:25] what we would call a large ditch or a system of canals and swells. [00:14:31] That is where that money would come from. [00:14:34] It's those types of projects that are more than $25,000. [00:14:39] In addition to that, though, [00:14:40] it sounds like Councilman Altman is asking about the Beach Street stormwater project, [00:14:46] which we would be in the planning stage for during the 19-20 fiscal year [00:14:52] and then implementing over a two-year period of time. [00:14:55] Correct. [00:14:56] $300,000 in 84 to engineer it. [00:14:58] Correct, but it wouldn't be part of that miscellaneous... [00:15:00] it'd be a separate amount. Okay, yeah I just I didn't read the line right. I see [00:15:06] that the Beach Street is separately stated at 84. I looked across and see [00:15:11] that. I would like again though to bring up the capitals item just as we're [00:15:18] getting started to suggest that in particularly with redevelopment if we [00:15:24] talk about taking large portions of the city and restructuring them or maybe [00:15:28] looking at a downtown drainage or issue those kind of projects would you know in [00:15:35] theory be in order to further development and might be CRA type [00:15:43] projects. Everything in this project is being funded by your stormwater fund. [00:15:51] Yes sir. So this is a capital improvement plan for the stormwater fund. [00:16:00] Correct. So it might be possible if there is a project that's identified as a [00:16:07] redevelopment project let's just say for example stormwater you can get some [00:16:11] swift mud funds and you might even be able to get have to have some financing [00:16:15] to do something innovative. Would you reflect that some of those funds would [00:16:23] be like potentially a transfer to the redevelopment division for that job? I've [00:16:34] just been sort of warned by some folks that are looking at CRA use of funds [00:16:39] that having a capital improvement plan is potentially a necessity for that but [00:16:45] some of what the CRA may do could utilize some of these other revenue [00:16:48] sources be determined you know as a as a contribution with the CRA paying the [00:16:54] rest so that's I think I've already kind of warned my colleagues that's where [00:16:58] kind of I'm trying to watch this budget process. No complaint just comment [00:17:05] that you know when we get to the CRA you recall we had this matrix of this [00:17:11] fund that fund and that fund with with all of these capital projects and how [00:17:16] much might be carried over in each fund and what we were planning to do in a [00:17:20] future year unlike renewal and replacement when you're planning for [00:17:23] something and you're putting money aside and say okay I've got that money then we [00:17:28] have money that comes in that we haven't used that we're holding off to use like [00:17:31] our penny for Pasco money and these other funds where we collect and and [00:17:38] you're not using it so I think I can understand however you present it I [00:17:44] think I can follow it but it's all good. I think to add to what you're trying to [00:17:52] say I think that we for a lot of projects we pretty much already do that [00:17:57] and it's a standard if you have a project regardless of what the main [00:18:02] funding source is if there's a stormwater element included in that [00:18:07] project then we pull out that that cost of that element and and see if stormwater [00:18:14] utility dollars can can fund that that element of the project. Okay thank you. [00:18:30] So on page 9 the water production division as I had stated the trash [00:18:35] removal had an increase and then of course in our capital purchases if you [00:18:42] will look over on page 11 we had some miscellaneous purchases office furniture [00:18:53] chairs and flooring landscaping and sign for the water plant and this is all [00:18:59] under account 43 699 fence for the elevated tank that's over there by the [00:19:06] high school impellers and packing for transfer pumps as well as rescreening of [00:19:13] the aerators so out of the total 81,000 51,000 would go to those purchases and [00:19:23] 30,000 would go to the R&R accounts. Are the repairs for the sewer plant pipes [00:19:30] buried in this somewhere? Over in the wastewater treatment plant and you put [00:19:36] around the water tower chain link that chain link the nice we're gonna do a [00:19:39] black aluminum fencing yes. In addition to the improvements to the buildings and [00:19:48] grounds we also had special-purpose equipment fluoride storage tank and [00:19:53] pumping and then a couple of the metering pump replacements. [00:20:09] Go over to page 13 facilities maintenance division. [00:20:18] We had an increase in line item 43 454 that's the contractual HVAC and air I [00:20:32] think what you're seeing is is I would like to think that within the next [00:20:36] couple years that number should start going down right now a large portion of [00:20:40] it goes to our HVAC contract maintenance but we've had several failures of old [00:20:48] systems an example would be over at the library currently and so those have [00:20:53] taken the remaining funds that we've had in there for for unexpected items I [00:20:59] believe that as we move along and we we start replacing some of these units like [00:21:06] we've done in the rec center the library soon to come as well as some of our [00:21:12] other facilities at that dollar amount should come down. We just have one unit [00:21:17] in the library yes sir I just wonder if we're replacing it that would would be [00:21:25] entertaining the idea of putting two units it's a smaller level and then one [00:21:29] goes down we still have the other one we did that with the rec center and we [00:21:34] ended up splitting that up so we had a redundancy right now what we're doing [00:21:39] with this unit is not looking at redundancy I'm looking instead of I'm [00:21:43] going to use 10 ton unit you have two five ton units so if one goes down then [00:21:47] the other one still well that's what I mean by redundancy so you always have [00:21:51] something working oh okay I thought you meant like redundancy meaning backup no [00:21:55] oh yeah they working currently but you'll never be without one okay that's [00:21:59] okay we're on the same page right so is that what we're doing the library right [00:22:03] as when we start talking about the capital improvement program with the [00:22:07] different projects that we have included in there the first phase includes some [00:22:12] HVAC work right now the consultant is taking a look at the different options [00:22:17] that we have available so we're going to be looking at the different conceptual [00:22:21] ideas that they'll have we haven't gotten anything concrete but yeah [00:22:26] that'll be the main thing that we'll be looking at is always being able to have [00:22:30] a redundancy from this point on we went through that personally with with our [00:22:35] house when we lost one of the two upstairs a air handlers the other one [00:22:40] was able to keep things at least habitable if not comfortable I've done [00:22:46] that before too but I saw the stuff out for the library that didn't look like [00:22:49] two units there that's why I asked that [00:22:52] the next line item that we had increased was 43 499 as contractual services and [00:23:05] it was one of the line items that last year we had put in 60,000 and it got cut [00:23:10] and we went ahead and put 60 back in and it would appear that as far as where [00:23:16] we're at with our balance that 60 seems to be that magical number we had an [00:23:25] increase in 45 251 which is janitorial supplies you'll notice that over in the [00:23:37] actual of 1718 we're more in line with that that figure and then there were no [00:23:49] purchases proposed in the capital portion [00:23:58] are you spending less this year or are you just gonna end up finding just that [00:24:05] number we're not going to be spending less people on any of the divisions I [00:24:09] don't believe so because if you look at the personnel services that's gonna if [00:24:13] you look at the budget as a whole you're gonna have an increase you can't get out [00:24:17] of that I mean your estimate in 1819 was 17,000 if I'm looking at page 13 you [00:24:23] say we are going back to the 18 figure I'm asking are we going to be adjusting [00:24:31] that because you've determined it's not enough yes sir we're gonna be adjusting [00:24:35] it to the 24 and that's our recommendation and the figure in 1819 [00:24:43] will act the actual will end up being higher than what it's stated here in the [00:24:48] document but you'll end up amending the budget so you may not have to thank you [00:25:01] so page 14 as the division 107 water and reclaimed water distribution this [00:25:16] is part of the revenue fund we are requesting the addition of two utility [00:25:22] mechanics or one crew these guys don't go out one single crew there's always a [00:25:28] pair of them for the because of the type of work they do the request that we're [00:25:34] making was part of our utility sufficiency analysis it was also brought [00:25:41] up on several occasions when we did the purchasing of the four additional [00:25:46] utilities that we were looking at adding to utility water mechanics as well as [00:25:54] to sewer mechanics and the increases that are in this division are purely [00:26:07] related to those additional personnel as well as page 16 where we have the [00:26:14] capital purchases that would include a service truck with a liftgate [00:26:44] so our next division is division 109 this is construction services this is [00:26:55] also part of the utility revenue we have no increases in this division except for [00:27:03] the request of an additional project manager and the truck that it would cost [00:27:09] to equipment to equip Tim as well as some of the miscellaneous items [00:27:15] currently each one of the project managers is assigned right now workload [00:27:21] of eight capital projects that's huge the way we've looked at this and the [00:27:30] next coming years we've already assigned all of them eight projects as well if we [00:27:36] were to to get this position approved an additional eight projects for that [00:27:41] proposed position this does not include the review of private projects it [00:27:48] doesn't include a right-of-way use permits it doesn't include projects that [00:27:52] we have with other utilities such as Verizon Duke Energy FDOT those types of [00:27:59] projects that were required to be on on those sites as well and so we also have [00:28:10] the laptop computer Cynthia are the guys gonna go shirtless this year I thought [00:28:18] we added that in there well you've got no you've got clothing apparel with [00:28:22] from a thousand to five hundred so I just was curious [00:28:45] it's kind of just you know we get look at the numbers and I want to smile what [00:28:50] a call I want to smile once in a while when we're doing these numbers [00:28:57] you [00:28:59] age 19 grounds maintenance have currently we have one section leader one [00:29:27] equipment operator or two one equipment operator one and five full-time [00:29:33] maintenance workers and two part-time maintenance workers that's seven [00:29:42] employees that take care of nine parks sunup to sundown right now that's [00:29:51] between seven and nine seven days a week that includes all of them [00:30:00] So what we're finding out, obviously, [00:30:04] is that to keep up the standards that we have in Sims Park [00:30:08] and to build more amenities, like the boardwalks [00:30:11] and those types of things, [00:30:13] that we're devoting so much time to Sims Park [00:30:17] that the other A parks that we have, [00:30:20] we really don't have, say, a crew that can go out [00:30:25] and start making some repairs to shelters, [00:30:27] to replenish trails, like the Great Preserve, [00:30:32] those types of items that require a crew [00:30:35] and people that can operate equipment and devote that time [00:30:39] while we still have those people taking care [00:30:42] of cleaning restrooms, emptying trash cans, [00:30:45] those day-to-day activities that we have [00:30:47] that's required from this division. [00:30:50] We've had the two part-time positions [00:30:52] that we haven't been able to fill all year long. [00:30:54] Obviously, the economy kind of dictates that [00:30:57] with this type of work. [00:31:00] And so for this division, we're requesting [00:31:02] that we make those two part-time positions full-time [00:31:06] and that, again, we always pair these guys up [00:31:09] for the type of work they do. [00:31:11] We have an odd man, and so we're requesting [00:31:14] that we have an additional maintenance worker, too. [00:31:18] That guy can be the senior guy, so to speak, [00:31:21] to where they can go out and they can start getting [00:31:23] some of these jobs done that are requiring a crew to do. [00:31:28] Not just jobs, just having a presence, a city presence [00:31:30] in some of these smaller parks, because if not, [00:31:33] some of the undesirables just take over, [00:31:36] like the one, Caddo Corner, what's the small park, [00:31:38] Caddo Corner to Schwedman? [00:31:41] Grand Boulevard. [00:31:42] Grand Boulevard, I mean, I can tell you, [00:31:45] it's over 50% of the time I drive by there, [00:31:47] there's a vagrant sleeping on a picnic table. [00:31:50] So if we get some presence in there from the city. [00:31:51] That's an example. [00:31:52] We need to do some work to the playground, [00:31:55] we need to do some work to the pond. [00:31:55] Just having a presence there as well, [00:31:57] I think, goes a long way. [00:31:58] Right. [00:32:00] That construction services and this one, [00:32:02] grounds maintenance, both of them have trucks and trailers [00:32:05] with this increased employees that need a truck [00:32:08] for the employees, is that what's going on there? [00:32:10] Yes, sir. [00:32:11] Okay. [00:32:15] And the only additional thing that we're requesting [00:32:19] as far as capital equipment is a replacement [00:32:22] of the utility cart that the current parks department uses, [00:32:26] or division uses. [00:32:27] The current one is a 1998, [00:32:29] and is pretty much seeing its better days. [00:32:32] The golf cart with the flatbed? [00:32:33] That's the one with the flatbed, [00:32:34] that they can throw the trash in the back, [00:32:36] and things like that. [00:32:49] Do we have the same connections that Kim has [00:32:54] with some kind of state group to buy the vehicles? [00:32:58] We do. [00:32:58] Okay. [00:33:01] I just know it in my mind from the police, [00:33:04] but I didn't know if we had it through the rest. [00:33:07] I'd say three quarters of our vehicles [00:33:08] are bought off the sheriff's contract. [00:33:12] The lawn maintenance, is that reflective [00:33:14] of the new budget, the new approved contract? [00:33:18] And I see it's up to 125 in grounds maintenance. [00:33:21] Yes, sir. [00:33:23] It's included. [00:33:25] Councilman Davis, you might want to pull it up [00:33:28] on the sheriff's contract up on the website sometime. [00:33:34] The prices that they're quoting on for vehicles, [00:33:37] they're just amazingly low. [00:33:39] So it's some good deals. [00:33:41] And that includes golf carts as well? [00:33:44] I don't know. [00:33:45] I don't know that they have any golf carts. [00:33:46] We're trying to budget for a city council [00:33:48] golf cart for each of us. [00:33:50] Yeah. [00:33:51] See, he wants to smile once in a while, too. [00:33:59] I had a hi-hat like five years ago for a new president. [00:34:04] And then we'd fight over it. [00:34:06] Five was fight over one, right? [00:34:10] This is page 21. [00:34:12] This is the reclaimed water production. [00:34:14] This is one of the divisions that the cost of it [00:34:19] is also shared by Pasco County. [00:34:28] Look over in the line item 43-43-8, lab testing. [00:34:33] You'll notice that that was cut in half, reduced. [00:34:36] That's part of our operating permit. [00:34:39] The first phase of it for the previous year [00:34:43] of 125,000 was the majority of the sampling of the air, [00:34:48] the surface water surrounding the plant. [00:34:51] The following year, which will be coming up, [00:34:55] the testing that we do, the sampling that we do, [00:34:57] won't be as expensive. [00:35:08] Page 22, we have the capital equipment program. [00:35:14] Under 46-299, we're calling out to paint two reclaimed tanks. [00:35:22] Those are similar to the tanks that you saw [00:35:25] out there on the main site. [00:35:27] If you go across the bayou, we have the reclaimed tanks [00:35:30] that hold that water. [00:35:32] They're about the same size. [00:35:34] So we'll be getting those painted next year. [00:35:37] And then the following year, [00:35:41] we will start painting those reject tanks [00:35:43] that several of the council members saw [00:35:45] when you were out at the site. [00:35:50] And this division has also requested a utility vehicle. [00:35:57] It's also a replacement vehicle. [00:35:59] It's not new. [00:36:02] They don't have one out there now. [00:36:03] They're taking those bikes and stuff and going all around [00:36:07] where they have to take a pickup truck [00:36:08] and go wherever they're. [00:36:12] Page 23 is the water pollution control, division 112. [00:36:24] This is the other division that Pasco County shares [00:36:27] in funding. [00:36:29] The only thing that I will say in here that that's changed [00:36:42] is you'll notice that there are some additional counts [00:36:46] such as 43-497, 43-316, and so forth. [00:36:53] Those will also be followed up with Orangewood. [00:36:56] That's directly related to the purchases of the, [00:36:59] or the purchase of the Orangewood Lake system. [00:37:03] And all of that should be temporary [00:37:05] until we can get everything converted over, [00:37:08] which hopefully will be completed next year. [00:37:12] And so having these separate line items [00:37:14] are directly related to Pasco County [00:37:17] partially funding this account. [00:37:19] We wanted to keep those line items separate [00:37:22] so that we can have an accounting of them. [00:37:26] Page 25 of the capital purchases. [00:37:47] You'll see under 46-399 that we called out [00:37:53] for the replacement of these two scum pumps [00:37:59] and then one lift station pump. [00:38:03] And we did include money for this year [00:38:05] to paint the aeration tanks. [00:38:10] Didn't come up with a better name for that, so. [00:38:13] No, you can't get around that. [00:38:15] That's talking about two council members. [00:38:19] To remain unnamed. [00:38:23] Okay. [00:38:26] Question? [00:38:27] Yes. [00:38:29] As I'm looking at this new document on my desk, [00:38:31] thank you, the financial statements from 2018. [00:38:36] And we look at the statement of cash flows [00:38:38] for water and sewer. [00:38:39] We have a figure of something called restricted cash, [00:38:45] and that's the impact fees. [00:38:47] And my recollection is that we, [00:38:53] maybe missed opportunities to use impact fee funds [00:38:57] in order to fund some of the capital improvements. [00:39:00] You don't have a whole lot of numbers on this. [00:39:02] It's only 300,000 here. [00:39:03] But as you do some of your water main [00:39:07] and sewer main replacements, [00:39:10] I'd be interested if you could inform me [00:39:13] what qualifies for the use of those impact fees [00:39:17] and making sure that we try to use them. [00:39:20] Obviously, when you do the bond covenant calculations, [00:39:26] you're allowed to use your cash and your available cash, [00:39:31] but leaving funds and impact fees and not investing it [00:39:36] shows up on the financial statement [00:39:37] as restricted and not available. [00:39:40] So my feelings are that you keep as much available funds [00:39:46] for whatever you want to spend it on [00:39:47] and use these impact fees as much as you can. [00:39:50] If you have another philosophy, I'm happy to hear it. [00:39:52] It might be you're saving it for some particular thing, [00:39:55] but I'd be curious to see your plans [00:39:59] for the investments of the impact fees at your home. [00:40:03] And just to throw the number, [00:40:04] that's $3.4 million that's in that fund. [00:40:07] That's a pretty good penny for doing some [00:40:12] water and sewer improvements. [00:40:16] What could qualify for the use of those funds? [00:40:26] H-26, Division 113, sewer collections. [00:40:32] This one was the other half of the utility purchases [00:40:36] where we had requested the two utility mechanics. [00:40:40] Other than that, this division stayed the same. [00:40:45] We had capital purchases [00:40:52] for the service truck that we had talked about [00:40:55] in a compact excavator. [00:41:00] It's a replacement. [00:41:03] And then finally in account 46-417, [00:41:08] we have this gate of communication systems upgrades [00:41:11] and we are expecting that this coming year [00:41:15] we will be able to close out all of the SCADA [00:41:19] capital projects that you've seen [00:41:21] in all of our utility divisions. [00:41:24] And so that'll take us probably into the next [00:41:29] four or five decades as far as being our [00:41:32] communication system for both water and sewer. [00:41:42] H-29 is Division 591, it's the central garage. [00:41:50] Not a lot of changes in this division. [00:41:52] If you look down though on the account 43-43-8, [00:41:57] you will see a line item called paint and body work PD. [00:42:04] We felt like it was a really good idea [00:42:06] to be able to quantify this number, [00:42:10] have a separate line item specifically [00:42:13] for insurance purposes and reimbursements of that nature. [00:42:17] In the past, all of the fleet has been lumped together [00:42:21] and anytime we've tried to get any insurance money back [00:42:25] or any of the reimbursements that might be due our way [00:42:29] because of those damages, it's been time consuming. [00:42:33] So we figured if we separated it, [00:42:35] gave it its own line account, [00:42:37] we'd be able to extrapolate that information more easily. [00:42:41] We had an increase over in the line item 45-225 [00:42:48] under software license support. [00:42:51] That is our new scanning system. [00:42:53] Basically the technicians can go in [00:42:56] and plug in to the vehicle's computer [00:43:00] and help with the diagnostics of what they need to do. [00:43:04] And the line item 45-234 is directly related to that. [00:43:09] That's the purchase of the laptop. [00:43:23] And the only thing that we had in capital purchases [00:43:26] on page 31 for this division [00:43:29] is under special purpose equipment 46-43-1. [00:43:34] And that is a gas powered Kawasaki mule vehicle. [00:43:38] Basically it's a hardworking, small golf cart type of thing [00:43:45] that moves all the vehicles and everything around. [00:43:49] And so the guys don't have to use those hand jacks anymore [00:43:52] and start moving cars and things of that around. [00:43:56] And so that's the purpose of that. [00:43:58] It basically just tows them from place to place. [00:44:01] Around the yard. [00:44:03] And that concludes my report. [00:44:07] Available for any questions. [00:44:08] That thing you just brought up to us [00:44:10] about the paint and body PD. [00:44:12] You said you put its own line item in [00:44:14] because you're dealing with it before. [00:44:16] Where was it before? [00:44:18] Or wasn't it before? [00:44:19] It was in 43-436 in paint and body work. [00:44:24] Oh no it wasn't. [00:44:27] We had it in that account. [00:44:28] Oh okay. [00:44:29] Everything in there. [00:44:30] You had it where? [00:44:31] We had it in two line items above that. [00:44:34] At 43-436. [00:44:36] It's been separate for a couple of years now. [00:44:40] I don't see where, looking back at other years, [00:44:42] I just don't see the money there. [00:44:44] That's why I'm asking. [00:44:44] It's actually been separate for a couple of years. [00:44:46] That's why you don't see it. [00:44:50] Oh okay. [00:44:52] So it was five grand last year, it wasn't? [00:44:54] It was not enough. [00:44:55] We're identifying that we need to increase that amount. [00:44:57] All right then. [00:44:58] That makes sense. [00:45:00] I just have a question yeah one question back on page 24 like you just did it for [00:45:11] the water pollution control you may have mentioned it but the budget amount it [00:45:18] went from like twenty eight five to three three hundred thousand and three [00:45:23] improvements other than building miscellaneous is that just for four six [00:45:28] three nine nine page 24 it's itemized on page 25 the aeration tanks are the big [00:45:38] part of them old plated paint they're using on that no they're big tanks okay [00:45:47] a lot of that was part of that okay where did the where did the pipe [00:45:51] replacements how did the sewer plant hit pipe replacements are gonna be pulled [00:45:56] out of an account that's that right now and you'll see it in our you'll see it [00:46:03] in the capital improvement program where we have those miscellaneous accounts [00:46:08] that we we specifically budget money for those types of unexpected things and [00:46:15] our current budget okay so that'll be in the next or that's in this year's [00:46:21] current budget okay correct so it doesn't hit next year's right anything [00:46:30] else Robert thank you very much Thank You Robert [00:46:35] I think it's fire department and we have two divisions and firefighting [00:47:05] you hit him up a little bit your fire extinguisher good evening everybody I'll [00:47:24] go over the fire to the fire departments is divided into two divisions the first [00:47:30] division being 071 fire supervision which is on page 32 and that page was [00:47:38] replaced in your packet so it does not have a page number but it's just next in [00:47:42] line so fire supervision consists of a full-time fire chief assistant fire [00:47:51] chief slash fire marshal full-time administrative assistant and a [00:47:58] part-time residential rental inspection coordinator start out with personnel [00:48:05] services there's no change to any of the positions that I just stated as we as we [00:48:15] scroll down the line items the biggest jump that you'll see is workers [00:48:20] compensation insurance for firefighters which so and there's really no other [00:48:29] changes other than some small upticks and employee benefits for a total of two [00:48:34] hundred ninety three thousand six hundred and ten the firefighter pension [00:48:40] fund is that a missing number no we actually don't have a contribution this [00:48:47] year so personnel services and I'll just highlight I'll just mention some of [00:49:00] the changes here we go down some of the city utilities went up quite a bit so [00:49:08] electric went up 2,000 a water and sewer went up from 3,300 to 7,000 your [00:49:18] operating supply give us numbers if you're jumping you're gonna help us jump [00:49:29] water and sewer is 44 351 [00:49:38] scroll down to computer operating supply which is 45 to 43 and that's that's [00:49:46] increased to 7,000 to replace the computers in fire administration which [00:49:52] are outdated and will no longer work the reporting the system as well as Knox box [00:50:02] key secure systems in our fire trucks [00:50:08] this is in operating for 071 for a total of eighty two thousand one hundred and [00:50:13] thirty capital requests for this division [00:50:21] next page is firefighting division 073 which consists of 21 full-time [00:50:27] firefighters of those 21 are three our district chiefs and three our captains [00:50:32] there's no changes in the staffing levels for this division the largest [00:50:41] change that you'll see and personnel services is 41 for one one overtime [00:50:47] wages we increase that by $20,000 in an effort to increase our minimum manning [00:50:55] our daily minimum manning from five to six this will allow us to never fall to [00:51:06] a level of five on a day which would only have two firefighters on the truck [00:51:12] safe level to operate and send anybody in a building and that typically happens [00:51:18] in our current experience about 30 days out of the year that's why that's why I [00:51:24] asked for it a couple years ago not safe for the community on the rental [00:51:33] inspection program residential rental so this program came into the fire [00:51:41] department we we you know it was it was a estimate on where we started that [00:51:48] now it's scaled down to about six off-duty firefighters that do [00:51:55] residential rental inspections and we're right at the $30,000 a year maybe a [00:52:01] little bit under so we're actually up to date in our inspections for the previous [00:52:08] years we were behind in doing more inspections which is one of the reasons [00:52:13] we could roll back the the overtime payment for that program this year and [00:52:21] also I'd like to point out I think it's significant to point out that the [00:52:24] $20,000 increase in the overtime wages for four one four one one were due to [00:52:29] decreases that we made in other accounts to make up that difference so that's not [00:52:34] an extra added burden to the city go down you'll see a little bit there a [00:52:45] little less on the paramedic incentive pay 41 525 we lost a firefighter to [00:52:50] another city it was a paramedic so you'll see the a little bit of a [00:52:55] reduction in the paramedic incentive pay as well as the inspector incentive pay [00:52:59] and the use our incentive pay due to that loss again pension fund you lose [00:53:08] something like that aren't you going to replace that or replace at a lower rate [00:53:12] we will but it will take at least two years for the new hire to become a [00:53:17] paramedic oh okay okay the career ladder to be an inspector you need to do more [00:53:24] fundamental certifications we will budget for that in the future pension [00:53:33] fund for its 42 to 13 cities not contributing to that this year workers [00:53:41] comp again went up seven that has to do with the contract negotiations and the [00:53:47] sharing of the state revenue on the 42 423 workers comp again went up almost [00:53:57] 86% so when I calculated large part you'll see in both police and fire an [00:54:03] increase and it relates to how post-traumatic stress syndromes being [00:54:06] considered little personnel 1 million eight hundred thirty eight thousand [00:54:13] four hundred eighty down to operations travel and training we increased by [00:54:20] five hundred dollars we always we always use all that money every year we we push [00:54:28] our firefighters to continue educating themselves and as you know we're all [00:54:32] certification based so we have to continue with CEU hours and get classes [00:54:38] and certifications to keep our levels up [00:54:42] closest for residential rental inspection we increased from 2,800 to [00:54:48] 3,500 that's an estimate we're starting to use a civil citation process in the [00:54:53] residential rental program for habitual violators or you know rental property [00:55:00] owners that totally ignore our violations but I would like to point out [00:55:07] that we're a compliance based program we have a very high compliance rate but as [00:55:12] you know there's always a few that we that don't comply and the civil [00:55:17] citation process seems to be working well for us so they're anticipating some [00:55:22] extra postage with that [00:55:27] scroll down there's small tools and implements 45 141 we decreased three [00:55:40] thousand dollars that was to make up for the increase in overtime clothing and [00:55:46] wearing apparel we decreased twelve thousand five hundred again that was to [00:55:50] make up for some of the overtime computer operating supply we were [00:55:58] notified from IT that we needed to replace the computer or two computers in [00:56:03] each fire station so there was an increase in there in that line item [00:56:07] first aid supplies 45 to 47 was decreased a little bit fifteen hundred [00:56:15] dollars again that was for that overtime wage automotive parts was [00:56:22] decreased 3,000 and operating supplies by 2,000 for a total operating line of [00:56:34] two hundred and seven thousand six hundred and seventy and then capital we [00:56:41] have a total of two hundred and thirty one thousand five hundred and thirty and [00:56:44] that's in code 46 431 we've got three capital requests the first one is it's [00:56:56] been in there the SCBA equipment as you know we've applied for an assistance to [00:57:01] firefighter grant every year we have not gotten the grant over the years we're [00:57:05] hopeful this year as our airpacks get over that we will receive the grant but [00:57:12] if not we we have that in there as budgeted that's the the breathing [00:57:16] apparatus they correct where when they go into a fire [00:57:21] Zola defibrillators which council approved [00:57:28] well for the agreement to purchase for defibrillators is in there $32,000 a [00:57:35] year up to the year 21 22 auto extrication equipment for $20,000 is in [00:57:43] there there is a grant option that we are going to seek once we hear a back [00:57:50] from the initial grant on the SCBA so there's a possibility that we could have [00:57:56] that covered as well total for the again for the capital is two hundred [00:58:01] thirty one thousand five hundred and thirty absent the grant the auto [00:58:05] extrication equipment will be needed to equip the new ladder truck [00:58:13] correct questions anyone chief thank you very much move on to parks and [00:58:25] recreation Adeline and Chris I'm just going to give you the overview of each [00:58:54] operation where there was increases or decreases and if you have any specific [00:58:58] line item questions I'll be glad to address those in recreation there's no [00:59:03] page numbers on that one in recreation we had no new personnel the increases [00:59:09] under personnel had to do with FRS increases as well as our marketing [00:59:13] position increasing from 20 to 29 hours per week operating we had an overall [00:59:19] decrease of twenty three thousand or twenty three hundred and fifty seven [00:59:23] dollars let me ask about the marketing position currently the marketing [00:59:32] position is spread between two funding sources and it's half CRA and half [00:59:44] general fund in the recreation department my recommendation is that [00:59:50] position become part-time and so it would the position would then be working [00:59:55] between 20 and 29 hours a week and it would be completely out of [01:00:00] the general fund and not out of the CRA budget. [01:00:04] Parks and Recreation only. [01:00:11] And then moving on to capital, Interior Basketball Court complete re-sand down and stripe that [01:00:21] has to do with maintaining the floor warranty. [01:00:25] Sound system, we wanted to enhance when we have speaker presentations and so forth back [01:00:30] in that room, so that's what that's for. [01:00:34] The gym sports lighting replacement, the current system we have is 13 years old, can no longer [01:00:39] get replacement parts and we have approximately one third of the lights that are currently [01:00:44] not functional in that gymnasium right now. [01:00:48] The vehicle that we currently have, we've been asked from the fleet maintenance supervisor [01:00:54] to put it in for replacement. [01:00:56] It is 18 years old, over 130,000 miles. [01:01:01] We are requesting some type of just a simple box or panel type van to be able to haul equipment [01:01:09] that would be weather protected. [01:01:12] And then the last capital item for recreation has to do with, we purchased the equipment [01:01:19] tables, chairs, trash cans, I'm sorry, tables, trash cans, and benches for the various parks [01:01:25] and that's what that item is. [01:01:29] I just want to say that I'd like to see us get on that lighting because there's a lot [01:01:36] of discussion on soccer fields about liability when it's one of the first things that will [01:01:41] come up is what was the reason, well we got whatever the percentage of lights that are [01:01:46] gone. [01:01:47] Absolutely, thank you. [01:01:49] Can I ask a question, it's kind of aside from budget while you're here with Parks and Rec. [01:01:52] So how, the gymnasiums, they're inside, how late are they open on the week, during the [01:01:58] week? [01:01:59] Until 8 p.m. [01:02:00] Only until 8? [01:02:01] Yes. [01:02:02] And then sometimes we do have, because the gym is so busy with programming, we will do [01:02:06] leagues that run later than that. [01:02:08] That's what I was asking. [01:02:11] The soccer club for Premier is growing and we're just talking about, there's a new coach [01:02:18] that's come in, he's Brazilian, and he's the futsal director, we actually have a futsal [01:02:22] trophy in the lobby of City Hall from Cavaliers-Sumer. [01:02:27] They are currently looking to see, to implement a futsal program with the club, and they would [01:02:32] need gymnasium space to do so. [01:02:34] That'd be great. [01:02:35] But do we, I mean we can talk about on, not during budget in greater detail, but is there [01:02:40] availability you think during the week right now for a program like that? [01:02:43] I'm sure that we could, I don't know that we could do it year round, but we could work [01:02:47] out seasonally. [01:02:48] It would be during the soccer season, so not the summer months, it would just be, I don't [01:02:52] know, September through May. [01:02:53] I'm sure we could work that out. [01:02:54] We currently have a soccer program, indoor soccer, that's in mornings. [01:02:59] Right. [01:03:00] That comes in for a little bit. [01:03:01] Now this would be like a technical director running futsal trainings with our members. [01:03:05] Absolutely, we could do that. [01:03:08] Okay. [01:03:09] If there's no other questions on recreation, I'll move to aquatics. [01:03:14] The recreation, I guess I'm not looking far enough, the park improvements, is that somewhere [01:03:21] else too? [01:03:22] Like? [01:03:23] Capital? [01:03:24] Yeah. [01:03:25] Yes, I just went through, there are, that's on our third page, I'm sorry our pages don't [01:03:30] have numbers, but that's on our third page that gives a breakout of the capital projects, [01:03:37] and that was the gym floor sand down for a warranty. [01:03:41] In response to the question, Councilman Altman, the capital improvement projects for the specific [01:03:48] parks are in the capital budget, not here. [01:03:51] Right. [01:03:52] Yeah. [01:03:53] And that's a different night. [01:03:54] Right. [01:03:55] Okay. [01:03:56] But the, but, well, and I guess as I'm segwaying ahead to the aquatics, but I see that bollards [01:04:01] on Cody River are listed in that category, and I'm wondering if that's an aquatic, if [01:04:08] that's maybe not? [01:04:11] Yes, and that's for a future budget, and that is an item probably that we really should [01:04:17] move to. [01:04:18] I don't know why that's listed. [01:04:19] I think it just got left behind. [01:04:21] Or the senior center roof either, really. [01:04:23] Yeah, I started seeing the park improvements there, and it's like we've got a lot more [01:04:26] than that. [01:04:27] We have the same questions, actually. [01:04:28] No problem. [01:04:29] Let's see, we'll have a rise, it's going to be a lot higher than we think. [01:04:33] Is this true? [01:04:35] By the finish line up, maybe. [01:04:38] Okay, then in aquatics, no new personnel, and you see there's a little bit of a change [01:04:45] between part-time wages and temporary wages, and it's pretty much a wash, and really what [01:04:50] it equates to is putting staff in the proper category where they should be paid based on [01:04:56] the number of months they work. [01:04:58] So it's 11,000 increase and a 10,000 decrease, so it's, like I said, pretty much a wash. [01:05:06] That budget did have an overall increase of $7,590. [01:05:11] That had to do with the age of the facility. [01:05:13] We felt that we need a little bit additional funding for maintenance and repairs on buildings [01:05:19] and grounds. [01:05:20] $1,000 was moved from the recreation budget to aquatics to purchase swim diapers and so [01:05:26] forth that are currently being purchased in the recreation budget, and then IT has requested [01:05:32] that we budget to replace a computer. [01:05:36] And then moving on to capital, the pool deck lighting, same as the interior lighting, 13-year-old [01:05:43] system. [01:05:44] We are interested in upgrading to LED lights, especially on the pool deck. [01:05:50] It is a public safety issue. [01:05:52] Currently we have 37% of the lights not functional. [01:05:58] Then the automatic water level control, that's for all four pools. [01:06:03] Really the function of that is two-fold. [01:06:05] It's so that if you have a manual one and a staff member happens to forget, you could [01:06:11] overflow a pool and then flood down the street. [01:06:15] But the other real purpose for it is so that if the water level does drop for some reason, [01:06:20] it automatically replaces that water level where it should be for proper circulation [01:06:25] in the pool. [01:06:27] And then the two diving boards that we have are timed to be replaced, and it's just the [01:06:31] diving boards themselves, and they're starting to show signs of wear. [01:06:35] And that's all we have. [01:06:36] Does anybody have any questions? [01:06:40] Thank you very much. [01:06:41] All right, thank you. [01:06:42] If we can do anything about those lights before the budget is approved. [01:06:47] Indoor lights or the pool lights? [01:06:49] Either one. [01:06:50] It becomes a safety factor. [01:06:51] It's the first thing that the lawyer asks, what's the condition of the facility? [01:07:08] At this time, I will present the proposed budgets for the finance department, which [01:07:15] consists of two divisions. [01:07:17] So the first one that I will go over is accounting and budgeting. [01:07:22] In total, I'm proposing a budget of $599,450 in accounting and budgeting. [01:07:30] In personnel services, there is no proposal of additional staff. [01:07:39] So the increase in total personnel services is simply due to prior year COLA increases [01:07:49] and how that affects some of our other payroll costs. [01:07:54] In operating, there's a total of $101,940 being proposed. [01:08:02] In professional services, you'll see that there is a decrease of $7,500. [01:08:07] And that is due to we're estimating that we will only need a consultant to assist with [01:08:16] our special assessment programming and getting those bills prepared for the tax collector [01:08:25] to put on the tax bills. [01:08:27] In past years, it's $12,500 is an estimate of how much that service costs. [01:08:34] And then also, and so that's all we've budgeted for next year. [01:08:40] You'll see that there's a slight increase in travel and training of $2,000. [01:08:44] And that is due to in the past couple of years, myself and the assistant finance director [01:08:53] have not been able to attend some annual conferences. [01:08:59] And we would like to start doing that in the upcoming year so that we can keep to some [01:09:04] of the CPE hours and things that are necessary in our profession. [01:09:13] Going down to computer and operating supplies, there is an increase of $4,350. [01:09:19] And that increase represents the purchase of two computers in this division that are [01:09:24] two computers to replace existing computers that are outdated. [01:09:31] And we are not proposing any capital purchases for next year. [01:09:37] And that is it for accounting and budgeting. [01:09:42] Next is billing and collection. [01:09:44] In total, we're proposing a budget of $527,420. [01:09:50] You'll see that in personnel services, there's an increase of approximately $21,000. [01:09:57] That increase is due to a proposal of a new part-time position, meter technician, part-time [01:10:03] meter technician position. [01:10:05] With the purchase of the three utility systems in fiscal year 17 and the purchase of Orange [01:10:13] Wood Utility System last year, we feel that there is now a need to add a part-time meter [01:10:19] technician position to help with just, you know, simple meter repairs if needed, if it's [01:10:30] something that they can do. [01:10:31] If not, it gets escalated to public works and to do our shutoffs and shut-ons. [01:10:38] Our full-time person also is very near retirement, so we're interested in getting somebody in [01:10:42] that can get some training. [01:10:47] In operating, we have an increase in debt recovery. [01:10:52] The plan next year is to increase our efforts in some debt recovery in the utilities department. [01:10:59] So we work with an outside company, a debt collector, to assist with that. [01:11:05] Moving down to line item 44931, credit card charges, you'll note that there is a decrease. [01:11:14] It went from 45,000 budgeted last year to 22,500 budgeted this year. [01:11:21] You'll see that even the budgeted number for 18-19 is much lower than our actual numbers [01:11:27] in previous years, and that's because in 18-19, we did plan to transition or convert the credit [01:11:38] card expense to pass it through to our residents. [01:11:42] But due to the Tyler system, due to the city not finishing the implementation of the utility [01:11:48] billing Tyler system, that delayed that conversion of that pass-through of the credit card charges [01:11:55] to our residents. [01:11:57] So the 18-19 budgeted number will be amended, and the plan for 19-20 is that within the [01:12:06] next three months. [01:12:07] So three months into fiscal year 19-20, we will be able to make that conversion happen. [01:12:14] On that note, it was, I believe, fiscal year 2015-16 when the city adopted that plan to [01:12:21] convert that. [01:12:23] The cost to the city, as you're showing the differences, $30,000, $40,000 a year, whatever [01:12:29] it is. [01:12:33] Was that a bank issue, or was it really just we just decided to wait for that to happen? [01:12:39] I mean, I can't believe we had to wait for Tyler Technologies in order to start converting [01:12:46] those expenses over. [01:12:49] It was a bit of both, to be quite honest. [01:12:52] When we switched over to our current financial institution, there was a compatibility issue [01:12:59] with the merchant that we currently use for credit card processing. [01:13:04] However, and Brian can probably speak a little bit better on this than I can, however, the [01:13:11] merchant provider with Tyler, the current merchant provider that we use is not compatible [01:13:18] now with Tyler. [01:13:19] So we have to switch merchant, credit card processing merchant, in addition to converting [01:13:29] over to Tyler. [01:13:30] So all of those things kind of have to change before we can actually get the process in [01:13:34] place. [01:13:35] Tyler requiring a certain... [01:13:36] Merchant? [01:13:37] Is it a requirement, Brian? [01:13:40] Yeah, Tyler partners with BridgePay. [01:13:45] Currently we use USA ePay as the carrier. [01:13:48] So we're keeping our merchant services the same, but the gateway service is what's changing. [01:13:54] And that goes along with the compatibility with the software. [01:13:57] So a failure to save 50 grand a year is a pretty significant number. [01:14:01] So I guess you're telling us that will finally be solved, but it's taken quite a while to [01:14:07] sort through that. [01:14:12] The final increase that I'll go over is in line item 45243, computer and operating supplies, [01:14:21] which increased roughly about $5,800, and that is due to the needed replacement of three [01:14:28] of our computers and billing and collections. [01:14:32] And I'm sorry, we do have a capital request also to propose. [01:14:36] It's the purchase of a new truck for the part-time meter technician that we are proposing. [01:15:00] While they're talking, I'm going to suggest, Mr. Mayor, that I'm interested to find out, [01:15:13] having heard that when we converted, you don't convert banks for a long time, and we changed [01:15:19] banks back, requiring them to have a local presence to SunTrust Bank some time ago. [01:15:25] And now SunTrust has now been bought by, or taken over by, is it Wells Fargo, or BB&T? [01:15:35] Have they been having discussions with you about how that will go, or is that going to [01:15:39] be affected to you? [01:15:41] They haven't initiated any discussions with us at this point about that matter. [01:15:48] We think it's a little early, but we do believe that we'll be going out shopping services [01:15:54] regardless. [01:15:55] I went in and met with the SunTrust people probably two months ago, because my company [01:16:04] uses them, and I was quizzing them on, okay, what's going on with this? [01:16:11] And at least at that time, they did not know. [01:16:15] That gets into that whole discussion that the SunTrust Bank up just south of Main Street [01:16:23] on US 19, are they going to move that, build something closer to the highway, or are they [01:16:28] going to close that? [01:16:31] And they just don't know, because they're a mix of SunTrust and BB&T branches all over [01:16:37] West Pasco right now. [01:16:39] I think the BB&T branch at Massachusetts Avenue is in the city still. [01:16:45] Yes, it is. [01:16:46] So they still have a city presence if they kept that one. [01:16:50] Point being, I think BB&T was a bidder for the bank services back in the day when we [01:16:57] went out for bid, as was Regions, and I think those were the three that were really actively [01:17:03] pursuing the city's business. [01:17:06] It seems it was very much a disappointment, and that's why I'm mentioning the thing about [01:17:10] the credit card, that we went out and changed the bank, they told us how good they could [01:17:14] be and what they could do, and then the bank couldn't, in what seemed to be a relatively [01:17:21] straightforward process, find a way to allow us to charge back those charges. [01:17:30] The last I heard, they were shooting for year-end to complete that merger, assuming they get [01:17:35] all the appropriate approvals. [01:17:40] Before I conclude, I do want to add, under billing and collection personnel services, [01:17:47] I did fail to mention that there is a position change. [01:17:52] We currently have two customer service specialists in billing and collections. [01:17:58] One of those positions recently, the holder of that position left the city. [01:18:05] She did move up north. [01:18:07] The plan is, what's being proposed, included in this budget, is to reduce that position [01:18:12] to a customer service rep position, so someone on the front counter that can assist with [01:18:17] our foot traffic that comes in, because even though we offer a lot of online services and [01:18:25] online bill pay, we still do, for a city our size, get a lot of foot traffic, and so just [01:18:31] to accommodate our residents. [01:18:32] Have you ever thought of training the people to, or help them set up online while they're [01:18:37] there at the counter, when we're not busy? [01:18:41] Yes, we do, and I know that we, in the past, had a kiosk out there that was purposely put [01:18:49] out there to train our residents on using the online services, so we definitely have [01:18:54] plans. [01:18:55] The computer's back up, and we have plans on utilizing that and actually having someone [01:19:00] stationed out there to help and assist with that. [01:19:06] I would just like to, before you get completely off the hook, congratulate you on having a [01:19:14] caffer sitting at our places tonight. [01:19:17] That's the earliest that's been here in several years. [01:19:21] I think we're all very appreciative of the work you did to get that done. [01:19:28] Back to the issue, again, I can't help it because this was kind of my lane that I worked [01:19:33] in and watched. [01:19:35] One of the arguments we had for staffing and billing collection back in the day was the [01:19:41] amount of time taken on the phone to take over-the-phone charges and calls, and one [01:19:49] of the options at the time, of course, was to allow the same if one paid their power [01:19:53] bill or something else to have a pay-by-phone, and the pay-by-phone service actually adds [01:19:59] a charge of a couple of dollars legally allowed, or to somehow reduce the amount of phone time [01:20:07] used. [01:20:09] That goes to training people to use their computer to pay their bill, and that goes [01:20:14] to collecting the charge for the use of over-the-phone. [01:20:18] Especially since we have a new system now. [01:20:22] So that's going to be interesting to see how that rolls out, because in theory that'll [01:20:25] become more efficient. [01:20:26] I don't think the new system, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the new system [01:20:31] tells you when your bill is actually due. [01:20:37] It should. [01:20:38] I don't think it does. [01:20:39] I mean, if you could go on and look and see. [01:20:43] You mean online? [01:20:44] Online. [01:20:45] Oh, okay. [01:20:46] Okay. [01:20:47] I believe it does, because we've- [01:20:48] I bet you it doesn't. [01:20:49] I'll look into it and confirm whether or not it does. [01:20:54] Are you referring to currently? [01:20:55] The new system that we just started this month. [01:20:56] Okay. [01:20:57] So the online presence that was recently converted was due to PCI compliance and security purposes, [01:20:58] so it's the same system. [01:20:59] It just has additional security enhancements. [01:21:00] Well, whatever. [01:21:01] It's a whole new picture, and you've got to punch your new number in, and you just can't [01:21:02] click it. [01:21:03] And I don't think it does. [01:21:04] Yeah, but it's still a SunGuard-supported process. [01:21:05] I don't think it does. [01:21:06] I don't think it does. [01:21:07] I don't think it does. [01:21:08] I don't think it does. [01:21:09] I don't think it does. [01:21:10] I don't think it does. [01:21:11] I don't think it does. [01:21:12] I don't think it does. [01:21:14] I don't think it does. [01:21:15] I don't think it does. [01:21:16] I don't think it does. [01:21:17] I don't think it does. [01:21:18] I don't think it does. [01:21:19] I don't think it does. [01:21:20] I don't think it does. [01:21:21] I don't think it does. [01:21:22] I don't think it does. [01:21:23] I don't think it does. [01:21:24] And so in the upcoming months when we actually convert over to Tyler, a new website will [01:21:25] come with that, a new utility billing website, and it will add enhancements for customers [01:21:26] where they can actually access your accounts. [01:21:27] And if they have multiple accounts with the city, they can download that site and use [01:21:28] it. [01:21:29] Yes. [01:21:30] Yes. [01:21:31] So it'll be focusing on that. [01:21:32] Okay. [01:22:04] And then you go online, it doesn't even tell when your bill is due. [01:22:09] You can go to Revenue for the City. [01:22:12] That concludes the presentation that we have prepared for you this evening. [01:22:16] The only thing that I wanted to be certain to add, and I know you recognize that this [01:22:25] is a very preliminary presentation, there may, and in fact in all likelihood, there [01:22:32] will be changes before we present to you a final budget. [01:22:38] And also I think it's appropriate to note that of the decisions we make along the way, [01:22:45] the most difficult are those related to personnel, but the organization changes, and so do our [01:22:54] needs. [01:22:55] And so when we ask you for an extra position or we let you know that we're rethinking [01:23:00] a existing position, it's based on our goals as a city and our needs as well. [01:23:14] It is not on tonight's agenda, but I had actually penciled it in before the Deputy Mayor asked [01:23:20] if we could add it, and that's a communications and reports thing. [01:23:25] I had a couple of things that I wanted to bring up. [01:23:29] One, I got an email from a Colin McDowell that was sent to Robert Rivera with a big [01:23:42] thank you for responding quickly and professionally to a request about a drainage issue. [01:23:49] So kudos, Robert, to you and your crew on that. [01:23:54] I also handed out a little blurb that I pulled off Facebook. [01:23:59] There's a meeting tomorrow night where Phil Compton of the Sierra Club is going to be [01:24:06] talking about Ready for 100, which is an initiative of Sierra Club's trying to get cities to commit [01:24:15] to going totally renewable in some foreseeable period of time. [01:24:22] There are several cities in the Tampa Bay Area, including Dunedin and Largo and Tampa [01:24:27] and I think Clearwater, but I wouldn't swear to it, and they've all got different dates [01:24:32] at which they're aiming at. [01:24:34] I wanted you to be aware that that meeting's happening. [01:24:37] I will be there, so even if you guys aren't, I'll bring a report back next week. [01:24:43] And I knew particularly Councilman Altman's very big into the resiliency things, the Tampa [01:24:49] Bay Regional Planning Council is involved and I wanted to specifically to make sure [01:24:53] you were aware of that meeting. [01:24:57] Tomorrow night at 6.30 at the Heritage, yeah. [01:25:01] I'll be looking forward to your report. [01:25:04] I've got a plane at 3.30 tomorrow. [01:25:06] That's fine. [01:25:07] I knew it was short notice, but I figured I'd at least mention in case any of you couldn't [01:25:12] make it. [01:25:13] I've met Phil Compton before. [01:25:14] I'm very much looking forward to his presentation. [01:25:17] I think it should be interesting. [01:25:21] And I do want to open it up, so anybody else that's got comments or questions, Deputy Mayor, [01:25:25] why don't you kick it off? [01:25:26] Sure, I think this pertains to the first, I don't have two topics, well, let me do the [01:25:31] park one first. [01:25:33] So it seems like we've gotten a lot of, I personally have gotten feedback recently of [01:25:37] dogs in parks in our North River neighborhood, the Jasmine Park, I believe, Public Works, [01:25:41] correct me if I'm wrong, removed the doggy pickup, or planning on doing it, or not doing [01:25:48] It's currently in place, and it will stay in place, unless you advise me otherwise. [01:25:52] There's a lot of concerns, because that park is used a lot by, it's a neighborhood pocket [01:25:56] park, and so I can tell the neighbors who reach out to me while I was on vacation, which [01:26:00] is one-to-one, that you can take your dog there still, and we're going to have the distribution [01:26:04] of the plastic bags. [01:26:06] Bag station will stay in place. [01:26:08] And then we're going to have discussion upcoming regarding the great preserving dogs? [01:26:14] At your meeting on July 16th. [01:26:16] And then, so I've been on vacation for eight straight days, and I just, I think it was [01:26:21] Friday, I saw the video for the first time, the link didn't work, and I emailed Judy and [01:26:24] sent me a link that worked. [01:26:26] I love the video that we paid JL Audio, or JL Video to, maybe it's Audio, I'm not sure, [01:26:32] to produce for the city, but what concerns me is as a city, we have no marketing plan. [01:26:37] So it's a great video that's sitting there, we need to get it out as soon as possible [01:26:42] with the apartments going up, with all the positive things that are happening, but we [01:26:46] don't have a plan, right? [01:26:48] So we have, we just, we're talking about a marketing director that we have for parks [01:26:51] and rec, and in my opinion, we need to either outsource it, or get someone that's going, [01:26:58] that's, the bottom line is, whether you're on it, or you like it or not, social media [01:27:01] is the most effective marketing tool, in my opinion, currently. [01:27:06] For most businesses. [01:27:07] Well, I wouldn't say businesses, but I think it could be our most useful tool. [01:27:12] We don't utilize it nearly enough, and I think we need to take a look at that, as to [01:27:18] whether we want to hire someone, and not say it's a marketing position, part-time or full-time, [01:27:23] for the entire city, not just parks and rec, because this is the kind of thing we need [01:27:27] to build on. [01:27:28] We need to get the second video done, use the businesses that weren't used, something [01:27:32] a little different. [01:27:33] Have them come out every three or four months, do, like, currently, Elaine, I guess you can [01:27:37] answer this, do we pay to boost videos and advertisement on Facebook at all, through [01:27:42] parks and rec? [01:27:43] We do. [01:27:44] What's the budget for that, currently, a year? [01:27:45] Our budget was... [01:27:46] 8,000. [01:27:47] 8,000? [01:27:48] Yeah. [01:27:49] How much did we use, not to pay staff or anything, just to boost on Facebook? [01:27:50] Boosting is minimal. [01:27:51] Minimal. [01:27:52] $20, $40. [01:27:53] Right. [01:27:54] So we need to be doing this, with these videos, and with other positive things. [01:27:55] We need to be paying for advertising on Facebook. [01:27:56] I think the businesses that are involved in this, if allowed, I think would probably [01:28:15] pay to boost it for their own business, if they're on there. [01:28:17] It's a great, great, great video, but we have no plan now that we have it. [01:28:22] That's alarming to me. [01:28:23] We've been talking about marketing for years. [01:28:25] We need to get on it. [01:28:26] Like I said, whether we hire someone for the city, full-time, part-time, I know we just [01:28:30] went from full-time to part-time, that's just for parks and rec, which is important. [01:28:34] Concerts in the park, all the positive things that you guys do at the recreation center [01:28:38] and at our parks, but we need, whether we're going to outsource it or have someone inside, [01:28:42] we need to do this. [01:28:43] ASAP, in my opinion. [01:28:44] We need to get this video out, we need to get it out as broadly as we can, and we need [01:28:49] to come up with a plan to continue that marketing. [01:28:54] That's really going to help our city. [01:28:55] I mean, are you all in agreeance on this, or no? [01:28:56] I've been asking for this for six years. [01:28:57] We're in the budgeting process. [01:28:58] Let's do it. [01:28:59] Yeah, and not only that, there's, I think, five employees with the tourist development [01:29:00] board, and one of them, that's their whole job. [01:29:01] Their whole job? [01:29:02] Yeah. [01:29:03] It's marketing. [01:29:04] And it's not my area of expertise. [01:29:05] I'm on Facebook, but I don't market my business through Facebook. [01:29:06] A lot of people do, and it's very, very effective. [01:29:07] I've never paid to boost my business. [01:29:08] But it's not my area of expertise. [01:29:09] I'm on Facebook, but I don't market my business through Facebook. [01:29:10] A lot of people do, and it's very, very effective. [01:29:11] I've never paid to boost my business. [01:29:12] Yeah. [01:29:13] It's marketing. [01:29:14] And it's not my area of expertise. [01:29:15] I'm on Facebook, but I don't market my business through Facebook. [01:29:16] A lot of people do, and it's very, very effective. [01:29:18] I've never paid to boost my business. [01:29:19] But it's just, I think we need to, and I want everyone's opinion now that we're here. [01:29:20] We're five years behind. [01:29:21] We're ten years behind, what's going on. [01:29:22] You're doing a great job. [01:29:23] Our city's doing phenomenal things, but we still don't get the word out effectively, in [01:29:24] my opinion. [01:29:25] What are your all thoughts? [01:29:26] You had some comments on it? [01:29:27] Wait a minute, that was a comment. [01:29:28] No. [01:29:29] No. [01:29:30] I mean, it's not my area of expertise. [01:29:31] I'm on Facebook, but I don't market my business through Facebook. [01:29:33] Well, my thought is that the video, which is great, is showing the business activity [01:29:51] in the town and attracting people to our city. [01:29:54] So once again, our housing, as we want, as we have more traction. [01:30:00] into our city, our housing gets better, as well as the business. So one of the main things [01:30:06] that I've struggled with over the years is the idea that we're the city, we live in our [01:30:11] communities, and we're in a residential, and all of the effort goes to business. I happen [01:30:17] to agree that the business needs to be promoted, but I think that is an allowable use of our [01:30:25] CRA funds. Again, the general fund is strapped. The CRA is for reversing blight, making things [01:30:33] happen. It's where the investments are going into these facades that look so good on the [01:30:38] videos and the new businesses that Mario was involved in bringing into town. I really think [01:30:43] this is a discussion we need to have with our CRA, and we need to have the CRA then [01:30:50] help to manage that. So I'm for what you're saying. I'm just asking you to keep in mind [01:30:57] that we have a substantial increase in revenues in that budget, and enough for you to do what [01:31:04] Joppa has been asking for, what you're saying, and what I would agree with. What I don't [01:31:09] agree with is just letting somebody do it without us being involved. So I would like [01:31:13] to see the CRA take an active role in what that is, participating with the director, [01:31:20] which is our city manager, and being part of it. Because I think we ought to be part [01:31:25] of it, because the mayor is the ceremonial head of the city. He's the guy that's supposed [01:31:30] to be out there, you know, and pushing. You have that secondary role, and the CRA itself [01:31:38] is the place that we should be doing it. [01:31:41] Could you see our refunds to fund a position or outsource? [01:31:44] Sure we could, yeah. And outsourcing as well, but the point is it has to be in the plan, [01:31:50] and the other point would be that we have to have something to provide them. I was disappointed, [01:31:55] just so I can share with you my feelings, when the golf course people came, because [01:32:00] it was like a quick kind of a shutdown, that we shouldn't be marketing, we shouldn't be [01:32:04] advertising our movies, our activities, because they're well attended. We should leave that [01:32:13] to the residential. So from day one, I had suggested to Debbie that our marketing ought [01:32:19] to be an incentive-based thing, to get our local businesses to participate. As you said, [01:32:23] they would want to boost it. They've got to be in favor of it. So whatever the program [01:32:30] is, I'm just not willing to give all the money to a group that is not directly responsible [01:32:39] to the CRA. Like, for example, the Main Street Group. I'm going to give you an example today [01:32:46] of not social media. I appreciate you directing to that, but you have the big, broad issue [01:32:52] of us promoting our city, right? And in promoting our city, we have, as an example, the Class [01:32:59] Reunion of the 70s that are coming. They're bringing a bunch of people in town, promoted [01:33:05] a little pub crawl idea. That's directly talking to our businesses, getting them involved, [01:33:11] and getting them to participate. They are all throwing a little money in. You know, [01:33:15] I went to the Main Street Group, I talked to the bars, and I asked them to do something, [01:33:22] and I'm doing it on my own. And so I want us to have some control over what happens. [01:33:29] I don't want to just give somebody money, and staff somebody, and let them operate without [01:33:35] us managing it, through Debbie. [01:33:36] Well, like in the video, I think Ms. Manns did that. I mean, she sent it to us, said [01:33:41] don't share this with anyone before we decide what to do with it. And that gives us some [01:33:45] authority over what we, if we don't like the video, we don't want to release it, right? [01:33:50] I would, in respect to all of the comments that I very much appreciate, and are helpful [01:33:58] to me, I need to tell you that the first step in economic development is to have something [01:34:06] that tells the story about the community. The purpose of the video was to do that, first. [01:34:14] Secondly, to introduce the local business community to visitors of the city. We want [01:34:23] something to play on the very expensive projection screens that we put in place at Sims Park [01:34:30] to announce the amenities that are available in the city's downtown, so that visitors won't [01:34:37] stop at the park, but will take time to visit our business community. It's true that you've [01:34:46] been asking me for some time now about a marketing position, or the marketing purpose. It's not [01:34:53] fair to say we're not doing anything, because we are, but are we doing enough of it? The [01:34:58] answer is no, it's not currently, but I have proposed in the budget, although we didn't [01:35:05] get to talk about it tonight, an economic development, a part-time position that will [01:35:10] be responsible for marketing the city on an exclusive basis. And I think that that is [01:35:19] an important addition to the city staff. Not that there won't be other positions in [01:35:26] the city that are also promoting at the same time, but we do need a position currently, [01:35:34] in my opinion, and it's why I'm recommending it to you, that could handle a marketing plan [01:35:41] and strategy for the city. Is that on next week's workshop? I don't think it is next [01:35:47] week. It's not the 16th, I think it's the following week. That video, in my opinion, [01:35:51] is so good, I would even entertain getting some quotes as to what it would cost to do [01:35:55] a Bay News 9 commercial, or a commercial for ABC News, or for the Tampa Bay area. It's [01:36:01] that good, and we need to get it out. I'm not opposed to putting it on the very expensive [01:36:06] monitors in Sims Park, but we need to think much broader, in my opinion. It needs to be [01:36:10] spread. Yeah, I agree, I think it's a great video, but I think before we spend any money, [01:36:14] we have to have a marketing plan, because it's more than just one area. It's multiple [01:36:19] areas spreading out, and it's a combination effort between all the departments, you know, [01:36:24] Parks and Rec, everybody. Someone needs to be at the head of it with a real marketing [01:36:28] plan, and then figure out how to spend the money. I mean, the video is great to put out [01:36:31] now, and we can show it, but I mean, I wouldn't be spending a whole lot of money just on one [01:36:36] area right now until we had a plan. I mean, it just makes sense. I do like Pete's idea [01:36:41] of that this is very directly related to economic development, and so the CRA may well [01:36:48] be a legitimate place to fund it. That is the funding source that we're recommending [01:36:52] that we fund the position from. And just to pile on as well, to say, not pile on, sorry, [01:37:00] to pile on to our discussion a little more, the part-time person would have the ability, [01:37:11] if we put into the budget, to use consultants and outside services to make sure that what [01:37:16] is produced is professional. But again, the Main Street program, which we had all this [01:37:23] discussion about this past year, from whether it was alive, dead, reactivated, and other [01:37:31] interests in town that are trying to help market and want to do marketing. But the Main [01:37:35] Street program has these three points, and one is, you know, kind of to promote the business [01:37:41] through all these strategies that have been put in place voluntarily, some of them, the [01:37:46] Locals Night, the other things that are going on. So we have to dovetail all of that stuff [01:37:50] and make it all work, and not have this herding cats thing, as the Mayor has said before. [01:37:58] So the part-time position, hopefully, would activate and help to monitor the activity [01:38:05] of our private partner in the Main Street entity to get them to get out and, you know, [01:38:14] help to produce that retail mix and provide us with suggestions, not to work independently. [01:38:23] My concern is that there's this interest in them sort of independently doing what they're [01:38:27] doing, and I'm just not willing to just turn that important role over to anybody, but I [01:38:34] want to bring them in, you know. [01:38:36] It definitely needs to be coordinated with them, and I'll probably get shot for suggesting [01:38:42] this, but the Main Street program is still very much in a rebuilding phase. They had [01:38:47] a business breakfast this morning where they had the director of the Florida Restaurant [01:38:58] and Lodging Association did a presentation on some of the issues, particularly that are [01:39:07] of interest to the hospitality industry. My understanding from Liz is they've got three [01:39:15] separate committee meetings that are scheduled for tomorrow. There's a breakfast one, there's [01:39:20] a lunch one, and apparently there's one in the evening as well, and then another one [01:39:26] on a Thursday morning, and I couldn't tell you off the top of my head which one is which, [01:39:31] but they're trying to get their committees back in order and running. [01:39:39] So for us to have a marketing person, full-time, part-time, whatever, with a budget that they [01:39:47] can actually spend to do some of the marketing things that we need, like promoting on social [01:39:55] media, I think is excellent. It's not in lieu of a Main Street program, but very much [01:40:02] coordinating and being part of our overall efforts to get the word out that we've got [01:40:08] a really great little city here, and people should pay attention. [01:40:12] And if I may, timing is of the essence, though. How many apartment units are we looking to [01:40:15] fill within the next 12 months? [01:40:17] 164. [01:40:18] 164, all right. We need to get that video out, we need to get other videos made. Very, [01:40:23] very impressed with JL. I have no affiliation with them, but Jordan Lund, the owner, if [01:40:27] he did it, or staff, whatever, I thought did an incredible job on the video. I'm very, [01:40:32] very eager for people to see it, and I just thought it was really well done. [01:40:38] I just want to mention part-time, full-time. I've wanted a full-time position for four [01:40:43] or five years, so this is a baby step, in my opinion, doing it as a part-time position. [01:40:51] It's a major step, and one of the things that, when you go to the Tourist Development [01:40:56] Board and you want some money for advertising stuff, it has to be outside the city limits. [01:41:02] So we're working not only, which I think Main Street's probably going to do a real good [01:41:07] job of promoting inside the city, but we have to promote outside the city, too, and I think [01:41:13] that's, you know, when it's tourist development, it has to be outside the county, but we need [01:41:18] to promote it outside the city, so that's still in the county, but I'm... [01:41:22] I would have no objection... [01:41:24] And I wanted it in-house, too. I agree with Pete. I've wanted it in-house for five years. [01:41:28] I would have no objection to a full-time, either. [01:41:31] And if it's through the CRA or whatever direction, but being a full-time position and being in-house, [01:41:38] then we can direct it. If you go out and bid it out to some organization, you're going [01:41:43] to get the $70,000 guy come in and sell you his wares, and he's going to give it to a [01:41:48] $10- and a $15-an-hour person to do it. [01:41:51] Yeah, I don't think we're going to get the caliber if we're hiring a part-time person, [01:41:56] because we need someone full-time that knows what they're doing and is skilled, and I just [01:42:00] don't think a part-time is going to... [01:42:02] I think once we get the last of our revenue figures, we'll know for certain how much money [01:42:09] we've got to do with it. [01:42:10] I don't know when the revenue figures are in, but I do understand your direction, and [01:42:15] we will amend the position to be a full-time position, and there will be other staff changes [01:42:22] that will need to be made to accommodate that. [01:42:25] And a budget. [01:42:26] Right. [01:42:27] Not just a position, but a budget. [01:42:29] Oh, yeah. [01:42:30] Sound good, guys? [01:42:32] It's exciting times. We want to be right there. [01:42:36] So I guess I would ask the same question that was poised to me by Mr. Wasch today, [01:42:41] is when is this thing going to start being broadcast? [01:42:45] Right after Tuesday's meeting, right? After we all watch it publicly? [01:42:48] After we watch it on July 16th was my plan for the preview. [01:42:53] Fair enough. [01:42:54] Since we're talking about motivation and 160-some apartments, I'd like to see some kind of [01:43:03] recreation aquatic center special for the people that move into these apartments. [01:43:10] We have talked to the property owners about incentivizing memberships for both facilities. [01:43:17] I mean, usually you come to us for a vacation, I mean a Christmas, or it's in January, January reduction. [01:43:24] We have a couple of different sale opportunities. [01:43:26] Right, so I just wondered if you're supposed to come to us about that, or are you just going to do it? [01:43:32] We wouldn't do it without your permission, but we haven't solidified all of the details necessary [01:43:38] to come before you with a recommendation, but we are having conversations with both property owners about that. [01:43:45] If we're going to offer a move-in deal, that needs to be figured out sooner rather than later, [01:43:49] at least as far as Main Street Landing, because I think they're still shooting for this quarter to get it open. [01:43:55] And while we're talking about that, one of the items that has been a longstanding deal, if you will, [01:44:06] for people that have businesses inside the city of New Port Richey is their employees can get the city resident rate [01:44:15] for their employees, and we need to make sure that as these new businesses open up, [01:44:21] including at Main Street Landing over the next couple of months, that they know that there's a deal available. [01:44:28] That would be a position for the marketer to take care of. [01:44:30] It would be wonderful, but I don't want us to forget to tell them, and we probably need to go around [01:44:35] and let some of the new businesses that have come in over the last few months know that that option is available for them as well. [01:44:46] And get their business tax receipts. They should be informed of that. [01:44:49] Those should be going out in the mail shortly. [01:44:53] I'm saying they come in and get their new business tax receipt, and here's the information on the rec center. [01:45:00] I've got to finish off this, my comment to say we start marketing heavy, we've really got to make sure that we follow the results, follow the consultants report that says we need a little more retail, we need a little more of this. [01:45:16] So it's good to bring people in, but they have to see that we're growing into more than what we are, because we only have two or three little gift shops and things in town. [01:45:24] So that kayak business that came in, that's great. [01:45:28] Other businesses that are retail, the bars seem to have a pretty good hold on us now. [01:45:35] I don't know if any of y'all saw, the rest of you saw on Facebook, but there's, I think it's called Liz's Pieces, they're doubling the size of their place. [01:45:48] I don't think it's doubled, but it's increasing, yeah. [01:45:51] Significantly increasing the size. [01:45:54] I couldn't figure out where they were moving into. [01:45:56] They got room around the back in the same building, just in the back of the gateway gallery. [01:46:01] Yes, yes. [01:46:02] And the gateway gallery, I understand, is expanding too. [01:46:05] So those are all good stories. [01:46:07] Those are good things. [01:46:08] But the retail mix was always the buzzword years ago. [01:46:13] We're working on that. [01:46:15] We've got empty stores and things to fill. [01:46:18] That's an important and critical function that was part of the Main Street approach, [01:46:24] but it's something that's going to have to happen by the CRA, I think, given the time it's going to take for that group to mature. [01:46:33] Very, very likely. [01:46:35] Anything else for the good of the body tonight? [01:46:40] In that case, I'd entertain a motion to adjourn. [01:46:43] Thank you.

   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. 3Adjournment