On the agenda

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

   ↳You arrived here from a search for “Tampa Bay Water” — transcript expanded below

   Review of Proposed Departmental Budgets for FY24-25

   discussed

   Department heads presented FY24-25 proposed budgets for Public Works (supervision, streets/right-of-way, stormwater, water production), with discussion of accomplishments, initiatives, line-item changes, and capital equipment purchases. Council asked questions about traffic/pedestrian safety improvements, alley surveys, the lead and copper program, and chemical cost increases. No formal votes were taken; this was a review/discussion work session.

   • direction:Staff to follow up on stop sign at River and Veterans now that a fence blocks the side street. (none)
   • direction:City Manager to send councilmember the prior crosswalk study for Adams and Illinois. (none)
   • direction:Staff to confirm whether all alley surveys have been completed. (none)
   • direction:Engineers to bring proposal preserving the Main Street turn lane during any lane reduction on Missouri. (none)

   📍Adams and Illinois📍Beach Street📍Missouri and Grand📍Missouri and Main Street📍River and Veterans📍West Pasco Industrial Park🏢Adobe🏢AutoCAD🏢EPA🏢Florida DEP🏢Florida Section of AWWA🏢John Deere🏢Pasco County🏢Tampa Bay Water👤Crystal👤Mr. Rivera#2003 Payloader replacement (lease purchase)#2024 Outstanding Water Treatment Award (AWWA Florida Section)#Adopt-a-Tree Program#Asphalt Hotbox Trailer ($35,000)#Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)#EPA Lead and Copper Rule#FY24-25 Budget#Hazard Mitigation Program Grant#NPDES Permit Cycle 5#Pavement Management Plan Cycle 8#Sandbag machine ($20,000)#Single Waste Hauler Solid Waste Program#Tree City USA (34th year)#VEEP IP Phone System#Vacon vacuum truck lease purchase (year 2)#Vision Zone Maintenance

   ▶ Jump to 0:24 in the video

   ▸Show transcriptHide transcript

   Auto-transcript · machine-generated, may contain errors

   [00:00:24] over here. [00:00:26] Yes, we're going to start with the public works budget this evening. [00:00:28] We'll also be reviewing the library budget, human resources, economic development, and [00:00:33] finance this evening. [00:00:42] Can you please start? [00:00:43] Thank you. [00:00:44] Thank you, Mr. Rivera. [00:00:45] Okay. [00:00:46] The first division that we have is public works supervision. [00:00:50] One of the major accomplishments that this division had this year was the implementation [00:00:54] of the single waste hauler solid waste program. [00:00:59] And then the other one that we wanted to mention was the award of the hazardous mitigation [00:01:04] program grant for the Beach Street stormwater project at 90%. [00:01:10] And then the last thing that we wanted to let you know is one of our major initiatives [00:01:16] that we have planned for this year is to complete and implement the EPA's lead and [00:01:21] copper analysis program. [00:01:30] If you look on page five, you'll see our chart here for personnel. [00:01:35] There were no changes to that, to those positions or titles. [00:01:41] Page six. [00:01:44] Now, this division had a 2.44% decrease from last year. [00:01:51] That did not include your personnel services that you see up in the top block or the capital [00:01:57] equipment, just the operating budget itself. [00:02:01] So, some of the things that we were able to lower was our travel and training that went [00:02:12] down from 2,000 to 1,500. [00:02:16] Our telephone local that we implemented the VEEP system, which is the new computer type [00:02:23] IP phone system, so we don't have to pay for those old telephone lines. [00:02:28] So, we were able to reduce that line item from 6,500 to 3,000. [00:02:33] And then that tied in with the data lines with the fiber optics that we have that we [00:02:42] were able to reduce from 10,500 to 7,000. [00:02:46] We did have an increase in the automobile lease line item. [00:02:54] That's 44463. [00:02:57] That was the replacement of the assistant director's vehicle. [00:03:02] We did have maintenance to building and grounds of $600 an increase. [00:03:13] That's 44611. [00:03:20] And then our other increase that we had was our 45225. [00:03:25] That was software license and support. [00:03:27] That went up from 2,000 to 3,500. [00:03:30] The main culprit in that was the Adobe and AutoCAD software systems. [00:03:35] The AutoCAD, I believe, was the one that we used to have a blanket license, and now we [00:03:40] have to have a license per each individual computer. [00:03:43] I'm sorry, which line item is the one you're talking about right now? [00:03:47] 45225. [00:03:49] Okay, thank you. [00:03:52] And then the last increase that we had for the—oh, no, we have one more increase. [00:03:56] Operating supplies. [00:03:58] That went from 1,500 to 2,500. [00:04:04] And then we had an increase in our dues and memberships from 1,800 to 2,000. [00:04:16] I'm sorry, in our dues and memberships from 1,800 to 2,500. [00:04:30] And then, real quick, when you're calling out those page numbers, are you using the [00:04:34] one at the top left or the bottom left? [00:04:36] No, sir, the one on the bottom left. [00:04:37] Bottom left, okay. [00:04:38] Next division is the Public Works Street and Right-of-Way 102. [00:04:44] Some of our accomplishments were the continuation certification of the Tree City USA. [00:04:52] We renewed our 34th year in the program, and we processed approximately 4,500 tons of yard [00:05:03] debris that was collected. [00:05:06] The initiatives that we have for next year, one of the ones is a typical one, is to identify [00:05:13] the roadways to be repaved in our pavement management plan on Cycle 8. [00:05:19] Are they changing? [00:05:22] We did—hello. [00:05:25] Are they changing? [00:05:27] You know, we did like a 20-year layout. [00:05:30] So do you review that? [00:05:32] Is that what you're saying? [00:05:33] Yes, sir. [00:05:34] So sometimes once you use it, you might move up there? [00:05:36] Correct. [00:05:37] Okay, all right. [00:05:38] They can fluctuate in order. [00:05:40] Okay. [00:05:41] And then we're going to perform vision zone maintenance throughout the city. [00:05:45] That's where every intersection that you have, you come up to a stop sign, a yield sign, [00:05:49] anything of that nature. [00:05:51] We plan on starting and going through the whole city to go ahead and clear those out. [00:05:56] Did you take a look at Missouri and Grand so you can maybe cross from—push the button [00:06:03] on all four corners? [00:06:05] We've ordered some Bluetooth buttons to follow up on that. [00:06:09] I took a look at that. [00:06:10] Oh, nice. [00:06:11] And just to let you know that the two controllers that were there, we have lights in the road, [00:06:15] and the thought process was to be able to utilize those two push buttons to where you [00:06:22] would light up the whole intersection because it really wasn't conducive to put another [00:06:27] sign up on the southeast corner of Missouri. [00:06:32] There's too many things there. [00:06:33] We figured that it would even block the traffic even more. [00:06:36] But what we did, we did some research since we had our discussion. [00:06:39] We took a look at—they have these pedestals that are Bluetooth now. [00:06:42] Nice. [00:06:43] And so we can put those on the other two corners, and you'll be able to just hit a button there. [00:06:48] It's like, you know, you've got to cross the road to get across the road. [00:06:51] Right. [00:06:53] And on that topic, I saw the blind spot mirror was moved, and the spot it's in now is ideal [00:07:01] because you can see both ways now. [00:07:03] So I appreciate you doing that. [00:07:05] Also, I've already heard compliments on the new part of it because there's no parking there [00:07:09] and they can see around the corner. [00:07:12] Here we go. [00:07:15] So this division, we had a 12.58% increase. [00:07:28] Engineering services went from 5,000 to 10,000. [00:07:33] As we're moving along and talking about Missouri, as you're well aware, we've been doing more traffic analysis, [00:07:41] whether you all request additional stop signs, crosswalks, those types of things, [00:07:47] those all have to be reviewed and meet certain warrants. [00:07:51] And so we've added some additional funds to be able to have it available to where, [00:07:56] if you all do request something during the year, we'll have that money for it. [00:08:01] While we're talking about that, just for a second, in that same area, [00:08:05] it came to my knowledge that we were going to get one of the lanes between Missouri, [00:08:10] get rid of one of the lanes between Missouri and Main Street going north. [00:08:15] And I just think that there's basically it's a turn lane [00:08:18] and that's what most people use to get out of town. [00:08:20] So when we do that narrowing, I would probably like to see that it stays three lanes there [00:08:26] so we can turn right and go straight. [00:08:29] Well, I think that, yes, sir. [00:08:31] I mean, two lanes. [00:08:32] I mean, one lane's going south, the other two going north. [00:08:34] As we move forward, you all will be a part of that. [00:08:37] But I think preliminary discussions of what we've talked about is we all agree [00:08:42] that the turn lane that's there at Main Street has to remain because you're absolutely right, [00:08:48] that's where most of your traffic is getting out of town. [00:08:52] But the engineers will take a look at that [00:08:55] and come with us with a proposal to where you all can see it. [00:08:58] Because more people turn left than they go straight or turn right. [00:09:00] Correct. [00:09:01] Okay. [00:09:02] The stop sign that's at River and Veterans, now that they put that fence up, [00:09:07] is that going to go away because there's no reason to stop there? [00:09:10] There's no road there. [00:09:13] We'll take a look at that. [00:09:15] In front of the Veterans, the liquor store put that fence up [00:09:18] so you can't turn and go anywhere there. [00:09:20] So there's no street there. [00:09:21] Now there's a stop sign like right after the other stop sign for no reason. [00:09:25] We'll take a look at it. [00:09:28] I also have a question about the stop signs. [00:09:30] I'll send a follow-up email to the city manager. [00:09:33] The Adams and Illinois crosswalk has come up in the past for studies, [00:09:37] and I think a study was done for a crosswalk there. [00:09:41] If I could just be sent that, the study that was done for Adams and Illinois. [00:09:52] What did you want there? [00:09:53] Some constituents had come to Vox Pop I think two years ago, [00:09:58] maybe a little bit longer, wanting a stop sign there. [00:10:01] I just want to see the criteria that was used for that, [00:10:04] because he mentioned there's a list. [00:10:14] There she is correcting your math. [00:10:20] Crystal just wanted to note that in 41527, understand by time, [00:10:27] that's the third line item from the top, personnel services. [00:10:30] It's a typo on the... [00:10:32] I was going to ask about that, so I first started there to ask you. [00:10:35] What's the real number? [00:10:38] Probably close to 10,000. [00:10:40] It's a calculated number. [00:10:41] Okay. [00:10:47] Probably 2,300, so it's a discount. [00:10:51] Budget, I'm going down. [00:10:52] A major discount, yeah. [00:10:54] Well, from six, that's not much. [00:10:57] So we have professional services, 43199. [00:11:00] That went up from five to ten. [00:11:03] That has a lot to do with our survey work that we do when it comes to alleys, [00:11:09] when we're looking at whether we have easements or right-of-ways, [00:11:12] those types of things. [00:11:14] How many alleyways are surveyed now? [00:11:17] We're coming to a close with that. [00:11:19] I think we finished all of them. [00:11:22] Because the last number I had was about half. [00:11:24] That's why I'm asking. [00:11:25] Yeah, I'm pretty sure we finished all of them, [00:11:27] but I'll follow up and get that in. [00:11:29] That's fine. [00:11:30] If we're close to the end. [00:11:44] 43485, trash grinding services. [00:11:48] That has increased from 20,000 to 45,000. [00:11:55] We take that out to bid, and those numbers have increased that much, [00:11:59] so it's a real number. [00:12:01] We have additional yard debris that we're collecting, [00:12:05] whether it's from the program itself [00:12:07] or whether it's work that we do in the area. [00:12:10] So that increased to meet that requirement. [00:12:15] And then we have contractual services that also has gone up. [00:12:19] That's 43499. [00:12:21] That's for all of your mowing and right-of-ways, neighborhoods, [00:12:26] those types of things. [00:12:28] And we also have that bid out in a contract. [00:12:37] Do they clean up their own debris? [00:12:41] Who does? [00:12:43] Our people? [00:12:44] No, the people that do the work, or they clean up their own debris. [00:12:47] They don't just put it in a pile for us, do they? [00:12:49] If it's a contract of services, if they're... [00:12:53] If it's contractual service, you're talking about the yard debris itself? [00:12:58] No, just their own. [00:12:59] I mean, if they clean it up, do they put it in a pile [00:13:01] and expect the city to pick it up, or do they pick it up themselves? [00:13:04] It depends on who the contractor is. [00:13:07] If it's a contractor that's doing work for the city on the right-of-way [00:13:10] and stuff, we'll work out an agreement that we'll pick that up [00:13:13] and then that reduces the cost of disposal. [00:13:17] So it can be either or on a lot of things. [00:13:20] If it's a regular resident and they're having a lawn person come in [00:13:24] and trim it, our ordinance allows that contractor to leave the debris [00:13:29] at those people's yard on the right-of-way for us to pick up as well. [00:13:32] Yeah, right, I understand that. [00:13:34] I was thinking more of the contracted work, not the homeowner. [00:13:39] Does the trash grinding include for the mulch area? [00:13:43] Is that included in there or no? [00:13:45] That's separate. [00:13:47] It is mulch. [00:13:48] It is. [00:13:49] That's what it is. [00:13:50] I'll give you an example. [00:13:51] If you're talking about us hiring a contractor to do the mowing [00:13:54] and stuff like that on a regular basis, they'll take and mow, [00:13:58] and if they pick up debris or this or that, they take it with them. [00:14:02] Yeah, that's exactly what I'm asking. [00:14:10] Line item 44.121, that's telephone local. [00:14:13] We've included an iPad. [00:14:16] And just so that you'll know, you'll see that a lot of the divisions, [00:14:20] especially the maintenance ones now, are going to iPad. [00:14:23] It's part of that new technology that we have that the guys can do inspections, [00:14:27] they can do the work order systems, they can make work orders out in the field. [00:14:33] And so you'll see that as we talk about the different divisions. [00:14:44] So 44.331, solid waste removal. [00:14:50] You'll notice that it's gone down. [00:14:52] It was 24.25. [00:14:54] It's gone down to 18,000. [00:14:55] That's a result of the single hauler. [00:15:00] system, we no longer have to pay for trash collection in the downtown area. [00:15:04] 44463, lease automobile, that increased cost for the addition of a new yard debris trash [00:15:19] collection truck, dump truck, those are those larger trucks, and we'll go down to 45225, [00:15:28] that software license, you'll notice there wasn't any funds in that category last year. [00:15:47] We own the printer now, so we're having to pay for everything associated with it. [00:15:58] That's page 12, 45262 trees, we went from 2,000 to 4,000, and that's part of the adopt-a-tree [00:16:11] program that we have. [00:16:14] Where did the cost for the pamphlets come out of, did it come out of that line item [00:16:24] or was it a different line item? [00:16:26] The pamphlets. [00:16:27] The adopt-a-tree pamphlets that were made? [00:16:31] Yeah, those come out of the printing cost, those type of things. [00:16:36] So the only thing that comes out of this line item is the cost of the trees. [00:16:48] We were able to go down on 45299, operating supplies, that's your standard shovels, rakes, [00:16:54] those types of things. [00:16:56] We went down 1,000 from 8,000 to 7,000 on road materials, that's 45399. [00:17:10] So if we turn the page to 13, this is the capital equipment, so if you're looking at [00:17:18] page 12, you'll just see the broad term and dollar amounts, but the following page has [00:17:25] exactly what that capital purchase is. [00:17:28] In this case, this division is replacing a 2003 payloader, and so the idea is to take [00:17:36] and do a lease purchase, and then we have a proposed asphalt hotbox trailer for 35,000, [00:17:47] so that basically would allow us to go to the plant, be able to have that hot asphalt [00:17:52] in an enclosed box, keep it at the temperature that it needs to be, and we'd be able to do [00:17:57] larger patches, or if we had work that we had scheduled or couldn't finish, we could [00:18:02] leave it in there, keep it on, and that asphalt would be available to us. [00:18:08] And that's a one-time cost of 35? [00:18:10] Yes, sir. [00:18:11] So when I went out and did a ride-along with the Public Works Department, they said that [00:18:16] this was crucial for that reason. [00:18:18] You can almost double the amount of work or time, so you're not having to drive all the [00:18:22] way out to the West Pasco Industrial Park, so I'm so glad that it got included in here. [00:18:28] So if we go to the next division, that's the stormwater utility, Division 102, the accomplishments [00:18:38] for the years, they were able to tag and stencil all of the catch bases. [00:18:42] It's located in Section 2, it says cycle here, it's a typo, but Section 2, and then [00:18:48] we also completed the review of Cycle 5 permit, which is our NPDES permit that has all the [00:18:54] guidelines that we have to follow through the EPA. [00:18:57] So right now, we've submitted that and we're just waiting on DEP to give us our approval [00:19:03] and we'll move forward on a new five-year cycle. [00:19:10] And then for initiatives, the main one that we really want to call out is inspection of [00:19:14] all of the outfalls that we have currently in our system and be able to identify what [00:19:20] needs of any repairs or anything like that that we have to do to them. [00:19:27] Page 16, the organizational chart here remains the same, no additions, no deletions. [00:19:49] This division was able to reduce their budget 5.13%, and again, that is just the operating [00:19:58] budget itself. [00:20:00] We were able to bring down the engineering services, account 43129, from 10,000 to 6. [00:20:11] We were able to bring professional services 43199 down from 100,000 to 50,000. [00:20:27] Trash grinding services, which are included as a whole price, you'll notice that it was [00:20:33] in the other division. [00:20:34] Each division has a certain responsibility. [00:20:38] That's at 50,000. [00:20:39] That was part of the contractual service line item, and we just went ahead and brought that [00:20:45] out to where you'd be able to see it exactly for what that number is. [00:20:50] Is that the full amount of each 50,000 for each? [00:20:55] Correct. [00:20:56] And so that's twice a year. [00:21:02] We had an increase in local telephone. [00:21:06] That was the addition of the iPads and the cell phone for the supervisor. [00:21:26] We had a housekeeping issue on line item 44463. [00:21:33] This was the lease on the vehicles that are in this utility. [00:21:37] This dollar amount should have been 47 from a previous year. [00:21:41] It's not an increase in any vehicles. [00:21:55] Stage 18, computer supplies went down. [00:22:02] That's 45243. [00:22:03] We were able to take that down from 2,000 to 1,500, and the operating supplies, 45299. [00:22:15] We brought that down from 9,000 to 7,000. [00:22:25] Road materials, 45399 went up from 5,000 to 6,000, and then we'll go to the next page [00:22:38] to talk about the capital expenditures. [00:22:48] This division has a $150,000 flood control water quality projects. [00:22:54] This is the projects that we talked about in the CIP that were reactive, that we have [00:22:59] to during the rainy season. [00:23:01] We have those funds available. [00:23:04] Line item 46415. [00:23:07] This is a vacuum line cleaning truck. [00:23:09] Those are the big Vacon trucks that you see. [00:23:13] Last year, you all approved the lease purchase. [00:23:16] This is the second year payment. [00:23:22] And then 46431, we have a John Deere gator replacement. [00:23:32] The existing one is a 2,000, and then we have a sandbag machine at 20,000. [00:23:47] The next division that we have is water production. [00:23:50] That's our water plant. [00:23:52] The accomplishment that we just wanted to really, we're real proud of, is that staff [00:23:59] had won the 2024 Outstanding Water Treatment Award from the Florida section of the AWWA [00:24:06] for the plant size B. Really proud of the guys. [00:24:12] The initiatives that this division is going to take a lead role in is the implementation [00:24:20] of the new lead and copper role. [00:24:21] This will take effect in October of 2024, and this is a broad spectrum of requirements [00:24:28] that we have to do from water testing, sampling, those types of requirements, as well as resident [00:24:36] notifications, pipe type identifications, and remediation work that there are timelines [00:24:43] that have to be met. [00:24:45] Is that an unpaid mandate, or do we receive any money for that, or grants we can apply [00:24:50] for, or is that just something we have to do? [00:24:53] We haven't received any money yet, but we are looking to see if there are any grants, [00:24:58] as we're moving forward with the program. [00:25:08] So if we look on page 21, this organizational chart did not change. [00:25:15] We did not add or delete any positions. [00:25:27] Industrial services miscellaneous went from 105,000 to 150,000. [00:25:34] This is directly related to the lead and copper program that we just talked about. [00:25:42] Lab tests, this is regular lab tests, not the lab testing that we have incorporated [00:25:50] in the previous line item that I talked about. [00:25:55] Those are going to be all for lead and copper. [00:25:57] Once we get that program underway and it becomes a standard thing, then you'll see [00:26:03] where we won't be using a lot of contractors to help us with it. [00:26:07] We'll be able to back down and kind of get a schedule on it to where we'll be able to [00:26:13] move some of those lab testings down onto this existing line item, but just for now, [00:26:21] the cost from 40 to 45 is just a standard testing that we're required to do. [00:26:35] Data lines, 44,134, that went up. [00:26:40] We had some SCADA work that lines added, so that went from 6,000 to 8. [00:26:49] Outage went up from 3,000 to 6,000. [00:26:52] That's directly related to the new rules that our advertisement outreach materials [00:26:58] to the residents, to the water customers, it has doubled now, and so the cost has doubled. [00:27:08] Electric 44,311. [00:27:12] We've been looking at the trends that's gone from 100 to 144. [00:27:22] Line item 44,463, lease automobiles. [00:27:28] This division has two of them, and so that line item is an increase at 17,550. [00:27:40] Line item 45,221, chemicals. [00:27:43] This is directly related, and we've gone through this this whole year where between the water [00:27:49] plant and the wastewater plant, chemicals just have inflated over the top. [00:27:55] What we are trying to do is stabilize this number. [00:28:00] Tampa Bay Water did go out and do a bid on a lot of their chemicals. [00:28:05] We worked with them to have them include the member governments to where we would be [00:28:10] able to take advantage of the contract if they had cheaper prices, we'd be able to piggyback [00:28:15] onto those contracts. [00:28:17] We're looking forward that while we may not be able to reduce the cost, economy of scale, [00:28:23] because we have looked at some of the other agencies like PASCO in us, and there's not [00:28:28] a whole lot of price difference at all. [00:28:31] We're hoping that maybe by being able to join together, we can stabilize this thing [00:28:36] to where we can at least keep it at a steady rate, because right now, it doesn't seem like [00:28:43] there's a top end to it. [00:28:45] May I comment on that? [00:28:47] Yes, sir. [00:28:49] That one and your electric above, just looking back at the 23 actuals and the 25 budget, [00:28:56] I'm guessing that you're going to end up amending the budget more to take advantage, to understand [00:29:07] that those are higher expenses in the current year as well, because I know there were just [00:29:12] massive increases in those chemicals. [00:29:26] So, when we look on page 24, we look at the capital equipment purchases. [00:29:37] We've got $20,000 for the elevated storage tank, that's R&R. [00:29:45] We've got city well repairs, we also have R&R for those, any kind of capital expenses [00:29:50] that we may come across. [00:29:52] The ground storage reservoir is at $10,000. [00:29:56] And then for... [00:30:00] The improvements other than buildings, we have capital equipment repairs at $10,000. [00:30:08] We're going to do an aerator leak repair at $15,000. Bleach skid concrete repairs at $13,000. [00:30:18] Fluoride contaminant rehabilitation at $30,000. [00:30:21] Pumper and skater PLC and components at $30,000. Chloride bulk storage tank, [00:30:31] number one, $23,000. And then a commercial lawn tractor at $15,000. [00:30:37] The next division is public works facilities maintenance. [00:30:51] Accomplishment for fiscal year 24 is the completion of the City Hall HVA system [00:30:57] installation and then the complete conversion of LED [00:31:00] lighting and all of the parking lots surrounding the recreation center. [00:31:07] One of their main initiatives for next year is to [00:31:12] install TPO roofing system at the recreation center. [00:31:21] This organizational chart on 27, there were no changes. [00:31:30] TPO roofing system, did we do any of that when we did the whole renovation a few years ago? [00:31:36] No, we didn't. No roof repairs. [00:31:39] And those, just so that you know too, that roof, there's a metal portion and then there's [00:31:45] the regular shingled portion. Those all get inspected annually and stuff. And so the company [00:31:52] that gets paid out kind of gives us a timeline on their useful life. And so we're actually up for [00:31:59] doing them now. Line item 43-411, that's custodial services. We had an increase from [00:32:11] $5,100 to $7,600. That is for window cleaning. [00:32:17] Line item 43-455, contractual services for fire monitoring. This went from [00:32:27] $1,960, which was just the rec center, to $8,400. This is for all the buildings. [00:32:35] Telephone local, 44-121, that went up $200 from $2,300 to $2,500. That was due to an iPad. [00:32:50] Solid waste removal, 44-331, that went up to $2,500. [00:32:57] Solid waste removal, 44-331, this is the assessment fee from $20,003 to $35,000. [00:33:15] And then 45-243, computer supplies, went from $500 to $1,000. We have to purchase a new computer for [00:33:25] the supervisor. This division had a 5.41 increase in its operating, and it had no capital purchases. [00:33:45] The next division that we have is water and reclaimed water distribution. [00:33:49] A couple highlights for this year was the removal and replace of 1,000 standard meters [00:33:57] with our new smart meters. And we completed a full round of hydrant testing throughout the [00:34:04] city's utility system, not just in the city, but in our system. And then our initiative, [00:34:11] one of the main initiatives that we have is, you all are aware that we'll have all the residential [00:34:16] meters should be done before October. We want to be able to complete all the bulk meters, [00:34:22] the large meters that we have, and convert those over to smart meters as well. [00:34:33] Page 32, there were no changes in the organizational chart. [00:34:37] Page 33, telephone local 44-121, that went from $4,000 to $7,500. That was in addition to the iPads that we would like to supply to the maintenance guys, also include the cradle point for the AMI. The cradle point is the [00:35:08] handheld computer type thing that goes with all of your AMI smart meters that [00:35:13] once you put them in, you can take and you can program all of it to where you can get those up and running. [00:35:24] And then 45-225 software licenses. [00:35:28] Computer supplies were able to come down on 45-24-3. We went from 3,400 to 2,600. The division as a whole had a 3.43% increase. [00:35:58] The large increase in this division came from line item 45-299, operating supplies. We went from 30,000 to 50,000. Obviously, cost increase of materials, but also with the AMI project that we're doing, and not only the contractor will be done in October, but we still have about 500 meters right now that we need to be able to supply to the AMI. [00:36:28] We actually have to do work on. And so anytime, in this case, when we had the contractor, they would take and change the meters out, but they would also let us know if we had additional problems. There could be leaks that they identified. There could be busted boxes, whether it was a lid or the whole box. [00:36:50] They also would let us know if they pulled the meter out. And a lot of times, these meters are supposed to be the same size, but a lot of times, as soon as you pop one out, you can't put it in. [00:37:02] So, in an effort for us to save money, we would get notified, and our guys would come out and do that type of work. So, because we were basically on a proactive stance while we're doing this project, and the ones that we know we have to do, then we're expecting that line item to go up, but then we would expect it, after next year goes by, to be able to adjust it back some. [00:37:25] And so, capital purchases that we have is $15,000 for improvements other than maintenance and grounds. That's for really large valves or something that's more than $10,000 that we have to purchase. [00:37:45] This division is wanting to replace a John Deere payloader as well. And I don't have the year on the payloader, but I think it's actually older than the 2001. They're looking to put some R&R for a backhoe. [00:38:06] They're wanting to purchase a double diaphragm pump, a display board, those mobile display boards that you see. And the pump is $25,000, the mobile display board is $25,000, and then they're requesting some leak detection equipment for $6,000. [00:38:29] Two quick questions, if you don't mind. Going back to the front page with the org chart, I see there's a, you said there's no changes, there's a utilities operations manager. It has a zeroed out for the equivalent. Is that being paid for somewhere else? The utilities operation manager? [00:38:54] Yeah, he would be under sewer. [00:39:01] Oh, yes. He oversees water and sewer. [00:39:05] So he's paid out. [00:39:06] So he's paid out of sewer. It's the same. [00:39:09] The question was the mobile displays, that's new mobile displays, that's an additional one? [00:39:26] It's actually replacing the ones that we have. [00:39:30] Oh, OK. [00:39:32] So the next division for public works would be the construction services division. [00:39:54] Some of the accomplishments we would like to highlight would be the implemented Main Street entryway sign and the Kaiser landscaping project for this year, and completing the redevelopment of the Meadows Park improvement project. [00:40:09] Our initiatives for the following year will be the Grand Boulevard multi-use path, south and north side, both the design and the construction. [00:40:24] If you go to page 38, there is one change that we've made to the org chart, and that is the removal of the position for the site inspector. [00:40:33] That position no longer exists. [00:40:46] Moving to page 39, you'll see 44-121 for the telephone lines. [00:40:55] You'll see the increase, well, not increase, but that we've switched over from the local lines over to the VoIP. [00:41:05] So you'll notice that the data lines have decreased from 500 to 200. [00:41:12] Moving on to 45-243, that's computer supplies. [00:41:18] We've added three additional computers for our staff for the construction services division. [00:41:27] And there is no capital for this division. [00:41:31] May I back you up to, I was reading pages 36 and 37. [00:41:39] Somehow I did not follow your commentary in what I'm looking at, so could you remind me? [00:41:47] Yes, sir. [00:41:48] Yeah, absolutely. [00:41:49] So the accomplishments for the construction services division would be the implementation and the construction of the main street entryway signage, [00:41:57] and the Kaiser landscaping project, along with a few items down there. [00:42:02] You'll see the one we wanted to highlight was the redevelopment of the Meadows Park. [00:42:08] Got it. [00:42:09] I guess it's the initiatives then that we didn't discuss, is that? [00:42:13] Yeah, the initiatives that we're mostly focused on or that we'd like to highlight for this upcoming year would be the Cram Boulevard multi-use path. [00:42:24] And just to touch on construction services, one last time, this division saw a 5.2% increase, [00:42:42] but this is because of the addition of those three computers for the staff members. [00:42:47] Was that site inspector position filled at the time that it was getting rid of, or there was nobody in it? [00:42:54] There's no one in the position. [00:42:56] May I ask you, I'm sorry, the Pine Hill Park you have identified as construction management, what does that relate to? [00:43:05] So the Pine Hill Park project is a Pasco County project. [00:43:09] It's a bit of a mislabel there, but that is for the redevelopment of that park, which is occurring right now. [00:43:19] Cleared the fields and removed all the store, the whole deal. [00:43:25] So it would be interesting to see how that comes about. [00:43:29] So as the fact that it's in the city, then it's the responsibility of the city to watch what's going on from a permitting or construction sort of oversight, would that be? [00:43:40] Yes, sir. [00:43:41] And we have utilities that they'll be tying into for the purpose of that park. [00:43:45] Yeah. [00:43:47] Interesting. [00:43:48] While you're on Pine Hill, I just want to bring up, and I brought it up before, but not for this year, I'm guessing, but for a future, the cemetery. [00:43:58] And I was unfortunately unable to make it to that ceremony that happened a month or so ago. [00:44:04] But I did take a tour of that a while back, and there was a considerable amount of land. [00:44:14] And so it has not been functional as a cemetery. [00:44:18] But there are, and I don't want to say opportunities, but there apparently is some potential interest in having that historical cemetery become functional. [00:44:33] A lot of work has been done to clean up the graves that are there. [00:44:37] I'm familiar with, I think, just some ground penetrating radar and a whole bunch of things to try with these historic cemeteries to actually properly identify, understand who has it. [00:44:48] And just as a point of interest, in Dade City, they've just done it. [00:44:53] They've got 1,200 new cemetery plots that they are rel... [00:45:00] about ready to plant and provide. [00:45:03] So the clerk's office, she'll be happy to hear this, [00:45:08] is the one that's running the cemetery. [00:45:13] But I think that because there's such a pride [00:45:17] of the military and the, [00:45:24] you may know, Chopra, I'm looking at you, [00:45:25] the name of the highest award soldier that's there, [00:45:30] or officer. [00:45:32] Sergeant. [00:45:33] Yeah, that I understand with our long connection [00:45:37] with the American Legion and the local vets [00:45:39] that it was the former fellow who'd been in here before [00:45:44] who had suggested that there would probably be a lot [00:45:48] of military veterans who may have family there [00:45:51] but may like to see that opportunity. [00:45:55] So maybe it's just a overview and a look at it, [00:46:01] but we own a cemetery. [00:46:04] And I don't know who, [00:46:06] the last time someone was buried there, but. [00:46:09] This year? [00:46:10] Yeah. [00:46:11] So we have a lot of, Mr. Kassin, Walter Kassin, [00:46:14] he supplied us with a lot of data [00:46:18] on a lot of those plots. [00:46:21] And we average about one or two a year, [00:46:25] but most of those are the older families [00:46:27] that they own those lots. [00:46:30] So yes, we intend to go through and look and see [00:46:34] if there's any spaces that are available [00:46:37] and how we could proceed with something like that. [00:46:40] But Mr. Kassin gave us a lot of good information. [00:46:43] Well, and as a surveyor, [00:46:44] he's like the right guy to do it too, right? [00:46:48] And what's happening over in Dade City, [00:46:50] because they're so old, is that they're creating [00:46:52] a way in which someone who visits the cemetery [00:46:58] can find an app on their phone [00:47:01] that gives them the actual location of the graves, [00:47:06] because that's- [00:47:07] We have that in Key West, [00:47:08] the graveyard in Key West has that. [00:47:10] You have an app on your phone and it tells you who's where. [00:47:14] So I think it's just a comment to make [00:47:17] that it's something that we've made a lot of progress, [00:47:19] got some support for, [00:47:20] and I think there would be continued support [00:47:22] for just informational for those that are there, [00:47:26] and then if there are opportunities there, [00:47:31] there's a cost to it and people pay for it. [00:47:36] Thank you. [00:47:38] Thank you, sir. [00:47:40] So the next division for Public Works [00:47:43] will be the Ground Maintenance Division. [00:47:45] Some of the accomplishments we'd like to highlight [00:47:47] for this division would be the resurfacing [00:47:50] of the playground and the workout areas at Sims Park, [00:47:53] the installation of the new sod at Sims Park as well, [00:47:57] and the installation of the new turf [00:48:01] at the amphitheater there at Sims Park. [00:48:05] The initiatives, or the initiative we'd like to highlight [00:48:08] for the following year would be the repair and replacement [00:48:11] of the playground equipment at all the parks as needed. [00:48:15] Thank you. [00:48:19] Colin, if I may, the replace the stairs at Peace Hall, [00:48:23] that did happen? [00:48:25] Yes, sir. [00:48:26] I know it was brought up before either at Fox Pop [00:48:29] or one of the committee meetings somewhere [00:48:32] about the yellow identifying at Peace Hall [00:48:36] where there's that yellow, there isn't, [00:48:39] the step up to get into the Peace Hall building. [00:48:43] I drove by there, I want to say three weeks ago, [00:48:45] and there still isn't a yellow highlight there. [00:48:48] So I just want to put that back on your guys' radar. [00:48:53] Let me play off of that, too, [00:48:55] and say that the floor in Peace Hall, [00:48:58] that there's an actual hole in it, [00:48:59] and there's some pine, it's old pine, [00:49:04] it's 100-year-old pine or whatever. [00:49:05] It's probably not too difficult to repair it, [00:49:08] but the floor itself is, probably could really be nice [00:49:14] if it was refinished, so I don't know [00:49:16] what the budget for that is, [00:49:18] but I imagine it could be five or $10,000, [00:49:21] but it would be nice to see some improvement [00:49:24] as that property's being used more, [00:49:27] and maybe some sound baffling so that it doesn't, [00:49:33] it's not so loud when you have events in there, [00:49:34] but it's due for a rehab, [00:49:38] just like all of our other properties. [00:49:39] I don't know when it fits into the schedule. [00:49:41] Well, we put some money in the CIP to go ahead, [00:49:45] and actually, I think we've had some meetings [00:49:47] with the engineer to kind of do a deficiency analysis [00:49:52] to find out exactly what elements [00:49:54] that we need to do for improvements, [00:49:56] but our goal is to be able to apply for a grant [00:49:59] and to be able to rehabilitate [00:50:02] that whole building, the whole structure. [00:50:05] Handicap ramp that you walk up and down, [00:50:07] you need to keep an eye on that. [00:50:09] It picks up green mold and makes it slippery, [00:50:13] and then you've got somebody that's a senior [00:50:14] trying to go up it. [00:50:17] We had some event there, I want to say [00:50:19] at a historical society or something, [00:50:20] had a couple months ago, and they told me [00:50:23] that they were, people were slipping and stuff, [00:50:26] because all it has to do is get wet once it's there. [00:50:30] And of course, with those types of items, [00:50:32] even though we've got something in the CIP, [00:50:35] we would take care of those things immediately. [00:50:43] I went and looked at it afterwards, [00:50:44] but it was a nice dry day, and I couldn't see anything, [00:50:46] so it must be something about when it gets wet. [00:50:49] Take a look. [00:50:50] Absolutely. [00:50:52] So on page 41, there are no changes [00:50:55] to the organizational chart for this division. [00:51:05] For 44-121, for the grounds division, [00:51:11] you'll see the telephone local was increased to 2,000, [00:51:15] and that was the addition of two cell phones, [00:51:18] one for a standby crew, and then an iPad [00:51:22] to increase our ability out in the field [00:51:24] to document and to create work orders. [00:51:28] Down on 44-463, the lease and automobiles, [00:51:36] we have the addition of a new dump truck [00:51:39] that will be brought into the grounds division. [00:51:43] Are those all, is that S and footnote, [00:51:46] or is that just saying multiple vehicles? [00:51:49] Multiple. [00:51:50] Yeah. [00:51:51] And also, it may say new, [00:51:53] but it's a replacement of an existing one, [00:51:56] so it's not an increase to the fleet. [00:52:03] So if you look at 44-983 permit fees, [00:52:10] this is a bit of housekeeping. [00:52:11] This is for the splash pad. [00:52:12] This originally was coming out [00:52:14] of the other current charges miscellaneous, [00:52:16] which is 44-999, but we just called that out [00:52:20] specifically under permit fees now [00:52:22] for the splash pad permitting. [00:52:25] We left the additional 150 in the other current charges [00:52:32] because that's also where we get our decor [00:52:34] and our Christmas decorations, [00:52:35] our holiday decorations from. [00:52:42] 45-225, that's the software licensing and support. [00:52:48] You'll notice that's also a little bit of housekeeping. [00:52:51] That was originally coming out of dues and memberships, [00:52:55] and this is for the charge point software. [00:53:01] What software? [00:53:02] The charge point software. [00:53:03] Okay. [00:53:11] And on the next page, you can see where that item [00:53:14] has been removed from the dues and memberships on 45-411. [00:53:19] This division had an overall increase of 1.47%. [00:53:29] There is no capital for this division. [00:53:33] I just have to say, it's a good technique [00:53:36] to bring our attention to the $200 changes [00:53:39] and the $300 changes, but overall it's not a high, [00:53:44] it's a minimum increase in the budget. [00:53:47] Just in case. [00:53:49] Well, you get to pick. [00:53:54] The next division for Public Works [00:53:56] would be the reclaimed water production. [00:53:59] One of the highlights that we wanted to focus on [00:54:02] for the accomplishments for this division [00:54:04] would be the installation of the new SCADA servers [00:54:07] at the water plant and lift stations. [00:54:09] This allows us to maintain communications [00:54:11] with those facilities to ensure their operational success. [00:54:17] And in line with that SCADA, we have our initiatives [00:54:22] for 2025 with the installation of the new VFD. [00:54:26] VFD is for our high service pumps, [00:54:28] both pump two and pump three for the reclamation facility. [00:54:37] If you go to page 45 with the organizational chart, [00:54:41] you'll see that we've added an additional position [00:54:45] in the SCADA systems coordinator. [00:54:47] As the SCADA system becomes more robust, [00:54:49] we found it necessary to have someone [00:54:51] who's specifically focused on that instrumentation. [00:55:01] And the trainee is now an operator, is that? [00:55:12] He's been being trained. [00:55:15] That's what Mike. [00:55:17] Yes sir, yeah, we've moved that person [00:55:19] from trainee to operator recently [00:55:21] to receive his licensing, I'm sorry about that. [00:55:28] And on the next page, you'll see the line item 43438. [00:55:38] This is just our lab test. [00:55:40] We found that there has been an increase [00:55:43] in the cost of those testing procedures. [00:55:47] You also see at the next line down, 43499, [00:55:51] contractual services. [00:55:53] We've added the increase to 38,000. [00:55:58] This is to run the fiber optic connections necessary [00:56:00] for the SCADA and the communications [00:56:01] for that treatment facility. [00:56:04] At 44631, you'll see the central garage. [00:56:19] That's the addition of the SCADA vehicle [00:56:21] for the SCADA coordinator. [00:56:24] And additionally, you'll see the fuel called out at 45211. [00:56:29] That is also for the SCADA vehicle itself. [00:56:35] Next line item down, 45221. [00:56:39] This is our chemicals with an increase up to 348,000. [00:56:45] As Mr. Rivera stated, this is for our sodium hypochlorite [00:56:48] and we're currently working with Tampa Bay Water [00:56:50] to help stabilize those costs going forward. [00:56:59] And it's something we should note [00:57:03] that Pasco County pays 49.3% of this budget [00:57:08] for the reclamation facility. [00:57:11] So they pay a certain portion of this. [00:57:23] The maintenance that you have there has gone up 10,000. [00:57:29] Building and ground maintenance, [00:57:31] that includes serious things like painting [00:57:33] and, or is that just the land? [00:57:38] So this would be the amalgamation of a few different items [00:57:44] that is both the grounds maintenance itself, [00:57:47] that's your lawn maintenance, [00:57:49] and also the painting of some of the items out there. [00:57:52] As the plant ages, we do try to tend to keep up [00:57:55] with some of those maintenance fees. [00:58:02] We'll look at our capital, 46,399. [00:58:09] We have our capital equipment repairs at 10,000, [00:58:12] but our larger items here would be [00:58:14] the sand filter rehabilitation, [00:58:16] which is necessary at this time at $409,000. [00:58:21] Our high service pumps, number four and five, [00:58:26] their custom offset plates need to be refabricated. [00:58:29] That's at 42,480. [00:58:32] Our composite sampler has been added at 8,500. [00:58:38] A high service VFD, that's our drives at 15,000. [00:58:44] The analyzer and control, we'll be ordering two of those. [00:58:49] That's at 12,000. [00:58:51] The chemical pump at 89,000. [00:58:57] Our laboratory analytical balancing, [00:59:01] or I'm sorry, 8,900, sorry about that. [00:59:05] Our laboratory analytical balance at 11,000. [00:59:09] And the sodium hypochlorite chemical pump, [00:59:11] that is also at 8,900. [00:59:27] So, the next division for Public Works [00:59:30] will be the water pollution control. [00:59:33] This is also, this is our wastewater treatment facility, [00:59:36] so it's worth noting that again, [00:59:39] Pasco County pays 49.3% of this. [00:59:45] Our accomplishments for 2024 would be [00:59:49] the rehabilitation of the clarifier rake. [00:59:51] This is for a clarifier rake, [00:59:53] the rehabilitation of the clarifier rake. [00:59:55] This is for a clarifier number two. [00:59:58] For those of you. [01:00:00] who have been out there, you'll see the giant cylinders out there that have a moving rake [01:00:04] that kind of rotates and cleans up our reclaimed water. [01:00:07] That's essentially what that is. [01:00:08] So when we call these out, I'll give the specific items, but there's four of those. [01:00:13] So going down to our capital projects for our initiatives for next year, [01:00:20] I'd like to point out the rehabilitation of the clarifier rake and plow structure. [01:00:25] This is for another one of those additional tanks that you'll see out there. [01:00:29] Again, there's four of them, and we will rotate through them year [01:00:32] over year to maintain those structures. [01:00:35] If you look at the org chart on page 49, [01:00:46] if you go through the authorized personnel position list down there at the bottom, [01:00:52] you'll see the skate assistant coordinator. [01:00:54] That position's been moved from 112 over to 111. [01:00:59] So that's a typo, and we'll remove that. [01:01:07] When you say 112, what are you referring? [01:01:09] Oh, the reclamation budget, the previous budget that it was in. [01:01:22] For line item 43-129, engineering services, we brought that down 10,000 for the next year. [01:01:34] The electric city and facilities, we brought that up to 385,000, [01:01:42] and that's just based on our averages going forward for the electric for that facility. [01:01:49] For line item 44-361, that's the sludge removal, we've increased it to 700,000, [01:01:58] and these are real numbers because we've gone out to bid for this item, [01:02:02] and this is just the cost of our sludge removal. [01:02:16] For 45-221, chemicals, again, while it is at 180,000 and we've maintained that, [01:02:25] it's worth noting that these items are paid, again, 49% of this comes out of Pasco County. [01:02:39] May I ask you a question back to the sludge removal? [01:02:43] Is that a liquid? [01:02:47] It is a non-Newtonian liquid, if I could put it in that direction. [01:02:56] You could stand on it temporarily as long as you're moving. [01:02:59] Okay. So you get as much water out of it as you can to cross this under? [01:03:05] Correct. [01:03:06] So you could stand on it temporarily, or is that, that's interesting. [01:03:12] I hope that's not from experience. [01:03:14] You run across it. [01:03:15] Don't fall. [01:03:24] What number was chemicals? [01:03:25] I can't find it. [01:03:27] That's 45-221-0. [01:03:31] I'm on the wrong page, thank you. [01:03:43] Moving on to our capital, 46,399, and you have your capital equipment repairs at 15,000. [01:03:53] Clarifier catwalk, it's rehabilitation of the steel or the replacement of the steel [01:03:58] out there at 25,000. [01:04:00] The replacement of an aerator gearbox, and this is for aerator mixer number one, [01:04:06] it's at 456,000. [01:04:10] The clarifier main gearbox for clarifier one, that's at 145,000, or I'm sorry, [01:04:18] that's just the one purchased for 145,000. [01:04:22] And the clarifier rake and plow structure at 106,000. [01:04:25] This is all a part of that rehabilitation of that clarifier. [01:04:30] We'll also be replacing the chemical pump for the sodium hypochlorite at 8,500. [01:04:36] The aeration VFD, there'll be four of them at 43,000. [01:04:41] And the replacement of the inside seals and coating for the inside of aeration tank [01:04:47] number two at 750,000. [01:04:57] Good money if you can do it. [01:04:58] So within the same vein of work, we'll move on to the Public Works Sewer Collection [01:05:09] Division. [01:05:12] The accomplishments we wanted to highlight for this division for this year [01:05:16] was the completed lift station panel upgrades with the new PLCs. [01:05:23] And this is so that the city is at 100% on the communication [01:05:28] with their lift stations. [01:05:29] And again, this is a part of the installation of that SCADA, [01:05:32] so we can constantly monitor this infrastructure in place. [01:05:38] The initiatives we wanted to highlight for next year [01:05:41] would be the completion of the installation of the smart manhole [01:05:45] covers to help with the infiltration monitoring with the structures [01:05:50] immediately surrounding the river. [01:05:57] If you look at page 55 of the org chart, there are no changes there. [01:06:17] So item 43199, professional services. [01:06:21] You'll see we've decreased from 60,000 down to 40,000. [01:06:26] And our contractual services, we've brought down from 40,000 down to 37,000. [01:06:35] Telephone local, that's item 44121. [01:06:39] That's increased to 6,800. [01:06:41] And this is the addition of one cell phone and two tablets. [01:06:47] At item 44331, the solid waste removal, you'll [01:06:52] see we've increased that number to 13,600. [01:06:55] And that's just the solid waste assessment. [01:07:01] Our maintenance buildings and grounds, we've [01:07:04] increased from 80,000 to 100,000. [01:07:08] And we've increased the number of maintenance buildings [01:07:11] and grounds to 13,600. [01:07:14] 100,000, this is for anything under 10,000 with additional pump repairs [01:07:22] or any maintenance that will have to occur to these lift stations that [01:07:27] would remain underneath that $10,000 budget. [01:07:38] This department saw a decrease of 3.3%. [01:07:44] And if you look at operating supplies on the following page, it's 45299. [01:07:52] We've decreased from 24,000 down to 20,000 for that. [01:08:04] Capital this year, we've kept it pretty shy. [01:08:07] And all we focused on is having that 15,000. [01:08:10] And that's for any lift station repairs we [01:08:12] might have to do that would be over that capital threshold. [01:08:17] May I ask your camera truck, R&R, that you're effectively [01:08:24] trying to put $50,000 a year in it, except next year you're [01:08:28] saying it'll be $100,000, but this year nothing. [01:08:30] So why not put $50,000 in it this year? [01:08:34] Is there a revenue reason for that? [01:08:37] In large part driven by the fact that we're [01:08:42] asking you to appropriate so much other revenue to water pollution control [01:08:54] and the sewer collection division. [01:08:57] In large part, though, this particular collection has gone down. [01:09:02] And the other aspects of the sewer are shared. [01:09:06] So I guess my question is, without seeing the revenues, [01:09:10] as we're experiencing maybe the first full year of this change of not [01:09:15] having the bulk sewer revenue for a revenue item to our city side [01:09:23] and how that compares to the reductions in the cost of operating the plant. [01:09:28] At some point, if the expectation is that that ratchets back up. [01:09:35] But what I'm really trying to get to is now that you've got 49.4 or 3% [01:09:43] ownership by the county, obviously their share of the expenses help us. [01:09:49] But we have 100% of the collection because it's our collection system. [01:09:55] How are we with the capacity on the plant? [01:09:58] Because I know that was an issue that they needed that extra capacity [01:10:03] for Gulf Harbors, which was our bulk customer. [01:10:09] But I know you've given it to me, and you may not [01:10:11] have it on top of your head. [01:10:12] But I'll be curious as we go through the budget [01:10:15] to kind of get a sense of the new business plan for the utilities [01:10:21] as it results to the. [01:10:24] To answer your first question, the camera truck is R&R. [01:10:27] The $100,000 probably should be an alphabet like A, [01:10:32] meaning that we're going to purchase next year. [01:10:35] And then you see 50, 50, 50. [01:10:38] If we say that that type of equipment average [01:10:41] getting replaced every 10 years or every 15 years, [01:10:44] then that's how you divide the R&R up. [01:10:47] To answer the second part of your question with the capacity, [01:10:51] we are in communication with FDEP actually trying [01:10:56] to get them to acknowledge that the capacity that's [01:11:01] been assigned to the plant currently is in excess of what [01:11:07] they're thinking that we have utilized. [01:11:12] Because we've been able to supply them with our trends [01:11:15] over the last few years, stating that we are considerably less when [01:11:20] it comes to being able to what we're permitted to do [01:11:25] and what they think we're doing. [01:11:28] So to answer your question about capacity, [01:11:31] I think that we're going to find out [01:11:34] that DEP is going to say, OK, you [01:11:36] can lower your assigned capacity, which [01:11:39] means that would open up more for us to be able to take in. [01:11:44] But we've got to get all of that settled down. [01:11:47] And we've got to get those numbers before we [01:11:49] can do the business model. [01:11:52] And you're right, this is the first year [01:11:54] that Pasco County is going back to the existing rates [01:11:59] that we have in our interlocal agreement. [01:12:01] So the thought process is the revenue sufficiency analysis, [01:12:06] all of those reviews to where we can take and see [01:12:09] what shape the utility is in. [01:12:13] Good. [01:12:14] Thank you. [01:12:14] All right. [01:12:15] Thank you. [01:12:19] Thank you. [01:12:26] The next division will be the parking garage maintenance [01:12:30] division for Public Works. [01:12:33] Some of the accomplishments for this year [01:12:34] that we'd like to highlight is the implementation [01:12:36] of the security program. [01:12:38] And this will just be the installation [01:12:39] of the security cameras at the parking garage. [01:12:42] We've also maintained full operations [01:12:45] of the electric vehicle parking areas at the parking garage [01:12:48] as well. [01:12:50] Our 25 initiatives, we'd like to highlight [01:12:55] the re-stripe of the parking surfaces for next year. [01:13:07] And the implement of the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week [01:13:11] operational program, that's going to be automated, right? [01:13:16] It's an automated system, or? [01:13:17] No, we currently staff the garage with security services. [01:13:23] That's going to be physical bodies, then? [01:13:26] That's the current system, yes. [01:13:30] Are we looking to go to the other? [01:13:32] I know we've talked about it in the past. [01:13:34] We have talked about it from time to time. [01:13:36] But we have not spec'd or bid a system [01:13:38] to implement at the structure at this time. [01:13:42] Don't forget about that parking garage robot [01:13:45] that I brought to your attention last year that is actually [01:13:47] a camera that actually does a whole lot of things, [01:13:53] but apparently in the security standpoint. [01:13:56] Although I understand that the security guy is really [01:13:58] nice to the bicyclists who like to come in there and get out [01:14:01] of the heat. [01:14:02] And he gets to know them, so there's [01:14:05] a benefit of having that personal. [01:14:07] I understand that. [01:14:08] But when it comes to 24, whether it's security cameras [01:14:12] or something, but that is reactive and dispatches help [01:14:19] versus just a static camera, I don't know how that will. [01:14:23] Those little robot things, didn't Pasco County [01:14:25] have a couple of those at one of the subdivisions off of a road? [01:14:29] Yeah, I'm not sure. [01:14:32] You put a real robot in some of the cop cars, maybe, out there. [01:14:38] They had two of those security robots, [01:14:40] and they actually have a little round head, [01:14:43] and they move around in their security cameras. [01:14:45] I don't know, but folks that have been going to the IT [01:14:47] conferences are reporting back to me [01:14:50] that they spend more time talking about AI [01:14:55] between AI and security monitoring. [01:15:00] there's just an incredible explosion of advances in in that area so be [01:15:08] worthwhile looking into I think. [01:15:19] So for the parking garage expenditures we're looking at item 43 455 that's the [01:15:28] contractual fire monitoring we've added this to our fire monitoring that we [01:15:34] provide to all of these city-owned facilities we utilize. The electric which [01:15:45] is 44 311 we've increased to 18,000 that's up 3,000 from last year. Water and [01:15:55] sewer we've decreased from 12,000 down to 6,000 and we've removed the small [01:16:05] tools that's 45 141 from this budget. [01:16:25] If you move to page 64 this is the public works central garage division. [01:16:42] So one of the accomplishments we wanted to highlight for this year was the [01:16:47] completion of the auctions for six public surplus decommissioned city-owned [01:16:54] impounded vehicles and equipment. May I just stop you for a second it's so 62 [01:17:02] probably goes somewhere else I'm guessing in the budget it's not got to [01:17:07] do with the parking garage. Page 62 would not have anything it looks like that's [01:17:16] our that's our last page of our expenditures of the budget. It wouldn't [01:17:22] be page 62 anymore with it unless it's the last part of the budget. [01:17:28] The 401 fund the water and sewer fund but that shouldn't have been presented [01:17:33] right now. But we don't transfer tax increment in the amount of four million [01:17:39] dollars out of the water and sewer fund. This shouldn't you shouldn't see this [01:17:43] that's what I'm saying right this hasn't even been populated or even created [01:17:48] within gravity. Oh it's just waiting to floating to find its way at the end right [01:17:54] I hear yeah thank you. [01:18:05] For the initiatives for this division it's the implementation of fuel system [01:18:12] software and hardware upgrades and that installation will include the training [01:18:17] of those systems. Page 66 there's no changes to the organizational chart for [01:18:25] this division. [01:18:27] To the operational item 44 463 for the lease vehicles this is the addition of a [01:18:46] motor pool vehicle for City Hall here. [01:18:52] It's an addition not a replacement. I'm sorry it's a the replacement of a [01:18:58] vehicle in that I'm sorry about that. Item 45 225 this is our software [01:19:06] licensing and support. We've increased it ten thousand five hundred and this is [01:19:12] for our data all data and our fuel master data system. Underneath the [01:19:22] computers and supplies it's 45 243 you'll see the addition of one computer [01:19:27] for the staff for the fleet management. [01:19:42] If you go to page 69 for our capital you'll see a underneath a 46 431 the [01:19:53] special-purpose equipment. This is the purchase the request for the purchase [01:19:58] for a vehicle recharge air machine. This item is 7,000 and this will be [01:20:04] transported from the current facility to and will be installed also within the [01:20:10] new facility. So it's a one-time thing we're not going to be buying one for [01:20:13] this infrastructure for this structure and then having to put it in an [01:20:17] additional one for the new structure. Is the AMI upgrades is that happening at [01:20:25] that warehouse? Like does the contractor go there? I'm just curious to see if the [01:20:30] the anticipated construction there will slow things down at all. So we store our [01:20:37] meters there however we will be moving any additional meters to a separate [01:20:42] location. With that being said we're looking at closing out this AMI program [01:20:48] and project relatively soon. The installation the meters currently [01:20:54] somewhere around 73,000 out of 75 so our 7,300 out of 7,500 so we're closing in [01:21:00] on the end of this project and anticipate this being completed soon. [01:21:03] Okay and then one other thing going back to the the items that are paid for [01:21:11] shared costs with the county is there any way we can indicate that in language [01:21:16] somewhere the percentage that we pay? Like kind of how we did I asked with the [01:21:21] city manager in the CRA how it's split is there any way to indicate maybe in [01:21:25] that that paragraph at the start that it's a shared cost? You triggered off a [01:21:40] comment on the AMI system again to me which is if you're near the end of [01:21:44] getting all the meters installed this is year four I think that I've asked to see [01:21:50] if we could win or if we could add the software for residents to be able to [01:21:57] monitor their water use. I know I think we said it could be like an $80,000 cost [01:22:02] or whatever it might be but you know high water bills, water breaks, [01:22:11] discussions with the finance department about how they can't afford a $2,000 [01:22:16] water bill because they have a leak. If we have the ability for people to set [01:22:21] and see their water use whether they go on vacation or if there's a leak I know [01:22:26] we get that internally probably so you're able to get use that system [01:22:30] internally. It'd be I'd like to get some discussion about whether or not that [01:22:37] makes sense. We'll come back to you with the full fee schedule because I know [01:22:41] that there's a setup cost and then there's an annual fee and we'll bring [01:22:45] that to you for consideration. I have a question about that. Is there a way I [01:22:51] know there was talk about one of the funds I'd have to go back and increase [01:22:57] in advertising or whatever the line item is for our obligation. Robert I think it [01:23:04] was you who brought it up there was a change in rules and how we notify. Is [01:23:08] that a software that allows us to be able to notify digitally or will we [01:23:12] still have to you know go out and put things on doors or mail? Are those two [01:23:17] separate things? Those are two separate. They would be two separate. [01:23:22] If you're going to come back with some numbers let's look at it in five years or [01:23:27] something because this could be initial cost and then. Yeah actually Chris will [01:23:31] correct me and we're gonna bring it up tonight under billing. Okay. [01:23:35] Thanks. She was listening. [01:23:39] You're excused. Thank you. That was the big one. [01:23:52] Half the employees in this town. Come on up and join us Andy please. [01:23:59] Happy birthday Andy. [01:24:59] Make a noise? Yeah. [01:25:05] That big thing you should probably keep going off. Unless I go like that. Okay. Thank you. [01:25:18] Sorry. My apologies. So throughout the year while the library [01:25:28] department is working on supporting the city's strategic plan by fulfilling our [01:25:33] annual plan of service, library staff are also tracking the community's use of [01:25:39] library resources, event class attendance, reference interactions, door counts, etc. [01:25:45] etc. with the intention of meeting the interest of our community as well as the [01:25:50] expectations of city administration and City Council. While reducing expense [01:25:57] categories to lower the impact of our final balance wherever possible. The [01:26:04] increases in this year's budget requests are due to increasing cost first of all [01:26:11] and upgrades we hope to make to improve the operational functionality and to [01:26:19] provide more access to library resources to our community members. So with that [01:26:25] I'll go through some of the areas where there are the most significant changes [01:26:31] to the library's budget and I'm going to start with the total personnel services. [01:26:39] This year we have requested the increase of an additional 1.5 FTE so that equates [01:26:51] to a 20 hour per week position that will be an entry-level library position [01:26:59] for a mobile library branch. And the changes in Social Security, FRS, health [01:27:09] care insurance, those have been adjusted for that. Next up I would like to bring [01:27:23] to your attention line item 43428 internet reference services. So this is [01:27:34] the use of the library's online digital streaming e-services and if you remember [01:27:42] in the narrative the amount of usage has gone up tremendously with these e- [01:27:49] resources and digital resources. Additionally the cost of them have also [01:27:55] increased. People are using them a whole lot more and the cost has gone up. So for [01:28:03] example Hoopla has risen from $700 a month to $1,500 to $2,000 a month but the usage [01:28:14] of it is outstanding. Overdrive was also a database that had been paid for by the Tampa [01:28:21] Bay Library Consortium and this funding is no longer available so we're picking up [01:28:27] on that but it's very very popular with the people who use the library. We're [01:28:32] eliminating Learning Express which is a database and we're hoping to add Blue [01:28:38] Career by EBSCO which is a great database for basically blue-collar [01:28:44] certification and and CEU units to earn those. The Blue Career is [01:28:53] replacing the Learning Express, is it supposed to serve the same purpose? Different [01:28:57] databases, different platforms, but we think it will, right, we think that its usage [01:29:06] will be a lot higher than what Learning Express has been. The next one that I [01:29:16] want to point out is a line item 43499 for contractual services and there's an [01:29:25] increase there. It covers the rising cost of some of the library's ILS [01:29:33] integrated library systems and staff systems such as the Meraki advanced [01:29:39] security licensing and support, GoDaddy licensing for our URL which we've had [01:29:45] for, I don't know, over 20 years I think now, Chromebook licensing fees. We [01:29:52] received the ECF grant for that a couple of years ago. It's been a popular service. [01:30:00] continued even though they've kind of weeded themselves out by usage or you [01:30:05] know just disappearing or what-have-you. The ones that we do still have left get [01:30:10] used a lot so we'd like to continue using them. It's assist with the cost of [01:30:18] Verkada, security cameras, advertising that's not just a print advertising but [01:30:24] online advertising, unique solutions, sensors, that's our heat map, our door [01:30:31] counter, FDLE background searches for our volunteers, TBLC delivery dues and [01:30:39] vendor contracts like Oracle which is our elevator, our Tasty Tuesday market [01:30:45] managers, and contracted tech support for the library's ILS system. And that was [01:30:52] also moved from the software support line system into contractual services so [01:30:57] that kind of is part of the jump that you see there. The next one is for 44011 [01:31:08] travel and training. There's an additional cost here that is to assist [01:31:15] with additional training and a professional organization, NGMA, National [01:31:21] Grants Management Association conference in Washington DC for our grant [01:31:26] specialists to be able to attend. The next one 44121 telephone local. [01:31:35] It seems like there's an increase there but actually not. If you look [01:31:39] down to the burglar alarm lines, technology solutions and public works [01:31:46] have, they really deserve credit for this, for switching our burglar alarm [01:31:52] lines to a cellular service. So it's much better but the cost has [01:31:59] just been moved and it's all together in that line item now. So it's not actually [01:32:05] an increase, it's just been moved. I'll mention postage which is 44211 and so [01:32:25] that has gone up. Oh there it is. Of course postage has gone up. We are also [01:32:33] sending out more ILLs and books by mail to our residents who are homebound and [01:32:42] the bridge is coming out more regularly so an actual four times of years so that [01:32:49] is that increase. Line item 44621 with repair and maintenance equipment. [01:33:02] There is an increase here. That's because we have fulfilled our lease [01:33:09] agreement with some of our TBS technology hardware that you see on the [01:33:14] floor for printing the big massive scanner that we have for the public, a [01:33:18] smaller scanner. So we've fulfilled that lease agreement but we've moved on to a [01:33:24] maintenance contract which means that we will have to take on a little more [01:33:31] repair and replacement of some of those materials and this also includes repair [01:33:38] of the public used equipment and gets a lot of use now more than ever and just [01:33:46] sometimes it needs replacement. It gets broken, things happen so that explains [01:33:54] those costs. Printing and binding 44799. Printing and binding would include the [01:34:06] cost of the bridge, the graphics for the bridge, also printing library flyers, [01:34:15] library swag, and library cards. So all of those costs are associated together. [01:34:24] I'm going to mention 45211 which is fuel. That is an estimate and it's for [01:34:33] the hopeful mobile library. So that is what that is for. That's a new cost. [01:34:44] Moving down 45225 software licenses and support. There's a small increase here to [01:34:58] cover the rising cost of some of the the library's ILS software and Apollo [01:35:03] and MeScan. Those are our self checks and the app that you can download to your [01:35:08] phone to check out materials online there. Library Online, Canva, Adobe, those [01:35:15] are all platforms that library staff use to create some of our marketing and [01:35:23] graphics materials. Also, it includes a new annual cost and that's for the [01:35:30] public-facing page of Granicus for the library. So we've added a little more [01:35:42] specificity, thank you, for the library's page to make it easier for a [01:35:51] library users to search the catalog or search the website and be able to get [01:35:56] back to the home page for the city. [01:36:03] Let's see, 45239 bus passes. That's a fairly new expense but [01:36:16] however all of this is reimbursed. So we pay for the the bus passes up front and [01:36:23] then the library sells them. We are selling about at least one a day I would [01:36:28] say. So all of that is reimbursed plus the city makes 10% on those sales which [01:36:36] is the same amount that is made by other organizations. Pasco County Library [01:36:41] System also sells it and that's the deal. So that's like $350 a year. [01:36:50] Does that pass along or does the county eat the 10 cents difference? No, no, it goes back to the city. [01:37:03] If I buy a ticket directly from the bus, am I paying 10% more at the library? [01:37:12] No, it's absolutely the same wherever you go. We get a commission on the sale. [01:37:18] The county's eating that. Well, they're just eating a little less. They have a bite out of their [01:37:24] sandwich so to speak. The next for computer supplies 45243 we are [01:37:37] requesting the replacement rotation of some of our technologies. So six Macs and [01:37:45] three iPads and not the M3 versions that there have been some hardware flaws with [01:37:52] but basically what it is is we'll cycle out the oldest computers. They're still [01:37:59] working. They're from 2015, 2017, and 2019. However, the issue is that their [01:38:06] operating systems are no longer supported by cybersecurity software that [01:38:12] our tech solutions department wants us to have for for our own safety. So it's [01:38:23] no longer supported by websites, softwares, licenses for office programs, [01:38:30] Adobe Creative, firewalls, etc. So this will help us be able to stay safe with [01:38:39] our cybersecurity protocols that the city has to follow and should follow. [01:38:47] The next 45289 in automotive parts. So that's a new cost that I'm [01:39:01] requesting and that is an estimate that was recommended by the finance and [01:39:08] public works department based on other city vehicle usage. The next 45290 [01:39:18] miscellaneous snap programming cost. Again you'll notice an increase but all [01:39:24] of this is reimbursed. So I'll let you know that. Through the fresh access box [01:39:35] feeding Florida program because we are a participant of the SNAP and EBT benefits. [01:39:42] So why this has increased so much I think is for various reasons. We've got [01:39:48] more vendors. There's more foot traffic at Tasty Tuesdays. Also maybe there's [01:39:55] more usage of SNAP and EBT amongst people who are in our area and the [01:40:02] costs of things have increased even at Tasty Tuesdays here locally. So there's [01:40:09] been a large increase there. That's the main use of it is Tasty Tuesdays or? [01:40:15] That is all of the use. That is the use. I was out there today and there's not [01:40:20] there's less and less things to taste. It's more and more stuff being sold. [01:40:27] Does that have to do with the season? Absolutely that's exactly right. Our [01:40:32] Florida grow season it has kind of come to a halt and that was part of the [01:40:38] purpose of adding some some artisans to the mix to help keep foot traffic going [01:40:45] there in the summer. So this year today we had I think 19 vendors but this time [01:40:51] two years ago when we didn't have artists and vendors or even before the [01:40:57] pandemic there might be five less than a handful. So the market is just all [01:41:03] around busier which is helpful for the people who are vendors here who live [01:41:09] here who grew things here with our urban gardening ordinance and that type of [01:41:14] thing. Good questions. So the next thing I wanted to point out is the automobile [01:41:28] and this is quite a large ask. I realize that as you see listed in the budget [01:41:35] narrative mobile library would play a crucial role in expanding library [01:41:42] services and resources to people with limited access. So our hope is if this [01:41:49] should be approved that will give priority to high-density housing areas, [01:41:55] VPKs, residential areas with seniors, veterans, ALFs and those considered low [01:42:03] income or mobility challenged. Due to the specialized equipment that the vehicle [01:42:11] will be equipped with the recommendation initially of the Public Works [01:42:15] Department was to look at purchasing a sprinter site, a sprinter style high [01:42:22] cargo roof style van and have it outfitted as necessary with specialized [01:42:30] liftgate, an awning, a speaker, you know folding tables, book carts that will roll [01:42:38] in and out of the liftgate easily, printer, we'll use some of the laptops [01:42:47] that we already have and perhaps either a generator or maybe a solar panel as a [01:42:57] and some way to stabilize everything. So it's quite a large ask and our friends [01:43:06] at the library organization has been really striving hard to help us meet [01:43:14] that goal, help the library and the city meet that goal for the community. And I [01:43:24] think that might be it, unless you have any other questions or unless I left [01:43:29] something out. I have a question about the the care center, the Alfres care [01:43:35] center, because I know you have have or have had a remote library there in Alfres [01:43:42] to which with CARES being out and the county taking over that building, what is [01:43:51] the, maybe it's a minimal amount of effort to go put some books in and bring [01:43:56] them back, but with the mobile library you could find yourself not needing to [01:44:04] have a physical location, I'm guessing, if you, to service Alfres. Is there [01:44:13] thoughts on that? The director of Pasco County Library System and I have been [01:44:21] talking about that and our goal is to work together with our libraries and to [01:44:30] be able to serve, you know, the community in this area. I don't know what specific [01:44:37] plans they have projected for that building and what they hope to have [01:44:45] happen, but I did indicate to John McGarvey that I would be very interested [01:44:52] in having the library continue to work with them and for the benefit of our [01:45:00] community as well as, you know, it's a requirement for our state aid [01:45:05] application to work together with our county library system. Not that we [01:45:11] wouldn't otherwise, we would absolutely do that, but it's something to know. [01:45:17] Great, any partnership is welcome. [01:45:22] And the only other thing I thought you might want to mention to the council is the level of [01:45:25] participation that the funds are willing to contribute. [01:45:29] Excellent, okay. Well, they, let's go, it'll be a secret. I'll just share it with you all and nobody else. [01:45:38] Right, right, close to a matching thing is $50,000. Yeah, $50,000. [01:45:49] Hard to turn down a good effort from the public like that. Absolutely, by many, many [01:45:59] people, organizations, businesses, for several years. Good. It's a good thing they've sold [01:46:09] out their 100-year party. Already? Yeah. Well, they sold it out? It's not? Oh, nice. Regarding the mobile [01:46:22] library, I had a chance to go out and look at a model for this library at the [01:46:26] county, and just to share with the rest of council, the way I see it is that this [01:46:31] $95,000 is not for a van, it's for the partnerships with friends, it's also the [01:46:38] marketing element, getting out to our schools for their events, we can use it [01:46:41] then. You mentioned the use of the technology, and so it's not just a [01:46:47] matter of like with our physical library system where we have mobile [01:46:53] libraries that way, the front of the, what would you call this, I guess those are [01:46:56] considered mobile libraries too, like the one outside the rec center, those are [01:47:00] just the books, but we don't have to just do books when we're going out to these [01:47:03] communities, we can, you know, use the laptops, we can do different activities [01:47:08] with, whether it be the senior centers or our schools, and so this is meeting [01:47:14] people where they are, and I think the library is running out of ways. First [01:47:18] they have the building and the website, and you're running out of ways, so you're [01:47:21] like, we're gonna go knock on people's doors with this van if we need to, I tell [01:47:24] you what, and I think it's very exciting, and I'm so glad the Friends was able to [01:47:27] fundraise what they did. Well, related to partnerships too, the library is such a [01:47:34] central part with its grants for the help of all of the different divisions [01:47:39] of the city, as well as, as we've talked before, I know our mayor has mentioned it [01:47:45] before, the need for us to consolidate our calendars and our events, and you all [01:47:50] put so many events on as well to make sure that your events, the rec [01:47:54] department's events, so partnering throughout the divisions, I think, was a [01:47:58] topic last year at this time, so might as well just drive to the Loquat Festival [01:48:06] and order some Loquat books because you'll probably sell them. I had one [01:48:13] question not related to the bookmobile. Which one of these is the internet [01:48:18] usage? Because I know there was talk a couple years back, or at least I assume there was [01:48:22] when I, before I got in council, I was speaking to a librarian and asked why [01:48:27] when you go on the computers for public use, it is throttled down a lot. Like you [01:48:33] you'll wait at least 20 seconds for a page to load, and so I'm sure there, I was [01:48:37] told there's a cost reason behind that, and I was just curious which one of [01:48:41] these line items cover internet usage. Speed. Well, I think that would be under [01:48:47] the data lines. Do we throttle down? No, and in fact things have gotten a lot [01:48:53] better this year. We have worked tirelessly with our tech solutions [01:48:59] department to make some serious upgrades, not just with cyber security, but with [01:49:06] our lines and our Wi-Fi, how our Wi-Fi was running inside the facility, and I [01:49:16] think you'll notice some large improvements. That's on the public end, like [01:49:20] those computers set up across the board. I'll have to go in there tomorrow and sign in and see what happens. [01:49:25] It's been like a year and a half, so I don't know if things have [01:49:28] changed, so I'll have to go check it out. A lot of work has been done on the [01:49:33] inside of it, on the back end of it, so hopefully you'll notice a difference. [01:49:39] Looks like you got a good response on your big ask, thanks to the Friends of [01:49:45] the Library. Thank you. If you could join us. [01:50:00] Jane, you know the seat's here. Yes. Good evening, Mayor, good evening, City [01:50:07] Council. Tonight I have the pleasure of presenting to you the proposed FY 24, [01:50:12] 2024-25 Human Resource Budget. I guess for sake of starting here, I'm going to [01:50:18] jump, I think, to page 79 on the organizational chart, because I'd like to [01:50:24] start my overview tonight by discussing the most significant item that's being [01:50:27] requested in this year's HR budget. Human Resources is requesting the addition of [01:50:32] a new position for FY 2024-25. The new position would be for a full-time Human [01:50:38] Resources business partner. This position would be utilized to assist [01:50:42] with the modernization of the department, completing multiple and necessary [01:50:47] projects, and improving the services we offer to our employees and the public. We [01:50:52] would be seeking an experienced and highly trained professional to fill this [01:50:56] position. Several of the increased costs reflected in several of the personnel [01:51:01] and operations line items for FY 2024-25 are associated with the addition of this [01:51:08] new position and the need to account for the additional wages, the benefits, [01:51:12] computer equipment, and supplies for this position. The next item that I'd like to [01:51:17] highlight is account 43112, which is the Labor Attorney Services, which has [01:51:24] been increased from $6,500 to $15,000. It was necessary to reallocate [01:51:31] additional funds into this account for FY 2023 and 2024 due to multiple [01:51:37] negotiation sessions that were required to achieve collective bargaining, new [01:51:42] collective bargaining agreements with both the police and the firefighter [01:51:44] union. The increased requests for 2024 and 2025 will still be below the current [01:51:51] expenditures to date for these same services. The requested increase over FY [01:51:57] 2023 and 2024 is reflective of the anticipated costs that will be needed to [01:52:01] negotiate two new wage reopener agreements, one with the Police [01:52:05] Department and one with the Fire Department for this upcoming year here, [01:52:09] as well as to negotiate a likely first-time collective bargaining [01:52:13] agreement with a potentially new representative group out of the Fire [01:52:17] Department. So again, having to do a new contract from start to finish if that [01:52:23] comes to fruition here will be a lengthy process. We will have to negotiate every [01:52:28] article for that new contract, for that new group. I'm sorry, so there's a [01:52:33] reopener for the police and there's a reopener for fire. Yes, sir. And then next year [01:52:37] there's going to be a new contract for fire? Yes, there will be for [01:52:42] their district chiefs. Oh, understood. Okay. Yes, for new, again, to try to not call [01:52:49] that group out necessarily, but that is who it would represent in the Fire [01:52:52] Department is the district chiefs have requested to organize and they have had [01:52:57] an election. We are waiting for the results to see if for those three [01:53:01] positions, whether they actually have agreed to that. Again, it'll be a [01:53:05] majority vote, so if only one votes in the affirmative, again, we will have to [01:53:09] deal with that. If it's split, we'll see. Only two members could vote at this [01:53:14] time for it, so we're waiting to see what the PERC, you know, finalizes that vote [01:53:19] and tells us what it is. The next account that I'd like to highlight is 43199 [01:53:26] professional services miscellaneous. This has been increased from 55,000 to [01:53:31] 80,000 to again be more reflective of actual trend and need. It was necessary [01:53:37] to reallocate additional funds into this account for FY 2023-2024. However, we [01:53:43] still anticipate the additional costs will be incurred in this slide item for [01:53:47] 2024 and 2025 due to additional use of consultants for compensation reviews, [01:53:53] benefits and risk management analysis, recruitment, candidate travel, moving [01:53:59] expenses, and other operational services. In addition, we anticipate additional [01:54:03] costs associated with pre-employment background screenings, physicals, job [01:54:08] postings, and drug tests. Next account is 43413, which is employee [01:54:16] support programs, which has been increased from 25,000 to 31,000. Again, to [01:54:22] be more reflective of actual trend and need. This request reflects additional [01:54:26] costs associated with the annual employee Christmas party, the employee [01:54:30] Christmas bonus, special event rental and foods, and the city manager and HR [01:54:34] employee incentive reward program, and finally the employee discount program. [01:54:40] Next, I'd like to briefly comment on accounts 44511, which is liability [01:54:46] insurance. Account 44521, building and contents. Account 44522, pollution [01:54:55] insurance, and account 44523, automobile and truck insurance. Once again, all [01:55:02] members of the public risk management pool have been advised that rate [01:55:07] increases are coming across from the state of Florida. We've been informed on [01:55:12] our end, through World Risk Management, to anticipate these lines of coverage [01:55:16] will likely increase by at least 10%. However, we are still waiting those [01:55:20] actual numbers within the upcoming weeks. As you know, unfortunately, sometimes [01:55:24] these insurance, they come in very late, so we are waiting for that, but the [01:55:27] early projection from them is at least 10% on these accounts. And that, I [01:55:33] don't believe, is accounted for on your sheet at the moment, because again, we [01:55:36] don't want to put a sort of unwarranted number in there at that point. [01:55:42] Finally, the last item that I'd like to highlight here is that the city [01:55:46] manager and myself have continued discussions with our health insurance [01:55:49] broker and consultants regarding our employee benefit programs, our plans for [01:55:54] 2024-25. We have requested our broker to shop the market and seek new bids [01:56:01] for services from interested providers. The city continues to experience [01:56:06] several large employee claims, while the cost of health care steadily [01:56:09] increases nationally. Initial rate proposals provided by several carriers [01:56:15] were high, and they're of concern to us. However, we continue to push back for [01:56:21] better proposal and lower rates. Here again, we are awaiting final rate [01:56:26] proposals and coverages before we can make the best selection and [01:56:28] recommendation to you, for you and for the city and our employees. That's [01:56:35] kind of a quick synopsis of that, and again, I'd be happy to answer specific [01:56:38] questions to these items or anything else. Yes, Mayor, again, for us, what I'm [01:56:47] looking for is someone to come in and assist. We are severely behind in our IT [01:56:52] utilization. Again, one of the things that I point out, we really have not had [01:56:56] that, you know, the department has really not had the time and opportunity to kind [01:56:59] of devote to modernizing and using our IT technology. One of the simplest things [01:57:04] is applications. We still do paper applications, you know, so we, you know, [01:57:09] the world I come from and the world that we are living in today is to have [01:57:13] that automated. So I'm looking for somebody that will have some computer [01:57:16] skills to go in and be able to work with IT and work with finance and work [01:57:20] with other departments to increase our IT utilization within the HR [01:57:24] department. Again, I'll say this, a younger generation does not like paper. [01:57:29] They very much use a computer and use systems from that end, and even the [01:57:33] older generation does that. I mean, I see every day the folks going into Andy's [01:57:37] library and the people using the technology over there. We're just not [01:57:40] utilized for that. That's one issue. We have to look at our policies and [01:57:43] procedures, which, again, I know has been a project that has been talked about for [01:57:47] years. We haven't got to updating it. So I'm really looking for somebody, again, [01:57:50] that's going to be experienced, that can help, along with myself, kind of devote [01:57:53] time and trying to update this stuff and get us where we need to be. We, you know, [01:57:58] we, one of the things that, again, for me is our benefits and our benefit [01:58:02] programs. You know, we have an outside group or a firm or a consultant broker [01:58:07] that talks to our employees about new employee orientation and doing their [01:58:10] benefits. That's something that I firmly believe we should be bringing back in [01:58:13] house, you know, Mayor, that, again, you're interacting with a city employee and [01:58:17] that we have a better handle on it. We can look at our benefits and look at [01:58:21] our bills and look at who's covered, not covered, and, you know, for me, from a [01:58:25] larger part, too, is to take some of that off to give it to this position so I can [01:58:29] concentrate on our broker and our vendors and stuff along those lines. [01:58:32] Because, honestly, for what we have and what we're facing with some of these [01:58:35] health care costs and benefits, I think there's savings. Ms. Manns and I have [01:58:39] been very much in conversation and looking at our current arrangements and [01:58:43] knowing that there's some, there's savings to this city that has to [01:58:48] do with our policies and procedures and our coverages and our plans that we [01:58:53] have in insurance. And even some of the... [01:58:55] You're good for a pretty talented person. [01:58:57] I am, Mayor, and that's probably why we have this salary relatively high. So, again, it's not for an [01:59:02] entry-level person. I'll say it here, you know, again, I think we have requested the [01:59:06] position to be at, like, $55,000. That's just pure salary. So, again, we're looking [01:59:10] for somebody that's going to be a little bit more seasoned than someone coming [01:59:13] out of college or, again, I would love to have the opportunity to train somebody [01:59:16] and mentor somebody, but, Mayor, with only having a department of three people... [01:59:21] No, I understand. I just want to know more. You're really looking for a diversified person. [01:59:27] Yes, yes, sir. Again, I would like to say part of this, too, and, again, I think Ms. [01:59:33] Manz will kick me under the table, is also for a succession planning, you know, [01:59:36] for, you know, for even for as we develop in this department. I'd like to tell you [01:59:40] I'm going to be here for 10 years, but, again, I need to get that department [01:59:43] ready for, you know, for, again, change in the future and who's going to continue to [01:59:47] grow that so you have some stability so you're not always on the market looking [01:59:50] to bring somebody like myself in from the outside. [01:59:53] Mayor, if I may, what are the current responses? Can you compare and contrast... [02:00:00] trust, what we got going on between the human resource manager and what would be this business [02:00:04] partner role? [02:00:05] I think that, if you'll allow me, what's important to say is what we're not getting done. [02:00:12] And that's evident. [02:00:15] I think it was when we introduced our strategic plan to you, many of the goals and the objectives [02:00:22] that were set forward for us were just stagnant. [02:00:25] We're not getting to them. [02:00:27] We're not able, with our current capacity, to do employee training, to do succession [02:00:35] planning in the organization, to conduct exit interviews or stay interviews with employees. [02:00:42] And those are just inherent functions of the Department of Human Resources that should [02:00:47] be done. [02:00:49] And all of the things that we want to do for employee engagement don't get activated. [02:00:57] They get talked about, the committees get talked about, meetings don't get convened, [02:01:05] action doesn't get taken after meetings. [02:01:07] We need somebody that can really activate those things. [02:01:09] I think it's tough with that many employees to have just three people in HR. [02:01:13] It absolutely is. [02:01:14] It's too hard. [02:01:15] It is too hard. [02:01:16] I used to run an HR department for a laboratory, and it was very difficult. [02:01:20] HR gets behind, everything gets behind. [02:01:22] Absolutely, yeah. [02:01:23] And yeah, I think it's exciting to bring on another person to assist with that. [02:01:28] Is there any way I can get, I know it'll be a while for the business partner one, or even [02:01:32] an imagined idea of what those roles and responsibilities would look like, or if we've used a template [02:01:38] from other cities of what, because I love the verbal conversation, but I'd like to know [02:01:44] hard-lined the difference between those two roles and where they overlap and where they'll [02:01:49] work together. [02:01:51] If I can make that request to the city manager to get... [02:01:54] HR department have that information? [02:01:56] Come on. [02:01:57] Just kidding. [02:01:58] No, actually, again, to answer your question, again, we can provide a job description to [02:02:04] you to what... [02:02:05] If you don't mind. [02:02:06] Yeah. [02:02:07] You know, Councilman, again, I have instituted this position elsewhere, again, from a standpoint, [02:02:13] it's a modern term, as you see, kind of human resource business partner. [02:02:15] There's usually a business partner, and they also have a different kind of position called [02:02:18] an analyst that does a little bit more with the numbers and a little more kind of analytics [02:02:23] and stuff along those lines. [02:02:24] I'm not asking for that at this point in time. [02:02:26] I really need the hands-on person to do that. [02:02:29] And some of that, too, is, again, is once we put this person in, is we'll be able to [02:02:32] kind of look at, even within the HR department, the strengths and weaknesses of what we have [02:02:36] for our current staff, and to move some of those duties and responsibilities around. [02:02:40] And I think a little bit of, you know, some of the differentiations, the HR manager is [02:02:45] kind of focused a lot on some of the risk management stuff, the workers' comp and stuff [02:02:48] along those lines. [02:02:49] And, again, so, again, we're going to shift some... [02:02:53] Again, I don't know if we're going to shift it, but we're going to have this person learn [02:02:55] it as well, so that we have, again, I'm one of those folks that, you know, you try to [02:03:00] get rid of the silos, and you try to get rid of the person that holds the Coca-Cola formula, [02:03:04] that, you know, we have everybody kind of cross-trained, and, you know, again, when [02:03:07] someone's out, we can function, because I see that even today a little bit. [02:03:11] I know I'm new, but, you know, it's kind of, if somebody's out, well, that person's out [02:03:14] of the office, so I've got to wait until they come back. [02:03:16] I'm not okay with that. [02:03:17] So we need to just become a little more diversified. [02:03:19] Absolutely. [02:03:20] And to Kelly's point, I think it's exciting that we're, because, correct me if I'm wrong, [02:03:25] it's been quite a while since the HR department's seen a little bit of an expansion, and so [02:03:31] I think it's exciting. [02:03:33] I just want to, and this is not questioning the role, I think the role is exciting. [02:03:36] I just want to know where those Coca-Cola formula, what the Coca-Cola formula is, and [02:03:42] who's getting what, who's sipping what. [02:03:44] We can definitely show that and show you what the difference on the two positions are, and [02:03:47] again, so that position, like I said, I do have a job description, I just got to transfer [02:03:51] it over to our letterhead. [02:03:53] He's not used to not being able to get a word in. [02:03:55] Yeah, if I could have a pause that refreshes. [02:03:58] I can't hear again. [02:04:01] Yeah, that's fine. [02:04:02] No, it's all good conversation, but I want to acknowledge a couple things. [02:04:07] One, the city manager has worked much over the last several years doing a lot more HR [02:04:14] work from wage rates, et cetera. [02:04:19] With respect to the IT and the system, I would turn to our finance director and suggest that [02:04:28] Tyler Systems have incredible good software systems. [02:04:33] The county is online with that, a small city of Dade City is just acquiring that kind of [02:04:38] process, so I would hesitate to hire an IT person to, onboarding is important, the interaction [02:04:51] with our residents, all that is important. [02:04:56] I think that we do need a good plan for the HR moving forward, but I would certainly suggest [02:05:05] that if you acquire a software system that will allow you to recruit easier, have people [02:05:14] file things online, look up their benefits, have access to modifying their own employee [02:05:21] records, that you might have to look critically at the needs of the people and the skill sets [02:05:32] that you have in place. [02:05:36] To me, it's not just we need more people. [02:05:39] To me, it means we need a more efficient operation, and I'm not saying I'm against hiring this [02:05:44] other individual, but we need to have well-defined roles and a strong HR department. [02:05:53] I just think a big part of that is that they're so swamped right now that they don't have [02:05:58] time to do any of those things to improve it, so bringing in somebody that has a little [02:06:03] bit of knowledge in a lot of different areas can be that person that can take over some [02:06:07] of those things so that they can move and do those things. [02:06:10] Right now, none of those goals are being accomplished that we set for last year because [02:06:14] it's time to do it. [02:06:15] Just dealing with people coming in and going out can take your whole day. [02:06:18] Right. [02:06:19] You've got to get those things in place so that you can stop it up here instead of back [02:06:23] here. [02:06:24] But get the best tools. [02:06:26] Yeah. [02:06:27] Councilman, again. [02:06:28] Right. [02:06:29] Take those skill sets you don't already have. [02:06:31] The issue is, again, we have the technology. [02:06:33] This person really is not an IT person. [02:06:35] I'm really not looking for an IT person. [02:06:36] We have all the modules and everything else, as long as we just don't use them. [02:06:40] There you go. [02:06:41] We just don't use them efficiently. [02:06:42] We use them enough. [02:06:43] What I'm really looking for is somebody that will know our processes, know how we function, [02:06:48] so that when we try to use those tools and modules, that we build it, because that's [02:06:52] really what has to occur. [02:06:53] We have to build it. [02:06:54] Nobody gives it to you off the shelf, so we have to build it. [02:06:57] I'm really looking for this person to be involved in knowing how we build this out, [02:07:01] how it interacts, and how we can be, to your point, be more efficient and operate better [02:07:06] using technology instead of paper forms and three times, four times, entering stuff along [02:07:10] those lines. [02:07:11] That's really kind of what I'm looking for. [02:07:12] Is everyone getting electronic pay stubs now? [02:07:16] Are. [02:07:17] Yes. [02:07:18] You're using it. [02:07:19] We're using it. [02:07:20] Those employees have access to go into the system and make those changes. [02:07:24] It sounds like it's either a training issue or ... [02:07:27] We're getting there. [02:07:28] It's going to take a little while to get there for everything else. [02:07:31] There are other modules that we need to implement. [02:07:33] Where would they be? [02:07:34] Is there space in the ... [02:07:35] We have room. [02:07:36] Is there space in there? [02:07:37] There's room in there? [02:07:38] Yeah. [02:07:39] We do have space. [02:07:40] Thank you. [02:07:41] Thank you. [02:07:42] Thank you. [02:07:43] Exciting. [02:07:44] All right. [02:07:45] Mr. Horvath, all the way in the back. [02:07:46] Come on up. [02:07:47] Good evening. [02:07:48] Thank you for inviting me to your budget party. [02:07:49] I don't know about you, but ... [02:07:51] You were supposed to bring the cocktails. [02:07:52] What happened? [02:07:53] I got the shots back there. [02:07:54] Are you ready to snap into a Slim Jim and have some fun here or what? [02:07:55] I can't drink yet. [02:07:56] He's giving me a pot. [02:07:57] He's giving me ... [02:07:58] You can serve us. [02:07:59] Thank you so much. [02:08:00] A hundred percent. [02:08:01] See you. [02:08:02] Thank you. [02:08:03] Thank you. [02:08:04] Thank you. [02:08:05] Thank you. [02:08:06] Thank you. [02:08:07] Thank you. [02:08:08] Thank you. [02:08:09] Thank you. [02:08:10] Thank you. [02:08:11] Thank you. [02:08:12] Thank you. [02:08:13] Thank you. [02:08:14] Thank you. [02:08:15] Thank you. [02:08:16] Thank you. [02:08:17] Thank you. [02:08:18] Thank you. [02:08:20] I don't know. [02:08:21] To me, the budget is always one of the most exciting times of the year because it's where we go from strategic planning to strategic doing. [02:08:27] When you talk about your strategic plan, hopefully you're excited because you're talking about the potential of ourselves, of our team, of our community. [02:08:35] But we're talking about it. [02:08:37] The budget is where you go from talking the talk to walking the walk because it's the bottom line. [02:08:43] What are we actually going to do? [02:08:46] It's right here in the black and white in the numbers. [02:08:49] With the strategic plan, you talk about what you're going to do, but the budget is when you actually do it. [02:08:55] I don't know if any of you are golfers, but sometimes you drive for show, but you putt for dough. [02:09:01] That's what the budget's about. [02:09:03] It's about getting it done. [02:09:04] You know in economic development, this is where we plan, coordinate, and facilitate our efforts to support innovation, job creation, retention, expansion, and private development. [02:09:14] We partner with the CRA. [02:09:15] In a city celebrating 100 years that is pretty much developed, that celebrates being a historic hometown, and almost the entire city is a CRA, [02:09:26] you can imagine that a lot of what we do in economic development is actually redevelopment. [02:09:30] In fact, there's so much overlap. [02:09:32] You kind of have to ask, well, hey, where does one begin and where does one end? [02:09:37] Where does the other begin? [02:09:38] Where are the lines? [02:09:40] Really, the line is that in economic development, you have the ability to invest more directly in job-based grants [02:09:47] and can more directly pursue goals relating to tourism, special events, public art, marketing, and general government services, [02:09:54] which include things like transportation, recreation, education. [02:09:57] That's a really important point of distinction, and in the proposed budget numbers before you, [02:10:03] that really is the distinction between this year and past years is trying to get the marketing in the right place. [02:10:09] So your economic development department and your CRA share function and goals and, of course, vision, [02:10:17] and previously we've allocated things like the department head position and marketing to the CRA and vice versa, [02:10:26] and this proposed budget tries to get the right things in the right place. [02:10:31] So under Florida statutes and the current interpretation thereof, marketing, [02:10:36] pure marketing expenses are more appropriately allocated to your economic development department [02:10:44] and shouldn't be in the CRA, so you see the marketing specialist coming over to the economic development department. [02:10:49] And going back to the idea of where the split should be, the department head, half of that is proposed to shift to your CRA, [02:10:58] so you're seeing that proposed shift. [02:11:01] And really, as ACM slash economic development director, which entails so much community redevelopment here, [02:11:10] in a city where the whole city is a CRA and that puts strain on your general fund, [02:11:16] I really want to make recommendations to you through the manager naturally that the CRA is paying what it should pay [02:11:23] so that the economic development department doesn't have to. [02:11:26] And that's that half of that department head. [02:11:30] As far as what that budget goes towards, I hope that, you know, obviously we partner with the CRA, [02:11:37] the city departments, public works, parks and rec, the library, police, all of them. [02:11:42] They're just all great partners. [02:11:44] Hopefully you take heart, and it's been over 20 years that you guys have been dreaming about the downtown gateway sign [02:11:50] and say there's a downtown there, and that went up. [02:11:53] Magnuson went down. [02:11:54] Aqua Harbor is going up. [02:11:56] That 5432 Acorn Street property came back to us. [02:12:00] We closed on that. [02:12:01] Montemayor is under contract. [02:12:03] That will be a next year's success, but it's in the hopper. [02:12:06] You guys celebrated a beautiful Missouri grand redevelopment project where the estuary is home. [02:12:12] You continue to support the Ritchie Suncoast Theater and got that grant done. [02:12:16] You did a number of commercial real estate and intended improvement projects highlighted by Steamworks, [02:12:20] Julian's, Grand Boulevard, small renovation project. [02:12:26] We'll bump that bullet back out. [02:12:28] You got a children's museum summer program pilot program done thanks to a lot of people working hard, [02:12:37] including the council and also the library and parks and rec. [02:12:41] You got a lot of irons in the fire. [02:12:44] You welcomed tens of businesses. [02:12:47] You're working hard with Main Street, and they're doing great things. [02:12:50] And next year we're going to be working on those strategic priorities, [02:12:54] and if we get a handful of these things done, you're going to be hanging a pennant, [02:12:59] a flag in the championship banner in the rafters. [02:13:02] You're going to see redevelopment of the former hospital site coming forward here in the next 30 days. [02:13:09] I'm sure that you and the manager are going to make something happen with Historic Gulf High School, [02:13:14] and we're going to close on that. [02:13:16] We're going to be working hard on the redevelopment of Riverside Inn, [02:13:20] Aqua Harbor naturally, Main and River, that's the boat ramp, the Rivergate Palm District, [02:13:25] that's where SunTrust Chewist is at. [02:13:29] So, I mean, you can see the list. [02:13:31] It's a big-time list. [02:13:33] And we're going to level up on our key performance indicators. [02:13:36] We're going to be tracking the CRA total taxable value, value new construction, [02:13:40] value of additions and remodels, number of new businesses, number of licensed businesses, [02:13:45] number of retention and expansion leads, number of new business prospects, and average annual wage. [02:13:51] At the end of the day, your economic development, we're doing those things, [02:13:55] job creation, innovation, and private development, [02:14:00] in the hopes that your people, our people, cannot just pursue happiness, [02:14:04] they can actually capture it, they can actually have an additional level of prosperity. [02:14:09] And one of the things that we can look at to see if we're moving the needle or not, [02:14:13] hey, where's our average annual wage, and where are we over time, where are we compared to benchmarks? [02:14:20] So as I have the privilege of settling in and working for the manager [02:14:25] and through her to you in the community, [02:14:28] you'll see just kind of increasing, enhancing the way that we measure, [02:14:33] hey, are we doing the job, are we moving the needle, are we making things happen? [02:14:38] So as we turn the page and we get into the actual numbers, [02:14:41] you can see that what I had let in with that the department head position, [02:14:48] you're seeing whereas before you had a full position, it's a half a position, [02:14:51] because half of it's being proposed to go to the CRA, [02:14:55] and that marketing specialist that the CRA previously paid for really should be paid for. [02:15:00] by economic development. [02:15:01] So you're seeing that change, and that obviously carries [02:15:04] over to the numbers, and they just, I don't, [02:15:08] I won't read through all the line items and get [02:15:10] into the postage, the big, unless you ask the questions, [02:15:13] the big moving pieces are those staffing pieces, [02:15:16] and then actually giving that staff some funding [02:15:19] and ad slash marketing, that's that line item 43422, [02:15:23] so they can actually do some things. [02:15:25] I think that you and the community [02:15:27] for a long time have been, hey, [02:15:30] how could we market the community? [02:15:32] What's the right way to market? [02:15:35] And so I think that we have to have a conversation, [02:15:37] working hard, smart, and together, [02:15:39] about what the role of business is, [02:15:41] what the role of Main Street organization is, [02:15:44] what the role of the chamber is, [02:15:45] then what the role of the city is. [02:15:47] So we're gonna have to sit down and hash that out [02:15:51] and come up with our plan, but then when we identify [02:15:53] who's doing what to whom for how much, [02:15:56] we'll have our new marketing specialist on board, [02:15:59] working with our team to really drive that marketing [02:16:02] of our destination, of our downtown, of our community, [02:16:05] and of being, right now, one of the best [02:16:08] walkable waterfront historic hometowns in Florida, [02:16:10] on our way to being the best. [02:16:12] So we'll be working on that. [02:16:15] But then everything else is just like, [02:16:17] hey, how could we get those numbers down, [02:16:19] because we know we shifted some over there, [02:16:21] and then in the future, making sure that we split [02:16:25] the expenditures between the CRA and the city [02:16:29] in the right way, and that's it. [02:16:32] That's what I got for you. [02:16:33] You got questions? [02:16:33] You wanna? [02:16:34] Do you have an idea of how you're gonna help [02:16:37] the chamber find a new home? [02:16:39] Well, I mean, ultimately, I make recommendations [02:16:42] to the manager and you. [02:16:44] I mean, I'm great at you as a team. [02:16:46] Yeah, but you put me on the spot. [02:16:48] I have no problem stepping up to the plate [02:16:50] to see if I get in trouble with the boss there, [02:16:52] but look, where they're at right now. [02:16:54] She can answer this. [02:16:55] She's got the sharp shoes on, [02:16:57] because she didn't get the last guy, [02:17:00] but she was close. [02:17:00] Preliminary discussion. [02:17:02] And I met with the chamber yesterday. [02:17:03] I met with the interim leadership yesterday, [02:17:07] and I want to step on that. [02:17:09] And I talked to them, too. [02:17:10] I don't know if we've told them the same thing. [02:17:12] We better have, or I'm in big-time trouble. [02:17:15] What'd you tell them? [02:17:17] I said that we look forward to the change in leadership [02:17:21] and your plans for the future, [02:17:25] that we're in a special time right now in NPR, [02:17:27] and that we have so many of our organizations [02:17:30] in the ebb and flow of life. [02:17:31] They're on a flow. [02:17:33] And we're looking for you to step up [02:17:35] and experience a similar thing to what's happened [02:17:37] to the Ritchie Suncoast Theater [02:17:38] and the Main Street Organization [02:17:40] and our city as a whole right now. [02:17:41] We want to see that come from you. [02:17:44] And you've been a part of the city forever. [02:17:48] You're an integral institution. [02:17:51] Right now, you're enjoying waterfront property [02:17:53] for $650 a month. [02:17:55] That might not be able to continue in perpetuity, [02:17:58] but you having a home in downtown [02:18:00] should continue in perpetuity. [02:18:02] And let's work together to find where that is. [02:18:05] We'll right-time this so that we can find the win-win. [02:18:11] And hey, this is just the new guy [02:18:14] that Debbie could fire at any second saying this, [02:18:18] but wouldn't it be great [02:18:19] that if we were all working together on our shared vision, [02:18:24] that the Main Street Organization and the chamber [02:18:28] could be in the same building [02:18:30] so that there was one welcome center [02:18:32] when you came to downtown or wherever you were at an NPR [02:18:35] where these institutions worked together [02:18:39] and were actually friends and lifting each other up [02:18:42] rather than being adversaries competing for resources. [02:18:46] So we had that conversation. [02:18:48] I don't know how much trouble I'm in. [02:18:49] I'm trying to gauge. [02:18:50] Well, things have changed so much [02:18:52] that you don't have so many people [02:18:53] going into a chamber of commerce [02:18:54] like you used to 10 years ago. [02:18:56] So you don't need all the space that they have [02:18:59] because they're not utilizing it [02:19:00] because people just don't go into a chamber of commerce [02:19:03] like they used to. [02:19:04] You're not handing out maps [02:19:05] because nobody's, it used to be [02:19:07] you went to the chamber of commerce [02:19:08] to get a map of the community, right? [02:19:09] Now it's all on your phone. [02:19:11] I mean, there's so many things [02:19:12] that you just don't utilize there anymore. [02:19:13] So I think that to have that space [02:19:16] utilized the way it's being used now [02:19:18] is kind of a waste, [02:19:19] and I would like to see Main Street and the chamber together [02:19:22] because they need to work together. [02:19:23] So let's put them in the same building together. [02:19:26] Yeah, we paralleled each other, [02:19:28] but I didn't suggest that they co-share space, [02:19:33] but that's a very good idea. [02:19:35] Or be next door neighbors or close by. [02:19:38] Pete and I have been around since 1990 [02:19:40] when it was called co-op back then, [02:19:44] but co-op and chamber did not see, [02:19:46] we'd come to Chasco, [02:19:48] one would sit on one side, [02:19:49] one sit on the other side, [02:19:50] asking for, you know, skimmies for Chasco. [02:19:53] They wouldn't sit together and say, let's work together. [02:19:56] So basically chamber had been around [02:19:58] a lot of the good old boys [02:19:59] and the co-op would be going like this, [02:20:03] you know, and then they'd get like this [02:20:04] and then they'd go like this again. [02:20:06] So we had to put those two on the same page. [02:20:08] And I think that more recently, [02:20:10] the chamber has taken this, you know, [02:20:13] West Pasco, Central Pasco attitude [02:20:15] instead of only downtown. [02:20:17] So you can help us, you know, [02:20:20] with Main Street and concentration on the city, [02:20:24] you know, to back up the chamber [02:20:26] or work alongside the chamber. [02:20:28] So this is obviously not going to happen [02:20:30] at our budget work session today, [02:20:32] which is about operating costs, [02:20:33] but it's an important discussion to have. [02:20:36] And I'm going to suggest that the other thing [02:20:42] that's important is that we're spending money [02:20:44] to keep empty buildings, air conditioned [02:20:48] and not having, not getting mold or whatever. [02:20:51] But if I had a pitch to make, [02:20:54] I would say replace the elevator in the bank building [02:21:00] or get it repaired because it was perfectly functional [02:21:04] for the county's economic development department upstairs. [02:21:09] And it could also, we've got the downstairs, [02:21:12] you could use it tomorrow and start re-envisioning. [02:21:18] The idea that they stay there [02:21:19] until we have to shoehorn them out [02:21:21] versus air conditioning that building, fixing it up. [02:21:27] I was really pitching for the hands-on science museum [02:21:29] to go in there, but the reality is it's not big enough. [02:21:33] And if they're going to do a discovery building, [02:21:36] they're going to have to probably do it right. [02:21:37] It's going to take some time. [02:21:40] So my thinking has been both that building [02:21:44] and the Schweppman building, [02:21:45] which Pasco County gave $200,000 to Dade City [02:21:50] of tourism money to do a visitor's welcome center, [02:21:54] which is a qualified use of tourism money. [02:21:57] And they have this small little building [02:22:00] that they are struggling to get activated [02:22:05] with what's going to be the historical museum there [02:22:10] to kind of operate that. [02:22:12] So civic organizations like chambers of commerce [02:22:18] are qualified under the statutes to do that. [02:22:21] So if the chamber of commerce would operate [02:22:25] at a visitor's center for us, so to speak, [02:22:29] we could get rehabilitation dollars from the tourism money. [02:22:35] So if we think we're going to have a chamber [02:22:38] that's welcoming people and a downtown [02:22:40] that we want to bring them here to find out what's going on, [02:22:44] it could make some sense to look at, [02:22:47] immediately to look at the building on Bank Street [02:22:50] and just turn it into a visitor's center. [02:22:52] That's the middle of all the activity that's going on [02:22:55] and figure out how to put it to use in a temporary way [02:22:59] and try to create the activity that could find itself [02:23:03] a more permanent home or whatever down the road. [02:23:05] But I hate to see the building empty. [02:23:07] It's like first rule of, you know. [02:23:10] We're not going to save the chamber building. [02:23:13] Yeah, so it's not going to be there anymore. [02:23:17] And it can show some progress and allow us to move forward. [02:23:22] We get stuck when we have somebody there [02:23:24] and we don't move them out. [02:23:25] And in my view, there's a building. [02:23:28] We should evaluate it. [02:23:30] We should offer them space. [02:23:32] The Main Street group needs space. [02:23:34] Chesco Fiesta's got an office [02:23:36] that they've been using in there. [02:23:38] They could use space. [02:23:40] And we have a building that could probably suffice [02:23:44] with a big open downstairs area. [02:23:46] It could be a big meeting room or a big area for things. [02:23:50] So it may not be the permanent solution, [02:23:54] either that or let's put the thing up for sale. [02:23:57] And, you know, because there's a lot of projects, [02:24:02] Mr. Economic Director, that you have on the books [02:24:04] and we haven't seen your business plan [02:24:08] for how we pull it off, but. [02:24:11] We know he's got one now. [02:24:12] Yeah. [02:24:14] He'll talk a good talk. [02:24:15] Yeah, anyway, just a thought to throw out there [02:24:18] because it's convenient, it's downtown [02:24:20] and it could probably serve as an interim thing [02:24:23] to see if it worked out before, [02:24:25] see how long the honeymoon could last. [02:24:27] Well, now's a good time because they're in that change mode. [02:24:32] So everything's changing for them right now. [02:24:33] They're in that change mode. [02:24:34] So now would be a good time to kind of take a look at that. [02:24:38] So they asked me if, what they should do [02:24:42] because they have a line item in their budget for repairs. [02:24:44] I'm like, I would change that light bulb right there, [02:24:47] but sit on the rest. [02:24:48] Please. [02:24:49] Yeah, because there's a lot that needs to be done. [02:24:50] But, and I told them the same thing. [02:24:52] I was like, it's not worth doing anything. [02:24:54] Yeah, I think we'd be honest with them [02:24:55] to try to stop them from wasting their money on repairs, [02:24:59] even though it might help one of their chamber members [02:25:01] to get the job or whatever, you know. [02:25:04] Yeah, they're on a month-to-month anyhow. [02:25:06] It's not, they don't even have six months or three months. [02:25:08] Yeah, but if they're gonna put $20,000 in for a roof [02:25:11] or do something, let's use that money in the other building [02:25:16] and check it out and fix it up for. [02:25:21] Thank you. [02:25:23] I don't know if you have another idea [02:25:25] because you all keep your ideas back [02:25:28] because you're afraid that we'll tell everybody [02:25:29] or something, but, well, it's important [02:25:32] that you keep some level of confidence [02:25:34] as you're doing these things, but. [02:25:36] Do they get the money? [02:25:38] What do you all think? [02:25:39] Make sense? [02:25:40] I asked about the bank building [02:25:41] when the city manager brought it up a couple weeks ago [02:25:43] and I was told there was no current plans [02:25:45] other than fixing that AC. [02:25:47] So, I love the suggestion, [02:25:48] especially if it's not stepping on any plans [02:25:51] that are in fruition, and if there are, [02:25:52] I'd hope at some point, maybe not during a budget workshop, [02:25:55] but at some point, those other plans would be revealed [02:25:58] so we can see where we're at with everything. [02:26:01] Well, I know that Mr. Pridgen had been mentioned here [02:26:04] as having an interest in whatever his conglomeration [02:26:09] that he was gonna do, but, you know, [02:26:12] we wanna have retail and we wanna have activity [02:26:15] on the street, we might as well fill the empty buildings [02:26:19] and keep that traffic coming downtown. [02:26:22] I've already stepped on your toes once tonight. [02:26:24] I'm not doing it again without getting the nod. [02:26:28] You got an A minus from what you said, brother. [02:26:31] Yeah. [02:26:32] All right. [02:26:34] Thank you. [02:26:34] Thank you, Greg. [02:26:35] One other budget thing, if you don't mind. [02:26:36] Sure. [02:26:37] The CRA fund, the budget for that was 60,000. [02:26:43] That's what's, so that would be, it's not in here, [02:26:45] but last year it was four, three, four, two, two, [02:26:48] ads and marketing. [02:26:49] That is what moved over. [02:26:51] And so in that move over, we're reducing it by 10,000. [02:26:54] Is there, do we not use it? [02:26:56] So there's additional allocation in here [02:26:58] to allow the marketing specialist [02:27:01] to do pure marketing activity. [02:27:03] There still is dollars that you'll see [02:27:06] at our next session for the CRA budget. [02:27:10] There are still dollars in there for what the CRA can do. [02:27:15] One of the things the CRA can do [02:27:17] if we structure it correctly is we can enter [02:27:19] into a contract for services with Main Street, [02:27:23] and then we can do some dissemination of information [02:27:30] on the eradication of slum and blight. [02:27:32] So I'm giving you some language right from statutes [02:27:35] on what the CRA can do. [02:27:37] And so if we right size that, [02:27:39] we can do some marketing-like functions [02:27:42] specific to the community redevelopment plan [02:27:44] in the CRA. [02:27:46] But this is to allow that marketing specialist [02:27:49] to have some resources to actually do [02:27:51] the marketing campaign this year for the city [02:27:56] and to leverage our, and kind of our branding [02:27:59] as a destination in general. [02:28:02] That would be the print ads, that would be sizzle reels, [02:28:05] that would be specific programming [02:28:09] and print and digital media, all of those things [02:28:13] that the CRA can't really do, but the city [02:28:16] has been saying, hey, we really want to work [02:28:17] with our community to do this somehow. [02:28:19] So you're actually seeing some additional dollars [02:28:22] for marketing. [02:28:24] And that's going to be my, I guess I'll save it [02:28:26] for when we get to the CRA, is what responsibilities [02:28:29] that were covered by the CRA last year are moving over. [02:28:32] Because to me, I'm not treating this [02:28:34] like a $10,000 reduction. [02:28:36] Then I'm treating this as 50,000 new dollars [02:28:39] for new responsibilities or shifted over responsibilities [02:28:42] until we have a big picture of what was CRA, [02:28:45] what's now the, I just want the big picture. [02:28:49] So if you don't mind, maybe at the meeting [02:28:51] where we talk about the CRA and we get the ads [02:28:53] and marketing for the CRA, if you can delineate [02:28:56] or contrast what will be happening [02:28:58] within the general budget versus what is happening [02:29:01] within the CRA. [02:29:03] Because that will help me understand the value [02:29:04] of that 50,000. [02:29:06] Because right now, I just see 50,000. [02:29:08] I don't know, one thing could have carried over [02:29:10] and now we're paying $50,000 for print [02:29:13] when everything's still staying with CRA. [02:29:14] So I'd just like to know what that represents. [02:29:18] I can get you additional detail, but for example, [02:29:20] the marketing specialist itself, [02:29:22] like everything that that person touched, [02:29:25] most of what they touched was general government, [02:29:29] general fund, not specific to redevelopment. [02:29:34] And so you think about, okay, they did these ads [02:29:38] for the sports coast. [02:29:39] They did these ads in these statewide tourism publications. [02:29:46] That's all, that should all be [02:29:48] in this economic development budget. [02:29:50] Should not be, in my opinion, [02:29:52] should not be in your CRA budget. [02:29:54] And I'm right with you. [02:29:55] And so the reason why I bring it up is because [02:29:57] when I was over at the, and not to call. [02:30:00] out DirectCenter and their ads and marketing budget, but they have their own marketing [02:30:04] budget and it's like $25,000, I won't say the exact amount, but it's pretty high up [02:30:10] there and over the years, interacting with some of the community engaged marketing specialists, [02:30:20] including myself when I was in that role, we chipped away to get to that $25,000, but [02:30:26] it proved difficult without having some sort of structured marketing plan or partnerships [02:30:30] with our community. [02:30:31] And so we were always getting there and I think the city manager was very generous and [02:30:35] patient with, or excuse me, the council was very generous and impatient with letting us [02:30:39] get there, but I just don't want to see that happen here where we have $20,000 left over [02:30:44] that we don't know what to do with, so we're going to contract it to the Main Street organization. [02:30:49] So that is my fear, not my fear, but that's what I want to, yeah, it's a fear that I want [02:30:55] to alleviate it. [02:30:56] So if you can contrast what those responsibilities are going to be, what those dollars are going [02:30:59] to be used for, just because it is being split up, because I've just seen it in the past [02:31:03] where there's a lot of money left over and fortunately for council, we've been able to [02:31:08] go, okay, we have a $25,000 marketing budget in the Rec Center, only 10 was used. [02:31:13] But if we're starting to, if we anticipate contracting with Main Street, we don't know [02:31:18] how much money is left over because we might just give that to Main Street. [02:31:22] And so I don't want that to be the habit we start to get into, where we can't see what [02:31:29] dollars are not being, or where dollars may be underutilized. [02:31:36] I'd like to jump in and say something, maybe it's related, but if you're going to spend [02:31:41] $180,000 in salaries, you certainly need to have those salaried people have the ability [02:31:49] to do the work that they're hired to do. [02:31:53] So it'd be silly to hire a marketing expert and not have them helping with marketing, [02:31:58] and I'm assuming this marketing expert would help with marketing in the Rec Center or anywhere [02:32:03] else just like the library. [02:32:05] But they hadn't been paid. [02:32:06] Well then they need to, I guess. [02:32:09] So point being is we should have a good discussion about our goals as policy makers and make [02:32:15] sure that it's clear. [02:32:17] What I really wanted to add was that this is the Economic Development Department, and [02:32:25] so what I think is missing is some of the important things that are providing you with [02:32:33] the data analysis that's needed to market, not just to market events or activities, but [02:32:40] to market our city to industry, to development, to improvement, to know, to be able to talk [02:32:53] to somebody when they want to come in or to inform the Chamber of Commerce or the Main [02:32:57] Street Program to support them by letting them know demographically what's happening. [02:33:03] And so I know, and it was a company I did work with, I haven't for the last year or [02:33:10] nearly six months or whatever it's been, but they have something called Street Economics [02:33:14] that they showed off at their conference. [02:33:16] Not that they're the only ones that do it, but there are products that you can get that [02:33:22] are economic evaluations real time of your city after an event, how many dollars were [02:33:29] spent that allow you to really get granular in understanding the economy of our city. [02:33:40] So I would like to see that you're not shorthanded with that information. [02:33:45] So I would rather put more money in to have better data for the people we're hiring so [02:33:50] that they can make it work for us. [02:33:54] And I don't know if you would have liked to have put something in for data, but I'm assuming [02:33:58] your professional services is our attorney for contracts or something. [02:34:02] Maybe I'm wrong. [02:34:05] Maybe the attorney is in the CRA. [02:34:07] Maybe that's where that $15,000 is. [02:34:09] Correct, the attorney is in the CRA, at least as it relates to the CRA. [02:34:15] So the issue is also one of timing. [02:34:18] So we have a marketing specialist that will hopefully start at the end of the month. [02:34:23] And so you want to leverage that professional. [02:34:25] And who we've made an offer to is actually specializes in marketing and destination marketing. [02:34:31] So not just kind of an admin clerical type, but a type that is really interested in helping [02:34:37] create a destination, both to visit and also, to Councilman's point, to work. [02:34:42] And so you want to harness that and let that person help create the plan, because we have [02:34:46] some work. [02:34:47] You guys have identified different things that you'd like to do, but you haven't created [02:34:51] that cohesive plan. [02:34:52] You want to leverage your professional, and then you don't want to wait until the next [02:34:56] budget year to actually give the professional any dollars. [02:35:00] And we don't want to do, as a manager and assistant manager, we could do it, but that's [02:35:04] why we're hiring a professional to help us do it. [02:35:06] But I can just tell you, based on 28 years of experience, that $50,000 is at least a [02:35:11] decent enough number for them to do something without getting crazy. [02:35:15] It's $20,000 for good video production, could be up to that much. [02:35:21] You might get lucky and do it for $10,000. [02:35:23] But that's your one piece on why NPR? [02:35:27] Why should a business choose NPR? [02:35:29] So everyone should have the one minute to the two minute. [02:35:31] And that's just for economic development. [02:35:34] That's not the tourism like that former Councilman Peter showed as far as the TDC did on the [02:35:47] sizzle reel of a day in NPR. [02:35:49] So that's a different video that costs a different $10,000 if you decide to do that. [02:35:53] And then what Councilman Altman is talking about is that everywhere that you would go [02:35:57] that was serious about economic development would show you the one minute sizzle reel, [02:36:01] but then they'd also have the packet of information that said, hey, this is our population. [02:36:06] This is what values have been doing. [02:36:08] This is our workforce. [02:36:09] These are A-rated schools. [02:36:10] This is our health care system. [02:36:12] This is where your full range of employees could work. [02:36:15] These are our degrees. [02:36:17] And boom, you just have that. [02:36:18] It's just a file that can be sent. [02:36:20] And then on top of that, you're running like Claritas and different LoopNet and different [02:36:27] they call them psychographic. [02:36:32] I mean, they have like the factors that people make purchasing decisions are boiled [02:36:37] down to like 20 different psychological and spending profiles these days. [02:36:42] And you identify depending on is this a job creator in traditional economic development? [02:36:47] Are we trying to recruit a specific type of user? [02:36:50] You actually can provide that level of data. [02:36:54] It's not that expensive is my point. [02:36:56] And so, if you're going to have people work. [02:36:57] But that's in the 50 quick. [02:36:59] What's that? [02:37:00] That's not in the 50. [02:37:01] I'm saying it belongs somewhere else. [02:37:02] I'm talking about something other than marketing. [02:37:05] I'm talking about you having a library that's constantly updated for you of this kind of data. [02:37:11] And I know it's out there. [02:37:13] You know, I know of one product that's out there. [02:37:15] I'm not affiliated with at this point, but and it uses that real time response. [02:37:23] How many people, how much money really was spent? [02:37:26] I did a look at Chasco two years ago and the one week of Chasco. [02:37:30] We did the same amount of business in our town as Stewart on the other coast, [02:37:35] which is a very crowded and busy and active city. [02:37:38] So, you can truly monitor the effect of your free concerts and demonstrate [02:37:45] that to our existing businesses as well so they can see, you know, what's going on. [02:37:51] So, maybe you don't have it in there. [02:37:53] We can add it later, but I just wanted to make a pitch for it [02:37:55] because it's something that's important. [02:37:57] I'm going to ask another question. [02:37:59] You brought it up as the sports coast. [02:38:01] How are we doing at fishing them and bringing them to the west coast instead [02:38:06] of spending their money on the east part of the place? [02:38:09] I've only had one meeting since I started. [02:38:11] Well, what are you waiting for? [02:38:11] They don't meet in July, so you don't have another meeting until August. [02:38:15] They came over here like they stormed the place because of scallops, [02:38:19] but then we don't see them the rest of the year. [02:38:21] And I just think, you know, if you're going to start trying to promote stuff [02:38:25] on the west side, that we need to get in the middle of it [02:38:29] because they're not going to do it. [02:38:30] There's no entity, you know, per se that they can go to except the cities [02:38:35] of New Port Richey and New Port Richey to say, you know, fish, haul them over here [02:38:39] instead of just them spending all the money over there. [02:38:42] I'm on it, and they definitely have in all of their plans is [02:38:47] to do a lot more on this side. [02:38:49] We just, I just need to, you know, we need to be involved and help, [02:38:52] you know, activate it. [02:38:55] OK, well, I'm just, you know, I mean, but you do it once a month. [02:38:58] They can be going and seeing, I mean, there's employees in there every day, [02:39:02] you know, and you have a team that meets once a month. [02:39:07] So I understand that part, but you know, we [02:39:10] have a team that works for us 24-7, and we just come in once every two weeks. [02:39:16] Staff have a comment on that? [02:39:18] Did you want to comment from staff? [02:39:20] I know you guys would. [02:39:21] No, I just, it's something to put out there. [02:39:23] That's not a comment back. [02:39:24] Agreed, it's a real opportunity, and of course, [02:39:27] we work through the deputy mayor's leadership on the TDC. [02:39:31] But what is our unique selling proposition? [02:39:33] How do we fit into what the sports coast is doing? [02:39:39] Because they're invested in eastern Pasco County so much in their facilities. [02:39:44] So what's unique about us, that goes back to the waterfront. [02:39:47] So no matter what you do in Wesley Chapel and Trinity, [02:39:50] you can't be the waterfront like we can. [02:39:52] So that's what helps make us special. [02:39:53] So to your point, how might we work together? [02:39:57] So basically at the same time the deputy mayor was joining the TDC, [02:40:01] I was meeting with Consuela, the assistant director, [02:40:05] and their marketing staff on that very question. [02:40:09] Like, hey, how could we work together? [02:40:11] Someone else beat us to the scallop festival, [02:40:14] but that's where our head should be at. [02:40:15] Like, if we can't sell out the Hacienda that has a boat ramp [02:40:18] right across the river from it during scallop season, [02:40:22] during prime fishing season, then we're missing out. [02:40:25] And so things like that are the opportunity. [02:40:27] We made avocados at the scallop festival since we had to shut down scallop season, [02:40:30] so we made avocados. [02:40:32] Right, but that's why it's connected to water quality. [02:40:34] That's why it's all connected. [02:40:35] I bring up scallop because that's like two weeks, [02:40:38] or a month, whatever you want to say. [02:40:40] It's made a difference every year. [02:40:41] But I think there's just more opportunities over here [02:40:45] that we've got to rattle their cages. [02:40:46] That's why I called it fishing. [02:40:48] You know, bring them to this side. [02:40:50] I agree, and so this kind of thing deserves its own workshop [02:40:53] because I know you're trying to get through the budget, [02:40:55] but this is the fun of it. [02:40:56] This is why it's the most exciting time of year. [02:41:00] Can I go back to Pete's point [02:41:02] about the professional development, [02:41:04] or excuse me, the professional services? [02:41:06] And so when we're looking at the KPIs [02:41:08] that you brought up wanting to track in your initiatives, [02:41:12] do you think that's something [02:41:13] that the marketing specialists will have time for, [02:41:15] or do you think, and Pete, you said it, [02:41:18] maybe it's a conversation for a different time, [02:41:19] but this is the budget workshop, [02:41:21] so I'm a proponent of directing staff. [02:41:24] Can we add a line item, [02:41:26] or tuck it into professional services, [02:41:28] a budgeted amount for contracting? [02:41:30] Because when I worked for the city, [02:41:32] and I wish we had more [02:41:35] interdepartmental marketing conversations [02:41:37] across departments, [02:41:39] but when I worked within the rec center, [02:41:41] that data was limited. [02:41:42] You had to look almost at national data, [02:41:44] or state data, to find something, [02:41:46] and those estimates are nowhere near accurate, [02:41:48] and they're two to five years old, [02:41:50] and so do you guys have an opinion [02:41:54] on having them budget for professional services [02:41:58] to be able to pull that data, [02:41:59] or does staff think a marketing specialist [02:42:01] can handle it in-house? [02:42:03] I think we have to have that marketing specialist [02:42:05] to see what that person can do for us, first. [02:42:08] We've already got a line item. [02:42:09] We'll give them a number two pencil, [02:42:11] and a pad, and let them get on the computer. [02:42:14] You bring in a professional marketer, [02:42:16] give that person a chance before you have a line item. [02:42:19] We've had professional marketers, [02:42:20] so I'm trying to, based on your experience [02:42:23] working with our marketers over the last few marketers, [02:42:27] was that something they could factor [02:42:29] into their current responsibilities, [02:42:30] or is that something we should contract for [02:42:33] to be able to see? [02:42:33] Because it's an initiative that needs to be fulfilled. [02:42:35] It's listed as tracking the following KPIs. [02:42:40] The KPIs are gonna be on me, quite frankly, [02:42:43] working with our department. [02:42:45] So I'm on that, and I can just tell you, [02:42:48] and everyone here, that I feel comfortable [02:42:51] that, because the individual lines [02:42:54] over the course of a budget year can move. [02:42:57] So I'm kind of looking at it at a higher level. [02:43:00] I'm not looking at it at 15 and 50. [02:43:02] I'm looking at it as 65, right? [02:43:05] And so we have a marketing specialist coming on, [02:43:08] and that, especially for this year, [02:43:11] as I kind of grow into the role [02:43:14] and get a feel for the possible here, [02:43:17] and then the marketing specialist does that same thing, [02:43:19] that's gonna get us started, [02:43:21] and our next conversation we have is gonna, [02:43:23] you know, next budget year is gonna be more detailed, [02:43:26] and we're gonna build on what we started this budget year. [02:43:30] With what Pete just brought up about, [02:43:33] you know, filling in some of those data gaps, [02:43:35] the 15 and 50 is adequate. [02:43:37] It's satisfactory. [02:43:38] I believe that it is an appropriate amount of money. [02:43:39] Yes. [02:43:40] With the new addition. [02:43:41] Okay. [02:43:42] Well. [02:43:43] Because I think that was your question, [02:43:45] is it's more than just, [02:43:46] I guess I pointed to those specific KPIs, [02:43:48] but you weren't necessarily mentioning those. [02:43:50] Well, here's the elephant in the room, [02:43:52] which is the city manager is looking at budget requests [02:43:56] at 10%, 15%, and all of our basis increase [02:44:03] in property values, [02:44:04] with the exception of the few communities [02:44:06] that are outside of it, [02:44:07] is going into the CRA. [02:44:09] So, you know, we're not talking at all about revenue today, [02:44:13] but every discussion boils down to, [02:44:16] do we have the money and can we do it? [02:44:18] And so when you say it's enough money, [02:44:22] in my mind, you're saying it because you can't handle [02:44:24] having someone say they want to add any more to the budget [02:44:27] because you're already trying to figure out [02:44:29] the budget quandary. [02:44:31] Now, I just want to share with you [02:44:33] that I spoke to Debbie last week [02:44:36] and suggested to her that I'd like to see [02:44:40] the American Rescue Act Fund plan [02:44:44] that we approved back when we got the money [02:44:47] three years ago, started getting it. [02:44:49] I know it goes to the, [02:44:51] I know that it's going to the Railroad Square project. [02:44:56] I know that it's going to other projects [02:44:58] that were identified. [02:45:00] I know we spent some money on extra pay for the workers at the time, the police and the [02:45:07] fire and those workers that were in harm's way. [02:45:12] But the reality is, as a city, I'm sure that we have written that expense off against something [02:45:19] inside the city already, because the obligation is that that money all has to be spent or [02:45:24] under contract by the end of this year. [02:45:27] And maybe that you're still trying to fill out the American Rescue Act plan. [02:45:33] I don't know. [02:45:34] This is a question for Crystal. [02:45:35] But for a city of our size, the easiest thing for us would have been to use it against payroll [02:45:43] and to solve the single audit, the federal single audit that has to be done. [02:45:50] Because if you use it for projects and you've got a federal audit, auditors following every [02:45:55] dime to make sure that everything was crossed, if you use it against payroll, you can use [02:46:00] that money. [02:46:01] So my point to Debbie was, I feel in the situation we're in right now, if we need to say this [02:46:09] is the budget we have to have, that we should use some of those dollars if we need to to [02:46:15] make this budget work. [02:46:18] Because I don't want to have us cutting ourselves to the bone right when we are having to talk [02:46:24] about an extra person in there to get this in line or where are you going to get the [02:46:29] money for that? [02:46:30] I mean, there's no more revenue stream to pay for that extra person that I can think [02:46:35] of or minimal. [02:46:39] And so we've taken a while to do these capital projects. [02:46:42] So to me, we were going to use all that Rescue Act money for capital projects. [02:46:47] And now we've got an extra million dollars coming into the CRA annually for the next [02:46:54] 20 years. [02:46:55] And we should be looking at what we can do with our redevelopment funds and how we can [02:47:03] make this work as a major big picture business plan. [02:47:07] And if Greg says he's been doing it for 28 years, this is something I've been doing for [02:47:12] a long time. [02:47:14] And I'm telling you, we have some exciting opportunities. [02:47:18] The recreation service thing, for example, could free up almost a good bit of the dollars [02:47:23] that are in the recreation budget right now. [02:47:26] And we could solve that problem in the next year or two and start getting county money [02:47:30] in to handle recreation because they're having to make deals with all the other cities. [02:47:35] And they're putting it on the ballot this year, not on the ballot, they're putting it [02:47:39] on the tax roll this year for the operation of recreation centers. [02:47:44] And everybody in the county is paying that money. [02:47:47] And we deserve to get our percentage of that for our one-fifth or one-sixth of recreation [02:47:53] facilities we have. [02:47:55] And so there's a lot we could do to get on the right track in the next year. [02:48:02] And I'm at the end of, I'm in my playoffs in my career. [02:48:06] I don't know about you, Chopper, how much longer you're excited to keep coming back. [02:48:10] But I feel like I want to go out with a bang and I think I do not want to play that we [02:48:16] don't have enough money to do anything with. [02:48:19] I really want to look at how we have capital, our capital plan is working realistically [02:48:23] and when we're going to spend that money. [02:48:27] And what things, to Greg's point before, could be paid for by the CRA. [02:48:33] Anyway. [02:48:34] I'm sorry. [02:48:35] It's just... [02:48:36] Well, Pete, that's why I asked the question I did. [02:48:37] I didn't ask. [02:48:38] And maybe I need to clarify for city staff so they don't, you know, misinform me. [02:48:41] I didn't ask, you know, is that not something we want to prioritize? [02:48:44] Is that not something we don't have money for? [02:48:47] My question was, can what Pete, what Pete, and kind of what I'm asking now, can getting [02:48:53] that full picture view of where our city is at in terms of economy, is that something [02:48:59] that full picture view of where our city is at in terms of economy, can that be met with [02:49:06] the current outlay of expenditure or revenue, or excuse me, expenditures, or is that something [02:49:13] that needs to be budgeted for or not made a priority due to revenues constraints? [02:49:17] Which is it? [02:49:20] Because you pitched something new and the response we kind of got was nothing. [02:49:26] And so I'm kind of just trying to follow that logical sequence of events. [02:49:30] You pitch something about contracting services, then we start talking about the Florida Suncoast, [02:49:35] and I want to get back to the conversation of you pitch something new, nothing changed [02:49:40] number-wise, and so the staff is saying, nope, that's redundant, it's already accounted for, [02:49:44] or are we saying we can't do it? [02:49:47] Well... [02:49:48] That's the clarification I'm looking for. [02:49:49] I think he said that we were... [02:49:52] He was happy with his money. [02:49:53] We have the funds available, and at the 55, the 50 and the 15 or 65, that it's set, [02:49:58] and we're going with that right now. [02:50:00] I think he answered the question. [02:50:02] And maybe if he doesn't spend the $200 on other current charges that are in the budget, [02:50:06] he could use $100 of that, or the $10 for accidental life, he could take five of that. [02:50:12] Anyhow, thank you very much. [02:50:13] There's not much meat in the budget is the point, and we can add it later. [02:50:18] And so for my safety of mind, if you would not mind, City Manager, when we meet, [02:50:24] if you could present me, and maybe you can suggest, what was the name of that? [02:50:29] Street Economics is the program. [02:50:32] It's stuff that cities used to pay $60,000 and $80,000 for, but again, with the technology, [02:50:38] it's come down to a lower price to allow smaller cities to have access to the same information [02:50:46] that shopping centers and other places have. [02:50:50] But it's just that I just want to make sure that we are fully running, [02:50:56] because things just are taking too long, and we're losing opportunities if we aren't fully ready. [02:51:04] So I say staff it up, pay for it, tell us what we have to do. [02:51:10] And we've spent a whole night here talking about something going up $50 or $100, [02:51:16] or this is an extra $1,000, but we've got a million-dollar issue here. [02:51:21] And it's a big issue, and it's going to cause people not to sleep thinking about it. [02:51:26] But I think we have to have faith that we can pull some of this stuff off, [02:51:30] and I'm telling you, the money we can get from the service agreement on recreation [02:51:38] could allow us to be fully activating the waterfront over at the Schwetman Center. [02:51:43] It could allow us to be able to be doing the things that we want to do. [02:51:47] And so I'm going to make that pitch when that comes up shortly here. [02:51:52] But we can't do it today. [02:51:54] The county has put two taxes on the citizens of this county that are coming on us. [02:51:59] Let's stay on this right now. [02:52:02] You're drifting off a little bit from the budget. [02:52:05] Let me finish my sentence. [02:52:07] Okay, so the county has put two new taxes in place. [02:52:11] I don't know what the millage rates have. [02:52:13] Have they told us what they are yet for those two taxes? [02:52:16] I think it's on Thursday. [02:52:17] Don't we have a conversation on a Wednesday? [02:52:19] Yeah, they're going to approve those two millage rates. [02:52:21] And, Chopper, my point is we aren't going to be suffering them. [02:52:25] So there's a point where we could be going to the county at some point and saying, [02:52:29] okay, we're in, now give us our share of what we have of our operations. [02:52:35] And that would be a tax that the public would see on the county's tax bill [02:52:39] that would not be a city tax anymore. [02:52:41] And we could lower our taxes by that same amount and make more money at the same time. [02:52:47] So we have a great opportunity if we work these partnerships. [02:52:51] And it's an economic strategy. [02:52:53] I would love to share with you at another time, Chopper. [02:52:55] That was a long sentence, I'm sorry. [02:52:57] No, you said it a couple times in the last ten minutes, that same thought. [02:53:01] Thank you. [02:53:03] Well, I'm sorry. [02:53:05] I get it, the time. [02:53:07] No, I didn't say the time at all. [02:53:09] I'm just saying we're drifting off of what we're trying to do. [02:53:11] Right, but you're excusing him. [02:53:13] And I have one more question based on what is written here. [02:53:15] Okay. [02:53:17] And so we talked about the Florida sports coach. [02:53:19] You had your time to do that. [02:53:21] We talked about taxes. [02:53:23] I want to focus on the budget, which is the focus tonight. [02:53:25] Please ask your question. [02:53:27] We don't need to be lectured. [02:53:29] Thank you. [02:53:31] The home ownership program. [02:53:33] Can you elaborate on that? [02:53:35] That was the last thing I had. [02:53:37] It's mentioned in here in the, I'm trying to get back to it. [02:53:39] It's on the initiatives page. [02:53:41] Or perhaps it's in the funded. [02:53:43] What took place with that? [02:53:45] Or what is the goal with that? [02:53:47] So with home ownership, it's been a long-standing goal of the CRA. [02:53:51] And this is where the economic development department partners with the CRA. [02:53:55] It's been mentioned in past years. [02:53:57] And we're really going to activate that with the neighborhood improvement community enhancement program. [02:54:01] You often hear us maybe refer to that as NICE. [02:54:05] So the idea of the renaissance that started in downtown. [02:54:09] And now it's going to expand outward to all of the city's historic neighborhoods. [02:54:13] US 19 and the river. [02:54:15] You know, the four pillars concept. [02:54:17] If you've heard that talked about with the community redevelopment plan. [02:54:21] So in the next year in the CRA plan, there's an allocation of dollars for residential incentives. [02:54:29] And other things that could be used for actual homeowner assistance. [02:54:33] To leverage what the city is doing through its programs. [02:54:37] You know, the manager and the team have been working really hard on the rehab. [02:54:41] And the other programs. [02:54:43] And this fills in that space. [02:54:45] Like there's a whole component of things the CRA can do. [02:54:49] On workforce housing, home ownership, infill residential housing. [02:54:53] We can amplify what the city is wanting to do with alleyways. [02:54:57] Which has already come up this evening. [02:54:59] I mean, there's just very exciting things that the CRA can do. [02:55:03] And so it's not so much economic development directly. [02:55:07] As again, this is where the economic development department. [02:55:09] Where's the line between that and the CRA? [02:55:11] So homeowner assistance can be through the CRA. [02:55:15] Okay, perfect. Thank you. [02:55:17] Thank you. [02:55:19] Thank you. [02:55:21] Thank you guys. [02:55:25] The finance department is the last department to present this evening. [02:55:33] We've already got her up here. [02:55:35] She's all fired up and ready to go. [02:55:37] Fired up. [02:55:43] It's hard to follow Greg though. [02:55:47] You'll be fine. [02:55:51] We'll start with the accounting and budgeting budget. [02:55:55] From the finance department. [02:55:57] A few of the highlights. [02:55:59] The accomplishments from this year. [02:56:01] As you see, the budget presentation is different from prior years. [02:56:03] So we are implementing the gravity budgeting module. [02:56:07] Along with that in gravity, we're utilizing the lease management module. [02:56:11] We'll begin implementation of the debt management module in the next few weeks. [02:56:15] We also have open data. [02:56:17] Which will be the presentation of the budget and financials. [02:56:21] On the city's website. [02:56:23] Which is a more interactive experience. [02:56:25] And we have a few other proposals that we'll cover in a few minutes. [02:56:31] That are mentioned in the initiatives. [02:56:37] So the first item you might notice is a new position that we're presenting. [02:56:41] Is the financial procurement analyst. [02:56:43] The language, the name being used. [02:56:47] Procurement and analyst and financial. [02:56:49] All rolls into the duties of this position. [02:56:55] The idea is for this position to assist with the budget process. [02:57:01] Be a liaison between the different departments. [02:57:05] When it comes to budgeting. [02:57:07] And keeping the budget up to par. [02:57:11] So you see when we're going through the budget. [02:57:15] Some of these line items might not be lining up. [02:57:17] Because we haven't entered those amendments yet. [02:57:19] The idea is to have this budget on point. [02:57:23] Daily, weekly. [02:57:25] And have those amendments presented to the city manager. [02:57:27] And to city council more frequently. [02:57:31] We present our budget by line item. [02:57:33] Which is different than some cities. [02:57:35] So it's more detailed. [02:57:37] It would be an asset to have that within our department. [02:57:41] It is a need. [02:57:43] Now the other part of that position name is procurement. [02:57:45] We don't have a purchasing department. [02:57:49] For the city at one time. [02:57:51] I believe we did. [02:57:53] That was prior to me joining the city. [02:57:55] And I've been here almost ten years. [02:57:57] Meeting nine. [02:57:59] So that is becoming more of a need now. [02:58:01] We're in the process of rewriting our purchasing policy. [02:58:05] And making it a financial policy. [02:58:07] Which is a complete rewrite of outlining our current processes. [02:58:11] And being more in line. [02:58:15] And more attractive to the grants that are available to us. [02:58:19] So going through the department. [02:58:23] The difference in the salaries. [02:58:27] You'll see is mostly related to the new position being presented. [02:58:31] The financial procurement analyst. [02:58:34] Other changes. [02:58:36] Travel and training. [02:58:38] We decreased a bit. [02:58:40] To accommodate the few conferences that we do attend. [02:58:42] The GFOA and FGFOA. [02:58:44] And also provide some training to that new position. [02:58:48] The telephone local decreased a little bit. [02:58:52] There was an error. [02:58:54] A data entry error on postage. [02:58:56] That should be 3,000 not 6,000. [02:58:58] Office supplies increased a little bit. [02:59:02] From where we're currently at. [02:59:04] We're currently at 13,000. [02:59:06] But that has to do with the printing and materials. [02:59:10] That we had to utilize over the past year. [02:59:14] To forms and the budget books. [02:59:18] And we just had to re-up on our supplies. [02:59:22] The software licenses and support. [02:59:26] That cost is up from prior years. [02:59:30] Currently within that budget. [02:59:32] You'll see there's gravity. [02:59:34] And that's the lease. [02:59:36] Lease management. [02:59:38] Debt management. [02:59:40] The budgeting software. [02:59:42] The open data. [02:59:44] Annual subscriptions. [02:59:46] What we've also included is reporting. [02:59:48] Annual subscription. [02:59:50] And a procurement annual subscription. [02:59:52] The offset to those costs are also seen down below. [02:59:56] Under software for 40,000. [02:59:58] And the cost associated with that. [03:00:00] those two additional modules. So the reporting module that we're requesting [03:00:05] is also through Gravity and that assists with the preparation of the ACFR, the [03:00:15] annual financial report that we present annually. Currently the auditors prepare [03:00:19] that for us. Those costs can be used and appropriated towards reporting software [03:00:28] that will also not only allow us to report for the annual report but [03:00:33] also quarterly financial reports that are very important to present to you [03:00:36] all. Currently that's a very manual task and we don't have software that's [03:00:41] currently in place to present that to you. So we're requesting those two items. [03:00:46] The annual reporting software is $15,000 in the annual cost and the [03:01:02] implementation is another $15,000 and the procurement software is $24,000 [03:01:07] annual cost and $17,000 implementation cost. The procurement software allows the [03:01:16] city to work with the departments and also provide bid management. It allows [03:01:27] workflow automation and also contract development and guided bidding. This [03:01:32] will help us reach out to more vendors and more suppliers. It's just [03:01:41] better for our community. Right now we have the same vendors bidding on our [03:01:46] projects. This will allow us to go more electronic and these vendors can [03:01:50] actually see all of our proposals that we have out there and it would open us [03:01:55] up to more cost-effective ways when it comes to our projects and the different... [03:02:02] You gave a bunch of different numbers. Are they all in that $70,000? Is that what you're trying to say? [03:02:07] The $70,000 is the implementation cost. $70,000 on software licenses and support is the [03:02:16] annual subscription and the annual subscription covers several modules [03:02:20] within Gravity. And the procurement is a different type of... it's a different [03:02:28] software. So the procurement, one of the softwares that we've shown interest in [03:02:34] is through OpenGov. There are others out there, but OpenGov is a very nice, clean, [03:02:40] current software. And they have a very nice presentation and good feedback [03:02:50] from their suppliers or from vendors that work with them as well. But the [03:02:55] $70,000 is just annual subscriptions. So that's... you see those costs annually, but [03:03:00] down below under software that's actual implementation costs. That's the cost to [03:03:04] get those products up and running. You gave me enough numbers that I could get $70,000 and I could get $40,000 and then I just want to try to put them in different categories. [03:03:14] Gov, before your procurement officer comes in and tells you that you have to go out to bid for it. [03:03:19] You can piggyback. In addition to OpenGov producing the core release for us, are [03:03:29] you gonna... I just pulled up the... Gravity. Gravity produces the reporting. So [03:03:33] what's the OpenGov doing? That is for bid management, contract management. Right [03:03:38] now we have a manual process for creating all these items and we put them [03:03:42] out, you know, on the... we advertise in the same areas where we advertise. OpenGov [03:03:47] allows us to expand that advertisement area and really get out there to more [03:03:53] vendors and see better pricing. So the reason why I ask that then is I know [03:03:59] OpenGov also has a front-end interface for like the website because we just [03:04:03] do PDFs right now, right? We just publish our finalized budgets as PDFs on the [03:04:09] website. So for public accessibility, would we be able to use... is that a module? [03:04:14] That's Gravity. So we're utilizing Gravity. OpenGov has... OpenGov has [03:04:19] several different... they do offer budgeting and we did look at those items. [03:04:25] Their costs were significantly higher. It is a very nice product but it's [03:04:32] significant. And Tyler Technologies is still your ERP system? We utilize, yeah, [03:04:38] Tyler for our, you know, financials. Yeah, our ERP payroll. It's just... But they do [03:04:48] talk to each other so if you've got your budget software it will be able to be... [03:04:52] The budgeting software is an import. It's an export out of Tyler and import into [03:04:56] Gravity. Right. And back? Not back. Not back. [03:05:05] Gravity is utilized just for producing the budget. Okay. Yeah. One final question. [03:05:14] Same one with the HR direct... or the HR's new position. If I could just at some [03:05:19] point see a draft or some sort of... because you gave an awesome explanation, [03:05:23] but if I could... of the role... if I could also get the financial procurement analysis... [03:05:27] Job description? Job description. Well it's very nice. It's a good software. I can see [03:05:33] you're using it already, right? Oh yes. Makes a difference. It does. You find a [03:05:41] lot of missed items or oversight, you know, things that you didn't realize [03:05:49] before when you're working in just Excel. Right. Congratulations. One more. I have no [03:05:59] other comments for... regarding accounting and budgeting. Do you guys have any [03:06:03] questions? No? Okay, moving into billing and collections. Some of the highlights [03:06:11] from this department, obviously the solid waste billing. We've implemented that

   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▶ 3:06:13