On the agenda

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

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   Review of Proposed Departmental Budgets for FY2025-2026

   discussed

   Council reviewed proposed FY2025-2026 departmental budgets including City Council, City Manager, City Clerk, and discussed special events in-kind support and council compensation. Council directed staff to bring back an agenda item exploring an annual COLA for council stipends, and to develop alternative formulas for handling in-kind support for special events.

   • direction:Council directed staff to place a council compensation COLA item on a future agenda in time to be effective for the next council term (by September deadline). (none)
   • direction:Council directed staff to bring back alternative formulas for handling in-kind support for annual special events and to consider showing special events overtime as cash line items. (none)
   • direction:City Manager recommended increasing Cultural Affairs funding by $4,000 and reducing West Pasco Historical Society funding by $5,000 within the City Council budget. (none)

   📍Railroad Square🏢Bike Fest🏢Chasco Fiesta🏢City of Port Richey🏢Cultural Affairs Committee🏢Main Street🏢West Pasco Historical Society👤Bertell👤Judy Meyer#Account 43423 Elections#Account 44-961 Special Events#Account 44011 Travel and Training#Account 44731 Code Book Update#City Clerk Budget#City Council Budget#City Manager Budget#Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for council#Cultural Affairs funding#FY2025-2026 Proposed Budget#Master Municipal Clerk certification#Police Department overtime - downtown beat

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   [00:00:22] with? Tonight's purpose of the meeting is to review several proposed budgets. It's the second [00:00:33] half of the budgets that we'll be covering tonight. And tonight we'll start with the City [00:00:42] Council budget. And we'll also be reviewing the City Manager's budget, the City Clerk's budget, [00:00:48] the Fire Department budget, the Development Department budget, Recreation and Aquatics, [00:00:55] and the Police Department budget. And as indicated, we will start with the City Council budget. And [00:01:06] I'll give you a chance to get to that page. And as you can see, there isn't any change in [00:01:17] personnel services. It's up to the public, right? I'm sorry? That's pretty much up to the public? [00:01:26] Change in the... Well, in terms of the expenditure, there... And we are running pretty consistently [00:01:42] in respect to the operating expenditures. I did recommend an increase of $4,000 for purposes of [00:01:56] supporting the Cultural Affairs budget with your permission. I did additionally recommend that we [00:02:11] reduce the amount of funding to the West Pasco Historical Society by $5,000. They, at one point, [00:02:25] did have a full-time staff person, which is why we had increased their funding for a number of [00:02:34] years. That's no longer the case. I did pass along a copy of a budget to you recently in a [00:02:44] City Manager's report indicating their current fund balance in special events. I kept that at [00:02:58] $85,000. And city-sponsored program expenses, we were able to bring that down. And the other [00:03:12] expenses are consistent with previous year's spending in totality. In the operating expenses, [00:03:22] we were able to reduce operating expenses by $30,000. Last, the amended budget for fiscal [00:03:32] year 24-25 was in the amount of $348,150. And this year's recommended budget to you is in the amount [00:03:43] of $318,650. And I'm prepared to respond to any questions that you may have in relationship to [00:03:52] the budget. Yeah, I want to have a little discussion about Cultural Affairs. Bertell brought up last [00:03:58] year there was a deduction of $2,000 because they didn't spend it. It went down from $12,000 to $10,000. [00:04:03] Did they spend their $10,000 or is there a reason? They have really increased programming over the [00:04:09] course of the last year, which is why I'm recommending that we bump it up even higher this [00:04:14] year. Okay, good. Because I mean that, you know, it shows us, shows the community our talent. You know, [00:04:21] the events they do. Yes. The other thing that I want to bring up is that, I'm not, we got a raise [00:04:28] a couple years ago to what the wages we are right now. But I would like some input here. I would [00:04:36] like to see a COLA added to that instead of, because our last, from the raise that we got a couple years [00:04:42] ago, the last raise was from 1988 or something in that area and didn't get one again until you put [00:04:52] the number on it. Would that be an annual COLA that you're referring to? Yeah, right. And so if the [00:04:57] economy is good, then we get a little bit. If the economy is not, then we don't. Instead of like [00:05:01] putting a number on it. And that would be a factuated next calendar year then? Well, the calendar year or, I [00:05:06] mean, there's some rule, there's some ordinances on how that went. Because I know when we got that [00:05:10] raise, it was delayed for about a month or a year. Because like the next time. I don't know if it's [00:05:16] the next election or after the next budget. But I want some feedback because that down [00:05:25] the road would be fair to councils down the road, instead of waiting 12 and 30 years or whatever. [00:05:33] Yeah, my only concern is the volunteer, like the spirit of the positions volunteer. And if we do [00:05:37] the whole COLA thing, like some cities have done, I think New Port Richey just did it. That takes away [00:05:41] from the spirit because now there's this idea that what we're getting paid reflects the performance [00:05:47] of the economy, which reflects on how we're doing. I just always treated the economy, the economy is a [00:05:52] little bit bigger than us. Right, so I just always treated the stipend as what it is. COLA kind of [00:05:58] suggests that there's another meaning to it. Well, I'm just, that's your opinion. We don't [00:06:04] affect the economy at that level, not the COLA level. Any other input? Yeah, I'm interested to [00:06:13] hear your idea. I remember when we did put the increase in that it was in September, it had to [00:06:21] be done a certain amount of time before the next election to go into effect for the next folks in [00:06:27] office. So nobody voted for something that didn't begin at the following year of our terms, [00:06:36] not our own terms, but until the next term. That way... This is a work session, so it'll have to [00:06:44] come back to a, you know, to council. To your point, I think it would have to come back now, [00:06:49] so I'm glad that you brought it up. If you're going to do it, I think we have to do it now to [00:06:53] be able to be effective next March, according to what the lawyers told us when we did have the [00:06:57] raise. And to me, it makes sense why somebody's going to be faced with the same problem in another [00:07:07] 15 or 20 years, because nobody wants to vote for a raise for themselves. You move it to zero dollars [00:07:13] and then that solves the problem altogether. You don't have the average person who has to take off [00:07:19] from work and all the other reasons, so I think it was a... I would support your request. Especially [00:07:25] since it's hooked the economy. If the economy doesn't go up, then we don't get anything. Or [00:07:29] we could say this, you know, you don't want to say the same raise as you give employees, because [00:07:34] then that ties you to the raise. So I think you have to have some kind of a factor, even if it's [00:07:38] just 2% a year, you know, something. All right, why don't you put it in City Council, we'll see. [00:07:45] Put it on as an agenda item? Yeah, right. At a future meeting then? Yeah. Sounds good. Certainly. [00:07:51] Within the dates that you need to, September or whatever. Okay. Anything else on City Council? [00:08:01] Yeah. Does someone else want to go first? Go ahead. I want to look at something on the special [00:08:10] events, the 44-961, and on the Cultural Affairs Committee. There continues to be a sense that the [00:08:21] Cultural Affairs Committee needs to spend their money, use their budget. I would prefer that we [00:08:29] have cultural support or whatever as one line item, but I'd also like for it to be a cash line [00:08:38] item. So if this idea that we're going to sponsor makes me want to turn ahead, and I know we have to [00:08:48] because it connects, that the, just the patrol expense, the officers who attend events and make [00:08:56] the bulk of this cost that we give up. Just that alone, we're looking this year at a budget amount [00:09:05] that's proposed to us from the estimate of $160,000 in overtime to $220,000 in overtime, in normal [00:09:14] overtime, and an overtime for special events of $45,000, and also an overtime for the downtown beat [00:09:22] of $150,000. So we've got $300,000, we have $400,000 in overtime of nearly half of it relates to our [00:09:34] management of crowds, downtown beat, special events. So this is cash in our budget. So our budget already [00:09:44] provides for, if we're going to give $150,000 to a downtown beat because our city is busy all the time, then why [00:09:54] are we charging the nonprofits who put on the events we want? Because we've had this discussion year after year [00:10:02] after year, and I always ask, is this an additional cash on top of the overtime? Because this is the [00:10:11] overtime constraints of the police department, and it's paid in cash, and it's in the budget. So if you're [00:10:17] intending to spend money in our budget, I don't want to see an in-kind dollar amount in our budget. [00:10:25] That's dollars that we expect. It looks as if you've already put it in the police budget. [00:10:31] The special events in-kind, or is that for like the fireworks? In order to respond... [00:10:36] Chasco Fiesta, and you know, Bike Week, and all these. I'd like to see it for paying for the fireworks, or for paying for some of that as cash. [00:10:46] Because the whole in-kind thing and figuring it out, I don't think it's fair [00:10:52] to volunteers to have to pay to reduce their entertainment value when we're [00:11:02] putting in the budget to provide the businesses up and down Railroad Square. [00:11:07] Because frankly, you mentioned Chasco, there were more people on the street on [00:11:12] Railroad Square after our concerts than there were at the event. So we lure them [00:11:19] in, they come into town. The police department should do what they need to [00:11:25] do to secure things, but it's always... I've asked for, and you provided a reply [00:11:33] on special events and our ordinance, but I didn't see the original ordinance. And [00:11:38] that's the ordinance that we should go back to, which is... [00:11:41] Well then, these numbers, in my opinion, don't reflect what you're talking about. [00:11:46] Because the in-kind isn't in here. It is. Okay. Well, no, because some of it's in [00:11:55] there, and then some of it's in-kind. So I'm interested to find out. I want it to be cash. [00:11:59] I can respond. I didn't strike through here anyway. Oh, there they are. And I want to make sure that I give you the [00:12:07] appropriate response. When it comes to cultural affairs, and I don't think [00:12:12] that's what you're talking about currently, the cultural affairs budget is [00:12:16] for programming purposes. Correct. But when you're talking about the special [00:12:22] events budget, it does cover in-kind support for special events, a component [00:12:30] of which is police department overtime. Right. There are other charges that are [00:12:37] included as well as police department overtime, but police department overtime [00:12:44] is one of the charges that we do include in as an in-kind expense. And the [00:12:53] thinking has been in the past, or at least in in my tenure with the city, that [00:13:02] you know, the dancers, you know, pay the price for the band. If you're bringing in [00:13:09] the entertainment and the crowd, then we have to man the event so that people are [00:13:16] safe. Then you pay the expense associated with us having the appropriate crowd [00:13:23] control. So when Chasco charges to go in and see a band, [00:13:28] then we charge them police force? Yes. But in the case of the bike fest where [00:13:35] there isn't any charges? No, we charge bike fest as well. Okay. We do. But we also [00:13:41] give them an amount of in-kind support each year, and you vote on that every [00:13:51] year to determine how much in-kind support you're going to give to our [00:13:58] annualized large-scale special events, like the Christmas parade, like Chasco, [00:14:07] and like bike fest. They're doing some demolition. Oh, it sounds like there was a water leak to me. [00:14:17] Okay. So I'm sorry that you're distracted by that. So back to my point, this does [00:14:23] include in-kind. It does, yes. So my point is, this is a financial document that [00:14:28] shows the money coming in and the money coming out. It's all represented in cash, [00:14:33] and so this amount doesn't get shifted over to increase the overtime, as far as [00:14:42] I know, and we'll have that discussion later, but I'm only saying fair is [00:14:48] fair, and we've talked about the events that are city events. The 4th of July, [00:14:55] that comes out of your recreation division, I'm guessing. [00:15:00] right and so Chasco Fiesta and the Christmas parade and some of the others [00:15:05] are city events so much so that the police departments from other cities and [00:15:11] counties sheriffs come because we go to them so we go to the other cities and we [00:15:18] don't charge them and they come to our cities and they don't charge us because [00:15:23] they're city festivals so I guess what I'm saying is we have certain city [00:15:26] festivals and so we should we should make sure we're budgeted for the [00:15:33] festivals we want and if you have a charge it should be charged to someone [00:15:38] to whom wants to rent the park according to your fee structure that you have but [00:15:43] when you put in a non-cash number into a cash calculation it never gets spent as [00:15:51] cash because you're you're having to pay the police in the fire and you pay [00:15:57] them from over here and you don't pay them from here right so I'm only [00:16:02] suggesting that you can decide however you want to deal with the events but I'm [00:16:07] asking that we should produce as a city some cash to support and if I'm a city [00:16:13] councilman saying I'm helping and that's not money then I'm acting like I have a [00:16:20] budget number that isn't really a number that represents cash it [00:16:25] represents services that are paid for by the city in a different fund in a [00:16:31] different department so to me do you really want it moved into the different [00:16:35] category I'd like to see how much overtime we spend on special events and [00:16:41] make sure the money's there to pay them I don't want the city to be reimbursed [00:16:45] by virtue of saying you know this is how much you have to pay and this is how [00:16:51] much we're going to reduce from those other fees that are due and payable to [00:16:56] the other areas okay so if you look at the historical spending for that line [00:17:06] item and 23 is ten thousand two hundred twenty four where you sorry special [00:17:12] events for forty nine sixty one okay so the the actual at the end of the years [00:17:17] ten thousand two hundred fourteen thousand seven sixty six and then the [00:17:21] estimate for twenty five is eighty five thousand we're spending that eighty five [00:17:26] thousand towards special events but there is a year-end budget amendment [00:17:30] that goes back to the police department to offset that overtime it just hasn't [00:17:35] been occurring ever their overtime is usually higher and then you look at [00:17:45] their overtime from the year before and then you make that be the budget for the [00:17:49] next year and so now our overtimes increasing by almost eighty ninety [00:17:53] thousand dollars because you're taking you're taking non-cash well taking money [00:18:00] you've paid out to to continue to leave it there but they save money but it [00:18:08] gives them the authority to spend even more because you've increased their [00:18:11] overtime so if you if there's the overtime budget from last year reflect [00:18:16] the amendment that you made last year last because when you estimate what it's [00:18:21] like we have such a crowd downtown and I'm not and we do spending right I'm [00:18:34] just telling you this is a citywide phenomena so why is it important even if [00:18:40] we've done it in the past when we've had to do extra effort to take that weekend [00:18:44] and assume that we're going to build that overtime to some other entity when [00:18:50] it may not be that much busier than any other overtime especially in the rain [00:18:53] and all the other things so if we want to encourage the use of our park for our [00:18:57] special events that we want to partner with and get our name on and say we're [00:19:02] co-sponsors and the city thinks we're putting it on then I don't think that I [00:19:09] think that if there's a real cash to be paid that the event should pay it if and [00:19:15] and shouldn't I'm not asking for anything for free I'm just saying [00:19:20] whatever expenses are here that are going to be paid should be real cash [00:19:28] that's what I'm getting you know he's the CPA you CPA I'm a PE teacher you know [00:19:34] but I but what I'm saying here is that maybe this maybe what I'm getting out of [00:19:39] this is break it down a little more you know so it's you know you're you know [00:19:44] some of them are our special events and some of them are city events is that a [00:19:48] fair statement okay is that possible that it is and we will get to the police [00:19:55] budget but when we look at those estimates for 25 compared to the amended [00:20:01] budget which is the the actual budget the original budget you'll see that the [00:20:08] overtime in patrol did increase what will increase about so 25 35,000 from [00:20:17] the original budget also the special events increased another 13,000 but we [00:20:22] did add additional events throughout the year that were unplanned and we had [00:20:29] different there were different instances where we had to increase the police [00:20:36] for so that increase is taken into account over here but that it is you're [00:20:43] saying it's non-cash it is no no no but it is it is a transfer and we are [00:20:48] transferring and increasing to account for that overtime over there just put it [00:20:54] there you can say you're going to not charge it you can say I sponsor it and [00:20:58] I'm giving you this much value you can say whatever you want but but let's be [00:21:03] honest about the overtime and not be increasing it at the end of the year [00:21:07] when the police department can oh wait a minute you know I've got another 35,000 [00:21:12] more than the budget so whatever this budget is here we don't want to have to [00:21:17] increase it right because of a non-cash revenue to you really just moving it [00:21:23] over or saving it lowering an expense here to add it over here so anyway [00:21:30] that's my request and I know we've talked about having work sessions to [00:21:34] talk about how we manage it and all that but you you'd have to admit that the [00:21:39] amount of overtime is based on crowds and in the early days our crowds were at [00:21:45] our big three or four events now in the last five years there's something going [00:21:51] on every weekend and so if I think what's good for the game can't imagine [00:21:57] New Year's Eve's gonna be like and I think it's benefits our economy and our [00:22:02] sales tax receipts and there's purpose for it so having events that generate [00:22:10] economic activity for the town I would like us to revisit and it because if [00:22:17] there's no cash at all going in and it's all in kind and then there's another [00:22:24] bill on top of that then you're actually making cash off of those entities when [00:22:30] nobody else is putting in any money to handle all these crowds and that line [00:22:37] items not just police though that's fire recreation and public or public works so [00:22:43] you would be you're suggesting doing for each of the departments have a special [00:22:47] events over time line item or channel that over there well and there's revenue [00:22:53] for to be had so I'm not taking all the revenue away from the city I'm just [00:22:56] saying post the revenue to those charges that you make and then you can decide [00:23:02] and just say you know this is an event that we're going to sponsor and and [00:23:07] we'll eat it but you need to know that there's enough money that what you're [00:23:12] saying our minutes and all the departments to pay for the cost you [00:23:14] anticipate that's what I said earlier it's an accounting thing yeah it is not [00:23:19] you you guys the pros of that but it becomes more than that when one party [00:23:24] out of all of this crowd that's coming into town or three parties all create [00:23:30] all of these hours of effort to determine to the dollar amount just how [00:23:34] much we need versus so we can have a figure out of it instead of doing what [00:23:39] needs to be done on the day but that it needs to be done I remember we had a [00:23:44] summer from Main Street summer in the tropics it rained like the to beat the [00:23:51] band they made nothing but because we had scheduled the police they got billed [00:23:56] for that and they were behind and had to pay and pull it out of there so it's a [00:24:01] matter of whether or not our our local groups not outsiders but our local [00:24:07] groups that are here to benefit our city and provide more entertainment and [00:24:11] activity ought to be treated a little differently than someone who comes in [00:24:17] wants to rent the park and serve beer or do whatever anyway I've beat that the [00:24:24] ground but did us on the issue and you're right it doesn't warrant further [00:24:31] discussion and you did highlight the police department over time and we're [00:24:37] going to talk a little bit about that tonight when the police department [00:24:40] presents their budget I think it's important for you to know that the [00:24:45] police in that you have mentioned that the police department overtime is up [00:24:50] that we do receive grants for police department overtime for special projects [00:24:58] so it's not just all due to downtown events and and it is up because we are [00:25:08] becoming a popular destination that's not all bad and what would be bad is if [00:25:14] we were understaffed and the unthinkable were to occur and we don't have that [00:25:19] kind of trouble in town and I'm just grateful for it and and we will bring to [00:25:25] you a couple different formulas for how we can handle in kind support and being [00:25:32] a better partner to some of our special events that are annual all right let's [00:25:42] move on to the city manager's budget with your approval just or if there's [00:25:47] nothing else is there okay the city manager's budget is again consistent in [00:26:12] the upper in the personnel section there aren't any proposed changes that [00:26:21] I'm aware of and the operating expenses are just about $4,000 higher than they [00:26:33] were last year professional services are down just a couple of thousand dollars [00:26:40] travel and training up $2,500 up to $8,500 the printing and binding expenditure is up [00:26:57] $2,600 up to 3,600 and the dues and memberships has been increased from 1,800 to 2,300 with that [00:27:09] the total operating budget comes in at three hundred and twenty four thousand one hundred [00:27:18] and twenty dollars which is just about a thousand dollars less than the previous year and we can [00:27:29] respond to any questions about the two positions that we fund out of that department if you have [00:27:36] questions related to those budgets to that budget let me know and if not we can move on [00:27:43] to city clerk which Judy Meyer will present is there is there's no attorney fees in that not [00:27:52] in this not in the city manager's budget now city clerk thank you city manager man's good [00:28:00] evening mayor and council it's my pleasure to present to you the proposed city clerk budget [00:28:05] for fiscal year 2526 highlighting the accomplishments of this fiscal year last fiscal [00:28:12] year I did achieve my master municipal clerk certification I created a searchable database [00:28:17] for all the scanned documents transition towards the use of electronic records when practically [00:28:22] and financially viable and I serve as the organization coordinator for your financial [00:28:28] disclosure filings each year moving on to the budget itself there were no changes in personnel [00:28:36] under the operating expenses line item four three four two three elections was increased this was [00:28:43] based on the total amount that was charged to us by the supervisor of elections for this year's [00:28:49] election 44011 train travel and training increased four four seven three one the code book update was [00:28:59] also increased and the rest of the expenditures are in alignment with previous years and I would [00:29:06] be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this proposed budget why what why [00:29:14] wouldn't the elections be the same every year because we have an election every year it depends [00:29:21] on how many candidates there are and how many workers have to work that election [00:29:25] anybody else how am I missing the pay for the city court because you're listed as this somewhere else [00:29:42] one part of her job it's only a component of her job she's also in the city manager's budget [00:29:48] that's your question I see yeah [00:30:00] Anybody else? No. Great. [00:30:06] Fire Chief Fitch, can you join us up front for presentation on the fire department budget? [00:30:25] Good afternoon. [00:30:29] Thank you for the opportunity to present the fire department budget for fiscal year 25-26. [00:30:34] To continue on with the trend of the other departments, [00:30:38] I'm only going to highlight some significant increases in any line items. [00:30:49] Especially the badge. [00:30:51] What was that? [00:30:52] The badge is doing that. [00:30:53] The badge is doing that. [00:30:55] I'm kidding. [00:30:58] Powerful. [00:31:02] There's two divisions in the fire department. [00:31:04] The first one is supervision. [00:31:07] Three of the key initiatives going into fiscal year 25-26 is to complete building improvements to fire station number one, [00:31:17] including the scope of work associated with the CDBG critical hardening grant, which is identified in the CIP. [00:31:24] Well, you're going to give us some numbers, so we'll stay up with you. [00:31:28] The numbers on the code on the far left. [00:31:32] I know, but I'm just saying. [00:31:33] Yes. [00:31:34] Okay. [00:31:35] Continue to strengthen the city's preparedness, response, [00:31:38] and recovery capabilities related to emergency management. [00:31:43] Ongoing efforts to enhance recruitment strategies to attract qualified candidates, [00:31:48] fill department vacancies efficiently, and ensure consistent operations at full staffing capacity. [00:31:56] Fire supervision has three FTEs, fire chief, assistant fire chief, and a senior administrative assistant. [00:32:03] There's no changes to that that I know of. [00:32:09] Personnel has remained consistent. [00:32:11] There's no changes proposed in that category for a total of 378,960. [00:32:20] Operating, 071 operating, we have a decrease of $1,000 decrease in telephone local and evaluation of technology solutions. [00:32:37] They were able to decrease that line item. [00:32:40] Data lines has been increased by 3,000 to support ancillary equipment for each of the apparatus related to purpose [00:32:52] and the CAD integration to optimize the full functionality of that system. [00:33:01] Go down to fire cancer insurance. [00:33:03] We were able to reduce that line item by $1,600. [00:33:08] Let's say a number once in a while, because we catch up with you quicker. [00:33:12] I'm sorry, 44535 cancer insurance. [00:33:16] That covers the whole department, not just 071. [00:33:20] In coordination with human resources and their outstanding negotiating skills, [00:33:25] we were able to reduce that by $1,600 midway through this fiscal year and into next fiscal year. [00:33:36] 45111 office supplies. [00:33:39] We're proposing an increase to that due to increased costs. [00:33:44] 45225 software licenses and support. [00:33:49] We are requesting an increase to that line item to support $4,000 maintenance for our purpose alerting system for both fire stations. [00:34:01] That also includes fireworks, reporting software, billing software, and our NOX secure cloud, [00:34:11] which provides function to our NOX box system throughout the city. [00:34:19] We're also proposing 45411 dues and memberships, an increase of $1,000 due to increased dues to various memberships. [00:34:31] What number is that? [00:34:33] That was 45411. [00:34:36] We have zero. [00:34:38] We have $100. [00:34:42] 1450. [00:34:44] 1450 should be the last one on the bottom. [00:34:47] Oh. [00:34:51] What's the number again? [00:34:52] 45411. [00:34:57] I have dues and membership over on this side. [00:35:00] On the very bottom. [00:35:01] Oh, you're on the wrong page. [00:35:05] Go back a page. [00:35:06] 6869. [00:35:08] Oh, you're on the wrong one. [00:35:09] Supervision. [00:35:10] The one before. [00:35:11] There you go. [00:35:12] Keep going back. [00:35:15] One more. [00:35:18] Okay. [00:35:19] All right, Bob. [00:35:23] Yes, sir. [00:35:25] That concludes operating for a total of 117,330 with an increase of 5.6% in 071. [00:35:34] The total expenditures are $496,290. [00:35:39] Before we move on to 073, firefighting, does anybody have any questions that I can answer? [00:35:49] Okay, the next budget is 073, firefighting. [00:35:53] The three key initiatives that I've highlighted are complete the captain promotional process [00:35:58] and appoint a qualified internal candidate to fill the captain vacancy. [00:36:03] This is due to, as you will witness at the August 5th city council meeting, [00:36:09] we'll be promoting a district chief that came from the captain rank. [00:36:15] So we will be holding a promotional process to fill that captain spot. [00:36:23] Ongoing implementation of operational enhancements to drive departmental progress [00:36:28] and improve service delivery to the community [00:36:32] and facilitate blue card incident command and leadership and management training programs [00:36:36] with ranking officers to enhance operational effectiveness and command capabilities. [00:36:44] Next page is the org chart. [00:36:47] This division has 24 FTEs, eight firefighters per shift, [00:36:54] which consists of a district chief, two captains, and five firefighters. [00:37:00] There's also a small pool of reserve firefighters listed on the org chart in front of you. [00:37:09] Let me stop here for a second. [00:37:11] How is recruiting for us going with the new PASCO 24 on 72 off? [00:37:18] They have not implemented that program yet, the 24-72, [00:37:23] so we have not seen any effects from that at this time. [00:37:29] Is there a date when they're going to? [00:37:31] 2026 at some point. [00:37:33] Oh, okay. [00:37:34] I don't know the exact date. [00:37:41] There's no changes to personnel. [00:37:43] I will highlight a couple within that personnel. [00:37:48] There's a few lines that saw a reduction or an increase. [00:37:53] So reserve firefighter wages, we were able to reduce that a little bit due to there's so many fire departments hiring within the state. [00:38:01] We've seen a trend of decreased interest in applicants for part-time positions due to that fact. [00:38:09] So we were able to make a slight reduction in that line item as 4-1-3-1-4. [00:38:16] Overtime, 4-1-4-1-1. [00:38:19] We are proposing a slight increase to that line item to support additional overtime needs throughout the year. [00:38:30] 4-1-4-1-7, overtime fire inspections. [00:38:34] As you may recall, that's a new program where we, and it's in the union contract, [00:38:40] where we employ off-duty firefighters within our rank and file to work that program. [00:38:47] When we kicked off the program, we had only two firefighters interested in working that, so that has picked up. [00:38:57] So I'm forecasting that we're going to have more interest in the coming year, [00:39:04] so we're going to budget a little bit more money in that line item. [00:39:09] Is the overtime increase probably the result of having trouble getting the reserve firefighter? [00:39:17] I'm sorry, what was your question? [00:39:19] Is the increase in overtime somewhat the result of having trouble getting reserve firefighters to fill the spots so overtime takes it over? [00:39:30] No, not the reserve, just the full-time firefighters. [00:39:33] We've had a shortage of full-time firefighters throughout the year. [00:39:37] Yeah, but I thought the reserve. [00:39:40] Okay, but you're saying you've decreased the amount of wages for reserve. [00:39:44] I'm just wondering if the firefighters are getting overtime because of that. [00:39:48] No. [00:39:49] Okay. [00:39:53] And that includes personnel for a total of $3,067,060 for an increase of 0.57%. [00:40:05] Moving on to operation, 43499 contractual services, [00:40:10] we increased $2,500 due to the impending scheduled retirement of our current medical director, [00:40:18] so we've initiated discussions with a new potential medical director. [00:40:26] So we put some more money in there, and it's unknown at this time where it's going to fall. [00:40:36] 44011 travel training, we increased that by $1,000 to help support the initiative that I mentioned earlier [00:40:45] to bring in some leadership management-style training to our company officers and new district chief. [00:40:54] 44643 repair and maintenance fire hose, we're proposing a $1,000 increase due to costs, [00:41:03] and that also includes the annual hose testing that's required by NFPA. [00:41:11] 45211 fuel, we're proposing $2,000, just projected increase in fuel costs. [00:41:23] 45289 automotive parts, we were proposing a $5,000 decrease in that, [00:41:30] when we evaluated that account, we see some actual numbers that we think we can save [00:41:38] due to where we're currently at within that budget line item. [00:41:43] 45291 operating supplies disaster, we're requesting a $1,000 increase to that line item. [00:41:50] 45295 community education, we're proposing to reduce that by $1,000. [00:42:00] Operating supplies miscellaneous, 45299, a $1,000 increase for projected cost increases. [00:42:10] Total operating of 215,810 for an increase of 1.6%. [00:42:18] Capital, we're requesting $25,000 for an all-terrain vehicle, ATV vehicle, [00:42:25] to provide fire and medical coverage within the park and surrounding area [00:42:31] for the number of special events that require fire and medical coverage. [00:42:37] That will be replacing our current ATV, which has seen its better days. [00:42:46] And it's not really conducive to maneuvering in around the park with large crowds, [00:42:53] so that's important and we appreciate your support on that. [00:42:58] Total capital, $25,000. Total expenditures, $3,307,870. [00:43:08] That concludes both divisions. Can I answer any questions? [00:43:16] Through my annual outcry here for emergency medical services, we've talked about it forever, [00:43:25] nothing really happens, but it always just seems, if you look at our new fire station [00:43:32] and you look at how modern it is and how it is such a gem, [00:43:41] and then you look at the fire stations across the county, [00:43:44] some of the fire stations in the county are really not places that are appealing [00:43:53] or have the kind of facilities that we do. [00:43:58] So I make that comment to say we are, in the old days, [00:44:03] some of the cities like Dade City had their own fire department. [00:44:10] They gave it to the county. They paid the county's millage rate. [00:44:15] That's about two mills. [00:44:17] So when you compare our services, which are better than general county services [00:44:25] in terms of response time, but if we were to take the $3.8 million that your division costs us [00:44:36] and look at how much millage would we get in our general fund [00:44:42] to be able to come up with $3.8 million, if I went back and looked at the revenues, [00:44:49] I'm guessing it's more than two mills. It might be four mills. [00:44:55] I don't know how much it is. [00:45:00] that our residents put into it and all the calls that you all have to make on [00:45:03] Highway 19, on our big crowds in town, on you know [00:45:08] everything from our nursing homes, our expanded amount [00:45:13] of calls to places like you used to have to [00:45:16] make the main street landing all the time when the [00:45:18] alarms would go off. I know you're busy and I commend the fact that your budget [00:45:24] is not calling for additional staffing and if you look [00:45:28] historically on the fire department budget, it has remained very much with [00:45:33] the same staffing scenario that has. So [00:45:38] A, I'm not complaining at all about that. We like to [00:45:42] encourage our fire department and our fire members to be [00:45:48] first responders to be able to produce and give medical [00:45:51] treatment and they're very highly qualified [00:45:55] and I think this is a great place for firemen to want to work. [00:46:00] I know that the county has a charge and they [00:46:03] for emergency rescue and those kind of services but [00:46:08] if somebody is injured, are they always using a third party to [00:46:14] transport now? Because I'd love to learn more about [00:46:20] how your operation works and why we can't blend into [00:46:23] and be a part of that teamwork of getting people straight to the hospital [00:46:28] as quickly as we can. The idea of us waiting for a for a [00:46:33] service that is costing the average residents [00:46:36] half of what we're paying for our service to wait for them [00:46:40] as our big brother to come in and take me to the hospital which may be five [00:46:43] blocks away has always made me want to say you know [00:46:48] we should have an ambulance and we should be part of that service [00:46:52] and we should be getting some of those fees that are being collected and paid [00:46:56] for a service that's critical and so it's one that I always try to [00:47:01] bring up to the lobbyists because something to do with medical [00:47:04] examiners and who gets to say whether we get one or not [00:47:09] but we're about to enter the world of jealousy when they see [00:47:13] the facilities that you have and I think that I'll go back to Dade [00:47:19] City because I'd heard that when that service shifted it was because [00:47:25] of a failed effort this was by someone at the county who told me back in [00:47:31] the old days when I worked here that it it didn't live up to their [00:47:36] expectations and they couldn't accept the quality or the service [00:47:40] and so they ended up with a okay we'll let us run it [00:47:44] if you're if we're going we're not going to pay you [00:47:47] for a service area or to be part of our service [00:47:52] but we'll take it and so that's always been the hesitation of cities to have [00:47:57] the gobbled up situation but thank you for your budget you've [00:48:04] done a good job of keeping it in line it's just my annual tirade here that [00:48:11] if we're paying twice as much you'd think we'd be able to get [00:48:14] somebody to the hospital ourself and every time we run our vehicles out on [00:48:20] highway 19 with station 19 right you know should be in [00:48:25] the city if they would properly be have been annexed in we have [00:48:30] county services there and on massachusetts [00:48:33] and it's just part of an overall this this lady this lady told me [00:48:42] eight ten years ago that she has an average lot in town and half of it's in [00:48:46] the city and half of it's in the county and she said if she ever had an emergency [00:48:50] with her husband she'd make sure she dragged him [00:48:52] into the city portion because the response time was faster [00:48:56] and then we'd wait for the county to come [00:49:00] if i could reply yeah please do yeah i'll just start and then i'll allow the [00:49:05] chief to respond um pasco county is the agency [00:49:11] that has the authority under state law to issue the certificate of necessity [00:49:17] to the jurisdictions within the county to provide transport service i based on [00:49:25] your comments largely and those of the other [00:49:31] members of city council have asked two county administrators [00:49:36] for permission to look at the matter and to consider whether or not we could [00:49:42] be issued as the city a certificate to provide transport [00:49:46] service i've been told pretty affirmatively [00:49:49] that we didn't even need to look that it wasn't something that they'd ever [00:49:53] consider issuing and um and [00:49:58] been shut down um in that respect and i think it would take [00:50:06] truly a change in state law um for us to be considered um for [00:50:13] such a designation and probably our size too [00:50:18] probably our size to five square miles and [00:50:21] 17 000 people but that doesn't mean we're not qualified right but i'm just [00:50:27] well qualified um to provide the service we do [00:50:32] chief um arrive first on the scene with some regularity attached to it [00:50:41] our staff are qualified to administer and serve the people when we arrive on [00:50:47] the scene as councilman allman's indicating and [00:50:51] chief i'll let you answer the question more [00:50:55] specifically let's pick up where you left off so [00:50:59] um our staff are all firefighter paramedics so they carry the same [00:51:03] licensure as pasco county firefighters it's the [00:51:07] highest level of pre-hospital medical care [00:51:10] that's available in the field right so we are an important part of that [00:51:14] we're a crucial part of that medical cycle so [00:51:17] first to arrive is important right so four minute response time we're arriving [00:51:22] four minutes we're initiating patient care [00:51:26] brain death starts to occur in six minutes so [00:51:30] we're we're there before they need so initiating that patient care [00:51:36] performing one needs to be performed pushing the drugs that need to be pushed [00:51:39] getting the patient stabilized is more important than [00:51:45] getting that patient in the ambulance and going that [00:51:48] i'm not taking that's important too but getting that initial care started is [00:51:54] vital so i wanted to say that [00:51:59] and we have 24 um firefighter paramedics that are dedicated to the city they [00:52:04] provide an awesome level of service i'm so proud of [00:52:07] what all they do i really am um and i will say [00:52:12] i wanted to answer one of the comments that you made [00:52:15] how are you surprised how we have not increased staffing we have increased [00:52:19] staffing each of each of the three previous years [00:52:25] by one firefighter one firefighter a year we've increased staffing the last [00:52:29] three years because we wanted to increase our daily [00:52:35] staffing levels from seven to eight and we've done that so [00:52:39] this is the first year that i haven't asked for more staffing in the last [00:52:42] three years so i wanted to thank the city manager for supporting that [00:52:47] and she's been committed to that through tough times [00:52:51] and uh and city council you've all voted on it [00:52:54] and so we we have reached that eight member per shift level which is [00:53:01] important right and i think historically my [00:53:04] comment is if you look back 10 or 15 years you'll see that you have [00:53:08] been relatively flat so those last few hires aside [00:53:13] i did not want to come on arguing that you're growing too much or too fast or [00:53:17] too hard i would say that the city's population increased only by [00:53:22] 150 or 200 people but the population that we serve [00:53:27] continues to grow every year whether it's police fire [00:53:30] recreation customers events so that's my point and sometimes i [00:53:38] ask if we had a list of every call that we [00:53:42] went on and whether or not the people we served [00:53:45] were city residents or not whether it's the library the rec center or the fire [00:53:49] department not to complain about it other than to [00:53:52] say look you know we are [00:53:57] the uh the donor county when it comes to [00:54:01] the services that provide around here and it benefits us because people feel [00:54:05] safe to be here and all those things so i'm just i'm just saying um [00:54:12] that's my opinion and i appreciate that we continue to look [00:54:15] uh senator hooper who helped us get the money for the fire station [00:54:19] was a fireman if that's the approach to take [00:54:23] and mike moore thinks he could ask for it i'm sure that there are special acts [00:54:27] of the legislature that could happen to provide for us to allow us to do it [00:54:33] it would be much better for us to make sure that we were acting [00:54:36] cooperatively which i'm sure you do with the fire [00:54:40] department and with all the dispatches starting to [00:54:43] meld in together so maybe it's just the thing was time has not come [00:54:47] yeah countywide cad integration was a huge step and we work [00:54:55] seamlessly with pasco county fire rescue right so that's a good thing so thank [00:55:00] you i've got twice now that i've talked [00:55:03] myself a little over here so you're not allowed to talk next person [00:55:10] on the same topic um when we're talking about response times [00:55:14] and um going into the world of ems and delivering uh [00:55:21] people to the hospitals do you foresee that uh [00:55:24] adding a negative aspect to the equation where now we're stuck at the hospital [00:55:28] because it's my understanding you have to stay with them [00:55:30] until the hospital is ready to release them whereas we're always [00:55:34] we're able to be first on scene because we're not getting tripped up [00:55:38] with being taken you know stuck at hospitals and so i think that does add a [00:55:42] new dynamic where we do have some trade-offs and [00:55:45] if you don't mind just taking a moment to speak to some of those trade-offs [00:55:48] with entering the i guess you could not to [00:55:51] oversimplify but the ambulance world yeah your comment is completely accurate [00:55:55] um i hear that all the time um out of service time [00:55:59] stuck at hospitals is a big problem so there are some diet there would be some [00:56:03] downsides to you know providing transport um [00:56:07] and i will say that there are and i look at the a list every week that comes out [00:56:11] the a list is a is an employment list that comes out [00:56:14] from the florida state fire college where if you um register with them today [00:56:20] there were 52 cities uh that have registered with the [00:56:23] state that are hiring full-time firefighters around the state [00:56:26] there are several cities that use non-transport as a leverage to attract [00:56:33] candidates because some candidates don't want [00:56:37] some applicants don't want to work for departments that provide transport they [00:56:40] don't want to be you know they say stuck on an ambulance [00:56:44] for the first five years of their career that [00:56:47] would be like applying for a job at a restaurant you're stuck being a [00:56:49] dishwasher for five years you know so you're never allowed you have to wait [00:56:54] five years to be a waiter or a cook or so um that happens and i hear that all [00:57:00] the time and and one of the one of the things is you know the [00:57:04] downtime at hospitals and and that would not provide a good [00:57:08] service that is my that is my only sensitivity [00:57:12] because councilman altman you brought this up in the past when i was sitting [00:57:15] on that side and it intrigued me i i didn't even [00:57:18] realize we didn't have ambulances several years ago when you first brought [00:57:20] this up and when i did my research uh that was my only sticking point was i [00:57:26] don't want to see a shift away from being that first on scene because [00:57:30] our personnel are getting caught up in hospitals [00:57:33] and um and then we run into a problem where it almost seems like how it works [00:57:37] now and i i don't go on the route so i'm not going to try to characterize [00:57:40] this but that we are first on scene and we can [00:57:44] do the things that need to be done to to save life and then the ambulances [00:57:48] come in and do what they need to to get them to the hospital [00:57:51] um and so i think that's a good system to have and i would assume it's working [00:57:55] uh but i do also want to touch on the uh [00:57:59] the point of out of service calls that we respond to and i know i pulled a [00:58:04] small little area for um calls to service uh over by [00:58:09] the east side of indiana avenue there's some streets and stuff over there [00:58:14] that some are inside the city some aren't [00:58:17] and the calls for service each year and it does bring up an interesting [00:58:20] question of how that fits into our larger [00:58:24] we are without a doubt you don't even need the data but i'd love to see the [00:58:28] data we are a donor when it comes to emergency services to [00:58:31] the county and that speaks to the larger conversation about parks and rec [00:58:35] and how they're going to start tax i mean it's just the whole thing [00:58:37] re-evaluating our partnership with the county uh and making sure that it's fair [00:58:42] and that it's it's it's active and beyond just [00:58:46] select economic development projects that we're having a lively conversation [00:58:50] with the county it's something i'm interested in in that [00:58:52] and something that you've always kept on your radar so [00:58:56] thank you nothing really about the budget i think the budget is fine but [00:59:00] thank you next that's my quote thank you chief um dale hall for development [00:59:07] services mr hall [00:59:30] um okay we're we're going to be going through [00:59:34] development services today i believe let me make sure i have the same pages as [00:59:38] you 81 excellent um we're going to i'm going to [00:59:43] briefly talk about some of the accomplishments that are [00:59:47] really important that lead right into the budget [00:59:49] uh the rest of my lead because i believe everyone else can read [00:59:52] and if you can't call me and i'll help you out with the big words that might be [00:59:56] on the page but under analysis and [01:00:00] I ran the numbers [01:00:03] today, so the numbers that are on your sheet are [01:00:06] older numbers, so I ran the numbers today so you will have a better [01:00:10] understanding of where we're at, and with two more months left in this [01:00:14] budget year, here where we are currently at. [01:00:17] We processed 1,790 applications, [01:00:22] we issued [01:00:26] 1,574 building permits, [01:00:30] and in all of last year, we did 1,445 [01:00:34] permits, so we have increased [01:00:38] and we still have two more months left, and the value [01:00:42] last year was $31 million in development, [01:00:45] and at this year, we're currently at $125 million development. [01:00:50] Obviously, we have some very large-scale developments that went in the last [01:00:53] couple years, [01:00:54] and you'll see that that's why these numbers have gone up, also because of [01:00:59] hurricane issues and whatnot. [01:01:01] The next item is we conducted [01:01:04] in all of last year 3,408 [01:01:09] inspections, building inspections, and as of today, we've done [01:01:12] 8,057 inspections. [01:01:16] Is there a way to, if you don't mind, [01:01:20] out of curiosity, that 8,000 number, [01:01:25] is there a way to differentiate hurricane from general, downtown, that weren't [01:01:30] necessarily... Unfortunately, that's very difficult to do under the [01:01:33] systems that we have. I wanted to run those numbers and bring it forward, [01:01:37] but they're not set up that way. A residential is a residential is a [01:01:42] residential. [01:01:43] Would you notice that, let's say, November, December, [01:01:47] an increase over last year, because they would have been coming to get [01:01:51] re-inspected, [01:01:52] because the hurricanes are in September and October. So if you took November last year... [01:01:56] If individuals pulled permits [01:02:00] at the appropriate times, we could do that, but we're still working through all of our [01:02:05] hurricane buildings, so they're spread out throughout the year, so it's very hard. [01:02:10] We are working with... We've got a new program, Forerunner, that I'll talk about [01:02:15] later, [01:02:15] that will perhaps allow us to target those, so we can split those out in the [01:02:19] future. [01:02:20] So it's a great increase. Now, I'm going to move on to page 83, [01:02:32] which is our organizational chart, and what we're asking for this year is we're [01:02:37] going to be asking for the increase in the development clerk, which is in the [01:02:41] second column. [01:02:43] Development clerk, we're adding a new position on that. [01:02:46] We do have a part-time development technician that [01:02:49] may be retiring. We're anticipating retiring next [01:02:54] budget year, and we'll reassess that position at that time, whether we're [01:02:58] going to [01:02:58] expand it, eliminate it, do what we want with that. [01:03:02] And then the last column, we have the GIS technician. [01:03:06] That person was on staff and moved from IT back down to [01:03:11] our department. [01:03:18] I'm going to hit the highlights of this, and feel free to... [01:03:21] Yes? Remind them that we're transferring the GIS [01:03:25] position from the IT department. [01:03:29] Right. I just mentioned that. Oh, you did? Sorry. [01:03:32] She just said it, yeah. Okay. Thank you. [01:03:35] I think I will. Okay. I'm going to highlight the big changes in [01:03:41] the budget. If you have any questions on any of the other ones, just let me know and I [01:03:45] can expand on those. [01:03:46] We're going to start on the 41-210 [01:03:50] under the salaries here. You'll notice that there's a change on that, [01:03:54] and what that is, is basically that we have put the building official [01:03:59] and senior planner underneath that. [01:04:02] We've done some realigning and shifting. They were [01:04:05] in other lines of the previous budget, and now we're putting in the more [01:04:09] appropriate sections that they should be in. [01:04:11] Let me stop you there, Bob. [01:04:15] What I was believing and anticipating is that [01:04:19] you would have an enterprise fund for the division. [01:04:24] Right. So you'll end up seeing this [01:04:27] into two different budgets. [01:04:30] It shouldn't be on one page. [01:04:34] You're still the department head? You'd still be in [01:04:38] charge of that, obviously, but those are now [01:04:42] generally being reflected as proprietary funds because [01:04:45] the revenue generates all the [01:04:49] work in that, and excess revenues could be used for [01:04:53] only building [01:04:56] under the Florida statute. I imagine you've [01:04:59] been familiarized or you understand that. [01:05:02] I'm aware of that and well-versed in that, and [01:05:06] historically our whole department, building department and the planning [01:05:10] department, [01:05:11] have operated at a deficit, historically, and even this year. [01:05:15] We've been supplemented by the general fund to [01:05:18] operate, so it hasn't come into an [01:05:21] issue yet of overspending or getting additional funds in that building [01:05:26] department. [01:05:26] So we're analyzing the structure of the department currently, [01:05:30] and we're looking at setting up those different funds, [01:05:34] and we're working with Tyler presently so we'll be able to actually [01:05:38] follow that through. So yeah, we're working on that and we anticipate that will be [01:05:42] coming in the near future. [01:05:43] I don't know if Crystal spent as much time as I have, but the DOJ report that had to be done [01:05:49] and turned in yesterday. Yeah, we've been working on those too. [01:05:53] Oh my lord, and you know there's a whole different approach now to looking at cities [01:05:57] and making sure that they're not using money intended for one thing [01:06:03] for something else, and that's kind of one point to that. [01:06:07] Our department, and you'll see that [01:06:10] since we're increasing so much, we have been [01:06:13] supplemented by the general fund for [01:06:17] historically, so it hasn't been an issue in where the funds are being used, but [01:06:21] with the growth we have, we will have some changes, and we understand that. [01:06:25] Only get to count the expenses that are directly related to [01:06:28] the inspections and the safety services of the building department. [01:06:31] So the fact that the whole department has not been covered by those [01:06:36] building costs does not mean that if you looked at those specific costs [01:06:40] it should only, that you have to segregate those dollars. [01:06:44] I understand. [01:06:48] Crystal has had some recent discussions with our auditors to make sure that we're [01:06:52] handling it appropriately, and we will going forward. [01:06:55] Alright, moving down to [01:06:59] 43-181, we're at a $150,000. [01:07:05] What that does is we are actually, we have increased that slightly because we [01:07:10] have [01:07:10] comp plan services is going through one of our consultants, Stantec. [01:07:14] We're working on a comp plan for next year. We're currently working on that, [01:07:18] but we have some additional items we need to add to that. [01:07:22] We have GIS services that was in IT department that's moved over to this, [01:07:27] and we're also doing additional training on Tyler, so we utilize that more [01:07:32] effectively than we have in the past. [01:07:34] 43-199, [01:07:37] that has actually decreased, and the reason why that is decreased is now the [01:07:42] building official has been moved, it was [01:07:45] that section, it's been moved up to salary, [01:07:48] and we also use that for our, [01:07:52] in the past, for our floodplain manager. [01:07:57] And for coordination with CRS, [01:08:00] so that's why there's still funds in that account. [01:08:05] 43-499, that has slightly [01:08:09] gone up, and that's because we have been using [01:08:13] on-call services for building inspection [01:08:17] and planning on hold, and with the increase of [01:08:20] obviously inspections we have, we have a building official and one inspector, [01:08:25] but that almost, you know, doubling that, [01:08:28] we needed to have that available [01:08:31] to have an on-call building inspector. [01:08:35] 44011, travel and training. [01:08:38] With the increase in staff that we've had, we also have increase of [01:08:42] certifications and licensing of staff. [01:08:45] We have building official, we have building inspection, [01:08:48] ICC accounts and certifications, we have [01:08:52] AICP, which is certified planning for several planners, we have [01:08:57] landscape architecture, GIS certifications, [01:09:00] and we're trying, we're working on getting a floodplain manager [01:09:03] internally. With all of those certifications, they require [01:09:07] continuing education units, and that's why there's a significant increase in [01:09:11] that number. [01:09:12] Additionally, I've asked Dale to join [01:09:15] International City County [01:09:18] Managers Association. [01:09:22] I have been a member of that in the past and been part of that organization, [01:09:26] and it's just fallen off. [01:09:30] 44611, [01:09:34] maintenance buildings and grounds. There's an increase in that because we're [01:09:38] looking to do some [01:09:39] upgrades internally with our department for safety reasons. [01:09:44] We have that front reception area you walk in, we're looking at doing some [01:09:47] things on there with some of the windows, and [01:09:49] some of the windows we've had pieces of paper on for many years, we're trying to [01:09:53] maybe close those up, and [01:09:54] things in our back service area. If you haven't been in there, we have a [01:09:58] kitchen area that we actually have a conference room [01:10:01] slash kitchen area all put together. We're looking at doing some modifications to [01:10:05] that so we can utilize them more effectively. [01:10:07] 44631, [01:10:12] central garage. This one was an interesting one to us. [01:10:15] We currently have two electric vehicles. I don't know if you've seen them. [01:10:20] They're little tiny like cars. [01:10:23] I think they're called a Leaf or something like that. [01:10:27] We've had them for several years. There's a life expectancy [01:10:31] on the battery of those, and they're coming up on the replacement time for [01:10:37] those batteries, [01:10:38] and they're approximately $10,000 per battery, [01:10:41] so we put it in the budget to potentially replace those [01:10:44] or reassess what we're going to doing with the electric vehicles [01:10:47] in our department currently. Moving down to 45225, software and licensing. [01:10:57] This increase is partially due to bringing in GIS from our department. [01:11:03] GIS is an expensive software, plus we're doing some [01:11:07] upgrades with some of our older programs that we have, [01:11:12] and we also have increased staffing, which is increased software, [01:11:15] and then we recently purchased last year the Forerunner [01:11:19] program, which is for our hurricane [01:11:22] and permitting assessment, and there's annual fees and [01:11:26] upgrades. We're looking at making... [01:11:29] It's an API that talks between Tyler and Forerunner, so there's some increased [01:11:34] costs with all those items. [01:11:36] 45243, increase on that due to [01:11:41] increase in staff, and then also upgrading some [01:11:44] desktops to laptops so we can go [01:11:48] mobile in case we need to move to another area, [01:11:51] so that has been increased. And the last one I'm going to talk about [01:11:57] is 45411. There is an increase [01:12:02] on dues and memberships because of all the licensing and certifications that we [01:12:06] talked about. [01:12:07] I'd be more than happy to discuss [01:12:10] any of the other items you have. Unfortunately, there's no decrease [01:12:15] proposed to this staff when you have increased in development and permitting [01:12:18] and all these other things. [01:12:20] It's hard to decrease, so Debbie was nice enough to [01:12:23] present what I had, and we'll see where it goes. [01:12:27] Is the [01:12:31] 45225 for you to get new ties? [01:12:34] 300 bucks? [01:12:38] 45225, software licensing and support? [01:12:42] No, 45231. [01:12:47] 45231, clothing and apparel? So you get new ties? [01:12:50] Yeah, I'll get new ties. I want [01:12:54] New Port Richey ties. With new, I try and get shirts and stuff, and with new staff you get those. [01:12:59] All right, thank you very much. [01:13:04] Just a comment. [01:13:07] Well, that's what we're here for. [01:13:12] If you [01:13:15] take out the 700,000 from the [01:13:19] community development block grant money, and I'm just curious, you've [01:13:22] estimated that you will spend it, I guess. [01:13:26] Have we issued CDBG [01:13:31] housing incentives, or will we, [01:13:35] for about 700,000 this year currently? [01:13:39] We have a proposal [01:13:43] that we will assist 10 property owners. [01:13:47] Their houses are [01:13:51] currently being assessed for lead and asbestos. [01:13:56] Once they're cleared for that, [01:13:59] their names will be presented to our Citizens Advisory Task Force, [01:14:06] and then a recommendation will be advanced to the City Council [01:14:11] to see whether or not you'll approve them [01:14:15] for assistance, and [01:14:19] our expectation is that that money will be spent. [01:14:23] We did apply for money [01:14:26] for the oncoming year, but we haven't been advised [01:14:30] yet whether or not our application was successful, [01:14:33] so hopefully we'll have some good news before we adopt the budget. [01:14:37] So that would be like 70,000 a piece in those [01:14:41] incentives, the 10 that you've got? [01:14:46] And I'm guessing that by the time that process is [01:14:50] through, it's likely it could [01:14:54] actually occur next fiscal year, in October? [01:15:00] Yes. I couldn't see them doing it and getting their money. Yeah, we have until [01:15:06] actually it's almost a year to fully implement the projects, but it'll be [01:15:11] before then because the specifications have already been prepared so they're [01:15:17] ready to bid once you approve the names of the potential clients of the program [01:15:26] if you do so. We don't have the money yet though, this is a reimbursement. This is a [01:15:31] reimbursement program. Yeah, so probably could put it back in again [01:15:36] next year then. It would be, yes. Yeah, so we'd see that, but if you take out that [01:15:44] $700,000 and look at the budget proposal, you've got, you know, well over a [01:15:52] $200,000 increase in this division or this department, which is, you know, well over a 10% increase, so. [01:16:04] You might, you may see cuts before it comes, comes back next time. It all depends on [01:16:08] where we land. That's a good question too. I'll finish my last comment, which is that DOE's report, [01:16:15] which I cursed having to do it, but it really caused our finance departments [01:16:20] across the state and the counties to identify whatever sources of money we [01:16:25] had, communication service taxes, extra penny taxes, everything we get from the [01:16:30] state, and it had, and it forced us to say, where were you putting that money, or like [01:16:37] we don't do that. I mean, we get all our money in and we get to budgets and then [01:16:42] you all divide it up however you have to, so you have one big pot of money and [01:16:47] you do all these things. Now we were forced to say, this money over here, we're [01:16:52] allocating to that, and I don't know if that's going to continue or not, but we're [01:16:57] in a very shaky time in terms of how they're going to proceed. I'm sure it'll take them years [01:17:02] to analyze all the information that they've demanded, but it continues to be [01:17:09] a challenge, I'm sure, for you all to come to us when we see the revenue side of [01:17:15] this and have to come to decisions on how we're going to handle it, so I [01:17:21] appreciate the ask and I'm hoping, but the one thing that I see sticks out like [01:17:26] a sore thumb is the Santec charge here. You're saying you were going to estimate [01:17:31] to spend $135,000 this year, and you've amended the budget for that, and now [01:17:37] you've got $150,000 for next year, so if we're paying $285,000 in [01:17:43] total, then I'm guessing we're probably not going to spend the $135,000 this year, [01:17:48] and I'm also wondering how far along that is, because there's so many things [01:17:53] that we've talked about that we feel could be inspirational in this city that [01:17:59] that has to do with the planning and taking it seriously that just haven't [01:18:05] seen those ideas percolate up so that we can discuss things like I've [01:18:14] suggested the Grand Boulevard become maybe looked at. Oh yeah. So I look [01:18:20] forward to those discussions, and I hope that we have a farm that will serve us [01:18:28] better than I have with the CRA, which has been two years on that plan, and they [01:18:33] actually have, we do have a very nice draft. I'm sorry to interrupt, [01:18:36] Councilman, and if not for the fact that I don't have an economic [01:18:42] development director in a chair right now, it would have been advanced to you [01:18:46] far before now, so it's really my fault, and nobody else's, that it hasn't been. [01:18:53] And if I may add to that, Ms. Mance, this is also the comp plan. I wasn't here last [01:19:01] year on that, so I've been meeting with Stantec monthly and sometimes twice a [01:19:07] month on the comp plan, and we're making progress putting together all the [01:19:11] base data information, all of that, and looking at, you know, how the CRA's plans [01:19:17] moving and making sure that the comp plan is setting forth goals and [01:19:22] objectives that the CRA can work with also, because they both dovetail. We [01:19:26] wanted them to be in alignment. And you do get funds from the CRA for the time [01:19:31] and effort that's shown up in this budget here, so that goes back to the [01:19:35] Doge comment. Where is the money coming to pay for you? All the time you're [01:19:40] spending on the CRA is billed, should be billed to the CRA for that direct effort [01:19:46] and support of whatever is economic direct development, so in a sense, you [01:19:52] know, we just have to be able to make a good argument to support. And I think [01:19:56] additionally, we should note that not all of the planning appropriation for [01:20:02] the 24, 25, and 25, 26 years is dedicated for Stantec exclusively. Right, we have [01:20:09] the GIS Jones funds in there and the Tyler training in it, so it's not [01:20:14] just Stantec, it's broken down. Matt, I'm sorry to go on, I hope you remember what you were going to ask. [01:20:20] I don't even know now. Back to your vehicles, the LEAFs, are those the only vehicles you have? [01:20:30] We have two LEAFs. And those are the only ones you have? Yes. Okay, and are those [01:20:34] hybrids or full electric? Full electric. Okay, so I noticed you got [01:20:39] 5,000 last year, 5,000 for maintenance. I mean, what kind of, maybe you don't know, [01:20:44] but what kind of maintenance... Brakes, things you... Gas and oil. Right, right. Yeah, those [01:20:50] types of things. Yeah, so just brakes and tires, I suppose. Brakes, tires, things like that, yeah. [01:20:55] Windshield wipers. Okay, thank you. Thank you all. [01:21:07] Okay, we have recreation and aquatics next, and it looks like we have Kevin coming [01:21:16] forward with us, for us. I'm sorry? Good evening, everybody. Thank you for the [01:21:34] opportunity to present both recreation and aquatics, and we'll start with [01:21:38] recreation. Just go over some of the accomplishments that we've accomplished [01:21:43] this past fiscal year, and I'll just kind of go over the highlights. Our first [01:21:48] accomplishment, we've added 10 new group fitness classes, which has enhanced our [01:21:53] program offering for a variety of groups, and we've really seen a lot of success [01:21:59] in some of those, if not all of them. A couple key instructors are leading those [01:22:05] classes, so honestly, when we have good instructors, the participation follows. So [01:22:10] we have people seeking us out, which is very helpful. For me, adding additional [01:22:16] programming in all aspects. This year, we added both youth and adult basketball [01:22:22] programming. In the fall, we haven't always done that. As much programming [01:22:28] as we can do, I think it's important, and on top of that, like a total of 163 [01:22:33] participants, so it wasn't just a fall basketball league. It was a sold-out [01:22:38] basketball league that our community enjoys, and we'll continue to do that. On [01:22:46] programming as well, camp programming, another form of programming. Both spring [01:22:52] and winter camps, we increased the capacity there. We used to take [01:22:55] anywhere between 25 and 30, and we're limited on the amount of staff that [01:23:00] we have to maintain staffing levels, but we were able to increase by utilizing [01:23:04] regular staff members during those time frames, so we were able to increase that [01:23:09] up to 50, which eliminated a wait list. We didn't have a current wait list for [01:23:13] both spring and winter camps this past year. For us, a lot of these programs, [01:23:19] offerings that we're adding, it's also important to make sure we're marketing [01:23:22] and getting out there, so it was important to me to stress to our part-time [01:23:27] marketing coordinator to at least get out to one event per year, and we [01:23:31] achieved that by going to an event per year through a variety of different [01:23:35] opportunities. Those are just our accomplishments. Now we're ready to move [01:23:38] on to next fiscal year, so I'd like to highlight some of our initiatives for [01:23:42] next year. I'm proud to offer a proposed new program that we're terming [01:23:51] Parks Friends, and the idea behind that is to program every park that we have at [01:23:57] least once throughout the year. Sims Parks gets the checkmark very frequently, [01:24:00] but Russ Park on the other side of US-19, not everybody knows about, so the idea is [01:24:05] to try to find something, whether it's a nature hike, whether it's, you know, [01:24:08] painting, stuff like that. Our staff is currently working on plans to do that, so [01:24:13] we'll have that plan rolled out to you guys and advertised and marketed. We're [01:24:19] going to intend to increase summer camp. We've increased it in the last two years, [01:24:25] was increased to 125. We're going to go to 150, and that's probably our max max. [01:24:30] We continue pickleball. We can't kick pickleball out, so we'll continue to [01:24:34] increase summer camp up to 150. There still is a wait list, so 150 is about [01:24:40] what we can max out at. Again, keeping the ratios that we have. Staff is aware of [01:24:45] this, and they know that that's a challenge that we'll have to prepare for, [01:24:48] but we're ready to handle that, and it'll be able to meet a lot of the [01:24:52] community need out there. The next thing is programming during the [01:24:58] school year with an after-school. Not official after-school program, but I'll [01:25:02] call it a meet-up. We're proposing to offer a once-a-week at this current [01:25:08] moment meet-up at Francis Avenue Park, as the mayor and many council members have [01:25:13] suggested over the years. So we're going to grassroots it, start it. We have [01:25:17] quality staff members that are already actively engaged with the kids that [01:25:22] come to the rec center, so we have a couple members of our staff that, by just [01:25:26] being in the park, I think they'll be able to attract the kids to come there. [01:25:29] It's just a meeting point. They come from Gulf High to Gulf Middle, so we're [01:25:33] actually truthfully going to program it. At this point, we don't have a cost [01:25:36] associated with it, and we just want to start grassroots with the long-term [01:25:40] maybe play of exploring and considering true after-school. We'll just be careful to say... [01:25:45] Is your program coordinators already contacted Gulf Middle and Gulf High? [01:25:50] We're working on that. I mean... Because I think, you know, the program will go a lot [01:25:56] better if it's there and available to them from day one. Absolutely. All right. [01:26:01] I'm looking forward to it. And then we continue to just review current and [01:26:06] trends, you know, eSports, all those type of activities, program-based, fitness [01:26:12] based. We continue to just make sure we're staying up-to-date through a [01:26:16] variety of ways, whether that's through state or national associations, and we [01:26:20] just want to continue to maintain current offerings. You never know what's [01:26:23] around the corner. Pokemon might be coming back next year or it's already here. [01:26:26] I might say that if it's a meet-up thing, that it might be better [01:26:33] to have a middle school one day and high school another day. I'll make that [01:26:39] note. Yeah, less problems. So I'm going to go into the budget. We'll start with [01:26:46] personnel, and I'll just highlight some key changes, increases, and decreases. [01:26:51] Overall, with personnel, we just spent time as a staff to just review staff [01:26:57] hours and operating hours, and we were able to find some efficiencies amongst [01:27:02] part-time staffing hours, and we determined we could reduce part-time [01:27:06] hours slightly while still maintaining operations at the current level. [01:27:11] The best way to put it is a .73 was reduced to a .70, so we were still able to [01:27:18] find those operating hours and events and all that. It was just a way to review [01:27:22] it. It'll be tight, but we'll be able to do it just based on this fiscal year. [01:27:26] We'll continue to operate efficiently, and I'm not concerned that we'll have [01:27:30] any staff shortages. By looking at the positions, we are proposing to remove a [01:27:36] Rec Leader 1 position and replace it with a Child Watch Attendant. The [01:27:41] justification for this request is because our full-time recreation staff [01:27:44] is able to support front desk operations, and they do currently. They're up there [01:27:48] quite a bit. I try to sometimes get them at their desk, but we we are moving [01:27:53] pretty quickly at the front desk that a lot of them are up there, so might as [01:27:57] well capitalize on that. And we're actually proposing to offer private [01:28:01] rentals in the Child Watch room, which we have not currently done, and that will [01:28:06] require us from a staffing. We'll continue the Child Watch operating hours [01:28:10] Monday through Sunday, and in addition to that, we're gonna have our private [01:28:15] rentals. It's a beautiful room. It's a three-story playground, and not that it's [01:28:20] Chuck E. Cheese, but we have something that's beautiful, and I believe families [01:28:24] in particular will utilize that, so we'll also have to manage both. So, [01:28:28] that's a proposal that we're planning to do. So, you know, we'll have [01:28:34] support at the front desk, but we will need additional support as a Child Watch [01:28:37] Attendant, and that request does come with an increase in revenue as well. [01:28:42] Division Head salaries. These are just kind of increased. You have a waiting [01:28:47] list for that? For Child Watch? So, our max, just based because you could have a [01:28:53] six-month-old in there, the max on a nightly basis could be ten. And so, yeah, [01:28:58] we have a couple times where we have to turn people away. So, I would say [01:29:05] sporadically. Depends on the night. If it's a karate night or actually [01:29:09] cheerleading on a Friday night, there's a lot of people that utilize Child Watch. [01:29:13] So, it's just kind of managing this support of an additional Child Watch [01:29:17] could allow us to, you know, go to 20 on a nightly basis in a certain situation. [01:29:24] We'll go to Division Head salaries. 41112, increased by 7,100 just due to [01:29:31] current salary of staff. Same thing with regular exempt salaries. 41210, [01:29:37] increased by 5,500 due to current salary of staff. Part-time wages, 41311, [01:29:45] decreased by 11,500. As I mentioned earlier, we reviewed our staffing hours [01:29:51] and found some efficiencies that we were able to reduce some of those hours and [01:29:56] propose a decrease in that account. [01:30:00] Overall personnel with some of those changes is a minimal increase of $860 so [01:30:06] try to keep that pretty steady for this this upcoming fiscal year. Any [01:30:12] questions about personnel happy to answer them. Just in terms of the parks [01:30:18] you call it parks and recreation you're calling this recreation expenditures and [01:30:24] you've got aquatics expenditures. Is there a parks expenditures or are they [01:30:30] included in your recreation numbers? Parks largely is handled through Public [01:30:36] Works. So to my point, parks maintenance, parks upkeep, parks bathroom [01:30:46] cleaning, parks maintenance was one thing. At the rec center you have folks [01:30:52] supervising. I think it was the mayor who suggested that we start programming [01:30:58] and some other parks which would require recreation folks to be putting that [01:31:04] together. And particularly I just want to highlight it. It's been, geez, nearly 10 [01:31:11] years since we had problems at Francis Park with gangs to where there was a [01:31:17] major sort of deck of cards of all the gang members and watching the activity [01:31:23] and cursing and it really was chasing residents away from that park. And [01:31:29] currently I'm understanding and I've observed it this past weekend that [01:31:35] without any supervision on that property that there are things that are going on [01:31:41] there that shouldn't be going on. And it's been reported to me that this is [01:31:45] another place it needs to be a safe haven for good activity. And so this was, [01:31:55] I continue to think about this idea of moving some of the outdoor activities [01:32:00] from the rec center where you've got supervision of the pool and the building [01:32:04] grounds to maybe start thinking about having somebody at the park or at least [01:32:12] not just that park but you also have the dog park now and I I'm guessing [01:32:17] you're telling me Public Works is the ones that are the eyes on the ground [01:32:21] because it's not an organized but Mr. Mayor you suggested some organized [01:32:27] activities and I would not be opposed to seeing you figure out how to make that [01:32:34] happen. I'm also really continued to feel that the idea of having those [01:32:42] activities at the basketball courts at Francis Park where you have so many [01:32:47] outdoor basketball courts where you could actually have somebody on duty at [01:32:52] Francis Avenue. You're talking about the dog park? [01:32:57] Dog park. The outdoor courts at Francis Park are used. [01:33:04] Where's Francis? Well okay. Yeah I don't see them. I don't see them used very often. [01:33:10] That's what I'm asking. But there's also had the discussion about what happens at [01:33:16] the rec center. You've got the great indoor basketball, you've got activity [01:33:20] outside, you've got so many guests and people coming there, and you've got a [01:33:25] different kind of activity that's unsupervised. We have that going on at [01:33:31] Francis. I'm just suggesting that if in fact we have the ability to improve that [01:33:37] whole site and its look before you build back what you already have there, that [01:33:42] you think about building it at Francis Park, maybe putting a cover over the [01:33:46] basketball for shade because we're breaking heat records, you know, and I [01:33:53] think that, you know, master planning our parks, I'll be, you know, and I'm [01:34:01] obviously an advocate of doing something on the backside and we've had, you know, [01:34:06] potential investment of seven million dollars by our congressman to do [01:34:11] something there and it's surrounded by retirement homes all around so, you know, [01:34:17] that's coming forward, but I think that we need to look at, as architects and [01:34:25] planners do, is there a walking trail? The gentleman used to come here all the time, [01:34:30] always asked for a nice walking trail for senior citizens, and so if we're [01:34:35] going to have that senior community there, which is more inclined to be near [01:34:40] the grocery stores and in that area, we have so many of them on Congress, even if [01:34:45] we haven't, don't have another one, the silver sneakers programs, all the things [01:34:49] you do. I'm just saying, Francis Park probably, we skip that to do the dog park, [01:34:57] we need to go back to Francis Park, I think, and really make that look good, and so [01:35:04] it's a, I bring it up here because I think having a park employee and some [01:35:14] activities there in our future will help to keep what continues to happen [01:35:19] there with illegal drug activity and people meeting, and I'm sure the police [01:35:25] department has some stories they could share if we asked them about what's [01:35:28] going on there because I understand that it's an active place to meet. Okay, thank [01:35:36] you. We'll go into operating and we'll start with professional services [01:35:42] miscellaneous 43199, and that is an increase of 65,000 due to our plan to [01:35:49] conduct an update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and also utilizing [01:35:53] a consultant to assist with the fee analysis of all fees that we charge. We [01:35:58] have that plan to get done in this upcoming fiscal year. Next is [01:36:04] contractual services instructors 43443, increased by 19,000 based on prior [01:36:11] year's trends. That is directly related to adding additional contracted [01:36:16] instructors and youth basketball and adult basketball referees, both are paid [01:36:22] out of that same account, and how we operate contractual instructors, just [01:36:27] like many municipalities, it's a 70-30 split that we work with our instructors [01:36:32] so there is additional revenue with additional program offerings on the [01:36:37] contracted instructor perspective. Next is 44419, rental equipment, and we [01:36:45] decreased that by 2,000 based on previous year spends. Maintenance of [01:36:50] buildings and ground 44611, increase directly related to we have known [01:36:56] maintenance items in the Child Watch Playground that need addressed in the [01:37:00] upcoming year before they, we can't use that, but we're able to address that in [01:37:04] the future fiscal year and get it done, and a lot of that playground equipment [01:37:09] just cost a decent amount to get it shipped into us, so we've identified them [01:37:14] and we have a plan moving forward to address that. Special events 44961, was [01:37:21] increased by $7,000, and this line item is just specifically for like [01:37:26] recreation specific events, so such as Light Up the Night, our Spring Fling [01:37:34] Easter event, which is the first year we brought it to Sims Park, we'll continue [01:37:37] to do that, that event continues to grow, End of Summer Spectacular, Movie Nights, [01:37:41] Kids Night Out, Halloween Dance, Daddy Daughter Dance, and multiple other [01:37:45] activities, not permitted events, so we continue to try to enhance those events. [01:37:50] It also assists with kind of park decorating during the holiday season. [01:37:56] Recreation trips 44693, we are increasing by 8,500 to support [01:38:02] proposed camp participants to 150 next summer, as well as increased capacity [01:38:07] during holiday camps. During summer camp, campers pay an additional fee for field [01:38:12] trips, so they pay a fee to attend camp, and then they also pay a fee to go on [01:38:17] the field trip, so same thing, we add more kids, we have more revenue that comes in [01:38:22] for that, and it's basically a little more than at cost for a field trip. Next [01:38:29] is other charges, miscellaneous, 44999, reduced by 1,300 based on average [01:38:36] spend in this account over the past few years, and a majority of this has [01:38:40] honestly contributed to decorating our floats, so Chasco Holiday and Boat Parade, [01:38:44] and just identifying a budget and sticking to the budget, we'll continue to [01:38:48] offer fantastic decorations on those, but just kind of identifying those budgets [01:38:52] up front, so that we can remain, so that we can reduce that budget this [01:38:56] upcoming year. Next is software license, 452225, increased by 1,200 due to a [01:39:04] known increase in our ActiveNet registration software that we utilize [01:39:09] for registrations by the department. Clothing and wearal, clothing and wearing [01:39:15] apparel, 45231, decreased by $1,250 due to current level of inventory, we [01:39:22] have a handful of polos on stock, so when somebody shows up they can get a shirt, [01:39:26] so we have a handful of those that we've been able to bring on throughout the [01:39:31] last two years. Licensing and ID materials, 45241, decreased by 1,500 just [01:39:38] based on reviewing account spending over the past few years. Recreation supplies, [01:39:43] 45245, increased by 35, approximately $3,500, and we spend like camp [01:39:51] programming out of that, so arts and crafts, it's more than my Popsicle stick, [01:39:57] so we offer some quality arts and crafts, we have good camp coordinators, so that [01:40:02] increased with additional kids per week. Operating supplies, miscellaneous, 45299, [01:40:08] decreased by $1,500, again just by reviewing account spending throughout [01:40:13] the past year. Next is capital expenses, we have proposed an improvements other [01:40:21] than buildings, 46399, new tables and chairs. Our current inventory of tables [01:40:28] and chairs have varied throughout the years, so it's time to update those, that [01:40:32] includes quality tables, rectangle six, eight foot, and rounds that also will be, [01:40:39] you know, supported with rentals as well, so Peace Hall will utilize these as well [01:40:44] as camp, rent a variety of different opportunities for that, and better chairs, [01:40:49] so that's what that request is. Next, under that same account, we have replaced [01:40:55] outdated gymnasium wall pads, there's 72 of them, and they all need replaced, [01:41:00] they're maroon, and actually some of them are due for, they're not very, they're not [01:41:07] serving their purpose, so we need to update those, and based on redoing the [01:41:12] gym floors, there may be a color change scheme that we may look at as well, but [01:41:16] there's 72 of them, and we need to, we're hoping to replace those in the upcoming [01:41:20] fiscal year. I'm sorry, I missed the first word, what was the item? Replace the [01:41:25] outdated gym wall pads. Oh, the pads. Yeah, and those are a safety component that are [01:41:30] under all the gymnasium hoops, and then we have proposed the birch and palm room [01:41:34] wood floor resurfacing, both are due. Actually, the palm room is not a wood [01:41:40] floor, so we'd actually be looking to replace that, it's in a really bad [01:41:43] condition. In total, we're looking at about 3,200 square feet for those [01:41:49] replacements. On the total, birch room is about 1,000, and 2,100 square feet is the [01:41:59] palm room, which is more of the vinyl wood flooring, which used to be the [01:42:02] fitness center, and it's due for a replacement. Next is special purpose [01:42:08] equipment, replacing the elliptical machine as well as fitness equipment in [01:42:14] there, we have budgeted. We've been utilizing those on a daily basis, our [01:42:18] members use those, so we got to have plans to rotate those through a [01:42:22] replacement program, so that's why we've allocated that money this year. And then [01:42:26] last but not least, for recreation, is we're proposing upgrade access control [01:42:30] in a few other areas throughout the facility to maintain a safe environment [01:42:35] in a few different staff areas, so that the general public isn't accessing those [01:42:40] areas, and it'll increase our safety as well. I'm happy to answer any [01:42:45] questions in regard to recreation. [01:42:49] The city of Dart has been operated by some recreation people in the past, am I [01:42:59] missing that, or is that included in the budget? That's included in the parking [01:43:04] garage budget. It's included in the parking garage budget, but the staff is [01:43:11] maintained from the recreation center. [01:43:19] To move on to the aquatics, Kevin. On to aquatics, just go over a couple of the [01:43:25] accomplishments that we've done this past fiscal year. Some facility [01:43:29] enhancement projects that you guys have approved throughout this past [01:43:33] year, the waterslide restoration, replacement of the shade canopies, and [01:43:37] the installation of artificial turf have all been completed. We've [01:43:41] demonstrated adaptability throughout lifeguards, from lifeguard 1 to head [01:43:47] lifeguards, and we've maintained a reliable and safe [01:43:51] environment throughout all seasons of the pool. We've developed a proactive and [01:43:56] preventative maintenance schedule through a variety of ways, and we look [01:44:02] to continue to do that, just to try to find things that we may not notice, and [01:44:06] there's a variety of people that are looking in there, myself included, on a [01:44:09] daily basis. And then the aquatic center, I'm happy to report that it's been a [01:44:16] goal since I've started here, is swim lessons. To me, swim lessons are essential [01:44:22] part of a public recreation program, and this year we offered six two-week [01:44:29] sessions. We're continuing to offer them, and that's a total increase of 63 [01:44:34] classes compared to last year, and we started at Memorial Day. We know we could [01:44:38] probably, in the future, which we have plans to, start around spring break [01:44:41] because it's warm at that time, and then run spring break to Halloween, and that's [01:44:46] our intention as we continue to have a full-time aquatics manager and somebody [01:44:51] who's very passionate about aquatics programming as well. And it is very [01:44:55] helpful throughout this year to have support through a variety of donations. [01:45:00] to help kind of promote that to our community and people are taking [01:45:03] advantage of it. Our initiatives for this upcoming year is to adjust and optimize [01:45:09] the Aquatic Center's operating hours. For a long time I've heard that multiple [01:45:13] places open a little bit earlier, so based on the proposed staffing layout [01:45:19] that we have for you guys tonight, I do anticipate in the spring that we will be [01:45:23] able to accommodate that. A lot of places open really early. The intention would be [01:45:27] to try to open at 6 a.m. We have had people over the years go to the YMCA, [01:45:32] which opens pretty early. 6 a.m. is the intention starting in spring when [01:45:37] we'll be ramping back up again. We want to enhance community safety and [01:45:42] drowning prevention, not just through swim lessons. We want to engage with [01:45:45] local communities, local organizations to do that and we'll be starting that in [01:45:50] the upcoming school year to try to get involved with the schools and any [01:45:54] opportunities that we can to teach the importance of swim lessons and being [01:45:59] safe around the water. We also want to continue to find ways to engage our [01:46:04] teens for the aquatics. We have a lot of kids that just come up there and just [01:46:09] hang out and I believe they're actively looking for programming and [01:46:12] participation, so we're just trying to engage with that group to get them to [01:46:16] utilize the facility and programming and also potentially future lifeguards. We [01:46:21] have a lot of people who always ask about being a lifeguard while they're in [01:46:24] the pools and we just think if we can start them. Teenagers will have a [01:46:28] full staff as we continue to do those things. And then we'll also continue to [01:46:34] optimize rental opportunities. This year again starting in spring we'll be adding [01:46:39] Friday evening after our pool parties. Currently we offer Saturday and Sunday, [01:46:43] so when it starts turning warm we'll have a Friday evening after our pool [01:46:48] party opportunities as well. I ask you about the life-saving classes because I [01:46:54] remember that's a precursor to becoming a lifeguard is take life-saving classes [01:47:00] and is there a way we can, I don't know, I don't want to say trick them into it, [01:47:07] but give them a free life-saving classes and then in that if they take to it then [01:47:15] that may help to develop them. I'm assuming that's already part of your [01:47:18] strategy, but I don't know if we charge for life-saving classes or if we're [01:47:22] doing it. Yes, so the initiative that we have listed here, which will [01:47:30] incorporate that, is focused on like kindergarten, pre-k people to teach them [01:47:36] the importance of being safe around the water, but also considering, you know, we [01:47:41] certify lifeguards. We generally certify lifeguards at 16, so looking for what I [01:47:46] would consider like a junior lifeguard course through American Red Cross I [01:47:51] believe there is potentially opportunities. I'd have to look at their [01:47:54] requirements on age, but yeah absolutely we would try to do that as we [01:48:01] start gearing up for after the new year, absolutely. You talked about instructors, [01:48:07] are almost all the staff instructors certified? So swim lesson instructors for [01:48:12] us or anybody LG2, lifeguard 2 and above? Nobody outside, everybody inside, in-house. [01:48:19] All our swim lessons are taught by us. We have used like somebody to certify our [01:48:29] lifeguards at BWSI, but our intention is now that we have an aquatics manager, [01:48:33] she would get that certification. Same thing in this personnel side as [01:48:41] recreation, we reviewed staff hours and operating hours in an attempt to find [01:48:45] some efficiencies and opportunities to reduce some of the staffing costs, so [01:48:50] that has led us to reduce slightly some of the like FTE breakdowns just based on [01:48:56] the hours that were needed, not necessarily budgeted for in the past, but [01:49:01] what we at truthfully need and that does include in the spring attempting to [01:49:05] open at 6 a.m. Our intention would be spring break of 2026. We are increased [01:49:15] the total number of year-round part-time lifeguard staff, which will allow the [01:49:20] division to offer more programming, swim lessons and as mentioned the adjusting [01:49:24] operating hours in the future based on community feedback and set us up for [01:49:28] success as the summer season, so we don't have to hire 10 to 12 seasonal, we [01:49:34] only have to hire 7 or 8 seasonal and in this scenario we can't hire [01:49:39] seasonal, which we have struggled with over the years. With this regular [01:49:44] person who's on time throughout the entire year, we'll still able to pull off [01:49:48] a summer really no matter what the scenario plays just based on having [01:49:52] those staff here throughout the year, so we'd have a total of 13 regular staff [01:49:58] that I'd call them still in a part-time status and then eight seasonal. Going [01:50:04] into the personnel costs, regular exempt salaries 41210 decreased by 9,000 [01:50:11] due to the current salary of staff in that position and then part-time and [01:50:15] temporary wages cancel each other out, but part-time wages 41311 [01:50:20] increased by 141,000 due to the request to have regular part-time [01:50:26] employees throughout the year and we've reduced the temporary wages 41312 [01:50:32] by the same amount of 141,000 and again those temporary wages are [01:50:37] spring-breaking on and then they end school year time. Any questions in [01:50:43] regards of personnel for aquatics? I'll go into to operating. We'll start with [01:50:51] gas 44341 increased by 15,000 as a result of having two fully functional [01:50:59] heaters, so we use more heat at this point and this has been the first time [01:51:05] kind of in a year in the last year and a half we've been had those two [01:51:08] functioning so this is a true sign of what has been spent on the natural [01:51:13] gas and generally speaking we run those from October to sometimes May. They like [01:51:18] it warm in the lap pool for sure. Next is water and sewer 44351 [01:51:24] increased by 14,000 due to previous year's spending trend and anticipating [01:51:30] resurfacing two pools. We have to empty the water and then we have to fill it [01:51:33] back up so we'll have water usage throughout this upcoming [01:51:37] fiscal year. Maintenance of buildings and ground 44661 decreased by 7,000 due [01:51:43] to finding operating efficiencies within this department and utilizing a [01:51:46] preventative maintenance program that will help with reducing the possibility [01:51:50] of large repairs by catching things early. Repair and maintenance of [01:51:54] equipment 44621 decreased by 2,500 based on known maintenance item that [01:52:00] can be addressed in the upcoming year and as well utilizing preventative [01:52:04] maintenance on some pool deck items including the diving boards. Chemicals [01:52:09] 45221 we continue to have the market for the cost of chlorine go up so we've [01:52:18] increased that by 15,000 based on industry increases on cost with [01:52:23] chemicals and the past few years trends. We'll look to other municipalities to see [01:52:29] if there's a piggyback opportunity to see if they're getting it from another [01:52:32] vendor that we're not currently getting it from but we will absolutely explore [01:52:36] that to see if there's another opportunity out there to attempt to get [01:52:39] a cheap bulk rate. Clothing and wearing apparel 45231 decreased by 1,500 based [01:52:45] on current inventory of staff suits. We have enough to staff current staff plus [01:52:50] as people on board we have a variety of uniforms currently. Swim and rec [01:52:55] accessories 45234 decreased by 1,500 based on average of previous year's [01:53:01] spending trends. Computer supplies 45243 decreased by 500 based on current [01:53:07] status of staff computers. Operating supplies miscellaneous 45299 increased [01:53:15] by $700 due to the inspection cost for the water slide which include a we have [01:53:21] to obtain an affidavit from an engineer and then we also get inspected by the [01:53:26] state twice a year and those have increased over the years and it also [01:53:31] supports supplies for increased programming and swim lessons. Signs and [01:53:36] materials 45321 decreased by $500 based on previous year's spend and [01:53:42] aquatics dues and memberships 45411 decreased by $500 based on previous [01:53:48] year's spending trends. And then capital expenses to wrap it up improvements [01:53:52] other than buildings 46399 we have proposed this year the plunge and dive [01:53:58] pool resurfacing both are due for it and we'll work around the schedule to get [01:54:05] that done prior to summer starting and so there'll be no hiccups with [01:54:10] programming throughout the summer. We are proposing a new Duraflex diving board [01:54:15] stand which I mentioned that we do inspection every year so this is if you [01:54:19] can picture the diving board it's not the diving board it's everything else [01:54:22] so we've identified in our annual inspection that it's it's beneficial to [01:54:27] plan and budget for that and request that in this upcoming year and that's [01:54:31] our request for this upcoming year and then our 15 horsepower motor replacement [01:54:36] we have three of those and we should plan to replace those as we move forward [01:54:42] and that's the request for this year this upcoming fiscal year we have three [01:54:46] of those one runs lap one runs activity and the other ones this slide. And then [01:54:54] finally special-purpose equipment 46431 the activity pool and slide pool filter [01:55:00] media upgrade going from sand to glass which is a current trend in the industry [01:55:05] and creates efficiencies and could potentially save on chemical cost. That's [01:55:11] it for aquatics happy to answer any questions. [01:55:15] How much does it cost if somebody doesn't have a pool city membership to use the aquatics center? [01:55:23] A day pass you're asking? I believe it's I'd have to confirm that but I believe [01:55:30] it's 550 and it varies whether you're a senior youth but I'd be happy to give [01:55:35] you an exact cost and look at that up for sure. [01:55:45] The final budget presentation this evening is the Police Department and I'll ask Chief Cochin and [01:55:50] Deputy Chief Latoma to come before you this evening to present the budget. [01:55:58] Deputy Chief Latoma will be joining us in a minute so just want to as I kind of say every year a [01:56:27] budget really is just a financial plan to achieve your vision mission goals [01:56:31] and objectives and what we've basically submitted to you definitely does that. It [01:56:37] is without a doubt an exciting time at the Police Department and we meaning all [01:56:43] of us city manager command staff all the PD people of course this council it [01:56:48] takes a team to do what we're trying to do and that's build a high-performing [01:56:52] organization and we're well on our way to get there. We have successfully [01:56:56] incorporated the county-wide cab RMS system. We are this close to becoming a [01:57:02] fully accredited police agency through the CFA which is just an amazing [01:57:06] accomplishment. It takes a lot to build the culture and and follow all the [01:57:11] standards you have to follow so we're very confident that that is forthcoming. [01:57:16] As a part of the accreditation process you know it's kind of like a machine you [01:57:21] look at all the parts and we have you know upped our game with everything [01:57:25] detective division property and evidence division our policy and [01:57:28] procedures you know obviously we've implemented a lift team we have a [01:57:33] full-time victim advocate and as you know the lift team continues to grow the [01:57:39] lift team has been featured in many news stories and and the work that they do [01:57:42] and the community is phenomenal. Over the last two years the Police Department has [01:57:47] also been very successful in obtaining about six hundred thirty six thousand [01:57:51] and grants that help fund their operations most of that money comes into [01:57:54] the revenue side of the general fund ledger. As we get into our FY 26 budget [01:58:01] there are a lot of interesting and good things that we work with the city [01:58:05] manager trying to achieve so we can meet you know our goals and objectives. One of [01:58:10] the one of the big things that we'll talk about in division 64 is upgrading [01:58:14] our body cameras our in-car cameras and our tasers because as you know we we [01:58:21] have a cab RMS system but we merged with the county and Axon does the RMS [01:58:25] side of the equation and Axon is the one that offers this one solution plan so we [01:58:31] will be operating now off of one platform with the Sheriff's Department [01:58:35] and it's the technology upgrade is amazing and obviously all of the current [01:58:40] cameras and tasers and in-car cameras that we have are at the end of their [01:58:44] useful lifespan as a capital item. So we'll talk about that as we go through [01:58:48] the budget. The budget also proposes in division 61 the elimination of our [01:58:55] administrative assistance position and we'd be not adding we'll be replacing it [01:58:59] with a police senior administrative officer managers position and that will [01:59:04] better support us with accreditation. I'll talk about that a little more as we [01:59:07] get into 61 but the Police Department's budget is dividing into six divisions [01:59:13] from 61 through 67. There is no division 66 for us and we basically each division [01:59:25] has its own you know its own obviously piece of the Police Department so as we [01:59:31] do this myself and Deputy Chief LaTone will go through the divisions and we'll [01:59:35] answer any questions that you may have. So I'll cover division 61 we'll start [01:59:40] there and division 61 I believe it would be on page 41 and you're correct [01:59:46] yeah supervision yep perfect so this super this you know division 61 is [01:59:51] obviously a police chief the deputy chief and the new position the [01:59:55] administrative senior administrative office manager [02:00:00] This division's actually had a slight decrease in the budget as compared to FY25. [02:00:06] Again, one of the highlights is the elimination of the one position and replacing it with the other position [02:00:13] to better help us with the accreditation process and all the logistics that go behind running an accredited agency. [02:00:21] So this will be a big benefit to us. [02:00:23] I want to talk a little bit about personnel or operating services. [02:00:27] If you look at 45 to 25 software licenses and support, there's 182,000 in there. [02:00:33] The vast majority of that is the CAD RMS system. [02:00:36] On the CAD side, it's $68,000 for renewal fees, for licenses, support. [02:00:42] And on the RMS side, it's $32,000. [02:00:45] So that's a big chunk of that to continue that countywide system that we're integrated with, and it is a phenomenal system. [02:00:53] As we go down through operating and capital, we have some building improvements that we want to continue to work on. [02:00:59] The city manager was very successful at getting funds this year to do the front of the building. [02:01:03] I don't know if you guys have noticed that, but the front of the building looks phenomenal. [02:01:07] We've been upgrading different areas of the police department to replace some aging flooring and carpeting. [02:01:15] We also have, in special-purpose equipment, $25,000 to deploy a gridless power camera system at Missouri Avenue. [02:01:24] It will be by the Zen, and that will tie in to our downtown camera system, [02:01:29] because we really have no coverage by where the village is, by where the back city parking lot is. [02:01:33] So this is a big technology upgrade for us to better help safeguard the downtown area. [02:01:39] Is it going to be lit up, too? [02:01:41] I don't know at this point. [02:01:43] It's going to look just like one of the light poles down there, I would say probably. [02:01:46] We put that light there months ago, but I didn't know we were working with Duke Power to better lit that corner. [02:01:53] Yeah, I believe so, and it's going to look very authentic like what's there now. [02:01:57] So the goal is to not let people think there are cameras in there, but there will be. [02:02:01] But it will blend in really nice with the environment. [02:02:04] So in Division 61, there was a slight increase from last year, and as we go through this budget, [02:02:10] one of the things I really wanted to talk about, and I know this was mentioned earlier by the city manager, [02:02:16] on the revenue side of the ledger of the general fund, the police department, based on its operations, [02:02:20] brings in a lot of funding to the tune of almost $3 million. [02:02:25] And on the overtime side, I know that you guys have talked about this. [02:02:28] This is a good problem to have because we are really supporting the city's success. [02:02:33] When you talk about special events in downtown and the downtown beat in Sims Park, it's just amazing to watch. [02:02:40] But we do bring in probably close to $75,000 to help replenish some of that overtime through various grants that we have. [02:02:48] And then, like I said, almost $3 million comes into the general fund to help offset some of these operations. [02:02:54] So I just wanted to mention that. [02:02:56] And, Deputy Chief, you want to cover Division 62? [02:02:59] Sure. [02:03:01] Support services? [02:03:03] This is support services, yes, Division 62. [02:03:07] And in that division, I have the lieutenant of administration. [02:03:11] I have one dispatch supervisor, five full-time dispatchers, two records clerks, [02:03:17] one crime scene tech and property tech, and victim advocate coordinator, one of those. [02:03:24] So just to touch on some of the accomplishments of last year and going forward, [02:03:31] we did our full consolidation with the county communications, [02:03:35] and it seems to have integrated so far seamlessly and very successfully, so we're very happy with that. [02:03:42] We've also integrated with their computer-aided dispatch and the Axon records management system. [02:03:49] So it's important to note that all of those projects and the initiatives that we took on for last year have been fully completed, [02:03:57] so we're very satisfied with that. [02:04:00] And it's also important to note that our victim advocate did receive significant grant funding [02:04:06] through the Office of Violence Against Women grant, [02:04:09] and that is inclusive of her salary, overtime for her domestic violence, follow-up initiatives, [02:04:19] and an ultraviolet radiation UVR camera for our crime scene technician. [02:04:24] I think that grant was like $225,000. [02:04:27] Yes, it was a lot of money. [02:04:31] There's not been a lot of change to the budget from last year. [02:04:39] The only notable change that I had in here was line item 43499. [02:04:45] That was for contractual services. [02:04:48] That is through the county. [02:04:50] That is our contractual agreement with the consolidation project, [02:04:54] and that is to designate two dispatchers on the county side specifically for the city of New Port Richey full-time. [02:05:06] 44649, which is our radio equipment for a line item of 1350, that is for a wiring project. [02:05:17] And if I could just jump back, there was a significant decrease in 44621, [02:05:24] and that was for our console agreement, our maintenance agreement. [02:05:29] We had a prior agreement with Zetron. [02:05:31] We are no longer maintaining that contract. [02:05:34] We do it on a call-for-service basis at this point, so that was a significant decrease in savings. [02:05:43] And I believe that's all I had marked for that. [02:05:49] Is this the appropriate section to talk about the moving of comms to the county? [02:05:55] Would this be that section? [02:05:56] Yes. [02:05:57] Okay, just a quick question. [02:05:58] Since that changeover, when it comes to the dispatchers that are over there that are counties versus ours, [02:06:08] you mentioned two dispatch positions, if I'm correct on that. [02:06:13] What trainings are taking place? [02:06:15] And it might not be a fiscal item or a financial item, but more of like the initiatives and the accomplishments. [02:06:23] What trainings are taking place to familiarize some of those county dispatchers with our local municipality? [02:06:31] Well, there is a consolidation board that has been put together and been implemented. [02:06:38] So we discuss any problems that may arise. [02:06:42] They have aligned their dispatchers to take our calls for service. [02:06:49] They are very well aware. [02:06:51] We take many more calls than the county takes for, obviously, customer service reasons. [02:06:57] So there is a constant communication. [02:07:00] They are trained up through the county as their county dispatch. [02:07:04] So they have a call taker that has to be in place for a certain amount of years, [02:07:09] and then they can move up and be promoted to a dispatcher. [02:07:13] So they are trained through the county, but they are very well aware of our needs as a city. [02:07:20] If I may, too, I think you're referring to a call in the downtown area, and that's an exception to the rule. [02:07:26] Sometimes these things happen. [02:07:27] We handle a voluminous amount of calls both at our secondary PSAP and there. [02:07:32] So I don't think that's going to be a standard practice that they would do that on a call. [02:07:38] That is definitely the exception to the rule. [02:07:40] I think it's been going, actually, very well. [02:07:42] And they also cover those two dispatchers. [02:07:45] One of them is for fire. [02:07:46] One of them is for police. [02:07:48] Okay. [02:07:50] And we do have our police interface in their dispatch. [02:07:54] Absolutely. [02:07:56] You're exactly right, yes. [02:08:01] All right. [02:08:02] Question? [02:08:03] Yeah. [02:08:04] On the health insurance regular, am I to believe that we had some good news this year in terms of the big increases we've had in the past? [02:08:15] Because I see regular full-time wages are going up by $60,000, but the health insurance regular is going down by $50,000 or $45,000. [02:08:28] So is that an indication that we've been pretty good with our health insurance? [02:08:36] We actually don't have final figures yet to report. [02:08:40] So I'll let Crystal respond to why. [02:08:43] I'll verify the estimate because the estimate right now is matching the amended budget. [02:08:47] That estimate may be lower. [02:08:49] It's possible that we have employees that are not taking the health insurance currently. [02:08:54] But, again, once open enrollment is released, then the health premiums across all departments will be updated based on enrollment and costs. [02:09:07] Because we've gotten hit pretty hard with health insurance in the past, and our premiums are set based on our experience as a city. [02:09:18] Right. [02:09:19] We're self-insured through the – in a sense through the larger organization, part of a group of cities that are – [02:09:30] We're actually independent, and I know Mr. Wetzel is working very hard to negotiate a good deal for us this year. [02:09:36] Right. [02:09:37] So I'm not expecting a large increase, but I know that it's not reflected yet in these numbers. [02:09:46] As to the full-time wage increase, so that's just a result of the negotiations and the calculations being made since there's no additional personnel there from last year, [02:09:58] 11 to 11, and an increase of some, you know, 12, 14 percent. [02:10:08] That's been – [02:10:09] Do you want to touch on that? [02:10:10] Yeah. [02:10:12] Are you still referring to the health insurance? [02:10:14] No, sadly. [02:10:15] The regular wages up top, the one that went up when the other one went down. [02:10:18] 299. [02:10:23] Because there's no change in – [02:10:24] I mean, it was 548 back in 23, so I don't know how many people you had there, but – and it's not, you know, considering over a million dollars. [02:10:33] We can verify the rates that are – [02:10:35] They need to be changed. [02:10:38] Well, we're in support services. [02:10:41] We'll look at that. [02:10:42] That wouldn't constitute the step increases unless we took into account. [02:10:47] I don't believe so. [02:10:49] In FY22, we also have nine dispatchers, and now we have six with the county. [02:10:53] So, yeah, it's not easy to do the budget and make estimates, so I'm not trying to be picky. [02:10:58] I've just noticed that sometimes they say these estimates are there because they were meant to budget to that level, and maybe good news is that it hasn't been spent, but whatever. [02:11:11] We'll be checking those numbers. [02:11:13] Thank you. [02:11:15] Go ahead. [02:11:17] We move on to Division 63, and Deputy Chief's up again. [02:11:20] Oh, I'm up at that again. [02:11:25] 63 is our Criminal Investigations Division. [02:11:28] This unit consists of four detectives. [02:11:32] Their notable mentions this year are they have managed to obtain several multiple high-level funding grants to enhance their efforts, their investigative efforts, [02:11:43] and they're currently working a very high-level case with the Office of the Attorney General to invest a multimillion-dollar multistate and international embezzlement case. [02:11:55] So that has actively been ongoing with multiple victims and millions of dollars worth missing. [02:12:03] So. [02:12:08] Did you take this? [02:12:10] Yes, I have. [02:12:11] That's crazy, isn't it? [02:12:12] Yeah. [02:12:13] Made me think of it. [02:12:14] Yeah, I actually have. [02:12:16] Oh, let's run through this really quick, this one. [02:12:20] The numbers are pretty consistent with last year's. [02:12:22] The only increase that I had noted was the 45225, which was a slight increase in the software licenses and support, and that's obviously with the licensing fees going up annually, the rates have increased. [02:12:41] So. [02:12:44] That is all I have in that division. [02:12:48] Okay. [02:12:49] We're on to Division 64. [02:12:50] So this is Police Patrol Division, and I'm up to the plate. [02:12:53] So this is the backbone of the department. [02:12:56] It's obviously the largest, from a numbers perspective, the largest division in the police department. [02:13:01] I'd also like to acknowledge that we have Lieutenant Melliker and Lieutenant Pascali here with us. [02:13:05] They're a big part of the team. [02:13:07] So Patrol Division, some of the really notables in this division is the really, I'll go right to capital, and this is going to be the Axon One Solution Plan, and you'll see it. [02:13:22] It's 464431. [02:13:24] It's for $317,990, and this is actually a 10-year plan. [02:13:31] It will have to come to you for approval. [02:13:34] We'll have to contract with Axon, but this is replacing all of our body cameras, all of our NCAR cameras, and our tasers, and all of these capital items are at the end of their useful life. [02:13:49] Just like the Sheriff's Department, we want to negotiate a 10-year contract with them. [02:13:53] Right at mid-year, they will replace all the equipment. [02:13:55] We'll get all new equipment at year five. [02:13:58] Again, the Sheriff's Office, we want to go to this system. [02:14:01] It will integrate and it will be one platform for all of our stuff under Axon, and the technology is just amazing in this system. [02:14:11] And this equipment, all of this is very essential for our Patrol Division, especially body cams, NCAR cameras, tasers. [02:14:19] These are essential items, and this is a great investment in our Patrol Division. [02:14:26] Also in this division are the radios. [02:14:30] Our radios also have reached their end-of-use as a capital item, their end-of-life use. [02:14:36] That is through Harris, so we'll be replacing those. [02:14:39] Those are all digital radios, and again, countywide, we're all in the same system with the Sheriff's Department, with New Port Richey, with Zephyr Hills, with Dade City. [02:14:47] So that's another item that we'll be putting in forward. [02:14:51] Does technology take over some of that, too? [02:14:53] I'm sorry? [02:14:54] Does it take technology out, you know? [02:14:57] Yeah, but the technology is much better than what we have. [02:15:00] Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Technology puts gets them out of [02:15:04] a couple other things with this division. Computer supplies is 45243 [02:15:10] 20,000 we put in for and work with it and the city manager on these 13 [02:15:14] rubber laptops. And they say rubber laptops because they are assigned to [02:15:17] patrol and they need to be durable. [02:15:20] We also have [02:15:21] in special purpose equipment. I talked about that. [02:15:25] Again, this is a big and I want to thank the city manager for really working [02:15:29] with us on this. This is a really big item for us. This one solution plan. [02:15:33] It's really going to move us into the future and give these officers some [02:15:36] really great equipment [02:15:38] to do their job with. But again, this division, [02:15:44] we're looking at about $5.9 million out of a $10 million budget. But obviously [02:15:48] most of the personnel are in this division, most of the officers in this [02:15:51] division. [02:15:53] You will see increases in overtime. And again, with the downtown beat and all [02:15:57] the special events and again, I watched the 4th of July event and I'll tell you [02:16:02] there was so many people there a lot more than last year and it was a great [02:16:05] event for us. Everything went smooth, but we're noticing a lot of success with [02:16:10] these events, but it also brings with it challenges for us to safeguard the [02:16:14] community. And I'm also reaching out to the sheriff. I work great with and he's [02:16:17] willing to, you know, supply resource to us to help out. So that's just a great [02:16:22] synergistic relationship we have with the county. So those are the things we [02:16:25] have to, you know, consider as we become more and more successful as a [02:16:28] city, but that's pretty. [02:16:31] Downtown. And from what I understand, a couple of officers I talked to, our [02:16:35] biggest problem was parents trying to find their kids. Yeah, you know, six or [02:16:40] seven or eight kids. Yeah, all the kids, all the parents were located. And, you [02:16:43] know, usually, like you say, a big events like that, we always have one or [02:16:46] two of those, but usually they're located. But I think seven or eight, I [02:16:50] think was it for that event. [02:16:52] Yeah. But, um, but, you know, that's that's pretty much it for 64. If anyone [02:16:57] has any questions on that. [02:17:04] No, I just want to make sure that the cameras that you guys are going to do. [02:17:10] So that's going to be in everybody's vehicle because I know right now you [02:17:13] don't. Yeah, there's there are several vehicles right now that don't have them. [02:17:17] But yes, every vehicle will have an in-car camera on this new system. [02:17:20] Everyone. All right. Are we talking complete new or, you know, you assessing [02:17:25] cameras that are not necessarily older? It's just a whole new brand. So we're [02:17:29] cycling out. Okay. What we have now, they've reached their, what they call [02:17:33] useful. Yeah. End of life as a capital item, five years. And this is all new, [02:17:38] high tech stuff. [02:17:43] Or enforcement. [02:17:44] Okay. [02:17:46] Okay. Deputy Chief's up for 65 and then I have 67 after that. So Division 65 is [02:17:52] the code enforcement division that includes one supervisor and four code [02:17:57] officers. Their accomplishments from the past year, they implemented a foreclosure [02:18:02] program to assist in the redevelopment of nuisance properties and implemented a [02:18:06] neighborhood improvement program as well. Conducted numerous inspections that [02:18:11] resulted in 1895 code enforcement cases being initiated. [02:18:22] For 3431 animal control services. So that is our contractual agreement with [02:18:28] the Pasco County Animal Services. That has slightly increased, which that has [02:18:35] increased year after year. [02:18:38] The 44011 travel and training increased slightly and that is for our code [02:18:47] enforcement officers to maintain their FACE certifications. They do that [02:18:52] biannually, so we rotate two in one year to the following year. [02:18:58] And that is all I had. I want to, if I may, I want to talk about a couple [02:19:03] things. Sure. This division. You know, all the divisions are equally important. [02:19:07] We're one machine. Every part is so important, but I really want to talk [02:19:11] about this division because after the hurricanes, they stepped up. They helped [02:19:15] the development division. They're an asset to the city. They run the nice [02:19:20] program. I mean, they really do a phenomenal job getting into the [02:19:24] neighborhoods, working with residents, trying to get them to, you know, keep [02:19:27] their houses up to code. But, uh, but this division really is high performing [02:19:32] and, um, you know, obviously we have a clerk that runs the magistrate program, [02:19:36] so they really, they really do a great job. I just want to say that on the [02:19:39] record. I just want to compliment them, too, because they're walking into a [02:19:44] problem before they, you know, an officer on the street doesn't necessarily [02:19:49] run into the problem. They're going in knowing there's a problem already. And [02:19:52] that's just, I have to give those guys a lot of credit, our girls. Yeah. [02:19:57] Yeah. [02:20:03] The nice program. We just plan on keeping that about at the same level. [02:20:07] Yes. Yes. So we, you know, we have criteria for that program and not [02:20:11] everybody qualifies. We are doing them, but, you know, we're still kind of [02:20:14] feeling our way through, if you will, because if we budget more money, we're [02:20:18] probably not going to spend it because of the amount of people that qualify, [02:20:21] but we are using the money and it's going to good use. [02:20:26] Yeah. [02:20:28] Increase still, you know, a substantial increase over 10% in terms of budget [02:20:34] over budget. You're going from 600 going from [02:20:41] a budget of 210, a budget of 556 to a budget of 620. And you're, you're [02:20:46] estimating to be over budget by over $60,000 this year. So, you know, [02:20:52] five, five workers. [02:20:59] And it's just, where's the money going to come from? I guess it continues to [02:21:03] be the question. [02:21:07] It's a difficult thing about being told what you want before we know how much [02:21:11] money we have to spend. [02:21:14] Well, the good news is overtime didn't go up. [02:21:16] Fair enough. [02:21:21] But health insurance in this case has gone up $15,000. [02:21:27] Are we, these health insurance, I hate to be generalized here, but are these [02:21:30] health insurance numbers, are these reliable given on some of the questions [02:21:34] Councilman Altman asking, or should we save our questions on those, or? [02:21:38] Health insurance numbers are not accurate at this time. They're just plug [02:21:41] figures until we receive the information from Ernie on health [02:21:49] insurance, and we get a better indication from employees on who's [02:21:54] going to subscribe to what level of coverage. [02:21:58] Ernie wants to lean forward. [02:22:03] If you'd like to, sure, come on forward. [02:22:07] Yeah, very quickly. The numbers that are in here are not correct. I mean, [02:22:10] they're, you know, they're sort of astronomical to what you're seeing here. [02:22:14] So, you know, with Councilman Altman, there's something along those lines [02:22:17] from that standpoint. I will tell you right now, there's only one number [02:22:20] that's still outstanding, and that's the Florida Blue. And I can tell you, [02:22:23] it's nowhere near these numbers. So to your point, we're going to come in [02:22:26] very, very, very, very close to this year. As a matter of fact, a lot of [02:22:31] the voluntary benefits, so our vision and dental, are going to probably be [02:22:34] below what they are currently now. So that'll be a savings, actually, to our [02:22:38] employees, if we can hold that margin. And all the voluntary benefits going, [02:22:42] again, they're going to come in probably lower. So again, we've got down, [02:22:45] again, one of the big things on dental was, you know, they originally came [02:22:48] in at 15%. They're now down to the flat or below. So the one outstanding [02:22:53] is the healthcare. And again, that has come down from their initial proposal [02:22:58] considerably. We are down below, we are single digit, and we're below probably [02:23:03] that five mark, and we're approaching probably zero as well there. But we're [02:23:07] going to see somewhere probably, it may fall somewhere in between probably [02:23:09] zero and five. Mr. Wax, we're not done with them. Yeah, we're not done, [02:23:12] again. But it's not reflective of the numbers you're seeing here. And that's [02:23:15] why I'm trying to put some hope into my conversations, other than just doom [02:23:20] and gloom. But you know, when those numbers flush out, hopefully that helps [02:23:25] to allow us to accomplish what you all want to do. Especially for the numbers [02:23:30] that are here for the police, for sure. And again, when it goes across the [02:23:32] whole group, the whole city, our insurance costs for the healthcare [02:23:37] stuff should be... But the point you're raising is accurate, and there will be [02:23:42] cuts between the first presentation and the second presentation of the budgets [02:23:46] without question, based on what we know so far and what we're seeing in the [02:23:50] revenues that we're receiving from the state. Thank you. All right, thank you. [02:23:58] Give me that nod any time. [02:24:03] We're moving on to Division 6-7. Traffic enforcement, please. Yeah, it's a [02:24:08] special traffic enforcement. And another division, we have two people. We have [02:24:13] the clerk, and then we have our traffic enforcement specialist. And we hired a [02:24:18] retired police officer who's doing a phenomenal job. But for two people, [02:24:21] are you ready for this? Assisted with civil and criminal investigations, [02:24:25] you regulate CAMRA for approximately 10 cases. Assisted in programming and [02:24:28] deployment of the department's electric message boards. Reviewed 18,942 [02:24:34] violations with 13,756 notice of violations issued. Attended red light [02:24:40] CAMRA violations hearings, 126 in the city, 189 in the county. Issued 3,158 [02:24:46] uniformed traffic citations for red light CAMRA violations. Processed 237 [02:24:50] impounds, 205 return to owners with 14 being sent to auction. Processed 775 [02:24:56] public records requests for body-worn CAMRA footage. And continue on working [02:25:00] on automated system process electronic submission of body-worn CAMRA footage. [02:25:06] This is a busy division. They were only up about a half a percent from [02:25:09] last year. They must have overtime. No, I'm saying without looking at the [02:25:16] numbers, it was a joke. It's a joke. There was only a half a percent increase [02:25:21] in this division from last fiscal year. There's really no notables here. I do [02:25:28] want to talk about what we're currently working on as a team, all of us. But [02:25:33] this division, obviously, most of the money is in total operating, where we [02:25:37] pay the state red light CAMRA fee, state share of the red light CAMRAs. So [02:25:42] those are big expenditure items. But one of the things, as you clearly know, [02:25:46] and you're a big partner in all of this, we are working on the speed detection [02:25:49] program for the school systems. This is going to be a big program. And you've [02:25:55] seen this traffic data that we provided you. There are issues. And the city [02:25:59] manager and I have been meeting with all the principals. And they are delighted [02:26:02] to hear that we are the first in the county to get this going for the safety [02:26:07] of our children. So I really appreciate the council and working with us on that. [02:26:11] And I don't know what that's going to do to this division. We won't know until [02:26:15] the rubber hits the road. And we'll just have to take that as it goes. But I've [02:26:18] got good people in there. And they're willing to step up and do what it takes. [02:26:22] So I just wanted to just commend them. And, you know, I had to read that because [02:26:26] there's only two people. I mean, that's it. And they're doing a great job. So I'll [02:26:30] take any questions on that division. So the red light's staying the same because [02:26:34] it's likely going to change drastically this year? Or is it two years out that [02:26:38] we're looking at? Or excuse me, not red light. We're gonna get a whole new line [02:26:43] item then? There's obviously expected costs to the... Are we on the school [02:26:47] speeds on that? Yes. Yeah. So when we get through this process, and you guys have [02:26:52] to approve ordinances, and we have stuff coming up on 8-5 that I can't talk [02:26:55] about here. But once all that gets into place, we'll work with the city manager, [02:26:59] we'll work with the finance division. We'll probably have to do budget amendments [02:27:02] along the way and slot these expenditures in. I have one question about [02:27:09] that camera, other than the fact that I'm probably going to go to Harborview to [02:27:13] one of their bingos to remind them that they better be careful when they come [02:27:17] to Ann Avenue. Just to give them a personal warning, because they've already been flooded enough. But that camera, I see the, this is your speed coming into it. [02:27:30] But a lot of times, just personally driving, and I think this would be [02:27:36] typical when you talk about how much speed you're clocking, a lot of times if [02:27:42] you're going 35 or you're going, in that case, 25, and you got to go down to 15, you [02:27:49] just take your foot off the gas and relax yourself into that speed limit. So [02:27:54] when we have the cameras, just like kind of just barely crossing that the line [02:27:59] when it's red, and you just miss that yellow turning red, my own opinion is [02:28:06] when somebody starts arguing that they ought to have been speeding at least a [02:28:11] little bit into the zone before you put the camera right at the edge and catch somebody that doesn't slow down in time. [02:28:16] It's a great question. We went down to Sarasota and they have a state-of-the-art program they've already [02:28:20] implemented there, so the measurements of these school zones are thousands of feet [02:28:25] and you're catching them right in the middle. That's what I'm thinking. Exactly. [02:28:28] That's what we're going to catch. So I appreciate hearing that, because when people complain, it's like, well, I slowed down. [02:28:33] It's like, well, hey man. No, we want to be fair, but you're going to be in the middle. The camera showed that you [02:28:37] were flying through or going over the 15. At least they get to slow down and [02:28:43] you're not going to send tickets out like, you know, candy. When it is captured, it is [02:28:49] reviewed. Yeah. Obviously before anything, a notice goes out or anything like that. But that point of view, you [02:28:56] didn't just enter it in and not slow down in time. You didn't slow down. Thank you. [02:29:03] Makes me feel more comfortable. That's the whole thing. When people see this, there will be, for all of us, we'll be hearing. [02:29:12] And it is 10 and over. With the yellow lights going and everything and you're in the middle of the zone going 10 over, you got it coming. [02:29:18] Yeah, I agree. And I was talking to the chief the other day, too. When the evenings, when it's 25 miles an hour and they go through that zone at 35 or 40 miles an hour, that's still going to record that in the center and they're going to get a [02:29:33] ticket for going 35. So it's not just when the school's open, but it's going to be when when when when the camera's there, it's working 24 seven. [02:29:46] Got anything else? Right? There isn't anything else. Okay, I just want to say something here for you, Chief. You came here how long ago now? Almost three years. Yeah, three years ago. And you came here where our accreditation was at [02:29:58] zero. [02:30:00] And then you've taken this pro, okay, maybe one degree. [02:30:04] And then you've taken this pro. [02:30:05] We weren't an accredited agency, but we weren't a zero. [02:30:09] Okay, sorry for my paraphrase. [02:30:12] We weren't very high on the stage at that time. [02:30:16] And you took a major challenge to take us. [02:30:19] And it's taken you three years, but, you know, I really appreciate, [02:30:23] you know, that you're this close to being accredited. [02:30:26] You know, sorry, my number's wrong, but, you know, I mean, [02:30:30] it's been a lot of hard work. [02:30:31] And thank you, because I think it's important to the community. [02:30:34] I think it's important to us. [02:30:36] It's just all of us. [02:30:37] You don't thank me, it's all of us. [02:30:39] Well, instead of staff, instead of staff, too, you know, and the city manager. [02:30:43] What happened was a team a minute ago. [02:30:45] Yeah, now it's an individual. [02:30:47] Yeah, I'm saying it just takes everybody. [02:30:50] Thank you, you know. [02:30:52] It's a lot of hard work. [02:30:53] I appreciate your effort, sir. [02:30:56] Thank you. [02:30:59] Are we done? [02:31:04] Thank you. [02:31:05] Unless you have more items for us, Mr. Mayor, members of council. [02:31:11] Do you have something? [02:31:12] I don't have anything additional at this point. [02:31:16] You've given me plenty to follow up on. [02:31:18] I just adjourned. [02:31:20] If you would have given enough time, you would have had something to talk about.

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3. 3Adjournment