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08-30-84 v MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY COMMISSION HELD AT THE CITY HALL ON AUGUST 30, 1984 AT 7:00 P.M. PRESENT: William S. Howell, Mayor-Commissioner Robert B. Cook, Sr. William I. Gulliford, Jr. John W. Morris, Jr. Catherine G. Van Ness, Commissioners AND: A. William Moss, City Manager Claude L. Mullis, City Attorney Adelaide R. Tucker, City Clerk Mayor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and turned the floor over to the City Manager, Mr. A. William Moss. Mr. Moss announced the meeting was called for the purpose of conducting a Public Hearing on the 1984-85 tentative budget and proposed millage rate, and also a Public Hear- ing to consider the use of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. The proposed millage rate for 1984-85 is 2.35 ($2.35 per $1,000 assessed value) . The rolled-back millage rate is $2. 1832 per $1,000 assessed value. The proposed millage rate exceeds the rolled-back rate by 7.64%. The voted debt service millage rate is $.45 per $1,000 assessed value. The City Manager announced that Federal Revenue Sharing Funds are going to be utilized in the Capital Improvements Program as follows: Purchase of an automobile for the Police Dept. 3,500 Front End Loader/Mower 28,000 Tractor Mower 9,500 Pick-up Trucks (2) @ $9,000 each 18,000 Total 59,000 The Mayor then declared the floor open for a Public Hearing on the budget and invited comments from the audience. As no one spoke for or against, the Mayor declared the Public Hearing closed. He then asked for comments from the Commissioners. Commissioner Gulliford expressed concern over his property tax bill going up a substantial amount because while the millage has remained fixed, the assessments have gone up. He compared the increase of revenue over the last three years (projected to be approximately 91/2% over the last couple of years per year) and expressed the opinion that it appears to substantially higher than 91/2% on the average. He suggested they address the revenue sources and the total revenue before they establish the priorities of how they will be spent. Commissioner Gulliford said he would personally like to see more of a drop in property taxes although they are a substantially low part of the budget. He said he had some problems with Capital Improve- ments and said he did not think it is mechanical enough that it is tied to the over-all budget the way it could be. He does not think there is the discipline there that there should be. Mayor Howell expressed the opinion that he understood the raises in the city were going to be 52% across the board. He stated that it was difficult in most of the departments to determine what the raises will be as the salaries are lumped into one sum. He cited City Hall percentages as they are listed PAGE TWO MINUTES-SPECIAL CALLED AUGUST 30, 1984 separately. He asserted the percentages were inconsistent and the figures were a bit heavy. The Mayor pointed out the city is advertising for a Director of Public Works with a salary range in the vicinity of $27,000. It was his understanding that last year the position was filled by Mr. Bowles and budgeted for $21,000. He asked why the $6,000 jump and said he was not sure the position was really needed. Commissioner Morris asked for comments on the letter they all received from Mr. Parks suggesting the city consider someone for Director of Public Works with some engineering background. He said he enjoyed reading the letter and expressed the opinion that the letter furnished good food for thought. Discussion followed on the possibility and feasibility of hiring an engineer that could act as Director of Public Works and do some percentage of the engineering work budgeted for approximately $40,000. Commissioner Morris pointed out that the engineer would be similar to the legal advice received by the city. Certain specialty areas would still have to be farmed out, but possibly the $40,000 could be cut in half. In response to the Mayor's concern re salary increases in City Hall, Mr. Moss explained that salaries across the board are 52%. The difference in some individuals is the pay plan that was adopted over three years ago. Within the pay plan, adjustments can be made by increasing a position from one class or grade to another. This is based on a number of factors: 1.) What the individual's responsibilities are; 2.) The changes in their responsibilities, and 3.) What is the comparative market rate being paid for the position. Mr. Moss detailed each position upgraded in City Hall. The City Manager discussed the Public Work Director's salary and said one can assume that this department head is the same as any other department head and perhaps the responsibilities are similar. He expressed the opinion that the Director of Public Works has responsibilities that are closely similar to that of a Police Chief or Fire Chief or perhaps a Finance Director. That was one basis for setting the salary at $27,000. Secondly, when Mr. Edwards left the position was never filled. If you took Mr. Edwards salary and projected it out by the pay plan, he would be receiving somewhere close to $27,000. Mr. Moss expressed the opinion the city does need a Director to supervise the employees as all our supervisors are working supervisors out in the field on tractors, etc. and are not carrying out the Administrative functions that you often see in a department of thirty-five people. The sewer plant, as we have, cannot operate under one plant operator at all times. There has to be 2 , 3, or sometimes 4 assigned from some-where. There is absolutely no decent administrative apparatus in the Public Works Department. It is a constant problem. Payroll is a major task. Keeping up with Federal Regulations for water and sewer to make sure the operators do what is right,and there is a real problem of coordination in handling the personnel problems that arise all the time. Those problems either come to City Hall for handling or they don't get taken care of. Mr. Moss expressed the opinion that a Public Works Director will fill that important void. He agreed that hiring an engineer as Director of Public Works was worthy of consideration. PAGE THREE MINUTES - SPECIAL CALLED August 30, 1984 Commissioner Van Ness asked what the proposed salary would be if the decision was made to hire an engineer. No suggestion was made. Commissioner Gulliford expressed the opinion that the Commission should not have to assume that every year from now on that we are always going to see a substantial increase in revenue and expenses. He used the 81-82 budget as a base of actual expenditures. This projection is about 282% greater than what the 81-82 was. Discussion followed on how and where the budget could be held constant or reduced. Capitol improvements must be considered; cutting back on services was discussed as a possibility, and salary schedules and cost of benefits were dis- cussed. The carry-over in excess of 5% applied to capitol improvements was also discussed. No action taken following discussion. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ORDINANCE NO. 20-84-39 - AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AN OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1984, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1985. Said Ordinance was presented by Mayor Howell in full, in writing, on first reading, by title only. The motion was made by Commissioner Morris, and seconded by Commissioner Van Ness to adopt Ordinance No. 20-84-39 - on first reading, by title only. Mayor Howell asked for a roll call vote which resulted in the following: Commissioner Cook Nay Commissioner Gulliford Nay Commissioner Morris Aye Commissioner Van Ness Aye Mayor Howell Nay The motion failed with a three to two vote. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Following discussion, Commissioner Gulliford made the motion to move and vote for which the previous motion failed be reconsidered. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cook. No discussion. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Commissioner Morris then moved to pass Ordinance No. 20-84-39, An Operating Budget for fiscal year 1984-85 on first reading, by title only, and advertise for a final Public Hearing. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Van Ness. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. Mayor Howell set a final Public Hearing date for Wednesday, September 12, 1984. The Mayor also set a Budget Workshop Meeting to be held in the conference room, City Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 1984. The public was invited to attend. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PAGE FOUR MINUTES-SPECIAL CALLED AUGUST 30, 1984 Mayor Howell asked Commissioner Gulliford for his Committee report on the Occupational License Tax Ordinance. Commissioner Gulliford reported the Committee recommended that the Ordinance be amended to include electric distribution utility (Public Owned) at a rate of $10.00 per meter. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ORDINANCE NO. 45-84-6, AN ORDINANCE, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 ENTITLED "LICENSES" OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, BY DELETING CERTAIN SECTIONS THEREIN AND ADDING THERETO CLARIFYING SUB-PARAGRAPHS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Said Ordinance was presented by Mayor Howell in full, in writing, on first reading, by title only. Commissioner Gulliford moved to pass Ordinance No. 45-84-6 on first reading, by title only, with the following amendment that in the appropriate alphabetical location, add a category, Electric Distribution Utility (Public Owned) at a rate of $10.00 per meter per year. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cook. Following discussion on the amendment and franchise fees, the question was called and the motion carried unanimously. A Public Hearing date was set for September 24, 1984 at 7:15 p.m. The City Clerk was instructed to advertise the Schedule of Fees in the Beaches Leader on September 5, 1984. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Commissioner Gulliford offered another Committee recommendation: to request the City Manager and the Mayor to direct correspondence to the JEA requesting that they give us lighting for city buildings and street lighting in the community gratis and waive the billing, in consideration of doing business within the city. Mayor Howell said JEA used to do that, but the last time the city had to re- negotiate JEA would not agree to give us the free lighting. The Mayor and City Manager will request in written form a meeting to re-negotiate the above request. The City Attorney reported on his research for the rezoning of Mayport Road. The Planning Commission shall have an ongoing process of reviewing the Comprehensive Plan. Any amendments thereto must be considered and recommended by the Planning Commission and referred to the Governing Body. The Governing Body shall wait at least 60 days before final action and transmit to the State. The State Land Planning Agency shall consider those amendments. Notice has to be published within 30 days prior to adoption, which requires a majority vote of the total membership of the governing body (at least three votes to pass) . Mr. Mullis added the Governing Body is required to review the Comprehensive Plan every five years, and also requires a majority vote of the Commission for adoption. If the property to be rezoned is less than 5% of the land within the affected area, then the clerk has to mail and notify each property owner whose land will be affected by the change in zoning. The notice will state that subject to the provisions as set forth and set the time and place for a Public Hearing which should be not less than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing at the conclusion of which the Governing Body can adopt the Ordinance changes and the zoning. Mr. Mullis suggested the matter be referred to the Advisory Planning Board and request they come back with a recommendation. PAGE FIVE MINUTES - SPECIAL CALLED AUGUST 30, 1984 Mr. Mullis added that the Commission might consider having Mr. Moss to get Marvin Hill or some planner to help us to some extent to decide what the Commission wants the Planning Board to review and by description. Commissioner Gulliford moved to ask the Advisory Planning Board for a review of the usage and zoning of property fronting on both sides of Mayport Road from Atlantic Blvd. to the north city limits. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Morris. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously. There being no further business to come before the Commission, the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. 7 (Seal) il :m S. ' .f - Mayor-Commissioner ATTEST: JJ d%GLC�fGQ.L.� Adelaide R. Tucker City Clerk