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01-31-12 Workshop Meeting MinutesWORKSHOP MEETING JANUARY 31, 2012 A Workshop Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Nelson S. McDuffie in the City Commission Chambers at City Hail at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Roll call showed. Present- Commissioner Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Commissioner Jay Alperin Commissioner Adam Frankel Commissioner Angeleta E. Gray Mayor Nelson S. McDuffie Absent - None Also present were - David T. Harden, City Manager Brian Shutt, City Attorney Chevelle D. Nubin, City Clerk Mayor Nelson S. McDuffie called the workshop meeting to order and announced that it had been called for the purpose of considering the following Item. WORKSHOP MEETING AGENDA 1. Fiscal 20I2 Budget Adjustment Mr. David T. Harden, City Manager, stated the Commission's vote two weeks ago to not approve the fire service fee created a $3.2 million hole in the current budget and staff has been looking at ways to fill that and what the impact will be. The first thing looked at was what we are working against and what can be reduced. He stated he is working against the number of $92,000,615 and the final budget was $93,000,356. The difference was an increase in the Capital Improvement Program. He conducted a Power Point presentation regarding the budget: outlining what could be subtracted, contractual obligations and why certain things were not suggested to be cut. Mr. Harden stated the cuts presented are on a 12 month basis. Mayor McDuffie apologized for not attending the January 17, 2012 Commission meeting. Mr. Frankel thanked everyone for coming out and stated he has received emails. He also mentioned the fire assessment fee discussion from the last meeting. He stated he has always felt it should be flat rate for a fire service fee and not a tiered rate. Mr. Frankel stated this is something everyone can learn from and he appreciates the information from Mr. Harden and feels it should be placed on the website. He stated he is still for a flat rate but as a compromise maybe a two tiered system. However, he stated some cuts can be made. Mrs. Gray stated this is difficult because Police and Fire - Rescue are needed and so is Maintenance as well. She reiterated that everything needs to be looked at and she is willing to look at a fire assessment fee again with the understanding that if the fee is not approved cuts will have to be made. Mrs. Gray stated positions at the top can be looked at as well as assistant positions. The City Manager discussed what would be done if the fee is reconsidered. Mr. Carney stated he is not in favor of the fire assessment fee and cuts can be made. He stated revenues can be derived from parking meters, special events and permit fees. A fire assessment fee and cuts may be a compromise; with Police and Fire included as well. Everyone should be in this together. Dr. Alperin stated he is never in favor of letting people go to balance a budget. He stated he voted in favor of the fee. He stated Commission has a responsibility to make cuts since the fee was voted down. He is still okay with a tiered rate. Dr. Alperin discussed items that can be cut from the Capital Improvement Program, reduction of the Fite- Rescue staff from 33 to 31, and freezing the five (5) positions in the Police Department. He stated if we go back to the fee it had better be a lot less than last time. Mayor McDuffie discussed elections and transient regulations. He explained property tax revenue. He mentioned the budget and the fire assessment fee. He stated he supports the fire assessment fee. Mayor McDuffie stated he is willing to discuss a compromise with the rest of the Commission regarding a tiered rate. Mr. Brian Shutt, City Attorney, discussed the timeline regarding the fire assessment fee. Mrs. Gray asked can the cuts be made before the fire assessment fee is reconsidered. Mr. Frankel proposed having another workshop meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2012. The Commission discussed the Capital Improvement Program. Mrs. Gray stated she is in favor of the cuts on the list regarding the Capital Improvement Program with the exception of what cannot be touched. The City Manager recommended taking some monies from reserves. Mr. Frankel stated it is very important not to close public facilities. Dr. Alperin suggested freezing the 5 positions in the Police Department and reducing Fite- - Rescue staffing 33 to 31. Mr. Frankel stated the Code Red and Hometown Connection cuts save the city $32,150. The City Manager stated he will let Commission know what a flat fire assessment fee of $60 will generate. Commission directed staff to make 50% cuts and 50% fire assessment fee to cover the $3.2 million gap. The City Manager stated he will provide flat rate fire assessment fee examples for the Commission to consider. The Consensus of the Commission was to have another workshop meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012. Mayor McDuffie adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 8:40 p.m. City Clerk 2 January 33, 2012 The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, and the information provided herein is the Minutes of the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, which Minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Commission on February 21, 2012. c\ City Clerk NOTE TO READER: If the Minutes you have received are not completed as indicated above, this means they are not the official Minutes of the City Commission. They will become the official Minutes only after review and approval, which may involve amendments, additions or deletions to the Minutes as set forth above. 3 January 31, 2012