City Commission Workshop Meeting

MINUTES City Commission Workshop 5:00 PM - Thursday, April 18, 2019 - City Hall CALL TO ORDER: 5:00 p.m. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE PRESENT: Commissioner Emily Lee, Vice Mayor Karen LeHeup-Smith , Commissioner Robert Morin, Commissioner Marie Aliberti and Mayor Michael L. Holland 1. WORKSHOP ITEM 1.1 Preliminary Budget Workshop for FY 2019-20 Rob Visser, Deputy Finance Director, reviewed the upcoming budget calendar leading up to the preliminary and final budget hearing dates. He then provided a review of the year ending September 30, 2018. He reviewed the General Fund ad valorem figures with an estimate for FY19-20 of $1,020,755,517 taxable value and revenues of $7,738,348. He provided an overview of the citywide major revenues and expenditures including personal services and anticipated increases. Mr. Visser then provided a comparison of different General Fund COLA scenarios based on anticipated property value increases and how the increase in property value would affect any proposed COLA increases. He reviewed the anticipated increases in health insurance noting that the estimate for FY19/20 would be received from the City's carrier in late April. He reviewed the anticipated costs for the police and fire pensions as well as the general liability insurance cost estimates. He summarized that the anticipated additional expenditures total $654,712 . He stated that the organizational and event support grant application process would begin May 1st. He reviewed the basic criteria for the applications. He announced that the Capital Improvement Plan workshop would be held May 2nd . 2. COMMISSION DISCUSSION Commissioner Morin asked to have the information provided prior to the workshop in the future. He commented on his interest in having more hours for the pool to be open and his interest in implementing a housing rehab program. Ron Neibert, City Manager, noted the anticipated implementation of a housing committee. He stated he emailed the Commission regarding providing names for appointment to the committee. Commissioner Morin indicated they shouldn't have to wait for expanding the pool hours with Mr. Neibert explaining the problem with the pool isn't lack of funding but lack of qualified personnel to staff the pool. He explained how staff is seeking additional lifeguards to staff the pool. He noted that other cities are also having  the same problem. He stated that the Parks & Recreation Director is working to start a program for older adults to serve as lifeguards called GrayWatch. Commissioner Aliberti asked how many staff members are under the Florida Retirement System with Mr. Neibert indicating the City still has about ten employees part of the state retirement system. Mayor Holland noted that the budget information was attached to the budget workshop agenda. 3. PUBLIC INPUT Timothy Wayne Gladman suggested having incentives to get people to volunteer to staff the pool such as college or high school credits. Mr. Neibert indicated the City could contact the education institutions regarding class credits. Mr. Gladman indicated the volunteer service would also look good on individual's resumes . Commissioner Lee asked if the City has advertised at Lake-Sumter with Mr. Neibert responding positively. Kress Muenzmay addressed the Commission regarding the amount of the budget and the cost to the City of $1.1 million in pension expense. He expressed opposition to the grant program and concern about expanding pool hours and implementing a housing rehab program . He expressed support for reducing costs and using outsourcing to reduce payroll not supplement. 4. COMMISSION DIRECTION: None 5. ADJOURNMENT: 5:26 p.m. MICHAELL.HOLLAND City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner *These minutes reflect the actions taken and portions of the discussion during the meeting. To review the entire discussion concerning any agenda item, go to www.eustis.org and click on the video for the meeting in question. A DVD of the entire meeting or CD of the entire audio recording or verbatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the City Clerk for a fee .