HomeMy Public PortalAbout1995-12-29 Special MeetingCOUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - DECEMBER 29, 1995
A special meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held
on Friday. December 29. 1995. in the Council Chamber at Bal Barbour
Village Hall. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Mayor Spiegel. The roll was called and those present were:
Mayor Estelle Spiegel
Assistant Mayor Matthew B. Blank
Councilman James E. Boggess
councilman Andrew R. Hirschl
Councilman Sol M. Taplin
Also present: Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager
Jeanette Horton. Village Clerk
Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney
As a quorum was determined to be present. the meeting
commenced.
?. Ratification of Resort Tax Committee Recommendation
on Hiring an Emissary:
Mr. Treppeda explained the Village Code specifically states that
the Resort Tax Committee may offer recommendations to the Council
as to the employment or retention of an advertising anti/or public
relations professional. He further explained at their December
meeting the Resort Tax Committee voted unanimously to recommend the
hiring of Maria Cardenas for the Emissary position. This
recommendation must now be considered by the Council for
ratification.
Mr. Treppeda explained, not realizing the Resort Tax Committee's
vote was only a recommendation to the Council, Mr. Valdes, General
Manager of the Sheraton Bal Harbour. acted immediately on the
Committee's recommendation and offered Ms. Cardenas the position.
which she has accepted.
Mr. Treppeda proceeded to explain the Committee agreed to an annual
salary of $40.000.00 per year plus the Sheraton Bal Harbour
standard benefit package of 46%. There is a total of $120.000.00
currently budgeted for the following: Emissary support materials.
Emissary travel budget, and travel Emissary salary. Since the
Emissary is not scheduled to begin work until January, and the
Village is three months into the current budget year already. there
are adequate funds for the Emissary Program.
Mr. Treppeda explained Ms. Cardenas will be an employee of the
Sheraton Bal Harbour where her office will be located. but will
work to promote the entire Village as a tourist destination. The
Sheraton Bal Harbour will have a written agreement with Ms.
Cardenas. which will be reviewed by the Village Attorney.
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At this time. Mr. Treppeda requested Council ratify the decision of
the Resort Tax Committee to hire Maria Cardenas for the Emissary
position at a salary of $40.000.00 per year plus the standard
benefit package for Sheraton Bal Harbour employees.
Councilman Boggess stated he thought that having the Emissary work
for either the Sheraton Bal Harbour or the Sea View was to keep the
expenses down.
Assistant Mayor Blank questioned the 46% benefit package. if this
was legal. He then proceeded to ask Mr. Weiss if Ms. Cardenas
could be an employee of the Sheraton Bal Harbour, but be paid by
the Resort Tax Committee. Mr. Weiss replied he recommended to the
Manager that the Village enter into a contract with the Sheraton
Bal Harbour to provide promotional services to the Village. and a
grant be given to them in the amount of $60,000.00 for the purpose
of promoting tourism. He continued to explain this would reduce
the liability for the Village.
Councilman Taplin stated. according to the schedule that was given
to Council. it is costing $945.000.00 per year to promote Bal
Harbour as a tourist destination. He then proceeded to ask Mr.
Treppeda how much Resort Tax is being collected. Mr. Treppeda
replied 1.2 million. Councilman Taplin stated the Village is then
spending the majority of the Resort Tax promoting the Sheraton Bal
Harbour, Sea View Hotel and the Bal Harbour Shops. The Village has
a serious problem in that the Village is losing the beach.
Therefore. the question is should the Village spend 1 million
dollars promoting the properties, or renourish the beach. In his
opinion, it is more important to have a beach than to promote Bal
Harbour.
Councilman Hirschl stated it is the feeling of the Resort Tax
Committee with the dismissal of Key Promotion, who was handling
the Village's first introduction into South America, that they were
looking at a program that the Dolphin and Swan Hotel have in
Disneyworld. He then proceeded to explain the Emissary program
that they have. which is to go out and market the two properties
only. According to the information that the Committee has
received. the numbers have greatly increased because of this
program. He then proceeded to explain the Committee wishes to try
this program. and all the issues of monies were discussed, such as
salary and expenditures. The Committee also wants this Emissary
program not only for South American but also for the European
market, which is coming back to South Florida. Even though the
Village contributes to the Greater Miami Visitors and Convention
Bureau the Committee feels the Bureau does not select Bal Harbour
as a destination. Therefore, the Committee felt the Village must
help themselves. This is the reason they recommended the hiring of
the Emissary.
Councilman Taplin stated. in his opinion. instead of keeping the
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Beach Renourishment Fund at 1 million dollars every year the
Village should try to increase this amount.
A motion was offered by Councilman Taplin and seconded by
Councilman Hirschl that the Beach Renourishment fund be increased
from the 1 million dollars to whatever the Village can increase the
amount. Discussion followed. Councilman Hirschl suggested that the
village Manager give the Council a past projection and look at what
can reasonably be added. Councilman Boggess stated he would like
to table this discussion and revisit this issue when all the facts
are available.
A motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded by
Assistant Mayor Blank to table this motion until the next meeting.
The motion carried with the vote as follows: Mayor Spiegel aye:
Assistant Mayor Blank aye: Councilman Boggess aye: Councilman
Hirschl aye: Councilman Taplin aye.
A motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded by
Councilman Hirschl to approve the Emissary Program as presented and
authorize a grant to the Sheraton Bal Harbour for the purpose of
hiring an Emissary for Bal Harbour Village. and authorize the
Village Manager to execute the contract with the Sheraton Bal
Harbour. The motion carried with the vote as follows: Mayor
Spiegel aye: Assistant Mayor Blank aye: Councilman Boggess aye:
Councilman Hirschl aye: Councilman Taplin aye.
Other Business:
Councilman Boggess explained the Council has received the Village
Manager's and Village Clerk's goals and objectives for the coming
year. He then proceeded to explain when the Village was
negotiating the Village Manager's contract. this was one of the
items that came up in discussions with Mr. Weiss. Which was. the
Council must set some criteria for the performance for both of the
executive employees. He then proceeded to suggest a workshop be
scheduled. which should be an annual review process.
Mr. Weiss explained that normally other cities have a workshop
after their regular meeting. At which time. they would talk about
goals and objective for the City. These goals and objectives are
then drawn up and presented at the next meeting: therefore. the
Council would have something to use around budget time.
It was the consensus of the Council that a workshop be scheduled
for after the regular meeting on January 16th.
4. Adjourn:
There being no further business to come before the Council. a
motion was offered by Councilman Hirschl and seconded by councilman
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Boggess to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). and the
meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
Mayor EEstelle Spiegel
Attest:
�67"
anette Horton. CMC/AAE
'illage Clerk
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