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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. 142 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 Special Council Meeting 12/29/95 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 Special Council Meeting 12/29/95 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 Special Council Meeting 12/29/95 4