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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20001130SCMeeting1 1 @ @ITEM 2000 -11 -30 Special Called City Council Minutes Mayor Walter W. Parker called the special Council meeting to order at 7 P.M. with the following members of Council present: James G. Burke, Jr., Jack Youmans, Shirley Sessions, Anne P. Monaghan, Pamela O'Brien and Mallory Pearce. Parker said that the only items to be discussed at this meeting will be the first readings of the operating budget and the capital improvement budget for the year 2001. Youmans had many questions on many different line items. The increase to the building inspection revenue, stating with EPD talking with us about slowing down construction why are we upping the revenue. Parker answered that you will find out that what is being built is more expensive. 106064.6116 Marine Science Center is requesting $73,000, this has tripled in two years. Monaghan said that this is too high, they are not working towards membership, they can't keep asking for funds from the City. Youmans said this year it was $55,000 but that was supposed to be towards moving the lifeguards. Parker said how about budgeting $65,000? Monaghan moves to adjust to $60,000. O'Brien seconded. Youmans said he would g for $50,000. O'Brien said that the MSC needs to focus on log term planning and better marketing. Monaghan asked Sessions opinion as she serves on the MSC Board. Sessions said that the MSC has a meeting Tuesday night and she does agree that long term planning is needed. Sue Brockway is the primary resource. Also need to look at how best to use her, maybe get a marketing person or planner. Sessions said that the Board is tuff when Sue comes before them with requests. Sessions said that she would suggest $65,000. And yes they need to be more self - sufficient. Monaghan said that the gift shop had revenues of $11,000 but expenses of $7,000. Monaghan asked if it was rent -free. Parker said that the City gives them money and they in turn then pay rent each month. Monaghan amended her motion to award the Marine Science Center a grant of $65,000 in the 2001 budget. O'Brien seconded. Vote by Council was 4 in favor (Sessions, Monaghan, O'Brien and Pearce); 2 opposed (Burke and Youmans). Youmans asked about the training budget being cut for the Mayor and Council members. Tanya Pye answered that the travel and the training funds have been separated this year, the money amount is the same. Burke said that he has a — 0- in his line item. Pye said she would correct it. Monaghan questioned the CZM grant. Pye said that Ro Fripp told her the City portion would be $18,000. Burke questioned the purchase in the parking meter line item. Pye answered that it was cut to the present $20,000. Burke questioned the Daniel Street property. Pye said that she left that in the budget on page 4. Parker said that once all the legal questions were squared away that the City agreed to sell the property. Youmans said that we paid more for the property than we are putting in the budget as income. O'Brien moved to delete the funds in 5600 -5874 Sale of Real Estate Property. Pearce seconded. Vote by Council was 4 in favor (Sessions, Monaghan, O'Brien and Pearce); 2 opposed (Burke and Youmans). Monaghan questioned the solid waste fee income. Pye replied that this fee is charged on the water bills for the carts. Monaghan also questioned the parking fees related to the DeSoto and across the street ocean side. Cannon explained that it is $150.00 per space per month. Youmans asked about the yellow line on Butler by the DeSoto stating that it goes all the way to the corner. Parker said it might be DOT mandated. Monaghan asked if it was there because you could not see to get out of the side streets. Youmans asked Cannon to look into this issue. O'Brien asked about the $6,500 for the Grant for the 1 1 1 Community House. Pye said that it on page 22 CIP Land & Building. O'Brien said that it is part of the $12,000. Pye answered yes, it is ear marked for Community House. O'Brien said that Chamber also recommended a professional to make up the guidelines for the Historic Preservation in the amount of $5,000. O'Brien moved and Pearce seconded. Vote by Council was 4 in favor (Sessions, Monaghan, O'Brien and Pearce); 2 opposed (Burke and Youmans). Pye said that Studies and Consultant will go from $2,000 to $7,000. O'Brien said that under the Information System Department that 6047 warrants a bid process. O'Brien said that to move $3,000 County Housing Contract funds to Engineering Review to make that item a total of $6,000. O'Brien stated that GMA recommends that 5% of the total budget should be in the contingency line item, but that 1% to 3% is acceptable. Cannon said 1% would be about $57,000. O'Brien moved to put an extra $30,000 in Contingency line item. Pearce seconded. Youmans said that anything spent out of that line item needs to come before Council. Cannon said contingency is only for emergencies. Vote by Council was unanimous. O'Brien questioned the total of the Special Appropriates. Pye said that Council asked that a line item be set up for Legal/Lawsuits in the amount of $30,000. Mayor Pro Tem Monaghan took over the meeting, as Mayor Parker had to leave to go to choir practice. Sessions asked about line item 106170.9030 Capital — Vehicles under the police department. Pye answered that Council said to pay out right for vehicles and to up the amount from $35,000 to $40,000. O'Brien said that 106392.9120 Capital Equipment is zero and that 106393.9000 is also zero. O'Brien said that on page 21 YMCA — has the fees been changes. Youmans said that he knows that they have not been changed. Monaghan said that they fees won't be change for another year. O'Brien moved that the City keep these fees the same. Pearce seconded. Vote by Council was unanimous. Cannon to get a schedule of the fees from YMCA. Monaghan asked about 106393.9020 Parking Capital Machines and Equipment — was $90,000 then down to $70,000. O'Brien answered that it is now $20,000. Cannon said that the changes will be made tomorrow. Pye said that if Council will take a short break that she can do the changes now. Cannon had a map from H,G,B & DeY for the drainage projects and asked Council what was their pleasure. Cannon said that there is $277,280 in 1998 SPLOST Drainage and $120,000 in Other Capital Out Projects. Cannon said that the 6th — 7th Streets out fall project is $198,071 and that the 9th Street out fall is $157,000. After a long discussion Council voted on a motion from O'Brien to do the 6th & 7th Street out fall project with the remainder of the fund in that line item and in other capital project be used for in house labor and go through the priority list to see what we can accomplish in 2001. Sessions seconded. Vote by Council was 4 in favor (Burke, Youmans, Sessions and O'Brien); 2 abstained (Monaghan and Pearce). Sessions said that she wanted it so noted that T. S. Chu is a City owned Street. O'Brien said that we could ask for assistance from the State because of the status of a State Route. Session brought up the subject of "as Builts" saying that she had spoken to Bill Nicholson and the City could take it one step further and mandate that the architect who signed off on the design must send a letter after completion on project. Youmans said he objects to this discussion. Pye came back with the new figures and said that General Fund is over $81,692 in expenditures. Burke moved to take 10% of whole budget. Youmans seconded. Burke withdrew his motion and motioned that to cut each department by 1.5 %. Youmans seconded. Vote by Council was unanimous. O'Brien said that there is a lot of merit in letting the department heads do the reduction and asked that the motion be amended. Youmans accepted the amendment. Vote by Council was unanimous. Pearce moved to adopt the operational budget ordinance on its first reading. Sessions seconded. Vote by Council was unanimous. Pearce moved to adopt the capital improvement budget on its first reading. Sessions seconded. Vote by Council was unanimous. Clerk of Council Mayor Walter W. Parker