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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1999-09-25 MinutesCommissioner Teele: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, again I have expressed my appreciation to the Management in working. On yesterday, I took about one hour and a half, two hours with the City attorney, the management, Ms. Henry and the Manager, the Budget Director and their staffs. They have.... I really do think that, Mr. Manager, you know we engage in so much self -applause and so much self-backslaping and say how good we are. But I really am impressed, Mr. Manager with the quality and the professionalism of some of these young people who know how to work computers that are all finance people, MBA types that you all are bringing on, and I think that is a good thing that we are doing. You know, your own staff, I think is extrernely professional, your Executive Director, Mr. Lindsey, and I want to say, you know that I think that all of the departments should be given the latitude to go out and find young, bright men and women, and women that reflect the diversity of this community. And, I am really encouraged by the professionalism that I am seeing on the finance and budget side, and in the... in your own office. And, I certainly would encourage that, not only in your department but in the City Attorney's Department and the Clerk's Office as well. In that regard, one of the areas that I have a tremendous concern about in the budget is the educational opportunities and the quality of life for employees. I am, I really believe that every employee in this government should be trained particularly those that answer telephones and everyone should be trained on the basic technologies that we have. We have technologies here that are ten times what the average employee perhaps can utilize. Certainly, speaking for myself, it's ten times what I can utilize. But when you ask all departments and say can you conference me with so and so, you get a lot of blank stares and a lot of disconnects. It really is something Mr. Manager, that 1 do think that as we move toward a more responsive form of government and a Mayor that is elected, that is truly accountable that... It's the kind of thing that any Mayor that truly is responsible for the management is going to basically order as the number one mandate that the phones will be answered with pleasant, cheery voices and cooperative voices. And, I do think we shouldn't blame people, we should train people. And, my issue here is, that I want to see and know in every department, on Tuesday night, how much money is going to be used for training and how much money is going to be used for professional improvement. In that regard, Mr. Manager, this City, I asked two years ago when I was first elected to develop a plan a provide scholarships or to provide reimbursements for persons that get, that are on degree completion activities. I would like to know do we have such an 23 September 25, 1999 ordinance yet in place, or a resolution in place that provides an equal opportunity, that provides for equal opportunity for any person who is attending college, Miami -Dade Community College, in the area or related area of their employment? Do we have an ordinance or a written policy where we provide reimbursement, and I would like to know how much money we reimbursed last year under that policy. I think every employee of the City, particularly those that are citizens of the City that reside in the City, and also in that regard, I notice we have all kinds of benefits packages for executives, et cetera. I would propose employee benefits package for employees that live in the City of Miami, really and truly live in the City of Miami, where we can engage in activities to provide loans for them for the purpose of being able to purchase houses or to upgrade their homes. As it relates to the... By the way, do we have such an ordinance and are we reimbursing people and providing for own, own education time for people to go to school? Where's the director of the... The Department Director, this in itself, I don't want to communicate to the employees that this is a self - certifying program. The Department Directors, of course, have to approve that and all of that. Mr. Warshaw: I don't know if it's an ordinance, but we did increase the tuition reimbursement for employees from two hundred to six hundred. And, in addition to that, directors do have latitude over and above the institute for government that we have with FIU (Florida International University) to send employees to a variety of special training. We'll get you for Tuesday a combination of how much we have done in all of those areas. Commissioner Teele: By department. Mr. Warshaw: By department. Commissioner Teele: Because I really think it's important that we look at the departments and try to work to upgrade and make our employees more productive. Commissioner Plummer: Ask how much per employee maximum they can receive? Commissioner Teele: Yeah. But, I mean, you know we... Somehow or another, the press always communicates that we are beating up on the employees. That, you know... But some of us up here are also saying we 24 September 25, 1999 L want to maximize our employees. We want to have a positive, quality of life. I wish that we had a positive pro -active program for every employee to move to the City if we give them a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) loan, a grant or whatever it would take for the down payment on their house interest free or something and treat it as a grant over four or five ,years. That's how I would like to use revenues that can't be carried over, but we need to have a proactive program because the biggest problem that we have in this City is our tax base and residential. The affluent people are moving out and I would be willing to bet you Miss... Mr. Director, Mr. Manager, if you give us a listing, and I am going to request right now a listing of that one hundred ninety-four people plus the eighteen people, not by name, not by name, but by department, of how many of those people live in the City of Miami and how many of them live outside of Dade County. And, I would be willing to bet you, I would be willing to bet you right now that less than twenty-five percent of all of the executives in this City, that are here in this City, live in the City of Miami and that's not a good thing. And, if I have to live in my district, if all of the directors have to live in their districts or in the City of Miami, then I think one of the things that we ought to try to do is not punish people for living outside of the City because that's your right under the constitution, but to provide positive incentives for people to move back into the City. And, Mr. Manager, I want to take particular note of noting that you live in the City. I agree with the management on this budget. I think we are tinkering around with a dangerous proposition. I would like to see, Mr. Manager, you prepare a budget alternative and option that levelizes the twenty-five to thirty dollar ($30) a year increase in the residential garbage that we have over the next four years in our five year plan and to accelerate that this year with a supplemental that would not go for 180 days on a levelized number. In other words this... See, next year we are going to two dollars ($2) and, then, the next year we are going to twenty-eight dollars ($28), and, then, the next year we are going to thirty-two. And see, the problem that the Oversight Board has is, they don't believe us. They say, "oh, you're doing the two dollars ($2), but when it gets time for the twenty- five, you're going to blink, or twenty-eight you're going to blink. And when you get to the forty, you definitely are just going to, you know, all fold and go home. I would like to ask, Mr. Manager, that you give us a budget that moves the Solid Waste residential to thirty dollars ($30) increase as opposed to the two dollar increase with it going out as a supplemental after six months and if anybody doesn't pay it be, you know, put on the next year's bill, but we won't lien it, and I would like to ask us to look at re-examining, Mr. Attorney and Mr, Manager, the per Solid Waste account for the 25 September 25, 1999 ordinance that is proposing which is now at fifty dollars ($50), that we look at it in terms of a substantially higher amount more representative of one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred dollars. I want to be on record as saying that I think we must have a reserve that is as the Manager has requested. I think we should have at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) more in the reserves than our five year plan call for if we are going to do the cuts. And, l think we can do the cuts and keep the fire fee out, and I want to go on record as having voted against the fire fee, but supporting this Commission's decision to not bring up the fire fee on Tuesday because we don't need to revisit everything, and let's revisit other revenue streams that we have not dealt with. And so, I would think that that's about three million dollars ($3,000,000) of new revenue. I would like to see at least one million of those new dollars go into the reserve, Mr. Manager. And then, I would like to see you meet us half way with a two million dollar ($2,000,000) cut, other than from MAP, from the Metro Action Miami Plan, preferably beginning with the International Trade Board some, the Sister Cities some, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) some. Commissioner Plummer: He's making his remarks. Commissioner Teele: You know, a little some on the CRA, a little some, I want to be... Commissioner Plummer: You are now at ten minutes. Commissioner Teele: ... you know. So, that's where I am on the budget cuts. But, I do think the management has been instructed to provide for a reduced budget in the area of NET (Neighborhood Enhancement 'Team) 9, and I know that there are no cuts there in NET 9 that are being offered up. And, I think that not NET" 9 itself, but the Office of... What's that office called? Mr. Warshaw: Media Relations. Commissioner Plummer: Media Relations. Commissioner Teele: Media Relations. And finally, I would ask again that the budgets reflect, be adjusted and changed to reflect the actual cost of running the various departments, that is, the Assistant Managers should be budgeted in the Manager's Office, the Sister Cities, if it is under the Mayor, 26 September 25, 1999 that it be budgeted, a separate line item, but budgeted in the Mayor's Office. If the protocol is under the Mayor, then budget it in the Mayor's Office. And, if the Commission is traveling on a special account, then I think that account should be clearly designated and there should be a statement indicating that Commissioners will travel to Tallahassee or Washington to carryout Interlocal governmental responsibilities with the permission of the Chair and acknowledgment by the Manager for that. I think we should all disclose what it really costs and, Mr. Manager, I appreciate the energy and the fart that you are here on a Saturday. Thank you, very much. Commissioner Plummer: Thank you. Commissioner Teele: Oh, one other point. I would also very much like to understand the franchise proposal, the one proposal and the... I want a very clear statement, not today, but a very clear statement of the cost of the revenues that will be brought in by a franchising proposal... Commissioner Plummer: Which franchise, cable? Commissioner Teele: No, I am talking about Solid Waste franchising... Commissioner Plummer: Oh, OK. Commissioner Teele: ... an exclusive on the half or the whole versus going about it a different way. Thank you very much. And, a different way could include those other issues that we discussed. Thank you very much. Commissioner Plummer: I won't take twelve minutes. First of all let me say that in my opinion, I never have looked at any personnel cuts. I think if anything, we have the need for additional personnel and we have the need very badly for additional personnel. When we look at inspectors that we don't have, when we have those kind of things that are out there, one inspector for elevators, no personnel cuts were ever in my opinion. I do believe that we can make cuts outside of personnel and still attain the two million or the four million dollars ($4,000,000) in cuts if we are really willing to sacrifice. After hearing all of the statements that have been made today and other days, it cries out in my opinion for the Charter change relating to an Auditor General. Someone that this Commission would have who in fact would be answerable and working only for the City Commission. Mr. Manager, I will ask that once this is all said and done, I 27 September 25, 1999 am not going to ask you to do it prior. I would like in my office and others can speak for themselves, 1 would like the details of every budget that there is and we can put it together. Because, the things that we really are looking for, they are not here. You know travel, things of that nature. Subscriptions. You know these are the kind of things that really start to add up when you go through ten, twelve, fifteen departments. So, I am going to ask that the details of every budget be made available in my office after the first of October. I am going to ask that the City Attorney, because the thing that is scaring me to no end is the lawsuit that has been filed yesterday or the day before of the parking surcharge. The City Attorney has advised 1ne, and I'll say it on the record, that merely the filing of a lawsuit does not mean that we are not going to collect the revenue, we will, and unless an injunction is issued, but we're depending on, at least, the five point seven. And, I am just a little concerned about a lawsuit being filed that could possibly jeopardize even that aspect of our budget. My final thing that I really would like to say and Mr. Manager, 1 guess you have got to answer this for rne. As you know, 1 voted to not increase the fire fee. Nov assuming the City Commission can... stays in that posture next Tuesday, and let's assume that those people down in that ivory tower called the Oversight Board veto, where are we three days later, two days later? 1 know that we, you know, this is not... This October 1, mandate we have got to have a budget is not true. We shoot for that, and that is what we are supposed to do, it could affect some things, but the budget stays in effect until the new budget is adopted. So, my question is, if in fact on Tuesday there is no change on the vote relating to the fire fee, the Oversight Board in effect rejects it, where are we? Mr. Warshaw: Commissioner, I am going to ask the City Attorney to chime in. There were two questions really. Number one, in accordance with state law what happens, we don't have a balanced budget and number two, what the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City and the State says and what that means in terns of the Oversight Board's authority. Commissioner Plummer: OK, I think... Commissioner Gort: Excuse me, excuse me. Commissioner Plummer: Sure. Commissioner Gort: My understanding is we do have... 28 September 25, 1999 Commissioner Plummer: Don't take it on my time. Go ahead. Commissioner Gort: My understanding is, we do have a balanced budget, but the Oversight Board has a different opinion. I don't think it has anything to do with the state constitution. We do have a balanced budget according to our books. Mr. Warshaw: Well... Commissioner Gort: If they don't agree with it, it's a different ball game. Mr. Vilarello: Commissioner Gort is correct. When you convene on the 28'", you will, before you adjourn that meeting, you are obligated by state law to adopt a balanced budget and a millage rate. Whether or not the Oversight Board accepts that budget or not is... relates to the agreement that this City entered into with the Governor and the Oversight Board. But you do have an obligation, once you convene that meeting on the 28"i,to ultimately adopt the balanced budget. Commissioner Gort: I understand the advisory... They are an advisory board to the Governor, then the Governor is the one who has to sit down and make the decision. Mr. Vilarello: The Governor does have authority under 218 to take some action, we are not clear exactly what that is. Commissioner Gort: But under that contract, we do have a balanced budget. And, according to state statutes, we do have a balanced budget. Mr. Vilarello: And, you are obligate to do that. Commissioner Plummer: OK, but my question is, where are we? Mr. Warshaw: Well, I... Well, before it gets to the Governor's... Commissioner Plummer: Well, obviously Willy, my question is the fact that on the 28'" we don't charge. Mr. Warshaw: OK. 29 September 25, 1999 Commissioner Plummer: When is the next meeting of the Oversight? Mr. Warshaw: Thursday. Two days after the Commission meeting. The 30t1i Commissioner Plummer: That would be on the 301h Mr. Warshaw: Correct. Commissioner Plummer: OK, which leaves how many days in September? Thirty. Mr. Warshaw: That's the last day of the month. Commissioner Plummer: OK, on the 301h of September they veto the balanced budget which we sent them, where are we the next day? Mr. Warshaw: Well, Commissioner, and again, I think we are in completely unchartered territory because I don't think that... Commissioner Plummer: No, that's happened before. I think that I know of at least one occasion where we did not meet the October 1, deadline. Mr. Warshaw: I don't know the answer to that question. Commissioner Plummer: Well, somebody should have... OK., then please by Tuesday, let me know the answer. Mr. Warshaw: I don't know if I'll know the answer on Tuesday other than to say that there is an Oversight Board meeting two days after the Commission Meeting. Commissioner Plummer: Do I need the Attorney General of the State of Florida to get an answer? Commissioner Gort: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: I mean, I am trying to get an answer. Nh•. Warshaw: No, he wants to know... 30 September 25, 1999 Commissioner Plummer: Look, and I am now having to duplicate in my eight minutes. Mr. City Attorney, if in fact on Tuesday we don't change, on Thursday, the last day of the month the Oversight Board vetoes the balanced budget we sent them, where are we on Friday? Mr. Vilarello: On Friday you have the balanced budget that you adopted on the 28`h. You will... may very well be in breach of the agreement between the City and the Oversight Board, but you will have a finally adopted balanced budget in compliance with State Law. Commissioner Plummer: And that's what we will be operating under. Mr. Vilarello: You will be operating under unless some other action comes forward from the Governor. Commissioner Plummer: Alright. Mr. Manager, I will conclude my remarks by asking you, please, sir, on Tuesday, I would like to know the names of companies who could come into the City of Miami to do reduction costs such as Boozie Allen, and an approximation of what they might charge the City to come about with exercising of savings that they can detennine through a contract with the City of Miami. Do you understand what I am saying? Mr. Warshaw: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: Now, ladies and gentlemen, this is ... Mister... Commissioner Gort: Let's go. Commissioner Plummer: Wait a minute. Hello down there. Before I adjourn... Commissioner Gort: Come on, let's go. Commissioner Plummer: Before I adjourn this meeting, does anybody else wish to make a comment? Commissioner Sanchez: I do, sir. I would... 31 September 25, 1999 Commissioner Plummer: A comment, because you have used your eight minutes, but go ahead. Commissioner Sanchez: No, it's not a comment. I would like to direct the City Manager to arrange for a press conference on Monday following the Oversight Board hearing to allow the City Commissioners to address their concern and state their position. Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me, the Oversight Board is meeting on Thursday. Ms. Marva Wiley (Special Assistant to the City Manager): There is one Monday. There is a meeting Monday and one on... Commissioner Teele: No. Commissioner Sanchez: No. Commissioner Regalado: No. Commissioner Teele: They are meeting on Monday. Commissioner Plummer: There is one this coming Monday. I am sorry, I stand corrected. Commissioner Sanchez: Yes. Commissioner Teele: About what time are you talking about? What time is the Oversight Board meeting? Ms. Wiley: One o'clock on Monday. Commissioner Teele: So, you are looking at three or four o'clock. Commissioner Sanchez: Four o'clock here at City Hall, in front of City Hall. Commissioner Plummer: Why don't you do it at six, so you go live on TV, if that's what you want. 32 September 25, 1999 Commissioner Regalado: Because you can get five people live in any... Commissioner Plummer: Do it after eight o'clock. Tyler Bridges goes home, and we don't have to wont' about it in the paper... Commissioner Regalado: That's true. Commissioner Teele: Mr. Chairman, 1 want to join in that direction to the Manager and I would hope... Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Manager, you are instructed, sir, to prepare for a press conference on Monday at four o'clock. Commissioner Teele: Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Plummer: We may not use it, but just prepare to have it. Are you talking about here, Joe? Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir. In front of City Hall. Commissioner Plummer: Alright. Commissioner Teele: Mr. Chainnan: Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Teele. Commissioner Teele: I would like to ask Chief Martinez a couple of questions? Raul, through the Manager. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Martinez. Commissioner Teele: One of the issues that is relating to the Solid Waste issue that we are going to have an ordinance on and got to make a big decision on, which has revenue implications. Is the number of commercial accounts, how did you come up with 21,000 commercial accounts. There is some industry experts that seem, they think is 12,000. Are you comfortable with the 21,000, 20 to 21,000 count? 33 September 25, 1999 Mr. Raul Martinez (Asst. City Manager): Commissioner, the information provided to us by Internal Audit and by the Finance Department depict approximately from 20 to 21 to 22,000 accounts. Commissioner Teele: So, it's not based on occupational pennits? Commissioner Plummer: Commercial accounts? Commissioner Teele: Because see, I have three occupational pennits which I get a bill from the City for all three. Mr. Martinez: I do not believe it is from occupational permits. I can tell you the historical number we have always used. Mr. Patterson can clarify that, he's standing over there to provide it to you. Mr. Clarance Patterson (Director -Solid Waste Department): The answer is no, it's not based on occupational licenses. Commissioner Teele: It's actually based? You all are comfortable with the number? Mr. Patterson: That is correct. Commissioner Teele: I would ask that the Manager and the City Attorney meet on the RFQ (Request for Qualifications) and particularly the innovative portion and come in with a joint recommendation on procedures as to how we could accept, if we can accept any innovative proposal that has been proposed. I am not wanting that, to get into that now. But, I would say this, that before ten o'clock on Tuesday, I note that in September we received one hundred and thirty-four thousand dollars ($134,00) for Brown and Ferris that we have received, one hundred and twenty-one thousand... one hundred and fifty-one thousand from Waste Management. The third biggest is Environmental which is sixty-two thousand and Imperial which is the fourth largest account. We are still waiting on their payment for September. I guess that would be the August count. Can you check with the Imperial people and see why they are so slow paying, please? Thank you. Commissioner Plummer: Alright, Mr. Manager, if I may through my colleagues on this Commission to you to thank all of the City employees for being here this morning. They look with such great smiles on their face, I 34 September 25, 1999 think we ought to have more Saturday meetings, and this meeting is adjourned. Commissioner Teele: Thank you, Mr. Chainnan. ATTEST: Walter J. Foeman City Clerk Maria J. Argudin Assistant City Clerk COMMISSIONER J. L. PLUMMER, JR. PRESIDING OFFICER/CHAIRMAN (SEAL) 35 September 25, 1999 i think we ought to have more Saturday meetings, and this meeting is adjourned. Commissioner Teele: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. ATTEST: Walter J. Foeman City Clerk Maria J. A.rgudin Assistant City Clerk COMMISSIONER J. L. PLUMMER, JR. PRESIDING OFFICER/CHAIRMAN (SEAL) 35 September 25, 1999