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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1978-09-18 Minutesi • • CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION MINUTES September 18, 1978 OF MEETING HELD ON PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL MUTES OP SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA Oh the 18th day of September, 1978 the City Commission of Miami, Florida met at the Police Department in said City in Special Session to consider business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 10:10 o'clock A.N. by Commissioner Plummer with the following members of the Commission present: Absent: Also present were: Commissioner J.L. Plummer Rev. Theodore Gibson Vice -Mayor Reboso Commissioner Rose Gordon Mayor Maurice Ferre Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager R.L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Mananger George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. 0ngie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mr. Plummer : It is 10 A.S. September the 18th. This is a continuation of the budget hearings. Unfortunately not too many people find it exciting of want to be here. So we are going to go ahead and start by the ruling of the City Attorney, since no official action is being taken. They are just hearing that we can proceed. Mr. Grassie: There's a call from the Mayor's office, Commissioner and he's on the way. Mr. Plummer: The Mayor is on his way. Unfortunately he is coming from Nome,Alaska, but he will make it. I will hold Kenney, until we have a quorum, or hopefully a full board before we go with . Do you want to go to your office, and we call you, that's up to you. Who do you have? Mr. Gary? I know we are in trouble if Mr. Gary isn't here. Well, should we all go out there to accomodate him, or should he come in here to accomodate us? Would somebody tell Mr. Gary we'd like to have him inside? Inaudible. Mr. Plummer: That's what I want to find out from him. You don't get paid Mr. Gary for being outside. Mr. Gary where did we leave off with the exception of the Police Department. Mr. Gary: on page 43. Mr. Plummer: All right, who is here representing that? Connolly if you will come up and sit in the hot seat please. Nothing like starting off grilling you first thing on Monday morning. For those,..any of you who were not here the other day, • what we are doing in your particular department, we are asking you to give a brief statement about your budget as you begin. I proffered two questions which I would appreciate you addressing in your remarks and those two questions were, 'was there anything in your budget that you had requested that was returned or denied, that you feel it is critical in the operation of your department, and the second question is, we would like,..or I would like to know if you see any danger flags flying as far as finances are concerned in the corning year, keeping in mind we all fully aware that we have two major problems beside labor negotiation, one being counter - cyclical funds which we can't do anything about, the other one which is a CETA problem of funds which we can't do anything about. We know about those two problems. If there's anything else that you see that financially could affect your deparment in any way, we would like to know about it. Mr, P1uMMer Is there any Questions of Mr, Grassie? Are you ready td oi^oeeee Mr, Grassie: Yes, sir, we are. _.El mi Mr. James Connolly: The Convention Center, Department, EE there's two divisions, one is Conference and Convention Center Development, gg which is the building of the Convention Center, the other is the existing II convention was previously under the office Tourism,.. EN mm in going from fiscal year 77-78, to 78-79, we are now starting construction because of that we had to expand the development section. The NI only concern I have, --and I did this myself, I tried to expand into the new section with CETA employees, not knowing at the time Mr. Plummer: Connolly when we project the new conference center will be ready mm for operation? II Mr. Connolly: The official opening day is January 1, 1981. i Mr, Plummer: Mr. Connolly, you are on. Mr. Plummer: 1981, so that's two and a half years. Well, niy concern is, you know, major conferences, or rnore so, conventions are usually booked two years in advance. And I checked the other day, with an organization, which is a rather large organi- zation, that I belong to by virtue of this commission, and they have not been approached by you or your department. My question is, are you in the process now of going out an seeking things as of January 1, 1981? Mr. Connolly: We will be starting in the fourth quarter of this year. Mr. Plummer: You say the fourth quarter of the year or the fiscal year? Mr. Connolly: Next month. Starting next month. Mr. Plummer: I would sure like to see you solicit in the Florida League.They are now up to about 17 or 18 hundred in convention. I think it would be a feather in our cap to land such, seeing as how our convention is coming up next month in Hollywood. The reason we went to Hollywood because we are not ready. Father do you have any questions concerning conferences and conventions? Rev. Gibson: I heard you say that formerly this was under another department. Mr. Connolly:The convention services bureau was formerly under publicity and tourism. Administratively it is now under Conferences and Convention Centers Department. It still operates Rev. Gibson: Mr. Grassie my question always is, in the transition,and this isn't the place to ask, but I'll never get this chance again anytime soon, what about those people? Mr. Grassie: The people that used to work,... Rev. Gibson: Yes, I want to know how peaceful, how orderly, how disgruntled,.. I am always concerned about that. I find that a happy satisfied worker is your best advertisement. Mr. Grassie: It is true. I don't detect any sign of performance falling off in that department, Commissioner. The same people who were there before are now serving their functions, getting conventions, Rev. Gibson: Please understand, nobody said a word to me. Usually we come in here with somebody having prompted us, but since I deal with people I know, that that's always underlined. Even in the church they do it. We say well, .,..just wonder what the new guy is going to be like, or how is he doing. Mr. Grassie: The same people who are running the function now,were doing it before. Rev, Gibson: Let me ask you, what is the composition of that Mr, Connolly: In the development department we had four and a half people, • Myself, one other white, one black, and one and a half Latins. And in the Convention Services, six people,...the half is a split between Watson Island Development and Convention Center,... Rev. Gibson: You know I am the only guy who could do this. I am always concerned, ..here we are talking about affirmative action, in 1978, you all haven't got the message. Plummer, you remember you said, about nominating somebody for the Civil Service Board the other day, you said well, Affirmative Action,...we got to go through all this, and this and this, and you said somebody who didn't need it...philosophical statement. You remember? m. • Mr. Plummer: That's right. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Connolly, and you come back next year with that budget, I want you to show me, in body, that we are about the business of Affirmative Action. Mr. Grassie: Just so that we are clear about the timing Commissioner on this. This apparently has had responsibility for the development end of that department. I think he indicated to you that we have a good balance there in terms of Affirm- ative Action. That's part of the department. The other part is the Convention Bureau,..is a traditional operation of the city, which has been around for 30 years. And it has not had any turnover. And he has not,... Rev. Gibson:..to speak of. Mr. Grassie: I don't know from memory, but I know that the top people have not turned at least in the last 10 years. Now I don't know about the clerical staff, but what I am saying to you is that he has not,...the county has not had any responsibility until a month and half ago. Rev. Gibson: So I am going to give you A for effort, due to your not being there, but next year at this time, 'taint going to be no giving . I just think we need to send the word down,that this city is under the Affirmative Action position. That's what Plummer said the other day and even nominating, and I just can't sit here,...we've aot six people, you know. One ought to be looking like this guy and one ought to be one of those guys who speaks other than English, at least. Don't give me no club idea now. Okay. Mr. Plummer: Rose for your edificiation,... Mrs. Gordon: We had trouble trying to find a place to park.(Entered meeting at 10:30) Mr. Plummer: That's right. Before you leave you'll get a ticket. You are lucky, We have just started with Mr. Connolly on Conventions on page 143 Rose. Mrs. Gordon: The Mayor is here,. NOTE: Mayor Ferre entered the meeting at 10:26 A.M. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Connolly let me ask you a question. Mr. Grassie, is CETA employees, are they included in the regular budget? Mr. Grassie: They are noted as positions in the regular budget. They are only included in terms of salary insofar as we provide a supplement. Mr. Plummer: In other Odrds, when I read on the total personnel services for this particular. department, I am reading $276,000. Does that include the 4 CETA positions. Mr. Grassie: It includes the supplement not the base $10,000. It is only the add -on. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Connolly what is your salary? Mr. Connolly: $32,500,00. Mr. Plummer: And your salary comes from this? Mr, Connolly: to the bond funds,.,., f Plummert But I mean from this allocation in the budget? Connolly: Yes. Mrs Plummer; Who's your number two person in that fund? Mr, Connolly: There are two private coordinators,,,, Mr. Plummer: What do they make? Inaudible. Mr. Plummer: You'd better produce. All right. Rose or Mr. Mayor, we have just started with Mr. Connolly and we are about ready to wrap it up unless you have some questions, in reference to Conferences and Conventions. Mayor Ferre: Let me understand this. Do we presently have,...we have a Convention Bureau Chief,...and the Convention Bureau Chief works for Lew Price? Mr. Grassie: This departmental structure puts that bureau within the Conferences and Conventions department. Mayor Ferre; Jim, that person reports directly to Inaudible. Mayor Ferre: Are they here? Who are the two Convention Mr. Connolly: Inaudible,... Mayor Ferre: Have they been on the job for 11 years? Mr. Connolly: Yes. Mayor Ferre: The expenditure for last year, as adopted inaudible, I mean 675, 1 million 267, include all of them,..... Mr. Connolly• that's what we requested. Mr. Grassie: Everything is on the next three pages. Mayor Ferre: What I am saying is, the million, two -sixty-seven includes the Convention services, ...there's a vacant convention, my next question is, we are already digging holes out there, and we have already proved it last Thursday, dollars, and further digging the holes, and I would assume that things are beginning to jell, we are moving on the Convention with exception to parking situation that hasn't yet been settled. I assume then it will take 2'2 to 3 years to build this Convention Conference, January of 81 which means it will be the summer of 81. I hope that in the summer of 81 you are going to have conventions to fill up that hall. Mr. Connolly: Inaudible. Mayor Ferre: If you don't, I think we ought to stop building, because I are not going to be embarrassed, inaudible, Mr.Connolly: Inaudible. Mayor Ferre: And he lost how many million dollars? This city cannot afford to lose millions of dollars that we are talking about. Once we get movning, --I mean first -class --we are going to get the best convention people in the country, Mr. Plummer: Maurice what I was just bringing out, the Florida League does near 1800 conventions,...is going this year to Diplomat in Hollywood because there was nothing in Miami to accomodate it, so I am hopeful that in October --it's October 19, 20,1, that you will have some representative at that convention to make a pitch for their '81 convention. Imrm MEE i iMM • Mayor rerreWell, I think the point is this, as I recall, correct me if I am wrong, there are 119 conference -convention halls either similar or larger than the one we are going to be building and there are an awful lot of people who like to go to New Orleans, San Diego, Phoenix, and 119 other places that are available. And even though we happen to think very highly of ourselves, a lot of people don't think it is highly of us,...all you have to do is read the Miami Herald and they will tell you what others think of us. They are continually reminding the world about any dirty laundry anywhere in Miami, they are the ones to bring it out. We have to really work hard. I am worred about it. And I think Mr. Mananger in conclusion, but it's essential, and I would like to ask you, after you get the budget procedures, son;eti„ie in October, November, or December, I would really like to schedule at last one hour, a presentation before this commission, key, important things that we have before us, ----I don't feel very comfortable, because I don't know where we are. Mr. Grassie: Sure, we would like to do that. IN Mayor Ferre: I have some ideas on it. I ran into Mr. Peter Paul over the weekend. This World Trade Center,and I feel very uncomfortable about that.I just don't know •• which way it is going. Mr. Grassie: We'd like to do it as quickly after the 1st of October as possible. Mr. Plummer: I'll give you an idea Mr. Connolly. As you know, I do a lot of travel for this city. I don't know what they's clot that's appealing this year in St.Louis but I've got three conventions, major conventions and all three are in St. Louis. I don't know whether its because they've done a tremendous job, or whether they've got new facilities, or what it is, but three of my major conventions this year are in St. Louis. So what I guess we are really saying to you is, we hope you are following the pattern of St. Louis. They've done a job. Unidentified: Competition as well. Mayor Ferre: One of the other subjects Mr. Mananger, we do now have a situation, , it is now of the department of Economic Development, MEM MEM MEM i ■ 1 okay? Mr. Grassie: Division. Mayor Ferre:..Division, yes, whatever title of its function in the city. One of the things, and there was a lot of discussion in this commission about what a division or a department was going to do. One of the things that has to concern us, besides the fact that the economic base in the City of Miami is not (inaudible) ...it is a tourism industry. By that I mean, the way I perceive this Convention/Conference Center,unless we get more hotel in Downtown or Brickell Avenue, or near Downtown area, it is my opinion that when this thing opens 1981 or 82, you may not have enough hotel rooms inaudible, I think it is essential that our economic development divisions really function and I would also like to have them before this commission for at lease one hour of discussion, as to what they are doing to earr their pay, and what are they doing specifically about economic development, not only on Trade Fair of the Americas, some of the other more esoteric things _ (inaudible) we are happy to want to do, but on the nitty-gritty things like getting Howard Johnson to expand their facilities, of getting a new Holiday Inn. I would like know exactly who has contacted . Have we talked to What are we going to get the tourist base of Miami, more good hotels Because if we move ahead with Watson Island, Mr. Plummer: All right. Any other questions of Mr. Connolly? All right, thank you Mr. Connolly. The next one is Citizens Services, page 151. Who is representing Citizens Services? (Inaudible) Mr. Rob Parkins: Our Service Department was created last year from the restructure of the former office of Community Affairs. This year the primary concentration will be to create and implement a Planning Division to the Citizens Service , expanded evaluation and monitoring division, and an internal administration services division. Three assistant/director positions requested will assist us in formalizing this reorganization. I had three questions (inaudible) Unidentified person: Was there anything cut out of the budget that was essential to the operation of the department? Mr. Parkins: We have generally requested general funds in a modest fashion or conservative fashion. We've continued to do that this year. Budget requests were held to a minimum, while additional funds over our request would be helpful inaudible. Where areas of tightness in the budget,(inaudible) travel per diem,there are no requests this year at ail,which will preclude the department from attending any citizens service related seminars,...our concentration this year we believe should be locally, and therefore inaudible that obviously affects our published reports, but we believe we will be able use grant funds for these purposes. The motor pool allows for only two cars inaudible,...we have department evaluated monitors who are out in the field community workers, but again scheduling the use of private vehicles. tir. Plummer: It's a 10 cut. Mr. Parkins: It will preclude of departmental division structure. It would reduce significantly our ability to improve program monitoring evaluation and administrative services. It would reduce our efforts toward develop- ing a meaningful social service plan. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Parkins based on what the Mananger said a minute ago, I am totally at a loss,...you show a total personnel of 5347,000. excluding CETA you have 7 positions, (Inaudible) Mr. Plummer:Wel1, okay, from 3 to 7. If I divide 7 into that figure I don't know of course what the supplement is. I guess the question I've got to ask is, how much is supplement, keeping in mind that the federal government is proposing one of the big major changes, is that there will be no more supplements. How much of that figure of the 347 is supplement? Mr. Parkins: Let me say in answering that, that because of the structure of this department, sources, CETA,Revenue Sharing, Community Development funds and general funds. And we do to the best of our ability try to allocate these funds in accord with the responsibilities ,that we are going to get a one-third general fund, one-third CETA, one-third Revenue Sharing. Mr. Plummer: I'll tell you, instead of taking all of the commission and you trying to figure it, I'd like to a figure, in particular, what is your salary? Mr. Parkins: 528,400.00. Mr. Plummer: I'd like to see a breakdown. Any members of the Commission have any questions about Citizens Services? Any questions period, from Citizens Service? Parkins you get off easy when you make a good presentation. Next is Leisure Services. Who is representing Leisure Services? We will take up the Police Department next. Mr. Al Howard: The Leisure Services budget was reduced by 10 part-time employees. We did not have to reduce any of the personnel,. MR. Plummer: Excuse me, could we have a little quiet so we can all hear? tir. Howard: But even with that reduction, to a realignment of staff, we will still be able to lump the same service we have, with our programs and recreation. This will be done through more community involvement with the people, and having our supervisors spread out with more of the parks. Also by coming up with some more self -motivating such as vita courses and frisbee courses where people can participate inaudible. Our Affirmative Action, in the Leisure Services Division, have a total of 16 administrative staff, 8 are minorities, and the last two position that were filled they were both filled by minority personnel. (inaudible) �f Ho lard:,,,,no, this was the bay Care administrator, and the coordinator in the recreation program, WE are about 50% and my salary is the same as it was Friday, (Inaudible) Mr. Plummer: For my edification, on the second page, Mr. Howard, you say you dropped 10 positions. I don't see that on page 154. Mr.Howard: What happened was we had 34 part-time positions. We reduced that to 24. Mr. Plummer: According to this you went to 55. Mr. Howard: Let me finish. We reduced it to 24. We then put into the budget the 31 positions that we had from Revenue Sharing,with extensive recreation extension programs. That was always ...this year it shows in the budget so that increased our positions, but we had them last year. They just put Revenue Sharing into our budget. That was always . This year it shows in the budget. So that increased our positions, but we had them last year. They just put Revenue Sharing into our budget. So we dropped 10 and picked up another 30 positions. There's not an increase. It is the same body you had last year. (inaudible)....we actually lost 10. Mr. Plummer: Any questions from the Commission? Mayor Ferre:Yes. On a non -related or related, but not budgetary items, I've have correspondence, --I just thought I'd bring this up to the commission, you know that Centro Mater in that location for years now, and do render a valuable service to a certain segment of the community. I understand that the school has a property in the middle of our park, and that is giving all kinds of problems as to working out what are we going to do about it? Mr. Howard: It is still in negotiation. Mayor Ferre: Who? Mr. Howard:..with the school, to acquire their property, or they were going to lease it to us for 99 years. They are not going to build the school there,---- expressway area and we wanted to expand the Latin Riverfront Park. We were going to meet with the Centro Mater as soon as the school determination. We met with the school board about a month ago, and they are considering that very highly, Mayor Ferre: They have been considering them for the last 4 years. They are always asking us for things, and its time I think for them to start realizing that this is incumbent upon them. This is a two-way street. Mr. Howard: I think they are willing,.... Mayor Ferre: So one, Mr. Mananger, we go up before them to discuss the other matter that we have, and the ariount of money they owe is , this ought to be one of the subjects with the School Board. Then I think we've got to find a way, even if it is on a year-to-year basis, to satisfy these people who are rendering service to the community. They are around this situation all the time. Mr. Howard: In the projections to the park planning, Centro Mater has been considered. Mayor Ferre: That's not what they indicate as of August 24 in a letter which you got a copy of. And I'll read from it: 'We share our happiness with some worries, since the park is projected on the site we are presently using. Albert H. Howard requesting the use of the park. We would like to maintain for the use of the park '--I am sure the rest of the Commission got the same kind of letter. I am concerned about two things. First of all, what happens to people, who have been doing a great job. And two, that we not keep them in panic situation. I don't mean to make a state- ment now in the ERA age but sometime some of these gals over there kind of have a constant panic unnecessarily. And I think that is completely unnecessary, IIIIIIIIII■IIII= ■ii■■iuuoiiimiiiii iuuuuiiiniinimui■.ii1i They are not going to kick them out, Why have them come every six monthsa writing letters; that they are worried about what their future is, They don't have to worry do they? I don't see that; you are going to door this Commission Mr, Plummer: The question is obviously , when you got in touch with them you didn't impress them that they have nothing to worry about. Mr. Howard: We still didn't receive the property from the school. Mr. Plummer: Let me ask a question. I might be talking today or I might be . The Commission transferred the Day Care operation over to which division? Mr. Howard: Leisure Services. Mr. Plummer: How much money is in the budget for Day Care this year? Mr. Howard: 5375,000. Mr. Plummer: How did that compare to last year? Mr. Howard: It was reduced from last year. The budget last year was $387,000, Mr. Plummer: So that is twelve thousand reduction. Where did that twelve thousand ? One position? A number of positions? Mr. Howard: It was one position that was vacant and the rest of taken out in commodities. Mr. Plummer; tJe know that since last year we have assumed the Edison/Little River, which is an added responsibility. How do we equate that we have gone up in expanding the service , but we are going down in dollars. Mr. Howard: The was on a ratio of children to leaders about 1 to 7. We've now standards of reducing from 1 to 10, allowing us use more personnel in the Edison/Little River program. Mr. Plummer: Do you feel in your estimation that this adequately covers what is necessary? Mr. Howard: At the present time, yes. With the proper leadership and training program, I think we can offer the same program if not better than the 1 to 7 . We found in some cases there were too many teacher's aides, or something like that, which will bring it down actually less than for the present staff, existing staff, which is required by state law. Mayor Ferre: We have a cultural activities in the city of Miami, one of these is under the other one Mr. Grassie: That's correct. Mayor Ferre: Even though they do not necessarily just as a matter of procedure, aside from the individuals of the personalities involved, shouldn'.t tnat all be ? Mr. Grassie: We have felt so, for some time, Mr. Mayor. There have been some advantages in letting people develop their programs as they have in the past and it really gets to be what . For the moment, we ward to solve the problems in that department. Day Care is the most outstanding, but yes, we keep that in the back of our mind as something that we have to Mr. Plummer: I t1r. Grassie when you were talking about three -hundred and seventy-five thousand, would require a separate sheet in that budget so we could break it out of Day Care centers, and it had more of a complete picture on that particular area. Seeing as how as we all know that the people involved in Day Care, the parents are very concerned about the budget, and have made certain allegations about the budget. I think that if we break it out,and give a breakdown Oft bay Cate it would be clearer for everybody to understand. Mt, Grassie: I think that's a good point Commissioner. The reason that that particular program is budgeted in the Special Programs account is it gets money from several sources, but I think your point is still well taken and which makes it easier for people to see... It will have to be a supplemental and informational page rather than an appropriation page, but we probably should put in there an information page. Mr. Plummer: Any other about Leisure Services? Mrs. Gordon: I'm sorry if you said so, but did you or are you incorporating Mr. Howard: That's their intentions, we have not been because the the program, you know, just came over. This is what we are evaluating now, you mean our pre-school program? (BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD) • Mr. Plummer: Any other questions? Rev. Gibson: I want to ask a question. Not to you Mr. Plummer: No, ok. You are not on this subject? Rev. Gibson: I want Mr. Parkins back. Mr. Plummer: Parkins? Rev. Gibson: I want to ask this question of all these because if we don't ask them our problem, you know, and continue parties. No, to hop along. Tell us about the composition of your staff. Mr. Howard: Presently you :and presently we have five in what I would call the top management group, exclusive of myself and all of them are females or minorities. Mr. Plummer: That's five out of seven? Mr. Howard: That would be five out of five will be used the coordinators. We have an Assistant City Manager I who is hosting a special project who is an Anglo-male and myself... (BACKGROUND COMMENTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Howard: On the present organizational structure Citizen Service's delivery female or included youth programs. federal programs is the male covers the evaluation and monitors contract control. The cultural experiences the hispanic female cultural areas My special projects for black males Any other questions? Rev. Gibson: I don't know if I heard right. Did you hear what I heard? (BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Howard: appearances and you have the Parks and the Leisure Services... (BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Howard: That's right. (BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Howard: • Rev. Gibson: A term bothers me, mentioned cultural affa Mrs. Gordon: Are you wondering f I'm wondering what tho two cultural programs are doing. Rev. Gibson: Right. Ahh, you got my point, it took ne a little while to get it out. Mts Pdtkins; The basic definition is as t envisioned it originally , is the cost repairs organization of the parks primarily concentrates the harks th tibities; cultural activities. Mrs. Gordon: You want concerts in the park or exhibits in the park and things like that? Mr. Parkins: Our is a combination joint venture with the Lowe Arts Museum and plus my