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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 08 11 Consent G Improvements to the Lobby in City Hall COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM G Consent X Informational Public Hearing Regular August 11. 2003 Regular Meeting ~ . Mgr. / Dept. Authorization REQUEST: The City Manager is requesting that the City Commission authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $7,500.00 from the General Fund to Line Code 1910-63000 (General Services - City Hall Division - Improvements) to cover related expenses, as part of an ongoing customer service effort to make the lobby more customer friendly. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Agenda Item is for a supplemental appropriation from the General Fund in the amount of $7,500.00 which needs to be transferred to Line Code 1910-63000 (General Services - City Hall Division - Improvements) for related expenses to help make the lobby a more customer-friendly environment. CONSIDERATIONS: On various occasions, members of the City Commission have noted their displeasure with the City Hall Lobby area. With the above requested funding, we would be able to make some significant improvements to the Lobby of City Hall, which would enhance the aesthetics and customer service aspects of this very prominent area. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING - AUGUST 11,2003 CONSENT AGENDA ITEM "G" PAGE20F2 FUNDING: Funding would be transferred from the General Fund to Line Code 1910-63000 (General Services - City Hall Division - Improvements) RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Commission approve a supplemental appropriation in. the amount of $7,500.00 for related expenses to help make the lobby a more customer-friendly environment. ATTACHMENTS: A. An excerpt from the June 16,2003 City Commission Workshop Minutes. A TT ACHMENT "A" CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 16.2003 PAGE40F9 Tape 1/Side B With further discussion, Commissioner Blake stated, "I noticed certain entries in here such as the Mechanical, Plumbing, Electric - those kind of Permit Fees are multiples of what we had originally budgeted. Other Permit Fees are up forty, fifty percent (40, 50%) perhaps - Plan Review maybe almost even 100%, but these mechanical type Permits are up 500%, 600%. Why is that? Why are they so off the mark? I would expect that they would all be off by, not exactly the same, but by similar amounts if we are having full development which I think is what is going on here." Ms. Frangoul responded, "Looking at the year to date actual for instance, the Electrical Permits are already at $28,500.00 that we have collected and we still have a quarter to go. Plumbing, $60,500.00 - a quarter to go. Mechanical, $39,750.00 - so we have.. .." Commissioner Blake said, "...1 understand it. I am not saying the numbers are wrong, it is just a curious thing going on here where we have some of these permits up five (5) times, six (6) times, from what we looked at and what we budgeted." Ms. Frangoul stated, "They are probably consistent with what they have been in the past, but yes there is something that has happened this year that has made them much larger than they have been in the past." Manager McLemore added, "It is worth looking into." /. Next, discussion developed regarding Enterprise Funds in relation to the Building Department, and the front counter area of the Building Department. Regarding the overall aesthetics of the Lobby area, Mayor Bush stated, "I do not know where this would fit in but when people walk into City Hall they do not know where to go and they usually go to the wrong place." Mayor Bush added, "If we talk about customer service, I thi that is one of the places we could start with - helping people when they walk in the door.' Mayor Bush said, "Well, there is no proposal in there to address that in this Budget is there?" Manager McLemore said, "No." Commissioner McGinnis added, "I think the whole lobby is really shabby and unattractive, the trophies...." Commissioner Martinez suggested, "... Upgrading.. ." Furthermore, Mayor Bush stated, "I still would like at some point, some time - that we have some customer service" when people enter the ~obby area of City Hall. Commissioner Blake suggested, "Actually those signs could probably come under the Development Enterprise Fund because that helps us to operate a lot more efficiently." Manager McLemore said, "That sounds like a good idea to me." On the subject of Inspections, Commissioner Blake said, "If we can get - say the last eight (8) weeks or so, commit to spending a little more money on much faster inspections to help people get C.O.'s [Certificates of Occupancy] faster, that helps us to get a years worth of Ad Valorem revenue." Manager McLemore responded, "I agree with you, Ijust do not know if more Inspectors can necessarily speed up the Contractor." Furthermore, Commissioner Blake stated, "All I would suggest is that in the last eight (8) weeks or so that if we could find a way to have a much faster turn-around on inspections, when requested - within twenty-four (24) hours."