Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 06 05 Minutes COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SEMINOLE COUNTY JUNE 5. 1991 The Council of Local Governments in Seminole County met in Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 5. 1991, at 7:00 p.m. in Room N300 of the County Services Building, Sanford, Florida MEMBERS PRESENT Commissioner Lee Constantine, Altamonte Springs Commissioner David Mealor. Lake Mary Commissioner Paul Lovestrand, Longwood Commissioner Whitey Eckstein, Sanford Commissioner Pat Warren, Seminole county Nancy Warren, Seminole County School Board Commissioner Cindy Kaehler, Winter Springs Mayor Andrea Dennison, Casselberry MEMBERS ABSENT Councilperson Ida Cook, Oviedo ALSO PRESENT Dave Galnor, Purchasing Director for Seminole County Jean Kassab, Principal Analyst, Office of Management & Budget for Seminole County Maureen Liberatore, Personnel Purchasing Coordinator, Lake Mary CALL TO ORDER Chairman David Mealor called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Chairman Mealor announced for those who may not be aware that Commissioner Bob Sturm's wife passed away unexpectedly that morning. The Memorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Altamonte Springs. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Mealor indicated appreciation for the support the City of Sanford gave and the prompt submittal of Minutes by Linda Brace. Nancy Warren moved to approve the Minutes as submitted. seconded by Commissioner Kaehler. Chairman Mealor commented he thought the Minutes were incredibly thorough, particularly with the several issues brought before them that evening. The motion carried unanimously. TREASURERS REPORT Commissioner Eckstein reported a balance of $430.14. which balances with the Bank Statement just received. OLD BUSINESS Chairman Mealor stated that this portion of the meeting is a continuation of Maureen Liberatore's presentation at the last meeting concerning cooperative purchasing, and further information will be provided at this meeting by Dave Galnor, Seminole County Purchasing Director. Mr. GaInor opened his remarks by passing out a paper (attached) describing both Regional Cooperative Purchasing 1 efforts by Valencia Community College to form a purchasing group in the Central Florida Region. and an update of Seminole County efforts to form a County-wide Purchasing Group. Chairman Mealor stated that County Manager Ron Rabun indicated his support of our efforts at the last meeting. and had contacted him again today as a follow-up on that commitment. Mr. GaInor indicated that this had actually began last November when he sent a letter to all cities and government entities in Seminole County and posed the question as to whether they were interested in forming a co-op. with the overall response being positive. Last month Valencia Community College facilitated the regional meeting to discuss the potential of creating not only a regional coop but also some local coops. A Steering Committee was formed to develop goals and policies and procedures to present to the large government entities throughout Central Florida for the big and/or large volume purchases. such as water treatment chemicals. road maintenance items. and fuel. One of the main reasons in forming a coop is not necessarily to obtain the lower prices because in many cases we already have it. the advantage is the "clout" that can be brought to bear for services and quality. The Regional Group is looking to the Counties to create smaller co-ops to take care of the smaller. local requirements. such as uniforms. office supplies. Mr. GaInor advised that on Thursday. June 6 he would be holding a meeting in his office of the Seminole County Coop which will be an organizational meeting to develop policies. procedures and goals for presentation to their respective agencies. Mr. GaInor's major goal is to have this approved by the various Boards and Commissions and in place by the beginning of the new Fiscal Year. October 1. 1991. Mr. GaInor at this point opened the floor for questions or comments. Commissioner Lovestrand asked how many cities are represented. Mr. GaInor responded Lake Mary. Winter Springs. Casselberry. Longwood. Altamonte Springs. Oviedo. Sanford. School Board and the Sheriff. covering all the major entities within Seminole County. Commissioner Eckstein posed a theoretical question concerning possible purchase of police uniforms and what should be done if a vendor in Lake County out-bid a vendor they had always used in Seminole County. General consensus was that you go with low bid. Commissioner Warren and others pointed out that you look at low bid and quality and preferably local. However. even though you feel you have a responsibility to go with a local vendor. if the local vendor does not have the lowest price. he has to realize you are also responsible to the taxpayers. Mr. GaInor. in addressing the "low bid" issue. indicated that many 2 times a local vendor is the smaller vendor who cannot command the wholesale pricing that a larger vendor located outside the area can command. and therefore. cannot even enter into the bid. He said basically if the quality is there. then the low bid should have it due to necessary fiscal responsibility. The question was addressed by Mr. GaInor as to whether an agency would have to participate in any given bid He said he will present in the Policies and Procedures Meeting that any Agency will be given an opportunity to bid. The Agency may then make a determination. If an Agency commits to participating then the Agency will be held to that commitment. The Agency will be able to say "perhaps I may want to participate". present their estimates and then make a determination whether or not they want to commit. Also. the Agency may decline to participate in that bid. Mayor Dennison posed a question to Dave GaInor concerning the disposal of excess property. Their auctions are not large enough to generate enough competi ti veness. Will the County also be working on a program through which surplus goods could be channeled for a bigger auction which would command more competition and better pricing? In addressing Mayor Dennison's question on a cooperative auction. it is his understanding that municipalities have always had an opportunity to participate in a County-wide auction. He intends to continue that practice. He intends to re-bid the auctioneer services this summer and will be looking at a better facility to hold the auction. Chairman Mealor asked if the press had been notified of the meeting on June 6. Mr. GaInor re sponded that they had not because no elected officials were expected to attend the meeting. He added that he will be asking attendees to take back to their agencies several items: * Some form of an interlocal agreement. * The concept of having a "lead agency" The entity who initiates the bid automatically becomes the "lead" on that bid and once that entity makes the award. the other agencies accept the validity of that award. It would then appear on Agendas as an informational item rather than having to go through an approval process at each Board or Commission. * Monthly meetings participating entities. of representatives of all the * Asking that the approval process to participate go through the various Administrative approvals and Board/Commission approval so once the agreements are set. the backing from the elected official and the administration is there. Chairman Mealor asked if anyone could foresee a problem with an interlocal of this nature. Commissioner Constantine said he did not and that the agreement should be brought to CALNO and then each member could take it back to their respective Boards/Commissions. 3 Mr. GaInor pointed out sharing of time between communication between business practices. several non-economic advantages would be agencies. problem solving through greater agencies. and it will promote uniform Chairman Mealor asked Mr. GaInor to return for their August meeting to give a further update. Chairman Mealor stated that it was gratifying to see the culmination of this idea and extended thanks and appreciation to all who had worked on it. Chairman Mealor announced that the August 7 meeting will start at 6:00 or 6:30 at the School Board. The guest will be Rafael Montalvo from the Conflict Resolution Center. He will be bringing the chief from Tallahassee. Also. Mr. Montalvo has requested several guests be invited to the meeting. Chairman Mealor will be unable to attend the August meeting but will make sure all information is sent to Members. NEW BUSINESS Discussion of Distribution Calculations for Local Option Gas Tax Chairman Mealor indicated that Jean Kassab. Principal Analyst for OMB for Seminole County had requested time on this agenda to discuss the distribution calculations for the local option gas tax. Ms. Kassab stated that the local option gas tax is a tax that is authorized by Fla. Statute 336.025. it is a six phase gas tax that is distributed by the County to the cities through an interlocal agreement that was adopted in 1986. Seminole County staff acts as the coordinator and collector of certifications of the 5 years of eligible transportation expenditures. The formula for the cities is 36.4% of the total tax collected. That is distributed to the cities based on their total eligible expenditures incurred for the past five years. Each new year we drop the old year total and recalculate. All the certifications were received by the cities and sent back to them along with a copy of the spread sheet (attached) and we have received no responses or objections to the gas tax distribution formula. If there had been objections they would have been presented back to CALNO and the Council of Governments would hear those objections and make a ruling. Expenditures that are eligible to be included in the formula are any expenditure from a State and Local source. No Federal funds are eligible. no bond proceeds are eligible and no expenditures directly from the gas tax are eligible. They are excluded before the calculations are done. Two years ago the Council authorized Developer Credits to be given in lieu of collecting of revenues that would have been otherwise been spent on transportation and those are spread over a three year time based on when the credit was issued. The next step is for the Council to concur with the distribution and the formula would then be submitted to the Department of Revenue no later than July 1. and the tax distribution formula would go into effect January. 1992. 4 Ms. Kassab asked for questions. Commissioner Lovestrand asked for clarification in that "the more we spend the more we get on a 5 year rolling average. dropping the last year and adding the new year. " Ms. Kassab indicated that is correct. Commissioner Lovestrand asked how the County formula of 63.6% was arrived at. Ms. Kassab explained that the 63.6% was arrived at by an estimate of the actual expenditures the County had been incurring at the rate they were incurring in 1986 when the Interlocal Agreement was enacted. She stated that is a fixed amount and not based on a rolling average. There were some $25 million in bonds issued against the County's portion which was one of the reasons the County portion needed to be fixed so that the County could document revenue anticipated for the bond proceeds. Commissioner Constantine explained that at the time the Interlocal was enacted the Council wanted the County to do some long range planning with bonding. The County's was fixed with the cities "rolling" because some of the cities were growing and some of the cities that were stable did not want to sit there and incur the same amount. Wanted to give the cities an incentive to spend money on transportation so the more money they spent the more they would get in gas tax revenues. Ms. Kassab explained further that the gas tax revenue was not intended to take the place of local governments providing for their own transportation and that is the reason the gas tax itself is excluded from the transportation formula. Ms. Kassab said the next step is to send a letter to the Department of Revenue verifying the new formula. Question was asked as to how much it would generate this year. She did not have the figure but would get it to the Council. (She returned later with the figure of $6.974.424 of which the cities portion is $2.538.690. Take $6.974.424 times whatever your percentage is. you can come up with the amount.) REPORTS FROM MEMBERS Se.inole County Commissioner Pat Warren suggested having one of the meetings at the Airport Authori ty. Chairman Mealor suggested the September meeting be held there. would make the necessary contacts and confirm in the August meeting. Some highlights from the Seminole County Board meetings last month: * The Commission approved the building modifications for the softball complex at Sanlando. Staff is to submit a work order before approval. That is moving along real well and will be a nice complex of softball fields and landscaping. * Established a 22-Member Economic Development Steering Committee to explore very strong areas of economic development hoping to pull in some tax base for Seminole County. With Expressway coming in this is a good time for that planning process so it can be guided they way it needs to be instead of zoning independent of what the needs are. 5 '" Commission on Children is in a limbo situation where we are going to have a Work Session as to what charge may be given them. That mayor may not continue as a Committee. It has been purely advisory until now and am sure it will continue to be that. '" Work Session on Redistricting and Reprecincting Work Session on August 6. '" Public Hearing on Solid Waste will be on July 31. Will be a full public hearing with input and results of current negotiations wi th haulers. The decision on going mandatory will depend on pricing received from the haulers. Commissioner Kaehler asked if consideration had been given to "squaring with cities". 1. e. combine some areas of the County with Cities to include them in the city service area for garbage pick up. Commissioner Warren indicated she would mention that to Larry Sellers. * Econ River Ordinance is scheduled for first Public Hearing on June 11. Commissioner Warren indicated that she feels it is the best. the tightest and the most environmentally sensitive Ordinance of anyone around. including Orange County. Commissioner Warren asked Dave GaInor about a Resolution adopted in support of the design. funding and construction of a North-South Connector from Lake Mary to Seminole Community College Campus. Dave indicated the City of Sanford. the City of Lake Mary. the County and the Community College came up with four alternate routes that starts about at Bayhead Racquet Club on Lake Mary Boulevard and comes down and abuts Five Points and connects with Welden Boulevard. This is in the College's long range plan they are now taking to the State for a "spot survey" for priority funding for this pro j ect. In order to expedite the "spot survey" it was requested that Resolutions be passed supporting their project. This would relieve some traffic congestion by routing traffic from 17-92 through the Campus. *Commissioner Warren had the Sales Tax Referendum informational brochure. which all present indicated they had seen. Mayor Dennison indicated that when the Casselberry Council withheld support of the Sales Tax Referendum and she said to Ron Rabun. "Well there go our roads.". he said to her "I believe in this plan. it is a County Plan. To eliminate any roads in any area would create a disintegration of the plan. and that will not happen." Mayor Dennison said of Mr. Rabun. "You have hired yourselves an incredible professional." Altamonte Sprinqs *Would like to have an update on the Expressway in one of the future meetings. "'Also. would like to have Ron Rabun come back after the Referendum vote for an update. *In Altamonte. Apricot is continuing. Center Street Overpass is continuing and the Cranes Roost lake projects is beginning and will 6 finished by December. Commissioner Constantine was asked about the Charity Challenge. He said they had 34 teams and raised $41.000 net. It will be on Channel 68 on Sunday night. June 30. Commissioner Warren asked if serving beer was an image problem. Commissioner Constantine said "no". because they did a number of things. such as not allowing alcohol brought in. Rotary Club serving, police on hand. and a towing service on site to volunteer to take people home. In the six years they have been holding this, they have never had a problem. Casselberry Mayor Dennison reported that Casselberry is advertising for a City Manager. The Ordinance has been changed to give the City Manager more power. They are advertising throughout the United States using ICMA and getting excellent service from them. Indicated they have an excellent screening committee. Mr. Litton. Mr. Penland, Mr. Gene Williford and Pete Noles. Also. they are presently installing a computer network with Imaging. making them the first political organization in a three county area that will have Imaging. UCF is having Government Day on June 26. and she will be participating. Lonqwood Commissioner Lovestrand reported that Longwood has finished their Comprehensive Plan, late but before the penalty period. Has been sent to the State for corrections. Longwood had an Arbor Day. Planted a Sable Palm and gave away several hundred Bald Cypress Trees. Longwood is trying for "Tree City" designation. Commissioner Lovestrand indicated that Longwood is in a budget- cutting situation. Sanford Commissioner Eckstein reported that the Museum is expanding and will be bringing in new exhibits. Merv Griffin and Paradise Island will be coming to the Airport and will hopefully encourage more tourism and more exposure for the Airport. Commissioner Warren noted that it is a good deal at $269 per person for three nights. plus other packages. School Board Nancy Warren indicated that as of now Tuskawilla Middle should be open in the Fall with whatever construction is left being done around the children. The School Board will be having a Work Session with the Florida School Board Association Executive Director regarding evaluation of 7 the Superintendent which should also include a discussion about the posi tion and whether they are going to do a search Discussed the difficulty of logistics in moving from Superintendent to an appointed Superintendent. or not. elected There will be a meeting this summer concerning implementation of a program of year-round education. Most of the decisions concerning the three schools going to year-round schedules this Fall were made at the staff level and the Board feels it should be more involved in those decisions. Indicated there was a meeting on Impact Fees with Randy Young and he says it will take $2,900 per single-family dwelling to meet the needs of growth. Approach will be to have a review team made up various representatives of the County, hopefully some County staff and city staff, HBA people, and possibly elected officials. There is a suggestion, felt strongly by some, namely Larry Furlong, to go for interim impact fees. Cindy Benson spoke at the meeting and indicated she would go back to her Board and ask them to support an interim impact fee. Ms. Warren feels that at the next Board meeting the discussion will be whether or not to request of all cities and the county to impose a voluntary interim impact fee not to exceed $1,000 or an amount that would be acceptable. That \~ould be interim until they could work through the review process and decide on a figure. Realistically $3,000 per single family dwelling is high. If they don't go that high then they have to talk about another bond issue, COP's or lease-purchase. Even with the $3,000 they are committing themselves to another 10 years of 2 mills. Commissioner Warren asked what the legal standing on this is, can the cities and county be asked to look at it other than what they have already volunteered to do unless you are offering them a clear legal avenue to use. The last she heard from the County Attorney was that there is still a lot to determine and a lot that has not been given to us. Ms. Warren indicated that there has been a Motion for Clarification on the St. Johns County case to determine whether a County has the right to impose an Ordinance or whether it would have to be individually adopted by each city. Commissioner Constantine said that the School Board will be asking the cities and the County to take on the legal burden that should not be their responsibility. However, he indicated that his main concern is an "interim" impact fee. Feels once an impact fee is put in place, people consider that as final, not temporary, and any change, especially one of 300% will cause problems. The County did that a number of years ago on impact fees and is now paying the price. It was stated that when the request comes down, the Attorneys for the cities and county will ask justification. If none is forthcoming it will be "same old School Board not willing to make a commitment" and no one will be willing to take the flack again. Commissioner Warren commented that "we are not willing to take the flack, we are willing to share the burn, but not take the burn. " 8 Mayor Dennison suggested drawing up a schedule and review the whole process and come up with final impact fees rather than risk being stuck with the interim fees. Commissioner Constantine continued the discussion by indicating that the other government entities are more than willing to cooperate with the School Board, and want to, but the School Board needs to cooperate. It was stated that one way to save money would be to terminate the 7th period at the high schools. Ms. Warren indicated that was going to be done. Commissioner Warren stated that a concern, and not a popular concern is that the higher the impact fees go the further growth will move away from this County. Said that she would not make a judgement as to whether that is good or bad, but impact fees and/or sales taxes are no good unless the turnover is there to bring them in. Indicated that when the School Board looks at another Bond Referendum hopes they will look at a smaller one and shorter sunset. Ms. Warren indicated she did not know what the plans were yet. Chairman Mealor asked Ms. Warren what had been done after the bond referendum was defeated by staff to come back and present what is needed to operate. Said from a leadership perspective they would be remiss not to go outside for a search for Superintendent and would be remiss not to start reevaluating the way some things have been done. The support will be there, but only so much can be done. WINTER SPRINGS Commissioner Kaehler indicated that everyone is talking about "budget crunches" and they are facing that as well. Asked if anyone has a merit pay system. Instead of an across the board increase, increasing a small amount and then merit on top of that. She indicated her concern that it becomes political and therefore defeats the whole purpose. Mayor Dennison indicated they have a merit system where an employees needs to attain "70%" to receive full amount. She does not believe there has ever been an employee who did not get the "70%", so it is a fallacy. Merit pay does work under proper management. Commissioner Kaehler said she brought it up because they are working a number of things right now. For example she has just found out after being Commissioner for 5 years that their retirement plan is not a retirement plan. It is more a severance pay than retirement. Commissioner Warren indicated that if it is the Florida Retirement System then it is meant to supplement a retirement plan, not to be a total living wage. Commissioner Warren indicated that a Merit Pay Plan is only as good as head management. Expects the County plan to flourish this year under the new manager because everyone is starting even in his 9 """",,,"~'-'-'-"""'~'~' ~~.~~--,........._.,~,,~----~ eyes. Mayor Dennison commented that a bad Merit Pay Plan is better than any guaranteed increase plan. A guaranteed rate increase creates that attitude that you only need do what needs to be done to get by because I am going to get what I get regardless of the amount or quality of work I do. Commissioner Kaehler indicated she was thinking of a fund set up where a department head could recommend an outstanding person for an award from the fund. with the decision being made by a vote of all department heads. Commissioner Lovestrand indicated when he was in industry. his manager made him take his 16 employees and rank them according to value to him and to the company. and then reflect merit pay according to ranking -- with the top quarter getting most of it and the bottom quarter getting nothing. Said that is the way industry works. Commissioner Warren discussed the Seminole County "Employee of the Month It program which does not include a monetary award. and is decided by the Personnel Board. In closing the meeting. Commissioner Mealor indicated the Auqust 7 meetinq will beqin at 6: 00 at the School Board. The Conflict Resolution will be on the Agenda. In September. they will try to meet at the Airport Authority and then at the October meeting he will request an update on the Expressway Authority. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. 10