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Minutes 09-13-94T NINUTES OF THE CITY CONNISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN COHHISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON TUESDAY, SEPTENBER 13, 1994, AT 6:00 P, N, PRESENT Edward Harmening, Mayor Lynne Matson, Vice Mayor Matthew Bradley, Mayor Pro Tem Jose Aguila, Commissioner David Katz, Commissioner Carrie Parker, City Manager James Cherof, City Attorney Sue Kruse, City Clerk Grady Swann, Finance Director Mary Munro, Budget Coordinator I, OPENINGS A, Call to Order Mayor Harmening called the meeting to order at 6:00 P M. Commissioner Aguila was not present. ' B, Agenda Approval 1, Additions, Deletions, Corrections No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the agenda. 2, Adoption ~otlon Vice Mayor Matson moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion, which carried 4-0. Commissioner Aguila arrived right after the vote. II, PUBLIC HEARING A, Proposed Tentative Budget and Proposed Aggregate Nlllage Rate for Ftscal Year 1994195 Mayor Harmening opened the public hearing. George Naurer, 6804 Moonlit Drive, Delray Beach, stated that he read in a newspaper article that a profit of approximately $100,000 was made last year, and it was estimated that there would be an additional profit of approximately $337,000 if the retired people were eliminated. As long as there is a profit, he saw no reason to eliminate the people that have been going to this golf course since its inception. At the request of Mayor Harmening, City Manager Parker explained the proposal that was submitted. She stated that the City is not eliminating any of the 800 annual permits it currently issueS. The proposal is only not to renew anyone who chooses not to renew. Those who would like to continue their annual permits may do so. What is being proposed is a change in the structure of the permits - 1 - t4INUTE$ - CITY COMMISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA $EPTENBER 13, 1994 to reduce the annual permit fee from the current $750.00 ($707.55 plus the $42.45 tax) to $600.00 per year and institute a surcharge of $2.00 for the nine hOles and $4.00 for the 18 holes on the Championship Course, and $1.00 for the nine holes and $2.00 for the 18 holes on the Executive Course. This surcharge fee would be in addition to any cart rental and the current CIP fee of 50¢ currently charged. Paul Levlne, 2400 N. E. 1st Lane, has been a permit holder for approximately eight years. He said the City issued a bond for $4 million. It is clearly stated in the bond that City credit is not involved. No revenue from the City supports that bond. Yet, the bond has been subscribed and resubscribed recently by the bond holders. He would like to believe that the reason for that is that they advertised a permit holding group, bringing in $566,000 at the very beginning of a golf season. To a bond holder, that $566,000 means a number of things. It supports the bond and pays the interest on the bond. It allows some amortization and for money to go into the sinking fund as required in the bond. Take that base away, and you might find yourself having a problem with the bond holders because in the documents there is a theory that there will be permit holders or members at all times. He asked why eliminating membership should take place and why it is important that $337,800 more be generated. Heasked what was going to be done with that $337,800. He asked why more money is needed if there is a profit of $100,000 a year. He stated that the golf course is self-sustaining and has been over the years. He saw no reason for a change and believed it was because some individuals complain regularly to Mr. Sciortino that they cannot get preferred times. He suggested they pay for a membership to get the preferred times. Bernard Bee, 7340 Amberly Lane, Delray Beach, has been a member of the Boynton Beach Golf Course for four years and is a senior citizen living on a fixed income. He stated that it is all well and good that the proposal will reduce the annual fee from $750.00 to $600.00. However, if a round of golf is increased to $4.00 and a person plays three times a week, this would increase the cost by over $500.00 a year. Therefore, the savings is really misleading. Andy $cally, 2010 South Federal Highway, has played golf at this golf course since it has opened in 1984. He felt the proposed rate structure for the annual permits is an excessive increase of 47 percent. In 1993 and 1994, the cost for a permit was $707.55, with unlimited play. In 1994 and 1995, the proposed fee is $600.00, plus $4.00 for each play on the 18 hole Championship Course and $1.00 for each play on the nine hole Executive Course. The average golfer plays about 100 rounds on the Championship Course and about 40 on the Executive Course each year. That amounts to $1,040.00, which is a 47 percent increase in comparison to the $707.55. He felt this was outrageous when the golf course has shown a profit for the year. He stated that it has not cost the City one penny for the operation of the golf course. He stated that in yesterday's Palm Beach Post, Charles Frederick, the Director of Recreation and Parks, announced the opening of two new parks in Boynton Beach. He said these parks have cost the City almost $1 million and there are very few, if any, user fees attached. Therefore, there is no way these parks can generate any money for the City as the golf course does. He asked why the golfers, who have supported this golf course from the beginning, should be taxed to such an extent. -2- N]:NUTE$ - C]:TY CONN]:SS]:ON BUDGET PUBL]:C HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEHBER 13, 1994 Benjamin K&tz, 2520 N. E. 1st Court, was one of the people who fought for the construction of the Boynton Beach Hunicipal Golf Course. He said the land on which the golf course sits was leased to the City for 99 years. The intent of the County Commission and the City Commission was to make golf available to the residents of Palm Beach County, with preference at the beginning to residents of Boynton Beach, at prices sufficient to pay all expenses, including interest and amortization of the bonds and a reserve for future improvements. No serious consideration was given to reserving play time for nonmembers, since the number of permit holders was approximately 800. He felt permit holders are entitled to the preferred time because they support the golf course. He is against the phase out of the permits and making more preferred time available to nonmembers. He said this is against the intent of the County Commission. He stated that Mr. Sciortino has already limited preferred time for the permit holders. He stated that some golf courses reduce fees between 25 and 50 percent for couples. Boynton Beach charges family members the same price for both people. He felt Boynton permit holders would be further penalized by additional charges of $4.00 for the first year and wondered what will happen in future years. He stated that the City Commission approved the construction of the golf course on the condition that enough revenue be generated to pay all expenses, including interest and amortization on the bonds. To date, this has been done, and a surplus has been accumulated. The audited financial statement reflects a net income of $122,000 for the year ended December 31, 1993. Unrestricted accumula- tion cash is five times the net income reflected for the year September 30, 1993. The unrestricted cash is $600,000. If Mr. Sciortino's plan is approved, a single permit holder, who plays two times a week, will pay $920.00 compared to $750.00 for the first year. Family permit holders will pay $1,840.00 compared to $1,500.00. The cost difference will be higher if play is more than twice a week. He felt the main reason for Mr. Sciortino's plan is to solidify his position as a manager. ~lm lawler, 5211Minto Road, stated that the City was against the golf course and had nothing to do with getting the land. A couple of County Commissioners got the land. The bonds are in good shape. He was opposed to the phase out of the permit holders. Ooe Friedman, 10093 Hickory Wood Place, stated that the lease provides for 100 percent membership with no curtailment of any membership in the coming years. The lease states that if any of the conditions are violated, the lease term- inates. He stated that if Mr. Sciortino's proposal is approved, the City would be in violation of the lease. He stated that the golf course is making lots of money and felt the people should not be penalized by having to pay more money. Bill Butler, 2424 North Federal Highway, pointed out that the price of every- thing has increased. He further pointed out that it would only cost $40.00 to $45.00 more a year if golfers play forty to fifty times a year. He felt if you play more, you should pay more. He believed that the City needs to cut down on the play of the people who play four or five days a week. Phyllis Friedman, 10093 Hickory Wood Place, spoke against Mr. Sciortino's proposal to phase out memberships. She said the City's 99 year lease with the County stipulates 100 percent membership comprised of Boynton Beach City resi- dents and Palm Beach County residents. She said it bothers Mr. Sciortino to -3- MINUTES - CITY COMMISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH,, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 13, 1994 have members play two, three or four times a week, even though they still pay the cart fees, bag storage fees, locker fees, and observe all the rules and regulations. She cannot understand why a golf course that is financially suc- cessful should be changed when most Palm Beach County golf courses, both private and public, are actively seeking new members to sustain themselves. Eight hundred plus members paying $700.00 to $800.00 upfront each year have brought in enough to pay off the City's bond issue on the golf course. A profit has always been shown. Daily players do not usually play the same course three or four times a week. She doubted the financial success of Mr. Sciortino's plan, as well as the legality. She felt the proposed surcharge is one more way to dis- courage memberships and found it highly discriminatory, since the additional charge applies to members only, not daily fee players. She asked the City Commission to observe the original intent of the lease. Dan Fenton, 2556 S. W. 23rd Cranbrook Drive, is a member of the Municipal Golf Course Advisory Committee. He felt that the City is offering a very good value to the people who play golf and that the City has spent the players' money wisely. He stated that contrary to what he heard tonight, the numbers are very flat. They look like they are turning over and if something is not done, the economic projections will not last. The numbers are turning flat and something has to be done. If you look at the monthly numbers on a comparision basis to the previous years, you will see that the numbers are going down. A new program was instituted this summer to advertise and get people in from off the street and it basically saved the summer. Without that program, the summer would have been dead and the numbers would have been even worse. If you look at the num- bers on a year to year basis, you will see we probably peaked out in 1991/1992 and we have been fighting to stay even since then. Leonard Rasktn, 10711 Ocean Palm Way, asked if the Commission knew how many mem- bers the Boynton Beach Municipal Golf Club has lost annually due to attrition in previous years. Mayor Harmening said about fifty. Based on that, Mr. Raskin said over the years, considering the age of the population playing, the only thing,he can look forward to is an accelerated age and accelerated attrition. He said this would ultimately leave the golf course with zero membership and that would be contradictory to the lease between the City and the County. The revenue the City is losing by the 50 members at $600 per member, rather than at the old fee, has to be made up by green fees and cart fees from open golfers. Taking into consideration that half the year the golf course is operating at reduced rates, it is going to need three or four thousand more rounds just to make the figures that you have not got. He felt this increase would only curtail play of the people on fixed incomes. If they curtail their play, the income to the golf course will curtail and that many more open rounds will be needed to satisfy what you already had with a membership of 800. To indiscrimi- nately put a surtax on a round of golf and eliminate golf from people who have all these years supported you is very unfair to the membership. ~oel Lleblln9, 13464 Via Vesta, Delray Beach, stated that the golf course is the recreational part of Boynton Beach, just as the parks and tennis courts. The permit holders should not be dumped for possibly more profit. Another few hundred thousand dollars profit to the City is not going to lower the tax base. Mr. Sciortino does not know if his plan is going to work. The summers at most -4- HINUTE$ - CITY COI4H~S$~ON BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA $EPTEHBER 13, 1994 courses have sparse players. A column in the Palm Beach Post last Thursday tells of a recent report by the Jupiter Bay's National Golf Foundation. This report states that the golfers over fifty years old comprise 24 percent of the playing population and as people age, they play much more golf. If Mr. SciOrtino's plan is approved, it will destroy our men's and women's asso- ciation. You must examine the moral and recreational side of the plan. All you will succeed in accomplishing is to make life less enjoyable for 800 permit holders. Alan Rubln, 7519 Rock Creek Cir, Lake Worth, knows of about twenty-five people who would like to become members of this golf course. Phil Greenberg, 8320 Waterline Drive, joined the golf course last year. His wife had intentions of getting a permit this year. However, she will not be able to because of attrition. He objected to this. He stated that the golf course is empty in the summer and suggested listing the golf course in all the charity cards. He stated that this is a way to make some money without hurting the current members. Mayor Harmening asked the people in the audience who were present to talk about the change in the rate structure at the golf course, how many of them live in the City and how many live in the County. By a show of hands he noted that the County is well represented. ' Mayor Harmening advised that this is just the first hearing on the millage and on the budget. There will be another one on September 20, I994. Commissioner Katz asked what is the objective of Mr. Sciortino's proposal. Mr. Sciortino Stated that the plan was developed partly in response to complaints by the permit ho)ders that they could not get access to the golf course for the money they were putting up front, and partly in response to players in the area who could not get access to the golf course in the winter time during the more desirable prime time. It was also in response to looking to the future of Boynton Beach and the golf course. Mr. Sciortino stated that as Mr. Fenton pointed out, the number of rounds has leveled off. Regardless of what has been said tonight about charity cards and increasing play in the summertime, the bottom line is that you cannot increase play in the summertime because nobody wants to play between 12:00 P. M. and 3:00 P. M. at any price because it is too hot. The golf course is extremely active in the morning and in the afternoon and is at capacity. Mr. Sciortino advised that the history of our golf course has been one of raising permits oneyear and raising greens fees the following year. It is an endless cycle that has to continue unless we get more dollars per round. By reducing the number of permit holders through attrition, we have the desirable effect of making it more accessible for those permit holders who renew and con- tinue to play. In addition, as the number of permit holders decrease, the addi- tional rounds would be played by people paying the going daily fee. When that happens, the rates can either stablize or start to come down because now you are getting more dollars per round than you have in the past. -5- HINUTE$ - CITY COHHI$$ION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTOH BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEHBER 13, 1994 Mr. Sciortino stated that over the course of the last ten years, we have gone from about 55 percent permit play to in excess of 70 percent permit play at a set figure. He had no objection to anybody playing more than six times a week, but he felt as a user fee and an enterprise fund, it makes sense that those people that play more often should pay more often. Most golf courses in the area are working towards that goal so that the price of golf is in the reach of the average person. In his opinion, the price of golf right now at $33.00 in the wintertime is at the upper reaches of what the average person off the street can afford. If we continue to have 800 permit holders playing 70 to 75 percent of the rounds, it will get to the point where theywill be the only ones who can afford to play golf at Boynton Beach Municipal. Commissioner Katz referred to the backup, which said Mr. Sciortino was looking to increase the prime times that off-the-street golfers can attain because the permit holders are allowed to call two days in advance to secure the better tee times. Mr. Sciortino confirmed for Commissioner Katz that two starting times for each hour are left open and that there are eight starting times. Commissioner Katz wondered if it would be better to open up a third or fourth starting time to off-the-street players. The permit holders who call in two days in advance, will only have four prime starting times for each hour. This might generate more income. In response to Commissioner Katz, City Attorney Cherof advised that the plan does not violate either paragraph 8 or any other provision of the lease agree- ment. City Manager Parker added that we have received confirmation from the bond counsel that it is not in violation of the bonds. Commissioner Katz asked what the yearly payment on the bond is and how many years are left. Mr. Sciortino advised that it is between $520,000 and $530,000. It has been vacillating and we have another nine years. It was a twenty year bond. Mr. Swarm advised that the highest is $518,000 and the lowest is $511,000. Mr. Sciortino stated that although the golf course is making all the excess dollars that some of the people have referred to tonight, it was only because of the drop in interest rates that we were able to rebuild the greens, which would have been necessary anyway, and still have reasonable reserves in case of a tragedy. Commissioner Katz pointed out that if a golf course needs to redo greens, every member is assessed. Therefore, technically, these people are permit holders not members. ' Commissioner Katz asked why Boynton Beach has never used charity cards. Mr. Sciortino explained that traditionally, our rates have still been very com- petitive in comparison to other golf courses that were offering charity cards. Today, charity card rounds are typically between $12.00 up to $26.00. It is based on quality of the operation and quality of the golf course and we have had no resistance whatsoever at our prices. -6- MINUTES - CITY COMMISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTOM BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 13, 1994 Commissioner Katz asked about charging a higher permit fee. Mr. Sciortino said that would be counterproductive because you are perpetuating a system that creates escalating prices on a yearly basis. Mr. Sciortino is looking to stabi- lize rates and, hopefully, even drop rates during the course of the next five to ten years. Commissioner Katz asked if the permit fee was kept the same or a little higher, and there was no surcharge, it if would help to open up more prime tee times to off-the-street players. Mr. Sciortino said it would not help at all because the two parts of the plan were to satisfy the complaints of many permit holders that do nOt feel they are getting true access to the golf course when they put their money up. By reducing the number of times available to permit holders, you are going to exacerabate that situation rather than alleviate it. Commissioner Katz asked if it would not help the problem of opening up prime times to people who do not hold permits. Mr. Sciortino advised that it would. However, he thinks it is a little negative from a public relations standpoint for the City to accept a person's money up front if they expect to play three, four, or five times a week, and then tell them that during the prime season we are only going to give you half the starting times. In response to Commissioner Aguila, Mr. Sciortino stated that when we put aside money for cart replacement, equipment replacement, and capital improvements on an annual basis, that adds up to about $140,000. If that money is not expended in that particular fiscal year, it will show up as a "net profit or gain in cash", but that money is going to be spent somewhere down the line. Anytime we make less than approximately $145,000 in "net profit" on the annual statement, we have not fully funded our reserves and have to make it up the following year. When we rebuilt our greens, we fully expended the $100,000 that was set up in the R & R account. That has not been replaced and must be replaced by the bond covenant over the next several years. Paul Levlne stated that the golf course is supported by the permit holders. In the August 29, 1994 issue of the Palm Beach Post, Mr. Sciortino was quoted as saying that the golf course will make about $100,000 this year, but could have brought in about $337,800. Mr. Levine felt the $337,800 is extremely specula- tive. If you cut out a base of $566,000 paid by permit holders, in order to reach that additional $337,800, you have to pick up that $566,000 and hope to pick up the $337,800 from additional play, in addition to what is in the budget at this point of approximately $500,000 for green fees. Larry Granet, 10187 Mangrove Drive, stated that the vast majority of people here tonight are against Mr. Sciortino's proposal and he strongly hoped the City Commission takes into consideration these people and vote the right way. Edward Sherman, 70 Vista Del Rio, is a nonpermit holder and played almost twice a week since the beginning of June. He took exception to the nonpermit holders being accused of not supporting the golf course. He said he was taught golf course etiquette and he did not think it was displayed here this evening. Leonard Rasktn said on the weekends open golfers have the same privilege for tee time as permit holders. With regard to charity cards, our prices are better in -7- #]NUTE$ - CZTY CONNZSS]ON BUDGET PUBLIC HEARZNG BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTE#BER 13, 1994 the summertime for nonpermit holders than many of the charity cards are getting, but nobody knows about it. However, if the Boynton Beach Municipal Golf Course was listed in the various charity cards, it would elevate the play in the sum- mertime. Alan Gurvl$, 7875 Sailing Shores Terrace, is a permit holder. He pointed out that people his age will be supporting the course after the current permit holders are no longer able to play. West Boynton Beach is going to grow in the next couple of years and the City is going to get more younger people. If the City starts phasing out the permits, it will close out the dragalong and possibly expose the revenue flow that Mr. Sciortino hopes to get. At this point in the meeting, Commissioner Katz left the Chambers. Mayor Harmening asked for input from the Commission. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley felt Mr. Sciortino and his group have worked hard to bring a plan forward and it is important to take under advisement the Golf Course Advisory Board. He felt it is important to consider that many spaces will be opened up by this plan. He was not opposed to looking at whether or not the daily rate should be reduced. HoWever, he felt it is a good plan and we should go forward with it. Commissioner Aguila withheld his comments until September 20 1994 so that he can study both points of view. ' Mayor Harmening felt Mr. Sciortino and the Golf Course Committee have done an excellent job in running the golf course. He stated that the City of Boynton Beach has an excellent golf course, which we can largely thank Mr. Sciortino for. It has been successful, whereas many municipal golf courses in many parts of the country are money losers. He said the purpose of the permit holders was to ensure that the City had a good, solid revenue base going into the year. It has worked very well and he was a little reluctant to make any serious changes in the number of permit holders. He might be willing to make some small modifi- cations, but does not necessarily believe in changing a winner. Vice Mayor Matson felt Mr. Raskin had a good point about attrition and losing players and losing more money than we would bring in. She was proud of the way Mr. Sciortino runs the golf course. The Golf Course Advisory Board does a won- derful job also. She believes the golf course should be self-sustaining and not a huge source of revenue since it is an enterprise fund. She would like to see a compromise. She was against the proposal that has come forward. As it stands now, she cannot support it. Commissioner Katz thinks we need to see a compromise which includes possibly a reduction in the surcharges, opening up more times for street players, and perhaps a small increase in the permit fee. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley stated that Mr. Sciortino's presentation and the way he has tackled this subject has been most professional. He said there is no way to predict what is going to happen. He felt it was a good plan. He is open to the idea of modifying the surcharge. -8- NZNUTE$ - CZTY COI~I$$ION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA $EPTEHBER 13, 1994 Mayor Harmening stated that if we were to have a significantly rainy Summer or winter, it does impact revenues considerably. With a revenue base based on per- mit fees up front, the City is better protected in the long run. Dor~$ Perlmutter, 10033 Shadywood Place, was hoping to join the golf course this year. If unable to, she will go to other golf courses. MAYOR HARMENING DECLARED A RECESS AT 7:24 P. M. THE MEETING RESUMED AT 7:33 P. M. Btll I. ynch, 1912 S. W. 16th Avenue, referred to the item in the budget relative to the Public Information Officer for approximately $31,000.00. He agreed it is impOrtant to project the best image of the City to the press. However, he felt gOod images start in the Chambers with the Commission, the committee members who work for the City, the department heads, and everyone else connected with the City. He stated that if we project a good impression, then the press has nothing to report except our good behavior and the best images of Boynton Beach. He said the City might find someone internally to take on this position part- time, which would save the City a little mOney. Dorothy Bury, owner of a business called Sun Travel, was upset about the exhorbitant increase in City occupational licenses, which she has not received any justification for. She wanted to know who the members of the Occupation License Equity Study Commission were. Commissioner Aguila informed her that the Building Official can provide that information to her. Ms. Bury said small businesss people have enough of a rough time trying to make ends meet. She pointed out that if she raised something to her client 250 percent from one day to the next, she would not have a client the next day. She stated that a travel agency has a very low percentage of profit. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley said he received many calls from businesses and many people are upset. Ms. Bury asked what the Commission intends to do about this. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley asked the Building Official for an explanation to help the people understand. Don Jaeger, the Building Official, explained that for many years, the League of Cities has been lobbying to get more control over municipal revenue sources. In order to do that, they felt one mechanism was occupational license. Therefore, three years ago, the Legislature set up a Tax Equity Study Commission comprised of municipal leaders and the business community. After two years of study, the State Legislature finally adopted Legislation last year. At that point, the City Manager's Office asked him to bring forth a proposal to imple- ment that Legislation. A time table and by-laws were set up for a committee. In those by-laws were targets that the Commission wished the committee to obtain. All the committee meetings were advertised and open to the public. Unfortunately, they were not well attended. The committee made a recommenda- tion to the City Commission, who directed staff to look at other options. Staff presented the Commission with figures using O, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 percent over base (base being the County occupational license fees, plus the City occupa- tional license fees). -9- #ZNUTE$ - CITY COt414I$$ION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARZNG BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA $EPTEHBER 13, 1994 Mr. Jaeger further explained that the City was going to lose contractor license fees from the County. During the 92/92 fiscal year, the City received approxi- mately $120,000 from the County. This year, the City only received approxima- tely $80,000.00. The contractors who lived outside the City no longer needed to obtain a Boynton Beach license if they were certified or registered with the State of Florida. That represented a loss of approximately $50,000.00 in reve- nue to the City. Furthermore, this Legislation allowed the County to keep that portion of the revenue they collect in the unincorporated area. Previously, the County collected occupational license fees and kept 5 percent for their collection cost and redistributed the remaining 95 percent countywide, based on population. Since they have 50 percent of the population, they kept 50 percent and distri- buted the rest amongst the municipalities. Now they keep everything they collect in the unincorporated areas and only distribute what they collect in the municipalities. This represents an additional $40,000.00 loss in revenue to the City. Even if we went with 2.5 percent above base, there would have been a large per- centage increase just to stay even. The Commission decided to go with a modest increase over that. Loretta Seeger$ represented Stan's Auto Repair. She pointed out that the City needs small businesses. She said last year her license was $37.50. This year it is $103.00. She hoped there would not be another huge increase next year. Mr. Jaeger advised that occupational licenses can be increased a maximum of 5 percent every two years. In response to Mayor Pro Tem Bradley, Mr. Jaeger advised that the last significant increase was in 1981. Paul Levlne referred to the item in the budget relating to a Public Information Officer. Commissioner Aguila explained to him that Laura Widmer, who has been with the City for several years, was the Public Information Officer. She per- formed many tasks. She promoted the City in the public view. She promoted the City on a one to one. She assisted charities and their programs. She assisted the City Manager's Office. She wrote speeches. She was offered a job with Arbys at a corporate level and chose to leave the City. The position has not been filled nor abolished. During the public hearings, some members of the Commission felt that this was an unnecessary position. Some felt it was needed, and some felt it is still important, but maybe we are overpaying that person and should bring the cost of that individual down a little. The purpose of this individual is not to make us look good in front of the press. There are a lot of functions that this person did that are not being done and that the Com~aission has no control over and Commissioner Aguila felt it was money well spent. Mr. Levine did not think the image of the City Commission and City Manager needs to be projected in a fine light. He felt the Commission has projected an image that is well regarded by all the citizens in the community. If a savings can be made and used in other areas, he did not see why it is not saved. - 10- NZNUTES - CZTY CONNZSSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 13, 1994 Vice Mayor Matson added that Ms. Widmer facilitated the Education Advisory Board, the Children and Youth Advisory Board, and the Senior Advisory Board. She sent out press releases and notified homeowners, associations and the press regarding various meetings, such as the meeting on transportation with CoTran, at City Hall. She facilitated many programs for a very broad spectrum of the community. Mr. Levine asked why the Commission could not do these things themselves. Mayor Harmening pointed out that the City did not have a public relations person until 1987. He did not feel the City needs a public relations person to present the news in the most favorable light and try to put the best spin on it. Sld Rosen, 1 Glens Drive East, has been a member of the Children and Youth Advisory Board for the past two years and has had the privilege of meeting, knowing, and working with Laura Widmer. He stated that without Ms. Widmer, there are many holes in the advisory councils because a lot more is expected of' the people who belong to these councils. However, these people do not have the time and must have the backing of a professsional and the work that Ms. Widmer has done. Mr. Rosen stated that there is a hole that has to be filled. NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK, MAYOR HARMENING DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. III, LEGAL A. Proposed Resolution No. R94-150 Re: Adopt Tentative Millage Rate for FY 1994/95 Attorney Cherof read Proposed Resolution No. R94-150 in full. Notion Commissioner Aguila moved to approve Proposed Resolution No- R94-150. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley seconded the motion. Mayor Harmening intends to vote against this resolution because he felt it con- tains too much excess fat, including the position of Public Information Officer. He also objected to one portion of the City Manager's recommendation with regard to the removal of employees. Commissioner Katz has no problem with the millage rate. His problem is with the budget. He thinks if we take care of some of the things that the City Manager has recommended that he does not agree with in the budget, we would be able to put the millage rate back some. Mayor Harmening had a small disagreement as far as the golf course is concerned. A roll call vote was polled by the City Clerk. The motion carried 4-1. Mayor Harmening cast the dissenting vote. - 11 - NINUTE$ - CITY CONNISSION BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA $EPTENBER 13, 1994 B. Proposed Resolution No, R94-151 Re. Adopt Tentative Budget for FY 1994/95 ' Attorney Cherof read Proposed Resolution No. R94-151 by title and the last sen- tence in Section 1. , Notlon Commissioner Aguila moved to approve Proposed Resolution No. R94-151. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley seconded the motion. Mayor Harmening announced that the final public hearing on this budget is sched- uled for 7:00 P. M. on September 20, 1994 in Commission Chambers. A roll call vote was polled by the City Clerk. The motion carried 3-2. Mayor Harmening and Commissioner Katz cast the dissenting votes. It was confirmed for Mayor Pro Tem Bradley that the regular meeting of the City Commission will commence at 6:30 P. M. Mayor Harmening directed the City Manager to adjust the agenda so that the public hearing commences as close as possible to 7:00 P. M. In response to the City Manager, Mayor Harmening had no problem with splitting the consent agenda. IV, ADJOURNNENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Commissioner Aguila moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 P. M. Mayor Pro Tem Bradley seconded the motion, which carried 5-0. ATTEST: Ci ty~C'l erk ------ Recording Secretary (Two Tapes) THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH ~ :~ ~/ ~ Co~issioner ~ Co~i ssi oner - 12 -