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CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES

SPECIAL BUDGET SESSION

224 S. Jefferson StreetPerry, Florida

July 31, 2000

MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Moore, Bill Alexander, Don Cook

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Brynes, Barney Johnson, Wayne Putnal, Annette Anderson

Mayor Alexander called the meeting to order. Mayor Alexander led the group in the Pledge of

Allegiance to the Flag. The roll was then called by the secretary.

PRESENT ABSENT

Councilmember Cook XCouncilmember Frith XCouncilmember Scott XCouncilmember Moore XMayor Alexander X

SUBJECT OF MEETING:

A. CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO DISCUSS CITY OF PERRY BUDGET FOR FISCALYEAR 2000-01.

City Manager Bill Brynes began discussion telling the Council the budget document, as presented,

does not include costs for the citys proposed spray field (wastewater improvement). Mr. Brynes said

this is a $2.8 million project, with $500,000 expected to be received from the Suwannee River Water

Management District; $600,000 from the Department of Community Affairs (Community

Development Block Grant); and a $50,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection

(DEP). Mr. Brynes said the City has the monies for the project but using it would deplete most of the

surplus the City has now.

Mr. Brynes then reviewed several items the City is faced with having to do. Those include certifying

all operators, including the secretaries, in the citys gas department. Mr. Brynes said there is some

monies in the budget to do this but he does not know how much the cost will be. Mr. Brynes said the

pretreatment program (a requirement of DEP) will overlap into next budget year. Mr. Brynes said the

big item of concern is health insurance. Mr. Brynes said $850 family and $330 single costs have been

included in the proposed budget, but until (staff) gets additional information, there is no way to know

what actual costs are going to be. When asked by Councilmember Cook, Mr. Brynes said November 1,

2000 starts the next insurance year. Mr. Brynes said he has had meetings with staff at Doctors

Memorial Hospital and DMH is arranging meetings with two brokers and representatives. Mr. Brynes

said another individual (insurance carrier) is interested in submitting.

Councilmember Moore asked about the possibility of getting into the states insurance plan. Mr.


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Page 2, July 31, 2000, Special Session

Brynes said he approached individuals a couple of years ago about this and was told there was no way

anyone is going to consider it, but they are presently looking to make a proposal to the legislature for

the next year. Councilmember Moore commented then the City is not unique in this insurance

concern, as other cities are also experiencing similar concerns.

Mr. Brynes briefly reviewed a budget summary. Mr. Brynes said there are no salary adjustments in the

proposed budget. Mr. Brynes said the City is expected to spend $155,951 more than it expects to

receive and this will be covered by cash brought forward. Mayor Alexander asked if there would be an

impact of the new gas tax. Mr. Brynes explained there would be very little and these monies would be

used for construction or reconstruction of roads.

Mr. Brynes then reviewed some of the capital outlay items being requested by the citys departments.

Some of those included a Geographic Information System for the Community Development

department. Mr. Brynes said the city will attempt to get a grant from the Division of Forestry; re-

roofing the City garage building with a metal roof; pursuit vehicles for the police department.

Councilmember Cook asked about the possibility of downsizing those vehicles. Mr. Brynes said he

does not think the money would be any different when considering pursuit vehicles. Mr. Brynes said

the type vehicle Councilmember Cook has in mind, are primarily used by investigators. In the PublicWorks Transportation department, funds are budgeted for the possibility of obtaining a dump truck

when one comes available for purchase. Capital Outlay items in the Recreation department include re-

roofing the building at Jerkins Pool and resurfacing the citys tennis courts. Capital Outlay items in the

Public Works Water Utility include a well pump, utility truck bed and hydraulic system saw. In the

Gas Utility, a Fusion Processor is being requested; Dissolved Oxygen Meter Pumps/Pumps are being

requested for the Sewer Utility. Mr. Brynes said a mower is being requested for the Citys inventory.

Mr. Brynes said this is a gas mower that will be checked in and out by various city departments.

Another item discussed was the funding requests received from local organizations. Mr. Brynes said

one organization is trying to regroup (Main Street Perry, Inc.) and did not request any funding for the

fiscal year 2000-2001. Mr. Brynes said the Council would have to determine what is to be done with

the funding that would have gone to that organization.

Councilmember Cook said he had talked with Mr. Brynes about the Taylor County Development

Authority (TCDA) and said he did not have good feelings about the course the Chamber of Commerce

took in regard to sharing the management of both the Chamber and the TCDA. Councilmember Cook

said he discussed with Mr. Brynes his position would be to increase support to TCDA to see what they

can do for the City in the way of economic growth. Councilmember Cook said he had been proposing

to move $10,000 from the Chambers funding request of $15,000 and then he learned that Main Street

had not requested any funding. Councilmember Cook said he would encourage the Council to go into

this year strongly funding TCDA to see what it can do for (us) as a City.


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Page 3, July 31, 2000, Special Session

Councilmember Moore stated he did not have a problem with the increased amount, as the

organization needs the funding and tools to work with. Councilmember Moore said he feels (TCDA)

will be the only source that will be working toward economic development. Councilmember Moore

said TCDA is a good investment to make for the City and residents of the City and he sees no problem

going with the additional amount to TCDA. Councilmember Moore asked about shifting the $25,000

that would have gone to Main Street to TCDA rather than taking $10,000 from the Chamber.

Councilmember Cook said he could accept this but stated he was not happy with the Chamber of

Commerce.

Councilmember Cook then stated he thinks the Chamber of Commerce is a wonderful organization,

which for a time was not led in a way that was conducive to itself or to the community.

Councilmember Cook said he feels the Chamber can play a strong role in the community but not in the

industrial or economic development growth area.

After this discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to shift the $25,000 that would have gone to

Main Street to the Taylor County Development Authority bringing the funding to TCDA to $41,000.

Closing discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that no further budget workshops or meetings

would be needed, except the required public hearings, or until additional information is received

regarding employee health insurance. It was the consensus of the Council to accept the City of Perry

proposed capital outlay budget and the proposed budget for fiscal year 2000-01.

ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was

adjourned at approximately 7:45 p. m.

ATTEST:

_______________________________ _________________________________William E. Brynes, City Manager Mayor

Recorded in official Minute Book:

___________________________ _________________________________ Annette Anderson, Secretary Date

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