Productivity Committee Minutes 03/18/1991 MINUTES
COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE
DATE: March 18, 1991
TIME: 8:00 A.M.
PLACE: Third Floor Boardroom, Building "F" , Collier County
Courthouse Complex, Naples, Florida
CGPC MEMBERS STAFF
John Remington ABS Mike McNees X
Richard Laymon X Mike Arnold X
Patrick Neale_ X
Brad Estes X
Timothy Constantine X
PamelaCoxX
Donald York X
Jan Kantor X
Jamie Gutierrez EXC
Zac Lucio X
Franklin Baker X
Alternates
Ronald Labbe X
Arthur Largent X
OTHERS PRESENT:
CALLED TO ORDER AT: 8:00 A.M. ADJOURNED: 9:35 A.M.
PRESIDING: Jan Kantor
MINUTES BY: Annette Guerin, Deputy Clerk
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Collier County
Productivity Committee
March 18 , 1991
AGENDA
A. Resource options ; past advisory committee reports ,
Collier 2000 report, etc.
B. Project Management reporting approach
C. Timetable priorities
D. Process of minutes to membership on timely basis ;
future meeting location
E. Division Administrator Update
F. New Business
Committee Assignments
Administrative Services; Jan, Art, Tim
OMB; Tim
Community Development; Pat, John, Jamie , Art
Public Services; Pam, Don, Brad
Emergency Services; Zac, Ron
Transportation; Zac , Frank, Tim
Environmental and Utilities; Don._ Brad (Dick , Data Process
Segment)
Data Processing Function; Dick, Ron
COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE MARCH 18, 1991
Item Mr. Kantor advised the group that Jamie
Gutierrez is in the hospital in critical con-
dition. He wished him well on behalf of the
Committee.
Agenda Item A Resource Options; Past Advisory Committee
Reports, Collier 2000 Report, etc.
Mr. Kantor suggested that the Collier 2000
report will be a valuable resource, as well as
the 1985 advisory board report. He mentioned
that Coopers & Lybrand visited the previous
committee as a resource to organize its direc-
tion from a project approach. He passed out
material taken from the Coopers & Lybrand
report to the members. (Not provided to the
Clerk to the Board. )
Agenda Item B Project Management Reporting Approach
Mr. Kantor proposed that after this meeting,
the group will break down into the teams
established at the previous meeting to focus
on their individual assignments.
Agenda Item C Timetable Priorities
Mr. Kantor indicated that the teams should set
priorities for certain objectives to be
accomplished by June 1st.
Mr. Estes suggested that the subcommittees
provide a report on what they are attempting
to accomplish at the next meeting.
Mr. Laymon mentioned that by focusing on spe-
. cific departments and/or divisions, the--
Committee may overlook issues that may be of
general application. As an example, he noted
that Staff members are spending an entire day
in the Board of County Commissioners meetings,
waiting for their items to be considered. He
questioned if a mechanism can be established
to communicate with Staff one-half hour before
an item is heard so they can arrive at the
meeting in time .
Mr. York agreed that there would be a cost
savings to keep employees on the job until
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE MARCH 18 , 1991
needed, however , in a public forum it is dif-
ficult to know how long any item will be
debated. He suggested members keep an open
mind for those kinds of situations.
Mr. Constantine proposed that the subject of
more efficient meetings by the Board of County
Commissioners be considered during Phase Two
of the group' s undertakings.
Agenda Item D Process of Minutes to Membership on Timely
Basis; Future Meeting Location
Mike McNees, Budget Director, reported the
Boardroom will be available to this Committee.
Mr. Kantor advised that the group would prefer
not to meet in the Boardroom.
_Agenda Item E Division Administrator Update
Mike Arnold, Utilities Administrator, reported
on the status of recommendations for his
Division made by the previous Committee.
Discussion ensued with regard to the pros and
cons of combining the water and sewer depart-
ments. Mr. Arnold indicated that he will
investigate better implementation of the
cross-use of the crews within those depart-
ments.
Mr. Arnold addressed the recommendation with
regard to data processing within Utilities .
He noted that it is being considered that the
billing process be discontinued by Utilities
, and handled by the Clerk of Courts.
Mr. Arnold stated that the implication of the
recommendation to install a two-way telemetry
system is that it will yield benefits in
reduced manpower needs in the next ten years .
He communicated funds were budgeted for the
past two years and will be requested in the
upcoming budgeting process . He advised while
one-way telemetry only allows monitoring, two-
way telemetry provides the ability to control
water pumps remotely. He noted a plan is
being developed to phase in telemetry over a
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE MARCH 18, 1991
five-year timeframe, however that goal is
behind schedule because of concerns with the
vendor and proprietary rights.
Mr. Arnold continued, stating the recommended
program to replace aging water meters has
begun. He said the personnel have been hired
and the necessary equipment has been
purchased. He indicated the intent of the
change-out' is to have the meters changed at
the 7-10 year age point when they begin to
lose accuracy. He said it is anticipated that
3,000 old water meters will be changed within
the year.
Mr. Estes questioned how the determination is
made regarding which meters will be changed
first? Mr. Arnold responded that the crew is
going to the older areas investigating small
as well as large meters that may serve an
entire complex because those have the poten-
tial for the largest loss.
Mr. Baker asked what a percentage of water
loss converts to in terms of lost revenue?
Mr. Arnold stated as an example, a 10% water
loss in FY 90 would have converted to
$930,000. He noted the goal with the change-
out is to reduce loss to 5%.
Mr. Arnold stated the recommendation to
purchase equipment and materials for projects
directly to avoid paying the 6% sales tax has
been implemented successfully in some areas.
He noted an issue remains to be settled with
regard to liability and whether the contractor
. or the County would be responsible in the
event of an accident.
Mr . Arnold noted that all recommendations of
the previous Committee have been built into
the rate study currently being done, which is
the most comprehensive the County has ever
done. He said an ordinance is being prepared
regarding rate fees which should be completed
by the end of April .
Mr . Arnold communicated that Staff ' s initial
response to the recommendation to implement
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COUNTY GOVERNMENT PRODUCTIVITY COMMITTEE MARCH 18 , 1991
bi-monthly billing was not received very
favorably. He explained the reservations are
generated from the standpoint of losing touch
with the water meters as well as the fact that-
many people in Collier County are on fixed
incomes and that system will make it more dif-
ficult for them to pay their bills.
Item Agenda F New Business
None
Adjournment
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