Loading...
BCC Minutes 06/21/1994 B (Budget Workshop).t Naples. Florida. June 21, 1994 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board oT County Commissioners in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s) o~ such special districts as have been created according to law and having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:SO P.M. in BUDGET WORKSHOP SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Timothy J. Constantine VICE-CHAIRMAN: Betrye J. Matthews John C. Norris Michael J. Volpe (Absent) Burr L. Saunders ALSO PRESENT: Marilyn Fernley, Deputy Clerk; Neil Dotrill, County Manager; William Hargett, Assistant County Manager; David Weigel, Assistant County Attorney; George Archibald, Transportation Services Administrator; Mike Smykowski, Acting Budget Director; Tom Olliff, Public Services Administrator; Leo Ochs, Administrative Services Administrator; Tom Whitecotton, Human Resources Director; Jean Gansel, Budget Analyst. Of June 21, 1994 Item #1 Vehicles for Safety Officer and Airport Authority Director Leo Ochs, Administrative Services Administrator, stated that the Services for Seniors Program has a 1989 station wagon motor pool vehicle that will be available for use by the Safety Officer which will eliminate the need for a vehicle but the operating and annual recovery costs will remain budgeted. Commissioner Constantine stated that he has spoken with John Drury, Airport Authority Executive Director, who is happy with the motor pool vehicle he is driving. Mike Smykowskt, Acting Budget Director, stated that the funds budgeted for a new vehicle for the Airport Authority Director have been removed from the budget. Mr. 0chs indicated that another motor pool user has, in affect, financed the vehicle for the Airport Authority Director which will reduce the number of excess vehicles for auction. In response to Commissioner Volpe, Mr. Ochs informed the Board that Collier County has been purchasing vehicles from the State Vehicle Purchase Contract. He indicated that bid specification are out for renewal of the annual vehicle purchase contract to compare State contrac~ pricing with local vendors. Mr. Ochs explained that the State fiscal year is from July through June but the purchase agreements were not in place until December 1993 so the order window was extremely small. (177) Item #2 Savings Senera~:ed From Coll Cleaning Contract Leo Ochs, Administrative Services Administrator, stated that Commissioner Matthews had requested that Skip Camp, Facilities Management Director, provide additional information regarding possible savings generated from a cotl cleaning contract. 13'3 Page 2 June 21, 1994 Commissioner Matthews indicated that additional information is forthcoming but the industry standard of coil cleaning will save approximately 15 percent on the electric bill. She indicated that the the savings on the cost for electricity to operate the two (2) meters that service the cooling plant would be $78,000 per year at 15 percent. Commissioner Matthews explained that the cost of the coil cleaning is $98,000 but is County wide and not Just for the campus. Commissioner Norris stated that the coil cleaning will help extend the useful life of the equipment. Commissioner Constantine pointed out that air quality will be addressed. (243) Item #3 Cable Advertising - 523,000 Jean Saneel, Budget Analyst, stated that Staff will continue to look for ways to reduce advertising costs, including utilizing Channel 54 in conjunction with the newspaper. Commissioner Constantine etated that the question is whether legally the County has the option of running advertisements on Channel 54 in lieu of printing the entire agenda in the newspaper. Ms. Gangel informed the Board that there is no legal requirement to print the agenda, Just the requirement to provide notification of the meeting. Commissioner Volpe questioned if the cost of advertising in the newspaper is bid competitiveIV to which County Manager Dorri11 answered in the affirmative. Mr. Dorrill explained that the County receives a governmental rate at the Naples Daily News which is cheaper than a not-for-profit rate. Commissioner Volpe requested figures on how much Collier County spent for legal advertisement. He stated that the Naples Daily News is the only newspaper of general circulation but there are other newspapers available and suggested obtaining cost comparisons. Pa~e 3 June 21, 1994 Mike Smykowskt, Acting Budget Director, indicated that a com- puter report can be ran Indicating how much has been spent for legal advertising, by fund. It was the consensus of the Board to leave the 223,000 for adver- tising in the proposed budget. Commissioner Volpe pointed out that Colony Cablevision indicated they wtll scroll the agenda at no charge. Commissioner Matthews stated that cable is not available to the eastern part of the County. (400) Guardianship Fund 192 Jean 6ansel, Budget Analyst, stated that the County Attorney's Office will prepare an ordinance amending the ordinance that created the additional filing fee for the Guardianship program which will eli- minate the transfer from the General Fund because sufficient funds will be available in the budget with the carry forward to provide Guardianship Services for FY 94-95. She Indicated that next year the monies available will be looked at to see whether the fee should be reinstated. Ms. Gansel pointed out that the savings to the General Fund is approximately $20,000. (434) Marco Island Llghtlng Dlstrlct Commissioner Volpe stated that the issue is whether or not the Marco Island Lighting District could be removed from the general lighting district and not appear on the Property Appraiser's/Tax Collector's billing. David Weigel, Assistant County Attorney, indicated that the tax roll is complete and scheduled for certifying on June 27, 1994. He explained that an emergency ordinance will have to be adopted to eli- minate the Marco Island Lighting District from the general district this year. Commissioner Matthews stated that a credit can be issued for next Page 4 June 21, 1994 year if there is no way to eliminate Marco Island from being taxed this year. Mr. Welgel explained that by Ordinance last year, the Board con- solidated all lighting districts into the Collier County Street Lighting District and the abllttV does not exist to take monies collected from one (1) ad valorem tax assessment district and dif- ferentiate for a portion of the district. In response to Commissioner Matthews, Mr. Wetgel stated that a provision was inserted into the consolidation ordinance that the repeal of the individual district ordinances would not be effective until September 30, 1994 to provide for carry forward funds to be attributable to the Individual districts but the actual consolidation was effective as of the date of ordinance adoption. In response to Commissioner Volpe, Mike Smykowski, Acting Budget Director, stated that the millage rate is uniform throughout the street lighting district whether residential or commercial property, improved or unimproved. Jean Gansel, Budget Analyst, stated that some areas on Marco Island do not have street lighting but the County ls actively pursuing the issue to assure equity. Mr. Weigel etated that an ordinance can be adopted recreating the Marco Is/and MSTU but can only be accomplished this year by an emergency ordinance and notifying the Property Appraiser's Office by Wednesday, June 22, 1994. Commissioner Norris indicated that notification to the Property Appratser's Office to delete the Marco Island Lighting District at this point will be extreme but more time should have been allowed for making the decision. Commissioner Constantine stated that principle is the issue here, not a large sum of money and the situation can be corrected next year. Ms. Gansel polnted out thai Pelican Bay was not consolidated into the Collier County Street Lighting District because they purchased the poles. Page 5 June 21, 1994 It was the consensus of the Board to address the issue of removing Marco Island from the single street lighting district next (740) Review of Two (2) Additional Capital Funds Jean Gansel, Budget Analyst, stated that the Wiggins Pass Dredging Fund budget for FY 94-95 provides for legal fees and place- ment of the remaining funds in reserves pending resolution of litigation. Ms. Ganeel stated that the Marco Island Beach Renourishment Fund budget for FY 94-95 provides for the completion of construction of the breakwaters on the south end of the project. (810) FY 98 Salary Administration County Manager Dorrill stated that there are three (3) elements for salary or classification adjustments this year. He explained that the original recommended percentage for pay increases is three percent (3~) but the most recent projected cost of living increase is 2.5 per- cent which represents a .3 percent immediate savings. Mr. Dorri11 indicated that monies were to be set aside for salary adjustments where employees have fallen below recognized competitive averages both locally and at the State level. He explained that according to surveys conducted by the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties, plus a survey conducted by an association of local employers, 185 support employees out of 1,000 positions are below average and recommended that medium plus five per- cent (5~) be utilized when adjusting salaries which will place Collier County as a competitive employer. Mr. Dorrill stated that two percent (2~) of gross payroll was set aside to increase salaries of employees below average but by utilizing the medium plus five percent (5~), only .8 percent will be required to fund the increases representing a 1.2 percent savings. In response to Commissioner Matthews, Mr. Dorrill indicated that Page 6 June 21, 1994 1.7 percent of the 2 percent set aside will be utilized by funding salary adjustments at medium plus ten percent (10~). He explained that $587,000 will be required to adjust 240 positions. In response to Commissioner Volpe, Mr. Dorrill stated that the first position on the non-exempt list that falls below average is administrative secretary with a salary range of $17,409 to 825,833 but the survey average is $19,699. Commissioner Volpe stated that the health insurance and other benefits paid by the County equates to approximately $13,000 per year per employee. Mr. Dotrill indicated that respondents to the survey had similar benefit packages available for non-exempt employees. Tom Whitecotton, Human Resource Director, stated that the local businesses surveyed included banks, engineering firms, City of Naples, public schools, Shertff's Office, Colony Cablevision, David Lawrence Center, Edison Community College, Naples Community Hospital, Marco Island Marriott, Krehling Industries, etc. He indicated that the survey focused on wages with some benefit comparisons and the one area that the County exceeds the local market is in retirement benefits. Mr. Dotrill stated that the next two (2) positions on the list of positions requiring salary adjustments are building maintenance workers with a salary range of $14,289 to $21,000 and the local base salary being 814,430 to $20,200, and computer operators with a bottom salary of $16,100 compared to $16,400 locally. Mr. Dotrill indicated that pay for performance is the third element of the salary increases for FY 94-95 and per direction from the Board is to be a one time bonus and reserved for truly superior employees. He recommended that the bonus Increases be reserved for the top S0 percent of the work force which represents one percent (1~) of gross payroll compared to the 1.5 percent originally discussed. Mr. Dotrill pointed out that 4.5 percent of gross payroll will be needed to fund all three (S) elements of salary adjustments for FY 94-95. 000- 08 Pags 7 June 21, 1994 Mr. Dorrill stated that the average County employee will receive a 2.7 percent salary Increase, 185 positions will received a salary adjustment per survey results, and only the top 30 percent of the work force will be eligible for a performance bonus, representing a $600,000 plus decrease In the budget. Commissioner Norris stated that the employees who are receiving a salary adjustment due to the survey should not receive the 2.7 percent increase also. Leo Ochs, Administrative Services Administrator. stated that Mr. Dorrill is referring to the non-exempt list containing 185 eligible employees but 30 exempt employees will also be eligible for survey salary adjustments; 215 total employees will have their salaries adjusted upward to a new entry rate. He explained that usually employees receive both the salary adjustment and the annual percentage tncrease because the salary adjustment Just brings the employees up to a salary competitive in the marketplace. Commissioner Norris pointed out that an employee who has not been with the County for one (1) year has Just come from the marketplace. Commissioner Constantine concurred with Commissioner Norris that the salary adjustment is sufficient for employees who have been with the County for less than one (1) year. Mr. Dorrtll stated that last year the Board allowed anyone who had been employed for one (1) year to receive the cost of living Increase on October 1 but raises were deferred to the first anniver- sary date for employees with less than one (1) year. Bill Hargett, Assistant County Manager, stated that the survey numbers will be a year old by the time the raises are implemented and an employee will work at that rate for one (1) year and by the time another raise is received, the rate at which the employee is being paid is two (2) years old. He indicated that the salary adjustment and cost of living increases combined focuses on the lower paid employees. Commissioner Matthews pointed out that one (1) of the complaints Page 8 June 21, 1994 voiced at the employee workshop last Fall was that a number of posi- tions were frozen because the employee had reached the top of the pay scale. She stated that those people at control, i.e. top ten percent (10~) of maximum possible pay scale, received a bonus as a pay raise. Mr. Do=rill Indicated that not ~ust the minimum but the whole pay scale range will be adjusted to create additional earning capacity. Mr. Dotrill stated that long tenure status will inevitably create situations where the employee has reached the top of the pay scale and the position is not worth additional monies. He indicated that the County cannot guarantee cost of living Increases for everyone but a series of internal training and skill enhancement workshops were created to entice employees who had reached the top of their pay scale to develop alternative skills for a career change. In response to Commissioner Constantine, Mr. Dotrill explained that the one percent (1~) bonus for the top SO percent of the employees equates to 8S45,000 for essentially 300 position. He stated that the average County salary is $22,600. Commissioner Constantine stated that while the Board of County Commissioners certainly want to make bonuses available, $345,000 seems high and should be reduced. In response to Commissioner Matthews, Mr. Dotrill stated that a performance evaluation form needs to be developed and then management held accountable for determining who the top 30 percent of the white and blue collar workers should receive bonuses. Commissioner Constantine etated that approximately $233,000 will be available for bonuses if .7 percent Is utilized and seems fair while saving money. Mr. Dotrill indicated that the average Constitutional Officer w~11 take the total amount available for bonuses and divide the funds straight across the board on October 1. In response to Commissioner Volpe, Mr. Dotrill stated that the total for all employees for all three (3) categories that work for the County Manager for salary adjustments will be $1.5 million which is 0aK O00PA iO Page 9 June 21, 1994 down from $2.3 million and last year the figure was 81 million. Commissioner Volpe questioned why the County does not take the total for salary adjustments and pay for performance rather than give everyone a cost of living increase if the main objective is to moti- vate employees to do the best they can? Mr. Dorrill explained that people cannot be controlled and/or motivated by money alone. Commissioner Constantine pointed out that by using a 2.7 percent figure for cost of living increases, .8 percent allocated for plan maintenance and .7 percent for bonuses will allow for a meaningful bonus for those people who are performing over and above the cost of living increase and totals 4.5 percent which is $700,000 less than the original plan at 6.5 percent. It was the consensus of the Board to utilize 2.? percent for the cost of living increases, .8 percent for pay plan maintenance or medium plus 5 percent and reward the top 30 percent of employees through a bonus system at .? percent for a total adjustment of 4.2 percent. Mr. Dotrill stated that he will advise the other Constitutional Officers of a simllar decrease in the allowance for salary adjustments. Commissioner Norris stated that after adjusting the pay scale both at the top and bottom, and everyone receives the 2.7 percent cost of living raise, if someone is still below the bottom bracket, they should be raised to the minimum. It was the consensus of the Board that an employee be given either the 2.? percent increase or the adjustment, whichever is ~Teater. Commissioner Constantine suggested that next year the earlier a realistic number can be established for pay increases the easier it will be for all Constitutional Officers since pay increases constitute a large portion of every budget. seems Page 10 June 21, 1994 There being no further business for the good of the County, the Workshop was adjourned by order of the Chair - Time: 2:50 P.M. Page 11