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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-02 Minutes WS MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION WORK SESSION HELD May 15, 2002 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Vandergrift called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Anderson, Howell, Johnson, and Parker. Also present were City Manager Gleason, City Clerk Grafton, Finance Director Horton, Accountant Bishop, Budget Analyst Brosonski, Finance Supervisor Carter, Human Resources Director Diedrich, Community Relations/Projects Director Shira, City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira, Police Chief Mark, Fire Chief Strosnider, Assistant Fire Chief Firstner, Communications Manager Ek-Collins, Information Systems Manager Ross, Recreation Director Farmer, and Deputy City Clerk Whitford. ABSENT: None Mayor Vandergrift stated for the record all the Commissioners were present as well as a large percentage of the staff. City Manager Gleason gave a report stating the Charter required a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to be presented to the Commission during the month of May. He stated this CIP was very conservative due to the September II incident, the shortfall, and projections for the upcoming year. As in previous years the workbook was reviewed page by page, with staff responding to questions from the Commission on specific items. On page 2, item 1 OWG Rd - Blackwood Ave. to Hempel Ave. Row - Part B: Mayor Vandergrift inquired about a "date certain" for Orange County to repay the City. City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira advised the agreement with Orange County has a date in it and it would be in the FY 02-03. Finance Supervisor Carter stated Part B, Blackwood to Hemple, the City is currently submitting invoices quarterly to the County for reimbursement. He confirmed that the first part is scheduled for payment in the County's budget to begin in the fall of 02-03. On page 3, items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13, Hurricane Windows, Fire Station #1 Construction, Fire Station #1 Furnishings, Fire Station #2 Design, Fire Station #2 Construction, New Police Station (Design, Land, Construction), and New Public Works Building: Mayor Vandergrift stated he would like to have Hurricane windows for the 2nd story of City Hall done first and as soon as possible due to the dangers and difficulty for staff in putting up the shutters currently used. Fire Chief Strosnider responded to the Commissions questions regarding items 6, 7, and 8. Finance Director Horton, Finance Supervisor Carter, and City Manager Gleason responded to Commissioner Howell's questions regarding items 5, 12, and 13. On page 4, Mayor Vandergrift suggested each Commissioner make their own list of streets City Conunission Work Session May 15,2002. they would like to see repaved. On page 8, when item 99 was reached it prompted a discussion about the sidewalk that runs along Clarke Road. Mayor Vandergrift directed staff provide an estimate for some type of pavement to extend the sidewalk north of AD Mims/Hackney Prairie. On page 9, item 111, Design Capital Construction Projects - WTR/WWTR: City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira responded to Commissioner Anderson's question. On page 10, items 118,119,120,121,123, and 127 Convert to Hypochlorite Generation Disinfection System, Wal-Mart Water Lines, and Decommission Well and Pumping System at Jamela WTP: City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira responded to questions from the Commission. On page 17, item 208, 15 Passenger Van (Replacement 87 Ford) (4 Year Lease): Recreation Director Farmer responded to a question as to whether the van would meet state requirements. Mayor Vandergrift congratulated the staff on a job well done regarding the CIP. COMMISSION COMMENTS No comments at this time. Commissioner Anderson left the building for a previous commitment. City Manager Gleason stated that during the actual budget process the Commission would get a separate report explaining where the money went, what items were purchased and why. He briefly touched upon some statistics of monies that will be available and how much of those funds are already encumbered for debt, salaries, and insurances. Recess 7:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Commissioner Anderson returned at 7:32 p.m. DISCUSSION/REVIEW OF VEHICLE TAKE HOME PROGRAM Chief Mark gave an overview of the requested changes to the current Take Home Car Policy for sworn personnel who reside within the city limits of Ocoee as well as the existing unmarked vehicle take home plan for on call personnel. He cited the four changes as (1) The JPA would serve as the defined area for the "Take Home Vehicles." (2) Those living outside of the JPA will take a vehicle home only when on-call. (3) Reduce the waiting time for the "Take Home Vehicles" to 4 months. (4) The K-9 Officers would be exempt. Ocoee Police Lt. Goclon gave handouts to the Commission presenting two alternate proposals and explained how each proposal worked. Proposal No.1 would expand the current program to include all 2 City Conunission Work Session May 15,2002. sworn officers whether they live in the City or not, with those living 15 miles or less from the municipal complex paying $10.00 per pay period for the additional expense for gas and oil and those living over 15 miles paying $20.00 per pay period. Proposal No.2 would implement the same proposal as in No.1 but in two phases. Also Traffic Homocide Investigators, Public Information Officers, K-9 Officers, or those who drive unmarked police vehicles would be exempt from the mileage requirement, but would be charged the $10.00 or $20.00 depending on their distance from the Municipal Complex. He enumerated the pluses to having a take home vehicle and gave comparisons to other cities. Lt. Goclon responded to questions from the Commission. Mayor Vandergrift asked each of the Commissioners to make a statement. Commissioners Howell and Anderson said they wished to wait until those present desiring to speak had a chance to speak, before making a statement. Commissioner Parker stated she had mixed emotions on the issue, but thought going with the Joint Planning Area (JPA) as a take home vehicle area limit would probably be ok. Commissioner Johnson stated he did not believe they should be taken home outside the city limits of Ocoee. He said he would like to get an opinion from the citizens to see where they stand on the issue. Mayor Vandergrift said he is a strong proponent of the Take Home Vehicle Policy and favors proposal #2 which would have mileage limit requiring the officers to be charged a fee if they lived beyond that mileage limit. Speaking in favor of the changes to expand the current program were Ocoee Police Sergeants Conyers, Silberstein, Fisher, Combs, and Dreasher. Also speaking in favor of the program were Ocoee Police Detective Payne and Officers Stephens, Maroney, Holberg, Fischer, and Iannuzzi. All the Police Department members who spoke, spoke in favor of expanding the program and cited benefits to the City and its citizens as well as the benefit of increasing the officers' ability to their jobs more efficiently. Throughout the discourse various speakers responded to questions from the Commission and at times the discussion was quite intense. At the conclusion of the discussion Mayor Vandergrift asked each Commissioner if there was anyone specifically they would like to ask a question of and if not to make a statement if they so desired. Commissioner Parker said during the discussion she had made a list of pros and cons and possible compromises. She stated she would like to see the "on call" statistics and that she too would like to put the question to the citizens. She said they had enough information to start a good dialogue and make some decisions and come back later with some ideas. 3 City Conunission Work Session May 15, 2002. Commissioner Johnson indicated he had no problem with the plan that allowed the JPA, but would like to put the issue before citizens perhaps in the water bill and if they were in favor of it then he would vote for it. He expressed concerns that it would cost too much. He suggested the possibility of the officers signing a contract that if they get a vehicle they would stay for a certain amount of time and if they fail to honor that time frame, then they would be required to repay the City a certain amount of money. Commissioner Anderson said he wants the cars in Ocoee neighborhoods and believes that is what the citizens want too. He addressed the references to the Winter Park Take Home Vehicle Program saying Winter Park had greater financial resources than Ocoee. He asked staff to provide the average use statistics for patrol vehicles. Commissioner Howell said he would like to expand the current program; the question is how far outside the city limits and if it is extended outside the city then some type of fee schedule for the officers who have the vehicles should be implemented. He said take home cars are not just to have vehicles in city neighborhoods, but it is a benefit. He said it is a necessary part of the package to keep good officers. Mayor Vandergrift thanked everyone for the input they had given and said it had been enlightening and enthusiastic. He stated he has no problem expanding it outside the city as long as it is cost effective. He cited the cost effectiveness of the program so far stating the length of time a car is in service is much greater now than the 3 years the cars were in service before the take home policy was initiated. He stated Ocoee has a lot of roads that it is responsible for that are not in the city limits and said the program needed to be looked at honestly, not just for the benefits to the citizens, but to the employee as a special perk. He cautioned there were responsibilities that go with the benefit. He spoke about the fact that most of the police vehicles are in the parking lot and the dispersing of those vehicles to various areas, especially since 9-11, would be prudent. He reiterated that cost effectiveness is the key and those figures need to be researched. In closing the meeting he asked each officer there to speak to his or her district Commissioner and present any information that may have been left out in the discussion. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Attest: APPROVED City of Ocoee (0, ) 4