C I T Y O F F O R T P I E R C E
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Conference Agenda Meeting - Monday, March 10, 2014 - 8:30 a.m.
City Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Room, 100 North U.S. #1, Fort Pierce, Florida
1.
Call to Order at 8:54 a.m.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call
- Present:
-
- Mayor Linda Hudson
- Commissioner Rufus Alexander
- Absent:
-
- Commissioner Edward Becht
- Commissioner Thomas Perona
- Commissioner Reginald Sessions
- Staff Present:
-
- City Manager Robert Bradshaw
- City Clerk Linda Cox
- City Attorney Robert Schwerer
Commissioner Edward Becht arrived at 9:08 a.m.
Commissioner Thomas Perona arrived at 10:08 a.m.
4.
New Business
A.
North Bridge Timed Openings - Marina Manager
The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to submit a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard requesting North Bridge drawbridge openings be changed from an as needed request basis to regularly scheduled times. Dean Kubitschek, Marina Manager, recommended utilizing 20 minute timed intervals during the day and an as needed basis from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. which are standard in other South Florida communities. The U.S. Coast Guard requires that the governing body which has jurisdiction over the bridge approve a recommendation prior to making a decision on the timing. They will determine the safety aspect of these intervals when considering the changes requested. Instituting regularly scheduled openings for the North Bridge would allow the increasing number of residents and visitors who travel that route to plan their trips accordingly.
The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to submit a letter to the U.S. Coast Guard requesting North Bridge drawbridge openings be changed from an as needed request basis to regularly scheduled times. Dean Kubitschek, Marina Manager, recommended utilizing 20 minute timed intervals during the day and an as needed basis from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. which are standard in other South Florida communities. The U.S. Coast Guard requires that the governing body which has jurisdiction over the bridge approve a recommendation prior to making a decision on the timing. They will determine the safety aspect of these intervals when considering the changes requested. Instituting regularly scheduled openings for the North Bridge would allow the increasing number of residents and visitors who travel that route to plan their trips accordingly.
B.
Business Tax Rate - City Clerk
The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Clerk to proceed with increasing the business tax rates by the 5% allowed by Florida Statute 205.0535(4). The current business tax rates are still below those of other surrounding municipalities in all but a few categories and would nominally increase the amount from $1.14 to $16.54 depending on the business classification.
The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Clerk to proceed with increasing the business tax rates by the 5% allowed by Florida Statute 205.0535(4). The current business tax rates are still below those of other surrounding municipalities in all but a few categories and would nominally increase the amount from $1.14 to $16.54 depending on the business classification.
C.
Animal Control Update - Code Compliance Manager
Peggy Arraiz, Code Compliance Manager, gave a presentation to review the current status of the Animal Control Division. It included the steps currently being taken in order for the City to be proactive in several areas including: the licensing program, record keeping, spay and neuter program, and grant opportunities. The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to move forward with outsourcing the pet licensing system online with “Pet Data”. He was also instructed to proceed with configuring the Shelter Pro Records Management Software to be functional within the next 30 days. This program would allow Animal Control Officers in the field to input information and complete record keeping while being able to access administrative functions and prior records. They must currently keep records manually and then duplicate their effort to input the information once they are back in the office.
The spay and neuter animal program has experienced a significant increase this year. Although it has had a larger budget this year than in prior years, it has already expended almost all funds at this point. The budget has been set and depleted so there is no more funding available for the year. Additional budget cuts are currently being made throughout the city and this program is suspended until it is replenished from grant funding or in the new fiscal year which will begin in October of 2014. The City is submitting an application for a grant to supplement the program but is not guaranteed to receive the $10,000 grant as it is a highly competitive one. The City Commission had not placed a reporting requirement on the $10,000 funds which were given to United for Animals. The majority of these funds are currently being utilized to pay volunteer hours rather than to help pay for animal sterilization. It is considered a grant in aide and reporting requirements were not deemed necessary. Residents are being directed to obtain the low cost / free vouchers from City Hall which has increased the number of people making use of the program and depleted the budgeted funds. Additional costs are incurred by the City as the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund has borne the expense of the van utilized by United for Animals including the maintenance, gasoline, and insurance.
A proactive spay and neuter program will help reduce costs of animal control in the future and is beneficial to the city. Timing and enforcement are important issues. Reporting should become a requirement for receiving this grant from the City. Documentation of volunteer hours and a list of the people helped by United for Animals on a monthly basis independent of what animal control personnel have done for residents coming in for vouchers. That number should be broken down by the total of dogs and cats to create reporting that will substantiate the results. Animal Control should also include any other reporting information that they feel is relevant. A disconnect exists between Animal Control and United for Animals regarding the delivery of vouchers. The difference in approach is apparent between Animal Control’s need for governmental administrative control with prior approval, and the passionate urgency for surgery first and paperwork as a secondary concern by United for Animals. Both have different motivations which are driving them.
The City Commission directed the City Manager report back to them after conducting a meeting between Animal Control and United for Animals to discuss how the City can most effectively deliver the vouchers to the community in a time effective manner. This is taxpayer money and should be balanced against procedures currently in place by resolution for dispatching the voucher money. The vouchers amount to tax payer dollars and cannot be placed in the hands of a private entity. United for Animals is acting as quasi-representatives of the city and has offered to put up a bond to cover any expenses which do not qualify. A limited number of vouchers could be utilized to test the program. If the paperwork submitted is not in order, then the City will not fund the program the next year and the bond would be utilized to the extent of the paperwork which was not properly delivered.
Peggy Arraiz, Code Compliance Manager, gave a presentation to review the current status of the Animal Control Division. It included the steps currently being taken in order for the City to be proactive in several areas including: the licensing program, record keeping, spay and neuter program, and grant opportunities. The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to move forward with outsourcing the pet licensing system online with “Pet Data”. He was also instructed to proceed with configuring the Shelter Pro Records Management Software to be functional within the next 30 days. This program would allow Animal Control Officers in the field to input information and complete record keeping while being able to access administrative functions and prior records. They must currently keep records manually and then duplicate their effort to input the information once they are back in the office.
The spay and neuter animal program has experienced a significant increase this year. Although it has had a larger budget this year than in prior years, it has already expended almost all funds at this point. The budget has been set and depleted so there is no more funding available for the year. Additional budget cuts are currently being made throughout the city and this program is suspended until it is replenished from grant funding or in the new fiscal year which will begin in October of 2014. The City is submitting an application for a grant to supplement the program but is not guaranteed to receive the $10,000 grant as it is a highly competitive one. The City Commission had not placed a reporting requirement on the $10,000 funds which were given to United for Animals. The majority of these funds are currently being utilized to pay volunteer hours rather than to help pay for animal sterilization. It is considered a grant in aide and reporting requirements were not deemed necessary. Residents are being directed to obtain the low cost / free vouchers from City Hall which has increased the number of people making use of the program and depleted the budgeted funds. Additional costs are incurred by the City as the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund has borne the expense of the van utilized by United for Animals including the maintenance, gasoline, and insurance.
A proactive spay and neuter program will help reduce costs of animal control in the future and is beneficial to the city. Timing and enforcement are important issues. Reporting should become a requirement for receiving this grant from the City. Documentation of volunteer hours and a list of the people helped by United for Animals on a monthly basis independent of what animal control personnel have done for residents coming in for vouchers. That number should be broken down by the total of dogs and cats to create reporting that will substantiate the results. Animal Control should also include any other reporting information that they feel is relevant. A disconnect exists between Animal Control and United for Animals regarding the delivery of vouchers. The difference in approach is apparent between Animal Control’s need for governmental administrative control with prior approval, and the passionate urgency for surgery first and paperwork as a secondary concern by United for Animals. Both have different motivations which are driving them.
The City Commission directed the City Manager report back to them after conducting a meeting between Animal Control and United for Animals to discuss how the City can most effectively deliver the vouchers to the community in a time effective manner. This is taxpayer money and should be balanced against procedures currently in place by resolution for dispatching the voucher money. The vouchers amount to tax payer dollars and cannot be placed in the hands of a private entity. United for Animals is acting as quasi-representatives of the city and has offered to put up a bond to cover any expenses which do not qualify. A limited number of vouchers could be utilized to test the program. If the paperwork submitted is not in order, then the City will not fund the program the next year and the bond would be utilized to the extent of the paperwork which was not properly delivered.
D.
Impact Fee Moratorium Expiration - Planning Manager
Rebeca Grohall, Planning Manager, updated the City Commission on the results of the expiring Impact Fee Moratorium enacted for a one year period by Ordinance No. L-287 on March 18, 2013. The City Attorney stated that it is easier to modify the Impact Fee Schedule which is currently in place than to grant another moratorium. The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to pursue an alternate course of action going forward. An Impact Fee Mitigation incentive such as that utilized by St. Lucie County for their Qualified Target Industry (QTI) is to be mirrored. The City Manager is to evaluate and compile a schedule of incentives to accelerate development and attract businesses to Fort Pierce. As an Economic Development incentive, this would help to place the city on a more even playing field with St. Lucie County.
Rebeca Grohall, Planning Manager, updated the City Commission on the results of the expiring Impact Fee Moratorium enacted for a one year period by Ordinance No. L-287 on March 18, 2013. The City Attorney stated that it is easier to modify the Impact Fee Schedule which is currently in place than to grant another moratorium. The City Commission held a discussion and directed the City Manager to pursue an alternate course of action going forward. An Impact Fee Mitigation incentive such as that utilized by St. Lucie County for their Qualified Target Industry (QTI) is to be mirrored. The City Manager is to evaluate and compile a schedule of incentives to accelerate development and attract businesses to Fort Pierce. As an Economic Development incentive, this would help to place the city on a more even playing field with St. Lucie County.
5.
Adjournment at 11:01 a.m.