2007 0917 Special City Commission Meeting - Budget

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Summary Minutes: Special City Commission Meeting September 17,2007 First Budget Hearing Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 4. MOTIONS 4A. Add-On: $5,000.00 Bonus for City Manager and City Attorney. Action: Mayor Edelcup said he would like to recommend to the Commission that we propose paying a $5,000.00 year-end bonus to the City Manager and City Attorney for the exemplary work that they have done this year. He said historically we probably would have been able to do more but with the budget cuts and the constraints that we are trying to show in fiscal responsibility, it would be more appropriate this year to recommend that we do a $5,000.00 bonus and be payable before September 30, 2007 so it will be in this year's budget, and historically in the future, maybe we can handle it the same way. Commissioner Goodman moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve the $5,000.00 bonus for City Manager Szerlag and for City Attorney Ottinot. The motion was approved by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor. 5. DISCUSSION ITEMS SA. Presentation on Accomplishments in the Past Year. Action: City Manager Szerlag presented a power-point showing over 50 positives and accomplishments completed in the past year including the easement acquisition for the west side of Collins Avenue for streetscape cluster which is a very exciting project that will last for decades once we initiate it, to have a promenade on the west side of Collins A venue and also figure out how the north side of Sunny Isles Boulevard is going to look and we are currently out for RFPs in that regard. He also highlighted our first Atlantic Isle Special Assessment that was successful, and additionally, primarily thanks to Assistant City Manager Jorge Vera, we convinced W ASA not to require a force main on that project and that saved the City and residents over $300,000.00. He also noted that we amended our Noise Ordinance as it relates to decibel noise for construction and non-construction noise, and he reported that the fans have been installed in Ocean IV and that issue is now resolved. City Manager Szerlag said that we have also installed and is operational the "Emergency Weather Bug" system which warns the Police Department of impending severe weather. Mayor Edelcup asked how that gets disseminated to the public, and City Manager said through cable channel 77 and on line. Mayor Edelcup asked what constitutes bad weather other than a hurricane, and Chief Maas said impeding storms with tornados, water spouts, high winds, hail, etc. Vice Mayor Thaler suggested letting the public know such as writing an article in the newspaper, and Chief Maas said they are working on an article which will include contact numbers, also cooperating condominiums will be alerted once we are alerted. Mayor Edelcup said it sounds like an excellent program and to get out public notification that it exists, and asked where it is installed. ChiefMaas said on top of Government Center and it is monitored through Police Communications 2417. City Manager Szerlag said that the second Budget Hearing is scheduled on Thursday, September 27,2007 at 6:30 p.m. to adopt the final budget, and before that time another 3- ring budget document will be distributed with the changes that we discussed. 7