04/25/1988 - Town Meeting
CITY OF CLEARWATER
Interdepartmental Memorandum
FROM:
Ron H. Rabun, City Manage~~
Elizabeth S. Haeseker, Assistant City Manager
TO:
COPIES: Betty Deptula, Budget Director
~
SUBJECT: Town Meeting - April 25, 1988 - Countryside High School
DATE:
Apri 1 29, 1988
Elected officials in attendance: Mayor Garvey, Commissioners Berfield,
Nunamaker, Regulski and Winner
Citizens in attendance: 41
City Manager Ron Rabun presented the proposed budget using a slide
presentation. Most questions from the audience pertained to the budget.
1. Dick Fitzgerald, 2686 Brattle Lane, Clearwater
34619
Thanked the Commission for giving information 6n the budget this early in
the decision-making process. His current concerns are as follows:
A. Would like to see a cost-control system developed, i.e., needs versus
nice to have.
B. His priorities are health, safety (fire and police), water, sewer and
garbage pickup.
C. He noted that leisure services in FY 87/88 amounted to $6 million and
in the proposed FY 88/89 are anticipated to be $7.5 million. He suggested
more volunteers be used in the libraries to cut down these costs.
D. He mentioned some concerns about the $400,000 commitment to PACT and
asked if this could be reduced or eliminated. He expressed concern that the
documentation in the budget does not give the need for disbursing these
dollars.
Commissioners explained the commitment and indicated that PACT must
reach certain funding levels in order to reduce this amount.
E. Regarding the public affairs arena and the proposed enhancement in the
Clerk's office, he stated this should be closely scrutinized in this time of
tight dollars.
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F. He questioned if the dollars designated for Fun 'N Sun were in
addition to in-kind services and was told that they were.
G. In general, Mr. Fitzgerald asked that the line be held as far as ad
valorem taxes but noted that with the decrease in growth holding the line gets
harder. He also stated that streets, sewers and other infrastructure are
necessary but not "showy."
The Mayor reminded those in the audience that more than 50 percent of the City
budget is from user fees and not ad valorem taxes.
2. Rev. Walter Campbell, 1138 Palm Bluff, Clearwater
34615
Commended the City Commission and Chief Klein on behalf of the Greenwood
community and requested the following:
A. 24-hour operation of the Greenwood pOlice substation.
B. ,More policemen be hired.
3. Hal Ebersole, 2676 Redford Court W, Clearwater
A. Requested status of the Dunedin Pass dredging. He was told this
matter-is in the hands of the County and it was suggested that all citizens
contact the County Commissioners. At present the County is working on
response to DNR questions regarding the application.
4. Tal Rutledge, 1105 Lasalle Street, Clearwater
34615
Reiterated the percent of taxes that goes to the Police Department and
Fire Department and indicated:
A. Priorities are not in order -- suggested the City Commission take some
of the dollars for leisure and use them for the Police Department in order
that the City will get the appropriate ratio of police to citizens and provide
adequate protection.
B. Expressed concern over the dollars apportioned to water pollution
control and indicated that every few years we spend more money to expand our
plants and perhaps the answer to this problem is to curtail other people
moving into Clearwater.
The Commission explained that the WPC dollars are spent on treatment
enhancement, not on expansion. For instance, the Marshall Street plant just
received new sludge drying equipment. It was also mentioned that the City
will need $40 million for advance water treatment in order for the effluent to
be processed to State standards.
At this time there was some discussion regarding State mandates and the
proposed legislation that any mandates to local governments must be
accompanied by the necessary dollars.
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C. Mr. Rutledge reiterated his concerns about the City's ordinance which
requires landlords to be responsible for utility bills. (At thi~ point
discussion ensued regarding the proposed State legislation which would not
only prohibit this activity but would also prohibit cities from going after
the tenant to receive the money.) Mr. Rutledge indicated that the City does
not send a late notice as other utilities do; that we penalize any late payer
with our $3 charge. He stated that most of our problems could be solved if we
would turn off the utilities when they are not paid.
5. Frank A. Kozdras, 2014 San Sebastian Way S, Clearwater
34675
A. Mr. Kozdras wants appropriate police protection at Valencia Park. He
stated that all pOlice officers have titles and there are none on the streets
to enforce the laws. He said his homeowner's association is thinking of
private security in order to assist the residents in their problems of drugs,
garbage cans in the pool, etc. He indicated that he told the Police
Department that people are even growing illegal plants in their homes and have
drying ovens to take care of these plants when they reach maturity but nothing
is done.
6. Bob Loeffler, 2068 Sunset Point Road, Unit 104, Clearwater
34615
A. Duri ng the fi rst week of April hi s deve l'opment experi enced a seri es of
cat burglaries and other robberies. He stated the Police Department handled
this well. However, he has concerns because our police ratio of officers to
citizens is below the average for the State of Florida. This condominium has
hired a private s'ecurity service until the Police Department can get. more
employees to provide regular patrol protection.
B. He proposed we hire 40 more police officers and indicated that he and
others are willing to pay the amount of money required to support these
officers and equipment. He does not want the budget reduced in order to hire
the necessary law enforcement employees.
C. He is also opposed to the utility bill legislation proposed in
Tallahassee.
7. Morris Rose, President, City Center, 100 Second Avenue S, Suite 200,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
A. The City of Clearwater is a safe City but it is undermanned. He
indicated briefly the Kerner Commission Report.
He stated that the quantity of police is not the major priority in the
North Greenwood area but the quality of the officers is. He believes the City
should proceed towards accreditation.
B. He briefly discussed our Police Community Relations Study which called
for the pOlice service to choose the power pattern.
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He stated that, with the percentage of dollars going to public safety,
citizens can get more for their tax dollars if they participate in the Police
Community Relations Study.
He also suggested that the City's manpower needs to be combined with
other solutions in neighborhoods to solve the crime problem.
8. Robert B. Tegarden, St. Petersburg Junior College, P. O. Box 13489,
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
A. Thinks our program on police community relations is excellent. He
believes the citizen emphasis is on the time it takes to respond to a call for
help and he had promised various citizens that he would take this message to
the City, i.e., the need for more officers. He believes it is a good
department and has a good Chief who is frustrated because he cannot do the job
he is assigned to do. He indicated we have only four (4) officers assigned to
control illegal drugs.
Commissioner Regulski suggested the group begin to discuss what to draw from
the budget and he mentioned the change in EMS service and asked for a showing
of hands to see who in the audience would be willing to pay an extra $50 in
taxes for more police protection. (This was based on an "average home.")
Discussion continued regarding 20 percent of the budget which comes from user
fees; there were suggestions that the nonresident fee should be increased;
more volunteers be used in the libraries so that they can be open seven (7)
days a week; the elimination of residential street sweeping.
9. Ernest Gibson, 2663 Westchester Drive N, Clearwater
34619
A. Asked how our Police Department dovetails with the Sheriff's
Department, the Highway Patrol, etc.
10. Wyn Neudeck, 530 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach
34615
A. Wants quality not quantity of police. Asked why we have an ordinance
against noise when we should be using an ordinance against disturbing the
peace.
Said that the last two gentlemen who spoke (Mr. Morris and Mr.
Tegarden) know far less than he about the pOlice service because he has lived
on the beach for a long time and the last two gentlemen were from St.
Petersburg and Seminole. He indicated that more pOlice may not mean better
pOlice protection.
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11. Anne Garris, P. O. Box 3025, Clearwater
34630
A. The police aide program has worked very well and saved a lot of money.
She thanked the Commission for starting the program and suggests it be used
throughout the City.
B. Asked that the Commission look into the way Central Services spends
its money on painting and maintenance. Need to look at purchasing procedures.
Is there bidding? She believes dollars could be saved going to bid on these
various projects.
C. She suggested the City Commission form a citizens' task force on
justice. This would entail sitting in courtrooms and seeing how the whole
legal system works.
12. Bill Schramm, 3213 Sandy Ridge Drive, Clearwater
34619
Questioned whether there is a reserve or contingency item within the City
budget. The Commissioners responded that the City always attempts to keep 10
percent in reserve for emergencies.
13. Bill Jo1son (Address Unknown)
A. Thanked the City Commission for the Town Meeting which offered
residents the opportunity to speak.
B. Thanked the Commission for the new Countryside Library and suggested
that the library collection city-wide needs to be enhanced. He stated that
the books he looks for are frequently checked out and that research
information documents are limited. He requested that the libraries be opened
on weekends and during the evening hours and suggested volunteers might be
able to solve this scheduling problem. He also suggested that the City
encourage book donations. The City could sell those received but not needed
in order to augment the library budget.
C. Regarding the Building Inspection Department, he stated that the
inspectors rudeness is intolerable but a good inspection is very important.
He gave several examples -- in his home, for example, it was discovered that
the hurricane straps in the attic were not attached, etc. and indicated that
builders were using our Building Inspection Department as their quality
control team. Need to be sure that the Code is thoroughly and equally
enforced.
D. He congratulated the City on winning the sign litigation.
E. He questioned the rezoning of the Paradyne property to commercial. He
stated this goes against previous Commission pOlicy. The Commission attempted
to explain the 3 to 2 decision for rezoning this acreage.
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14. Glen Warren, Tack & Warren, Inc., 806 Pierce, Clearwater
34616
A. He misses the pOlice protection in the downtown area (Officer Karlick)
and hoped the City could come back to a 24-hour-a-day foot patrol. He
suggested that it is important:
(i) to increase the number of police officers;
(ii) to assign the officers to a smaller geographical area
rather than dividing the City at Highland Avenue; and
(iii) ~o provide downtown with continuing foot patrol.
15. Al Sachs, 3421 Hyde Park Drive, Clearwater 34619
A. Thanked the Commission for the resolution regarding McMullen-Booth
Road and asked what steps the Commission and the citizens should take at -this
point.
The Commission responded that personal conversations with County
officials should be beneficial and that they intended to do this themselves.
16. William Aldrich (Address Unknown)
.A. Mr. Aldrich is a 14-year resident and appreciates the excellent
service from Chief Klein. He indicated many innovative programs have set a
tone to be copied by other cities in Florida.
At this point the City Commission discussed the differential response time and
explained it in such a fashion that the audience was able to understand.
17. Dick Fitzgerald, 2686 Brattle Lane, Clearwater
34619
A. He suggested that the Commission declare a moratorium on commercial
development within the City limits along McMullen-Booth Road until the matter
of the road's proposed enhancement is determined and the future
characteristics of the road are known.
In response, the Commission indicated there was no justification for
such a moratorium; that they would be open for extensive litigation; and that
the citizens do not seem to be opposed to the widening of the road but are
opposed to any connection of the road to an interstate or larger system.
18. Betty Scott, 1360 Woodbine, Clearwater
34615
A. Requested a turn lane at the intersection of Betty Lane and Drew
Street so that persons will realize that they must turn left on to Drew Street
from Betty Lane.
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