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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-0911 1st Budget Hearing SUMMARY MINUTES Special City Commission Meeting — First Budget Hearing Thursday, September 11, 2003, 7:00 p.m. CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA ATTENTION ALL LOBBYISTS: CITY LAW REQUIRES YOUR REGISTRATION PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BEFORE CITY STAFF,BOARDS,COMMITTEES OR THE CITY COMMISSION. PLEASE CONTACT TIIE CITY CLERK FOR FORMS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS The meeting was called to order by Mayor Samson at 7:10 p.m., with the following officials present: Mayor David Samson Vice Mayor Norman S. Edelcup Commissioner Gerry Goodman Commissioner Danny Iglesias Commissioner Lila Kauffman City Manager Christopher J. Russo City Attorney Lynn M. Dannheisser Acting City Clerk Jane A. Hines 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Action: Mayor Samson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mayor Samson announced a moment of silence in remembrance of the 9/11 victims and noted the passing of his son on this day 22 years ago. Mayor Samson introduced Lewis J. Thaler, the newly elected Commissioner for Seat 01. 3. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET 3A. Millage Resolution (Public Hearing) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Establishing the City of Sunny Isles Beach Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Millage Levy Rate at 3.35 Mills per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00)of Taxable Assessed Value Which is 11.52% Greater than the "Rolled Back" Rate of 3.004 Mills, for Fiscal Year 2003/04; Providing for an Effective Date. Action: Acting City Clerk Hines read the title and City Manager Russo reported on the basis for the proposed millage rate. He noted that this budget does not reflect any tax increase Summary Minutes:Special City Commission Meeting September II,2003 Sunny Isles Beach,Florida First Budget Hearing whatsoever in the City. He stated that the City is in a growth mode and it will continue to be for many more years to come. He said that the City is using every penny of the growth in the tax base to accommodate the services that are necessary to keep up with that growth and the improvements to our infrastructure. Public Speakers: none Commissioner Iglesias moved and Vice Mayor Edelcup seconded a motion to approve the resolution. Resolution No. 2003-587 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor. 3B. Budget Ordinance (Public Hearing) An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida,Adopting an Operating and Capital Outlay Budget for the Fiscal Year Commencing October 1, 2003 through September 30,2004,Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 200.65 (Trim Bill) Authorizing Expenditures of Funds Established by the Budget; Authorizing Encumbrances; Authorizing Issuance of Checks; Providing for Grants and Gifts; Providing for Post Audit; Providing for Severability and Providing for an Effective Date. Action: Acting City Clerk Hines read the title and City Manager Russo gave his report including a power point budget overview presentation. He noted that the City of Sunny Isles Beach is approximately 14.5% of the total tax dollars, and sets our millage rate at 3.35. He noted that the proposed budget is about $15 Million, 14.5 cents on a dollar, and all of that includes all City Department Services, Cultural & Human Services, and our Capital Improvement Program. He explained that the City collects a little over $8 Million from property taxes, everything else is other fees, services, franchise taxes, most of it is sales tax and tied to how the general economy is doing. He stated that the Capital and the General Operating is generated by property taxes. City Manager Russo stated that we have a draft Police Manual that is intended to ultimately qualify the City for Florida State Accreditation for our Police Department which will be the formal recognition and show how.well deserving of that recognition the Police Department is. He stated that the most important thing of that study is that it is a Master Plan and lets us know where we need to be, based on the development going on in this City and we are moving forward there. He also noted the Disaster Preparedness Plan that mimics the County's and is done on a FEMA model and going forward, and that will be another issue to look at in how to train and improve our preparedness based on the items in that Study. City Manager Russo stated that the City has a new initiative in Code Enforcement,creating in this Budget a Parking Enforcement Division, which will pay direct attention to parking violations, non-moving violations. All the studies show that a Division dedicated to this clearly increases the effectiveness and frees up uniformed sworn Police Officers. City Manager Russo noted that the City has more than doubled the landscaping in this City in the past 18 months. He also noted that the size of the Community Center is being increased and that the plans will come back before the Commission. City Manager Russo said that we 2 Summary Minutes:Special City Commission Meeting September I I,2003 Sunny Isles Beach.Florida First Budget Hearing have ordered the first customized appropriate bus that meets the needs of this City and it is hoped to replace at least one more bus this fiscal year. He noted that some of the Streetscape Plan furniture will be completed this fiscal year, which includes bus shelters,benches, trash 1 receptacles, finishing of the crosswalks. City Manager Russo provided a very detailed description of the Capital Improvements Projects. He said that the City is currently working on zoning for the Town Center. He also noted that the City is in contract to sell the City-owned property that is between the FDOT retention basins, which the City received a grant, and is in the process of landscaping right now. The City entered into a contract with FPL and provided the City with $2.2 Million for that property,rights to control that property,retains any development rights to the City,and it also includes FPL doing the relocation of utility wires that are on the south side of Sunny Isles Boulevard. He also noted that the entrance signs into the City will be in place this fiscal year, and updated the Commission on the new City Hall construction. City Manager Russo noted that one of the loop lanes on SR826 will be eliminated, which will give us 71/2 to 8 feet of additional space on each side. There will be beautiful landscaping on both sides, street lighting, up-lighting on all the trees,and this is up to about a $4 Million project right now, which through the FDOT and the Federal Program that we are in called the LAP Program,we are going to get$3 Million from the Program for this project. Mayor Samson asked if the City had received any money on the tax,and City Manager Russo said yes that we got our first payment of$158,000.00. Commissioner Kauffman asked what are the possibilities of using 174th Street for parking on the weekend as we do during a concert,and City Manager Russo said that our traffic engineer will have to take a look at it and see where it would be appropriate and the Commission will have to make a decision. Mayor Samson said it was not a good idea because in the past there was so much crime on that street with people jumping out in between automobiles and snatching purses, and since we stopped parking on that street we have not had any problems. Mayor Samson suggested waiting until City Manager Russo and Chris Steers have finished their parking plan. Commissioner Kauffman stated that the people that live on the northern end of town have called it to her attention that it says "beach parking only" at the north park with parking meters, but they said that vans, trucks, etc., park there and obviously are not beach parking, leaving no parking for locals and she asked if they could have permit parking there,and City Manager Russo said it has to be general parking. Mayor Samson asked how we were going to control strictly beach parking, and City Manager Russo said that we are going to have a dedicated Parking Enforcement Division soon, to enforce it. Commissioner Kauffman stated that there is an issue about the buses because of flooding at Marianne Towers, they leave them at the curb, and at Winston they actually go inside of the curb, and don't leave them on the street, and when there is a lot of water,they are up to their ankles and sometimes kneecaps, on North Bay Road at Marianne Towers and at 178th Drive by the Church, and she asked about having the buses, if not the County buses at least our City 3 Summay Minutes:Special City Commission Meeting September 11.2003 Sunny Isles Beach.Florida First Budget Hearing buses, to pull into that area when there is flooding, and City Manager Russo said he would look into that. Public Speakers: Henry Kay; Harry Traurig Vice Mayor Edelcup moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve the proposed ordinance on first reading. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of 5-0 in favor at 8:14 p.m. Second reading, public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. Vote: Commissioner Goodman yes Commissioner Iglesias L Commissioner Kauffman ves Vice Mayor Edelcup ves Mayor Samson ves 4. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Goodman moved and Vice Mayor Edelcup seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Mayor Samson announced that today is Commissioner Goodman's birthday and cake was served. Respectfully,submitted by: Approved by the City Commission on October 23, 2003 (Arlitsr) .444/.7) . Jane A.Hines, City Clerk No an S. Edelcup, Mayor f <' 4 it