City Council Minutes

Transcription

1 Florida City Council Minutes Chairman: William D. Trotter City Council: Ted Forcht, Jerry Gibson, Chuck Kiester, Robert J. Popoff, Frank R. Recker, Wayne Waldack Special-Called Meeting October 6, :00 p.m. Chairman Trotter called the meeting to order and presided. ROLL CALL All Councilors present. Also Present: Steven T. Thompson, City Manager Alan Gabriel, City Attorney Bill Harrison, Finance Director Rony Joel, Public Works Director Thom Carr, Police Chief Michael Murphy, Fire Chief Chris Byrne, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Olmsted, Community Development Director Lisa Douglass, Public Information Coordinator Debbie McCabe, Administrative Assistant Other interested citizens and visitors PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Trotter led the pledge of allegiance. BUSINESS (A) DISCUSSION Budget Amendment Fiscal Year (Editorial History: City Council has taken action to reduce the tax burden on our citizens and has adopted the lower property tax rate recommended in Florida s Tax Reform of rollback rate plus 4.15% for growth in personal income. The staff has reviewed ways to further reduce spending and is recommending options to City Council.) Page 1 of 5

2 Public Comment Mr. Amadeo Pettrica, 331 Regetta Street, questioned why the Glon property is included in expenditures. He believes that it should be covered by a separate tax and paid by a separate tax. Ms. Dottie Weiner, 101 Sandhill Street, inquired about funding for the YMCA city-sponsored events. Mr. Sal Sciarrino, 911 Montego Court, commented about the Glon property and cutting costs. Mr. John DeFalco, 190 Hollyhock Court, supports the fire department, but thinks Council should take into consideration the consolidation of the fire departments and thinks this is not the year to be hiring. Mr. Bill McMullan, 1250 North Collier Boulevard, felt the economy is the worst in four years and the City should delay hiring for any vacant positions. Mr. Ed Issler, 908 Joy Circle, commented on a comparison he did between Naples, FL and Venice, FL. He reminded Council that the majority voted (61%) in support for Veterans Park to be made a cultural center. Ms. Linda McCune, 1596 Shores Court, commented that although we decreased the millage rate, taxable values increased and the Winterberry Bridge project comes out of reserves. Dr. Fay Biles, 1588 Heights Court, commented that Marco Island taxpayers pay a big amount of the $6.8 million for the County Sheriff s Department. She also questioned the covenants in the bond and paying the bond back during these economic times. Ms. Karen Glaub, 46 Gulfport Court, explained that people are worried about the economy, their living expenses and retirement so they are looking for ways to cutback. She asked Council not to take it personally. Ms. Glaub also thinks a 2% increase for raises is enough. MOTION by Councilor Waldack to approve the budget amendments as proposed to the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget (Exhibit 1). Second by Vice- Chair Recker. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0. Page 2 of 5

3 (B) DISCUSSION LCEC Franchise Fee. (Editorial History: On October 4, 2004, City Council adopted Ordinance establishing a franchise with Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) and providing for a five percent (5%) franchise fee to be collected from customers of the electric system on Marco Island and remitting those fees to the city. At the meeting on September 15, 2008, Council directed staff to develop the steps necessary to reduce the LCEC Electric Franchise Fee this year. This action would potentially include the elimination from the budget of the pilot underground program scheduled for Fiscal Year ) Public Comment Mr. Amadeo Petricca, 331 Regatta Street, feels there should be separate accounts for the franchise fee. Mr. Joe Granda, 831 Partridge Court, commented on the undergrounding and safety concerns for Marco Island. Mr. Ed Issler, 908 Joy Circle, questioned if the franchise fee will be used to pay off debt. He also commented that the majority of people voted for the Septic Tank Replacement Program to be completed. Mr. Howard Laskau, 1739 Hummingbird Court, asked about reducing the franchise fee by eliminating undergrounding and not proceeding with it. Mr. Bill McMullan, 1250 North Collier Boulevard, suggested looking at other alternatives before taking action on the franchise fee and saving money by taking every other streetlight post out instead of having them so close together. Mr. Steven Stefanides, 1103 South Collier Boulevard, felt it is important for Council to have all the facts before making a decision on undergrounding. Ms. Maureen Schuster, 2059 San Marco Road, asked Council to slow down on spending and to designate money for undergrounding, but put a hold on it along with the committee. Ms. Linda McCune, 1596 Shores Court, suggested reducing the 5% franchise fee later in the year and commented on the cost-benefit to LCEC and how they could pay us to reduce expenses. Mr. John Arceri, 1228 Lamplighter Court, supports the reduction of the franchise fee and asked Council to base their decision on the facts and due diligence. He thinks that Council should take recent allegations as personal attacks and believes those allegations might stifle community volunteerism in the future. Page 3 of 5

4 Mr. Phillip Kostelnik, 121 Channel Court, suggested looking at other cities such as Galveston, TX and its underground wiring. MOTION by Councilor Waldack to direct the City Manager to provide written notice to LCEC to reduce the Electric Franchise Fee to 3.6% under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, authorize the amendment to the Electric Franchise Fee Budget for 2009, and direct staff to complete the design and bid the underground power pilot area. Second by Chairman Trotter. MOTION CARRIED 5-2. Councilor Forcht and Councilor Kiester opposed. (C) DISCUSSION Process for Funding Special Events. (Editorial History: At the September 15, 2008 meeting this item was deferred to this meeting. In past years special events have been funded both under the Department of Parks and Recreation and through General Government. City Council has briefly discussed clarifying and dividing funding for internal and community events.) City Manger Steve Thompson reviewed the proposed amendments to the process for funding special events. (Ed Note: Portions of this agenda item were discussed at the meeting that followed at 5:30 p.m. The public s input and the motions made are being shown here in their entirety for continuity.) Public Comment Ms. Linda McCune, 1596 commented on the decision to decrease funding the teen programs. Mr. Bill McMullan, 1250 North Collier Boulevard, recommended that funding for YMCA swim lessons should be a line item. Mr. Steven Stefanides, 1103 South Collier Boulevard, feels the time is right to commit to more public and private partnerships. Ms. Dottie Wiener, 101 Sandhill Street, thanked Council for their support of the YMCA swim lessons. Ms. Cindy Love, CEO of YMCA, also thanked Council for their support. MOTION by Councilor Kiester to move $15,000 from the $25,000 allocated in the off-season or shoulder season events into the city-sponsored events to fund swimming lessons at the YMCA, bringing the total amount allocated for swimming lessons to $18,000. Second by Chairman Trotter. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0. Page 4 of 5

5 MOTION by Vice-Chair Recker to move $50,000 from the Bridge Repair Capital to fund city events. Second by Councilor Popoff. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0. MOTION by Councilor Waldack to establish the special event funding process for funding programs and community events as presented. Second by Councilor Popoff. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7-0. ADJOURN There being no further business to come before City Council, the meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. William D. Trotter, Council Chair ATTEST: Laura Litzan, City Clerk PREPARED BY: Debbie McCabe, Secretary Page 5 of 5