xxx Mayor Johnson requested a moment of silence and then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. xxx

Transcription

1 City Council Special Meeting September 19, 2017 The City Council of the City of Titusville, Florida met in special session on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 555 South Washington Avenue, Titusville, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m., not at 6:00 p.m., due to an earlier board meeting running late. Those present were Mayor Walt Johnson, Vice-Mayor Matthew Barringer, and Members Dan Diesel, Jo Lynn Nelson, and Sarah Stoeckel. Also present was City Manager Scott Larese, City Attorney Richard Broome, and City Clerk Wanda Wells. Assistant City Clerk Jolynn Donhoff completed the minutes. requested a moment of silence and then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Final Public Hearing on Tentative Millage Rates, Annual Operating, Enterprise and Capital Budgets, and Proposed Water Sewer and Solid Waste Utility Enterprise Charges for FY 2018 highlighted the purpose of the meeting. City Attorney Broome read the following resolutions and ordinances, by title only and for the second time, as followed: Ordinance No AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE MILLAGE FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE; AND VOTED DEBT SERVICE LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; and Ordinance No AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE GENERAL AND RELATED BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2018; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; and Resolution No A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA ESTABLISHING A FORMAL FISCAL POLICY ON A UTILITY RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE GENERAL FUND ON THE CITY S BUSINESS-TYPE ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; and Resolution No A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE BY INCREASING THE CHARGES AND RATES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; and Page 1 of 8

2 Ordinance No AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA AMENDING SECTION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND ESTABLISHING AN INCREASE TO THE RESIDENTIAL MONTHLY CHARGE FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING FEES; AND BY AMENDING SECTION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING AND ESTABLISHING AN INCREASE TO THE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AND COMMERCIAL CAN MONTHLY CHARGES FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING FEES AND INCREASING THE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER RENTAL FEES; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; and Ordinance No AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ENTERPRISE FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM BUDGETS OF THE CITY OF TITUSVILLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2018; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. City Manager Larese reviewed the purpose of the meeting. He advised that the aforementioned ordinances and resolutions were tabled at the special City Council meeting of September 14, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. to September 19, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. called for a five-minute recess at 7:10 p.m. to allow staff additional time to prepare for their presentation to the Council. The meeting resumed at 7:15 p.m. Assistant City Manager Tom Abbate and Finance Director Bridgette Clements gave a presentation that reviewed the following information: Budget process Public Hearings Florida Statutes Chapter 200 Strategic Plan Priority Objectives FY 2018 FY 2018 Proposed Budget All Funds Expenditures $118,901,567 FY 2018 General Fund Proposed Budgeted Expenditures $43,099,538 Millage rate Use of millage over rollback rate General Fund Millage Rate Comparison FY 2018 Proposed Per Capita Ad Valorem Taxes Property tax on a residential home in Titusville Public Hearing FY 2018 Proposed Budget Utility Rate Changes o Typical Residential Monthly Bill for ¾ Meter at Existing and Proposed Rates o Typical Commercial Monthly Bill for ¾ Meter at Existing and Proposed Rates o Typical Commercial Monthly Bill for 1.5 Meter at Existing and Proposed Rates Current Rate comparison for FY 2018 Page 2 of 8

3 Public Hearing FY 2017 Proposed Budget Action Items o Action Items o Follow-up Items o Summary of Additional Funding Considerations o First Budget Hearing o General Fund and Special Event Grants o Additional Funding Considerations o Administrative Changes for Adopted Budget Council Actions Recommended millage rates Budget related ordinances and resolutions opened the public hearing on the proposed and aforementioned FY 2018 budget related ordinances and resolutions. Debbie Shuler requested the following from the Council: (1) Do not to raise the rates for water; (2) Support all costs related to police and fire personnel; and (3) Provide funding for the Friday Night Live events, due to this event attracted patrons, supported local businesses, and was free for attendees. Per s request, Assistant City Manager Tom Abbate commented on the purpose of the water and sewer availability charges. Gretchen MacMichael, a local business owner and President of the Downtown Merchants Association, felt the downtown businesses were struggling and improvements were necessary to attract customers and maintain a viable and economically healthy downtown area. If Council decreased funding for downtown events, businesses in this area may have to consider closing. For these reasons, she requested Council continue to provide funding of approximately $13,000, but if this was not possible, at a bare minimum provide at least $7,000 to cover the cost for police to assist with downtown events. As there was no one else that wished to speak, the public hearings were closed. moved to reduce and redirect $5,000 from the Indian River Festival and allocate this funding to the Friday Night Live events. The motion also included reducing and redirecting $1,000 from both the Titusville-Cocoa (TICO) Airshow and the Rotary Chili Cook-off events and allocate this funding to the Friday Night Live event. Page 3 of 8

4 and City Manager Larese discussed the City s costs associated with supporting the TICO airshow. seconded the motion. The motion passed, 3 to 2 no, with Vice-Mayor Barringer and in objection. commented on a prior request to erect signage that signified the historic Indian River City neighborhood. He commented on completing this request, but keeping costs low. This was something the residents in the area had wanted for a long time. An arbitrary estimate of $10,000 was used as to what a sign might cost he advised. The source of the funds was not yet decided. commented on her familiarity with the subject and believed or suggested the residents of the Indian River City neighborhood would present design concepts for the signage to the Council.,, and Community Development Director Busacca discussed the duties and costs of employing an additional building inspector. and City Manager Larese reviewed s desire to provide cost of living (COLA) increases for staff and hiring two additional police dispatchers. City Manager Larese advised these three items would mean a tax increase of $.1433, which would generate $229,202 to cover the costs of the three items. An additional $1,424 would also be reduced from the budget, which would reduce the millage rate. Finance Director Bridgette Clements calculated that if approved, the three items would cost taxpayers an additional $17.50 per year. and supported the three additional aforementioned costs. City Manager Larese commented on the City having a $10.1 million deficit in the proposed budget and the City having costs associated with days of picking of storm debris and infrastructure and road damage associated with Hurricane Irma---an event that occurred September 10-11, These costs would affect the FY 2019 budget. felt the City s current growth trend could necessitate hiring an additional building inspector, but this could wait another year. Second, she questioned whether to allocate $1,424 to downtown events or apply the revenue towards storm damage. City Manager Larese recommended reducing the millage rate by $1,424. He advised that due to the recent costs associated with Hurricane Irma, Council would likely be presented with many budget adjustment requests over the coming months. confirmed each of the Council members were in agreement and gave their consensus to fund three additional items being (1) Hire a new building inspector; (2) Provide a COLA increase for employees; and (3) Hire two additional police dispatchers. Page 4 of 8

5 City Attorney Broome and Finance Director Clements reviewed the information that Council must discuss in detail. Finance Director Clements advised that taking the three additional items that Council just agreed upon, the millage rate to be levied would be $ mils, which was 8.26 % above the rolled back rate of $ mils. clarified that the FY2018 budget would include redirecting funding to youth engagement programs; beautification of South Street, and reducing the millage rate levy, as presented. Finance Director Clements confirmed the information sought. Ordinance Nos and The citizens that wished to speak on this item spoke earlier in the meeting. City Attorney Broome reviewed the next step the Council would need to take. He interpreted from the Council s discussion they were prepared to approve Ordinance No with the millage for the operation of the City for FY 2018 at $ mils, which would represent an increase of 8.26% above the revenue neutral rolled back rate of $ mils, and approve the voted debt service levy of $ mils for FY 2018, which would represent a $.0632 mil reduction from the FY 2017 rate that was $.4711 mils. moved to approve Ordinance No , as stated by City Attorney Broome. seconded the motion and the roll call was: Page 5 of 8

6 The citizens that wished to speak on Ordinance No spoke earlier in the meeting. moved to approve Ordinance No , as recommended. Member Nelson seconded the motion and the roll call was: Resolution No City Attorney Broome introduced Resolution No opened the public hearing on Resolution No As there was no one that wished to speak, he closed the public hearing. moved to approve Resolution No , as recommended. seconded the motion and the roll call was: Page 6 of 8

7 Resolution No City Attorney Broome introduced Resolution No opened the public hearing on Resolution No As there was no one that wished to speak, he closed the public hearing. moved to approve Resolution No , as recommended. seconded the motion and the roll call was: no The motion passed, 4 and 1 no, with in objection. Ordinance No City Attorney Broome introduced Ordinance No opened the public hearing on Ordinance No As there was no one that wished to speak, he closed the public hearing. moved to approve Ordinance No , as recommended. seconded the motion and the roll call was: Page 7 of 8

8 Ordinance No City Attorney Broome introduced Ordinance No opened the public hearing on Ordinance No As there was no one that wished to speak, he closed the public hearing. moved to approve Ordinance No , as recommended. Vice-Mayor Barringer seconded the motion and the roll call was: Petitions from the Public Present None. City Manager Larese commented on the City s current debris clean-up efforts of trees, vegetation, and constructions materials, following the damage caused by Hurricane Irma on September 10 th and 11 th, With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. ATTEST: Walt Johnson, Mayor Wanda F. Wells, City Clerk Page 8 of 8