CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 6:00 PM The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Robert Minning A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - LED BY MAYOR MINNING B. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Robert Minning Mayor Present Phil Collins Commissioner District 1 Present Tim Ramsberger Commissioner, District 2 - Vice Mayor Present Carol Coward Commissioner District 3 Present Alan Bildz Commissioner, District 4 Present C. PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION D. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mel Lenehan stated that she wanted to talk about Treasure Island's money. She reviewed the budget and noticed some big numbers. She noted that there was $8 million in CDs, which is already accounted for. She made brief comments regarding loans for the bridges and beach trail. She gave figures on the city's finances. She stated that they should have gotten a bid from the Sheriff's Department. E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of August 5, 2014 Board of Commissioners Regular Workshop Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] 2. Approval of August 19, 2014 Board of Commissioners Regular Workshop Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] 3. Approval of August 19, 2014 Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] F. APPROVAL OF REGULAR AND WORKSHOP AGENDAS City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 1 of 7
G. BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING 1. Consideration of Res. 14-92, Setting the Tentative Final Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 (1st Public Hearing) Ms. Trovato stated that there has been a change in the budget message. She gave an update on the numbers based on the new calculations. She gave a brief explanation on how various budgetary items are calculated. The public hearing was opened at 6:10 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:10 p.m. by Mayor Minning. Mayor Minning required statement regarding the proposed final millage rate and second and final public hearing. 2. Consideration of Ord. 14-12, Adopting the FY 2014-15 Budget (First reading and Public Hearing) Ms. Trovato stated that the TRIM advertisement will appear in the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, September 12th. She will include encumbrances and carry forwards in the second reading. The public hearing was opened at 6:13 p.m. by Mayor Minning. Ed Gayton stated that he wanted to speak about the Water Pollution Control Fund. He stated that the sewer system is in need of repairs, and needs the money to pay for the repairs. He made comments regarding the increases since 2006. He thanked the City Attorney and Commission for settling the lawsuit with the City of St. Petersburg and briefly discussed the effect of the settlement. He noted that there would be a savings, but the rates are still going up. He asked that the Commission remove the Treasure Island portion of the 2015 rate increase and reduce the 2015 fund balance in this fund. He asked them to consider giving the residents a break. The public hearing was closed at 6:18 p.m. by Mayor Minning. Commissioner Collins stated that Mr. Gayton made many comments that they should address. Commissioner Bildz asked for clarification that in order to change that it would require an ordinance change. Mr. Silverboard answered in the affirmative. He gave a brief explanation of the ordinance that was passed in 2011. Commissioner Coward asked how that would be handled tonight. Mr. Silverboard suggested that they listen to staff before they consider cutting the rates. Ms. Trovato gave an explanation of the handouts that she provided to the Commission. She noted that the enterprise funds are different than the general fund and gave an explanation of how capital assets are handled. Commissioner Coward asked if she was referring to facilities or cash. Ms. Trovato stated that capital assets are facilities, not cash. She noted carry forwards and encumbrances for projects. She stated that they would not be receiving about $60,000 of the EPA grant. The state decided to close out the revolving loan fund, so she has adjusted the estimated revenues to reflect that. Mr. Silverboard stated that they cut out $300,000 for sewer relining, as well as the funds for a lift station. They cut the expenses in order to get the fund balance back up. Ms. Trovato gave a brief explanation of the payments to St. Petersburg. When the rate study was done there was the assumption that the lawsuit would have been settled several years ago. They budgeted under that assumption as well. She made brief comments on her response to the e-mail that Mr. Gayton sent the Commission. City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 2 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM
Commissioner Coward asked why they lost the money from the revolving loan fund. Ms. Trovato stated that the state closed it out so that we would start repaying it. Mr. Silverboard stated that they used the EPA grant and the majority of the revolving loan fund to rehab lift stations and do relining work. They used as much of it as they could. The state revolving loan fund is now available at a lower rate, so we are doing the paperwork to try to get another loan set up at a lower rate. Commissioner Bildz asked for clarification that there was a time limit on these funds. Mr. Silverboard answered in the affirmative, and gave a brief explanation of how they were able to leverage funds for the earmark. Commissioner Coward stated that there are over $2 million in projects that we haven't done yet, and asked what was involved in that. Ms. Trovato stated that some of the money was the lift station. They have been budgeting money each year for rehab work. They needed a lot of work this year so they used some of the money. We list the money as carry forwards to ensure that the money is available for the projects. Commissioner Coward suggested that they have a list of the projects. Mr. Silverboard stated that the list is included in the budget. Commissioner Collins asked him to read the list. Mr. Silverboard read the list and gave an update on the status of each item. He noted that in the budget is another WPC rate study. The last one was done in 2009. Before that they estimated what the rates should be. He gave a brief explanation of the increases each year since 2008 and what went into the rate studies. He noted that there is a formula built in to recapture the pass through from St. Petersburg as we don't know the amount until after they pass their budgets at the same time that we are doing ours. He discussed the benefits of using the revolving loan funds. He stated that it is imperative that they approve the rates and keep the fund sound. Commissioner Bildz asked for clarification that they included a favorable settlement of the lawsuit in the past two budgets. Mr. Silverboard stated that it was included in the first rate study, but not the second. In the process of settling it we sent around $3 million in surcharge and interest payments to the City of St. Petersburg when we lost that lawsuit. Mr. Gayton stated that the rate study was not passed by ordinance, but by resolution. He asked if they would be passing the budget that went through the budget hearings. Would they be passing something that the public hasn't seen? Mayor Minning stated that they were not passing anything different. The public hearing was closed at 6:42 p.m. by Mayor Minning. Commissioner Collins stated that many times people make comments but they don't see everything that goes into it. Commissioner Bildz stated that he is having a hard time with settling a lawsuit that saves $450,000 and we still need an increase. Mr. Silverboard stated that the Finance Director provided them with a sheet that showed what was budgeted and what was spent in the past two years. There was a shortage both years. Commissioner Bildz asked if Mr. Silverboard was suggesting that they have a $1.5 million reserve. Mr. Silverboard stated that for an enterprise type fund they should have about six month's operating expenses. Commissioner Bildz asked for clarification that it should be $1.5 million. Mr. Silverboard answered in the affirmative and stated that they have cut projects to try to build the fund up in case of an emergency. A brief discussion ensued regarding the savings on strong waste and reasons to increase the rates. Commissioner Bildz noted that they are still relining pipes to reduce the gallons going through the system. Commissioner Ramsberger clarified that the reason that they can't eliminate the increase because they are making up for an accumulation of short falls. Mr. Silverboard stated that that was correct. Mayor Minning thanked Mr. Gayton for his diligence. He stated that they are trying to rebuild the balance so that the rate payers don't have to pay it later. Commissioner Bildz stated that he doesn't think that they City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 3 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM
can afford to not reline pipes. Mayor Minning stated that there is some sea level rise, and that increases the infiltration into the system. Commissioner Bildz asked if they could remove the Children's Spray Park in TI Park. Mr. Silverboard stated that they could move it back a year. Commissioner Bildz asked to remove it altogether. Mr. Silverboard discussed the reasons for considering it in the future. Mayor Minning read the required statement regarding the final public hearing to be held on Tuesday, September 16th. RESULT: FIRST READING [UNANIMOUS] Next: 9/16/2014 6:00 PM H. CONSENT AGENDA I. ITEMS OF BUSINESS 1. Consideration of Ord. 14-06, Creating a process for Administrative Waivers to certain Land Development Code Requirements (2nd Reading and Public Hearing) The public hearing was opened at 6:53 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:53 p.m. by Mayor Minning. RESULT: SECOND READING [UNANIMOUS] 2. Consideration of Ord. 14-07, LDR Amendment to Lighting (2nd Reading and Public Hearing) The public hearing was opened at 6:54 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:54 p.m. by Mayor Minning. RESULT: SECOND READING [UNANIMOUS] 3. Consideration of Ord. 14-08, Amendment Procedure for LDRs (1st Reading and Public Hearing) The public hearing was opened at 6:55 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:55 p.m. by Mayor Minning. This item will move forward to the October 7, 2014 meeting for 2nd reading and public hearing. City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 4 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM
RESULT: FIRST READING [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/7/2014 6:00 PM 4. Consideration of Ord. 14-09, Rezoning of the Treasure Island Downtown Special Area Plan (1st Reading and Public Hearing) The public hearing was opened at 6:51 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:51 p.m. by Mayor Minning. Commissioner Bildz asked if this was one of the new zones that the PPC was giving us. Ms. Cohen stated that this was not from the PPC. These are our districts as recommended by the LPA. We are assigning them. Commissioner Bildz asked if we would be able to retain these districts. Ms. Cohen answered in the affirmative. This item will move forward to the October 7, 2014 meeting for 2nd reading and public hearing. RESULT: FIRST READING [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/7/2014 6:00 PM 5. Consideration of Ord. 14-10, Land Development Regulation: Special Event Permit (1st Reading and Public Hearing) The public hearing was opened at 6:58 p.m. by Mayor Minning. There being no public comment the public hearing was closed at 6:58 p.m. by Mayor Minning. This item will move forward to the October 7, 2014 meeting for 2nd reading and public hearing. RESULT: FIRST READING [UNANIMOUS] Next: 10/7/2014 6:00 PM 6. Consideration of Res. 14-89, Suncoast Kingfish Classic Fishing Tournament Commissioner Ramsberger stated that he was recusing himself from the discussion and the vote. Commissioner Bildz stated that he could participate in the discussion. Commissioner Ramsberger stated that he felt that he should recuse himself. Commissioner Collins noted that they had received an e-mail regarding noise and asked if there would be music past 10 p.m. Ms. Hayduke stated that there would not be, and if there was any problem with noise it would be addressed by the police. Commissioner Collins stated that someone also had questions about the smell of dead fish. Ms. Hayduke stated that the dumpsters would be emptied after the event. Mayor Minning read the e-mail under discussion as requested by Ms. Eckert. Ms. Hayduke stated that when the city holds events the police notify her when they receive a noise complaint. She suggested that people call the police if they have a complaint. City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 5 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM
Commissioner Bildz stated that they asked Mr. Rice about the fish and they were told that none of it goes in the dumpsters. It all goes into freezers. Commissioner Bildz stated that they would have to get tent permits. Commissioner Coward stated that they have been doing this event for years. Commissioner Bildz stated that the reason it isn't being held inside Gators is because they have requested to hold it outside. RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0] Minning, Collins, Coward, Bildz RECUSED: Ramsberger 7. Consideration of Res. 14-84, Liability and Workers' Compensation Insurance Renewals For FY14-15 8. Consideration of Res. 14-86, Approval of the Advanced Life Support First Responder Agreement Commissioner Coward stated that we don't have a lot of choice on this. Commissioner Bildz stated that this wasn't a bad deal. Mr. Silverboard stated that we will be receiving more money over the next few years. 9. Consideration of Res. 14-88, FY 2014-15 PSTA Agreement for Beach Trolley Service Commissioner Coward stated in years past if ridership was up we got credit that reduced our contract at the end of the year. She asked if that was still in effect. Mr. Silverboard answered in the affirmative and gave a brief explanation on how that is calculated. Commissioner Bildz clarified that if we get more riders it won't change the amount for this year. Mr. Silverboard stated that it would reflect in next year's rates. Mayor Minning stated that if Greenlight Pinellas passes in November this assessment would go away. We would pay the additional 1% sales tax in Pinellas County instead. Greenlight Pinellas wouldn't go into affect until the next fiscal year. A brief discussion ensued regarding the sales tax amounts that people could expect to pay. Commissioner Bildz stated that the service is mostly for the tourists, and they don't pay any of this current assessment. City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 6 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM
10. Consideration of Res. 14-85, Setting the City Clerk's Salary Commissioner Bildz stated that proposed in this year's salary increase is up to a 2% merit increase. It should be based on an evaluation. He asked if the City Manager had done an evaluation yet. Mr. Silverboard stated that he hasn't come up with the form yet, and it will be slightly different for the City Clerk than the other Department Directors. A discussion ensued regarding the merit portion of the resolution and employee evaluation. The merit would only be awarded if the employee evaluation warranted it. J. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. by Mayor Minning. City of Treasure Island, Florida Page 7 of 7 Updated 9/10/2014 3:56 PM