HomeMy Public PortalAbout1995-08-02 Special MeetingJr6"
COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - AUGUST 2, 1995
The special meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was
held on Wednesday. August 2, 1995, in the Council Chamber at Bal
Harbour Village Hall. The meeting was called to order at 4:13 p.m.
by Assistant Mayor Blank. The roll was called and those present
were:
Also present:
Assistant Mayor Matthew B. Blank
Councilman James E. Boggess
Councilman Andrew R. Hirschl
Alfred J. Treppeda, Interim
Village Manager/Police Chief
Jeanette Horton, Village Clerk
Absent: Mayor Estelle Spiegel
Councilman Sol M. Taplin
As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting
commenced.
2. Executive Session:
The purpose of this session is to discuss the litigation of Case
Number 04-00623 Village of Bal Harbour v City of North Miami. The
following people were in attendance:
Assistant Mayor Matthew B. Blank
Councilman James E. Boggess
Councilman Andrew R. Hirschl
Alfred J. Treppeda, Interim
Village Manager/Police Chief
Gerald Richman, Attorney Floyd Perason
Richman Greer et al
C. Anthony Cleveland, Attorney Ortel
Hoffman Fernandez & Cole (by telephone)
At this time the Executive Session was commenced and the Village
Clerk left the meeting.
The Village Clerk returned to the meeting and a motion was offered
by Councilman Boggess and seconded by Councilman Hirschl to adjourn
the Executive Session.
Assistant Mayor Blank reconvened the Special Meeting of the Bal
Harbour Village Council at 5:20 p.m.. The roll was called and
those present were:
Assistant Mayor Matthew B. Blank
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Also present:
Councilman James E. Boggess
Councilman Andrew R. Hirschl
Alfred J. Treppeda, Interim
Village Manager/Police Chief
Jeanette Horton. Village Clerk
Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney
John Walker, Finance Director
Betty Schaeffer, Accounting
Pamila Thompson, Accounting
Absent: Mayor Estelle Spiegel
Councilman Sol M. Taplin
3. Discussion of Proposed Budget 1995/1996:
Mr. Treppeda stated on July 28, 1995, a Budget Committee meeting
was held in attendance was Assistant Mayor Blank, Raj Singh and
Patricia Tumpson. At the meeting the proposed budget was reviewed
for areas that could be reduced.
Mr. Treppeda then proceeded to explain the items that contributed
to the necessity of increasing the millage rate, which are:
Phase 1 Storm Drain Project for the residential area. The total
cost of this project is $2.2 million. Funds have been budgeted
over the years in anticipation of this project. Budgeted for 1995-
1996 is $557,500.00 to bring the reserve for this project up to the
required cost. The Village has been awarded a grant of $150,000.00
from the South Florida Water Management District to pay for the
wells required in this project. The terms of the grant require
that the Village complete this project by January 1996. An
extension will be requested since the work will not be totally
completed in the required time frame.
The Village is required by law to comply with the requirements of
the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the life safety code
relative to the Village Hall building. He further explained the
cost for these renovations are estimated at $200,000.00. A portion
of the necessary funds have been reserved over the years. He
continued to explain he has budgeted $104,000.00 to bring the
amount budgeted for this project up to $200,000.00.
Councilman Boggess stated he was not present at the Budget
Committee meeting. Since the workshop was not held, he went into a
meeting with the Village Manager and the Village Clerk. He further
explained the Village could budget one half of the $557,500.00 as
well as 1/2 of the $104.000.00 and borrow the other half from
either Water or Sewer reserve funds at 5 or 6 percent interest.
Councilman Hirschl asked Mr. Walker the amount of reserves in these
two funds. Mr. Walker replied between both funds there is a
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b a l a n c e o f $ 2 m i l l i o n . H e f u r t h e r e x p l a i n e d i n t h e S e w e r F u n d
r e s e r v e h e w i l l b e r e c o m m e n d i n g t a k i n g $ 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 t o o f f s e t a
r a t e i n c r e a s e . A s t o t h e W a t e r F u n d r e s e r v e . h e w i l l b e
r e c o m m e n d i n g t a k i n g $ 1 1 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e r a t e s t h e
s a m e .
D i s c u s s i o n f o l l o w e d a s t o t h e e s t i m a t e g i v e n b y M i d d l e b r o o k s &
A s s o c i a t e s a n d i f t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i s f o r t h e b a r e m i n i m u m .
A s s i s t a n t M a y o r B l a n k s t a t e d h e d o e s n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e e s t i m a t e
a n d . i n h i s o p i n i o n . h e w o u l d r a t h e r w a i t a n d r e b u i l d V i l l a g e H a 1 1 .
C o u n c i l m a n H i r s c h l s t a t e d h e i s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t a k i n g f u n d s f r o m
f u n d b a l a n c e t o k e e p t h e m i l l a g e r a t e d o w n . H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d h e
h a s d i s c u s s e d t h i s i s s u e w i t h t h e s t a f f a n d t h e y h a v e e x p r e s s e d
t h e i r c o n c e r n o n t h i s m a t t e r .
M r . W e i s s e x p l a i n e d t h e p r o c e d u r e u s e d b y o t h e r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s ,
s u c h a s h a v i n g a c o n t i n g e n c y f o r e m e r g e n c i e s . T h e V i l l a g e h a s b e e n
u s i n g t h e f u n d b a l a n c e a s a c o n t i n g e n c y , b u t t h e c o n t i n g e n c y f u n d
s h o u l d b e a b u d g e t e d i t e m .
C o u n c i l m a n B o g g e s s r e f e r r e d t o t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t o c c u r r e d l a s t
y e a r a s t o t a k i n g f r o m r e s e r v e s f o r t h e S t o r m D r a i n P r o j e c t , a s
w e l l a s f u n d s f o r t h e A m p h i t h e a t e r l i t i g a t i o n . H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d
h e i s v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h t h e a m o u n t o f r e s e r v e s t h e V i l l a g e h a s
a t t h i s t i m e .
M r . W a l k e r e x p l a i n e d e v e r y G o v e r n m e n t b r e a k s u p t h e i r f u n d b a l a n c e
i n t o a p p r o p r i a t e d a n d u n a p p r o p r i a t e d . H e c o n t i n u e d t o e x p l a i n w h a t
r e s e r v e s t h e f u n d s h a v e a t t h i s t i m e . M r . W e i s s a s k e d w h y a
r e s e r v e f o r c o n t i n g e n c y w a s n e v e r e s t a b l i s h e d . M r . W a l k e r r e p l i e d
t h e V i l l a g e n e v e r t h o u g h t t h e y n e e d e d a r e s e r v e f o r c o n t i n g e n c y .
H e t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o e x p l a i n t h e r e a s o n i n g b e h i n d n e v e r
e s t a b l i s h i n g a r e s e r v e f o r a c o n t i n g e n c y w a s t h e f u n d b a l a n c e w a s
h i g h .
A s s i s t a n t M a y o r B l a n k s u g g e s t e d a t t h i s t i m e t o l e t M r . T r e p p e d a
c o n t i n u e w i t h h i s r e p o r t .
M r . T r e p p e d a e x p l a i n e d a t o t a l o f $ 1 2 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 w a s b u d g e t e d f o r a n
a g r e e m e n t w i t h I n d i a n C r e e k V i l l a g e f o r m a r i n e p a t r o l s e r v i c e s . H e
t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o e x p l a i n t h e V i l l a g e h a s r e c e i v e d c o m p l a i n t s a b o u t
j e t s k i s n e a r s w i m m e r s a n d b o a t s s p e e d i n g b e h i n d h o m e s i n t h e
r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a . C u r r e n t l y , t h e V i l l a g e h a s n o w a y t o h a n d l e s u c h
c o m p l a i n t s o t h e r t h a n t o r e q u e s t a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r a g e n c y .
T h e o n l y a g e n c y i n o u r a r e a w i t h m a r i n e p a t r o l c a p a b i l i t y i s I n d i a n
C r e e k . T h e C h i e f / M a n a g e r o f I n d i a n C r e e k h a s m a d e a p r o p o s a l t o
p r o v i d e m a r i n e p a t r o l s e r v i c e s t o t h e V i l l a g e f o r a c o s t o f
$ 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 p e r m o n t h . H e c o n t i n u e d t o e x p l a i n t h i s w o u l d i n c l u d e
r o u t i n e p a t r o l o f t h e V i l l a g e ' s w a t e r w a y s , a s w e l l a s 2 4 h o u r
r e s p o n s e t o a n y c a l l s f r o m V i l l a g e r e s i d e n t s f o r m a r i n e p a t r o l
r e l a t e d c o m p l a i n t s .
S p e c i a l C o u n c i l M e e t i n g 8 / 2 / 9 5 3
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Mr. Treppeda explained if the Village would start their own marine
patrol the cost would be prohibitive for a Village of our size. It
was the consensus to try this for one year.
Mr. Treppeda explained $100,000.00 has been budgeted for the
Munisport litigation. which is the amount that was budgeted last
year.
Mr. Treppeda then proceeded to explain the Budget Committee's
recommended changes. which are as follows:
Line item #511.403:
The Committee recommended the elimination of the budgeted amount of
$7.500.00 for the Beautification Dinner and to change the event to
every five years instead of every other year. It was the consensus
to remove this item from the budget.
Line item #512.316:
The Committee recommended lowering this line item to $3,225.00.
They felt the funds budgeted for the Village Manager search was not
needed, which was $5,000.00. It was the consensus of the Council
to accept the Committee's recommendation.
At this time. Assistant Mayor Blank asked Mr. Treppeda what is the
bottom line proposed millage rate. Mr. Treppeda stated the
proposed was 4.05, but after reviewing the proposed budget this was
reduced to 3.67 mills. Councilman Hirschl questioned how the
millage was reduced. Mr. Treppeda replied this was due to
receiving a lower quote on Workers Compensation as well as on Long
Term Disability insurance. He further explained this does not take
into consideration borrowing from another fund for the 1/2 of the
Storm Drain project and the renovations to Village Hall.
Assistant Mayor Blank asked Mr. Walker what the millage rate would
be reduced to if the Village borrowed from another fund. Mr.
Walker replied it would reduce the millage to 3.60 mills. This
would be an increase of approximately 22 percent.
After much discussion. it was the consensus to borrow the funds and
repay the loan in a year with an interest rate of 6 percent.
Line item #512.470:
The Committee recommended lowering this printing expense to
$8,500.00 to reflect lower costs for the newsletter production. It
was the consensus to accept the Committee's recommendation.
Line item #519.150:
The Committee recommended lowering the performance bonus line item
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to $30.000.00 to reflect actual expenditures. It was the consensus
of the Council to accept the Committee's recommendation.
Line item #521-350:
The Committee recommended lowering the police department training
budget to $7,500.00 to reflect actual expenditures. It was the
consensus of the Council to accept the Committee's recommendation.
The Committee recommended to bring $12,666.00 from the vehicle
reserve into the General Fund since the Village is proposing to
lease two new motorcycles next year. They also recommended that the
Village budget $4,000.00 as anticipated revenue from the sale of
the old motorcycles.
The Committee recommended that the Village increase the Building
Department revenue amount by $20,000.00 in anticipation of permit
fees for the Harbour House and the Sheraton Bal Harbour pool
renovations.
Line item #511.313:
The Committee recommended that this line item be examined since it
has increased over last year. The Council questioned what
comprised the amount of $43,150.00 which was budgeted. Mr.
Treppeda replied this is for Planning Related items such as
Landscape Ordinance; Single Family Setback Amendment: PC Zoning
District; Transpoitation Element preparation in regards to the
Comprehensive Plan; EAR Based Amendment package; Oceanfront Code
amendments and miscellaneous planning. Mr. Treppeda explained
most of these items have been previously approved by the Council.
Councilman Boggess stated he requested information on several
items, one of which is the life insurance coverage on employees.
It was pointed out that the Village could increase the life
insurance benefit to $25,000.00 or one time the employee's salary
for very little money. He then proceeded to ask Mr. Treppeda if he
has received any information. Mr. Treppeda replied he is looking
into the cost of an increase. Councilman Boggess then requested
Mr. Treppeda to look into an alternative to Florida Municipal
Health Trust. Mr. Treppeda stated he is waiting for quotes that
would provide the same benefits.
Mr. Weiss explained the bases for his legal fees. He further
explained Mr. Treppeda had contacted him about legal fees for the
coming year. He continued to explained he charges other Cities
$150.00 per hour, and he has received no increase since 1990.
Councilman Hirschl questioned the total amount paid to date for
legal fees. Mrs. Schaeffer replied $51,000.00 has been expended to
date. Councilman Hirschl stated approximately $60,000.00 is
budgeted for legal fees next year. It was the consensus to raise
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the fee to $150.00 per hour.
It was the consensus of the Council to certify the millage rate at
3.60. Mr. Treppeda pointed out that this can be lowered at the
first budget hearing with no problem.
5. Other Business: None
6. Adjourn: There being no further business to come before
the Council a motion was offered by Councilman Boggess and seconded
by Councilman Hirschl to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously
(3-0) with Mayor Spiegel and Councilman Taplin absent, and the
meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
Assistant Mayor Blank
Attest:
anette Horton. CMC/AAE
Village Clerk
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