HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-February 01, 2021 SCMCITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
Monday, February 1, 2021
5:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February
1, 2021 at Sherbondy Village, 215 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida.
2. ROLL CALL:
The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Alvin E.
Burke, Commissioner Chris Davis, Commissioner John H. Taylor Jr., Vice Mayor
Veronica J. Williams and Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt. Also in attendance were: City
Manager John E. Page, Assistant City Attorney Candace Cobbs and City Clerk Joanna
Flores. City Attorney Bumadette Norris -Weeks was not in attendance.
3. INVOCATION:
The Invocation was delivered by Vice Mayor Veronica J. Williams.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
5. PUBLIC INPUT:
Clerk Flores stated the protocols for public participation at city commission meetings and
advised the Chair that there were no public comments submitted in advance of the
meeting.
Mayor Pigatt stated that earlier today Senator Jones called for a meeting with the district
Mayors. During that call there was insightful information relating to making sure things
are passed in Tallahassee. Due to that level of information shared, he thought his
colleagues needed to hear this information as well. One of the things that was eye
opening was the reference to making sure cities have their lobbyist which he mentioned
during the meeting that the city did not have lobbyist. He said that Opa-locka is the only
city in the district to not have a lobbyist. He requested that Senator Jones send a
representative to provide guidance to the Commission and repeat some of the information
that was shared at that meeting.
Miles Davis, Senator Shevrin Jones Office, District 35, appeared remotely and stated that
the most important thing with the local funding requests is to make sure the six page form
is completed. The key thing here is that the city can request money for anything, whether
it be a funding request to improve the roads, to improve water drainage or make
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renovations to City Hall, all of these local funding requests can be submitted into the
State budget and have Senator Jones work the bill through the State on the city's behalf.
The only caveat is that this legislative session is going to be tough due to restrictions as it
relates to COVID-19 and a projected budget shortfall. He said that the form was
submitted to Mr. Grice and Senator Jones' office would be more than helpful to get these
forms filled out for the city to make sure they have an equal just as much as any other
cities within the district. He encouraged the city to reach out to Senator Jones office with
any questions about the process and/or form.
Mayor Pigatt said that there were a few other things mentioned and that was making sure
the Commission narrowed down the top three priorities to submit and emphasize any
successes of any programs. Also discussed was the importance of having a 50% match of
infrastructure dollars and shovel ready projects. He asked, is the 50% match something
that is recommended or is it something that has been the norm in Tallahassee?
Mr. Davis replied that it varies and provided several examples based on previous
experience. He said that some of the Committee Chairs, not all, but some of them have
expressed interested in moving forward with requests that have some type of match or
guarantee that the municipality is backing and it's not just a request for hundreds of
thousands of dollars.
6. RESOLUTION:
A) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-
LOCKA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE CITY OF OPA-LOCICA'S 2021
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY LIST, ATTACHED HERETO AS COMPOSITE
EXHIBIT "A"; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE NECESSARY
ACTION TO CARRY OUT THE AIMS OF THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager
The above resolution was read by Attorney Cobbs.
It was moved by Commissioner Burke, seconded by Commissioner Davis to pass the
above resolution.
Assistant City Manager George Ellis advised the Commission that they should have
an updated package before them which is being presented as far as the State
Legislative Priorities for 2021. This package is similar to the one presented last year.
Many of the city's projects went through the appropriations process but because of
COVID-19, the session was shut down and those projects were placed on hold. In
confirming with some of the legislators who sponsored the city's bills last year, it
would be in the city's best interest to move forward with those same items if there
was still a need in the city. Most of the projects are related to infrastructure and the
focus for this legislative session is infrastructure. He explained that the Senate has
one process and the House has another. The House is more driven by a 50% match
and as Mr. Davis stated, in the Senate it varies with the Chairman of each committee.
Airia Austin, City of Opa-locka Public Works Director briefly introduced those
projects relating to Stormwater and Roadway Improvement (NW 141` Street, NW
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139th Street, NW 19th Avenue, NW 20th Avenue, NW 20th Court), Canal
Improvements (Burlington Canal), Drinking Water Distribution Improvement, and
Wastewater System Improvement.
Manager Pate explained that the Crime Prevention Technologies is to invest in the
Opa-locka Police Department technologies infrastructure which includes
administrative technology and the development of a new police station. The Youth
Crime Prevention is for various programming surrounding youth and crime
prevention that is well deserved and needed within the city currently.
Delven Patterson, Parks & Recreation Director for the City of Opa-locka came
forward and introduced those legislative requests relating to Parks and Recreation
which included Senior Programming and Parks and Recreation Improvements.
Commissioner Davis asked, is the 50% match requirements on behalf of the city
across the board?
Manager Pate replied, yes. He said the city's legislative package is based upon a 50%
match across the board.
Commissioner Davis asked whether the numbers reflected in the city's legislative
packet excludes the 50% match?
Manager Pate replied, yes.
Commissioner Burke asked, has the city been in touch with State Representative
Bush as it relates to the city's legislative requests?
Manager Pate said that the city has had extensive dialogue with State Representative
Bush's office with regards to these specific requests. Appropriate forms were
completed and the House of Representatives is requiring attestation to the dollar
amount and a 50% match. So actually, the city must have a 50% match in order to
push these forward as far as the House of Representatives is concerned.
Vice Mayor Williams asked, what's the likelihood of receiving any funding? She
further asked, due to the shortfall in the state, is it possible that none of these projects
will get funded?
Manager Pate explained that first the Commission would have to provide legislative
priorities regardless so this packet can essentially be used for State Legislature, local
government, Miami -Dade County as well as the Federal Legislature as far as dollars
are concerned. Last year, prior to COVID-19, a lot of these projects went through
appropriation and were on the doorstep of being funded. With COVID-19 and the
deficit, he doesn't see all of these projects being funded, but the city should put its
best foot forward in submitting all the projects. Just to be clear, Opa-locka is the only
municipality that is in fmancial emergency out of all the municipalities represented
by the House and Senate within this area. Because the city is in a financial
emergency, a lot of these requests that go up have visibility of the State Inspector
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General's Office as well as the Governor's Office. The worst thing the city could do
is to not ask at all.
In terms of the three priorities mentioned in the discussion, Commissioner Taylor
asked is that was something that was required or is the city trying to push all projects
listed in the packet?
Manager Pate said this is the first time he is hearing about top three priorities which
may be Senate guidance, but not the guidance he received from the House per
Representative James Bush. He said he was not recommending the Commission
select three particular projects to push forward. The city is completing the legislative
paperwork for all projects. If the legislators feel like the city should narrow down the
projects to three projects then they typically come back to the city. At that point, he
has no problem re -presenting this to the Commission.
Mayor Pigatt asked, which packet is the Commission voting on, the packet that is a
part of the agenda or the packet received at the start of the meeting?
Manager Pate advised that the Commission is voting on the packet received at the
start of the meeting. The only changes were mainly dollar amounts because the city
did account for the 50% match.
Mayor Pigatt asked if an amendment was necessary to incorporate the new legislative
packet provided.
Attorney Cobbs advised that it just needed to be made known what is going to be the
exhibit.
Mayor Pigatt asked if the dollar amount in the new packet are cut in half from what
was received previously.
Assistant City Manager Ellis replied, on some of them, but not on the major
infrastructure projects. He briefly explained the legislative process. The city has been
fortunate to have people reach out to assist the city and one of those persons is
Yolanda Cash Jackson who has been very helpful with giving knowledge on the
process, along with the staff for State Representative James Bush who has reached
out to the city. The city has been following those recommendations. In the
infrastructure, since that is the number one priority that the legislature have this year,
the city thought it was best to keep those numbers there because at the end of the day,
they never give what was asked for. With the other projects, the city went down to
half of what is being requested.
Mayor Pigatt said he was a little confused because in reviewing both packages the
numbers appear to be the same with the exception of the Crime Prevention
Technologies.
He further asked, are all these projects currently budgeted in the current budget and
Five Year Recovery Plan as it relates to the city's 50% match?
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Assistant City Manager Ellis replied, no.
Mayor Pigatt expressed his concerns relating to the city's 50% match should a
project get funded.
Manager Pate explained that none of these priorities are budgeted for and none of
these are slated. Some infrastructure projects are in the Five Year Recovery Plan so it
will require budgetary adjustments based on what the legislature comes back with.
Mayor Pigatt stated that last year and the year before last the city focused on making
sure the four major challenges were addressed. Most likely there is funding in the
Five Year Recovery Plan for items 1, 2 and 4 infrastructure projects. The other stuff
needs to be figured out because if the city were to accept a 50% match, they would
have to pay for the 50% match which would affect the Five Year Recovery Plan and
getting out of financial recovery. In particular, the city wants to push as much as
possible, but as Commissioner Davis mentioned about appointing a member of the
Commission as lobbyist and really being clear of what the goals are. If the city has
someone in Tallahassee, that person must know what the top three priorities are and
those top three are the ones they already have funding in the budget to move those
forward. He said he is completely fine with what is being presented right now
because these are things they want to see happening in the city, but the Commission
must take consideration if some of these get approved how it would affect the city
getting out of financial recovery.
Manager Pate said that the Commission has to appoint a lobbyist quickly. He asked,
can the Commission discuss who that person may be to be able to prepare the item
for the next agenda?
Because this was a special commission meeting, Mayor Pigatt said the discussion is
limited to the agenda item. He suggested that the City Manager sponsor that item to
appoint someone as the city's official lobbyist to be presented at the next commission
meeting.
Manager Pate said it would be his pleasure to sponsor the legislation.
There being no further discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Davis Yes
Commissioner Taylor Yes
Vice Mayor Williams Yes
Commissioner Burke Yes
Mayor Pigatt Yes
7. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by
Commission Davis, seconded by Vice Mayor Williams to adjourn the meeting at 6:10
p.m.
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ATTEST:
Jo 1 a Flores, CMC
Ci Clerk
Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021