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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 1 Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021 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 2 Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021 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 3 Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021 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? 4 Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021 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. 5 Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021 ATTEST: Jo 1 a Flores, CMC Ci Clerk Special Commission Meeting Minutes — February 1, 2021