HomeMy Public PortalAbout09- September 27, 2011 2nd Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes CITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
SECOND BUDGET HEARING
September 27,2011
5:01 P.M.
City Commission Chambers
777 Sharazad Boulevard
Opa-locka,FL 33054
1. ROLL CALL:
The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, Miami-Dade County, Florida met for the
Second Budget Hearing on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 5:09 p.m. in the City
Commission Chambers, 777 Sharazad Boulevard, Opa-locka, Florida. The following
members were present: Commissioner Rose Tydus, Vice Mayor Dorothy Johnson,
Commissioner Timothy Holmes, Commissioner Gail E. Miller and Mayor Myra L.
Taylor. Also in attendance were: Interim City Manager Bryan Finnie, City Clerk Deborah
S. Irby and City Attorney Joseph S. Geller.
2. INVOCATION:
The Invocation was delivered by Mayor Myra L. Taylor.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
4. SECOND READING ORDINANCES/PUBLIC HEARING:
Attorney Geller asked if he should read all items because he believed that's what he did
last time.
Mayor Taylor said it was okay, but the Commission will discuss them one at a time.
A. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA ADOPTING A FINAL MILLAGE
RATE FOR THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, PURSUANT
TO SECTION 200.065,FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR FISCAL YEAR
2011-2012, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2011 THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2012; SETTING PUBLIC HEARING DATES;
PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS;
PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING
Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/27/2011 1
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (first reading / public hearing held on
September 6,2011). Sponsored by C.M.
B. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE
CITY'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2011-2012, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2011, THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2012; PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENDITURE
OF FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET, AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS;
PROVIDING FOR APPROPRIATION OF ALL BUDGET
EXPENDITURES; PROVIDING FOR FEES CONSISTENT WITH
APPROPRIATION AND AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICT AND REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (first
reading / public hearing held on September 13, 2011). Sponsored by
C.M.
C. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE
CITY'S PROPRIETARY AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012, COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2012;
PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS
ESTABLISHED BY THE BUDGET, AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR
APPROPRIATION OF ALL BUDGET EXPENDITURES;
PROVIDING FOR FEES CONSISTENT WITH APPROPRIATION
AND AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF
RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT AND REPEALER;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE (first reading/public hearing held on September
13,2011). Sponsored by C.M.
The above ordinances were read by title by Attorney Geller.
Vice Mayor Johnson expressed her concern with the City Attorney reading all items at
once as oppose to individually.
Attorney Geller explained that he believed this was how it was done the last time and he
thought the intent was so that the public hearing would allow the speakers to speak on
any of the items; and that is why he asked the Mayor before he did.
Vice Mayor Johnson stated that the attorney must get the consensus of the whole
Commission.
Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/27/2011 2
Mayor Taylor added that she would allow the three items to be separately discussed.
Even if the City Attorney wanted to read all ordinances, Vice Mayor Johnson said he
would have to get the consensus of the whole Commission.
Attorney Geller stated that all three items have to be discussed by the Commission and
voted on separately.
Mayor Taylor opened the public hearing on ordinances 4A, 4B, and 4C.
1. Nathan Mallory of 1820 Ali-baba Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida came forward in
support of the Community Empowerment Team (CET) located in the Cultural Arts
Center and urged the Commission to do whatever possible to allow the CET program to
remain to provide services.
Vice Mayor Johnson stated that the Weed & Seed program will continue providing some
of the same services provided by CET to the citizens of Opa-locka.
2. Prophetess Celeste Fitzpatrick of 2523 Opa-locka Boulevard, Opa-locka, Florida,
appeared before the City Commission and expressed her budgetary concerns relating to
the police department. Additionally, she made mention of a Code Enforcement concern at
2527 Opa-locka Boulevard where there are numerous churches in a warehouse operating
without the proper licenses.
3. Arthanial Mohammad of 1815 Ali-babe Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida, came
forward in support of the Community Empowerment Team (CET). He said that the CET
program has assisted many residents, especially in the Triangle area.
He requested that the Commission include monies in the budget to extend the shuttle bus
operating days to include weekends and extend the route. Additionally, he requested
additional lighting on Ali-baba Avenue east of NW 22nd Avenue and increased police
visibility in aforementioned area.
Vice Mayor Johnson recalled requesting a feasibility study on the shuttle bus schedule to
find out what days the shuttle is being used the least. In previous conversations with staff,
she said she was told that even if the shuttle bus went to Wal-Mart, it couldn't stop along
the way. She suggested that the shuttle bus travel directly from Walgreens to Wal-Mart.
She reported an incident when the shuttle bus was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Manager Finnie recommended that the Commission report the speeding immediately to
him so that he can call the company who will utilize the GPS tracking device to monitor
the location and speed of the buses. He reported that he had begun discussions with the
company regarding the expansion of services.
Second Budget Hearing Minutes-09/27/2011 3
Vice Mayor Johnson asked that the City Manager look into including bus benches in
some of the areas for the shuttle bus routes.
Manager Finnie informed the Commission that a memorandum would be forthcoming on
the bus bench issue.
4. Steven Barrett of 633 Sharar Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida, appeared before the
City Commission and suggested that they hire a financial advisor to monitor every
department of the city for at least the next six months. The financial advisor should only
answer to the Commission and this would provide information as to where the city is
financially.
5. Mr. Fritz of 1316 Dunad Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida, came forward in support of
the Community Empowerment Team (CET). He submitted a petition with signatures
requesting that the city allow the CET program remain open.
There being no further persons to speak on the public hearing, the public hearing was
closed.
It was moved by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Miller to pass
Ordinance 4A.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Tydus Yes
Commissioner Miller Yes
Commissioner Holmes Yes
Vice Mayor Johnson Yes
Mayor Taylor Yes
It was moved Commissioner Miller, seconded by Commissioner Holmes to pass
Ordinance 4B.
Vice Mayor Johnson made reference to the section in the charter which provides how the
budget should be outlined. According to the charter, the city must provide an itemized
budget. She has continuously, even during the last meeting, asked staff to provide an
itemized budget. However, the budget is not itemized and it does not justify any amount
or where the amount originated.
After being contacted by a citizen of Opa-locka who referred her to a Director of Finance
from a municipality in Broward County, she spoke to the individual and the City
Manager. She said she was told the city's numbers are generated from the historic
numbers and that is very hard to digest. She expressed her disapproval of staff continuing
to provide the Commission with numbers without justification. The city is in need of an
independent individual to look at the city's numbers because it is her opinion that
accurate information is not being provided.
Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/27/2011 4
She further requested that the Commission allow Ms. King to address them relating to her
experience in budgeting. She said that Ms. King managed a 15 Million Dollar budget and
she was not looking for a job. Additionally, Ms. King was providing the information pro
bono.
Kaola King, Ex Finance Budget Director of the Town of Lauderdale by the Sea appeared
before the City Commission.
Mayor Taylor asked for the consensus of the Commission to allow Ms. King to speak.
There being no objections from the Commission, Mayor Taylor asked that Ms. King
proceed with the presentation.
Vice Mayor Johnson asked for Ms. King's professional opinion after reviewing the city's
budget.
Upon reviewing the city's budget, Ms. King said that her first thought was the
justification in the numbers to show what the numbers consist of. Without having that
documentation, there is no real reason to vote on the budget without having the
knowledge of knowing what it represents.
She stated that the budget reflect lump sum amounts and are not itemized to provide
justification of the amounts for accountability purposes. Additionally, she observed that
in the police budget (pages 119 — 121) reflects what was adopted for this fiscal year and
that was carried over for FY 2012. When working on a proposed budget, the city is
proposing what was spent, the expenditures for the current fiscal year and not as oppose
to just forwarding over what was adopted for the current fiscal year.
For the record, Vice Mayor Johnson asked if the advisement provided was pro bono or
was there a cost?
Ms. King stated that the information she had provided was pro bono.
There being no further discussion, the motion passed by a 4-1 vote.
Commissioner Miller Yes
Commissioner Holmes Yes
Vice Mayor Johnson No
Commissioner Tydus Yes
Mayor Taylor Yes
It was moved by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Miller to pass
Ordinance 4C.
There being no discussion, the motion passed by a 4-1 vote.
Second Budget Hearing Minutes-09/27/2011 5
Commissioner Holmes Yes
Vice Mayor Johnson No
Commissioner Tydus Yes
Commissioner Miller Yes
Mayor Taylor Yes
5. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by
Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Miller to adjourn the meeting at 5:40
p.m.
M / OR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/27/2011