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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-Septembet 23, 2015 Second budget Hearing CITY OF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES SECOND BUDGET HEARING September 23, 2015 5:01 P.M. Opa-locka Municipal Complex 780 Fisherman Street, 2"d Floor Opa-locka, FL 33054 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Myra L. Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 in the Auditorium at Sherbondy Village, 215 President Barack Obama (Perviz) Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida. 2. ROLL CALL: The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley, Commissioner Luis B. Santiago, and Mayor Myra L. Taylor. Also in attendance were: City Manager Roy Stephen Shiver, Jr., City Attorney Vincent T. Brown, and City Clerk Joanna Flores. Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes and Commissioner Terence K. Pinder were not in attendance. 3. INVOCATION: The Invocation was delivered by Former Commissioner Steven Barrett. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. 5. FIRST READING ORDINANCES/PUBLIC HEARING: a). AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA- LOCKA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL MILLAGE RATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2015 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; SETTING FORTH PUBLIC HEARING DATES; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (first reading held on September 10, 2015). Sponsored by C.M. The above ordinance was read by title by Attorney Brown. Faye Douglas, Budget Administrator read Section 2 of the ordinance into the record as follows: "The City Commission of the City of Opa-locka hereby adopts and establishes Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/23/2015 1 the millage rate of the City of Opa-locka for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, commencing October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016, at 8.9000 mills, which is $8.9000 per $1,000.00 of assessed property value within the City of Opa-locka. This represents a 15.86% increase over the rolled-back rate of 7.6818 mills. It was moved by Commissioner Santiago, seconded by Commissioner Kelley to discuss the ordinance. Commissioner Kelley said they have to allow the citizens to speak before the Commission has deliberation. Attorney Brown said once the item is read into the record it is announced to the public and the item has to be open for discussion, but he understand the city has did it different in the past. They have to make a motion and a second then at that point they can have public hearings and once public hearing is closed the Commission can have their debate. Commissioner Kelley said they need legislation to establish a process. He removed his second because he wants to hear from the citizens first. Commissioner Santiago said he wants to hear the citizens' concerns or they can continue the meeting until a later date. Attorney Brown said the state statute requires that they have public input; it does not tell you when to have public input. There has to be an item on the floor to discuss. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for a public hearing. 1. Steven Barrett of 633 Sharar Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida, appeared before the City Commission and said as a citizen he does not have any input because they did not receive the budget information in advance to review prior to the meeting. 2. Dante Starks appeared before the City Commission and said when the millage rate was read into the record, they should have included the dollar amount for the ad valorem taxes to give the citizens a better understanding. 3. Eric Redmon of 2766 NW 131St Street, Opa-locka, Florida, appeared before the City Commission and said he is in agreement with Code Enforcement merging with the Police Department. Mayor Taylor informed Mr. Redmon that he can only speak on the agenda items. There being no persons to speak, the public hearing was closed. It was moved by Commissioner Santiago, seconded by Commissioner Kelley to discuss the ordinance. Commissioner Santiago requested to recess the meeting because of the confusion. Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/23/2015 2 Ms. Douglas appeared before the City Commission and said the recommendation is for a 8.9000 millage rate; that will bring in $5,948,725 in ad valorem revenue and the difference is an increase of$498,238. Commissioner Kelley asked, is it his understanding that the millage rate can go down, but it can't go up? Ms. Douglas said that is correct. Commissioner Santiago said he heard the concerns of the citizens and they did not get the information in a timely manner. He asked, what is the time limit to pass the budget? Manager Shiver said the budget has to be passed by September 30`h. He apologized for providing the information to the Commission in a short time, but he went through the budget with his staff until late the previous night. In addition, he thanked his staff for the hard work and dedication. He welcomed a recess to allow them an opportunity to print the budget for the public and sit with the Commission individually to discuss the budget. The city has challenges and that's why he is stressing the urgency of structurally moving forward with the budget that will ensure a longtime liability and not reduce services. Commissioner Santiago suggested that the meeting be recessed to make sure the citizens and Commission have time to review the document. Mayor Taylor asked, can they separate agenda item 5a and 5b? Attorney Brown said agenda item "A" is a stand-alone item. Manager Shiver said the millage cannot be increased and he does not believe it is in the city's best interest to vote agenda item 5a down. Commissioner Santiago asked, what is the urgency of passing agenda item 5a? Manager Shiver said it's not an urgency. Attorney Brown said legally the recommendation is to approve to set the millage rate at its ceiling. There being no further discussion, the motion passed by a 3-0 vote. Commissioner Kelley Yes Commissioner Pinder Not Present Commissioner Santiago Yes Vice Mayor Holmes Not Present Mayor Taylor Yes Mayor Taylor asked the City Clerk, does the audience have a copy of the budget? Clerk Flores replied, no. Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/23/2015 3 Mayor Taylor requested to recess the meeting. Manager Shiver said the meeting can be recessed until tomorrow, but it has to be a time certain. Clerk Flores said there is an advertising requirement and she will not meet the deadline. She suggested that the meeting be recessed until a date next week. Attorney Brown said the continued hearing must be held 2 to 5 days after the continuation notice is advertised in the newspaper. Commissioner Kelley said he will not be available tomorrow or Friday because he has previous commitments, but he can make himself available next week. It was moved by Commissioner Santiago, seconded by Commissioner Kelley to recess this meeting until September 29, 2015 at 5:01 p.m. Commissioner Kelley said anything that may impact staff reduction and/or services to the citizens he would like to receive in advance. Mayor Taylor asked, is that included in the budget? Manager Shiver replied, yes. There being no further discussion, the motion passed by a 3-0 vote. Commissioner Santiago Yes Commissioner Pinder Not Present Commissioner Kelley Yes Vice Mayor Holmes Not Present Mayor Taylor Yes b). AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA- LOCKA, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016, INCLUDING THE GENERAL, SPECIAL REVENUE, PROPRIETARY, CAPITAL AND DEBT SERVICE FUND BUDGETS, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2015, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; 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 held on September 10, 2015). Sponsored by C.M. Agenda item 5b was continued until September 29, 2015 at 5:01 p.m. Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/23/2015 4 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Commissioner Kelley, seconded by Commissioner Santiago to continue the 2nd Budget Hearing on September 29, 2015 at 5:01 p.m. I MAbOR ATTEST: 0,:k6a,kia /J CITY CLERK Second Budget Hearing Minutes—09/23/2015 5