HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-September 13, 2016 First Budget Hearing CITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
FIRST BUDGET HEARING
TUESDAY, September 13, 2016
5:01 P.M.
Sherbondy Village Auditorium
215 President Barack Obama (Perviz) Avenue
Opa-locka,FL 33054
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Myra Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 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: Mayor Myra L. Taylor, Vice
Mayor Timothy Holmes, Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley and Commissioner John B. Riley. Also
in attendance were: Acting City Manager Yvette Harrell, City Attorney Vincent T. Brown, and
City Clerk Joanna Flores. Commissioner Luis B. Santiago arrived at 5:18 p.m.
3. INVOCATION:
The invocation was delivered by Commissioner John B. Riley.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
Merritt Steirheim, Deputy City Manager, said that he previously provided an unfinished report to
the city commission and the state oversight board and he will touch on a few key points. The
report is unfinished because it is fluid. The budget has been under estimated and there is a lot of
numbers that needs to be figured out and reported. The City will end the fiscal year in the red
which is a violation of state law. For the year to end in the black, funds will have to be taken
from the utility reserves to balance the budget. The City will try not to take anything from the
general fund reserves. The proposed budget will be extremely tight and there is no room for
anything. The administration needs to be professionalized and it cannot be done without money.
The deficiencies are great and there is a lack of accountability on the part of staff. There is no
free money! If the City is lucky, it might be able to receive the tax money early, but there is no
free money. A loan might be obtained, but it will need to be paid back. He recommended that the
millage rate remain where it is. He said that he will have additional recommendations for the
commission at the end of the week.
City Manager Harrell said that she has been working side by side with Mr. Steirheim, and she
shared his recommendation to leave the millage rate as is as it will have an impact on the budget.
First Budget Hearing Minutes—09/13/2016 1
Mayor Taylor acknowledged Mr. Lazaro Solis from the tax appraiser's office. He is there to
make himself available to residents and answer any questions they may have regarding appealing
their tax bill. She asked him to come before the commission and speak.
Lazaro Solis, 13391 SW 41st Lane, Miami FL said that he is there to answer assessment
questions from the residents.
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 2016-2017, SETTING
FORTH PUBLIC HEARING DATES; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF
RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABLITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE. Sponsored by City Manager
The above ordinance was read by title by Attorney Brown.
Mayor Taylor opened the floor for a public hearing, there being no persons to speak on the
public hearing, the public hearing was closed.
It was moved by Commissioner Kelley, seconded by Vice Mayor Holmes to pass the ordinance.
There being no further discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 3-2 vote.
Commissioner Kelley No
Commissioner Riley Yes
Commissioner Santiago No
Vice Mayor Holmes Yes
Mayor Taylor Yes
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 2016-2017, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2016,
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2017; 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 CONFLICT AND
REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sponsored by City Manager
The above ordinance was read by title by Attorney Brown.
Mayor Taylor opened the floor for a public hearing.
Naeem Uddin, Vice President of Grace & Naeem Uddin Inc., asked the commission if there was
a line item in the budget for the city hall renovations.
First Budget Hearing Minutes—09/13/2016 2
City Manager Harrell said, "Yes there is." She said it is in the budget as capital improvement
projects which consists of all of the projects in the City.
Mr. Uddin asked where in the budget the funds were for the city hall project. He also requested a
copy of the proposed budget for FY 2016—2017.
Mayor Taylor asked Mr. Uddin to speak with the finance director regarding his request.
There being no persons to speak on the public hearing, the public hearing was closed.
It was moved by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Santiago for discussion.
Commissioner Santiago said that he missed the workshop last week and he was not able to sit
with the city manager and discuss the budget. There are a lot of questions regarding the budget
and the state is waiting on the City to submit the proposed budget. He said that there is an error
in the 3rd whereas of the supporting documents for the ordinance.
City Manager Harrell said that there is an error and the budget year should read FY 2016—2017.
Commissioner Santiago said that the City needs to ensure that the budget is correct and also only
spend the monies that are available. The high salaries need to be adjusted and everyone needs to
sacrifice.
Commissioner Riley said that there has been no proposed numbers for a bridge loan and a team
has to be put together to determine what that amount will be.
Commissioner Kelley said that it was mentioned that there will be organizational structure
changes and he hopes that it does not mean layoffs.
City Manager Harrell said that there has been no agreement with the unions and the budget was
created to reflect that everyone who is currently employed with the City will remain employed.
There being no further discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 4-1 vote.
Commissioner Riley Yes
Commissioner Santiago Yes
Vice Mayor Holmes Yes
Commissioner Kelley No
Mayor Taylor Yes
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 2016-2017,
COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2016, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2017; 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 REPEAL OF ALL
First Budget Hearing Minutes—09/13/2016 3
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.Sponsored by City Manager
The above ordinance was read by title by Attorney Brown.
Mayor Taylor opened the floor for a public hearing, there being no persons to speak on the
public hearing, the public hearing was closed.
It was moved by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Vice Mayor Holmes to pass the ordinance.
There being no further discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 5-0 vote.
Commissioner Santiago Yes
Vice Mayor Holmes Yes
Commissioner Kelley Yes
Commissioner Riley Yes
Mayor Taylor Yes
Mayor Taylor said that a resolution was passed to use reserve funds to make payroll. She said
that she knows that the City owes everyone, but she wants to make sure the employees can be
paid.
7. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by
Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner S-ntiago to as•s. • the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
/ MAYOR
ATTEST:
A4g,
CITY CLERK
First Budget Hearing Minutes—09/13/2016 4