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HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-December 19, 2016 Recessed Second Budget Hearing CITY OF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES RECESSED SECOND BUDGET HEARING MONDAY,December 19, 2016 5:01 P.M. Sherbondy Village Auditorium 215 Perviz Avenue Opa-locka, FL 33054 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Myra Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:01p.m. on Monday, December 19, 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 Joseph L. Kelley, Commissioner Timothy Holmes, Commissioner John Riley, and Commissioner Matthew Pigatt. Also in attendance were: City Manager Yvette Harrell, City Attorney Vincent T. Brown, and City Clerk Joanna Flores. 3. INVOCATION: The invocation was delivered by Commissioner John Riley. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. 5. RESOLUTION: a) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA- LOCKA, FLORIDA, REAFFIRMING THE ADOPTION OF THE MILLAGE ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager The above resolution 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 Kelley to pass the resolution. Commissioner Holmes asked the city manager if she has addressed the issues that the state had regarding the budget. Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 1 City Manager Harrell said that all of the 172 items from the state and the 35 items from Mr. Steirheim were addressed. Vice Mayor Kelley asked the city manager if the commission was copied on the responses provided to the state. City Manager Harrell said "No." Mayor Taylor asked the city manager if the commission had already adopted the millage rate then why are they doing it again. City Manager Harrell said that the millage rate was adopted, but a final millage rate has to be adopted simultaneously with the budget according the state laws. There being no further discussion, the motion on the resolution passed by a 5-0 vote. Vice Mayor Kelley Yes Commissioner Pigatt Yes Commissioner Riley Yes Commissioner Holmes Yes Mayor Taylor Yes 6. SECOND READING ORDINANCES/PUBLIC HEARING: a) 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, there being no persons to speak on the public hearing, the public hearing was closed. It was moved by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner Pigatt to pass the ordinance. Mayor Taylor asked the city manager if all of the items from the state have been addressed. City Manager Harrell said "Yes." Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director, said that the millage rate was set at 10.0 which is the maximum that it can be set at. The employee salaries were cut to by 2% for those who earn less than $50,000.00 annually; 5% for those who earn less than $70,000.00; and 10% for those who Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 2 earn over $70,000.00. It added up to a savings of over four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00). The organizational chart was adjusted to reflect the numbers. The budget also contains all of the prior year's funds and money has been allocated to continue the renovations of the Old City Hall building. Commissioner Riley said that numbers are not actual because the City has not received an audit. He asked when will there be an audit. City Manager Harrell said that she is going to meet with Mr. Brunson to discuss the time frame for the audit. Commissioner Riley said that the state is aware that there has been no audit and yet they have asked for the actual numbers concerning the budget. He said that the City does not have the totals to furnish actual numbers. City Attorney Brown said that once the budget has been approve, the state will then review it and any changes needed can be done at that time. Vice Mayor Kelley asked where the City was with the franchise fees and the waste haulers. City Attorney Brown explained that the City is still trying to determine how much is owed for franchise fees. Vice Mayor Kelley said that the Parks Department is always renting out the facilities and there should be more revenue accounted for. He is also concerned as to how only two (2) Code Enforcement officers can do the job in a department that once had five (5). He asked why there aren't more officers on the street, but there is a secretary and a customer service position in the budget. City Manager Harrell said that the customer service representative was brought back because of the ongoing litigation and she cannot go into detail. The reduction of staff in each department is the reason that the number is where it is right now for Code Enforcement. Vice Mayor Kelley asked the city attorney to look into what is being done about the litigation of the employee in question. He said that Building and License has an increase in their budget for education. Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director said that the part time employees have certain certification that they need to continue to provide services to the City and that is the reason for the increase. Vice Mayor Kelley asked the Finance director if there were funds put into the budget for Parks and Recreation. Commissioner Holmes asked if this was a hearing or a workshop because all of this talk makes it seem as though it is a workshop. He said they should be voting on the item. Vice Mayor Kelley said that he is not going to vote on something that he is not clear about. He said that he just received the information and wants to be clear on what is being budgeted. He Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 3 went on to question the tier for the employees (2%, 5%, and 10%) salary cuts; he asked if there was any consideration taken for employees who make less than $25,000.00 annually. City Manager Harrell said that the guidance that was given from the board stated that there should be cuts across the board for everyone and it should be from 2% to 25%. The budget before the commission includes the employees returning back to a 40 hour work week. She asked the vice mayor if he would like for staff to find the money elsewhere and exempt the employees who make less than $25,000.00 not to be cut. Vice Mayor Kelley said that it is late in the process to go back and crunch numbers because the budget needs to be passed. He said that he did not receive the packet on time. He would like for the city manager to look into finding more funds to not cut the employees in question and more funding for Parks and Recreation programs including the Seniors on the Move program. Commissioner Pigatt said that he received his packet on Friday for review and does not understand why the vice mayor did not receive his until yesterday. He would like for the commission to receive reports and information in advance so that they have time to review the information. He asked the manager if any of the numbers changed since the last meeting regarding Code Enforcement, Parks and Recreation, and personnel. Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director, said that with the exception of personnel, none of the other things have been touched. City Manager Harrell said that after speaking to the finance director, she decided not to cut the budget as deeply. Commissioner Pigatt asked if there was any legislation that governs the process by which the budget is completed. City Manager Harrell said that she is not aware of any legislation, but she will look into it. Commissioner Holmes said that all of the questions that are being asked tonight should have been done long time ago. To try and hash out all of the issues tonight is wrong. It does not work like this. He has been doing this over twenty years (20) and has never seen it like this. It is not right. There being no further discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Pigatt Yes Commissioner Riley Yes Commissioner Holmes Yes Vice Mayor Kelley Yes Mayor Taylor Yes b) 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 Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 4 FOR APPROPRIATION OF ALL BUDGET EXPENDITURES; PROVIDING FOR FEES CONSISTENT WITH APPROPRIATION AND AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL 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 Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Riley for discussion. Commissioner Riley said that he reviewed the budget and remembers that David Morris said that it was a bare bones budget, but it was balanced; he agrees. Vice Mayor Kelley asked if the historic city hall was being funded totally or as a percentage. Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director, said that it is being funded as a percentage. Vice Mayor Kelley asked how much was being funded. Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director, said that seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000.00) was being funded. Vice Mayor Kelley asked if the funds were reimbursable. Charmaine Parchment, Finance Director, said yes. She said the City has to pay first and then be reimbursed. Vice Mayor Kelley said that the reimbursement should be explained clearly while discussing the historic city hall funds because then otherwise people who are watching will think that if they have budgeted the funds, then why is the work not being done. It sends the wrong message. He asked the city manager if there are funds available or the can the City apply for the reimbursement to begin the work on city hall. City Manager Harrell said that she does not know if it requires additional legislation in order to apply. City Attorney Brown said that if it is included in the proposed budget ordinance then it satisfies the requirement. Vice Mayor Kelley said that he wants the project to move forward right away. Commissioner Riley said that there is a forty five thousand dollar ($45,000.00) deductible that has to be paid to the Florida League of Cities. The total premium is nearly two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) and the City cannot afford it. There being no further discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 5-0 vote. Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 5 Commissioner Riley Yes Commissioner Pigatt Yes Vice Mayor Holmes Yes Commissioner Kelley Yes Mayor Taylor Yes City Attorney Brown said that according to the interlocal agreement between the state and the City, a five year recovery plan has to be submitted along with the proposed budget so that the City does not violate the terms of the agreement. The five year recovery plan needs to be adopted as soon as possible. Mayor Taylor asked the city clerk to poll the commission for availability. Commissioner Pigatt said that he is concerned that he has just received the five year recovery plan yesterday and has to vote on it in one week. He asked the city manager for clarity. City Manager Harrell said that she has been saying consistently that she was working on the plan. The plan has been tweaked several times and still needs more information. She understands his concern, but they have been working diligently with limited staff and it takes time to complete. If he needs more time to review then that is fine, but he should know that the City remains in default and has to become compliant as soon as possible. Commissioner Pigatt asked the city attorney if he can reach out to the state and request an extension so that the commission has time to thoroughly review the recovery plan. City Attorney Brown said that he will reach out to the state. 7. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Commissioner H• mes to ad;s• .4e meeting at 6:38p.m. •- MAYOR ATTEST: . ` t CITY CLERK Recessed Second Budget Hearing Minutes—12/19/2016 6