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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011-06-21 Workshop MeetingBAL HARBOUR VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING - JUNE 21, 2011 a A Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at the Bal Harbour Village Hall Council Chamber (655 — 96t Street, Bal Harbour, Florida). 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 5:50 p.m. by Mayor Rosenfield. The following were present: Mayor Jean Rosenfield Assistant Mayor Joni D. Blachan Councilwoman Patricia Cohen Councilman Martin Packer Councilman Jaime M. Sanz Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager Ellisa Horvath, MMC, Village Clerk Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge was led by Mrs. Susan Packer, Councilman Packer's wife. 3: DISCUSSION OF 2011 /2012 BUDGET: Mr. Wallace reviewed a Powerpoint presentation. Assistant Mayor Blachar arrived Mr. Wallace discussed the recommendation to move Beautification and Maintenance back to the Tourism Fund. Brian Mulheren, 10245 Collins Avenue, questioned the total amount of money in the tourism budget and the general fund. Mr. Wallace explained that Beautification and Maintenance had been moved to the General Fund and was provided with half of the resort tax revenue from the St. Regis Development Agreement, but noted that landscaping costs had increased and the General Fund hadto cover more of the maintenance expenses. He explained that moving Beautification & Maintenance back into the Tourism Fund would allow for resort tax money to be used for it. Councilman Sanz requested that budget figures be provided at the next meeting. He spoke against raising taxes. Mr. Wallace will provide the figures once the figures were received from the Property Appraiser, the State, and the St. Regis. 1 Assistant Mayor Blachar arrived at the beginning of the Powerpoint presentation. Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 06/21/2011 1 Mr. Wallace requested that the items pointed out be moved and by doing so should allow the Village to keep taxes down. He explained that the Village was trying not to have a tax increase. He anticipated increasing the millage rate, in order to raise the same dollars. Mayor Rosenfield requested direction on moving Beautification & Maintenance to the Tourism Fund. Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned the impact on the Tourism fund. Mr. Wallace explained that the fund would generate $150,000.00-$200,000.00 less from the St. Regis, but would be generating more from the other revenue sources, based on .history. He explained that the impact would be less money available for tourism marketing, etc. Mr. Treppeda reported that Beautification & Maintenance had historically been charged to the Tourism Fund and the move to the General Fund was temporary, due to the Development Agreement. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, requested the amount of money in the Tourism fund. Mr. Wallace reported it to be between $1 .5 million and $1.7 million. Mr. Alter suggested that the prior year budget be provided at the meeting. Mayor Rosenfield reported that the budget was available online. Mr. Alter requested the amount of money the . red light cameras generated and if it was being used. Mr. Treppeda reported that the revenue from the red light cameras was included in the General Fund revenue. Mr. Wallace estimated it to be $750,000.00 annually. It was the consensus of the Council to return the Beautification & Maintenance to the Tourism fund Mr. Wallace discussed the recommendation to outsource Sold Waste and/or charge separately for Solid Waste. Mr. Treppeda reported that Bal Harbour was one of only a few communities that didn't charge separately for solid waste. Mr. Wallace explained that the cost was for the collection /disposal of solid waste. He noted that the Village would likely request bids, to see. if it should be outsourced. Mr. Wallace explained that it was also more common for solid waste services to be billed separately, either by the municipality or by a special assessment on the County tax bill. He noted that it was rare for solid waste to be included in the Village's tax levy, because by doing so the millage rate appeared to be higher. He estimated the cost of solid waste collection/disposal to be approximately $700,000.00, not including costs to replace garbage trucks, equipment, etc. He suggested that the cost for solid waste be taken out of the millage rate and billed separately. Mr. Wallace explained different options for charging based on taxable value or amount consumed. He estimated a lower cost through outsourcing or other mechanism and that it be billed differently to lower the millage rate and add a new amount to be billed separately. Assistant Mayor Blachar requested the approximate cost if it was billed separately. Mr. Wallace didn't know, but reported that in Broward County the cost was approximately $220-$600 per year, per single family home. Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minuws 06/21/2011 2 Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned if the Village would have to get rid of some employees if the garbage was outsourced, or if the Village could have an agreement with the company selected to hire them. Mr. Wallace explained that the requirement would normally be for the new company to hire the Village employees. Councilwoman Cohen discussed the importance of the ability for homeowners to call or schedule a pickup or to provide an organized pickup for landscaping debris. Mr. Wallace explained that the Village would need to decide the level of service it wanted and how those needs should be addressed. He discussed the establishment of a bulk pickup schedule, procedures for calls, etc. before putting it out to bid. Councilwoman Cohen discussed respect for the environment and noted that the landscaping didn't look as nice, since the dump was removed in the Village (people are not cutting as often, etc.). Mayor Rosenfield questioned if the Village should bill separately for solid waste. Mr. Wallace explained that property taxes would decrease and the special assessment would increase. Brian Mulheren, 10245 Collins Avenue, spoke against outsourcing, without knowing the cost. He questioned the amount the Shops paid. Mr. Treppeda reported that the Shops paid based on . their property value.. Mr. Mulheren did not think that the Shops were assessed at the proper amount. Councilwoman Cohen agreed that the Shops generated alot more garbage. Assistant Mayor Blachar pointed out that the .Shops helped the Village's ability to lower its tax rate. Mr. Treppeda reported that the Property Appraiser would have to address that. Mr. Mulheren suggested that a study be done for the Council to then review the issue. Councilwoman Cohen spoke in favor of the Council knowing the percentage of what the Shops was paying. Mr. Treppeda estimated it to be quite high. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, requested specific information on the savings, if the Village were to outsource solid waste. Mayor Rosenfield pointed out that the approval for a study was on the Regular Council Agenda for consideration. She clarified that the Village was one of the few municipalities that didn't charge for solid waste. She explained that the Council needed to consider if a study should be done, since that would cost money. Mr. Alter requested the amount of the Solid Waste budget. Mr. Treppeda reported the current budget for Solid Waste was $725,000.00. This item will be discussed at the Regular Council Meeting, following the Budget Workshop Meeting tonight Mr. Wallace advised that the Village wouldn't know how much of the current Maintenance Budget would be transferred to the Security District from the General Fund until after the Gated Residential Section Advisory Committee gave direction to the Council. He noted that the .amount transferred would reduce the Village's Maintenance Budget by the same amount. Mayor Rosenfield reported that the Gated Residential Section Advisory Committee would be selected at the Regular Council Meeting, following the Budget Workshop Meeting tonight. Ba1 Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 06/21/2011 3 The Council discussed Other Issues. Mr. Treppeda reported that Chief Hunker would contribute more to the budget from the Forfeiture fund. Chief Hunker reported that he would be presenting a budget for the Task Force and estimated that $100,000.00 in salaries would be moved from the Police budget to the Task Force. He will also provide the figures for the red light camera revenue, but estimated it should be over $1 million. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, requested statistics on the impact of the cameras and the accident rates that were prevented, since the cameras were installed. Chief Hunker reported a decrease in accidents and explained the advantage of having them captured on video. He reported that some costs were paid from the $1 million revenue. He reported that personnel had not been increased for the program. Brian Mulheren, 10245 Collins Avenue, discussed the importance of the cameras, which could also capture crimes. Chief Hunker discussed the concept of body cameras for Officers, which would be presented at the next Council meeting. He discussed the use of cameras to also look at license plates entering/exiting the Village. He pointed out that all of the cameras would be paid from the Forfeiture fund. He clarified that the red light cameras paid for themselves. Councilman Sanz questioned the body cameras. Chief Hunker explained that they would be placed on the Officers. 4. ADJOURN: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:56 Attest: Ellisa L. Horvath, C, Village Clerk ay Jean Rt eld Ba1 Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 06/21/2011 4