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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2012-07-10 Workshop MeetingBAL HARBOUR VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING - JULY 10, 2012 A Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at the Bal Harbour Village Hall Council Chamber (655 — 96th Street, Bal Harbour, Florida). 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. by Mayor Rosenfield. The following were present: Mayor Jean Rosenfield Assistant Mayor Joni D. Blachar Councilman Martin Packer Councilman Jaime M. Sanz Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager Ellisa Horvath, MMC, Village Clerk Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney Absent: Councilwoman Patricia Cohen As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge was previously done at the General Employees Retirement Board Meeting. 3. DISCUSSION OF BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012/2013: Mr. Wallace reviewed a Powerpoint presentation (Bal Harbour Village FY2013 Budget Workshop dated July 10, 2012). Assistant Mayor Blachar requested the anticipated amount of tax relief. Mr. Wallace reviewed the figures later in the presentation. Mr. Wallace noted that he used the July 1st County official estimates for the budget figures. He explained that, by law, the Village couldn't budget for less than 95% of the expected revenue. He reported that starting in Fiscal Year 2013, the assessments for the Security District would be on the property tax bills. As such, he encouraged residents to ensure that their mailing addresses were updated through the County Property Appraiser. He explained that if the taxes weren't paid, then a tax certificate would be sold on the property and all of the taxing authorities would get their money. Mr. Wallace reported that the Village would need to notify the Property Appraiser in August, regarding the proposed millage rate, solid waste assessment, and security assessments. He reviewed a scenario for a $500,000.00 property with homestead exemption ($50,000.00), based on a three percent value increase, which showed a savings of $72.00 for a single family home and $58.00 for a multi -family home. He reviewed a scenario for a $1.5 million property, with homestead exemption ($50,000.00), based on a three percent value increase, which showed a savings of $183.00 for a single family home and a $169.00 savings for a multi -family home. He explained that the savings were based on a reduced millage rate and reduced solid waste assessment. He noted that the vast majority of people, unless the property value increased Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/10/2012 1 drastically, would expect a savings from the Bal Harbour portion of the taxes. Dina Cellini, 211 Bal Cross Drive, questioned the increased amount of the property assessed value from the prior year. Mr. Wallace explained that everyone would be different, but that it was based on the three percent maximum amount a property could increase, based on Florida homestead law. Ms. Cellini thought that the property values had fallen. Mr. Wallace reported that they had dropped in prior years, but had increased this year. Ms. Cellini discussed tax certificates that would be sold for those not paying their assessment or property taxes. She questioned how they would ensure that the Security District fund would receive the expected revenue, if the assessment wasn't received on a property. Mr. Wallace explained that those not paying for FY 2012 would have to pay interest and penalties, which would be added to the assessment the following year. He added that residents would have until March to pay the tax bills and then tax certificates would be sold in June/July, which is when the money would be received. He clarified that money wouldn't be received at that time for those in bankruptcy. He explained the tax certificate process. Assistant Mayor Blachar explained that the assessments for the Security District were now on the tax bill, along with the County taxes. She noted that if an escrow company paid the taxes, then they would pay the Village taxes. Mr. Wallace agreed, but explained that he didn't know if someone was getting their TRIM or bill, if their mailing address wasn't correct. Brian Mulheren, 10245 Collins Avenue, discussed the number of delinquent ad valorem taxes in 2011 and suggested that the Village look into getting the correct mailing addresses. He spoke against reducing taxes, due to the economy, as well as increasing health insurance and pension costs. He spoke in favor of building a reserve, instead of giving residents a small tax break. Mr. Wallace reviewed the budget, which was based on lowering the millage rate to 2.4468 mills to 2.2278 mills, as well as a five percent reduced solid waste assessment. Mr. Treppeda explained that the Village was going to the rolled -back rate, so taxes were being kept the same. Mr. Wallace agreed. He explained that the Village could afford to lower the millage rate and has a substantial reserve. He added that the tax base and property value should increase next year. He continued that the Bal Harbour Club property would be developed and he anticipated that should be on the tax rolls in a couple of years. Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned why no revenue was shown for Lobbying Fees for FY2013. Mr. Wallace explained that he wasn't sure of the revenue amount for that, but didn't expect it to be more than $5,000.00. Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned if the Towing Franchise Fees could be increased. Mr. Treppeda explained that was an agreed fee per contract, which could be renegotiated when the contract was renewed. He reported that the Village received $40 per tow. Assistant Mayor Blachar thought that was fair. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, noted that the Police budget was approximately fifty percent of the total budget and questioned how that compared to the adjacent municipalities. Mayor Rosenfield thought that Bay Harbor was more than fifty percent of the budget, but would look into it. Mr. Alter noted that he didn't see the Police that often other Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/10/2012 2 than the motorcycle officers writing tickets, since they were stationed in the Shops, and questioned if they were in the Security District, since he didn't think that they were supposed to be in there at all. Mr. Treppeda clarified that they weren't allowed to write traffic tickets in the Security District, but were allowed to patrol in there. Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned if Mr. Alter saw the Police less than he used to. Mr. Alter advised that he always used to see them more at the St. Regis and at the Haulover Cut. Assistant Mayor Blachar would like for Mr. Alter to feel that there was a Police presence. Mr. Alter noted that he saw them at the Shops. Mr. Treppeda reported that the Police patrolled the building driveways. Mayor Rosenfield suggested that Mr. Alter check with his building manager, etc. to see the Police are patrolling his building's driveway. She reported that she had heard that the Police do an excellent job on the beach. She noted that the Village would look into his concerns. Mr. Alter suggested that an Officer be placed to stop people from turning south on Collins Avenue, when they exited the Shops. Dina Cellini, 211 Bal Cross Drive, questioned if the Police force had increased over the past years. Mr. Treppeda reported that the force had been decreased by one position. Captain Quinn reported that there were 28 sworn Officers. Ms. Cellini noted that the number of residents had decreased to 2800, so there was one officer to every 100 residents. She questioned if the new hires were hired under the same Police pension plan, since the PBA contract hadn't been renegotiated. Mr. Treppeda advised that they were hired under the same pension plan, until it was changed. Ms. Cellini suggested a moratorium on new hires, to cap the pension costs. Mayor Rosenfield explained that there weren't any plans to expand the force. Ms. Cellini requested clarification. that the number would remain at 28 Officers, for a period of time. Assistant Mayor Blachar didn't think that the number should be changed for awhile. Mr. Treppeda confirmed that the plan was to keep the current number. Mayor Rosenfield assured the public that the Council was on top of the pensions and salaries. Mr. Treppeda reported that the Village was looking at a date for negotiations, since the Actuary reports were finally done. Brian Mulheren, 10245 Collins Avenue, questioned the total cost to the Village, to make up for the deficits in the employee and police pension plans. Mr. Treppeda reported that this year the Village contributed over $1 million to the Police plan. Mr. Wallace reported that the Village contributed $500,000.00 to the General Employees plan. Mr. Mulheren questioned the interest rate for the DROP program. Mr. Treppeda reported it to be four percent. Mr. Mulheren noted that the bank didn't even offer four percent. Mr. Mulheren questioned the total number of Police Department employees, including civilians. Captain Quinn reported there were approximately 38 total. Mr. Mulheren requested the actual number and a break down by rank and title. Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/10/2012 3 Dina Cellini, 211 Bal Cross Drive, questioned if the red light camera program was still lucrative for the Village. Mr. Wallace reported that the program more than paid for itself. He explained that the Village didn't receive as much net revenue, since the State now received part of the revenue. Ms. Cellini questioned if the anticipated revenue was $405,000.00 for the Village. Mr. Wallace reported that was the expected revenue, with an expense of $310,000.00 (for American Traffic Solutions), which would result in an approximate profit of $100,000.00. He noted that the amount given to the State was not shown as revenue. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue #11 U, requested clarification that the Village wasn't sharing revenue in 2011, with the State. Mr. Wallace agreed and explained that was when the law was changed and that was when the Village (as a defendant) was part of a lawsuit on the legality of the cameras. He explained that the State changed the law from a code enforcement action, to a traffic citation. Mr. Alter noted that if the Village started losing money, then it would have to cancel the program. Mr. Treppeda reported that there was a large General Contingency, under 01-19 General Government, in the amount of $800,000.00. He explained that could be used to fund general employee cost of living increases, based on the CPI (Consumer Price Index). He will provide an actual amount during the budget hearing process. He added that the Police amount would have to be negotiated. It was the consensus of the Council that a second budget workshop meeting was not necessary 4. ADJOURN: There being no further business, the meetin - was ad'ourned b consensus of the Council at 6:06 p.m. Ma Attest: Ellisa L. Horvath, M Village Clerk Rosenfi Bal Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/10/2012 4