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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10-October 25, 2017 Continued Second Budget Hearing CITY OF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES CONTINUED SECOND BUDGET HEARING Wednesday, October 25, 2017 5:30 P.M. Sherbondv Village Auditorium 215 Perviz Avenue Opa-locka, FL 33054 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Myra L. Taylor called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 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 B. Riley and Commissioner Matthew A. Pigatt. Also in attendance were: Interim City Manager Ed Brown, 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. 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 2017-2018, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2017 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018; 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/public hearing held on September 20, 2017). Sponsored by City Manager The above ordinance was read by Attorney Brown. Mayor Taylor opened the floor for a public hearing. Continued Second Budget Hearing Minutes—10/25/2017 1 Former Commissioner Dorothy Johnson, 13724 NW 22nd Place, asked for clarity on the setting of the mileage rate; is it set at 8.999? She also asked where the City found two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)being that it is in debt. Ernesto Reyes, Budget Administrator said that the rollback rate that was adopted is 9.54444. Mrs. Johnson asked what caused the change. Mr. Reyes said that the mileage rate was adopted at 8.999, but the rollback rate was adopted at 9.54444. Mrs. Johnson asked about the money. Mr. Reyes said that the two point seven million dollars ($2,700,000.00) in question comes from two point one million ($2,100,000.00) that was transferred to the water and sewer fund for capital improvement projects. The other five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) was transferred to reserve account and the general fund. There being no further persons to speak on the public hearing, the public hearing was closed. It was moved by Commissioner Riley, seconded by Vice Mayor Kelley for discussion. Commissioner Riley said that he noticed a difference between this and what the state provided. He said the state has taken everything out of streets and roads and the City has severe problem with potholes. In order to make repairs, there has to be funding. The roads on Cairo lane and 128th Street are a liability to the City if it is not repaired. There are things that the commission needs in order to perform its service to the public effectively and the funding needs to be there to get things done. Vice Mayor Kelley asked about the supplements for 5(a) and 5(b). Is it a replica of the recommendations from the governor's designee? Mr. Reyes said, "Yes." Vice Mayor Kelley said that the state recommended that the salaries remain at the 2016-2017 levels and he agrees. The pay plan should have been pulled out and brought back at another time. He will not support the budget amendment if the plan is included. Commissioner Riley made a motion to remove the pay plan and consider it at another time; it was seconded by Commissioner Pigatt. Vice Mayor Kelley agreed to the motion. He asked the manager what the process is that will be used for approval of items that are priority. Interim City Manager Brown said that the process remains the same. Once it is approved by the commission, it will go to the state for final approval. Commissioner Holmes said that he also will not support the pay plan at this time and he is ready to vote. Continued Second Budget Hearing Minutes—10/25/2017 2 Mayor Taylor asked if there was funding for the potholes. Interim City Manager Brown said that there was a line item for it, but the state took it out of the budget and asked that they put the funds in the reserve account and go through a requisition to get the funds. Vice Mayor Kelley asked if the City will be able to make the deadlines for the reports that were requested. Interim City Manager Brown said, "Yes." Mayor Taylor asked if there were funds set aside for repayment, then why was it not paid. Mr. Reyes said it was set aside, but the intent is to start through the repayment plan. Vice Mayor Kelley asked how the one hundred dollar ($100.00) reimbursements will work. Interim City Manager Brown said that the amount is for two hundred dollars ($200.00) and that is done by city ordinance; that is a law and it cannot be changed. Commissioner Riley said that will be illegal if the state does not honor city and state laws. Vice Mayor Kelley said that he concerned because he does a lot of monthly outreach programs and he utilizes his allocation to assist with expenses in addition to what he pays out of pocket. He asked the attorney what process will be used to be able to spend the money. City Attorney Brown said that the receipts will need to be turned in to the manager who will then forward it to the state for approval and reimbursement; this includes travel. Commissioner Pigatt thanked the staff who worked on the preparation of the budget. He did not support the ordinance on first reading because there were insufficient documents to accompany the line items. He asked when the documents will be ready to accompany the budget. Mr. Reyes said that staff is still gathering information. Commissioner Riley said that the budget is an estimate of expenses, it is not exact. It gives you a dollar amount that you can see, but you cannot determine exactly what future expenses will be. Commissioner Pigatt said that the information can be gathered. He asked the manager for a timeline for completing this request. Interim City Manager Brown said that staff is being pulled all over the place in terms of handling City business. Between the audits, the financial recovery plan, the state making frequent requests and the like, there isn't enough time or manpower to do what is being requested. If the commission wants him to stop everything he is doing and focus on the budget in the next thirty (30) days, then he will do so. Commissioner Pigatt said if thirty (30) days is sufficient, then he is fine with that because there Continued Second Budget Hearing Minutes—10/25/2017 3 needs to be a timeframe for gathering the information. He asked if there will be money in the budget for the parks. Interim City Manager Brown said, "Yes." Commissioner Holmes said that an hour has been spent on this one item and the dais needs to move on. There being no further discussion, the motion on the resolution passed by a 4-1 vote. Vice Mayor Kelley Yes Commissioner Pigatt Yes Commissioner Riley No Commissioner 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 PROPRIETARY AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUND BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2017-2018, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2017 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018; 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 ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (first reading/public hearing held on September 20, 2017). Sponsored by City Manager The above ordinance was read by Attorney Brown. Mayor opened the floor for a public hearing. Former Commissioner Dorothy Johnson, 13724 NW 22nd Place, said that no one in the City should be earning fewer than twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) and the commission needs to look into that. The resident's cars are being damaged because of the potholes and the commission also needs to take a look at the infrastructure. Brian Dennis, 3135 NW 135th Street, said that the budget is bad and salaries are out of control. Something needs to be done about this. There being no persons to speak on the public hearing, and the public hearing was closed. Interim City Manager Brown said that he noticed that there is a document that was included in the amendment that neither he nor his staff included regarding solid waste increases. City Attorney Brown said that staff did review the items and this is not a difficult fix; it is technically a scrivener's error. Continued Second Budget Hearing Minutes—10/25/2017 4 Commissioner Riley said he made the commission aware at a prior meeting about six weeks ago that an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) cannot supersede an ordinance. He made a motion to eliminate section 9(a) from the ordinance; it was seconded by Commissioner Holmes. Commissioner Pigatt said that he is concerned that there is a problem with abiding by the contract with Miami-Dade County for trash pickup. He is concerned that a motion is being made to remove what is already done. Vice Mayor Kelley asked the attorney if section nine is taken out, then what will happen to the agreement and is it considered a breach. City Attorney Brown said that it could be considered a breach. There being no further discussion, the motion on the amendment passed by a 3-2 vote. Vice Mayor Kelley No Commissioner Pigatt No Commissioner Riley Yes Commissioner Holmes Yes Mayor Taylor Yes It was moved by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Riley to pass the ordinance. There being no discussion, the motion on the ordinance passed by a 3-2 vote. Vice Mayor Kelley No Commissioner Pigatt No Commissioner Riley Yes Commissioner Holmes Yes Mayor Taylor Yes 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Riley to adjourn the meet..• at 7:23 p.m. AYO! ATTEST: ' CITY CLERK Continued Second Budget Hearing Minutes—10/25/2017 5