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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2013-09-23 Second Budget HearingBAL HARBOUR VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES SECOND BUDGET HEARING - SEPTEMBER 23, 2013 The Second Budget Hearing of Bal Harbour Village was held on Monday, September 23, 2013, in the Council Chambers at Bal Harbour Village Hall (655 — 96th Street, Bal Harbour, Florida). 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m. by Mayor Rosenfield. The following were present: Mayor Jean Rosenfield Assistant Mayor Joni D. Blachar Councilman Martin Packers Councilman Jaime M. Sanz Absent: Councilwoman Patricia Cohen Jay R. Smith, Interim Village Manager Ellisa Horvath, MMC, Village Clerk Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney Christopher Wallace, Finance Director As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced. Mayor Rosenfield noted that the General Employees Retirement Board Meeting was cancelled. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge was led by the Council. 3. ANNOUNCEMENT: Mr. Wallace made the following announcement: THE BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE ROLLED -BACK MILLAGE RATE IS 1.9192 MILLS. THE NEW PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS 1.9192 MILLS, WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE ROLLED -BACK RATE. Mr. Wallace noted that this would not be a tax increase, under Florida law. 4. DISCUSSION OF FINAL TAX MILLAGE RATE AND FINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013/2014: Mayor Rosenfield requested input from the public. 5. RESOLUTION/PUBLIC HEARING: The following Resolution was read by title, by Mrs. Horvath: A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE, MIANII-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE 1 Councilman Packer attended via iPad Face Time video call. Bal Harbour Village Council Meeting Minutes — Second Budget Hearing 09/23/2013 1 OF AD VALOREM TAXATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013/2014; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. A motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Blachar and seconded by Councilman Sanz to approve the Resolution. Mayor Rosenfield opened the public hearing. Nell Alter- 9801 Collins Avenue, questioned the overall savings in the Police Department due to reduced leases, solid vehicles, car wash policy, etc. Mr. Smith reported that the current, but no additional leases, were budgeted for. Councilman Packer reported an approximate 10% reduction in the overall Police budget. Chief Daddario reported that the Department had been decreased by six officers and eight vehicles. Mr. Wallace estimated an overall total budget savings of $700,000.00. Mr. Alter suggested that achievement be noted in the next Village newsletter. He questioned if the Resort Tax budget had been evaluated by the Budget Committee. Mr. Smith noted that the Budget Committee did review that budget and accepted it. Mr. Alter questioned the amount of inflation that was projected in the budget. Mr. Wallace noted that the budget was not adjusted for inflation. He explained that the Budget Committee had reviewed the budget by line item and made adjustments. Mr. Alter questioned if the Police negotiations had been considered. Mr. Wallace reported expected wage increases were provided for and would be negotiated for the Police. He noted that the Miami area CPI was normally used, which was currently under 2%. Alberto Kamhazi — owner of several properties in the Village (138 Park Drive, 52 Camden Drive, 131 Bal Cross Drive, etc.), objected to fewer Police and spoke in favor of more Police for more security and police presence. Mayor Rosenfield questioned if there was a contingency in the budget, to hire more police. Mr. Smith noted that there was one position, to hire a Police Chief. He explained that some of the officers had been with the task force, which was dissolved, which didn't affect the patrol units. Councilman Sanz thought that 32 police officers was enough for the Village. He noted that could be addressed, if needed, when the new Manager and Police Chief were hired. Mr. Kamhazi discussed the lack of quality and damage to his landscaping, with the new garbage company. Mr. Smith will look into the issue. Assistant Mayor Blachar encouraged Mr. Kamhazi to attend the Council and RAC (Gated Residential Section Advisory Committee) meetings. She didn't think that the Police Department was short staffed, but if it was she would not be in favor of passing the budget. She agreed with Mr. Kamhazi and spoke in favor of maintaining the security. Chief Daddario reported that the Police Department was not understaffed and could perform its basic functions, although he would like to have a full time officer for the boat. He clarified that he could not commit an officer full time to the boat, in order to have a program with Bay Harbor and Indian Creek Village, but Bay Harbor would help the Village if needed. Dina Cellini - 211 Bal Cross Drive and Budget Committee Member, clarified for Mr. Kamhazi that the number of positions recommended by the Police Chief and Manager Bat Harbour Village Council Meeting Minutes — Second Budget Hearing 09/23/2013 2 were maintained. She added that any attrition was natural via retired officers, etc. She felt that the Police Department was and still is heavy in administration. She clarified that none of the patrol officers had been diminished. Ms. Cellini noted that, in Finance, the additional $120,000.00 was for a new full time Finance Director, but clarified there would be an overlap of time for the outsourced Finance Director to assist and then be transitioned out. Steve Greenberg - 9800 Collins Avenue, thanked the Council for the rolled -back rate. There being no additional comments, Mayor Rosenfield closed the public hearing. Councilman Packer clarified that one of his concerns had always been for police presence on the street. He hoped that a new Police Chief may be able to reapportion the Department, etc. He added that one of his goals was to have a Police Department on the street level, but not in the Bal Harbour Shops. The motion carried (4-0) with the roll call vote as follows: Assistant Mayor Blachar ves: Councilman Packer yes: Councilman Sanz ves: Mayor Rosenfield ves: Councilwoman Cohen absent: thus becoming Resolution No. 2013-779. 6. ORDINANCE SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING: The following ordinance was read by title, by Mrs. Horvath: AN ORDINANCE OF BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR ALL VILLAGE FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2013, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2014; APPROPRIATING REVENUES AND OTHER FUNDS; AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. A motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Blachar and seconded by Councilman Sanz to approve the Ordinance. Mayor Rosenfield opened the public hearing. There being no comments, Mayor Rosenfield closed the public hearing. Mr. Wallace distributed and reviewed his memorandum, regarding changes to the tentatively adopted FY2014 budget. He explained the increased costs to the Police and General Employees Pension Plans, which the Actuary had forecasted. He added that those costs would be taken out of contingency. Mr. Wallace clarified that the pension costs were higher than appropriated. Mr. Smith clarified that the information was received from the State today. Mr. Wallace clarified that there was no change in the overall fund amounts, but that the changes would occur in the retirement line items within the funds. He added that the amounts would be taken from General Contingency ($110,534.00) and the amount for the Tourism Director ($12,388.00) would be covered by a reduction in the Landscape Maintenance line item. A motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Blachar and seconded by Councilman Sanz to amend the budget. in accordance with Mr. Wallace's memorandum dated 09/23/2013. Bal Harbour Village Council Meeting Minutes — Second Budget Hearing 09/23/2013 3 The motion approving the amendment to the Ordinance carried (4-0) with the roll call vote as follows: Assistant Mayor Blachar yes: Councilman Packer yes: Councilman Sanz yes: Mayor Rosenfield yes: Councilwoman Cohen absent. The motion approving the Ordinance, as amended, carried (4-0) with the roll call vote as follows: Assistant Mayor Blachar yes: Councilman Packer yes: Councilman Sanz yes: Mayor Rosenfield yes: Councilwoman Cohen absent: thus becoming Ordinance No. 2013-569. Mayor Rosenfield thanked everyone who worked on the budget. 7. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Blachar and seconded by Councilman Sanz to adjourn. The motion carried (4-0) and the meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. aye r Jean Rosenfy Attest: Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC Vi a Clerk Ba1 Harbour Village Council Meeting Minutes — Second Budget Hearing 09/23/2013 4