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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-September 14, 2022 FBHCITY OF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES FIRST BUDGET HEARING September 14, 2022 5:01 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Williams called the meeting to order at 5:12 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at Sherbondy Village, 215 Perviz Avenue, Opa-locka, Florida. 2. ROLL CALL: The following members of the City Commission were present: Commissioner Sherelean Bass, Commissioner Audrey Dominguez, Vice Mayor John H. Taylor Jr. and Mayor Veronica J. Williams. Also, in attendance were: Assistant City Manager Sha'mecca Lawson, Assistant City Attorney Candice Cobb and City Clerk Joanna Flores. 3. INVOCATION: The Invocation was delivered by Commissioner Bass. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. 5. FIRST READING ORDINANCES/PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA- LOCKA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL MILLAGE RATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022- 2023, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023; SETTING FORTH PUBLIC HEARING DATES; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL PRIOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 1 The above ordinance was read by Assistant City Attorney Candice Cobb. Mayor Williams asked Assistant City Manager Lawson to introduce Agenda Item 5-1. Assistant City Manager Lawson informed the Commission that the ordinance proposed by Agenda Item 5-1 would adopt the City's final millage rate for fiscal year 2022 - 2023. Mayor Williams opened the Public Hearing for Agenda Item 5-1. There being no members of the public to address the Commission, Mayor Williams closed the Public Hearing for Agenda Item 5-1. Mayor Williams invited Budget Administrator Anathan to deliver his presentation to the Commission. Budget Administrator Anathan stated that the taxing authority is the City of Opa-locka, the rollback rate is 8.5939 mills, and the recommended millage rate is 9.3500 mills, which is an 8.8 percent increase over the rollback rate. Mr. Anathan stated that the additional funding will be used to address union contracts which are very much out of date and improve the City's fleet of vehicles. It was moved by Vice Mayor Taylor, seconded by Commissioner Dominguez to discuss Agenda Item 5-1. There being no discussion, the ordinance passed first reading by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Davis Not Present Commissioner Dominguez Yes Vice Mayor Taylor Yes Commissioner Bass Yes Mayor Williams Yes 2. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA- LOCKA, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY'S GENERAL, PROPRIETARY AND SPECIAL FUNDS BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023; 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 ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT AND REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 2 SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Manager The above ordinance was read by Assistant City Attorney Candice Cobb. Mayor Williams asked Assistant City Manager Lawson to introduce Agenda Item 5-2. Assistant City Manager Lawson informed the Commission that Agenda Item 5-2 proposed the first reading of the ordinance to adopt the City's general proprietary and special revenues bond budget for fiscal year 2022 - 2023. Mayor Williams opened the Public Hearing for Agenda Item 5-2. There being no members of the public to address the Commission, Mayor Williams closed the Public Hearing for Agenda Item 5-2. It was moved by Commissioner Bass, seconded by Vice Mayor Taylor to discuss Agenda Item 5-2. Assistant City Manager Lawson asked Budget Administrator Lawson to deliver his budget presentation to the Commission. Budget Administrator Anathan delivered his presentation on the FY 23 tentative budget to the Commission and reported that the State of Florida accepted the budget as presented in the later part of August. Commissioner Dominguez asked what the $3.8 million in loans were that was included in the budget. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that the $3.8 in loans that was included in the budget are state revolving fund loans, of which about $2.6 million has already been provided with the City looking for another $1.2 million for the water distribution project. Mayor Williams asked if the 1 City Staffer listed under the City Clerk's Office, reflects the proposal to add 1. City Clerk Flores stated that her understanding was that the budget included an increase to the Staff in the Clerk's Office by 1 at the request of the Mayor and City Commission for an additional Staff Person to assist them. Mayor Williams stated her understanding that there would be 2 City Staff Members for the Mayor and Commission, as opposed to 1 because they are increasing it by 1, but the Clerk's Office will still have the Assistant City Clerk position. First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 3 City Clerk Flores confirmed that Mayor Williams' understanding was correct and asked Budget Administrator Anathan to correct her if she was wrong. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that City Clerk Flores was spot on and explained that the additional Staff Member was being added to the City Clerk's Office in response to the Commission's request for an additional person at the Workshop in July. Mayor Williams asked if the numbers included on the budget for City Staffing represented positions or funding. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that the numbers included on the budget for City Staffing represented the full-time equivalents for the head count. Mayor Williams asked Budget Administrator Anathan to explain what the 0.7 in City Staff for Community Development and the 2.8 in Building & Licensing was for under City Staffing in the budget, adding that to her that would represent funding and not positions. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that the decimal points included with some of the City Staffing outlined in the budget, represent parts of people. Mr. Anathan went on to state that in the prior budget, 1/10 of 4 people were assigned to the Community Redevelopment Agency, but it is not true for the FY 2023 budget, with it coming back into the Community Development. He also stated that City Staff is sometimes allocated to more than 1 City Department. As an example, Mr. Anathan said that the Acting Community Redevelopment Agency Manager is working within the Community Development Department for 25% of his time, and when you add the .4 to that, it becomes 0.65, rounded up to 0.7. Mayor Williams said that it seems that the numbers included on the City Staffing for the budget, are a cross between positions and funding. Budget Administrator Anathan informed the Commission that the City Staffing for the budget reflects that the City had 160 full-time City Staff Members for the FY 22 budget, with those positions being increased by 16.3 with the headcount being 176.3. Mr. Anathan explained that the 0.3 represents the Community Redevelopment Agency Manager with 25% of his time still being assigned to the City. He also pointed out that the budget the Commission was looking at, did not include the Community Redevelopment Agency because it's a whole separate operation. Mayor Williams assured Budget Administrator Anathan that she was not trying to tell Budget Administrator Anathan how to do his job but suggested that another column be created to make it a little bit clearer how many actual people each Department is receiving because all the decimal points threw her off. First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 4 Budget Administrator Anathan pointed out that the numbers included for City Staffing in the budget do translate into funding. Mayor Williams acknowledged that of course the numbers included for City Staffing in the budget, translate into funding, and she said that she would like to see it translated into persons and funding. Budget Administrator Anathan assured the Commission that translating the numbers included for City Staffing in the budget into funding is easy, but he said that he would look at translating the numbers to persons, to see if he can do that for them. Mayor Williams asked if the General Fund Expenses for each Department stipulated that there was an increase in an expense or if those Departments were able to bring in funds for the City. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that the General Fund Expenses for each Department, compared the proposed budget to the forecast and indicated where the growth will be. Mr. Anathan said that because the City did not have a fully staffed Finance Department in FY 2022 and will have a fully staffed Finance department in FY 2023, the compensation is up considerably, including 2 new people. Mayor Williams stated her understanding that the General Fund Expenses for each Department stipulated where the City will spend more. Budget Administrator Anathan clarified that the General Fund Expenses for each Department stipulated where the City will spend more next year compared to his best estimate for the forecast numbers. Mr. Anathan also pointed out that the figures included on the General Fund Expenses for each Department are based on cost, triggered by people, and that the numbers were in millions of dollars. Mayor Williams asked how it was possible for the Finance Department to go from 0.7 in FY 2021 to 0.6 in FY 2023, and she inquired about whether that meant the City actually spent more. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that the General Fund Expenses for each Department stipulates that the Finance Department spent $700,000 in FY 2021, and they think it is going to go to $800,000 in FY 2022, with it going to $1.4 million in FY 2023, which is $600,000 more than the $800,000 they think is going to be spent in FY 2022. Mayor Williams asked if the Finance Department went up $100,000 in FY 2022. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that the Finance Department is forecast to increase its spending by the end of FY 2022, from $700,000 to $800,000. First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 5 Mayor Williams stated her understanding that the proposed budget is for $600,000 on top of the $800,000 that the Finance Department is projected to spend by the end of FY 2022. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that the proposed FY 2023 budget for the Finance Department is $1.4 million, which is $600,000 on top of the $800,000 that the Finance Department is projected to spend by the end of FY 2022. Mayor Williams stated that the increase in the Finance Department budget can't all be people. Budget Administrator Anathan stated that the Finance Department had a lot of consultants but also had a lot of open positions during the course of FY 2022, and he pointed out that the Department's budget was for $1.1 million, and they think it is going to come in at $800,000 or even a little bit less. Mr. Anathan reiterated that the difference in expense in the Finance Department for FY 2023 is for people, because the City will continue to have consultants. Mayor Williams stated that it's pretty much safe to say that the City spent more money on the consultant and the consulting agency, compared to the bodies that the City is going to receive now in the Finance Department. Vice Mayor Taylor asked if the Police Department budget includes the proposed increases for the Shot Spotter program and the 2 grants. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that the Police Department budget includes the expenditure for the Shot Spotter service and also reflects the fact that the entire Police vehicle fleet will be upgraded by the end of FY 2023 and thus there are a lot of additional lease expenditures. Commissioner Bass thanked Budget Administrator Anathan for the hard work he put into the project and urged him to continue doing the great work he's been doing for the City. Mayor Williams asked if the Safe Neighborhood Project funding for gateways referred to the entrances into the City. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that the City has 6 gateways that each look different and are in some level of disrepair, adding that they want to spend $250,000 on them. Mayor Williams noted seeing proposed projects for the Helen Miller Center and Ingram Park and said that she would like to see a project at Sherbondy Park, specifically for the basketball court. First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 6 Budget Administrator Anathan informed the Commission that there is funding coming from the grant writer for the basketball court at Sherbondy Park. Additionally, Mr. Anathan reminded the Commission that they will have a Capital Improvements Project Workshop and he said that anything that doesn't seem right now, will be addressable because anything that's capital is just a placeholder because it will not be done until it's been identified and comes back before the Commission for approval. Mayor Williams reiterated that she would just like to see something updated. Budget Administrator Anathan stated that last year they could not demonstrate that the City of Opa-locka owned the building that houses Sherbondy Village Auditorium and had to get an opinion of title which he reported they now have, adding that the plan to update Sherbondy Park is now in the pipeline. Mayor Williams also noted having seen funding for park trails included as part of the budget for Safe Neighborhood Projects, and she asked if it was for all park trails. Budget Administrator Anathan explained that each year there is a trails grant program and he said that last year the City made the list but fell below the funding line. Mr. Anathan also said that because it seemed like a very attractive project, it is being self -funded this year for Ingram Park. Mayor Williams shared her understanding that the City will be funding the park trail project for Ingram Park. Budget Administrator Anathan confirmed that the park trail project for Ingram Park will be funded by the City and that no application for a grant had been made. Mayor Williams shared her understanding that if the audit is complete, the million -dollar water settlement can come from this budget. Budget Administrator Anathan reminded the Commission that they authorized borrowing from it. Mr. Anathan added that when the FY 2020 audit is done, they'll have a better sense of the health of the water and sewer fund, and if it is too unhealthy, they may have to exercise that option. He also pointed out that the payment is on hold for the moment because there have been some appeals, and he said that if it goes into FY 2023 it's kind of a blessing because the requirement is to repay it in 2 years, giving the City 24 months to repay it. Mayor Williams asked if the audit is close to being completed. Budget Administrator Anathan stated that the audit is close to being completed and said that Finance Director Walker can provide an answer. First Budget Hearing Minutes — September 14, 2022 7 Finance Director Walker informed the Commission that the City's internal audit team has proposed to have the final draft reviewed by the external auditor on September 30th. Mayor Williams stated that was great and thanked Finance Director Walker for walking into the Department and doing the work to get the audit done, noting that it's been on hold for a while from the previous audit team. The Mayor expressed the Commission's appreciation for having a hard date because they've been getting a lot of extensions and don't want to keep getting that. Finance Director Walker stated that she prays that the September 30th date stands for the final draft of the audit ii to be reviewed by the external auditor. Mayor Williams thanked Budget Administrator Anathan for his hard work crunching the numbers. There being no additional discussion, the ordinance passed first reading by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Dominguez Yes Vice Mayor Taylor Yes Commissioner Bass Yes Commissioner Davis Not Present Mayor Williams Yes 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the City Commission, it was moved by Vice Mayor Taylor, seconded by Commissioner Bass to adjourn the meeting at 6:24 p.m. Veronica J. Williams Mayor Attest: Joaltnna Flores, CMC City Clerk First Budget Hearing Minutes - September 14, 2022 8