HomeMy Public PortalAbout08/05/2003 * Special MeetingJuly 25, 2003
AGFNDA
I. Call to Order.
II. Pledge of Allegiance.
III. Roll Call.
IV. Budget Discussion
1. Fire Substation
2. Annexation
3. Fund Balance
4. Other Budget Related
V. Adjournment.
SHOULD ANY INTERESTED PARTY SEEK TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE TOWN
COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THIS MEETING, SAID
PARTY WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND FOR SUCH PURPOSE, MAY
NEED TO INSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH
RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO
BE BASED. F.S.S. 286.0105
MAYOR:
William
F. Koch, Jr.
VICE MAYOR:
Joan K.
Orthwein
COMMISSIONER:
Fred B.
Devitt III
Robert W. Hopkins II
William
A. Lynch
C)
SPECIAL MEETING
BEING HELD
BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF GULF
STREAM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST
5, 2003 AT 9:00 A.M., IN THE COMMISSION
CHAMBERS OF THE
TOWN HALL,
100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM, FLORIDA.
AGFNDA
I. Call to Order.
II. Pledge of Allegiance.
III. Roll Call.
IV. Budget Discussion
1. Fire Substation
2. Annexation
3. Fund Balance
4. Other Budget Related
V. Adjournment.
SHOULD ANY INTERESTED PARTY SEEK TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE TOWN
COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED AT THIS MEETING, SAID
PARTY WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AND FOR SUCH PURPOSE, MAY
NEED TO INSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH
RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO
BE BASED. F.S.S. 286.0105
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN
OF GULF STREAM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2003 AT 9:00 A.M., IN THE
COMMISSION CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL, 100 SEA ROAD, GULF STREAM,
FLORIDA.
I. Call to Order. Mayor Koch called the meeting to order at 9 A.M.
II. Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor
Koch.
CIII. Roll Call.
Present and William F. Koch, Jr. Mayor
Participating: Joan K. Orthwein Vice Mayor
Fred B. Devitt III Commissioner
Robert W. Hopkins II Commissioner
Via Telephone William A. Lynch Commissioner
Also Present and William Thrasher Town Manager
Participating: Rita Taylor Town Clerk
Garrett Ward Police Chief
IV. Budaet Discussion
1. Fire Substation
Town Manager Thrasher advised that Chief Kohen from Delray Beach Fire
Department could not be present to discuss building a fire substation.
The Town Manager referred to an email he received from the City Manager
of Boynton Beach Kurt Bressner, regarding a recent LOS (Level of
Service) meeting concerning countywide minimum level of service for fire
rescue. Mr. Thrasher advised that there is a movement to have a
countywide referendum that would mandate Fire Rescue LOS binding on all
areas of the County including incorporated areas, which would lower the
response time to below eight minutes.
The Town Manager stated that the Town's EMS contract with the City of
Delray expires September 30, 2009. He is concerned about the fire rescue
response time and believes the Town should be proactive in looking
toward future improvement which would include providing a substation
within Gulf Stream.
Commissioner Hopkins stated that he has not been shown that the
difference in the response time makes a great difference, and feels the
proposal is political and self - serving.
JThe Town Commission directed the Town Manager to invite Chief Kohen to a
future meeting for more discussion.
2. Annexation
Mr. Thrasher reported that he had been contacted by the State Department
of Community of Affairs regarding updating the Town's Comprehensive
Plan. The Town Manager stated that he was asked about annexation of the
County Pocket for future growth and development. Mr. Thrasher referred
to a study that was prepared by a previous Town Manager, and his
recommendation was that Gulf Stream take control of that area.
Town Commission
Special Meeting & Public Hearing. Page 2
August 5, 2003
Mayor Koch stated that there are number of older multifamily residences
in Gulf Stream and in the event of a disaster, redevelopment might be
necessary. He suggested a study be made of the multifamily area to
determine if development regulations are in need of upgrading.
Mayor Koch and Commissioner Orthwein believe it is the desire of the
�1 residents of Gulf Stream to not include the County Pocket in the Town.
Commissioner Hopkins moved and Commissioner Orthwein seconded that the
subject of annexation of adjacent property by the Town of Gulf Stream be
dropped this year. Roll Call: Comm. Devitt; NAY, Comm. Lynch;�NAY,
Comm. Hopkins; AYE, Comm. Orthwein; AYE, and Mayor Koch; AYE.
3. Fund Balance
Commissioner Hopkins stated that he is not in favor of having excess
funds to cover over three months operating expenses. He believes if
there are large projects, the Town could apply for loans.
Town Manager Thrasher believes that the fund balance should not be an
arbitrary number, but the fund balance that the Town uses was
established by the Commission in previous years. He added that because
of the uniqueness of Gulf Stream, it should never be in debt. Mr.
Thrasher believes the fund balance should be driven and controlled by
future capital projections.
Commissioner Lynch moved and Commissioner Orthwein seconded that the
Fund Balance remain as is. Roll Call: Comm. Devitt; AYE, Comm. Lynch;
AYE, Comm. Hopkins; NAY, Comm. Orthwein; AYE, and Mayor Koch; NAY.
4. Other Budget Related
Town Manager Thrasher and Chief Ward presented justifications for adding
the 11th police officer. The Commission agreed that if a suitable
applicant were to be found prior to October 1, 2003, the position could
be filled in this fiscal year. Mr. Thrasher added that he had contacted
Mrs. Crocker from the Gulf Stream School regarding increasing the
contribution to the Town by ten thousand dollars to help offset some of
the costs for the additional officer. To date he does not have a firm
commitment.
Chief Ward reported that there are grant monies available for hiring
police officers but Gulf Stream might not qualify because of
demographics and status. Chief Ward added that he would be receiving
help from a professional grant writer at the City of Delray in applying
for funding.
The Town Manager stated that he proposing a 3 percent CPI.
The Commission discussed the CPI and decided to utilize the U.S. City
Average Wage Earners & Clerical Workers CPI for September. For June
this percentage was 2.1.
Town Commission
Special Meeting & Public Hearing Page 3
August 5, 2003
V. Adjournment. Mayor Koch adjourned the meeting at 10:30 A.M. on a
motion to do so made by Commissioner Lynch and seconded by Commissioner
Orthwein with all voting in the affirmative.
O
cq�O-V� A,�J
Y nne Manboard, CMC
De ty Town Clerk
N
PROPOSED RESOLUTION — TOWN OF GULF STREAM
JULY 10, 2003
Whereas, the Town Council has expressed an interest in furthering tax relief to their
constituent taxpayers, and
Whereas, the Town of Gulf Stream has significant Reserves from which to fund almost
any possible contingency, and
Whereas, the Town of Gulf Stream has significant additional taxing authority under the
Florida Constitution, to tax the constituents for contingency expenditures beyond the
Reserves accumulated, and
Whereas, a Reserve equal to three months of operating expenses is considered sufficient
in light of the above commentary, and
Whereas, the Town Council is charged with the extraordinary responsibility of managing
the Town in a fiscally responsible fashion for the benefit of it's constituents,
Be it further resolved that the Council hereby adopts a fiscal strategy of targeting our
Reserves at the level of three months normal operating expenses. To accomplish this
strategy the Council adopts the policy of $100,000 annual reductions in the Budget
Reserves until such time as the aforementioned three month operating expenses Reserve
balance is met, beginning with the fiscal year 2003 -2004.