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Home My Public Portal About16-9174 Response Letter (Exhibit A) to the Governor of the State of Florida, Responding to the Letter of Mayor Carlos Gimenez Sponsored by: Mayor and City Commission of Opa-locka, Florida RESOLUTION NO. 16-9174 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SEND A RESPONSE LETTER (EXHIBIT "A") TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, RESPONDING TO THE LETTER OF MAYOR CARLOS GIMENEZ AND COMMISSIONER BARBARA JORDAN OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON MARCH 10, 2016; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, The Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commissioner Barbara Jordan of Miami-Dade County, Florida, sent a letter to the Governor of the State of Florida, urging financial assistance and intervention into the financial affairs of the City of Opa-locka, on March 10, 2016; and WHEREAS, The City desires to respond to the letter. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals to the preamble herein are incorporated by reference. Section 2. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of Opa-locka, Florida, hereby issues its unified letter, as set forth in EXHIBIT "A", in response to the letter sent on March 10, 2016, by Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commissioner Barbara Jordan of Miami-Dade County, to the Governor of the State of Florida, urging financial assistance and intervention into the financial affairs of the City of Opa- locka. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption Resolution No. 16-9174 PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of March, 2016. ' Aar f r: L. T.,lor ayor At - t to: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: Joa a Flores Vincent T. Brown, Esq. City Clerk The Brown Law Group, LLC City Attorney Moved by: COMMISSIONER PINDER Seconded by: COMMISSIONER SANTIAGO Commissioner Vote: 5-0 Commissioner Kelley: YES Commissioner Pinder: YES Commissioner Santiago: YES Vice Mayor Holmes: YES Mayor Taylor: YES David Chiverton Telephone: (305)953-2821 Ext.1202 Interim City Manager Fax: (305)953-2870 Email: 5 .:_yArtgagpilgslatiAgy March 21,2016 Ms. Melinda M. Miguel,Chief Inspector General Office of the Inspector General `> The Capitol Room 1902 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001 Dear Ms. Miguel: We are in receipt of the County's letter March 10, _ " urging the State's intervention into the financial affairs of the City of take ex ty Opa� ,,. to the County's assertions. On November 3,2015 and . on Febru .3,201'15, ity m .�,} • u representatives for the County,in a proactive 4 t i the p • . '• a '�bt mitigation plan with the S• t s . w 4.. ' t�' County. At the Feb 'eeting, qty ' ed . - ;1,:+unty for technical assistance. As of the date of this letter, •my cal : • * we have received from the County has been from Mr. Ed Marquez, u . re `, .• the City'; ,d issuance documents; no other technical assistance iti* CO lde ty• The repdtpAtached to theidtter from:the CountiAlds no new light on the City's current financial condition Alit is also silent silentaslo thidisolosure that the City has made substantial payments against the debt described there,The City has acknowledged its financial challenges before the County's correspOndence. In fad,it is this City that alerted the State of its financial condition in a letter date October 2 :2015. As we have previously maintained a consistent flow of communication to keep your office apprised of the City's financial condition,we shall continue do the same as we complete our thorough assessment of the City's long-term and short-term financial challenges. While we move forward to a sustainable recovery, the City has undertaken and is currently implementing several measures to assist in securing the financial future of the City, including, among other things: 1. Workforce reduction 2. Imposition of surcharges on certain City services and utilities 3. Initiation of a lien fee and foreclosure recovery plan (which has already shown great progress) City Hall • 780 Fisherman Street,4th Floor, Opa-locka, Florida 33054 • (305) 688-461 1 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 4. Increase in the millage rate by .25 to .50 for FY 2016-2017 5. Refinancing and restructuring bond debt obligation 6. Realization of market rate amounts for rental space in the City' Municipal Complex 7. Liquidation of surplus City-owned vacant land 8. Aggressive collection of past due water accounts and other account receivables 9. Collection of past due business tax receipts 10. Investigation and removal of fraudulent property tax exemptions from properties situated in the City 11. Repair of the City's aging water and sewer facilities to reduce the Exfiltration and Inflow Infiltration waste occurring in the City's water and sewer utility We continue to remain available for any further discussion, questions or concerns related to the foregoing. Thanks for your continued support. Sincerely, David Chiverton, Interim City Manager City of Opa-locka,Florida **** END **** City Hall • 780 Fisherman Street, 4th Floor. Opa-locka, Florida 33054 • (305) 688-46 I AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER