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Home My WebLink About2009-09-23 - City Commission Special Budget Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING CITY HALL CHAMBERS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Special Meeting of the City Commission to order on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 5:05 p.m., in the Commission Chambers at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Patricia Atkins -Grad, Commissioner Pamela Bushnell, Commissioner Diane Glasser, and Commissioner Harry Dressler. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Assistant City Attorney Jacob Horowitz, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance, and announced this is a special meeting of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac for the public hearings on the final millage and budget for Fiscal Year 2010. Florida Statutes requires two public hearings, the first of which was held on September 14, 2009. 1. City Manager Miller said in accordance with TRIM, he is required to read the following statement: "The tentative General Fund budget of $44,776,200 is less than the Fiscal Year 2009 adopted budget of $47,494,500. The City proposes to levy a millage rate of 5.9999 for General operating purposes, which is a 6.3% decrease from the rolled -back rate of 6.3752 mills. The proposed Debt Service Millage rate of .0801 mills is an increase over the current Debt Service millage rate of 0.01 mills." City Manager Miller added total reductions in the budget over the last two years total $11 million, and there are no fee increases in this budget. At the Mayor and City Commission's direction in workshop setting several months ago, staff eliminated the 18% water conservation fee. All City service levels have been maintained and there are no staff layoffs proposed this budget; however the hiring freeze remains. The City maintains excellent credit and bond ratings. Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech gave a presentation on the budget. 2. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco opened the public hearing on the proposed millage rate for FY 2010. Bernard Hermann, 7877 Granville Drive asked how many households there are in Tamarac and asked if the yearly calendar is included in this budget. Mayor Flansbaum- Talabisco said it has been excluded from the budget. Joe Schreiber, 10504 E. Clairmont Circle questioned the monies held in investments. Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech referred to the CAFR and spoke of reserves that are held outside the budget to be used for various emergencies. Commissioner Dressler added the state requires municipalities to maintain a minimum amount of reserve money for cash flow reasons and the greater majority of all cities in Florida have minimum reserve requirements of 10%; however the City of Tamarac's Charter requires a maximum of 10%. Patti Lynn, 6411 NW 58 Street spoke of the millage rate, the 18% water conservation surcharge; asked if the budget is Special Commission Meeting September 23, 2009 Page 1 of 3 zero based; spoke of and the number of paramedics on each unit and sworn deputies in BSO. Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech said in response to the questions there are 30,000 households in Tamarac; there is no calendar this year; and the issue of fund balance was addressed. Tamarac staffs three paramedics on each unit but we have an MOU with the Fire union regarding staffing and under certain circumstances we run with two paramedics, not to exceed nine hours on a shift. The City of Tamarac has no intention of reducing the number of sworn deputies; we are negotiating a contract with BSO. The budget is started based on what we had last year and then reduced or increased depending on the appropriateness of the requests. With regard to the 18% surcharge, Tamarac is a leader in water conservation. The 18% was a mandated surcharge by the South Florida Water Management District to promote conservation. The rating agencies expressed concern about the 18% surcharge and whether we were relying on that revenue; our answer to the rating agencies was that we did not rely on the revenue from the surcharge. With no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco closed the public hearing on the final millage rate for Fiscal Year 2010. 3. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco opened the public hearing on the tentative General Fund and other Fund budgets for FY 2010. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Flansbaum- Talabisco closed the public hearing on the tentative General Fund and other Fund budgets for FY2010. 4. (T02180) Motion to adopt Ordinance on second reading adopting the Millage for the 2009 Tax Roll; levying a tax for General Operations on all properties for the Fiscal Year 2010; levying a tax for the payment of principal and interest for bonded indebtedness; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz read Temporary Ordinance 2180 on second reading by title. Commissioner Dressler seconded by Commissioner Bushnell moved adoption. On roll call Commissioner Bushnell voted "yes", Commissioner Dressler "yes", Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad "no", Commissioner Glasser "yes", Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco "no". Motion carried. ADOPTED ON FIRST READING SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 ADOPTED ON SECOND READING SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 ORDINANCE NO.0-2009-08 5. (TR11697) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida adopting the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the five year period beginning with Fiscal Year 2010; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz read Temporary Resolution 11697 by title. Commissioner Dressler seconded by Commissioner Bushnell moved adoption. On roll call Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad voted "no", Commissioner Bushnell "yes", Commissioner Dressler "yes", Commissioner Glasser "yes", and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco "yes". Motion carried. RESOLUTION NO. R2009-136 6. (T02181) Motion to adopt Ordinance on second reading adopting the budget for the General Fund and each of the other operating funds and the Capital Improvements Fund for the Fiscal Year 2010; allocating, appropriating, and authorizing expenditures as presented in the budget; providing for the revenues necessary to fund the expenditures of each of the funds; authorizing budgetary control by department total for all appropriations; providing for Special Commission Meeting September 23, 2009 Page 2 of 3 conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz read Temporary Ordinance 2181 on second reading by title. Commissioner Bushnell seconded by Commissioner Dressler moved adoption. On roll call Commissioner Glasser voted "yes", Commissioner Bushnell "yes", Commissioner Dressler "yes", Vice Mayor Atkins - Grad "no", and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco "yes". Motion carried. ADOPTED ON FIRST READING SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 ADOPTED ON SECOND READING SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 ORDINANCE NO. 0-2009-09 Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco thanked everyone for attending the budget public hearings, and thanked staff and fellow Commissioners, and said if there are any further questions, staff is always available. Commissioner Bushnell expressed appreciation to staff for working to lower the millage rate at the Commission's directive. Commissioner Dressler said the millage rate decided upon this year has a major impact on what the millage rate will be in ensuing years. Commissioner Dressler complemented staff and his fellow Commissioners for the work they did on the budget this year and thanked those in the audience for attending the meeting. Commissioner Glasser said she was elected to office and has a responsibility to do a job; when she casts a vote it is for everybody in the City, and this is the best we can do at the moment. We will not have to cut services that are desperately needed. Commissioner Glasser thanked staff for their help. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco added a new initiative was discussed at a workshop meeting, and the budget process will be handled slightly differently; it will be broken up into four meetings throughout the year with the ultimate goal being at this time next year the process will be less arduous. City Manager Miller thanked Kareyann Ashworth, the City's Management and Budget Analyst, who was supported throughout the process by Controller Christine Cajuste and Budget Technician Karen Greene. City Manager Miller also thanked Assistant City Manager Phillips and Human Resources Director Swanson, who greatly assisted him throughout the budget process, and thanked all members of the executive team, as well as Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech who led the team through the entire budget process. There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the Special Commission Meeting at 6:20 p.m. arion Swenson, CMC City Clerk 1 Special Commission Meeting September 23, 2009 Page 3 of 3