HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-25 - City Commission Special Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Commission Meeting of the City of
Tamarac to order at 5:18 p.m. on Monday, September 25, 2017, in City Commission
Chambers, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Debra Placko, Commissioner Marlon Bolton,
Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Julie Fishman were in attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, Assistant City Attorney Jacob
Horowitz and City Clerk Patricia A. Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Dressler led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Dressler welcomed everyone and said this is a Special Meeting of the City
Commission of the City of Tamarac to hold Public Hearings to establish the Millage Rate and
adopt the City Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. I'm pleased you could join us this evening.
These public hearings are the culmination of an entire year or more of work by this City
Commission, the City Manager and the staff. For the benefit of the public tonight, the City
Commission held several workshops during the year and a budget workshop on June 29,
2017 to provide direction to staff on this submittal. In addition, the first public hearing on the
tentative millage rates and tentative budget was held on September 13, 2017. 1 would like to
thank my colleagues on the dais for their participation at the workshops and for their
suggestions as we deliberated on the staff recommendations.
Mayor Dressler said this is the second and final public hearing to establish the Operating
Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2018.
City Manager Cernech made the following statement: "In accordance with the Truth in Millage
requirements of Florida Statutes, the City is required to announce the percentage difference
between the proposed millage rate and the rolled -back rate. As such, the following is read
into the record: The tentative operating millage rate of 7.2899 mills for Fiscal Year 2018 is
.6115 mills or 9.16% more than the rolled -back rate of 6.6784 mills."
1. TO2362 - FY 2018 Millage Rate Ordinance: An Ordinance of the City Commission of the
City of Tamarac, Florida to establish and levy ad valorem taxes within the corporate limits of
the City of Tamarac, Florida, for the Tax Year 2017; providing for the levy of ad valorem taxes
in the amount of 7.2899 mills ($7.2899 per $1,000) based upon the assessed value on non-
exempt real and personal property located within the city limits of the City of Tamarac;
providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.
Assistant City Attorney Horowitz read TO2362 by title into the record. Finance Director
Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mayor
Dressler opened the Public Hearing and with no one wishing to speak, Mayor Dressler closed
the Public Hearing. Commissioner Fishman seconded by Commissioner Bolton moved
approval of TO2362 on Second Reading. Motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Bolton
dissenting.
Page 1 of 3 SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING September 25, 2017
PASSED ON FIRST READING SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
PASSED ON SECOND READING SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
ORDINANCE NO. 0-2017-08
Mayor Dressler said this is the second and final public hearing to establish the Fiscal Year
2018 Operating Budget, Capital Budget and Financial Policies.
City Manager Cernech made the following statement: "The tentative operating and capital
budget for Fiscal Year 2018 is $156,357,304 which is $39,666,993 less than the Amended
Budget of $196,024,297 for Fiscal Year 2017. The tentative general fund budget, which is
the primary fund for providing governmental services such as our contract with BSO, general
and administrative services, public services, and parks and recreation, is $62,905,031 which
is $1,656,823 more than the Amended Budget of $61,248,208 for Fiscal Year 2017. In
addition, the financial policies are included as part of the adoption of the annual budget.
These financial policies are an integral part of our long-term financial planning for the City.
These policies set parameters for operating management, including establishing reserves for
specific purposes, establishing accounts management and financial planning policies and
establishing policies on economic resources."
2. T02363 - FY 2018 Budget Ordinance: An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida, adopting the operating budget, revenues and expenditures, the capital
budget, and the financial policies for the Fiscal Year 2018, providing for conflicts; providing
for severability; and providing for an effective date.
Assistant City Attorney Horowitz read T02363 by title into the record. Finance Director
Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file In the City Clerk's Office. Mayor
Dressler opened the Public Hearing and with no one wishing to speak, closed the public
hearing. Commissioner Gomez seconded by Vice Mayor Placko moved approval of T02363
on second reading. Motion passed unanimously (5-0).
PASSED ON FIRST READING SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
PASSED ON SECOND READING SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
ORDINANCE NO. 0-2017-09
Mayor Dressler said that while he was at Harvard this past summer he had the opportunity to
speak with people from Australia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Nigeria and Mexico. The biggest
topic was the issue of taxation and whether it was progressive or regressive. Mayor Dressler
said the taxation in Tamarac is a progressive tax program where the burden is shifted away
from the lower economic scale to the people at the highest economic scale. Mayor Dressler
noted that Tamarac is on par with most other countries. Fairness of taxes is something we
have to keep in mind as they are not equally distributed and paid.
Mayor Dressler thanked everyone for their hard work as budgets are complex and something
we take seriously. Mayor Dressler thanked Finance Director Mason and his staff for
orchestrating the budget process and expressed his concern about what the legislature will
do during the next session relative to additional homestead exemptions.
Commissioner Gomez said that if anyone has any questions relative to the budget and the
millage rate to call the Financial Services Department.
Page 2 of 3 SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING September 25, 2017
There being no further business to come before th'7i Commission, Mayor Dressler
adjourned the meeting at 5:42 p.m.
n
pCJ T/iA.C. W
arty Dressler, Mayor
Patricia Teufel, CM
City Clerk
Page 3 of 3 SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING September 25, 2017