HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-09-22 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutes0, AMp4 7525 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321-2401
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RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTIONS/DISCUSSION
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
There will be a Special Meeting of the City Council on
Thursday, September 22, 1988, at 7:00 P.M., in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, to hold
public hearings on the final millage and final budget for
Fiscal Year 1988/89.
1. 'ANNOUNCEMENT of percentage increase of 9.66% in
proposed millage rate over the rolled -back rate
necessary to fund the Budget for Fiscal Year
1988/89.
FINAL ACTION:
ANNOUNCEMENT was made.
2. PUBLIC HEARING on the final millage rate for Fiscal
Year 1988/89.
FINAL ACTION:
Public Hearing was held.
3. PUBLIC HEARING on the final Budget for Fiscal Year
1988 89.
. FINAL ACTION:
Public Hearing was held.
4. MOTION TO ADOPT Temp. Reso. #5147 adopting a final
millage rate for Fiscal Year 1888/89.
FINAL ACTION: RESOLUTION NO. R-88-250 PASSED.
APPROVED 3.3598 mills for operation and/or maintenance
expenses representing a 9.66% increase in property tax
rates. The following was approved:
General Fund 3.3598
Total Debt Service 0.8136
Total Millage 4.1734
5. MOTION TO ADOPT Temp. Reso. #5148 adopting a final
Budget for Fiscal Year 1988/89.
FINAL ACTION: RESOLUTION NO. R-88-251 PASSED.
APPROVED. The budget summary is as follows:
General Fund $16,408,998.00
Special Purpose Funds 38,750.00
Debt Service Funds 946,712.00
Capital Project Funds 2,788,997.00
Utilities East Funds 391,548.00
Utilities West Funds 18,536,252.00
Internal Service Funds 1,974,917.00
GRAND TOTAL: $41,086,174.00
All meetings are open to the public.
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes �
It a person decides to appeal any decision made by the city
Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting cr Carol A. Evans
hearing, he will need a record yi the procea:dings and for such City Clerk
purpose, ho (n&]T�gtfio ensure that a verbatim record inciud-as
the tcstimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be 1:.3:4�d
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1988
TAPE 1
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this meeting to Order on
Thursday, September 22, 1988 at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers.
MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Abramowitz called for the
Pledge of Allegiance followed by a Moment of Silent Meditation
dedicated to Kay Wichert, the wife of Code Enforcement Officer, Ed
Wichert.
PRESENT:
Mayor Norman Abramowitz
Vice Mayor Jack Stelzer
Councilman Dr. H. Larry Bender
Councilman Bruce Hoffman
Councilman Henry Rohr
ALSO PRESENT:
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Richard Doody, City Attorney
Ken Burroughs, Finance Director
Carol. A. Evans, City Clerk
Pauline Walaszek, Special Services
Secretary
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Abramowitz announced the opening of Nob Hill Road
and he said the landscaping called "Zero Maintenance"
would soon be installed.
Mayor Abramowitz announced that a Grant was presently
being completed and would be submitted to the City for
Sidewalk and Bike Path Projects.
Mayor Abramowitz read a newspaper article regarding the
intense investigation performed by the Police Department
and Sergeant Barbara Chovan of a suspect in the
Sunflower/Heathgate rapes. The article stated that the
suspect confessed to the crimes and Mayor Abramowitz
congratulated them for a wonderful job in apprehending
the criminal.
Mayor Abramowitz announced that the Police Department had
a person who confessed to the burglaries around
Commercial Boulevard and Rock Island Road. He
congratulated the Police Department for a job well done.
Mayor Abramowitz
said he received
a letter from the State
Attorney Office
with a
list of accommodations
and the
Police Chief was
named.
He said
the Police Department,
along with every
other
Department
in the City, should be
congratulated for
their
diligent
and caring work.
Page 1 J
9/22/88
1. ANNOUNCEMENT of percentage increase of 9.66% in proposed
millage rate over the rolled -back rate necessary to fund
the Budget for Fiscal Year 1988/89.
SYNOPSIS OF ACTION:
ANNOUNCED.
Mayor Abramowitz announced the percentage increase to be
9.66% as the proposed millage rate over the rolled -back
rates necessary to fund the Budget for Fiscal Year
1988/89.
2. PUBLIC HEARING on the final millage rate for Fiscal Year
1988/89.
SYNOPSIS OF ACTION:
Public Hearing was held.
City Manager Kelly said this item was for the City's
operating millage rate. He said the following was being
increased:
Mill.age rate from 3.03 to 3.359
Debt Service from .656 to .8136
City Manager Kelly said the total increase on the Debt
Service was .157 and .32 on the operating millage.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Finance Director submitted the
actual increases imposed on the residents, which were as
follows:
Assessments of $ 50,000.00 -- $12.09 yearly
Assessments of $ 75,000.00 -- $24.17 yearly
Assessments of $100,000.00 - $36.26 yearly
Mayor Abramowitz Opened the Public Hearing.
Abe Garr, Resident at 9496 S. Belfort Circle, Kings
Point, said he was representing the Kings Point Civic
Association and his remarks would pertain -to. the 9.6
property tax proposal. He said the Civic Association did
not object to a tax increase providing it was legitimate
and needed.
Mr. Garr said before proposing the tax .increase, the City
should be sure that there were no more excess funds in
the Budget. He said to tax one segment of the population
was discriminative and unwarranted. He said if the City
needed money, they should have collected it in equitable
ways such as, 1) float a 10-year Bond Issue with the
usual City and State Tax free features, 2) tax alcohol,
Cigarettes and gasoline 1% or 2% so that the taxation
affected all the residents and, 3) reevaluate the Budget
requests and balance them out so that smaller surpluses
remain and use the accumulated surplus for the shortfall.
Mr. Garr asked that the City Council not approve the
proposed Budget at this time until the recommendations
are considered and one is implemented.
Page 2
9/22/88
Mayor Abramowitz asked Mr. Garr if he researched the
legality of implementing taxes on the items described in
recommendation 2 and Mr. Garr replied no.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Council could not legally
impose taxes on those items and Mr. Garr said the City's
Charter did not state that taxes could not be imposed on
those items.
C/M Hoffman asked Mr. Garr if he read the State Statutes
and Mr. Garr replied, no.
Herman Fox, Resident of Westward 24, had concerns with
the City Manager suddenly finding 1.5 million dollars in
the Budget. He said the City Manager was not doing his
job properly and the City Council was not doing their job
properly in keeping the City Manager. He said if the
money was found, there was probably more money available.
Mayor Abramowitz said the excess money was never lost;
therefore, it could not be found. He said the City
Council recently identified the monies.
Mr. Fox said if the money was available it should have
been implemented before the Budget was increased and the
Utility Tax was imposed.
Walter Rekuc, Resident at 5402 Red Cypress Lane, said the
1988/89 Budget has been increased by 3.9 million dollars
or .32%. He said the City Council needed to get the
Budget down to the appropriate level. He said the
Utility surplus existed because the City was overcharging
the residents and to use this money in the General Fund
was refunding the monies to the residents who did not
contribute to the surplus. He said this action was
fraud.
Mr. Rekuc said to use the money from the old City Hall
while there were outstanding Bonds was a violation of
trust and the fiduciary liability of the City should be
reviewed by the City Attorney.
Mr. Rekuc said using impact fees in the General Fund may
result in the impact fees being returned. He said there
was 46.5% in reduction of the permits in the Building
Department; however, the Department was receiving an
increase for expenses of 59.8%.
Mr. Rekuc said the City needed an internal auditor
because there seemed to be problems in the City's
finances and the internal auditor should report to the
City Council or the Charter Board only.
Mr. Rekuc said the Parks and Recreation Department should
be a separate Department because of the existing
projects. He said the Parks and Recreation Department
needed a Director that was knowledgeable in Construction
and Recreation and the City presently had this type of
people on staff.
Mr. Rekuc said the City Council should reject this Budget
and review it again before approving it.
Melanie Reynolds, Resident of Sands Point, had concerns
with the Debt Service millage being separate from the Ad
Valorem when the Bond Issues were to be paid by the Ad
Valorem taxes. She asked what was to be done with the
.81% Debt Service.
Page 3
9/22/88
Ken Burroughs, Finance Director, said the Debt Service
millage rate on the 3 Bond Issues was .8136 and would be
applied to the valuation of each property owner and
collected through the Ad Valorem Taxes. He said the
monies collected would pay .for the Bonds, Principal and
Interest on the Bond Issues.
Mrs. Reynolds asked why the Bond Issues were placed on
the Utility Bills last year and Mr. Burroughs said the
Bond Issue on the Utility Bills was for the 1986 Utility
Revenue Bond.
Mrs. Reynolds said this was not supposed to be done
because Revenue Bonds were supposed to be paid by
revenues and not the residents.
Henry Gross, Treasurer of the Kings Point Civic
Association, suggested that the entire surplus be taken
out of the Utility Fund and used.
Mayor Abramowitz said the reason this was not being done
was because the City Council was considering the
possibility of decreasing the water and sewer rates. He
said the City Council reviewed the Budget line by line
which was how the monies being used now for the shortfall
was identified.
Mayor Abramowitz said the surrounding Cities had a lot of
surplus because they did not provide services to the
residents. He said the City Council had three options in
making up the shortfall and one was to cut the services.
He said he did not want to do this because the City would
not be properly maintained.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Council did not find
monies, they only identified them. He said he could
assure the residents that, if the monies could not
legally be used, the City Council would not approve their
use. He said there were things that the residents were
not aware of that the City had to abide by and the City
Council was doing the best they could for the City and
the residents.
Joseph Schreiber, Resident at 10504 E. Clairmont Circle,
said the City and the Administration must learn to live
within its means. He said many of the residents were
retirees who live on a fixed income and they were aware
of what they could afford. He said the City did not do
this because there were funds carried over in the amount
of $7,675,236.00, meaning they were surplus funds. He
said this surplus indicated that the City's Budget and
procedures were not proper. He said a Budget should
never be prepared with a surplus of 23% of the Operating
Budget.
Mr. Schreiber said the present City Council may have
inherited the problems; however, it was incumbent upon
the City Council to investigate and correct the past
problems. He said he had a few questions he would like
answered concerning the Budget.
Mayor Abramowitz asked Mr. Schreiber to hold his
questions until Item 3. He announced that he, the City
Manager and the Finance Director would be meeting very
soon with the Auditors and the City's past and future
finances would be discussed.
Page 4 �''
9/22/88
Mayor Abramowitz Closed the Public Hearing with no
further response.
3. PUBLIC HEARING on final Budget for Fiscal Year 1988/89.
SYNOPSIS OF ACTION:
Public Hearing was held.
City Manager Kelly said the increase in the Budget was
for Public Safety with the addition of 5 Police Officers,
2 Fire Fighters and 2 Code Enforcement Officers. He said
with the recent annexation, the City's services had to be
increased, unfortunately, the State would be
accommodating the City's expenses by accounting for the
annexed areas valuation until next year.
Mayor Abramowitz said he and the City Manager have been
working with the State Legislators regarding this matter
and the City Planner has been meeting with the County.
He said the matter was constantly being denied and the
City had to provide the services to the annexed area.
Mayor Abramowitz Opened the Public Hearing.
Herman Fox, Resident, had concerns with the City annexing
the properties knowing that the extra expenses would not
be accounted for by the State.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City made a great decision when
getting this area annexed because 2 or 3 years from now,
the City would be pleased with the results. He said in
the future, the Cities are going to be forced to annex
property regardless so that their property lines are
squared off. He said the City was not going to be in
business for a week and the City would feel the benefit
of the annexation in the future. He said the City
Manager and City Planner were being praised by the
surrounding Cities for getting the annexed area with such
expediency.
Joseph Schreiber, Resident, said in reviewing the
proposed Budget] there were unexpended funds expected at
the end of September 30, 1989,in the amount of
$3,786,251.00. He asked what these funds were expected
for.
Mr. Burroughs said the surplus would be in various funds
on September 30, 1989.
Mr. Schreiber said the City should operate on a more
realistic Budget rather than having the expected surplus.
He said the millage rate could be lowered with these
expected surpluses.
TAPE 2
Mr. Burroughs said 70% of the surplus funds came from the
enterprises in the Utility Fund. He said the funds were
reserves and were required in various funds.
Mr. Schreiber said the reserves affected the taxpayers.
He said V/M Stelzer stated that the previous Utility
Director increased the residents rates and water
pressure; therefore, the rates should be rolled back to
where appropriate.
Page 5
9/22/88
Mayor Abramowitz said this would be done as he stated
previously.
V/M Stelzer said there was $613,000.00 in the General
Fund only and the Utility Fund did not affect the millage
rate in the Budget. He said the matter being discussed
was the General Budget.
Mayor Abramowitz said the monies from the Utility Fund
could not be co -mingled with the monies in the General
Fund.
Mr. Schreiber asked how the City could use the Utility
surplus for the General Budget's shortfall and Mayor
Abramowitz said the monies being used were from an
overcharge.
Mr. Schreiber asked why the City Manager's Budget was
increased 20--1/2% from last year.
City Manager Kelly said he was asking for an Assistant
position to be filled this year. He said the City
Council approved this last year; however, he transferred
the monies elsewhere in the Budget as opposed to filling
the position. He said he needed the position this year.
Mr. Schreiber asked why the position was needed and City
Manager Kelly said he felt that he needed an Assistant.
Mr. Schreiber said the public felt that the City Manager
could do without the position and save the additional
funds for something else. He asked why there was an
increase of $87,551.00 in the Building Department.
City Manager Kelly said that there would be 2 Code
Enforcement Officers hired and the remaining money would
be used on capital equipment such as vehicles so the
Officers could get around to do their job.
Mr. Schreiber suggested that the vehicles be bought
through bonds as opposed to using the money in the Budget
and City Manager Kelly said this matter was being
investigated and considered.
Mayor Abramowitz said he was constantly receiving
complaints about the City's services being increased. He
said there were 6 men in the Public Works Department that
were currently cutting 6 million square feet of grass.
He said it costs the City money to maintain the City. He
said the residents want all of these services increased;
however, they are not willing to pay for it.
Mr. Schreiber said these services were to be provided for
by the Administrators and Mayor Abramowitz asked how this
was to be done without money. Mr. Schreiber said this
could be done by cutting down the fat and providing what
was necessary.
C/M Rohr said he had been listening to the comments at
this meeting and he wondered where the residents were
during the Budget process and the City Council Budget
Workshops. He said the residents were not complaining to
the State or County when they mandated taxes. He said if
the residents could submit suggestions on what services
they wanted cut, the City Council would be more than
willing to review the suggestions and act on them if they
were feasible.
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Page 6 '�'
9/22/88
Mr. Schreiber said he did not want to go to the County
regarding tax increases because it was too far. He said
the City Council was who the residents could confront
with their concerns. He said he was sure the Mayor did
not want to hold a Council meeting with no one present.
Mayor Abramowitz said all he
wanted was the residents to
care about the City not the
Mayor or
the $12.00 to $24.00
it would cost more per year.
residents to feel that the City
He said
could
he would like the
get a better Police
Department, Fire Department,
cleaner
areas for a few more
dollars per year.
Mr. Schreiber asked why the Sanitation Services increased
to $180,217.00 and City Manager Kelly said this year the
garbage rates for the City would be increasing; however,
they are still lower rates than the surrounding Cities.
He said it would cost the single family residents $7.95
per year and the condominiums $3.88. He said the
contract provided that the increase be based on the CPI
index which was presently 4%. He said the City paid $.14
on the dollar for tipping fees. He said the City was
concerned with transferring the billing process to Waste
Management, Inc., so they could directly bill the
residents as opposed to the City absorbing the costs;
however, the City Council opted not to do this.
City Manager Kelly said the City of Pompano Beach also
handled the billing process; however, they charged the
residents an Administration Fee. He said Tamarac did not
do this plus they handle the complaints from the
residents and forward them to Waste Management, Inc.
V/M Stelzer said $1,500,030.00 was listed as income from
Sanitation Services; however, it wds also listed as an
expenditure. He said this matter did not affect the
millage rate.
Abe Garr, Resident, asked what the Assistant City
Manager's responsibilities would be and City Manager
Kelly said the position was an Assistant to the City
Manager. City Manager Kelly said the position would
entail auditing and monitoring the Budgets of various
departments, handling communications by the computer,
work on annexation coordinations and getting money
deserved by the City.
Mr. Garr asked who had been doing these jobs and what the
salary would be for the position. City Manager Kelly
said he has been handling the jobs and the position's
salary would be approximately $35,000.00 per year.
Mayor Abramowitz said there were a lot of things the City
missed getting such as County and State Grants. He said
the City received practically nothing in the past. He
said he has had the opportunity to work closely with the
City Manager and the City Manager had several places that
he should be or meetings he should attend but could not
do it because he had other things to do.
Mayor Abramowitz said he did not feel sorry for the City
Manager because he was making a lot more than the City
Council; however, the surrounding Cities paid a lot more
for a person who only collected money for them. He said
the City could be benefiting in a lot of things if the
Page 7
9/22/88
City Manager had the opportunity to pay attention to
certain matters. He said the City Manager should have
the opportunity to spend the extra time needed to better
the City.
Vickie Beech, Resident, said she was not trying to
belittle the Mayor's comments; however, the residents did
not object to the salaries being paid to the employees
providing the City could afford to pay those salaries.
She said she was concerned with the value being received
from the high paying positions. She said over the past
few years, the salaries have been increased but the
services have not. She said the City was top management
heavy. She said if the residents had to give up money to
support the City then the employees should do the same.
Walter Rekuc, Resident, asked C/M Rohr if he read the
internal audit for the last 2 years and C/M Rohr said he
has not been office for the last 2 years.
Mr. Rekuc said the audit recommended that an internal
auditor was needed. He said according to the audit
report, the Public Works Department lacked inventory
control and numerical control of the workorders. He
said for 2 years he asked for these reports which have
been refused by the City Manager. He said there were too
many problems in the City's economy and the City Council
needed to adhere to these problems financially.
Sol Ruben, Resident at Lakes of Carriage Hills, had
concerns about the duplication of positions within the
City and, after reviewing the positions, he found that
they were not duplicated.
Kathren Gardner, Resident, had concerns with why her
taxes were increased last year and this year.
C/M Hoffman said last year, the City did not increase the
City taxes and the State and County taxes were not
imposed by the City. He said the City's taxes were the
smallest collected from the residents. He said the
residents were required to pay Hospital taxes, Water
Management District taxes, School taxes, County taxes,
etc.
Melanie Reynolds, Resident, said the City's Charter
stated that the City Manager was to submit a message with
the Budget; however, this was not done.
City Manager Kelly said the message was discussed
verbally with the City Council and Mrs. Reynolds said the
message was always available with the Budget because the
Charter called for one.
Mrs. Reynolds had concerns with the Budget being adopted
by Resolution. She said it was mandated by the City
Charter that the Budget be adopted by Ordinance and she
could not understand the City Attorney adhering to the
Attorney General's opinion regarding the matter when he
did not bother to adhere to the Attorney's General
opinion of 1978 stating that the Budget should be adopted
by Ordinance. She said the City Attorney did not respond
to C/M Hoffman's request to adopt the Budget by Ordinance
even though C/M Hoffman was the former Chairman of the
Charter Board.
Page 8
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9/22/88
Mrs. Reynolds had concerns with the garbage collection
fees being listed as a line item when the fees were a
wash in the Budget.
V/M Stelzer said bills could not be paid unless they were
identified in the Budget.
Mrs. Reynolds said she challenged the amount of
$1,530,217.00 when the first Budget submitted was in the
amount of $1,780,914.00. She asked if the accounting for
this was available to the Public.
C/M Hoffman said the Budget listed the sanitation
services as a revenue and expenditure and Mrs. Reynolds
said she challenged the contract because it was not in
accordance with Section 7-19 of the Charter. She said
there was no competitive bidding done for the franchised
services as mandated by the State Statute and the City
Code.
Mayor Abramowitz Closed the Public Hearing with no
further response.
4. MOTION TO ADOPT Temp. Reso. #5147 adopting a final millage
rate for Fiscal Year 1988 89.
SYNG-PSIS OF ACTION:
APPR OVEL .
RESOLUTION NO. R-88-250 - PASSED
City Attorney Doody read Temp. Reso. #1547 in its entirety.
* C/M Rohr MOVED to APPROVE Temp. Reso. #1547,
* SECONDED by C/M Hoffman.
vnm,P.
ALL VOTED AYE
5. MOTION TO ADOPT Temp.
Reso. #1548 adopting a final Budget
for Fiscal Year 198889.
SYNOPSIS OF ACTION:
APPROVED.
RESOLUTION NO. R-88-251 - PASSED
City Attorney Doody read Temp.^ Reso. #1548 by title.
* C/M Bender MOVED to APPROVE Temp. Reso. #1548,
* SECONDED by C/M Hoffman.
V/M Stelzer said of the residents present, there were
only 8 people who attended the City Council's Workshops
on the Budget. He said the residents had the duty to
attend the Workshops before the millage rates was set. He
said the residents would be heard during the Workshop
meetings. He said the Department Heads submitted their
Budget to the City Manager who reviewed and cut the
Budgets then, the City Council reviewed the Budgets and
cut them again.
Page 9
9/22/88
V/M Stelzer said the salaries in the surrounding Cities
were much higher than the salaries in the City and the
City was losing good people because of it. He said the
City had 3 Unions and had to comply with their demands.
He said the residents should not concern themselves with
the feasibility of the annexation because in the future,
they would see that this was one of the best things the
City could have done.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Council and staff worked
very hard on the Budget. He said the City Council was
trying very hard to do what would benefit the City.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City would be celebrating their
25th Anniversary soon and he would like the residents to
celebrate it with joy.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE
With no further business, Mayor Abramowitz ADJOURNED this
meeting at 8:50 P.M.
�� 0�7-Ma��JU:
NO MAN ABRAMOWI Z, MAYOR QT
CAROL A. EVANS, CITY CLERK
"This public document was promulgated at a cost of $139.50 or $3.88
copy to inform the general public, public officers and employees of
recent opinions and considerations of the City Council of the City
Tamarac."
CITY OF TAMARAC
APPROVED AT MEETING OF Ze i
s�
City Clerk
per
of
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