ha1 City of South Miami
2 Special City Commission Minutes
3 FIRST BUDGET HEARING
4 September 13, 2011
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6 A. SILENCE OR TURN OFF ALL CElL PHONES
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8 The City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida met in special session on
9 Tuesday, September 13, 2011, beginning at 7:43 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers, 6130
10 Sunset Drive.
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12 B. ADD-ON ITEM(S)
13 (NONE)
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15 C. ROLL CALL
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17 The following members of the City Commission were present: Mayor Philip K.
18 Stoddard, Vice Mayor Valerie Newman, and, Commissioners Velma Palmer, Brian D. Beasley
19 and Walter A. Harris.
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21 Also in attendance were: City Attorney Thomas F. Pepe, City Clerk Maria M. Menendez
22 and City Manager Hector Mirabile.
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24 D. MOMENT OF SILENCE
25 By Mayor Stoddard.
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27 E. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
28 The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
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30 F. LOBBYIST(S) ADDRESSING THE CITY COMMISSION TONIGHT MUST HAVE BEEN
31 REGISTERED WITH THE CITY CLERK
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33 G. PRESENTATIONS
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35 Dr. Mirabile went over the amendments to the proposed budget 2011-2012.
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37 With no further presentations this session was closed.
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SPECIAL COMl'1ISSION MINUTES -1 st BUDGET HEARING 1
september 13, 2011
1 ORDINANCE(S) FIRST READING -PUBLIC HEARING(S)
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3 1. An Ordinance levying the millage of 4.6662 which represents the 2011 rolled-
4 back rate and is a 6% decrease from the City's current millage rate of 4.9526, for
5 the fiscal year 2011/2012. 3/5
6 (City Manager-Finance Dept.)
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8 Moved by Commissioner Beasley, seconded by Vice Mayor Newman to approve this
9 item.
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11 The public hearing was opened at this time.
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13 Sharon McCain addressed the Commission asking for clarification on the order of the
14 two ordinances.
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With no further speakers the public hearing was closed.
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With no further comments, the motion to approve this item passed by a 5-0 vote:
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Commissioner Palmer:
Vice Mayor Newman:
Commissioner Beasley:
Commissioner Harris:
Mayor Stoddard:
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
27 2. An Ordinance adopting the Capital and Operating Budget of $19,165,736 and pay
28 plan for the fiscal year 2011/2012. 3/5
29 (City Manager-Finance Dept.)
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Moved by Commissioner Beasley, seconded by Mayor Stoddard to approve this item.
The public hearing was opened at this time.
35 Sharon McCain referred to the budget line item for the federal lobbyist, saying that it
36 was the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee to delete that expense; she
37 spoke against the iPads for the Commission; she asked for the police to get at least one
38 hybrid; and also for having one police on a bike.
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40 Pam Lahiff, Historic Preservation Board Chairperson addressed the Commission
41 requesting keeping the line item necessary to continue with the historic designation efforts by
42 the Board.
SPECIAL COMMISSION MINUTES -1st BUDGET HEARING 2
September 13, 2011
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Annik Steinberg requested shifting the funding for the pool to a less costly project.
With no further speakers the public hearing was closed.
The following were some but not all of the main points discussed during the hearing:
• Special Events not funded;
• There is a proposal to create a Special Events Coordinator that if
approved, it will be completely funded by the SMCRA; the Coordinator
will be working with various groups that will be willing to donate their
time and efforts;
• The three major events: MLK, Safe Streets Halloween, and the Parade of
the Elves will be funded by the SMCRA, also pending the Board's
approval;
• Approximate cost ofthe three major events:
o Safe Streets ($2,020 for Police and Public Works);
o Santa's Parade ($10,480) for Police and Public Works);
• Plus $3,040 for other things, such as bands;
o MLK Parade ($9,040) for Police and Public Works);
• The Commission discussed the increase of the fee per week per child for
the after-school program;
• The fish pond in front of City Hall was discussed in terms of the cost of
maintaining the coys; the direction of the Commission was to replace
the existing fish with other local type" of fish and reduce by $6,000 the
proposed the line item of $10,000;
• Energy efficient vehicles for Code Enforcement was discussed;
• Regarding energy efficiency vehicles for police, Chief Martine de Castro
said that he is looking at Chevy for next year; the Chief said that he is
looking into the bicycle project but that it takes time because the
average for a shift is five officers and a sergeant to cover the whole City
and on an emergency call the pursue cars would be needed;
• The increase in the health insurance line item was clarified by staff -the
reason for the increase is that staff this year decided to budget the
maximum amount for health insurance for every employee in order to
prevent being under budgeted if an employee decides to take the
insurance later on;
• Finance staff provided clarification regarding the increase for line item
3459 on page 163 (Contractual Services-Parking);
SPECIAL COMMISSION MINUTES -1st BUDGET HEARING 3
September 13, 2011
1 Moved by Commissioner Harris, seconded by Vice Mayor Newman to eliminate the
2 line item of $30,000 for the federal lobbyist, the motion passed by a 4-1 vote:
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Commissioner Palmer:
Vice Mayor Newman:
Commissioner Beasley:
Commissioner Harris:
Mayor Stoddard:
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
Nay
• The discussion followed regarding the after-school program fee. The City
Manager then recommended going back to the original fee of $25. per child for
the residents of the City;
• The Commission also requested that the $25 fee per child for the after-school
program be extended to City employees;
• Spoke about the unfunded improvements for Sunset between US1 and 62 nd
Avenue;
• Discussion on the ending fund balance of $155,718 on page 201;
recommendation to include the "Greenway Neighborhood Plan" that will
include green designation sign age, bikes, and shade trees;
• Discussion about converting cars to natural gas.
22 With some further comments the motion to approve this ordinance passed by a 5-0
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Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Newman: Yea
Commissioner Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Harris: Yea
Mayor Stoddard: Yea
31 There being no further business to come before this Body, the meeting adjourned at
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34 Attest
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Maria M. Menendez
City Clerk
SPECIAL COMMISSION MINUTES -1 st BUDGET HEARING 4
September 13, 2011
Approved
Philip K. Stoddard
Mayor