09-08-09 Minutes11auf t
I City of South Miami
2 Special City Commission Minutes
3 First Budget Hearing FY 09 -10
4 September 8, 2009
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CALL TO ORDER:
The City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida met
in special session on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, beginning at
7:35 p.m., in the City Commission Chambers, 6130 Sunset Drive.
A. Roll Call:
The following members of the City Commission were present:
Mayor Horace G. Feliu, Vice Mayor Brian D. Beasley, and,
Commissioners Velma Palmer, Valerie Newman and Lew Sellars.
Also in attendance were: Interim City Attorneys Laurence
Feingold and Mark A. Goldstein, City Clerk Maria M. Menendez and
City Manager Ajibola Balogun.
B. Invocation: The invocation was delivered by Mayor Feliu.
C. Pledge of Allegiance:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
D. Presentations(s)
City Manager's Vresentation
Mr. Balogun began by providing the Commission with an update
from the Budget and Finance Committee. He said that the Committee
will be presenting their findings and recommendations at the
Budget Workshop scheduled for September 16, 2009. He said that
the Committee conducted a presentation before the Pension Board;
the Committee has been working very diligently, and they will be
presenting a written report at the Workshop.
At this time Mr. Balogun presented a visual Overview of
Proposed Budget, followed by the City's Current Financial Status.
At the conclusion of the City Manager's presentation, Mayor
Feliu commended him and his staff for a job well done.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES
September 8, 2009
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i ITEM (S) FOR THE COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION:
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4 1s1 Reading of Ordinance(s) /Public Hearing(s)
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7 1. AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
8, CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, LEVYING THE MILLAGE OF
9 5.2790 WHICH IS 5.97% LOWER THAN THE ROLLBACK OF 5.6140
10 AND RESULTING IN 0.00% CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAX RATE IN
11 THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
12 2009/2010; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, ORDINANCES IN
13 CONFLICT AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5
14 (City Manager)
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16 Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
17 approve this item.
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19 At this time the Mayor opened the public hearing.
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21 Yvonne Beckman said that her taxes are going up according to
22 the proposed tax notice received by the County. She then referred
23 to a comparison chart between our City and the Village of
24 Pinecrest.
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26 David Fry said that the times are tough, commending the City
27 Manager for leading the City in the right direction. He said that
28 his taxes are also going up. He recommended for the Commission
29 and staff to take a cut in their salaries. He also said to be
30 concerned about the decrease in revenue because of the economic
31 situation we are experiencing.
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33 With no further speakers, the public hearing was closed.
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35 Mayor Feliu said that instead of cutting salaries it would
36 be more beneficial creating sources of revenue, such as
37 developing the old inspection station property which could
38 generate revenue in the form of a municipal parking facility.
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40 Mr. Balogun said that he is looking for funding, even though
41 it will not.be easy to obtain since a parking facility will be a
42 source of revenue.
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44 Regarding a question by Vice Mayor Beasley about the cost of
45 construction, Mr. Balogun said that there is an estimate of
46 $525,000, and since the property is within the CPA area, he is
47 hoping that the CRA would- be able to contribute with the
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 2
September 8, 2009
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I ant
construction. The Vice Mayor then said that we should consider
the option of selling the property since the cost for
construction seems so high. Mr. Balogun said that there was an
analysis done approximately two years ago to see what would be
the best option with regard to this property. The conclusion of
the report was to hold on to the property, to try to improve it
and never sell it. Mr. Balogun said that he has been talking to
the post office owner and that they would be interested in going
on a partnership with the City because they really need the
additional parking facility.
Commissioner Sellars said that he would like to see a
breakdown. of memberships and subscriptions by department, and
also for contractual services, both for the general and for the
special funds. Then, he also asked for a breakdown of operating
equipment., by amount. and by project; also, justification of all
travel and conference expenses. He also requested. defining the
disadvantages of paying out from reserve the Van Smith's, and
YMCA's loans and interest.
Commissioner Newman said that she would like to see a budget
of $250,000 for legal fees; she also wanted to see what
percentage of legal fees last year was spent on investigations.
She then said that one of her biggest concerns is the Police
Department and the safety of our citizens; she said that there is
a shortage of police vehicles, and that she would like to see the
full five vehicles that were planned; she said that we are not
competitive with other municipalities as far as compensating our
officers, they are contributing 12% now and would like to reduce
it to 8%.
Mr. Balogun cautioned that discussion on pension
contribution may compromise negotiation abilities with the
bargaining units. Mr. Feingold then advised to consider
scheduling an executive session to discuss this issue.
Commissioner Newman at this time referred to the Florida
Retirement System (FRS) and if there were any possibilities of
including it in this budget. Mr. Balogun said that it would not
be possible to consider it for this budget; he said that there
are many components to it and many activities that would need to
take place. There are different types of incentives to be given
to employees to be able to move over, and there is also a need
for a timeframe. He said that this is something that may be
planned during the course of the year.
Commissioner Newman also requested a list of all department
heads positions and their current salaries.
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 3
September 8, 2009
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BT2
Moved by Mayor Feliu to table this item, seconded by Vice
Mayor Beasley and Commissioner Palmer, the motion passed by a 5 -0
vote:
Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Newman: Yea
Commissioner Sellars: Yea
Mayor Feliu: Yea
2. AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A BUDGET OF
$19,658,979 AND PAY PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2009/2010;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND
AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5
(City Manager)
Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
approve this item.
Commissioner Sellars requested clarification about reduction
of maintenance employees. Mr. Balogun explained that what was
done was just a reorganization of the department. Commissioner
Sellars also asked for clarification about the positions of
principal planner and ERPB planner. Mr. Balogun explained that
the employee is the same. Commissioner Sellars then said that he
wants to see one additional car for the Police Department, so
that there would be six in total. He also said that he would like
to purchase a permanent sound system for the Community Center
because the one that is being used now does not work properly.
Commissioner Palmer asked whether we are replacing our
entire fleet. Mr. Balogun said that we are not at this time, but
that we have a plan for gradually replacing the cars as they
become old. Commissioner Palmer said that in her opinion this is
not the right time for purchasing more cars.
At this time Mr. Feingold that he would like to meet with
the Police Department regarding ways to increase the forfeiture
funds.
At this time the public hearing was opened.
Janet Launcelott asked about the grants and how much money
we have received this year. Mr. Balogun explained that grants are
not part of the budget. Dr. Launcelott then said that she was
delighted to read that there is a proposed study for a bike path
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 4
September 8, 2009
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Da
and that she is anxiously waiting to learn where the bike path is
going to be.
Yvonne Beckman referred to the proposed acquisition of
garbage trucks and equipment, saying that she would like for that
to go through the Green Task Force because she has learned that
there are now available garbage trucks that run on natural gas.
She also said that there is an increase in traffic around schools
within the Snapper Creek, Epiphany and Gulliver areas, and that
there is need for police presence in those areas. She then said
that all of these nonprofit schools could help to pay for police
officers so that they may patrol the area for the safety of our
children.
With no further speakers the public hearing was closed.
Moved by Mayor Feliu to table this item, seconded by Vice
Mayor Beasley, the motion passed by a 5 -0 vote:
Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Newman: Yea
Commissioner Sellars: Yea
Mayor Feliu: Yea
1. AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, LEVYING THE MILLAGE OF
5.2790 WHICH IS 5.97% LOWER THAN THE ROLLBACK OF 5.6140
AND RESULTING IN 0.00% CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAX RATE IN
THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2009/2010; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5
(City Manager)
Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
bring back this item from the table, the motion passed by a 5 -0
vote:
Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Newman: Yea
Commissioner Sellars: Yea
Mayor Feliu: Yea
Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
approve this item, the motion passed by a 5 -0 vote
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 5
September 8, 2009
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Commissioner Palmer:
Vice Mayor Beasley:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Sellars
Mayor Feliu:
:I=
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
Yea
2. AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A BUDGET OF
$19,658,979 AND PAY PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2009/2010;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND
AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5
(City Manager)
Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
bring back this item from the table, the motion passed by a 5 -0
vote:
Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Newman: Yea
Commissioner Sellars: Yea
Mayor Feliu: Yea
Moved by Mayor Feliu, seconded by Commissioner Palmer to
approve this item, the motion passed by a 5 -0 vote:
Commissioner Palmer: Yea
Vice Mayor Beasley: Yea
Commissioner Newman: Yea
Commissioner Sellars: Yea
Mayor Feliu: Yea
COMMISSION REMARKS
Each member of the Commission was afforded to make comments.
There being no further business to come before this Body,
the meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Attest
Maria M. Menendez
City Clerk
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MINUTES 6
September 8, 2009
Approved
Horace G. Feliu
Mayor