08-23-05 FY 2005-2006 Budget WS - Item 1aI ,
City of South Miami
FY 2005/06 Budget Workshop
Summary Minutes
August 18, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
The City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida
convened on Thursday, August 18, 2005, beginning at 7:07 p.m., in
the City Commission Chambers, 6130 Sunset Drive, for the
presentation of the proposed FY 2005/06 budget.
The following members of the City Commission were present:
Mayor Mary Scott Russell, Vice Mayor Palmer and Commissioner
Randy G. Wiscombe. Commissioners Marie Birts- Cooper and Craig Z.
Sherar were absent.
Also in, attendance were: City Manager Maria V. Davis,
Finance Director Hakeem Oshikoya, City Attorney Luis Figueredo
and City Clerk Maria M. Menendez.
1. FY 2005/06 Budget Presentation.
It was a PowerPoint presentation conducted by Ms. Davis and
Mr. Oshikoya. The presentation lasted approximately twenty -five
minutes.
The presentation for the FY 2005 -06 proposed budget
consisted of the following:
a) Millage comparison charts
b) Assessments: commercial vs. residential
c) New construction values
d) Sources of City revenues
e) Use of City funds by category
f) Cash position of the City as of September 30, 2004
g) Projection of City beginning cash position for FY 05 -06
h) Analysis of City pension contribution
i) Special events funded in FY 05 -06
j) Contribution of City boards in FY 05 -06
k) One -time expenditures funded through cash reserves
1) Increases in the proposed budget from acquisition
land, services & supplies
m) Decreases in the FY 05 -06 proposed budget
n) Acquisition of capital equipment (non - leased items)
o) Increase in the proposed budget due to addition
positions
of
of
p) Increase in the proposed budget due to salaries and
fringe benefits.
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AUGUST 18, 2005
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After the presentation Ms. Davis continued to explain the
proposed budget in further detail. The following are some
highlights from her presentation explaining the reason for the
proposed increases in equipment and positions:
• Webmaster fees
• School Crossing Guard Program
• The purpose for the H.T.E. Software Upgrade
• Building Dept. Structural Engineer budget
• General Public Works building maintenance budget
• Filing racks for records retention
• Various Police Dept. operating equipment
• Various operating equip. for MIS division
• Arborist for street maintenance division
• Principal Planner and Receptionist for Planning
• Two Maintenance Workers - Dison & YMCA properties
• Increase in salaries and fringe benefits.
2. City Commission Discussion
Following the City Manager's presentation, the Mayor and
Commissioners presented various questions and concerns. The
following are some of them:
For clarification, Ms. Davis explained that for the past
four to five years, the county has been picking up our costs for
the School Crossing Guard Program. Every other municipality in
Dade County, except for West Miami, pays for their own school
crossing guards; the price tag is actually $95,000 a year; she
has talked to the County about a payment plan because the budget
had already been prepared, so we are trying to work with them to
only pay $36,000 this year but we are going to have to start
paying the full fee in the future.
• Mayor Russell suggested that perhaps if we stop paying
the county the portion of the tickets revenue we now
contribute, then maybe we will have no problem picking
up that cost and we may even have some money left over.
Ms. Davis said that this is a very good point, however,
is not up to the County but it is the Statute. We are a
donor City, and Ms. Davis said that she thinks that we
should change it at the legislative level and that she
will be approaching our hometown legislator.
• Commissioner Wiscombe said to Ms. Davis that besides
talking to the hometown legislator, another thing she
can do is to ask the City Attorney to look into filing
some type of protest with the Attorney General, because
basically what they are doing is "double dipping." It
may not be legal what they are doing and they will
CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP 2
AUGUST 18, 2005
continue to do it until they are challenged. Ms. Davis
said that this is a good idea.
• Vice Mayor Palmer said that they (County) have been
collecting impact fees over the years, because every
time a developer comes into town they pay impact fees to
the School Board. She then asked as to what are those
impact fees doing for us in terms of the crossing
guards. Ms. Davis said that she does not think that they
are doing anything for us. They are for infrastructure
and have nothing to do with the school crossing guard
program.
• Commissioner Wiscombe then said that it may be a good
idea to create an impact fee for the developers in order
to help us with this cost. Ms. Davis said that this is a
good idea.
• Commissioner Wiscombe discussed the need of a
receptionist in the lobby area in order to greet
visitors and to keep track of who comes in and out of
City Hall.
• Vice Mayor Palmer raised the question of whether there
is a need for the proposed new position for an arborist.
• Vice Mayor Palmer asked about the Administration's
procedure for awarding a merit increase to the
employees.
• Vice Mayor Palmer also inquired about the possible use
of remaining funds from the Travel and Conference line
item budgeted for attending "Dade Days" in Tallahassee,
in the event that a Commissioner wishes to attend an
additional conference or seminar.
Finally, by affirmation of the Commissioners present, Ms.
Davis was directed to bring the budget down to 6.9 mills for
their discussion and consideration.
3. Adjournment
With no further comments or discussion, the Workshop was
adjourned at 8 :31 P.M.
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AUGUST 18, 2005