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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-05-01 Minutes SS MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL SESSION FOR TENT A TIVE BUDGET HELD SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 Mayor Vandergrift called the Special Session to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. Mayor Vandergrift announced this was a public hearing on the tentative budget and proposed millage rate for the City of Ocoee. Notice of this hearing was contained in the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes mailed by the Property Appraiser. The City Commission has previously set a proposed millage rate of 4.7387 mills which represents a 4.6718 % increase in millage over the rolled- back rate of 4.5272 mills. PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Johnson, and Parker. Commissioners Howell and Anderson arrived at 7:05 p.m. Also present were City Manager Gleason, City Attorney Rosenthal, Public Works Director Smith, Human Resources Director Psaledakis, Finance Director Horton, Police Chief Mark, Information Systems Manager Ross, Communications Manager Ek-Collins, Recreation Director Nordquist, Planning Director Wagner, City Engineer /u tilities Director Shira, Assistant City Engineer Wheeler, Building & Zoning Official Velie, Director of Community Relations/Projects Shira, Finance Supervisor Carter, Budget Analyst Brosonski, City Clerk Grafton, and Deputy City Clerk Whitford. Finance Director Horton announced that at the July 17 meeting the City Commission directed that the proposed millage for purposes of the TRIM Act be set at the current rate of 4.7387 mills. The Commission also directed that the City Manager bring a budget proposal forward based on the rolled-back rate of 4.5272 mills. During the Budget Workshops, the City Commission modified the proposed budget so proposed millage needed to fund the budget would be 4.7214 mills which represents a 4.2899% increase in the millage rate over the rolled- back rate of 4.5272 mills. This is reflected in proposed Ordinances Nos. 2001-25 and 2001-26. As a result, the percentage increase in millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the proposed budget is 4.2899%. Ad Valorem Tax revenues are being increased by $200,000.00 to provide funding for projects to be determined at a future date by the City Commission. The public hearing was opened, and Mayor Vandergrift asked for comments from citizens. Lester Dabbs, Jr., of 619 Caborca Ct., requested the Commission consider a $100.00 supplement for the General Employees Pension Plan. Questions from the Commission were responded to by Finance Director Horton and City Manager Gleason as well as Mr. Dabbs. Some discussion ensued and it was determined that this request would need to be addressed on or before the September 24, 2001, Final Budget meeting. City Manager Gleason read into the record the results of an on-line polling of general employees as to their desire to increase their monthly contribution in order to fund their share of the supplement. Total participants in the General Employee Pension Fund: 168. Of those employees there were 97 Responses, for a total of 58% of employees covered by the fund. Of those 58 % 87 responded Yes, 10 responded No to the 7.8% necessary to fund the employee portion for the $100.00 supplement. Ocoee City Commission Special Session September 5, 2001 Mr. Dabbs stated he would continue on the Pension Board for another year if a replacement could not be found, but he would rather retire from the board as soon as possible. Mr. Max Jacobs, 2247 Mt. Spruce St., spoke opposing the amount proposed for the contingency fund. Chief R. Mark, Century Oak Dr., spoke in favor of the proposed budget. Public Hearing closed 7:42 p.m. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS Commissioner Johnson stated he would like to grandfather in the current employees for dependent coverage at the current rate, but have all new employees pay the 100% as stated in the proposed budget for FY 2001-02. There was some discussion with questions answered by the Finance team and the City Manager. Public Works Director Smith expressed concerns that his staff had about the proposed dependent coverage. It was determined that the City Manager would present at the September 24th meeting a clarification of what Commissioner Johnson requested for the current employees. Mayor Vandergrift asked for a recess to determine how the motion should go. Attorney Rosenthal explained the options that were available to the Commission. He pointed out if the Commission votes for a tentative millage of 4.7214 on the Tentative Budget, then at the next meeting they could not go up to what was in the TRIM notice which was the 4.7387 mills without sending out a certified letter to all the tax payers in the city. Attorney Rosenthal stated similarly if the Commission wants to adopt a millage at the roll-back rate of 4.5272 then, at the September 24th final budget meeting a higher rate could not be adopted. He further stated that if the Commission reduced the rate below 4.7214 at this meeting then, they must take some dollars out of the budget somewhere as the budget must balance. City Manager Gleason told the Commission and the public how the proposed budget had been reached. He complimented the Staff and said all the Departments across the board had taken their share of deep cuts. Mayor Vandergrift complimented staff for the job they have done in finding grants. He said he has not changed his position and said there are other avenues to go rather than to raise taxes which adversely affect Ocoee's Seniors; therefore he would not be able to vote for the proposed budget. Commissioner Parker said she would like to adopt a rate that would incorporate $23,000.00 for the Pension fund supplement, $85,000.00 for the re-paving of Prima Vista Subdivision, and 2 Ocoee City Commission Special Session September 5, 2001 $25,000.00 for the rainy day fund added to the roll-back rate. She also stated the Commission is going to have to stick to the amount budgeted for grant proposals including the giveaways and MVP grants. Commissioner Johnson said he didn't have a problem with the amount for the General Pension fund or for the Prima Vista amount, but he did not think the $25,000.00 for contingency would be enough. He stated it should be at least $100,000.00. Commissioner Anderson inquired as to how much was budgeted for the coming year for new sidewalks. Director of Public Works Smith responded that no money was budgeted for new sidewalks, however there was money budgeted for maintenance and repair of existing sidewalks. A discussion ensued about the myriad of projects that need to be done and potential expenditures that may need to be covered. Commissioner Howell stated he is opposed to the roll-back rate as there are many projects that need to be done. He stated the citizens in his district didn't mind the tax increase last year as long as projects were getting done. Commissioner Howell stated the Commission just needed to be accountable and not spend money where it isn't necessary. Mayor Vandergrift reiterated his feeling about raising taxes and said that if the tax is not rolled back it is a tax increase. The Mayor asked if there were any amendments to the tentative budget. Commissioner Parker moved to amend the proposed contingency amount of $200,000.00 to $133,000.00. Motion died for lack of second. Recess 8:35 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. Commissioner Anderson read an e-mail that had come in from the public. Finance Director Horton announced "The proposed final millage rate is 4.7214 mills which exceeds the roll-back rate by 4.2899%. This is the proposed percentage increase in property tax. Ordinance No. 2001-25 regarding millage rate. City Attorney Rosenthal read the title only of Ordinance No. 2001-25 regarding the millage rate. Motion to adopt the tentative millage rate. Commissioner Anderson. seconded bv Commissioner Howell. moved to set the tentative millage rate at 4.7214 mills for the fiscal year 2001-2002. Motion carried 3-2 with Mayor Vandergrift and Commissioner Parker voting no. 3 Ocoee City Commission Special Session September 5,2001 Ordinance No. 2001-26 regarding budget. City Attorney Rosenthal read the title only of Ordinance No. 2001-26. Commissioner Anderson. seconded by Commissioner Johnson. moved to adopt the tentative budget of the City of Ocoee distributed alomz with the budget message of the City Manager dated July 31. 2001. along with the changes resulting from the Budget Workshops. Such tentative budget being for the fiscal year beginning October 1. 2001 and ending September 30. 2002. There were no comments by citizens or Commissioners. Motion carried 3-2 with Mayor Vandergrift and Commissioner Parker voting no. FINAL PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Anderson. seconded bv Commissioner Howell. moved to schedule the public hearing on September 24. 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at a Special Meeting of the City of Ocoee Commission in the Ocoee City Hall Commission Chambers to consider the final millage rate and final budget. that the hearing be advertised in accordance with the provisions of Section 200.065. Florida Statutes. and Section C-37 of Article VI of the Ocoee City Charter. that the appropriate Ordinances necessary to adopt the final millage rate and final budget be prepared bv the City staff. and that all other action necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 200.065. Florida Statutes. be undertaken. Motion carried 4-1 with the Mayor voting no. City Attorney Rosenthal announced the end of the hearing and date for final millage and final budget hearing: September 24, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. at Ocoee City Hall. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Attest: APPROVED: City of Ocoee 4