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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-121-1716 - Collecting Non-Ad Valorem for StormwaterPage: Briefs,Pub. date:Sunday,August19Last user:paulsteszewski Edition:1stSectionzone:DadeNDLastchangeat:20:57:59August16 MiamiHerald.com|THE MIAMI HERALD ND 2ND |SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012 EDITORIAL Suburban Editor Joan Chrissos 305-376-2635 jchrissos@MiamiHerald.com Editor Tere Figueras Negrete 305-376-3556 tfigueras@MiamiHerald.com OTHER CONTACTS Advertising 305-376-2707 REACH US NOTICE BY THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS OF INTENT TO USE THE UNIFORM AD VALOREM METHOD OF COLLECTION OF A NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT Notice is hereby given to all owners of lands located within the boundaries of the City of Miami Gardens that the City of Miami Gardens intends to use the uniform ad valorem method for collecting the Stormwater non-ad valorem assessments levied by the City of Miami Gardens as set forth in Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, and that the City Council will hold a public hearing on September 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at the 1515 NW 167 Street, Building #5, Suite 200 – Council Chambers. The purpose of the public hearing is to consider the adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City of Miami Gardens to use the uniform ad valorem method of collecting the Stormwater non-ad valorem assessments levied by the City of Miami Gardens as provided in Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes. The City of Miami Gardens is considering adopting a non-ad valorem assessment for 2014, for the purpose of collecting the Stormwater User Fees. This non-ad valorem assessment is levied for the fi rst time which was previously charged in the utility bill. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Opa-locka Planning Council will meet on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, AT CITY HALL, 780 Fisherman Street, Second Floor, Opa-locka, Florida, 33054 AT 7:00 P. M. I. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1.APPLICANT NAME: Jose Polo PROPERTY OWNER: Jose Polo ADDRESS: 13180 NW 31ST Avenue, Opa-locka, Fl 33054 REQUEST: Site Plan approval to operate an offi ce and storage yard. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: South 209 feet of North 295 feet of West 160 feet of East 185 feet, of Tract 28, “Nile Gardens Section 2” according to the Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 311, page 42 of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Section 28 and 29 Township 52 South, range 41 East. Containing 33,440 square feet, More or Less. Property Zoned I-2. (Folio 08-2128-004-0461) 2.APPLICANT NAME: Antonio G. Acosta & Gustavo Ramos/AGC Civil Engineer General Contractor, Inc. PROPERTY OWNER: Pedro O. & W. Ana Rodriguez ADDRESS: 2121 NW 135th Street, Opa-locka, Fl 33054 REQUEST: Approval of the Development Agreement. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1, 2, 3, & 4, Block 307 of “Opa-locka Heights” according to the Plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 45, Page 23 of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida Containing 63,870 square feet, More or Less. Property Zoned B-2. (Folio 08-2122-013-0070) 3.APPLICANT NAME: Magnolia North 2145 Apartments, LLC./Opa Locka CDC PROPERTY OWNER(S): Magnolia North 2145 Apartments, LLC & The City of Opa-locka ADDRESS: 2145 Lincoln Avenue, Opa-locka, FL 33054 REQUEST: Approval to rezone this Property site from B-1 to Magnolia North Redevelopment Overlay District LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Magnolia Sub PB 40-80 Lots 10,11, 12, & 13 Block 3 and Magnolia Sub PB 40-80 Lots 14 to 16 including Block 3. Containing 18,420 square feet, More or Less. Property(s) Zoned B-1 (Folio(s) 08-2122-003-0130; 08-2122-003-0170; II. OTHER BUSINESS: STAFF UPDATE III. ADJOURNMENT Pursuant to Chapter 286.0105: Anyone who desires to appeal any decision made by any board, agency, or commission with respect t o any matter considered at such meeting or hearing will need a record of the proceedings, and for that reason, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be bas ed.Joanna Flores, CMC Interim City Clerk Correction A article in the Aug.12 edition of the Miami Lakes Neighbors about candidates running for the Miami Lakes Town Council omitted the name of Manny Cid,who is running for at-large Council Seat 5.Therefore, incumbent Mary Collins is not automatically reelected.•MIAMI BEACH HISTORIC BOARD POSTPONES VOTE A proposal to restore and convert seven charred and abandoned historic Collins Park hotels and apartment buildings into a 300-room boutique hotel complex was not pre-sented Tuesday to the Historic Preservation Board.Plans to build the Col-lins Park Hotel were sup-posed to be vetted by the board. But the developers behind the project decid-ed to wait another month after they learned that only four of the seven board members would be at the meeting.The issue: the hotel project includes plans to partially demolish some of the buildings, and five board members are need-ed to approve demolition.The project was moved to the board’s September agenda.•HURRICANE ANDREW PHOTO EXHIBIT DOCUMENTS STORM Miami Dade College’s Homestead Campus and Art Gallery System will host a free photo exhibit in its library honor of the 20th anniversary of Hurri-cane Andrew.“After the Storm: Pho-tographs by Barry Fell-man” opens Monday and runs through Sept. 14. A closing reception at 5 p.m. on Sept. 13 will fea-ture a talk with the artist. The MDC Homestead Campus is at 500 College Terr. For more informa-tion, call 305-237-7700, or visit www.mdc.edu/ags.•SURFSIDE CANDIDATES FORUM SET FOR THURSDAY Surfside Town Commis-sion candidates Eli Tour-geman, Joe Graubart and Meredith Beattie will participate in a forum Thursday night ahead of the special election slated for Aug.28. The forum will provide an opportunity for the candidates to address issues that may affect the community’s future. The forum will be held Thursday at 7 p.m., in the Commission Chambers at Town Hall, 9293 Harding Ave.Residents are invited to submit questions for the candidates between 6 and 6:30 p.m. The forum also will be televised on Channel 77.NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS ADCL574 City of Miami Gardens   Agenda Cover Memo Council Meeting Date: September 12, 2012Item Type: Resolution Ordinance Other X Fiscal Impact: Yes No Ordinance Reading: 1 st Reading 2 nd Reading X Public Hearing: Yes No Yes No X Funding Source: Stormwater Funds Advertising Requirement: Yes No X Contract/P.O. Required: Yes No RFP/RFQ/Bid #:N/A X Strategic Plan Related Yes No Strategic Plan Priority Area: Enhance Organizational Bus. & Economic Dev Public Safety Quality of Education Qual. of Life & City Image Communication Strategic Plan Obj./Strategy: (list the specific objective/strategy this item will address) N/A X Sponsor Name Dr. Danny O. Crew, City Manager Department: Public Works  Short  Title:  A  RESOLUTION  OF  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  OF  THE  CITY  OF  MIAMI  GARDENS, FLORIDA, ELECTING  TO  USE  THE  UNIFORM  METHOD  OF  COLLECTING  NON ‐AD  VALOREM  ASSESSMENTS  FOR  STORMWATER  USER  FEES  PURSUANT  TO  CHAPTER  197, FLORIDA  STATUTES; STATING  THE  NEED  FOR  SUCH  LEVY; ENTERING  INTO  AN  AGREEMENT  WITH  THE  PROPERTY  APPRAISER  FOR  THIS  PUR POSE; AUTHORIZING  THE  CITY  MANAGER  TO  ENGAGE  A  CONSULTANT  FOR  THIS  PURPOSE; PROVIDING  FOR  DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  CITY  MANAGER  AND  CITY  CLERK; PROVIDING  FOR  THE  ADOPTION  OF  REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING  FOR  AN  EFFECTIVE  DATE.  Staff  Summary:   ITEM J-1) RESOLUTION PUBLIC HEARING Non-Ad Valorem Assessments for Stormwater User Fees Background    In  March  2007, the  City  of  Miami  Gardens  exercised  its  option  to  establish  its  own  stormwater  utility  program  (Ordinance  2006 ‐25 ‐106, CODE  ‐ Chapter  26, Article  II  – Stormwater  Utility ‐ Appendix  B). In  turn, the  City  also  needed  to  collect  the  stormwater  utility  fees  from  Miami  Gardens' residents  and  commercial  property  owners. To  do  so  the  City  executed  two  billing  interlocal  agreements  with  Miami  Dade  Water  and  Sewer  (Resolution# 2012 ‐48 ‐1643) and  North  Miami  Beach  (Resolution# 2006 ‐153 ‐499) to  collect  Miami  Gardens  stormwater  user  fees  through  the  utility  billing  to  their  customers. In  addition, the  City  directly  bills  the  customers  that  do  not  have  any  utility  bills.   Current  Situation   The  existing  stormwater  utility  fee  collection  charges  are  as  follows:  • Miami  Dade  County  charges  the  City  of  Miami  Gardens  $0.80  per  quarterly  bill  per  customer  for  a  total  annual  amount  of  approximately  $51,000. • North  Miami  Beach  charges  5% of  the  total  annual  amount  collected  and  charges  the  City  $70,000. • For  customers  with  no  utility  bill, City  of  Miami  Gardens  bills  directly  through  the  Finance  Department  and  sent  through  the  League  of  Cities  for  a  total  annual  amount  of  $2,400.  The  total  amount  of  billing  charges  is  approximately  over  $123,400  per  year.   Analysis    There  is  another  mechanism  to  collect  the  Stormwater  User  Fees  that  will  be  less  in  billing  charges  than  what  the  City  is  paying  presently  ‐‐ that  is  through  the  Miami  Dade  County  Property  Appraiser’s  Tax  Bill. The  amount  charged  by  the  Property  Appraiser  (PA) to  collect  all  the  Stormwater  User  Fees  is  up  to  2% of  the  total  amount  of  the  collection; however, presently  they  are  charging  1%. Hence, the  estimated  annual  amount  to  be  charged  by  the  PA  is  1% of  $3.3  million  which  is  $33,000. If  the  total  percentage  was  to  increase  to  2%, the  estimated  charged  by  would  be  $66,000.  By  placing  the  Stormwater  User  Fees  in  the  Tax  Roll, city  staff  will  be  able  monitor  changes  and  update  information  to  local  properties  by  utilizing  the  County  Property  Appraiser’s  Software  to  throughout  the  year  prior  to  the  tax  roll  being  processed  by  the  tax  collector. This  will  eliminate  dealing  with  three  separate  billing  mechanisms.  Furthermore, this  will  also  eliminate  any  City  direct  liens  to  the  properties  because  of  non ‐payment  of  City  bills, which  are  also  time  consuming  from  Finance  to  the  City  Clerk  Department  generating  the  lien  and  then  tracking  the  liens  into  future  collection.  The  County  Property  Appraiser’s  Office  has  deadline  requirements  to  meet  the  target  date  up  to  the  final  TRIM  Notice. If  approved  by  Council, the  City  will  be  targeting  the  stormwater  user   fee  collection  to  be  placed  on  the  Tax  Roll  for  the  year  2014.  To  ensure  maximum  benefits, city  staff  is  proposing  to  hire  a  consultant  to  assist  in  evaluating  all  properties  in  the  City  for  correct  Equivalent  Residential  Unit  (ERU), place  the  gathered  information  into  Geographic  Information  System  (GIS), and  transfer  the  required  information  to  Miami  Dade  County  Property  Appraiser’s  Office  as  required  to  meet  the  2014  target  date. An  estimated  cost  for  consultant  is  $35,000.  The  required  implementation  plan  would  be  as  follows: 1. Prior  to  January  1, 2013:  ‐ Publish  Notice: weekly  in  a  newspaper  for  4  consecutive  weeks  (completed) ‐ Resolution  for  Public  Reading  to  impose  a  Non ‐Valorem  Assessment  to  use  the  Uniform  Method  of  Collection  (Scheduled: September  12, 2102).  ‐ After  resolution  passes, revise  Ordinance  Code  Chapter  26  to  reflect  the  Uniform  Method  of  Collection. 2. By  January  10, 2013: transmit  a  copy  of  the  approved  City  Resolution  to  Property  Appraiser  (PA) 3. March  1, 2013: PA  agrees  to  serve  as  Tax  Collector  for  the  City  4. March  11, 2013: notice  the  Hearing  by  publication. Also  notice  by  first  class  U.S. mail  will  be  sent  to  each  affected  person  owning  property  subject  to  assessment  with  the  specific  information. 5. April  10, 2013: City  Council  adopts  the  Stormwater  FY2014  Tax  Roll  as  the  FY2014  City  of  Miami  Gardens  Stormwater  District. 6. By  May  25, 2013: a  list  of  all  eligible  districts  (FY2014  City  of  Miami  Gardens  Stormwater  District).  7. By  June  1, 2013: the  PA  will  provide  the  roll  data  to  complete  the  roll  submission.  8. By  June  15, 2013: the  City  must  submit  test  data  files.  9. By  July  13, 2013: all  inserts  must  be  submitted  for  review  and  approval. 10. By  July  19, 2013: City  must  provide  final  data  files, assessment  purpose, and  contact  information.  11. By  July  20, 2013: PA  will  advise  the  City  of  the  exact  date  for  delivery  of  the  inserts  to  the  mailing  vendor.  12. By  August  24, 2013: TRIM  will  be  in  the  mail.  13. By  September  14, 2013: final  roll  that  will  appear  on  the  Tax  Bill  is  due.  14. After  November  1, 2013: jurisdictions  will  be  able  to  make  roll  changes  in  FY  2015.   City  staff  is  requesting  that  the  City  Council  approve  the  new  uniform  method  to  collect  the  Stormwater  User  Fees  as  specified  in  Sections  403.0893  of  the  Florida  Statutes  which  authorizes  the  City  to  levy, collect  and  enforce  fees  for  stormwater  utility  as  a  non ‐ad  valorem  assessment  by  also  utilizing  the  provisions  of  Chapter  197.3632  of  the  Florida  Statutes, which  authorizes  City  to  use  the  uniform  method  of  collecting  stormwater  fees  by  adopting  this  resolution.   Proposed  Action: It  is  recommended  that  the  City  Council  approve  the  Resolution. Attachments: Attachment  A  ‐ Ordinance  2006 ‐25 ‐106  Attachment  B  – Agreement  with  Miami  Dade  Water  and  Sewer  (Resolution# 2012 ‐48 ‐1643) Attachment  C  ‐ Agreement  with  North  Miami  Beach  (Resolution# 2012 ‐48 ‐1643)  Attachment  D  – Newspaper  Ads   Attachment  E  – Legal  Description  of  Miami  Gardens