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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 24, 2008 CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 (A) CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The City Council for the City of Miami Gardens, Florida, met in Special Session on Wednesday, September 24, 2008,beginning at 6:25 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, 1515 NW 167`' Street, Building 5, Suite 200, Miami Gardens, Florida. The following members of the City Council were present: Mayor Shirley Gibson, Vice Mayor Barbara Watson, and Council members Aaron Campbell Jr., Melvin L. Bratton, Sharon Pritchett and Oliver G. Gilbert III. Councilman Andr6 Williams was not present. (B) INVOCATION Councilman Campbell delivered the Invocation. (C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Recited in unison. (D) RESOLUTION(S)/PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Gibson announced this is the second of two public hearings for the adoption of the millage rate and budget for the City of Miami Gardens for Fiscal Year 2008/2009. Clerk Taylor read the title of the resolution into the record. RESOLUTION No.2008-178-865 D-1) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL MILLAGE RATE AT A PUBLIC HEARING, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2009;PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK;AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) Mayor Gibson announced the proposed millage rate for the City for Fiscal Year 2008/2009 is 5.1402, which is the same amount as the roll-back rate, meaning that the City did not raise taxes this year. Special City Council Minutes September 24, 2008 Page 1 Manager Crew shared the City is very fortunate to not have to raise taxes, considering that it lost several million dollars from the referendum passed by the voters. In spite of that the City was able to balance its budget and go back to the roll-back rate without having to take any drastic steps with the budget. Attorney Dickens announced for the record that the cover memorandums for the resolution and ordinance,provided in the package are switched. Therefore,the memorandum, which should have accompanied the resolution is actually with the ordinance and vice versa. Mayor Gibson opened the floor for the public hearing. After there were no interested parties to speak on this item, the public hearing was closed. Motion offered by Vice Mayor Watson, seconded by Councilman Bratton to approve this item. Councilwoman Pritchett stated, "Understanding this is state mandated advertised roll-back rate is 5.1402, which is a decrease in the City of Miami Gardens current millage rate of 5.1488. I had hoped that we could have set our millage rate at a level that would have been a real savings to our residents during this critical economic time because we would have presented proactive,trend setting measures that would have offset and/or make up for the significant savings to the stakeholders without compromising level of services, and the citizens' quality of life issues. When the vote is taken I plan to cast a no vote because in my humble opinion we can and should do better for the citizens who have elected us to serve them to the best of our ability. Thank you Madam Mayor." Councilman Gilbert asked Councilwoman Pritchett what would she suggest the roll-back rate or millage rate be. Councilwoman Pritchett in response to Councilman Gilbert said she really did not know however, what she had stated for the record she would allow to stand as her comments. There being no further discussion a motion was offered by Vice Mayor Watson, seconded by Councilman Gilbert to defer this item until after discussion on the budget item. This motion passed and carried by a 6-0 voice vote. At the conclusion of the discussion on the proposed budget, and a vote to recall the millage rate resolution, the motion to adopt the proposed millage rate passed and carried by a 5-1 vote. Councilwoman Pritchett cast the dissenting vote. After this vote was taken, a motion was offered by Vice Mayor Watson, seconded by Councilmen Gilbert and Bratton to recall the budget ordinance. This motion passed and carried by a 6-0 voice vote. Special City Council Minutes September 24, 2008 Page 2 (E) ORDINANCES) FOR FIRST READING: Clerk Taylor read the title of the budget ordinance into the record. ORDINANCE NO. 2008-31-167 E-1) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR THE 2008-2009 FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CARRYOVER OF FUNDS; PROVIDING A SURCHARGE FOR PERMITS;PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CITY DEPARTMENTS;PROVIDING FOR INTERFUND TRANSFERS;PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.(SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) Manager Crew announced that he was pleased to present to the Council a balanced budget. He said the City lost 2 Million dollars because of the referendum. Another million was lost because of the way the state revenue sharing and half sent sales tax have been cut. Even with those challenges the City was able to keep the budget at the roll-back rate. The biggest increase for the residents this year will be the takeover of Specialized Police services. The police department's specialized unit is ready to go and starting next week that unit will be taking over homicides, sexual assaults, gangs, etc. He conveyed how proud he is of the police department for being able to recruit the right people. This budget also includes two months of operations for the new Miami Gardens Community Center, but more importantly this budget also includes operation for the other ten months next year. Additionally, this budget provides for funds that would place the City's Reserve Fund at the 10 Million Dollars mark, which is quite an achievement for five years of operations. Mayor Gibson opened the floor for this public hearing. After there were no interested parties to speak on this matter, the public hearing was closed. Motion offered by Councilman Bratton, seconded by Councilman Gilbert to adopt the proposed budget for 2008/2009. Councilwoman Pritchett stated, "As it relates to the City's annual budget, there was a public hearing held September 9, 2008, as required by Florida State Statutes. At that September 9`'public hearing the City Manager presented the budget. However, during that public hearing financial inconsistencies in the budget were told. During that same public hearing on September 9', the Finance Director presented different information that was his proposed General Fund Budget, proposed Transportation Fund Budget, proposed General Services Budget and proposed Special City Council Minutes September 24, 2008 Page 3 Development Services Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2008/2009. There were no detailed explanation provided to inform and empower the stakeholders, the City residents and the Council. The City Manager at our last Council meeting placed on the dais in front of each Council member's area a budget with, according to Mr. Manager, some corrections have been made. Mr. Manager stated he was still making other corrections. No further explanations were given nor were more details provided. I believe one of the purposes of our public hearing is to present to the stakeholders, the citizens and the Council, which is the legislative body of our City, a comprehensive presentation of Miami Gardens' proposed operations for the budgeted fiscal year in order to meet the needs of the citizens of Miami Gardens in an open public setting providing for explanation and discussion to the Council and constituents. Understanding the budget document is one of the most importantly presented document provided to the citizens of Miami Gardens and the Council. I am of the opinion that the City Manager and appropriate staff should have provided detail explanations regarding the changes that were made of what those corrective actions were and what those differences were to the first budget document were we received, and the collation with the finance director's information he compiled and distributed. The question becomes has this budget process been in the best interest of the citizens. When the vote is called, I plan to vote no on this budget document, without a full comprehensive and complete explanation being provided to the citizens of Miami Gardens. Thank you." There being no other discussion, a motion was offered by Councilman Gilbert, seconded by Councilman Bratton to defer adoption of the budget until after the adoption of the millage resolution. This motion passed and carried by a 6-0 voice vote. Motion offered by Vice Mayor Watson, seconded by Councilman Gilbert to recall the millage rate resolution. This motion passed and carried by a 6-0 voice vote. After the adoption of the proposed final millage resolution and voice vote to recall the proposed budget ordinance, the motion to adopt the proposed budget passed and carried by a 5-1 vote. Councilwoman Pritchett cast the dissenting vote. (F) ADJOURNMENT. There being no other business to come before this Body, and upon a motion being duly made the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Attest: /XS hij OW',ey ibson, Mayor e6�7,z� onetta Taylor, M C, City Clerk Special City Council Minutes September 24, 2008 Page 4