Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 8, 2009 Special MeetingSPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPT. 8 12009 CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 (A) CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The City Council for the City of Miami Gardens, Florida, met in special session on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, beginning at 6:10 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 Oliver G. Gilbert III, and Council members Aaron Campbell Jr., Barbara Watson, Andre Williams, Melvin L. Bratton and Sharon Pritchett. Also in attendance were: City Manager Dr. Danny O. Crew, City Attorney Sonja K. Dickens and City Clerk Ronetta Taylor. (B) INVOCATION Councilman Campbell delivered the Invocation. (C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance recited in unison. (D) RESOLUTION(S)/PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Gibson announced this is the first of two public hearings for the adoption of the millage rate and budget for the city of Miami Gardens for Fiscal Year 2009/2010. RESOLUTION N0.2009-156-1101-A D-1) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A PROPOSED MILEAGE RATE AT A PUBLIC HEARING, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2009, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010; ESTABLISHING THE ROLLBACK RATE; SETTING A DATE AND TIME FOR A FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILEAGE RATE; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) This item was read into the record by the City Clerk. Mayor Gibson stated, "The proposed millage rate for the city for fiscal year 2009/2010 is 5.3734, which is same amount as the roll-back rate." Manager Crew stated the rollback rate is 5.3734. According to how the rollback rate is figured by the State of Florida there is no increase in the City's millage rate, even though it is technically an increase. We have a tight budget this year. However, no fees are being raised, no city activities are events were eliminated. Mayor Gibson opened the floor for this public hearing. Billy Isley, 1740 NW 193`d Street, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to express his views about the budget. He stated for the past two years there was legislation adopted by this Council relating to Community for a Lifetime Initiative. He said the Council as yet allocated funds to do a Needs Assessment or Neighborhood Survey of the senior citizens of Miami Gardens. He opined with this millage rate, there is an increase in taxes. Betty Ferguson, 1625 NW 188t" Terrace, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to ask for clarification as to whether the second hearing in the budget was also a public hearing. Mayor Gibson in response to Ms. Ferguson's question replied, "Yes." Ms. Ferguson said she was asking the questions due to in her opinion a hesitance from the residents to come forward at this time. She opined the residents would make comments at the second budget hearing after hearing what the Council members have to say about the budget. She asked the Council to consider in this budget money for each elected official to have an independent aide. These independent aides could be utilized to look at the possible impact of issues the Council might consider. There being no other interested parties to speak on this item, the public hearing closed. Motion offered by Vice Mayor Gilbert, seconded by Councilman Campbell to adopt the proposed millage rate. Councilwoman Pritchett expressed concern with the proposed millage rate, especially since many residents have lost their jobs and homes are in foreclosure. There are also residents with limited funds, which are being used to pay for medicine because they do not have health insurance to cover the cost. Residents depends on Miami Gardens, their City, a government closes to the people, to offer some relief in ways that do not disrupt their lives. She suggested a millage rate (10%) lower than the suggested rollback rate. Vice Mayor Gilbert addressed the rollback rate and stated if you want the government to provide consistent services from year to year, you cannot have a government where the income does not reflect that. Therefore, when people suggest things like cutting ten percent (10%), which employee would you fire, which services were you cut, which senior services would you fail to provide. He said he would love to cut the budget and cut taxes, and not have to go to the rollback rate. However, when one actually looks at the budget and compare to last year's budget it is difficult to finds things to cut without eliminating police officers, or the programs in the parks being enjoyed by the senior citizens and the young. Ending those programs would have repercussions. He opined it is very easy to say cut, it is much more difficult to suggest what you should cut. Special City Council Minutes -September 8, 2009 2~Page Mayor Gibson commented in looking at this budget and from discussions with the City Manager and staff she is mindful of the fact that a premier facility will be coming on line. That facility (Miami Gardens Community Center) cost millions of dollars to construct. However, it would mean nothing to anyone living in this City if there were no funds to staff and operate it. This facility did not come with funds to operate or staff it. She said the Council decides it is going to cut ten percent that building will just be there. She placed emphasis on the importance of the City continuing to provide the level of service it started six years ago. She said it is also importance for the residents to understand the Council is committed to providing the residents with a great level of service. Motion offered by Councilwoman Watson, seconded by Councilman Bratton to defer this item until after discussion on the budget. This motion passed and carried by a 7-0 voice vote. After a motion was duly made and seconded to recall this item for consideration, the vote to adopt passed and carried by a 6-1 vote. Councilman Bratton: Yes Councilman Campbell: Yes Vice Mayor Gilbert: Yes Councilwoman Pritchett: No Councilwoman Watson: Yes Councilman Williams: Yes Mayor Gibson: Yes Motion offered by Vice Mayor Gilbert, seconded by Councilwoman Watson to recall Item E- for avote. (E) ORDINANCE(S) FOR FIRST READING: E-1) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR THE 2009-2010 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) This item was read into the record by the City Clerk. Manager Crew said one of the good highlights for the City during the current fiscal year was Special City Council Minutes -September 8, 2009 3~Page that the City was featured on an NBC News with Brian Williams, as "What Works". The City was also noted for its leadership and innovation in putting together a Police Department with quality staff, in Cities, Towns and Counties Magazine as one of the 10 cities in the United States. Manager Crew said this proposed budget was very difficult from the beginning. The state revenue to the City has been cut by approximately one million dollars. He said he did not see those revenues picking up very fast in the coming year. One of the things that set the City aside from other cities is the fact that Miami Gardens is a relatively new City. Therefore, the City does not have the extra employees. There is one person for one position, no backups. Manager Crew emphasized the City is not raising taxes but will collect the exact amount of money it collected last year. For the average homeowner this would be an approximately $16.00 a year increase, with homestead. Manager Crew stated the funding for the community center is 1.7 million dollars. The construction cost for the community center was paid for by grants. Mayor Gibson opened the floor for this public hearing. Billy Isley, 1740 NW 193rd Street, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to reiterate his earlier comments about a Needs Assessment and a Senior Citizen Survey as outlined in the Community For Lifetime Initiative. He estimated that cost to be approximately $20,000.00. Motion offered by Councilman Bratton, seconded by Councilwoman Watson to adopt the budget ordinance on first reading. Councilman Campbell made reference to the budget ordinance and the various city departments identified in that ordinance. He said the City adopted an ordinance creating the various City departments and asked whether this ordinance superseded that ordinance. Attorney Dickens confirmed there is an ordinance on the books which established the various city departments. She suggested either amending the original ordinance to conform with the budget ordinance or sunset the original, and establish departments each year in the budget. Councilman Campbell said he did not have a preference as to how the issue was resolved. He opined the process needed to be consistent. Attorney Dickens recommended that the original ordinance be sunset. She stated that she will bring back an ordinance sunsetting the original ordinance. Vice Mayor Gilbert stated he would not be in favor of the budget establishing every department every year. Attorney Dickens suggested amending the original ordinance providing for departments so that it conforms to the budget ordinance. She said she will bring back an ordinance for first reading at the next meeting. Special City Council Minutes -September 8, 2009 4~Page Councilwoman Pritchett made reference to the COPS Grant and information provided by staff that the City of Miami Gardens had applied for funding for 27 officers however, had received funding for Nine (9). She asked about the dollar amount of the grant received. Manager Crew said he did not have the exact dollar amount. Councilwoman Pritchett referenced Revenues -General Fund on pages 78 and 90 of the budget document more particular the language relating to grants and loans. She questioned why this was not separated because the City would have to pay loans back but not grants. Manager Crew said he would separate the two. At the conclusion of this discussion, a motion was made by Councilman Campbell, seconded by Councilman Bratton to defer the adoption until after the adoption of the tentative millage rate resolution. This motion passed and carried by a 7-0 voice vote. Motion offered by Councilwoman Watson, seconded by Councilman Campbell to recall Item D-1. This motion passed and carried by a 7-0 voice vote. After a vote was taken on Item E- l , and a motion was duly made and seconded to recall Item D-l, the motion to adopt this item on first reading passed and carried by a 6-1 vote. Councilman Campbell: Vice Mayor Gilbert: Councilwoman Pritchett: Councilwoman Watson: Councilman Williams: Councilman Bratton: Mayor Gibson: Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Mayor Gibson announced the next public hearing will be held on September 21, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. At that time, we will consider the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2009/2010. (F) ADJOURNMENT. There being no other business to come before this Body, and upon a motion being duly made, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Attest: r~l`~. Ronetta Taylor, Ml~, City Clerk i'~-~"i~~/ G'~ S 'rl ibson, Mayor Special City Council Minutes -September 8, 2009 S~Page