HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.27.2023 - 2nd Budget Hearing MeetingCity of Miami Gardens
Special City Council Meeting - 2nd Budget Hearing Minutes
September 27, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The City Council for the City of Miami Gardens, Florida, met in regular session,
Sep 27 2023, beginning at 05:01:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, 18605 NW
27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida.
The following members of the City Council were present: Mayor Rodney Harris,
Councilwoman Shannon Campbell, Councilman Reggie Leon, Councilman
Robert Stephens, Vice Mayor Katrina Wilson, Councilwoman Shannan
Ighodaro, and Councilwoman Linda Julien.
Also, in attendance were: City Manager Cameron Benson, City Attorney Sonja
Dickens, and City Clerk Mario Bataille.
2. INVOCATION
Councilman Stephens delivered the Invocation.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. RESOLUTION(S)/PUBLIC HEARING(S)
Mayor Harris stated this is the second of two public hearings for the adoption of
the operating millage rate and budget for the City of Miami Gardens for fiscal
year 2023/2024.”
4.1. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA,
ADOPTING A FINAL MILLAGE RATE AT A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE
LEVIED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2023,
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 FOR OPERATING PURPOSES;
ESTABLISHING THE ROLLBACK RATE; ESTABLISHING THE DEBT
MILLAGE RATE APPROVED BY THE ELECTORATE; PROVIDING FOR
DIRECTIONS TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR THROUGH THE CITY
MANAGER; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mayor Harris stated the proposed millage rate for the City for fiscal year
2023/2024 is 6.9363, which is 14.60% over the roll-back rate, and the
voted debt service millage rate is 0.5284. The aggregate millage rate for
fiscal year 2023/2024 is 7.4647.
City Manager Benson recommended approval of the Resolution as
presented.
Mayor Harris opened the floor for public comment.
There being no comments, Mayor Harris closed the floor.
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City Council Special Meeting – 2nd Budget Hearing
A motion was made by Councilman Leon, seconded by
Councilwoman Julien to approve the Resolution.
Mayor Harris requested a motion to defer the item until after discussion
on the proposed budget.
A motion made by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to defer the Resolution until after discussion on the proposed
budget passed and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
A motion made by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to recall the Resolution was passed and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Harris called the question on
approval of the Resolution.
A motion offered by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to approve the Resolution passed and carried by a 7 to 0 roll
call vote of the City Council.
Mayor Harris Yes
Councilwoman Campbell Yes
Councilman Leon Yes
Councilman Stephens Yes
Vice Mayor Wilson Yes
Councilwoman Ighodaro Yes
Councilwoman Julien Yes
5. ORDINANCES ON FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC
HEARING(S):
5.1. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GARDENS, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY’S
BUDGET FOR THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING FOR THE
EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CARRYOVER OF
FUNDS; 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.
City Manager Benson provided an overview on the memorandum
submitted to the City Council as it relates to the request made by Council
during the Budget Workshop and First Budget Hearing concerning the
Workforce Readiness Program (W.R.A.P.), Miss Miami Gardens
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City Council Special Meeting – 2nd Budget Hearing
Pageant, and clarifying information with regards to the Formula One
Community Plan Budget.
A motion was made by Councilman Leon, seconded by
Councilwoman Julien, to approve the Ordinance on Second
Reading.
A motion was made by Mayor Harris, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to amend the budget to fund the Workforce Readiness &
Advancement Program (W.R.A.P) in an amount of One Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($150,000).
Vice Mayor Wilson requested further information concerning the
deliverables and measurables of the program.
Answering questions posed by Vice Mayor Wilson, Councilwoman Julien
provided an in-depth overview on the program.
Vice Mayor Wilson opined there should be additional incentives for the
young individuals who take part of this program.
Councilwoman Julien further clarified the incentives of the program in
terms of workforce readiness and that it does not include a monetary
incentive.
Vice Mayor Wilson disagreed and further explained there should be a
monetary incentive. Vice Mayor Wilson spoke in support of the program;
however, she is not in support of the program if it does not include a
monetary incentive.
Vice Mayor Wilson recommended the program include a monetary
incentive.
Answering a question posed by Councilman Stephens, Councilwoman
Julien explained WRAP is not a company but an incorporated program
that has been done before; therefore, the City will be utilizing the concept
versus the company.
Answering a question posed by Councilman Stephens, Manager Benson
stated the current Summer Career Source is similar to this program.
Councilman Stephens recommended the WRAP program work in
conjunction with similar programs the City has in place such as the
Summer Career Source Program and City University Partnership to
create greater synergy and success.
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City Council Special Meeting – 2nd Budget Hearing
Councilwoman Julien further recommended the WRAP program remains
a singular separate program at this time.
Councilwoman Campbell shared her concerns that the amendment as
proposed will be funded from the reserves.
Answering a question posed by Councilwoman Campbell, City Manager
Benson explained the amendment will be funded by the reserves due to
the budget as proposed was presented as balance budget. Therefore, it
will be necessary to pull funds from the Capital Reserves to fund this
program in order to maintain a balance budget.
Manager Benson further indicated the other option would be to cut from
another area of the budget in order to fund this program.
Answering a question posed by Councilwoman Julien, City Manager
Benson confirmed the option of funding this program through the Capital
Reserves account is due to this request being presented late and not early
during the budgetary process.
Answering questions posed by Vice Mayor Wilson, City Manager Benson
recommended the monetary incentive (stipend) be allocated from within
the proposed $150,000 budget amendment for the WRAP program and
not dip into the general fund from unfilled positions in order to provide this
stipend. He continued to share this type of fund movement may be an
auditing issue.
Councilwoman Julien spoke in opposition of the monetary incentive as
part of the WRAP program.
Finance Director Mirtha Dziedzic continued to explain the proposed
budget is pretty tight and is unable to provide a recommendation outside
of what has been proposed by the City Manager as it related to providing
a monetary stipend.
Answering a question posed by Councilwoman Campbell, City Manager
Benson confirmed the WRAP program is a valid program that may be
funded through the Formula One Community Benefit Fund.
Mayor Harris shared concerns on this budget amendment pulling funds
from the working capital reserves.
Answering a question posed by Councilwoman Julien, Director Dziedzic
explained the budgetary process as it related to presenting a balance
budget.
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City Council Special Meeting – 2nd Budget Hearing
Answering a question posed by Councilman Stephens, City Manager
Benson confirmed the funds can be funded through Formula One funding
by Resolution at a future meeting in the new fiscal year.
Finance Director Mirtha Dziedzic confirmed there is a possibility to fund
the program through the Formula One funding account.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Campbell, seconded by
Mayor Harris, to call the question on the motion to amend.
Answering a question posed by Councilman Stephens, Attorney Dickens
confirmed the motion to amend can be withdrawn should Councilwoman
Julien like the consideration of the program being funded through Formula
One funding at a future Council Meeting.
City Manager Benson confirmed that should it be the wish of
Councilwoman Julien; he will prepare an item for a future meeting for
consideration by the City Council to fund the WRAP program through
Formula One funding.
Mayor Harris withdrew his motion to amend the Budget Ordinance.
Councilman Leon withdrew his request to amend the budget to include
funding for the Miss Miami Gardens Pageant.
A motion made by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to defer the Budget Ordinance until consideration of the
Millage Resolution passed and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
A motion made by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to recall the Budget Ordinance passed and carried by a
unanimous voice vote.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Harris called the question on
approval of the Budget Ordinance.
A motion offered by Councilman Leon, seconded by Councilwoman
Julien, to approve the Ordinance on Second Reading passed and
carried by a 7 to 0 roll call vote of the City Council.
Mayor Harris Yes
Councilwoman Campbell Yes
Councilman Leon Yes
Councilman Stephens Yes
Vice Mayor Wilson Yes
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City Council Special Meeting – 2nd Budget Hearing
Councilwoman Ighodaro Yes
Councilwoman Julien Yes
6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss before this body, the meeting
adjourned without objection at 5:58 p.m.
Rodney Harris, Mayor
Mario Bataille, City Clerk
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