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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.12.2017 - Special City Council MinutesCITY OF MIAMI GARDENS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 (A) CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The City Council for the City of Miami Gardens, Florida, met in Special Session, Wednesday, September 12, 2017, beginning at 6:00 PM, in the City Council Chambers, 18605 NW 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida. The following members of the City Council were present: Mayor Oliver Gilbert, Vice Mayor Erhabor Ighodaro and Council members, Lillie O. Odom, Lisa C. Davis, Rodney Harris, Felicia Robinson, and Dr. Erhabor Ighodaro. Councilman David Williams Jr., was not present at this meeting. Also in attendance were: City Manager Cameron D. Benson, City Attorney Sonja K. Dickens and City Clerk Ronetta Taylor. (B) INVOCATION Delivered by Mayor Gilbert. (C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Recited in Unison. (D) RESOLUTION(S)/PUBLIC HEARING Mayor Gilbert stated, "This is the first of two public hearings for the adoption of the operating millage rate, the voted debt service millage rate and budget for the City of Miami Gardens for Fiscal Year 2017/2018." The title of the below referenced resolution was read into the record by the City Clerk. RESOLUTION NO. 2017-133-3238 D-1) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AT A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE LEVIED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2017, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 FOR OPERATING PURPOSES; ESTABLISHING THE ROLLBACK RATE; ESTABLISHING THE DEBT MILLAGE RATE APPROVED BY THE ELECTORATE; SETTING A DATE AND TIME FOR A FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) After the title was read into the record by the City Clerk, Mayor Gilbert stated, "The Proposed Millage Rate for the City for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 is 6.9363, which is 8.59% over the September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 Roll -Back Rate, and the Voted Debt Service Millage Rate is 1.056. The Aggregate Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 is 7.9928." Manager Benson recommended a 6.9363 Millage Rate for a third -year straight year. He acknowledged Assistant City Managers Vernita Nelson and Craig Clay and Finance Director Patricia Varney as well as all the department heads for their efforts and input during this budget process. Manager Benson stated the City's Gross Rate is continuing on the incline, which is a good thing. This means economic developing is happening within the City, which is very positive. In 2014, there was a negative 1.92%. Currently we are at a positive 1.5%. The Fund Balance is approximately 18.6%. This is a good thing and more importantly we have to be mindful of emergency situations, such as with Hurricane Irma. The City is not certain FEMA will be providing 100% reimbursement; based on that because we have a Fund Balance is good. We need to be mindful that if there are other hurricanes that money may have to be spent in the future. He stated the budget was balanced without increasing the millage rate after readjusting certain cost and fund balances. The Stormwater, Transportation and Development Services funds are also healthy. Manager Benson indicated a proposed millage rate of 6.9363 mills and a roll -back rate of 6.3876 mills. Based on average homestead taxable value FY 2018: $46,751; FY 2017: $39,477, which equates to an increase of $50.45 annually or $4.20 monthly. The Debt Service Millage Rate is going down because debt service is decreasing. Manager Benson stated that after the last discussion the staffing has been identified as funded and moving forward. He conveyed belief that all of the Special Events items have been addressed. He stated overall this is a healthy budget and a strong budget moving forward. Mayor Gilbert opened the floor for public comments. After there were no interested parties to speak on this item the public hearing closed. Motion offered by Councilman Harris, seconded by Councilwoman Robinson to adopt the proposed millage rate and the voted debt service millage rate. There being no discussion on the millage rate and debt service millage rate, a motion was offered by Vice Mayor Ighodaro, seconded by Councilwoman Davis to defer this item until after the discussion of the budget. There being no discussion the motion to defer this item until after the discussion on the budget passed and carried by a unanimous voice vote of the members present. At the conclusion of discussion on the budget and the vote to recall the adoption of the millage rate and debt service millage rate, the motion to adopt the proposed millage rate passed and carried by a 6-0 vote of the members present. September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 Once the proposed millage rate resolution was adopted a motion was offered by Vice Mayor Ighodaro, seconded by Councilman Harris to recall the budget ordinance. There being no further discussion the motion to recall the budget ordinance passed and carried by a 6-0 vote the members present. (E) ORDINANCE(S) FOR FIRST READING/PUBLIC HEARING: E-1) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR THE 2017-2018 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. (SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) Mayor Gilbert opened the floor for this public hearing. Linda Hodges Holloway, 748 NW 204th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to get clarification about the number of Code Enforcement Officers. Mayor Gilbert explained now that Code Enforcement is under the Police Department, those officers can write Code Violations. After there were no other interested parties to speak on the item the public hearing closed Motion offered by Vice Mayor Ighodaro, seconded by Councilwomen Odom and Davis to adopt this item on first reading. Councilwoman Davis inquired about the number of Code Enforcement Officers currently on staff with the City of Miami Gardens. Manager Benson in response to Councilwoman Davis' inquiry said three years ago there was a total of six (6) Code Enforcement Officers. To date there are ten (10) Code Enforcement Officers, two (2) Code Enforcement Supervisors and two (2) Housing Inspectors. He further shared that Code Enforcement has been combined under the Police Department. This provides for additional eyes and ears on the streets. Councilwoman Odom commented since Code Enforcement is now under the Police Department are there certain officers assigned to assist with Code Enforcement or are all officers required to do that. September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 Manager Benson in response to Councilwoman Odom's inquiry stated the Police Community Enrichment Team is a part of the Code Enforcement initiative. Vice Mayor Ighodaro thanked the City Manager for preparing an excellent budget that addresses the needs of the City. He conveyed his understanding that the International Music Festival (IMFest) was talked about but it is not included in the budget documentation as a budgeted item. Councilwoman Robinson said the IMFest item never came up for discussion. Mayor Gilbert said this item was not discussed during the Budget Workshop as one of the items to be funded. Vice Mayor Ighodaro shared that he thought this was a given because he had a conversation with the City Manager with regards to placing this item in the budget for funding. He said the request was for a $50,000 allocation to be included in the budget. That amount is based on what was done in the past. Mayor Gilbert said he was not present for most of the budget workshop and unless there is a consensus from the Council to place this item in the budget the City Manager is not going to do it. Manager Benson concurred that he'd discussed this item with Vice Mayor Ighodaro and it was presented to Council as part of the budget workshop. However, there was no discussion about this item during the workshop. He opined a $50,000 is something this Council needs to discuss. Vice Mayor Ighodaro said he had chaired that workshop in the absence of the Mayor. However, there was no official action at that workshop and based on his conversation with the City Manager he thought the item was included in the budget. He said that he did not understand how this item could totally be dismissed. Mayor Gilbert said Vice Mayor Ighodaro can make a motion to direct the City Manager to allocate $50,000, for this item and tell the Manager where to find the funds or he can direct the City Manager to find a funding source for the event. He said what he is hearing there is no consensus to add this item to the budget. Mayor Gilbert shared that the City's property values are not growing fast enough to keep adding events for funding. If we are going to have another music festival in addition to Jazz in the Gardens he is not against that. He conveyed the importance of having events pay for themselves because they provide something for the residents and helps put the City in a different light. Vice Mayor Ighodaro said this item has occurred for the past two years therefore he thought that it was an established and recognized event. He said he believe in the vision and agree it has to be done right. He shared the first year he fundraised for the event. The second September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 year he fundraised as well because the City only budgeted $7,000. He said if the Council leaves it up to him, he will do it but the City's name is a factor. He said he is committed to doing IMFest, but is asking for the Council's support to do it right. Motion offered by Vice Mayor Ighodaro to ask the City Manager to look for funding to support the IMFest event. This motion was seconded by Councilwoman Davis. Councilwoman Robinson offered an amendment to the motion to direct the City Manager to find the funding for the IMFest from the Special Events Budget. This motion was seconded by Councilman Harris. Vice Mayor Ighodaro said he had no problem with this amendment. Manager Benson said he did not believe he will find $50,000 in the Special Events Budget for this item, but would be willing to come back with a recommended amount. Vice Mayor Ighodaro said he would accept the City Manager's recommendation. Mayor Gilbert restated the motion is to direct the City Manager to find funding in the amount of $50,000 for the IMFest from the Special Events budget and if not attainable to bring back a recommendation. Councilwoman Davis suggested hosting the IMFest along with the 4`h of July Celebration. Vice Mayor Ighodaro stated he has no objections to this suggestion. There being no further discussion on the amendment the motion to direct the City Manager to find funding for the IMFest from the Special Events Account passed and carried by a 6-0 voice vote. Councilman Harris asked whether the City Manager has taken into consideration the issue with the Homestead Exemption. Manager Benson said the Homestead Exemption item will be coming up next year. That is something anticipated to deal with in the following year. He said as we go through Fiscal Year 2018, we need to be really be aware of spending moving forward and a discussion would be warranted during budget time. With that amendment, there would be at least a million -dollar impact to the City. At the conclusion of this discussion, a motion to defer the budget ordinance until after approval of the millage item was offered by Councilwoman Davis, seconded by Councilman Harris. This motion passed and carried by a unanimous vote of the Council. After the passage of a motion to defer the budget ordinance until approval of the millage item, a motion was offered by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Vice Mayor Ighodaro to September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 5 recall the Millage Rate item. This motion passed and carried by a unanimous vote of the Council. After the adoption of the millage item and the recall of the budget item, the motion to adopt the budget on first reading passed and carried by a 6-0 vote. Councilman Harris: Yes Vice Mayor Ighodaro: Yes Councilwoman Odom: Yes Councilwoman Robinson: Yes Councilman Williams: Not present Councilwoman Davis: Yes Mayor Gilbert: Yes After the vote was taken on the Budget Ordinance for first reading, Mayor Gilbert stated "The next public hearing will be held on September 27, 2017, at 6:00 PM, in the City Council Chambers. At that time, we will consider the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2017/2018." (F) ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business to come before thisBody pon a motion being duly motioned and seconded the meeting adjourned at 6:42 PM Oliver Gilbert, Mayor Attest: Ronetta Taylor, IAIC, City Clerk September 12, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 6