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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.27.2017 Special City Council Minutes CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 (A) CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The City Council for the City of Miami Gardens, Florida, met in Special Session, Wednesday, September 27, 2017, beginning at 6:OOPM, in the City Council Chambers, 18605 NW 27''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 David Williams Jr. Also in attendance were: City Manager Cameron D. Benson, City Attorney Sonja K. Dickens and City Clerk Ronetta Taylor. (B) INVOCATION Mayor Gilbert asked for a moment of silence for victims of Hurricane Irma and Maria. Mayor Gilbert then delivered the Invocation. (C) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Recited in unison. Mayor Gilbert 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 2017/2018". (D) RESOLUTION(S)/PUBLIC HEARING RESOLUTION NO.2017-142-3247 D-1) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A 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; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (SPONSORED BY THE CITY MANAGER) After the Millage Rate resolution was read into the record by the City Clerk, Mayor Gilbert stated, "The Proposed Millage Rate for the City of Miami Gardens for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 is 6.9363, which is 8.59% over the Roll-Back Rate, and the Voted Debt Service Millage Rate is 1.0565. The Aggregated Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2017/2018 is 7.9928." September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 1 Manager Benson stated the proposed Millage Rate is 6.9363. This is the fourth year that the Millage Rate has stayed the same. Mayor Gilbert opened the floor for this public hearing. After there were no more comments,the public hearing was closed. Motion offered by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilwoman Davis to adopt the proposed Millage Rate and/Debt Service Millage Rate. There being no discussion on the Millage Rate and Debt Service Rate item, a motion was offered by Mayor Gilbert, seconded by Councilman Harris to defer this item until after the discussion on the Budget Ordinance. There being no discussion, the motion to defer passed and carried by a unanimous vote of the City Council. After the vote was taken to recall the millage rate resolution, the motion to adopt the Millage Rate and Debt Service Millage Rate Resolution passed and carried by a 7-0 vote. Councilwoman Davis: Yes Councilwoman Harris: Yes Vice Mayor Ighodaro: Yes Councilwoman Odom: Yes Councilwoman Robinson: Yes Councilman Williams: Yes Mayor Gilbert: Yes (E) ORDINANCE(S) FOR SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING: ORDINANCE NO.2017-10-374 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)((181 Reading—September 12,2017) Manager Benson referenced page six of the budget presentation and stated that at the previous budget hearing he was asked to look for funding for the International Music Festival (IMFest). He shared that he was able to identify $16,000.00 for that event. He looked at the Tree Lighting, MLK and 4th of July ceremonies as possibilities for funding adjustments. The Tree Lighting has been budgeted for $17,000; MLK Event has been budgeted for $34,500, and September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2 4' of July has been budgeted for $30,000. He said taking $7,000 from Tree Lighting, $7,000 from MLK and/$2,000 from the 4�"of July event for a total of$16,000, for the IMFest. Mayor Gilbert asked how much was spent last year on the Tree Lighting, MLK and 41' of July events. Manager Benson in response to Mayor Gilbert's inquiry said $31,000, was spent on the 4th of July event; $45,000 was spent on the MLK Event and $13,000 was spent on the tree lighting ceremony. Councilwoman Robinson inquired about the rational for taking funds from the above referenced events. She asked whether the city would still be able to have the same type of quality events with the lesser amount. Mayor Gilbert shared more people were at the 4h of July event than the IMFest. He said he did not understand why the City Manager recommended cutting the budget for the 41'of July event. He stated that he would prefer the recommended funding for the 4h of July and the MLK events remains. He commented the funds for the tree lighting ceremony could be eliminated. Manager Benson indicated the total budget for the tree lighting ceremony is $17,000. The tree lighting event is done near the holiday season. He said if the Council wanted to take the funds from the tree lighting event that was fine with him. He said it was his job to find the funds therefore the above referenced events were where he saw potential cost reductions. He stated that he stayed away from events sponsored by individual council members, and focused on events initiated by the city. Mayor Gilbert reiterated the 4h of July Event is more popular and it is a free event. He shared that Jazz in the Gardens sold 1100 tickets the first year; if we are going to do these types of events we need to sit down and have a real conversation about, which events are going to be funded. Vice Mayor Ighodaro stated that he was one of the supporters of the 41' of July event. That event gets a lot of resources. He said there has been no conversation for any of the other programs sponsored by Council members. He stated that he was in support of every Council member's initiative and opined they bring value to the City. He said is it not accurate to say that IMFest does not have value because the residents do not think it is important. He shared the reason he brought this event forward in the first place because there are people from this community that specifically questioned why we do not have reggae and calypso artists performing at Jazz in the Gardens. There is a segment of this community that enjoys that type of music. The challenge becomes when you do not have real support to fund the program, which is almost like setting yourself up for failure, which results in failure, when you do not have the capital. He said he was open to the idea of looking for the money from somewhere else. Vice Mayor Ighodaro shared there are different kinds of music. IMFest brings a special September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 3 blend to Miami Gardens. He said there is a place for it. Mayor Gilbert conveyed agreement there is a place for the type of music IMFest provides. He said there are people who say there is not enough Jazz music at Jazz in the Gardens. He said Jazz in the Gardens is an R&B Festival. He said Jazz in the Gardens event is not frontloaded with Jazz music because it is understood that that will not sell tickets. He conveyed appreciation that different people and different audiences want different things but we are not contracting those. He said the City's main contract is municipal services. The music festival is just added value. He said there has to be some way of questioning whether this is something the community wants; typically, that is in ticket sales. He said we could do the IMFest this year by taking the funds from the tree lighting event, and find someone to fund the tree lighting event. He placed emphasis on the importance of not supporting a free music festival; people have to buy tickets. He restated the tree lighting event funding for FY 2017/2018, is being allocated to the IMFest event. Manager Benson stated the city has sold the 15 plus acre property, which the Top Golf facility is being built on. The City was able to close on that deal in this fiscal year (FY 2016/2017). He said when the Council makes the motion please include the re-appropriation of the 4.3 million dollars in this fiscal year. Manager Benson further stated there has been discussions for additional staffing for Council members. This issue has been addressed in this budget. The three additional positions have been fully funded. Councilwoman Robinson referenced the items under Budget Discussion in the presentation package, more particular the language" Since the budget workshop, the following has impacted the FYI 8 budget". Manager Benson in response to Councilwoman Robinson's inquiry said that information was provided to show the adjustments. He said the figures are the amounts staff identified for costs. He said the next page shows how the city has been able to cover those costs. Councilman Harris asked about the hiring process for the additional staff members for Council. Clerk Taylor said a new job description would be created. Councilman Harris asked whether the current employees would have to apply. Clerk Taylor in response to Councilman Harris' inquiry replied, "Yes." Councilman Harris asked how soon would this process start. Clerk Taylor in response to Councilman Harris' inquiry replied, "October 1st". Manager Benson expanded by saying the job announcement is normally posted for a September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 4 thirty (30) day period. After that thirty (30) day posting, the City Clerk would work with the HR Director to go to applications to sort out those that are qualified (meets the job description). The City Clerk would then set up interviews and from there the most qualified applicants would be hired. Mayor Gilbert commented if the additional staff is not hired until late November or December could the budget savings pay for the IMFest. Councilwoman Robinson said she would like to see what the new job description entailed. Manager Benson reiterated the hiring process would be starting by October 1St for the and posted. By October 31St the City will have received a ton of applications. Then staff will sift through those applications to identify the top candidates. Those individuals will be interviewed. The real question is what is going to happen to the individuals that are currently in those positions. He reiterated the individuals currently in the positions are going to have to apply for the positions with the new job description. The question is what happens to the individuals in the existing positions. If the existing people are not hired then those existing people do not have jobs. He said the city could not accommodate within this existing budget to place those individuals somewhere else. He opined the Council needs to have that conversation. Mayor Gilbert opined the individuals would have to reapply and if they are not selected for the job,they would be terminated. Councilwoman Odom said the budget only added three positions and asked how it that all six positions will be open is. Manager Benson said there are three current position and there are the three new positions. He explained the Council needs to look into the existing people that are currently working with the Council member to determine whether that person should work for them. Then you are down to three that you will have to be hired. Mayor Gilbert asked whether something can be added to the process to allow the Council member to select a person; also like an internal hiring for a day, which would allow an current employee to apply for the job. He said for instance if Councilwoman Odom wanted to have Hilary Marshall as her internal person, she could. Manager Benson said we can do that however we need to be upfront about the process. Councilwoman Robinson asked what if in the internal hiring process the internal individual does not meet the qualifications. Manager Benson said Human Resources (HR) would determine the qualifications and if the applicant does not qualify,they would not be hired. Mayor Gilbert emphasized the importance of the Council members having input on the September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 5 minimal qualifications for the position. Councilwoman Odom asked whether there is an existing job description in HR. Mayor Gilbert in response to Councilwoman Odom's inquiry said there is'an existing job description. He said the Council has indicated that it wants something else or someone who could be more like a legislative assistant. He said the Legislative assistant position requires a Master's Degree or a JD. He discouraged the Council from using the Legislative Assistant job description. Councilwoman Robinson reiterated that she would like to see the job description and opined the Council members should provide input to assist with the formulating of the job description. Councilwoman Davis commented the job announcement would not be advertised on October st, as first indicated because the Council has to provide input for the job description. Mayor Gilbert opened the floor for this public Hearing. Oscar Braynon Sr., 1701 NW 191' Street, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to comment on the City's Trolley Service. He stated that he is a member of the Miami-Dade County CITT Committee, which oversees the CITT Funds, which Miami Gardens is a recipient of. He said the city's current trolley service, which has two trolley routes is ninety minutes, which means that it would take an hour and a half for the trolley to return to the same spot. The standard for public transportation service is less than a half hour for a return to the same spot. The adjourning smaller cities are running two trolley routes. He said he would like to see the city take that half penny to increase and provide better trolley service. He recommended three trolleys per route, and three routes. This recommendation is based on the population of the city and the potential growth of the city. The City of Miami Gardens receives 4 Million Dollars per year from the half penny. He reiterated there is room in that amount to increase the City's trolley service. Pat Wright, 1221 NW 179th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida, appeared before the City Council to comment on the Special Events Budget. She opined these events should be revenue- generated events with proceeds coming back into the city's coffers. She asked for clarification on the Stormwater User Fees. She shared that previously Miami-Dade County was responsible for stormwater and had charged a Stormwater User Fee. After there being no other interested parties to speak on this item, the public hearing closed. Mayor Gilbert asked Tom Ruiz, Public Works Director to speak with Ms. Wright with regard to her question about Stormwater Fees. Mayor Gilbert in response to Mr. Braynon's recommendation to increase the Trolley Service and shared staff is looking at ways to maximum this service. In addition, some of the September 27, 2017-SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 6 CITT dollars were used for sidewalk improvements. Mayor Gilbert in response to Ms. Wright's comments on Special Events and shared the only profit-making event is Jazz in the Gardens. He said the Council's idea about special events is to provide events to the residents. If there is a profit from any of the special events, that money is placed back into the General Fund preferably to either the police or parks and recreation because those are the two largest departments. After there were no other interested parties to speak on this item, the public hearing closed. Motion offered by Councilman Harris, seconded by Councilwoman Davis to adopt the budget for 2017/2018, with the amended language for the special events and the re- apporpriation of the fund balance for 4.3 Million Dollars. There being no discussion by Council a motion was offered by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilwoman Odom to defer this item until after the vote on the millage rate resolution. There being no discussion the motion to defer this item passed and carried by a unanimous vote of the council members present. After a vote was taken on the deferral of this item a motion was offered by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilwoman Davis to recall the millage rate resolution. There being no discussion on the recall of the millage rate resolution, this motion passed and carried by a unanimous vote of the members present. After the vote was taken adopting the millage rate resolution and a vote was taken to recall the budget ordinance,the motion to adopt the budget passed and carried by a 7-0 vote. Councilman Harris: Yes Vice Mayor Ighodaro: Yes Councilwoman Odom: Yes Councilwoman Robinson: Yes Councilman Williams: Yes Councilwoman Davis: Yes Mayor Gilbert: Yes (F) ADJOURNMENT. There being no other business to come before this Body, and upon a motion being duly made and seconded,this meeting adjourned a 6:48 PM. 1- Oliver Gilbert, Mayor September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 7 Attest: Ronetta Taylor, MMC, Cit Jerk September 27, 2017- SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 8