Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-15-06 special minutes — reading text

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 15, 2006 INTRODUCTION A Special Council meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Finance Director (Position vacant); Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the proposed 2006/07 budget. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PROPOSED 06/07 BUDGET Mr. Minich addressed the discussion held last night on the Administrative Services position and stated upon reflection it would not assist the City but would hurt the City because the morale of the affected Department Directors would suffer. He stated he could not support an Administrative Services position. The City Manager concurred that to remove it from the budget would reduce the budget by $75,000. Mr. Minich moved to remove from the budget the proposed Administrative Services Director Position. Mr. Campbell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE The City Manager noted Council wished to discuss the millage rate and possible budget reductions to achieve a lower millage rate. She noted the proposed budget is based on the proposed 4.6458 millage rate. Mr. Minich moved to set the proposed millage rate at 4.6458. Mr. Patterson seconded the motion. There was an exchange of views on a further reduction of the millage rate to help reduce the tax burden for the homeowners and business owners due to an increase in property values. Mr. Minich called for the question. Special Council 8-15-06 PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE cont. | ‘The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to set the proposed millage rate at 4.6458 and it failed by a vote of 1 to 6 with Minich in favor, and Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, and Hartwell Opposed. Discussion was held with an exchange of views on a Suggested 1% reduction in the reserve fund that would gain the City approximately $126,000. The City Manager noted when reserve funds are used to fund On-going operational expense something will be needed to make up the difference, and pointed out it would increase the appropriations from fund balance. She believed the reserve funds would be better used to off-set one-time capital projects rather than operational expenses. Discussion was then held on various millage rates and a review of the budget reductions necessary for a lower rate. Council identified the following items that could be eliminated from the proposed budget: (35,000) Jet Stadium Parking Paving (15,000) Police Patio Canopy ( 3,100) Additional Library books (30,000) GIS Mapping update (20,000) Street Farm Tractor (15,500) Right-of-Way % Ton Pickup (13,500) Public Works Director “2 Ton Pickup (12,000) Cemetery Farm Tractor (10,000) Additional Fireworks ( 9,200) Additional Library Books (9,000) Pruitt Softball Field Irrigation (172,300) (+75,000) Admin Services Director reclass/HR Manager Position (by previous motion) (247,300) Following review of the various line item reductions to achieve a lower millage rate, the City Manager noted the items identified to be eliminated from the budget would place the millage rate in the range of 4.455 and would reduce the taxes by approximately $55.00 fora $200,000 residential property. Mr. Tucker moved to maintain the millage rate at 4.9700. Mr. Minich seconded motion. In response to the question on where the additional funds received at the 4.9700 millage rate would be used, the City Manager explained the additional funds would reduce the amount taken from appropriations. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to maintain the millage rate at 4.9700 and it Carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor, and Campbell opposed. Special Council 8-15-06 CHARTER OFFICER - CITY CLERK ; Mr. Minich moved to set the Salary for the City Clerk effective October 1, 2006 at $65,527.00 and to contribute 5% of her annual salary ($3,276.00) into a deferred compensation plan. Dr. Pullen seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Patterson, Campbell, Tucker, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor. MAINSTREET/CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The City Manager reported that MainStreet met today and voted to continue until the end of the year in order to have the Dog Daze and Okaloosa on Ice events; then at the end of the year they will determine whether or not they will stay as a functioning group. She mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce was clear that they do not want to have duplicate efforts. There was a comment that if the MainStreet mission is not that of a National MainStreet then the City should not fund MainStreet. The City Manager suggested giving the Chamber and MainStreet an opportunity to discuss matters further; noting there are no funds for MainStreet in the budget, only Chamber funding. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS It was mentioned that Channel 7 TV Station is following the illegal immigrant issue and interviewed some of the Council members. PROPOSED 06/07 BUDGET Millie Thrush, 316 Sudduth Circle, applauded Council for doing what they did to keep the millage rate from going up. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. APPROVED: 9-/Z-6/ MAYOR: Nuk hy hls ATTEST: hbnt Soon, CITY CLERK 7 ddm