Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 09-06-06 special minutes — reading text

27 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: I"""" Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Bill Patterson, Bob Campbell, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Pullen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich. Also Present:Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Finance Director (Position vacant); Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; and Department Directors. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. He requested anyone who wished to address Council to approach the podium after being recognized, and then state his or her name and address for the record. PLEDGE The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC HEARING. PROPOSED MILLAGE FOR FY 06/ 07 Consideration of setting the proposed Ad Valorem Millage Rate for FY 2006/ 2007. The Mayor stated the proposed millage rate for Fiscal Year 2006/ 2007 is 4. 9700 mills, which is 21. 98% above the rollback rate of 4. 0746 mills. The rollback rate is the rate that will millage provide the same Ad Valorem tax revenue as was levied during the prior year. The 21. 980/0 increase is the percentage increase in property taxes. The Mayor stated the reason for setting the millage rate at 4. 9700 mills is to provide sufficient revenues to balance the proposed General Fund budget. The Mayor opened the public hearing and asked for comments on the proposed millage rate. Gary Lee of Lee Pontiac in Fort Walton Beach, Destin resident, mentioned the increase in assessments in property values and asked for assistance from Council with a reduction in the millage rate. Mr. Lee expressed that any help Council can give on a tax savings would be appreciated. Robert Horn, 641 Merioneth Court, mentioned the increase in assessed property values and requested Council to reduce the millage rate. Joseph Bruscino, 7 Bay Drive NE, suggested the City prioritize the budget, cut items that are not needed, and roll back the millage rate. Dan Peterson, owner of 378 Oakland Circle, expressed the millage rate needs to be cut back. George Sims, owner of commercial property in the Commerce and Technology Park, expressed that taxes are too high and it is driving the retirees away. Joan Norman, owner of property between Steam Boat Landing, Magnolia Grill and the Landing, expressed disappointment in the increase in taxes. 28 Special Council 9- 6- 06 PROPOSED MILLAGE cont. Keith Sims received an explanation that the Tax Appraiser sets the tax assessment. Barbara Bowers, 145 Linstew Drive, asked Council to do what they could to help the property owners on fixed incomes. Kabe Woods, owner of 243 Brooks Street, requested Council not let the budget get out of control. Gary Simmons, 525 Mooney Road, expressed that a tax increase is a disservice to the citizens. i,. ,. , I. I! As there was no one else who wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Tucker moved to set the proposed millage rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach at 4. 9700 mills for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007. Mr. Holmes seconded motion. There followed a cordial exchange of views on setting the proposed millage rate at 4. 9700 or at a lower millage rate. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to set the proposed millage rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach at 4. 9700 mills for Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007 and it failed by a vote of 3 to 4 with Holmes, Patterson, and Tucker in favor and Campbell, Pullen, Hartwell and Minich opposed. Mr. Hartwell moved to set the proposed millage rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach at 4. 6458 mills for Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007. Mr. Minich seconded motion. Discussion was held on setting the millage at 4. 6458 with the same level of service. Comments included the need to take more funds out of the reserve fund; further reductions necessary to lower the millage to 4. 500; and it was confirmed the 4. 6458 would not cut into the reserve fund for hurricane recovery. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to set the proposed Fort Walton Beach at 4. 6458 mills for Fiscal Year millage rate for the City of beginning October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 and it carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Holmes, Patterson, Tucker, ending Pullen, Hartwell and Minich in favor and Campbell opposed. The Mayor announced the proposed millage rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach is 4. 6458 mills for Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007 and is 14. 020/0 above the rollback rate of 4. 0746 mills. The 14. 020/ 0 increase is the The proposed millage rate is percentage increase in property taxes. subject to a second and final public hearing that will be held at the of Fort Walton Beach Council Chambers on City Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 5: 30 p. m. ORD. 1711: BUDGET FOR FY 05/06 The Mayor read the ordinance i"",'",'...'.'"., title. by AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN EXPENDITURES, EXPENSES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.  Special Council 9- 6- 06 29 ORD. 1711 cont The Mayor opened the public hearing relating to the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2006/ 2007 and asked if anyone from the public wished to speak. Bill White, resident of Fort Walton Beach, addressed the recycling program. He suggested Council reconsider and not eliminate the recycling program because of the difficulty on some citizens in taking their recycling to a designated location. He handed out information on the County' s recycling program and further suggested the City give it a year of testing. He said if participation does not work out then tell the citizens it will be dropped. The City Manager pointed out the County uses Waste Management and the City uses BF!. She explained a tipping fee is not charged to the City for recycling then it is up to BFI what they do with it, and to the best of her knowledge they have not been recycling because there is not a commodity market. She said if the City took recycling to Waste Management there would be an increased cost because the City does not have a contract with Waste Management. She advised if Council desired to add recycling back in the budget, $ 111, 000 would need to be added to the budget. Rick Burroughs, owner of 5 Temple Avenue SW, commented that the City does not pick up everything recyclable so he takes his recycling to the Services Squadron on Hurlburt and they make money from it. Kabe Woods, 29 Country Club Drive in Destin, described recycling programs in other areas that have large vending machines that pay for each item of in the machine. He stated recycling placed the City does not need curbside service, and should think about the model a little differently. Charlene Greenwald, 206 Jet Drive, commented the City should be sure