Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 09-19-07 special minutes — reading text

143 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Mike Holmes, Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Dr. Wayne Pullen, and Mike Minich. Absent: Bill Garvie and Jim Hartwell Also Present:Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Toni Craig, City Attorney; Department Directors; and Media 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 - RES. 07- 21: FINAL MILLAGE The Mayor read the resolution by title. A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1, 2007 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2008, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayor stated the Final Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2007- 2008 is 4. 1986 mills, which is 5. 0% below the rollback rate of 4.4196 mills. The rollback rate is the millage rate that will provide the same Ad Valorem tax revenue as was levied during the prior year. The 5. 0% decrease is the percentage decrease in property taxes. The Mayor stated the purpose for setting the millage rate at 4. 1986 mills is to fund expenses of the General Fund for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008. The Mayor opened the public hearing relating to the final millage rate and asked if anyone from the public wished to speak. As there was no one who wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Mr. Minich moved to adopt Res. 07- 21 setting the Final Millage Rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach at 4. 1986 for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Upon request for an explanation of the rollback rate at 95%, the City Manager explained the rollback rate will generate the same amount of taxes as last year and 95% of the rollback rate is a reduction of 5. 0% of the rollback rate so the taxes are 5. 0% lower than they would be to generate the same amount of revenue as last year. In response to the question on why the City was given 5. 0% instead of 3. 0%, 7. 0% or 9. 0%, the City Manager explained the Department of Revenue predicated the category a City fell in using a combination of per capita income and past taxing history; they used an average and calculated it for all municipalities and counties in the State of Florida; fire district received 3. 0% and the lowest rate for a municipality was 5. 0% unless they were in a fiscally distressed community then they could levy the same millage rate as last year. 1 4 4 Special Council 9- 19- 07 RES. 07- 21 cont. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to adopt Res. 07- 21 setting the Final Millage Rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach at 4. 1986 for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008 and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Pullen, and Minich in favor (Garvie and Hartwell absent). The Final Millage Rate for the City of Fort Walton Beach is 4. 1986 mills for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008 and is 5. 0% below the rollback rate of 4.4196 mills. The 5. 0% decrease is the percentage decrease in property taxes. The purpose for setting the millage rate at 4. 1986 mills is to fund expenses of the General Fund for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008. PUBLIC HEARING - ORD. 1740: BUDGET FOR FY 07/ 08 The Mayor pointed out a revised copy has been distributed to Council. The City Attorney read the ordinance by title. 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, 2007 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2008; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Mayor opened the public hearing relating to Ord. 1740 establishing the budget for the City of Fort Walton Beach for the Fiscal Year beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008. As there was no one who wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/Grants Manager, went over the updated amounts for the special projects and open purchase orders to be carried over. The City Manager explained that the $2 million proceeds from the sale of property at the fairgrounds will be invested, there will be a schedule to payoff the bonds and it will be shown as a designated fund balance in the annual financial report. The Budget/Grants Manager mentioned the communication services tax amount will be shown as a designated fund balance on the financial statements. The City Manager noted that the budget document before Council already reflects those changes. The City Attorney confirmed that the changes are not substantial enough to require another reading of the ordinance. Mr. Minich moved to amend Ord. 1740 to update the special project and encumbrance (open purchase order) carryover lists as provided by the City Manager. Mr. Reeves seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Holmes, Miller, Reeves, Pullen, and Minich in favor Garvie and Hartwell absent). Mr. Minich moved to adopt Ord. 1740, as amended, on second reading. Mr. Reeves seconded motion. Mr. Miller voiced his objection to deleting the Finance Director with approval authority of budget transfers and expressed his belief there needs to be two to coordinate transfer of funds. people Special Council 9- 19- 07 145 ORD. 1740 cont. Dr. Pullen voiced his agreement with the objection and expressed the need for checks and balances. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion to adopt Ord. 1740, as amended, on second reading and it carried by a vote of 3 to 2 with Holmes, Reeves, and Minich in favor and Miller and Pullen opposed ( Garvie and Hartwell absent). The Mayor announced Ordinance 1740 is adopted, as amended, on second reading establishing a budget for the City of Fort Walton Beach for the Fiscal Year beginning on October 1, 2007 and ending September 30, 2008, with a Final Millage Rate of 4. 1986 mills, which is 5. 0% less than the rollback millage of 4.4196 mills. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p. m. ED:~~~ CI YCLERK' . f~ ddm