Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-14-2007 regular agenda — reading text

and when the data is received then a meeting will be needed prior to August 3rd to make a decision on the tentative millage. She announced the 4th of July celebration at the Landing from 4: 00 to 10: 00 pm; recognized the Police Chief and the Police Department Honor Guard who were asked to do a presentation of colors and retirement of colors at the United States Post Office ceremony in Shalimar. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11 :05 p. m. APPROVED: MAYOR: ATTEST: CITY CLERK Ive  4:9 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 2, 2007 INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at'City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Mike Anderson Councilmen: Virgil Miller, Dennis Reeves, Dr. Wayne puBen, Jim Hartwell, and Mike Minich t cf Absent: Mike Holmes and Bill ~ arvie Also Present: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager; Helen Sp'encer, City Clerk; Lisa Absher, Finance Director; and Department Directors CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order. PLEDGE i The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance. TENTATIVE AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE Consideration of set!Lngthe ntaive ad valorem millage rate for FY 2007- 08. Charlotte Dunworth, Budget/Grant Manager, presented a power point and explained that the millage tax rate for the City may not exceed 95% of the roll- back rate. She advised there are no penalties frain the State ih the form of reduced revenue sharing as long as the City" meets the majority vote requirements for the final adopted millage rate. . Council questioned whether a unanimous vote of the governing body means a unanimous vote of the members present, or a unanimous vote of the full governing body, and what happens if there is an unfilled vacancy on the Board or if someone is not present. The City Manager explained that question was asked to the Department of Revenue, and their definition is that ' a unanimous vote of all members of the full body is required to levy the current previous years' millage rate. If there is an unfilled vacancy a unanimous vote of all members of the governing body is required.' She clarified all members would have to be if there is a vacated seat, that an absence is not considered a vacancy, and if all present only members are not present there is no way there can be a unanimous vote. She stressed it would take a unanimous vote from Council for the current rate to become final for next year, and noted a unanimous vote wasn' t needed to set the tentative millage rate this evening. The. City Manager noted orice the tentative millage rate is set; Council can go below the rate at any time but cannot go above it without the additional expense of formal notification to each city I taxpayer. She stated staff proposes the tentative millage rate be set at 4. 1986 mills. The Mayor noted the importance that all Council members be present at the September 5 and September 19 budget meetings. 5:0 08/ 02/ 07 Special Council TENTATIVE AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE ( CONT) Ms. Dunworth continued her presentation and discussed revenue, budget, and property owner impact; future millage rate and that a cap on future property tax revenues will be based on personal income growth and new cGnstruction; future property tax to inctude a " Super Homestead" exemption; and that once the tentative. millage rate is set, it cannot be increased without the additional expense of formal re- notification to each taxpayer. u Discussion ensLied regarding the Communications Services Tax and the adjustment to be made due to overpayment to the City from a: CST vendor; the Public Service ( Utility) Tax and the public service tax cap, and other funds that may be better addressed during the budget hearings. The City Manager explained that due to new construction and renovations and improvements in the City, the assessed value grew by 9. 6%, and the real revenue loss is about 9. 5%. She is recommending from a staff level, to go to a rollback rate less 5%, which represents 9. 7% cut to the millagerate. She advised the budget prepared was based on the 4. 1986, and Council has the discretion to set millage rate lower than the 4. 1986 or up to 4. 5658 or beyond if a voter referendum is desired. 1 Mr. Miller moved to set the Fiscal Year 2007- 200ff tentative millage rate for ad valorem taxes at 4. 1986 mills. Motion died for lack of a second. Dr. Pullen moved to set the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 tentative millage rate for ad valorem taxes at the same rate as last year, 4. 6458 mills. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion. Or. Pullen offered that by setting a tentative millage rate higher will allow Council greater flexibility when discussing the budget, and Mr. Hartwell and Mr. Minich offered their support of this motion. Mr. Reeves stated he is in favor of the recommended millage rate but understands Council' s desire for flexibility. Mr. Miller expressed his disappointment at not lowering the millage rate and feels the higher rate is a disservice to the citizens of the City. Council questioned whether the City Manager was expecting any changes to the budget. She advised that some difficult choices have been made into equipment replacement and additions from Staff. She also discussed the Alternative Service Delivery Study, which will come before " Council in the middle of August, but will not be ready to be implemented until January, and the budget would be amended at that time to decrease the reVenues if that were an issue. She stated she did not see any adjustments right now, but that setting the millage rate at 4. 1986 does not give much flexibility but she felt that was her charge in the development of the budget. The Mayor called for the vote on the motion and it carried by a vote of 3 to 2 with Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor and Miller and Reeves opposed ( Holmes and Garvie absent). u  51 Special Council 08/ 02/ 07 TENTATIVE AD VALOREM MILLAGE RATE ( CONT) Mr. Minich moved to confirm the dates and times of the public hearings for the budget as follows: Special Council meetings on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 5: 30 m. and .p. Wednesday, September 19,. 2007 at 5: 30 p. m. Mr. Hartwell seconded motion and it carried unanimously with .Miller, Reeves, Pullen, Hartwell, and Minich in favor ( Holmes and Garvie absent). ' The Mayor advised that the public hearings to discuss the budget will begin next week and are scheduled Wednesday, August 8, ThursClay, August 9, and Monday, August 13, all at 5: 30 p. m., and if necessary will continue on Wednesday, August 15, at 5: 30 p. m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6: 15 p. m. J J I  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH MEMORANDUM DATE: July 24, 2007 TO: Joyce Shanahan, City Manager FROM: Mark Wiltsie, Human Resources Director SUBJECT: United Way Day of Caring 2007 Back2:round The United Way holds an annual Day of Caring, which officially kicks off their fund raising campaign. The Fort Walton Beach Day of Caring is scheduled for Friday, September 14, 2007. The Day of Caring provides an opportunity for volunteers to use their hands and hard work to better the lives of United Way agency clients in our community. Projects undertaken last year by City volunteers included painting the kitchen at the Elder Services of Okaloosa County, removing carpet and cleaning the floor at the Family Life Center, and moving and assembling playground equipment and yard work at the Okaloosa/Walton Child Care Services. In addition to the work our volunteers did, we had volunteers from other agencies who painted the restroom facilities at both Garnier Park and Jet Stadium. The City has also historically participated in the Day of Caring as a Corporate Sponsor. As a Corporate Sponsor, the City of Fort Walton Beach is recognized in all media promotions and the City logo will be on all printed material. Discussion Although the City does not contribute directly to the United Way, City of Fort Walton Beach employees have supported the United Way directly through voluntary contributions and payroll deductions, to the sum of nearly $ 18, 000 in last year' s campaign. The Day of Caring provides an additional avenue for employees to support United Way agencies and their clients in Fort Walton Beach. Recommendation Staff respectfully requests authorization to permit up to 15 City employees ( three teams of five) to volunteer during regular work hours in the United Way' s Annual Day of Caring on September 14, 2007, utilizing whatever equipment may be necessary to assist United Way agency clients. 1 J;{ :3 1_A--  J -.', . ,-, L' w'':''; :' c. , t tA JUL l',