Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 11-13-12 special-fire assessment — reading text

Agenda -- City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Tuesday, November 13, 2012 5: 00 PM 107 M c. d. strip Parkway Fort Wall Beach, FL 32548 1. CALL TO ORDER 5: 00 PM Meeting will be called to order on November 13, 2012 at Council Chamber, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ACTION ITEMS 3. 1. Discussion of Fire Assessment for FY 2013 -14 Budget Synopsis: ( Fire Chief) Government Services Group, Inc. will present information related to a Fire Assessment, including the methodologies for calculating the assessment and for collecting the assessment. Staff will request City Council authorization to advertise a resolution of intent to pursue a Fire Assessment for consideration at the December 11, 2012 Council meeting. A resolution is required by the Tax Collector and Property Appraiser prior to January 1, 2013 in order to move forward with evaluating the feasibility of implementing a Fire Assessment for FY 2013 -14. AI FA( un+ervrs: Wsolucen oflmcnl Lotter - - Ft Walton Beach nl)F) 4. ADJOURNMENT Quasi- Judicial - denotes that the item must be conducted as a quasi -judicial hearing in accordance with Florida Statutes. Action - Direction - Discussion items maybe acted upon by the City Council by either a motion with a vote in accordance with Robert' s Rules of Order, or by a consensus of the Council. Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ( Chapter 286.01105, F. S.) City CouncN of Fort Welloa Beach Page I Printed 111812011 Special Meeting Agenda November 13, 2012 The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please call City Clerk Helen Spencer at 833 -9509 to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TDD #850 -833- 9925 or 1- 800 -995 -8771 ( TDD) or 1- 800 -955 -8770 ( Voice). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to allow the City time to provide requested service. All City of Fort Walton Beach council and board meetings are recorded. The video can be accessed at www.fwb. org. Walton Beach Page 2 Printed 11182012  3. 1 City Council of Fort Walton Beach FIRE MEMORANDUM To: Michael D. Beedie, City Manager From: Ken Perkins, Fire Chief Date: November 13, 2012 Subject: Discussion of Fire Assessment for FY 2013 -14 Budget 1. 1. 1. During the FY 2012 -13 budget preparation cycle, Staff initiated the discussion of evaluating the feasibility of implementing a non -ad valorem Fire Service Assessment to provide sufficient funding for the City' s Fire Department' s annual operational expenses beginning in fiscal year 2013 -14. 1. 2. Currently, funding for fire protection is accomplished through collection of ad valorem taxes. 1. 3. A Fire Service Assessment will provide a more fair and stable method of funding fire protection services within the City of Fort Walton Beach. 2. DISCUSSION: 11. Government Services Group, Inc. has provided Staff with preliminary information discussing the methodologies for calculating and collecting non -ad valorem assessments. 2. 2. In order to further consider a non -ad valorem Fire Service Assessment during the FY 2013 -14 budget cycle, a resolution of intent must be adopted by City Council and submitted to the Okaloosa County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser by January 1, 2013. 2. 2. 1. This will allow the City to pursue the uniform method of collecting non -ad valorem assessments, which has proven to be the most effective. The uniform method allows the assessment to be included on the annual property tax statement. 2. 2. 2. The resolution of intent must be advertised once a week for four consecutive weeks immediately preceding the public hearing to consider the resolution, which would occur on December 11, 2012 at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. 2. 3. It should be noted that adopting the resolution of intent does not bind the City into implementing a Fire Service Assessment. The resolution only satisfies the requirements set forth by the Okaloosa County Tax Collector and Property Appraiser and allows the City to further evaluate the feasibility of a Fire Service Assessment. 2. 4. If there is continued interest is researching a Fire Service Assessment and utilizing the uniform method of collection for FY 2013 -14, the City must begin advertising the PackelPg..3  3. 1 City Council of Fort Walton Beach FIRE 1 MEMORANDUM To: Michael D. Beedie, City Manager From: Ken Perkins, Fire Chief Date: November 13, 2012 Subject: Discussion of Fire Assessment for FY 2013 - 14 Budget resolution of intent no later than November 19, 2012 for a public hearing on December 1 I, 2012. 3. FINANCIAL INFORMATION: 3. 1. The advertising cost for the non -binding resolution of intent is estimated at $ 600. 4. 4. 1. Staff respectfully recommends City Council approval for the City Manager to begin advertising the resolution of intent, in accordance with the stated requirements, to use the uniform method of collecting special non -ad valorem assessments for the cost of providing fire services commencing in the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2013. 4. 2. Staff also recommends City Council approval to schedule a public hearing to consider a resolution electing to utilize the uniform method of collecting non -ad valorem special assessments on December 11, 2012 at 6: 00 P. M in the City Council Chambers. ATTACHMENTS: Resolution of Intent Letter— Ft Walton Beach ( PDF) SIGNATURE BLOCK: Ken Perkins Completed 11/ 02/ 2012 2:01 PM Carole Jones Completed 11/ 02/ 2012 3: 20 PM Brandy Ferris Completed 11/ 06/ 2012 10: 25 AM City Attorney Completed 11 / 07/ 2012 10: 25 AM City Manager Completed 11/ 07/ 2012 3: 49 PM City Council Pending Packet Pg. 4  F_ 31.. l re Management Special Water and Services Assessments Wastewater wnw.wdse," GOVmnmantc cmn September 12, 2012 Via Electronic Transmission Ms. Brandy Ferris Finance Director City of Fort Walton Beach 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 -6614 Re: Notice of Intent Documents Required by Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes Dear Ms. Ferris, In anticipation that the City of Fort Walton Beach ( the " City ") may consider the development of an m assessment program to fund fire services within the incorporated area of the City next year, we have c prepared the following enclosed documents related to the use of the tax bill collection method. 1. A form of resolution concerning the potential use of the uniform method to collect non -ad valorem assessments which requires two exhibits; and 2. A form of published notice of intent for the potential non -ad valorem assessment program that must be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for four consecutive weeks immediately before the hearing in order to use the uniform method of collection. Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, requires that the City hold a public hearing and adopt a resolution of Intent to use the uniform method of collection for any assessment program in the calendar year prior to any such collection. The resolution, which does not obligate the City to use the method or impose a special assessment, must be adopted by January tat and sent to the Okaloosa County Tax Collector, the Okaloosa County Property Appraiser and the Florida Department of Revenue by January 10". If the County Property Appraiser and the County Tax Collector agree, adoption of the resolution can occur as late as March 1 -. However, we strongly recommend that the City adopt the resolution prior to January lit, as the consent of the County Property Appraiser and the County Tax Collector is not required when the adoption occurs prior to January let. 1500 Mahan Drive, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850) 681. 3717 Tel 1 ( 850) 2247206 Fax 1 ( 866) 896 -4747 TrI I Free 280 Weluve springs Rd, Suite 2000, LOngWOOd, FL 32779 ( 407) 6296900 Tel 407) 6296963 F., ( 877( 552 -3482 Tall Fee Packet Pg. 5  3. 1. a September 12, 2012 Page 2 Section 197. 3632 also requires that notice of the public hearing to adopt the resolution of intent be published In a newspaper of