Loading...
1984-09-25 Special Budget Meeting3543 SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1984 The City Council of the City of Okeechobee met in a special budget meeting in Council Chambers, 55 S.E. 3rd Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida at 7:00 P.M. Chairman Douglas called the meeting to order with the following Councilmen present: Edward W. Douglas, Chairman James Knight, Vice Chairman Dowling Watford, Councilman Oscar Thomas, Councilman Oakland Chapman, Councilman Others present were: Bonnie S. Thomas, City Clerk Richard C. Fellows, City Administrator David M. Conlon, City Attorney Lydia Jean Wilkerson, Deputy Clerk AGENDA ITEM # II do III - INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Invocation was offered by Clerk Thomas, followed by the pledge of allegiance. AGENDA ITEM #IV - PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED RESOLUTION SETTING MILLAGE FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1984 Chairman Douglas stated that the current millage was set at 4.338 and the City had tentatively set the millage for the 84/85 fiscal year at 4.889 and then opened the floor for discussion. Citizens Ben Dixon, Andy Rubin and Frank Wilbur addressed Council requesting the Council go to the roll back millage of 4.251. Mr. Frank Wilbur asked if the Handicapped Parking law could start being enforced. Chairman Douglas stated that the City Clerk is in the process of preparing an ordinance to be passed which would enforce the handicapped parking. Chairman Douglas asked for Council's discussion. Councilman Thomas asked if the extra money the millage rate of 4.889 would be bringing in would just be for a cushion. Administrator Fellows answered yes, it would be mainly for a cushion. Councilmembers discussed the amount of revenues the city has and what it would be needing. After further discussion, Councilman Thomas made a motion to set the millage rate at the roll back rate of 4.251. Councilman Chapman seconded the motion. Chairman Douglas asked for any further discussion. Councilman Watford stated, "I would just like to caution, in my opinion, that will not give us the cushion that we are going to need for the amount of revenue, or the amount of growth that we would possibly need for next year." Chairman Douglas asked if there was any further discussion. Councilman Chapman stated, "If we have to we could just borrow some on the land (154 acres)." Councilman Thomas stated that he was in hopes of the City selling the property. There being no further discussion Chairman Douglas asked for a vote on the motion. Councilmen Thomas, Chapman and Knight voted yes. Councilman Watford and Chairman Douglas voted no. Motion carried. Chairman Douglas read the entire resolution into the record as follows: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A MILLAGE RATE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CLERK TO EXECUTE THE BUDGET RESOLUTION CONTAINING SAID MILLAGE DATE THEREIN; ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 200.065 FLORIDA STATUTES. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, as follows: SECTION 1: Following a required public hearing and in accordance with Chapter 200.065 Florida Statutes, the City' Council hereby adopts a millage of 4.401 for the City fiscal year beginning October 1, 1984; and authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to execute the budget reso- lution containing said millage. The millage adopted herewith is the roll back rate. SECTION 2: This resolution shall take effect upon adoption. Introduced and adopted in regular session assembled this 25th day of September, 1984. * Millage 4.401 Includes 4.251 General Fund .150 Debt Service 84 -31 3544 84 -31 AGENDA ITEM #V - PUBLIC HEARING, BY THE COUNCIL, ON THE ADOPTION OF A BUDGET RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH ESTMATED REVENUES, AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES AND AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF MILLAGE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1, 1984, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1985 Chairman Douglas read the entire resolution into the record as follows: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1984, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1985; PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, as follows: SECTION 1: The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, after having held a public hearing on the annual budget, including General Fund, Utility Fund, Debt Service and Construction Fund, hereby adopts as its annual budget the expenditures, as fully set forth below, for the City of Okeechobee for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1984 and ending September 30, 1985. GENERAL FUND General Government Police Fire Animal Control Sanitation Street Div., Dept. of Public Works Maintenance Dept. Parks /Environment UTILITY FUND Water /Sewer Divisions - Dept. of Public Works TOTAL OPERATING BUDGETS DEPT SERVICE General Obligation Bonds 1972 Water Bonds 1983 Sewer Bonds, Series A 1982 Note - Fire Engine 1983 Note - Building Addition TOTAL DEBT SERVICE TOTAL OPERATING & DEBT SERVICE CONSTRUCTION FUND Revenues 201 Sewer Project Expenditures $ 342,271 543,491 260,976 19,425 198,100 379,540 26,670 15,000 $1,785,473 1,138,607 $2,924,080 $ 41,788 23,700 115,000 12,100 • 23,990 $ 216,568 $3,142,061 $5,626,595 5,626,595 SECTION 2: The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida hereby levies a tax of $4.401 per thousand dollar valuation on all real and personal property within the corporate limits of said City, provided however, that $4.251 shall not be levied upon property in the City of Okeechobee claimed and allowed as homestead in the general laws of the State of Florida. SECTION 3: That of the total $4.401 per thousand dollar valuation as designated in Section 2, hereof, $4. 251 per thousand dollar valuation shall be used for general City purposes in carrying on and conducting the government of said City and $.150 per thousand dollar valuation including homestead shall be used 6 Day interest and principal on general obligation bonds maturing during said fiscal year, such levy to be collected in cash and such cash so collected to be kept in separate accounts for the purposes designated herein. SECTION 4: That this resolution was proposed, considered and adopttd under the provisions of Chapter 166 and 200.065 Florida Statutes. SECTION 5: This resolution shall be effective upon its adoption. Introduced and passed on first reading this Nth day of September , 1984. Introduced and passed on second and final reading this 25th day of September 1984. 3545 Chairman Douglas asked if there were any questions. Citizen Ben Dixon commended the Council on their decision of setting the millage at the roll back figure. Citizen Andy Rubin asked Chairman Douglas which 3 Councilmen voted yes for the rhillage roll back. Chairman Douglas stated they were Councilmen Thomas, Chapman and Knight. Chairman Douglas asked if there was any further questions concerning the adoption of the resolution adopting the budget for the 1984/85 fiscal year. There being no further comments he asked for Council's decision /vote. Councilman Chapman made a motion to adopt the resolution as read into the record. Councilman Knight seconded the motion. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEM / /VI - MAYOR TO CALL ON ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL Chairman Douglas asked if there was anyone in the audience wishing to address the Council. Citizen Andy Rubin requested that the City consider putting at least $500.00 into a program for the handicapped. Councilman Chapman stated that a meeting was being held by theCity Clerk concerning this at the present time and the City has in their possession, plans for a elevator, so he felt the City was already working on the handicapped program. Mr. Rubin asked that the Council just reflect the money in the budget for the handicapped and get the program started. Citizen Ben Dixon requested that the Council consider installing a P.A. system for the Councilmen. AGENDA ITEM / /VII - MAYOR TO CALL ON CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND CITY COUNCILMEN FOR REPORTS AND /OR REQUESTS Administrator Fellows stated, "I have a couple of items to bring to the Council's attention: 1. City has received a notice of rate increase for the arployees hospitalization, I have just finished with information furnished by the finance office the study of the hospitalization and workmans compensation losses over the past two ,years. The City has paid out $85,000.00 of losses from all injuries, hospitalizations, pregnancies, whatever. The premiums we've paid were $195,000.00. This tells me that.we are paying for some other cities losses and I would like to ask the Council to authorize me to contact an actuary to have an actuary study done on tnis. I have talked with the actuary that does our pension plan, they do get into this for some- where in the neighborhood of four or five hundred dollars, we could have this study done to determine the type of reserves we would need and whether or not it is feasible for us to self insure. I feel that if the City is going to pay out $195,000.00 in premiums which is approximately $100,000.00 per year, that we could put that into a bank account and until someone was injured or someone went to the hospital, the City would never have to pay out a dollar. We could earn interest on that money. Once an injury or hospitalization occured, we could set up a process for taking care of the claims and get a reinsurance company to insure us for any losses over and above the $100,000.00. The total cost to us should be less than what we are paying now." Councilmembers discussed the self insurance plan and then gave the administrator authority to continue with the actuary study. Administrator Fellows stated the Department of Transportation has furnished the city with a brand new controller and Signal Construction has given the City a quotation price of $3,103.00 to install the new controller and make the changes necessary and he would like Council's authority to proceed with this. Councilman Thomas made a motion giving authority to proceed. Councilman Chapman seconded the motion. Chairman Douglas asked for any further discussion. Councilman Watford asked which fund the money was coming out of. Director Fortner stated the Street Department Fund. Motion then carried. Administrator Fellows stated that the City of Belle Glade and their consulting engineers would like to invite the City Councilmen to join with them and celebrate what they call a National Landmark and Water Purification of the Belle Glade water plant on Tuesday, October 2nd. Several Councilmen, Director 7ortner and Engineer Broome stated they would like to attend this. Councilman Knight questioned the status of the bridge on S.E. 8tt Avenue. Adminstrator Fellows stated that Mr. Valencourt indicated that he hoped to set up a meeting with the Council and County Commission sometime after the first week in October for the purposes of telling what they have found on this bridge and other bridges in the County. They hope to get a 100% funding from the Department of Transporation. Citizen Andy Rubin stated that cheese and butter would be given out at the County Courthouse on October 1st. 3546 AGENDA ITEM 1/ VIII - ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 P.M. ATTEST: ONNIE S. THOMAS, C C City Clerk 1. AGENDA SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING September 25, 1984 7:00 p.m. Call to order. Invocation offered by City Clerk Bonnie Thomas. Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Edward Douglas. IV. Public hearing on a proposed resolution setting millage for the new fiscal year beginning October 1, 1984. V. Public hearing, by the Council, on the adoption of a budget resolution setting forth estimated revenues, authorizing expenditures and authorizing the levy of millage for the fiscal year October 1, 1984, through September 30, 1985. VI. Mayor to call on anyone in the audience who wishes to address the Council. VII. Mayor to call on City Clerk, City Attorney, City Administrator and City Councilmen for reports and/or requests. VIII. Adjournment.