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Minutes 09-11-03MINUTES OF THE SPECZAL CZTY COf4MISS]~ON f4EETZNG HELD ]~N COf41~I]~SSION CHAf4BERS, CZTY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLOI~DA, ON THURSDAY, SEPTElUlBER 11, 2003 AT 6:30 P. f4. Present Gerald Broening, Mayor Mike Ferguson, Vice Mayor Mack McCray, Commissioner Carl McKoy, Commissioner Kurt Bressner, City Manager .lames Cherof, City Attorney .lanet Prainito, City Clerk Absent Ron Weiland, Commissioner Mayor Broening called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. He announced that the purpose of this meeting was to conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of the annual fire assessment resolution. City Attorney Cherof read Proposed Resolution No. R03-159 by title only. Mayor Broening asked if there was any public comment. Alice Otis, 203 SW :~3th Street, said that originally there had been opposition to this fire assessment on the basis of fiscal policy. However, it is working and she saw no reason to stop it. She felt that the assessment should be continued. Bob Ensler, 26 Woods Lane, said that he was speaking for himself and the close to 3,000 residents in Hunters Run. He felt that the citizens could not afford not to have these services and that support is needed for the paramedics and firefighters. He asked the Commission to approve the resolution. No one else in the audience wished to speak. Vice Mayor Ferguson said that the proposed fire station east of the railroad tracks was supposed to decrease the response time to four minutes. This station has not happened in the two years that there has been an assessment. Citizens in his District and in the east portion of District ~[! have been very vocal regarding this. He explained that he would have to vote against this assessment because of fiscal reasons. There is almost $7.5M in the budget and he felt that was enough to get station #2 completed, part of station #4 and begin on the new station #1. He is in favor of completing the entire four-station program. However, people all over the City have had significant increases in their taxes over the last two years. He suggested deferring the assessment at this time and renewing it next year. Commissioner McCray said that this assessment would be "sunset-ted" after seven years. The project is moving forward and he is in favor of this assessment. Meeting Minutes Special City Commission Meeting Bovnton Beach, Florida September 11, 200_3 Commissioner McKoy felt that as the City grows, it must provide public service to its citizens and he was prepared to vote on this issue. City Manager Bressner explained that he had some financial information in response to Vice Mayor Ferguson's comments. He wanted to wait until they completed the numbers for the acquisition of the property for fire station #4 on Federal Highway. The City now owns the property and construction will begin after January 2004. He distributed an analysis prepared by staff of the revenues and expenses from the inception of the fire assessment program. (A copy of this is attached to the original minutes on file in the City Clerk's Office). This factors in the land acquisition costs because it was completed this fiscal year. At the time of budget workshops in July, the Commission did not have these numbers. He understood Vice Mayor Ferguson's concerns regarding the availability of funds to possibly do everything without a revenue stream. The numbers tonight show that might be difficult. City Manager Bressner explained that the 2001-02 figures are the actual dollars received. When the rate adjustment was originally discussed in 2001, the Commission opted to reduce the rate to all the property owners and take the $2.5M proceeds from a bond issue. The analysis shows that at the beginning of the current (2002-03) fiscal year, the City had $4.2M. There was $2.7M in revenues received. The total expenses were 2.3M with an ending fund balance of $4.6M. The projected expenses for 2003-04 include the construction of the two stations plus the land acquisition for the northeast quadrant. At the end of the fiscal year, the projected deficit would be approximately $359,000 in the fire assessment fund. He said that the reason for the analysis and his comments tonight is that in July there was not a firm enough schedule, in particular with the southeast station. The southwest station is on City property and, therefore, there is no impediment to proceed with both stations. He felt that the financial situation warrants the collection of the assessment. Vice Mayor Ferguson took considerable exception to receiving this information at the time of the meeting. City Manager Bressner apologized to the Vice Mayor. However, he said that he did not know what would be asked at this public hearing. He was not sure whether the question would come up but wanted to have this information if it did. Commissioner McCray thanked the City Manager for the information. His district is concerned regarding the northeast quadrant and does not want to be left behind. He said that he has not received any telephone calls asking him not to vote in favor of this assessment. A station is needed in the northeast quadrant of the City. City Attorney Cherof wanted to make a comment since one of the speakers referred to paramedics. City Attorney Cherof explained that the resolution tonight confirms the preliminary 2 Meeting Minutes Special City Commission Meeting Bovnton Beach, FIQrid~ September 11, 2OO~ rate. He wanted to make it clear for the public that no portion of the fire rescue assessment costs is attributable to emergency medical service costs. That is contained in the preliminary rate resolution. Mayor Broening explained that many municipalities have on-going fire assessments year after year. Boynton Beach noted a deficiency in the response times and the need for additional stations because of the growth. The Commission agreed to go ahead with the assessment in an open forum with public debate. By a majority vote, it was decided to proceed. He felt that the phasing would have gone ahead quicker if some of the Commissioners would have stayed out of it and left it up to the professional staff. They did not do that and, therefore, the scheduling is a little behind. This is meeting a community need. He requested a motion to approve. Motion Commissioner McCray moved to approve Proposed Resolution No. R03-159. Commissioner McKoy seconded the motion. City Clerk Prainito called the roll and the motion carried 3 to 1 with Vice Mayor Ferguson dissenting. There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 6:45 p.m. ATTEST: D-putye City Commissioner (9/~.2/03) 3 -- ATTACHMENT - 9/11/03 City Commission Minutes, ~z Z~