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Minutes 01-27-14 MINUTES OF THE FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2014, AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE CITY LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM A, 208 S. SEACREST BLVD., BOYNTON BEACH FLORIDA PRESENT: Steven Grant, Chair Tim Howard, Finance Director Jeffrey Grady, Vice Chair Fakhry "Ed" Boulos Gary Dunmyer Dolores Schlesselman 1. Call to Order Chair Grant called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Roll call followed. A quorum was present. 2. Approval of January 14, 2014 Minutes Minutes were not available. 3. Other Business A. Update from Chair on Study Topics 1. City Services Survey Chair Grant met with Mr. Scott Kline, Economic Development Manager, who is doing a small business survey in regards to the infrastructure, work force and travel associated within Boynton Beach. Mr. Kline will provide Chair Grant with a draft of the survey who will forward it to Mr. Howard for the next meeting. Chair Grant reported on the list of City owned vacant lots in Boynton Beach. The list will be divided among the Board members at five lots each in order to do studies of the values of each and what alternative energy would best be used at that site. Chair Grant spoke with Ms. Carisse LeJeune, Assistant City Manager, who explained the City is trying to create more non - motorized transportation options in Boynton Beach. However, the City is not looking at alternative energy ideas at this time. Chair Grant will also get a list of non - vacant lots. 1 MEETING MINUTES FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOYNTON BEACH, FL. JANUARY 27, 2014 The City received a grant from the Department of Energy in 2009 Last yoar allowing them to put solar panels at Fire Station 5 for a water heater. The Board will research different awards and grants for recommendation to the City Commission. 2. Review Vacant Bldg. /Land and their potential uses Resources to evaluate the vacant lots are: • Property Appraisers site for Palm Beach County • Zillow.com for estimated value of the property • Google maps for a satellite image of the property • Zoning The only places the Board can consider putting alternative energy is either on City buildings or City land. All of the schools are owned by the School Board and cannot be considered. Chair Grant believed it would be inefficient to put solar panels on an older building that may be torn down in 5 -10 years. Since the City's water facilities are fairly new, this would probably be a good place for solar panels. Chair Grant remarked the City Commission wants recommendations on the vacant lands best use. The Board has also been asked for alternative energy ideas. Mr. Boulos thought it would be a better idea to look at the land first, and then determine its best use. Chair Grant agreed. 3. Evaluate Alternative Energy Sources for Buildings And Fundings Alternative energy methods being considered are: • solar panels • wind turbines • thermal • garbage • ocean currents (tides) Vice Chair Grady commented thermal energy is another alternative; however, since there are no steam plants in the City, there would be no place to store the energy. Mr. Boulos inquired about turning garbage into energy and Vice Chair Grady explained the Solid Waste Authority currently incinerates waste into energy and it seems to be working. Another source of energy the Solid Waste Authority uses is tapping the emitted gases from the landfill for electricity to their plants. 2 MEETING MINUTES FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOYNTON BEACH, FL. JANUARY 27, 2014 Mr. Howard explained the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County is responsible for collection and disposal of solid waste county -wide. The Solid Waste Authority has an average assessment on residents' property taxes for the disposal of garbage and the City charges for the collection. Vice Chair Grady commented there are guidelines as to how much the City can charge for the collection of garbage. Chair Grant reiterated the focus of the meeting is to determine what each individual Board member will be responsible for and work together for the City Survey once the business is determined. The purpose of the Greater Boynton Beach Foundation, according to their bylaws, is: "The Corporation is organized and operates exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Corporation shall primarily serve the Boynton Beach, Florida area by providing a source of capital endowment funds to meet the changing needs of Boynton Beach in perpetuity. Such purposes shall include, without limitations, lessening the burden of government and promoting the welfare of the citizens of Boynton Beach and assisting in the cultural, educational, recreational ventures benefiting such areas ". Chair Grant spoke with Ms. LeJeune regarding the Greater Boynton Beach Foundation. Shc Chair Grant explained the Foundation wants to complete the Barrier Free Park_ bcforc taking on any new ides. The Foundation has a new Chairman and they are still looking for additional Board members. Last year they raised $5,000 for the Barrier Free 5K run and they are having another one on February 8 Perhaps they would take on another project if they were approached with an action plan and how it would be implemented. Their tax status can be used for fund raising events dealing with culture, education or art. They are registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Chair Grant commented there are different sizes of lots. The members will determine, according to the size of the lot, what form of alternative energy would best be used for a lot 5,000 square feet, 10,000 square feet or 100,000 square feet. Other concerns are security, maintaining the facility, fencing, signs and Florida Power and Light among a few. Recommendations will be given to the City Commission based on the findings of this research. Mr. Boulos commented small businesses need help with accounting, legal, Code violations and other areas. Chair Grant replied there are some small businesses that do not understand how to deal with the City and County Code compliances. Chair Grant also stated having an umbrella organization for small businesses is fine but it is more the CRA's and Economic Development's responsibility. One of the questions on the survey is: "Have you checked with the CRA for events in Boynton Beach or the Economic Development for business opportunities " ?. The Green Page of Boynton Beach 3 MEETING MINUTES FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOYNTON BEACH, FL. JANUARY 27, 2014 has a Climate Action Plan listing things the City wants to do. However, alternative energy is not on the list and that is the reason the Board was given the list. Mr. Howard explained Fire Station 5 was a good place for solar panels because they use a lot of water versus City Hall. Solar panels could also work for battery storage for golf carts. Mr. Dunmyer suggested solar energy at City Hall goes back into charging stations for electric cars. Mr. Howard stated there are currently charging stations for electric cars at the Library, City Hall parking garage, one at Fire Station 5 and another at one of the parks. The City is also currently using solar panels at a golf course and at one of the pools. The City recently replaced the fleet of golf carts and could benefit from solar panels to charge them. Ms. Schlesselman commented the Climate Action Plan (CAP) spoke about green initiatives and inquired if the Board would give initiatives any priority in the Plan. Mr. Howard suggested looking into it. Chair Grant reviewed the sites each member will research: • Mr. Boulos - the Golf Course • Ms. Schlesselman - pools and conservation • Chair Grant - animal shelter sites • Mr. Grady - the old landfill • Mr. Dunmyer - Rolling Green Municipal Complex Chair Grant stated he will have a list of non - vacant lands for the next meeting to divide among the members as well. Chair Grant will look into the City's current uses of energy and how the City conserves energy such as LED lights, motion sensors to turn lights off, air conditioning, and attic fans. Grants will also be considered at the Federal, State and private levels. FP &L will be contacted to see what other cities have done. Mr. Dunmyer volunteered to look into grants and will contact Ms. Debbie Majors, Grants Manager. Mr. Grady will contact FP &L. Mr. Boulos will look into the City's uses of energy in terms of electricity and Ms. Schlesselman will research conservation and the pools. Mr. Howard suggested contacting the Director of Public Works, Mr. Jeff Livergood. Public Works gets the electric bills where Mr. Boulos can access the information he needs. Mr. Boulos inquired if this was one project or two and he questioned its name. Chair Grant replied it would be called Alternative Energy as conservation would be part of alternative energy. The Board will promote new ideas to conserve energy instead of reducing it. 4. Viability of Establishing Non - Profit Organization to Act as Umbrella Organization for Small and Short Lived Community Organizations 4 MEETING MINUTES FINANCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOYNTON BEACH, FL. JANUARY 27, 2014 The Greater Boynton Beach Foundation is a non - profit organization already working with the City. To establish viability of the Foundation there needs to be discussion with Board members, and review of previous meeting minutes and the IRS Tax Code. Chair Grant commented the 5K run for Barrier Park is the only project on their schedule and this would be a good time for someone to present at their next meeting. Mr. Grady suggested drafting a letter saying the organization is not viable because the entity already exists. Spending the money would not be reasonable. Mr. Boulos inquired about the direction provided by Commissioner Fitzpatrick. Mr. Howard explained that Commissioner Fitzpatrick requested that the Committee set up an umbrella organization that would have small volunteer groups that would participate in community projects. That organization would be the depository for donations to these volunteer groups and pay for the expenses of these projects. This organization would have no City ties. 4. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Dunmyer moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Grady seconded the motion that passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. ace Morales Records Coordinator 1/28-2/18/14 5