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Minutes 09-27-23 Minutes of the City Commission Meeting Held Online Via the GoToWebinar Platform and In-Person at the City Hall Commission Chambers 100 East Ocean Avenue, Boynton Beach, Florida On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. Present: Mayor Ty Penserga Daniel Dugger, City Manager Vice Mayor Thomas Turkin David Tolces, Interim City Attorney Commissioner Angela Cruz Maylee De Jesus, City Clerk Commissioner Woodrow L. Hay Commissioner Aimee Kelley 1. Agenda Items A. Call to Order - Mayor Ty Penserga Mayor Penserga called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Roll Call City Clerk Maylee De Jesus called the roll. A quorum was present. Invocation by Commissioner Woodrow Hay. Invocation was given by Commissioner Hay Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Commissioner Angela Cruz Commissioner Cruz led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Agenda Approval: 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections 2. Adoption Motion: Commissioner Cruz moved to approve the agenda as amended. Vice Mayor Turkin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Other A. Informational items by the Members of the City Commission. Commissioner Kelley said that she had no disclosures. Commissioner Hay said that he had no disclosures. Meeting Minutes City Commission Meeting and Third Budget Hearing Boynton Beach, FL September 27, 2023 Vice Mayor Turkin said that he had no disclosures Commissioner Cruz said that she spoke to residents and staff about item 10A. Mayor Penserga said that he had no disclosures. 3. Announcements, Community and Special Events and Presentations 4. Public Audience Individual Speakers Will Be Limited To 3 Minute Presentations (at the discretion of the Chair, this 3-minute allowance may need to be adjusted depending on the level of business coming before the City Commission). Joseph Bresner said that he appreciates working with staff, and spoke about a new trend that makes the City of Boynton Beach much more attractive to employees. He said that any decisions that are made that can help employees, they look forward to working with staff. There were no virtual comments. 5. Administrative A. Community Support Funds Motion: Commissioner Cruz moved to approve the agenda as amended. Vice Mayor Turkin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Consent Agenda 7. Consent Bids and Purchases over $100,000 8. Public Hearing 6 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits. The City Commission will conduct these public hearings in its dual capacity as Local Planning Agency and City Commission. 9. City Manager's Report- None 10. Unfinished Business 2 Meeting Minutes City Commission Meeting and Third Budget Hearing Boynton Beach, FL September 27, 2023 A. Proposed Resolution No. R23-134-(Amendment to Resolution No. R23- 108) Annual Comprehensive Fee Schedule Rate Changes. Mayor spoke about the history of why this came back to the Commission. Poonam Kalkat introduced Ryan Smith, the rate consultant that they have been working with all year. Ryan Smith, Rate Consultant, spoke about the following regarding the Rate Adjustment Scenarios: utility statistics; historical rate adjustments vs inflation; rate setting methodology; scenario development; revenues vs expenses- 5 years; depreciation funding; residential bill comparison (5000 gallons per month); (1)water rate adjustments- inside City, and (2) water rate adjustments- outside City; (2) wastewater and stormwater rate adjustments- inside and outside City-revenue impact; example bill; financial assistance; recommendations; and questions and answers. Commissioner Kelley stated that this was good to have a refresher presentation. She said that we have to look out for constituents service- wise as well. She mentioned not increasing the utility fund over the last 3 years has cause a disservice to both the residents and the employees. She said that she supports the 10% adjustment, and look at the future for rate adjustments that aren't at 10%. Commissioner Hay said that he agrees with Commissioner Kelley. He said that based on the history with the City, the citizens like the high value of the services received from the City of Boynton Beach, and they are willing to pay for it. He said that he is happy to hear about the assistance that is available for those who need it. He mentioned that the impact fees is another source to try to relieve the "pain" but it is still a small amount. He commented that he is in favor of the 10%, and would like to maintain the depreciation. Vice Mayor Turkin stated that looking at the water bill was very helpful. He said that his concerns are about the CIP funding, that there is follow through with those projects. He would like to see the increase of service, if they are increasing rates of the constituents. He mentioned that he understands the obstacles that can happen, but he wants to know that there is follow through with the projects. He spoke about the sewage, and the over development on the City, to make sure that our infrastructure can handle it. He commented that he is not sure he could do 10% both this and next year, so he would like to take a look at that for the forecasted increase. Commissioner Cruz mentioned that something that was consistently stated that we need to make our rates competitive. She said that we should be careful of the cities that we compare our City to. She said that this may not be a significant change for some, but the majority of her constituents are elderly and it would affect them more. She spoke about the funding that comes from the Utility fund, and about franchise fees. She would like to request for future meetings: update on what grants are being requested, and build an inventory of infrastructure with a timeline to make sure funds are going towards those 3 Meeting Minutes City Commission Meeting and Third Budget Hearing Boynton Beach, FL September 27, 2023 projects. She asked if a 6% increase would have an effect on employees. Ms. Kalkat said that the total is in regards to utilities, including employees. She stated that they will always pay their employees, but they might have to look at cutting projects. Commissioner Cruz said that she would not like to see a 10% increase, and she mentioned the increases that have been approved for the employees. She said that FPL has increased 20%, and they have been paying us the same amount for a long time, and she would like to see us charge them more. She said that she is sticking with her 6% increase. Vice Mayor Turkin stated that he understands the hesitation with the 10%, but he would propose the 8% increase, and asked if it is manageable. Ms. Kalkat stated that she is pushing for 10% because we are digging ourselves into a hole, but she will do whatever the Commission decides. She said that it was originally more than 10%, but they decided on a lower increase, so that it does not affect the residents too much. She added that the inventory asset management that they are looking at, they are also looking at the data of breaks and what is highest risk for them that they need to prioritize. Vice Mayor Turkin asked about his concerns to be addressed. Ms. Kalkat stated that they are committed and they are working on getting the CIP projects started and completed on the timeline being given to the Commission. Vice Mayor Turkin stated that the residents need to see something, and not just excuses. Ms. Kalkat said that they can lay out their CIP by years, because some of the projects have different phases that last years. Mayor Penserga opened to public comment. Susan Oyer said that she is all for the 10% increase. She stated that there is sewage bubbling up in the 500 block. She mentioned that we should advocate to get the 25% increase block taken off, so we can charge the outside residents more. She said that Collin had a whole image redone and it disappeared. She stated that she is happy to hear that the employees are getting an increase, and that 10% is only about a $6 increase, which is affordable. David Katz stated that he has no problem with the 10% increase, and that the staff is professional. There were no virtual comments. Commissioner Kelley agreed with the accountability that Vice Mayor Turkin spoke about. 4 Meeting Minutes City Commission Meeting and Third Budget Hearing Boynton Beach, FL September 27, 2023 Motion: Commissioner Kelley moved to approve Resolution No. R23-134. Commissioner Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-1 , with Commissioner Cruz dissenting. B. Proposed Resolution No. R23-120- Adopt The FINAL Budget for the General Fund and all other funds for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Mara Frederiksen stated that there are no updates to the budget, since the 10% passed. Mayor opened to public comment. Susan Oyer asked to get rid of the HSA, which is about $3650, because they should be able to get this taken out of their paychecks. Motion: Vice Mayor Turkin moved to approve Resolution No. R23-120. Commissioner Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 11. New Business 12. Legal 13. Future Agenda Items 14. Adjournment Motion Commissioner Kelley moved to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Hay seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 P.M. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH ,0 OF Bo', • R' ATTEST: : _ :/4,/r, 9m 4) JA �O Fo • Mayl-- I- Jesus, PA, MMC 11,<9.••..,,,,,•.•• City Clet k �q raer 5