>> WELCOME TO OUR BUDGET MEETING. [1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:03] IT IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND THE TIME IS 5:13. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR GOMEZ. >> GOOD EVENING. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> GOOD EVENING. >> VICE MAYOR, GALA. >> GOOD EVENING. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO. >> GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU, AND IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND, COMMISSIONER BOLTON WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU. >> >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS TO ESTABLISH THE MILLAGE RATE AND ADOPT THE CITY BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. I'M VERY PLEASED THAT EVERYONE COULD JOIN US THIS EVENING. THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE THE CULMINATION OF AN ENTIRE YEAR OR MORE OF WORK BY THIS COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC TONIGHT, THE CITY COMMISSION HELD SEVERAL WORKSHOPS DURING THE YEAR AND A BUDGET WORKSHOP ON JUNE 16, 2022 TO PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF ON THE SUBMITTAL THAT'S BEFORE US. IN ADDITION, WE HELD THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2022. I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AT THE WORKSHOPS AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS AS WE DELIBERATE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE READY TO BEGIN. THIS IS THE TEMPORARY ORDINANCE 2508. [4.a TO2508 - An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida to establish and levy ad valorem taxes within the corporate limits of the City of Tamarac, Florida, for the tax year 2022; providing for the levy of ad valorem taxes in the amount of 7.2000 mills ($7.2000 per $1,000) based upon the taxable value of nonexempt real and personal property located within the City limits of the City of Tamarac; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.] THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. BEFORE WE BEGIN, MADAME CITY MANAGER, PLEASE READ YOUR STATEMENT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUTH AND MILLAGE REQUIREMENTS OF FLORIDA STATUTES, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE THE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND THE ROLLBACK RATE. AS SUCH, THE FOLLOWING IS READ INTO THE RECORD. THE TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 7.2000 MILS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. THAT CONCLUDES MY STATEMENT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE READ THE TITLE FOR THE RECORD. >> YES. >> TITLE TO A TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2508. >> YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC FLORIDA TO ESTABLISH AND LEVY AD VALOREM TAXES WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS, THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, FOR THE TAX YEAR 2022, BROUGHT IN FOR THE LEVEE OF AD VALOREM TAXES, THE AMOUNT OF 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS $7.2000 PER $1,000 OF SUCH VALUE, BASED UPON THE TAXABLE VALUE OF NON-EXEMPT REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. >> MAYOR, I'M GOING TO START WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION. >> ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD THEN. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION. THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS A PLAN, IT'S BEEN BUILT BASED ON WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THEY WANTED, AND IT'S BUILT ON THE COMMISSION DIRECTION GIVEN AS STRATEGIC PLANNING IN JANUARY AND THE BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD IN JUNE. BACK IN JANUARY, COMMISSIONERS CONSENSUS WAS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, BEAUTIFICATION, LANDSCAPING, OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE EFFORTS, AND TO BUILD NEW PARKS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE EAST SIDE FEASIBILITY STUDY. AS I SAID, THE BUDGET IS A PLAN. IT ACCOMMODATES WHAT WE KNOW YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH YET IS FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ABSORB INCREASED COSTS OR REORIENT PRIORITIES WITHIN THE YEAR. IT SAYS OUTER LIMITS ON SPENDING AND PROVIDES US WITH LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING CAPABILITIES. THE MILLAGE RATE IS THE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH THE PLAN IS PARTIALLY FUNDED. WELL, YOU WILL SEE IN THIS PRESENTATION ARE OPTIONS THAT COMBINED BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND/OR AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE FUND BALANCE TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE AND RESPECTIVE OPERATING BUDGET. IT'S INTENDED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN APPROACH THAT GIVES RELIEF TO TAXPAYERS, YET PROVIDES THE CITY WITH SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MEET OUR MUTUAL GOALS. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE COMES WITH A PRICE, BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT RETURNS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN THE BRAND NEW AMAZON FACILITY, EVEN WEST TAMARAC VILLAGE AND BAILEY SQUARE TO NAME A FEW, ALL IMPROVING THE TAX ROLLS AND ULTIMATELY EASING THE BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS. AS WE KNOW, THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN AN ANOMALY IN MANY WAYS. [00:05:02] DUE TO COVID AND AUSTERITY MEASURES, WE DELAYED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, SPENT LESS ON TRAVEL, TRAINING, EVENTS AND SALARIES TO NAME A FEW. MUCH OF THE SAVINGS IS ONETIME SAVINGS. NORMALIZED SPENDING HAS ALREADY ENSUED AS LIFE HAS BEEN RETURNING TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. FREED UP GENERAL FUNDS BECAUSE OF RPA PLUS UNANTICIPATED SAVINGS AND INCREASES IN FORECASTED INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE SHARING ALLOW US TO ALMOST DOUBLE SPENDING ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, CITY FACILITIES AND PARKS, NAMELY: SABAL PALM, CAPORELLA, AND THE TAMARAC SPORTS COMPLEX. THE COMMUNITY WANTS THESE ITEMS AND WE'VE PROMISED TO DELIVER THEM. ONCE BUILT, THE PARTS AND BUILDINGS NEED TO BE STAFFED, MAINTAIN, SECURED, CLEANED, AND ENSURED. THESE INVESTMENTS COSTS MONEY AND REQUIRE US TO BE PREPARED TO PAY FOR THEM LONG INTO THE FUTURE. THE MILLAGE RATE PROVIDES THE FUNDING AND FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY FOR DOING SO. >> MADAME CITY MANAGER, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. WE HAVE A TECHNICAL ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE VIDEO BUT NO AUDIO. FOR PURPOSES OF US PRECEDING CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE GIVE US THE LEGALITIES ON THAT. >> THE MEETING AND THIS HEARING THIS EVENING HAS BEEN ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. WE DO HAVE AUDIO. >> OKAY. THEN FOR THE [OVERLAPPING]- >> BUT NONETHELESS, I'LL FINISH. >> OKAY, PROCEED. >> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY NOTICED, AND IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU-ALL TO PROCEED TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE MAY BE SOME TECHNICAL GLITCHES WITH EITHER THE LIVE FEED OR THE LIVE AUDIO, CERTAINLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR NORMAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THIS MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR VIEWING AFTER THE MEETING IS OVER, IF ANYONE SO WISHES, IF NOT, THE PURPOSE OF THE NOTICE IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE MEETING IS TAKING PLACE AND THEY CAN COME HERE IN PERSON IF THEY WISH TO SPEAK. WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CITY MANAGER, PLEASE CONTINUE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'M WRAPPING UP. TAMARAC HAS A LONGSTANDING HISTORY OF FINANCIAL PRUDENCE. WE DON'T OVEREXTEND OURSELVES AND WE BUDGET TO PAY FOR ITEMS THAT COMMUNITY DESIRES. THE APPROACH TO BUDGETING CONTINUES TO BE MEASURED AND THOUGHTFUL. IT WAS ONLY THREE YEARS AGO THAT WE FULLY RECOVERED FROM THE ECONOMIC RECESSION OF 2008. IT TOOK 10 YEARS TO RECOVER FROM THAT FINANCIAL SETBACK AND WE STILL HAVE LESS STAFF TODAY THAN WE DID 12 YEARS AGO. A CONSISTENT AND STEADY APPROACH TO BUDGETING HAS SERVED US WELL OVER MANY YEARS. PLEASE BE DELIBERATE AND THOUGHTFUL AS YOU UNDERTAKE, CONSIDERING IN SETTING A MILLAGE RATE THAT PRESERVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS AND FULFILLS THE PROMISES WE'VE MADE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS. A MEASURED APPROACH WILL AVOID DRAMATIC INCREASES TO TAXPAYERS IN THE FUTURE. I CONTINUE TO BE PROUD OF THE WORK OF OUR STAFF IN PREPARING THE BUDGET AND FOR LEADING TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, JEFF, AND THANK YOU, PAT, AND THANK YOU IVAN, AND AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO JEFF STREDER, BUDGET MANAGER TO LEAD YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION SO THAT A FRUITFUL DISCUSSION MAY ENSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD, JEFF STREDER, BUDGET MANAGER. I'M JOINED BY ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR, PATRICIA WHITE. TONIGHT WOULD BE THE FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IN ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AND ADAPTING AND OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET. ON SEPTEMBER 12TH TO TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, IT'S 7.20000 MILS. THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE BUDGET WAS ADVERTISED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, IN AN AD IN THE SUN SENTINEL IN A BUDGET SUMMARY AD AND A NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE THAT WAS BASED ON THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION AT THAT MEETING. IT ASSUMED A 7.2000 MILLAGE RATE AND INCLUDED A GENERAL FUND BUDGET BASED ON WHAT THAT WOULD GENERATE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE WOULD PROVIDE FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY. IT WOULD MAINTAIN SERVICE LEVELS TO RESIDENTS AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS EXPECTED TO PAY CONSIDERABLY MORE FOR EVERYTHING. IT ENABLES THE DESIRED LEVEL OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. AS STATED EARLIER, IT EXCEEDS THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 [00:10:03] MILS BY 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82 PERCENT. NOW, BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTAINED IN AUGUST TRIM NOTICES, 24 OUT OF THE 31 BROWARD COUNTY CITIES WERE PROPOSING EITHER KEEPING THE MILLAGE RATES THE SAME AS 2022 OR INCREASING THEIR MILLAGE RATE. THIS IS BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS CONTAINED IN TRIM NOTICES. LAST WEEK AT THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEARING, THE COUNTY VOTE ALSO VOTED TO KEEP THE MILLAGE RATE THE SAME AS 2022. IN FACT, THE COUNTY WENT SO FAR AS TO BUDGET AND SET ASIDE AN $11.77 MILLION RESERVE TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST ECONOMIC TRENDS. LIKELY, SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT I LIGHTLY TOUCHED ON IN THE LAST PRESENTATION I MADE IT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BEING MADE TO THIS BODY IS FAR BY NO MEANS DRASTIC IN THAT WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED IS PRESERVING YOUR ONGOING RESOURCES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE INTO THE FUTURE, AS OPPOSED TO BUDGETING AND SETTING ASIDE A SET AMOUNT NOW. THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR ALL CITY FUNDS IS $243,987,846. THIS INCLUDES A GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF $77,686,494. WHAT THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO DO IN REGARDS TO THE MILLAGE RATE TODAY, WILL INDIRECTLY IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND UPON CHANGING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, IF THERE IS A CHANGE TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET THAT WOULD CARRY INTO THE TOTAL BUDGET. MOST LIKELY THE OTHER CATEGORIES OF FUNDS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO WITH THE MILLAGE RATE TODAY. THE TENTATIVE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE GENERATES BUDGETED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF $36,476,384. THAT IS 46.95 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE. IT IS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY PAYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AFTER YOU PAY FOR POLICE AND FIRE, THERE'S ABOUT $10 MILLION LEFT THAT CAN BE ALLOCATED ACROSS THE OTHER GENERAL FUND-FUNDED OPERATING DEPARTMENTS. THIS TABLE SHOWS YOU VARIOUS MILLAGE RATE OPTIONS, THE RESULTING LOSS IN REVENUE TO THE CITY, AND WHAT WOULD BE BUDGETED IN TERMS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AS A RESULT OF THAT MILLAGE RATE. NOW, SOUND BUDGETING PRACTICES DICTATES THAT ONGOING EXPENDITURES SHOULD BE PAID FOR FROM ONGOING REVENUES. IDEALLY, TO ADDRESS A SHORTFALL IN ONGOING REVENUE, YOU WOULD ADDRESS THAT WITH ONGOING EXPENSE REDUCTIONS. LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, WE'LL SHOW YOU A LIST OF REDUCTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS IDENTIFIED DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR OR AT THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL SHOW YOU A LIST OF POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS THAT THE STAFF PUT TOGETHER FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. ANOTHER OPTION OR WHAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR APPROACH TO BALANCE OUT FOR THE LOSS IN REVENUE IS A ONE-TIME INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE THAT CAN BE USED. BUT AGAIN, THAT WOULD ONLY BE A ONE-TIME SOLUTION AND IT DOESN'T HELP YOU WITH YOUR POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL BALANCE THAT COULD RESULT FROM REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE THAT COULD OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD USE SOME COMBINATION OF BOTH EXPENSE REDUCTIONS AND MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE [00:15:04] WITH A INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION OF FUND BALANCE. DEPENDING UPON WHAT MILLAGE RATE YOU DECIDED ON TODAY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE AN APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE SHORTFALL, BUT THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT MILLAGE RATE YOU DECIDE TO ADOPT. TRIM COMPLIANCE REQUIRES THAT ANY FINAL MILLAGE RATE ADOPTED ABOVE THE MAJORITY VOTE RATE, BE ADAPTED BY A MINIMUM TWO-THIRDS VOTE. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE TWO-THIRDS VOTE, THIS COMMISSION HAS TO HAVE A 4:1 AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IN ORDER TO HIT THAT MINIMUM TWO-THIRDS THRESHOLD. WE WOULD BE REQUIRING WHATEVER MILLAGE RATE YOU ADOPT TODAY IS, WE'LL HAVE TO BE ADOPTED BY A 4:1 VOTE. ONCE THE MILLAGE RATE IS SET ON AND ADOPTED, WE CAN THEN MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET BASED ON THE APPROACH THAT YOU DECIDED TO TAKE. IS THAT EXPENSE REDUCTIONS ONLY? IS IT A COMBINATION OF EXPENSE REDUCTIONS IN AN APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE? THAT CHANGE CAN EASILY BE MADE BY JUST CHANGING THE ATTACHMENT A TO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE BECAUSE THERE'S NO LANGUAGE IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT SPECIFIC NUMBERS. STEP 1 IS TO LAND ON AND ADAPT A MILLAGE RATE, AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET AND MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TO GET THERE. THIS IS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT AT VARIOUS POINTS DURING THE YEAR THE COMMISSION HAS SUGGESTED SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET. ALL OF THESE ITEMS TOGETHER TOTAL UP $804,727. THIS IS A LIST OF STAFF POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS PUT TOGETHER BASED ON A LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT STANDARD AND IDENTIFYING THE ITEM AS A NON-CORE SERVICE TO CITY BUSINESS. THE STAFF SUGGESTED REDUCTIONS TOTAL $473,662. THIS IS A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE RECEIVING FUNDING IN FISCAL YEAR 2023. SHOULD YOU SO DECIDE YOU COULD EITHER DEFER OR ELIMINATE A PROJECT TO GET A ONE-TIME EXPENSE REDUCTION. THE ONE-TIME EXPENSE REDUCTION COMES IN THE FORM OF AN ELIMINATION OF THE TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL FUND. IF YOU CUT OUT THE PROJECT, YOU'RE ABLE TO ELIMINATE THE TRANSFER THAT'S REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THAT PROJECT. THAT'S HOW YOU END UP WITH A EXPENSE REDUCTION TO THE GENERAL FUND. AGAIN, IF YOU CHOSE TO CUT OUT ONE OR MORE OF THESE PROJECTS, THAT WOULD ONLY BE A ONE-TIME SOLUTION. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS ONGOING AND STRUCTURAL BALANCE. NOW, ALTHOUGH THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE CONSIDERED ONE-TIME IN NATURE, THERE'S A FEW LARGE TICKET ITEM PROJECTS THAT EVEN IF THE CITY WAS ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO PUT THE FUNDING TOGETHER TO PAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, THE CITIES BY NO MEANS DONE PAYING FOR THESE PROJECTS. FACILITIES NEED STAFF TO OPERATE THEM. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE UTILITIES COST IN THE FORM OF PROVIDING ELECTRICITY AND WATER. AFTER A BUILDING OR FACILITY HAS BEEN PLACED IN SERVICE A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT ONGOING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS. EACH OF THOSE LARGE TICKET CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THE COMMISSION AND THE RESIDENTS OF TAMARAC WANT TO SEE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILT, THEY ARE GOING TO COME WITH A NEW SET OF ONGOING EXPENDITURES. THAT WILL REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ONGOING EXPENDITURE FOR ONGOING REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ALL THOSE STAFF, UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE. [00:20:06] AGAIN, HERE IS THE TABLE THAT SHOWS POTENTIAL MILLAGE RATE OPTIONS TO REQUIRE THE RESULTING LOSS IN REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THE RESULTING BUDGETED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. AS AN EXAMPLE, IF THE COMMISSION'S DESIRE WAS TO GET TO 7.15 MILES, YOU'D HAVE TO REMOVE EITHER 253,308 IN EXPENDITURES OR SOME COMBINATION OF EXPENDITURES AND APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE. AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE TO REMOVE $100,000 OF PARKS EVENTS OF GENERAL EVENTS, AND THEN MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE OF 153,308 WITH A FUND BALANCE. THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU MIGHT GET TO A LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE CITY TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE. THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS MEETING IS TO SET A FINAL MILLAGE RATE. AGAIN THAT REQUIRES FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES. THEN MOVE ON TO ADJUST THE BUDGET BASED ON THE MILLAGE RATE THAT YOU DECIDE ON. WITH THAT, PAT AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2,508. I HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. I'LL MAKE SURE TO CALL FOR YOU WHEN WE'RE DONE. EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN AND SIGNED UP, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON HERE AND PEOPLE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY SAID IF THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON THE MILLAGE RATE OR THE BUDGET. RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT IT CAN GET A LITTLE CONFUSING. IF YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK JUST SPEAK AT THIS TIME, AND ALSO I'LL ASK YOU TO FORGIVE ME IF I CAN'T PRONOUNCE YOUR NAMES PROPERLY. IT'S MOSTLY MY READING. DELPHINA BURKE, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? >> NO. >> NO? >> I'VE BEEN IN THIS CONFERENCE FIRST TIME, SO NO. >> YOU'RE JUST HERE TO LISTEN? >> I'M SORRY. >> NO WORRIES. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. MEL YODER. >> [BACKGROUND] [NOISE] >> ONE SECOND. ACTUALLY, BEFORE YOU BEGIN, CITY ATTORNEY, DID YOU WANT TO STATE THE RULES OF PUBLIC HEARING? >> I'LL SUMMARIZE THEM. EVERY SPEAKER HAS UP TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER AS IT RELATES TO THIS ITEM. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE MILLAGE RATE IN THE ADOPTION OF THE FINAL BUDGET. PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE BODY AS A WHOLE AS OPPOSED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL COUNCILOR, COMMISSIONER. INPERTINENT, INAPPROPRIATE OR DISPARAGING REMARKS ARE PROHIBITED. IF REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSION, PLEASE, FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES, YOU CAN BE REMOVED FORCIBLY IF NECESSARY. I THINK THAT'S A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE RULES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PART OF WHAT I DON'T KNOW IF I HEARD. WE KNOW THIS COULD BE A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC. MONEY IS ALWAYS VERY SENSITIVE. WE KNOW SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY THINGS YOU LIKE, AND THEY MIGHT SAY THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE. WE REQUEST THAT IF YOU REALLY FEEL THE URGE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF, IF WE DO IT IN A QUIET MANNER, WE DON'T WANT TO BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE PERSON SPEAKING. YOU CAN JUST SNAP, [LAUGHTER] VERY QUIET. SOME PEOPLE DO THE HAPPY HANDS LIKE THIS. BUT WE TRY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE SPEAKING AND WITH THAT, MR. YODER. >> MEL YODER, KINGS POINT TAMARAC. MADAM, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, ONE MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION PROPOSES LOWERING THE MILLAGE RATE AND CUTTING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, BECAUSE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL MANAGERS, SAYS THE COST OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE. APPARENTLY THE COMMISSIONER CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE AND SEE THESE PROJECTS GETTING CHEAPER. OR IT MAY BE THAT HE WANTS TO TRY TO IMPRESS THE RESIDENTS, CHANGE THEIR FOCUS, SO LATER ON HE CAN INTRODUCE PET PROJECTS THAT AREN'T BUDGETED AND HOPE RESIDENCE WON'T NOTICE. THERE ARE TWO THAT WANT TO LOOK AT COMMISSIONER BENEFITS LINE BY [00:25:01] LINE AND POSSIBLY REDUCE THOSE ITEMS BEFORE OTHER CITY ITEMS. THERE IS ONE WHO IS GRANDSTANDING AND WANTS AN ALL OR NOTHING REVIEW OF COMMISSIONER BENEFITS. HE KNOWS THAT IT WILL FAIL AND HE CAN VOTE NO ON THE OTHER ITEMS. LAYING THE OTHERS CLAIM THE MORAL HIGH GROUND AND SAVE THE BENEFITS. FINALLY, WHERE THE COMMISSIONER DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE NEXT COMMISSIONER. I CHALLENGE HER TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THIS AS SHE'S BETTER SUITED THAN A NEW COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PUSH OFF ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, SOUND BARRIERS, NEW PARKS, WAGES TO ATTRACT CITY EMPLOYEES, AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL AND ITEMS THAT HELP RESIDENTS ENJOY LIVING IN TAMARAC JUST TO SAVE SOME MONEY NOW. WHAT WILL BE THE LONG-TERM EFFECT? EVENTUALLY THESE THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE, OR WE RISK THE MIGRATION OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OUT OF OUR CITY. THAT PUTS THE TAX BURDEN ON THOSE THAT STAY EVEN MORE AND CREATES A VICIOUS CYCLE. THE PROBLEM THAT COMMISSIONERS FACE, IT'S CONVINCING RESIDENTS THAT THE INCREASE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE COMMISSIONERS CURRENTLY ARE SUFFERING FROM A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FROM THE RESIDENTS. WE SEE THE CONSTANT POSTURING BY VARIOUS COMMISSIONERS NAME-CALLING, MONEY BEING HANDED OUT FOR ALLOWANCES AND MONEY FOR WHAT I'LL CALL EVERYONE THINKS IT IS, SLUSH FUNDS. HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE RESIDENTS THAT THE INCREASE IS NECESSARY WHEN YOU BEHAVE THE WAY YOU DO? YES, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES IN THIS TIME OF HIGH INFLATION, HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND UNCERTAINTY. EVERYONE HAS TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THEIR FINANCES TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY CAN SAVE, WHAT THEY CAN CUT. BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT FAMILIES FACE DAILY. YOU NEED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITY. SET THE EXAMPLE BY CUTTING SOME OF THE COMMISSIONER BENEFITS. THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO CONVINCE RESIDENTS THAT YOU HAVE THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. I RECOMMEND ACCEPTING THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.2000 AND THE BUDGET AS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, MINUS THE REDUCTION OF SOME OF THE COMMISSIONER BENEFITS. I CHALLENGE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE ZOHAR TERM WAS NOT ENDING. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, POINT OF ORDER. >> THANK YOU, MR. YODER. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> WE'RE IN A MIDDLE OF A MEETING AND WE HAVE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS PASSING OUT BROCHURES, INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE. CITY ATTORNEY CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THIS? >> IS PROPAGANDA ALLOWED TO BE HANDED OUT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE AUDIENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING? >> THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WE'RE IN A MEETING. >> YOUR RULES SAY, I'M PARAPHRASING, BUT I CAN PULL THEM OUT IF I NEED TO QUOTE THE VERY SPECIFIC RULES IS THAT, EACH ONE OF YOU OR DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING, ARE SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE AND BE PART OF THE MEETING UP HERE DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING WHEN ITEMS ARE BEING DISCUSSED. THE LOCATION AND THE PLACEMENT OF COMMISSIONERS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN THE MEETING SHOULD BE UP ON THE DESK. >> MAYOR, MAY I REQUEST COMMISSIONER GELIN, REPORT BACK TO HIS SEAT. >> MS. VICE MAYOR. >> GOOD MORNING, BY THE WAY. >> IT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED DISRESPECTFUL FOR YOU TO BE HANDING OUT WHATEVER YOU'RE HANDING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THERE WAS A PERSON SPEAKING WHILE YOU ARE DISTRACTING THE AUDIENCE FROM BEING ABLE TO HEAR HIM. WOULD YOU PLEASE RETURN TO THE DESK? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE BEING HANDED. PRETTY SURE IT'S A PERSON'S OPINION OF THINGS. WE CAN'T COMMENT ON THAT, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE NOT YET SEEN WHAT YOU HAVE JUST RECEIVED. ON THAT NOTE, [NOISE] WE HAVE CHARLES AWAR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? YOU JUST FOR SIGNING IN. SAME THING FOR MRS. AWAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. HORACIO BRIAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OR YOU WERE JUST SIGNING IN? YES. [NOISE] NAME AND ADDRESS OR AT LEAST THE CITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE, PLEASE. >> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I AM NOT ON THE CLOCK. AS FAR AS MY NAME AND WHERE I LIVE, I WILL GET TO IT EVENTUALLY. I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO ESTEEM YOU GUYS MORE HIGHLY THAN MYSELF, BUT MY NAME IS HORACIO BRIAN. I LIVE AT 6194 LAUREL LANE IN BANYAN LAKES. [NOISE] FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE [00:30:03] JESUS CHRIST AS MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, THE ENTIRE COMMISSION, CITY MANAGERS, CITY COUNCIL, ALL STAFF MEMBERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES, CURRENT CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND MY FELLOW TAMARACIANS. ON MARCH 20TH OF THIS YEAR, MY 8-YEAR-OLD SON'S CURIOSITY WITH A BARBECUE LIGHTER STARTED A FIRE THAT RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. I THANK GOD THAT EVERYONE MADE IT OUT UNSCATHED. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO CHIEF AND ECN AND NUMEROUS MEN AND WOMEN OFF THE TAMARAC FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT MADE IT OUT TO MY HOME TO FINALLY PUT THE FLAMES OUT. I'M CURRENTLY ATTENDING TAMARAC UNIVERSITY AND I AM GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SO MUCH OF THE INTRICATE DETAIL THAT MAKES FIRE RESCUES LIKE THE ONE THAT HAPPENED AT MY HOME ON MARCH 20TH POSSIBLE, SUCH AS FIRE TRUCKS CAN RANGE FROM $400,000 TO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT IS ONLY THE COST OF THE TRUCK. THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO MANAGE AND OPERATE THE TRUCKS. THEN THERE'S EQUIPMENT FOR EACH PERSONNEL. THEN THERE ARE THE DEVICES TO EQUIP THE TRUCKS LIKE THE JAWS OF LIFE, THE DRONES, THE FIRE SUPPRESSING FOAM, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. ALL THIS FROM JUST ONE NIGHT AND TWO HOURS. I HAVE A NEWFOUND RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE VARIOUS STAFF THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO KNOW ALL THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VITAL JOB OF RUNNING OUR CITY. I THINK IT WOULD BE WOEFULLY UNWISE FOR US TO CUTBACK OF THE PERKS THAT WE OFFER TO ATTRACT THE BEST TALENTS TO OUR CITY. OTHER CITIES OFFERS THE SAME OR EVEN BETTER PERKS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ATTRACTING THE BEST TALENTS TO THEIR CITIES. TAMARAC DESERVES THE BEST OF THE BEST, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT'S WHO WE CURRENTLY HAVE. THE LAST BUDGET MEETING, JEFF STREDER, THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT TOOK THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT HE EXPLAINED ALL THE INTRICATE IN A VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND MANNER. HE MADE VERY WISE AND MATURE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE NEWLY PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. THIS REAFFIRMS MY FAITH IN OUR STAFF AND THE EXCELLENT JOB THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PERFORM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [NOISE] DARCY SCHILLER. [NOISE] >> SORRY, I SEE SCHILLER, KINGS POINT, TAMARAC. I AM IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE MILLAGE AT 7.2 BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT LOWERING THE MILLAGE TO 7.15 OR ANYTHING ELSE, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY MONEY FROM OUR STREETS, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING ELSE. I GO BACK OVER THIS MANY TIMES. IF YOU TAKE OUT THE $225 FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTIES THAT WE HAVE AND $125 COMMISSION OF FRILLS, WE TAKE OUT $10,000 TRAVEL PER COMMISSIONER, WE END UP SAVING $450,000, AND THEN IF WE DROP EACH COMMISSIONER SALARY BY 10,000, WE GET THE 532. THAT IS OVER THE $500 THAT WE WOULD SAVE IN THE MILLAGE RATE, SO I AM DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THE 7.2. IF WE GO TO LOWER IT, THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT I WOULD NEVER LOWER IT MORE THAN 7.1. WHAT THE COMMISSION IS FAILING TO SEE IS THAT WE HAVE FUTURE YEARS AHEAD OF US AND IF WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY, IT NEEDS TO LOOK RESPECTFUL. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO ADDRESS IS LAST MONDAY NIGHT'S BUDGET MEETING AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE DEFINITION OF A BULLY. A BULLY IS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY INSECURE, AND THEY DEFEND AGAINST THEIR INSECURITY BY BEING LOUD, RUDE, AND DISRESPECTFUL. TONIGHT, WE HAD ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BULLYING. WE HAD OUR VICE MAYOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEETING DISRUPT EVERYTHING BY HANDING OUT HIS DEFINITION OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. LAST BUDGET MEETING, BULLYING WAS ABSOLUTELY OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE TO LOOK TO YOU AS THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK WHY IS IT THAT VICE MAYOR GELIN IS STILL HERE WHEN HE HAS EGREGIOUSLY BROKEN THE RULES, HANDING OUT PAPER, WHETHER IT'S HIS OPINION OR PROPAGANDA, WE DO NOT KNOW AND WHY IS HE NOT BEING REMOVED FROM THE DAIS, AND HOW IS IT THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE IS GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? THAT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC. MY LAST COMMENT IS, IF VICE MAYOR GELIN IS REALLY INTO THIS AND HE REALLY WANTS THE MAYOR SEAT, [00:35:03] WHICH YOU ALL KNOW HE'S RUNNING FOR, AND THIS IS ALSO PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OUT AND ABOUT, THEN WHY IN TWO YEARS IS HE GOING TO RUN FOR A COMMISSION SEAT ON BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSION? I'M ABOUT HAD IT, SO PLEASE CITY ATTORNEY ADDRESS MIKE GALLON'S BEHAVIOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MADAM MAYOR, I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT THE NORM TO RESPOND TO SPEAKERS COMMENTS. THEN I WOULD LIKE TO AT THE END OF THE MEETING, TO WHOEVER DECIDES TO STAY, TO RESPOND AND EXPLAIN TO WHOEVER WISHES TO STAY HOW OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE LAID OUT AND HOW THEY'RE APPLIED. BECAUSE I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT APPARENTLY PEOPLE DON'T RECALL OR DON'T REMEMBER HOW IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED NOT ONLY BY ME, BUT MY PREDECESSORS, I'M THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, I'M NOT THE ENFORCER. I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY. GEORGE MONTERO. YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ADDRESS THE CITY, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS GEORGE MONTERO. I LIVE AT 8025 NORTH WEST 72ND STREET. I'M OVER 20-YEAR A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER HERE IN TAMARAC AND WOODMONT, SPECIFICALLY, ABOUT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO WE DECIDED TO MOVE BECAUSE MY WIFE WORKS IN MIAMI AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT COMMUNITIES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO DORAL WHERE SHE WORKS. WE SPENT ABOUT A YEAR LOOKING FOR A NEW HOUSE AND WE FINALLY FOUND ONE, THREE BLOCKS OUT OF OUR EXISTING HOUSE IN WOODMONT IN TAMARAC. WHY? BECAUSE WE LOVE THIS CITY, WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING REMOTELY APPROACHING THE FAMILY FEEL WE FEEL HERE. WHAT CONCERNS ME, AND I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS MEETING TWO DAYS AGO BECAUSE OF A PERSONAL EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM VICE MAYOR GELIN, WHICH I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS MEETING. I DON'T READ THE SUN SENTINEL, BUT I DO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH EVENTS. RIGHT NOW, AS IN OLDER RESIDENT I'M FACING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH MY FINANCES RELATED TO THE HUGE INFLATION SITUATION, INCREASED COSTS ALL AROUND GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY FOOD AND GROCERIES AND SO FORTH. ONE OF THE REASONS I STAYED IN TAMARAC AND IN WOODMONT IS IN PARTICULAR IS BECAUSE YOU'VE SUCCEEDED IN CONTROLLING THOSE EXPENSES, THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES, THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE AFFORDABLE HERE FOR ME. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THEY ARE RAISED ANY HIGHER PEOPLE LIKE ME ON FIXED INCOME, YOUNG FAMILY MEMBERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING HERE. I LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND IMPROVING COMMUNITY, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY I CAN AFFORD TO STAY IN. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT MY VOICE IN FOR KEEPING TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE. SINCE I HAVE TO TIGHTEN MY BELT IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO BECAUSE OF THE RAISES AND COSTS THE CITY SHOULD RESPECT THAT AND TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS TO KEEP THEIR COSTS UNDER CONTROL. I THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THIS IS GOOD. KIM HAYDEN. AM I READING YOUR LAST NAME, RIGHT. IF I'M NOT, I APOLOGIZE. >> NO, THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> KIM HAYDEN, TAMARAC SECTION 10, MAINLANDS. I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET. I DID COME LATE, SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE AT. CAN I ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET? >> YOU CAN, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANSWERS FROM THE DAY AS REGARDING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO THE BUDGET. WE WILL HAVE A SEGMENT ON THE BUDGET, RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE MILLAGE RATE. IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN COME BACK UP THEN. >> I WILL BE TOTALLY OKAY, THANK YOU. >> FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, ALWAYS WE HAVE OUR WONDERFUL FINANCE STAFF, THEY'RE IN THE BACK, THEY'RE HERE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WHEN WE DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE DESK. I BELIEVE I WAS GIVEN ONE MORE PIECE OF PAPER. NO, I THINK I GOT THEM ALL. SIR, I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO SPEAK. I'M SORRY, I DON'T. DARCY, THE PERSON. [00:40:05] SIR, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? YES PLEASE. NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE ADDRESS, JUST CITY, PLEASE. >> I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A SIGN UP IN ADVANCE. OKAY. MY NAME IS JAKE RADARSCH. I LIVE AT 7449, NORTH DEVON DRIVE. THE RESIDENTS OF TAMARAC ARE BEING ABLE TO SERVE BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR. I WANT EVERYONE TO THINK WHAT ENTITY IN THEIR LIVES THIS YEAR HAS NOT RAISED THE COST. WE KNOW GAS, DENTIST, BARBERSHOPS, TIRES, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED COSTS. YET HERE, MAYBE IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN RAISED, EVERYTHING ELSE. WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, AND I WISH THAT GENTLEMAN WHO GAVE PRESENTATION PUT UP THAT SIGN, ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE CUT. WE'RE CUTTING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURES, BUT SURELY THERE'S SOME INCREASE THAT CAN BE RAISED. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE SAY TO MY CITY WE'RE GOING TO STOP HERE AND CUT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. I THINK THAT'S A CRIME. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE DIRT ON BUILDINGS, LESS LANDSCAPING. I THINK THE FITNESS THING WAS BEING CUT, OFTEN NOT RAISING RATES. SURELY THERE'S SOME RATE THAT PEOPLE CAN TOLERATE OR SHOULD TOLERATE, $100 A YEAR, $10 A YEAR, $500 A YEAR. BUT NOTHING IS BEING DISCUSSED AND I WANT TO BE CORRECTED, AND PLEASE DO IT NOW ABOUT RAISING THE RATES. NO BUSINESS COULD SURVIVE LIKE THAT. WHY DON'T YOU GO TO ALL YOUR SUPPLIERS, PAPERCLIPS, TELEPHONES, FURNITURE AND SAY I WANT YOU TO PLEDGE NOT TO RAISE YOUR COURSE THE NEXT YEAR. THEY'LL LAUGH IN YOUR FACE. I JUST MOVED HERE A YEAR AGO. I DON'T WANT MY QUALITY OF LIFE TO BE CUT. I'M WILLING TO SPEND $100 A YEAR OR WHATEVER. I THINK I SAW SOMEBODY SAY $100 A YEAR COULD BE A COUPLE OF 100,000. WHAT? I THOUGHT SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING, I'M SORRY. WHATEVER. PLEASE LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S NO FREE LUNCHES. IN MY HOA IN KINGS POINT, WE PUT IN A DECENT SIZED RAISED PER MONTH AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN, SO WE PUT IT OUT FOR A VOTE. WE SAID VOTE YES, AND BY THE WAY, IF YOU VOTE NO THE FOLLOWING SERVICES WILL BE CUT, LANDSCAPING, BUG CONTROL, MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, EVERYTHING WILL BE CUT, NOT CUT OUT, BUT DECREASE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WAS THAT A BUZZER OR? THE INCREASE SUM WAS PASSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER WHO DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGN UP. SEEING THEN NOBODY ELSE WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. [NOISE] I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. THIS IS A MOTION THAT WILL SET THE OPERATING RATE AT 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS 0.7613 MILS, OR 11.82 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF THE 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.2000 MILS, WHICH IS 0.7613 MILS OR 11.82 [00:45:06] PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. >> I'M ADDING ONTO THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND PRO THE CITY ATTORNEY OF FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET SORRY. YEAH. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A SECOND. DISCUSSION, I HAVE VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. THE ITEM I PASSED OUT WAS A PRESENTATION I'M GOING TO GO OVER. IF ANYONE WANTS A COPY, I HAVE SOME COPIES HERE. I'LL PASS IT ON TO ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION. WAS JUST MY GUIDE FOR ME TO FOLLOW MY TALKING POINTS. PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF REAL ESTATE VALUES. THANK YOU. AS A RESULT, WE SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE TO EASE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. WE CAN LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE, STILL GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO FUND OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR RESOURCES. BETWEEN THE YEAR OF 2012 AND 2023, PROPERTY TAX VALUES IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC WENT FROM 2.5 BILLION TO 5.3 BILLION. JUST LAST YEAR ALONE, IT WENT FROM 4.7 BILLION TO 5.3 BILLION, A 12.29 PERCENT INCREASE. IF YOU KEEP THE MILLAGE RATE THE SAME, AND LET'S JUST DO EASY MATH. THE NUMBER 2, 1 TIMES 2 IS 2, 2 TIMES 2 IS 4, 3 TIMES 2 IS 6, 4 TIMES 2 IS 8. THE VALUE KEEPS GOING UP 8, 10, 12, 14, 16. IF THAT NUMBER REMAINS AT TWO, AND IN OUR CASE, 7.2 MILS, THEN YOU WILL GENERATE AN INCREASE IN YOUR RATE. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT LAST NIGHT. GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR GELIN. I'M SO GRATEFUL YOU TRIED TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE BECAUSE A SLIDE THEY SHOWED STATING THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WILL SEE IS NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE. ALL THE NEW HOMEOWNERS LIKE MYSELF WILL SEE AN INCREASE OF OVER DOUBLE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I ACQUIRED A NEW JOB THAT PAYS A LOT MORE AND I WAS MAKING WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOME. IF I DID NOT CHANGE JOBS, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A HOME I JUST BOUGHT A YEAR AGO. BETWEEN THE TAXES AND INSURANCE INCREASES, MY MORTGAGE JUMPED WAY UP IN JUST ONE YEAR. IF I COULD MAKE THE MEETINGS TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, I WOULD, BUT AT LEAST I KNOW YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR US. THANKS SO MUCH. I PASSED OUT HIS PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, WHICH WENT LAST YEAR, $2,485 TO $5,104. HIS TAXES IN TAMARAC WENT FROM $523 TO $1,405. THE OTHER AMOUNTS ARE ALL THE TAXES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT TAXING AGENCIES. THE PROPERTY APPRAISER IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SUGGESTED THAT ALL CITIES REDUCE THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE BY THREE PERCENT. HE EXPRESSED CONCERN TO THE COUNTY AND CITIES, URGING THEM TO REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATE BY THREE PERCENT TO LOWER PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES. IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING RENTERS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING HIGHER MENTAL INCREASES. A THREE PERCENT DECREASE TO THE MILLAGE RATE WILL OFFSET THE INCREASE IN THE ASSESSED VALUE AVOIDING A TAX INCREASE FOR THESE HOMEOWNERS. THE RECOMMENDED THREE PERCENT REDUCTION BY PROPERTY, APPRAISER GARCIA WILL PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TO OVER 439,000 HOMES, THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS, WHO WOULD SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR TAXES IF THE OVERALL MILLAGE RATE WERE NOT REDUCED BY THREE PERCENT. HE WENT ON TO SAY BECAUSE SEVERAL CITIES DID REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATE, I'M GRATEFUL TO THOSE TAXING AUTHORITIES THAT HAVE REDUCED THEIR MILLAGE RATE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, I CONTINUE TO URGE CITIES UNWILLING TO REDUCE THEIR MILLAGE RATES, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN, TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. I SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN TAMARAC ASKING THEM TO BE AWARE OF THIS MEETING, TO COME TO THIS MEETING, TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. MANY HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS VIA TEXT MESSAGE. NOW, THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR, SHE DID AGREE TO LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE. SHE SAID WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS STRUGGLING WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF. THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD DO IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT VARIOUS TEXT MESSAGES AND SOME OF YOU HAVE THEM THAT WERE SENT, [00:50:04] SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR STRONG DESIRE NOT TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES IS ONE EXAMPLE. NO, IT'S ALREADY HIGH FOR SENIOR CITIZENS ON SOCIAL SECURITY. NO, I DID NOT SUPPORT A PROPERTY TAX HIKE AND SOME OF YOU HAVE COPIES OF THIS. I DO SUPPORT YOU. I LOVE THE CITY, BUT I'M SELLING MY HOUSE AND MOVING TO A CONDO BECAUSE OF THE UNREALISTIC CAUSE SOME INSURANCE ON MY HOME. NO, WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER TAX INCREASE. THE TAXES ARE ALREADY RISING. THE MESSAGES GO ON AND ON. I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. BUT WE AS A COMMISSION OR BOSSES OR THE RESIDENCE, THEY'RE THE VOTERS, AND WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. STAFF REPRESENTS THE CITY. OUR JOB IS TO FIND A BALANCE BETWEEN THE CITY'S NEEDS AND THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AND MEET THOSE NEEDS. >> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY IS WE, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW THE RULES WE ASK EVERYBODY TO FOLLOW. WELL, I WAS GOING TO LOOK SOMETHING UP, BUT SINCE NOBODY ELSE SEEMINGLY WISHES TO SPEAK. I APOLOGIZE. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS DID A BIT TO IT. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >>THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR FOR THAT. I'M CONFUSED ON COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED NOT BEING ACCURATE. YOU GOT AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT SAYING THAT IT'S NOT ACCURATE. SO IS THE RESIDENTS SAYING THAT OUR STAFF IS INCOMPETENT THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE NOT ACCURATE? IF I CAN GET A RESPONSE, GREAT. IF NOT, THAT'S OKAY. >> I NEVER SAID THAT ANYONE WAS INCOMPETENT. >> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT [OVERLAPPING] >> WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NOT HAVE CROSS CONVERSATION. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT OF WHAT YOU THINK IS A CONCERN. BUT PLEASE LET'S NOT HAVE THIS CROSS CONVERSATION. >> I WOULD QUESTION THAT EMAIL THAT THE RESIDENTS SAID THAT INFORMATION IS INACCURATE, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING. TAXES DON'T GO UP FROM $2,000 TO $5,000. TAXES DO NOT GO UP FROM $523 TO $1,400 JUST BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT. WE GOT AN EMAIL TODAY FROM STAFF, THE MEDIAN HOME TAXABLE VALUE. IT WILL ONLY INCREASE BY $40. I'M NOT SURE WHAT INFORMATION WE'RE TRYING TO GET HERE. IF WE REDUCE IT ALL THE WAY TO 7.0, WE'RE TALKING $12 A YEAR IN COMPARISON TO $40 A YEAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT 523 TO $1,400 MEANS. CITY MANAGER THROUGH THE CHAIR, CAN YOU GIVE US THE DEFINITION OF INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES VERSUS MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT LEVEL AT 7.20? >> YEAH, THE MILLAGE RATE IS BASED ON THE ASSESSED VALUE. AS THE PROPERTY INCREASES IN VALUE, THE MILLAGE RATE CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME, JUST THAT IT'S OFF. YOU GET HIGHER INCOME. THERE IS HIGHER REVENUE TO THE CITY BECAUSE OF IT. >> WE'RE NOT TAXING ANYMORE? WE'RE JUST MAINTAINING. [OVERLAPPING] >> WE ARE TAXING AT THE SAME RATE AS WE TAXED LAST YEAR. IT'S JUST THAT THE PROPERTY ITSELF HAS INCREASED IN VALUE. >> I'M GOING TO LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT VICE MAYOR PROVIDED TO ME. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANYONE BEING TAXED FROM THE CITY TRIPLE THE AMOUNT FROM THEIR PREVIOUS YEAR ASIDE FROM THEM BUYING A NEW HOME, PAYING THE CURRENT PROPERTY VALUE, THEM KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE REALTOR AND THEIR LENDERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE WILL LET THEM KNOW YOU'RE PAYING MARKET VALUE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE BEING TAXED FROM, NOT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR OR THE LAST TIME THAT ALMOST PURCHASED? >> RIGHT, I BELIEVE AND I HAVE STAFF TO BACK ME UP HERE. THE TAXES ARE BASED ON THE ADDRESS. THIS WAS A NEW HOMEOWNER, SO THEY BOUGHT IT, LIKELY AT A HIGHER PURCHASE PRICE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAVE OUR HOMES DEDUCTION OR PORTABILITY AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS AN INCREASE AT THAT LEVEL. [OVERLAPPING] THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE SAME PROPERTY LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR WILL EXPERIENCE ON AVERAGE $40 INCREASE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE IDEA IS THAT AS PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, [00:55:06] THAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS DIALED BACK, AND THAT IS AN IDEA THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IF I LIVE IN A HOME AND THE ASSESS VALUE HAS GONE UP, IT MEANS THEN THAT MY TAXES JUST WENT UP. KEEPING THE SAME RATE DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT RAISING TAXES. IT DOES MEAN THAT WE'RE RAISING TAXES. IF WE DO NOT ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILES, THEN WE ARE RAISING TAXES, SO WE WILL NOT DANCE AROUND THAT IDEA. THE SECOND THING IS THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM KINGS POINT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND WE'LL TAKE WHAT YOU'VE SAID INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE BUDGET MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A CONDO OR COMMUNITIES THAT YOU LIVE IN DOES NOT FEEL THE BLONDE OF TAXES, LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OTHER SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE FACED WITH A TREMENDOUS TAX BURDENS. WHILE YOUR OPINIONS ARE WELL-TAKEN, AT LEAST BY ME, IT IS NOT THE SENTIMENT OF THE ENTIRE CITY. THERE ARE WORKING FAMILIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE AND ARE BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSES, WHETHER THEY OWN IT OR RENT. THAT IS NOT TO BE DEBUNKED, BUT IT IS NOT THE ENTIRE CITIES SENTIMENT. WE'VE HEARD, "OH, RESIDENTS WILL ONLY SAVE $7 OR $20 OR $40." WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THERE WAS A LADY THAT APPROACHED ME IN THE GAS STATION AND ASKED ME FOR $5. I ASKED MYSELF, "WHY WOULD SOMEBODY BE ASKING FOR $5?" SHE SHOWED ME HER BANK ACCOUNT. SHE SAID, "I'M NOT A BOMB." HER WORDS. SHE SAID, "I JUST DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY GAS." WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF TOUCH, THAT WOULD SAY, WELL, IT'S NOT A LOT OF SAVINGS. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S $5 OR $10, THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT WILL GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B WITH $5 GAS, AND IF WE'RE SAVING YOU $5, $10, $40, OR $100, SO BE IT. WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN AN ELECTION YEAR. NOT TRUE. WE DID THIS LAST YEAR. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE YEARS BEFORE I ASKED FOR IT, DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT, BUT WE DID IT LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS NOT AN ELECTION YEAR, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE CITY AFTER THAT, CELEBRATED THE FACT THAT WE'VE REDUCED THE MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME IN THE TANGRAM, AND ALSO VIA THE VISION VIDEO THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR. IF IT IS NOT A GOOD THING TO RAISE TAXES, WHY DID WE CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE DID IN THE TANGRAM AND OTHER PLACES LAST YEAR, SO THAT WOULD BE PROPAGANDA. TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT BELIEVE THAT CUTTING SALARIES OR TO RESIDENTS WHO BELIEVE THAT CUTTING SALARIES AND PERKS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CUT AND IT IS ONLY A SOUNDBITE. WELL, I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU. WE WILL PUT IT OUT THERE AGAIN, AND IF MY COLLEAGUES DO NOT WANT TO CUT THEIR SALARIES, THEN IT IS NOT A SOUND BITE, IT IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT. IT IS SIMPLY THIS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE, GO HANG TVS. THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU'RE PAID TO DO. YOU'RE PAID TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF, AND IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT AT A LOWER RATE, WE CAN. LET'S DO IT AT A LOWER RATE. NORTH LAUDERDALE, LAUDERDALE LAKES, LAUDERHILL, ALL THE CITIES AROUND US PAY LESS MONEY TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY ARE NO LESS THAN US. WE WILL STILL ATTRACT GOOD TALENT HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC, I'M SURE IT GOES PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WILL STILL WORK FOR HALF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, SO LET'S CUT OUR BENEFITS. IT IS NOT A SOUND BITE. LET US CUT OUR CAR ALLOWANCE, LET US CUT OUR SALARIES IN HALF, AND PROVE TO THESE RESIDENTS ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT WE'RE A COMMISSION FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [01:00:04] >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO, DID YOU WISH TO SPEAK? [BACKGROUND]. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. THANK YOU MAYOR. CITY MANAGER THROUGH THE CHAIR, CAN YOU CLARIFY IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE AND THEN WE WERE TO INCREASE IT NEXT YEAR, WHAT THAT DEFINITION MEANS. IS THAT THE DEFINITION OF A REAL TAX HIKE INCREASE? >> IT WOULD BE A TAX INCREASE IF WE RAISE THE TAXES NEXT YEAR. IF WE RAISE THE MILLAGE RATE AGAIN NEXT YEAR. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT THINKS OTHERWISE, THERE IS YOUR ANSWER. THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONDOS AND RESIDENTIAL HOMES. IF FOLKS IN HERE, WATCHING AT HOME, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW, A LOT OF THE CONDO OWNERS ACTUALLY PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO LIVE THERE. SOME OF THEM PAY UP TO $550 A MONTH JUST ON MAINTENANCE. SOME OF THOSE UNITS ARE WORTH 400,000 PLUS, SO TO SAY THAT IT'S DIFFERENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANET YOU LIVE IN, BUT THEY ARE THE SAME. PEOPLE ARE PAYING TAXES ON $300 ON CONDOS IN KINGS POINT, CONCORD VILLAGE AND EVERY PLACE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF SO TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT. AGAIN, THE MEDIAN "TAX HIKE" IS $40 A YEAR. IT'S NOT HUNDREDS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WHEN IT'S NOT TRUE. WE JUST SAW A PRESENTATION. WE JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL EXACTLY ON WHAT IT WOULD BE. YES, IT IS A SOUND BITE. WHEN YOU HAVE THE FACTS AND YOU'RE NOT SHARING THOSE FACTS, YOU RECEIVE THE FACTS, SO YOU SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE FACTS AND IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THAT'S WHY IT GETS SO TENSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. >> YES. I SENT JAMES TWIGGER AN E-MAIL. CAN YOU OPEN UP AN E-MAIL THAT SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET VERSUS THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES. IT WAS EMAILED BY THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TODAY I WANT TO SHOW IT TO THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IN FACT, WE DON'T NEED TO CUT ANYTHING FROM THE BUDGET. BECAUSE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, GOING BACK TO 2017, WE'VE ALWAYS COME UNDER BUDGET. I'LL STATE THE NUMBERS QUICKLY. JAMES, CAN YOU PULL UP THE EMAIL? >> MANAGER. >> IT'S AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION. WE'LL HAVE THEM DO THAT. >> EVERYONE ON THE DAIS HAS THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FROM 2022 GOING BACK TO 2017. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AUDIENCE TO SEE IT. >> MR.STREDER , DO YOU HAVE THIS IN YOUR PRESENTATION? [BACKGROUND] >> IT WAS IN AN EMAIL THAT EVERYONE WAS SEEING? >> THAT WASN'T MY QUESTION.THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE CAN SPEAK TO IT SHOULD THE COMMISSION WISH TO HEAR IT, YES. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT [OVERLAPPING]. >> JAMES, DO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? [NOISE]. GO AHEAD, PAT. >> WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE? >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I DON'T WANT THE DOCUMENT TO BE SHOWN FOR THE AUDIENCE TO SEE. >> I STILL APPRECIATE THEM, THAT'S WHY IT'S HERE, FOR THERE TO BE ANY QUESTIONS THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO US HAVE IT. BUT IF THERE'S ANY DEFINITION OR DISCUSSION [OVERLAPPING] BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT. >> BACK TO 2017, PLEASE, ON THE NEXT PAGE. [NOISE] >> GOING BACK TO 2017, YOU CAN SEE THERE, JUST SCROLL UP TO THE TOP PLEASE. TO THE SIDE SO WE CAN SEE THE CATEGORIES. SHRINK THE SCREEN A LITTLE BIT. CLAIMING MY TIME. CAN YOU STOP THE CLOCK, PLEASE? I'M JUST GIVING INSTRUCTIONS. >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU. AS YOU CAN SEE, 2017, WE ONLY SPENT 96 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET, 2018, 91.2 PERCENT, [01:05:03] 2019, 88.2 PERCENT. NEXT PAGE, PLEASE, 2020, 87.84 PERCENT, 2021, 86.8 PERCENT, AND HERE TO DATE THIS YEAR, WE'RE JUST ONE MONTH AGO, 72.1 PERCENT. WHEN WE BUILD OUR BUDGET, WE BUILD A LOT OF FACT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE END UP NEVER SPENDING. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN OUR BUDGET. IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 MILS, WE'LL STILL GENERATE $35 MILLION IN REVENUE VERSUS $36 MILLION IN REVENUE. WE CAN STILL FUND THE OPERATIONS, AND GIVE OUR RESIDENTS THE BREAK THEY DESERVE. >> CITY MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND, I WOULD APPRECIATE, THIS BEING [OVERLAPPING] >> EXPLAINED? >> YES, PLEASE. >> PAT, WOULD YOU GO THROUGH THE EXPLANATION? THANK YOU. >> I'M PATRICIA WHITE, THE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. AS YOU'LL SEE, ONE OF THE LARGEST ITEMS ON THERE THAT YOU'LL SEE ON ANY OF THOSE, IS THE RESERVES. THAT'S OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESERVE. THE CITY PUT IN PLACE IN 2019, FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO DO SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY THAT WE HAVE ROLLED THAT BUDGET FORWARD YEAR AFTER YEAR. ANY YEAR WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY UNSPENT MONEY IN THE YEAR WAS ROLLED TO THE NEXT YEAR. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LINE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO EXPLAIN THAT. >> CAN YOU FURTHER EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THAT MONEY, AND WHAT IT IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE ACQUIRED TWO PROPERTIES WITH THE FUNDING. IN ADDITION, WE'VE JUST AWARDED A $250,000 GRANT FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF ONE OF THE PLAZAS. >> WHICH PLAZA? >> WINN-DIXIE PLAZA. THEN WE HAVE 11 OTHER APPLICANTS THAT ARE IN LINE TO GET THAT MONEY IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FROM THE COMMISSION, AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IMPROVING THE DISTRESSED PROPERTIES, SO THAT, IT'S AN INCENTIVE GRANT THAT THEY WOULD IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTIES. >> THAT MONEY FOR THE TWO PROPERTIES WAS IN THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ZONE? IS THAT CORRECT? >> IF IT'S IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YES. THOSE TWO PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED ON STATE ROAD 7 AND COMMERCIAL BOULEVARD, YES. THIS COMMISSION APPROVED. [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME. >> THROUGH THAT MASTER PLAN? >> YES. THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN. IT WAS SET OUT AS THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN ORDER TO JUMPSTART THE REVITALIZATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WHILE CONDOS PAY LESS IN TAXES, AND THAT IS TRUE, REGULAR HOMES PAY HIGHER TAXES AND THAT IS TRUE. CONDOS PAY HIGH RATES FOR THEIR CONDO FEES, YES, THAT IS TRUE, BUT HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FEES ARE ALSO HIGH. THOSE FEES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY OR HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT. WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS YOUR TAX BILL. YOUR CONDO BILLS ARE NOT DISCUSSED IN THESE CHAMBERS. IF WE REDUCE TAXES, WE WILL LOSE PROGRAMS. WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME. WE HEARD THAT LAST YEAR. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THOSE SAME LINES WERE USED LAST YEAR, AND GUESS WHAT? WE REDUCE TAXES, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE KEPT ON DOING WHAT WE DID BEFORE AND WE EVEN SPENT MORE ON NEW EVENTS, THAT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SPENT ON. TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE TAXES AND IT'S GOING TO CUT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT IS THE LINE THAT CITY ADMINISTRATIONS, NOT JUST THIS ONE, BUT ALL OVER THE US USE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE OUT OF TOUCH. BY THE WAY, THIS YEAR, WE'RE RECEIVING MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CALLED ARPA. THOSE FUNDS, WILL GO TO PAYING BSO, WHICH PUTS MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET, WHICH THEN CAN BE PASSED ON. THESE SAVINGS CAN BE PASSED ON TO THE RESIDENCE OF TAMARAC. I'M HAPPY TO REDUCE, THE MILLAGE RATE THIS YEAR. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THAT VOTE COMES. REST ASSURED MY VOTE REMAINS TO THE PEOPLE TONIGHT, TO REDUCE YOUR TAXES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU MIGHT JUST PUT SEVEN MINUTES SINCE I HAVEN'T GONE. I MIGHT BE THAT LONG. I'M GOING TO ASK THE AUDIENCE, [01:10:01] JUST BY A SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD LIVED HERE FOR A YEAR? JUST A YEAR. JUST MOVED IN? FIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS. FIVE TO ZERO? FIVE TO JUST MOVED IN? FIFTEEN? >> I CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> YOU MOVED IN A YEAR AGO. OVER 15 YEARS? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT I'VE DONE BECAUSE, YOU ARE BEING GIVEN A LOT OF INFORMATION AND NOT ALL OF IT IS 100 PERCENT ACCURATE, I HAPPEN TO BE AN ATTORNEY SOME DAYS WHEN I PLAY MY PLAY ONE, BUT I DEAL WITH REAL ESTATE. THE BILL THAT YOU ARE SHOWN HERE, IS FOR A PERSON WHO DID JUST BUY THE HOUSE, AND THEY BOUGHT THE HOUSE FOR 245,000 AND CHANGE. THE HOMEOWNER AHEAD OF THEM OWN THE HOUSE FOR MANY YEARS. THEIR, SAVE OUR HOMES WAS $122,000. THEIR TAX RATE WAS 212, BUT THEY HAD SAVE THEIR HOMES, SO THE CAP OF THREE PERCENT. WHEN THE NEW HOMEOWNER GETS YOUR PROPERTY, THEY GO AND IT GETS JUMPED UP THAT FIRST YEAR. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHO IS NEW, YOUR FIRST YEAR, YOU WILL HAVE A JUMP TO THAT PURCHASE PRICE. IF YOU DO SAVE OUR HOMES, THEN YOU'LL HAVE IT CAPPED UPTO THREE PERCENT, AND YOU WON'T HAVE IT ANY FURTHER. BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS LEFT UNMOVED, IF YOU DIDN'T DO A TRANSFER PORTABILITY OF YOUR TAX, YOU WILL HAVE AN INCREASE YOUR FIRST YEAR, A SIGNIFICANT ENTRIES, YOUR FIRST YEAR, EVERYTHING ELSE SHOULD REMAIN THE SAME. I ALSO TOOK LIBERTIES BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU. I ALSO HAVE SOME OF YOUR ADDRESSES. SOME PEOPLE'S TAXES AT THE PROPOSED 7.2 WILL GO UP $3.83. [NOISE] BLESS YOU. YOU'RE SNEEZING AT THE TRUTH, ACCORDING TO MY GRANDMOTHER. WE HAVE $21.16. ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO JUST MOVED IN IT'LL BE, $153.5, $34.77, $16.71, $30.25. THAT'S BASED ON 7.200. I ASKED YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE THAT HASN'T GONE UP. TRULY, IS IT THE CITY'S FAULT OF INFLATION? NOT AT ALL, BUT YOU WANT SERVICES. VALUES HAVE GONE DOWN. WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT VALUES HAVE GONE UP. YES, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE SOME MORE MONEY, SO TO SPEAK. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF NEXT YEAR OUR PROPERTY VALUES PLUMMET? IT WILL BE CONSIDERED AN EVEN HARDER INCREASE FOR US TO BEAR, A BIGGER BURDEN FOR US TO BEAR. IT'LL BE LEFT UP FOR WHICHEVER PERSON SITTING IN THIS SEAT AND WHICHEVER PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THIS SEAT TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE. I FEEL IF WE REDUCE THIS TO AN EXTENT THAT'S ONLY SAVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. IS IT GOING TO FEEL GOOD NEXT YEAR WHEN THE SERVICES MIGHT HAVE TO BE INCREASED? WE ARE CONSIDERED A VERY SMART, FISCALLY SOUND CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WE HAVE RECEIVED AWARDS FOR IT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SOUND WITH OUR MONEY AND WE HAVEN'T LET FEAR TACTICS MAKE US DO THINGS THAT ARE PROBABLY NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS FOR OUR CITY. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TIME AND AGAIN THROUGH OUR SURVEYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SECURE, MAKES SURE THAT WE HAVE FIRE RESCUE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR CITY. I HAVE A PERSON WHO HAS YELLED AT ME BECAUSE OUR STREETS WERE NOT PRESSURE CLEANED SOON ENOUGH AND DO NOT LOOK GOOD. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THOSE SERVICES AVAILABLE. I'M NOT SAYING THIS AS A SCARE TACTIC IN REVERSE. THE REALITY IS WE HAVE THINGS WE NEED TO PAY FOR. WE HAVE BUFFER WALLS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL WAITING FOR. IT COSTS $100 LAST YEAR. TWENTY PERCENT INCREASE FOR IT TO BE DONE THIS YEAR. CONCRETE HAS GONE UP. IT WILL GO UP AGAIN. YES, WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SAVINGS, BUT LIKE ANY OF US, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SAVINGS, BUT NOW THAT THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE, SO GUESS WHAT, WE GOT TO TAKE THAT SAVINGS, BE GRATEFUL WE HAVE IT. BECAUSE NOW WE CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING TO DO. CENTRAL PARK HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THEIR PARK FOR HOW MANY YEARS? THE COST OF US NOT DOING THAT PARK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FUND THAT PARK AND SAVE FOR THAT PARK WILL ONLY COST US MORE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN CUT. I HAVE MADE THE COMMENTS ABOUT THEM. I'M ALL FOR, SORRY LIAISONS. LIAISON, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT SERVICE TO OUR CITY. BUT WE CAN CUT LIAISONS, WE CAN CUT OUR INITIATIVE FUNDS. WE CAN CUT A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT WE DON'T NEED OR HAVE NOT BEEN WELL-ATTENDED. [01:15:03] WE CAN DETERMINE THAT. AMORPHOUS CUTS WE CAN REDUCE OR ELIMINATE CAR ALLOWANCE. WE CAN DISCUSS ALL THESE THINGS. I KNOW WHAT I HAVE ON MY LIST WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET. LET'S JUST DO AWAY WITH. CAN WE USE SOME OF OUR SAVINGS THAT WON'T AFFECT OUR FUTURE ABILITY TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY VALUES ON THE RISE? WHEN YOU BOUGHT HERE OR WHEN YOU MOVED HERE, YOU MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU RECEIVE, BECAUSE OF THE CLEANLINESS, BECAUSE THE EVENTS THAT ARE PUT ON, BECAUSE OF YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, WE'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T RISK YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TODAY FOR APPROXIMATELY ON AVERAGE $14 BECAUSE THAT'S THE AVERAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD. THAT WILL SAVE PEOPLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF US IN THE FUTURE. I SAY THIS AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE CITY. I OWN MY PROPERTY. I HAVE AN INVESTMENT PROPERTY THAT I'VE HAD FOR A WHILE AND I BOUGHT WHERE MY LAW FIRM IS. I PAY TAXES TO THE CITY TOO. I PAY IT THREEFOLD. I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO TRY TO BRUSH IT OFF LIKE I DON'T THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OTHER THINGS, FIRE STATION ON UNIVERSITY ACROSS FROM THE HOSPITAL. THIS BRAND NEW STATION THAT WE PUT IN IS WITHOUT A FIRE ENGINE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THE FIRE ENGINE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN INSURANCE THAT COVERS THE COST OF THAT FIRE ENGINE. EVERYBODY'S SAFETY COUNTS. AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A SOUNDBITE. I'M SEEING I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT. IT IS NOT AN EASY JOB TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THIS BUILDING IS HAVING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO THE HARD DECISIONS AND SEE WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE CITY. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LISTENING AND I WILL NOW CALL THE QUESTION. [BACKGROUND] IT SEEMS COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS CHANGED HER MIND. COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS TWO MINUTES. >> SORRY, I WILL HOLD SOME OF MY COMMENTS, BUT AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO RESIDENTS, THE CITY HAS EXACTLY THE SAME EXPENSES THAT RESIDENTS DO. WE STILL NEED GAS IN OUR CARS AND TRUCKS. GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP. ABSOLUTELY. YOURS HAVE, OURS HAS, THE CITY'S HAS. WE NEED INSURANCE. WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH INSURANCE. WE NEED SUPPLIES TO RUN THE BUILDINGS. WE HAVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES, WE HAVE SAFETY ISSUES, WE HAVE VEHICLES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THESE ARE ALL COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE SAME COST THAT YOU'RE INCURRING WITH SUBJECTED HIGHER COST TO. WE ARE TOO. THOSE HAVE TO BE PAID FOR WITHOUT CITIZENS SUFFERING IN ANY WAY, WHETHER THAT BE RESCUE SERVICES, WHETHER THAT BE OUR DSL, WE STILL HAVE TO COVER THOSE COSTS AS WELL. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE HAS THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT IT, BUT WE HAVE TO RUN A BUSINESS AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS. I AM A VERY STRONG PROPONENT OF GETTING OUR STREETS REPAVED AND GETTING THE STRIPING BACK ON THE STREETS. THAT ALL COSTS MONEY. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MY MIND IS GOING TO PROCEDURE. I AM GOING TO TABLE THE MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION MOVE TO BUDGET. >> YES, YOU CAN DO THAT. BUT LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IF YOU TAKE UP THE BUDGET, THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO TABLE THAT BECAUSE UNDER STATE LAW YOU MUST ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE FIRST. >> CORRECT. >> ONE DRIVES THE OTHER. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE. WHAT I WILL SAY FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, [01:20:02] THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE. IT HAS BEEN SECONDED TO ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE AS READ INTO THE RECORD. THAT HAS TO BE VOTED UP OR DOWN AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, BASED UPON A RECENT CHANGE IN STATE LAW, BASED UPON THE PERCENTAGE ABOVE ROLLBACK RATE THAT ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ADOPT. THEIR FINAL MILLAGE REQUIRES EITHER A SIMPLE MAJORITY, A SUPER MAJORITY, OR A UNANIMOUS VOTE. THE NUMBER THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY YOUR STAFF REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE, A 4-1 VOTE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE, UP OR DOWN BY ROLL CALL VOTE, AT LEAST INITIALLY. THEN IF YOU WANT TO THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT TO CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET TO THEN GET TO A MILLAGE RATE THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO FOUR OF YOU, THEN THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION, BRING FORWARD THE BUDGET ORDINANCE WILL READ INTO THE RECORD. YOU CAN DISCUSS REACH CONSENSUS ON WHAT FROM THAT BUDGET YOU WOULD LIKE TO CUT AS A GROUP, TABLE IT AND THEN TAKE BACKUP THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE, ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE. >> WHICH WAS WHAT DID I MISS SOMETHING IN THE CONVERSATION. >> NO. I THINK THAT AS I HEARD, YOU WANTED TO MOVE TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE. NOW AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE UP THE VOTE THAT'S ON THE TABLE FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN TABLE. THAT'S MY CLARIFICATION. >> THAT ONE WENT RIGHT OVER MY HEAD. >> THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION MADE THAT HAS BEEN SECONDED FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES? >> CORRECT. >> BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE UP THE MOTION TO TABLE. YOU HAVE TO DISPOSE THE MOTION THAT'S ON BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS THE MILLAGE, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE FINISHED WITH IT. YOU'RE JUST GOING TO THEN TABLE IT AND COME BACK TO IT AFTER YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. MAYOR, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE BEEN SECONDED, WOULD BE VOTED UP OR DOWN. >> WHICH IS A DEFEATIST PURPOSE TO TABLE. >> NO, BECAUSE THEN YOU CAN STILL MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE ORDINANCE. THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS EVERYONE IS WE'VE GOT TO ADOPT A BUDGET, [OVERLAPPING] AND A MILLAGE AT SOME POINT TONIGHT? >> CORRECT. >> IT'S UP TO YOU OF ALL HOW YOU WISH TO DO IT. UNLESS THE PERSON WHO HAS MADE THE MOTION, AS WELL AS THE SECONDARY, RESCIND THEIR MOTION AND THEIR SECOND AND THEN YOU TABLE. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO RESCINDS THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS RESCINDS HIS MOTION, THEREFORE, THERE IS NO MOTION ON THE TABLE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.0000 MILS. >> CAN I MAKE A SECOND THE MOTION TO THAT? SEE ATTORNEY? >> YES. I [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S BEEN SECONDED ALREADY. >> [OVERLAPPING] GAMES OF FOOT. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SOME DECORUM? >> YES. COMMISSIONER, WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> CAN I MAKE IT TO THE TWO MOTIONS TO COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR GELIN'S MOTION TO READ? >> YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND IT. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SECONDED BY OR ACCEPTABLE TO THE PERSON WHO SECOND IT AS WELL AS THE MOTION MAKER. >> MY MOTION IS MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF THE TWO MOTIONS TO FIRST TABLE IT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MAYOR'S REQUEST TO DISCUSS THE ITEMS. >> LET ME SAY IT THIS WAY. APPROVING THE CURRENT MOTION ON THE TABLE OF SEVEN MILLS, IT TRANSLATES INTO A NEED TO ELIMINATE A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS OR MINUS FROM YOUR BUDGET. IF THERE'S NO SUPPORT FOR THAT, THEN THIS MOTION IS GOING TO DIE AS WELL. MAYBE AGAIN, I'M SUGGESTING THAT THIS ITEM BE TABLED SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT FROM THE BUDGET TO THEN GET BACK TO THE MILLAGE RATE, [01:25:01] WHICH IS WHAT THE MIRROR SUGGESTING. >> I'D TAKE BY MY SUBJECT TO MOTION AND JUST DO A ROLL CALL ON VICE MAYOR GELIN MOTION. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> CAN WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM? >> NO WE'VE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSION ON THE ITEMS. >> CITY ATTORNEY, THAT'S A NEW MOTION HAS BEEN SECONDED. THERE'S DISCUSSION. >> [OVERLAPPING] THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? >> CITY ATTORNEY? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THE PURPOSE OF THE PROCEDURES THAT WERE GIVEN TO US SO WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS IS NOT SO WE CAN SIT HERE AND REHASH THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HENCE THE REASON TO TRY TO GET TO THE BUDGET ITEM SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHICH ITEMS WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET IF WE WERE TO BE REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT LOGICALLY. >> I WOULD NOT DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, IT IS YOUR RULES OF PROCEDURE TO APPLY. AS A PARLIAMENTARIAN, IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL AND APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A VOTE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. UNLESS THE VICE MAYOR CAN ARTICULATE SOMETHING NEW TO THE DISCUSSION. I THINK THAT IN MY OPINION, THE COMMISSIONERS BETTER SERVED BY TABLING THE ITEM AND THEN TAKING UP THE BUDGET BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO WHATEVER THE MILLAGE RATE THAT SWEET SPOT, THAT NUMBER THAT YOU ALL FIND ACCEPTABLE AS A MAJORITY. WITHOUT DISCUSSING THE BUDGET [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. >> VICE MAYOR SAYS HE HAS SOMETHING NEW TO ADD AS SUCH THEN, IT WOULD ONLY BE TWO MINUTES [OVERLAPPING] AND IT IS ONE ITEM. >>I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. >> PARDON. >> I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER. >> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. [OVERLAPPING] >> AS CITY ATTORNEY SAID THAT IT'S UP TO THIS BODY TO EITHER ALLOW OR DISALLOW FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO CAN WE GET CONSENSUS ON THAT? >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> TALK IN THE MICROPHONE. >> FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE VICE MAYORS. >> MOTION 2-7.0. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> MYSELF. NO. THEREFORE. >> NO. >> I ADMITTEDLY PRESUMED THAT YOU ARE A NO SINCE YOU MADE THEM TO CALL. BASICALLY, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR PROCEDURALLY TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE ALLOWED FURTHER DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUR DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM AND CONSENSUS ON THE DAY AS IS THAT THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM AND WE WILL GO TO ROLL-CALL. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MAYOR, IF VICE MAYOR GELIN COULD PLEASE JUST CLARIFY HIS MOTION FOR ME, PLEASE. I HAVE A MOTION AT 7.00 BUT I BELIEVE EARLIER IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FINANCE, THEY NEEDED IT TO BE READ AT THE PROPER WAY. >> CORRECT. >> IF YOU COULD CLARIFY THAT, PLEASE. >> ONLY THE FINAL ONE TO [INAUDIBLE]. >> OKAY. WE WILL MAKE SURE WHICHEVER FINAL BUT MILLAGE RATE WE WILL HAVE THE MOTION INTO THE RECORD RE-READ, SO THAT IT IS PROPERLY PUT IN THE MINUTES. >> THE MOTION IS TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE OR APPROVE A MILLAGE RATE OF 7.000 MILS, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN TAX REVENUE OF $35,463,151, WHICH IS $2.98,212 OVER WHAT WE GENERATED LAST YEAR, SO IF WE KEEP THE RATE THE SAME, WE WILL GENERATE. [OVERLAPPING] >> VICE MAYOR IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION. [OVERLAPPING] VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE OUT OF LINE. >> NO, I'M NOT. I'M EXPRESSING [OVERLAPPING] MY EMOTION. >> NO, THE ACTUAL WAY TO READ THIS WOULD BE CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILS AND THE PERCENTAGE RATE OVER THE BACK MILLAGE RATE. BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND DO NOT WORRY WHEN THE TIME COMES WE WOULD MAKE SURE OF IT. [OVERLAPPING] PLEASE. >> YOU DON'T WANT TRANSPARENCY. >> VICE MAYOR. YOU DO KNOW THERE ARE PROCEDURES FOR A REASON, CORRECT? >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> NO. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> YES. >> MOTION FAILED, 3-2. >> I HEREBY TABLE THIS ITEM, AND WE ARE MOVING TO DISCUSSION ON OUR BUDGET. SINCE THERE WAS NO OTHER PENDING MOTIONS. CORRECT CITY ATTORNEY? [01:30:02] >> PROCEDURALLY, THERE WOULD BE A MOTION TO TABLE. >> MOTION TO TABLE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. WE DON'T NEED ROLL-CALL WHEN IT COMES TO MOTIONS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> TO TABLE, AND IS A TABLE TO TIME CERTAIN, IT WILL BE PULLED BACK AFTER DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET. >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. CLARIFYING THAT MOTION. WE'RE MOVING TO TEMPORARY ORDINANCE 2509. [4.b TO2509 - An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida,adopting the Operating Budget, Revenues and Expenditures, the Capital Budget, andthe Financial Policies for the Fiscal Year 2023; providing for conflicts; providing forseverability; and providing for an effective date.] THIS IS THE SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 OPERATING BUDGET, CAPITAL BUDGET, FINANCIAL POLICIES. BEFORE WE BEGIN, MADAM CITY MANAGER, PLEASE READ YOUR STATEMENT. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE TENTATIVE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS 243,987,846, WHICH IS $20,683,819 MORE THAN THE AMENDED BUDGET OF 223,304,027 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. THE TENTATIVE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY FUND FOR PROVIDING GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES, SUCH AS OUR CONTRACT WITH BSO, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND PARKS AND RECREATION IS $77,686,494, WHICH IS 6,297,693, MORE THAN THE AMENDED BUDGET OF 71,388,801 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR THE CITY. THESE POLICIES SET PARAMETERS FOR OPERATING MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING RESERVES FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES, ESTABLISHING ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL PLANNING POLICIES, AND ESTABLISHING POLICIES ON ECONOMIC RESOURCES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE TITLE TO TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509? >> YES, MA'AM. MA'AM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF CITY TAMARAC, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE FINANCE POLICIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILTY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND JUST IF I MAY MAYOR, WHEN WE GO BACK TO ITEM 4A, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE TITLE TO THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S SHOWN ON THE AGENDA. IT SHOULD SAY FOR THE TAX YEAR 2023, NOT 2022 BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE AN INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TITLES STAFF WE HAVE AN INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TITLES FOR THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE AND THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET. BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET DOES NOT SAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. IT SAYS 2023. [OVERLAPPING] >> CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU SAYING NOTICE IS DEFECTIVE FOR THIS EVENING? >> NO, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M SAYING AS IT'S LISTED HERE, THAT THE TAX YEAR 2022, 2023, BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 2023. >> MR. STREDER. >> AM JEFF STREDER BUDGET MANAGER, TAXES ARE IN ARREARS. THE TAXES THAT ARE COLLECTED THIS YEAR ARE BASED ON VALUES THAT ARE SET LAST YEAR, SO THE MILLAGE THAT'S PASSED FOR 2023 AND DRIVES THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS FROM THE TAX ROLL FROM THE 2022 TAX ROLLS, SO THAT IS CORRECT. >>THANK YOU. MR. STREDER. >> I DEFER TO MR.STREDER AND HIS MUCH MORE INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRIM PROCESS THAN I DO. BECAUSE HE LIVES EASE, EAT AND BREATHES IT ON A DAILY BASIS. >> YES, HE DOES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US AT THIS TIME, IS THAT CORRECT? >> BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, ONE DRIVES THE OTHER, AND THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET IN THE MILLAGE RATE PRESENTATION. IT WAS INTENDED TO BE USED FOR BOTH. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, [01:35:01] PUBLIC HEARING ON TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509 IS NOW OPEN. MISS HAYDEN HAS JUST STEPPED OUT TO DO WHAT? DO HAVE COMMENTS THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON? >> [BACKGROUND]. >> WHEN SHE COME. THERE SHE IS. I'M SO SORRY. I DIDN'T SEE YOU CAME BACK IN. GOING IN REVERSE ORDER. YOUR NAME AND CITY, IF YOU DON'T WISH TO LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS. >> NO, THAT'S GOOD. MY NAME IS PAULA DALEY I CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, LIVE IN WOODMONT OF HOLLY COURT. I'VE LIVED THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF. HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THAT, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF TAMARAC AS LONG AS I'VE LIVED IN FLORIDA, FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS. I FOR, FOUR YEARS, LIVED IN CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE BEFORE I RELOCATED BACK HERE TO TAMARAC, A YEAR AND A 1/2 AGO. I PURCHASED A CONDO. I LOVE IT. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF EVER LEAVING. THE MOST I CAN UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS FOR A LAY PERSON OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED. HOWEVER, TO MY DISMAY, AS A SINGLE PERSON WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD. LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON HERE. MY PROPERTY TAXES WAS $1,133.73 AND MY CURRENT TAXES NOW, WHICH ARE NOT IN MY ESCROW, NOT INCLUDING MY MAINTENANCE AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER FEES IS NOW $4,720.49. WHEN WE'RE SPEAKING OF MY PROPERTY VALUE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT I PURCHASED AND WHAT THE PROPERTY VALUE IS, AND WHAT MY TAXES ARE, IS A FAR CRY DIFFERENCE. THIS IS NOW, ON JUST MY CALCULATION BASED ON THE DIFFERENCE OF ALMOST $4,000, MY MORTGAGE IS GOING TO GO UP $300, MY MORTGAGE LOAN. I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION OR PART OF OUR DISCUSSION AS COMMISSIONER BOLTON WAS SAYING. MY MAINTENANCE IS $1,500 EVERY QUARTER, PLUS THE ASSESSMENTS THEY WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF INCREASES OF INFLATION, PLUS GAS, PLUS ALL OF THIS. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST ME. THIS PIECE OF PAPER THAT I HAVE FROM THE PROPERTY TAX OFFICE AND TRYING TO CONTACT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND DISCUSSING EDUCATE HERSELF, IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S MY NEIGHBOR ABOVE ME. HERS WENT UP $4,000. THIS IS A 400 PERCENT INCREASE FOR ME. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MY NEIGHBOR, THAT LIVES ABOVE ME, ACROSS FROM ME, IT IMPACTED US ALL. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? I DON'T KNOW IF OUR VOICES HERE ARE REALLY GOING TO MAKE AN IMPACT, BUT I'M A ONE PERSON OF HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. I WANT JUST MY ONE VOICE TO BE HEARD THAT MAYBE CAN REPRESENT OTHER PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO SAY IS A GENERAL RESPONSE IN ONE PRESENTATION THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED TONIGHT, WHICH WAS PROVIDED LAST TIME. WHICH IS SHOW YOU YOUR TAX BILL, TO SHOW YOU WHICH IS ACTUALLY FOR YOUR CITY, AND WHICH IS ACTUALLY FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND WHICH IS ACTUALLY FOR THE NORTH MISS HOSPITAL DISTRICT, AND WHICH IS FOR THE COUNTY. NOW IN THE BACK, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES PERSONNEL HERE. THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT EACH PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL BILL TO EXPLAIN THINGS SO YOU KNOW WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE EFFECT OF WHAT WE DO VERSUS WHAT ANY ONE OF THOSE OTHER ENTITIES AND WHEN THEY SET THEIR RATES, DO. I BELIEVE THAT MR.STREDER ARE ALSO PUT IN HIS PRESENTATION, THE COUNTY DID DO AN INCREASE AND A SET-ASIDE. WHEN LOOKING AT YOUR BILLS, ALL I'M ASKING, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, IS THAT YOU LOOK AT IT WHAT'S CITY AND WHAT'S NOT CITY, AND THEN ASK FOR SERVICES. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF WHY THINGS ARE SET TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FUNDS FOR SERVICES TO ASSIST PEOPLE. MISS HAYDEN, WOULD YOU LIKE? >> HI, MY NAME IS KIMBERLY HAYDEN. I'M WITH TAMARAC MAINLAND SECTION 10. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BASED ON LAST YEAR'S MEETING. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BUDGET MANAGER, JEFF AND PATRICIA ASSISTANT. MY QUESTION IS REGARDING TO LAST YEAR WE DISCUSS GETTING FUNDS FROM AMAZON. THAT MONEY WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL BUDGET ASSESSMENT THAT WAS PRESENTED. [01:40:06] THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE IS THAT, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED FUNDS, THEREFORE, THAT IT CANNOT BE PLACED IN THE BUDGET. I WANTED TO VERIFY IF THOSE FUNDS WERE RECEIVED, AND IF THEY ARE INCORPORATED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OR WERE THEY ACTUALLY INCORPORATED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET? >> THESE ARE CERTAIN QUESTIONS THAT THEY'RE LISTENING TO YOU AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOU AFTERWARDS. >> THANK YOU. I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO COMMISSION BENEFITS REGARDING, LAST YEAR WE DISCUSSED TRAVEL PERKS. WE STATED THAT IT WAS COVID, SO YOU GUYS WILL SEE IF YOU CAN CUT BACK IN TERMS OF TRAVEL, AND MAYBE YOU CAN DO ZOOM MEETINGS, YOU CAN DO THINGS VIRTUALLY INSTEAD OF PHYSICALLY GOING TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO, HAS THAT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, AND IF SO, HOW IS THAT REFLECTED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AS WELL? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR BUDGET ANALYSTS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHERE THOSE FUNDS WERE AS FAR AS OTHER ANSWERS WILL PROBABLY BE GIVEN THROUGH DISCUSSION. MRS. WHITE? NO. IS THERE ANYBODY BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE LIST DIDN'T LIST OUT AND ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? >> BUDGET. >> BUDGET. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT SPECIFICALLY TO THE BUDGET, PLEASE. THANK YOU. >> I LIVE IN KING'S POINT, DARCY SCHILLER, THAT SENIOR CITIZEN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WORK BECAUSE THEY'VE RETIRED. WE GOT OUR TAX BILL. MILLAGE INCREASE WAS SO RIDICULOUSLY LOW THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE'RE CONCERNING OURSELVES WITH THAT. BECAUSE THE CITY BUDGET, WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A HURRICANE, AND THE ELECTRIC GOES OUT. THE POLES ARE ON THE FLOOR. WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE TREES ALL OVER THE FLOOR? WHO'S GOING TO CALL FP&L TO GET THE POLES BACK UP. THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN. WHO'S GOING TO DEAL WITH WHAT I CALL, LAKE TAMARAC? ALL THOSE WONDERFUL LAKES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON THE STREETS AFTER IT RAINS AND YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH, OR YOU DO GO THROUGH, BUT THEN YOU RUIN THE BRAKES OF YOUR CAR. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE STRUGGLING SO MUCH OVER A $24 TO MAXIMUM $40 SAVINGS ON THE MILLAGE RATE WHEN WE NEED THAT MONEY FOR THE BUDGET. AGAIN, I'VE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE CAN DECREASE THE CAR ALLOWANCE, WE CAN DECREASE THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSION, WE CAN DECREASE THE COST OF THE PARKS. THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS THAT WE CAN DECREASE INSTEAD OF PETTING THE POCKETS OF OUR COMMISSION, OF WHICH MANY DO NOT COMPLETELY FULFILL THEIR JOBS EQUALLY. AGAIN, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BUDGET BE CUT IN THE AREAS THAT I'VE ADDRESSED. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COMMISSION DOES THE RIGHT THING, INSTEAD OF SPECIFIC MEMBERS BEING VERY SELF-CENTERED. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FURTHER? SEEING NONE PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. CITY STAFF DID A PRESENTATION AT LAST MEETING. IT WAS FOREGONE A FEW MINUTES AGO. THEY'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT PRESENTATION HERE FOR THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE AUDIENCE. ARE YOU AMENABLE TO THAT? >> YES. >> ACTUALLY YOU KNOW WHAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIME THAT WE TAKE A BREAK WHILE THIS GETS FIGURED OUT. IT IS CURRENTLY 6:57. WE WILL BE BACK HERE AT 7:10. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, RESTROOMS ARE AROUND THE CORNER IF YOU SHOULD NEED IT. SEE YOU BACK HERE AT 7:10, WE'RE IN RECESS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE TWO MINUTES PAST TWO. [BACKGROUND] WE'RE BACK. [01:45:02] IT IS 7:12 AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAD ENDED, AND THERE WAS THOUGHT OF SOME PRESENTATION PART BEING PUT BACK UP, BUT THAT HAS RESOLVED ITSELF DURING THE BREAK AND THEREFORE WE WILL NOW GO TO COMMISSION DISCUSSION ON OUR NOPE. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509, ESTABLISHING THE OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET AND FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023. NO? >> [BACKGROUND]. >> THEN WE WILL NOT BE DOING ANY MOTIONS, WE WILL JUST GO OVER TO DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> ACTUALLY BEFORE ANYBODY, THE AUDIENCE HAS REQUESTED EACH OF US SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONES BETTER. I DO BELIEVE MR. TWIGGER HAS ALSO RAISED OUR VOLUMES A LITTLE BIT TO BE HEARD, SO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM IN FAVOR OF REDUCING TAXES. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. I KNOW PEOPLE FIVE DOLLARS GOES A LONG WAY, $10 GOES A LONG WAY. REDUCING IT BASED ON ITEMS THAT WE CAN REDUCE AND CONTROL, PHENOMENAL. COMMISSIONER BOLTON CAN REDUCE HIS SALARY IF HE WANTS AND WHATEVER HE DECIDES TO DO. THE CAR ALLOWANCE, THE PDA, THEIR CITY EVENTS, THAT'S $300,000. THE MULTICULTURAL EVENT, I BELIEVE ONLY ONE MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION ATTENDED, JUNETEENTH THAT WAS PUSHED BY TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE NOT ATTENDED BY THEM, ONLY THE MAYOR SHOWED UP. I HAD EXTRA, SORRY. >> VICE MAYOR, THIS IS NOT A REBUTTAL. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENTS DURING YOUR TIME. >> THIS THING WASN'T FACTUAL. I WAS THERE. >> SHOWING UP FOR A PICTURE IS NOT BEING THERE. THAT'S $295,700 ON EVENTS THAT ARE NOT ATTENDED. THERE ARE SOME EVENTS THAT COSTS $340 PER PERSON. THAT'S MUCH HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY SHOW UP, $340 PER PERSON FOR US TO HAVE AN EVENTS. SOME OF THEM COST US $40 PER PERSON AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN THAT. SO IF WE CAN ALL BE AMENABLE TO FINDING A MEDIUM IN THIS SITUATION WHERE WE CAN REDUCE THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS THAT VICE MAYOR WANTS TO PUSH, AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A 7.0 IF WE CAN REDUCE THESE ITEMS, WE CAN FIND THESE ITEMS. I'M OPPOSED TO NOT HIRING THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED THESE POSITIONS. ACTUALLY, JIM, CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. ONE MORE. IF I MAY MAYOR, IF WE CAN GET SOME CONSENSUS ON EACH ITEM AS WE GO ALONG, JIM, CAN YOU GO TO THE PREVIOUS ONE? I HAVE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR IN THE LAST MEETING, THIS IS MY FULL-TIME POSITION PLUS MORE. I HAVE LET GO OF MY BUSINESS MATTERS TO HANDLE CITY BUSINESS MATTERS BECAUSE THIS IS CONSUMING MY TIME. IF MEMBERS ON THIS COMMISSION WANTS TO REDUCE THEIR SALARIES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO A THIRD OF THE JOB, THAT'S ON THEM. IF COMMISSIONERS WANT TO RELIEF THEIR LIAISONS BECAUSE THEIR LIAISONS ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING, THAT'S ON THEM, BUT MY LIAISON WORKS. AND IF MY LIAISON GOES TO A RESIDENCE HOUSE TO HELP THEM OUT WITH SOMETHING, THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. THAT'S MY LIAISONS BUSINESS WHERE IT'S ME AND MY RESIDENTS, SO MY LIAISON HELPING A RESIDENT OF MINE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GET PAID FOR, THE SAME WAY THAT COMMISSIONERS ON THIS WILL GO AND INSTALL SHUTTERS DURING HURRICANE. THE CAR ALLOWANCE THING, NOBODY IS DRIVING AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT EXCEPT FOR A FEW OF US, SO IRS PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE IDEAL. THIS WAY IT WILL REALLY SHOW AND DEMONSTRATE FOR [01:50:03] A FACT WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE RESIDENTS. IF WE CANNOT PROVE TO THE RESIDENTS VIA THAT WAY, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO SHOW THEM HOW ACCOUNTABLE WE ARE. BECAUSE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE IS A VERY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RESIDENTS, AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND VICE VERSA EVERYBODY IN HERE. JIM, CAN YOU GO TO THE SECOND SLIDE? THESE POSITIONS HERE THAT YOU'RE SEEING BEFORE YOU, THEY'RE NEEDED. WE NEED TO HIRE COMPETENT EMPLOYEES, STAFF, AND THEY COME AT A PRICE. WE'RE FIGHTING OTHER CITIES FOR TALENTS. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT LINE? SHAKER VILLAGE, SABAL PALM PARK, WE BOUGHT TWO PROPERTIES. CITY MANAGER, WHAT WAS THE TOTAL COST ON THOSE TWO PROPERTIES ON THE EAST SIDE OF TAMARAC AND DISTRICT 1? >> I WOULD SAY JUST OVER $2.1 MILLION. >> $2.1 MILLION PLUS ANOTHER PROJECT IN SHAKER VILLAGE WHICH IS IN DISTRICT 1, THAT ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS, PLUS ANOTHER PROJECT IN DISTRICT 1 WHICH IS $2.2 MILLION. SO FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 1 TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION TO NOT WANT TO BE AMENABLE TO WORKING WITH EACH OTHER AND THEN ASK FOR THESE PROJECTS, MY VOTE WILL BE NO FOR THESE PROJECTS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER PLACKO. >> THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA OF GOING THROUGH THIS LIST TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME CONSENSUS. LISTEN, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING. IF WE WANT TO REDUCE THE BUDGET, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALL GIVE SOMETHING. I SAID ALL NOT JUST ONE GROUP. AS FAR AS COMMISSION EXPENSES, THE INITIATIVE FUNDS OF $25,000, THAT SHOULD GO AWAY. THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO GO AWAY, THAT'S MY FIRST THOUGHT ON THAT. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS CAN BE VERY HELPFUL, BUT WE'VE DONE WITHOUT THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS, SO I'M SORRY, IT'S NOT PERSONAL, AND I KNOW MINE IS LISTENING, I'M SORRY. BUT WE'VE DONE WITHOUT THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS, SO I WOULD BE OKAY WITH DOING AWAY WITH THAT. THE CAR ALLOWANCE, LAST MEETING, THE MAYOR MADE A COMMENT ABOUT CUTTING THAT IN HALF, I WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT. AS FAR AS THE CELL PHONES AND THE PDA ALLOWANCE, WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE CELL PHONES REGARDLESS, SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY THE CITY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT. CITY EVENTS AND RELATED COSTS. THAT'S A BIGGIE. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CITY EVENTS, AND WELL, THEY ARE WONDERFUL. IF I HAVE A CHOICE OF HAVING A CITY EVENT THAT IS MAYBE NOT WELL ATTENDED OR PAVING A STREET, I'M GOING TO CHOOSE PAVING A STREET EVERY SINGLE TIME, SO I'M ALL FOR DOING THAT. I MISSED SOME PAGE. WAIT, SORRY. I HAD A SEQUENCE HERE. WE HAVE STAFF. IF WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE CITY EVENTS, WHICH I BELIEVE WE SHOULD, THEN I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A PART-TIME PARK RANGER COMING FULL-TIME. I THINK AS MUCH AS OUR STAFF DOES WITHOUT THAT MANY EVENTS, I THINK WE CAN CUT DOWN ON STAFFING IN THAT AREA. AS FAR AS THE WEBMASTER, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET ANALYSIS, I WOULD ASK STAFF TO PICK THE PRIORITY. EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION HERE. I WOULD ASK STAFF, I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO JUDGE WHICH ONE IS MORE VITAL THAN THE NEXT. I WOULD RELY ON STAFF FOR THAT. BUT I THINK ONE OF THOSE CAN BE CUT. THEN OUR GENERAL FUND. SHAKER VILLAGE DRIVES ME CRAZY. IT IS JUST AN EYESORE AND IT MAKES ME ABSOLUTELY NUTS. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AND TALKED ABOUT IT AND TALKED ABOUT IT. [01:55:02] UNLESS WE CAN COME TO SOME CONCRETE DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT PROPERTY, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE IT OFF THE BOOKS. SABAL PALM PARK, WE'VE PROMISED THE RESIDENTS THAT. I'M A LITTLE RETICENT TO THAT. WE CANNOT DO AWAY WITH SECURITY, BURGLAR ALARMS, AND SECURITY GATES. THAT'S SECURITY FOR OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DO AWAY WITH THAT. THIS TSC FITNESS ZONE. WELL, I THINK THE ONE WE HAVE IS WONDERFUL. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED AT THIS TIME TO SPEND $300,000 ON ANOTHER ONE. THE AQUATIC CENTER SPRAY GROUND AND SHELTER, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS, SO I'M IFFY ON THAT ONE. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THOSE AS WELL. AT THAT POINT, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, BUT IT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD THAT WE KEEP DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING, DISCUSSING. BUT UNLESS THERE'S SOME CONSENSUS AMONGST US, WE'RE JUST SPINNING OUR WHEELS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I THINK AT THIS TIME WE'RE JUST HEARING WHICH ITEMS ON THE BUDGET ARE FOR DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, WERE YOU GOING TO SPEAK? >> [NOISE]. SURE MAYOR, I WILL. DO I SPEAK NOW?. SHAKER VILLAGE IS AN EYESORE AND WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IT OVER AND OVER AS WELL. I'VE ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR SOME UPDATE WHERE SHAKER VILLAGE CONCERNED. QUITE FRANKLY, THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE NOT GONE ONTO MY LIKING ANYWAY. IF COMMISSIONER PLACKO WANTS THE BLOOD IN HER HANDS TO GET RID OF SHAKER VILLAGE, SO BE IT. THE PROPERTY VALUES IN THE WOODLANDS WILL GO DOWN ANYWAY. NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMISSION BENEFITS AND SALARIES, AND THAT'S THE STUFF, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT WE DON'T WORK WELL. ONE OF THE TWO OR MAYBE THE ONLY TWO RESPONSIBILITIES THAT A COMMISSIONER HAS IS TO FIRE AND HIRE THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY AND TO BALANCE A BUDGET. ATTENDING EVENTS, NOT ONE OF THOSE DUTIES. YOU WANT TO ATTEND AN EVENT, IT'S UP TO YOU. I'VE CHOSEN NOT TO ATTEND EVENTS THIS YEAR IN PROTEST THAT THOSE EVENTS ARE TOO MUCH. IF YOU WANT TO BE THE HYPOCRITE IN SAYING THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY EVENTS AND THEY'RE EXPENSIVE AND THEN YOU STILL ATTEND TO TAKE THE PICTURE SO THAT YOU CAN SHOW UP IN THE TOMOGRAM, THEN GO AHEAD. AS FOR ME, MEETINGS IN THE PARK EVERY WEDNESDAY, TAMARAC TUESDAYS, TAKING CALLS, TALKING POLICY, HOURS, HOA MEETINGS, LATE AT NIGHT, DELIVERING HURRICANE SUPPLIES, CHECKING ON RESONANCE. THE SECURE SENIOR INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE, MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS OF BERMUDA CLUB AND LAKES OF CARRIAGE HILLS AND ALL OF THESE SENIOR COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING CARE OF. LISTENING TO RESIDENTS AT 55 AND OLDER COMMUNITIES WHERE QUITE FRANKLY, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ARE BENEFITING FROM SIGNING DOCUMENTS AND PROFITING WHILE WE SHOULD BE WORKING FOR THEM. WE DO THAT TOO. LISTENING TO RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS, PASSING THEM ON TO STAFF, NOT PASSING THEM ON TO A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISON, INPUTTING THEM IN OUR CRT SYSTEM. MAKE NO MISTAKE. I WORK FOR EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT I HAVE. WE EARN IT. WE ARE NOT DRIVING, SPEAK FOR YOURSELF. I DRIVE AROUND THE CITY CONSTANTLY CHECKING ON RESONANCE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE OKAY AND SOLVING ISSUES. BUT THEN THE SAME TOKEN, I'M WILLING TO WORK FOR [02:00:02] HALF THE AMOUNT AND I'M WILLING TO GET RID OF THE CAR ALLOWANCE BECAUSE. IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T EARN IT, IS BECAUSE WE CAN DO WITHOUT IT. IT IS PUBLIC RECORD, HOW MUCH EACH OF US ALLEGEDLY MIX. ONE COMMISSIONER BEING A REAL ESTATE ON HIS FORM, ONE SAYS, I MAKE 25-$50,000. >> WE DON'T TALK ABOUT OTHERS, PLEASE PROCEED. >> WE JUST DID MAYOR. WE TALKED ABOUT ANOTHER COMMISSIONER. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT. SAME COMMISSIONER OWNING ANOTHER BUSINESS, 50-$10,000 MADE IN A YEAR. SAME COMMISSIONER OWNING ANOTHER REAL ESTATE COMPANY, MAKING UP TO $100,000 A YEAR. THAT'S AROUND $250,0000 PER YEAR. THEN MAKING ANOTHER $50,000 FROM THIS CITY WHERE RESIDENTS ARE FACING FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITIES AND YOU'RE GOING TO DEFEND A SALARY BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB WHILE REPORTING $250,000 ON OTHER JOBS? >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, PLEASE STOP ATTACKING. >> DISGUSTING. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, THIS IS NOT [OVERLAPPING] >> THESE COMMENTS ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD STOP. THEY'RE DISPARAGING TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> THAT'S REALLY WANTING, COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> I'M NOT A VIOLATION OF THE RULES. SIMPLE. WE DON'T NEED TO ENGAGE IN THAT. IT'S JUST GOING TO LENGTHEN THE MEETING. IT'S GOING TO CAUSE RECRIMINATIONS AND COMMENTS BACK-AND-FORTH. I ASK ALL OF YOU TO FOLLOW THE RULES. DO NOT ENGAGE IN DISPARAGING REMARKS OR [OVERLAPPING]. >> THESE ARE NOT DISPARAGING REMARKS. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO. THE CITY ATTORNEY IS SPEAKING, HE'S A A PARLIAMENTARIAN. THIS IS NOT FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO. >> SUCH AS DISGUSTING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. >> DO NOT TURN MY MIC OFF. >> [OVERLAPPING]. >> CITY ATTORNEY HAS THE FLOOR. >> AS THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, I'M INFORMING THIS BODY, THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS, THE USE OF THOSE TYPES OF ADJECTIVES ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND SHOULD BE REFRAINED FROM DOING SO. WE'RE ALL BETTER OFF AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS MEETING QUICKER AND WITH LESS GOING BACK AND FORTH IF WE STICK TO WHAT IS BEFORE YOU, WHICH IS THE ADOPTION OF YOUR FINAL BUDGET AND WHAT IF ANYTHING YOU ARE ASKING STAFF TO CUT FROM THAT BUDGET SO WE CAN THEN GET BACK TO THE MILLAGE RATE AND FINALIZE THIS PROCESS. >> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, QUESTION FOR STAFF. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE. >> DID NOT HEAR A MOTION. >> IF COMMISSIONER BOLTON CONTINUES, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO REMOVE HIM FROM THIS COMMISSION MEETING. >> MAKE YOUR MOTION, COMMISSIONER? MAKE YOUR MOTION. GO AHEAD. >> I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE COMMISSIONER BOLTON FROM THIS BECAUSE HIS CONTINUAL DISRESPECT TO THIS COMMISSION, TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO THE RULES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. THAT IS MY MOTION. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER. >> YOUR MOTION HAS FAILED FOR A LACK OF SECONDS, YOUR NOTES ARE ON THE RECORD. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE FOUR MEETINGS LEFT OR 3.5, IF WE CAN FINISH THIS ONE. WHERE THIS BODY AS A WHOLE WILL BE AS A WHOLE. CAN WE PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER OUR DECORUM, OUR OATH THAT WE TOOK A LONG TIME AGO AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS ABOUT OUR OWN CELLS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING OR NOT DOING, AND PROCEED SO WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. >> A QUESTION FOR STAFF. LOOKING AT THAT BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT, WE HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT IN OUR FISCAL BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IS THIS MONTH. IT'S SHOWING THAT OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WAS 56 MILLION, OUR ACTUAL SPEND 38 MILLION. OR LOOKING AT THE TOTAL FUND AMOUNT, 71 MILLION, ACTUAL SPEND, 51 MILLION. A VARIANT OF 19.8 MILLION. WHAT IS THE EXPECTED CLOSE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR? WHERE IT'S 72 PERCENT NOW, WHAT'S YOUR PROJECTION ONCE THE MONTH CLOSES OUT? NOT THE ACTUAL MONTH, BUT ONCE ALL YOUR DATA IS FINALIZED. >> YES. AGAIN, THIS IS PATRICIA WHITES, THE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF OUR BILLS COME IN A MONTH DELAY. >> UNDERSTAND. [02:05:01] >> REALLY, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE AUGUST NUMBERS, THERE'S PROBABLY STILL AT LEAST TWO MONTHS WORTH OF TRANSACTIONS STILL TO BE POSTED. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF THAT TRANSACTION DOES CLOSE BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL MONTH. BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT [OVERLAPPING]. >> LET ME ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION. LAST YEAR WE CLOSED AT 86 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET. WHAT IS YOUR PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR? >> IT COULD BE AT 85 PERCENT. GOOD PORTION OF THAT IS AGAIN THE RESERVES AND ALSO PAYROLL. WE BUDGET AT A 100 PERCENT OF PAYROLL. WE EXPECT STAFF TO STAY HERE THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR. WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO TELL STAFF IN AUGUST, WE'VE RUN OUT OF MONEY ON YOUR POSITION, YOU HAVE TO GO HOME. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF VACANCIES THIS YEAR. FOR THIS YEAR, OUR PROJECTION FOR PAYROLL IS AT 83 PERCENT. FOR THE TOTAL FUND. I THINK OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW IT'S PROJECTED TO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 85 PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR. >> EVERYONE HAS THIS DOCUMENT, IT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR PACKET. LAST YEAR, WE WERE AT 86 PERCENT THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, WHICH LEFT A NINE MILLION DOLLAR VARIANCE. THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, 9.3 MILLION WE WERE 87 PERCENT. THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, 8.2 MILLION, 88 PERCENT. THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, 5.6 MILLION LEFTOVER AT 91 PERCENT. WAY BACK IN 2017, WE SPENT 96 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET, WHICH STILL LEFT A $2.4 MILLION VARIANCE. EVERY YEAR, IT'S ACTUALLY GONE UP, TWO MILLION TO FIVE MILLION TO EIGHT MILLION, NINE MILLION, 9.3, 9.4. IF WE'RE AT 86 PERCENT OR 85 PERCENT, ANOTHER NINE POINT SOMETHING MILLION SURPLUS. WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE TO CUT ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE CITY SUPER OVERFUNDS THE BUDGET. THERE ARE NO CUTS NEEDED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROPERTY TAX VALUES IN 2017, THE TOTAL VALUES OF ALL THE PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC WAS 3.1 BILLION. THE VERY NEXT YEAR IT INCREASE THE VALUES BY 319 MILLION, WENT TO 3.4 BILLION, THEN 3.8 BILLION, THEN 4.1 BILLION, THEN 4.4 BILLION. THAT WAS A $300 MILLION INCREASE, GENERATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF 300 MILLION, WHICH WAS A DIFFERENCE OF 1.8 MILLION OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. LAST YEAR, VALUES WENT UP FROM 4.4 BILLION TO 4.7 BILLION. WE REDUCED THE MILLAGE RATE, STILL GENERATED $32 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR A $1.8 MILLION INCREASE. IF WE DO NOTHING, PROPERTY VALUES WENT FROM 4.7 BILLION TO 5.3 BILLION, A 583 PERCENT MILLION INCREASE IN VALUES. WHICH WOULD EQUATE TO ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF $36 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE $3.9 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WE GOT LAST YEAR. IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 INSTEAD OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OF 36 MILLION, 476,000 PROJECTED, WE WOULD GET $35,463 MILLION. JUST A $1 MILLION VARIANCE. NOT TO FORGET, WE GOT $10 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM COVID. FIVE MILLION WAS STRICTLY COVID RELATED, FIVE MILLION THIS YEAR IS REVENUE REPLACEMENT. SO WE CAN REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE AND REPLACE THIS ONE MILLION DOLLARS WITH THE FIVE MILLION THAT WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WITHOUT CUTTING ANYTHING. JAY-Z ONCE SAID, MEN LIE, WOMEN LIE, NUMBERS DON'T. THESE NUMBERS DON'T LIE. THE MONEY IS THERE. THANK YOU. >> CITY ATTORNEY, YOUR LIGHT IS ON, YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING? >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT AND CERTAINLY DEFER TO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT STAFF. BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS SAYING. I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND IT COMPLETELY. PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE AS STAFF HAVE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW, WE HAVE TO BUDGET THE REVENUES BY LAW BASED UPON A 95 PERCENT THRESHOLD. WE CAN'T GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT PAST YEARS ABOUT WHERE WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP. THE STATE STATUTE SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO PROJECT OUR EXPENDITURES BASED UPON A 95 PERCENT REVENUE STREAM AND EXPENDITURES, BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, GOVERNMENT BUDGETING IS A ZERO-SUM. WHAT THIS EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES IN, [02:10:04] THEORETICALLY IS THE EXACT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES OUT. OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE. BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON OUR ABILITY TO LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THAT HISTORICAL DATA THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED AND AT THE SAME TIME ALSO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTORY MANDATE. >> THANK YOU. MR. STREDER >> I'D LIKE TO TRY TO RESPOND TO THE COMMISSIONERS POINT THAT HE'S MAKING HERE. >> MICROPHONE. >> I'M SORRY. IS IT ON. >> YES. >> EVEN THOUGH WE FINISHED 2021 AT 83 PERCENT, THE FINANCIAL PLAN THAT WE HAVE BUILT RIGHT NOW HAS CERTAIN ESTIMATES FOR EXPENDITURES. THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT NOTHING, IS IF WE HAD ESTIMATES FOR THOSE EXPENDITURES NOW IN THE PLAN, THAT RESEMBLED WHAT THE ACTUALS WE'RE IN 2021, THE WAY THE FINANCIAL PLAN IS BUILT RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A BALANCED PLAN. YOU HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. IT EXISTS IN A FORM. IT'S THE TENTATIVE BUDGET NOW. IT'S THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET. EACH CATEGORY OF FUNDS IS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, WITH EXPENDITURES WITHIN THOSE FUNDS. IN ORDER TO LEAVE TONIGHT WITH A BALANCED BUDGET, YOU STILL DO HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING OR INCREASE REVENUE TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU DON'T CUT IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. [NOISE] >> THAT MAKES SENSE. IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 MILLS. >> VICE PRESIDENT YOU GO ON YOUR TWO. GO AHEAD. >> PARDON ME. >> YOU'RE ON YOU'RE TWO. >> THAT'S FINE. IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0, IT WILL BE A REDUCTION IN REVENUE, A 1,013,233. THOSE ARE YOUR NUMBERS. SO WE CAN JUST SIMPLY ASK EACH DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE THEIR BUDGET BY A $100,000, THEN COME BACK LATER WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND TAKE THAT MILLION DOLLARS BACK FROM THE FIVE MILLION THAT WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. CITY MANAGER, WE CAN DO THAT CORRECT. REVENUE REPLACEMENT. >> FIVE MILLION. >> THAT'S WHAT THE $5 MILLION IS FOR. [OVERLAPPING]. >> FIVE MILLION HAS TO BE BOOKED IN 2022. [OVERLAPPING] >> GO AHEAD. >> IF I MAY [OVERLAPPING] >> I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD DO IT LIKE THAT, BUT GO AHEAD. >> THE FIVE MILLION FROM ORTHO, WAS MONEY RECEIVED IN FISCAL 22. >> WE GOT FIVE IN 20 [OVERLAPPING] >> IN FISCAL 22. >> FIVE IN 21, FIVE IN 22. >> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL 23 BUDGET. I CAN'T BUDGET IN 23, MONEY THAT WASN'T OR ISN'T EXPECTED TO BE RECEIVED IN 23. >> WAS THAT FINALLY ALREADY BUDGETED IN 22? >> THAT WILL NEED TO BE IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL 22. I CAN'T PUSH IT TO 23 BECAUSE IT WAS RECEIVED IN 22. >> THAT MONEY IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN 22 OR 23, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> IT NEEDS TO BE, ACCORDING TO FLORIDA STATE STATUTES. WE ARE TO DO A FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT, BY NOVEMBER, FOR ANYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED 60 DAYS AFTER. WE HAVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE YEAR TO DO THAT. THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION BY NOVEMBER. >> I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU'RE OPTING FOR THE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION FOR A FUND BALANCE AS THE WAY TO GET TO A LOWER MILLAGE RATE. >> CORRECT. >> THAT IS AN OPTION. I'VE MADE A NOTE OF THAT. THEN WE STILL NEED TO HEAR FROM THE MAYOR, THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE. >> THANK YOU. >> CREATIVE ACCOUNTING IS WHAT I'M HEARING FROM HERE. NOW, LISTENING TO WHERE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR MONTHS, WE'VE HAD STRATEGIC PLANNING. THIS BUDGET WAS THEN MADE. WE HAD MEETINGS IN JUNE. WE'VE DISCUSSED IN OUR CITY HAS DILIGENTLY PLANNED FOR EVERYTHING THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS ASKED FOR. THIS COMMISSION ASKED FOR THOSE EVENTS TO ATTEND. THIS COMMISSION HAS ASKED FOR FUNCTIONS AND THINGS. THESE AREN'T SOUNDBITES, THESE ARE WHAT THIS COMMISSION ASKED FOR AND THIS STAFF DILIGENTLY CAME FORTH WITH BASED ON CONVERSATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS. AT THE LAST MINUTE, TO SIT HERE AND SAY TO OUR STAFF, CUT A $100,000 OUT OF YOUR BUDGET SO WE CAN SOUND REALLY GOOD TO OUR RESIDENTS HERE, AND SAY WE PUT THE BALANCED BUDGET DOWN TO 7.0. THAT'S ONLY GOING TO HURT YOUR SERVICES. [02:15:02] THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT DO ANY REAL BENEFITS. WHEN YOU NEED THINGS FROM THE CITY, WERE NOT ABLE TO DO. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO SUPPORT ANY BUDGET THAT WILL REMOVE ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY BEEN ASKING FOR. IN FACT, ACTUALLY, I STILL WANT TO KNOW WHERE OUR ADDITIONAL CODE OFFICER IS THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR YEARS, WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING THAT THEIR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES LOOK UNWELL AND WHY CODE HAS NOT YET COME OUT, OR WHY THAT BIG SUV IS BLOCKING THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BUT CODE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME OUT EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO SERVE THE CITY AND THE RULES IN PLACE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED US TO PUT INTO AN ORDINANCE. NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER ORDINANCES THAT WE SAW THEM FINISHED WITH THE NOISE AND THE PARKING. TRAVEL. THERE WAS A QUESTION REGARDING TRAVEL. WELL, SOME OF US HAVE REFUSED TO TRAVEL. BUT IF YOU WISH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST AND FIND OUT WHICH ONE OF YOUR COMMISSIONERS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN TRAVELING THIS YEAR, DESPITE SAYING TO EVERYBODY WE'RE NOT TRAVELING, IT'S COVID TIME. MAKE YOUR DECISIONS THAT WAY. THE PARK RANGER IS NOT FOR OUR EVENTS ONLY, THE PARK RANGERS MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO OUR PARK AT EIGHT O'CLOCK SO THEY CAN DO A LAP OR TWO, THAT THE PARK IS ACTUALLY OPEN FOR THEM TO DO IT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE PUT SEMANTICS CENTRAL ON THERE. WE'VE GOT WATER'S EDGE PARK. WE'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE ATTENDING OUR PARKS. THEY LOVE OUR PARKS. PEOPLE ARE NOW COMING OUT AND ABOUT AND THEY WANT THAT PARK RANGER THERE BECAUSE THEY FEEL SECURE. WHEN WE ONLY HAVE TWO PARK RANGERS FOR OUR 12 PARKS, WE NEED THE FULL-TIME. IN MY OPINION, WE DESPERATELY NEED THE FULL-TIME. OUR RESIDENTS ARE ASKING FOR THEIR SAFETY THERE, AND THEY'VE BEEN ASKING US TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STAFFED. I AM QUITE FINE AS EVERYBODY KNOWS WITH GETTING RID OF THE INITIATIVE FUNDS. BUT RESPECTFULLY TO THE COMMISSION WHO MAY NOT BE, I KNOW THAT WE HAD, IN MY OPINION, 3,000 WAS FINE. BUT THE LAST TIME BEFORE IT WENT UP TO 25,000, IT WAS AT 6,000. CAR ALLOWANCE, SPLIT IT IN HALF EVENTS. THE WAY I DID IT, I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE SUPPORT AND THE SALARY. I I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL, BUT, SORRY, I SUPPORT REMOVING THE LIAISONS, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE PUTTING ON BECAUSE THERE'S NO NEED FOR THAT. WE CAN ALWAYS FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. CHARITY. WE GIVE OUT $15,000 OF YOUR MONEY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT. EACH OF US GETS $3,000 AND WE GIVE IT TO CHARITY ON YOUR BEHALF: $15,000 WE CAN PUT BACK INTO THE KITTY. IF WE TAKE TAMARAC VILLAGE EVENTS THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN PUT ON AS $102,000, NOBODY HAS ANY EXPECTATIONS. THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT HURTING ANYBODY, REMOVE IT. I SAY WE CAN REMOVE PROBABLY A TOTAL OF ABOUT $171,000 OF EVENTS THAT ARE NOT WELL ATTENDED BECAUSE, I'M SORRY, I DO EXPECT THIS COMMISSION, IF WE'RE MAKING OUR CITY STAFF MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THESE EVENTS AND TELLING EVERYBODY WE'RE HERE FOR YOU, THEN I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE THERE WITH OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S NOT A PHOTO OP BECAUSE SOME OF US ARE THERE. RAIN, SHINE, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE HAVING FUN WITH OUR RESIDENTS. I WOULD SAY $170,000 WE CAN REMOVE OUT OF EVENTS, LIAISONS IS 150,000, IF WE GO TO $96,000 LEFT IN THE KITTY FOR THE INITIATIVE FUND IS $95,000 THAT WE SAVE. THE CAR ALLOWANCE, WE DROP IT DOWN $21,000, WE SAVE. BASICALLY THE WAY I DO THE MATH IS $451,000 THAT WE CAN SAVE, AND THEN WE WILL REMOVE $55,000 APPROXIMATELY OUT OF OUR SAVINGS. I WOULD UNDERSTAND REMOVING $55,000 OUT OF OUR SAVINGS; THAT WON'T HURT US IN THE LONG RUN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU HAVE A CAR, YOU GO AND THEY ESTIMATE, THEY TELL YOU THAT YOUR CAR IS ONLY GOING TO COST YOU $1,000. THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WANT TO TRY TO PICK UP YOUR CAR IS $3,000. DID YOU BUDGET FOR IT? DID YOU EXPECT IT? YOU DIDN'T KNOW. YOU ONLY CAN DO SO MUCH WITH WHAT IS BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL. WE'RE IN A TIME AND A PLACE WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS OUR BEST BUDGET TO RUN THE CITY, NOT PUT US IN JEOPARDY IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR PROPERTY VALUES WILL BE TOMORROW. CITY MANAGER, YOU'VE HEARD MY OPINION. YOU'VE HEARD ALL OF OUR OPINIONS. THE FLOOR'S YOURS >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. BASED ON WHAT I HEARD, IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE NOW TO GO BACK TO THE DISCUSSION OF MILLAGE RATE BECAUSE WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE BASED ON WHAT YOU ALL DECIDE YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR AS FAR AS THE MILLAGE RATE IS CONCERNED. THERE'S CONSENSUS ON EVENTS, CAR ALLOWANCE, PDA, TO START WITH. IF WE GET TO A MILLAGE RATE, WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO CUT PER MILLAGE RATE, AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK AND FIGURE THAT PART OUT. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WISH TO SAY BEFORE I MOVE THIS ALONG? COMMISSIONER PLACKO. [02:20:03] THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD SAYING THAT SHAKER VILLAGE IS A THORN IN MY SIDE AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I HAVE BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF DOING SOMETHING WITH THAT PROPERTY. I AM DEFINITELY NOT AGAINST IT. WHAT I WAS SAYING IS LET'S MOVE IT ON. LET'S DO SOMETHING WITH IT. WE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN STALLED ON IT. I WANT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT I'M DEFINITELY NOT AGAINST THAT. EVERY TIME I DRIVE PAST IT, I GET THE CHILLS, SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT. I WANTED THAT ON THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BOLTON.. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES ON BUDGET ITEM. >> TWO MINUTES, YES. AGAIN, QUESTION FOR THE MANAGER: YOU SAID THAT YOU HEARD CONSENSUS ON COUPLE A OF ITEMS. CAN YOU CLARIFY WHO YOU GOT CONSENSUS FROM? >> WHO I GOT CONSENSUS FROM FOR EACH. EVENTS WERE MENTIONED BY COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, COMMISSIONER PLACKO, BY YOU, AND BY COMMISSIONER GOMEZ, I MEAN, MAYOR GOMEZ, I'M SORRY. CAR ALLOWANCE WAS MENTIONED BY COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, COMMISSIONER PLACKO. COMMISSIONER BOLTON YOU SAID COMMISSIONER BENEFITS AND SALARIES, AND THE MAYOR SAID CAR LOANS. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS MENTIONED PDA, AND SO DID COMMISSIONER PLACKO AND THAT'S A BENEFIT. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, YOU'RE ON THAT AS WELL. THE MAYOR DID NOT SAY THAT. EVIAN AND THE MAYOR. WE'VE GOT EVENTS, CAR ALLOWANCE, AND PDA FOR SURE AS CONSENSUS. >> THE MAYOR SAID HALF OF THE CAR ALLOWANCE, SO IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO DO HALF THE CAR LOANS AND THEN SOMEBODY IS SAYING FULL CAR ALLOWANCE AND THEN SOMEBODY IS SAYING NO BIFURCATION, THAT'S NOT CONSENSUS. >> THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD GET TO A MILLAGE RATE SO WE KNOW EXACTLY THE NUMBER THAT WE NEED TO CUT AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND WE CAN FIGURE THAT PIECE OUT. >> BELIEVE ME, IF I WERE RUNNING THE MEETING, I WOULD HAVE CALLED THE MILLAGE RATE QUESTION FIRST SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH. THIS IS DOING THINGS BACKWARDS. NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THAT, BUT I HEAR YOU. >> YOU JUST SIT THERE WHILE HE MAKES DISPARAGING REMARKS. ANYWAY, PROCEED. PLEASE YOUR FINISH IS ONE MINUTE. >> DISPARAGING REMARKS WOULD BE A COMMISSIONER SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COPY OF AN ITEM THAT ANOTHER COMMISSIONER IS DISTRIBUTING IN THE AUDIENCE AND THEN A MAYOR SAYING, ARE WE ALLOWED TO DISTRIBUTE PROPAGANDA WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THAT WOULD BE DISPARAGING, MAYOR. I WILL NOT BE BULLIED BY YOU OR THE GENTLEMAN TO YOUR FAR LEFT. I STAND ON MY OWN. >> I CAN MAKE A MOTION. >> THAT'S WHAT I DO. >> I CAN MAKE A MOTION, MAYOR. I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE COMMISSIONER BOLTON FROM THIS MEETING FOR HIS CONTINUAL. COMMISSIONER PLACKO, I THINK IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION. MAYOR IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION. VICE MAYOR IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION. EVERYBODY STAYS QUIET HERE BUT YET WE ALLOW THIS INSANITY. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE YOU FROM NEXT DOOR FOR MAKING DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT ALL OF US FROM NEXT DOOR. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, THAT IS IRRELEVANT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CITY. >> VERY IRRELEVANT. >> THERE'S A MOTION TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONER BOLTON REMOVED MADE BY COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. IF IT HAS A SECOND, IT GETS VOTED ON UP OR DOWN. IF NOT, WE THEN MOVE ON. BUT AGAIN, THERE WERE RULES. I'D ASK THAT ALL OF YOU STAY WITHIN THE RULES SO WE DON'T HAVE THESE CONTINUOUS INTERRUPTIONS AS OPPOSED TO GETTING THROUGH THE AGENDA ITEM. >> THIS ITEM FAILS FOR A LACK OF A SECOND. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I ASK AGAIN, BECAUSE I AM TEMPTED TO JUST CALL ANOTHER RECESS, BUT I KNOW WE ALL WANT TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND PEOPLE WANT TO GO HOME. OUR STAFF HAS BEEN SITTING HERE FOR AGES, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR AGES. WE ARE THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM. IF WE CAN PLEASE, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT OUR OWN ITEMS AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THINGS. THIS IS AD NAUSEUM. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING THE BUDGET ITEMS? >> I BELIEVE I HAVE A MINUTE AND 17 SECONDS LEFT. >> THEN IF YOU ARE NOT DONE, THE ANSWER IS NO, I'M NOT DONE. PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR ITEMS REGARDING THE BUDGET. [02:25:02] >> THIS COMMISSION KNOWS THAT I DO A LOT OF GOOD WITH $700 IN A CAR ALLOWANCE. I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO WITH THAT MONEY. LAST MONTH I GAVE $700 TO THE WOODLANDS, NOT EVEN IN MY DISTRICT. IT DOES NOT BENEFIT ME TO GIVE THEM $700 BECAUSE THEY CANNOT VOTE FOR ME. GIVE THEM $700 BECAUSE THEY'RE SIGN WAS DOWN. EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK, I GAVE AWAY A $100 TO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE. THIS COMMISSION KNOWS THAT I DONATE MY MONEY FROM MY CAR ALLOWANCE. THIS COMMISSION KNOWS THAT I'M WILLING TO GIVE UP THE ENTIRE CAR ALLOWANCE. BUT IT WOULD BE A SOUNDBITE, IT WOULD BE POLITICAL IF WE ONLY GOT RID OF THE CAR ALLOWANCE AND STILL GO HOME WITH $50,000 AT THE END OF THE YEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CANNOT MAKE ENDS MEET, MAKING LESS THAN THAT AND STILL TRYING TO SURVIVE, BEING KICKED OUT OF THEIR APARTMENT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY RENT. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT AND STAND UP AS REAL LEADERS OF THE CITY, I'M NOT DOING ANY OF YOUR BUDGET CUTS. NO BIFURCATION, GET RID OF HALF OF YOUR SALARY, AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THAT'S IT. >> AT THIS TIME, I HEREBY MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.1 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6 [OVERLAPPING] >> MADAM MAYOR, PROCEDURALLY WE'RE ON THE [OVERLAPPING] >> WE HAVE NO MOTION ON THE BUDGET. >> NO, BUT THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE WAS READ INTO THE RECORD, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION, THE APPROPRIATE THING. >> HOW DO WE TABLE SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER TOOK? FINE. MOTION TO TABLE THE BUDGET. >> DISCUSSION. >> NO DISCUSSION ON A MOTION TO TABLE. THERE IS NO DISCUSSION ON A MOTION TO TABLE. [OVERLAPPING] >> NO, THERE IS THE MOTION TO TABLE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE JUST HAD A BUDGET DISCUSSION. >> CRUSH, IT'S MOTION TO TABLE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE. >> UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE MILLAGE RATE IS SET. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. IS THERE A SECOND? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE CANNOT MOVE TO THE MILLAGE RATE UNTIL WE GET [OVERLAPPING] >> I'LL MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION, SO MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AT SEVEN POINT [OVERLAPPING] >> IF I WAS DOING A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE, WE CANNOT DO THE SAME THING WITHOUT TABLING THE BUDGET. >> IT DIDN'T GET A SECOND. >> NO, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO FINISH BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO DO A TABLE TO BUDGET. [OVERLAPPING] >> THE MILLAGE ORDINANCE HAS BEEN TABLED AND THEN YOU TOOK UP THE DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET. YOU NOW NEED TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET AND AS IT WAS READ INTO THE TITLE AND THEN TAKE BACK OFF THE TABLE THE MILLAGE TO THEN MAKE THE MOTION. >> I DIDN'T HEAR A MOTION TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION. IS THAT IN THE FLOOR? WHAT MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR? >> THERE WAS A MOTION AND THE MAYOR WAS ASKING FOR A SECOND ON THAT EXACT MOTION. >> WHAT'S THE MOTION? >> TO TABLE [OVERLAPPING] >> MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU READ THE MOTION? >> THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR WAS FROM MAYOR GOMEZ TO TABLE THE BUDGET DISCUSSION. >> SECOND. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR GOMEZ. [OVERLAPPING] >> WAIT, IT WAS TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION UNTIL SUCH TIME THE MILLAGE RATE WAS THEN FINALIZED BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN TO BRING THAT MOTION BACK. >> I'LL REPEAT THE MOTION, MAYOR GOMEZ. MOTION TO TABLE BUDGET DISCUSSION UNTIL SUCH TIME THE MILLAGE IS FINALIZED. >> THANK YOU. IS THAT CORRECT? >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> VICE MIGUEL? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> MOTION PASSES 5-0. >> THANK YOU. I HEREBY MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.1 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6613 MILS, OR 10.27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. >> MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT THAT ORDINANCE HAD BEEN TABLED SO BEFORE YOU READ INTO THE RECORD THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, YOU NEED TO TAKE OFF THE TAPE ON TABLE ORDINANCE TO2508 TO SET THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE. PROCEDURALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE AND PROPER THING TO DO. >> I HEREBY MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE OR TAKE OFF THE TABLE AND PUT IT [02:30:05] BACK ON THE TABLE TO2508. >> SECOND. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> CLARIFY, PLEASE. >> WE'VE MADE A MOTION SO WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE AGAIN. >> MAYOR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO VOTED NO, YES, AND THERE'S TWO MEMBERS OF THIS BODY THAT WANTS 7.00 MILS, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE. I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND. I DO NOT KNOW IF VICE MAYOR GELIN IS GOING TO CHANGE HIS MIND. MAKING MOTIONS UP AND DOWN, JUST GIVE ME A MOMENT. MAKING MOTIONS UP AND DOWN, TRYING TO FIND THE NUMBER IS NOT GOING TO WORK. WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPECTFUL WAY OF ASKING. BUT THE POINT OF THE MATTER IS OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD US WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT SETTING A MILLAGE RATE UNTIL WE DO A MOTION TO PUT IT BACK ON THE TABLE. IT IS A GENERAL MOTION TO PUT THE MILLAGE RATE DISCUSSION BACK ON THE TABLE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION MAYOR. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> MOTIONS ON TABLE, THE MILLAGE ORDINANCE 5-0. >> THANK YOU. I WILL PUT BACK MY MOTION OF SETTING THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.1 MILLS, WHICH IS 0.6613 OR 10.27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE, IS TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. SEEING THAT THE MOTION FOR 7.1 MILLAGE RATE HAS FAILED FOR A LACK OF SECOND. >> I'LL MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> IT'S NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION [OVERLAPPING] >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. >> VICE MAYOR, IT'S A MOTION. PROCEED. >> YES. I DON'T HAVE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE OF 7.000 MILS. >> SECOND. >> IS THE MOTION TO SECOND [NOISE] ON THE TABLE AND THAT IS, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR THE MR.STREDER TO PLEASE PUT THE FINAL NUMBERS IN THERE JUST IN CASE THIS SHOULD BE IT. >> A MILLAGE RATE OF 7.000 MILS WOULD BE 0.6113 MILS OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. WELL, I'M SORRY, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT NUMBER. I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG ROW. I'M SORRY. IT'S 5.5613 MILS OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE AND 8.72 PERCENT OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE ASKING? >> YES, PLEASE. FOR THE LAST PART OF THE SENTIMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE IS TO FUND KEY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. THAT IS A REDUCTION OF A MILLION DOLLARS. IS THAT CORRECT? >> 1,013,333. >> THAT NEEDS TO BE CUT FROM THE BUDGET. >> EITHER CUT OR A COMBINATION OF A LIST OF CUTS THAT THE COMMISSION CAN COME TO A CONSENSUS ON THEN WE COULD FILL THE REMAINING AMOUNT WITH A APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE. >> FUND BALANCE IS SAVINGS. >> FUND BALANCE? WELL, NOT NECESSARILY WHEN YOU'RE THINKING OF IT AS BUDGETING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING USING FUND BALANCE FOR BUDGETING, FUND BALANCE IS ESSENTIALLY A BUDGETING TOOL TO PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY EQUATE TO A DRAWDOWN ON FUND BALANCE BECAUSE DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU FINISH OUT THE FISCAL YEAR, YOU COULD END UP NEEDING FAR LESS FUND BALANCED THAN WHAT YOU BUDGETED, [02:35:02] DEPENDING UPON WHAT YOU SPENT, THE TIMING OF THOSE EXPENDITURES. A LOT OF SAVINGS COME FROM TIMING ON SPENDING FOR CAPITAL. THE PLAN IS TO DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS DURING THE YEAR, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT IT TOGETHER FAST ENOUGH. SOME OF THAT MONEY GOES UNSPENT. THE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE IN THE BUDGET IS REALLY JUST A BUDGETING TOOL. IT'S NOT A DRAWDOWN ON FUND BALANCE. EVEN IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IF YOU FINISH THE YEAR OUT SO SPECTACULARLY, WHICH WE OFTEN DO, YOU CAN END UP ADDING TO FUND BALANCE. >> WELL, I HEAR VICE MAYOR. >> I'M JUST WAITING MY LEGISLATIVE. >> LIKE A CHILD. CHRISTMAS TIME. >> THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE, MA'AM. >> THAT'S ALL I SAID TO HIM. MR. STREDER ALSO IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, WE ALSO KNOW THAT PROPERTY VALUES CAN DECREASE, SO YOU SAY WE ALWAYS GET OVERAGE. DO WE ALWAYS GET OVERAGE OR HAS THERE BEEN A TIME, SAY 2008 WHERE WE'VE HAD TO GO INTO? >> I WASN'T HERE AT THAT TIME, SO I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THAT. BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IN RELATION TO THIS SUBJECT IS THAT IF YOU REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE NOW AND YOU DO EXPERIENCE A LOSS IN CITY TAXABLE VALUE, YOU'RE INCREASING THE PROBABILITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER A STRUCTURAL BALANCE IN THE FUTURE. >> A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE? >> STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE, YES. WHERE ONGOING REVENUES NO LONGER FULLY COVER ONGOING EXPENSES. >> YOU MEAN, A DEFICIT. >> A DEFICIT IN THE ONGOING REVENUES, YES, A SHORTFALL. >> THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY BUT I THINK, JEFF, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE. WE'VE HAD SOME SPECTACULAR YEARS. ALL THESE YEARS WHERE I DROPPED THESE NUMBERS FROM TWO MILLION TO FIVE MILLION TO EIGHT MILLION TO NINE MILLION. ALL THOSE DOLLARS WENT INTO THE FUND BALANCE OUTSIDE WHAT WENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND. [BACKGROUND] >> I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU ASK THE QUESTION? >> YEAH. YOU TALKED ABOUT ALL THE SPECTACULAR YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD. WE'VE HAD ALL THESE SURPLUSES. WHEN WE'VE HAD THESE LARGE SURPLUSES, THAT MONEY WENT INTO THE FUND BALANCE OUTSIDE OF WHATEVER WAS DEDICATED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. THAT WOULD BE SITTING IN THE CURRENT $41 MILLION ON DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE. THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND NOW. THAT'S MONEY THAT ACCUMULATED OVER TIME, ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES, IT'S LIMITED TO BEING USED FOR ONE TIME. ONCE IT'S IN FUND BALANCE, IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CITY FINANCIAL POLICY THAT LIMITS GENERAL FUND BALANCE FROM BEING USED FOR ONGOING RECURRING EXPENSES. >> DOES THE CITY INTENTIONALLY BUDGET EXTREMELY HIGH IN ORDER TO HAVE EXCESS AMOUNTS TO GO INTO THE FUND BALANCE? >> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT WE DO THAT. I WOULD SAY THAT WE TEND TO BUDGET REVENUES CONSERVATIVELY TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FINISH OUT THE END OF THE YEAR IN A NEGATIVE POSITION. WE TEND TO BUDGET EXPENDITURES ON THE HIGH SIDE FOR THE SAME REASON. >> BECAUSE CONSERVATIVE TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE YEAR 2017, 2018, WHERE WE FINISHED AT 96 PERCENT OR 91 PERCENT UNDER BUDGET. BUT 2019, AND I KNOW 2020, AND '21, WERE THOSE COVID YEARS. WE WERE AT 88 PERCENT, 87 PERCENT, 86 PERCENT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE ABOUT 85 OR 86 PERCENT WHEN WE CLOSE THIS YEAR OUT. THAT SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE YOU WERE SAYING YOU BUDGET TO 95 PERCENT OF THE ESTIMATED TAX REVENUES, IS THAT RIGHT? > THERE ARE CERTAIN REVENUES PER FINANCIAL POLICIES, WE HAVE TO BUDGET AT 95 PERCENT. THAT INCLUDES AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF YOUR SHARED REVENUE FROM STATE GOVERNMENT. THAT WOULD BE 0.5 CENT SALES TAX, AND SHARED REVENUE. THOSE HAVE TO BE BUDGETED AT 95 PERCENT. LOCAL OPTION FUEL TAXES HAVE TO BE BUDGETED AT 95 PERCENT. COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. [OVERLAPPING] >> MADAM CLERK, THE TIME. GO AHEAD >> HAVE TO BE BUDGETED AT 95 PERCENT. >> OKAY. CAN YOU JUST UPDATE THIS? THIS IS SIX YEARS OF DATA. CAN YOU UPDATE THIS TO SHOW 10 YEARS? I'M JUST CURIOUS TO SEE HOW WE DID OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD. > WE CAN UPDATE IT FOR YOU, AND GIVE IT TO YOU AFTER THIS MEETING, BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU TONIGHT. [02:40:01] >> NO, NOT RIGHT NOW. >> GOOD, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. >> [LAUGHTER] NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU. >> IF I COULD, I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IN 2019, AND FORWARD SINCE THEN, THE CITY HAS PUT ASIDE $5 MILLION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S WHY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING. OUTSIDE OF THE AMOUNT THAT WAS DEDICATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE BALANCE OF THAT MUST HAVE GONE INTO THE FUND BALANCE. YES, NO? FOR EXAMPLE, 2021, WE FINISHED AT $9.4 MILLION ABOVE PROJECTED. MADAM CLERK, YOU OWE ME ABOUT 25 SECONDS BECAUSE THE CLOCK WAS RUNNING WHEN JEFF WAS TALKING. OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS DEDICATED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BALANCE, DID THE REMAINING AMOUNT GO TO THE FUND BALANCE? >> IT DID, AND IT SHOWS ALSO THAT QUITE A BIT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE IN PAYROLL. AGAIN, WE BUDGET PAYROLL AT 100 PERCENT BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T WANT TO SEND STAFF HOME IN AUGUST SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE REST OF THE YEAR. >> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE COVID YEARS, NOBODY TRAVELED. THERE WAS A BUDGET FOR TRAVEL BUT THERE WAS NO EXPENDITURES. BUT YOU BUDGET FOR TRAVEL ANYWAY? NO NEED TO RESPOND. THANK YOU. >> BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. PEOPLE TRAVELED. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> NO, YOU WERE TELLING HER ABOUT HER TIME, BUT I WAS SAYING THAT I WAS CLOCKING IN. HE WANTED THE 25 SECONDS. I GOT YOU. >> GOT YOU. JUSTICE, I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO DOING A DISSERVICE FOR THE CITY. I CANNOT SUPPORT GOING TO 7.0 WHERE IT WILL CUT SERVICES TO OUR CITY. I'VE LISTENED TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE. I'VE NOT HEARD ONE OF YOU SAY PLEASE CUT MY SERVICES. WHAT I'VE HEARD YOU SAY IS, "WE NEED HELP." WELL, HOW DO WE HELP YOU IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY CAPITAL TO DO SO? WE'VE USED OUR FUND BALANCE SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO FUND PEOPLE WITH MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHEN WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS DURING COVID. IF WE CUT MORE OUT OF OUR BUDGET, THAT OTHER $500,000 THAT ISN'T SUPERFLUOUS. I SAY SUPERFLUOUS, IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE ALL THAT ENTERTAINMENT THAT WAS ADDED ON AFTERWARDS. WE STILL NEED SOME ENTERTAINMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT. THEY WANT OUR CONSTANT, AND THEIR GREENS, THEY COME IN FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. BUT WE DON'T NEED ALL OF OUR 33 EVENTS. WE CAN GET RID OF SOME OF THE STUFF THAT IS PERKS FOR US, BUT NOT FOR OUR CITY STAFF. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES. I HEAR THAT OFTEN FROM OUR RESIDENTS SAYING, "I CAN'T GET TO A PERSON." WE NEED MORE EMPLOYEES. YOU'VE HEARD OUR PROBLEM, WE'RE LOSING GOOD EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OTHER CITIES PAY MORE. WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OVERHAUL TO FIGURE OUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING OUR EMPLOYEES RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE IF MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THIS, BUT AT LEAST 1/3 OF OUR EMPLOYEES, OUT OF OUR 411 EMPLOYEES ARE TAMARAC RESIDENTS. SOME OF THEM DO NEED TO TAKE A SECOND JOB BECAUSE OUR CITY, AS MUCH AS THEY LOVE OUR CITY, CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE. JUST LIKE ALL OF US WHO HAVE JOBS ELSEWHERE OR PRESUMING PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD ARE HAVING JOBS ELSEWHERE. SERVICES ARE NEEDED. WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO GROW THE CITY. YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE IT GO AWAY? DO YOU WANT TO SEE US HAVE TO STRUGGLE IN THE FUTURE? IS THE ADDITIONAL $14 ON AVERAGE, WHICH BY THE WAY, NOT KNOWING YOUR BILL, BUT BECAUSE THIS YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HIGH ONE, BUT IN THE FUTURE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME WHEN YOU GET TO SAVE YOUR HOMES. TO SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE I SAID IN THE AUDIENCE IS $4. YOU MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TO PAY THE $4 NOW, SO YOU'RE SAVING $10 MORE. BUT FOR THE REST OF THE SERVICES THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY NEED, I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT, AND I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO IT BY SOMEBODY ELSE ON THE DIAS. I WON'T BE BULLIED INTO IT BY ANYBODY. YOU ASKED US TO BE UP HERE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE HARD, AND DIFFICULT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER PLACKO, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. CAN WE AS A COMMISSION, FIND A COMPROMISE HERE? BECAUSE I FEEL BACKED INTO A CORNER BECAUSE WE NEED FOUR VOTES, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT POSITION AT ALL. I THINK AS THE COMMISSION, CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY, [02:45:04] AND COME TO SOME COMPROMISE ON THE MILLAGE RATE? I'M ASKING ALL OF US TO FIND A COMPROMISE. I DON'T LIKE BEING PUSHED INTO A CORNER BY BEING TOLD OUTRIGHT THIS IS WHAT IT HAS TO BE, AND WE NEED FOUR VOTES. CAN WE ALL PLEASE BE ADULTS, AND DO WHAT'S BEST, AND FIND A COMPROMISE, FIND A WAY TO WORK THIS OUT. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME SPECIFICALLY FROM MY ANSWER, WE HAVE HAD TO BUDGET AT 7.2. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE DOING ALL THIS TIME UP UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN IT WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN TOLD THAT 7.1 WAS DROPPED IN MAYBE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT. THEN LAST WEEK WE WERE TOLD 7.0, AND THAT'S IT. PERSONALLY, I THINK FOR ME, I FEEL I HAVE TO COMPROMISE AT 7.1 WHEN WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR A 7.2 FOR ALL THESE MONTHS. TO NOW DROP IT DOWN TO A 7.0 IS WHERE I FEEL THAT I'M BEING BACKED INTO A CORNER TO A DISSERVICE TO THE CITY. AGAIN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM. THAT'S WHY I WAS TRYING TO DO BUDGET FIRST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD PULL APART, AND REMOVE TO BE ABLE TO DROP, AND CUT THE $506,116. THAT'S MY ANSWER TO YOU ON THAT. >> I WASN'T ONLY TALKING TO YOU MAYOR, BUT OKAY. WE STARTED AT 7.2, WE'VE NOW HEARD 7.0. CAN WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE AT 7.1, AND GET A BUDGET, JOHN? DON'T IGNORE ME. >> HERE'S THE RUB. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A MOTION TO 7.1, AND IT FAILED BECAUSE NOBODY SECONDED IT AT THAT TIME. SEVEN POINT ZERO IS ON THE TABLE. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> 7.05. >> THAT'S 7.05. >> IT'S IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN WHAT YOU WISH TO DO, AND WHAT THE OTHERS WISH TO DO. >> 7.1 IS IN THE MIDDLE. >> 7.1 IS IN THE MIDDLE FROM WHAT ACTUALLY IT WAS. [OVERLAPPING] >> RIGHT. BUT FROM WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO MOTION TO WHAT VICE MAYOR WAS MOTIONING. >> CAN WE ALL COMPROMISE ON THAT? >> NO. >> THAT'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. >> LET'S CALL THE ROLL ON THE 7.0. >> WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. >> WE'RE CALLING THE ROLL ON THE 7.0. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> 7.0. YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> YES. >> MOTION FAILED, THREE TO TWO. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT'S 8:15, WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE AT 8:30. RECESS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS 8:32. WE ARE BACK ON THE DIAS. WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH OUR BUDGET AT THIS TIME. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE DIAS AND THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF WE SHOULD FAIL TO COME UP WITH A MILLAGE RATE AND A BUDGET THIS EVENING? >> THE STATE STATUTE DOES HAVE WHAT I CALL A FAIL SAFE PROCEDURE. IN THE 30 PLUS YEARS OF DOING THIS, I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS ONCE AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN. BUT IT REQUIRES IN FORMING THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TOMORROW MORNING THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE MILLAGE AND BUDGET, AND TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PLACING A SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, WHICH IS A COST THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO INCUR TO SEND THAT NOTICE TO EACH PROPERTY OWNER AND SET A SPECIAL SET MEETING WITHIN 15 DAYS WITH TONIGHT'S MEETING. BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH 15 DAYS BETWEEN TODAY AND THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE SHORTER TIME PERIOD. WHICH TIME WE'D HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AND BEGIN THIS PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. IT'S A TIME-CONSUMING, EXPENSIVE PROCESS THAT WILL PUT A STRAIN ON STAFF, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. ULTIMATELY, IF THE CITY IS UNABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET, UNDER STATE LAW, [02:50:02] WE WOULD REVERT BACK TO ESSENTIALLY THE THE ROLLBACK RATE WHICH WAS THE LAST YEAR'S MILLAGE. BUT THE PENALTY THAT WE WOULD INCUR AS A RESULT OF FAILING TO ADOPT BUDGET IN THE PROCESS SPECIFIED BY STATE LAW IS LEGALLY, WHAT'S CALLED NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE TRIM REQUIREMENTS. THE PENALTY IS THAT CITY WOULD WOULD LOSE ALL THE STATE SHARING REVENUE, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT STREAM OF INCOME FOR ALMONDS POWERS INCLUDING TAMARAC. IT WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS IMPACTS UPON THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO REDO THE BUDGET BASED UPON THE LOSS OF THAT REVENUE AND ULTIMATELY COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. I SAW YOUR LIGHT LIT AND THEN I SAW IT UNLIT. >> ARE WE ALLOWED TO MAKE COMMENTS, A MOTION, ANYTHING? >> THE TOPIC IS MILLAGE RATE. >> CONSIDERING WHAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO SAID THAT IT'S LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE, THERE IS A COMPROMISE THERE FROM 7.2-7.0, 7.1 BEING IN THE CENTER, THAT WOULD GIVE RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS, THAT WOULD GIVE RELIEF TO MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION TO FEEL THEY ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED FOR WHEN THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR. I BELIEVE THAT IS A COMPROMISE POINT. I'LL BE IN FAVOR OF A 7.1. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO READ IF I AM MAKING THE MOTION? >> THAT IS COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS IS MAKING A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.1 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6613 MILS OR 10.27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.438 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. IS THAT YOUR MOTION? >> YES, THAT'S MY MOTION. >> I'LL SECOND IT. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO SECONDS IT. ATTORNEY IS YOUR LIGHT LIT OR IS THAT JUST LIT? THANK YOU. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> MOTION FAIL THREE TO TWO. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.000. >> SO MOVE SECOND. >> POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> THIS MOTION WAS PREVIOUSLY MADE AND IT DIED. >> THE SAME MOTION THAT YOU JUST MADE [OVERLAPPING]. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON, I GOT THIS. THANK YOU VERY KINDLY. THIS MOTION CAN BE MADE ONE MORE TIME AGAIN. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> IN THE EVENT THAT THIS WORK TO PASS BEFORE THE VOTE, WE HAVE TO READ INTO THE RECORD THE PERCENTAGE OVER ROLLBACK. >> FINE, THE MOTION VICE MAYOR MADE WAS A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE IS 7.000 MILS, WHICH IS 0.5613 OR 8.72 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. THAT WAS THE VICE MAYOR'S MOTION, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOLTON. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? > YES. >> MOTION FAILS THREE TO TWO. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A SEESAW APPROACH IS NOT GOING TO WORK. [02:55:03] >> SO WE HAD THREE TO- [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAVE MY LINE UP FIRST. [OVERLAPPING] >> CITY ATTORNEY, YOU DID NOT WISH TO SAY ANYTHING, CORRECT? >> NO. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT FOR THE RECORD. THIS 7.1 IS BELOW WHAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON SHOULD COMPROMISE. IT GIVES HIM THE PROJECTS THAT HE NEEDS. >> IF YOU WOULD. >> I'M KEEPING IT CLEAN. [OVERLAPPING] >> PLEASE REPHRASE AND JUST SAY THESE WOULD BE THE PROJECTS FOR DISTRICT 1. THANK YOU. >> FOR THE GENTLEMEN IN DISTRICT 1, WE'D GIVE HIM THE PROJECTS THAT HE'S BEEN FIGHTING FOR HIS RESIDENCE FOR. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I JUST TWISTED WORDS. IT WILL COMPROMISE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO SUGGESTED. IT WOULD COMPROMISE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR MOTIONED IN. IT WILL COMPROMISE WITH WHAT VICE MAYOR WANTED, WHICH IS TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE. IT WILL COMPROMISE MYSELF FOR COMPROMISING WITH EVERYONE. IF WE CAN PLEASE JUST SHARE YOUR IDEAS, YOUR THOUGHTS. THIS IS EMBARRASSING. LIKE WE'RE GOING TO LITERALLY BE ON A SEESAW IN TOMORROW'S NEWS, SENDING WHAT CITY MANAGER JUST SAID, A LETTER TO EVERY RESIDENT. VICE MAYOR, YOU ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION. MAYOR, YOU'RE UP FOR RE-ELECTION. THERE ARE RESIDENTS IN HERE. COME ON. WE ARE AT DEAD CENTER MILLAGE RATE. WE'RE NOT AT 7.2. WE DROPPED IT LAST YEAR. WERE NOT AT 7.0. AT THE BOTTOM OF WHAT YOU REQUESTED VICE MAYOR. WE ARE LITERALLY DEAD CENTER. WE ARE EMBARRASSING OURSELVES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE MAYOR? >> YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR GOMEZ. PEOPLE KEEP THINKING THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT REAL LIFE AND EVERYDAY LIVES. I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THE SEPTEMBER 2022 BROWARD COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT. >> YES I GAVE IT TO YOU. >> I'VE BEEN WALKING DOOR TO DOOR, TALKING TO RESIDENTS, SENIORS, YOUNG PEOPLE, MIDDLE AGED PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, WHICH IS HERE, IT SHOWS THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND ALL 31 MUNICIPALITIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS ARE ANALYZED IN THIS DOCUMENT. OUR COST BURDEN BY THEIR RENT OR MORTGAGE. I'LL JUST READ TO YOU IF I CAN FIND IT QUICKLY. TAMARAC, I JUST SHOWED IT TO ANOTHER YOUNG LADY. CAN YOU HOLD TIME FOR ME, WHEN I SEARCH FOR THIS? >> NO. >> NO, OKAY. >> KEEP GOING. >> SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE ME ANY TIME, AGAIN, SHE DOESN'T SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY. >> [OVERLAPPING]. >> IT DOES. IT DOES. TAMARAC, WE HAVE 7,241 RENTAL OCCUPIED UNITS. THE MEDIAN RENTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS 47,362. THE MEDIAN RENT IS $1,449. COST BURDEN RENTERS, 4,443 OUT OF THE 7,241, THAT'S 64.3 PERCENT. THIS BROWARD COUNTY DOCUMENT DEFINES COST BURDEN RENTERS, AS PAYING MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT. ANOTHER 2,439 ARE SEVERELY COST BURDEN RENTERS. THAT'S 35.3 PERCENT. THAT'S PEOPLE WHO SPEND MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL INCOME ON RENT. [NOISE] THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THAT'S WHY I'M STOPPING [OVERLAPPING] AND SAYING ZERO MILLS. >> THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, I COULD COMPROMISE TO 7.05 MILLS IF WE ACCEPT MY RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE COMMISSIONS SALARIES BY 50 PERCENT. ALL THE BENEFITS GOING DOWN THE LINE, $10,612, A PENSION BENEFIT, 27,595, COMMISSION EXPENSE ALLOWANCE INITIATIVES 125,000, [03:00:04] COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIAISONS 151,000, CAR ALLOWANCE 42,000, CELL PHONE ALLOWANCE 14,000, AND CITY RELATED EVENTS, AND WE MUST STATE WHAT THOSE EVENTS ARE FOR $295,700. THIS CITY, THE PREDECESSOR OF GASOLINE GUN, THE MANAGER, WHEN HE WAS HERE, LIED AND SAID THAT I PUT THINGS IN A MEMO [OVERLAPPING] THAT I DID NOT PUT IN. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TONIGHT. THESE ARE [OVERLAPPING]. >> CITY ATTORNEY. >> THESE ARE STATEMENTS OF FACT. >> AGAIN, LET'S STICK TO THE FACTS, [OVERLAPPING] AND REFRAIN FROM USING ADJECTIVES. >> [NOISE] THE MANAGER SAID THAT I PUT PROJECTS IN A MEMO, SOLD IT TO THE MEDIA, AND CLAIMED. [OVERLAPPING] >> ATTORNEY HE'S NOW ALLEGING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SOLD THIS TO THE MEDIA. HE'S MAKING UP THINGS THAT ARE IRRELEVANT. WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE STICK TO THE FACTS? >> MORE IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, DON'T MEAN TO SPEAK FOR COMMISSIONER BOLTON. HE'S SET FORTH WHAT HE WAS ASKING IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE 7.05. I SUGGEST THAT YOU ALL KEEP TO THAT. I TAKE THAT AS A MOTION, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SECOND IT IN VOTE, IF THERE'S A COMPROMISE. >> THE TOTAL ITEMS ON MY LIST REPRESENTS $804,727 OF BUDGET CUTS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER. [NOISE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER PLACKO. [OVERLAPPING] >> OF 7.050 MILLS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. PLACKO? >> THANK YOU. MR. STREDER CAN I ASK YOU, PLEASE? AT 7.1, WHAT WOULD BE THE AVERAGE PRICE A HOMEOWNER WOULD HAVE AN INCREASE IN THEIR TAXES AT 7.10? >> BEFORE I ANSWER THAT, I WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT WE BASE OUR EXAMPLES ON. WE USE THE MEDIAN SINGLE-FAMILY HOME VALUE. THE OWNER, IS THE SAME FROM THE PRIOR YEAR TO THIS YEAR. THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SAVE OUR HOMES, BOTH OF THE YEARS. THE SAME EXEMPTIONS APPLY [NOISE] BOTH YEARS. THAT IS WHAT OUR EXAMPLES ARE BASED ON. WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND THINGS THAT GO ON IN THE MARKET. WE SET THOSE EXAMPLES THAT WE GIVE TO YOU BASED ON THOSE ASSUMPTIONS. >> WHAT WOULD THAT NUMBER BE? >> BASED ON THOSE ASSUMPTIONS, THERE ARE 7.100 MILLS WHICH SAVE THE MEDIAN TAXPAYER $28. INSTEAD OF HAVING A $40 IN US FOR 7.00 OR 7.10. >> 7.1. >> 7.1 WOULD ACTUALLY SAVE $14. THE $40 INCREASE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WOULD WE BE REDUCED TO A $26 INCREASE. >> AT 7.05? >> ANOTHER $7 WOULD COME OFF. THE INCREASE WOULD GO FROM, WHAT DID I SAY, $26 DOWN TO $19. THEN STEPPING DOWN TO 7.0, THE INCREASE WOULD GO DOWN TO $12. IT'S A $7 SAVINGS FOR EACH 0.05 INCREMENT THAT THE MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE REDUCED. >> OKAY. >> DOES THAT HELP? >> IT DOES. THANK YOU. I WILL ONCE AGAIN ASK ALL OF US TO PUT OUR EGOS ASIDE AND PUT OUR TENSIONS ASIDE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE TO SET A MILLAGE RATE HERE. WE CANNOT GO OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS AND TELL THEM THAT WE ARE SO INAPT THAT WE COULDN'T DO THIS. CAN WE PLEASE FIND A COMPROMISE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO DO THIS? >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? [03:05:02] >> I'M GOING TO REPEAT WHAT I SAID EARLIER. THERE'S A COMPROMISE FOR COMMISSIONER BOLTON ON THE TABLE. HERE'S A COMPROMISE FOR COMMISSIONER PLACKO ON THE TABLE. THERE'S A COMPROMISE FOR THE MAYOR ON THE TABLE, THERE'S A COMPROMISE FOR VICE MAYOR ON TABLE, THERE IS A COMPROMISE FOR MYSELF. AS I SEE THE BUDGET, THERE'S A SHAKER VILLAGE PROJECT FOR $900,000 THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN SHAKER VILLAGE THEMSELVES IS NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR, THEY CAUSE THE WRECKAGE, THEY FIX THE WRECKAGE. THERE'S ALSO A STABLE PALM PARK FOR 2.2 MILLION DOLLARS INITIALLY. THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE $10-12 MILLION TO FINISH THE PROJECT, NOT INCLUDING THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT. THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON IN DISTRICT 1. I DON'T SEE WHY THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT 1 CANNOT COMPROMISE TO THE 7.1. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE STILL COMPROMISING TO LOWER FROM 7.1. MAYOR ALREADY COMPROMISED, VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE GETTING A REDUCTION. YOU CAN GO TO YOUR RESIDENTS AND SAY, I PUSHED IT, I PUSHED IT, I DID IT. THEN YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD WITH EMAILS SENDING OUT TO YOUR RESIDENTS SAYING WHO DIDN'T VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE REDUCTION. >>THANK YOU. BASICALLY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IN AUGUST, RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO INCREASE THEIR TAXES BETWEEN $30, $40 AND $50 FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE DON'T GO OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS TO SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO RAISE YOUR TAXES? WE ARE LISTENING TO YOU, WE ARE THE CLOSEST TO YOU. WE ARE SAYING TO YOU THAT IS 7.1, WHICH IS A DECREASE FROM THE ORIGINAL TAX ROLE OF 7.2. IT IS THE COMPROMISE, IT'S A COMPROMISE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR THAT IS BEING GIVEN. WE DIDN'T CAUSE THE COST BURDEN ON RENTERS, WE DIDN'T CAUSE THE COST BURDEN ON THE HOMEOWNERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS, KNOWING VERY WELL THAT CERTAIN THINGS WON'T FLY. THEY WON'T GET VOTED ON, THEY WON'T GET SUPPORTED, BUT THEY'LL LOOK GOOD. SAVINGS OF SEVEN DOLLARS PER INCREMENTAL GOING DOWN TOWARDS 7.05 OR 7, COST THE CITY 250,000 APPROXIMATELY OR $500,000 APPROXIMATELY. IT'S THE SAME CONVERSATION. THINGS AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE. IF WE WANT TO CUT OUT AN ADDITIONAL, WE CAN POSSIBLY CUT OUT AN ADDITIONAL $108,000 OR 91,000 OUT OF OUR EVENTS, IF WE WANT TO REALLY ONLY TAPER IT DOWN AND HAVING MULTI-CULTURAL 4TH OF JULY TURKEY TROT, WHICH WERE THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED BY OTHERS BEFORE. WHICH REMOVES CERTAIN THINGS THAT PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS. ALL FOR WHAT? THAT SEVEN DOLLARS OR SEVEN DOLLARS VERSUS GIVING THE SERVICES AND HAVING A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE TO ENJOY. I AGREE WITH YOU COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, WE ALL HAVE COMPROMISE TO GET TO 7.1. VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. TO ME WHILE I FIND THAT DOCUMENT, I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE RENTAL OWNERS. NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HOMEOWNERS. WE HAVE 20,089 OWNER-OCCUPIED HOMES IN TAMARAC. THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, WHICH COULD BE ONE INCOME OR TWO INCOMES, IS $51,799. THE MEDIAN OWNER HOME VALUE IS $186,600. COST BURDEN OWNERS, DEFINED AS PEOPLE PAYING 35 PERCENT OF THEIR INCOME ON THE MORTGAGE, 39.1 PERCENT. SEVERELY COST BURDEN HOMEOWNERS PAYING MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON THE MORTGAGE, 17.6 PERCENT. OVER 50 PERCENT, 56 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE ARE COST BURDEN. ARE EITHER COST BURDEN OR SEVERELY COST BURDEN. THAT'S WHY I'M STUCK ON MY NUMBER AND I'M NOT GOING TO BUDGE. THIS STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED BY BROWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND WAS DONE INDEPENDENTLY BY FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. THIS IS COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT DATA AND THEY HAVE DATA ON EVERY CITY IN BROWARD COUNTY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S NOT ABOUT ELECTIONS, IT'S NOT ABOUT GOING BACK TO ANY VOTERS. IT TAKES AT LEAST FOUR VOTES. WHOEVER VOTES ON A 7.0 CAN CLAIM VICTORY IF YOU WANT TO CLAIM VICTORY. [03:10:03] BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT CLAIMING VICTORY. THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE COME INTO THE DAY AS IN SAYING. I'M SHOWING YOU DATA THAT A RESIDENTS SHARE WITH ME, SHOWING THEY'RE PAYING MORE THAN DOUBLE IN TAXES AND STAFF SAYING IT'S $14, $26, $40. THAT'S NOT WHAT THE RESIDENTS HERE ARE SAYING. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRUE HARDCORE ISSUES THAT RESIDENTS HAVE? AND CAN WE GIVE THEM A BREAK? OR ARE YOU WILLING TO JUST HAVE ANOTHER NINE MILLION DOLLARS SURPLUS THAT WE PUT IN OUR FUND BALANCE JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT. THANK YOU. >> BASICALLY, THAT REPORT IS WHY I BROUGHT UP WHAT I DID AT OUR LAST MEETING, ASKING OUR CITY TO FIND WAYS TO ASSIST OUR RENTERS, TO ASSIST OUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TROUBLE THROUGH COVID. OUR CITY NEEDS TO HAVE THE CAPITAL IN ORDER TO DO IT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT DOCUMENT IS WONDERFUL TO SHOW THAT OUR CITY ACTUALLY NEEDS MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED THIS COMMISSIONED. WE GOT CONSENSUS TO HAVE OUR SAP BRING US BACK INCLUSIONARY ZONING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BUILT HERE. BUT LET'S BE REALISTIC PEOPLE WHO'S GOING TO WANT TO BE MOVING INTO OUR CITY WHEN WE HAVE A COMMISSION THAT CAN'T EVEN SEEM TO GET A BUDGET PASSED ON SOMETHING THAT IT HAS BEEN ASKING FOR AND TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER FOR MONTHS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY. INSTEAD, WE WANT TO BRING UP SUPERFLUOUS ITEMS AND CLAIM THAT WE'RE HELPING EVERYBODY. BUT THE REALITY IS WAVING THAT AROUND DOESN'T MAKE THAT WERE HELPING EVERYBODY. WE'RE NOT HELPING ANYBODY. DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT ORDINANCES IN PLACE. HAVE DEVELOPERS COME IN AND TAKE CARE OF MAYBE BUILDING THAT HOUSING FOR THEM AT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT HELPS THEM. HAVING THE MONEY IN THE KITTY THAT WE KNOW WE CAN BE ABLE TO ASSIST THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED WHOSE ASSESSMENTS HAVE GONE UP. THAT HELPS US. NOT LOSING OUR FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET A BUDGET ADOPTED IN TIME. THAT HELPS OUR RESIDENTS. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >>THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE WAY EVERYBODY GETS A TAX PROPERTY INCREASE IS WHEN YOU BUY A NEW HOME. EVERYBODY THAT BOUGHT A HOME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS SEEN A TREMENDOUS INCREASE. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN OWNING A HOME FOR THE PAST BEFORE THAT TIME FRAME HAS NOT SEEN THAT INCREASE. WE CANNOT SAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT A FACT. WE CANNOT SAY THAT THE TAXES ARE INCREASING, THEY'RE NOT, IT'S ONLY FOR THOSE NEW HOMEOWNERS THAT ARE PURCHASING THE PRICE AT THAT HIGHER PRICE LEVEL. AS THE NN, THEY'RE BUYING IT FROM SOMEONE THAT BOUGHT IT 10,20,30 YEARS AGO. [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]. >> SHE'S BORED. >> [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] I AM GOING TO REPEAT MYSELF FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE GENTLEMAN IN DISTRICT ONE HAS RECEIVED FROM THIS COMMISSION SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT HE HAS FOUGHT FOR. IF THAT IS NOT A COMPROMISE, THEN THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NOT COMPROMISE ANY FURTHER FOR ANY MORE PROJECTS IN DISTRICT 1. COMMISSIONER PLACKO, COMPROMISE HALFWAY TO 7.1. THE MAYOR COMPROMISED BY MOTIONING THAT. VICE MAYOR, IF YOU CAN PLEASE COMPROMISE FROM 7.0 TO 7.1. I AM OKAY WITH 7.1. >> UNLESS YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, WERE YOU- DONE WITH YOUR COMMENTS? >> CAN YOU READ THAT THING YOU'RE READING? >> I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW THIS ONE.[OVERLAPPING] >> I DON'T HAVE THAT. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS IS NOW MAKING THE MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.100 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6613 MILS, OR 10.27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN MILLAGE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR GOMEZ? COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> NO. >> MOTION FAIL 3-2. >> QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> YOU'RE NOT YET RECOGNIZED. [03:15:02] BUT GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER OR VICE MAYOR. >> CITY ATTORNEY YOU WERE SAYING THAT IF WE DON'T PASS A BUDGET, IT GOES TO THE ROLLBACK RATE FROM LAST YEAR, SO FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY OR. [OVERLAPPING] >> EVENTUALLY. IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO ADOPT A BUDGET WITHIN THE STATUTORY TIME PERIOD, YOU REVERT BACK TO YOUR MILLAGE RATE FROM LAST YEAR. BUT AGAIN, AS I SAID, THE PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE IS A LOSS OF ALL STATE'S REVENUE SHARING FUNDS, WHICH AGAIN IS A SIGNIFICANT STREAM OF REVENUE FOR ALL CITIES. >> STAFF, WHAT WAS THE ROLLBACK RATE LAST YEAR? >> IT'S THE SAME RATE. CITY STAFF, PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHAT THE RATE WOULD BE. >> THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.4387 MILS. YOU AUTOMATICALLY, BY DEFAULT, GET THE ROLLBACK RATE ASSIGNED TO YOU, SO IT WOULD BE THE ROLLBACK RATE FOR THIS YEAR. >> WHICH IS? >> NOT LAST YEAR. >> 6.4387. >> THAT'S HOW FAR I'M WILLING TO GO. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, PLACKO, AND MAYOR GOMEZ. IF YOU DON'T WANT 7.0, WE'LL GO TO 6.4. >> CAN I CLARIFY HOW MUCH MONEY THE CITY WOULD STAND TO LOSE? >> PLEASE DO EDUCATE THIS COMMISSION AND THE AUDIENCE ABOUT THE GAMES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED BY THIS COMMISSION. >> FIRST OF ALL, DROPPING BACK TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, YOU LOSE ALL YOUR 3.99 MILLION INCREASE THAT YOU HAVE IN THE BUDGET. NOW, WE HAD 32.4 MILLION BUDGETED. NOW WE'RE BUDGETING 36.4, SO IT'S A BIG NUMBER. IT'S ALMOST FOUR MILLION DOLLARS EVEN FROM GETTING ASSIGNED THE ROLLBACK RATE. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU WOULD FORFEIT APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE SHARED REVENUE AND HALF SALES TAX. IT'S $11 MILLION, YOU WOULD HAVE AN $11 MILLION LOSS THAT YOU NEED TO RUN THE CITY ON NEXT YEAR. >> WILL YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS NOT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR MONTHS. WHAT $11 MILLION IN CUTS WOULD ACTUALLY DO? WHAT SERVICES WOULD DEFINITELY BE REMOVED FROM THE CITY? >> THE BUDGETS ARE STRUCTURED RIGHT NOW IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE STILL AUSTERITY MEASURES IN THE BUDGETS FROM WHEN WE HAD COVID. A LOT OF TRAVEL AND TRAINING HAS ALREADY CUT DOWN. YOU CAN'T CUT CONTRACTUAL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. THERE'S VERY FEW EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT PERSONNEL RELATED THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF BUDGETS BECAUSE OF THE AUSTERITY MEASURES WE PUT IN TWO YEARS AGO. >> ARE YOU SAYING PERSONNEL WOULD BE CUT? >> IT WOULD REACH PERSONNEL. AN $11 MILLION LOSS WOULD DEFINITELY REACH PERSONNEL PROBABLY MOST DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSES THAT ARE NON-PERSONAL RELATED THAT THEY COULD CUT. >> MR. STREDER, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A FAVOR. YOU ARE VERY DIPLOMATIC. YOU ARE VERY KIND. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR US TO BE TOLD IN A NICE MANNER AS TO WHAT AN $11 MILLION CUT WILL DO TO THE CITY. IT IS TIME TO ACTUALLY TELL US AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU'RE NOT PREPARED FOR THE CITY TO BE TELLING OR THE COMMISSION TO TELL YOU WE WANT TO CUT OR LOSE $11 MILLION, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW FACTS, PLEASE. >> WELL, IF YOU LOSE THE PEOPLE, YOU LOSE THE RELATED PROGRAMS THAT THOSE PEOPLE RUN SO YOU WOULD BE CUTTING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT A DOUBT, WITH LESS PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE. [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S FINE. NO KID GLOVES, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO JUST BE THIS IS WHAT IT IS. THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU. >> I THOUGHT I WAS AT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING. >> YOU WERE NICE ABOUT IT. YOU WENT DOWN THE REST OF THE LINE THAT WE NEEDED TO HEAR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MADAM MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE JUST WHAT I WOULD IMAGINE, JUST OFF THE TOP CUTS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE CAN'T CUT ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMITTED DEBT SERVICE. WE CAN'T TOUCH AND WE CAN TELL THE BONDHOLDERS OR THE BANKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP PAYING YOU, OR WE'RE GOING TO CUT WHAT WE'LL PAY YOU THIS YEAR BY [03:20:04] 30 PERCENT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO CUT 30 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, THE PERCENTAGE IS. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT. THEN THERE'S CERTAINLY A FURTHER UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET AND HAVING MILLAGE RATE IMPOSED UPON YOU. THAT IS DOWN THE ROAD YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DOWNGRADES IN YOUR RATING IN ALL LIKELIHOOD. I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR 100 PERCENT CERTAINTY, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED BECAUSE PROSPECTIVE LENDERS AND BONDING COMPANIES LOOK AND SAY, WELL LOOK, THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH A BUDGET CYCLE AND THEY'RE HAVING TO BE AN OLD BUDGET FORCED UPON THEM. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE LONG VIEW IS WHATEVER THE SHORTFALLS ARE THIS YEAR, IF YOU WANT TO GET BACK TO WHATEVER LEVEL IT IS OF IMPROVEMENTS, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REVENUE STREAMS, PARTICULARLY THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH IS, I THINK AT A HEART A LOT OF THIS CONVERSATION, THOSE ARE GOING TO START TO TAIL OFF BASED UPON THE MARKET DATA OUT THERE. INCREMENTALLY GOING FORWARD IN SUCCESSIVE FISCAL YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN OR TO GET BACK TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY AT WITHOUT EVEN LARGER INCREASES IN YOUR MILLAGE RATE TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS ONE WONKY YEAR. >> THANK YOU. BASICALLY WHAT I'M ALSO HEARING IS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE 30 YEARS OF REALLY GOOD CREDIT IN OUR CITY FOR THIS. WE'RE BASICALLY TELLING PEOPLE WE'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU AND YOU'RE BEING ABLE TO PAY YOUR TAXES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TELL OUR CITY STAFF, YOU DON'T SEEM TO COUNT. WE'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOBS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ACTUALLY CITY RESIDENTS. WE CAN NOT HAVE A TAX, WE'RE NOT SAYING THE MILLAGE RATE, AND SO PEOPLE WILL LOSE THEIR LIVELIHOODS. HOW HYPOCRITICAL IS THAT? OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OUR BEST ASSETS AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT FROM OUR CITY. THEY WANT OUR SERVICES, AND TO JUST SAY, OKAY, WE WON'T VOTE ON A MILLAGE AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HOLD IT ALL HOSTAGE AND WE'LL JUST SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES, THE DECISION BEING MADE TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT THIS CITY WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES FOR YEARS TO COME. IF ANYBODY READ THE PAPERS, HOUSING RATES ARE NOT GOING UP ANYMORE. THEY'RE LEVELING AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING DOWN, WHICH MEANS POTENTIALLY PROPERTY VALUES WILL BE LOWER NEXT YEAR SO THAT MILLAGE RATE TO BE SENT NEXT YEAR, IT WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO COVER THAT SHORTFALL GAP THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING. INSTEAD OF IT BEING MAYBE 10-12 YEARS FOR RECOVERY COULD BE EVEN WORSE. I'M SORRY, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY APPALLING. COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. TO THE COMMENT THAT VICE MAYOR MADE ABOUT NOT COMPROMISING, BUT HIS COMPROMISE IS TO DO THE ROLLBACK FROM LAST YEAR. $11 MILLION IS A BIT RIDICULOUS TO PUT IN PUBLIC RECORD. I'M GOING TO REPEAT FOR THE FIFTH TIME. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, YOUR DISTRICT HAS BENEFITED A LOT FROM THIS COMMISSION'S FAVOR TO YOUR RESIDENTS THAT YOU'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AND THAT YOU CHAMPION AND I RESPECT THAT, I HONOR THAT, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR RESIDENTS AS WELL AS YOU WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE COME TO FLOURISHING. YOU HAVE A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE PENDING. I WOULD LOVE TO GO IN FAVOR OF THAT AND I WILL COMPROMISE STUFF IN MY DISTRICT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS GET DONE. COMMISSIONER PLACKO COMPROMISED HALFWAY FROM 7.2 TO 7.02, TO FINALLY, 7.1. MAYOR, YOU MADE THE MOTION TO DO 7.1. VICE MAYOR GELIN, I'M ASKING THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE COMPROMISE FROM 7.2 TO YOUR MOTION OF 7.0 TO 7.1, WHICH IS HALFWAY. I'M ALSO GOING TO COMPROMISE IN SAYING THAT I AGREE WITH THAT BASED ON WHAT I JUST SAID. >> WE'RE ONLY SAVING THE PEOPLE $14 A YEAR. >> MS. SHEILA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VICE MAYOR. [03:25:06] >> THANK YOU. IF YOU THINK THIS IS SUCH A HORRIBLE POTENTIAL SITUATION, MAYOR GOMEZ, THEN YOU SHOULD JOIN IN REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT WILL STILL GENERATE $2.9 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. ONCE AGAIN, THE BUDGET FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN OVER FUNDED BY ALMOST $10 MILLION. THERE IS A SURPLUS EVERY YEAR. LAST YEAR, 9.4 YEAR BEFORE THAT, 9.3 YEAR BEFORE THAT 8.2, HERE BEFORE THAT 5.6, IN 2017 2.4. OUR SURPLUS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, EVEN AT THE 7.0, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH IT A SURPLUS. WE CAN END THE NIGHT RIGHT NOW. WE HAD THREE VOTES AT ONE POINT BY 7.0, AND COMMISSIONER PLACKO DID NOT SUPPORT IT. IF COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS GETS BACK ON A SEVEN-POINT KNOW EITHER YOU OR COMMISSIONER PLACKO CAN JOIN WITH A 7.0 AND WE CAN END THE NIGHT AND LEAVE THE CITY STILL GENERATING $35,463,000, MILLION, WHICH IS STILL 2.930180 MILLION THAN WHAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR. >> THIS ISN'T A BANDWAGON. IT'S A PITY THAT POLITICS IS BEING PUT BEFORE HUMANITY. THE 2.9 MILLION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE IN OUR FUND IS VERY SHORTSIGHTED. YOU'D EVEN ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE. DO WE DO TWO-YEAR, THREE-YEAR, FIVE-YEAR PLANNING? IF WE REDUCE ANOTHER $500,000 OR $506,116 OUT OF THE BUDGET. JUST TO SAVE, WE DID A 7.0 TO JUMP ON A BANDWAGON WITH YOU. ONLY WILL HURT US IN THE FUTURE. INTEREST RATES ARE SOARING, CPI IS SOARING. WE WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MORTGAGE OR BOND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS IN SHAKER VILLAGE. ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING, CAPRA PARK JUMPED THE LINE BEFORE CHELSEA PARK OR CENTRAL PARK. THERE PARK IS NEVER GOING TO GET DONE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FINISH THE WALLS, THE PROJECTS THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BECAUSE THOSE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO BE PAID FOR BY TAX DOLLARS ARE NOW NOT. BUT YET, WE HAVE MADE PROMISES TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE WILL DO THESE ITEMS AND EVERY DAY COSTS GO UP. AGAIN, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASING, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO, BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE, VALUES ARE GOING UP. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAY AND GUARANTEE THE SAME. THAT IS VERY SHORT-SIGHTED OF US. ONLY TO SAY, THIS YEAR WE HAD A 7.0 AND WE ALL JUMPED ON THE BANDWAGON. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I THINK WE ALL KNOW THIS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE RESIDENTS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT STAFF. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BUDGET. THIS IS LITERALLY BETWEEN US FIVE. THAT'S IT. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE ASSIGN BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE RESIDENTS. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT STAFF. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE STAYING HERE TO MIDNIGHT, ACTUALLY AT MIDNIGHT WE HAVE TO STOP NOW, 11:30. WE CAN STAY HERE TO 11:30 AND DO NOTHING. BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE RESIDENTS TOMORROW MORNING TONIGHT, WE'LL KNOW HOW THIS ENDS. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO REPEAT MYSELF FOR THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER BOLTON, WE HAVE ALL BEEN AMENABLE TO YOUR PROJECTS. YOU ARE GETTING PHENOMENAL PROJECTS. YOU'RE FINE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS. WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW THAT YOU TELL US ALL THE TIME. THAT IS A GREAT THING TO DO. COMMISSIONER PLACKO, YOU BROUGHT UP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPROMISE. MAYOR, YOUR MOTION OF THE 7.1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMPROMISE. VICE MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AGAIN IF YOU'D BE AMENABLE TO A 7.1, CONSIDERING THAT WE WENT FROM 7.2 AT A HIGHER RATE FROM BLAST SHARE TO A 7.2 TO A 7.0 TO 7.1. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. >> THANKS MAYOR ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER BOLTON, HIS LIFE WAS LIVED BEFORE YOURS. >> THAT'S FINE. I'D WANTED TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. I'LL ADDRESS THEM AFTERWARDS. [03:30:01] >> YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> THERE'S A STREET THAT YOU MADE MENTION OF CAN YOU STAND? YOU MADE MENTION OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WOULD BE SAVING. RESIDENTS WOULD BE SAVING. YOU GAVE US A MEDIAN NUMBER. >> CORRECT. >> WHAT'S THE HIGHEST SAVING? RECLAIMING MY TIME. >> I DIDN'T ANALYZE YOUR HIGHEST SAVING FOR THE MEDIAN, OR THE HIGHEST SAVING FOR ANY PROPERTY IN THE CITY. >> IF WE REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE TO 7.0 MILS, WHAT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST SAVING PER RESIDENT? >> BASED ON A MEDIAN VALUE? >> I DON'T WANT A MEDIAN NUMBER. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE MEDIAN SAVING. >> LET'S TAKE A TAXABLE VALUE OF $500 000. IF A HOME HAD A TAXABLE VALUE OF $500 000. >> RECLAIMING MY TIME,. >> EVERY ONE-TENTH OF A MILL THAT YOU REDUCE, THE MILLAGE RATE WOULD LOWER THE INCREASE. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT THE TOTAL INCREASE IS, BUT IT WOULD LOWER THE INCREASE FROM 2022 TO 2023 BY $50. >> MR. STREDER, IN ORDER TO GET A MEDIAN NUMBER, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR HIGH NUMBER IS AND YOUR LOWER NUMBER. THEN YOU GET THE MEDIAN. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> THE BCPA PUBLISHES, PUTS OUT A DOCUMENT THAT HAS THE MEDIAN VALUE AND THE AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE FOR EVERY CITY IN BROWARD COUNTY THEY POSTED ON THEIR WEBSITE. THAT'S WHERE I TAKE THE MEDIAN AND AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUES FROM. I DON'T HAVE TO MANIPULATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PROPERTIES TO GET THE MEDIAN AND THE AVERAGE. THE BROWARD COUNTY PROPERTY ASSESSOR DOES THAT FOR US. >> DISTRICT 1 IS NOT ABOUT ME. IT'S ABOUT THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, IS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN MANAGE TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER. IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER AS A COMMISSION. I'VE ADVOCATED FOR PROGRAMMING, FIGHTING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, BUT I'VE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR LOWERING TAXES. SO AS I'VE ADVOCATED FOR OTHER PROJECTS IN MY DISTRICT SO I'M ADVOCATING FOR LOWERING TAXES. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT LOSING EMPLOYEES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND DIFFERENT STUFF. NO, WE WOULD NOT LOSE THOSE THINGS. WE WOULD BE REDUCING OUR MILLAGE RATE IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY WITH THE RECOMMENDED ITEMS THAT I'VE PUT TOGETHER. THOSE AND ONLY THOSE. WE'RE TAKING A BACK SEAT AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE OUR RESIDENTS FEEL THE SAVINGS. THANK YOU. >> VICE MAYOR, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ORIGINALLY? >> YES. SO ON AVERAGE, SINCE 2014, THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED OVER THE PRIOR YEARS PROPERTY TAXES IS 1,870,00. THE MEDIAN INCREASE WAS 1,876,000. IF WE LEAVE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AT SOME 0.2 MILS, WE WOULD GENERATE 36 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR CHANGE IS $3.9 MILLION. IT'S MORE THAN TWICE THE 1.8 THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR. IF WE GO DOWN TO 7.0, WE'D BE AT 35,000,463. AGAIN, THAT WILL BE $2.9 MILLION OVER THE 1.8 THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR. THE FIRST THING THAT WE REDUCE TAXES. SO THE CITY WOULD STILL GENERATE MORE MONEY THAN THEY GENERATED LAST YEAR. RESIDENTS WOULD FINALLY RECEIVE SOME SAVINGS, A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. BECAUSE THE SAVINGS IS NOT SIGNIFICANT AT 7.15, 7.07, 7.05, IT GETS SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT'S AT 7.0. AND THAT'S WHY I'M AT 7.0 YET AND STILL THE ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR SAID WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO FINISH THAT 84-85% OF OUR BUDGET, WHICH WILL LEAVE US AT ANOTHER $9 OR $10 MILLION SURPLUS. SO ALL THIS TALK ABOUT LOSING EMPLOYEES, [03:35:03] CUTTING SERVICES, THAT'S NOT TRUE. WE'RE PUTTING MONEY. IT LOOKS LIKE $5 MILLION A YEAR FROM 2019-2021 INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE INVERSE OF THAT IS GOING INTO THE FUND BALANCE. SO THERE'S NO LOSSES HERE. FOR SOME REASON. MAYOR GOMEZ SEEMS LIKE YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN TO 7.01 AND HELP THE RESIDENTS. >> VICE MAYOR, I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP ATTACKING ME AND SPEAKING FOR ME, THIS IS NOT YOU AND ME. AND SURPLUS IS WHAT KEEPS THE ABILITY FOR US TO STAY AHEAD OF OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND IF WE HAVE A DISASTER ON OUR HANDS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AND FROM EVERY TIME I HEAR, THAT'S NOT TRUE, OUR CITY STAFF IS TELLING US WHAT'S TRUE. OUR CITY STAFF HAS NO REASON TO LIE TO US. OUR CITY STAFF IS ACTUALLY EDUCATED IN THE BUDGET ANALYSIS AND WHAT THE CITY SERVICES NEED TO BE. THEY DO THIS FOR A LIVING. THEY ARE PROFESSIONALS. NOT ONE OF US ON THIS DAY IS OUR PROFESSIONAL CITY PLANNERS, OR PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS, OR PROFESSIONAL AND INSURANCE, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER'S, PROFESSIONAL IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE JOBS THAT OUR CITY STAFF DOES, NOT ONE OF US. AND WE ARE SAYING THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, THAT'S $12. SO 7.0 TAXPAYERS WOULD PAY APPROXIMATELY $12 MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES IN '23 THAN 2022. THAT'S OKAY FOR $12, BUT IT'S NOT OKAY FOR THEM TO SPEND $14 MORE FOR US TO NOT BE CONTINUALLY HAVING THIS BUDGET ANALYSIS, OR $20 MORE. IF AT 7.1, THE TAXPAYER WOULD PAY $26 MORE, THE AVERAGE WOULD BE PAYING $26 MORE, SO IT'S $14,. IS $14 IS WHETHER IT'S SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH AT 7.0, BUT IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH AT 7.1. COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND. WE HAVE WORKED HARD. THE CITY STAFF HAS WORKED HARD, THE CITY STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET BASED ON 7.2 ON OUR STRATEGIC PLANS YET, ALL I HEAR IS LET'S SAY WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR OUR PEOPLE WHEN WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING WORSE TO OUR PEOPLE BY CUTTING IT EVEN ANOTHER 500,000 INTO, AGAIN, BULLY ANYBODY ELSE IN THE DAYS TO VOTE THE WAY YOU WANT IT, BECAUSE YOU WANT IT THAT WAY. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE ALL COMPROMISE AND THERE'S A MEDIUM PLACE, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY A 7.1 CANNOT BE PASSED. LITERALLY WE'RE DEAD CENTER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD. I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. >> YOU HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET SO WE CAN DO IT TONIGHT. >> I HAVE A MOTION ON TABLE. >> AT THIS TIME, IT FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. THANK YOU. THE CITY MANAGER, PLEASE PROCEED. >> I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO ARRIVE AT A MILLAGE RATE WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH THAT MOVES THE CITY FORWARD AND DOESN'T UNDULY BURDEN US AND JUST ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE RESONANCE AND THINK ABOUT FULFILLING THE OBLIGATION. >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER. I APPRECIATE THAT. MR.STREDER OR MS. WHITE. I COULD DO IT MYSELF, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE APPROXIMATE, 759,926 MINUS 6,616. I DIDN'T DO THAT RIGHT. SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 7.1 [03:40:21] AND 7.05, THAT'S $253,308. IS THAT CORRECT? SO WHAT DOES THAT 7.1? 7.5. >> TO THE MEDIAN TAXPAYER? >> YEAH. >> WHAT'S THE MILLAGE RATE? I'M TRYING TO SPLIT THE LEVEL BETWEEN THE 7.1 AND THE 7.05. >> THE MILLAGE RATE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR BETWEEN THOSE TWO, RIGHT? >> 7.025. >>. THANK YOU. SO IT CAN ACTUALLY BE 7. >> WAIT FROM 7.1 TO 7.05. >> BETWEEN THERE. >> WHY NOT 7.0 TO 0.5. >> NO. THE OTHER WAY. I WANT 7.1 BETWEEN 7.05 AND 7.1, THE PROPER. >> [OVERLAPPING]. >> RIGHT. BUT I RATHER [NOISE], 0.75, CORRECT? >> 7.075. >> AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A SAVINGS OF ANOTHER. >> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO. >> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE 506 AND THE 235 WOULD BE ANOTHER 100 AND SOMETHING. >> IT WOULD BE HALF OF 252,308. SO THAT WOULD BE 125,156. BECAUSE EVERY 0.05 INCREMENTAL CHANGE IN THE MILLAGE RATE REPRESENTS A LOSS OF REVENUE AT 253,308. SO IF YOU HAD HALF OF THAT, YOU WANTED TO ADD ON ANOTHER HALF OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE, WHAT IS THAT? >> 126,654, I BELIEVE. >> I HAVE 125,156. >> IN-BETWEEN HERE. >> THERE'S A $125,000. >> 126,654. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR MILLAGE RATE OF 7.0725, CORRECT? >> IT WOULD BE 0.750. >> 0.075. >> I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PERCENTAGES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE A 100%. >> I'LL GET IT FOR YOU RIGHT NOW HERE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> FIRST OF ALL, THAT WOULD BE 6.11, SEE THIS, AN EIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE 6.118. THIS CALCULATOR, THE LCD IS FADING OUT. I'M SORRY. >> YOU NEED MINE? >> [NOISE] WE NEED TO BE PRECISE HERE. >> THERE'S A 6.113 MILS OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 OR 9.49 PERCENT ABOVE THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> THANK YOU. SO THE MOTION IS TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.0750 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6133 MILS OF [03:45:06] 9.49 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.438 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE IS TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. >> YES. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S THE MOTION. >> THAT'S YOUR MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND IT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PLACKO. I REMIND YOU WE STILL HAVE A BUDGET DISCUSSION TO GO AFTER THIS. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR GOMEZ. COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> NO. >> MOTION FAIL, THREE TO TWO. >> MAYOR, A POINT OF ORDER. >> YES. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE COMMISSIONER BOLTON DOES NOT WIN IN 2024. I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. I UNDERSTAND WE ARE ALL VERY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW, AND YES, THIS COMMISSION IS PUTTING OUR CITY. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. [OVERLAPPING] >> I MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE COMMISSIONER FROM DISTRICT 3 FROM THE DAIS. [OVERLAPPING] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO COMPROMISE AND DO THE HARD WORK OF THIS CITY IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD AND NOT JEOPARDIZE IT. WE WILL NOT BEHAVE LIKE CHILDREN ANY FURTHER. >> MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I HAVE TO. [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAND IN MY RESIGN AS THE COMMUNITY LIAISON AND I WILL BE RUNNING FOR DISTRICT 1 IN 2024. EVERYBODY, HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. >> I NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO THE AMOUNT OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> YES, SIR. PLEASE PROCEED, MR. STREDER. >> IT'S ACTUALLY 0.6363 MILS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS A SAVINGS OR WOULD HAVE BEEN A SAVINGS OF HOW MUCH TO THE [OVERLAPPING] >> IN THE PERCENTAGE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE HAS TO THEN BE CORRECTED ALSO FOR THE MOTION. >> OKAY. >> IT'S 9.88 PERCENT OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE, IN CASE THE MOTION RESURFACES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO THIS, CITY ATTORNEY, BUT WE CAN JUST CORRECT IT IN THE MINUTES IF THAT'S OKAY AS IF IT WAS THE PROPER NUMBERS LISTED. >> WE CAN REFLECT THAT AND JUST NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS PUT INTO THE DOCUMENT ITSELF THAT PRESUMPTIVELY IF WE ULTIMATELY REACH AN AGREEMENT. I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT OR OBSERVATION, I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS BEFORE. FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH IS THAT AGAIN, IF WE ARE UNABLE TO OR YOU ALL, I SAY US BECAUSE I'M PART OF STAFF, COLLECTIVELY, THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS ISSUE, IT DOES DEFAULT BACK TO THE PRIOR MILLAGE FROM LAST YEAR. MY OBSERVATION IS THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THIS COMMISSION CURRENTLY HAS TO PRESUMPTIVELY REACH A NUMBER THAT EVERYONE CAN LIVE WITH, BOTH FROM MILLAGE STANDPOINT AND FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE BUDGET, YOU LOSE COMPLETELY. IT'S IMPOSED UPON YOU AND IT'S JUST THOSE CUTS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE ACROSS THE BOARD AND IT'S NOT ANY MORE DISCUSSION, THE STATE IS GOING TO SAY YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, SO BEAR THAT IN MIND. >> THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY. YES, EVERYBODY, WE WERE AT A LOSS UP HERE, AND SO MY HEAD DID GO TO A FAMILY THOUGHT OF MY FATHER SAYING, "YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR VEGETABLES, WE'LL SIT HERE ALL NIGHT." SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I FEEL LIKE OUR COMMISSION IS NOT EATING THEIR VEGETABLES AND WE MIGHT BE SITTING HERE ALL NIGHT. [03:50:01] [OVERLAPPING] >> I CAN MAKE A MOTION. >> WE HAVE NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT THIS TIME. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN HEARD BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> VICE MAYOR. >> YEAH. EVEN IF WE DROP THE MILLAGE RATE TO 6.9 MILS, WE WOULD GENERATE 34,936,535 WHICH IS $2,473,607 MORE THAN WE WOULD HAVE GENERATED LAST YEAR. SO THAT'S STILL AN INCREASE AND ONCE AGAIN, IT APPEARS AS IF WE HAVE A SURPLUS EVERY YEAR OF ABOUT NINE OR $10 MILLION. JEFF, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CALCULATIONS IF IT DOESN'T PASS, BUT I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A MILLAGE RATE OF 6.9000 MILS, WHICH WOULD GENERATE $34,936,535 IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WHICH IS $2.4 MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE GOT LAST YEAR. >> THIS FAILS FOR A LACK OF SECOND, AND WE'RE NOT AT SOME NEGOTIATION TABLE IN A DISPUTE WITH ONE ANOTHER THAT WE SHOULD PLAY TACTICS OF. I'LL GO EVEN LOWER AS IF YOU'LL RISE UP TO THE LEVEL THAT I WANT ORIGINALLY. DO YOU GUYS NOT REALIZE, THAT THE NEGOTIATION GOING ON IS FOR OUR CITY, IS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO IN ORDER TO RUN WELL, KEEP PEOPLE WANTING TO MOVE HERE? IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THERE'S PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON THE DAY IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COMMERCIAL BUSINESS IN NEAR TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF OUR RESIDENTS WITH TAXES. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO WANT TO COME TO THIS CITY ANY FURTHER WHEN THIS IS THE WAY THIS COMMISSION ACTS, WHEN WE'RE FURTHER PUTTING A BURDEN ONTO OUR RESIDENTS? I DON'T THINK SO. WE WILL NEVER ACHIEVE THAT WHICH SOME PEOPLE ARE PONTIFICATING AT OTHER MEETINGS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO BRING IN OTHER BUSINESSES. IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN AT THE RATE THIS COMMISSION IS GOING AND IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE WE ARE ALL VERY MUCH AWARE THAT THIS COMMISSION WILL NOT BE THE SAME COMMISSION IN FOUR MORE MEETINGS. IT'S NOT SET AS A THREAT, IT'S THE REALITY. IT IS A SHAME. COMMISSIONER LOGOS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE YET COMPROMISED ONE MORE TIME. COMMISSIONER PLACKO HAS COMPROMISED YET ONE MORE TIME. THE MARRIOTT HAS YET COMPROMISED ONE MORE TIME. I'M GOING JUST REQUEST COMMISSIONER BOLTON NEXT TIME WHEN YOU LEAD DURING BREAKS, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE BIA SO STOPS YOU. [OVERLAPPING]. >> PLEASE. COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> [OVERLAPPING] HE'S THE ONE DRIVING PEOPLE, ALMOST CRASHING INTO PEOPLE DURING THE BREAK TIME. [OVERLAPPING] >> GOD FORBID, THAT'S SOMETHING HAPPENS. THAT'LL BE DEALT WITH BY BSO, WHICH CURRENTLY WE STILL HAVE. BUT AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEM EITHER. SO ANYWAY PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER [OVERLAPPING] >> SO THAT WE, AS A COMMISSION, CAN ALSO SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR FUTURE PROJECTS. VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE RUNNING FOR MAYOR FOR CRYING OUT LOUD AND YOU'RE TRYING TO REDUCE EVEN FURTHER. ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO YOURSELF? YOU'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT. NOW WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE THERE'S NO CIVILITY HERE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THREE OF US HAVE COMPROMISED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER. BUT YET WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER BOLTON AND VICE MAYOR GELIN, THAT CAN EVEN REACH TO THAT LEVEL UP. THAT'S HOW MUCH YOUR EGOS ARE HINDERING YOU FROM MAKING THE PROPER DECISIONS. I'M DONE. >> ACTUALLY, HE'S ALLOWED TO BE UPSET. WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ALLOWED TO BE UPSET AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT PUTTING AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. [OVERLAPPING] >> THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH COMPROMISE BUT YET WE CANNOT GET COMPROMISED FROM THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS ON THIS COMMISSION OVER A FEW DOLLARS. LITERALLY. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE GOING TO ALWAYS GET MY NO VOTE ON YOUR PROJECTS AND I HOPE I [OVERLAPPING] CAN CONVINCE THE NEXT ELECTION. >> THANK YOU ON THAT. CITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SURPLUSES. THE WAY IT IS BEING PHRASED BY SOME SO IT [03:55:02] SOUNDS NICE IS THAT IT'S WASTEFUL AND EXTRA SPENDING. THAT IS NOT TRUE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN OUR LIVES. DO YOU NOT HAVE A SURPLUS IN YOUR BUSINESSES? DO NOT MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF SPENDING AND DOING THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS? I DO BELIEVE IF YOU WERE SMART BUSINESS PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU DO? WE ALL DO IT IN OURSELVES WHEN YOU WANT TO PLAN TO TAKE A VACATION WITH YOUR FAMILY, IF YOU SHOULD BE PLANNING TO TAKE A VACATION FOR YOUR FAMILY, IF YOU WANT TO GET BRACES FOR YOUR CHILD WHO MIGHT NEED BRACES, OR IF YOU WANT TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SUMMER CAMP, OR IF YOU WANT TO SPEND TO HAVE THEM GO TO COLLEGE, YOU PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR THAT SPENDING. THAT IS CALLED PROPER PLANNING. YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD. WHY WOULD YOU NOT DO IT FOR THIS HOUSEHOLD THAT YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT? PROPER PLAN FOR THIS HOUSEHOLD WHILE YOU WERE STILL HERE? IT IS 9:40. NOT THAT IT'S GOING TO HELP, BUT WE WILL BE BACK IN 10 MINUTES. WE ARE IN A 10 MINUTE RECESS. SEE YOU AT 9:50. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO OUR 505 COMMISSION MEETING. IT IS CURRENTLY 10:00. [NOISE] WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR FIVE HOURS, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW BREAKS. WE HAVE A HURRICANE FORMULATING, RIGHT OFF THE GOLF WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S COMING OUR WAY OR NOT, AND WE'RE SITTING HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT 714, $20, EVEN $50 IN SAVINGS, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES, WHICH ACTUALLY WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT WILL. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. ON ONE END, WE KNOW WE NEED TO KEEP OUR PERSONNEL. WE NEED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE NEED OUR RESOURCES, WE NEED OUR PEOPLE. COVID HAS TAUGHT US THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AND WE CAN BE DERAILED AT ANYTIME. WE'VE HAD A SHIFT OUR PRIORITIES, WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER. WE'VE HAD RESERVES AND BECAUSE OF THOSE RESERVES AND THE SURPLUSES WE'VE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST APPROXIMATELY 860 RESONANCE, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. OUR RESONANCE OUR BUSINESS OWNERS, OUR PERSONNEL ARE ALL PRICELESS. IT IS A SHAME THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PASS A SENSIBLE MILLAGE RATE THAT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED AND IN A GOOD NEGOTIATION, EVERYBODY IS HAPPY AND EVERYBODY IS SAD AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THE FIVE OF US HERE HAVE BEEN HAPPY AND SAD WITH THE OUTCOME. IF IT WERE TO BE THE ORIGINAL REQUESTED DEDUCTION, REDUCTION IN MILLAGE RATE OF 7.1. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF HOUSING AND EXPENSES. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM WITH THINGS THAT THEY NEED. WE WANT TO BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE THEIR CALL, HAVE A PHONE ANSWERED BY OUR WONDERFUL STAFF. IF WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO GO LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD AND IT MAY HELP, IT'S DEFINITE THAT IT WILL. IT JUST SEEMS TO FLY IN THE DIRECT PURPOSE OF WHY WE'RE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE THAT EVERYBODY COULD SWALLOW THEIR PRIDE, PUT AWAY THEIR POLITICS. EVERYBODY HERE CAN TAKE CREDIT OR ACTUALLY MY OPINION, NOBODY SHOULD TAKE CREDIT, OTHER THAN CITY STAFF. CITY STAFF HAS WORKED HARD AND GOT US AN ABILITY THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROPERLY RUN THE CITY ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY AT 7.1 AND JUST MOVE ON. CUTS WILL BE MADE. OUR CITY, WILL BE MOVING ON AND WE CAN GO HOME TO OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE I KNOW OUR STAFF REALLY WOULD LIKE TO. BUT ACTUALLY, WE STILL HAVE THE BUDGET TO GO OVER AFTERWARDS. SO I TRULY REQUESTS THIS COMMISSION, TO PLEASE PASS THE BUDGET AT 7.1 MLS AND AT THIS RATE, I'M JUST GOING TO GO DITTO. [LAUGHTER] I KNOW THIS IS NOT LEGAL, BUT IT ONLY MY NOTES OUT. [NOISE] I'D LIKE TO [04:00:09] MAKE THE MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.1000 MLS, WHICH IS 0.6613 MLS, OR 10.27 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.438 MLS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE IS TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. IF IT WOULD MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE FEEL BETTER TO MAKE THE MOTION INSTEAD OF MYSELF, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE MAKE THIS MOTION OR I ASK FOR A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> MOTION FAIL THREE TO TWO. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING. THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE MAYOR. >> IS THE MOTION A SECOND ON THE FLOOR, BEFORE I PUT IT OUT THERE FOR A VOTE? CITY ATTORNEY? >> YES, MA'AM MAYOR. >> THE USE OF THE ROLES OF WE ADJOURN THIS EVENING. GIVE ME A MOMENT HERE. I ADDED JUST A MOMENT AGO. IF DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE TAXING AUTHORITY, TO SAY THAT THE HEARING PROVIDED FOR AND THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AT THIS TIME AS RECESS OR POSTPONE, THE TAXING AUTHORITY SHALL PUBLISH AND NOTICE THE NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL PAID CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY. THE NOTICE SHALL STATE THE TIME AND PLACE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE HEARING AND SHALL BE PUBLISHED AT LEAST TWO DAYS, BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE DATE THE HEARING WILL BE CONTINUED. IN THE EVENT OF POSTPONEMENT OR RECESS DUE TO DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY, ALL SUBSEQUENT DATES TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE EXTENDED, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT THE CASE HERE. NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OR RECESS MUST BE IN WRITING BY THE EFFECTED TAXING AUTHORITY TO THE TAX COLLECTOR, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER, AND THE DEPARTMENT REVENUE WITHIN THREE CALENDAR DAYS AFTER POSTPONEMENT OR RECESS. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH EXTENSION, THE AFFECTED TAXING AUTHORITY MUST WORK WITH COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR AND PROPERTY APPRAISER TO ENSURE TIMELY ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES. >> BEFORE WE GO TO ACTUALLY FURTHER THAT THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO, EVEN IF WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE EXPENSE AND GET EVERYTHING AND HAVE IT DONE WITHIN THE 15 DAYS, WE REALLY NEED IT TO NOT LOSE OUR FUNDS. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS DONE BY SEPTEMBER 30TH. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M JUST GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT WE NEED SOME TIME TO GET THE NOTICES OUT. WE COULD NOT HAVE THIS MEETING ON THE 26 OR 27TH BECAUSE IT IS ROSH HASHANAH, UNLESS THE CITY NOW WANTS TO BE SUED FOR DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-SEMITISM. WE HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING IN THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 28TH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT COMMISSIONER BOLTON AND VICE MAYOR VILLALOBOS WILL BE OUT OF TOWN ON SEPTEMBER 28TH THROUGH EITHER OCTOBER 1ST OR OCTOBER 3RD RESPECTIVELY, AT A MEETING IN WASHINGTON DC. WE WILL THEREFORE NOT HAVE ANY DAYS WHERE WE'RE ALL IN, UNAVAILABLE UNLESS IT'S AFTER THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, AND I DON T KNOW IF THAT IS SUFFICIENT NOTICE TO GET OUT TO OUR CITY. >> I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT MAYBE SOME TRAVEL PLANS MAY HAVE TO BE CANCELED. >> THE SUGGESTIONS THAT TRAVEL PLANS MAY HAVE TO BE CANCELED. >> I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GOING TO WASHINGTON DC. >> THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE ALMOST COMMISSIONED GOING TO WASHINGTON DC THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 28TH FOR A MEETING. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT YOURSELF. >> NO. >> IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT COMMISSIONER PLACKO AND MYSELF. THEREFORE, WE WILL NOT HAVE QUORUM, AND WE CANNOT DO THIS VIRTUALLY. WHICH MEANS THIS CITY WILL BE PUT IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THE GAMES CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED BY THIS CITY COMMISSION. [04:05:02] >> CITY ATTORNEY, ISN'T AN INAPPROPRIATE COMMENT TO ACCUSE THE COMMISSION OF PLAYING GAMES? >> NO, YOU'RE PLAYING GAMES. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU. >> I'M FIGHTING TO LOWER THE PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR RESIDENTS. >> BUT YOU'RE STILL PLAYING GAMES. >> 56.8 PERCENT OF WHICH HOMEOWNERS ARE COST BURDEN. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, VICE MAYOR, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO READ YOUR STATS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ALL YOU LIKES. THEY'RE NOT ON-POINT AND YOU CAN PULL THAT OUT OR WAVE IT AROUND ALL YOU LIKE. THAT IS NOT ON-POINT. >> I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE SOME CONCERNS FOR THE RESIDENTS. >> [OVERLAPPING] CITY ATTORNEY >> WELL, THE MOTION WAS MADE PRESUMING IT GETS SECOND. [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S ALREADY BEEN SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING. >> I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH THE MANAGER AND WITH MR.STREDER AND MS. WHITE, THAT FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, THEIR ASSISTANCE, AND WE WILL IMMEDIATELY INFORM YOU OF WHAT THAT INFORMATION IS AND THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE TRIM STATUTE. >> HOW MUCH MONEY APPROXIMATELY WILL IT COST THE CITY TO RESCHEDULE THIS MEETING? NOT EVEN THE TIMING OF IT. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL HARD COSTS YOU MAILED. >> I'M NOT SURE. I WANTED TO CORRECT BEFORE WE PROCEED OR BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I DID WANT TO CORRECT MYSELF AND SAY THAT THE ADDITIONAL COST AND THE ACTUAL MAILED NOTICE TO INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNERS AS IF WE WERE TRYING TO GO ABOVE OUR SET MILLAGE RATE SO THAT STILL WE'LL HAVE TO UNDER THE STATUTE, AS I READ IT, INCUR THE COST OF PLACING AN ADDITIONAL NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER GENERAL SUN SENTINEL, I THINK THOSE NOTICES COSTS AROUND A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS. >> CITY MANAGER, YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING? >> YEAH. I WOULD JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE CONTINUE AND FINISH TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE MOTION TO ADJOURN BE TABLED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE WOULD BE MADE THE MOTION. >> I WILL TAKE MY MOTION BACK. >> WE COULD ALWAYS BE MAKING IN A LITTLE BIT. >> TAKE INTO CONSIDERATIONS CITY MANAGER'S REQUEST. >> I WILL ONCE AGAIN MAKE THE MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.075 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6363 MILS WERE 9.88 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE IS TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? MOTION FAILED 3 TO 2. >> THERE'S JUST NO SENSE. WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE HERE. >> TO MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE AT 7.0000 >> SECOND. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> NO. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> NO. >> MOTION FAIL, 3 TO 2. >>WE'RE ALL LIKE CHILDREN. >> AT THIS POINT IN TIME. MR.STREDER I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHICH NUMBERS GO TO WHITE ON MY PAGE FOR THE NEXT QUEST. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING RATE AT 7.0500 MILS, WHICH IS BLANK. >> 6.19. [OVERLAPPING] [04:10:05] >> 6.113. >> 6.113, IS THAT THE 0.72 MILS? >> IT'S 99.49 PERCENT OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> IT'S ALL WE STATED. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.0500 MILS, WHICH IS 0.6113 OR 9.49 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE IS 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS INCREASE IN MILLAGE RATE IS TO FUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. >> SECOND. >> I'VE GOT TWO SECONDS. CITY CLERK YOU COULD TAKE IT BACK. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> NO. >> MAYOR GOMEZ? >> YES. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> MOTION FAILED, 3 TO 2. >> LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO REACH ANY DECISION HERE. THERE'S NO COMPROMISE. IT'S UNFORTUNATE. BUT I JUST DON'T SEE ANYTHING CHANGING HERE TONIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO, I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS A SHAME THAT WHAT IS BEING DONE RIGHT NOW, FORGIVE ME, BUT SINCE YOU'RE THE ONE RETIRING, THIS IS THE LEGACY THAT IS BEING LEFT FOR YOU. THE LEGACY OF HAVING THIS CITY COMMISSION BE AN UTTER AND TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT TO THE CITY BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO WERE ELECTED TO DO THE SERVICE OF THE CITY COULD NOT DO SO. I'M SORRY. >> IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE. I HATE TO READ THE ARTICLES WE'RE GOING TO READ TOMORROW. THE PAPER AND THE BLOGGERS ABOUT HOW WE ALL BEHAVED HERE TONIGHT. I'M EMBARRASSED BY OUR BEHAVIOR. >> EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, I'VE JUST BEEN ADVISED BY JEFF THAT WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THAT WE'LL HAVE SPACE IN THE PAPER TO ADVERTISE FOR THE HEARING, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT, RIGHT? >> YES. >> WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT. >> BASICALLY, IF I UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS, CITY OF TAMARAC IS HEREBY BEING PIGEONHOLED, BULLIED, PUT INTO A VICE, STRAPPED. >> CITY ATTORNEY, THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS. [OVERLAPPING] >> I AM NOT SAYING THIS TO ANYBODY ABOUT ANYBODY I'M ALLOWED TO SAY THE WAY I FEEL. THESE ARE MY FEELINGS, AND IF OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAY I FEEL THEN THAT IS THEIR ISSUE, NOT MINE. WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE IF WE DO NOT COME TO A BUDGET THAT IS SATISFY A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THEIR STANCE, WE'RE THEN IN A POSITION WHERE THE CITY WILL NOT HAVE A BUDGET. IT WILL LOSE FUNDING, IT WILL LOSE EMPLOYEES AND YOU KNOW WHAT, AFTER TONIGHT, I'M PRETTY SURE SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE MOVING. I DO THIS WITH EXTREME DISDAIN FOR BEING PUT IN THIS POSITION. BUT IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT GO DOWN THE SHIP WITH THE GAMES THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING PLAYED AS SUCH, I MAY. [OVERLAPPING] EXCUSE ME. >> MAY I MAKE A COMMENT, I HAVE MY LIGHT ON I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TAKING IF EVERYBODY'S LIGHT IS ON. >> EVERYBODY'S LIGHT'S ON, SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD- [OVERLAPPING] >> SHE'S SPEAKING LET HER FINISH SPEAKING. >> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE YOU LEAVE YOUR LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, ARE YOU MAKING A POINT OF ORDER? >> I'M JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND I HAVE MY LIGHT ON TO ACTUALLY SPEAK. >> OKAY. >> AS YOU CAN SEE COMMISSIONER PLACKO TURNS HERS OFF I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER GALLON IS GOING TO SPEAK VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SPEAKING AND YOU INTERRUPTED HER. [04:15:03] LET HER FINISH HER THOUGHT. [OVERLAPPING] SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU. >> SHE ASKED ME A QUESTION, SIR. >> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENTS FOR THE RECORD. WE HAVE COME FROM 7.2 ALL THE WAY TO 7.0 ALL THE WAY TO 7.1,ALL THE WAY TO 7.0725 TO 7.05. I HAVE COMPROMISED ON YOUR MOTION, MAYOR, THAT YOU'VE MADE. COMMISSIONER PLACKO COMPROMISED. YET, WE STILL DON'T HAVE COMPROMISE FROM VICE MAYOR GELIN AND COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. AT THIS TIME, AS EVERYBODY CAN CLEARLY SEE, BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY WHO CANNOT SEE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. I BELIEVE IT'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE COMMISSION WILL BE STUCK HAVING TO UNRAVEL THAT WHICH WE ARE DEALING WITH TONIGHT. I MAKE A MOTION TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.00 MILLS. I NEED THE REST [OVERLAPPING] NO. YOU WILL NOT CUT THIS THROUGH. WE WILL DO THIS RIGHT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME THE REST OF THE DETAILS SO I CAN PUT THIS IN HERE. IT IS 5.613. >> 5.613 MILS OVER OR 8.72 PERCENT OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE. >> THANK YOU. I MAKE THE MOTIONS TO SET THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE AT 7.00 MILS, WHICH IS 5.613 MILS, OR 8.72 PERCENT MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 6.4387 MILS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE IS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN THE FINAL BUDGET. >> SECOND. >> CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS. >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER PLACKO. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON. >> YES. >> MOTION PASS FIVE TO ZERO. >> NOW THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THAT DISTASTEFUL ITEM, WE NOW HAVE A 1,000,139 TO CUT FROM THE BUDGET. IS THAT CORRECT, MR.STREDER ? >> IT'S $1,013,333. >> THANK YOU. MADAM CITY MANAGER, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US TO PROPERLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO READJUST THIS BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON WITH OUR STAFF FOR THE PAST ON TEEN MONTHS THAT WE HAVE JUST GUTTED BY ANOTHER $506,116? >> WELL, WE'VE HEARD FROM YOU ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO CUT. THEN WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE, THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. IF WE HAD EVENTS MULTIPLE TIMES, THAT'S 295,000. THE CAR ALLOWANCE WE WOULD PROBABLY JUST NEED A LITTLE TIME TO GROUP AND GET YOU TO $1 MILLION. [OVERLAPPING] >> CAN WE ADOPT OUR MOTION IN THE STATE OF FLUX THAT IS CURRENTLY IN LEGALLY OR DO WE HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN NUMBERS HARD AND FAST BEFORE WE CAN? >> YOU NEED TO ADOPT A FINAL BUDGET BECAUSE MR.STREDER ASKED ME THIS EARLIER AND I CHECKED THE STATUTE IT'S A SECOND TIME. THE STATUTE SAYS THAT THE HEARINGS FOR THE MILLAGE, WHICH WE'VE DONE, FINISHED, AND THE BUDGET ARE TIED TOGETHER. WE'VE GOT ADOPT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. IF NOT WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT NOTICE REQUIREMENT THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE. >> BUT MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IF WE ARE TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND SAY THAT TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509 ESTABLISHING THE OPERATING BUDGET, CAPITAL BUDGET, AND FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 ART IS HERE BY PAST WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE AMENDED AND ADJUSTED TO THE TUNE OF 1.0131, [04:20:07] IS THAT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH? >> IF YOU IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO BE REDUCED, YOU WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY THEM WITH ENOUGH SPECIFICITY WHERE STAFF CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND SUBMIT THE FINAL BUDGET AS REQUIRED IN THE MILLAGE RATE TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. >> WHAT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN WE TEND TO DO BUDGET AMENDMENTS, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WE NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT PRICE. WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT AND ADJUST IT, ISN'T THAT SOMETHING WE CAN. >> IF YOU RECALL, WHEN YOU SEE THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THERE SPECIFICALLY BY LINE ITEM, AND THEY STATE HOW MUCH WAS THE ORIGINAL APPROPRIATION AND WHAT THE CHANGE IS, AND WHAT THE NEW NUMBER IS. THAT'S HOW STAFF BRINGS THEM FORTH TO YOU AND WHICH IS MS. WHITE INDICATED WE'LL BE DOING ONE PRIOR TO THE END OF NOVEMBER TO RECONCILE THE BOOKS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE. UNLESS YOU DELEGATE TO THE MANAGER OR THE AUTHORITY WHERE TO CUT THE MILLION PLUS, YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY WITH SPECIFICITY. >> I THINK THIS COMMISSION HAS STATED WITH ENOUGH SPECIFICITY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE CUT. THEREFORE, WE SHOULD BE GIVING THE DELEGATION OF OUR ABILITY TO PASS THIS BUDGET TONIGHT WITH THE CITY MANAGER HAVING THAT AUTHORITY TO DO SO. WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHICH ITEMS TO CUT AND WHICH ITEMS ARE NOT TO CUT. >> THAT IS THE KEY. IF YOU ALL BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY IN DURING THE BUDGET DISCUSSION THAT PREVIOUSLY TOOK PLACE, THAT YOU GAVE THE MANAGER SUFFICIENT DIRECTION AS TO WHAT ARE THE AREAS THAT YOU WANT CUT AND THAT YOU'RE AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO MAKE THOSE CUTS AS DISCUSSED, YES YOU CAN THEN ADOPT THE BUDGET AND WE WOULD TAKE THE STEPS OF MAKING THOSE CHANGES CONSISTENT WITH YOUR DIRECTION. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS, YOU HAVE A QUESTION. >> I LIKE TO ADD ON THERE, SHAKER VILLAGE FOR $900,000 I'LL MAKE IT A LOT EASIER TO REACH THAT GOAL. >> I WILL STATE MY OPINION. GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANTED TO PUT ON THE TABLE THAT WITH THE DELEGATION OF CUTS, THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY TO USE APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT TO MAKE THAT MILLION DOLLARS. LIKE WE OFFERED CUTS AND APPROPRIATION, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE BOTH. >> YES. YOU'RE WAVING YOUR HANDS AT ME AND LOOK AT YOU BEING DISRESPECTFUL AS WELL. SHAME ON YOU. >> SHE ASKED A QUESTION THAT I RESPONDED. SHE WAS TALKING TO THE BODY. >> GENTLEMEN. YES, I WAS THE ONE SHE WAS TALKING TO. CITY MANAGER, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU OR FOR OUR FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT. AT WHICH LEVEL OF FUND BALANCE SHOULD AUTHORITY BE GIVEN TO YOU IN WHICH IT WILL NOT SEVERELY HINDER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR YEARS. AS MUCH AS I HEAR THE COMMENTS BEING MADE, THAT IT SHOULD BE IN DISTRICT 1 BECAUSE FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE REALITY IS, THOSE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 1 DID NOT ASK FOR THIS FIASCO OF THIS EVENING AND SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED. THEN AGAIN, NEITHER SHOULD OUR PERSONNEL BE PENALIZED FOR WHAT HAS GONE ON THIS EVENING. I STILL BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE THAT WE'VE NEEDED TO HIRE, WE STILL NEED TO HIRE. >> I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 TO TAKE OUT OF THE APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I HEREBY MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT TEMPORARY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2509, ESTABLISHING OPERATING BUDGET, CAPITAL BUDGET, AND FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, FOR THE BUDGET TO BE AMENDED ACCORDING TO THE COMMENTS STATED HERE IN AND THE CITY MANAGER BE DELEGATED ALL FULL AUTHORITY AND POWER TO DETERMINE THOSE ITEMS, [04:25:02] ALONG WITH THE ABILITY TO INCORPORATE A FUND TRANSFER BALANCE OF NO MORE THAN $500,000. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? [BACKGROUND] I'M NOT DOING THAT FOR YOU TO HAVE TO FORCE TO DO IT, THE REALITY IS, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED, IF PEOPLE ON THE DAYS ARE ACTUALLY SHOCKED THAT THEY GOT WHAT THEY WERE WANTING FOR SO LONG AND ASKING FOR THAT THERE NOW SPINNING AND THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO IN A BUDGET, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD DO A MOTION TO REHEAR AND REOPEN THE LAST BUDGET ITEM AND WE SET THE MILLAGE RATE. >> I HAVE A SUGGESTION. >> YES. COMMISSIONER PLACKO. >> WE'RE WASTING ALL THIS TIME. WHY DON'T WE TAKE THIS ONE AT A TIME AND SEE IF WE HAVE CONSENSUS WITH ANY OF THESE OTHERWISE WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME. THE CITY MANAGER WILL COME BACK TO US WITH SOMETHING AND WE'LL SPEND HOURS FIGHTING OVER. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> NO. >> THE CITY MANAGER ALREADY HAS A CONSENSUS FROM US. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING THIS. >> BUT THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A LOT OF NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. YES, I DID. NO, I DIDN'T. ONLY THREE SAID IT. LET'S NOT GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. >> IF WE CHOOSE TO TRY THAT, MY CURIOSITY IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE CAN'T CUT THINGS BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE NO CONSENSUS. THEN WE ARE GOING TO BE BACK AT STAGE 1. YES. EXACTLY. CITY MANAGER. >> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IF THE AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED TO ME AND MY TEAM TO MAKE THE CUTS AND THE APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE, THAT IT WOULD BE FINAL AND IT WOULDN'T NEED TO NECESSARILY COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION AGAIN FOR A VOTE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR IF THAT WAS UNCLEAR SO THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF EXACTLY WHAT WAS BEING ASKED. >> OKAY. >> IF I MAY, [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THAT THE MOTION THAT SHOULD BE MADE IS TO ADOPT A FINAL BUDGET AT WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS THAT BASED UPON THE NEW MILLAGE NUMBER, WHATEVER THAT COMPARED TO WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. THERE'S ACTUALLY A NUMBER BEING ADOPTED AND BEING PLUGGED IN. [BACKGROUND] THAT THE MAYOR JUST DIRECTED TO MAKE THE CUTS CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIOR DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE WHEN THIS ITEM WAS ORIGINALLY DISCUSSED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. >> CITY ATTORNEY. MR. TRADER IS UP AT THE DAY. >> CERTAINLY HIS INPUT IS APPRECIATED. WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SUFFICIENT DIRECTION GIVEN TO THE MANAGER SO THAT STAFF KNOWS WHAT IT IS THAT ARE THE CUTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THUS THE BUDGET IS FINAL AS DIRECTED. >> WE CAN'T REVISE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET OR THE TOTAL BUDGET UNLESS WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MIX IS. BECAUSE IF YOU USE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE, THAT DOESN'T CHANGE THE TOTAL BUDGET NUMBER. ONLY THE EXPENDITURES CHANGES THE TOTAL BUDGET NUMBER. [OVERLAPPING] WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE MIX IS IN ORDER TO LAND AT A NEW NUMBER. >> WELL, THEN I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. MASS SHOOTERS INDICATED WHAT YOU ALL NEED, WHAT THE INSTRUCTION NEEDS TO BE, OR NEEDS TO BE MORE SPECIFICITY THAN WHAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED. >> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY JOHN, MORE SPECIFICITY OR USE THE ENTIRE APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE FOR THE ENTIRE 1,013,000. >> THAT AS WELL, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION. >> WHAT DAMAGE DOES THAT DO TO OUR CITY IF WE TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS. [BACKGROUND] WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET CONSENSUS ON THAT. DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT ANSWERING. THANK YOU THOUGH. >> THEN IF YOU GO AHEAD AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT AND WE'LL GET TO IT. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO TO EVENTS PEOPLE. >> I WOULD LIKE A MOTION THAT WE ALL WILL FINISH THIS EVENING AT THIS RATE AND TIME. EVENTS, SPECIAL EVENTS, MULTICULTURAL EVENTS, TAMARAC VILLAGE EVENTS FOR THE JULY EVENT, TURKEY SHOT, CONCERT SERIES FOUR CONCERTS, JUNETEENTH, FREEDOM FESTIVAL, ROCK N' RIDE TWO EVENTS LIKE HISTORY MONTH EVENT, MEMORIAL DAY, VETERANS DAY, THREE MOVIES IN THE PARK, KOREAN, CARIBBEAN FAMILY FUN DAY, HOLIDAY LIGHTING, [04:30:01] BOARDS AND COMMISSION LUNCHEON, PAUSE WITH CLAWS. TOTAL AMOUNT $534,133. >> [OVERLAPPING] MY LIGHT LIT UP FOR SPEAKING. >> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. TO CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, AND OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR. ISN'T IT MOST APPROPRIATE NOW THAT WE'VE DETERMINED A MILLAGE RATE TO DIRECT STAFF TO THE CITY MANAGER TO COME BACK TO US WITH A BUDGET BECAUSE WE ARE THE POLICY MAKERS, WE'RE NOT BUDGET OR FINANCE PEOPLE, AS THE MAYOR SAID EARLIER, TO COME BACK WITH A BALANCED BUDGET AT THE 7.1 RATE. >> VICE MAYOR, BEFORE IT GOES TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY, THAT WAS WHAT I HAD ALREADY ASKED FOR AND WE HAD BEEN ADVISED THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT. THAT'S WHY IT IS COMING BACK TO US BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT SET THE POLICY OF REDUCING THE MILLAGE RATE BY A MILLION DOLLARS AFTER OUR CITY STAFF HAD OVER 9 MONTHS TO PREPARE AN ORGANIZED BUDGET BASED ON WHAT WE HAD ASKED FOR AND AS SUCH, NOW IT IS BACK ON US TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE CUT SINCE WE'RE THE ONES WHO ASKED FOR ALL THIS OTHER STUFF TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> AS WE ALL KNOW, FROM THE BUDGET NUMBERS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US, THEY'RE BUDGETED TO ACTUAL NUMBERS, THE CITY BUDGETS CONSERVATIVELY AND SO THEY OVER-BUDGET IN A LOT OF CATEGORIES. THEY HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE FINANCES, WHICH IS WHY WE ALWAYS HAVE A SURPLUS. WE HAVE HAD 9-8 MILLION DOLLAR SURPLUSES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. >> VICE MAYOR GELIN. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'VE HAD SURPLUS. NOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING $1,013,233. THAT IS THE TOPIC AT HAND, NOTHING ELSE. >> FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED IN YOUR STUDIES OR IN THE MATERIAL YOU'VE PROVIDED US, WITH A BUDGET WITH CUTS OF THE $1,013,233? THAT'S THE 7.0 MIL. >> THAT'S THE LOSS IN REVENUE TO THE CITY. IT'S 7.007 MILS. >>THEN WE NEED TO LOSE EXPENSES IN THAT AMOUNT? >> OR A COMBINATION OF REDUCTION IN EXPENSES COMBINED WITH SOME AMOUNT OF APPROPRIATION FROM FUND BALANCE. >> IT'S REALLY REDUCTION OF PROPOSED EXPENSES BECAUSE WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY ACTUALIZE ALL THE EXPENSES, CORRECT? >> BUT THEY'RE IN THE PLAN, THEY'RE BUDGETED. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE CAN'T GET 100 PERCENT OF THAT FROM THE FUND BALANCE? >> I NEVER SAID THAT. >> CAN WE GIVE THE CITY MANAGER A FLEXIBILITY TO GET UP TO THIS DOLLAR VALUE OF THE FUND BALANCE? >> VICE MAYOR, WE ALREADY TRIED THAT, IT DID NOT WORK. >> WE DIDN'T GET CONSENSUS. >> WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE. CITY MANAGER. >> WHAT I MIGHT SUGGEST IS IF WE STARTED WITH WHAT WE MIGHT BE WILLING TO GET FROM THE FUND BALANCE, AND THEN WORK BACKWARDS FROM THERE TO DETERMINE THE CUTS. IF THE COMMISSION IS COMFORTABLE WITH $250,000 APPROPRIATION FROM THE FUND BALANCE, THEN WE KNOW WE NEED TO CUT 1,013,000 MINUS 250,000 TO GET TO A NUMBER. THEN I THINK IT WOULD BE A LITTLE EASIER. >> WE SHOULD GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY UP TO THE FULL 1,013,233. >> UNLESS I'M HEARING YOU, VICE MAYOR, THAT YOU'RE JUST SAYING JUST TAKE THE WHOLE FUND BALANCE AND FORGET ANYTHING ELSE, NO OTHER PARTS. >> TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF THE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY, THE NUMBER SHE CAN WORK WITH IS THE COMPLETE DOLLAR VALUE THAT'S LISTED ON THE SHEET, 1,013,233. THAT'S THE AMOUNT THE PROJECTED REVENUE BUDGET AMOUNT IS GOING TO GO DOWN BY. THAT WAY, SHE HAS A FLEXIBILITY OF UP TO THIS DOLLAR VALUE. SHE CAN GO UP TO IT, A QUARTER OF IT, HALF OF IT, THREE-QUARTERS OF IT, TO MAKE A DECISION BETWEEN THAT AMOUNT AND WHATEVER ACTUAL EXPENSES SHE REDUCED. >> VICE MAYOR, [OVERLAPPING] WE HAD ALREADY ASKED THAT, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO IT. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD US SUCH, PLUS THE FACT WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IT COME BACK TO US BECAUSE THIS COMMISSION IS NOT GIVING FULL AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO FINALIZE IT. THEREFORE, THE RUB IS IT HAS TO COME BACK TO US. >> GIVE HER THE FULL AUTHORITY. [04:35:01] >> CITY ATTORNEY. >> IF YOU ALL DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM, AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT IS WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS TRYING TO AVOID, THEN THE MOTION SHOULD BE TO THE MANAGER FOR THE MANAGER TO TAKE FROM FUND BALANCES THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE REVENUE SHORTFALL BASED UPON THE ADOPTED FINAL MILLAGE AND HER STAFF WILL MAKE THAT DECISION. IT WILL MEAN THAT THE FULL MILLION DOLLARS PLUS IS COMING OUT OF FUND BALANCES. IF THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO AND TELL US HOW MUCH OUT OF FUND BALANCES AND IF THAT'S NOT THE FULL MILLION, WHERE THE REST COMES FROM? >> I THINK THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT IT APPEARS THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEDUCTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED FOR ARE NOT BEING TAKEN CREDIT FOR AND THE BUCKET IS BEING PASSED TO THE CITY MANAGER TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF WHAT GETS CUT VERSUS THIS COMMISSION BEARING THE BURDEN OF WHY IT GETS CUT BECAUSE OF THE DECISION THIS COMMISSION HAS MADE FOR THE REDUCTION IN THE MILEAGE RATE. >> POINT OF ORDER, MAYOR. >> YES. >> ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED A SUPER MAJORITY ON ANY OF THESE CONSENSED ITEMS? >> NO. >> ALL RIGHT, LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, MAYOR. LET'S GO ONE BY ONE. WE NEED THREE VOTES FOR EACH ITEM. >> PARDON. >> I WOULD SAY ZERO DOLLARS FROM THE FUND AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE. THAT'S ON MY FIRST CONSENSUS. >> QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY THROUGH THE CHAIR. >> CITY ATTORNEY. THERE'S A QUESTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> CAN WE MOVE THIS MEETING TO A TIME CERTAIN TO GIVE A CITY MANAGER AND HER STAFF TIME TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION WITH A REVISED BUDGET? >> NO. NOT WITHOUT QUALIFIED NOTE. NOT WITHOUT MEETING THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS TO NOTICE IT, PLACE IT IN THE NEWSPAPER, HAVE THE TIME, AND MEET THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH WE HAVE TO OPERATE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF COME UP WITH. GO AHEAD, CITY MANAGER. >> I HATE TO REQUEST ANOTHER ADJOURNMENT, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE US 15 MINUTES TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING TOGETHER, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THAT'LL BE A LOT FASTER THAN THIS COMMISSION TRIED TO COME UP WITH A MILLION DOLLARS. >> CITY MANAGER, IT IS 10:42. 11 O'CLOCK? DO YOU NEED 11: 15? WHAT DO YOU NEED? YOU TELL US A TIME. >> I THINK 11:10 WOULD BE GOOD. >> ALL RIGHT. BUT BEFORE I ADJOURN THIS MEETING TO 11:10, I WOULD LIKE A MOTION THAT THIS MEETING WILL STAY PAST 11:30 SO THAT WE CAN GET THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY DONE. >> I SECOND THAT. I MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY PAST 11:30 TO CONCLUDE THIS MEETING. LOOKING FOR A SECOND. >> I DON'T HAVE A SECOND. [LAUGHTER] >> WE NEED TO JUST DO THIS NOW. >> YOU KNOW WHAT? THE MEETING IS IN RECESS AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET IT ALL, FIGURE IT OUT THAT WE CAN RESOLVE THIS MATTER BY 11:30. >> YOU GUYS ARE RIDICULOUS. >> [OVERLAPPING] RECESS TILL 11:10. THANK YOU. A VERY NICE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HAS BROUGHT US SOME DONUTS. THEY ARE ON THE BACK. WE THANK THAT SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY FOR DOING SO. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS 11:10. WE ARE BACK AT OUR COMMISSION BUDGET MEETING. WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER 2. CITY MANAGER, BEFORE WE LEFT, YOU WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FINDINGS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE CAN CUT $291,001 FOR THE FITNESS ZONE. WE CAN REDUCE THE EVENTS THAT BUDGET BY $127,232. WE CAN CUT THE INITIATIVES BY 95,000, AND WE CAN CUT THE SECURITY MASTER PLAN BY 500,000 AND THAT GETS US TO THE TOTAL OF $1,013,233. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATION. [04:40:03] I WOULD JUST ASK THAT SHOULD SOMEONE BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE CUTS, THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. >> BEFORE I'M WILLING TO ASK THAT, I NEED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. THIS SECURITY MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY, DOES THAT INCLUDE ANY PERSONNEL? >> NO. >> DOES THAT PUT THE CITY INTO ANY SECURITY JEOPARDY? >> IT DOES NOT. >> PRESUMABLY, YOU'LL GIVE US A LIST OF THE $127,000 FOR EVENTS AND WHICH EVENTS ARE BEING CUT AT A LATER DATE? >> IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WISH. YES, OF COURSE. >> I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL BUDGET AS AMENDED BASED UPON THE ADOPTED FINAL MILLAGE RATE OF 7.00 >> MADAM MAYOR, JUST FOR THE RECORD. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF TRIM COMPLIANCE IS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE READ INTO THE RECORD AND I'LL DO IT VERY QUICKLY. THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE. AGAIN, AN ORDINANCE, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET, REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, CAPITAL BUDGET AND FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023, PROVIDING FOR COMPLEX PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THANK YOU. DO YOU NEED ME NOW TO READ THE MOTION YOU GAVE ME TO? [BACKGROUND] I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR A SECOND. I AM MOTIONING TO APPROVE THE FINAL BUDGET AS AMENDED BASED UPON THE ADOPTED FINAL MILLAGE RATE OF 7.000. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PLACKO. CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. COMMISSIONER PLACKO? >> YES. >> THE VICE MAYOR GELIN. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER BOLTON? >> YES. >> MAYOR GOMEZ. >> YES. >> MOTION PASSES 5 TO 0. THANK YOU. >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BASICALLY, STAFF, EXACT EVERYBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. FOR EVERYBODY WATCHING, FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN THE OFFICE, IN THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. EVERYONE GET HOME SAFELY. HAVE A GOODNIGHT. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.