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>> CALL TO ORDER THAT SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MADAME CLERK.
TAKE -- (ROLL CALL). >> HOUSEKEEPING.
PERSONAL DEVICES WILL YOU PUT THEM ON AIRPLANE, SILENT OR TURN THEM COMPLETELY OFF. THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. COVID-19 IS STILL WITH THE SPIRIT WHATEVER MEASURES YOU DEEM NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOUR HELP, OR THE HELP OF OTHERS, IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
COMMISSIONERS IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, YOU WILL BEHAVE PROFESSIONALLY. WITH THAT, ARE WE DOING THE PLEDGE --
[4.1 Statement regarding the percentage increase in Millage over the rolled-back rate necessary to fund the budget and the specific purpose for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased.]
I THINK WE WILL DO THE PLEDGE AT THE REGULAR MEETING . THANK YOU.SO ITEM FOUR, FOUR.ONE. >> TRUTH AND MILLER STATEMENT PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 2022 -- 134, WHICH SETS THE MILLAGE RATE FOR OPERATING EXPENDITURES AND SETS ABOUT MILITARY FOR THAT CHAPTER 200 .065 FLORIDA STATUTE REQUIRES THAT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED . THE TAXING AUTHORITY LETTING THIS PROPERTY TAXES THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH. ROLLBACK RATE IS 4.7709 MILLS PER $1,000 OF THE ASSESSED VALUE.
THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS 11.8% OVER THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE.
THE OPERATING MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED IS 5.3330 MILLS PER
[5.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022/2023]
$1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE . >> THANK YOU.
SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. HENCE THE WORD PUBLIC.
SO WE OFFERED THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE MILLAGE RATE . SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, I DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER REQUEST FORM .
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS FIRST BEFORE
WE MOVE ON TO BUSINESS . >> THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING.
I HAVE A COMMENT ON THE BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TOP TRACER . FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE HERE IN 2019 AND THREE OF YOU WERE, THE PROJECT THAT YOU APPROVED FOR TOP TRACER WAS TO GENERATE $200,000 PER YEAR IN REVENUE . IT WASN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT REQUIREMENTS AND WOULD BRING LOTS OF MONEY TO THE CITY. THIS YEAR TOP TRACER LOST $20,000. SO FROM I WANT TO KNOW AND WOULD STRONGLY URGE THAT YOU CONSIDER HOW MUCH LONGER YOU WILL THROW AFTER I HAD ON THIS PROJECT . I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSIDER STOPPING IT CLOSING IT, LET THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE BUILDING, WITHIN THAT MONEY THAT WAS BUDGETED IN 2019 THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT CORRECTED, LAST WEEK THE DRIVERS RANGE AND TOP TRACER WAS CLOSED FOR FOUR DAYS BECAUSE OF STANDING WATER
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IT IS A FAILED PROJECT. WHAT I WOULD STRONGLY URGE YOU DO IS ACCEPT THE FACT IT WAS FAILED IT WAS NOT BASED ON GOOD DATA IT WAS BASED ON WHEN, WHEN YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A CITY COMMISSION AND CLOSE IT DOWN, STOP THE BLEEDING . THAT COMES OFF OF THE GOLF COURSE . THEY COULD USE IT FOR A NUMBER OF THINGS BUT THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE THEY TOOK A LOSS THIS YEAR THEY WILL EVERY YEAR, BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE RIGHTPROJECT FOR THIS CITY . >> ANY MEMBERS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESSED THE COMMISSION ON EITHER THE BUDGET
OR THE MILLAGE. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE
MILLAGE RATE AT 5.330 . >> DISCUSSION? THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AND READ A COMMENT ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE . THIS CONSTITUENT OF OUR CITY SAW THE NOTICE OF THE TAX INCREASE . AND I TOLD HER THERE WOULD BE A TAX INCREASE, AND SHE SAID HOW CAN THEY DO THIS, MY GROCERIES HAVE SKYROCKETED, WHY ARE WE BEING PUNISHED.
THAT COMMISSION IS ACTING LIKE IT IS 1999 AND WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A GLOBAL DEPRESSION . COMMISSIONERS I WANT TO REMIND YOU, WE DO HAVE TO GET TO THE ROLLBACK RATE.
I BROUGHT FORTH IDEAS, THERE IS AN OPTION THERE APPEAR I WANT TO SAY THAT, IN OUR COMMUNITY WE CAN SEE THERE IS AFFLUENCE BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE CITY, ACCORDING TO THE SENSES WE HAVE A HIGHER POVERTY RATE . THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN POVERTY HERE IN FERNANDINA THAN NATIONALLY. WE ARE HURTING AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE I WILL BE VOTING NO .
>> VICE MAYOR. >> IM SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, INFLATION HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE CITY AND THAT NEED TO GIVE EMPLOYEES ADJUSTMENTS . I SAID THIS LAST TIME, TAXES ARE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN $3 . SO THE NUMBERS ARE -- THAT IS NOT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING . I WILL MOVE FORWARD AND APPROVE THIS .
WHICH IS GOOD . >> YOU ALL AGREED, THAT CITY EMPLOYEES DESERVE AND NEED IT AND ALL FIVE OF US, VOTED FOR THIS . KNOWING, THAT THE INCREASE WAS CLOSE TO $2 MILLION. IT TURNS OUT IF WE WENT TO THE ROLLBACK RATE WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE $1.8 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET . I WILL BE VOTING TO MAINTAIN AND WHAT THIS BUDGET DOES, WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE FOR 20 YEARS WE HAVE NOT MAINTAIN THE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE . YOU OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVES ON HOW YOU WOULD MAINTAIN THE CITY . YOU OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVES ON HOW YOU WOULD FUND OF $1.8 MILLION.
I WILL PERSONALLY VOTE FOR THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE WHICH WILL SUPPORT CITY WORKERS AND THE SOLUTION .
>> I BROUGHT A LIST OF ITEMS A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION, THERE WAS MORE WE COULD HAVE DONE. I BROUGHT A LIST.
I WANT TO REITERATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT I AGREE WE HAVE TO
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PAY A GOOD WAGE TO THE STAFF. THAT IS NOT HOW WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING . IT'S LIKE YOU ARE USING IT AS A BLOCK . YOU HAVE TO GET PAST THIS AND THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.I WILL VOTE NO ON THIS . AND THAT IS THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO GASLIGHT THE ROOM.
I DID BRING SOMETHING AND WE ALL LOOKED AT IT TOGETHER . BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO, I CAN READ THE ROOM HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGIS I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF . THE THINGS YOU WENT OVER AT THE WORKSHOP WERE TRYING TO FIND TAKING OVER THE LIBRARY BUILDING AND NOT REPLACING ITEMS. TAKE ANOTHER ITEM THAT I DID BRING UP, I WOULD BE WILLING TO DEFER UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR. THE $500 DONATION YOU GOT, WE HAVE A LOT FOR THAT EXACT EQUIPMENT.
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE THAT OFF OF THE LINE ITEM, AND I UNDERSTAND WE DISCUSSED IT LAST MEETING, YOU MAY WANT TO USE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE . THAT IS $400,000.
WE HAVE SEASIDE PARK THAT HAS MONEY THAT COULD BE REMOVED TO REPLACE SEASIDE PARK BUT WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN, AND WE HAVE REPAIRS THAT ARE DUE NOW.
BOB PROBLEM IS NOT THE FIRE CHILD, OR WHEN IT WILL BE IN THE BUDGET, AND THE $20 MILLION PLUS WE ARE BEHIND I DON'T THINK WE WILL GRAB THAT MONEY IN ONE YEAR . I UNDERSTAND.
OUR INFLATION COSTS HAVE GONE UP JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE . I HAVE A FEW PROPERTIES IN THE CITY, AND ONE POINT ONE OF $80 UP INTO WENT $80 APPEAR AND THEY WERE BOTH RESIDENTIAL, MY PERSONAL PROPERTY ONLY WENT UP $38 . I CONSIDER THE AMENITIES AND OFFER CITY, THAT THOSE COSTS ARE WHAT THEY HAVE TO BE.
AND I WILL BE VOTING TO APPROVE IT UNLESS YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE MONEY WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK . IF NOT I WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE MILLAGE RATE . THANK YOU .
>> OKAY, ANYONE ELSE? >> ALL RIGHT, I WAS AT THE CHAMBER FIRMS THIS MORNING FOR CANDIDATES.
I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT FOR YEARS WE WENT TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND WE PUT VERY LITTLE MONEY INTO MAINTENANCE . VERY LITTLE WHICH ENABLED US TO GO TO THE ROLLBACK RULE.
MY FIRST YEAR ON THIS CITY COMMISSION, IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, WE HAD TO CLOSE 12 BEACH WALK OVER'S BECAUSE THEY WERE UNSAFE, AND THEY HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
THE YEARLY MAINTENANCE FOR THE BEACH WALK OVER'S APPROXIMATELY -- APPROXIMATELY 30 BEACH WALK OVER'S,.
>> BEACH WALK OVER. THERE WERE 30.
THE MAINTENANCE THAT WAS PUT ASIDE WAS $50,000 . SO WE HAD TO CLOSE 12 . YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT FOR SO LONG . NOW WE FIND OURSELVES BEHIND THAT EIGHTBALL BALL BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT ONLY DONE THAT WITH BEACH WALK OVER'S WE DONE IT WITH THE REC CENTER WITH MLK, WE HAVE DONE IT WITH THE VERY BUILDING YOU ARE SITTING IN WHICH NEEDS TO $.1 MILLION IN REPAIRS .
TWO-POINT $1 MILLION JUST FOR THIS BUILDING.
THAT IS WHY WE FIND OURSELVES WITH THIS MILLAGE RATE.
WE CAN NO LONGER, OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID THIS, STOP KICKING THE CAN . THIS YEAR WE STOPPED KICKING THE CAN SO
WITH THAT COMMISSIONER STURGIS. >> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
IF IN THE FUTURE WE CAN COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE, I HAVE A COUPLE OF IDEAS. ALTERNATIVE REVENUES THAT SUPPORT THIS, WE WOULD BE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE CAN ALWAYS PULL BACK, BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE DONE,
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IF IN TEN YEARS THE EMPLOYEES- RATES THAT IS A LONG TIME THAT THEY HAVE WORKED FOR US LOYALLY . I THINK BASED ON THAT ALONE WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.>> WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK WILL YOU CALL THE VOTE . (ROLL CALL)
[6.1 ADOPTION OF FINAL FY 2022/2023 BUDGET - RESOLUTION 2022-135 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THE 2022/2023 FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Synopsis: Resolution 2022-135 Adopts the final budget for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.]
AND THAT PAST 4-1 . ALL RIGHT ITEM 611 ADOPTING THE FINAL BUDGET FOR THIRD 20222023 -- 2022-233 YEAR.TANGIBLE TO ADOPT WITH THE EXCEPTION WE TAKE THE 300,000 SLATED FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IT WAS A VERY GENEROUS DONATION TO REPLACE AND MOVE IT INTO GENERAL CONTINGENCY FEAR.
>> SECOND PAIR. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PAIR NOW I WILL HEAR YOUR OBJECTION .
>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO AMEND THE BUDGET . WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN THIS FAR . I HAVE ALREADY STATED WHY I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MOVE IT TO CONTINGENCY .
>> LET ME REWIND . AT THE LAST MEETING YOU WERE CORRECT, THE MONEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT WITHOUT US DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO SO. WE AGREED TO PUT IT BACK INTO THE BUDGET . NOW I HAVE A MOTION, TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET
AND REMOVE THE 300,000 -- >> TO AMEND THE BUDGET, TO MOVE IT AND KEEP $300,000 IN THE BUDGET AS CONTINGENCY BUT NOT FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT . JUST IN GENERAL CONTINGENCY WHICH THERE IS NO CONTINGENCY MONEY IN THE BUDGET WHICH THERE HAS BEEN FOR THE FIVE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE .
>> NOW IS THE TIME TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS WITH ABOUT $300,000
>> I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO USE IT FOR SOME OTHER PARKS AND REC PROJECT, I WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT AND I THINK THAT IS OKAY.
I WASN'T IN FAVOR OF THIS BUT IF THE CITY MANAGER THINGS WE CAN OPERATE BECAUSE WE HAVE EXCESS MONEY WITHOUT A CONTINGENCY FUND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T OPERATE WITHOUT A CONTINGENCY FUND END OF MONEY SHOULD GO INTO SOME OTHER IMPROVEMENT . MAYBE THE MAINTENANCE SITUATION . WE HAVE HAD A HARD ENOUGH TIME GETTING PEOPLE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH BUT YOU WANT TO STATE WITHIN THE BUDGET SO YOU WILL VOTE NO ON THIS BUDGET HERE AND YES TO APPROVE THE BUDGET IS WRITTEN.
I WANT TO REITERATE POINTS FROM LAST MEETING . WE ACCEPTED THE $500,000 DONATION AND IT WENT TO BUILD THIS PLAYGROUND WHICH WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT AND THANKFUL TO THE DONOR.
WHAT WE CANNOT DO IS ACCEPT THE $500,000 DONATION AND THEN STRICKEN IT FROM THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY CREATED.
IT SENDS A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO FUTURE DONORS.
A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO THIS DONOR . IT IS BANANAS IF WE DO THIS.
WE MUST KEEP THE BUDGET AS IS. THIS LINE ITEM NEEDS TO SAY WE CANNOT EXPECT ANYONE TO BE THIS GENEROUS.
WE JUST NEED TO KEEP THE MONEY WHERE IT IS .
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> COMMISSIONER KREGER WILL SECOND VISIT, ADOPT THE BUDGET TAKING THE $300,000 LINE ITEM WHICH GOES TO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND PUT IT AS GENERAL CONTINGENCY FOR PARKS AND RECREATION .
>> THAT IS FINE WITH ME . >> I NEVER SAID TAKE IT OUT OF THE BUDGET. I SAID MOVE IT INTO CONTINGENCY . WE ARE JUST MOVING INTO ANOTHER LINE ITEM.
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THE LINE ITEM WILL STAY IN THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS THERE TO BE FIXED .
>> MR. MAYOR JUST TO CLARIFY. MONEY IS NOT IN THE PARKS AND REC'S DEPARTMENT. IT IS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IT IS DESIGNATED FOR EQUIPMENT BUT IT IS NOT IN THE PARKS AND
REC DEPARTMENT . >> SO THE MOTION --
>> LONG STORY SHORT IT STAYS IN THE PARK AND REC'S DEPARTMENT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. DOES THAT WORK?
>> IF YOU WANT TO IN THE FUND IT IS IDENTIFIED AS CENTRAL PARK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT . IF WE WANT TO MOVE THAT AND MAKE IT
READ SOMETHING MORE GENERAL -- >> WHAT WITH THE GENERAL BE?
>> I WOULD SAY GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS.
INSTEAD OF -- >> WE CHANGE IT TO CONTINGENCY
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS . >> THIS IS A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND . THE TRANSFER WOULD STILL HAPPEN TO THE FUND IN WOULD COME LESS RESTRICTIVE TO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT .
>> I AM GOOD WITH THAT . I WOULD ACTUALLY PUT THE $300 IN THEIR FOR THE NORTH BEACH PARK WALKOVER.
BUT I AM GOOD WITH WHERE WE ARE AT.
>> LET'S PUT THIS BABY TO REST. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ONE FINAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC FOR US TO HEAR THE PUBLIC ON THE SPIRIT SEEN ON CLERK PLEASE CALL THE BOAT ON THIS.
>> CANNOT CLARIFY THE MOTION TO SEE WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON . THIS APPROVES THE BUDGET AS WRITTEN BUT IT IS NOW GENERAL PARKS AND REX FUNDING. I AM FINE WITH THAT .
>> ANY OTHER BUSINESS REGARDING THE MILITARY, SEEN NONE WE ARE ADJOURNED UNTIL 6:30 P.M.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.