Tarpon Springs City Hall Board of Commissioners 2023, 18 Jul 2023

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From YouTube: Board of Commissioners July 18, 2023

Description

Budget workshop

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I called to order the budget work session agenda of the board of commissioners of the.

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City of tarpon springs on tuesday july 18 2023 at 6, 30 pm roll call.

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Please mayores here vice maryland here, commissioner eisner here, commissioner.

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The city managers here ron herring is here: he's got his presentation. uh It it flows, just as you.

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See the agenda item, so what we're going to do is stop after each item and see if there's any.

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Questions from the commission and and continue on that way. So if ron, you want to go ahead and start.

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With the update from the last meeting sure good evening, mayor commissioners ron, herring, finance.

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Director and our first slide is: uh we have some updates in the budget that we're going to be.

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Putting in from your direction last week, christmas decorations, we're going to increase from 68 000.

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To 88 000 and we're going to put some money in for greek greektown initiative and then we're going to.

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Put some money earmarked for pickleball courts, 120, 000. and that'll, be in the fiscal year 24 budget.

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And for fiscal year, 23 we're looking for some money. We heard some concerns about the flooring.

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Over in the public safety building, so we've got some money in the current 2023 budget, so we're.

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Going to cover the the flooring and the public safety building for about 163 thousand dollars.

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um If you have any questions, any commissioners have any questions on any of this. I do actually.

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What does earmarked mean, I didn't see a budget attached to it, so it's not budgeted in there, but.

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We've got some other items. We're looking into um you're marked is because we don't know we.

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Come forward to you and show you the different plans, we don't know which ones you're going to.

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Choose and it's probably going to range from 60 or 80 to 150 160, so we kind of earmarked.

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Something in the middle to at least have it there whether we have to add to it, which.

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Will be easier for zero marked if you had to add 20 or something or if you subtract, then.

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You've got money to do something we kind of hit the middle of what the proposals you'll see are.

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The options we think that'll cover- you know the middle ground, so it's earmarked when you decide.

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um It may be lower, it may be a little higher and then but at least we've got that money set aside.

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For that, thank you. It might also depend on we're figuring out which fund you know. We charge it to.

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As a recreation impact general fund or the penny fund so where it ends up after we look at the cip.

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Okay, anything else, commissioner coulianis. Oh mr eisner, I have no light up.

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uh Commissioner, coulianos go ahead.

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Ron on the greek town, wasn't there a some money appropriated for them in the last budget, yeah.

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It's for the great town grant it's for uh some facade and building improvements in the greektown.

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Area, this is in addition, in addition to that, and does that other monies that were appropriated last.

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Year that does that roll over? Yes, whatever is left. We tried, we carry it over after we.

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See how we finish out the year it was already appropriated. Is it the addition will be brought.

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Over that's left over whatever is not used, so it's in addition to that. Yes, thank you. I think.

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The biggest double quality is we don't have the results of what's coming out this survey, so we.

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Don't know what's coming out, so we don't know what money is available so again we're my term.

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My word is earmark and so we're earmarking that again it could adjust depending when the report.

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Comes out depending what this commission wants to do, so that's why we picked that figure. uh Just a.

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Place for now, so we've got a placeholder for it and then it can be adjusted later. I I was.

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Busy trying to figure out the the names on the buttons that have gone away. But, commissioner,.

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Couliance, did you ask no? No, it's okay, yeah you're button too. um Did you ask the number of courts.

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Is that one of your questions on the 120 000, did you ask about the 120? No, he was.

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On the greek town he was asked about the greek, oh okay, my question was on greektown.

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Yeah go ahead. I had no question um mr herring. um The 35 is just a 35 000. The greektown is a funding.

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Wedge right, just until we get a better idea, yeah and that could go up or down or whatever, okay.

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And and we'll also know what we would be spending it on as far as what the next.

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Step would be it'd, be the board's decision. What we're spending on? What's that? What that price is.

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um Christmas tree decorations are associated with dorset park, or is that something that we bumped.

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Up because of inflation, as in it's in there and then um okay- yes, that's in the that's in the 20th.

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It's inflation and or set parties- okay and then the pickleball courts is there kind of a rough.

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Number that we're looking at as far as the hundred and twenty thousand, how many quarts that would.

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Right now, I think we're still at four or five proposals. Some are as low as two. Some are four.

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um There's a three there's one: where there's a three! So that's why we kind of picked the money.

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In the middle of that kind of in the middle of that can go up and down because we don't know.

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Your location will depend, and, of course, you pick a location that we say four courts could come in.

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And you can only put two or three and stuff, but uh it's just kind of in the middle of the different.

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Proposals again, they'll probably arrange between 80 and 150, depending on what you select and.

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How many quarts, so we just picked that number in between the placehold until until you review, make.

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The decision on a number of records and then again that can fluctuate down or up if we need to. If I.

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Suspect right, this is just a court, no lighting or anything like that right, okay, so the commission.

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Needs to recognize the hundred and twenty thousand is just for the beer boons court. And if it's going.

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To be like the other proposals and phases over the next year- okay, yes yeah, we might need to.

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Talk about that, okay go ahead! Thank you, mr eric. We on the cip now.

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These are you'll, remember these slides from last week at the same couple slides here. It's.

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The eight million of uh cip- that's in the current proposed 2024 budget. I won't go through all these.

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Again, we went through them last week, but uh we've got the public safety items for about 2.8 million.

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Because my little clicker doesn't work here, um water and sewer capital project about 2.7 million.

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Stormwater 200 000 transportation, 1.6 million and uh cultural recreation about 825 000 for a total.

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Of 8 million we also hand it out to you all the uh I want to tell you also. The arpa is not included.

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In here, our plan is to bring the arpa forward on the first budget resolution when we know the.

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Final amounts to through the end of the year and bring it forward on the first budget resolution.

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In january, so this is all the current cip that is in the 2024 budget, open for any questions on those.

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Mr herring was was that the only slide that you had on that? Yes, okay, let me go to.

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um I actually I went through the budget book which had obviously the more detail.

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In it, let me ask commissioners: do you do any of you have any questions.

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Foreign, I do, but I have them according to the budget book, not according to this. Well, I think.

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Mr herring, that that's okay- I mean it it for the executive. It starts on 333, but ron sleeps with.

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His book under his pillow, so you can go ahead and ask your questions. Thank you. Thank you.

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um The fire station that we have that hasn't been constructed yet.

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um You have in 24 1.3 and in 25 you're 1.5. Where are we getting the rest of the money for that? I.

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Just moved up a slider, I don't know if you want to look the fire station you're talking about.

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You know, we've got the. We have one million dollars that we set aside in the current.

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Year, budget 23 for the fire station we've got 1.3 million and 24 1.5 million and 25.

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We've got 720 000 when we did the perpetual exclusive easement on the cell tower for 720.

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000 we've been setting aside, it's in the general fund reserve 720 000.. The county will also.

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They'll do their part, it's 10, so I'll, say it's roughly 650 000.. So that brings us about 5.5.

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Million plus about 330 000 from the impact fund, so what we had budgeted so far was a 5.5 million.

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Okay, um yeah see when you're. Looking at this, you don't see those other things that you mentioned.

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Right so it I know you can pull a rabbit out of your hat, but that one was going to be a big rabbit.

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So um isn't that on your arpa sheets, though it lays out, it is yeah. I think about the third page.

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Hi, that's all. I have really on that on that section. Okay,.

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um Do you have anything not for this, commissioner coulianos.

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So at the last budget meeting we talked about the list of projects that we were going to prioritize.

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Remember we had that x we were going to go through an exercise where the the commissioners.

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Prioritized the capital expenditure items, things that have not yet been started.

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Are we are we doing that tonight? Well, we got as part of the the arbor sheet as we sent. I sent you.

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This afternoon, plus this, I can go over this now, what we, what is part of this four-page handout.

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But what no we had talked about at having a a list again and I'm sure it's in this list. The project's.

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Not started is that delicious? What I'm about right, it's a fourth one is for that. No, I know I I see.

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It's here and then we were going to go through some form of an exercise of prioritizing that.

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um So are we doing? Are we going to be doing that tonight or do we? Is it something we would do? We.

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Individually, yeah, we need to do it and there's probably some things, I'm going to say that kind.

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Of brings that to the surface again, I don't know that we're going to be doing it tonight, right.

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um I think that is almost remember. I said there needs to be some kind of a strategy developed.

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Overall, as far as how we're going to deal with these things, and rather than trying to do, each.

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One individually, I mean that might be the way we ultimately go, but it may be just to try and.

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Do some strategy that, if a project pertains to this- and you know it it qualifies under abc it's.

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The highest priority, if it's, you know, def sort of thing, it's next, for example, on your project status,.

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Sheet you'll see that it broke breaks down into three categories: the highest interest, important.

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And then something that hasn't been started yet or something like that on the last.

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The sheet of the project- you won't, have it there, it's on the it's on the.

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It's on the uh but who will determine the highest priority. That was done. I think, uh mr robertson, you.

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Could you could kind of address that if you'd like uh this is uh mr robertson's uh project status,.

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Report that he gives updates every couple of weeks or so whenever it needs updating, but you want.

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To address this question, that's just a general qualifier in my project update spreadsheet. It's.

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The projects that get the most questions that most interest, the highest uh level of phone calls the.

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All the things that are the the board asked me to talk about more than others. So that's really what.

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It's not a ranking, necessarily it's just a what I think, I'd love. What I think would be helpful.

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um And I'm willing to do it. I can't speak on behalf of the other commissioners, but would be to.

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I'd like to see um a survey done by each of the commissioners highlighting those things that they.

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Believe are the highest priority down a list. So given a list of projects, not small stuff, but the.

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The big stuff and um and then we we compiled that list together and determine you, know how.

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Like remember when you guys were voting on that thing, that time uh for something remember, you.

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Guys were ranking everything. uh It was, I think, for a hiring member when you hired the guy who.

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Was talking about like a matrix yeah, I remember when you hired the the the headhunter remember you.

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Guys went through a thing and you all everybody uh highlighted you know, made their list so uh I'd.

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Like to see some something done on on projects, so that we have a sense of what the priorities.

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Are of the board rather than us? You know here debating it. We all kind of do our our own homework.

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Individually, bring it and then we can debate after we have. You know a consensus of a a compilation of.

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Where what matters to each one of us, and obviously, we would sit down with with mr robertson and and.

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uh And and do that project, but it's it's. I think it's going to be difficult for us up here to just.

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Say or the fire stations the highest priority, or this is the highest priority, or this is a.

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Low priority uh anyways, that's where I'm at okay. Can I answer it's a good idea. What you bring up.

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um But what usually happens is the suggestion comes from uh bob robertson and you know as a.

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Suggestion, because you can have five different ideas here and we would be spending a great deal.

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Of time you know you have your favorite ideas for what projects you want to get done and I have mine.

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Everybody, I think it's more important, that we get a priority list from bob robertson and we then can.

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Discuss that you know five on one and kind of move ahead and at least know well, you know maybe that's.

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Not a good idea, but for us to debate them all or for us to put a list together for all of these.

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Different items we could be so far off from each other. We are yeah, but I mean I look, I'm not saying.

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No, I'm just you know, I just think it's a better idea to go through with you know, have bob give us.

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That list and then go from there, but that's my thing: did you want to say anything vice merlin.

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You know, okay, I think if we start stack, ranking every project out.

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Of four pages of projects, we're not going to be done. This budget cycle.

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um I think let me let me just pick it up a little bit. You know I. I think we need to continue looking.

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At things from a policy perspective in terms of priorities and then it's his job to take what.

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We tell him or the policies, and then he puts together his cip, like he did this evening and.

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um And presents that to us, but what's different, the next time it happens is that there will be.

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The priority based on the policy that we delineate, for example, public safety, is a top priority.

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Recreation may be another thing: the comp plan remember the comp plan with connecting.

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The dots deficiencies and things like that- that's never been done. If you you remember.

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The used to preach priority priority priority we'd, never done priorities. This is last year. I.

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Think was the 2020 after that election was the first attempt to start establishing priorities.

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And we haven't evolved since then, but you're you're right is what you're saying we don't have.

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A prioritization process in place, but it it from from our type of form of government. It.

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It begins with a policy, and then he implements it how it, however, that policy is determined. I.

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Think at some point we need whether it's and I'm I'm talking big picture. I'm not talking.

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About getting into five pages of of projects and saying you know, this street should be fixed before.

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That street I'm talking about major, uh you know I agree projects and and what our priorities are.

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um So that's so, how are we going to determine what we tell the city manager like? How do we all.

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Coordinate that we we have to have a separate discussion on establishing a policy.

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And then we and then at some point in order before we set before we say that that is the policy.

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He needs to test that policy to see whether that would work in terms of taking what we say. That is.

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The important thing- and let him apply it to the the cip that the projects that are being proposed.

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Right now and see if that works, um you know I I can give you a really really good example right.

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Now I was going to get into a little later: um the 1.1 million dollars for the recreational dredging.

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And that's for 2024., but we don't have a place to put the material.

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um Mr the stamis family, they were very uh cooperative, but it was until unless.

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You tell me something different: this is pretty much it this last extension. Is it.

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So we don't have a place to put this material when we do the recreational dredging.

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It it, and so what do you do? Well, the first priority is not to budget money for the actual.

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Dredging, but figure out where you want, to put it, in other words, buy some property or come up with.

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A solution of where is it going to go? We don't have that solution so right now, you're marking.

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1.1 million dollars for recreational dredging in 2024 isn't going to happen in 2024.. I can. I.

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Guarantee that right now so kid, but that's part of the penny money right, that's out of the penny fund.

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Correct! That's right up there on the! So that's right there out of the penny fund and that so that.

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Money could be utilized for something else that maybe a higher priority on, but it is an extremely.

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High priority, but it's a higher priority until we get the the issue of where do we put this stuff.

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The short-sightedness of not buying property gets even worse than that, and I I mentioned that I said.

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A little bit about that last time we could have bought that property at a you know between the 1.1.

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And the 800 000, or so that we've spent on leasing this property. We could have probably bought that.

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But the property doesn't solve the problem. You actually have to build a disposal pod.

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And mr robertson, what was the cost of the disposal pond? Do you recall.

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The one that for this project, uh construction costs was about about a million dollars. How.

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Much one million out of the total one million yeah. So let's say you spend three million dollars on a.

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Piece of property, then you have to spend another million dollars to put the disposal pawn in.

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Well, we're done with this site here with jones is belongs to stamos family. We just don't walk.

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Away from it, we've got to put it back to what its original condition was, which is going to be.

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Another, it may not be our money, but it'll be what 200 000 or so quite a bit more more than that 250.

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000 to restore that site, so we could have bought that property.

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The disposal pond was built by somebody else designed by somebody else built for somebody.

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Else for us and then before gone that 250 000 that we're not going to have to spend to remove.

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That stuff and move it over to the landfill- I guess that's the current plan still right.

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Yeah, so in terms of priorities, the 1.1 is a is a very high priority, but it's not doable.

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And there may be some other things like that in terms of a you know, when we look.

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At the policy, one is: what is, what are the areas that important to us public safety? Is it doable.

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How you know within a short within us with front time frame, we talked about those, are the sort of.

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Things we've never had that discussion. I think listing projects, maybe as far as a stop gap.

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Like work for this year, but it doesn't solve the problem, I guess is what I'm getting at.

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I'm not saying, let's not do it, I'm simply saying it's not gonna solve the problem.

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At some point- and maybe I just can't turn my cpa brain off but at some point we're going to have to.

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uh Like you say, we need to set our priorities. What are the things that matter comp plan.

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Strategic plan sustainability plan all these plans, and then we have all these initiatives.

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Like we, we said before they're saying we may not be able to do them all.

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That may take a higher priority over something else um so where, where how do we get to that.

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Point where we can make those kind of decisions rather than making. I don't want to make ad hoc.

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Decisions: uh okay: we we need to do that and therefore we need to. I don't know where that.

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This is going but where we need to go and float a bond and borrow money to do that.

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But we have a whole litany of other projects. Can some of those be moved to another fiscal year? I.

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Don't know because again, I'm not seeing again, I we again have a list of projects here uh that haven't.

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Been prioritized, they're being prioritized by staff, but ultimately it's our job staff.

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Can advise us, but we have to set the priorities, and I just I'd like to have if, if you say we're.

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Going to have a workshop with that with you know, I would want to if, if I was making a decision on.

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Prioritizing things I'd want to meet with mr robertson. I'd want to meet with miss vincent.

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And talk about the comp plan and things that you know the city and and all the planning things to.

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Determine what I would think would be the priority list. So that's some point where I just want to get.

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There versus a huge list of of things and then we go out and I'm you know, I'm real hesitant about.

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um Going into debt, I'm just real, hesitant, I I know you make it amazing point: it's going.

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To be expensive here expensive there I understand that, but you know we.

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And some of this is overwhelming, because we have the highest budget that we've ever had.

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In the history of tarpon springs, we had 13 million dollars drop down to us from the sky. Okay, so we're.

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Pushing 90 million dollars of spending, and on top of that we're talking about borrowing, money.

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And and we're not replenishing um surpluses, we're bar we're going into debt in the years.

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We have the most money ever uh I again, I want to get my hands around this. I want to see. I want.

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This prioritized that's, and so I mean whether I'm a one-man uh priority uh project, I'm still.

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Going to sit with these guys and figure that out for myself, so you know the one thing in.

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I'm going to go back to my old baker, butcher and candlestick maker, routine of that's who we are. I.

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Know you're a cpa, I'm an engineer and um and then each other has their expertise up here.

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But there's certain things honestly: we don't know how to do and, for example, we didn't know.

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How to do a strategic plan, so what we did was we went out to usf and the the collaborative.

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Laboratories, st petersburg college, and asked them to come in and help us with that. We may have to.

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Go somewhere and get some assistance to develop this policy. Ideally, the way tonight should work.

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In my vision, or my eyes, is that the first thing that ron goes over is what our investment capital.

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Investment policy is, this is what our investment is abcds. These were their priorities. It's it's.

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What's important to the residents, when do we need it and the uh the feasibility of actually doing it.

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And and then and then the policies read and then the city manager, with his staff presents. This is.

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Our cip program that addresses your policy and then we can ask them why how's this addressing.

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How's, this got to do with that. That's the way it ought to be, instead of actually looking at.

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Each particular project and say well that's important and that's not important, because.

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We don't know what the comp plan says: we're not comparing this to the strategic plan in terms.

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Of a priority, we're not the the compliance, the deficiency and then, of course, there's.

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The sustainability action plan- that's about to be I I'm. What I'm saying is I'm agreeing with.

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You, and that ought to be some just fundamental prerequisite to even talking about borrowing, money.

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If we can't do something, that's extremely critical to the city within our funding means I'm talking.

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About extremely critical, then we should talk about it, but up until we get to that point of.

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Understanding what that is, we shouldn't talk about borrowing money. I agree with you on that.

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So maybe we should have a discussion here, maybe at the next commission meeting to talk about.

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How do we go about this, and and maybe look at perhaps a consultant to help us devise some.

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You know investment policy based on priorities and in some workable tool.

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That allows us to do that, and you know, as a cpa, your knowledge is, is really applicable here.

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And so you know, and plus you've got a lot of other experience with.

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Things you've gotten yourself into in court and stuff like that that reflects on this as well, so.

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um That's all I mean that's what I wanted to say to your question as far as the priorities.

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And bring bringing back a list and stuff like that. I really think we need to have a.

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A policy I I think, a lot of this stuff. um In my opinion, I want to talk about a couple of.

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Things when it gets to my turn, probably isn't going to get done this year, even though we've.

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Got it funded this year, sure yeah? Well again, we went at the last meeting uh vice mayor. We.

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We, I think, I think it was you that actually said it we need to, we need to list and prioritize it.

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Somebody's, absolutely it wasn't me and I'm just following up on that. We need to prioritize our.

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List how we get there, whether it's uh each of us doing our research and and bringing our.

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Brains back together or whether it's you know, I don't think it's staff's job to set priorities. I.

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Think it's our job because we used that, like you said, we set the priorities, we relay it through.

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The city manager and then staff follows that lead right. Overall, I I agree, and I did voice.

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That opinion last time, but what you have to realize and I'm I you know I don't want to.

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Anyway, all you have to realize that some of these projects, especially when we're talking about the.

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Penny fun and stuff like that, this is stuff that started a year. Maybe two years ago, this.

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Continuation, the only single items that you see on that particular list that are questionable are the.

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Buy one and and dredging project the bio in the intercuts project, which actually is in our city.

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Charter to do and hasn't been done, so it's got to have some priority and the only other individual.

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One that's on there that that doesn't is uh the motorola radios and stuff like that. So there's.

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Only two items on that entire list that could fall off in priority and one of them is in our charter.

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The other one means our our police force and I may be jumping. I may be: jumping the gun because again.

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We were going to get a and it may be in here and run correct me but wrong. I think we're gonna well.

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I mentioned that about projects. I meant projects that are being brought forward for discussion now.

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Well, not projects that have already been decided on, but also we we we talked about looking at.

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Projects that were funded but never started, and that we would look at whether those even need to.

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Go forward and you were going to make us a list of that's page four. This is in this page four and.

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Then we were going to look at prioritizing that uh on whether we go forward with some of those.

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Items just let me jump in the guns. Yes, I agree. I I think the pol there's very little things on this.

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List there's lots of dynamics. First of all, some of these things you see on our priority list the.

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Reason they're priorities because there's grant money attached to them right so either you give.

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Up the whole they're on the priority, because a grant is attached to them and you can't put that.

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All there's some projects you can put off to next year and we've talked about there's one.

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Project, let me give you an example, and this is why the priority list sometimes changes not through.

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This board, but through the circumstance of the project, there are some issues, serious issues.

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With the engineering of the jasmine sidewalk project, that project may need to be moved back.

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Which means that money would have be available for the penny money now and we move it back. Just.

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Because there's some serious engineering problems with getting that done, so it's up there because.

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Jasmine sidewalk is probably four or five years in the ring of it was listed. It was one to do.

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It moved through the processes to the top of the list due to attrition, um but that might fall off.

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Just because we've got issues with it, but there's very little things. You know you would have to you.

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Could drop off or put back in policies without affecting grant money? The fire department is.

C

When you could, we've got to laid out, but you could put that back. I don't think anybody in this board.

C

Wants to put that back, but that would be subject the ones. That's got grant money attached to the.

C

Ones that have got other things too. That's why they'd stay on the prior list, unless you wanted.

C

To give back the grant money and do so on that list, you're talking about this a little now the.

C

Projects we haven't started gone with the other list, that's page, four and stuff. That's always.

C

Something when you know we're not going to put it we're not going to put it this list here, because.

C

We need to prioritize and and put those things on the list. um Well, we had brought up last week the.

E

Maybe it was earlier this week the elfer spur project grant money attached, 0.4 million, but.

E

They're granting us 379 000, so we have to fund over a million dollars of that project, so it.

E

You know, I again, I don't know all the particulars on it, but that's something worth looking at. It's.

E

A million dollars that's going to come out of our coffers in order to receive 300. That's not.

E

That's almost like a white elephant now, if, if it's something we are mandated to do because of.

E

Something we're doing with pasco county or something I don't understand, but those are.

E

The kind of things I want to just at least look at because that would free up a million dollars.

C

As an example, not only tie the grant money, but it's a commitment by us to connect the pinellas.

C

And the pasco trail, that is the pasco trail- is done. The pinellas trail whenever they figure.

C

Out the bridge is done, that's our connection where we connect post without without that.

C

um And we've kind of committed it would have been built three or four years ago. If it wasn't.

C

For that eagles nest and some other things that go, it's been, it's been stalled because of an eagle's.

C

Nest or it would have already been built, and it would probably have been built at the 400 or 500.

C

000 was budgeted for who have been built within the file, but because of an eagle's.

C

Nest that stalled it back all these years. Now you got the inflation of the prices and stuff.

C

So, where you could there's a lot of commitment and stuff with that project that we wouldn't look so.

C

Good, if we, if we bowed out of it and that's, why it's up in the priority. Because it's been on our.

C

List for five years or more, to provide the two counties. The connection of the trails where you.

C

Can go all the way from pasco county through tarpon to the pinellas all the way down to st.

C

Petersburg yeah well, pasco, didn't think much of us when they decided to ruin the uh mouth.

E

Of the river with their disney world project, but that's another story right, that's it for me!.

A

um Vice merlin did you have anything I was. I've got some comments.

A

On the cip, there's there's actually three documents actually, four that are worthwhile.

A

Looking at we've got the executive summary, which includes the capital improvement program, spelled.

A

Out we've got the up, arbor fund sheets and other sheets that mr herring gave us this evening. This.

A

The executive uh budget summary book that we have was 2024. I also used my uh 2023 book to compare.

A

How things have changed between last year and this year and then also there's the pop project status.

A

Sheet that mr robertson puts together and you, in my opinion, for the capital improvement program.

A

You've got to look at all of those together to kind of get an idea of where we are.

A

The um I'll give you an example. I talked about the dredging, the cops and kids.

A

Building the you know that we we had um it's on the project status report that we're actually.

A

Working spending some money with the design of it, but we don't have the five and a half.

A

Million dollars that's needed and what is being pursued is some grants and things like that.

A

And so that's one that I think is a very important project from from.

A

Services to our residents, but we don't have a handle on the um on the funding. Yet on that.

A

The the penn street uh funding- I talked to mr herring about that. A little bit we've got.

A

A funding wedge in on that for on the arpa funds right, mr herring. Yes, okay, that's part.

A

Of the cip, we started out on that. The the guy walked off. The contractor walked off the job.

A

We settled for less than what I thought or not what I thought. I thought what everybody thought.

A

We were going to get, I think, 1.1 million, and I and I don't know whether mr salzman's succeeded.

A

Yet did you get any feedback from him? I don't think it's officially signed off by them. Yet.

C

They've got it and have indicated they're going to sign, but I don't have. I don't think it's on.

C

The dotted line yet right and and so but we suspect, it's going to be a lot more than that.

A

We've got that 1.1 we've got whatever's in the arpa funds and then we're from what I can tell.

A

On the project status report, we're redoing the design for bidding purposes that correct okay,.

A

So we'll know more about that, but that's an unknown right now and I suspect rather.

A

Than needing less money, we'll probably need more money that needs to come from somewhere in order.

A

That's a project that started a contractor walked out. We need to finish that project.

A

The other thing um I was going to ask you, commissioner, juliana said: have you had your.

A

Presentation by um by public services, yet monday, okay, I think that'll be a very good presentation.

A

um For you, I think that the um the best I can describe it is kind of an austerity approach.

A

To what has been done with the capital project and you're going to find, it runs very, very parallel to.

A

um You know you showed your graphs about the downturn in the uh in the real estate in 2008.

A

And I showed the same information a few years ago, but also highlighted the fact.

A

That, just prior to that downturn, we we reduce the millage rate and so that compounded the.

A

Difficulty and it took us 11 years to catch back up on it. Last year we reduced the water.

A

Rates by a couple of percent, I think, was a couple of percent, a 2.2 percent.

A

Now because, but that was two years ago, I guess and and two years ago right, it was last fiscal.

D

Year this year is a zero percent, no increase, but in 2022 it was a 2.2 percent reduction and so.

A

It's the same scenario: we reduce the rates now, we've gotten this huge spike in operating cost.

A

And we can't support this, the the basically the program, the capital, progress program that we've.

A

Got for water and sewer, so we need to make some adjustments there and and that's and so that's.

A

Another example, and so there's some projects in there, for example, in terms of priorities.

A

um And I was going to ask about this and- and I know solar- I mentioned this- to uh tommy just.

A

Briefly, solar, I know, is very dear to you, mr smith, but we've got. We still have the solar funding in.

A

On the arpa funds, is that correct? Is it arpa? No there's no solar funded in the arpa fund. There.

D

Isn't a water and sewer fund on the water and sewer fund part of the cip, yes, is that it's still.

A

In there for this year, uh this year's budget is that something that we're going to follow.

A

Through given whatever else we're doing or in terms of priority, I guess is what I'm getting at.

J

Foreign first thing I want to say, is solar is near and dear to me, but there's actually.

J

An operational benefit to it. The electricity is our single biggest cost at the operation of the.

J

Ro facilities of the solar will directly work to offset that on an ongoing basis, so that makes it.

J

A very valuable project from that perspective it is already underway, I would say it is underway. 50.

J

To 60 percent complete okay and it's um funding that was already set aside in a previous budget.

A

All right: okay, that's the sort of thing that when you go through that, I call it an austerity.

A

Program on addressing the increase in operational cost.

A

Projects like that are going to they're going to wonder in your mind whether it's a high priority.

A

And and it's you know, we're already down the road on it. I guess from what you're saying, okay.

A

Let me just go through this: a little bit um on the orange street improvements, uh mr robertson.

A

If you could come forward, I know that that's mr herron keep me honest because I I have a.

A

Hard time juggling between the penny and the arpa orange street was at arpa. No that's budget.

D

In the penny fund, okay, we're we're not we're at 30 percent 40, something or wait a minute.

A

30 complete on the design, that's right and um I I think, there's some sense that.

A

The original cost estimate for that is going to go up as well. Yes, okay,.

A

The sea breeze drive sewer project, there's maybe a little bit of money that we need to.

A

Come up with at the end of that, maybe maybe not we'll see, maybe not. Okay,.

A

The beckett bridge utility location, we were hoping to get the grant on that right. That's right! That.

A

Was declined and um and we're going to try again, I think right, correct and if we don't get that, then.

A

We're going to have to pay for the water utility relocation, yes, and do we have an amount that is.

A

Is what would it do you recall what it is about three million, how much three million three million.

A

um The sponge docks flooding abatement project. This gets back to what commissioner coulianis.

A

Was saying about the elfer spur? It's the same thing, we got a grant that was supposed to pay.

A

For the whole thing on that 1.7 million right yes and we're up to five we're up to 4.5 yeah, that's.

B

About right, yeah, so right now we get 1.7 which was supposed to pay for, but now we've got to come.

A

Up with another three million dollars out of our stormwater fund, somehow, either by doing inner fund.

A

Loan and then paying it back over the long haul. The the point that I want to make, in my opinion.

A

And I I there's that, in terms of I, I think that that project is unaffordable.

A

For a couple of reasons, one of them is, I think, there's a lot of risk associated with it.

A

And number two is: I don't know that it's gonna solve the problem, given the amount of.

A

Money that we're putting into it I'm not saying that the problem isn't important.

A

But I I really really think that we need to put our thinking caps on and kind of.

A

Think about an alternative approach, maybe some different technology that could be applied to it.

A

um I think mr function was here somewhere and I I gave him a some information on these mobile huge.

A

Propeller pumps, that might be something that we could apply and I you haven't heard anything back.

A

From that, but he's just he's in the back with all that big banging noise to see. What's, oh they're.

C

Bad, if we're losing another air conditioner or what to expect what was that? Okay he's coming back.

H

I spoke to the consultant at some length about the dodecanese project and the idea of of using.

H

Pumps to get rid of some of it and stuff like that, he seemed at the time this was a month and.

H

A half ago to think that, oh no, the current design was going to be the only thing they.

H

Could do, and I'm not sure I like that answer, especially from an engineer who's supposed to.

H

Be thinking outside the box, but is there some other pumping structure mr function, remember I.

A

Gave you a little information of those huge propeller pumps that are mobile and um as.

A

Maybe an option, because if the check valves, if the issue is rain is is rain during a sunny day tide.

A

Our check valve keeps the the the uh from coming in any further, but it won't let the rain out.

A

So we would need another means of getting a high volume of water off the street by pumping it over.

A

The top of the sea wall back into the river, given that the river's not back the river, should not.

A

Be backing up into the street it's coming up through. I agree. We need to pump it somewhere.

H

Where it adds access and so did you and don't get me wrong, I don't want to get into your business.

A

Or anything like that, but we need to come in my opinion. We need to kind of look at a couple of.

A

Alternatives before we spend four and a half million dollars on something. Yes, we did, and I.

K

Actually talked to our stormwater engineer on that on that project, it's a german-made.

K

Machine we looked at that actually are using it somewhat in south florida, with not too much.

K

Success: it's not how much success we don't know, sir, not as much as they originally. They.

K

Plant, they originally thought it was so still in kind of like in an experimental stage. Okay,.

A

Four and a half million dollars for one intersection, the risk is um in you know.

A

You put your you, put your experience hat on from what we talked to way back as far as.

A

Loss of income issues of that nature that we wind up having to face from businesses down there so.

A

um Anyway, that that's another one, I think we need to talk about at some point and- and I think sooner.

A

Than later, I think what we, I think, what your status report says, that you're progressing on.

A

With the design, I think, is what we're talking about well, I was moving forward into a design.

B

Build so you know, if we're going to have that conversation, we should have it soon. I do have.

B

That we do have that arpa money that the board committed to the project. So we do have that. But.

B

Yes, if that's, if we're going to change directions on it, then we probably should workshop that and.

A

Have to you know, talk it out, I mean if we start digging, we wind up with a huge mess down there.

C

Oh yeah, he was on the attention. Remember we talked about you know before we finalize. We.

C

Need to go back and get where we are and see. Is this really what we're gonna gonna do we're gonna.

C

Give them a chance to do this re-engineering and seeing, but then we're really gonna have to just.

C

Have a discussion with this board on going forward and stuff, so my next step was getting to the point.

C

Where we need to lay things out- and you know it has almost got me convinced it may be the one time.

C

I ever give back money or say we might have to if we can't figure a way to reproportion the money.

C

Somewhere else, because, as you know, I've had qualms about this thing, just the upheav I've been through.

C

I've been through a thing when the docs has been closed for reconstruction. I've been through that.

C

Nightmare, if any of you up here on this board, doesn't think it's a nightmare or your phone's.

C

Ringing off the hook and everything happened, it's nightmarish. So if we're gonna do something go.

C

Through the pain and suffering of nightmare, again, we got to make sure it works or does sun or it's.

C

Worth worth what we did or we're not only going to have the grief during that whole project, but we're.

C

The grief- and you know we all might not be here but whoever's up here- is going to get the grief.

C

If we don't get it right and stuff, so there's still one more big, look and decision this board.

C

Has got to make in this thing um because there's a lot of fun this day has changed so much. There's.

C

A lot of unknown so- and we do have time on that- um the the state grant they've just extended.

B

The deadline for me to match the arpa deadline, so we have till december 2026 on that project.

B

That state money to get state money- yes, federal money, state money.

B

But then the arbor money- um that was an example the um I want to continue on here. um What vice.

A

Maryland said is true on the recreational, not just the recreational channels, but on the federal.

A

Channel, it's a requirement to be maintained not to do just the pathometric survey and produce.

A

Maps so that needs to be done and we're supposed to be looking at this every three years or else.

A

um You know we're in violation of the charter and again, unless we want to pay through the nose.

A

For these little 40 cubic yard containers to hold material um it it's you know we're just humoring.

A

People by saying that we're we're addressing the charter requirement unless we want to be serious.

A

And maintain the city and the the waterways in a sustainable way, we've got to think about things.

A

A little on a bigger scale than what we have and that's going to cost. That by itself is probably.

A

Going to be five or six million dollars to create your own disposal site um and when we need to.

A

Talk about that the distant belcher corridor, I I see that we're we've applied for that grant that.

A

Remember they had that presentation at the ford pinellas. That's all part of a 2.7 million dollar.

A

Project that we're asking him for for a sidewalk down there, so we'll see how that goes. The.

A

The jasmine sidewalk you already mentioned, there's some engineering challenges there.

A

That's going to drive the cost of that project. Up um bayshore drive septic to sewer is 50 complete.

A

We'll see what the cost of that's going to be all it shouldn't be expensive because of the nature of.

A

The uh the type of the system, the force main that we're putting in there but the pvc cost according.

A

To tommy's presentation pvc cost is skyrocketed, so yeah, but we've also got residents up there. That.

H

Are on septic systems that are failing and they can't get permission to replace it. What I'm saying.

A

Is that that's a high priority in my opinion, and it needs to get done and if you look at.

A

Was a part of the presentation that um mr kyger, if he could get up there,.

A

What was the price tag for sewing? The city was that in your presentation, or is that was this in this sheet that mr herring put out.

A

It was is that your probation or septic to sewer that's on the arpa sheet at the 1.3.

D

Million no you're 1.3, but not just bayshore, but on the other streets there was a huge amount of.

A

Money just for uh was it florida avenue. uh Mr southward was the price tag of north florida.

J

I'm looking through my sea of papers that ron provided me this was under.

J

The projects that are not funded right and um yes, as you mentioned, there's.

J

South florida phase, one and phase two that totals nine million dollars, is estimated.

J

Here: nine million! Yes, that's in today's dollars, right, correct, okay, that yeah yeah.

A

And then we've talked about the fire station, cops and kids, and, and so um you know, we're kind of.

A

Looking at things in a snapshot way, and we need to look at it in a little larger picture and go ahead.

E

So what we, what I'd like to see? Okay, you have, first of all a wealth of long-term experience.

E

uh First, you've served here much longer than I have, which has only been a few months, and you were.

E

A city manager- and you have are understand this stuff, but to me I would think, and the residents.

E

Just like you just said this, this is mandated by the charter. This is something that we have.

E

A a commitment to I. I would like to see all these projects in categories that we know these are the.

E

Ones we just have to do. We have no choice right, and these are things like, for example,.

E

Orange street, no I'm I'm besides the church, I'm the probably the biggest recipient of orange.

E

Street being all jazzed up, because I think I own the most square footage on orange street.

E

But that to me doesn't seem like a need to fix up orange street right now. It's a want. uh We have a.

E

Whole lot more needs than orange street uh there's a million bucks. I know it comes out of the penny.

E

Fund we can use that for something else out of the penny fund. um So again, I just want to see.

E

That list of what has to be done and connected to something and connected to something, and so.

E

I I don't see it in this. I see just a list of things and I see how they're going to be paid.

E

um But you know I uh I'm in the real world in the other world, not real world, I'm in the private.

E

Sector world, not this government or sector world, and just I apologize to my to my colleague over.

E

Here that when I interrupted him when he was talking about the penny fund, oh that this is.

E

Being paid for by the penny fund, and but it's you take, you can use any you can take the penny fund.

E

And use it for this, so you can use it for that. It's just money and oh and or it's covered by.

E

Arpa, oh well, then we could use that if we don't do that project, we can use it to cover all the over.

E

um Budget items we know are coming with arpa, because that whole list is probably you know.

E

Is missing at least 20 percent just because of inflation? So again I think I I would like to see.

E

Some kind of priority list, whether we establish it ourselves together or whether it comes from.

E

Staff or whether it comes from the city manager or or however, that happens, I I want to see that.

E

So I know what we're spending our money on and what has to be done and what can be pushed off.

E

To because maybe orange street I'm just using example, maybe orange street could be done in.

E

2027, it doesn't have to be done now right and then, when we get to the point where we have more.

E

Needs than we have funds for and we have and we've we know those needs are critical needs.

E

Then all of us could understand that we may have to float a bond borrow money. I understand that.

E

But I won't. I can't personally agree to borrow money or do that until I know that we have have.

E

Put aside those one things and we're covering only the needs we have and then when we go to borrow.

E

Money, it's because we have to not, because we have fattened the budget up uh with other things and.

E

Then we're, uh then we end up borrowing more money than necessary that that's it and and until I get.

E

To that right now in my mind and when I'm seeing I haven't gotten to that point because I don't.

E

Think it's clearly laid out the way that you keep. You have an answer for everything and I appreciate.

E

That but I'd like to see that in a comprehensive uh strategy you know our staff is doing really the.

A

Best that they can given the circumstances and and quite frankly, oftentimes. I think it's unfair to.

A

Them because they haven't been given any guidance from up here from a poly policy perspective.

A

um You know for a long time I know, and it was something that you could argue about. I love.

L

Our staff yeah, unless you get the majority of the commission, to go along with that. Well, unless you.

A

Get the majority to understand that, for example, I'll never forget the strategic plan. You know I.

A

Said well, we need to do a strategic plan. Everybody every city has one we're the only one that doesn't.

A

And one question was well, I don't understand if we have a plan, does that mean we need to follow it.

A

The answer is: yeah, that's the purpose of a plan, and so that was the kind of questions.

A

That you know I would get that. You know I'm going to tell you something this. I don't care.

A

What anybody says I know the flooding into sponge stocks is real important, but that disposal pond.

A

Is going to kill this city if that doesn't get solved in terms of the anclote river? So, and I.

A

Don't mean to, I don't mean to to sound, you know to to be a fear monger over it, but we had an.

A

Opportunity to do it and we've foregone and it's going to be a pricey pricey matter to do that in.

A

The future, so I go ahead and talk about that. I think the idea, there's probably a consensus on.

A

The commission to do something like that. I think I see what you're saying give ron and I a chance.

C

To put something together and get it back, I think I've got an idea. Is that okay, nothing.

E

I'm saying is critical of staff or or at all I mean I. I think our staff is wonderful. um It.

E

I again before we go to, we would do this in our households if, before we would go out and borrow.

E

Money and go get a second mortgage on our house. We'd want to make sure that we had prioritized.

E

Our our expenses, in of the things you know- maybe I don't need to you- know, get a a soy latte. Every.

E

Morning I could just have a cup of coffee at home. Okay, so uh you know you do that before.

E

You go out and borrow money. I want to make sure that all this list of all these projects, whether.

E

They're uh off projects that we talked about, arpa, whether we talk about penny fund, whatever we're.

E

Doing that we have uh that some of those things like again and I'm just just throwing things.

E

um Orange street- a million bucks- well, you talked about we need, maybe it would cost.

E

Five million bucks for that other that that uh disposal area well, there's a million yeah.

M

Right there, so we could maybe there's a million of it. I mean so we I just I I want to understand.

E

That we're spending what we have to spend right now, the things and- and I think that this board.

E

Has had is probably got the most um the biggest challenge, probably that any board has ever had.

E

Because we're head on into and we're addressing it we're not the kick. The can board like you.

E

Know maybe has been done in the past. I can't speak easiest way to deal with is not talk.

A

About it, we've done it yeah. We, we have we're we're addressing issues, but um you know we have this.

E

Climate change issue with everything flooding and all these you know these are critical.

E

Things so now we I agree with you and, and I I really do respect the fact that you want to.

E

Address all these, and I do too but again when we just, I just want to again tighten our belt.

E

Get the things done that we have to get done and then we can address those big issues.

E

Ron and I are gonna- take a shot at it. Okay, so that's all you know where I'm coming from all.

A

Right um that was you with a red light. Are there any other commissioner comments we'll move on.

L

Unless you don't want to mr herring before we comments before you move on your on your program,.

C

um We do have renee here. She wasn't here last night. I know there are some questions.

C

On our portion last week when we were doing the departments and stuff, so I liked it before we hit.

C

Into the the enterprise funds of that to have an opportunity from renee's budget or some of.

C

The questions that were asked if renee could come up and you could re-ask certain consultances yeah.

A

Yeah, that sort of thing, we'll we'll finish up her answers, that uh she wasn't with us last week, bro.

A

Are you looking at us or we're supposed to look at you and she's looking? Are they all um I'm kind of.

M

Going off of memory here, I think the question was do or am I comfortable with the consulting budget.

M

uh Moving forward and- and we very consciously decided where we were- um we have we're finishing.

M

Up the comprehensive plan that we're going to record that's going to require as soon as we do.

M

That we need to roll into the all the associated land development code, changes that are going to.

M

Take place, um we still have the union academy central tarpon cra in the funding and assessing.

M

The complete the cultural resources survey for the cras for the union academy is going.

M

On the greektown place, making we have a lot of things that are in the hopper that I really.

M

Want to come to fruition and completion before I throw another project into the mix, unless it's.

M

Something if it's something that is an absolute priority for this board that obviously, let's do.

M

It, but I was pretty conscientious about what I did here. You know what about the I know the land.

A

Development code, but what about the um the smart pla, the smart code, is there any? Is there anything.

A

That are you doing something on that, or is there something that we need to give you some help with.

M

um No, I think again, I think, once we get that that'll be part of the landing development.

M

Code in the smart code that all kind of will will work together, you know or be updated at the same.

M

Time after we get the comprehensive plan updated, the greektown study will also come into play with.

M

um The special area plan for the for the uh so I think until a few key pieces get done. I don't want.

M

To jump into, you know, but I I'm comfortable where we are right now in terms of of funding. Obviously,.

M

If something emerges, I can come and ask you know for a budget. You know amendment at some point, but.

M

um I don't I mean we, I went through with my staff and we're we're pretty comfortable where we are.

M

At the moment so remind me, did we approve the economic development uh work, the economic, the.

A

Comp plan the economic development element for the comp plan, or did we say we're going to revisit.

A

That we're going to revisit that um we had the two. We had the rfp process that we went through.

M

And then we we stopped that because of um the timing and some other and the other issues so do.

A

You need money for that, or is that we're going to carry that over to 2024 unless we get to it in the.

A

Next month, or two yeah, I I think carrying it over would be would be the would be the choice here.

M

um You know I can tell you right now. I was not intending it based on because.

M

That stopped how it did of trying to have that the economic development.

M

uh Element completed with this comp plan update we're gonna have to add that in after the fact so.

M

I think we're going to do it after the fact yeah what and so that economic development strategy.

M

And the economic development element, those two things: the asset based and then the in the element.

M

um We had that funded. um I think we won't roll that forward.

M

um And revisit that we can certainly do that. Yes, okay, yeah, that's I I just you're.

A

Department's doing very well- and you know across the board from my perspective and the.

A

Economic development element for the comp plan was something that's really really important. uh That.

A

Kind of sets the tone of our actually are smart code and other things of what we want to do and.

A

um And then we've got on top of that this we talked about this a little bit with the uh the.

A

State laws, the states that laws had just been passed with favoring, you know, residences and.

A

Not favoring commercial and industrial development, and- and so we just have to make sure that I want.

A

To use the word, protect the city, the the integrity of what we've got right now, despite what the state.

A

Legislature is doing and trying to making it more difficult for us. So if you're comfortable.

A

I I'm okay with it unless the commissioners I'll revisit it with city manager again and and but I.

M

Think, at least at a minimum I think rolling for it and rolling that money forward and.

M

um And picking that up is is something that you know we do want to do. It's just a timing.

A

Issue at this point I mean honestly, the planning department's going to be the key to the cities in.

A

My opinion, the key to the city's future uh you're, the one who is the gatekeeper of what comes in.

A

And what doesn't come in and and that's based on the policy that this commission provides you and.

A

It's got to be reflected in our land development code, sure so, okay, um vice maryland, did you have.

A

Anything uh commissioner, commissioner couliennes anything from ms vincent, you sure, yeah sure.

E

You don't have to answer this.

E

Do you know what this commission vision is when you're doing your planning.

E

In your department, I have a, I have a pretty good grip on on this current commissions.

M

Philosophy, I believe yes, yes, but it's not, and it's not just that it's the community.

M

As well so as we, you know, we've been through the comp plan update and we've.

M

Been having the community meetings in the same thing with a strategic plan, we have.

M

A lot of valuable input, so you know we're not doing it in a vacuum. That's for sure.

A

Thank you, ms vincent. Thank you anything else.

C

But that's the only loose end from from the last meeting. I don't think there's anything else from.

C

Last meeting, unless you have something for the department, you see what departments.

C

Are out there, uh if not, then we'll move on to the new nice business? Are we still on the cip.

D

I just wanted to make sure one of the things you all asked for last. The first.

D

Page of this document, you asked for a timeline on the arpa projects, and so we.

D

Working with bob and the staff we provided that timeline there on that first page.

L

The timeline yeah.

A

The only thing I'm the only thing that it gets back to the arpa deadlines again.

A

I just really want to make sure that whatever we move forward with in terms of our funding.

A

We can that project is actually going to be.

A

Contracted out and completed by the time the deadlines come along.

A

And um I just you know, I know I want to make sure that that happens. That's all well, as you.

D

Know all the arpa money needs to be spent by december 31st 2026. We do have two projects.

D

That are extending extending currently out to that date, which is the um craig park. Seawall.

D

Phase one and the sponge docks pump station extending out the december 2026, currently yeah.

A

Yeah, okay: were there any questions concerning that? The sheets that mr herring gave us.

A

I'm sorry do you have any questions concerning these sheets that mr herron gave us.

H

You know, I I think, we've already discussed the sponge docks pump station debacle.

H

There's really nothing on here. I wanted to adjust maybe to the board that we put a hold.

H

On further arpa fund commitments, at least as long as practicable.

H

um There's less than five percent of our arpa funding left, I'm thinking inflation and.

H

Stuff is gonna eat that pretty quickly I know, there's a you know we can nickel and dime it.

H

Away to smaller projects, but I don't think that's going to serve us well in the long run.

L

I don't yeah, I don't. Is there anything on the horizon that you see that would go into that money.

A

Unless it's an overrun with something else, well, it's some like some of those projects. You have.

D

Been talking about like orange street construction, going up, yeah yeah! Well, that's one project that.

A

Has not been started based on your question. That's on that back sheet there that we haven't started.

A

It correct and and quite frankly, there's the whole issue with the orange street. If and it would.

A

Probably be good to sit down with the city manager and get the background on that. That goes back.

A

Seven or eight years at least at least seven or eight years, and um and and it's not a bad project.

A

And, probably is something that is needed. The key is, if you start doing, the road road work, you've.

A

Got to do the utility work as well or else you're going to wind up. You know: you're, that's right!.

A

And um and that's another driver for this thing and uh but on the other hand, there's ways of.

A

Repairing the brick without having to do a major overhaul of the street either. I you know just.

A

Repair the brick like we've done elsewhere, and that would be a very small fraction of what we're.

A

Planning on spending and, of course the the idea was to put diagonal parking in instead of the you.

A

Know the indian parking and all this other stuff. So if, if you have any questions concerning that.

A

Project going into the future, uh you know sit down with the city manager. He'll he'll, give you he'll.

A

Get rid of the concave at work for me, so we're not discussing the second page. Are we of this document.

A

I think you can discuss any page. You want okay, so I have some questions. um Basically,.

H

Surrounding the other category, and I'm assuming the other category, is we don't know yet or.

H

I guess ronald have to tell me that so, for example, for the cyber security for the.

H

The water and sewer infrastructure, we still have a an underfunded: seven hundred thousand dollars.

H

And it's marked as other.

H

um I'm not quite sure what other means in that concept the same with no. That means.

D

A funding source I was trying not to list all the different funds, so that other is the water.

D

And sewer fund, okay, they're actually funded because they've been appropriate each other.

H

Yeah, because that's that's all I come out, I just didn't. I look at other and I go like other what.

H

But okay, so that's fine! That answers my question.

E

So if the referendum passes in in november on roosevelt, where, where are those funds coming.

E

From the 1.1.8 million we'll be coming back, we will be coming back to you at an upcoming.

C

Meeting to the side, obviously we need to have that decided for the citizens.

C

Make their decision from so we've got a game plan where we're finding? Maybe some.

C

Alternatives to us so that I imagine it'll probably come to one of the august meetings.

C

Good, I mean between orange and the remaining money and the harpa fund, no um historically on.

A

These sort of things like give you an example, the um the property that we did um with.

A

Yeah we did a rundown on how that happened. We used part of the money from the cra and then the.

D

Other half we did a three hundred thousand dollar loan from the sanitation fund paid back a hundred.

D

Thousand dollars a year yeah, and so it's it's borrowing, but it's borrowing from within our own.

A

Funds, but if there are, if there are projects here, that we're going to either push off or.

E

uh Two later years we could use those funds as well so which one well. Let's say you don't we.

E

Don't do orange street, we don't do the uh the the sponge dock pump station, yet those could be funds.

E

That could be used so so again when I'm going back to my prioritized list. If we get that prioritized.

E

List we might find in there opportunities to fund things without having to borrow it from.

E

Another fund that came back so we will have up we'll, have uh he's nodding. Yes, he's the one yeah.

C

Well again, you got to remember we're looking for this alternative, barring thing, so you have enough.

C

Money, if you're taking that million from there, that you use it for another one of these, that.

C

Are important so it's a balancing where you use it for so, I think what I'm saying: that's why that.

E

List is going to be critical because once we have that list- and we have it prioritized we'll know.

E

Where and we're gonna get a good shot and bringing that back to you so yeah? Where are there going to.

E

Be opportunities um that would end up could be funding. We could fund those things ourselves.

E

Without having to borrow money and then making the payment, that's right, and, and that is the preferred.

A

Approach and quite frankly, that's that occurs more often than it doesn't um yeah the one I'm.

A

Just gonna- I think you mentioned this before the one source of funding for the 1.8- would be the.

A

Three million dollars that the hospital paid in its sprint ahead and that has to be available in.

A

2040 2045 2042 yeah 2041., so that that money is there in 2041. So if we borrowed money from it, it.

A

Needs to be paid back and it needs to be available for the commission in 2041 to be able to utilize.

A

But that's that's something! That's just sitting there. You know again once we have that list. Yeah.

L

I know we'll be able to make better decisions. Well, that's what he's saying yeah! That's all I'm saying.

L

You know, have you ever played the pn show game with ron. You can't win.

L

I get emails about all these uh investments that we're making and stuff that's iran. He goes don't.

L

Worry about it, that's, okay! It's just juggling the balls. You know, yeah, we got another quarter percent.

A

Out of this three million dollars- or you know that sort of thing- you're moving the shell yeah.

E

E

And um was there anything you want to yeah? I I think we all are committed to being healthy.

E

Financially healthy, so we want to address all the things we have to address and then leave a very.

E

Healthy uh balance sheet to the next board, you know, and and some of us may be here for the next.

E

Board, so we we don't yes, so we also want to very we want. We don't want to be hamstrung either to.

E

Where, if there's a a downturn that now all of a sudden, we have to go into massive austerity.

E

I'm not saying it's going to happen, but we always want to be prepared. But what you're going to hear.

A

From public services is that there are certain things that are outside of our control. I know, and.

A

You may have a healthy balance sheet, but your system is, you know, you're you're, just from a.

A

A healthy balance sheet, but you don't have enough funds to cover what needs to be done, and so that's.

A

My thing we're coming up to that point because of the 30 percent, 40 percent of cost increases here.

A

And there those things are beyond our control, we still need to do them and they do affect our.

A

Bottom line, but there's going to be certain things that that that's all I was getting at there's.

A

Going to be certain things beyond our control that may push us into having to do something. That's.

A

Either it may even be a state requirement for that matter. I don't know but you'll see yeah. I know, but.

E

I I mean I know what the punch line is. I I don't in anticipation for monday's meeting. I know what.

E

The punch line is so uh yeah, I do so he, uh but it you know it's it's going to be. We have to.

E

You know count to the residents and you know if their water rates.

E

Are going to have to go up because of costs, um or we have uh you know and.

E

You know we have again more funds in more revenue than ever in the history of tarpon springs has.

E

Come in to town- and you know as a resident said well, why isn't my military going down if.

E

You guys, are, you know, flush with cash. You know, I think we have to be able to answer that question.

E

That's why the list is important, so we they'll know these are things we have to do. We don't.

E

We're not really doing a lot of discretionary things. We've got small stuff like pickleball.

E

And stuff like that, but that's small potatoes. When you we know an 80 million dollar budget.

E

um But you know we need to be able to answer that question, because that question could be asked of.

E

Us you know: why is this going up? Why is that going up on us, and yet you guys have collected more.

E

Money than any more any any time in the history of the tarpon springs, we went to answer that question.

E

And that's why the list is important. What I want to say is it's not just us. It's across all of.

A

Everywhere and what you'll see is across tampa bay and we're not in a situation any different.

A

Than the other counties and at the other cities in tampa bay and um there's some things that are.

A

Extremely important that have come up that are really important to the residents that we're not.

A

Going to be able to achieve this next year, just because of our funding in the increased cost.

A

So that'll be at the next meeting. Is that right, correct that'll, be you'll, get your.

A

Presentation next week, but then we'll have a public meeting on that um in at the next.

A

Commission meeting up next commission or was that in august, were you going to do it in august? Okay,.

C

We wanted a full commission here for that. uh We want a.

C

Full five-member commission here when we did it.

L

On the capitol, I just want to point out one other thing we had on your deus: it.

D

Was asked last week it's the very last page of the executive summary that there's capital.

D

Requested but not in a budget, it was sort of a small print. We expanded it to two pages.

D

And we also provided funding sources for those items, mostly smaller capital items,.

A

Yeah that, provided that amount is different than what's in the um in this, the printed cip, right.

D

Correct I found a couple items that were in there twice yeah. I know this.

A

Is a little different? Okay, those are things that are requested, but not funded right. Okay,.

C

And again, as you study these more andes, you can get with us individually, get with us on.

C

This list to hear our thoughts or you know how we adjust the deeds, were they and they.

C

Will be reevaluated again, especially anything on buildings. We will real evaluate that one more time.

C

To make sure our projection of time is right, if there's anything that the condition or anything.

C

Has changed and we need to move up we'll move up, so this is a. This is a document that's adaptable.

C

um And again, we're going to be looking at everything one more time, especially if you.

C

See anything to do with one of our buildings and if it's, for instance, we say in here we're going.

C

To fund in 2025, but the need for the building is greater than we'll move. We'll do the shuffle game.

C

Move something out move something in on a priority basis and you'll see it change that. So all right.

A

Yeah these these- these are there's nothing in there that are kind of wishlist type.

A

Stuff right, they actually need to be done, and there are also somebody's again. There may be.

C

Grant opportunities out there to get some of these things. So so that's that's another thing.

C

We're always looking at and especially with the new person we have on board, so.

A

Let me know if y'all have any questions concerning that um projects that have been requested, but not.

A

Funded, uh are you looking for anything to cherry pick, some things off of that? No, I I just no that's.

C

Why, I said individually, as you see things that are that, are that you're concerned about individually.

C

Get with me well, the couple of things that I'm always concerned about are the roofs of our.

A

Buildings and fixing those before we wind up with worse problems from water damage. That was what.

C

We're doing one more, I thought you were doing one more examination before we fight to adjust.

C

Things, this is where I do one more examination and we're going to err on the side of doing it.

C

Sooner than doing it later on these that's the priorities this board set. You know last year.

C

um So we're going to continue those because that was a priority to board to do so. That's.

C

The way we're going to look at it one more time and then we're we're off on this we're moving it.

C

We're shuffling it moving it up. So that's why I said we we need one more we're just giving this.

C

To you now, but we want one more crack at this to maybe move some of those things up all right.

C

And then, of course, any of your suggestions are talking to us in the meantime, you know.

C

Will help also, you know of me if it's maintenance, I'm do it now guys.

A

um Mr herring, did you want to continue yeah? My next slide that we talked about is a cra, but the.

D

Cra involves capital, so I thought we. Maybe we just go ahead with those slides on the cra yeah.

D

Just some information: if people had known the cra, it was created under the florida.

D

Statutes and staff established in 2001 expires after 30 years areas. Approximately alternate.

D

19 from mirrors to the sponge docks and one to two blocks: east and west of alternate 19.

D

The base taxable value back then in 2001 was 41 million. Thirty, seven thousand nine.

D

Hundred and the intent is taxable values over that base year for city and county.

D

Money taxable ad valerian money go into the cra to fund it. It's called tax, increment financing.

D

For the current year so far the property taxes, the city portion, was 11.35 taxable value increase.

D

Millage rate 5.37, so that's property, tax revenues for 2024 or 467 000.. It's 52 percent of the cra.

D

Budget, the county portions at 11.34 percent, taxable value increase county millage rate.

D

Of 4.8188, so the county will be sending us a check for 419 369. That's 47 of the cra budget.

D

uh Just to go back uh last year, what we've got money that we're still carrying over.

D

For capital, we've got the uh parking money, 200, 000, jitney, building, 100 000.

D

And railway arms sixty thousand for a total of 360 000.. I'm sorry question.

H

um Evan we've just installed the railway arm. I think that is a work in progress right now.

D

Yeah I thought they were closing down stafford. I saw the notice for for that specific installation.

H

So why is it on next year's budget? Well, it's from last year bringing it forward. I think.

C

Currently, it's right in conversation, hopefully you'll be off by the time we get to october. Okay,.

H

That's with my question on that slide. I don't get out much, so I'm not sure what no it's not.

D

Enough, hopefully, I will not be there when the budget is finalized. Bob, hopefully that's gonna.

C

Be done and off the list before october, but it's not off there yet. So we keep things on.

C

There until it's signed it off, it's still down they're fixing it off-site or something where.

B

Should have been installed yesterday, I haven't followed up on that yet, but the.

B

Work has been done, it should be, should be back up this week. It's off it's somewhere.

A

Else getting it was and now it's been returned and should be good. The project.

B

Should be done yeah I didn't go by. I didn't go on saturday yesterday, so I need to check it out.

D

As far as money's still there but we'll let ron know and come off that list. Okay,.

C

And, of course, the jet we're still waiting for them to bring back design on the jitney.

C

Building so there'll be a time where we'll have to make a final decision.

C

What we're doing with that? But it's not us we're waiting for that to come back to us.

C

um From mr hoffman in the group that he got together to volunteer to do that, to try to get.

C

The price down, so we are waiting on them as far as the jitney building goes to get it to you and have.

C

You make a final decision which way you're going to go on it. This light here is a five-year series.

D

A five-year expenditures for the cra, for you know 24 25, 26 27 28. I think we saw this last week.

D

So in 24 here we've got 134 000 of personnel, 87 000 operating, and then we got some capital.

D

Here about a hundred thousand grants of a hundred thousand the last loan repayment on the property.

D

Is a hundred thousand um money available still in the cra fund? Is the 368 000 plus you still.

D

Have fund balance remaining of 301, so you got a little over 600 000 available in the cra fund.

H

Question: does anybody go ahead, commission vice maryland? Why don't we flex paving downtown.

C

Does anybody know paul he's he's moving he's a little flower these days? I'm sorry for the.

K

Interrupt guys, the flex payments, some of the tree of wells, downtown we've done some in the previous.

K

Past, instead of putting the metal grates into tree wells, we've been putting either.

K

Gravel or sometimes mulch, which is not a good idea, so we'll be putting a flexi pay, which is.

K

The porous rubberized material, much like they use in disney and stuff and we've had a lot.

K

Of success, I just didn't know what we were flex paying it just didn't we're going to do. That is.

A

There any other questions did you have any for anything else, not on the slide. Anything else.

A

um The the north pinellas beautification yes and that's a little bit part of the cra right.

A

And then also safford street, a very small part of it. I think where would the rest come from on that.

K

um If that's wrong, I mean the money north pinellas we've got 500.

D

000 in the penny fund in in the past year, yes we're carrying forward. Yes, you know: that's an.

A

Interesting getting back to what commissioner coulianis is saying, there are some funds that.

A

Have been what I want to call yeah, I know we call it earmark because somewhat encumbered.

A

For a project that was approved by, for example, north pinellas is probably four or five years.

A

Old five, four five years at least we are marked or encumbered that it's budgeted yes yeah and we.

A

Keep moving it forward, so there may be some. I don't know where you would find that money.

A

um Would you find it in our current cip, the north pinellas? uh In fact, it was on your those four page.

D

uh Arpa sheets there that's page three there it's where we got it listed, but yes, that's part of the.

D

You know the current current year: 2023 penny budget; okay, so we just keep rolling it forward.

A

Yes, waiting for that d.o.t approval to bring to you they'll make you happy, did they finally, do it.

C

Not yet work, he keeps telling me we're close we're right. There yeah, it doesn't work again.

C

Yeah two years now, you've not been happy with the other proposals. We brought back to you, okay,.

A

um But we're getting and let me ask, can we get away from the private property beautification or.

A

Are we gonna whatever this is all within the right away? We got away from that. Yes, no! No! Well, there's.

C

Been none, we we search every bit and we have some out there that hasn't come through and said so. No.

C

That's still on our our study search if we can find one to cooperate with us. If we've got money.

C

We've got money to do it, so it's an open and most of the ones you see not done is because the people.

C

Haven't agreed with us quite quite yet on that, but tom keeps revisiting them and saying: have you.

C

Changed your mind and stuff, but that is budgeted and direction from this board to keep pursuing.

C

Any of those private interests, the public-private partner with our direction, is to pursue those and.

C

And we are there's, um let me just say this: there's a number of projects, the best way to put it that.

A

Were approved a long time ago that in a galaxy far far away that are still being done and we don't.

A

Hear about them here, like the north pinellas beautification is one of the safford street.

A

um This flex paving is another part of all of that, and that's something that I don't think.

A

Unless that we talk about it at a commission meeting, you you're not going to be aware of it.

A

So maybe something that to give maybe tom have him, give everybody a rundown sometime as well.

A

That's what's going on with the downtown and past plans that have been approved and and the approach.

A

Being taken and so yeah, I think that's important because some of the things you might want to get.

C

Done with this new budget are already in the old one we just haven't got to it. We had the case with.

C

Lighting and stuff we're still having a problem on nine months or more backlogs on the industrial.

C

Type lighting we need to light streets and cities and stuff that's already funded. When you say, oh.

C

We want, where are the lights? We you don't need the fun that the funding's there we just can't get the.

C

Product and we're not going to put home depot house things on, there is the use of a waste of.

C

Money, so um it's good for him we'll work on that list of the things we've got to on hold already.

C

Funded by the cra already in there, that will have to roll over, because the material problems are.

C

Other problems so we'll we'll work on that list to get back to you of the things that have held over.

C

um Especially in the last year since we've had this big supply problem, we.

C

Should have had a lot of things done this year and it's not because all.

C

The things we are doing, we can't get the materials to do them with.

L

This is my last hope. I'm sorry if there's anything else on this item. This is my last.

D

Slide, I don't know if there is, if any more direction on the cra fund.

A

Foreign, do you want direction on it? No it just, I think the the theme of it is. We do have money in.

C

The cra that's going to be discretionary money. I don't think we're ready to commit yet honestly.

C

We've got a lot of things in the hopper to use the money for, but it's available budget is 365.

C

To us you can make changes. Do things you see. You've got about 600 000 of cra. So, as you come.

C

Up to this budget year, even after october, if there's a progress that comes up, we do have.

C

Funding in the cra to be able to do that. Well, so I think the biggest picture with this is you've.

C

Got money there and we don't necessarily have to commit it now, because I'm not sure if getting the.

C

Pro we need to get the priority set, but you do have some funding ability within the cra and I.

C

Think that should be the big theme that anytime october, through the year, we can commit you've.

C

Got money to commit there to a project that you deem as a priority of yourself or the citizens.

D

Onto the enterprise funds, I I think you know it's good to have money and it's probably good.

A

To just leave it there for a while until we get things sorted with that- and I know that.

A

um Mr function's got a lot of things that need to be done. Is that what you're getting at yes, okay,.

A

And- and uh I mean I can tell you some things that I want to get done, but I don't right now.

A

I wouldn't do that, given what I'm hearing from everybody else as far as what we need to do so.

A

um And and um for example, warrant street is in the cra.

A

East orange street okay, so we could pay for brick repair out of this fund. If you.

A

Want to as an example rather than taking it out of penny, or something like that, so.

A

Don't ask us for ideas, ryan you're liable to get them; okay, I'll, be quiet. Okay,.

D

I will go on to the enterprise funds now and just to provide some slides.

D

um Just like for each enterprise fund, I just did a you know a couple slides one's the.

D

Expenditure onesie revenues, onesie expenditures, uh starting off with the water and sewer fund.

D

You've got about 18.5 million of revenues, increasing about 523 000. there's no current.

D

You know there's in the current ordinance, there's no rate increase, but a lot of the revenues have.

D

Increased because of new counts, new accounts and consumption increase. So that's the revenues.

D

Expenditure wise I'd like to point out that okay, we've got the opera the way the operating costs.

D

Are increasing, like 1.2 million a 23 increase over the last year's budget? You know to offset.

D

That, with the current rate structure, we, you know we're keeping capital at a minimum in the water.

D

And sewer funds so we're seeing a decrease of almost 1.8 million in capital outlay in.

D

The water and sewer fund- and this just breaks down personnel services is 36 percent operating.

D

32 percent capital, 14 debt service, 10 percent, transfer, seven percent a little bit. Reserves are.

D

0.3 for a hundred percent- and um I don't know any questions on the water and sewer fund question to.

H

Me and you've highlighted it that 23 increase in operational expenditures is just through the roof.

H

I mean the average, I don't know ppi or whatever has been eight point. Some odd percent over the.

H

Country for the last year and we're looking at 23 percent and I'm kind of wondering what we're doing.

H

Wrong here, oh we're not doing anything wrong. Yeah is, mr, is vice got in the presentation. Yet, okay.

A

I think you're going to find that it it it's the same thing going on with all the cities in.

A

The tampa yeah I'm well. Maybe that was the wrong expression. What are we doing what's wrong? It's how.

H

Did this come about and how can we avoid future increases that I mean you are correct expenditure.

D

There is a little bit high, it's comparing it to the 23 budget and when we're working on.

D

This budget about a year ago, at this time we didn't have you know the inflation was still.

D

Going up so that budget for 2023 was probably a little bit uh short there. So you know the really.

D

If you want to look at yeah, the increase might be more or less than a 12 to 18 12 to 15 percent area.

D

Across the operating cost, so you're saying the percentages against the 22 budget 23 the 23 budget.

H

Which is where I thought, which is still 23 right based on you know, going at the.

D

23 budget, which was a little low based on the inflation, was just going up during the.

D

Time we were working on the budget last year. Oh, I understand. Okay, you've had the presentation right.

A

Okay, I'm keeping my mouth shut. Okay, I'm sure you've been through it, but I have questions.

A

No, I I think um you know we're in in the real cost of materials and things it's greater than 20. You.

A

Know some of it's in the 30 range and stuff like that. But when you get the presentation.

A

It's I mean, we've all seen the increases in cost, because we keep having to to re bless, increases.

H

In costs, I mean we've been doing that for well every second meeting for the last six months.

A

There's there's a history there too, I mean it's like I said. The scenario is very similar to our.

A

Ad valorem tax scenario of 2008, where there was a crash of the market, but in this case the the.

A

Value of the homes, but in this case it's the cost of materials operating costs are going up. So it's.

A

Kind of the reverse of that, but the effect is the same, is that we decrease the amount of.

A

What we charge residents for per thousand gallons of water, for example, that was going to be my next.

H

Question for me I said that was going to be my next word. We've decreased what we were charging.

A

To to a year ago, is that right, correct we went a 2.2 percent reduction in the rates and quite.

A

Frankly, now all these increases with that decrease, it's not that you still have to keep the plants.

A

Running and it's costing more to do that, but the it and it's all the same money, the money.

A

That people pay is used for both operating and for capital, and so when the when the operating goes.

A

Up the capital expenditures go down, so should we be doing another rate study, I you know, can I say.

F

Something yeah it's just a little bit unfair for you to. I mean not to ask the questions. Of course,.

F

But until you see the um the presentation, it would answer pretty much a lot of questions.

A

The reach study has been done this year. That's what they're going to.

C

Meet with you on the last rate study we did, we were going to do updates, but then.

A

Seeing what was going on mr herring and and the staff went ahead and did a full.

A

Updates you're going to get the whole thing in I'll cancel. My comments, commissioner, gets.

A

Back then, you'll see the whole presentation on it. Would it be the um the rate study we're.

A

Going to get in august, yes, okay and then in the meantime, you'll get the impact of what.

A

That all means from this from the state. Okay, I think we're meeting with you tomorrow. I believe.

H

huh I'm sorry, I didn't hear that we're meeting with you tomorrow on that, okay, the clock, be there.

L

All right, um I bring.

D

I will go on to the sanitation fund and you know most of the you know the charges.

D

For services, you know by waste management, refuse recycling and the yard waste for.

D

The tipping fees increasing about 550 000, based on the new contract, um say, like I say,.

D

The majority of the revenues are all the 90 you know. 100 of it is a charges for services.

D

Going to expenditures, of course, on the other side, you got the revenues for the charges for.

D

Services paying waste management, but then this is their fee. It's about a 476 000 going up for next.

D

Year, operating expenditures are 83 percent of the sanitation fund budget and, if any any questions.

D

On the sanitation fund, the increases are indexed right. Yes, whatever the cost, whatever that index.

A

Is that they use for waste collection? You know, what's a combination of two indexes? One is with.

D

Fuel and the other one's with everything else, but the fuel and it's a combination of the two indexes.

D

So our waste build waste management bill or waste bill is going to go up this month. Individual waste.

A

Wage collection is going to go up not this month, but I mean that's next year.

D

You want time to come up here and you scared. Well, it's got the three percent maximum two.

A

Percent three threes which a board put in when they did the new contract percent, then.

A

Three: okay, I may have talked days yeah, but a lot of things.

D

This is our second year of the contract. Right, yes, the second year just started on march 31st, 2023.

G

Five years.

D

Okay, on from sanitation fund to stormwater fund uh revenues, total 2.2 million and increase about 93.

D

000 um 100 charges for services, the rate increases, are 0.50 per equivalent stormwater unit per year.

D

The charge will be 10 15.. um The current rate plan for stormwater is that same 0.50 per year.

D

Through 2025., um I would imagine, I think, probably next year, I think we're due for a rate study with.

D

Stormwater, so we'll be budgeting for that. So that's the revenues of the stormwater fund.

D

And just a breakdown of the expenditures, you know you got your personnel operating.

D

Capital outlay we're trying to keep capital to uh to limiting it. We're trying to want to get.

D

Pen and gross done first to see how much you know that's going to end up costing.

D

If we might have a little extra money in in the stormwater fund for pent grows, so.

D

um Basically personnel's 36 percent operating 31 percent capital about 10 percent transfers. Eight.

D

Percent and some reserves 14 percent- so that's the stormwater fund. If you have any questions.

D

D

All right, are you ready, go ahead, commission the.

E

um When you're doing these budgets uh for personnel services now those are assuming.

E

um Additional staff right like they're, not all not every position- is filled correct.

D

um Yeah there could be some vacant positions- okay and because you always the end of the book.

E

But throughout the entire city it just depends on the departments, and you know.

D

You know like I've, I've got two positions been vacant for a couple of months now I was going.

E

To use you as an example yeah so that, but that's at the end of the budget season, that's actually.

E

In essence found money because we budgeted for something that never you never spent. You know at.

D

The end of the year and allow on the last budget resolution sometimes I'll use that excess money.

D

Maybe if another department went over to try to cover those departments? Okay, so when we're looking.

E

At these, these are fully staffed, budgets, correct and they there may be excess access, yeah, okay,.

A

Do you have anything.

A

Did you have something.

F

Well, my question was: I wanted to backtrack to something because a lot of these numbers that.

F

You put in, if you don't mind, I wanted to go back to the enterprise funds, just for a.

F

um Are these numbers just guesstimates or that they're just put in or they're accurate usage.

F

You have here water treatment, plant, renewal and replacement equipment.

F

Twenty five thousand is that an accurate, or is that just a number that just gets.

F

Is that you're, looking at an expenditure in the water and sewer fund um capital outlay,.

F

On the water sewer fund, it's page 361.

D

I got the feeling if you're getting any estimates, that's probably the public services department when they, you know, estimate their expenditures.

F

You know in here also so you just not you know you have the meter readers.

F

um And you have replacement chevy silverado, so my question would be.

F

um And I know this is not you I'm, but I I need to ask the question: is that necessary, yeah you're.

D

Looking the page you're talking about is a minor capital outlay of the enterprise funds, yep yeah.

D

I guess that would involve um whichever department I didn't.

F

Hear what you said, whichever department, if it's enterprise, funds, water and sewer.

D

Oh, it's my department, [laughter] we've got a, I forgot. Yeah we've got a vehicle, it's it's.

D

The cost of the repairs, it's just more than it's, you know it's it's gone through it. It's.

D

A lifespan right now, so that's done. We get the estimate from the vehicle maintenance department.

D

Fleet all the replacement ones and the criteria or what's the mileage, the value.

C

Right, that's all in the work for you. I still have that book. I understand.

F

But I think I don't know if it's got these budgetary ones on there. Does it.

F

It's well you. I didn't hear what you said. I don't think they've got these budgeted.

C

Ones requested for us coming budget on that list. Correct right, I don't know.

C

Everybody well just because you know I'm asking the question, because I have this highlighted.

F

You have meter readers why? Why would meter readers driving around with silverado? It's.

F

That's more like a police vehicle or a larger vehicle for me to read it. Do we need that.

C

I think that has something to do with what's available in the pricing and what.

C

Yeah, I think the vehicle maintenance supervisor.

D

Gives us direction and said we need to budget for this vehicle.

K

And one is, you know they do uh the mirror changes out. They also do some maintenance.

K

Work too number two is that the price between the silverado and in colorado.

K

Is mere pennies, but the long-term value of the truck is much more.

K

So you're better off having a silverado than having a colorado. Okay, I just I didn't know the.

F

um The answer to that it just I didn't know, I don't price them on a day-to-day basis,.

C

And again, that's some of the detail. We want to get to this board, so they came up with.

C

Last budget to know this one, when we do these things, what that rationale and and what it is.

C

So tom's heard the update that make sure all the ones on there to update that with those.

C

Reasoning and the what came into the process of deciding from our fleet manager. What? What is in.

C

That process of deciding on that particular vehicle. Okay, mr herring, continue please, okay,.

D

Golf course fun.

D

A budget of almost 2 million increases 315 000.. um Of course, that's 100 percent of the.

D

Charges for services for the revenue I got it, I gotta say the golf course fund has done.

D

Great the last couple years, I think I was looking back. They used to average, maybe in.

D

The mid 40s some thousand rounds of golf, I think, the last last year it was like 50 55.

D

000 rounds of color, I'm looking looking at howard, but I think two years ago is 55.

D

000 rounds of golf and this year, 62 000 for 22. So it's you know. Revenues have increased nicely.

D

We've gotten, I think, we're projecting that the fund balance will be out to the negatives for.

D

The first time in a long time so that you know they're doing a great job with the golf course.

D

um So that's why we we bumped up the revenues to what they've been the last couple years.

D

And on the flip side here we've got the you know: the 2 million of expenditures, most of it operating.

D

Costs 117 000 increase. I think some of that is due to you know they're having more people at the golf.

D

Course they need some more supplies for the golf course beverages and everything else they sell.

D

We also put in or they did 250 000 for capital they're going to do a two hundred thousand dollar.

D

T-Box reconstruction and preliminary design for the new clubhouse fifty thousand dollars.

D

um Personnel 31 percent operating 54 percent capital about 13 percent and.

D

With that I'll open it up for any questions on the golf course, I was just going to ask.

A

um The the t-box reconstruction, what what is that um involved.

J

Okay, golf course manager, howard hunt with me as well paul smith, public services, director.

J

But in a nutshell, because of all that volume of play, the t existing t-box surface area is.

J

Rather small, so it gets a lot of pressure from all of those rounds, so this is something that.

J

Will improve our conditions? It's why people come to play at our course, because it's in.

J

Nice condition, so it's something that in turn will be uh help guarantee future success with revenue.

A

I I can tell you, the my friends have been trying to get me to play golf again, so I have a lot of.

A

Friends and I it just hasn't gotten there yet, um but I have a lot of friends that play golf.

A

And they really speak highly of the tarpon call uh course so you're doing an outstanding.

A

Job and coming from my friends believe me: I'd hear it if they were critical. So oh.

C

Yeah and I think the capital outlay would be much greater if the mayor took up golf all the.

E

Divots he might leave all over the court. That would probably be an operating cost.

D

Require the commission to all start playing golf or something to support our golf club.

A

Golf course I'm going on record, refusing that I do not play golf, do not want to play golf. No offense.

F

The um when, when I became commissioner, we used to get complaints, remember the rates increase that.

A

We did, we got some complaints, we got complaints about the condition of here and there over this.

A

Last year, or so it there's been no comments concerning that the only issue we had- and I.

A

Think you're addressing that was the clubhouse, the condition of the clubhouse and and where, at.

A

Least, we're taking those first steps to do that. I just hope whatever I I'm going to be gone by.

A

The time you get to where you need to be as far as building and design, but I'm hoping whatever design.

A

You do do is very traditional and consistent with a historic golf course. That's my input to it. So.

A

That's all anybody else.

A

Mr herring, no, so you know it's good news about the golf course being you know doing so well and.

D

Getting in a positive fund balance and leading into the marina fund, you know it's a smaller.

D

Fund with, I think, the 18 slips down there. You know it's only got a budget of 150 000 going up about.

D

Ten thousand, it's all charges for services for the slip rentals. um I know we, you know tom did.

D

A you know, rate increase about a year or so which has helped, because this is another fund that was.

D

In the negatives but a small amount, but now it's in the positive. By about twenty thousand.

D

uh Expenditures in the in the marina fund, like I say, just 150 000, spread across you.

D

Know the operating personnel and operating and a little bit of reserves left over. It's.

D

49 no 50 personnel, 42 operating and the rest is some reserved money put in the reserves and.

D

That is the marina fund and any questions on that. No that's another highly visible.

A

Tough area because of everybody down there, so it's been quiet and mick does a good job there and.

A

I think everything's working out real well from my perspective, does commit advice. Maryland's.

A

Gone anything from you, no okay, that is the last of the enterprise funds and.

D

I don't have anything else on that. Let's look at the timetable yeah. I.

D

Just put that left that up there again in case, you need to remember the dates.

A

So um some of the things that we talked about earlier in the meeting would they.

A

Be coming back at one of these meetings, or would they be at a separate, uh for example,.

A

The uh I would imagine they'd be coming back at the 27th, I mean again. The at august 3rd is.

C

Tentative we need it so so between this meeting tonight and if there's anything that comes up.

C

um After meeting to tell us, um you know, we would, we would imagine we could bring.

C

Everything back to you pretty much by that meeting, the the 27th.

C

Okay, also, the 27th would probably where we got in. Will we get into talk about the uh the.

C

Salaries and that sort of thing we'd be close to be close to being there. We have to, I think.

C

We'll be close to at least talking conceptually again that comes to a regular meeting, because.

C

That has to be voted on in a regular meeting uh the salaries positions that sort of thing, but.

C

We'd have probably a preview, for you is one of the things that, beyond the agenda for the 27th meeting.

G

A

Our next commission meetings at 25th is that right, right, okay,.

A

Were there any questions concerning the schedule.

E

So mark you said the 27th we'll be talking about personnel. Yes, okay, again the preliminary talk.

C

Remember that has to be finalized at a regular commission meeting. Usually is one it's. The second.

C

Meeting of august, because there's resolution there's, you know, there's there's that is the.

C

One thing in the budget that's passed in agreed upon by this board in our regular session meeting.

A

So salary increases yeah, yeah salary positions. Anything like that that that comes to a regular.

C

That's the one thing in the budget: it comes to a regular commission meeting to go but we'll be giving you a preview and a discussion of our thoughts at this time.

A

Okay, you're looking for you're done is that right.

C

Just I think we get to we we get to the miscellaneous portion. Is there anything.

C

Again anything that you want to be brought back, um we still got an audience here of. If you remember.

C

Questions on anything from this or last meeting you'll see the audience we still have out there.

C

So they're free to answer any questions again here anything else you want back to the next meeting.

C

And again that offers open after you know tomorrow, the next day, beginning of next week, if you have.

C

Items for us to look at and want us to bring back to you in the next meeting. Then just let us.

C

Know and we'll we'll prepare those aside from the things we've already told you. We prepare and bring.

C

Back to you, I just um you know, I'm hoping that when we're all done with everything that we've you.

A

Know we've got a good budget that we can actually work with and that there aren't any kind of like.

A

Catch-22S or any you know, something gets done, has to get done first or the other thing doesn't get.

A

Done and and that sort of thing and and um I I think that the conversation with regard to the.

A

Policy and everything the strategy investment strategy, we need to work that out. I don't know.

A

If we're going to solve it this year, but still we need to kind of start working to that end.

A

um Commissioner couliana she got your light on just I just want to thank.

E

Mark and obviously ron for all their hard work, all the department, heads and the staff I attended.

E

Most of the uh the budget advisory meeting, so I saw you guys come up and do your individual.

E

Presentations and they were thorough, and I just think you guys do an amazing job even.

E

People over there I can't see, and um so I'm yeah, I know it's, it's not easy.

E

Doing all this you know running a city and and doing all the things you do. I'm and.

E

I'm proud to play a little small part with all you guys, so thanks. Thank you.

A

um I just want to learn anything nope thanks. This was a lot of work. It always did a lot of work as.

H

Always you uh you've all done. A very professional job is appreciated. The only side comment is.

H

Next time you send me a meeting announcement check with trish to see if I got it, because I.

H

Didn't get this one at all. I know I seemed kind of clueless there, but that's why.

F

Again, I just want to thank you all. um I had very few questions because most of my.

F

Questions were answered if they weren't, I kind of made the calls um I just want to thank you.

F

All it's not easy to run this city. I've learned that in the year and a half I'm here- and I just.

F

Appreciate all that you do, and I wish you luck in your presentations to the other commissioners.

A

I um you know from my perspective, I kind of.

A

I kind of look, I look you over to kind of see and, and you all look a little bit like.

A

um Tonight, a little bit, um what would you call it uncertain and- and I I can tell you, I should.

A

Be looking the same way, as maybe everybody else up here as well, because there's a lot of things.

A

Going on that, we're not sure how they're all going to play out and we just have to kind.

A

Of keep going with what we're doing, um I know is renee still over there. No no she's gone, but it's.

A

The same thing with the projects: you don't know what projects are going to come along and and.

A

You could have something in mind for a piece of property over here next thing. You know somebody's.

A

Coming in and and doing something on it, which is a little bit of a surprise and and sometimes.

A

It's consistent with what the city residents want. Sometimes it's not consistent. It's the.

A

Same thing with um you know, the meeting we had with tommy the other day was very helpful and.

A

um We'll make that presentation to the public and I'll make sure that you know the arguments.

A

Are solid in that there are factors way beyond our control. Of course, we we, we kind of contributed it.

A

Because of trying to allow residents to to have them pay less, but sometimes it's just.

A

Like that millage rate that happened in 20, 17 or 2016. with a millage rate decrease, then the the.

A

Market collapsed, the same thing: we decreased the 2.2 percent, not knowing what was going.

A

To be happening now, all of a sudden- this is now we're kind of like we're, even beyond behind the.

A

Power curve, just behind the eight ball, just because that 2.2 percent as well so and I'm.

A

Hoping whatever we come up with with policy that this whole business of and I'm a strong believer.

A

If you've got a process in place, then everything works. Fine, if you don't have a process in place.

A

And everything every year it's different. You know you get a different read from us every year.

A

Because of this has changed that change, then then it's hard to kind of keep on track with things you.

A

Go two steps forward, one step back, but if we can kind of continue developing these policies, our.

A

Our charter revision commission is going to be sitting next spring. Hopefully, they'll be able.

A

To address some of these things to help as far as the priorities and things like that to kind.

A

Of come up with some mechanism to determine what the priorities are, that we can move forward. I mean.

A

You know it's funny. Somebody commissioner coulianis mentioned.

A

You know I I was city manager and- and I don't mean this in any way, but a lot of.

A

Things that needed to be done back then still need to be done today.

A

And and the sewer is, the soaring is one of them. We just have not been very aggressive on that and and.

A

um But it's just a hard thing to do, because people's septic tanks are failing, but on the.

A

Other hand there aren't the funds available to put the sewer system in and even when you put.

A

The sewer system in because of the impact fees and cost of that, it's it's it. You know it's either. You.

A

Replace your septic system or you pay the impact fees, I'm not sure, which is more these days in some.

A

Places it just boils down to being environmentally friendly and doing the right thing by hooking up.

A

To sewer so it's always a type of war in that regard, but anyway I I thank all of you for your.

A

Perseverance, that's the only way I can describe it. um I'm I'm hoping that city manager knows how.

A

I feel I'm hoping that over the next month or two will turn the corner and things will look much.

A

Brighter for us for the rest of the year, I know there's a couple of things that have happened. This.

A

Year that haven't been real good for the city, but both on a personal level and and also from.

A

uh From a city government perspective as well, so I'm hoping I'm looking forward to the future and.

A

Thank you all for that. Let me go to board staff commons anything beyond what you've already said.

A

At the next commission meeting we're going to have a a kind of an agenda item on this august.

A

5Th meeting and things that we'll lay that out and at that meeting it'll be a kind of this. The forum.

A

That we're gonna proceed with and it'll it'll be laid out to you in detail. Is that what I wanted.

A

To mention to them today, yeah so we'll be actually looking for some direction. Confirmation actually.

A

At the odd at the july, 25th meeting for the august 5th meeting and and it's going to involve.

A

These guys out here too right, yeah I'll, be talking to them tomorrow at all right staff meeting.

A

All right with that in mind, um thank you very much everybody. We adjourn at 8, 36.

H

Didn't never did get sent.