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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-26-1994 Special Meetingr CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING September 26, 1994 A Special Meeting of the Cape Canaveral City Council was held on September 26, 1994, at the City Hall Annex, 111 Polk Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 P.M. by Mayor Salamone. ROLL CALL: Mayor Joy Salamone Present Mayor Pro Tem John Porter Present Councilmember Arthur Berger Present Councilmember Leo Nicholas Absent Councilmember Rocky Randels Absent City Manager Bennett Boucher Present City Clerk Faith Miller Present PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Resolution No. 94 -49, Adopting Final Millage Rate for 1994. Mayor Salamone read the Resolution in its entirety. A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A MILLAGE RATE FOR THE LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR 1994 ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Motion by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Berger to adopt Resolution No. 94 -49. Mayor Salamone stated that she felt that the City should go back to last year's tax rates for the Beautification and Library millages as she did not see a reason to increase either tax. Mr. Porter agreed with the reduction in the proposed library tax, but he felt more discussion was needed on the Beautification portion of the budget. Mr. Porter stated that overall, regardless of the increases in the Beautification and Library millages, there would still be a net reduction in taxes in the City (1.4110 mills to 1.3870 mills). Mayor Salamone questioned what projects were planned for the increased Beautification millage. The increased Beautification millage would net the City approximately $14,000. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Dick McGhee, 541 Washington Avenue, objected to the proposed Beautification and Library millages and added that he disagreed with increased millage rates without justification. Mr. Bill Sweet agreed with Mayor Salamone in that the Beautification and Library millages should not be increased. Mr. Sweet spoke favorably regarding the City's police and fire services and that possibly those tax rates should be increased. He also commented that the City employees were excellent. Mayor Salamone advised that referendums to increase the police and fire millages from .50 to 1.0 mill for police and from .25 to .50 mill for fire were being placed on the November election ballot and the voters would have the right to decide whether or not the r City of Cape Canaveral, Florida 1111 Special City Council Meeting September 26, 1994 Page 2 millages should be increased. Mr. Bob Hoog spoke against increasing the Beautification and Library millages and commented that there was $46,000 in the Beautification contingency budget. He questioned why the taxes were proposed to be increased with no planned projects in place. Mrs. Francis Singer, Beautification Board Chairman, explained that there were two (2) planned programs - 1) planting of trees on the presidential streets /regreening of Cape Canaveral; and 2) xeriscape park to be located across from the Recreation Center. Mayor Salamone stated that both projects were already included within the budget. Mr. Porter stated that the A1A corridor needed substantial beautification improvements. He expressed that City funds could be doubled through the use of grants for specific beautification projects and that funds were available through several types of grants, but most grants required matching funds. He mentioned that $26,000 of beautification funds were doubled through a grant ($52,000) for the tree planting project. He stated that maybe the Beautification tax did not need to be increased during the next fiscal year, but he also advocated putting more time and effort into preparing plans for specific projects in the next year. Specific projects for improvements to the community would help to gain residents' support for a potential increase to the Beautification tax next year. Mr. Porter stated that it was critical for the City to move toward the future with needed improvements. Mayor Salamone commented that she did not resent any funds that had been spent on Beautification in the past. She supported lowering the tax in the years when it was not needed and raising it in the years that there were projects that warranted the increased tax. Mr. Berger stated that there were several Beautification projects being contemplated such as entrance signs to both entrances along A1A. He stated that the overall taxes were not increasing and the more beautiful the City became then the more valuable it became to its residents. He felt that the increased millages were justified. Mr. McGhee spoke against placing more funds in the Beautification contingency fund. Mayor Salamone reiterated that planned projects were needed. Motion by Mayor Salamone, seconded by Mr. Porter to amend the main motion to go back to last year's millage rate for Beautification (.4403) and Library (.0386) taxes. Mr. Sweet commented on the conditions in the area along A1A in between Cocoa Beach and the City (Avon -by- the -Sea). Mayor Salamone explained the goals and objectives of the Commercial Development Board and the Local Government Cooperative Committee. Mr. Porter suggested that the Beautification Board prepare an actual plan to include goals to be accomplished over the next few years and place it into the City's Five Year Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. William Gleckner, Beautification Boardmember, questioned several line items included in the Beautification budget. Ms. Deborah Haggerty, City Treasurer, explained the forecasting of estimate revenues and expenditures, the proposed decrease in the Beautification and Library City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Special City Council Meeting September 26, 1994 Page 3 millage rates, the annual City millage (tax) paid by an average homeowner in Cape Canaveral, and that the overall tax liability of a Cape Canaveral homeowner would be lower than the previous year. Mayor Salamone read Resolution No. 94-49 in its entirety due to the proposed amendment. Section 1 of the amended Resolution now read: "The total millage for all City operating purposes is fixed at 1.34 mills on the dollar of taxable value for the 1994 -95 fiscal year of the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This millage is a 1.58% increase from the rolled back rate." The Beautification millage rate in Section 2 was changed from .4843 mill to .4403 mill, and the Library millage rate in Section 3 was changed from .0425 mill to .0386 mill. Mr. Porter explained that he had re- evaluated his stance on the previously proposed millage increase and that it was reasonable to expect a more aggressive plan for the future of beautification projects. The public hearing was closed as there were no additional comments from the public. Motion carried on the amended Resolution with members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone For Mayor Pro Tem Porter For Councilmember Berger Against Motion failed on the main motion with members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone Against Mayor Pro Tem Porter Against Councilmember Berger For Mayor Salamone announced that Resolution No. 94 -49 as amended passed by a 2 to 1 vote. 2. Resolution No. 94 -50, Adopting. the Final Annual Budget for FY 94/95. Mayor Salamone read the Resolution in its entirety. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CAPE CANAVERAL, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; ADOPTING THE ANNUAL GENERAL FUND, SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, DEBT SERVICE FUND, EXPENDABLE TRUST FUNDS, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGETS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1994, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1995; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The public hearing was opened and closed as there were no further comments on the budget. Motion by Mr. Porter, seconded by Mr. Berger to adopt Resolution No. 94 -50. r City of Cape Canaveral, Florida Special City Council Meeting September 26, 1994 Page4 Motion by Mayor Salamone, seconded by Mr. Porter to amend Resolution No. 94 -50 to include the millage rates and related figures that were adopted on the amended Resolution No. 94 -49. Motion carried on the amendment with members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone For Mayor Pro Tem Porter For Councilmember Berger Against Motion failed on the main motion with members voting as follows: Mayor Salamone Against Mayor Pro Tem Porter Against Councilmember Berger For Mayor Salamone announced that Resolution No. 94 -50 as amended passed by a 2 to 1 vote. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:20 P.M. Approved this 4th day of October 1994. C. ►► alamone, MAYOR