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09-26-1985 - Special - ~ 'r v o~ CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 1985 MINUTES Mayor Baugh called the Special Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Earl Baugh Councilman Louis Rotundo Councilman Russell Prater Councilman Neil Asting Present Present Present Present Councilman James Inman City Attorney Jose'Alvarez City Clerk Connie Martinez Chief Lawrence Schumaker Present Present Present Present Resolution on millage #85-R-38 - City Attorney Alvarez read this Resolution in its entirety. The title is: RES. NO. 85-R-38 - A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A CERTIFIED MILLAGE RATE OF 5.800 MILLS PER $1,000.00 ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1985-1986, WHICH REPRESENTS A SEVENTEEN POINT NINE (17.9) PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE ROLLED BACK RATE OF 4.918; REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS OR PARTS OF RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Mayor Baugh asked for public input. Kate Gregory, 226 Hubbell Street, said she feels a 17% increase is not reflective of the demographics of this community due to the number of struggling families. She asked why the Council and Mayor had doubled salaries and said she feels it was unwise, and this is extending the limits. Norman Oskerud, 2809 India Palm, asked how they arrived at the 17% increase. He stated a lot of senior citizens cannot afford this increase. He said he paid $490 last year for one half a house on a street with no paving. He said the real estate taxes for this area should be adjusted. He stated that some properties are on the books under the homestead exemption and a man who has not lived in the house for three years is claiming it, which is illegal. Felix Simanowski, 2722 Sabal Palm, said the increase in the tax rate is unfair. Mayor Baugh pointed out that nobody from the public showed up when Council went through the budget workshops, and a year ago the millage was 5.8. He added that they've started some programs, such as paving in Florida Shores and resur- facing other roads, and they can't do it without the revenues. He pointed out the City has no control over raising the assessments as that's the County. Mr. Simanowski spoke on the condition of the streets with the heavy rains and Mayor Baugh stated that at the meeting that day they instructed engineers to do a survey to determine what can be done about this. Frank Opal, Florida Shores, stated he was correcting Mayor Baugh because last year's millage was 5.44. He said the decision will be the same regardless of what anyone says who might oppose the budget, and two were in budget workshops before. Mayor Baugh asked who the two were and Mr. Opal replied Councilman Asting and Mayor Baugh, as Police Chief. Mayor Baugh pointed out that he wasn't even here at this time last year. Mr. Opal said he was unable to attend the budget hearings because he was in the hospital for surgery. He stated that Mel Wargo and Dave Ledbetter knew more than anyone last year and they set it at 5.44 and he thanked them for that. He noted that with the cutback there was still a surplus of about $700,000. He referred to the other increases in gasoline tax, cable rates, and assessed valuation. He stated that the City Attorney serves both cities and his budget is $4,000 per month and Clay Henderson's budget was only about $12,000 a year. He said the Council budget is top heavy at $4,000 a month, and they get insurance and hospitalization. He said the Council should be ashamed of gouging the people and asked if they deserve the amenities. He said there was a complete drainage plan done by Briley, Wild in 1966 which the City paid for and now it can't be located. He stated that drainage was his first priority in his previous campaign. He stated that next election this budget will haunt them. He said he's opposed to 5.800 millage and they should revert back to the rolled back rate. Mayor Baugh clarified that the drainage is to be reviewed by the engineers and there was $471,000 left over from the previous year, of that $700,000. ~- o o , John Siburn, Connecticut Avenue, said his assessed values went from $14,000 in 1971 to $38,000. He said if the franchise taxes go to a different department now and it was changed to the general fund, then the other department would have to be increased. Mayor Baugh stated that it goes for the bond issue for water and sewer. James Hatfield, Old County Road, said he went to prior budget sessions and didn't get to speak. He referred to several items in the budget that Mr. Opal had spoken on, and he pointed out the budget is $412,000 over last year. He referred to the Police Department budget and the Fire Department budgets, and spoke on the vehicles that were parked around City buildings and not being used. He said they need efficient peformance from the Police Department, Parks Department, and Roads Department, and Council should think about the people who have to pay these bills. Helen Siburn, 123 East Connecticut Avenue, said she feels this is unfair, and the doubling of the salaries, and she thinks someone is running it like the Army, and this isn't the Federal government, and people here are retired and on social security and small pensions. Robert Baker, 1026 Beulah, said the man who claims homestead exemption and doesn't live here is working as a City employee in another city. He said the man comes once a week to get his mail. Kathleen Morris, Evergreen Drive, said she has a family with children and suggested the people unite. She said she doesn't know the problems and doesn't have the money for a lot of taxes. She noted that if the people are fed up, they can unite to get more effective results. She asked if they get out in the field and talk with the people and Mayor Baugh replied yes. Ms. Morris said she listens to the elderly and some of her neighbors said they'll have to go without food. Mayor Baugh reviewed some of the programs- Council has planned and pointed out they have 90 employees in the City now. He reviewed some of the major projects. Ms. Morris asked about the advertising of the budget hearings and Mayor Baugh replied that it was advertised in the paper and it was an open meeting. Mrs. Siburn, from the audience, asked what good it will do if they can't open their mouth. An unidentified member of the audience asked why they have afternoon meetings and Mayor Baugh pointed out they had about 40 hours of sessions and all the meetings were advertised in the papers. Mayor Baugh also noted that the first public hearing was on the tax notice. Ms. Morris said if some people want to contact her, she'll be outside after the meeting. Henry Dardinski, 2704 Sabal Palm, noted that Council gets a lot of criticism and Edgewater taxes are just a portion of the increase and there are other problems in the City. He said Council was wise to buy the paving equipment but they also have a sewer problem, problem of new wells, and others and these have to be paid for by taxpayers. He asked Council to draft a letter to local representatives on the State level to have a limit on homestead so they have to pay some taxes. He commended Council for taking the flack about their salaries. Fred Nix, Sabal Palm, said no City can take 19" of rain they had but they do need to do something to improve the drainage. Mayor Baugh stated that the engineers would be doing a survey for the entire City to determine how to solve the drainage problem. Mr. Nix said he'd like to see progress continue on sewers, drainage and paving because they all want them and they have to pey for them. He asked that they keep costs down as much as they can. Frank Morris, Evergreen Drive, asked Mayor Baugh to speak to the Governor about a State lottery. He noted that the lottery could help the schools and the roads. John Siburn, Connecticut Avenue, said about the lottery and anybody wanting Baugh pointed out this meeting is not there was a petition going around to sign it can call him. Mayor regarding the lottery. -2- Council Special Meeting Minutes September 26, 1985 ... o ~ \J Jim Borgerson, Orange Tree Drive, said he thinks Edgewater has the best Police and Fire Department he's ever seen. He noted that the biggest problem is the drainage and the canals are a disaster with a lot of garbage in them. Kathleen Moran, Travelers Palm, asked if there is a water pump they can use with severe rains. Mayor Baugh replied that there's no place to pump it to and the County had the same problem, and the canals were full to the river and the tide coming in held the water back. Ms. Moran said the people don't get raises and asked how they'd pay for the extra expenses. Pete Vecchi, 2203 Mango Tree, said he called the City about 1; months ago to clean out his culverts and was told they didn't have time and would get to it as soon as possible. He said he's called them twice since then and when the water came up it was half way up his driveway. He said Earl Copeland called him and told him they hadn't had rain like this in 30 years. He said he looked at the main canals and they weren't full but the other side of the railroad tracks on Edgewater Drive was full. Mayor Baugh said the drag line was there where Mosquito Control was cleaning it. Mr. Vecchi said the rubbish was stuck on the other side of the railroad tracks. Art Stevenson, 1862 Mango Tree, spoke on the culverts he had to pay the City to install and the depth of the placement. Mayor Baugh pointed out that they shoot the grade before they put the culverts in. Jim Borgerson asked why beaches are closed to swimming at Menard. City Clerk Martinez replied they received a directive from the insurance carriers that until they provide lifeguards or make suitable arrangements they would not cover them. Mr. Borgerson asked how long this will take and City Clerk Martinez suggested they call the County Councilmen. Mr. Borgerson asked if he could sit on an inner tube in the river and City Attorney Alvarez replied he'd have to research that. Resolution on millage #85-R-38 - Councilman Asting moved to adopt the reso- lution. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Second and Final Reading of Budget Ordinance #85-0-18 - City Attorney Alvarez read this Ordinance. ORD. 85-0-18 - AN ORDINANCE SETTING A FINAL BUDGET AND APPROPRIATING REVENUES TO BE COLLECTED FOR THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1985, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1986, SETTING FORTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OF THE GENERAL FUND AND VARIOUS ITEMS THEREOF; THE FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUND; THE WATER- WASTEWATER FUND; THE REFUSE COLLECTION FUND; AND THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FUND; SHOWING A MORE DETAILED BREAKDOWN BY "EXHIBIT A"; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Rotundo moved to adopt this ordinance. Councilman Inman seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Second and Final Reading of Ordinance #85-0-19 Increase in rates for collection and disposal of garbage and trash - City Attorney Alvarez read this Ordinance. ORD. 85-0-19 - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 19-63 (a)(1),(2),(3),(4), AND (5) OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA, BY PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RATE FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND TRASH FOR THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA; MAINTAINING THE EQUIPMENT RESERVE FUND BY CHARGING ALL REFUSE ACCOUNTS IN THE CITY AN ADDITIONAL SURCHARGE OF FIFTY (50C) CENTS PER ACCOUNT; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF THIS ORDINANCE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Prater moved to adopt Ordinance 85-0-19. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Mr. Opal, from the audience, asked about questions on the floor and Mayor Baugh replied it was part of the budget public hearing. Motion CARRIED 5-0. -3- Council Special Meeting Minutes September 26, 1985 ..... Q (.) Frank Opal called a point of order. Mayor Baugh stated there's no point of order at this time. Mr. Opal asked if they have an increase in the trash collection and the 50C in the contingency fund for a truck. Mayor Baugh said they have a truck and this is for the doubling of the dumping fees at Tomoka. Charlie Walton, 2421 Sabal, called a point of order. He said he had a pile of trash and was told it would be a minimum of $12. to haul it away. Mayor Baugh suggested he contact the Superintendent of the Street Department and they'll come out and look at it. Mayor Baugh asked him if the trash is still there and Mr. Walton said no, he got rid of it. Councilman Prater moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Inman seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 8:11 P.M. Minutes submitted by: Lura Sue Koser Jf~ F ~~ ~/j ATTEST: ~~~d~ CITY CLERK ~ Approved this~day of MAY:: f/~ ' 19~. OU CILMAN - ZONE TWO -;lAA:(J rr ~ COUNCILMAN - Z E THR ~/}.-Z...,.~-. ..-zc../~??;?~e-r ~OUNCILMAN - ZbNE FOUR c//~- -4- Council Special Meeting Minutes September 26, 1985 \