[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:42]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE CITY OF PARKLAND ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 AT 6:00 P.M. TO ORDER. PLEASE RISE FOR THE
PLEDGE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. >> SECOND.
[4. Approval of the Agenda]
>> WE HAVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIER AND SECOND
[5. Final Reading of the FY2025 Millage and Budget]
BY VICE MAYOR ISROW. ALL IN FAVOR.>> AYE. >> IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ANTHONY? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FINAL READING OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 MILLAGE AND BUDGET . I KNOW CHRIS HAS A SHORT PRESENTATION . HE WILL BE PRESENTING ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. I WILL READ THE TITLES INTO THE RECORD. WE WILL NEED SEPARATE VOTES ON EACH ONE OF THEM. THEN I WILL HAVE A BRIEF STATEMENT PURSUANT TO FLORIDA LAW. ORDINANCE 2024-010 FISCAL YEAR 2025 MILLAGE RATE SECOND READING. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PARKLAND, FLORIDA ADOPTING THE MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 21, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025. STATING THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE BY WHICH THE MILLAGE RATE EXCEEDS THE ROLLBACK RATE AS COMPUTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065 FLORIDA STATUTES PROVIDING FOR COMPLEX, SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ITEM 5B ORDINANCE 2024-011 FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET SECOND READING.
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PARKLAND, FLORIDA ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THE CITY OF PARKLAND FINAL OPERATING MILLAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS SIX.06% MORE THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE CALCULATED PURSUANT TO FLORIDA LAW. MR. JOHNSON.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS PREFER THE RECORD, CHRIS JOHNSON, FINANCE DIRECTOR. AS ANTHONY ALLUDED TO, WE MADE IT TO THE FINAL STEP OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET PROCESS. TONIGHT IS THE FINAL HEARING ON THE MILLAGE RATE, AND ALSO THE 25 BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET WAS PREDICATED UPON A GROSS TAX VALUE OF ABOUT EIGHT.$2 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $650 MILLION OR SO. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE CITY IS THAT IT WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 MILLION IN REVENUE. AND THE MILLAGE RATE WILL REQUIRE FOUR TO ONE VOTE ADDISON IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE MAXIMUM CALCULATIONS. SOME OF THE FY 25 GENERAL FUND HIGHLIGHTS ARE BSO CONTRACT INCREASED APPROXIMATELY $700,000, FIRE RESCUE CONTRACT CORAL SPRINGS PARK THE FIRE INCREASE ABOUT $500,000. STABILIZATION RESERVE IS UP TO ALMOST $13 MILLION NOW. INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE COVERS PROPERTY LOSS IN THE EVENT OF A STORM, RIGHT NOW, $750,000. WE HAVE INCREASED THE REPLACEMENT FUNDING , $550,000 FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPLACEMENTS, AND ALSO TO $.8 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING. ADDITIONAL, EMPLOYEES WILL GET A 3.5% COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 AS WELL. I WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST TIME. THE TOTAL CAPITAL PROGRAM IS ABOUT $41 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR ALL IN. NO CHANGES SINCE WE LAST MET ON SEPTEMBER 12 ON THE 25 CAPITAL. LAST THING I REALLY WANT TO SAY IS , THOSE OF YOU HERE IN ATTENDANCE OR LISTENING AT HOME, HOW MUCH OF THE BUILD OF THE CITY ACTUALLY RECEIVED?
[00:05:03]
THE CITY ACTUALLY RECEIVES ABOUT 23% OF YOUR TAX BILL. THE REST IS SPLIT, ABOUT TWO THIRDS GOES TO EITHER BROWARD COUNTY OR THE BROWN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, AND THE REMAINING GOES TO OTHER SMALL TAXING DISTRICTS YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR TAX BILL.WITH THAT, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE ON
THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET. >> ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER MAYERSOHN. >> NOT NECESSARILY QUESTIONS, BUT IS MORE COMMENTS . LAST MEETING I TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO LOWER THE BUDGET, WHICH WOULD LOWER THE MILLAGE RATE BY $1 MILLION. I DID SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH , AND I WENT TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OFFICE OF TAX RESEARCH . AS I STATED BEFORE, WE BUDGET, AND A LOT OF CITIES DO THE SAME THING, THEY BUDGET THEIR REVENUE CONSERVATIVELY , AND THE EXPENDITURES ARE PROBABLY EXCEEDING WHAT EXPECTATIONS ARE JUST SO WHAT KIND OF BALANCES ITSELF OUT.
WHEN I LOOKED AT SOME NUMBERS, I THINK WE ARE MISSING THE MARK IN THE SENSE OF PROJECTIONS. THESE ARE PROJECTIONS FROM AGAIN, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE , THEIR TAX RESEARCH.
WHEN WE LOOK AT COMMUNICATION SERVICE TAX, WE ARE PROJECTING THE BUDGET TO BE ALMOST AT 1 MILLION . THEIR PROJECTION IS 1.4 MILLION. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE HALF CENT SALES TAX, WE ARE AT 2.7 MILLION AND THEIR PROJECTIONS ARE 3 MILLION. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL OPTION FOR FUEL TAX, AGAIN, NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, WE ARE AT 560,000, THEY ARE 617,000. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MUNICIPAL REVENUE SHARING, WE ARE 1.1 MILLION, THEY ARE PROJECTING 1.5 MILLION. AS WELL AS WHEN WE LOOK AT INTERNALLY OUR OWN BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD REIMBURSEMENT , WE ARE AT 1.ONE 3 MILLION -- 1.3 MILLION. I GUESS FOR MY PERSPECTIVE, I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD ADJUST THIS BEING CONSERVATIVELY , BECAUSE WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING HERE AT ABOUT 1.$5 MILLION IN UNDERESTIMATED TAX POTENTIAL REVENUE. BRING IT BACK TO 1 MILLION, WHICH WOULD HE DO ANYTHING AS FAR AS THE EXPENDITURES, BUT COULD BALANCE THAT OUT AND GIVE A RELEASE OF TAX TO OUR RESIDENTS. THOSE ARE
MY COMMENTS. >> NANCY, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR FOR THE PRESERVE PART?
>> WHEN WE INVENTED THAT ABOUT 35 MILLION.
>> WHAT IS IT ROUGHLY COMING IN AT? 50. WRITING MY CALCULATOR? THAT IS $15 MILLION WE ARE OVER BUDGET. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE AT THE RANCH IS THAT WILL LIKE TO PAY LESS OF AN ASSESSMENT , POTENTIALLY, WHEN THE ROADS AND CANALS ARE DONE. THAT MONEY WOULD ALSO NEED TO COME FROM THE CITY COFFERS SO WHILE, AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO DO THAT , AS YOU TERM OUT, THAT TO ME IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, BECAUSE WE ARE PROJECTED TO BE A SHORTFALL AT WHAT YEAR?
>> PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> SO WE HAVE THAT TO CONTEND WITH. WE HAVE, AGAIN, PROJECTS WE NEED TO DO GOING FORWARD IN THE CITY. THAT, TO ME, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO LOWER TAXES , I ALSO NEED TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR RESIDENT'S MONEY. TO GIVE $1 MILLION OR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW WHEN I AM STILL IN OFFICE TO HAVE TO RAISE TAXES TO MAKE UP FOR THAT SHORTFALL THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE -- GET PEOPLE NOW, THAT PUTS ME, COMMISSIONER -- VICE MAYOR ISROW, COMMISSIONER BRIER AND TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS AND A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THAT IS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. THE BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS WILL HAVE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IS INSIGNIFICANT TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES WE COULD POTENTIALLY SEE DOWN THE ROAD.
>> I ALWAYS APPRECIATE RESEARCH. I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN EVER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOMEONE WANTED TO GO AND LOOK INTO THINGS. I APPRECIATE THAT. THE QUESTION OR COMMENTS I
[00:10:02]
WOULD HAVE , FIRST, WHEN YOU SAY WE COULD CONSERVATIVELY, YOU KNOW, REDUCE OUR BUDGETING. I THINK THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF WHY WE ARE UNDER WITH THE STATE IS IS BECAUSE WE ARE BEING CONSERVATIVE IN OUR ESTIMATES. TO THE EXTENT THAT IT EXCEEDS THAT, GREAT. WE WOULD RATHER DO THAT, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE THE BUDGET. IF WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, CUT SOME COSTS HERE OR MINIMIZE , INCREASE ANTICIPATED REVENUE, IF WE HAVE A SHORTFALL AND DON'T HIT THAT REVENUE, NOW WE HAVE JUST PLANNED A BUDGET AROUND SOMETHING WE ARE NOW NO WOULD BE, NUMBER ONE, IS THE - STATE, WHEN THEY ARE DOING THESE ESTIMATES, IS NOT BASED OFF OF WHAT THEY ANTICIPATE FOR THEIR BUDGET? OR IS THAT BASED OFF JUST THE GENERAL ESTIMATE OF WHAT THOSE TAXES ARE GOING TO GENERATE?>> THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC IN TALLAHASSEE BASED ON EVERYTHING OFF OF POPULATION, GENERALLY.
>> THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT. IT'S NOT THEY ARE DOING THESE FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSE OF THEIR OWN BUDGET.
>> THESE ESTIMATES ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE . >> I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT IT THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT LENSES. OUR LENS IS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE MAY BE RECEIVING A BUILD A BUDGET AROUND THAT, WHEREAS THE STATE IS PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION SAYING, HEY, THERE IS DATA BASED OFF HISTORICAL NUMBERS OF POTENTIAL FUTURE NUMBERS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THAT. IF IT TURNS OUT TO NOT BE EXACTLY WHAT THEY ESTIMATED, THEIR BUDGET IS NOW DEFUNCT. I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GO, BUT TO TRY TO GIVE RELIEF OF $1 MILLION, AND THIS IS WHAT I SAID LAST TIME, YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY GIVING $30 PER RESIDENT WITH A $35,000 POPULATION NUMBER. IN THEORY, IT ALWAYS SOUNDS NICE TO REDUCE TAXES AND GIVE MONEY BACK, BUT IN THE BIG PICTURE, I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING OURSELVES AT RISK IN SUBJECTING OURSELVES TO MORE POTENTIAL LIABILITY AND ISSUES TO THE MAYOR AT THIS POINT THAN WHAT WE STAND TO GAIN BY THE POSITIVE HALO EFFECT OR GOOD FAITH, YOU KNOW, GESTURE OF GIVING BACK $30. I AM ALL ABOUT TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MINIMIZE COSTS AND KEEP OUR TAXES LOW. THE FACT I THINK WE ARE MAINTAINING THE MILLAGE RATE, I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IS OUTSTANDING WORK FOR BOTH THE STAFF, AND ALSO THE DECISIONS WE HAVE MADE AS A COMMISSION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
USUALLY IT IS NOT JUST A ONE YEAR EVALUATION. A LOT OF IT IS STRATEGIC PLANNING, PRIOR COMMISSIONS BUT I DON'T WANT TO DISCREDIT THAT. BUT I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO LOOK AT THE DATA YOU'RE TRYING TO PRESENT, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER HOW THAT DATA IS BEING USED BY THE STATE VERSUS HOW WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS BASED OFF OF OUR CITY'S NEEDS AND STATUTORY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. FOR THAT REASON, AGAIN, I WILL ALWAYS ENTERTAIN A CONVERSATION OF MINIMIZING TAXES, CUTTING THE MILLAGE RATE, BUT I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW, I JUST CAN'T AGREE WITH THAT. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. TO COMMISSIONER BRIER.
>> I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I LOOK AT IT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT LENS. AND REMEMBER BEFORE HE CAME ONTO THE COMMISSION, IT WAS COVID, SO I ATTENDED THIS VERY MEETING VIA ZOOM FOUR YEARS AGO AS A RESIDENT. I REMEMBER THAT TIME THERE WAS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY IN THE WORLD. PEOPLE WERE POTENTIALLY LOSING JOBS, BUSINESSES, EVERYTHING ELSE. I REMEMBER THE COMMISSION VOTED TO ROLLBACK THE MILLAGE AT THAT TIME, BUT THERE WERE CONCERNS THAT THE ROLLBACK IN TWO AND HALF YEARS, I THINK COMMISSIONER CUTLER VOICE TO THEM, THE ROLLBACK INTO A HALF YEARS PUT US IN A FINANCIAL HOLE OR POTENTIAL DEFICIT. AND SO, I APPRECIATE THAT ESTIMATES ARE ESTIMATES, BUT THEY ARE JUST THAT, ESTIMATES. MY CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW. WE HAVE SEEN POST COVID OUR PROPERTY VALUES GO UP PRETTY DRAMATICALLY. SO THE CITY IS PART OF THE RECIPIENT FOR THAT, AND THE RESIDENTS ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THAT, WHETHER IT IS NEW PROJECTS OR INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT, PARKS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. MY CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AND HAVE TO BE COULD -- FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE PENDULUM SWUNG ONE WAY POST COVID, IT COULD SWING BACK THE OTHER WAY.
THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. I HEAR THE WORDS, AND I REMEMBER LISTENING TO THAT MEETING, I HEAR THE WORDS OF WE COULD FACE A DEFICIT IN X YEARS, OR WE WILL HAVE A DEFICIT IN X YEARS.
THAT IS VERY CONCERNING. IF IT WERE SOME MATERIAL IMPACT WHERE WE WERE GOING TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND DO THAT, I WOULD BE WILLING TO RUSH HER TEST THAT. BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING, BUT IT COULD PUT US IN A DEFICIT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. AND THERE ARE TOO MANY UNKNOWNS AND VARIABLES WHERE THE ESTIMATES MAY NOT PAN OUT.
>> COMMISSIONER CUTLER. >> I AGREE. I THINK THIS IS A
[00:15:02]
VALUABLE DISCUSSION, BUT I THINK THE TIMING IS EVERYTHING.WE HAVE GOT A PROJECT OUT IN HERON BAY THAT ULTIMATELY, IF IT COMES TO FRUITION THE WAY WE HOPE IT DOES, THERE MAY BE A LARGE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WILL FLOW BACK INTO THE COFFERS OF THE CITY. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT IS THE TIMING ELEMENT FOR MAKING DECISIONS OF MANIPULATING MILLAGE RATES OR OTHERWISE TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO OUR RESIDENT'S POCKETS.
RIGHT NOW, THIS COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION BEFORE THAT HAVE DONE MORE WITH RESPECT TO ACTUALLY ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR , AND IN FACT, DOING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. AND NOW, WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE ARE FINALLY GETTING ALL THOSE PROJECTS OFF THE GROUND AND REALLY ROLLING WITH THEM. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE, AS A LAST GESTURE OF WALKING OFF FOR THIS DAY TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, BUT THE TIMING IS NOT RIGHT. I WOULD ALSO BE AGAINST DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM?
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MILLAGE RATE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> RATE NOW , AND THEN WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET
LATER. >> I DON'T NEED -- STREET ADDRESS? 9205 NORTHWEST IN THE RANCHES. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE, I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE 20 YEARS. WE HAVE BUILT THOUSANDS OF HOMES OVER THOSE 20 YEARS THAT HAVE VERY HIGH ASSESSMENTS COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER HOMES IN BROWARD COUNTY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A MILLAGE RATE, EVEN AS LOW AS IT MIGHT BE, YOU ARE GAINING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE PER HOMEOWNER THE MOST OF THE REST OF BROWARD COUNTY, BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER ASSESSED VALUES OF THE HOME. WHATEVER THE RATE IS, WHETHER IT IS LOW OR NOT, YOU ARE TAKING IN AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES. AND THE OTHER CITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY AREN'T GROWING NEARLY AS FAST AS PARKLAND IS. YOU TALK ABOUT PROJECTS YOU HAVE BEEN KICKING DOWN THE ROAD FOR 100 YEARS AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FUND, THERE ARE NO CITIES ARE VERY FEW IN BROWARD COUNTY WHOSE TAX REVENUES, BASED ON ELLIE MILLAGE RATE, HAVE RISEN OVER THE 20 YEARS I HAVE LIVED HERE MORE THAN PARKLAND. AND YOU MANAGE TO SPEND IT ALL ANYWAY. WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVEN'T RAISED OF THE MILLAGE RATE AND NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE LOWERING IT, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU ARE TAKING IN SO MANY DOLLARS PER HOUSEHOLD, PER CAPITA, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL IT IS NOT ENOUGH WHAT YOU CAN'T LOWER IT OR WHY YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT MAKE $1 BILLION A YEAR, BUT IF THEY SPEND 1,000,000,000 1/2 THEY WILL GO BROKE. I KNOW PEOPLE MAKE $75,000 HERE THAT ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE. IT IS NOT AS MUCH HOW MUCH YOU BRING IN, IT IS AS MUCH AS HOW YOU SPEND IT.
YOU HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE BRINGING IN MORE AND MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF THE HIGH ASSESSED VALUES OF THE HOMES, AND THE FACT THAT YOU BUILT THOUSANDS OF HOMES IN PARKLAND IN THE 20 YEARS I'VE LIVED HERE . IT JUST AMAZES ME THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO SIMPLE THINGS. I WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE MORE LATER. BUT SURE, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MILLAGE RATE GO DOWN. EVERYBODY WOULD, BUT YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW ALL YOU HAVE THESE EXPENSES COMING UP OUR EXPENSES YOU HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. YOU ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE INCREASE IN REVENUE YOU HAVE HAD, AND YET YOU BARELY FIND WAYS TO MANAGE TO LIVE WITHIN THOSE NUMBERS.
IT IS JUST NOT RIGHT IN MY OPINION. I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS HE SPENT MONEY ON OVER THE YEARS, AND NOW WHEN IT COMES TO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE ROADS OR CANALS, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR IT. EVEN THOUGH YOU BROUGHT IN SO MUCH MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR IN THE 20 YEARS I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE. YOU ALWAYS FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO SPEND IT ON. NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES REALLY FUNDAMENTAL LIKE ROADS AND CANALS, NOW YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. I DON'T GET IT. I WILL TALK MORE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, BUT YOU ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THE RESOURCES YOU HAVE AND YOU MANAGE TO SPEND EVERY DOLLAR.
>> THANK YU. COME ON DOWN. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY HAVE
[00:20:05]
>> ONE OTHER ITEM. AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MILLAGE RATE AT THIS POINT. WE ARE, FROM AN OPERATING MILLAGE, WE ARE THE SEVEN LOWEST MILLAGE RATE IN THE COUNTY. IF YOU INCLUDE DEBT SERVICE INTO THAT TOTALITY , WE ARE AT NUMBER FIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE FORT LAUDERDALE WITH DEBT SERVICE, AS WELL AS LIGHTHOUSE POINT. WE DON'T INCLUDE OUR DEBT SERVICE IN OUR MILLAGE. WE HAVE NEVER GONE OUT FOR A BOND OR ANYTHING ELSE. WE DO HAVE DEBT SERVICE, BUT WE DON'T INCLUDE THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS, IN FACT, I WAS TALKING TO A COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN DEERFIELD. I SAID, DID YOU LOWER YOUR MILLAGE RATE? HE SAID YEAH . I SAID, HOW MUCH? HE SAID THE ACTUAL MILLAGE WAS NEVER LOWERED, BUT THE DEBT SERVICE, BECAUSE WERE PAYING IT OFF, LOWERS IT AUTOMATICALLY. THE RESPONSES THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY GIVE THAT PORTION . IT IS A SMALL PORTION. WE DON'T GIVE THAT PORTION BACK TO HER RESIDENCE EITHER. AGAIN, THAT IS A COMMISSION POLICY DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO GO OUT FOR BOND REFERENDUM OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE OR JUST DO IT INTERNALLY. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THOSE
>> SECOND THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE BY VICE MAYOR ISROW AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIER. ROLL CALL.
TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. >> FY 2025 BUDGET.
>> DO WE WANT TO START HERE? COMMISSIONER MAYERSOHN.
>> $1 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO, IN MY OPINION, MAKE OR BREAK ANYBODY'S BANK, WHETHER THE CITY OR THE RESIDENTS . I ONLY LOOK AT IT AS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, AND I WILL JUST TAKE, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL REVENUE SHARING .
ACTUAL IN 2022 1.4, 2023 1.5. PROJECTED WE ARE 1. 382. WE ARE PROPOSING -- PROPOSING OR BUDGETING?
>> AT THIS POINT, PROPOSED BUDGET. WE HAVE NOT APPROVED IT YET. BUT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. THE STATE IS LOOKING AT 1.5. AS I SAID, EVEN IF WE WERE TO SHAVE OFF A FEW DOLLARS, KIND OF MEET HALFWAY, AND AGAIN, THAT IS WHY I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 1,000,000 1/2 AND EVEN GO BACK TO A MILLION, WE STILL HAVE ROOM TO PLAY WITH. THE $1 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE US A PARK. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO -- WHEN I SAY WE, AS A CITY, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THAT PART. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING, AS I SAID, LEAVING THIS DAY IS AND WHAT I THINK IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT AFFECT ANY OF THE EXPENDITURES BECAUSE ALL WE ARE
DOING IS SHIFTING DOLLARS. >> AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE WANTING TO DO THAT, BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, TO COMMISSIONER CUTLER AT THIS POINT, YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN FOR THE RESIDENTS WHILE YOU CAN. I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.
BUT I STILL HAVE TWO MORE YEARS . I AM LOOKING A LITTLE BIT
MORE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. >> I HAVE MY THREE BUT -- THREE MINUTES NEXT BUDGET.
>> AGAIN, BOB, I AM ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF THIS CONVERSATION. BUT YOU SAID IT WON'T BREAK THE BANK EITHER WAY. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE RIGHT ANALYSIS. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER IT BREAKS THE BANK, IT IS WHETHER WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE CITY'S FINANCES AND TAXPAYER'S MONEY. AND UPHOLD OUR FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS TO HEALTH, SAFETY, WELLNESS, AND PROVIDING A COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE. TO THIS GENTLEMAN AT THIS POINT, THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF HOUSES THAT OF COME ONLINE. IT IS THE VERY REASON WHY THE CITY HAS BEEN NEEDING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE ITS INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASE RECREATIONAL OPTIONS, INCREASE ALL THE SERVICES EVERYONE HAS COME TO KNOW AND LOVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THOUSANDS MORE RESIDENTS, YOU CANNOT STAY STATUS QUO. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. THIS $1 MILLION WE TALK ABOUT , IT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL. $1 MILLION CAN GO A LONG WAY IN THE CITY'S HANDS. I SPOKE ABOUT THIS LAST TIME. $35 FOR EACH RESIDENT,
[00:25:01]
THEY CAN GO BUY A PIZZA. I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHERE OPPORTUNITY AND MONEY. WE ALL WANT THAT. WE ALL LIVE HERE AND PAY TAXES. BUT TO SAY TO DO IT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THE GESTURE, ACTUALLY I THINK THAT IS UNDERMINING OUR OBLIGATIONS AND ACTUALLY PROBABLY HAS MORE OF A LONG-TERM DETRIMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WHILE THEY MAY BE HAPPY TODAY, TWO, THREE, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW THE MILLION DOLLARS STARTS COMPOUNDING INTO OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE TODAY THAT START PAYING DIVIDENDS, NOT NECESSARILY JUST IN MONEY, BUT IN BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST THINK IT IS TOO SHORT-TERM, TOO SHORTSIGHTED OF A VIEWPOINT WHEN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS NOT JUST PLAN FOR 2025, BUT PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. I DON'T WANT TO EVER JUST KIND OF LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, MYOPICALLY IN A VACUUM, BECAUSE ALL THAT DOES, WE CAN MAKE A LOT OF GREAT GESTURES. WE DID GO OUT AND BUY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF CANDY TODAY AND GO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY, BUT LONG TERM IT ISN'T ABOUT JUST WHAT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY TODAY, IT IS ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THECOMMUNITY IN THE LONG TERM. >> TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE COMMISSIONER SAID EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF YOU. IN TERMS OF REVENUE GAIN FOR THE CITY OF PARKLAND, WHERE DO WE LIST IN THE COUNTY?
>> I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. THAT WOULD REQUIRE RESEARCH WITH EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY
TO FIGURE THAT OUT. >> BUT WE ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST CITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT IT HAS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. BUT WE ARE APPROXIMATELY 83%, 84% HOMESTEAD. BECAUSE OF THAT, EVERY YEAR THE HOMESTEAD CAP IS
3%. >> 3%. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT
SLIDE? >> I DON'T HAVE IT ON THIS.
>> NOT THAT SLIDE, THE ONE THAT SHOWED BSO WENT UP 6%, FIRE WENT UP 4%. SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, COMMISSIONER, BUT IF OUR INCREASE ARE GOING UP 6%, 4%, 5% , AND WE ARE GETTING 3% , IF WE DO THE MATH, WHERE IS THAT PUTTING US? IT IS PUTTING US IN THE SHORTFALL. EVERYBODY CAN ARGUE WHATEVER THEY WANT, AND YOU CAN READ THE NUMBERS HOWEVER YOU WANT, BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE WHAT THEY ARE. THEY CANNOT BE DISPUTED. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.
>> WHEN WE MOVED TO THE CITY 40 PLUS YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AMENITIES IN PARKLAND. PARKLET WAS A VERY SMALL CITY.
NO PARKS OR ANYTHING. I WAS TOLD, YOU KNOW, BEFORE COMING ON THIS DAY IS IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE THAT YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T SCREW UP PARKLET AND YOU KEEP PROPERTY VALUES ON THE UP AND UP. PART OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN INVESTING, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I FEEL, INVESTING INTO OUR CITY, IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVING THAT WE JUST COMMISSIONED A NEW FIRE ENGINE FOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. ADDRESSING OUR PARKS , THAT IS PART OF THE EQUATION OF WHITE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE RISEN.
PEOPLE HAVE COME TO PARKLAND WHEN IT WAS THIS HIDDEN SECRET . IT WAS LOW SERVICES, LOW AMENITIES, BUT THIS TUCKED AWAY ENCLAVE , ONE WAY IN AND OUT, CITY WHERE WE NOW HAVE A LOT OF AMENITIES , OR A GOOD DEAL FOR A CITY OUR SIZE. A LOT OF SERVICES. YOU GO TO THE PARK ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU CAN SEE THE RESIDENTS USING THOSE AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PARK SPACE FOR THE RESIDENTS. THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING UP PERIOD THAT WE HAVE HAD AS A CITY. I FELT THIS COMMISSION HAS DONE THE YEOMANS TASK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF TACKLING SOME ISSUES THAT NOBODY WANTED TO SAY, THIS WILL BE PAINFUL, AND WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY, BUT WE HAVE TO FIX THESE THINGS OR INVEST MONEY IN THESE THINGS OR SETTLE DISPUTES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. I SEE, AS A TAXPAYER, BELIEVE ME, I WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE TO -- THAN TO PAY LESS TAXES, BUT --
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PAY A LOT LESS INSURANCE.
>> BUT I GET THE BALANCE WHERE WE ARE ALMOST A VICTIM OF HER OWN SUCCESS IN THAT PROPERTY VALUES HAVE RISEN DRAMATICALLY IN THE CITY. PROPERTIES , WHICH IS STILL OWNED MY PARENT'S HOUSE IN CYPRUS HAD. PART OF THAT IS THAT ALL OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, BOTH PRIOR COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMISSION, ARE THE FIVE OF US TRYING TO INVEST INTO THE CITY TO BRING THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, LIFE SAFETY PROJECTS, AND EVERYTHING HAS INCREASED IN COST IN THE INTERIM BY FAR MORE THAN 3%. I WISH IT WAS THAT WAY, BUT WE LOOKED AT IT . OUR
[00:30:06]
GARBAGE WENT UP 5%. THAT WAS FOR A DIFFERENT PRODUCT, BUT IT STILL WENT UP 5%. THE FIRE SAFETY, FIRE CONTRACT, BSO CONTRACT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. YOU LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COMING IN. EVERY TIME YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU CAN SCRATCH IT OFF AND SAY STATE -- START OVER BECAUSE EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP ASTRONOMICALLY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT, IF WE HAD A WINDFALL AND IT WAS IN OUR POCKET, AND WE WERE COUNTING THE DOLLARS, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, BUT COUNTING CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH IS MY CONCERN HERE. WE ARE NOT THERE YET.>> ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? WE ARE ON THE BUDGET. WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK FIRST. WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE A LINE. WE CAN ACT LIKE THERE IS NOT 1000 PEOPLE HERE.
SITTING IN A CHAIR IS FINE. >> 6195 NORTHWEST 63RD WAY.
THESE ARE THINGS I READ IN THE BUDGET. THE PURPOSE OF THE CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT PLANS IS TO FIND REPLACEMENT ITEMS FOR ALL CITY EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE FUNDING STRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR CONSISTENT SET OF PAYMENTS, EXPENDITURES WHICH WILL PAY FOR ALL FUTURE REPLACEMENTS. THE FUNDING PLAN ENSURES THAT TAXPAYERS TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE PAY THE EQUIVALENT SHARE OF THE REPLACEMENT ITEMS AND THE USERS BENEFIT OVER THE LIFE OF THE ASSET. I LIKE THAT. THAT NEED TO PAY FOR IT, YOU USE IT, AND WHEN YOU LEAVE YOU ARE DONE. BUT ALSO IN THE SAME BUDGET, I THINK IT IS ON THE SAME PAGE. EXCEPT FOR THE RANCHES, ROADWAY PROJECT AND PROJECT FUNDED BY THE 2021 LOW PROJECTS CAPITAL SPENDING WILL USE AVAILABLE CASH RESERVES . SO WHICH ONE ARE WE DOING? THAT IS MY QUESTION. REDOING RESERVES ? ARE WE GOING TO FIND IT? IT IS SAYING THE OPPOSITE THING. I KNOW YOU DON'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO FUNDING. WE ARE GOING TO USE OUR RESERVES, WHICH IS MONEY I PAID FOR. I CAN SELL MY HOUSE TOMORROW, AND I'VE ALREADY PAID FOR SOMETHING THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO USE. THE FIRST STATEMENT, TO ME, I LIKE. I DON'T LIKE THE NEXT ONE. THAT'S IT. THE OTHER THING IS, I SEE IN THE RANCHES THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING TO LEVY THE RANCHES FOR THEIR ROADS . THIS HAPPENED BACK WHEN YOU DID THE PROJECT , WHEN YOU DO THE ROADS, AND YOU PUT THE WATER SYSTEM IN. YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND. THEN YOU DECIDED NOT TO DO IT. IF YOU GUYS SPENT $1. $2 MILLION PUTTING IN THE HYDRANTS AND THE ROADS AND THE TAXPAYERS IN PARKLAND PAID FOR, I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. I DON'T PARTICULAR CARE FOR THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT. MY NOTES HAVE GONE. YOU TALK ABOUT A REVENUE PLEDGE FOR THESE ASSESSMENTS. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS. REVENUE PLEDGE IS A CONDITION AND A REVENUE BOND THAT REQUIRES THE ISSUER TO USE REVENUE FROM A PROJECT TO REPAY BONDHOLDERS. WHAT KIND OF REVENUE ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO RAISE BY THIS BOND FINANCING THE RANCHES AND PINETREE. SAME THING IN PINE TREE. YOU'RE GOING TO USE A REVENUE PLEDGE. WHAT KIND OF REVENUE ARE YOU GOING TO GENERATE IN THE RANCHES BY PUTTING A ROAD IN , OR AND PINETREE, BY PUTTING A ROAD AND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT EITHER. I AM DONE. >> THANK YOU, PETE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? >> REGARDING THE BUDGET AND REGARDING THE PLAN AS HE JUST MENTIONED, YOU HAVEN'T DECIDED
[00:35:04]
YET WHETHER YOU WOULD ASSESS AND HOW MUCH WILL COME FROM THE CITY TO REPAVE THE ROADS AND RANCHES. WE HAD AN ESTIMATE THAT COULD BE ABOUT $5 MILLION. YOU ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS ABOUT 175 RESIDENTS IN THE RANCHES LAND ROVERS -- LANDOWNERS. THAT IS OVER $29,000 PER RESIDENT BUT I DON'T WOULD BE EVENLY SPLIT. ARE HAVING A THIRD-PARTY COME IN TO DO SOME STUFF. BUT AVERAGE IS TWO $29,000 PER RESIDENT. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT $30 PER PERSON THROUGHOUT PARKLAND. $20,000 PER RESIDENT TO HAVE PUBLIC ROADS REPAVED.PUBLIC ROADS THAT ARE NOT JUST USED BY THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE RANCHES. THEY'RE NOT JUST -- THE PEOPLE IN THE RANCHES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT DERIVE A BENEFIT FROM THE ROADS. THERE ARE BUSINESSES IN THE RANCHES AND SERVE ALL OF PARKLAND. LANDSCAPERS, POOL GUYS, ALL SORTS OF BUSINESSES THAT SERVICE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT PARKLAND. YET YOU SEEM TO THINK WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT USE THE ROADS, AND THEREFORE, WE SHOULD BE THE ONLY WAS THE PAY FOR THE ROADS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN PARKLAND TO GET A BENEFIT FROM THE BUSINESSES IN THE RANCHES THAT, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD PAY SOMETHING FOR THE ROADS. PLUS, YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH THE RANCHES. NOT RANCH ROAD, THE ACTUAL RANCHES, WHEN THEY GO TO THE FARMERS MARKET OR PARKLAND OR THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER. THERE ARE BUSLOADS OF CAMPERS THAT ARE BROUGHT IN DURING THE SUMMER TO THE PRIVATE EQUESTRIAN CENTERS. YOU'RE LOOKING TO CHARGE RESIDENTS THAT YOU ARE STATING YOU BELIEVE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT DERIVE A BENEFIT FROM THE ROADS AN AVERAGE OF $29,000 TO FIX THEM, EVEN THOUGH THE ENTIRE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE. I'VE SENT YOU LETTERS BUT I'VE MET WITH THE MAYOR. I SENT A LATER TO THE MAYOR OF BROWARD COUNTY.
GIVE ME A LIST OF OTHER CITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY THAT HAVE EVER ASSESSED THEIR PEOPLE AN AVERAGE OF $29,000 TO REPAVE PUBLIC ROADS. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVEN'T DECIDED HOW MUCH OF THE $5 MILLION ESTIMATE YOU INTEND TO ASSESS TO THE RESIDENCE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT ASSESSING 100% OF IT, WHICH COMES OUT TO $29,000 PER PERSON. THIS SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS TO ME. I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE 21 YEARS. YOU KNOW THERE ARE PUBLIC ROADS AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAVED. WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN PUTTING A LITTLE MONEY ASIDE EVERY YEAR WITH ALL THE NEW HOMES BEING BUILT IN THE NEW TAXES COMING IN. WHY HAVE YOU NOT BEEN DILIGENTLY PUTTING A LITTLE MONEY ASIDE EVERY YEAR SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASSESS 100% OF THE COST OF THE ROADS TO PEOPLE , AND AGAIN, BREAKING DOWN TO $29,000. THIS IS GOING TO COST A COUPLE THOUSAND BUCKS, AND NOBODY WOULD BE UPSET, BUT 29,000, YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD EVENING.
>> 9220 NORTHWEST 72ND STREET. RANCHES PROPERTY. I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE AND SECOND WHAT FRED SAID. I HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS ON 72ND STREET , A CUL-DE-SAC. IT IS A ROAD THAT IS FREQUENTED BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE RANCHES FOR WHATEVER REASON ALSO, HAS THE CITY OBTAINED BIDS, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE BIDS RECEIVED TO COME TO THE HER TERMINATION -- THE DETERMINATION THAT $5 MILLION IS WHAT IT WILL COST FOR RESIDENTS OF THE RANCHES AS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IT LAID OUT. THE OTHER THING TOO, BEFORE I MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MY STREET WAS A DIRT ROAD. THE ROAD WAS PAID FOR BY EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT ON MY STREET. I DIDN'T LIVE THERE, BUT MY PREDECESSOR, THE PERSON FROM WHOM I BROUGHT -- BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, THEY PAID OUT-OF-POCKET. THE CITY WAS REQUIRED, AND IN 22 YEARS HAVE NOT DONE A SINGLE THING TO PUT IN AND LAY THE BERM THEY PROMISED BY CONTRACT TO PUT AT THE END OF THE CUL-DE-SAC ON THE STREET. BEFORE THE CITY DECIDES TO ASSESS THE POSSIBILITY AS HIGH AS $29,000 PER PARKLAND RESIDENT ON AVERAGE, I THINK SHOULD ALSO ADHERE TO ITS OWN CONTRACTS THAT IT HAS BEEN SITTING ON ITS HANDS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND REALLY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TRY TO OBTAIN SOURCES OF FUNDS FROM OTHER , YOU KNOW, FROM OTHER PARKLAND RESIDENTS AS WELL. OTHERS WHO DO FREQUENT THE AREA, WHO DO HAVE -- YOU ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE FLEA MARKET, THE DOG PARK , AND JUST DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA, WHICH THEY FIND TO BE VERY PLEASURABLE. I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> ANYONE ELSE? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC. I WILL SAY ONE QUICK THING, BECAUSE WE DID MEET , FRED. IT IS AN ESTIMATED BUDGET OF $15 MILLION . NANCY, CORRECT ME IF MY NUMBERS ARE
[00:40:10]
OFF IN ANYTHING I SAY. ROUGHLY $15 MILLION. WE HAVE ARPA FUNDS WE HAVE BUDGETED. WE HAVE CITY FUNDS WHICH WE BUDGETED. THE CITY IS ALREADY CONTRIBUTING AS A WHOLE , AND THE BALANCE, WHICH WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE FINAL NUMBERS COME IN, THERE WOULD BE SOME ASSESSMENT TO THE RANCHES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE. WE HAVEN'T DECIDED AS A COMMISSION IF MAYBE WE WANT TO CONSIDER PUTTING MORE. SO WE MET. WHEN WE REPEAT THINGS AND SPEAK IN PUBLIC, LET'S TRY TO REITERATE THOSE THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT. INSTEAD OF SAYING , THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING, THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THERE IS NO BACK AND FORTH. YOU HAD YOUR TIME TO SPEAK. WE MET. ANYWAY, DOES ANYBODY HAVEEMOTION ON THE BUDGET? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND . >> MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BRIER AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CUTLER. ROLL
>> PLEASE SHOW IT PASSES 4-1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. SINCE
[7. Comments from the Public on Non-Agenda Items]
WE DON'T HAVE ANY, THERE'S NOTHING TO APPROVE. COMMENTS -- YOU HAVE ANOTHER THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK IF YOU WOULD LIKE, FRED. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS . WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS SHOULD YOU WANT TO SPEAKSOME MORE. >> I JUST WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THIS ON THE RECORD. I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE MET. I MET WITH COMMISSIONER CUTLER. I JUST REITERATED SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED . BUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HEAR ABOUT MILLAGE RATES AND, YOU KNOW, $1 MILLION ONLY MILES TO $30 PER PERSON AND IS NOT VERY MUCH. I KNOW YOU HAVE NOT DECIDED YET, BUT FROM WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED SO FAR, IT IS AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY TO ASSESS A RESIDENT FOR A PUBLIC ROAD ENJOYED BY A LOT OF THE CITY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK? OF COURSE. YOU CANNOT PASS UP ADDITIONAL TIME.
>> I COULD. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. >> THIS IS JUST FOR ME THIS TIME. I GOT MY TRIM NOTICE THIS IS MY STORMWATER ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO GO UP. NOT MUCH. 4.5% . I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU JUSTIFY THAT . THE FIGURE YOU COLLECT IS $500,000 , ROUGHLY. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. IN YOUR OWN BUDGET , EXPENDITURES IN 2023 WERE ZERO. THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND PROJECTED BUDGET FOR 2024 WAS 78 -- 78,454. YOU SUBTRACT THAT OUT AND THAT IS 420.
$420,000 LEFT , AND YOU PROPOSE 125 , 126. MAKE IT 126. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LEFTOVER NEXT YEAR TOO. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY INCREASING THE STORMWATER FEE ? THAT IS MY QUESTION. I DON'T SEE IT AT ALL. IT IS JUST MY OPINION. DON'T TAKE MY TIME.
>> I AM NOT TAKING YOUR TIME. >> ALSO, DURING THAT TODAY PROCESS YOU GUYS DO OVER AT THE LIBRARY WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS, YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT THE STORMWATER FEE. THERE WAS A CONCERN THAT PINETREE , BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE AN HOA, THERE WAS NO WAY TO ASSESS THEM. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE BROWARD COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISERS OFFICE, THERE IS PLENTY OF HOAS THAT DON'T GET ASSESSED ANY NON-AD VALOREM TAXES, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND. MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER TALKING TO BROWARD COUNTY, THAT IS ALL DECIDED BY YOU GUYS. THE ONLY PEOPLE I REALLY SEE, THE COMMUNITY, IS PARKLAND GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. THEY GET ASSESSED A LOT. CYPRUS HAD DOZENS, PARKLAND NINE DOZEN. OR THE ANYBODY ELSE HAS PHYSICAL BUILDINGS AND NON-PERVIOUS PROPERTY THAT GETS ASSESSED. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT?
>> IF YOU COULD FILL HIM IN ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE STORMWATER , AND ALSO LET HIM KNOW --
[00:45:05]
>> THE QUESTION IS, YOU ASSESS OTHER PEOPLE. YOU WANTED FAIRNESS, I STILL HAVE 26 SECONDS. YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT THAT LATER. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY ASSESSING EVERYBODY ELSE AND
NOT ASSESSING CERTAIN PEOPLE? >> -- THAT IS MY QUESTION. WHO
IS GOING TO ANSWER IT? YOU? >> I WILL SEND YOU AN EMAIL.
THANK YOU, PETE. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. COMMISSIONER CUTLER. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY?
>> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THE LAST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 12, AFTER THAT WE HAD SOLDIER RUSH, A HUGE SUCCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT TO MANNY AND ALL OF HIS VOLUNTEERS THAT MADE THAT THING HAPPEN BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT EVER A REALLY GOOD CAUSE. AS WAS THE PARKLAND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE WHICH WENT ON THE SAME DAY. THAT HAD A TON OF STUFF DONATED, PREDOMINATELY BY OUR WONDERFUL RESIDENTS. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SALE. PARKLAND CHAMBER AFTER HOURS WAS A GREAT EVENT FOR THE TRUSTEE MEMBERS. I WANTED TO GIVE MY THANKS TO OUR BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER , LAURIE, FOR HELPING -- HOSTING A CONNECT WITH DISTRICT 4 EVENT AT THE DELI THE OTHER DAY. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. THE COMMISSIONER WAS THERE. I THINK THE MAYOR SHOWED UP TOO. ASKED FOR THE STORM, WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO GET A DIRECT HIT FROM THE LEADERS HURRICANE HELENE, BUT WE WILL GET SOME WIND AND WEATHER BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST. THIS IS A LARGE SYSTEM, AND WE WILL GET AFFECTS FROM IT, INCLUDING WIND GUSTS THAT COULD BE BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR AS OF THE LAST FORECAST I WAS WATCHING BEFORE HE CAME OVER HERE TONIGHT. POTENTIALLY LOTS OF RAIN. I KNOW THAT FOR THE RANCHES WE ARE ALREADY AT A POINT WHERE THE GROUND IS FULLY SATURATED . I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO KEEP THE FLOODGATES OPEN AT THE PUMP STATION, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE DITCHES AT A GOOD LEVEL AND TRY TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE FLOODING, BUT JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW OUT IN THE RANCHES THAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE FOR WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE DECIDES TO THROW AT US. DON'T WAIT, AND CONTINUE TO BE ALERT AND SAFE. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
COMMISSIONER CUTLER. COMMISSIONER MAYERSOHN.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. KIND OF REITERATING THE SAME COMMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER CUTLER MADE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ALL OF THAT, BUT I DO WANT TO PUBLICLY WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JUDGE . HE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME BROWARD COUNTY PARKLAND RESIDENT. YOU GUYS UP HERE ON THE COMMISSION, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO HIS COURTROOM, IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH THE TIME TO TAKE TO GO TO HIS COURTROOM. HE DEALS A LOT WITH MENTAL HEALTH COURT. HE DOES A GREAT JOB . HE LEANS OVER AND SAYS, YOU THINK I DID THE RIGHT THING? ACTUALLY, I TOOK ONE OF MY -- ONE OF HIS GUARDIAN AD LITEM IS, SHE WANTED TO BE AN ATTORNEY, AND I TOOK HER TO THE COURT, AND SHE HAD A BLAST.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO COMMISSIONER ELECT . HE ATTENDED THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY PUBLIC MEETING BUT I KNOW HE GAVE HIS INPUT. HE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING A LITTLE TRASH TALK WHEN HE GETS UP HERE. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING. I HOPE YOU FOUND IT VALUABLE AND THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HELPFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I DO WANT TO JUST KIND OF PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LAURIE -- AT A LAURIE'S MEETING. SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC SCOOTERS . I DON'T SEE CAPTAIN MCARDLE HERE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS , IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16, YOU CAN'T BEAT RIDING THEM ON THE SIDEWALK. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT RIDE THOSE. I KNOW THERE WAS ONE INCIDENT WHERE A KID GOT HIT WITH MEDICAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS. AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, SHE BROUGHT THAT FORWARD TO HAVE A WORKSHOP. BUT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THERE ARE A LOT OF, I WILL CALL THEM, LOCAL MUNICIPAL POLICE BESIDES BSO THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST A PARKLAND ISSUE, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS COUNTYWIDE. I JUST WANTED TO ALERT EVERYBODY OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WILL GO FROM A SCHOOL BOARD PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE SAID WE CAN'T HAVE 20 OFFICERS LINED UP ON
[00:50:01]
PARKSIDE DRIVE OR WHEREVER IT IS AND START GIVING TICKETS TO ALL THE KIDS THAT USE A GOLF CART OR SCOOTER OR WHATEVER IT IS. WE TRY TO POLICE IT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I WISH KIDS RODE BIKES LIKE WE USED TO BACK IN THE DAY. MUCH BETTER EXERCISE THAN THOSE EAST SCOOTERS.COMMISSIONER BRIER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THEY ARE SLOWER AND SAFER. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE COMMENTS. THERE WAS A GREAT PARKLAND TRUST -- PARKLAND CHAMBER TRUSTEE EVENT LAST WEEK. PARKLAND 100 HAVE THEIR QUARTERLY MEETING AS WELL. EVENT, A MEET THE CANDIDATES FORUM COMING UP ON OCTOBER 9 FOR THE PARKLAND CHAMBER. YOU CAN MEET THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING FOR THE PARKLAND CITY COMMISSION, INCLUDING DR. NIELSON CARE. ASTON GARDENS, WE HAD A GREAT RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THEIR RENOVATED ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITY, WHICH LOOKS BEAUTIFUL . THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB. I WANT TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ASIDE FROM WISHING THE JUDGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WISHING MY WIFE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY. THIS WAY I CAN GO HOME AND EAT DINNER TONIGHT. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERESA. I GUESS WE HAVE ONE MEETING BEFORE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO CELEBRATE, HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH, HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> VICE MAYOR ISROW. >> OUT OF RESPECTFOR YOU AS A FATHER MYSELF, YOU CAN GO WATCHER BOY PLAY FOOTBALL, I WILL PASS ON MY COMMENTS TONIGHT OTHER THAN I WISH THE JUDGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OF COURSE, TERESA BRIER A HAPPY
BIRTHDAY. >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TERESA. I DO WANT TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON LOCKS ROAD. YOU GUYS MAY HAVE SEEN MY VIDEO. ALL KIDDING ASIDE, THEY ARE ON SCHEDULE, WHICH IS FALL . NO, BUT THEY ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE. I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA . WHEN WE MET WITH THEM A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THEY WERE LOOKING MUCH FURTHER BEHIND. I MADE A CALL TO CHRISTINE, WHICH IS GREAT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CALLS . SHE DID WHAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO ON THE STATESIDE GETTING TO FDOT . I CALLED -- WE MAY CALLS INTERNALLY. WE ALL KINDA PITCHED IN. THEY ARE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE. THEY WILL HAVE A MUCH FIRMER DATE . HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET TO TALK TO THEM LATER THIS WEEK, EARLY NEXT WEEK TO CONFIRM WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE ROUNDABOUTS. ONCE THEY FINALIZE THE PLAN ON THE ROUNDABOUTS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO, OR THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL US WHAT THAT DAY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. LIKE I SAID, IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE. I AM APPRECIATIVE OF ALL OUR PARTNERS TO HELP US GET IN A MUCH BETTER SPACE. WITH THAT, WE ARE DONE WITH THE
COMMENTS. >> MOTION
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.