>> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 4th -- OKAY, IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM? I'M GETTING AN ECHO HERE? MUTE IT? OKAY, MUTED? OKAY, I'M ABOUT -- GOOD MORNING,
WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 24th, 2026, BUDGET WORKSHOP. WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. >> VICE MAYOR, MAYBE MUTE YOUR
LIVESTREAM. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I THINK IT'S GOING -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. OKAY, VICE MAYOR WE HAVE TOO MUCH FEEDBACK HERE. WE -- WE'VE GOT A REALLY BAD ECHO. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO WORK ON GETTING YOU BACK.
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, IF YOU WOULD MUTE SO I CAN TALK. WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT HE LISTENS AND THAT HE TEXTS IN ANY QUESTIONS HE MIGHT HAVE. WE CAN KEEP IT FOR THE RECORD SO IT'S ALL PROPER, AND, AND I THINK IT'S THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY.
DID YOU HEAR THAT, VICE MAYOR? JORGE, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CALL HIM. I'M GOING TO DISCONNECT HIM. >> IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE THIS FIGURED OUT BY THE AFTERNOON, THOUGH. FOR FINAL BUDGET DIRECTION. >> VICE MAYOR, I'LL GIVE YOU A
CALL. >> OKAY. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO, GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 4th, 2026, BUDGET WORKSHOP. I WANT TO CALL THE WORKSHOP TO ORDER. FOR ANYBODY WHO IS COMING IN THROUGH VIA FACEBOOK OR STREAMING, RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO
GET VICE MAYOR WALKER HERE WHO IS OUT OF TOWN AND VERY IMPORTANT WORK WITH HIS COMPANY. AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET HIM IN BUT WE COULDN'T DO IT. BUT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME OTHER WAYS BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE A QUORUM AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON
THE BUDGET SO I'M GOING TO START WITH CITY MANAGER OPENING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, REMOTELY, AND CITY COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS THE SECOND OF YOUR TWO BUDGET WORKSHOPS. YOUR FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP WAS ON JULY 1st -- JULY 21st.
THAT WORKSHOP WAS QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION FOR ALL OF YOU. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION, AND I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE AGENDA FOR TODAY. WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT THIS -- SORRY THE THIRD ITEM THIS MORNING WILL BE ACTUALLY THE BOARD OF FINANCE ANNUAL REPORT AND THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE IS HERE THIS MORNING. TO DELIVER THEIR ANNUAL REPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FOLLOW-UP MEMORANDUM AS WELL FROM THE FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING IN THERE FOR EVERYBODY, SO IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE ESSENTIALLY ANSWERING ALL THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HAD, THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD. GENERAL FUND UPDATE.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM CONTINGENCY PLAN. WE HAVE A LATE BREAKING STORY THIS MORNING. THE RISK FUND UPDATE AND HEALTH FUND UPDATES AND AID TO ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL FOLLOWED BY CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSION. AND SO THIS MORNING ACTUALLY
TODAY THERE ARE THREE ITEMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS DIRECTION. SHE'S OKAY. WE'LL LET HER STAY. FOR CONSENSUS DIRECTION, AND THAT IS FIRST OF ALL, TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE, AND WE'LL ACCEPT ANY
QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE AND I'M SURE CHAIR HARVEY. AND THEW R THERESA SMALLING WILL BE PRESENTING THE HEALTH PLAN FOR US THIS MORNING. THERE IS SOME CONSENSUS DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR FROM YOU. FROM ALL OF YOU AND THEN AID TO ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
THAT'S TIME SPECIFIC. WE HAD SUBMITTED -- TOLD THEM THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO THE MEETING. THAT THAIFN JUST A FEW MINUTES TO -- THEY HAVE A FEW MINUTES JUST TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT IS THEY ARE REQUESTING FROM THE CITY COMMISSION. SO THAT IS THE SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP TODAY, AND THEN AFTER TODAY WE WILL MOVE ONTO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO LES FOR THE FOLLOW-UP. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YEP, GO AHEAD, LES. LES AND JEAN. >> GOOD MORNING, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE WITH JEAN OUR BUDGET MANAGER. THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET. IT'S ITEM, AGENDA ITEM 1C IN TE
PACK AND THE IT'S A FOLLOW-UP FROM QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP ON THE JULY 21st WORK SHOP NUMBER 1. THERE ARE 16 ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWUP MEMO, AND THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU WOULD LIKE, I CAN WALK THROUGH THESE OR YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS ON SPECIFIC ITEMS. WE DO HAVE ONE SLIDE. THE NEXT SLIDE IS RELATED TO
ITEM NUMBER 2 IN THE, IN THE MEMO, AND THAT'S FOR THE RECONCILIATION OF STORM COSTS FOR HELENE AND MILTON SHOWING TOTAL COST INSURANCE PROCEEDS AND ESTIMATED REIMBURSEMENTS FROM FEMA SO WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR I CAN WALK THROUGH THE MEMO, HOWEVER THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YOU KNOW,
THERE IS A LOT IN HERE. WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, DO YOU WANT THEM TO GO THROUGH THIS IN DETAIL OR DID YOU WANT TO POINT OUT CERTAIN QUESTIONS? >> WE DON'T NEED TO DO A DEEP
DIVE BUT LEAST AN OVERVIEW OF EACH ONE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: A GENERAL LIKE GO THROUGH THEM ALL BUT UNLESS -- KEEP GOING UNLESS SOMEBODY KIND OF THROWS IN AND SAYS HEY I DON'T GET WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I WANT A LITTLE MORE. >> OKAY, GREAT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: LET'S DO THAT. >> FIRST ITEM IS THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO
PREPARE A FACT SHEET ON THE EFFECTS OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM. THIS ITEM WAS SENT -- SHOWING TOTAL STORM COST, INSURANCE PROCEEDS, AND EXPECTED REIMBURSEMENTS FROM FEMA AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
AND IN GENERAL, WE INCURRED $19.4 MILLION IN TOTAL STORM COSTS FROM THE TWO STORMS. THE CITY RECEIVED $5.2 MILLION FROM FEMA, AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND ALSO INSURANCE PROCEEDS IN TOTAL. THE CITY IS ANTICIPATING ANOTHER $13.2 MILLION IN FEMA, AND THE
STATE OF FLORIDA HAS ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENTS INCLUDING WITHIN THAT IS $3 MILLION FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA APPROPRIATION WE JUST RECEIVED. AT THE END OF JUNE. AND THE UPDATED CITY MATCH IS NOW $975,000, AND THERE'S AN EXHIBIT ATTACHED TO THAT AND THE
MATCH WENT DOWN SINCE THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE WE INCLUDED THE $3 MILLION APPROPRIATION WE JUST RECEIVED IN THE NUMBERS NOW SO THAT REDUCED OUR MATCH BY $375,000 FROM FEMA. NUMBER 3, IS THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION THE POTABLE
WATER AND RECLAIMED WATER CONSUMPTION -- >> MAYOR FREANEY: HOLD ON JUST A MINUTE. YEAH, I JUST JUMP IN IF YOU WANT SOMETHING ON A SPECIFIC ISSUE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE QUESTION I HAVE REGARDING LAST RESPONSE IS DO WE HAVE ANY WOBBLES ON THIS? IS ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE
EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS REIMBURSEMENTS? >> FOR FEMA, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH PROJECTS WITH FEMA. WE STILL, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WITH THE DOCK A AND DOCK B PROJECT. THEY REALLY HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED REVIEWING THAT PROJECT YET. THEY'RE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, SO
THAT ONE, THAT ONE'S, YOU KNOW, YET TO BE DETERMINED AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY AGREE WITH WHAT WE THINK THE COST SHOULD BE TO REPLACE DOCK A AND DOCK B. >> OKAY BUT THIS IS STILL EXPECTED TRACK, IT'S NOT OUTSIDE EXPECTED TRACK, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S STILL ON THE EXPECTED
TRACK, IT IS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YES. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. GOING TO NUMBER 3. >> NEXT WAS CITY COMMISSION ASKED ABOUT WATER CONSUMPTION BEFORE AND AFTER THE RATE INCREASE IN THE WASTEWATER,
WATER WASTEWATER FUND EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1st 2025. AND IN REVIEWING THE WATER CONSUMPTION FROM OCTOBER 24 THROUGH JUNE 25 AND OCTOBER 25 THROUGH JUNE 26, THAT SAME TIME PERIOD EVEN YEAR, POTABLE WATER CONSUMPTION DECREASED BY 23.4 MILLION GALLES WHILE
RECLAIMED WATER CONSUMPTION INCREASED BY 8.1 MILLION GALLONS AND THERE IS A CHART SHOWING THE POTABLE WATER CONSUMPTION DECREASING AND THE RECLAIMED WATER CONSUMPTION DIFFERENCE. >> IF I MIGHT? >> GO AHEAD.
>> LES, CAN YOU, I SEE THE NUMBERS. CAN ANYTHING BE DRAWN FROM THAT? IS THE REDUCTION IN POTABLE WATER, IS THAT A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE INCREASES -- [OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION]
>> GOOD MORNING, CLAYTON WATKINS, UTILITY ENGINEERING. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THE RELATIVE DEEP DIVE WE DID I WOULD SAY THE ANSWER IS NOT VERY MUCH. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WAS LAST SPRING WE SWITCHED THE BLUE JAYS AND THE GOLF COURSE TO POTABLE WATER
FOR IRRIGATION DURING THE DRY TIME, AND THIS YEAR WE KEPT THEM ON RECLAIMED THE ENTIRE TIME SO THAT DIFFERENCE WAS PROBABLY ROUGHLY IN THERE WITH MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMING OUT OF JUST REDUCTION IN POTABLE AND MAYBE EVEN RESIDENTS NOT USING AS MUCH FOR IRRIGATION ALSO.
>> IF I MAY INTERJECT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YET, GO AHEAD. >> SO ACTUALLY KEEPING THE BLUE JAYS AND THE GOLF COURSE ON RECLAIMED WATER IS A WIN. YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE DRY PERIOD BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. IT'S GOOD FOR THE BLUE YEA JAYS, IT'S BETTER FOR THE GOLF COURSE, AND YOU KNOW, THE INCREASES IN
RECLAIMED WATER I THINK THAT FOR EXAMPLE WE HEARD FROM SOME RESIDENTS, WE MET WITH SOME HOAs AND THE ANSWER TO THEM WAS YOU JUST NEED TO STOP USING AS MUCH POTABLE WATER AND THEY DID. AND SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M DRAWING FROM THIS IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE RECLAIMED WATER THAT IS THE
DIRECTION THAT WE HAD WANTED TO GO ENVIRONMENTALLY. SO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO LET ME ASK A QUICK QUESTION THOUGH. RELATED TO THAT, BUT THAT'S IF THE RECLAIMED WATER IS AVAILABLE AND IN THIS CASE IT WAS, BUT IF IT WASN'T WE WOULD'VE HAD NO CHOICE. AND WHEN WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE, DID WE? >> CORRECT, WE DUD NOT HAVE A CHOICE.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: SO IT'S NOT REALLY A STRATEGIC CHANGE. IT'S AVAILABLE, YEAH. OKAY. >> BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS WERE USING LESS THEMSELVES. OF RECLAIMED. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OH, OKAY. OH, SO THAT IS GOOD. >> AND FORWARD TO THE BLUE JAYS THEY ARE ABLE TO USE IT MORE. >> RIGHT. >> AND YOU KNOW THE RESIDENTS
ARE USING IT, THERE WAS SOME SOME THAT WERE OVERWATERING, THERE IS NO DOUBT. THERE IS NO DOUBT AND THEY I THINK -- WE MET WITH THEM, AND, AND STOPPED OVERWATERING OR USING WATER AS THEY NEEDED IT AND SO THAT PROVIDED MORE RECLAIMED SO THAT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: YEAH BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, STRATEGICALLY, FOR CITYWIDE, IT'S A WHOLE BETTER DEAL. I MEAN, IT WORKS MORE EFFICIENTLY FOR EVERYBODY. IF IT WORKED THAT WAY. OKAY, GOOD, I THINK COMMISSIONER DUGARD, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> YEAH, THE IMPLICATIONS ARE INTERESTING.
THIS SHOWS YOU YOU DO HAVE MARKET ELASTICITY INSIDES BOTH OF YOUR WATER SOURCES HERE AND BOTH RECYCLED AND POTABLE. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT FOR FUTURE REVENUE IS PRETTY PROFOUND, AND I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO DIG INTO THAT AT SOME POINT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, ANYTHING
ELSE OVER HERE? OKAY. OKAY. CONCLUDE. >>> NEXT ITEM IS CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO PREPARE AN ANALYSIS COMPARING THE FISCAL YEAR 24 AND 25 ACTUAL EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND IDENTIFY THE REASONS THE EXPENSE HAS INCREASED IN
SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2025. WE DID AN ANALYSIS WHEN THERE IS -- WHERE THERE IS AN ATTACHMENT ATTACHED ALSO TO THE MEMO COMPARING THE TWO, AND IN FISCAL YEAR 25 THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF EXPENDITURES OF $13 MILLION, 3.3, 2.5 MILLION OF THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO
PERSONNEL INCREASES WHICH INCLUDED SIX SAFE FOR GRANT POSITIONS, $10.5 MILLION OF THE INCREASE WAS AN OPERATING COST WITH $6.7 MILLION OF THE INCREASE BEING FROM STORM EXPENSES IN THAT 2025 YEAR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE SIX SAFE FOR GRANT EMPLOYEES SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE PAID
FOR BY A THREE-YEAR GRANT FROM FEMA THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 28. AFTER THAT IT BECOMES OUR CITY OBLIGATION. WITH THE GRANT FUNDED EMPLOYEES AND THE STORM EXPENSES, APPROXIMATELY 8 MILLION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25 INCREASE IS RELATED TO 1 TIME GRANT FUNDED EXPENDITURES WITH OTHER, WITH
ANOTHER 1.45 MILLION INCREASE RELATED TO SEVERAL LARGE ROOF AND HVAC PROJECTS BEING COMPLETED IN 25 COMPARED TO 24. THE, WE ALSO DID A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 ACTUALS AND THE 26 ESTIMATED BUDGET. WE DID THAT AS WELL. AND THE, WITH AN INCREASE OF
$4.9 MILLION YEAR OVER YEAR. THE INCREASES WERE DUE TO A 3 DOLLAR MILLION INCREASE IN -- $3 MILLION INCREASE IN PERSONNEL COST, $4.8 MILLION IN CAPITAL AND 770,000 IN OTHER INCENTIVE TOOLS AND IT WAS OFFSET WITH A DECREASE IN OPERATING EXPENSES OF $4.2 MILLION. ONE THING TO NOTE IN COMPARING
THE 25 ACTUALS TO THE 26 ESTIMATED BUDGET IS THAT ANY VACANCY OR OPERATIONAL SAVINGS IN THE 26 YEAR IS UNKNOWN AND THAT MAY MAKE THE VARIANCE APPEAR LARGER AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ALSO WE ARE NOT AWARE A AT THIS POINT WHAT CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL ACTUALLY BE SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 26 AND HOW MUCH IT MAY BE
CARRIED FORWARD AND THERE IS AN EXHIBIT SHOWING THAT ANALYSIS. NEXT CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CAPITAL EXPENSES PROJECTIONS AND THE GENERAL FUND ARE RELATIVELY FLAT FROM FISCAL YEAR 28 THROUGH 32. GIVEN THE VARIANCES IN 25.
AND 24 ACTUALS, WHILE ALL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ARE ISLED IN THE CAPITAL EXTENSE LINE ITEM FOR ACTUALS FOR 24-25, THEY ROLL UP INTO ONE LINE ITEM IN THE ACTUALS, AND THE LONG RANGE PLAN, AND FISCAL YEAR 26 THROUGH 32, THIS LINE ITEM INCLUDES
NONCAPITAL, CIT CAPITAL SUCH AS BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS AND LIBRARY FOR OTHER SMALL CAPITAL PURCHASES. AS THIS LINE ITEM DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THE EXPENSES REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT OVER TIME. THE CIP CAPITAL LINE IN FISCAL YEARS 26 THROUGH 28 -- THROUGH 2032 SHOWS THE SCHEDULED CAPITAL
PROJECTS PER THE CIT PROJECT LISTINGS AT THE BOTTOM OF LONG RANGE PLAN PROJECTIONS AND THIS FLUC DHIEWATES FROM YEAR TO -- FLUCTUATES FROM YEAR TO YEAR. THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO PROVIDE A BREAKGON WHERE CHARGES OF SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE IN THE STADIUM FUND.
PARKING FEES, NAMING RIGHTS, AND TICKET SALES. NAMING RIGHTS AND TICKET SALES REVENUE ARE ATED TO THE RESERVES FOR CAPITAL FOR THE BLUE JAYS STADIUM. FOR FUTURE CAPITAL REPAIRS. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE INCLUDES INTEREST INTIM AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE. THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE
INCLUDES ABOUT 1.35 MILLION FROM THE BLUE JAYS DEBT CONTRIBUTION THAT THEY SEND TO US EVERY YEAR. AND 185,000 FOR THE BLUE JAYS SHARE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES. THERE'S A CHART AT THE BOTTOM SHOWING THOSE LINE ITEMS. CITY COMMISSION ALSO ASKED US TO LOOK INTO THE STADIUM FUND AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE, AND
TRANSFERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND SEE IF THEY COULD BE REDUCED. AND WE DID A LOT OF ANALYSIS WITH THE STADIUM FUND AND THERE IS A LONG RANGE PLAN ATTACHED TO THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO. AND BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS, WE, WE DID FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE COULD REDUCE THE TRANSFER FROM
550 TO $525,000. WE DID REDUCE IT SOME: ALTHOUGH THE STADIUM FUND BALANCE IS PROJECTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $2.1 MILLION AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR '27, IT IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE APPROXIMATELY TO APPROXIMATELY $382,000 BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 32.
AND FISCAL YEAR '27 REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO EXCEED EXPENDITURES BY APPROXIMATELY $310,000. HOWEVER, 400,000 WILL BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE STADIUM'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND EACH YEAR, AND BASICALLY, THE TRANSFER OF THAT WE HAVE NOW OF 525 BASICALLY COVERS THE, THE
INSURANCE COST THAT WE'RE PAYING NOW, AND THEN WE ALSO PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON TOP OF THAT BY ABOUT OUR PORTION ABOUT 78,000 A YEAR, SO WE DEFINITELY ARE PAYING MORE ANNUALLY THAN OUR CONTRIBUTION, BUT WE HAVE EXTRA RESERVES SO WE THINK WE CAN DRAW THOSE DOWN AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FUND AND MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KNOW, THAT PROPERTY TAXES GO UP IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE'LL HAVE TO ADJUST AGAIN BUT WE THINK IF THEY CONTINUE MORE GRADUAL DECLINE THEN I THINK THIS, THIS NEW NUMBER SHOULD WORK. >> MAYOR FREANEY: FURTHER QUESTIONS?
>> STEVE FIRST. >> NO JJUST, PARKING FEES, THAT'S ACROSS THE STREET, HALE CENTER, IS THAT WHERE THAT MONEY IS COMING? THE PARKING FEES ON THERE. >> I THINK IT'S FROM THE STADIM ITSELF.
>> YEAH THAT STADIUM ITSELF PARKING I BELIEVE. >> WHEN I SAID THE HALE CENTER, THAT'S WHERE WE -- WE MOVE PEOPLE OVER THERE, AM I CORRECT?
[LAUGHTER] >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. TONY MULKEY PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR. THE PROCEEDS FROM HALE CENTER AND THE LIBRARY GO TO THE YOUTH FUND FOR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CAMP PROGRAMS AND SUCH SO THAT'S CYCLED BACK INTO THE CITY. THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THE STADIUM
FUND. >> OKAY. >> THE NAMING RIGHTS, DID JAYS GET A PORTION OF THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS, THE $148,000? >> THE NAMING RIGHTS IS PAID EVERY YEAR, AND THAT, AND THE BLUE JAYS -- THEY RECEIVE THAT
MONEY AND THEN THEY PASS IT ONTO US BUT ALL THAT MONEY GOES INTO THAT RESERVE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. IT'S ALL FOR FUTURE REPAIRS AND NEEDS AT THE STADIUM, SO IT'S SORT OF A FLOW THROUGH THEY SEND TO US AND THEN WE TRACK IT IN THE RESERVE FOR THE STADIUM.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAD, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, COMMISSIONER? >> YEAH, LES I WAS JUST CURIOUS ON THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, THE $1.3 MILLION, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LARGE NUMBER TO BE LABELED MISCELLANEOUS.
IS THERE A REASON WHY IT'S MISCELLANEOUS AND NOT -- DEBT SERVICE? THANK YOU. >> YEAH, WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. IT'S MISCELLANEOUS, IT'S MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE TO US COMING IN, IT IS, WHEN WE PAY -- WHEN WE PAY THE DEBT SERVICE, IT IS, WE DO PRESENT IT AS DEBT SERVICE.
WHEN WE MAKE THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS. BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES, THE WAY WE REPORT IN OUR ACFR, IN OUR FINANCIALS, THIS TYPE OF REVENUE WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE. THE BLUE JAYS MAKE TWO PAYMENTS TO US A YEAR. THEY MAKE UP THIS AMOUNT. THEY PAY US TWICE PER YEAR IN
ADVANCE OF OUR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS EVERY SIX MONTHS SO WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE TITLING IT MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE FOR, FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENT PURPOSES, BUT AS FAR AS THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS, IT IS CLASSIFIED AS DEBT SERVICE, AND WE MAKE THE PAYMENTS ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.
>> OKAY, AND THIS, THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE MADE, THE $1.3 MILLION, THAT IS BALANCED TOWARD THE DEBT ON THE STADIUM? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND THESE ARE THE PAYMENTS FOR THE DEBT. DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY -- AND I UNDERSTAND IF IT'S AN ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS SITUATION, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT CAN I
FIND THAT DEBT SOMEWHERE IN THE BUDGET BOOK? THE DEBT. NOT THE REPAYMENT. >> YEAH, THE DEBT SERVICE YOU CAN FIND IN THE BUDGET BOOK, YES, YEAH, FOR SURE. >> AND SO IS THERE -- DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY CONFUSION WE CAN FIND THE DEBT IN THE BUDGET BOOKS, BUT WE CAN'T FIND THE
REPAYMENT OF THAT DEBT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT OUR REPAYMENT. IT'S COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY NICE IF THE PUBLIC COULD SEE THAT PASSTHROUGH. SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST US TELLING THEM, THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT IN THE BUDGET BOOK AND JUST TRANSPARENCY BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ACCOUNTIN END OF IT.
>> WELL NO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WHAT WE CAN DO FOR SURE IS WE CAN ADD A FOOTNOTE IN THE LONG RANGE PLAN AND BE CLEAR EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THAT LINE ITEM. WE CAN DO THAT AND SORT OF SHOW WHAT WE SHOW HERE AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT IS, THAT IS THE PAYMENT FROM THE BLUE JAYS FOR
THE, FOR THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT. WE CAN DO THAT. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD I'D. JUST MAKE AS LITTLE MORE -- IDEA. JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE CLEAR. NOW THAT WE'RE NOT BEING TRANSPARENT BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING IT BUT THE MORE WE CAN EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THE BETTER. >> SURE. >> WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FINANCES.
THANK YOU, LES. >> MAYOR FREANEY: COMMISSIONER DUGARD. DID HE ANSWER? OKAY. WELL LET'S KEEP MOVING. WE HAVE LOT OF PAGES. >>> NEXT IS CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO RESEARCH THE GAS TAX FUND REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND FUTURE YEARS FROM FISCAL YEAR 28 TO 32. AND SHOULD THEY BE REDUCED.
WE LOOKED INTO, I LOOKED AT OTHER CITIES WERE DOING WITH THIS, AND AS MENTIONED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, THE GAS TAX REVENUES HAVE BEEN DECLINING DUE TO INCREASED ADOPTION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND ALSO MORE FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES AS WELL. BOTH OF WHICH REDUCE THE
CONSUMPTION AND CONSEQUENTLY GAS TAX COLLECTIONS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET SHOWS CURRENTLY .2% GROWTH SLIGHT POSITIVE GROWTH, AND AFTER CHECKING DOING SOME RESEARCH AND LOOKING AT WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE
BUDGETING, I SAW IT'S, IT'S KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE. SOME ARE BUDGETING SMALL INCREASES BUT MORE ARE BUDGET SLIGHT DECREASES, SO WE ARE GOING TO, WE ARE GOING TO ADJUST OUR TENTATIVE BUDGET TO SHOW A NEGATIVE 2 -- .2% REDUCTION RATHER THAN SHOWING THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY GROWTH THERE.
IT'S A SMALL ADJUSTMENT BUT WE DO AGREE IT'S ON THE DECLINE AND PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR, MAY I? >> MAYOR FREANEY: SURE. >> YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DO AGREE WITH YOU, LES, BUT I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY YOU THINK OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES ARE SHOWING INCREASES IN THEIR -- WHAT ARE THEY SEEING THAT WE'RE NOT OR. >> YEAH, WELL I REACHED OUT TO THREE OR FOUR, AND ONE OF THEM HAD, YOU KNOW, THREE OF THEM ARE SHOWING DECREASES. YOU KNOW SLIGHT DECREASES AND
THEY'VE HAD SLIGHT DECREASES LIKE US. OUR CITY HAS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. ONE OF THE CITIES THOUGHT THEY HAD LEVELED OFF AND THEY WERE GOING TO START, YOU KNOW SORT OF REBALANCING OR THEY THOUGHT THAT THE NEGATIVE FRAME WAS GOING TO STOP. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY THOUGHT THAT. BUT YOU KNOW I DID, I DIDN'T
REALLY THINK THAT WAS CONSISTENT SO I HAD THREE THAT WERE HAVING SMALL DECREASES, SO I THOUGHT IT MADE SENSE TO LEAN TOWARD THAT WAY. >> MAY I ADD, MAYOR? COMMISSIONER? AND I THINK THAT WE TEND TO AS YOU KNOW ON LONG RANGE PLANNING WE TEND TO BUDGET VERY CONSERVATIVELY SO IF THERE IS A
DOUBT WE WILL GO LESS THAN MORE. >> BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME FOR YEARS THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN IT'S DECREASING. SO IT'S NOT JUST FROM LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN A LONG CONVERSATION EVEN AT THE STATE LEVEL SO ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. VERY MUCH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT?
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, AT THE TRANSPORTATION STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION THING I WAS JUST AT, THE HEAD OF THE TURNPIKES FOR STATE OF FLORIDA AND TOLL ROADS AND I THINK SHE SAID WE'RE LIKE THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR TOLLS. AND THEN SAID WELL, NOT SURE
THAT'S A GOOD THING, WHICH I THINK IT'S NOT A GOOD THING, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST INTERESTING HOW WE'RE PAYING FOR OUR ROADS VERSUS THIS IS KIND OF LEGIT IF WE'D HAVE SOME CREATIVITY AND IN ADJUSTING FOR ELECTRIC CARS AT THIS POINT. >> IF I MIGHT, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YEP.
>> I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD POINT BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH A SLIPPERY SLOPE HERE. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO DOWN TRANSITION TO LECTRICATIO. AND WITH TECHNOLOGY THE WAY IT IS, IT'S POSSIBLE TO CHARGE A CAR FOR THE ROAD THAT IT'S ON. ANY ROAD THAT IT'S ON THROUGH CAMERAS. AND I THINK WE NEED TO REEXAMINE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THE
FUTURE AND BE IN FRONT OF THIS THING. THANK YOU. >> AND IF I CAN FOLLOW-UP? >> SURE. >>> WHEN CONTROLS THE GAS TAX? -- WHO CONTROLS THE GAS TAX? IS THAT A CITY ISSUE? NOT TO DISMISS WHAT THE COMMISSIONER SAID, BUT THIS IS A STATE ISSUE, IS IT NOT. >> IT'S A STATE ISSUE.
ALL THE FUNDING FLOWS THROUGH FROM THE STATE. I MEAN, YEAH. >> THE STATE OR THE COUNTY. >> OKAY. >> DO WE HAVE THAT IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PLAN? >> FOR THEM TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT GAS TAX ISSUES? >> GOOD MORNING, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT BUT WE CAN.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD. >> WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THAT IN THE PROBABLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. FOR YOUR PLATFORM FOR NEXT YEAR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. HAVE THEY BEEN LOOKING AT THAT AT ALL OR JUST NOT WILLING TO. >> I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME. >> NOT THIS PAST YEAR, TWO YEARS
AGO THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS ADDRESSING IT BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THIS LAST YEAR SO WE WOULD REALLY HAVE TO PROBABLY ENGAIK WITH SOME OF OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE -- ENGAGE WITH SOME OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SEE IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO BRING FORWARD. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. >> RIGHT NOW, MAYOR IF I MIGHT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YEP. >> THERE IS ENERGY BEHIND A
PURCHASE SURCHARGE TO HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES PAY FOR THEIR WAY. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S A BLUNT INSTRUMENT, AND I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO REALLY ENCOURAGE FEE FOR USE BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO DO THAT NOW. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. OKAY.
NICOLE, YOU SEE WHAT YOU GOT TO DO NOW, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] >> NOT IT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SMALL TASKS. SMALL TASK. OKAY. LET'S KEEP MOVING. >> OKAY, NEXT IS CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE A LINEAR FOOT OF SIDEWALK VERSUS A LINEAR FOOT OF ROADWAY.
PER FDOT THE ESTIMATE -- >> MAYOR FREANEY: I'M SORRY, WHO ASKED THAT QUESTION. [LAUGHTER] >> DO YOU WANT TO SEE THESE NUMBERS? >> WAS THAT YOU, STEVEN? [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR FREANEY: OH, MY GOD. >> THAT'S RIGHT DOWN MY ALLEY, YEAH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I WANT TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THIS OVER AT SALTY SOUL WITH THE GUYS. OH, MY GOSH.
SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. FDOT, PER FDOT THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FULL BASE AND PAYMENT REPLACEMENT PER ROAD MILE IS 400 TO $500,000 PER MILE. PER DUNEDIN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 MILLING AND PAVING CONTRACT, THE
COST TO MILL AND RESURFACE A TYPICAL 25-FOOT WIDE ROADWAY IS 209 THUNE -- $209,000 PER MILE. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE MARKINGS OR CURB AND CUTTING. SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION COSTS
UNDER THIS YEAR'S CONTRACT ARE $118 PER SQUARE YARD, WHICH IS AT THE HIGHER END DUE TO THE RELATIVELY SMALL QUANTITY OF SIDEWALK WORK INCLUDED IN THE BID. AT THIS UNIT PRICE, THE COST TO CONSTRUCT A FOUR-INCH THICK
5-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK IS APPROXIMATELY $346,000 PER MILE WHILE A FOUR-INCH THICK FOUR-FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK COSTS APPROXIMATELY 2 $276 PER MILE. THE STANDARD IS 5-FOOT WIDE AND MUCH BE SIX INCHES THICK THROUGH DRIVEWAYS.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS FOR COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN TO REPEAT THAT WITHOUT LOOKING AT YOUR NOTES. [LAUGHTER] >> IS THAT DONE BY DUNEDIN CITY STAFF OR IS THAT CONTRACTED? >>> CONTRACTED. >> IT'S CONTRACTED.
>> THOSE ARE CONTRACTED PRICES. >> YES. >> WE DO -- >> TO ME IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT WOULDBY A WHOLE LOT LESS IF WE WOULD THOSE HARD WORKING DUNEDIN FOLKS GO OUT THERE AND DO THAT. >> WE DO HAVE INTERNAL RESOURCES THAT DO SIDEWALK WORK. BUT THOSE SAME RESOURCES ARE THE
SAME ONES WHO ARE REPAIRING THE ROADWAYS, TRIMMING THE TREES, REPAIRING THE GUARDRAILS SO THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH OF THOSE RESOURCES TO GO AROUND. AND SO WE CAN CONTRACT AND GROUP THE WORK TOGETHER, WITH OUR PAVING CONTRACT, IN THIS CASE,
AND THEN SEPARATELY AND ACTUALLY GET A BETTER PRICE. >> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR AT THE END. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER DUTBARD. >> I KNOW LOT OF OUR CITIZENS WORK LOOK AT OUR CONTRACT WORK FROM A CRITICAL KIND OF POINT OF VIEW AND I THINK THEY ARE JUST
NOT LOOKING AT THE MATH BECAUSE OF WHAT BENEFITS COST TO US CONTRACT WORK COMES CHEAPER THN FOR EMPLOYEES DOING THE WORK. >> MAYOR IF I MAY, IN ADDITION TO THE EMPLOYEE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THE BENEFITS, IT'S ALSO THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO
DO THAT. THESE CONTRACTORS HAVE THE PAVING EQUIPMENT, THEY HAVE THE ROLLERS, THEY HAVE ALL THIS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPENSIVE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO DO THE WORK. WHICH IF WE HAD TO BRING THAT IN HOUSE THAT WOULD JUST DRIVE THOSE COSTS UP EVEN MORE. >> ONE MORE ITEM IT IT IS MORE
EXPENSIVE INTERNALLY BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SMALL PIECES JUST LIKE THIS SAID, THE OVERALL COST HERE WAS HIGHER BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SMALL, SMALLER AMOUNTS, THAT COSTS MORE. BUT THEN WE'RE RESPONSIVE SO SOME SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT,
THAT DOES COST MORE. BUT IT WOULD COST MORE WHETHER WE CONTRACTED OR DID IT IN HOUSE. WE WOULD BE PAYING A LOT MORE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF RESPONSIVENESS FOR OUR CONTRACT SO THIS IS PLANNED WORK. >> AND AS I LOOK AT THIS, YEAH,
I JUST THING WE NEED -- THINK WE NEED LESS ROADS AND MORE SIDEWALKS WHETHER WE DO IT IN HOUSE OR, OR SEND IT OUT. SO YAY, PEDESTRIANS. >> YOU WOULD GO FOR NATURE PATHS. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING BEFORE IT GETS BEYOND THAT.
[LAUGHTER] YOU WOULD'VE LOVED THIS TRANSPORTATION THING THOUGH. IT WAS ALL ABOUT BIKES, PEDESTRIANS, AND YEAH. >> AS IT SHOULD BE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: PROTECTION. GO AHEAD. >> NEXT THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED IF THE PROPOSED CATASTROPHIC RESERVE FOR -- COULD BE ADDED TO REGULAR CITY RESERVES AND NOT A SPECIFIC
SEPARATE RESERVE. STAFF WILL CONDUCT AN ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC, WILL EVALUATE PRACTICES USES BY OTHER AGENCIES AND RETURN BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT A FUTURE DATE WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON THAT TOPIC. THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF IF THE DOWNTOWN PAVER PROJECT THAT INCLUDES ARPA FUNDING IN
THE AMOUNT OF $187,000 COULD BE MOVED TO THE CRA FUND AND OUT OF THE ARPA FUND. STAFF RESEARCHED THIS AND DETERMINED THE CRA BALANCE IS ADEQUATE AND CAN SUPPORT MOVING THAT $187,000 TO THE CRA FUND AND OUT OF THE ARPA FUND SO
WE'VE ATTACHED THE CHANGE IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE THAT IN THE TENTATIVE BUDGET WE'VE MOVED THAT PROJECT TO ARPA. THAT PORTION OF IT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, LET'S KEEN MOVING. >> CITY COMMISSION ASKF STAFF TO CHECK INTO HOW -- INTO AM AROO ENA. IS IT PART OF THE MARINA ACTIVITIES OR IS IT REPORTED
ELSEWHERE AND NOT IN THE INTERS ENTERPRISE FUND. STAFF DONE RESEARCH ON THIS AND WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AT A FUTURE RATE. STAFF ALSO ASKED -- AND THE SLIP REPRESENTERS CAN USE THE BOAT RAMP AT NO CHARGE BUT ONLY FOR THEIR CONTRACTED VESSEL IF THEY
HAVE ADDITIONAL VESSELS, THEY ARE CHARGED A LAUNCH FEE. OWNERS OF LARGER VESSELS NEVER USE THE RAMP, SMALLER VESSELS ARE LAUNCHED AND RETRIEVED OCCASIONALLY FOR MAINTENANCE. CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO RESEARCH AND GET BACK WITH INFORMATION ON THE RENT ABATEMENT FOR THE RESTAURANT AT THE GOLF COURSE.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST. STAFF REVIEWED THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND HIGHLAND HOUSE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE RENT ABATEMENT IS SCHEDULED TO END IN NOVEMBER OF 2027 ACCORDINGLY NOVEMBER 2027 WOULD BE THE FIRST MONTH THAT RENT PAYMENTS ARE DUE UNDER THE
AGREEMENT. CITY COMMISSION ASKED -- >> MAYOR FREANEY: I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT. IF FOR SOME REASON A COMPANY COULDN'T PAY THE RENT, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER THE AGREEMENT? >> [OFF MIC]
>> MAYOR FREANEY: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE KITCHEN STUFF. >> OH, SORRY. IN THAT CASE, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE THOROUGH LEGAL REVIEW, BUT ALL OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE RESTAURANT BELONG TO THE CITY OF DUNEDIN. SO ESSENTIALLY TAKE THE BUILDING, TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, YOU SHAKE IT AND EVERYTHING THAT
FALLS OUT WOULD BELONG TO THE RESTAURATEUR, AND EVERYTHING ELSE ATTACHED, HOODS,IVENS, SO ON AND SO FORTH WOULD BELONG TO THE CITY. >> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HAVE WE -- STARTED TO DETERMINE WHAT THE MONTHLY RENT WOULD BE UP THERE? >> SO IT IS PREDETERMINED WHAT
THE MONTHLY RENT WILL BE, AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP WITH A RESTAURATEUR TO GO OVER THEIR FINANCIALS AND I WILL REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION. >> THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. >> YEP, OKAY, WE'LL KEEP GOING. >> NEXT ITEM IS CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO DETERMINE HOW
MUCH REVENUE WE WOULD LOSE IN FISCAL YEAR '27 IF WE HAD A ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATE, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF THE LOSS OF REVENUE ON OPERATIONS. WE LOOKED AT THE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS IF WE DID THAT. THE LOSS OF REVENUE WOULD BE $770,000.
IF WE WERE TO DO, TO ROLLED-BACK RATE. HOWEVER BASED N THE CONTINGENCY PLANNING WORK CURRENTLY UNDERWAY ABSORBING THE REVENUE REDUCTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD NECESSITATE ADDITIONAL SERVICE LEVEL REDUCTIONS AND THE ELIMINATION OF STAFF POSITIONS BEYOND THOSE THAT MAY BE IDENTIFIED IN THE CONTINGENCY PLAN. CURRENTLY UNDER BEING DEVELOPED.
USING THE 27 PROPOSED BUDGET WE CALCULATED THE AVERAGE GENERAL FUND FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT COST TO BE APPROXIMATELY $105,000. THE AVERAGE COST OF AN FTE IN THE GENERAL FUND. BASED ON THIS ESTIMATE THE CITY WOULD NEED TO ELIMINATE APPROXIMATELY 7.5 POSITIONS TO
OFFSET THE PROJECTED EVREVENUE LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADOPTED ROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATE AND THEN WE JUST, COMPARABLE TO HOW WE'RE DOING OUR CONTINGENCY ALLOCATIONS AS FAR AS DEPARTMENT -- DEPARTMENTS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED, YOU KNOW AT 7.5 POSITIONS, IT WOULD LIKELY
BE AN EXAMPLE OF PARKS AND REC 3.5 POSITIONS FACILITIES 1, LIBRARY 1, STREETS POSSIBLY 1, SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS 1, AND THAT WOULD GET CLOSE TO THAT $770,000 AMOUNT. AND I WANT TO MENTION THESE REDUCTIONS WOULD BE IN ADDITION
TO OUR WHATEVER SURFACE ADJUSTMENTS WE HAVE IN OUR CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON FOR FISCAL YEAR '27. >> COMMISSIONER, YOU HAD QUESTIONS? >> YEAH. LES, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE ROLLED BACK DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS $770,000. CAN YOU EREMIND US WHAT YEAR 1
LOOKS LIKE IF AMENDMENT 3 PASSES? >> YEAR 11 IMPACT IS $3.7 MILLION REDUCTION IN OUR DIRECT REVENUE, PLUS WE ALSO HAVE THE ROLL DOWN IMPACTS THAT WE'LL TALK MERE ABOUT IN A FEW SLIDES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE
REDUCTIONS IN OUR LIBRARY CO-OP REVENUE, REDUCTIONS IN OUR 12% WE SEE FOR FIRE SERVICE THROUGH THE COUNTY THAT'S ALL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BASED AND REDUCTION IN EMS REVENUE SO WITH THOSE ITEMS ADDED THE FIRST YEAR FULL IMPACT WOULD BE 4.755 MILLION. >> HMM, OKAY.
SO ROLLED BACK WOULD BE GREATLY REDUCES, RIGHT, IT'S A BETTER IMPROVEMENT THAN THE FIRST YEAR IF AMENDMENT 3 PASSES. AND I NOTICE WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT FUTURE YEAR YEARS, WE TALK ABOUT THERE CAN BE A REVENUE
ENHANCEMENT, THERE CAN BE CUTS IN EMPLOYMENT, 24RBG ALSO BE CUTS IN SERVICES. YET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ROLLED BACK, THE ONLY THING THAT YOU MENTIONED WAS EMPLOYEES. WHICH IS THE MOST DRAMATIC, THE MOST EMOTIONAL. AND I DON'T THINK SETS A GOOD
PICTURE, AND THEN WHEN YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE IF I CAN BLOW IT UP, THESE ACTIONS ARE IN ADDITION TO ANY STAFFING OR SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS, THAT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH 27 IN THE CONTINGENCY PLAN. AND SO IF YEAR 1 THAT
CONTINGENCY PLAN IS TO MEET YEAR 1, AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MISLEADING IN THE WORDING AND WHEN YOU SAY SMALLER -- IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ROLL BACK IS HAS TAKEN THE HEAVY HIT AS OPPOSED
TO ANY EXPENSES OR ANY REDUCTION IN EXPENSES DUE TO THE ROLLED BACK IS JUST PART OF WHAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE CONTINGENCY PLAN ANYWAY. BUT WE WORD IT LIKE IT'S IN ADDITION TO LIKE IT'S THE BIGGER PIECE OF THE PIE. AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S AN
HONOR REFLECTION OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE ROLL BACK. >> I THINK IT IS IN ADDITION TO STILL. >> YEAH, WE'RE SAYING IT'S IN ADDITION TO, YEAH, WE ARE, AND IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS IF WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING A
A TINGANCY PLAN AND WE NEED THE THREE $000,000 REDUCTION AND WE'RE GOING TO DOTHAT -- $3 MILLION REDUCTION AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WHETHER AMENDMENT 3 PASSES. IT'S GOING TO BE ON A SLOWER PACE IF AMENDMENT 3 DOESN'T PASS. BUT THIS OTHER ADDITIONAL, IF WE WERE TO TO T DO THE ROLL BACK WE
HAVE ANOTHER 770,000 PROBLEM THAT GOES EVERY YEAR IN THE MODEL TOO BECAUSE THAT, THAT GOES THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WORDS IF WE DID REDUCE OUR REVENUE BY 770 IN 2027, THAT WOULD ROLL THROUGHOUT THE MODEL UNTIL WE INCREASE THE MILLAGE AGAIN, AND SO WE WOULD, WE'RE
LOOKING AT LIKE, WE NEED TO FIX THAT, WE NEED TO FIX THAT, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE $3 MILLION NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THE 770 WOULD NEED TO BE ON TOP OF THAT. BUT THAT WAS OUR APPROACH. AND I, YOU KNOW I DO THINK THAT YOU KNOW AFTER THE $3 MILLION
REDUCTION, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE STILL, FLORIDA STILL SERVICE LEVEL REDUCTIONS WE COULD DO, AND I WILL SAY THIS IS A BROAD BRUSH STROKE AND YOU KNOW YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT IN THAT THIS IS A BROAD BRUSH STROKE WITH POSITIONS. IT WOULD NOT BE 100% POSITIONS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A VERY
LARGE PORTION OF POSITIONS BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A DETAILED NALSIS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE SUPPLY COST AND THINGS THAT GO WITH THE POSITION AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, BUT FOR A BROAD BRUSH STROKE, WE'RE SAYING POSITIONS ONLY, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE NOT 100% POSITIONS BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE LOT OF LABOR
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE $3 MILLION REDUCTION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO LEAD MORE TOWARDS THE LABOR AS WE, IF WE HAVE TO CUT FURTHER IF THAT MAKE SAID SENSE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I WAS GOING TO SAY, JEFF, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT,
IF I'M RIGHT WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER'S TALKING ABOUT, IS IF WE DO, IF WE DID THE ROLLED BACK WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MILLAGE. SO WE'RE DECREASING THE MILLAGE. BUT IN THE AMENDMENT 3, IT'S ALL ABOUT INCREASING THE LEVEL OF EXEMPTIONS. SO THEN YOU ACTUALLY YOU'VE GOT ONE GOING THIS ONE, ONE GOING THIS WAY, AND THEY ARE BEEN
THERE ADDITIVE. THEY DON'T -- YEAH, YOU'RE NOT OFFSETTING. IT'S ADDITIVE. >> AND I, RIGHT, AND I DO AGREE WITH THAT BUT AT THE END OF THE RESULT, IT'S THE REDUCTION IN REVENUE PERIOD. AND JUST, AND IN MY THOUGHT IS IS THE CONTINGENCY PLAN IF I'M
GOING TO GIVE IT A NUMBER IS ONE OR I'M SORRY IS 3. NOW THE ROLLED BACK WOULD BE 1, ANY ADDITIONAL IMPACTS TO CONTINGENCY TO MEAT THAT NUMBER IS 2, SO YOU HAVE 1 PLUS 2 EQUALS 3 IF YOU GUYS COULD FOLLOW ME ON THAT.
JUST TWO PIECES OF THE PIE. ONE IS THE ROLLED BACK, ONE IS THE CONTINGENCY PLAN. SO IF WE DO THE ROLLED BACK IT WOULD BE 1 AND WE'D STILL HAVE THAT SHORT FALL. WE'D HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE IN THE CONTINGENCY WHICH WOULD BE 2 TO EQUAL THE CONTINGENCY PLAN F
3 SO WITHOUT THE ROLLED BACK WE WOULD JUST DO THE CONTINGENCY PLAN WHICH WOULD BE 3 OR WE COULD DO THE ROLL BACK WHICH IS 1 AND THEN MEET THE OTHER NEEDS OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN TO MEET THAT NUMBER WHICH WOULD BE 2. >> MAYOR FREANEY: EITHER WAY IT'S GOING TO BE -- >> RIGHT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: BY YEAR 3 EITHER WAY IT WOULD BE --
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF YOU DID IT A ROLLED BACK IT WOULD BE $7.6 MILLION PLUS 770,000. THEN IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST YEAR OF CONTINGENCY THEN IT
WOULD BE 3 MILLION PLUS 770,000 DECREASE YOU HAVE CAUSED BUY ROLLED BACK, AM I RIGHT? >> THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT. I LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, I SEE YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER. YOU COULD LOOK AT IT EITHER WAY BUT WE END UP IN THE SAME PLACE I THINK. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT AND AGAIN I WILL SAY IF WE DID THIS IT WOULD NOT BE 100% LABOR. IN THE TIME WE HAD THERE WAS NO TIME TO DOA DETAILED ANALYSIS, OBVIOUSLY OF EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT YOU KNOW TO GET TO THIS NUMBER. SOME WOULD BE NONLABOR BUT I DO THINK A LOT OF IT -- THE MAJORITY OF IT WOULD BE LABOR
BUT NOT 100%. >> BUT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR NOW, IF WE DID A ROLLED BACK RIGHT NOW, AND IT WAS $770,000 THAT WE HAD TO FIND IN THE BUDGET, BY THE END OF YEAR 3 IF AMENDMENT 3 PASSES,
IT'S $7.6 MILLION THAT WE KNOW WE'D LOSE THROUGH THE AMENDMENT, PLUS 770,000 WE WOULD LOSE BECAUSE WE ROLLED BACK THE MILLAGE. >> CORRECT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. >> THAT'S HOW -- YEAH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OR DID YOU HAVE MORE. >> NO, I'M GOOD. I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GOOD, BUT I'M GOOD. >> MAYOR FREANEY: YEAH, NO, I MEAN I THINK IT'S GOOD TO UNDERSTAND IT THOUGH. SO. >> IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SURE. >> I DO, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, THE WHERE YOU'RE APPROACHING THIS IS
THAT FIRST OF ALL WE'RE DECREASING THE TAXABLE VALUE BY DECREASING THE MILLAGE RATE. RIGHT? SO THE TAXABLE VALUE IS LESS. AND THEN YOU ADD THE, THEN YOU ADD THE ESSENTIALLY THE AMENDMENT 3 PASSES. SO FROM THAT TACTSABLE VALUE,
YOU SUBTRACT 150,000 AND THEN YOU SUBTRACT 250,000 OUTLYING YEARS. SO I THINK THE DELTA THAT WE GET TO IS PROBABY MINIMAL MOVING FORWARD. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT AN EXERCISE THAT WE COULD RUN, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE VERY MUCH THE SAME SITUATION MOVING FORWARD.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT. THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS THAT YOU KNOW AND THE MAYOR AND I HAVE BEEN DOING OUR EDUCATION FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. AND MOST CERTAINLY THOSE DURING THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PERIOD ARE ASKING US, WHO IS IT.
WHAT PROGRAM IS IT. WHAT IS IT, AND WE HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO ANYTHING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY YET. YOU KNOW FIRST OF ALL THE IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEES WHO YOU KNOW THEY THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEM AND THEN ALSO THE PROGRAMS. BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO SAY WELL THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE ELIMINATED OR THAT PROGRAM WOULD BE
ELIMINATED AND UNTIL WE GET TO THAT CONTINGENCY PLAN, THAT WOULD BE I THINK WOULD BE CONSIDERED ALARMIST UNTIL WE PUT A PLAN BEFORE ALL OF YOU FOR YOU TO APPROVE. AND THEN IT'S FROM YOU KNOW YOU GET TO WE THINK IT WOULD BE THIS TO THIS IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO LOOK AT. SO I UNDERSTAND WHETHER YOU'RE COMING FROM -- WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AND WE'LL TALK TO LES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BUT I THINK REGARDLESS YOU KNOW THE ROLLED BACK OBVIOUSLY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE RECOMMEND GIVING, GIVEN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE FUTURE.
SO. >> HAVE WE EVER STOPPED -- HAVE WE URVE TALKED ABOUT A ROLL BACK -- EVER TALKED ABOUT A ROLL BACK? I DON'T RECALL EVER -- >> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST -- >> SINCE 2016. THE MILLAGE HAS BEEN THE SAME FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. >> RIGHT BUT EVERY YEAR WE'VE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT.
>> WELL OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BUT I WANTED TO CLARIFY -- I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT COMING THIS MORNING. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON. >> YEAH XI JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SAY THAT I MEAN, IN TERMS OF ULTIMATELY WHAT HAPPENS INS TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD CUT IF
AMENDMENT 3 PASSES, I MEAN 50% IS PERSONNEL. SO I JUST THINK THAT YOU GOT TO BE STRAIGHT OUT WITH PEOPLE I MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE IT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE. I MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE -- OBVIOUSLY SOME OPERATIONAL BUT IT'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE. THERE IS NO WAY YOU GET AROUND IT, SO. >> AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD THE OPTIONS BEFORE THE CITY
COMMISSION, I MEAN, YOU NEVER SAY NEVER ABOUT ANY REVENUE GENERATION OR ANY DECREASES IN AD VALOREM TAXES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT MOVING FORWARD IN LIGHT OF THE FIRE ASSESSMENT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF ALL THE FACTS AND ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AND TOOLS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS IN THE
FUTURE AS WELL. SO. >> COOL, OKAY. SO WE HAVE ONE MORE. >> JUST ONE MORE, YEAH. THE CITY COMMISSION ASKED STAFF TO PROVIDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY OF THE SAVINGS RESULTING FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS EFFICIENCY STUD A, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPROVEMENTS. AND STAFF'S PROVIDED AN UPDATE
WITH A BREAKDOWN OF THE SAVINGS AND ITS IN ATTACHMENT IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO. THE CONSERVATIVE TOTAL TO DATES AS OF JUNE 2026 IS $564,000 IN SAVINGS. IT'S EXHIBIT E IN THE FOLLOW-UP MEMO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ANY QUESTIONS
ON THIS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT. SO SUE, CAN YOU WALK THROUGH THIS? >> SURE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: LIKE RIGHT OFF
THE BAT IN PROGRESS ESTIMATED 4 TO -- I DON'T. >> THOSE FIRST COMMENTS ARE JUST OVERALL COMMENTS TO INDICATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID WE ESTIMATED THAT. 4 TO 15% OF THE BUDGET WOULD'VE
BEEN $912,000 IF 4% EFFICIENCIES IN OUR PROCESSES AND OVERALL BUDGET. THIS IS TO DATE NOW, THE IMPLEMENTATION COST, THIS IS NET. WE'RE 400,000 AND THEN NET SAVINGS IS 597 AS OF MARCH.
THOSE ARE ACTUAL HARD NUMBERS. WE HAVE PROVEN THROUGH OUR PLAN VERSUS ACTUAL PROCESS THAT WE'RE DOING MORE WORK WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. I SAID LESS PEOPLE IN HERE PROBABLY SHOULD'VE SAID THE SAME AMOUNT BUT BECAUSE OF VACANCIES I WROTE LESS.
AND THEN WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED 67% OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY HARD SAVINGS IS REDUCING 13 VEHICLES. NOT INCLUDING SOLID WASTE THAT'S THE SURPLUS WHICH YOU ALL KNOW WAS RELATIVELY SMALL.
THE, THE REVENUE BASED ON THOSE SURPLUS. THOSE ARE REALLY OLD ASSETS BUT THERE WAS THE INCREMENTAL SAVINGS OF THE MAINTENANCE COSTS IN FLEET AND THE FUEL, AND THOSE WILL ALSO BE RECURRING SAVINGS, BUT THIS IS ONE-TIME UP TO THIS
DATE THAT WE'VE CALCULATED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. AND THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY CUSTOMER WITHDRAWAL SAVINGS NET IS 16639 THAT IS FROM THE NET REVENUE EXPENSES ROUTE
OPTIMIZATION, FUEL, DISPOSAL, ALL THOSE, AND THERE ARE CONTINUING TO KNOW ANALYZED, RIGHT NOW -- TO BE ANALYZED RIGHT NOW. WE'RE CHECKING BECAUSE OUR ESTIMATES FROM THE RATE STUDY CONSULTANT WERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR THE DISPOSAL COST BUT IT WASN'T BROKEN OUT UNINCORPORATED VERSUS CITY.
AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THE UNINCORPORATED WE DID HAVE A HIGHER AMOUNT OF DISPOSAL COSTS SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO COMMISSION. BUT AT THIS TIME, THE NET RIGHT INCLUDING THE REVENUE THAT WAS LOST RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
COLLECTING FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS ANYMORE, SO ALL, ALL NET REVENUE VERSUS ALL EXPENSES FOR SOLID WASTE UNINCORPORATED AREA WAS 16639 SAVINGS AND THEN STAFF OPTIMIZATION WE HAD FROZEN
POSITIONS BEFORE THEY WERE FROZEN, SOFT FREEZE, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE BUDGET HERE, WHICH IS 2 REDUCTIONS OF STAFF FROM SOLID WASTE. BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT PUBLIC WORKS WE FROZE AND ALSO ONE POSITION IN FLEET BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED
NUMBER OF VEHICLES. WE WERE SEEING CAN WE ELIMINATE ONE OF THOSE BUT AT THIS TIME, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN FY '27 IS THE REDUCTION OF TWO POSITIONS IN SOLID WASTE THAT IS NOT REFLECTED HERE ONLY THE
SAVINGS FROM THE VACANT POSITIONS BEING FROZEN ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CALCULATION. OF $194,230.
CONSERVATIVELY $564,701. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO I GUESS IF, AND IT COSTS $400,000 TO IMPLEMENT AND WE SAVE $564,000, THEN THAT'S A NET OF 1 HAD SOMEONE THOUSAND. -- 100 AND SOME THOUSAND. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GOT TO --
>> NO, THE SAVINGS IS GREATER. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T INCLUDE THE TOTAL. OODING THOSE TWO TOGETHER WHERE WE'RE AT IT'S 912. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR, SIMPLE EQUATION, COST, THIS, THIS,
THIS. EXCUSE ME. AND YOU KNOW, SAVINGS THIS, THIS, THIS, AND THEN THE BOTTOM LINE. >> SORRY, TOOK AWAY THE SECOND
PAGE WHICH HAD THE CALCULATIONS. $964,701 SAVINGS. >> CAN YOU TELL ME, I SEE THE NUMBERS THAT ADD UP TO 564. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT GETS ME TO A HIGHER NUMBER? >> IT'S JUST ADDING THE 4,000 --
OKAY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THE 4,000 THAT WE'RE ALSO SAVINGS THAT WE -- THAT WE SPENT ON THE CONSULTANT. I'LL GET YOU THAT. YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. >> I MEAN, SAVINGS MINUS COSTS, OR. >> I'M NOT SHOWING OPTIMIZATION
OF EQUIPMENT, YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE SO WE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> IS THAT, DO WE HAVE COST THIS YEAR TO THE CONSULTANT AND THE SOFTWARE?
ISN'T THERE AN ANNUAL FEE? >> WE ALREADY PAID THAT. THAT WAS ALREADY INCLUDED, THE SOFTWARE COSTS. WE -- THIS AMOUNT FOR THE CONSULTANT WAS THE TOTAL COST. WE HAVE ABOUT $5,000 LEFT ON THAT. WHICH WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE OVER TO NEXT FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE WE
COULDN'T FIT IN THE FINAL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION TILL OCTOBER. BUT THAT CONSULTANT COST WILL BE FINISHED AND IT IS INCLUDED, TOTAL COST IS INCLUDED IN THE FIGURES BOTH POs FOR SOLID
WASTE AND FOR THIS WHOLE IMPLEMENTATION. >> IT IS UNINCORPORATED HOMES WE STOPPED BRINGING IN? >> THAT SOUNDS CLOSE, 1160, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ALL RIGHT. EVEN WITH THE CONSULTANT AND THE -- IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE IT ITEMIZED SO IT'S CLEAR. I THINK THAT'S ALL ON THAT --
>> [OFF MIC] OKAY SO WE'RE GOING TO DO BOARD OF FINANCE ANNUAL REPORT. SO STAFF AND CATHY OR CATHY JUST TAKING THE CHARGE, RIGHT? >> YEAH, THANK YOU, I'LL JUST TURN IT OVER TO CATHY, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE TO GO
OVER THE REPORT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO IS IT CATHY EAR CATHERINE. >> CATHY, CALL ME CATHY. GOOD MORNING. I'M CATHY HARVEY, I'M CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE. AND JUST TO GIVE THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR SOME BACKGROUND ON US, WE ARE A CITIZEN LED ADVISORY BOARD TO
THE CITY, AND OUR MEMBERS HAVE EXPERTISE IN FINANCE, ACCOUNTING, AND TAX ISSUES. AND WE DO A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE DEEP DIVE ON THE BUDGET, AND THESE ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THAT. SO IF IT PLEASES THE COMMISSION, THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR, AND
THE CITY MANAGER, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE LETTER. AND THEN TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A PLAN? >> PERFECT. THANK YOU, CATHY. OKAY, SO WE LOOKED AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN LIGHT OF THE LOOMING POTENTIAL OF THE PENDING
BALLOT MEASURE HJR1F. WHICH WOULD PHASE OUT ALL NONSCHOOL RELATED PROPERTY TAXES FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS. AND YOU'LL HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. AND SO IF THIS WERE TO PASS, DUNEDIN WOULD HAVE TO ELIMINATE MANY NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND
SO WE LOOKED AT THOSE IN THAT LIGHT AND ALSO THINKS THAT WOULD OBLIGATE US TO A MULTIYEAR DEBT OBLIGATION REPAYMENT SCHEME. THE PROJECTS THAT RELATED TO REBUILDING THE MARINA AND MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING
STORMWATER DRAINAGE WE AGREE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD, THOSE ARE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO AGAIN THANK LES AND JEAN AND THE FINANCE TEAM. THEY'VE GONE THE EXTRA MILE MANY TIMES FOR US TO GET US THE INFORMATION WE NEED, AND THAT IS REALLY ALLOWED US TO COME UP
WITH SOME SOLID RECOMMENDATIONS. SO AN UPDATE ON THE CARRY FORWARD. WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT CARRYING FORWARD BUDGET ITEMS FROM ONE YEAR INTO THE NEXT. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST CASH FLOWS AND CAN OBLIGATE US TO DEBT SERVICE
BEFORE IT'S ACTUALLY NEEDED AND IT INCREASED COST. SO WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROGRESS ON THAT THIS YEAR. FOR THE 2026 FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD A CAP BUDGET OF NEARLY $53 MILLION AND STARTED THE YEAR
WITH A CARRY FORWARD OF $31 MILLION AND THIS PROCESS HAS GONE ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND SO THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATED CARRY FORWARD IS DOWN TO $15.5 MILLION SO WE'VE MADE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS THERE. SO THIS WILL JUST TAKE AN ONGOING FOCUS FROM THE FINANCE
TEAM AND REVIEWING ALL THE PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REBUDGETTING WHEN WE CAN AND KEEP WORKING ON REDUCING THE CARRY FORWARD. AND IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE'RE SUGGESTING THAT THERE BE A CONSOLIDATED MONTHLY REPORT OF ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHAT
THE STATUS OF THEM ARE, THE COMPLETION DATES, AND ANY REASONS FOR DELAY SO THAT YOU HAVE EARLY HEADS UP WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE COMPLETED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THE BIG TICKET ITEMS WE LOOKED AT ARE THE LARGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
WE AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO DELAY THE HIGHLANDER AQUATIC COMPLEX UNTIL 2029. HOWEVER, THE COST OF THIS PROJECT HAS RISEN FROM $18.1 MILLION TO $23.5 MILLION. SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE BE A SCOPE REVIEW OF THAT
TO TRY TO BRING IT DOWN TO THE ORIGINAL COST ESTIMATE. WE ALSO SUGGEST DELAYING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE, WHICH IS $9.1 MILLION. PARTICULARLY WHEN OTHER NEW GARAGES ARE BEING BUILT
DOWNTOWN. THE PROJECT ALSO OBLIGATES THE CITY TO 15 YEARS OF DEBT SERVICE, AND CURRENTLY THE ENTIRE $9.1 MILLION AMOUNT IS BUDGETED IN 2027. SO EVEN IF YOU DECIDE TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT, I WOULD TAKE ANOTHER LOOK ON THE TIMING
BECAUSE IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THE WHOLE THING WILL BE COMPLETED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO YOU COULD REBUDGET PART OF THAT. WE'VE ALSO LISTED A NUMBER OF PROJECTS UNDER PARKS AND REC THAT ARE RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES THAT MAY BE DEEMED NON-ESSENTIAL IN
THE FUTURE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT UNLESS THEY ARE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE, WE THINK THAT THESE CAN BE REDUCED OR DELAYED. >> CATHY, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO THROUGH THEM. I MEAN, JUST LIST THEM.
>> OKAY, SURE, SO FISHER LITTLE LEAGUE AND JERRY LAKE ATHLETIC LIGHTS IS 120,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND A SIX-YEAR TOTAL OF 1 APPOINTMENT $3 -- $1.3 MILLION. PARK PAVILION REPLACEMENT IS $250,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH A SIX-YEAR TOTAL OF
$580,000. THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT IS 200,000 IN 2027 WITH A SIX-YEAR TOTAL OF $800,000. ATHLETIC FIELD RENOVATION OF 100,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND
$600,000 FOR SIX-YEAR TOTAL. AND OUTDOOR RESTROOM RENOVATIONS OF $100,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR AND SIX-YEAR TOTAL OF $600,000. FOR A TOTAL OF 770,000 IN THIS YEAR AND $3.88 MILLION OVER SIX
YEARS. AND ALL OF THESE ARE GENERAL FUND ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS COMING FROM THE PENNY FUND. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE THINK CAN SHARPEN UP THE PENCIL ON. SO GOING INTO LABOR COSTS,
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY HOW THE MEDICAL BENEFITS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. THIS YEAR'S BUDGET WITHOUT ANY PLAN CHANGES IS A 16% INCREASE OVER THE ESTIMATED 2026 TOTALS ACTUALS, WHICH IS AN 18%
INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. HISTORICALLY THE CITY HAS BEEN ABSORBING ALL OF THE COSTS OF THIS AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RATE INCREASE TO EMPLOYEES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT A COMBINATION OF PLAN CHANGES AND PREMIUM INCREASES TO
GET THE INCREASE DOWN TO 12%. AT THE TIME WE PUT THIS TOGETHER, WE DIDN'T V DETAILS OF THIS, AND I GOT IT FRIDAY SO THESE ARE MY COMMENTS AND NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE FULL BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT. BUT WE AGREE WITH THE PLAN CHANGES THAT THE CITY IS
RECOMMENDING AND WE AGREE WITH THE FLAT PREMIUM DOLLAR AMOUNT INCREASES TWHAT ARE RECOMMENDED. THERE ARE SOME INHERENT INCONSISTENCIES ABOUT THE INCENTIVES BETWEEN THE THREE PLANS. CURRENTLY YOU HAVE 81% OF PEOPLE IN THE BASE PLAN.
AND THAT'S LARGELY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S FREE FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY FOR THE BASE PLAN AS WELL AS THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN SO THERE IS NO INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO GO INTO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN. WE ALSO AGREE THAT EITHER NOW OR
IN YEAR 2 THE BUY UP PLAN SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. YOU ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE IN IT, AND IT'S DEFINITELY DRIVING UP YOUR COSTS. AND SOMETHING THAT IS SORT OF IMPLIED IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT NOT CLEARLY STATED IS THAT THE WELLNESS PLAN TIP QLEA WOULD
ONLY BE -- TYPICALLY WOULD ONLY BE TIED TO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN AND THAT'S SO IT'S GIVING PEOPLE AN INCENTIVE TO TAKE THAT PLAN. SO I THINK BY REALIGNING THE INCENTIVES AND MAKING THESE CHANGES YOU'LL HAVE A MORE ACTUARIALLY SOUND PLAN AND I'M SURE YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE
ABOUT THAT LATER. A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. RAISING THE INDIVIDUAL STOP LOSS AMOUNT, THE SAVINGS OF 149,000 ARE REALLY SUSUMED BY NOT GETTING THE CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT BY RAISING THAT LEVEL.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE HITTING THE STOP LOSS LIMIT. BY RAISING THE STOP LOSS LIMIT BY $20,000. ASSUMING THOSE SAME PEOPLE HIT IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR, YOU ARE FOREGOING $20,000 PER PERSON OF
REIMBURSEMENT FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. SO THE $149,000 IN PREMIUM SAVINGS IS REDUCED BY THE $140,000 IN CLAIM REIMBURSEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE GETTING. SO I'M NOT SAYING DON'T DO IT, I'M JUST SAYING I WOULDN'T BE COUNTING IT AS SAVINGS. AND IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN SEVEN
PEOPLE THEN YOU WOULD ACTUALLY LOSE MONEY BY RAISING THE STOP LOSS LIMIT. WE ALSO THINK THAT PLANNING FOR THE NEXT YEAR SHOULD BEGIN NOW ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. YOUR RATE GUARANTEES WITH CIG NA
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS NEXT-YEAR AND PUTTING IT OUT TO BID SHOULD NOT ONLY BE LOOKING AT THE 10% OF YOUR COSTS, WHICH IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, BUT GIVING MORE WEIGHT TO THE 90% OF YOUR COST, WHICH T CLAIM COSTS THEMSELVES. SO THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME
CONSIDERATION OF COMPARING THE NETWORK DISCOUNTS AMONG THE VARIOUS ADMINISTRATORS OF THE PLAN. SO IN OTHER WORDS, CIGNA MAY ONLY HAVE A DISCOUNT OF 10%, BUT BLUE CROSS MAY HAVE A DISCOUNT OF 20% BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE MARKET SHARE.
SO JUST MAKING THAT CHANGE EVEN IF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES WERE THE SAME, WOULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR YOU. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER. WE ALSO NOTICED IN LOOKING IN DETAIL AT THE COMPETITIVE INFO
FROM THE OTHER CITIES THAT ST. PETE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF RAISING THEIR MINIMUM WAGE AND SHIFTING MORE BENEFIT COST TO EMPLOYEES SO WE THINK THAT YOU SHOULD DO AN ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT WHAT THE NET EFFECT OF THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S LIKELY THAT MAY ACTUALLY SAVE YOU MONEY
LONG-TERM. SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER THERE AS WELL. WE ALSO LOOKED AT OVERTIME COSTS. OVERTIME IS BUDGETED AT $1.5 MILLION AND KEEPS RISING. WE ASKED EACH DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT THEIR PROCESS WAS FOR
APPROVING IT, AND THEIR DIFFERENT UNEVERY DEPARTMENT. IN SOME AREAS LIKE IN PARKS AND REC, THIS APPROVAL IS BEING DONE AT THE SUPERVISORY LEVEL. WE THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EXECUIVE OVERSIGHT OF OVERTIME APPROVALS, AND SOME
JUSTIFICATION OF ALL BUDGETED AMOUNTS BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WERE JUST VING A DISCUSSION ABOUT POSITIONS, AND NOT WANTING TO REDUCE POSITIONS, AND $1.5 MILLION OF OVERTIME WOULD FUND A LOT OF POSITIONS SO
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE A DEEPER DIVE ON AND WE DID ACTUALLY ASK FINANCE TO GO BACK AND ASK EACH DEPARTMENT IF THEY COULD REDUCE THEIR OVERTIME BY 10%, SOME DID, SOME DIDN'T BUT THAT GOT YOUR INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR DOWN TO HALF OF WHAT IT WAS. AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE
OF THE EFFICIENCY STUDY THAT YOU WERE JUST DISCUSSING, THAT PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD BE SEEING A DECREASE IN THEIR BUDGETED OVERTIME IF THIS IS WORKING THEN THAT SHOULD BE THE RESULT. AND THEN JUST KIND OF A
MISCELLANEOUS ITEM. THERE IS $330,000 A YEAR IN CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION FEES THAT THE CITY IS PAYING. THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO PAY VARIOUS FEES VIA CREDIT CARD, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN ABSORBING THOSE FEES. SO WE BELIEVE THAT THESE FEES
SHOULD BE PASSED ONTO THE PEOPLE AS IT IS IN MANY CASES NOW AT RESTAURANTS AND OTHER PLACES, THAT YOU'RE PAYING THE CONVENIENCE FEE OF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD. SO THOSE ARE OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR REVIEW, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO
TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, QUESTIONS FOR CATHY. STARTING OVER WITH COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN. >>> I GUESS I'M NOT REALLY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU PERSONALLY. A LOT OF THIS, WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE
HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY THAN ANYBODY SITTING IN THIS ROOM. IF WE WERE TO JUST TAKE THE CURRENT CIGNA POLICY AND I MEAN IS IT AS SIMPLE AS TO ASK THEM TO INCREASE THE DEDUCTIBLE PER PERSON. I MEAN IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO NOW OR WHAT WOULD YOU
SUGGEST -- SO IT'S A SIMPLE AS A PHONE CALL OR EMAIL TO THEM. TO SEE WHAT -- >> OH, YEAH, IT USUALLY TAKES THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS TO PROGRAM THE CHANGE AND YOU USUALLY WANT TO DO IT AT RENEWAL JUST BECAUSE YOUR DEDUCTIBLES AND SUCH
ACCUMULATE ON THE CALENDAR YEAR BASIS SO YOU USUALLY DO THAT AT RENEWAL BUT YOU CAN CHANGE IT MIDYEAR. >> OKAY. >> AND I THINK THE PROPOSAL THAT HR IS GOING TO BE SHARING WITH YOU HAS AN INCREASE IN THE DEDUCTIBLES AND OUT OF POCKET LIMITS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED. >> AND HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT
WE GO, WHEN WE TAKE IT TO MARKET, THAT WE FIND AND TURN OVER OVER STONE POSSIBLE TO FIND THE BEST CARRIER, THE BEST PRICE, BUT EVEN MORE SO, BEST COVERAGE FOR THE ENTIRE STAFF. HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST WE GO TAKE THAT TO MARKET? REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
I WOULD SUGGEST SENDING IT TO THE TOP THREE OR FOUR I WOULDN'T GO CRAZY AND TURN OVER EVERY POSSIBLE STONE. BUT YOU KNOW FOCUS IT ON THE TOP THREE OR FOUR CARRIERS IN TERMS OF MARKET SHARE BECAUSE MARKET SHARE IS WHAT DRIVES DISCOUNTS. AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF
WHERE YOUR CLAIM DOLLAR IS GOING. SO I WOULD COMPARE THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, THE STOP LOSS PREMIUMS WHICH ARE GOING TO BE MINOR AND THIS WHOLE SITUATION. AND THE NETWORK DISCOUNTS. AND THE WAY YOU WOULD COMPARE THE NETWORK DISCOUNTS IS TO COME UP WITH WHAT WE WOULD CALL A
MARKET BASKET APPROACH WHERE YOU WOULD TAKE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CODES LIKE AN OFFICE VISIT AND YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH SOME BASIC IN-PATIENT COSTS, ET CETERA, AND GIVE A LIST OF CODES TO EACH OF THE CARRIERS TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY WOULD CHARGE FOR EACH OF THOSE.
AND THEN I'M SURE YOUR LOVELY CONSULTANT CAN COME WITH A CONSOLIDATED WAY OF SCORING THIS, AND EVALUATING THOSE DISCOUNTS. >> OKAY, LAST THING AND THIS IS MORE OF JUST MORE OF AN OPINION. YOU KNOW, IN GOING THROUGH THE ROSTER, OF THAT, THAT BOARD THAT YOU CHAIR, THERE'S A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE
THE CITY COMMISSION SHOULD LEAN ON THAT BOARD FOR MORE ADVICE INSTEAD OF THE COST OF RUNNING OUT AND GETTING ALL THESE CONSULTANTS AND ALL THESE ADVISORS, AND I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TALENT THAT SITS IN THAT ROOM WITH YOU AS THE LEADER OF IT, THAT I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD
BE BROUGHT IN MORE OFTEN FOR YOUR OPINION ON WHAT SOME OF THIS MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING. SO I'VE KNOWN YOU A LONG TIME AND I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. >> WELL, THANK YOU, AND I WILL SAY THAT YOU KNOW THE BOARD IS QUITE WILLING TO TAKE ON MORE AND TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS BECAUSE THERE IS LOT OF
EXPERIENCE IN THAT ROOM WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS NOT JUST BENEFITS. SO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GOW? >>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. CATHY, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE. THIS, IT'S WONDERFUL
INFORMATION. JUST REAL QUICKLY, YES, I'LL BEAT THIS DRUM AGAIN, LES, I'M SORRY WHAT WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF REDUCTION WE GET WITH THE ROLLED BACK? >> $770,000. >> LOOKING THERE, IF WE MAKE THESE CHANGES HERE ACCORDING TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WE COULD
SAVE $770,000. AMAZING. AND THE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO BEAT THE INSURANCE DRUM BECAUSE
STEVE DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT. >> THE GOLF COURSE HAS A LOT OF CREDIT CARD USAGE THERE FOR
GOLF, MIBS AND NON-- MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS. THE MARINA HAS SOME CREDIT CARD FEES. PARKS AND REC PROGRAMS V CREDIT CARD FEES AND THEN THE LARGEST IS OUR UTILITY BILLING.
I WILL SAY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT PASSES ON THE FEE RIGHT NOW. THE -- FOR PERMITS. WE PASS ON THE FEE. WE ROLLED THAT OUT WITH EPL. IT'S THE ONLY DEPARTMENT WE HAVE THAT PASSES ON THE FEE. THE OTHER ONES I JUST MENTIONED WE ABSORB THE FEE CURRENTLY.
HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH JENNIFER ON THIS AND WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD CONSIDER PASSING ON -- I MENTIONED TO JENNIFER I THINK IF WE DO DECIDE TO GO THAT ROUTE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A GRADUAL APPROACH.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE YOU KNOW FOR INSTANCE GOLF COURSE FIRST, THEN ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE A COUPLE THINGS ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE WATER SEWER SEWER UTILITY BILLING IS, IS NOT ROLLED OVER TO TYLER MUTHIS YET AND WE WOUD
NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES YET UNTIL THAT TRANSITION HAPPENS AND THE BUGS ARE OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A WHOLE NEW PLATFORM. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH CREDIT CARDS IS WE'RE ALL ON DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. TYLER MUNES HAS ITS OWN CREDIT
CARD PROGRAM. GOLF COURSE HAS AN ERP SYSTEM CALLED-- FORB IS THE NAME OF THE VENDOR. AND YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE THEIR CREDIT CARD COMPANY SO THE NEW THING THAT'S HAPPENED THE
LAST 3 YEARS WITH ERP SYSTEMS FROM SMALL TO LARGE IS THEY'VE GOTTEN SMART AND THEY REALIZE THEY CAN MAKE MONEY WITH THE CREDIT CARD BUSINESS SO A LOT OF THESE -- ALSO WE USE REC TRACK IN PARKS AND REC.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE ONE COMPANY THAT DOES ALL THE CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS. WE WILL EVENTUALLY BE DOWN TO THREE ONCE WATER SEWER GOES FULLY TO TYLER MUNIS, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT IS. SO WE, WE THINK THAT WE COULD, IF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE, WE
THINK WE CAN MOVE THAT DIRECTION BUT WE THINK WE SHOULD DO IT IN PIECES AND DO ONE FUNCTION ONE YEAR NEN DO THE NEXT AND THE NEXT. ALSO WHEN YOU DO IT THERE IS GOING TO BE CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR AND YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, FACTOR THAT IN TOO. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE
GOLF COURSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CREDIT CARD USAGE NOW IF WE WERE TO PASS THAT OB, THEY'LL BE A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING CREDIT CARD NOW WILL START WRITING CHECKS OR START BRINGING CASH IN. WHATEVER THEY DO. AND YOU KNOW THAT WILL INCREASE STAFF'S TIME TO HANDLE DAILY
DEPOSITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO NOT THAT THAT'S A REASON -- NOT A REASON TO DO IT BUT IT'S JUST THAT IT WILL CHANGE BEHAVIOR, AND WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT, WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING TOO. I DO KNOW A LOT OF CITIES ARE -- SOME CITIES ARE PASSING IT ON NOW. I DO KNOW THAT. I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S KIND OF BIG PICTURE WHAT WE'VE FOUND SO FAR. >> ALL RIGHT AND SO IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT'S MORE THAN JUST FLIPPING A SWITCH THEN. SOME OF THESE CASES WOULD BE HAVE TO CHANGE PLATFORMS IN ORDER TO DO THIS?
>> I THINK FOR FOUR UP -- FOR THE GOLF COURSE WE COULD USE THEIR PLATFORM. WE JUST V TO WORK WITH THEM TO ADGIST IT TO PASS THE FEE -- ADJUST IT TO PASS THE FEE ON. FOR, AND I MENTIONED AND PARKS AND REC I'M SURE WE COULD WORK WITH THAT PROVIDER I THINK IT'S
TOWARDS PASSING THOSE FEES ON. THERE'S PUBLIC OUTREACH AND THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO TOO IF YOU MAKE THAT CHANGE. THERE IS NOTIFICATIONS WE HAVE TO DO, YOU KNOW, LEGALLY TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S AWARE THAT THE FEES GOING TO BE CHARGED TO THEIR SIDE MOVING FORWARD. BUT YEAH THEY'RE ALL INDIVIDUAL
AND YOU KNOW AND ALSO LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE, WE WAIT UNTIL THE WATER SEWER UTILITY IS FULLY, FULLY ON TYLER MUNIS AND THAT'S RUNNING SMOOTHLY BEFORE WE, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE MOVING TO TYLER PAYMENTS AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT ON TYLER PAYMENTS AND WE WOULD WE WOULD NOT WANT TO DO THAT TWICE SO -- I WOULD
SUGGEST WE WAIT UNTIL THAT ONCE THAT CONVERSION IS DONE, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT MOVING IN IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO GO THAT DIRECTION. >> OKAY. WELL I'M GOING TO -- FOR ME BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO UTILITY BILLING I THINK THAT'S ALMOST LIKE A QUALITY OF LIFE, AND SO
HOWEVER THEY CAN PAY US, THAT'S FINE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PLACES LIKE THE GOLF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY THEY SHOULD BE PAYING THE FREIGHT FOR ON THE FEES. IS MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION ON THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MOVE
FORWARD, I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THAT SO I'LL SAVE FOR IT FOR COMMENTS LATER. >> CAN I JUMP ON JUST GIVE YOU -- I MEAN WHY WOULDN'T WE BE DOING THAT BECAUSE EVERYWHERE I GO NOW INCLUDING THE DRY CLEANER, USING A CREDIT CARD
OKAY YOU PAY THE FEE. I'M ALMOST, I'M WONDERING WHY WITH ESPECIALLY YOU KNOW NONUTILITY BILLING EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW TO ME IT'S JUST KIND OF NORMAL BUSINESS FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE NOW, WHY WOULDN'T WE ALREADY BE DOING IT? >> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD
DISCUSSION. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CERTAINLY CAN MOVE FORWARD ON. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE TO DO SOME REVIEW, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT MAKE A PROFIT. WE JUST PAY FOR THAT SURCHARGE, THAT CRED CARD SURCHARGE. BECAUSE WE'RE PROHIBITED BY I
BELIEVE STATE LAW FROM MAKING A PROFIT ON OUR CRED CARD FEES. SO THE REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T MOVED FORWARD SO FAR AS LES SAID IT'S A MULTIFACETED APPROACH WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCE OF PASSING THAT ALONG. SO I THINK MOST CERTAINLY WE
COULD LOOK AT THE GOLF CLUB. AND IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, THEN WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. AND YOU KNOW WE NEED TO TALK TAI KNOW THE -- WE NEED TO TALK TO THE PRO SHOP ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS GREEN FEES AND THAT TYPE OF THING BUT IT'S MINIMAL. AND THEN THE REST OF THEM WE
NEED TO TAKE A MUCH MORE MEASURED APPROACH BECAUSE OF TYLER MUNIS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO RITZ CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO. -- IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO. WE COULD LOOK INTO. >> I WOULD BE THE PERSON THAT CAN BRING CASH SO I KNOW YOU CAN CHANGE BEHAVIOR BUT AT SOME
POINT YOU'RE LIKE THIS IS THE WAY IT IS NOW SO I'M JUST GOING TO PAY IT SO YEAH, SORRY. >> YEAH, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR AS THE MAYOR JUST MENTIONED. BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE A BUNCH OF GOLFERS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHIPPING
OUT THEIR CHECK AND WRITING A CHECK. THEY'RE GOING TO ABSORB IT. AND THE, THE FEE THAT WE'RE ABSORBING NOW, THAT'S NOT A FLAT FEE IS THAT BASED ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? IT'S A PERCENTAGE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NOW, ISN'T IT. >> IT'S A PERCENTAGE OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, AND IT DOES VARY
BY DIFFERENT PLATFORM. BUT IT'S ROUGHLY, ROUGHLY 2 TO 3% DEPENDING ON THE PLATFORM. YEAH. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> SO POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MAYOR. IF I MAY. TO COMMISSIONER GOW'S COMMENT, YOU WERE EQUATING THE ROLL BACK
ON THE BOARD OF FINANCE LETTER TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR 2027? >> I JUST NOTICED THE SIMILARITY IN THE NUMBERS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THAT WAS IT. >> OKAY, SO COMMISSIONER DUGARD QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, CATHY, IT'S WELL DONE.
AS I TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES ON THERE, WHICH IS HEALTH CARE, I KIND OF FEEL SUBSTANTIALLY BRUISED ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH MY
OWN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. WHEN WE DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE COSTS AND WE START TALKING ABOUT GOING TO DIFFERENT PROVIDERS I FEEL LIKE WE'RE REARRANGING THE DEBT SHARES -- DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC. THE RELGT ISSUE IS THAT IN 197,
HEALTH CARE COSTS WERE LESS THAN 7% OF OUR GDP. TODAY THEY ARE 18% OF OUR GDP AND TO MAKE THAT MORE INTERESTING WE'VE SEPARATED THE CONSUMER FROM THE PAYER. THE -- EMPLOYER IS THE PAYER, THE CONSUMER IS THE EMPLOYEE AND BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THAT THE, THEY FEEL NO PAIN.
SO YOUR SUGGESTION THAT WE MOVE MORE TO A CONSUMER PAYER POSITION IS MUCH SUPPORTED BY THIS COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: AND I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FROM VICE MAYOR. >> WE DO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: BEFORE I DO MY QUESTIONS. >> WE DO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT AS
HE SENT IT. FROM VICE MAYOR WALKER I WOULD LIKE TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THE FOLLOWING. IN QUOTES, WE ALSO SUGGEST DELAYING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE $9.1 MILLION GARAGE PARTICULARLY WHEN THE OTHER NEW GARAGES ARE, OTHER NEW GARAGES ARE BEING
BUILT DOWNTOWN, THIS OBLIGATES 15 YEARS OF DEBT SERVICE, THE ENTIRE $9.1 MILLION IS CURRENTLY BUDGED IN 2027, WHAT WOULD BE THE CLARIFICATION ON IMPACT ON TO THE CRA, A BOB QUESTION, DOES A DEBT SERVICE GET PAID THROUGH THE CRA, AND I KNOW THAT BOB CAN
ANSWER THAT AS CAN I, AND ALSO HE STATES I ALSO WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN'S COMMENT ABOUT MORE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOF WHEN WE HIRE CONSULTANTS AND MAYBE MORE EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE THE EXPERTISE. THOSE ARE THE TWO. SO ON THE CRA THROUGH THE MAYOR.
>> YES, CERTAINLY. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS CERTAINLY COMMUNICATE IS WHEN THE CRA RUNS THE 2033, THAT'S WHEN IT SUNSETS, SO IF THE GARAGE HAPPENS IN 27 OR 28, THE CRA WOULD PICK UP THE BALANCE OF THOSE YEARS. WHEN THE CRA SUNSETS I THINK ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT'S GETTING LOST IS THE CRA THROUGH THE INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAX VALUES OVER THE YEARS IN THE VERY FIRST YEAR LIKE 2034, WILL BRING IN 1.5, $1.6 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND. WE EXPECT THE AMORTIZATION OR DEBT SERVICE ON THE GARAGE
SOMEWHERE AROUND 8 FOWT THOUSAND NUMBER I THINK LES SO WHAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IS THAT 1.5, 1.6 COMING IN, HALF OF THAT WOULD GO AHEAD AND PAY THAT DEBT SERVICE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 15-YEAR AMORTIZATION. SO CRA'S BRINGING IN INCREASED
REVENUE TO THE GENERAL FUND, TO OFFSET THE DEBT SERVICE OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. >> SO IF I MAY, MAYOR, THE OTHER ASPECT OF THAT TO ADDRESS VICE MAYOR'S QUESTION IS ALSO THAT THE CITY MAY IN 2033 DECIDE TO CONTINUE THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE CRA. >> YEAH.
>> AND NOT THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY MOST LIKELY GIVEN THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT EXTEND THE CRA BUT THE CITY CAN DECIDE TO CONTINUE THE CITY PART OF THE CRA OR AS BOB SAID A SPECIFIC DESIGNATED DEBT SERVICE. >> YEAH, THANK YOU, JENNIFER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STAFF IS
RECOMMENDING ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPDATE TO THE CRA MASTER PLAN THAT JENNIFER MENTIONED IS A CITY CRA TO ENSURE THAT THE DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO BE UPDATED AND MAINTAINED AND LOOK GOOD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME SINCE IT IS A BIG ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE CITY. YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT ISN'T JUST PROPERTY TAX VALUE.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND AND IT'S A RESULT OF A STRONG DOWNTOWN. WHAT ARE THOSE? PENNY FOR PINELLAS. UTILITY FRANCHISE FEES. THERE'S LOT OF OTHER REVENUE THAT'S GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND WITH A STRONG DOWNTOWN. >> SO, AND I GET THAT.
BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND A FULL OPTION ALSO IS THAT THE GENERAL FUND MAY NEED THE MONEY. AND IF THE GENERAL FUND NEEDS THE INSURGENCE OF THE MONEY THEN WE MAY NOT WE MAY NOT WANT IT, YOU KNOW, ALL GOING INTO A PARKING GARAGE AFTER THE SUNSET
OF CRA BUT THAT BEING SAID YOU KNOW I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR DOWNTOWN. BUT YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S KEEPING ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE BASED ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH AMENDMENT 3. >> NO, I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR. ONE OF THE THING SAID WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS BEING ABLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS TO IMPROVE THE OTHER COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS
IN THE CITY WHETHER PATRICIA OR ALT 19, ALL THOSE OTHER ECONOMIC ASPECTS WE THINK THERE SHOULD BE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE TO IMPROVE THOSE TWO, LIKE 58 E. >> MAYOR FREANEY: DID THAT ANSWER VICE MAYOR'S QUESTIONS?
>> GREAT, TY. [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. I THINK A LOT OF MY STUFF'S BEEN ANSWERERRED BUT IT'S A GREAT REPORT, CATHY. YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AWESOME JOB. I MEAN, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE WHEN FINANCE BOARD WAS
CREATED AND MADE PART OF THE CHARTER, AND I THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF EXPERTISE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S VERY PROACTIVE AND HELPFUL TO THE CITY COMMISSION IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS ENVISIONED. AND YOU GUYS I THINK ARE LIVING
OUT THAT VISION MORE THAN ANYBODY EVER HAS QUITE HONESTLY. FROM MY EXPERIENCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE ITS INCEPTION. SO YOU KNOW KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS. SO TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE AQUATIC CENTER ALTHOUGH IT
BREAKS MY HEART TO PUT IT OFF. AND NONE THE LEAST OF WHICH OF COURSE I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO ALSO BE OPERATIONALLY IT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER POOL AND A LITTLE BIT MORE MORE INVOLVED. SO THE OPERATIONAL RISK OF THAT
ARE INVOLVED IN THAT. ALSO AGREE WITH THE GARAGE THAT WE'VE GOT TO WAIT ON THAT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR PUTTING SOME ITEMS IN THERE IN TERMS OF SOME POTENTIAL EFFECT FOR THE AMENDMENT 3 BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALIZE WELL WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- YOU
MEAN THE ATHLETIC FIELDS YOU MEAN LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDS OH WAIT YOU MEAN OUR PAVILION THAT WE GO TO EVERY DAY AND YOU KNOW AND SIT AND GET OUT OF THE HEAT. I MEAN I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE THINGS THAT CAN REALLY AFFECT THEM IN EVERY DAY WAYS AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU GUYS TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THAT AND KIND OF PUT IT IN YOUR REPORT. APPRECIATE YOU KNOW YOUR COMMENTARY ON THE BENEFITS BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE LITERALLY LIKE THE BEST LAYOUT OF KIND OF AN ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE EVER
GOTTEN FROM FINANCE BOARD AND IT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL INCLUDING ABOUT THE STOP LOSS. I THINK THAT'S YEAH TO ME IT'S LIKE NOT REALLY WORTH THE RISK OF WHAT WE MIGHT FACE SO BE BETTER TO KEEP THE OTHER AMOUNT. BUT YOU KIND OF PUT IT IN A GOOD
FOCUS. YEAH, I MEAN I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS STILL ON OVERTIME BUT YOU KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ANSWERED TODAY. I THINK YOU KIND OF HIGHLIGHT SOME STUFF ON THAT THAT'S, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE YOU KNOW UNDERSTAND FULLY. AND ANY OPTIONS WE HAVE TO
REDUCE BUT NO, HONESTLY, OVERALL I THINK IT'S GREAT AND I THINK, I MEAN, I CERTAINLY CONCUR WITH ANY INVOLVEMENT YOU GUYS CAN GIVE US BECAUSE YOU'VE PROVIDE A LOT OF VALUE SO I APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE ONE MORE NOT SO MUCH
FOR CATHY. THANKS FOR OPENING UP THIS CAN OF WORMS ON CREDIT CARDS BY THE WAY. WHY CAN'T IT, WHO -- WHO WAS WATER BANK FOR THE GENERAL FUND? IS IT WELLS FARGO? >> YEAH, WELLS FARGO IS OUR BANK. >> WHY DON'T WE GO TO THEM AND SAY GIVE US THE BEST RATE ON CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS AS YOU
CAN INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT FOR PARKS AND REC AND THE GOLF CLUB? >> YEAH, WELL THE PROBLEM IS THESE PLATFORMS DON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT. FOR INSTANCE, NO, THEY DON'T. LIKE, I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. TYLER NUNES WHEN WE FIRST WENT TO TYLER MUNIS, THEY WERE FIVE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES THEY ACCEPTED.
WE WENT TO PAY -- BACK IN 2022, AND 2021 BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE EVENTUALLY GOING TO GO TO TYLER MUNIS. WE WENT TO IMPROVE CREDIT CARD ABILITIES FOR WATER SEWER FUND. ACTUALLY ALL UTILITIES. SO WE CHOSE PAY MINTIS.
THEN THREE YEARS LATER, WE'RE DOING MORE OF OUR ROLLOUT OF TYLER MUNIS MODULES, AND TYLER MUNIS HAS CHANGED AND NOW TYLER MUNIS ONLY ACCEPTS THEIR OWN PLATFORM THEY BOUGHT THEIR OWN CREDIT CARD COMPANY, AND NOW THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN PLATFORM THEN THEY GIVE YOU ONE OTHER
OPPORTUNITY, ONE OTHER COMPANY TO USE THAT'S NOT EVEN COMPETITIVE. SO WHAT TYLER MUNIS HAS DONE AND MANY OF THEM HAVE DONE IS THEY MAKE IT TO WHERE YOU USE THEIRS OR MAYBE ONE OTHER OPTION AND THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICES. YOU KNOW SO THAT -- >> THAT'S HARSH SO SOMEBODY'S MAKING MONEY ON THAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, SOMEBODY IS. YOU KNOW. >> YOU KNOW I PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES YOU PAY A SMALL SERVICE FEE. YOU KNOW, YOU DRIVE BY THE GAS STATION, THEN YOU GO TO FILL IT UP AND IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR CREDIT CARD PRICE SO I SURE DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SHY ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER GOW BROUGHT IT UP, SO, I'M GLAD THAT I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT OUT THANK YOU, CATHY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD ADD TO THAT. THE COMPANIES THAT LES IS REFERRING TO ARE CREDIT CARD PROCESSORS, BANKS DON'T DO THEIR
OWN CRED CARD PROCESSING. SO THAT'S OUR ISSUE. WE CAN'T GO DIRECTLY TO WELLS FARGO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THE SOFTWARE COMPANIES, THEY DO IT FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. ANYWAY. OKAY. SO ANYTHING ELSE FOR FINANCE
BOARD? YES, GO AHEAD. >> IF I MAY, I'M HEARING CONSENSUS DIRECTION TO LOOK AT THE GOLF COURSE IMMEDIATELY. AND ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT ACCORDING TO THE SOFTWARE WE HAVE AVAILABLE. >> I WOULD GO A STEP FURTHER. BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS
CONSENSUS, WE SHOULD DO A, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A FULL REPORT ON YOU KNOW MOVING IN ANY EVERY AREA U6789 U6789. NOW IF THAT'S TIMED OUT SOMEHOW, FINE, BUT GIVE US A REPORT OF HOW YOU CAN SLOWLY GET US INTO -- WELL, SLOWLY, QUICKLY, GET US INTO DOING THIS IN A WAY
THAT MAKES SENSE. >> WE CAN DO THAT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I'M ASSUMING OF THE $330,000 WE COULD SAVE MOST OF IT'S IN UTILITY BILLING? >> YEAH, MOST OF IT IS IN UTILITY BILLING. >> OKAY. SO THAT DOESN'T HELP US ON AMENDMENT 3 BUT IT HELPS US. >> THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT BUT I'M SENSITIVE TO
THAT. SO A FULL REPORT WOULD BE NICE. >> YEAH, NO, I THINK JUST THE PLAN AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF DECIDE ABOUT THAT. >> I'M FINE WITH THE GOLF COURSE ABOUT ALL DAY LONG. UTILITY BILLING, SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW,. >> A LOT MORE STRUGGLING. >> WELL ACTUALLY THAT BRINGS THE QUESTION TO ME LIKE HOW MANY
PEOPLE PAY VIA CREDIT CARD AND UTILITY BILLING? >>> VERSUS LIKE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT AND THROUGH YOUR BANK. >>> WE WOULD HAVE TO DO RESEARCH EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THEM BUT I KNOW IN OUR AS WE WERE DOING OUR RATE STUDY WE ASSUME AROUND 200, $250,000 A YEAR IN CREDIT CARD.
>> SO WE JUST -- >> VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS THROUGH THAT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OH. BUT PEOPLE WITH DO IT THROUGH THEIR BRANCH. >> WELL THAT INCLUDES IF YOU DO IT, IF YOU HAVE IT AUTOMATICALLY, THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT, OR IF YOU JUST GET ONLINE AND PAY IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. YES, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PAY BY CHECK ELECTRONIC CHECK ALSO. BUT IF YOU HAVE IT SET ON AUTOMATIC. >> BUT IF YOU DO IT THROUGH YOUR BANK YOU DON'T HAVE A FEE? >> I NEED -- >> YOU'LL GUYS WILL LOOK IT UP. THAT'S GOOD. COME ON, CLAY. IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD.
I DON'T MEAN TO BE DRILLING YOU THIS MORNING. POOR CLAY. [LAUGHTER] OKAY. CATHY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND BE SURE AND PASS OUR GRATITUDE ONTO THE FULL COMMITTEE. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING. >> I DEFINITELY WILL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, AND
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: REOPEN THE MEETING AND HOPE FOR THE BEST WITH VICE MAYOR BEING ON SPEAKER HERE. OKAY, BEFORE WE GET INTO GENERAL FUND UPDATE, I'M JUST GOING TO DO KIND OF A ONE-OFF RANDOM MAYOR'S PRIVILEGE OF I THINK CHARLIE IS HERE TO SAY SOMETHING
AND HE CAN'T STAY UNTIL THE AID TO ORGANIZATIONS, AND CHARLIE, YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH FOR THE CITY TO WARRANT A ONE-OFF AND GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE. >> MAKE SURE THE BUTTON IS ON N THE MICROPHONE.
>> GOT A GREEN LIGHT. IS THIS ON? >> MAYOR FREANEY: YES. >> ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THE COMMISSION. I APPRECIATE IT. I AM HERE ON A, ON BEHALF OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. AND I LOOK THROUGH THE LIST. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AT LEAST
SIX OF THEM BUT ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS DOES SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, AND IT'S ALL WHAT HELPS MAKE DUNEDIN WONDERFUL, AND I SEE YOU'VE HAD TO TRIM THINGS A LITTLE BIT, THEN EVERYONE GOT, YOU'RE SPREADING IT AROUND. AND ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS NEED IT, AND THEY ALL PROVIDE SERVICES THAT CAN HELP THE CITY BE A GEM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I DO HAVE TO -- I'M GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND I GOT TO BE IN COURT
AT 1:00 SO I CAN'T STAY FOR THE END, BUT I WISH YOU ALL LUCK, AND I'LL WATCH CLOSELY HOW THE -- YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY TAX UPDATE GOES. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU CAN SPREAD AROUND WHATEVER YOU CAN. >> THANKS, CHARLIE, AND THANKS
FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR BEING A GUARDIAN AD LITEM. THAT'S NOT THE EASIEST JOB SOMETIMES SO GOOD FOR YOU. >> TAKE CARE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO I'LL JUST SAY ANYBODY ELSE HERE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO SPEAK SO FAR INTO THE MIX? I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY, BUT OKAY.
SO WE WILL GO ONTO GENERAL FUND UPDATE. >> OKAY NGENERAL FUND LONG RANGE PLAN CHANGES SINCE OUR FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP ONE ON JULY 21st, 2026, ALSO THIS IS IN THE BACKGROUND SECTION, ITEM 1A IN THE AGENDA PACKET TODAY, THE GENERAL FUND FISCAL YEAR '27
BUDGET RESCISSION SINCE OUR WORKSHOP 1 OUTLINED IN DETAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY GO OVER THE KEY CHANGES IN THE SLIDE, FIRST WE, HAD AN INCREASE IN REVENUES DUE -- WE HAD A SMALL AV GROWTHS FROM 4.52 TO 4.53 PERCENT AN INCREASE OF $1,200.
GENERALFUND. WE HAD EXPENDITURES ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE WE HAD A DEESCROOIN THE RISK FUND -- DECREASE IN THE RISK FUND OF $163,200. AN UPDATED HEALTH FUND, COST FROM THE ISF FUND, AND COST
DECREASE OF $38,000, $38,100. REDUCED THE STADIUM FUND CONTRIBUTION BY $25,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND WE HAD A CITYWIDE BUILDING IMPROVEMENT, IMPROVEMENTS DECREASE BY $20,000 FOR A PARKS AND REC OPERATION -- HVAC NEEDS,
NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN '26 AND NOT '27 SO WE MOVED THAT OUT OF '27. IT'LL BE DONE IN '26. SO THE SUMMARY OF THESE CHANGES IN THE GENERAL FUND NET TO $238,836 AND THE FISCAL YEAR '27 ESTIMATED AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE HAS GOTTEN SLIGHTLY BETTER SINCE
OUR WORKSHOP ONE IT'S GONE FROM 17.8% TO 18.4% IN 2027. AND ABOVE OUR TARGET OF 15%. MOVING TO THE GENERAL FUND, UPDATED LONG RANGE PLAN, THE, THE FISCAL YEAR '27 ESTIMATED
FUND BALANCE AS I MENTIONED IS 18.4% IN 2027, AND THAT'S TOWARDS THE BOTTOM UNDER THE 2027 COLUMN. IN FISCAL YEAR '28 AND FUTURE YEARS THERE IS A PROJECTED BUDGET SHORTFALL BUT IT HAS GONE DOWN.
IT'S NOW $5.350 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND AND IT WAS 5.650 SO IT'S GONE DOWN BY $300,000 IN THE OUTER YEARS SINCE THE FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP. THE SHORTFALL REPRESENTS THE EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES OVER REVENUES OVER THE FIVE-YEAR TRIAL FRAME -- TIME FRAME IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AND IT JUST A FEW COMMENTS ON THE FOR REVENUES. IN THE OUTER YEARS AS MENTIONED BUDGET WORKSHOP ONE OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 28 THROUGH 32 ARE LESS THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE PREPARING THE 26 BUDGET.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT, BUT SINCE OUR, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAVE HAD A SLIGHT, A SLIGHT ADDITIONAL DECREASE IN REVENUE. WE HAD AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE CORRECTION FOR THE SAFER
GRANT REIMBURSEMENT WHICH WE, WHICH WE CORRECTED IN THIS LONG RANGE PLAN TODAY. IT ADJUSTED 2028 DOWN BY A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. FORESH PENDITURE SIDE, AS MENTIONED WITH THE LAST SLIDE, THERE'S A DECREASE IN THE FISCAL YEAR '27 EXPENDITURES, WHICH IN TURN DECREASES OUR
PROJECTIONS IN THE FUTURE YEARS FROM 28 THROUGH 32. AND THOSE SAVINGS WERE IN PERSONNEL, OPERATING, AND TRANSFER OUT CATEGORIES. THE ESTIMATED SHORTFALL AS MENTIONED CAN BE -- OR REDUCTION IN SERVICES OR AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OR COMBINATION OF BOTH.
OUR BUDGET FOR 2027 WE HAVE IS A BALANCED BUDGET. WHILE KEEPING THE MILLAGE RATE AT 4.1345 MILLS AND WANT TO MENTION TO SPEND THAT RATE -- IT'S BEEN THAT RATE SINCE 2026, FISCAL YEAR, 2016, I'M SORRY, 2016. AS MENTIONED IN BUDGET WORKSHOP
1, THE CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE STAFF WORKED TO REDUCE THE -- OPERATING EBS PENSZ -- EBS PEPSES FOR 27 WHILE WORKING WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS. AND THIS HELPED REDUCE OPERATING COSTS BY ABOUT $500,000 THROUGH THAT EFFORT.
EVEN WITH THESE SAVINGS IN FISCAL YEAR '27 WE ARE CONTINUING TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO REDUCE COSTS AS MENTIONED BEFORE STAFF IS NOW WORKING ON A CONTINGENCY PLAN WHICH WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION IN SAVINGS BEGINNING JANUARY 1st, 2027. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
GENERAL FUND? >> QUESTIONS ON THE GENERAL FUND? I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER GOW. >> NO COMMENTS, MAYOR. >> COMMISSIONER DUGARD. >> LES, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT. I AM LOOKING AT WHAT -- WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING BETWEEN
THE BUDGET FOR '27 AND PROJECTION FOR '28 NOTING THAT YOU ARE RESERVE BALANCE AS A PERCENTAGE DROPS SUBSTANTIALLY BY 10%. HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN '28 THAT PRECIPITATES THAT.
>> YEAH, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. THE KEY ITEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN '28 VERSUS '27 IS WE'VE ADDED BACK OPERATING COSTS IN 2028 DUE TO WE HAD MENSED BEFORE WE HAD A VERY -- MENTIONED BEFORE WE HAD A VERY LARGE ONE-TIME SAVINGS IN INSURANCE IN 2027.
IT WAS A ONE-TIME SAVINGS THAT HELPED, REALLY HELPED THE RISK FUND AND ALSO THE GENERAL FUND AND SO THAT ADD BACK $1.1 MILLION IN '28 OVER '27 AND THEN WE ALSO HAD AN INCREASE IN OUR PROJECTS, OUR CAPITAL
PROJECTS OUR $1.6 MILLION MORE IN '28 THAN THEY ARE IN '27. THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER REASON FOR THE INCREASE. AND ANOTHER LARGE ITEM IS WE HAVE STORM REVENUE RECEIVED IN '27 THAT'S NOT IN '28 SO WE'VE GOT $1.9 MILLION OF STORM REVENUE IN '27 THAT'S NOT IN '28
SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT'S DRIVING THAT NUMBER OR THAT RED FONT NUMBER THAT YOU SEE IN '28 WITH EXPENDITURES BEING MORE THAN REVENUE. >> THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. FIRST OF ALL, BUT I DO NOTE THAT IN '28 WE'RE SHOWING NO DEBT
PROCEEDS, ZERO. THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE PRIOR YEARS YOU'VE GOT SUBSTANTIAL AND THEN IN THE NEXT YEAR, YOU HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DEBT PROCEEDS. WHAT GETS US TO ZERO IN THAT YEAR? >> YEAH, THAT'S OUR BEST ESTIMATES OF THE MAINLY THE
REIMBURSEMENTS FROM FEMA. AND OUR STORM COST REIMBURSEMENTS. THEY, THEY MOVE AROUND EVERY YEAR BECAUSE OF TIMING TO FEMA AND WHERE WE THINK PROJECTS ARE, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE QUITE A FEW REM IMBURSEMENTS IN '29 BUT NOT ANTICIPATING MANY IF
ANY IN '28. >> THANK YOU, LES. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN AND GENERAL FUND? 72 LES, CAN YOU GO BACK? SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A, YEAH, LET'S STOP RIGHT THERE.
I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. FOR OUR INSURANCE TO GO DOWN, WE'VE HAD TO PROBABLY REDUCE COVAGE INCREASE A DEDUCTIBLE OR INCREASE OUR SELF-INSURING. WHAT HAPPENED THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO REDUCE IT $163,000? >> COMMISSIONER, WE'LL BE COVERING THAT DURING THE EXPLANATION OF THE RISK FUND UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW. >> NO, THAT'S FINE. AND THEN THE INCREASE IN THE WORKERS COMP OBVIOUSLY THAT MEANS PAYROLLS WERE UP.
WE COVER THAT OS? OKAY. AND THEN IF YOU GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, THERE WERE SOME ITEMIZATIONS THAT I HAD SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON WHAT THEY WERE. LITTLE FURTHER. YEAH, RIGHT THERE. COULD DWEE TAKE -- WE TAKE A
MINUTE. THERE IS A HANDFUL I WOULD KIND OF LIKE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT THEY ARE. FIRST ONE ON THERE IS THE COCA-COLA PROPERTY ADAPTIVE REUSE. I REALIZE IT'S ONLY $20,000 BUT WHAT IS THAT? >> IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER, THAT IS HELP SITE PLAN ASSISTANCE TO
GO AHEAD AND GET THE REDEVELOPMENT AND THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE AT THAT SITE. YOU KNOW, COMPATIBILITY SITE, ALL OF THAT. SO IT'S AN INCENTIVE TOOL TO GET WHAT WE WANT TO SEE OUT THERE. >> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE $20,000? WHO ARE WE GOING TO INCENTIVIZE?
>> WHENEVER DEVELOPER COMES IN, WE START WORKING WITH, WE WOULD LOOK TO HELP AND ASSIST WITH úTH. >> OKAY. >> OKAY, SO OBVIOUSLY JUST DEMO ACTIVITY OUT THERE, THE SITE PLAN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A BROWNFIELD, IT'S PRETTY COMPLICATED DEAL. FRANKLY. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING AT LEAST CREATE A YOU KNOW A PRETTY
GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPER. >> I MEAN YOU AND I KNOW HOW MANY YEARS THAT HAS BEEN HANGING AROUND. >> YEAH, THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. WE HAVE A MEETING HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND COCA-COLA. WE STAY ON TOP OF IT. THEY'RE LOOKING TO GET DEP
CLEARANCE. WE'RE WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS RIGHT NOW FRANKLY. >> OKAY. OKAY. AND TONY THERE WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR PARK PAVILIONS. COULD YOU BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC ON WHICH ONES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE? >> 250,000
DOING THERE. >> SURE. THE PAVILIONS WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THE FISCAL YEAR '27. THESE ARE THE ONES AT HIGHLANDER PARK. CURRENTLY, THERE'S A SMALLER AND LARGER PAVILION OUT THERE, AND THAT HAS ACTUAL HOLES IN THE ROOF, LIKE IT'S FALLING APART.
THOSE TWO. THOSE ARE BEING HELD AND CARRIED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS YEARS AS PART OF THE AQUATIC PROJECT. SINCE THAT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD, WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SHELTERS. >> MIKE, THIS ONE'S PROBABLY FOR YOU.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT WE'RE GETTING WHEN WE SPEND MONEY ON A TRAP PREEMPTIVE SYSTEM. >> GOOD MONK, THE FIRE CHIEF.
A SYSTEM WE INSTALL INTO OUR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, THAT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY SYSTEM, WHICH WE DO NOT PAY FOR, THE COUNTY INSTALLS RECEIVERS AT TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE'RE WORKING ON PHASE TWO IN DUNEDIN AND MOST OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS SHOULD BE BUILT OUT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. WHAT IT DOES, IT'S A COMMUNICATION DEVICE THROUGH GPS AND CELLULAR THAT LETS THE INTERSECTION KNOW THAT AN
EMERGENCY VEHICLE IS COMING THROUGH, AND STARTS TURNING THOSE LIGHTS GREEN, SO WE HAVE A SAFE INTERSECTION TO PROCEED THROUGH, SO THAT WE'RE NOT GOING -- WE'RE NOT STOPPING TRAFFIC AND DEALING WITH THE CROSS TRAFFIC. >> IS IT THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR?
>> SO RIGHT NOW, IT WILL ACTUALLY BE 22 OR 23 OF THE INTERSECTIONS IN DUNEDIN, WHICH ACTUALLY IS THE MAJORITY OF THEM. >> I THINK THE DAY I RODE WITH YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAD, I NEEDED TO
MAKE SURE WHERE OUR MONEY WAS GOING. >> Mayor Freaney: SOUNDS GOOD. YES, IN THAT CASE, THE COUNTY MONEY, THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY AMENDMENT 3. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO DIRECTLY WITH OUR BUDGET.
THE POOL, THE COST BENEFIT LAYOUT OF THE POOL, WHEN WILL WE SEE THAT? >> I HAVE IT ON MY DESK, TONY HAS COMPLETED IT, I WANT TO REVIEW IT A LITTLE MORE, ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN WE CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU UNDER SEPARATE
COVER AND DISCUSS IT. I CAN PROVIDE IT TO YOU ACTUALLY AT THE END OF TODAY. >> ANY SURPRISES LIKE IT'S GOING TO COST US $3 MILLION TO KEEP IT GOING FOR A FEW YEARS? >> NO, NO, NOT THAT BIG OF A SURPRISE. >> OKAY.
SO, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A CHOICE. I NOTICE THE SPRAY GROUND IS NOT PLATING. WHAT'S OUR ETA ON THAT BEING UP AND RUNNING AGAIN? WHAT'S THE ISSUE? >> WE HAD A CONTROLLER SYSTEM GO DOWN YESTERDAY, AND WE'RE WAITING ON A TIME LINE FROM THE
VENDOR ON THAT. >> IS IT GOING TO BE LONG? >> HOPEFULLY NOT. >> HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THAT BACK UP. >> AS WONDERFUL AS THIS CITY IS, IT'S ALMOST EMBARRASSING WHEN THAT STUFF HAPPENS. NOT YOUR FAULT, TONY, I KNOW,
YOU'RE NEW HERE. WE DO SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO MUCH FOR OUR KIDS, WE TRY TO PROVIDE SO MUCH, AND WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE, SO THE YOUTH OF DUNEDIN, TO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY.
>> BUT IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AGING SYSTEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF, AND AGAIN, CITIZENS GET TO DECIDE THE MONEY THAT'S THERE TO DO THAT. BUT YEAH, NO, I AGREE WITH THAT, SO -- OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, SO WE'LL GO ON TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM CONTINGENCY PLAN. >> THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: AND I THINK WE HAVE LATE BREAKING NEWS ON SOMETHING THAT CAME UP WITH THE COURT ORDER ON THE PROPERTY TAX BALLOT LANGUAGE?
>> WE DO. >> THEY NEED TO REWRITE THE TITLE. >> WE'LL JUST READ THE UPDATE FROM OUR ATTORNEY I GUESS? >> YES. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, GO AHEAD. >> PROPERTY TAX REFORM,
AMENDMENT 3, WHICH WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER 2026. >> Mayor Freaney: HOLD ON, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T ASK VICE MAYOR IF HE HAD QUESTIONS. IS HE LISTENING? >> YES, I AM OPEN AND DELIGHTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> WE CAN HEAR YOU, YEAH. >> Mayor Freaney: I'LL TRY NOT TO FORGET YOU AGAIN, VICE MAYOR. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE HEAVENS. >> IT'S OKAY, NO, I'M THRILLED BEYOND BELIEF RIGHT NOW. >> Mayor Freaney: AWESOME, OKAY,
GREAT. WE ARE TOO, WE ARE TOO. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM CONTINGENCY PLAN. GO AHEAD. >> AMENDMENT 3, WHICH WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER 2026, IS PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO $150,000 AND RESULTS IN ABOUT A $4 MILLION LOSS OF AD VALOREM REVENUE. THE INCREASE IS $250,000, AND FUTURE YEARS RESULTING IN A $6
MILLION LOSS OF REVENUE PER YEAR. THE TOTAL ESTIMATED -- IN YEAR ONE, THE TOTAL ESTIMATED FISCAL YEAR '28 BUDGET YEAR, THE TOTAL LOSS IS FOR OUR CITY, $3.7 MILLION, AND THERE'S ALSO
ROLLDOWN IMPACTS. AND THE ROLL DOWN IMPACTS GET THE TOTAL TO $4.755 MILLION. ROLL BACK IMPACTS ARE, WE HAVE THE LIBRARY CO-OP REVENUE, WHICH WE'RE ESTIMATING TO BE REDUCED
BY $500,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR, WE HAVE THE EMS BEING REDUCED BY 577,000 THE FIRST YEAR, SO THE TOTAL IS $4.755 MILLION.
THE INCREASE IN FISCAL YEAR '29, WE HAVE $6.1 MILLION DIRECT IMPACT FOR OUR CITY. IN YEAR TWO AND AFTER, WE HAVE THE LIBRARY CO-OP, ESTIMATED REDUCTION OF 231,000. THE COUNTY SERVICE PROTECTION
REVENUE, DECREASING BY 483,000. AND THE EMS REDUCING BY 319,000. THE TOTAL IMPACT IS JUST OVER $7.6 MILLION, WITH EVERYTHING
COMBINED. THE CONTINGENCY PLAN WE ARE DEVELOPING. WE'RE WORKING ON A CONTINGENCY PLAN THAT WILL COME UP WITH SAVINGS OF $3 MILLION ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS IDENTIFIED ON THIS SLIDE. FINANCE STAFF AND CITY MANAGER
ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE REVENUES, WHERE FEASIBLE. AND REDUCE EXPENDITURES TO INCREASE THIS TARGET. THE DRAFT PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TO COMMISSION IN EARLY
SEPTEMBER, FOLLOWED BY A SECOND PRESENTATION IN LATE SEPTEMBER OR EARLY OCTOBER FOR ADDITIONAL COMMISSION INPUT AND APPROVAL. STAFF WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE REDUCTIONS NEEDED IN YEAR 2, IF AMENDMENT 3 DOES PASS, WHICH
WILL REDUCE OUR TOTAL REVENUE. STAFF WILL DETERMINE THE ESTIMATED IMPACT BY GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND THE ADDITIONS TO THE $3 MILLION, ALSO IDENTIFY THE IMPACT FOR THE ADDITIONAL $4.6 MILLION INCLUDING THE
ROLLDOWNS. THE DETAIL ON THAT WOULD BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER LEVEL THAN OUR CONTINGENCY PLAN, BUT IT WILL IDENTIFY DEPARTMENTS AND THE ESTIMATED REDUCTION IN COST BY
THE DEPARTMENT TO FULLY ABSORB THE REDUCTION. IF AMENDMENT 3 IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, THE CONTINGENCY PLAN WILL BE IDENTIFIED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027, IF IT IS NOT PASSED, THE
CITY WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTINGENCY PLAN. THERE WOULD BE NO LAYOFFS AT ALL, AND WE WOULD WORK TOWARD PERSONAL SAVINGS THROUGH ATTRITION OVER TIME WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS. FOLLOWING COMMISSION'S APPROVE 58 OF THE CONTINGENCY PLAN,
WHICH TAKES PLACE IN LATE SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER. THE FINANCE STAFF WILL PRESENT A FORMAL AMENDMENT, TO INCORPORATE THE APPROVED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ADJUSTMENTS INTO THE 2027 BUDGET.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONTINGENCY PLAN? COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN? >> NO. >> Mayor Freaney: NO QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GOW? >> NO QUESTIONS, MAYOR. >> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER DUGARD?
>> NO QUESTIONS. >> Mayor Freaney: VICE MAYOR? [ LAUGHTER ] >> I WONDER IF THAT WAS INTENTIONAL. >> Mayor Freaney: VICE MAYOR,
I'M AFRAID TO ASK. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY WITH TECHNOLOGY ISSUES. SO MY ONLY COMMENT IS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN DEALING WITH AMENDMENT 3, AND WE
KNOW THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE THREE YEARS IS $7.6 MILLION, I THINK WHEN WE DO THIS, WE SHOULD BE -- WE SHOULDN'T JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. I LOOK AT THIS AND SAY TO MYSELF, OH, WELL, OKAY, WE'RE JUST CUTTING $3 MILLION AND THEN
WE'RE GOOD. THAT'S NOT TRUE. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TELL THE REST OF THE STORY, WHENEVER WE'RE GOING TO SAY OUR CONTINGENCY PLAN, HERE'S THE REST OF THE STORY. THEN IN THE OTHER YEARS, WE HAVE TO CUT ANOTHER -- WHAT WOULD IT BE $4.6 MILLION?
>> CORRECT. >> IF YOU JUST HAVE THAT BY ITSELF, IT SEEMS LIKE, WE'RE DONE. WE'RE NOT DONE, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE $4.6 MILLIO IS GOING TO BE WAY MORE GUT-WRENCHING THAN THIS IS. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. AND OUR PLAN IS TO PRESENT THE
FORMAL CONTINGENCY PLAN AT 3 MILLION. BUT ALSO PRESENT TO YOU THE OTHER 4.6 MILLION AS WELL, AND WHAT WE THINK THOSE IMPACTS WILL BE. THOSE IMPACTS WILL BE AT A HIGHER LEVEL, AND NOT QUITE AS DETAILED AS THE 3 MILLION, THEY
WILL DISCUSS PROPOSED IMPACTS BY DEPARTMENT, ESTIMATED LEVELS OF SERVICE REDUCTIONS BY DEPARTMENTS. SO IT WON'T BE QUITE AS DETAILED, BUT IT WILL SHOW A PRETTY GOOD PICTURE OF HOW MUCH MORE CRITICAL AND DIFFICULT THOSE WILL BE THAN THE FIRST THREE MILLION.
>> WHENEVER WE SWITCH THE SLIDE IN OUR PRESENTATIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING, EITHER ON THE SAME THING OR THE NEXT ONE THAT SAYS THE REST OF THE STORY, SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THIS IS IT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT IT. NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING IT. >> CORRECT. >> WE AGREE.
>> MAYOR, SO WE WERE PREPARING THAT CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR SEPTEMBER FOR YOU TO ADOPT, AFTER YOU ADOPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND WE MAY REQUEST A SPECIAL MEETING FROM THE CITY COMMISSION TO DO THAT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DETAIL IN THERE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE. JUST STAY TUNED, IF YOU WILL, WE'LL WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON YOUR SCHEDULES, TO SEE WHEN WE CAN GET -- EITHER IT'S A LIGHT REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OR A SPECIAL MEETING.
>> Mayor Freaney: OKAY,S I THINK IT'S OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. OKAY. IF NOTHING ELSE ON THE CONTINGENCY PLAN, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE RISK FUND UPDATE. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FORMER MAYOR ANDERSON HAS
ENTERED THE ROOM, WE'RE GLAD HE'S HERE. AND MAYBE HE'S HERE FOR THE 1:00. >> ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CITY COMMISSIONERS FROM SEMINOLE IS SPYING ON US TOO. WANTS TO DO IT THE DUNEDIN WAY. >> Mayor Freaney: I LIKE IT. RISK FUND UPDATE.
>> FISCAL YEAR '27, RISK FUN AND LONG RANGE PLAN HAVE BEEN REVISED WITH MORE CURRENT INFORMATION SINCE OUR LAST WORKSHOP. OVERALL EXPENSES HAVE DECREASED BY $386,000, WHICH HAS ALSO SEEN
BUDGET DECREASES ACROSS ALL FUNDS. 13.7% IN FISCAL YEAR '27, PROPERTY AND LIABILITY PREMIUMS DECREASED BY 790,000, AND WORKER'S COMP INCREASED BY 45,000. THE DECREASE IN BUDGET WAS
BECAUSE THE '26 PREMIUM CAME IN $962,000 UNDER OUR BUDGET IN 2026. HOWEVER, IN 2027 WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUM ESTIMATE IS 3% HIGHER THAN THE 2026 ACTUAL PREMIUM.
WE HAVE AN INCREASE FOR OUR ACTUAL '26 PREMIUMS, THE RESERVE LEVEL IS OVER 4.1 MILLION, AND ABOVE THE MINIMUM TARGET OF 3.5 MILLION. IN THE RISK FUND, WE ALSO HAVE TWO PROJECTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, WE'RE PROPOSING TO
MOVE SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE COSTS OUT OF THE GAS TAX FUND. THE GAS TAX FUND DOES NOT HAVE RESOURCES TO COVER SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE. WE'RE PROPOSING TO MOVE TO THE RISK FUND TO PAY FOR THOSE SERVICES. SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO REDUCE LIABILITY COSTS FOR THE CITY AND THE RISK FUND. AND ALSO, IN THE PROJECTS DOWN BELOW THERE'S A PROJECT MITIGATION PROJECT MERGEDS IN FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE $40,000 BUDGET AMOUNT IN
2027 WILL FUND MITIGATION FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. AND FISCAL YEAR '28 TO '30, ADDITIONAL SAFETY BARRIERS. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE RISK FUND? >> STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER
GOW? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED, LES, THAT YOU MOVED SIDEWALKS FROM THE GAS TAX BECAUSE WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT IN THE GAS TAX ANY MORE, RIGHT?
THAT FUND IS REDUCING. HOW MUCH DO WE PUT IN THE REPAVING OF ROADS? 1.1, IS THAT WHAT'S BUDGETED? >> I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 1.2 MILLION A YEAR IN TOTAL.
>> AND WHAT'S THE -- AND THIS IS JUST MAINTAINING OUR ROADS. DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE MAIN ISSUES IN OUR ROADS THAT DETERIORATES THEM, THAT CAUSES THE MAINTENANCE IN THE FIRST PLACE? >> CAN YOU COVER THAT ONE?
>> YES, IT'S PRETTY COMPLICATED, THERE'S A DETERIORATION THAT'S BUILT IN ANY OF THE SOFTWARES THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST OR CURRENTLY USED. IT LOOKS AT ALL KINDS OF FACTORS OF THE AGE OF THE ROADWAY, THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S BASED
ON THE AVERAGE DAILY TRIPS, ISSUES WITH GROUNDWATER AND THE IMPACTS THAT THAT HAS ON THE BASE. TYPICALLY ROADS FAIL FROM THE BASE UP, SO YOU'LL HAVE THAT PROTRUDING THROUGH THE ASPHALT AND CAUSING DAMAGE.
SO AGAIN WE LOOK AT THE LIFECYCLE OF THE CORRIDOR AND WHEN IS THE OPTIMUM TIME TO KEEP THAT DETERIORATION CURVE FROM TAKING -- IT DOES ONE OF THESE AND THEN IT TANKS. YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET TO THAT
BEFORE THE ROAD DETERIORATES, SO YOU DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THE ROADWAY, BEFORE IT'S IN HALF DECENT CONDITION BEFORE IT STARTS TO DETERIORATE, BASED ON THE SOFTWARE, THAT'S HOW WE'VE COME UP WITH THE BUDGET OVER TIME THAT WE EXPEND EVERY YEAR TO TRY TO KEEP OUR NETWORK IN
THE BEST POSSIBLE PCI INDEX. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE CITY, WE WERE SPENDING $100,000 A YEAR ON PAYMENT PRESERVATION, WE COULDN'T ATTRACT A CONTRACTOR TO COME BID ON CONTRACTS. THAT'S HOW WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE
PLACE WE ARE. IN ADDITION TO THE PENNY DOLLARS THAT ARE UTILIZED FOR PAYMENT PRESERVATION, THERE'S THE GAS TAX COMPONENT, WHICH WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, STARTING TO DECLINE ON THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE, WHICH IS WHY THE RISK
FUND IS SHOWING AUGMENTATION OF THAT THROUGH IT'S 28, THAT'S HOW WE DEAL WITH PUBLIC SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL TRIP AND FALLS THAT WOULD OCCUR ALONG THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE OF ROOT ISSUES ALONG THE CORRIDOR THAT CAUSE
ELEVATED SECTIONS OF SIDEWALK THAT ARE PRONE TO THEN RESULT IN TRIP AND FALLS. >> THOSE PESKY ROOTS, IF WE JUST GOT RID OF TREES, THAT WOULD SOLVE EVERYTHING. YOU MENTIONED THAT THE REDUCTION
OF THE ROADS IS MORE BOTTOM UP. IS IT MORE STORM WATER AND RUNOFF, OR IS IT MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES? WHICH IN MY MIND IS TOP DOWN. >> IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL
THOSE THINGS, THE COMPONENTS THAT LEAD TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROADWAY, WHETHER IT'S LOCAL ROAD, COLLECTOR ROAD OR ARTERIAL, THERE'S DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF TRAFFIC AND SIZE OF VEHICLES THAT TRAVERSE IT.
IF IT'S IN AN AREA THAT HAS A HIGH GROUNDWATER TABLE, IF YOU'RE IN A DRY AREA, YOU DON'T NEED UNDERDRAINS, IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS COMBINED. >> OKAY. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL I HAD,
MAYOR. >> Mayor Freaney: OKAY, COMMISSIONER DUGARD, QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M LOOKING AT THE LINE ITEM CHARGES FOR SERVICES. I NOTED THAT IN '26 WE HAD 5
MILLION 2 AND '27 BUDGET WE HAVE $3 MILLION 3 AND '28 WE HAVE 4.6. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COMPRISES CHARGES FOR SERVICES, AND SECOND, WHY IS
THERE A DIP IN '27. >> CHARGES FOR SERVICES, THAT'S THE REVENUE THIS RISK FUND RECEIVES FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IT'S PAYING INTO. SO ALL DEPARTMENTS PAYING INTO THE RISK FUND, AND THAT CHARGE FOR SERVICE, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS ALL THE FUNDS PAYING INTO THE
RISK FUND FOR EACH YEAR. IT'S DOWN IN '27, BECAUSE WE MENTIONED WE HAD -- IN '26 OUR BUDGET WAS APPROVED AND THEN THERE WERE -- RIGHT AFTER THE BUDGET, WE REALIZED OUR PROPERTY -- MAINLY OUR PROPERTY INSURANCE WAS MUCH LOWER THAN
OUR BUDGET, WE BUDGETED AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY INSURANCE IN '26, BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A DECREASE. WE HAD A LARGE DIFFERENCE. SO THAT 2027 IS LOWER, BECAUSE WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE WE HAD IN '26, BECAUSE OUR ACTUAL COSTS
ARE SO MUCH LOWER. FUND BALANCE IN '26 IS LOWER THAN '27. WE'RE CHARGING THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MUCH LESS IN '27 BECAUSE OF THAT 2026 SAVINGS WE INCURRED. BECAUSE OUR RATES WERE LOWER THAN IN '26.
>> IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT'S THE DEFICIT AND RISK IS ACTUALLY A FINANCIAL DEFICIT, NOT A REAL DEAF SIT, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SURPLUS WORKED, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YEAH, IT JUST ROLLS OVER. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> Mayor Freaney: COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN? >> I STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE EARLY. IF WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE PROPERTY INSURANCE, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE WE'RE CUTTING SOMETHING OUT. HOW DID WE COME ACROSS THAT -- THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY?
>> SHE HASES A COUPLE SLIDES. >> GOOD MORNING, THERESA SMALLING, DIRECTOR OF HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY. AS THE -- SO JUST TO SET THE
STAGE, WHEN WE FIRST DEVELOPED THE BUDGET BACK IN FEBRUARY, EVERY YEAR WE GET A PROJECTED SCHEDULE OF INSURANCE PREMIUMS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT LINES OF COVERAGE THAT RENEW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OUR PROPERTY
INSURANCE, WE'RE FULLY INSURED FOR PROPERTY, THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE CAME IN AT 8%, AND THERE'S A TYPO ON THIS SLIDE, I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. IT CAME IN AT 8%.
AT THE TIME ALSO THERE WAS A BILL TO INCREASED SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY LIMITS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND I FOUND OUT TODAY HOSPITALS. FROM 200,000 PER PERSON AND
300,000 PER INCIDENT TO 350,000 PER PERSON, 500,000 PER INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE MARKET AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, REACTS TO ADDED LIABILITY. SO THE PREMIUMS CAME IN HIGHER,
PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THAT, AND WE ALSO WANTED TO POSSIBLY PUT IN AN EXCESS POLICY TO COVER THAT ADDITIONAL AMOUNT, IF THE BILL WAS IN FACT PASSED. SO THAT PUT OUR INITIAL
ESTIMATE -- PROJECTED ESTIMATE AT 13.2%. BECAUSE WE TOOK THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. IN APRIL I BELIEVE IT WAS, WE -- WHEN THE GOVERNOR VETOED THE
BILL, WE TOOK OUT THOSE ADDITIONAL PREMIUMS, THE MARKET REACTED AGAIN, AND BROUGHT DOWN PROPERTY INSURANCE -- AND SO THEN, THE PROPERTY INSURANCE
WENT FROM 8% TO 3%. AND THEN ALSO THE -- >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, YEAH. THE ACTUAL SCHEDULE OF POLICIES. OR SCHEDULE OF COVERAGE. >> YES, IF YOU WOULD. THANK YOU.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE, BUT THE PROPERTY -- TOTAL PROPERTY WENT DOWN FROM 8% TO 3%. WE DID HAVE SOME CHANGES WITH THE AUTO AND LIABILITY, THAT'S WHERE THE EXCESS POLICY WAS, SO
IT ACTUALLY WENT FROM 66%, TO 12%. AND THEN OUR -- AS FAR AS OUR EXCESS WORKER'S COMP, OUR EXPERIENCED MOD, WHICH IS DETERMINED BY OUR CLAIMS AS WELL AS OUR PAYROLL, OUR PAYROLL OF
COURSE WENT UP, OUR EXPERIENCE ALSO WENT UP, SO OUR MOD INCREASED BY ABOUT 9 POINTS, SO THAT CREATED AN INCREASE IN THE EXPECTED PREMIUMS FOR WORKER'S COMP. >> I SEE THAT'S STILL SHOWING
OUR MOD AT .75. >> THE MOD WAS .66 WHEN WE DID OUR INITIAL. >> OKAY. >> SO WE DID HAVE SOME CHANGE THERE. AND THEN THE -- ALL OTHER LINES
THAT SORT OF WENT DOWN IN AGGREGATE, IT WENT DOWN FROM 12% TO 7%. SO WE WENT FROM A 13.2% INCREASE TO A 5.6% INCREASE WHICH CUT
PRACTICALLY CUT OUR INITIAL ESTIMATE ALMOST IN HALF. >> YEAH, THAT'S REALLY REWARDING, CONSIDERING WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM 2024, I MEAN, THE INDUSTRY BOUNCED BACK QUICK. >> YES, AND ACTUALLY I WAS AT A -- AN INSURANCE CONFERENCE A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THAT WAS HOSTED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. >> RIGHT. >> AND AS THE MARKET, YOU GET MORE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MARKET, AND YOU HAVE GOOD YEARS, IF YOU WILL, WITH NOT HAVING ANY MAJOR
HURRICANES LAST YEAR, THEN IT DOES CORRECT THE AMOUNT OF PREMIUMS YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR INSURANCE. >> THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS SPECIFICALLY IN THE COVERAGE LINE ON THE LEFT COLUMN THAT -- I JUST -- JUST TO CLARIFY FOR
ME -- I'M TRYING TO LOOK -- WE HAVE A COVERAGE -- THE MARINE PROTECTION AND INDEMNITY. THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL COVERAGE ON A BOAT. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE FIRE BOAT. WHY IS THAT IN THE GENERAL -- THIS IS ALL GENERAL FUND RIGHT HERE, RIGHT?
>> WELL -- >> NO? >> WHAT HAPPENS IS, WE DISBURSE THE PREMIUMS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS BASED ON THE
OPERATING EXPENSES. SO IT'S LIKE A RATIO OF OPERATING EXPENSES. >> I SHOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT, I HEARD THAT YESTERDAY. TWICE NOW. I WASN'T CHECKING ON YOU, I DID HEAR THAT TWICE NOW. I GUESS THAT'S ALL I HAD.
I MEAN, THAT'S GREAT THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT INSURANCE IS A HUGE PART OF THIS CITY, AND IF WE CAN GET BY WITH AN INCREASE LIKE THAT LET'S PAY IT AND NOT GET DROPPED FOR NONPAYMENT, I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THAT THAT'S ALL I
HAD, MAYOR, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Freaney: GREAT, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM VICE MAYOR? OKAY.
I GOT YOU GUYS, ALREADY? OKAY, SO THIS IS KIND OF A WEIRD PLACE TO ASK, BUT I'LL ASK IT, BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS. I WAS GOING TO -- WE WERE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT DOWNTOWN BRICK
PAVERS AND HOW THOSE ARE BEING INSPECTED AND REPAIRED AND ALL THAT, ARE WE -- I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT. >> WE HAVE NOT STARTED THAT MAYOR, WE WILL DEFINITELY GET ON THAT. >> WHEN? AS IN, WHEN CAN I EXPECT IT? I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IT FOR A
WHILE. >> LET ME GET WITH STAFF. I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR YOU. >> CAN YOU TELL ME THIS AFTERNOON WHEN I MIGHT EXPECT IT? >> YES. MAI >> Mayor Freaney: AND I WORRY.
SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO EAT WHILE TALKING INTO THE MIC. THAT WAS RUDE. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. WE'LL MOVE TO THE HEALTH FUND UPDATE.
>> THE HEALTH FUND DECREASED FROM THE '26 BUDGET. THE INCREASE HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 12% IN 2027. THE INCREASE IN EXPENSES FROM '26 IS $868,000 OR 12% YEAR OVER
YEAR. THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO AN ESTIMATED $760,000 INCREASE IN MEDICAL CLAIMS. MEDICAL CLAIMS IN FISCAL YEAR '26 CONTINUE TO TREND OVER BUDGET BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, FINANCE STAFF WILL BRING A
BUDGET AMENDMNT IN SEPTEMBER TO YOUR COMMISSION, WHICH WILL ADD ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OF FUNDS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH FUND MEETS ITS RESERVE REQUIREMENTS AT YEAR END FOR FISCAL YEAR '26. THE RESERVE AMOUNT IN FISCAL YEAR '27 IS ESTIMATED TO BE
ABOVE $1.1 MILLION. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THERESA TO GO OVER SOME OTHER INFORMATION ON THE HEALTH FUND. >> THANK YOU, LES. THERESA SMALLING AGAIN, DIRECTOR OF HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR THE CITY. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK
SYNOPSIS OF WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING. THE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY OF DUNEDIN, BUT OVERALL WHAT THE STATE OF HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S. IS, THE CITY OF DUNEDIN CLAIMS
EXPERIENCE, AND OUR CURRENT PLAN OFFERINGS. THE ITEMS THAT WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO FORMULATE THE '27 BUDGET. THE PLANNING THAT WE HAVE WILL
BE PUT IN FORCE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THE BENEFITS RENEWAL RECOMMENDATION WITH STAFF, RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THOSE PLAN AND PREMIUM CHANGES WILL LOOK LIKE. SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IN GENERAL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, BECAUSE YOU SEE IT, WE HAVE ESCALATED HEALTH CARE COSTS. AND COMMISSIONER DUGARD MENTIONED A SMALL SYNOPSIS OF THAT. THERE'S INCREASES IN MEDICAL TREND MEANING THERE'S HIGHER
USES OF MEDICAL HEALTH CARE, AND HIGHER EXPENSES INVOLVED WITH HEALTH CARE. SO AS WE'VE SEEN, THE HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE INCREASING FASTER THAN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX,
AND THERE WAS A STUDY THAT SAID -- AND THIS IS BACK IN THE -- BY -- IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE COST OF HEALTH CARE COULD BE 50%, AN EMPLOYEE COULD
BE PAYING 50% ALONE OUT OF THEIR BUDGET FOR HEALTH CARE. FROM AN EMPLOYER'S STANDPOINT, IT'S TRYING TO FIND THAT BALANCE OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE GOOD
QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHILE MAKING IT AFFORDABLE, NOT ONLY FOR THE EMPLOYER, BUT FOR THE EMPLOYEE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TOP DRIVERS OF THE HEALTH CARE COSTS, PHARMACY, A LOT OF SPECIALTY PHARMACEUTICALS, INCLUDING
GENERIC PHARMACEUTICALS, YOU ALL HEARD OF THE GLP-1 MEDICATIONS THAT ARE VERY POPULAR. I DON'T HAVE CABLE, BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN I WATCH IT, ABOUT EVERY OTHER COMMERCIAL IS EITHER ABOUT THE GLP DRUG OR --
>> Mayor Freaney: WHAT IS THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GLP IS? >> I'M SORRY. MY TRUSTY CONSULTANT SEAN FLEMING FROM THE GUERREN GROUP, WILL EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT A GLP
MEDICATION IS. >> THANK YOU, THERESA. GLP-1s ARE A NEWER CLASS OF MEDICATIONS PREDOMINANTLY USED TO TREAT DIABETES. HISTO HISTORICALLY, FRONT LINE
TREATMENT FOR DIABETES PROBABLY COSTS THE PLAN ABOUT $10 A MONTH. THE GLP-1 INJECTIONS, THERE'S PILLS ON THE WAY. MUCH BETTER EFFICACY IN THE TREATMENT, BUT THEY COST ABOUT $1200 A MONTH.
SO WE'VE SEEN A LARGE SHIFT FOR ALL OF OUR GROUPS OFF THESE LOW COST MEDS TO NOW THIS HIGHER COST SOLUTION. >> Mayor Freaney: NOT TO BE BLUNT, IS THIS THE WEIGHT LOSS STUFF? >> I WAS GOING THERE.
THEY ARE AND THEY AREN'T. THEY HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT OF WEIGHT LOSS, THE DESIRE TO GET ON THEM EVEN JUST FOR DIABETES, BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT LOSS BENEFIT HAS REALLY DRIVEN THE USAGE THROUGH THE YOUTH. YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE TUNES FOR
OZEMPIC OR MONJOURO. THOSE ARE THE LARGE DRUGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, SEAN. AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, THE CITY IS SELF-ENSURED, SO OUR OWN INSURANCE BROKER IF YOU WILL.
WE ONLY ALLOW GLP-1 MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES. SO THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME -- THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO -- THEIR PHYSICIAN WOULD HAVE
TO GO THROUGH CERTAIN -- WHAT SHOULD I SAY -- >> BASICALLY A PRIOR AUTHORIZATION PROCESSION. THEY'RE GOING TO VERIFY ON YOUR PLAN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL TRULY DOES HAVE DIABETES. AND THAT THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO
JUST GET IT FOR WEIGHT LOSS AS AN EXAMPLE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DATA ANALYTIC SYSTEM WE USE ON THE CITY, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A POINT OF QUESTION FROM A LOT OF GROUPS. IT GOES THROUGH AND BASICALLY VERIFIES THAT EVERYBODY THAT
USES THE MEDICATION HAS A LEGITIMATE DIAGNOSIS AND SUPPORT. SO THE CITY IS BEING A RESPONSIBLE STEWARD AND MAKING SURE THERE'S NOT INAPPROPRIATE USAGE IN THAT REGARD >> Mayor Freaney: SO YOU CAN ONLY GET IT IF YOU HAVE
DIABETES, LIKE PROVEN DIABETES? THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT? >> YES, NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT. >> Mayor Freaney: IS THAT UNLIKE A LOT OF PLANS? >> SO WHEN THESE CAME OUT, THERE WERE A IF NUMBER OF PLANS THAT
DIDN'T HAVE POTENTIALLY THE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE. SO THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE A NUMBER OF PLANS LIKE INDIVIDUALS COULD GET THEM WITHOUT THAT. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND LEADING UP TO THIS RENEWAL, I WOULD SAY ALMOST -- I WOULD
THINK ALL OF OUR GROUPS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE THOSE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, THEY HAVE EITHER PUT THEM IN OR WILL BE EFFECTIVE 10/1. THE STANDARD NOW IS BECOMING TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE. NOT EVERYBODY HAD IT, AND THEY DID SEE SOME OF THEIR COSTS
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE. >> Mayor Freaney: THANK YOU, SORRY, I JUST COULDN'T HOLD MY QUESTION. THAT'S INTERESTING AND CERTAINLY A DRIVER OF HEALTH CARE. >> ANOTHER DRIVER, OF COURSE, HIGH COST CLAIMANTS AS WE WILL
SEE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE HAD HIGH COST CLAIMANTS AND THEY'RE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. AND THEN THEIR CHRONIC CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY MUSCULOSKELETAL AND ONCOLOGY,
CANCER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID GO TO THIS CONFERENCE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS AN EYE OPENER FOR ME, WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE IMPACTS OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
AROUND US AND HOW IT AFFECTS OTHER THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AVAILABILITY AND COST OF GENERIC DRUGS, A LOT OF OUR GENERIC DRUGS ARE EITHER IMPORTED OR THE RAW MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THEM ARE IMPORTANT,
SO WITH TARIFFS AND OTHER MARKET FORCES, THEN THAT DRIVES UP THE PRICES OF THE DRUGS THAT WE'VE ALWAYS USED TO SAY, GENERIC DRUGS WERE YOUR LEAST EXPENSIVE BE OPTION, BUT THAT ISN'T ALWAYS
THE CASE. ANOTHER THING, HOSPITALS, THEY USE PLASTICS, YOUR TUBINGS, YOUR POUCHS THAT HOLD BLOOD AND ALL THAT, THAT'S MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, IT COMES FROM PETROLEUM, AS PETROLEUM PRICES INCREASE, THEREFORE, THEN YOU
GET THE CONCURRENT INCREASES IN PASTICS. SO FROM AN EMPLOYER'S STANDPOINT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE KNOW THAT MEDICAL COST IS A HIGH PRIORITY, AND THAT'S A SURVEY
THAT WAS DONE BY WATER, TOWER, WILSON. AN INSURANCE GROUP THAT EMPLOYERS TOP PRIORITIES ARE MEDICAL COSTS FOR THE COMPANY. FARM SUIT CAL COSTS AND AFFORDABILITY FOR EMPLOYEES. FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT,
THE TRADITION HAS BEEN THAT ALTHOUGH YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAYBE MEET THE COMPETITION, ESPECIALLY PRIVATE IN TERMS OF SALARY, THAT YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD BENEFITS PACKAGE, AND THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A GOOD DRIVER OF
HELPING YOU TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT EMPLOYEES. SO YOU DEFINITELY WANT THAT TO BE A PRIORITY. NEXT SLIDE? SO THIS -- WE TURN NOW TO THE
CITY'S CLAIMS EXPERIENCE UPDATE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, MEDICAL CLAIMS HAVE INCREASED OVER LAST YEAR, BY 12.6% OF PHARMACY CLAIMS BY 16.7. THE NATIONAL INCREASES
APPROXIMATELY 8.5, AND IN FLORIDA, USUALLY GOES A LITTLE HIGHER. SO BECAUSE YOU OF OUR POPULATION. AND THEN RIGHT NOW, AS OF I THINK -- THIS IS JULY, PLAN EXPENSES ARE RUNNING AT 109% OF
OUR TOTAL FUNDING. BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. OUR CURRENT MEDICAL OFFERINGS, WE GO OVER THIS EVERY YEAR, SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE THREE MEDICAL INSURANCE
PLANS. WE HAVE A BASE IN NETWORK WITH A HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT, IT'S BASICALLY CO PAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES AND CO INSURANCE. FOR PRIMARY VISIT, NONPREVENTATIVE. JUST A REMINDER, THAT
PREVENTATIVE VISITS ARE ZERO. THEY ARE FREE. THAT WENT INTO PLACE A FEW YEARS BACK. BUT ANY OTHER NONPREVENTATIVE VISITS, $35, $45, IN PATIENT, THERE'S A DEDUCTIBLE INVOLVED
AND THEN A 30% CO INSURANCE, OUT PATIENT IS THE SAME. AND THEN ER, YOU CAN SEE THE COSTS THERE, PER VISIT. AND THE PHARMACEUTICALS GO FROM BRAND TO GENERIC AND -- BECAUSE
OF THE AMOUNT OF SPECIALTY DRUGS THAT ARE ON THE MARKET, THERE WAS A 4th TIER THAT CAME IN, OVERALL, YOU CAN SEE THE DEDUCTIBLE RIGHT NOW IS 1,000 FOR THE EMPLOYEE, AND THEN 2,000 FOR THE FAMILY. THE OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM, WHICH
IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT AN EMPLOYEE OR THE FAMILY WOULD PAY IN ANY GIVEN YEAR IS 2500 FOR THE EMPLOYEE AND 5,000 FOR THE FAMILY. THEN WE HAVE A BUYUP IN NETWORK,
BASICALLY, THAT IS THE HIGHEST PREMIUM, BUT THE LOWEST COST TO THE EMPLOYEE. THE EMPLOYEE NO MATTER WHAT THE PROCEDURE, THE MOST THEY WOULD TEND TO PAY IS $500 FOR IN
PATIENT HOSPITAL CARE WITH OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM AT 2500 AND 5,000. NO DEDUCTIBLES INVOLVED IN THE BUYUP. AND THEN OUR PLAN THAT WE INTRODUCED PROBABLY ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO, I THINK IS THE HIGH
DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN THAT COMES WITH A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THAT'S BASED ON THE DEDUCTIBLE THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET, AND THEN IT'S 20% AFTER YOU MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE RATES YOU PAY ARE CONTRACTED
RATES. WTH THE PROVIDER. SO YOU COULD PAY FOR A PHYSICAL THERAPY VISIT, YOU COULD PAY $140. THAT'S A CONTRACTED RATE, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT SOMEONE OFF THE STREET WOULD PAY.
THE DEDUCTIBLE IS 2,000 FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, AND 4,000 FOR THE FAMILY. THE OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM IS SET AT 3400, AND THEN 6800. BUT I MOVE TO THIS NEXT SLIDE, WHICH I'M GOING TO ASK SEAN TO
BRIEFY DISCUSS, I JUST -- I JUST WANT TO TAKE TIME TO THANK THE BOARD OF FINANCE, BECAUSE THEY KEEP ME ON MY TOES, AND THEY DEFINITELY GIVE A LOT OF
GREAT INPUT, IMPORTANT INPUT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR CONSULTANTS. BECAUSE THE VALUE THAT THE CONSULTANT BRINGS TO THE CITY AND TO THE HR AND RISK
MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY MORE THAN IF WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE DEDICATED TO DOING THIS. BECAUSE THEY TEST THE MARKET FOR US, THEY DO BENCHMARK SURVEYS, WHICH SEAN WILL BE GOING OFFICER, THEY ARE THE
BENEFITS -- NOT ALL CONSULTANTS DO THIS, BUT THE GEHRING GROUP DOES AACT AS A LIAISON TO EMPLOYEES, IF THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WHERE A BILL OR
PROCEDURE, THEY FEEL THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY BEING HELPED WITH, THEY WILL CALL THE INSURANCE AND HELP THE EMPLOYEE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. THEY HELP NEGOTIATE OUR PREMIUMS
WITH ALL THE CARRIERS, NOT JUST OUR MEDICAL INSURANCE. I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO SEAN TO TALK ABOUT THE BENCHMARK SURVEY WHICH IS GENERATED BY THE GEHRING GROUP. >> THANK YOU.
REAL HIGH LEVEL, EVERY YEAR AS A PART OF THE PROCESS, WE LIKE TO LOOK AT BENCHMARKING. I THINK IF I ASKED YOU WHAT YOUR OPINION OF BENCHMARKING IS, WE WOULD GET FIVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS, THE -- WHAT PEOPLE PAY, WE CAN LOOK AT SOME COMBINATION OF BOTH -- WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT MULTIPLE COMBINATIONS, IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT LIKE AN APPLE, AN ORANGE, A BANANA AND A FISH.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK HOW YOU COMPARE ACROSS THE STATE, BUT THE REALITY IS, WHERE ARE THE ENTITIES AROUND YOU, THAT YOU'RE POTENTIALLY COMPETING FOR EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE THE CITY
OF KEY WEST HAS A PARTICULAR BENEFIT, NOT A LOT OF YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A JOB THERE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING MORE IN THE LOCAL AREA. WHAT WE DID IN THE SURVEY, IT WAS KIND OF A BIG COMPLEX NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS, BUT WE TRIED TO REALLY SUMMARIZE IT FOR YOU.
THE FIRST THING ON THE TOP, WE HAVE THE CITY OF DUNEDIN FOR ALL THREE PLANS. AND THAT PERCENTAGE IS WHAT THE CITY PAYS TOWARD THOSE TIERS OF COVERAGE. AND THEN ON THE RIGHT, YOU HAVE
THE AVERAGE OF THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS. SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, THE CITY OF DUNEDIN AS AN EXAMPLE FOR SINGLE COVERAGE, THE AVERAGE IS $46. THE AVERAGE FOR THOSE GROUPS DOWN BELOW THAT WE SURVEYED WAS
$64. SO THEY'RE PAYING A LITTLE MORE IN THAT REGARD. THE REST OF THE TIERS, ALTHOUGH THE PERCENTAGES ARE ALMOST -- THEY'RE IN A VERY TIGHT RANGE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF VARIANCE, THE EMPLOYEES WOULD PAY LESS AT
SOME OF THOSE OTHER ENTITIES, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE, BUT NOT BY HUGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS OTHER THAN THE FAMILY COVERAGE ON THE AVERAGE. SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU DO HAVE MULTIPLE PLAN
OPTIONS, WHICH THERESA IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME CHANGES, THIS JUST LOOKS MORE AT THE BASE PLAN. AND YOU HAVE THAT 100% EMPLOYEE COVERAGE, SO YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF VARIANCE THERE IN THAT
BASE PLAN. YOUR EMPLOYEES ESSENTIALLY COVERING CHILDREN OR SPOUSES ARE PAYING A LITTLE BIT LESS. EMPLOYEES AGAIN COVERING FULL FAMILY ARE POTENTIALLY THE OTHER
GROUPS HAVE A LITTLE BIT LOWER AVERAGE. SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF COMPARISON JUST AS A REFERENCE POINT AND WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE THE ONE THING I'LL SAY WITH ALL OF THIS, THE MAJORITY
OF GROUPS THAT WE'RE COMPARING, TO EITHER RENEW OCTOBER 1st OR JANUARY 1st, SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW. THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THERE MAY NOT BE CHANGES FOR ALL THOSE GROUPS EFFECTIVE OCTOBER
1st. >> THANK YOU, SEAN. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE WENT TO THE ZERO EMPLOYEE ONLY COVERAGE, AND THERE WERE A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT ONE, WHEN WE SURVEYED THE MARKET, OUR
PEERS, A LOT OF OUR PEERS WERE OFFERING EMPLOYEE ONLY ZERO COVERAGE. AND ALSO, WE WERE -- IF YOU REMEMBER, NOT BEING VERY COMPETITIVE AS FAR AS OUR SALARY, SO WE WANTED TO OFFSET THAT WITH THE BENEFITS THAT WE
OFFER. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT WITH THE ZERO DOLLAR EMPLOYEE COVERAGE. AS WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS COMING YEAR, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAD MENTIONED LAST YEAR, WAS WHEN WE WENT AN ABSORBED THE
COST, WE SAID THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE LAST YEAR THAT WE DID TLARKS BECAUSE WE SAW THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN OUR PREMIUMS. SO WE LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD BE REASONABLE COST SHARE FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES. WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLE PLAN COMPLAININGS, WHETHER WITH CO PAYS, DEDUCTIBLES OR OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUMS. WE ALSO WANTED TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT STOP LOSS. WE HAD STARTED OUT AS LOW AS
100,000 WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE. MORE THAN 12 YEARS AGO, AND WE'VE SLOWLY TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH THE MARKET AS FAR AS THE INCREMENTAL INCREASES.
WE WENT TO 110, 140 AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY INCREASING THAT. AS MENTIONED, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 16% INCREASE IN OUR PREMIUMS OVER LAST YEAR. SO WE THOUGHT, WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT EVERYTHING, INCLUDING ANY COST SAVING STRATEGIES, ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, WE WANTED TO TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD BRING DOWN THAT 15, ALMOST 16% INCREASE, SO THAT WE
WOULD HAVE SOME GOOD NUMBERS TO HELP WITH THE COST SHARE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW WAS IF WE WENT WITH A STOP LOSS INCREASE, THERE'S A PREMIUM SAVINGS. AND YES, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO OFFSET BY THE AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE IN THE STOP LOSS, THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, IS AT 7, AND IT HAS VARIED OVER TIME BASED ON WHETHER THE EMPLOYEE IS STILL ON OUR PLAN OR NOT, OR OTHER
FACTORS. SO IN PROPOSING THE STOP LOSS INCREASE WITH SOME OTHER CHANGES -- NEXT SLIDE. WE CAME UP WITH A THREE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE
IMPLEMENTING OBVIOUSLY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THIS YEAR, WE'RE -- WE BROUGHT -- AND YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE DID SOME INCREASES TO OUR OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUMS AND OUR DEDUCTIBLES.
SO WE EVALUATED THE COST SHARE OPTIONS, WE EVALUATE THE THE COST SHARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY COVERAGE. AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE OR INCENTIVIZE MORE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE HIGH
DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. SO WE DECIDED THAT THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT IS HAVING NO INCREASES TO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. IN YEAR TWO, WE'RE LOOKING TO RAISE CONTRIBUTIONS ON ALL PLANS.
KEEP IN MIND WE ARE SELF-INSURED. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OVER OUR PLAN THAN A FULLY INSURED ENTITY MIGHT. A FULLY INSURED ENTITY, THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING TO COME TO YOU AND TELL YOU, HERE'S
THE INCREASE, HERE'S WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU, WHERE WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE CONTROL AS TO HOW CAN WE MANAGE THAT INCREASE, ANY INCREASES WE HAVE. WE'RE LOOKING TO POSSIBLE
ELIMINATE THE BUYUP PLAN, IT'S SO RICH. THE MOST THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD PAY FOR ANY ONE PROCEDURE IS $500. GIVEN THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, THAT'S JUST NOT PRACTICAL OR SUSTAINABLE. SO EVERY YEAR AS WE DO, WE WOULD
CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE PLAN DESIGN AND ANY OPTIONS BASED ON MARKET, BECAUSE AS I SAID, AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION, THIS IS A SYSTEMWIDE NETWORKWIDE PROBLEM. AND SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT PLAN DESIGNS AND DIFFERENT
ALTERNATIVES COMING INTO PLAY TO HELP EMPLOYERS WITH THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE. AND THEN WE ALSO WILL LOOK AT OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM AND CHANGE AS NEEDED. AND THEN IN YEAR THREE, JUST
CONTINUE TO DO THAT, LOOKING AT THE MARKET, LOOKING AT ANY PLAN DESIGN CHANGES, AND, OF COURSE, ADJUSTING PREMIUMS AS NEEDED. MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE. >> MAY I JUMP IN THERE ON THE MARKET PART?
>> YES, PLEASE. >> JUST REAL QUICK, I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE ON WHAT LOOKING AT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE. THERE WERE COMMENTS EARLIER, AS YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON A SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN. WITH THE SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN, THE VERY SMALL PART OF THE
COST WAS IDENTIFIED AS YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO ANY OF THE CARRIERS, THE BIGGEST PART IS YOUR CLAIMS EXPERIENCE. THERE WAS MENTION OF LOOKING AT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF CLAIMS, I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO, SO EVERYONE HAS A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
WHAT WE DO IN THAT PROCESS, WHEN WE GO TO BID, WE TAKE TWO YEARS OF HISTORICAL CLAIMS DATA, WE DON'T NECESSARILY LOOK AT AN OFFICE VISIT OR A HOSPITALIZATION, WE LOOK AT WHAT HAS ACTUALLY OCCURRED WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GONE. AND WE DO WHAT'S CALLED A
REPRICE, WHEN WE GO OUT TO MARKET. NOW, IT'S RETROACTIVELY LOOKING. THERE'S FORWARD LOOKING, BUT WHAT THAT REPRICE DOES, IT GOES AND SAYS, BASED ON ALL THE CLAIMS THE CITY OF DUNEDIN HAS HAD THE LAST 24 MONTHS, IF WE HAVE CARRIER A, WE WOULD HAVE
PAID X. IF WE HAVE CARRIER B, WE WOULD HAVE PAID 5% LESS. IF WE HAD CARRIER C, WE WOULD HAVE PAID 5% MORE. IT'S A DETAILED ANALYSIS THAT REALLY LOOKS AT WHERE YOUR
EMPLOYEES GO AND ARE GETTING CARE, AND HOW THOSE DISCOUNTS COMPARE AT DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND ACROSS DIFFERENT CARRIERS. I JUST WANT TO THE SET THAT STAGE. THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THERE WERE SOME TRANSPARENCY LAWS PASSED, SO ALL THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS HAVE
TO PUBLISH THEIR DISCOUNTS WITH EVERY INDIVIDUAL CARRIER OUT THERE. AND WE HAVE TOOLS THAT CAN GO IN AND LOOK AT -- EVEN IF YOU HADN'T HAD HISTORICAL CLIMBS, ARE THERE -- IS ONE CARRIER GETTING A BETTER DEAL VERSUS THE OTHER? THE REASON I SAY ALL THAT IS
LARGELY WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE MARKET IS BECAUSE YOU YOU HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY, ALL OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE GLOBAL SENSE ARE COMING VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. THERE'S NOT A VARIANCE THERE USED TO BE 10, 15 YEARS AGO,
FLORIDA BLUE HAD A HUGE MARKET, THAT'S BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA, THEY HAD A HUGE ADVANTAGE. NOW EVERYONE HAS TO PUBLISH THEIR RATES. THE ONE AREA THAT WASN'T
MENTIONED THAT'S BECOMING PROBABLY AS IMPORTANT AS THE MEDICAL IS THE PHARMACY. THROUGH PHARMACY, WE GO THROUGH A SIMILAR PROCESS, WHERE WE BID TO ALL KINDS OF PHARMACY BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS, WE GIVE THE HISTORICAL DATA, LOOK AT WHAT
THE MEMBERS ARE ON, TO SEE WHO HAS THE BETTER ADVANTAGE, IT'S A VERY INDEPTH PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS GETTING THE THIRD PARTY, THAT BEST ALIGNS FINANCIALLY ON BOTH THE MEDICAL AND PHARMACY SIDE, SO
THAT'S SOMETHING EVERY TIME WE BID, THAT HAPPENS, AND I JUST WANTED TO PAINT THAT PICTURE SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S LOOKED AT, AND THAT IT IS A PRETTY COMPLEX DEEP DIVE. >> THANK YOU, SEAN.
SO IN LOOKING AT THE SCENARIOS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND THE COST SHARE PERCENTAGE THAT WOE BE PRACTICAL AND HELPFUL, THE GEHRING GROUP PRESENTED US WITH FIVE SCENARIOS. >> MAYOR, VICE MAYOR HAS SOME
QUESTIONS. HOLD ON, THERESA. DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK THEM NOW OR WAIT? THEY PERTAIN TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDES. >> GO AHEAD. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO
EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION BENCHMARK SLIDES? >> OH, GOING BACK. >> THE FIRST ONE, I BELIEVE WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO, THE FIRST ONE IS ALL PLANS COMBINED. THE SECOND ONE IS JUST LOOKING AT THE BASE PLAN WHERE THE BULK
OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE ENROLLED. >> OKAY. >> AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MORE TO THAT QUESTION AND -- >> HE SAID HE'LL WAIT FOR QUESTIONS, I THINK I DIDN'T GET THAT TEXT IN TIME.
WHAT'S -- HE SAYS, WHAT'S STRATEGIES ARE WE IMPLEMENTING TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS. >> WE WILL GO OVER THAT IN A FUTURE SLIDE, IF WE WANT TO WAIT FOR THAT. >> OKAY. HE'S GOOD WITH WAITING.
>> THE FIVE SCENARIOS WERE, IF WE MADE THE PLAN CHANGES, THE PROPOSED PLAN CHANGES, BUT THE CITY ABSORBED THE INCREASE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 12.6, AND THIS IS AFTER WE INCREASE THE STOP LOSS, WE INCREASE CO PAYS -- I'M
SORRY, NOT CO PAYS, DEDUCTIBLES AND OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUMS, WHICH I'LL GO OVER IN A LITTLE BIT, SO IT WOULD BE 12.6, IF WE DO PLAN CHANGES AND SHARE THE INCREASE, WE'RE LOOKING AT 50/50.
AND THEN ALMOST -- AND THEN PLAN CHANGES WITH A FLAT DOLLAR EMPLOYEE INCREASE, THE CITY WOULD BE ABOUT 11, AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE WOULD BE ABOUT 12. IF WE DID NO PLAN CHANGES AND THE CITY ABSORBED THE INCREASE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 17% INCREASE
FOR THE CITY, AND THEN NO PLAN CHANGES AND A SHARE INCREASE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 50/50, 15%. JUST GOING OVER -- OBVIOUSLY WE DID NOT THINK THAT THE --
LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGES, WE WENT TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHERE THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD INCREASE THE DEDUCTIBLE FROM 1,000, 2,000
IN THE PACE, TO 1500 TO 3,000, AND THE OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM WOULD GO FROM 2500 TO 4,000, 8,000 FOR THE BASE PLAN. FOR THE BUYUP, THE DEDUCTIBLES
WOULD GO FROM 0 TO 500/1500, AND THE OUT OF POCKET MAXIMUM WOULD GO FROM 2500 TO 3500/7,000. WE PROPOSE NO CHANGES TO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN,
EITHER THE DEDUCTIBLE OR THE OUT OF POCKET MAX. [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THAT'S THE NAME OF THE PLAN, SO IT'S THE BUYUP PLAN. MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, SO
WITH THE CHANGES TO THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND OUT OF POCKET MAX, AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE 1500/3,000 AND 4,000/8,000 FOR THE BASE,
AND THEN THE 500/1500 AND 3500/7,000 FOR THE BUYUP WITH NO CHANGES TO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN, THAT WOULD REMAIN AT 2,000 MAX DEDUCTIBLE EMPLOYEE ONLY, 4,000 FOR THE FAMILY, AND
OUT OF POCKET WOULD REMAIN AT 3400/6800 FOR THE FAMILY. NEXT SLIDE? SO IN LOOKING AT THE -- IF YOU WILL, THE TOP THREE OPTIONS, IF
THE CITY ABSORBS 12%, IF WE DO THE EMPLOYEE INCREASES WHERE THE CITY -- THE EMPLOYEE SHARES THE 11%, THIS JUST SHOWS WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE CITY AND FOR THE EMPLOYEE. AND THEN IF WE LOOK AT A FLAT
RATE THAT JUST TELLS YOU WHAT EACH -- WHAT THE PER PAY INCREASE WOULD BE PER EMPLOYEE BASED ON THE PLAN, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE, SO IT KIND OF -- IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE IT HERE, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, IN THE NEXT SLIDES WE'RE GOING TO
GO OVER EACH OPTION. AND REALLY, WE FELT LIKE THE BEST OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM ARE EITHER SCENARIO NO. 2, WHICH IS THE 11. -- 11% SHARE, OR THE FLAT RATE INCREASE.
NO. 2, WITH THE 11.4% INCREASE, THE EMPLOYEE ONLY WOULD BE GOING FROM 0 -- WOULD REMAIN AT ZERO. THE -- IN THE BASE AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE WOULD BE
$17. EMPLOYEE PLUS CHILDREN 1558. IN THE BUYUP, WOULD BE A CHANGE OF OVER 7.34. EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY 61, AND NO
CHANGES TO THE HIGH SO THAT'S THE 11.4% INCREASE. NOW IF WE WENT TO THE FLAT RATE, WHERE WE ASKED, WE WE WOULD THEN CHANGE BECAUSE AS YOU SAW WITH THE, THE SURVEY, WHERE NOW A LOT
OF ENTITIES ARE NOW HAVING THE EMPLOYEE ONLY PAY SOMETHING TOWARDS THE PREMIUM, WE LOOKED AT ADDING $5 PER PAY FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY COVERAGE IN THE BASE, $7 IN THE BUY UP, AND THEN
THE EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE WOULD BE $15 IN THE BASE, PLUS $15 IN THE BASE, AND PLUS $20 IN THE BUY-UP. EMPLOYEE AND CHILDREN $10 PER
PAY IN THE BASE AND $15 IN THE $15 BUYUP PLOY. $30 IN PLAY IN THE BUY-UP. JUST THAT BASICALLY COMES OUT EVEN THOUGH THE PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER, THE AMOUNT OF CHANGE IS
LOWER THAN IF WE WENT WITH THE 11.4, 11.2% FOR THE EMPLOYEES. SO THE, AS I SAID, THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE WOULD NOT CHANGE FOR FISCAL YEAR '27.
SO JUST BEFORE I, YOU KNOW, PUT IN OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES HAPPENING WITH THE RENEWAL IN OUR OTHER, OTHER COVERAGE. THERE IS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 2% WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST,
AND THEN THE STOP LOSS WITH THE PREMIUM CHANGE IS 14.8. THE AMOUNT CHANGED TO 14.8. THE DENTAL IS GOING UP BY 7% IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD,
WE HAVE RATE GUARANTEES FOR ALL OF OTHER LINES OF COVERAGE. SO STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO WITH THE FLAT DOLLAR INCREASE, AND BASICALLY --
>> MAYOR FREANEY: SORRY, THERESA, DOES FINANCE BOARD CONCUR WITH THIS? WIS THE -- WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION? >> YES. EXCUSE ME, YES, WE AGREE WITH OPTION 3 AS THE BEST OPTION. AND ONE THING I WANT TO PARTICULARLY POINT OUT ON OPTION
3 IS, EXCUSE ME, IS BY INTRODUCING A COST SHARE FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY ON THE BASE PLAN, THIS WILL HELP TO PROVIDE MORE OF AN INCENTIVE WHICH IS PART OF COMMISSIONER WALKER'S QUESTION TO GO THAT HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN BECAUSE THAT ONE WILL BE AT NO
COST. FOR THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, SO YES, WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS. >> THANK YOU, CATHY, APPRECIATE THAT. GO AHEAD, THERESA, SORRY. >> SO THIS JUST BASICALLY GIVES YOU WHAT THE, THE RENEWAL COST WOULD BE. ALONG ALL OUR LINES.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ANNUAL COST WOULD BE 7.2 MILLION. AND THEN WHICH IS A 10.8% INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYER. 9.8 INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYEES
AND THEN THE RETIREES AND -- WOULD SEE A TOTAL OF 11.3% INCREASE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN IS WE HAD
AN INCENTIVE. WE PUT AN INCENTIVE IN PLACE, WHICH WAS BASICALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PREMIUM OF THE BASE PLAN AND THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE. SO AN EMPLOYEE ONLY WOULD HAVE
$500 PUT IN THERE, PLACED IN THERE, HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, A THOUSAND FOR EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE OR EMPLOYEE PLUS CHILDREN, AND THEN $1,500 FOR EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY.
ALONG WITH THAT, THE, WE IN OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM, BASED ON PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, WE DID HAVE -- WE DO HAVE SOME INCENTIVES, AND SO OUR EMPLOYEE, OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM THROUGH VITALITY IS BASED ON THE AMOUNT
OF POINTS THAT YOU ACCRUE EACH YEAR, EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE HIGHEST BEING THE PLATINUM AT $10,000, AND THEN EMPLOYEE WHO GAINS PLATINUM BY THE END OF
AUGUST OF EACH YEAR WOULD EARN $700 TOWARDS EITHER THEIR HSA OR THEIR HRA ACCOUNT. FOR BRONZE PLUS WHICH IS THE LOWEST, BASICALLY ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COMPLETE AN ONLINE
HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND/OR BIOMETRIC SCREENING AND EVERY YEAR WE BRING THE BIOMETRIC SCREENING ON CAMPUS AND EMPLOYEES CAN COME IN AND GET THEIR BIOMETRIC SCREENING. AND IT'S PAID FOR THROUGH OUR HEALTH PLAN.
AS YOU CAN SEE, AND THIS HAS SORT OF BEEN THE -- WE'VE HAD LIKE A CORE EMPLOYEES THAT, YOU KNOW, BRONZE THEY, THEY, THEY DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS FOR SOME OF THESE ARE NEWER EMPLOYEES BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY HAVEN'T
REALLY STARTED YET IN THE PLAN. OR EMPLOYEES THAT THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE, WE BASICALLY JUST GAVE EMPLOYEES LIKE $200 EACH YEAR, AND THEY PUT IT IN AN HRA.
THERE WERE NO BENCHMARKS. THERE WAS NO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING YOUR PREVENTIVE CARE, NOTHING. SO WHEN WE STARTED ESTABLISHED THE WELLNESS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO, WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH HEALTHY HABITS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES. WE WANTED THEM TO WANT TO GO FOR
THEIR PREVENTIVE VISITS. BECAUSE WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAGE 1 CANCER VERSUS WITH STAGE 4 DIAGNOSIS. WE SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREATING PREHYPERTENSION AND
HAVING CHRONIC HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. SO YOU KNOW THE WHOLE MISSION OF THE WELLNESS PROGRAM IS TO INCENTIVIZEM PLOYEES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH, ESTABLISH HOPEFULLY HEALTHY
HABITS IN, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE DOCTOR, ESTABLISHING AN EXERCISE PROGRAM, NUTRITION, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF WHICH IS ALL INCLUDE IN OUR VITALITY PROGRAM. AND HAVING FUB WHILE WE'RE DOING
THAT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CHALLENGE OF SOME LITTLE AMBITIOUS BUT FOR IN RECOGNITION OF THE 250TH BIRTHDAY, AND ANY EMPLOYEE THAT GETS POINTS FOR COMPLETING
500,000 STEPS BY I THINK IT'S LABOR DAY, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT, SO YOU KNOW WE DO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE OUR EMPLOYEES AS FAR AS INCENTIVES AND SO YOU KNOW WE DO SEE WHERE IF AN EMPLOYEE FEELS LIKE THE BASE PLAN, THE
PREMIUM OR EVEN THE BUY-UP IS GOING TO BE HIGHER THAN THEY'D LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THE ALTERNATIVE OF THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN, THE COPAY PREMIUMS ARE LESS, AND IF YOU'RE RELATIVELY HEALTHY, YOU HARDLY GO TO THE DOCTOR, EXCEPT
REALLY NOT PAYING ANYTHING OUT OF POCKET. YOU HAVE A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT PRETAX DOLLARS IN EVERY PAY THAT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO WITH THE HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT, AND SO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE
SOMEBODY WHO'S MAYBE LOOKING AT RETIREMENT, AS WE SEE PREMIUMS, WE SEE HEALTH COSTS, THAT'S MONEY, SEE MONEY THAT YOU CAN BE PUTTING ASIDE PRETAX TOWARDS YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> SO WE ARE AT 10 AFTER 12:00. MY SUGGESTION IS WE BREAK FOR OUR LUNCH BECAUSE AT 1:00 WE HAVE A HARD START TIME FOR AID TO ORGANIZATIONS, AND AFTER THAT, WE COME BACK AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE AND OUR FINAL DIRECTIVE, SO I'M JUST WANT TO SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GOOD WITH THAT
OR -- >> COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? >> SO I'M, SAYING THAT WE SHOULD BREAK FOR LUNCH NOW. SO WE HAVE THE FULL 50 MINUTES AND THEN AT 1:00 WE HAVE AID TO ORGANIZATIONS. THAT'S A HARD SCHEDULE NUMBER. SO THEY'LL BE, PEOPLE WILL BE HERE FOR US TO DO THAT ONE.
FOLLOWING THAT, THEN WE'D GO BACK TO QUESTIONS ON HEALTH AND THEN ALSO FINAL DIRECTIVES TO THE STAFF. >> OKI, I'M FINE WITH THAT. >> THAT SOUND GOOD, EVERYBODY? >> OKAY, MAYOR, JUST A COUPLE THINGS BEFORE YOU GAVEL US. FIRST OLIFE, TONY HAS AN --
FIRST OF ALL, TONY HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT. >> VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. THE SPLASH PAD IS SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN AT NOON TODAY. >> ALSO MAYOR WE HAVE LUNCHEONETTE CALADESI ROOM AND WE HAVE PLENTY FOR EVERYONE HERE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, LUNCH BREAK.
>> OKAY WE'RE GOING TO GAVEL THE MEETING BACK OPEN AND THE FIRST ITEM IS CITY COMMISSION FY2027 CIVILLIC PARTNERS AND AID TO SOCIAL/CULTURAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO'S HERE. APPRECIATE IT. AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO LES FOR STAFF PRESENTATION ON THIS. >> GREAT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS IS FOR THE 2027 CIVIC PARTNERS AND AID TO ORGANIZATIONS NONPROFIT GRANTS. THE AID TO ORGANIZATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE MET ON JULY 17th TO DISCUSS THE 2027 CIVIC PARTNERS INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE AID TO ORGANIZATIONS GRANT SUBMITTALS. THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE
CITY MANAGER, THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, FILLISH GORSHE -- PHYLLIS GORSHEY AND MYSELF ARE ON THE COMMITTEE. THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET SOCIAL/CULTURAL TOTAL FUNDING
$222,000 IN THE PROPOSED BUDGE. THIS INCLUDES FOR 30,000 FOR CIVIC PARTNERS DUNEDIN FINE ARTS CENTER, 35,000 FOR CIVIC PARTNER DUNEDIN HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND 37,000 FOR DUNEDIN CARES. WE ALSO HAVE 106,500 FOR AID TO
ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL/CULTURAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BEING PROPOSED AND THERE IS ALSO A $13,500 AVAILABLE TO BE AWARDED DURING THE '27 FISCAL YEAR. AS PART OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2027 CONTINGENCY PLAN, STAFF IS
RECOMMENDING THAT ALL THE -- THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 GRANTS APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION TODAY WILL BE REDUCED BY 50% IF AMENDMENT 3 IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS ON NOVEMBER 3rd, 2026. THE TOTAL PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR '27 GRANTS AWARDS ARE
$208,500 AND UNDER THE CONTINGENCY PLAN, THE GRANT AWARDS WOULD NOT BE DISBURSED UNTIL DECEMBER 1st OR AFTER TO ALLOW TIME FOR STAFF TO ADJUST AWARDS IF NEEDED, THE GRANT AWARDS ARE NORMALLY DISBURSED STARTING IN LATE OCTOBER AND THROUGH NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
IF IMPLEMENTED THIS ACTION WOULD REDUCE EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET BY $104,250 IN 2027. FURTHER REDUCTIONS TO AID TO ORGANIZATIONS WILL OCCUR IN 2028 IF AMENDMENT 3 DOES PASS. ALL APPLICANTS RECEIVE FUNDING
THAT REQUESED EXCEPT FOR DIVINE COASTAL HOUSE OF HEALING. THEY WERE A NEW NONPROFIT, AND THEY WERE ASKED TO PLEASE APPLY NEXT YEAR WITH MORE HISTORY AND TRACK RECORD INFORMATION. FOR THE CIVIC PARTNERS, REQUEST IN 2027, THE FAR LEFT COLUMNS OF
THE SLIDE SHOWS THE RECOMMENDED FUNDING LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 AND ON THE RIGHT IS TITLE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDED COLUMNS, SO ON THE FAR RIGHT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AMOUNTS FROM THE SUBCOMMITTEE ARE SHOWN AND THE TOTAL FOR CIVIC PARTNERS IS
$102,000 AT THE BOTTOM. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, FOR OUR SOCIAL CULTURAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, RECOMMENDED FUNDING LEVELS FOR FISCAL YEAR '27, THE FAR LEFT COLUMN IS A GRANT REQUESTED FOR FISCAL YEAR '27 AND THE RIGHT, FAR RIGHT COLUMN IS IS A
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND THERE ARE KOPPEL OF PAGES HERE BUT -- COUPLE OF PAGES HERE BUT THE TOTAL RECOMMENDATION FOR ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS IS $106,500. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS. BEP HAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND -- BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
REPRESENT FNS HERE TO SPEAK. -- REPRESENTATIVES HERE TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: QUESTIONS FOR LES AND THEN WE WILL GO TO THE COMMUNITY. >> COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN. >> YEAH. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THESE ARE ALL NONPROFITS, IF IT'S ALL BEEN
VERIFIED? >> YEAH, THEY'RE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND A LOT OF THE ONES WE ARE PROPOSING TO AWARD ARE ONES THAT RECEIVE FUNDING IN PRIOR YEAR AND WE HAVE A FEW NEW ONES. >> THAT'S ALL I NEED. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: COMMISSIONER GOW? >> NO.
NO QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER DUGARD, QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST GIVE ME A QUICK RECAP ON THE PROCESS WHEN THE PROCESS STARTED, HOW THE INVITATIONS FOR GRANTS WERE MADE, AND THEN HOW THE COMMITTEE MET AROUND THOSE. >> YEAH, THESE PROCESS STARTED
THE GRANT APPLICATION WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY. WE, WE SEND E-MAILS TO THE ONES THAT RECEIVED GRANTS IN PRIOR YEARS AND THEN WE PUT IT ON OUR WEB STATE AND ASK ANYONE A-- WEB SITE AND ASK ANYONE TO APPLY WHO WOULD LIKE TO. IT WAS OFF FOR JUST OVER A MONTH.
THEY WERE DUE BACK JUNE 12th, THE APPLICATIONS WERE BY, BY ALL THE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS. THEN OUR, SUBCOMMITTEE MET IN JULY, AND HAD A LONG TWO OR THREE HOUR MEETING GOING THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AND CAME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND
THEN FROM THAT POINT, WE, I CONTACTED THE ONE THAT DID NOT GET FUNDING TO LET THEM KNOW TO PLEASE SUBMIT NEXT YEAR, AND THEN FROM THAT WE JUST PUT THE PACKAGE TOGETHER FOR YOUR, FOR THE COMMISSION TODAY. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, VICE MAY,ER, ANY QUESTION SNOOZE NEE QUESTIONS -- ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, QUESTIONS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: I DO HAVE ONE. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PARTNERS SLIDE? SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS, THE
30,000 FOR THE FINE ARTS CENTER, USUALLY THOSE ARE SIMILAR. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY 30 AND I WONDERED IF IT PLAYED BACK TO, I KNOW THE ART CENTER GETS A BIGGER CHUNK OF MONEY FOR THE APRAIGDZS OF THE FACILITY. -- OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITY. IS THAT KIND OF THE BALANCE? >> YEAH, IT WAS KIND OF THAT.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE LOOKED AT THESE CLOSELY AND WE FELT THAT LIKE YOU SAID THAT DUNEDIN FINE ARTS GET SOME OF THE SUPPORT FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND THAT SORT OF THINGS YOU KNOW THAT WE DO IN THE IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS SO WE DID MAKE SOME REDUCTION THERE AND WE ALSO MADE A SMALL
REDUCTION IN MUSEUM TO SORT OF FOR THE SAME REASON THEY GET SOME OF THE IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS. >> OKAY. GREAT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS SO I'M GOING TO GO TO ANY CITIZEN INPUT. I'M GOING TO LEAD THIS OFF BY
SAYING WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. WE WELCOME ANY COMMENTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS, BUT IF YOU DO, BE BRIEF AND BRILLIANT. BUT AGAIN WE APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE BUT AGAIN DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO DO IT. I DID GET A SPECIAL REQUEST
BEFORE WE STARTED, DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL BAND BOOSTERS WANTED TO SPEAK FIRST DUE TO SOME SPECIAL TIME CONSTRAINTS SO I'M GOING TO HAVE IF YOU DO WANT TO COME UP AND SAY SOMETHING AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUST GIVE YOUR NAME AND
ORGANIZATION THAT'D BE GREAT. >>> YES, GOOD AFTERNOON -- [OFF MIC] >> PUSH IT AGAIN. OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> YEP. >> MY NAME IS LINDSEY MARSH MARSHALL AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE DUNEDIN HIGH
SCHOOL SCOTTX HIGHLANDER BAND BOOSTERS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND CITY STAFF. THANK YOU. SO IN ADDITION TO BEING THE BOOSTER PRESIDENT, I'M ALSO THE
PROUD PARENT OF A SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER BAND STUDENT. SO I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW THIS PROGRAM TRANSFORMS MUSICIANS, YOUNG LIVES, NOT ONLY DEVELOPING THEM AS MUSICIANS BUT BY BUILDING
THEIR CONFIDENCE, THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND DISCIPLINE, AND LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, OUR DIRECTOR, AND VOLUNTEERS I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS
$5,000 GRANT AWARD PROPOSAL. WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS, AND IN THE PERFORMING ARTS. THE DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL SCOTTX HIGHLANDER BAND IS -- SCOTTISH HIGHLANDER BAND IS MORE ?AN JUST A MUSIC PROGRAM. WE ARE PROUD AMBASSADORS FOR THE
CITY OF DUNEDIN. WHETHER WE'RE PERFORMING AT THE DUNEDIN HIGHLAND GAMES OR THE CELTIC FESTIVAL, THE HOLIDAY PARADE, LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, OR COMMUNITY EVENTS, OUR STUDENTS ARE HONORED TO
REPRESENT A CITY WITH SUCH A RICH SCOTTISH HERITAGE. THIS YEAR OUR PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 75 STUDENTS AND THAT'S ACROSS ALL OF OUR GROUPS CONSIDERED THE BAND SO THAT'S CONCERT BAND, MARCHING BAND, JAZZ BAND, ORCHESTRA, THE
SCOTTISH PIPE BAND, SCOTTISH HIGHLAND DANCE, AND THE COLOR GUARD. THESE STUDENTS DEDICATE COUNTLESS HOURS TO REHEARSALS, PERFORMANCES, AND COMPETITIONS, WHILE LEARNING DISCIPLINE, LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND SERVICE AS I MENTIONED. SO YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US
CONTINUE PROVIDING THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES. APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, AND YOUR GENEROSITY HELPS ENSURE THAT
FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT PREVENT STUDENTS FROM PARTICIPATING IN MUSIC EDUCATION, PERFORMANCES, AND TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THE TRIP THAT WE HOPE TO TAKE THEM ON IN APRIL, WHICH IS THE WORLD STRIDES HERITAGE MUSEUM FESTIVAL
IN ATLANTA. THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THEY URBED SUPERIOR RATINGS AT -- EARNED SUPERIOR RATINGS AUTOMUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS -- AT MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS, ONE MULTIPLE MARCHING BAND COMPETITIONS WON MEDALS AT THE HIGHLAND GAMES AND CONTINUE
ADTRADITION OF EXCELLENCE THAT REFLECTS POSITIVELY ON OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR INVESTMENT IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN AWARDS OR TROPHIES. FOR THAT'S FOR CERTAIN. IT'S ABOUT GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS, LEARN RESPONSIBILITY, AND BECOME LEADERS. IT'S ABOUT PRESERVING THE SCOTTISH TRADITIONS THAT MAKE -- THAT TRADITIONS THAT MAKE DUNEDIN SO UNIQUE AND ENSURING
THAT THESE TRADITIONS CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION AND I GIVE YOU MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THIS ONGOING EFFORT. EVERY TIME YOU HEAR OUR STUDENTS
MARCHING PROUD, HEAR BAGPIPES AT DUNEDIN FESTIVALS OR PARADES OR WATCH STUDENTS PERFORM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT YOUR INVESTMENT HELPED MAKE THOSE MOMENTS POSSIBLE. YOUR SUPPORT IS NOT ONLY ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS, IT'S HELPING PRESERVE
THE SPIRIT AND TRADITIONS THAT MAKE DUNEDIN SO SPECIAL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. NOW OFF TO GET READY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO, TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS A LITTLE SURPRISE AT BAND CAMP. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> OKAY, EVERYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK.
SNAR. SNA. >> HELLO, I AM MUCH BETTER ON STAGE THAN I AM DOING THIS. SO LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS KIRSTEN STIFFWALKER AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRESSIVE ARTS THEATER. FOR THERELY 15 YEARS PROGRESSIVE ARTS THEATER HAS BEEN PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PERFORMING ART
EXPERIENCES WHILE CREATING A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS. WE BELIEVE ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE AND INCLUSION GO HAND IN HAND. EVERY PRODUCTION IS HELD TO A HIGH STANDARD. WHILE ENSURING THAT CHILDREN, TEENS, AND ADULTS NEURODIVERGENT
PERFORMERS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE. GOODNESS GRACIOUS. OUR ADULT COMPANY IS ALSO EQUALLY INCREDIBLE AND WE ARE BUILDING UPON THAT EVERY DAY. WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS COMING AHEAD. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR THEATER IS
WHAT COMMUNITY IS ABOUT. BRINGING GENERATIONS TOGETHER THROUGH LOVE, KINDNESS, SUPPORT, AND THE ARTS. IN JUST THE LAST SIX MONTHS ALONE, WE HAVE PRODUCED THREE MAJOR MUSICALS, REACHED HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THROUGH CAMPS AND PERFORMANCES, AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE PROGRESSIVE ARTS THEATER AND THE CITY OF DUNEDIN THROUGH MULTIPLE TELEVISION NETWORK NEWS COVERAGE. WE'VE DONE IN STUDIO SPOTS AS WELL AS A SEGMENT THAT WAS FILMED RIGHT HERE IN DUNEDIN. WE LOVE TO SHINE AND PUT A SPOT
LIGHT ON OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN. PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY MUSICAL THEATER IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY KNOW UNLESS THEY'RE A PART OF IT. THE PERFORMANCE RIGHTS ALONE FOR JUST ONE MAJOR MUSICAL TYPICALLY
RANGES BETWEEN 1500 AND $3,000. AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING RENTALS, SET CONSTRUCTION, LIGHTING, SOUND, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND COUNTLESS OTHER EXPENSES. NOT TO MENTION WE TRY TO GIVE AWAY AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. AND WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING CALLED CARSON TICKETS NAMED
AFTER MY DAUGHTER WHERE WE GIVE 100 FREE TICKETS AWAY TO FAMILIES THAT ARE FINANCIALLY IN NEED OR ARE NEURODIVERGENT. WE ALSO REALLY EXCITED AND HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER WE ALWAYS DO THEATER IN THE PARK. IT IS FREE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE WE DO HAVE VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE, WE USUALLY ARE MORE ABOUT BRINGING THE FREE THEATER TO THE ARTS. AND INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY OF DUNEDIN MAKES ALL OF THIS HELP POSSIBLE. IT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES WHILE KEEPING THEM AFFORDABLE
FOR LOCAL FAMILIES. WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR MAIN STAGE PRODUCTIONS AND OUR TOURING PRODUCTIONS. SO THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR THESE PEOPLE. YOU'LL OFTEN FIND US THROUGHOUT
DUNEDIN PERFORMING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, IN OUR PARKS, DURING HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, AND MANY TIMES IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE VFW. IF YOU'RE ATTENDED A COMMUNITY EVENT AT ALL IN THE LAST YEAR, YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN MY FACE AND THOSE FACES OF THE KIDS AND ADULTS THAT LOVE TO PERFORM FOR
FREE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR RECOGNIZING% PROGRESSIVE ARTS THEATER AND THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST, AND FOR INVESTING IN OUR ORGANIZATION. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING
FORWARD AND DOING BIGGER, BETTER THINGS. BUT REGARDLESS OF ABILITY OR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE LIVE THEATER IN PERSON OR TO BE ON STAGE. NO MATTER WHAT THEIR ABILITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU! >> [OFF MIC] >> NOW I'M HEADED TO CAMP. I WISH I COULD HEAR EVERYBODY. BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE
REC. GOOD-BYE. A. >> MAYOR FREANEY: MICROPHONE. YEAH, CAN YOU JUST TIME BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO KEEP US TO THREE MINUTES BECAUSE -- WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE POLITE TO EVERYBODY BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GET EVERYTHING IN SO OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? >> ALL RIGHT, COME ON. COME ON, GEORGE ANNE.
HELLO. WELCOME. NOT GEORGIA WASHINGTON, TODAY I'M STEVE BEATTY, BOARD CHAIR OF THE DUNEDIN HISTORY MUSEUM MAYOR VICE MAYOR COMMISSION, CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGERS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER EVERYONE HERE THANK YOU SO MUCH WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE HOW YOU SUPPORT US IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT US, WE, THE BOARD IS SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. WE'VE TURNED THE HISTORY MUSEUM AROUND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE BECOME VERY VISIONARY, WE STILL FOLLOW THE PHILOSOPHY WHERE WE'RE OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO ARCHIVE THE HISTORY OF DUNEDIN BUT WE'RE ALSO BEING VISIONARY AND BRINGING ON LIKE OUR HISTORY
MAKERS AND BRINGING IN THE YOUNGER CROWD AND LAST YEAR YOU MIGHT REMEMBER JUST PAST RECENTLY WE DID THE 50 YEARS OF THE BLUE JAYS JAYS AND THEY WY PROFICIENTATIVE OF THAT. WE SUPPLIED 2U RAWNTO -- APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. WE PROVIDED TORONTO ALL THE FOOTAGE AND ARCHIVED A BUNCH OF
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, DIFFERENT ARTIFACTS, AND WE'VE PROVIDED THAT TORONTO TOO. SO BUT WHAT I DID BRING TODAY THAT CAN SPEAK TO MORE IS GEORGE ANNE WASHINGTON. SO GEORGE ANNE'S GOING TO TELL US MORE. >> AND I DIDN'T KNOCK DOWN THE CHERRY TREE.
RIGHT, QUICKLY FOLLOWING THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A BANNER YEAR FOR THIS HISTORY MUSEUM AND OTHER HISTORY MUSEMS. WHY? WE CELEBRATED 250 YEARS OF AMERICA. AND WE WERE HONORED BY THE DAR NATIONALLY AS BEING OUTSTANDING
IN CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY'S BIRTHDAY. I WANT TO SAY, STEVE HIT MOST OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. THE BLUE JAYS, THE HISTORY MAKERS. THE MAIN THING THAT I FEEL IS OUR THREE PARTS OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM ANDREW'S MEMORIAL CHAPEL,
THE SHOP AND THE MUSEUM THAT WE ARE AMBASSADORS A GATEWAY FOR THIS CITY. I CANNOT TELL YOU THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR CITY THAT WALK INTO OUR SHOP BECAUSE WE'RE VERY WELL LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO MAIN STREET AND THE BUCS CAR AND PINELLAS TRAIL THAT'S LANE'S
LEMONADES IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE BUCS CAR AND PEOPLE COME IN -- >> MAYOR FREANEY: SHAMELESS PLUG. >> AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE SO WELL TRAINED WE IMMEDIATELY CAN HELP THEM. AND TELL THEM THE BLEST PLACE TO EAT OF COURSE ALL THE PLACES ARE
GOOD TO EAT. AND WE LOVE WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THE EVENTS. I'VE NEVER BEEN A HUGE CHRISTMASSY PERSON BUT THIS YEAR WITH SANTA CLAUS AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM I WAS OVERWHELMED BY ALL THOSE CHILDREN. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY, I WANT
TO THANK LES WHO'S SO PATIENT WITH QUESTIONS AND HELPING. I WANT TO THANK TONY, MAINTENANCE, EVERYONE, AND OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR AND OUR COMMISSIONERS. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR US, AND WE HOPE YOU CAN KEEP -- WE CAN KEEP US DOING EVERYTHING
JUST AS WELL AND THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU BOTH. YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB. OKAY, ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON -- >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. CHRISTINA GARCIA, DUNEDIN CARES COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
SO BECAUSE OF YOU ALL, WE WERE ABLE TO FEED 30,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOP WITH DIGNITY, COME INSIDE THE PANTRY, SELECT THEIR ITEMS, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE WAY OF HELPING OUR GUESTS, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF YOU
ALL. SO I OF COURSE LOVE YOU ALL. YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, FOR YOUR HELP. YOU COME TO OUR EVENTS, YOU SUPPORT US CONSISTENTLY, AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD? >> I'M SHORT, SORRY. MY NAME IS TIFFANY EATON. I'M WITH THE DUNEDIN MIDDLE
SCHOOL PIPE BAND, NOT JUST PIPE BAND, ALL OF THE BANDS. WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR HAS BUILT A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM. WE HAVE OVER 200 STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE FROM BEGINNING BAND, ADVANCED BAND, PIPE BAND, JAZZ BAND, COLOR GUARD, HIGHLAND DANCE, AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
ANYONE WHO'S BEEN IN A MUSICAL ORGANIZATION KNOWS THAT IT'S A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE. LINDSEY TOLD US ALL ABOUT IT. SOME OF OUR PIPERS ARE SECOND GENERATION PIPERS, THEIR PARENTS WENT TO DUNEDIN MIDDLE, THEY'RE PROBABLY WEARING THE SAME KILT THAT THEIR PARENTS WORE, SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER SEEN A BAGPIPE BEFORE AND THEY GO ONTO PLAY AT
THE HIGH SCHOOL, TO PLAY IN THE CITY BAND, TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND, IT'S REALLY AMAZING. OUR BAND HAS A FANTASTIC REPUTATION. WE ALSO ROUTINELY GET SUPERIORS ON OUR MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS. HIGH MARKS AT MUSIC FESTIVALS WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING NOW TWO OR TEA YEARS IN A ROW TO WORLD
STRIDES MUSIC FESTIVALS WHERE WE CONSISTENTLY PERFORM VERY, VERY WELL. THIS YEAR IT'S REALLY EXCITING OUR BAND AND THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND ARE GOING TO OPEN THE FLORIDA MUSIC EDUCATORS CONFERENCE IN THE FALL SO IT'S REALLY VERY EXCITING IT JUST HAPPENED. BUT ALL OF THAT COSTS MONEY
UNFORTUNATELY, AND WE ARE A TITLE 1 SCHOOL, AND SO WHEN WE TRAVEL TO THESE PLACES WE TRY TO AFTER AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THESE GREAT EXPERIENCES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. WE WENT TO ORLANDO LAST YEAR, NEW ORLEANS THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO ATLANTA.
JUST OUR EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE ALONE IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR BY ITSELF. TO WEAR KILTS BECAUSE WE OUTFIT NOT THE BEGINNING BAND BUT THE ADVANCED BAND, THE JAZZ BAND, THE DANCERS HAVE THEIR OWN
KILTS. WE WEAR OUR ROYAL STUART TARTAN AND THEY ARE I I AM NOT KIDDING BEEN WORN BY THE SWEATY MIDDLE SCHOOLERS SINCE THE 1950s. WE HAVE SOME SPORT KILTS THAT DON'T QUITE MATCH AND AREN'T REALLY LIKE IN KEEPING WITH TRADITION.
SO WE HAVE BEEN FUNDRAISING OVER A FEW YEARS AND WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO REPLENISH THOSE KILTS FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND YOU KNOW GLEN ANYWHERIES AND SPORTENS THAT ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WITH IT SO THIS IS A THING. WE GOT A GRANT LAST YEAR WE GOT ALL NEW KILTS FOR OUR DANCERS
WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING AND SO NOW WE'RE FOCUSINGEN OUR BABS. SO WE EALY -- FOCUSBING ON OUR BANDS. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND IT WILL HEPPE HELP US QUITE A BIT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD?
JOAN. >> HOLEO. HI, I'M JOAN MCHALE AND I'M REPRESENTING THE SCOTTISH AMERICAN SOCIETY AND FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LAST YEAR'S AWARD. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? ISMGHT YEP, MM-HMM. >> WE SPENT IT ON EDUCATION, WE GAVE OUT LOTS OF DONATIONS OF
FINANCIAL AID TO STUDENTS, AND WE BOUGHT SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR OUR GENEALOGY PROGRAM. AND THEN WE PUT MONEY INTO OUR HERITAGE EVENTS EVERY YEAR WE KIND OF HAVE FOUR ANNUAL EVENTS ALL THE SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL EVENTS WE DO THAT EVERY YEAR YE
PUT THAT ON THE KALAN DIRS FIRST. LAST YEAR WE HOSTED IONA FIFE A SINGER FROM SCOTLAND. SHE ALSO HELD A WORKSHOP FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SINGING GROUP SO THAT WAS FUN. BUT THIS YEAR WE PLAN TO USE OUR AWARD ON EDUCATION AGAIN.
WE CAN'TB GO WRONG WITH THAT. IT BEGINS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE PIPERS AND DRUMMERS BUT IT BEGINS EVEN EARLIER FOR THE DANCERS THAT ISTART AT 3. AND WE ALSO HAVE A ON THE FLIP SIDE WE HAVE A PIPER WHO'S IN HIS 80s. IN OUR PIPE BAND ON A WEDNESDAY
NIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE THAT ATTEND OUR CENTER AND TAKE LESSONS. INCENTIVES, IMA WAY WE CAN. WE'RE GOING TO ALSO INVEST IN THE PROGRAMS LAST YEAR WE SPEAR-HEADED A HERITAGE DAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN IN
THE SPRING DURING TARTAN WEEK. AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR OLD BUILDING. EVERY TIME WE DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING ELSE GOES SO THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE -- WE'RE GOING DO THE MAIN HALL SEALING WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE SOME LIGHTING,
WE'RE GOING TO MODERNIZE IT, GET RID OF THE OLD FLERESCENT STRIP LIGHTING AND PUT IN SOME NEWLIGHTS. PUT IN A COMMERCIAL DISH WASHER AND AN ICE MACHINE SO I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDING US FOR THIS REQUEST, AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY
A COMPETITIVE FIELD AND WE REALIZE THAT AND WE'RE, REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL. WE WON'T WASTE A DOLLAR AND WE HOPE YOU THE CITY COMMISSION WILL APPROVE THIS REQUEST. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU AND YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS OVER AT THAT BUILDING.
OKAY, ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FOREWORD? >> HI, MY NAME IS SARAH MAC ADOW AND I'M THE FOUNDER OF FREEMAN SOUND.ORG. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND CITY STAFF. FREEMAN SOUND WAS CREATED FROM
LOVE AND LOSS. MY SON KYLE, HIS STAGE NAME WAS FREEMAN SOUND HE WAS A DJ AND MUCIC PRODUCERS IN ST. PETERSBURG AND HE LOST HIS BATTLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN
2016. SO OUR FAMILY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF STRUGGLING WITH THIS DECIDED WE DID NOT WANT TO BE DEFINED BY THIS EVENT. WE WANTED TO HELP OTHERS BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT HAVE ANY OTHER FAMILIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES. OUR MISSION IS TO USE THE POWER
OF MUSIC TO REDUCE STIGMA. WE OFFER CONCERTS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT ONLY IS IT JUST A CONCERT BUT IT'S AN IMPERSIVE EXPERIENCE AND WE BRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TOGETHER BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO FEEL A PART OF SOMETHING.
I DON'T HAVE TO PUT FACTS ANDPHICS UP FOR YOU ALL. YOU KNOW WE'RE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. YOU KNOW WE'RE IN A LONELINESS CRISIS. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD THAT ARE OUT OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL BUT STILL DO AFFECT US AND SO WE FEEL THAT YOU KNOW MENTAL HEALTH REALLY NEEDS TO TAKE A FRONT SEAT.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED. ONE EXAMPLE I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IS LOOPEN TO THE LIGHT, DUNEDIN WALKS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
WE STARTED OUT WHERE 30 PEOPLE FROM THE HOB, AND LAST YEAR WE HAD UPWARDS OF 180 PEOPLE WHO CARRIED LIGHTED CHINESE LANTERNS DOWN EDGEWATER AT SUNSET. WE LOOPED AROUND AT FENWAY, THE DUNEDIN HIGH SCHOOL PIPERS AND
SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL PIPERS AND DRUMMERS AND DANCERS JOINED US AT THE FENWAY. IT WAS REMARKABLE. IT WAS AMAZING. A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND WE WERE THANKFUL FOR THAT.
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, CREATIVE PINELLAS, WUSF JAZZ AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, IN OUR COMMUNITY WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS TOGETHER. JUST FOR ONE SIMPLE REASON THAT FLORIDA IS NUMBER THREE IN
POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE REMAIN IN THE BOTTOM FIVE USUALLY THE BOTTOM TWO FOR FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH. SO IF WE DON'T DO IT IN A COMMUNITY FORUM, I MEAN, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST, WE'RE NOT GOING TO REALLY SEE THE HELP FINANCIALLY THAT WE TRULY NEED.
THE GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THESE PROGRAMS, AND INVITE OTHERS IN. OTHERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING. OTHERS THAT ARE DIFFERENT. OTHERS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY CONFORM TO ALL OF OUR SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS THAT WE HAVE. SO EVERYONE'S WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS MY FIRST GRANT APPLICATION SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS UP HERE. BUT WE BELIEVE MUSIC IS MORE THAN ENTERTAINMENT. IT'S A BRIDGE THAT'S CONNECTS PEOPLE, STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS MENTAL
WELL-BEING. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, FREEMAN SOUND CAN CONTINUE HELPING MAKE DUNEDIN A PLACE WHERE WE DON'T JUST LIVE AND HAVE FUN, BUT WE REALLY THRIVE IN ALL ASPECTSF OUR LIFE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, SARAH. THANKS FOR TAKING PERSONAL
TRAGEDY AND MAKING SOMETHING GOOD IF YOU COULD SO TAKES COURAGE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? WE DON'T KNOW THIS WOMAN AT ALL. >> TROUBLE MAKER ALWAYS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR,
COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGEMENT, EVERYONE, I'M ANDREA KNOLLS I'M DIRECTOR, ACTUALLY PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DUNEDIN FINE ART CENTER. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY ON BEHAF OF OUR BOARD, STAFF, ARTISTS, VOLUNTEERS AND THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE EACH YEAR WE WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. WE'RE PROUD TO GENERATE ROUGHLY 70% OF OUR OPERATING REVENUE THROUGH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF EARNED INCOME OPPORTUNITIES. THAT MEANS YOUR DOLLARS, THE CITY'S INVESTMENT, ARE LEVERAGED
INTO SOMETHING MUCH LARGER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. EVERY DAY DFAC CREATES VALUE FOR THE CITY. WE DO THAT BY DRIVING TOURISM THROUGH A STRONG REGIONAL AND NATIONAL PRESENCE, WE SUPPORT LOCAL AORTARTISTS -- ARTISTESS,
WE EDUCATE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND WE ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LAYOFF THAT MAKES DUNEDIN SUCH -- OF LIFE THAT MAKES DUNEDIN SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE. THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BEST YET, A BANNER YEAR, NUMBERS ARE SOARING. WE WON FIVE BEST OF THE BAY
AWARDS. FIVE BEST OF THE BEST AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST MUSEUM FROM THE TAMPA BAY TIMES, WE SERVED 1,200 STUDENTS FROM OVER 30 SCHOOLS
WHICH WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE ARTS EDUCATION AND FIELD TRIPS AT THE ARTS CENTER, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED OUR FIRST EVER DFAC CON ATTRACTING NEW AUDIENCES TO THE ARTS CENTER. WE CONTINUED PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS OF LOCAL ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT AND SELL THEIR WORK, AND MORE THAN
5,000 DUNEDIN RESIDENTS BENEFITED FROM RESIDENT DITS COUNTS FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND CLASSES, KEEPING THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY. BEHIND THE SCENES WE'VE STRENGTHENED OUR ORGANIZATION BY MODERNIZING OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR TECHNOLOGY, BUILDING, WE
BUILT SOME LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND STABILITY THROUGH SOME GREAT DONATIONS, AND WE'VE BEGUN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS WITH THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS WHICH IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DISTINCTION THAT PLACES MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
AMONG THE FINEST IN THE COUNTRY. WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A DYNAMIC FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT POSITIONS DFAC TO REMAIN A STRONG SUSTAINABLE PARTNER FOR MANY YEARS TO COME WITH THE CITY. BECAUSE OF ALL THIS, WE BELIEVE THAT THE DUNEDIN FINE ARTS CENTER DOESN'T JUST SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HELP TO DEFINE IT. WE ARE PROUD TO BE ONE OF DUNEDIN'S GREATEST COMMUNITY ASSETS, AND WE ARE HONORED TO DO THIS WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, ANDREA. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD
AND SPEAK? >> I'M, MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT THE LAST MINUTE SO SHE ASKED ME TO BE FOR THE DUNEDIN YOUTH GUILD. MY WIFE'S PRESIDENT, SO MARIE BEATTY AND YOU KNOW THE YOUTH, DUNEDIN YOUTH GUILD HAS BEEN AROUND 60 YEARS, AND THEY SO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU
PROVIDE FOR THEM AND IF YOU'RE A STUENT IN DUNEDIN OR YOU LIVE IN DUNEDIN, THEY CYST THE -- THEY ASSIST THE STUDENTS. THEY GAVE OUT OVER $50,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS LAST YEAR AND MOST OF THOSE CONTINUE EVERY YEAR. AND THEY DID OVER $40,000 ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THROUGH THEIR TWO MAIN EVENTS, THE TOUR OF HOMES, AND THE FASHION SHOW WHICH MANY OF YOU HELP WITH, WE THANK THE MAYOR, THE COMMISSION, THE VICE MAYOR, ALL OF YOU THAT MAN THOSE EVENTS AND HELP OUT SHE WANTED TO THANK YOU BUT SHE COULD NOT BE HERE DUE TO A WORK SITUATION
THAT CAME UP. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF DUNEDIN YOUTH GID. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO ARE YOU SURE IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE NEW PUPPY SHE COULDN'T BE HERE? >> NO, NO, BUT LOUIE IS WELL KNOWN AROUND TOWN. KING LOUIE. KING LOUIE. >> MAYOR FREANEY: HE'S AWESOME. HE'S ADORABLE. THANK YOU FOR THAT AND OF COURSE
DUNEDIN YOUTH GUILD IS AMAZING, SO. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS CAMILLE HELP TING. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR NAMI PINELLAS COUNTY, NAMI STANDS FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, AND I'M SO GLAD I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE USUALLY I'M ALWAYS THE FIRST IN
THE ROOM. I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR AWARDING US WITH A GRANT LAST YEAR. IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME LAST YEAR, AND IT REALLY HELPED US WITH STRENGTHENING THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE ALREADY HAD IN DUNEDIN, BUT THAT REALLY BENEFITED FROM YOU KNOW THE LEGITIMACY OF
HAVING YOU KNOW THE CITY OF DUNEDIN LOGO ON OUR PROGRAM FLIERS. WE DO BELIEVE THAT ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GO HAND IN HAND. AND SO LAST YEAR WE REALLY FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT THAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE CITY OF DUNEDIN
WITH OUR SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP THAT HAPPENS AT THE DUNEDIN COMMUNED CENTER. AND THIS -- COMMUNITY CENTER AND THIS YEAR WE WILL BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THIS PROGRAM BY ADDING SOME EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS AND WHO MAY BE
A LITTLE LOST IN WHAT CAN I DO. RIGHT, HOW IS THIS GOING TO GO FOR ME AND WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP. SO I WANTED TO REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER OUR APPLICATION AND FOR OUR AWARD LAST YEAR AND ALSO I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK COMMISSIONER GOW FOR ATTENDING OUR NAMI WALKS EVENT THIS PAST
MAY IN SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IT MEANS A LOT TO US. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO TO COME FORWARD? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M DAVID, I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORLY CARE NETWORK, YOU
MIGHT NOT KNOW NEIGHBORLY CARE NETWORK BUT YOU KNOW MEALS ON WHEELS AND WHREE PROVIDED 23,000 MEALS THIS YEAR TO DUNEDIN RESIDENTS ALMOST 500,000 TO ALL OF PINELLAS COUNTY. WE PROVIDED ALMOST 10,000 TRIPS TO 2K50U7BD RESIDENTS GETTING SENIORS TO DOCTOR APPOINMENTS, GETTING THEM TO DUNEDIN CARES FOR GROCERIES OR WHATEVER ELSE
NEED BE. SO YOU KNOW NEIGHBORLY. IT'S A MOTHER WAYS OTHER THAN THAT. NEIGHBORLY ALWAYS APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF DUNEDIN OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE. THE COMMITTEE ON AGING IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE COMMITTEES IN ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PINELLAS COUNTY. WE'RE SO BIG, HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLING HERE ARE ON THE COMMITTEE AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE PROVIDED OVER $440,000 WORTH OF SERVICES IN DUNEDIN. THIS PAST YEAR. SO EVERY BIT GOES TO HELP, AND AGAIN MOST, A LOT OF 230UR% FUNDING IS -- OUR FUNDING IS
FEDERAL AND REQUIRES A 10% MATCH SO WE'RE ALWAYS STUMPING FOR THE $44,000 THAT WE TRYING TO GET TO FROM THE COMMUNITY SO EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO HERE HELPS US OUT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: GREAT, THANK YOU, DAVE. ANYONE ELSE WISH TO COME FORWARD?
OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS A QUESTION OF ANY ORGANIZATION WHICH YOU CAN DO IN YOUR FINAL COMMENTS BUT I'LL JUST TURN TO FINAL COMMENTS AND DO WE -- DO WE -- WE DON'T DO
ANY, DO WE APPROVE THIS OR JUST DO CONSENSUS BASICALLY? >> CONSENSUS DIRECTION AND IT'LL BE WRAPPED INTO THE BUDGET THAT YOU ADOPT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, GREAT, TIME COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN. >> IT WAS JUST VERY ENCOURAGING TO GET TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE TO SAY. AND IT'S REALLY REFRESHING TO
HEAR NICE THINGS BEING SAID. BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE STAND THERE AND IT'S NOT SO NICE, BUT YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN AND TO SHARE AND BE A PARTNER WITH EACH OF YOU YOU KNOW I KNOW ALL OF YOU PERSONALLY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR DUNEDIN, AND AS MUCH AS YOU GIVE
BACK TO US SO THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GOW, FINAL COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ALL DAY LONG. TO ORGANIZATIONS -- TWO
ORGANIZATIONS I WASN'T EXPECTING. SORRY ABOUT THIS. WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS PART OF THE BUDGET, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED, AND THE SERVICES THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL ILLNESS
OR THE HISTORY MUSEUM OR THE FINE ARTS CENTER, WHETHER IT'S CULTURAL, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL, THESE ARE ALL GOOD PEOPLE. GOOD ORGANIZATIONS, DOING THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN'T.
THERE IS NO WAY THE CITY CAN REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OR PROVIDE THE NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO. SO I AM JUST, I CAN'T BE MORE
PROUD TO SIT UP HERE AND TO KNOW THAT THROUGH SYNERGY AND WORKING WITH PARTNERSX COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THAT WE CAN HAVE THE IMPACT THAT WE DO. SO THANK EVERYBODY FOR APPLYING. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM. AND WHAT YOU DO FROM THE MEMBERS
OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S IT, MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND WE KNOW MENTAL HEALTH HITS YOU HARD RIGHT NOW. NOT YOU PERSONALLY BUT EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED IN YOUR WORLD THIS YEAR. COMMISSIONER DUGARD.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I KNOW MOST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS ON A PERSONAL BASIS. GIVEN MY TIME AND SOME OF MY MONEY TO MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM. AND I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE NEAR THE PLACE IT IS
TODAY WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU GUYS MAKE. I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND TO BE A PART. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: VICE MAYOR, FINAL COMMENTS. >> YES, MAYOR YOU KNOW, THIS IS,
THIS IS TRULY -- IN THE BRIGHT SILVER LINING TO THE BUDGET SEASON AND ESPECIALLY THIS BUDGET SEASON. IT'S THIS. YOU KNOW, DUNEDIN'S GREATEST STRENGTH IS OUR PEOPLE. AND THESE GRANTS ARE NOT JUST INVESTMENTS IN OUR NOT FOR
PROFITS. THEY ARE INVESTMENT IN THE COULDN'T CONTINUITY OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, AND HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH SO MANY OF YOU, AND HAVING BEEN
PROUD TO SAY THAT YOU'RE ALL VERY, VERY SPECIAL TO ME, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU.
AND YOU'RE BIG UP THERE ON THAT SCREEN. I'M FELLING YOU WHAT. [LAUGHTER] >> YEAH. >> YOU'VE TAKEN OVER THE ROOM NOW. >> I FEEL THE PRESENCE. [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR FREANEY: NO, I MEAN, I JUST TAG ONTO EVERYTHING. I WAS LIKE WRITING THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A COMMENTAL HEALTH
GROUPS -- COUPLE MENTAL HELL GROUPS, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME TOUCH, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONER GOW'S SITUATION. BUT YOU KNOW AND I THINK SOMEBODY SAID MAYBE SARAH IT WAS YOU ABOUT LONELINESS AND YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE.
THE MORE TECHNOLOGY PUSHES US AWAY FROM INTERACTION WITH EACH OTHER THE BIGGER THAT IS AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT IS SO GOOD AND THEN I THINK ABOUT THE OTHR ORGANIZATIONS GIVING FOOD OR ARTS OR HISTORY, OUR MUSIC OR SCOTTISH CULTURE, MEALS ON WHEELS, DUNEDIN YOUTH GUILD AND ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU
KNOW TRY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO FIGHT LONELINESS AND KEEP CRITICAL SERVICES YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THEY ARE ALL DOING VERY, VERY CRITICAL STUFF TO BUILD COMMUNITY, AND PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THAT LONELINESS AND THOSE
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND SO GOT TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE GOT TO DO. THIS IS WE LOVE ABOUT DUNEDIN THERE IS SO MUCH PASSION AND I SAY THAT YOU KNOW WE'RE UP HERE MAKING THIS DECISION BUT THE REALITY THIS IS MONEY THE COMMUNITY HAS DEEMED GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO KEEP THAT
COMMUNITY GOING AND TO MAKE US AS TIGHT AND AS YOU KNOW THINKING ABOUT EACH OTHER AS WE CAN BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL. I BELIEVE. SO I OBVIOUSLY AM 100% SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND AGAIN AS WE MOVE FORKED WITH AMENDMENT 3
WE'RE -- WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AMENDMENT 3 WE'RE GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO PROTECT SOME OF THIS BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING BECAUSE AGAIN YOU'RE GIVING 10 FOLD FOR WHAT YOU'RE GETTING HERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF DUNEDIN SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. I THINK WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK ONTO HEALTH CARE AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT HEALTH CARE, YOU CAN STAY. [APPLAUSE] WE'LL GIVE YOU GUY AS MINUTE TO CLEAR. GIVE LOUIE A HUG, STEVE.
YOU KNOW? >> [OFF MIC]
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANKS FOR PASSING IT DOWN. OKAY. WE'VE LOST SOMEBODY. WE'VE LOST TWO. >> AM I EVER REALLY ALL HERE. SORRY THAT WAS -- >> SO I'M JUST GOING TO -- LET'S JUST TAKE A PAUSE FOR THREE MINUTES. WAIT FOR COMMISSIONER DUGARD AND
I'M GOING TO GET SOME WATER.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO RESTART AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND I THINK WE WERE BASICALLY AT THE QUESTION TIME. SO I AM GOING TO START WITH COMMISSIONER GOW FOR QUESTIONS
ON HEALTH CARE. >> NO QUESTIONS OTHER THAN HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT I THINK THAT'S BEYOND THIS ROOM. [LAUGHTER] SORRY. >> MAYOR FREANEY: IT'S A LONG STORY. WE WERE DEBATING -- YEAH, NEVER MIND.
COMMISSIONER DUGARD. >> QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE A NUMBER OF REACTIONS TO ALL OF THIS BUT I PROBABLY NEED TO STAY ON THE IMMEDIATE RATHER THAN THE GLOBAL RELATIVE TO HEALTH CARE. BUT JUST LET'S KEEP ONE THING IN MIND AS I'M ABOUT READY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS.
AND THAT IS WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT OUTCOMES ANYWHERE IN THIS CONVERSATION. WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF OUR EMPLOYEES NOT ONCE AND I WILL TELL YOU THE YARD STICK ON THAT IS HORRIBLE. THE PRICES ARE GOING UP, AND THE
OUTCOMES AREN'T SHOWING UP A COMMENSURATE IMPROVEMENT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING QUESTIONS. >> QUESTIONS, I'M SORRY. >> WE -- MISS SAID THAT PART. >> MAYOR FREANEY: BUT YEAH. >> SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT?
[LAUGHTER] >> SOMETHING I WOULD'VE DONE. >> BY THE WAY, I NEED TO COUCH THAT A LITTLE BIT. THERESA I SAW WHAT YOU ARE
TRYING TO DO IN IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT IS INCREDIBLE BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE THE COST RESIDES AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT. SO TO PUT THIS IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION. [LAUGHTER] AND TO GET BACK ON PAGE, MY
APOLOGIES, MAYOR, THIS IS A CONUNDRUM. THIS IS A GUARDIAN KNOT, AND WE'RE ALL TRAPPED INSIDE IT. AND EVEN IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THEY'RE TRAPPED INSIDE IT TOO. SO IT'S NOT ONE THAT WE CAN CAST BLAME TO ANYBODY ON.
SO THE PROBLEM BECOMES DO WE SHARE OR DO WE NOT SHARE THE COST WITH OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IF I LOOK AT THIS RIGHT, AND I THINK I AM, I'M SEEING THE COST OF OUR PERSONNEL COSTS GOING UP FRACTIONALLY TO THE PERCENTAGE OF HEALTH CARE COSTS. IN OTHER WORDS THEY'RE OUTPACING
EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR PERSONNEL EXPENSEST IS. IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? >>> THAT WOULD BE A FAIR STATEMENT, COMMISSIONER OR I GUESS I SHOULD SAY THERESA SMALLING, DIRECTOR OF HR AND RISK MANAGEMENT. >> I GOOFED YOU UP COMPLETELY.
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. >> AND I THINK THAT'S A SYSTEMWIDE ISSUE. GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT OUTCOMES, I THINK FOR THE
MISSION, FROM THE TIME I STARTED HERE, WAS HOW DO WE TAKE -- ALLOW OUR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH. AND THE START WAS THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. ACTUALLY WE STARTED WITH THE CLINIC.
BECAUSE WE WANTED EMPLOYEES TO HAVE HEALTH CARE THAT WAS ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH OR SUCH BAD HEALTH AMONG IN
AMERICA REALLY IS BECAUSE LOT PEOPLE WILL GIVE UP THEIR MEDICAL TO SAVE MONEY. AND SO WE STARTED WITH A CLINIC WHERE EMPLOYEES COULD GO FOR FREE, AND GET THEIR PREVENTIVE. THIS WAS BEFORE PREVENTIVE
BECAME ZERO COST. AND THAT WORKED FOR AWHILE, AND THEN IT WAS NOT COST EFFECTIVE, SO WE STARTED THE WELLNESS PROGRAM, AND THE WELLNESS PROGRAM WAS TO EDUCATE EMPLOYEES TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BECOME EMPOWERED ABOUT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR HEALTH. SO THE ANNUAL BIOMETRIC, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY KNOW THEIR NUMBERS, AND SO IF THEY'RE ON THE CUSP OF BECOMING HYPERTENSIVE, IF THEY'RE ON THE CUSP OF BECOMING DIABETIC THEN
THEY'RE ON NOTICE, AND THE MONIES FOR THE WELLNESS PROGRAM WAS FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAY OKAY, I CAN GO SEE THE DOCTOR. BECAUSE I'M GETTING THIS EXTRA MONEY. THE PROBLEM WITH A WELLNESS PROGRAM IS IT NEVER MEASURES WHO
DIDN'T GET SICK. IT DOESN'T REALLY TELL YOU WHO DIDN'T HAVE A HEART ATTACK BECAUSE THEY ARE HEALTHY NOW OR WHO DIDN'T BECOME HYPERTENSIVE. OR WHO DIDN'T BECOME A CHRONIC
DIABETIC. BUT INCREMENTALLY I THINK WHAT WE HAVE DONE YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH OUR WELLNESS FAIRS, WITH OUR OUR INCENTIVES IS TO SAY TO EMPLOYEES WE WANT YOU TO BE HEALTHY. AND IN OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT
MEETINGS, WE TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE DID WAS TALK ABOUT THE COST OF GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM VERSUS GOING TO AN URGENT CARE CENTER. BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW NO ONE IN THIS ROOM DOES THIS BUT YOU'LL HAVE THIS COUGH,
AND YOU'LL GO, IT'S, IT'LL GO AWAY. AND THEN USUALLY AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING YOU CAN BARELY BREATHE SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO THE E.R. WHEREAS AT NOON WHEN YOU HAD THE COUGH, YOU COULD'VE GONE TO THE URGENT CARE CENTER FOR PROBABLY
A THIRD OF THE MONEY THAT IT COSTS THE CITY. SO WE HAVE BEEN INCREMENTALLY EDUCATING OUR EMPLOYEES ON WAYS THAT YOU CAN SAVE MONEY, AND I KNOW THIS PROBABLY DOES NOT SATISFACTORILY ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S AS YOU SAID, THE NOT THAT -- THE KNOT THAT YOU CAN'T UNTIE. >> THAT IS A GOOD ANSWER THOUGH. THERE IS A PREMISE INSIDE OUR CALCULATIONS RELATIVE TO OUR
HEALTH CARE. AND THAT IS IT'S A COMPETITIVE FEATURE OF ACQUIRING THE BEST PEOPLELES FOR THE JOBS WE HAVE. HAVE WE TESTED THE HYPOTHESIS TO SEE WHEN AND IF HEALTH CARE IS A DETERMINANT IN SOMEONE DECIDING TO COME TO WORK FOR US VERSUS OTHERS?
>> I WOULD SAY WE HAVE NOT BECAUSE HONESTLY WHEN YOU TALK TO THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, SAY THEY'RE DOING AN EXIT INTERVIEW, AND YOU, THEY TELL YOU WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND YOU ASK WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS LIKE, AND THEY'LL USUALLY SAY I'LL KNOW WHEN I GET THERE.
SO. >> THAT WOULD INFER THAT IT'S NOT. OKAY. >> THAT WOULD INFER THAT IT'S NOT, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE EMPLOYEES THAT COME FROM OTHER AGENCIES HAVE SAID WE HAVE REALLY GOOD HEALTH CARE. >> WOULD A SURVEY LIKE I'M ABOUT READY TO DESCRIBE BE OF MERIT?
FOR INSTANCE, WE KNOW THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO COST SHARE THE EXPENSE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS RELATIVE TO GENERAL COMPENSATION. HAVE WE EVER THOUGHT OF GIIVETTING THAT SURVEY TO UR-- GIVING THAT SURVEY TO OUR
EMPLOYEES TO SEE WHERE THEY WANT THAT MONEY TO GO RATHER THAN US MAKING THE DECISION? >> WE COMPLETED AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, AND I HONESTLY DON'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. >> SO YES THAT WOULD BE THE
ANSWER. >> YES -- >> I'M NOT SURE AT THIS POINT. I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK OUR LAST SURVEYS. I KNOW WE DID A WELLNESS SURVEY TO ASK OUR EMPLOYEES WHAT MORE THEY WANTED OUT OF THEIR WELLNESS PROGRAM. >> I THINK ACTUALLY IF I MAY, MAYOR, THAT IT'S A GREAT
QUESTION, AND IF IT WASN'T IN THE LAST ONE IT'LL BE IN THE NEXT ONE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU THERESA. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY. VICE MAYOR, QUESTIONS ON HEALTH
CARE. >> JUST IF YOU COULD JUST STEP ME THROUGH AND SUMMARIZE WHAT THE ATTRIBUTES BETWEEN OPTION NUMBER 2 AND 3 ARE BECAUSE THEY LOOK REALLY SIMILAR. AND AND IN TERMS OF THE COST OF IT, BUT THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S
NOT 100% OF THE PICTURE. SO I'M ANYWAY, JUST WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTES IN THAT COMPARISON? >> SO JUST TO REITERATE THE QUESTION VICE MAYOR YOU SAID BETWEEN TWO AND THREE.
>> YEAH. >> OKAY. SO IF WE GO TO SLIDE NUMBER WHAT IS THAT, 37, 37, SHOWS SCENARIO NUMBER 2. AND I DO WANT TO JUST MAKE A SMALL PREFERENCE, PREFACE THAT
OUR EMPLOYEES DO CURRENTLY COST SHARE. IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT THAT THEY COST SHARE. RIGHT NOW THE ONLY EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T PAY ANYTHING ARE THE EMPLOYEE OMIN THE BASE AND THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. BUT SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN
SCENARIO 2 IS ADDING $17.31 TO THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE COVERAGE PER PAY. AND THEN FOR THE EMPLOYEE PLUS CHILDREN IT'S ADDING ANOTHER $15.58 PER PAY. AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY
IS 34.07 AND I WISH I COULD DO A SPLIT SCREEN BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE, SO THIS IS JUST FOR THE BASE PLAN. AND THEN FOR THE, THE SCENARIO NUMBER 3, THE EMPLOYEE ONLY NOW
PAYS $5 PER PAY WHERE THEY WEREN'T PAYING ANYTHING. THE EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE NOW PAYS AN ADDITIONAL $15 AND THEN THE EMPLOYEE AND CHILDREN ADDITIONAL 10, THE EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY ADDITIONAL 30.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE IS IN, SCENARIO NUMBER 2, THE EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE WILL BE PAYING JUST OVER $2 MORE PER PAY. THE EMPLOYEE AND CHILD WOULD BE
PAYING JUST UNDER $6 MORE PER PAY, AND IN THE EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY IT WOULD BE JUST ABOUT $4 MORE PER PAY. SO IN THIS SCENARIO, WITH GOING WITH A FLAT FEE, THE PERCENTAGE
WAS 12 I THINK IT WAS 12% AND THEN IT JUST SHOWS WHAT THE, THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS ARE. >> OKAY. NO, I GET IT. ESPECIALLY WHEN I LOOK AT THE CITY'S ANNUAL COST ON EACH OF
THOSE TWO OPTIONS. THE OPTION 3 IS, IS MORE STREAMLINED IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEE. >> YES, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT NOW THE EMPLOYEE WILL ALSO BE
PAYING MORE TO GET TO THEIR DEDUCTIBLE TO REACH THEIR DEDUCTIBLE AS WELL AS THEIR OUT OF POCKET. SO THIS WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY COST TO THE EMPLOYEES. >> OKAY.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT THE, THAT THE PERCENT IN CITY COST SHARE IS FACTORED INTO THE 27 BUDGET. >> YES IN THE PREMIUMS, YES. >> OKAY, OKAY, PERFECT.
OKAY, THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN. QUESTIONS. >> SO I I THINK I CAUGHT OTHER THAN THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, THERE CURRENTLY IS ABOUT 6% THAT THE
EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING? >> DEPENDING ON THE TIERS. SO IF WE GO TO SLIDE, I'M GOING TO WRONG WAY, IF YOU GO TO
SLIDE, SEE IF I CAN FIND IT. SLIDE 28. >> SEE YOU'RE ON A DIFFERENT SCREEN. >> YOU ARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT MATCHING WITH OUR NUMBERS. >> MINE'S LIKE 16, 17. >> OH, THIS WUNCH WITH THE BENCHMARK -- THIS ONE WITH THE
BENCHMARK SURVEY? OKAY, THE BENCHMARK SURVEY. >> I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT PERCENTAGE. >> SO THIS IN THE BASE PLAN, THE, THE EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE
PAYS I THINK THIS ONE MIGHT BE BETTER. LET ME GO TO THE BASE PLAN. THE BASE PLAN THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE IS PAYING ABOUT 15%. THE EMPLOYEE PLUS -- IS ABOUT 15
AND THEN 20% THE EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY. >> YOU KNOW, IN LISTENING TODAY TO THE PRESENTATION, ARE WE CONFIDENT THAT THE STAFF FULLY UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE, THE, I THINK WE USED
THE TERM HSA, DID WE USE THAT TERM. YOU KNOW, THE WELLNESS PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, I DON'T THINK IT COMES, WOULD IT AND FROM YOUR OFFICE OR -- >> SO NEW EMPLOYEES, THEY ALL
HAVE TO GO TO NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION. AND VERY ABLE SENIOR COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PAYROLL PERSON FOLLOW McLUMORE SHE THOROUGHLY GOES THROUGH ALL THE BENEFITS, SHE HAS A
PRESENTATION. SHE SHOWS THEM ALL THE EVERYTHING CONCERN IN ALL THE BENEFITS ARE ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT MEETINGS THAT WE ENCOURAGE EVERY EMPLOYEE TO COME TO. WE GO OVER EVERY SINGLE BENEFIT
THAT WE HAVE. EVERYTHING THAT'S INVOLVED WITH EACH BENEFIT. SO IT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING. WE PUBLISH A -- WELL NOT WE BUT THE GUARANTOR HELPS US PUBLISH A VERY BEAUTIFUL BENEFITS BOOKLET THAT GOES DETAILS ALL OF THE
BENEFITS OF PREMIUM PRICES, SO -- >> IS THAT UPDATED REGULARLY? >> EVERY AN WALE. >> ANNUALLY, YEAH. >> SO WITH THE CAFETERIA PLAN YOU KNOW WE DO IT, YOU KNOW, ONCE A YEAR. JUST IN TIME FOR OPEN
ENROLLMENT. WHICH IS AUGUST. >> IN THE PAST IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WEREN'T THERE PEOPLE IN HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DIDN'T, WORKED NECESSARILY FOR THE CITY. MAYBE THE CHAMBER? ARE THEY STILL, ARE THEY STILL ON OUR POLICY? >> NO, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
NONEMPLOYEE. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOK -- THAT WAS THE ANSWER I WANTED. OKAY. IF WE TALKED ABOUT THE STOP LOSS, AM I UNDERSTANDING, AM I CORRECT THAT WHEN THAT, THE CLAIM REACHES THAT, THEN DOES IT GO TO SOME KIND OF A REINSURANCE PROGRAM OR WHAT EXACTLY DOES
THAT TERM MEAN WHEN YOU USE THAT? >> SHAWN'S SITTING HERE AND HE'S SO EAGER. >> I CAN TELL HE WANTS TO ANSWER. [LAUGHTER] >> HE'S PRACTICALLY SMACK ME OT OF THE WAY. >> YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> NO SO THE STOP LOSS BASICALLY
EVERY YEAR THE PLAN YEAR RESETS EVERY INDIVIDUAL ON THE PLAN. THE FIRST 140,000, THE CITY COVERS. ANYTHING ABOVE THAT TILL THE END OF THE PLAN YEAR REINSURANCE COVERS. AND YOU KNOW I KNOW STOP LOSS WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER AT LUNCH BREAK I RAN SOME NUMBERS BUT
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, LIKE THIS YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO PAY ABOUT 700,000 IN PREMIUM. THE CURRENT YEAR WE'RE IN. AND THEY'RE PAYING OUT ABOUT $2.1 MILLION IN CLAIMS. SO THAT STOP LOSS HAS BEEN YOU'VE HAD LARGER CLAIMS LAST
TWO YEARS, SO CIG NA CANDIDLY HAS BEEN TAKING IT ON THE RE INSURANCE. THE CITY HAS RECEIVED WAY MORE BENEFIT THAN -- >> WHAT DID YOU SAY OUR PREMIUM WAS? >> I THOUGHT I SAID -- >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OVER THAT RIGHT NOW BUT I THOUGHT IT
WAS -- >> BUT I THINK YOU KNOW IT'S ON TRACK THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT COUPLE MONTHS TO GO TO BE IN THE, THERE WE GO. IF ONLY I HAD LONGER ARMS I COULD READ THAT. YOU'VE PAID YEAR TO DATE 507 BUT
IT'S GOING TO BE -- WE HAVE FOUR MONTHS WE DON'T HAVE DATA FOR YET, AND SO FAR THIS YEAR THEY'VE PAID OUT $2.2 MILLION. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S WHAT WE PAID IN PREMIUM? >> THAT'S WATT WE PAID IN PREMIUM. >> WELL THE RENEWAL ANNUAL COST ON MY, WHAT I'M LOOKING RIGHT HERE IS $6.7 MILLION. >>> NO THAT'S THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
SO JUST THE PREMIUM FOR THE REINSURANCE COVERAGE, THAT 140,000 PER TAX YEAR. >> SO WE COULD CHARGE THE REINSURANCE WHEN IT EXCEEDS THE STOP LOSS, HENCE IF WE INCREASE THE STOP LOSS FROM 120 TO 140, IN A SENSE THE CITY'S JUST TAKEN
ON MORE. >> CORRECT, SO THE CITY ESSENTIALLY IS TAKING ON WE'RE LOOKING AT 140 TO 160 THE CITY'S TAKING ON $20,000 OF ADDITIONAL RISK PER CLAIMANT, IN EXCHANGE FOR LOWER PREMIUM. SO AS A PART OF THAT WE GO
THROUGH A WHOLE LOOK BACK ON THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND THE CURRENT LARGE CLAIMS. WE'VE HAD SEVEN THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, TWO OR NO LONGER ON THE PLAN. YOU KNOW, THEY EITHER YOU KNOW RETIRED ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT THERE'S
ALWAYS RISK IN THAT, BUT BASED ON HISTORICAL ANALYSIS THAT SAVING IS PROJECTED TO ESSENTIALLY EXCEED THE ADDITIONAL RISK. >> I THINK -- >> MEDICAL CARE WOE DON'T HAVE A CRIS CRYSTAL BALL. WE CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO FIND OUT
TOMORROW IN THE DR. 'S OFFICE. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT AND AT THE SAME TIME I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA AND THERE IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS SO I MEAN IT'S -- >> IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS AND I GUESS I'LL, I'LL CAVEAT IT WITH CIGNA BEING A GOOD PARTNER ALTHOUGH THEY'VE
INCREASED THAT THEY HAVE NOT INCREASED THAT PREMIUM ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF LOSSES THEY'VE TAKEN. SO THEY LOOK AT THAT AS A POOL ACROSS ALL THEIR CLIENTS AND CANDIDLY THEY'VE DONE THE RIGHT THING IN NOT HITTING YOU, I HAD A GROUP THE OTHER DAY THAT GOT 150% INCREASE ON THEIR STOP
LOSS. >> DUE TO CLAIMS? OH, OKAY, I GOT IT. >> AND THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT. >> THAT PLAYS RIGHT INTO MY LAST QUESTION. DO WE HAVE YOUR WORD YOU'RE GOING TO SEND THIS TO MARKET? YOU'RE GOING TO SHOP THIS FOR US? >> YEAH, SO. >> DOES YOUR OFFICE DO THAT OR DO WE HAVE TO GO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT?
>> WE DO THAT BUT WE DO THAT ESSENTIALLY PARTNERED WITH THE CITY. THE REASON WE DO THAT IT WAS, IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER LIKE GO TO THE TOP COUPLE CARRIERS WELL, IN PUBLIC SECTOR, YOU REALLY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO OPEN UP O
THE WHOLE MARKET. WE WRITE THAT BID BUT WORK WITH YOUR PURCHASING TEAM TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND AND WE'RE NOT JUST PICKING THE TWO OR FLEA CARE -- THREE CARRIERS WE LIKE THE MOST. EVERYBODY'S HAS A CHANCE. >> ARE YOU THE PRODUCER OR ARE
YOU WORKING AS A CONSULTANT SENDING IT OUT TO MARKET FOR US. >> SO OUR FIRM WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY JUST TO YOU KNOW DEPENDING ON THE TERM AND HOW PEOPLE USE IT WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMISSION PRODUCERS. ALL OUR STAFF IS SALARIED SO
THAT WE NEVER HAVE A CONCERN OF AN INCENTIVE OF DID WE RECOMMEND THIS CARRIER BECAUSE OF THAT. SO THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE IN THAT REGARD. SO WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY CONTINGENT IN COMMISSIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR PICKING A CERTAIN -- >> OKAY. >> AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT
RUN THE -- RFP FOR THE CITY. SO THEY WILL GET THE BIDS AND THEN DO AN ANALYSIS AND BRING BACK ALL THE BIDS TO US FOR US TO LOOK AT. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. GOOD. THAT'S ALL I HAD, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: GREAT. SO COUPLE THINGS.
HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT. SO ON WHAT WOULD BE OUR PAGE 21 TO 23, YOU, THE MONEY THAT THE CITY FUNDS IN HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS S THAT FOR JUST THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN? OR IS THAT EVERYBODY'S? >> SO THE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT
IS ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. >> THAT'S WHAT I NOT. >> FOR EVERYONE ELSE IT'S A HEALTH REIMBURSEMENTS ACCOUNT, THE HRA. >> OKAY. I TOOK THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN THE FIRST YEAR THE COUNTY HAD IT, AND I BROKE MY COLLARBONE AND GOT COMPLETELY HOSED AND
THEY HAD GIVEN $400 INTO THE -- HEALTHY RIGHT UP TO THAT YEAR AND I GOT HOSED LIKE I'M DONE WITH THAT. OKAY. SO I GET THAT ONE. LET'S SEE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN EACH OF THE PLANS? >> SO RIGHT NOW AS IN THE HIGH DEBUCKETTABLE HEALTH PLAN WE HAVE A -- DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 23 EMPLOYEES.
15 IN THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, 4 IN THE EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE. AND 2 2 EMPLOYEE CHILDREN, 2 EMPLOYEE FAME. IN THE BASE IT'S 243 EMPLOYEES, WITH 139 IN THE EMPLOYEE ONLY.
AND THEN IN THE BY-UP IT'S 33 EMPLOYEES WITH 29 IN THE EMPLOYEE ONLY. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, SO THAT'S THE THOUGHT OF, YEAH. WE'RE REALLY, I MEAN, FOR THE MOST PART, WE'VE GOT ONE MAIN
ONE, THE HIGHEST BY FAR PERCENTAGE IS IN BASE. OKAY. I GET THAT. LET'S SEE. I'M JUST FOLLOWING MY HIEROGLYPHBS HERE. WHY DIDN'T WE BENCHMARK PINELLAS COUNTY BECAUSE I THINK OF
PINELLAS COUNTY AS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST COMPETITORS. >> ALL THOSE ENTITIES RESPONDED WITH THE INFORMATION TO THE SURVEY, THE COUNTY HAD NOT AT THE TIME. SO BY THE TIME WE PUT THIS
TOGETHER, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE COUNTY IN THERE. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GO BACK AND -- >> IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT I'M THINKING TODAY BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT BECAUSE I THINK THEY'VE HAD EMPLOYEE ONLY PAYMENTS FOR A LONG TIME.
>> I DID A DOWN AND DIRTY WITH THROUGH MY HR DIRECTOR GROUP, AND WE CAN DEFINITELY SEND YOU WHAT WE HAVE ON THAT. >> OKAY, UNLESS THEY BACKED OFF. WHEN I WAS THERE THEY STARTED CHARGING EMPLOYEES. IT WASN'T MUCH BUT THEY DID. EMPLOYEE ONLY.
>> AND I WILL MAKE THE CAVEAT THAT THE MAJORITY OF GROUPS THAT WERE DOING THE EMPLOYEE ONLY, ZERO WERE GROUPS AT UNIONS OF WHICH YOU KNOW THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNIONS. SO. >> YEAH, AND I KNOW THE ANSWER TO WHY THEY DON'T BUT IT'S TOO
SNARKY SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT. OKAY, UM, SO OKAY, YEAH I'D LIKE TO GET THAT INFORMATION. OKAY, LET'S SEE. >> IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WE'LL GET THAT INFO AND SEND IT TO YOU UNDER SEPARATE COVER.
>> MAYOR FREANEY: THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S AWESOME. SO ARE OUR INCREASES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND HIGHER THAN THE FLORIDA AVERAGE? BECAUSE BECAUSE IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE THAT. >> YOU'RE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, OVERALL AS WE LOOK,
THAT'S, THAT 8.5% COMES FROM PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, AND THE ONE THING I'LL SAY IS THEY DO AN ANNUAL TREND SURVEY, IT'S I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST ONES OUT. BUT IF YOU DIVE IN AND LOOK AT THAT, THEY GIVE YOU A NUMBER, BUT THEN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF
TO TWO YEARS LATER, THEY GO BACK AND RECALCULATE IF NEEDED. SO 8.5% IS WHAT THEY HAVE PROJECTED FOR THIS UPCOMING YEAR, BASED ON WHAT WE'RE SEEING YOU KNOW THERE IS A PART OF ME
FAT QUESTIONS WHEN THEY RE-- THAT QUESTIONS WHEN THEY REVISE THAT AND GET THE ACTUAL DATA IS IT GOING TO HOLD AT 8.5%. BASED ON LOT OF THE RENEWALS WE'RE SEEING I'M SKEPTICAL THAT IT WILL BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING A
LOT OF MIDTEEN EVEN 20-PLUS PERCENT RENEWALS. FOR ENTITIES THIS YEAR. >> SO THAT'LL WASH ITSELF OUT OVER THE YEAR TO SEE WHAT REALITY REALLY IS. >> POTENTIALLY, YEP, IT'S, PROGNOSTICATED RIGHT NOW AND. >> BUT RIGHT NOW WHAT, THAT WOULD INDICATE IS THAT WE ARE
INCREASING AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN NATIONAL, AND STATE. >> YEP, AND STATE IS A HARDER NUMBER TO GET BUT TYPICALLY STATE IS CLOSE TO 3% HIGHER THAN THAT. AND IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF OUR MEDICARE POPULATION, SO JUST THIS IS GOING WAY TOO IN THE
WEEDS BUT WHEN A HOSPITAL GETS PAID, COMMERCIAL INSURANCE LIKE YOUR CIGN LA, ETNA, FLORIDA BLUE, THAT COMMERCIAL INSURANCE PAYS 2 TO 250% OF WHAT MEDICARE PAYS SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF MEDICARE
PARTICIPANTS, THOSE HOSPITALS NEED TO MAKE UP THAT LOST REVENUE ON THE BACKS OF COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, SO STATES LIKE FLORIDA AND SOME OF THESE OTHER STATES OR AREAS THAT HAVE REALLY HIGH MEDICARE, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZING THAT FOR THOSE PROVIDERS.
THAT'S WHY WE TEND TO BE HIGHER IN FLORIDA. >> GOTCHA. OKAY. >> IT'S SUN EXPOSURE. >> YEAH, NO, APPRECIATE THAT. AND WHEN WE DO GO OUT TO BID, WHO WOULD YOU EXPECT THE TOP PLAYERS TO BE? >>> SO AS FAR AS MAJOR CARRIERS,
LEFT IN THE MARKET, HUMANA EXITED IN THE -- EXITED LAST YEAR SO WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE BLUE CROSS-BLUE SHIELD ORGANIZATIONCHISE IS FLORIDA BLUE, WE HAVE UNITED HEALTH CARE, WE HAVE CIGNA AND WE HAVE AETNA.
THOSE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE BIG FOUR NOW. YOU CAN START LOOKING, GETSING INTO SMALLER TPASs BUT THEN THEY'RE TYPICALLY RENTING NETWORKS FROM THOSE PROVIDERS SO THERE'S, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE SAME FOR CLAIMS, IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF ARE THERE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE OR
CARVE OUT. BUT THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE ONES, THE BIG FOUR NETWORKS. >> MAYOR FREANEY: GOTCHA. LET'S SEE. ARE WE STILL GIVING MONEY FOR IF YOU DON'T OPT INTO COVERAGE? >> YES.
>> HOW MUCH IS THAT? >> IT WORKS OUT I THINK TO $75 FOR THE MONTH. >> $74. >> THERE YOU GO. >> [LAUGHTER] >> OKAY. >> I WAS ROUNDING UP, BOB.
>> MUST BE PERSONAL USAGE GOING ON OVER HERE. OKAY, GOT IT. AND THEN BY DOING OPTION 3, IS, SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR? REALISTICALLY.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PROGNOSTICATE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TOLD THE EMPLOYEES WAS GOING TO HAPPEN THAT THERE WOULD BE A COST SHARE. I THINK WHAT HAPPENS USUALLY WHEN WE SAY A PERCENTAGE, LIKE IN THE PAST WE'VE SAID OKAY,
THERE IS A 3% INCREASE TO YOUR INSURANCE, EMPLOYEES AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME OKAY, SO YOU'RE GIVING ME A 3% MERIT INCREASE AND THEN YOU'RE TAKING IT AWAY WITH THE 3%.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE EMPLOYEES THAT REALLY DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW ANY MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES MIGHT TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S, THE PREMIUM IS
LOW COMPARED TO OTHER, THE OTHER PLANS, AND THEN CEDING THE MONEY, CEDING THE HSA SO THAT IF YOU CAN SEED IT TO WHERE YOUR COVERING AT THE MINIMUM YOUR
DEDUCTIBLE AND MAXIMUM YOUR OUT OF POCKET, THEN YOU'RE REALLY NOT PAYING ANYTHING MORE FOR THE YEAR. YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP SEEDING IT. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT RETIREMENT IN YOU KNOW THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR SO SO IT MAKES SENSE TO GO WITH HSA BECAUSE
YOU'RE PUTTING AWAY PRETAX DOLLARS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES. IN THE FUTURE. AND AT A CERTAIN POINT, I BELIEVE IT'S AT $3,000, YOU START EARNING INTEREST ON THAT MONEY IN THE HSA. SO YOU'RE REALLY BETTER OFF IN
THE HSA THAN YOU ARE IN THE HRA. LIKE I SAID, THE, THE AMOUNTS THAT YORE PAYING WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR YES YOU'RE NOT PAYING $35 NECESSARILY, BUT YOU'RE STILL IT'S STILL A DECENT AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE, YOU HAVE TO
PAY THE DOCTOR AND ONCE AGAIN IF YOU HAVE MONEY IN YOUR HRA -- HSA, THEN YOU'RE JUST USING YOUR HSA CARD TO PAY FOR THAT. >> OKAY. >> SO MAYOR, MAY I? >> MAYOR FREANEY: SURE.
>> WE'RE SCHEDULING THE SECOND ROUND OF EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS CURRENTLY, SO I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AMONGST THE EMPLOY. AS THERESA HAD SAID LAST YEAR WE DID PUT THEM ON NOTICE THAT THE
CITY'S ABSORBED FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS I BELIEVE PERHAPS FIVE ALL THE INCREASES. ON HEALTH INSURANCE AND THEY WERE VERY GRATEFUL BUT THAT YOU KNOW MOVING FORWARD WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD BE TENABLE FOR US SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DESCRIBE IT PROPERLY TO THE
EMPLOYEES WHY WE'RE DOING IT AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY AMENDMENT THREE IS, IS ON THEIR MINDS VERY MUCH SO ON THEIR MINDS SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A ROCKY ROAD THIS TIME AROUND. WITH THESE EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS BUT WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE EXPLAIN THIS AND WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM.
>> GOTCHA, THANK YOU. OKAY, SO JUST I GUESS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS ON THIS. >> WE ARE, YEAH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO I GUESS THERE ARE TWO AREAS. OPTION 3 AND ALSO THE STOP LOSS LEAVING AT 140 OR PUTTING IT UP
TO 160. THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS? >> WELL, SO IF YOU DON'T INCREASE THE STOP LOSS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE SHARE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HELPED TO BRING IT DOWN TO 12.
%. >> SO INCREASE THE STOP LOSS TO -- >> SO IF WE DON'T INCREASE THE STOP LOSS WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE -- IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE 12% THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH. >> RIGHT SO THE QUESTION IS INCREASE TO 160. STOP LOSS. >> INCREASE 160 AND ALSO INCREASING THE OUT OF POCKET
DEDUCTIBLE. >> MAXIMUMS AND THE DEDUCTIBLES. >> RIGHT. >> I GET THAT BUT IT I.D. DIDN'T SEEM LIKE PRAISING IT TO 160 IS NECESSARILY A GOOD BET. >> WELL IT'S THE PREMIUM. THE PREMIUM SAVINGS YOU'RE HAVING.
>> I GET THAT BUT I'M LOOKING E CLAIMS SIDE YOU KNOW ARE WE -- AND I THINK CATHY SAID IT. DO WE THINK ON THE CLAIMS SIDE WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HURT OURSELVES I MEAN YOU KNOW IT'S A ROLLING OF THE DICE, RIGHT? ARE WE GOING TO DO BETTER BY
KEEPING IT LOWER, AND THEN THEY PAY MORE, FOR STOP LOSS, OR DO WE RAISE IT UP AND WE'RE GOING TO GET STUCK PAYING MORE? >> THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY THE
CRYSTAL BALL, MAYOR. LOOKING BASED ON HISTORICALLY LOOKING AT CURRENT LARGE CLAIMANTS AND WHAT'S PROJECTED TO CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT GIVE OR TAKE SEVEN CLAIMS WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY TRICKLE
OVER, YOU KNOW, GO OVER THAT INSTEAD OF 140, GO OVER 160. BASED ON THE LAST THREE YEARS OF OCCURRED ON AVERAGE. SO YOU KNOW FROM THAT
PERSPECTIVE, THE LOWER, THE LOWER PREMIUM IS GUARANTEED VERSUS THE HIGHER PREMIUM, YOU KNOW YOU TAKE THAT AND THEN LET'S SAY CLAIMS RETURN BACK TO LET'S SAY THAT FIVE LEVEL, OR 3 LIKE IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE KEEPING IT AT THE LOWER LEVEL, HIGHER PREMIUM, LOWER DEDUCTIBLE, YOU'RE PAYING THAT OUT FOR SURE. WHERE TAKING THE RISK, BASED ON HISTORICAL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVEN'T GONE OVER THAT, SO
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE BUILDING IN THAT SAVINGS. YOU KNOW, COULD WE GO THE OPPOSITE ROUTE AND SHIFT A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO PREMIUM AND LOOK AT THAT? WE COULD. IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE THE NUMBER, THE NEEDLE A HUGE HUGE AMOUNT BUT RIGHT NOW BASED ON
HISTORICAL CLAIMS AND WHAT'S ON THERE, WHAT'S NO LONGER ON THE PLAN, GOING WITH THE HIGHER LEVEL AND TAKING THE GUARANTEED PREMIUM SAVINGS, YOU KNOW, IS -- >> NOT TO TALK CRYPTICALLY BUT, IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THE SEVEN,
THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST ONE DEATH. >> NOT NECESSARILY. >> NOT NECESSARILY. IT COULD BE SOMEBODY DROPPED OFF THE PLAN. IT COULD BE YOU KNOW THEY WENT TO YEAH THEY DROPPED OFF BECAUSE THEY COULD'VE RETIRED. THEY COULD'VE, YOU KNOW, NOT TAKEN INSURANCE. THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS.
>> BUT IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, IT IS A BETTER BET TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE PREMIUM SAVINGS AND GO TO 160. >> YES, MA'AM. >> OKAY. THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. OKAY. SO BASICALLY YOU WANT CONSENSUS ON OPTION 3. AND DO WE HAVE THAT?
AND I'LL GO TO FINAL COMMENTS, STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN. >> DO WE HAVE AN IDEA, WE HAD SEVEN CLAIMS THAT REACHED THE STOP LOSS LAST YEAR? ANY IDEA LIKE THE YEAR BEFORE? TWO YEARS BEFORE? THE TREND IS YOUR FRIEND WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT.
>> I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE EIGHT. >> OH, OKAY. >>> YOU HAD EIGHT LAST YEAR. AND YOU HAVE SEVEN THIS YEAR. WITH A COUPLE MONTHS TO GO. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE GET
TRACKING, AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT ANYONE ELSE BASED ON ONGOING IS PROBABLY GOING TO TRIGGER OVER THAT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. >> OKAY. >> SOMEBODY COULD HAVE SOMETHING TOMORROW, BUT. >> SO GOOD -- I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND -- OR SUPPORT OPTION
3, AND INCREASE THE STOP LOSS, I MEAN IT'S. >> I THINK WE'RE IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE ECONOMIC TIME WE'RE IN, I THINK WE JUST, YOU KNOW WE NEED TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE, HOPEFULLY WE DID THE RIGHT THING, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
>> AND I'M JUST SAY INCREASING THAT, YOU KNOW YOU COULD THINK ABOUT IT AS TAKING MORE RISK, BUT ALSO THINK ABOUT IT AS KEEPING PACE WITH COST, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF I -- EVERY YEAR I DON'T CHANGE IT REALLY GETS RICHER SO YOU NEED TO MAKE THOSE
INCREMENTAL INCREASES TO KIND OF KEEP IT IN THE PLACE THAT IT'S AT AS A, YOU KNOW AS A PORTION OF THE WHOLE PLAN. OTHERWISE THAT PREMIUM'S GOING TO SKYROCKET UP BECAUSE IT GETS EASIER AND EASIER TO HIT THAT NUMBER. >> OKAY.
SO VICE MAYOR? >>> YEAH, NO, I SUPPORT OPTION 3, AND INCREASING STOP LOSS. AND THAT'S THE WAY I WAS LOOKING AT IT. I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS WITH REGARDS TO THE STOP LOSS ACTUALLY KEEPING PACE WITH THE
INCREASING COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE. HEALTH INSURANCE RELATED THINGS. YOU KNOW, I GO THROUGH THIS, THERE'S OUGHT ALL OF OGREAT WORK -- A LOT OF GREAT WORK AND A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS. YOU KNOW, LIKE I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK, OKAY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO
BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR THE INCREASED COST TO THE CITY, BUT THIS PROBABLY MORE OF A PHILOSOPHICAL COMMENT, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO ASK YOURSELF HAD YOU GONE IS THIS SUSTAINABLE FOR. -- HOW LONG IS THIS SUSTAINABLE
FOR BUT YOU KNOW, I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VEDRIESED THE PROBLEM OR WE'VE ADDRESSED IT THIS YEAR BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME LEVEL OF THOUGHT,
PLANNING, STRATEGY, CUTTING OUR COSTS THAT YOU KNOW WILL PREPARE US FOR NEXT YEAR ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF AMENDMENT 3. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER GOW. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I AM GOING TO SLIP IN ONE QUICK
QUESTION. WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME TO PAY FOR THIS? >> IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL THE FUNDS THROUGH THE CITY, THE OPERATING EXPENSES, THE HEALTH FUND IS FUNDED BY THE CITY'S
OPERATING EXPENSES. >> SO WHICHEVER FUND THE% EMPLOYEES ARE PAID OUT OF WOULD BE WHERE THIS IS COME FROM, ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. >> VERY COOL. VERY GOOD. >> I WOULD MENTION GENERAL FUND PAYS ABOUT 55% OF THAT FUND JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT. >> THERE YOU GO. >> THAT WAS THE QUESTION.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU RE PEAT THAT, PLEASE. >> THE GENERAL FUND PAYS ABOUT 55% OF THE COST IN THIS FUND. >> WHAT IS THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE. >> MAJOR PROPERTY TAX IS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF THE REVENUE FUND, 35%. >> AND SOMEHOW PROPERTY TAXES BECAME THE BOOGIEMAN FOR THE
STATE AS OPPOSED TO HEALTH INSURANCE, PROPERTY INSURANCE, CAR INSURANCE. INTERESTING. NO, I SUPPORT THIS, GOING FORWARD. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY, COMMISSIONER DUGARD. >> YOU SURE YOU WANT TO ASK ME? [LAUGHTER]
>> I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE. THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE. WE ARE TAKING MONEY THAT WOULD'VE ORDINARILY GONE TO COMPENSATION AND PAYING INSURANCE. I MEAN, YOU CAN PUT THESE CHARTS UP AS LONG AS YOU WANT. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
I WANT PARITY BETWEEN THOSE TWO AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. IN OTHER WORDS WHEN WE'RE GIBBING 5% INCREASES WE PUT 5 MORE INTO THE INSURANCE AND FIGURE THE MATH OUT BACKWARDS. WE'RE DOING THIS THE OTHER WAY. THE PROVIDERS ARE TELLING US WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY, AND THE BEST MATH THAT THEY CAN GET US
TO. WE SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY. AND THEN THE CONSUMER UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S DOING TO THEM. RIGHT NOW THE CONSUMER'S BLIND. THEY'RE RELYING ON US TO DO THE MAGIC AS BEST WE CAN. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ROBBING
THEM BECAUSE THEIR PAYCHECKERIZE GOING TO BE DIMINISHED BECAUSE OF THIS. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK AROUND OUTCOMES. WORKS AROUND ACTUARIAL TABLES. SO YOU CAN SEE HOW DISTASTEFUL THIS IS TO ME.
BUT I WILL KEEP THE BALL ROLLING AND I WILL SUPPORT THIS ONE MORE YEAR. I'M SERIOUS. I'LL SIT IN THIS CHAIR NEXT YEAR, COME BACK WITH SAME KIND OF THING, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR IT. I WILL VOTE FOR IT THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO BUT IN THE BUDGET, IT SHOWS ACTUAL 2024 OPERATING COSTS FOR HEALTH BENEFITS FUND, $4,000,401. IS THAT CORRECT?
PAGE 2542. AND IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IT'S OPERATING OF $8,139,000 SO BASICALLY FROM 2024 TO 2027 DOUBLED ITS DOUBLED THE COST. AND THAT'S BASICALLY CLAIMS
RIGHT. >> YEAH, IT'S MOSTLY CLAIMS, RIGHT. >> MOSTLY CLAIMS. >> LET ME SEE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. >> I'M LOOKING AT OPERATING. >> OPERATING -- [OFF MIC]
>> MM-HMM. EXPENSES. I AM ON PAGE 524, AND NOW FOR THE PROPOSED 2027, $8,139,302.
SO YOU KNOW, MY ONLY POINT IS, I WROTE IN HERE WHEN I READ IT THE WAS WEEKS AGO, EXPENSE HAS DOUBLED IN THREE YEARS, NOT SUSTAINABLE, WHAT'S OUR PLAN. YOU KNOW AND I DID SAY TO SHAWN ON BREAK THAT GET READY I'M GOING TO JOW THE BIG PICTURE
QUESTION LIKE IF YOU'RE THE RULER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHAT'S THE SOLUTION HERE YOU KNOW? BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW WHEN IIC LOO AT IT AND YOU KNOW I CAN REALLY, I COULD REALLY GO OFF ON THE FACT THAT WE'VE VILLINIZED, YOU KNOW BASICALLY THE SERVICE
TAX OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND YET WHEN I LOOK AT MY HOMEOWNERS AND FLOOD INSURANCE AND CAR INSURANCE AND HEALTH INSURANCE, I MEAN, INSURANCE PEOPLE ARE RULING THE WORLD, AND I DON'T KNOW. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE AT SOME
POINT AND A LOT OF THIS STUFF BUT ANYWAY, THAT BEING SAID, I SUPPORT OPTION 3, AND YOU KNOW, I JUST BUT IT'S SUCH A HUGE CONCERN ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS DRIVES OUR BUDGET.
I MEAN 50% IS LABOR. >> INCREASINGLY SO ACTUALLY. >> YEAH, INCREASINGLY SO, YEP. AND YOU KNOW 50% OF WHAT WE PAY FOR FOR OUR CITIZENS IS LABOR. AND ALL THESE THINGS FLAIR OUT BECAUSE WE'RE A SERVICE. WE ARE A SERVICE TO PEOPLE.
SO OKAY, ANYWAY, I I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT BUT THANK YOU, THERESA, THANK YOU, SHAWN, GOOD PRESENTATION, WELL THOUGHT OUT AND I THINK CATHY ADDED A LOT OF GOOD STUFF TO IT TOO WHEN SHE WAS HERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO WE GOT 2:30 HERE. HEY I HAVE ONE QUESTION BEFORE WE GO TO FINAL COMMENTS. DO WE STILL HAVE MONEY FOR PRIDE
FOR NEXT COMING BUDGETS? >> FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027? DID WE? >> IT'S JANUARY 1st. >> NO, WE CAN'T-- UP UNTIL JANUARY 1st, 2027, WE CAN. >> WE DO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE IT'LL BE THE LAST TIME.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN ORDER TO -- HELP THE NONPROFITS MOVE FORWARD. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WE CUT THAT CHECK BEFORE JANUARY 1st. >> MAYOR FREANEY: CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO -- >> [OFF MIC] >> MAYOR FREANEY: YEAH, YEAH, I
JUST THINK THAT WAY THEY'VE GOT SEED MONEY TO MOVE FORWARD. MAYOR DID YOU WANT TO OPEN UP TO PUBLIC INPUT? >> MAYOR FREANEY: SURE. >> WE HAVEN'T REALLY. >> MAYOR FREANEY: WELL, I DID IT EARLIER AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN. SO, SO ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK
ON AN ISSUE THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY? OKAY, SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC INPUT, AND I'M GOING TO TURN TO JENNIFER, LES, JEAN, WHOEVER IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, FOR CITY COMMISSION DIRECTION. JUST TO KICK US OFF, THIS IS STAFF PRESENTATION, SO I'M
ASSUMING YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE. >> SO I, I'VE BEEN TAKING COPIOUS NOTES. I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THOSE NOTES, AND HAVE LES AND JEAN AT ANYTHING THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED SO IN REGARDS TO CONSENSUS DIRECTION, AND THANK YOU, YOU
ARE VERY CLEAR. WE APPRECIATE THAT. HELPS US MOVING FORWARD OBVIOUSLY SO YOU ACCEPTED THE BOARD OF FINANCE REPORT. YOU GAVE DIRECTION TO USE THE BOARD OF FINANCE EXPERTISE MOVING FORWARD A LITTLE MORE. SO YOU SUPPORTED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE
HEALTH PLAN. CHANGES. YOU SUPPORTED THE STATUS RECOMMENDATION REGARDING AID TO ORGANIZATIONS FOR THIS YEAR. WE GOT CONSENSUS DIRECTION. YOU WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT LONG RANGE PLAN FOR THE STADIUM. WHAT PART OF THAT IS THE DEBT SERVICE. THE MAYOR WANTED TO ADD GAS TAX DECREASES TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM WHICH IS WHICHING UP HERE IN THE FALL -- WHICH IS
COMING UP HERE IN THE FALL AND WE WILL LOOK AT ADVOCATING FOR FEE FOR USE AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION. AND WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC WORKS ESUFFICIENCY STUDY, THE SAVINGS MINE THIS COST OF THE SOFTWARE AND THE CONSULTANT AS WELL.
THE, WE HAD CONSENSUS DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COMMISSION REGARDING PROVIDING YOU WITH A KIND OF AN OVERALL REPORT REGARDING PASSING CREDIT CARD FEES ONTO THE CUSTOMER USING THE CREDIT CARD. THE MAYOR HAD WANTED A REPORT REGARDING THE CONDITIONS OF
PAVERS TO THE CITY COMMISSION, I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY COMMISSION FOR MORE TIME. I NEED TO TALK TO STAFF ABOUT THAT ASSESSMENT AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN DELIVERING THAT TO ALL OF YOU. SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU A DATE, MAYOR, YOU HAD ASKED FOR ONE AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU ONE, SO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: WHEN CAN YOU
GIVE ME ONE? >> I'M NOT SURE. [LAUGHTER] >> I WILL GIVE YOU A TIME FRAME BUT I NEED TO TALK TO STAFF. >> MAYOR FREANEY: NO, I RESPECT THAT. >> YOU'RE GIVIC ME MY DIRECTION, I GOT IT.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD A QUESTION REGARDING COMPENSATION OR INCREASED BENEFITS WHEN NEXT TO OUR EMPLOYEE SURVEY. WE'RE GOING TO ADD PINELLAS COUNTY TO OUR BENCHMARKING FOR THE COST SHARE ON HEALTH INSURANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT INTO THAT REALLY QUICKLY AND PROVIDE THAT TO YOU UNDER SEPARATE COVER.
CAN ANYBODY THINK OF THE ANYTHING THAT WASN'T ON THE LIST THAT SHOULD BE? >> WE TOOK A SELF-IE AND WE HAD A NICE BEAT SALAD FOR -- BE THE SALAD FOR LUNCH. >> SO TELL US, BEET SALAD FOR LUNCH. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO TELL ME
NEXT STEPS AND MOTYOU NEED FROM US TODAY. >> -- WHAT YOU NEED FROM US TODAY. >> LES AND JEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL YOU NEED FROM THE CITY COMMISSION TODAY? >> NO. >> MAYOR FREANEY: SO SEPTEMBER 3rd WILL BE OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET AT 6:00.
IT'S A REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING, SO WE'RE JUST ROLLING THE BUDGET ADOPTION HEARING INTO THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED -- SO YOU MAY HAVE OTHER ITEMS. YOU DO HAVE OTHER ITEMS ON THAT MEETING AS WELL. >> SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS IS EVERYONE HERE ON THE COMMISSION
GOOD WITH WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING OF THE BUDGET WITH HOW STAFF HAS LAID OUT THE PLAN. SO I'M JUST -- I GUESS THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY QUESTION YOU NEED ANSWERED TODAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL START WITH
VICE MAYOR. >> YEAH, I'M GOOD. THE YOU KNOW HONESTLY, THE, YOU KNOW, EXPECTATION WAS IS THAT WE
GET A BALANCED BUDGET IN ADVANCE OF NOVEMBER 3rd I THINK IT IS, AMENDMENT 3, AND YOU KNOW TO ME THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND AGAIN, AND I KNOW THE PLAN IS TO
ROLL OUT THE CONTINGENCY BEFORE THE REFERENDA, BUT TO ME THAT, THAT ACTUALLY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE DO THIS YEAR. SO I'M GOOD WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT
NOW, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONTINGENCY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SANDBERGEN? >>> YOU KNOW, IN THIS LAST WEEK, IT REALLY GAVE ME A CHANCE TO REALIZE HOW PLUGGED IN AND IN
TOUCH THE RESIDENTS OF DUNEDIN ARE. AS I SAID, THERE'S THREE OF THEM I SAT DOWN AND TALKED TO ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND IT WAS INTERESTING ONE MADE A COMMENT ABOUT OUR LAST MEETING SITTING HERE, AND ASKED ME CAUGHT THAT I WAS LEANING OVER, WELL THAT'S
WHAT SOMEBODY WAS SICK. BUT IN THAT -- THIS IS HOW MUCH THESE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION. SAID THE GIRL NEXT TO YOU WENT AND GOT A BLANKET WHY DO YOU KEEP THAT ROOM SO COLD WHEN I'M PAYING YOUR POWER BILL? THAT'S HOW IN TUNE PEOPLE ARE IN
THIS COMMUNITY. ANOTHER DOWNTOWN MERCHANT CAME TO ME AND SAID YOU KNOW, YEAR REALLY COUNTING ON YOU -- WE'RE REALLY COUNTING ON YOU. THEIR POWER BILL FOR THEIR LITTLE STORE WENT TO $500 AND SHE SAYS IT TAKES ME A LONG TIME TO RECOVER THE $500 FROM MY POWER BILL SO I'M COUNTING ON
THE CITY TO DO THE BEST FOR ME. YOU KNOW THOSE ARE POWERFUL WORDS. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU JUST MADE UP. AND I FEEL REAL GOOD. AND I SAID THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER. ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN TO JEN AND
YOU HAVE, MAYOR, GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CITIZENS OF DUNEDIN AND TAKING AWAY THAT GOTCHA MOMENT, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW THERE ARE 30 PEOPLE OR WHATEVER, 40 PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THE LIBRARY, OUT OF 14,000 HOMES. SO I WISH I WOULD PCH BIP MORE
BUT THE PEEP -- IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WENT THERE LEFT REALLY EDUCATED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WHETHER THIS PASSES OR IT FAILS. I CAN THAT -- I THINK THAT THERE IS -- I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE GOING IN.
I THINK THAT IT'S -- AGAIN IT'S THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THE LESSES. THE JEANS. THE JENNIFERS. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS. YOU HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER, AND I THINK IT'S EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IS DONE PERFECTLY AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT GOING INTO THAT SEPTEMBER 3rd
MEETING AND I THINK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK FOR THE CITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GOW. >>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO STAFF, THANK YOU TO JENNIFER. YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED INCREDIBLY
HARD. THANK YOU TO THE VICE MAYOR AND ALL OF THOSE AT THE TABLE. I THINK IT WAS THE SECOND DAY OF TWO VERY HARD DAYS OF TRYING TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITH THE BUDGET. IS IT A GOOD BUDGET? YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S GOING TO BE THE RESIDENTS
THAT TELL US WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE HAPPY. WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR POWER BILL, OUR POWER BILL. AND CITY GOVERNMENT ALREADY GETS A BAD RAP. GOVERNMENT GETS A BAD RAP. AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT WE'VE
DONE ENOUGH TO SHOW THE RESIDENTS THAT WE CARE. BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS HURTING THEM AND THEIR POCKET, WHAT'S IN THEIR HEAD IS OUR TAXES ARE BAD. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR INSURANCE BILL IS, REGARDLESS OF YOU TALK ABOUT THE POWER BILL, MY THOUGHT WOULD BE WELL WHY DON'T YOU HAVE SOLAR.
BUT THEY DON'T. THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT INCREASE EVERY YEAR FROM DUKE. BUT THEY WANT TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON US TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITH THE LIMITED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE. SO YEAH. IT'S A BUDGET AND I THINK WE
WORK HARD. THAT'S IT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DUGARD. >>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. YOU KIND OF WANT TO ASK MARY TODD HOW WAS THE PLAY. [LAUGHTER] IS IT UNTIL THE ENDING SCENE?
>> NO, THAT'S GOOD. >> WELL DONE, TOM. >> [LAUGHTER] >> MAYOR FREANEY: WELL DONE. >> WE ARE ALL FACING A SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, EVERYBODY IN DUNEDIN. THAT IS COMING TO AN INFLECTION
POINT RELATIVE TO EXPENSES. COST OF LIVING. EVERYBODY'S ASKING FOR MORE, WHEN PEOPLE'S SOURCE OF INCOME HAS EITHER REMAINED STAGNANT OR INCREASED MUCH LESS THAN THOSE EXPENSES. THAT'S CAUSING A LOT OF PUBLIC
DISSATISFACTION. WE SEE THAT IN THE, IT'S MIRRORED TO US IN THE POLITICAL MESSAGES WE'RE SEEING TODAY FOR VARIOUS OFFICES AND IT'S BEING MIRRORED TO US DIRECTLY THROUGH PROPOSITION, 3.
AND YOU CAN'T ARGUE AGAINST THAT FRUSTRATION. THAT'S THE WRONG MOOD. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS. THE CITY AND THE STAFF CAN BE QUITE PROUD OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY DOES, HOW IT WORKS, AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO MAINTAIN
IT AS IT IS TODAY. AND THEY PUT FORWARD A BUDGET THAT FOLLOWS THAT PATH. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SUFFERING UNDER
INCREASED HEALTHING CARE COSTS. THEY'RE SUFFERING WITH COST OF LIVING INCREASES. UTILITY BILLS INSURANCE BILLS IT'S ALL COMING HOME. I THINK THAT YOU'VE DONE THE
BEST JOB YOU COULD. WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: THAT'S FOR SURE. SO ONE OF THE FOLLOW-UPS THAT I THINK WHEN WE PUT CONTINGENCY PLAN IN THE POWERPOINT, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE REST OF
THE STORY. >> RIGHT. >> MAYOR FREANEY: OKAY? WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT. GOT TO KEEP EDUCATING. I WENT THROUGH KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A, YOU KNOW, LITTLE FUN KINDERGARTEN HIEROGLYPHICS I TOOK FROM THE BUDGET. AND I JUST THINK WE KEEP
EDUCATING BECAUSE I DID ALL THE GENERAL FUND RISK NEWS, I DID THE GENERAL FUND COSTS, JUST TO GIVE MYSELF AN IDEA WHERE ALL THIS MONEY WHEN YOU JUST TAKE THIS HUGE BOOK AND PUT IT ON A FEW PIECES OF PAPER KIND OF SHRINKS AND YOU START TO THINK ABOUT HOW WILL WE REALLY
$7.6 MILLION AND INTERESTING ON PAGE 178 OF THE BUDGET, THERE'S A FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF OUR REC AND PARKS DEPARTMENT BUT WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THE ENTERPRISE
FUNDS YOU GET TO A $13 MILLION FIGURE AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH $5.6 MILLION OF THAT IS PARKS MAINTENANCE AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THOSE, RIGHT AND WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, RIGHT, HORTICULTURISTS AND PEOPLE DOING
SOME VERY BASICS IN PROTECTING OUR PARK STRUCTURE, SO YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF IT, YOU'RE KIND OF DOWN TO ABOUT $7.5 MILLION. BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IN HERE IS LIKE IF I ADD UP ALL THE
OPERATIONAL COSTS OF MLK CENTER, TAKE ALL AWAY, IT'S DONE, IT'S GONE. IT'S $3 MILLION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING $7.6 MILLION. SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MY, YOU KNOW, THE MESSAGE I KEEP TRYING
TO SEND IT THIS IS NOT JUST CREATIVE EFFICIENCIES. THIS IS THINGS THAT YOU'VE COME TO LOVE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR CITIZENS WILL GET TO DECIDE AND I THINK OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY LOVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW I'M NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT OUR CITIZENS AS
MAYBE SOME OF THE REST OF THE STATE, BUT AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO MOCK SURE -- TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY EDUCATED AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR. SO WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE I DID READ THE COURT CASE, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAD
SENT, AND I THINK THAT WAS ALL ABOUT IT. LIKE, THAT I THINK THE WORDING WAS, AND -- I'M GOING TO FIND IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING. SPECIFICALLY THE COURT FOUND THE FOLLOWING. SIMPLY PUT, THE PROPOSED BALLOT
TITLE DOES NOT STATE THE BASIC LEGAL PURPOSE OF THE AMENDMENT. IT ENDORSES IT, AND DIVERTS VOTERS FROM ITS ACTUAL EFFECT. VOTERS ARE ENTITLED TO A FAIR, CLEAR, ACCURATE AND NONMISLEADING BALLOT STATEMENT TO ASSIST THEM IN MAKING THEIR CRITICAL DETERMINATIONS.
THE PRESENT BALLOT LANGUAGE WOULD DEPRIVE THE VOTERS OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DECISION. I MEAN DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT. AND THAT'S THE COURT. THAT'S NOT ANY CITY. THAT'S THE COURTS. SO ANYWAY, ON THAT NOTE, I THINK IT'S A GOOD BUDGET.
I THINK STAFF WORKED HARD TO ALREADY DO CUTS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE A TIGHT BUDGET. WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE ALL THAT THE DUNEDIN CITIZENS HAVE COME TO WANT AND EXPECT BUT ALSO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE. I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF DOING A REALLY HEAVY LIFT IN
CUTTING SOME OF THE BUDGET NOW. AND I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, EVEN IN OUR CONTINGENCY PLANS I MEAN HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO PUT THAT IN ACTION BASED ON THE AMENDMENT 3 BUT I ACTUALLY THINK WE COULD LEARN SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP US TO
HELP OUR BUDGET OVERALL. AND SO GOOD JOB, YOU KNOW, LES, JEAN, YOU LEAD THE WAY, AND YOU ALWAYS DO IT SO WELL AND I KNOW YOU GUYS WORKED YOURSELF TO DEATH DURING THIS TIME PERIOD AND I'M AMAZED BY THE, YOU KNOW,
THE BRAIN POWER YOU BRING TO THE TABLE AND THE DETAIL BECAUSE IT'S A LOT IN HERE. SO I THANK YOU. I THANK THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, ALL OF YOU GUYS I KNOW YOU THIS IS HARD. THE CONTINGENCY PLAN AND THE REST OF THE STORY. IT'S HARD STUFF. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD -- IT'S GOING TO BE HARD ON ALL OF OUR
STAFF TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT. AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO FULLY PUT THAT IN EFFECT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOPEFULLY IF WE DON'T, WE'LL LEARN SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP US ALL TO BE BETTER FOR OUR CITIZENS BUT GOOD JOB AND OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW JENNIFER YOU LEAD THE WAY AND WE
APPRECIATE THAT. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU NEED FROM US? >> NOTHING MORE, MAYOR. >> MAYOR FREANEY: ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FINAL WORDS OF WISDOM? OKAY. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO WIN THE LOTTO I GUESS, OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.