All right, we're going to get started at 6 o'clock. Uh we're going to begin the council's second budget workshop for September 3rd. Madame Clerk, please call the role. >> Good evening. Council member Garcia, >> present. Council member Hzburg,
>> present. >> Council member Sanchez, >> present. >> Council member Cuadra Garcia, >> Council Member JC Fernandez is, I think, in the parking, but he is absent right now. Vice Mayor Moretta >> present.
>> And Mayor Diegas >> here, >> Mayor. >> Thank you. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance led by Councilman Alex Sanchez. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Please remain standing for the invocation led by Vice Mayor Brian Mora. >> Thank you, Mayor. Lord, we thank you for bringing us here today to listen to our residents, to
deliberate amongst ourselves, and to brainstorm ideas for the future of our town. We ask that you give us guidance, that you give us wisdom, that you give us open ears, open hearts uh in order to reach results that are in the best interest of our town uh for now and for
the future. We ask you through Christ our Lord. Amen. >> Amen. You may be seated. Madame clerk, please read off the rules for public comment. >> Good evening. >> So, we welcome the public. Please you
can um approach the podium. You you will state your name and address for the record and we'll give you three minutes to speak. All comments and questions from the public shall be directed to the mayor in a very courtous tone and to ensure the orderly conduct and
efficiency of the meeting. Um, three minutes will be afforded. As I mentioned earlier, please no clapping, applauding, heckling, verbal outpost in support of or in opposition to a speaker. And should a member of the attending audience become unruly or behave in a
manner that disrupts the orderly and efficient conduct of the meeting, such person will be asked to leave. We also ask for um electronic devices to please be set to silent mode. We welcome as well the um the residents and the
viewers that are participating online. I see one participant. If you want to speak, please let us know. help desk will allow you to to speak. You just have to speak by raising your hand by clicking on the reactions icon and
selecting raise hand or by pressing hashtag number9 and we will give you as well the three minutes. Again, good evening and we are ready for public comments. If you wish to participate, just approach the podium and state your
name and address for the record and press on the little microphone on the bottom so that we can hear you. You see that? You can use that microphone as well. Right. >> There you go. >> Thank you. >> Name and address, please.
>> Good evening. My name is Maggali Var. My address is 8565 Northwest 165 Street. in Miami Lakes. My husband and I have lived in the Royal Oak section of Miami Lakes for 36 years.
I'm here for the first time. I've never been to a town council meeting. In fact, I voted against forming a town council when it first came in to vote because I didn't want to deal with what I felt we already had enough of, which is
government. I have to tell you that I am here because in my house when we find our expenses going up as we all have found lately
I have to cut. I can't go across the street and say to my neighbor, "Hey, I need a hundred bucks from you every month because my expenses are up. I need I need this." I can't go to my son or my daughter and say, "Hey, give me some money. I I've
got to survive. I either get another job, my husband gets another job, or we cut, or a combination of all of the above. So, what I'm here to say is that I encourage you, the council, to do the
same. I don't know how you handle in your house finances. We can't always go knocking on somebody else's door to provide the money to substantiate our expenses. Yes, we want to do the best thing that
we can do for the town, but sometimes we have to make tough decisions and in those tough decisions, it may mean cutbacks. So in order to deal with the increase in the millillage
which is being proposed, I would like to encourage you all to take that into consideration. And if you have to spend a little money on hiring somebody to deal with what could possibly be cut back, just like you hired to figure out
the traffic impact of all of those apartments that are getting built in the Donula golf course. Do the same and let's see. Let's get
serious. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. >> Good evening, Dr. Dave Bennett, 15830 Northwest 83rd Place right here in rainy Miami Lakes. Well, I've been doing this
for 20 years since 2005. Um, I've seen the evolution of the government. I've seen the evolution of the budget. Um, I want to first of all uh thank Albert Aguilar for um analyzing
the uh the budget. He should get the Miratha Mendes Award for public participation. There's no question about that. I I see she's not here today, so I'm guessing she's not feeling well or I don't know. Couple of questions came to
mind immediately when I looked at this. Um, I'm I'm seeing obviously an increase in our um legal and I'm assuming that's from the Michael Pezy lawsuit that uh went on for a number of years. What I
don't see is um our insurance reimbursement for this. I'm not sure how that was set up that um we should be getting some insurance reimbursement. I don't see it in the budget. I'm sure
it's an oversight. Um I I don't understand um a couple of things there. Obviously when you decided when we decided to build the town hall I was at that meeting too and of course there were less expensive alternatives than building a brand new building which
would have saved millions. The bond issue that was necessary in order to carry this building was one that was so ironclad you couldn't even refinance it or buy out the bond. It was a terrible deal. orchestrated, you know, by
questionable uh determination. But I saw it happen and we're all paying for that price now. Now, as far as increasing in our our millage rate, I mean, I'm fairly
insulated at this point from anything that you guys do. you know, your taxes and all that now has become a minor part of my life because I've been here long enough where I've paid off my mortgage and I've, you know, paid off everything in which case now I have plenty of additional revenues. That's not the
person you need to be looking at. You need to be looking at these people who still have mortgages that have to buy homeowners insurance for outrageous amount. There's a simple solution to homeowners insurance that nobody has bothered to even bring forward. Nobody.
It's very simple to solve the homeowners insurance. You give the power back to the people. And the way you do that is you bring the market system back. Okay? Now, I'm not going to go into that. That's not what this meeting is about. This is about our budget. You've got to do something here to help them.
Okay? Um I feel for them tremendously. I'll be out of time because this is something that needs to be addressed. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. Next speaker, just come up to the podium. Bonnie, you gonna come up? Okay,
>> Esparansa Reynolds, Lake Glenn Ellen. Today at around 1 PM, the town finally published an agenda for tonight's meeting and a link to the draft budget. Not final, but what is proposed. So we must ask why are we doing this? There's
a lot of comments comparing us to Dural whether millillage rate park offerings but Dural's major Christy Fraga sent me an email yesterday where she detailed everything any citizen requires to review the budget going as far as explaining some of the rumors. The
county has already sent several preliminary agendas with a final agenda distributed a few days ago. Should we not follow the same procedures as municipal level? In Florida, all state level agencies are required to publish
an agenda and backup materials for workshops at least seven days beforehand. And while there are less restrictive requirements at the local level with a distribution of backup materials treated differently, all official workshop materials are considered public records and the public
has the right to inspect them. The town of Miami Lakes Charter Bill of Right clearly states that we have the right to be informed so we can provide intelligent feedback. And how are we going to be able to do that without you providing pertinent and factual information? Florida statute 12525 sets
the rules that 7-day notice is required and agenda prepared and the backup published on the agency's website. In the case of local government, less specific requirements, but still the obligation to provide us with reasonable notice and agenda, and the Sunshine Law does not mandate the advanced
distribution of backup. We are left with a sea of inongruity created by government agencies that write rules, regulations, ordinances, and ultimately the law that we must obey while providing themselves with every imaginable barrier to prevent being held
accountable. In the end, I am not sure what the purpose is. But please stop saying that we don't care evident by not showing to the meetings because why would we show to the meetings if we don't have the information that we need to talk about. Dural is about three times the size of Miami Lakes. The
county 2.9 million people. If they can, why can't we? So, we shall sit and listen. We shall wait for the rules of this meeting to know if as the information is discussed if there is anything that we need to share in the hope that this forum will be open to
frequent input from those that are here. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Next speaker please. Um, >> good evening. Uh, Mauricio Vihar, the the other half of the orange from Magali
Bihar, Royal Oaks. Uh, the reason I am here today, just like my wife said, uh, and something that this gentleman said, we too paid off our houses a long time ago and we did it so we didn't have to buy insurance. So, I'm self-insured, but
that's not the reason that that I came here today because today uh I'm looking at a millage of 2.6372 as opposed to 2.0732, which is what you're out you're doing
now. Now, the reason that I oppose this vividly is because I've never seen a public institution or a government that has said no to a a tax decrease. Evidence the half penny that Miami Day
County passed for transportation, it was going to go away 20 years ago and we're still paying it. So, you can't let government take part of your hand because they're gonna take your body all the time. And in addition to that, um I
I see that the budget is about $80 million. Is that correct? >> No, but normally we don't do back and forth during public comments, but we'll address that as soon as we wrap up with public comments. >> So, just for the record, I I wasn't here
last time. If if you I I understand four of you voted for and three voted to to keep the same millillage. I would like whoever voted to increase the millillage to identify yourselves so that everybody who wasn't here last time uh is able to
know who voted. Uh unfortunately Mr. Moretta came through my house uh a year ago asking for my vote. I gave it to him. He told me he was not going to be in favor of increasing my taxes. I understand you're
one of the ones who voted to raise the millillage. So maybe you can explain yourself why you did it and uh and help us understand why you need additional money because I can't believe that you're paying an additional $500,000 to
Mr. Pezy and you you you're going to get three four time maybe 10 times more than that uh in uh new revenue. So what what happened? You you want to add policemans
and I understand it's like you want to add two policemans and it's going to cost like $180,000. And I mean I don't think I've ever worked anywhere that I had that that much of a salary with that that much uh um benefits and and and uh
freebies like the way I call it. So uh maybe maybe tonight we can clear that up. Where where did the money go? We had a $15 million surplus or we had a $50 million fund and >> you you may wrap up your remarks
>> and stair cologne just told me that it's down to five million. So what happened to the other 10? I mean these are things that we need answers for. >> Thank you sir. Thank you. Next speaker. >> Good evening, council. Uh, M Mr. Mayor and and all of you. Uh, my name is Angel
Gonzalez, 7260 South Preswick Place, Miami Lakes. As uh many of you know, when I don't show up for meetings is because things are running relatively well. You know, we're confident that you guys are doing a good job. But when this thing hit the radar of about 2.6372
millich compared to the one that we had last year at 2.07, not even the roll back rate, it's just, you know, leaving it like it was last year. It just, you know, it definitely got me to pay attention. Um, I've done the numbers. I got all the receipts. I always come
prepared. Unfortunately, three minutes is not enough to go through all my notes, but um as far as a tax increase in my particular home, it will represent an increase for next year if approved at that rate of $4646.
Um I hear some of you are seeing some of the comments in social media saying, uh oh, but the thing is that our uh amount of revenue has not kept up with inflation. That's absolutely wrong. Every time a home sells in Miami Lakes, for the most part, their taxes double.
The new owners come in and they pay double what the previous owners were paying because the house gets assessed at the higher value. Uh, as of uh, August 27th, based on a information I was able to find, 142 homes have been
sold in Miami Lakes. And I guarantee you those 142 homes that have been resold, every single one is going to be paying double, at least double the amount of taxes that they paid before. Uh when it comes to the FPNL proposed doubling of
our uh tax from 3% to 6%, yeah, you say it's only 3% more. You know, it's not it's only peanuts. It's only a couple of coffees at a Starbucks. Well, in my case, um, in the last 12 months, the franchise fee that was paid to the town of Miami Lakes going bill by bill was
$174.15. If the 6% passes, it's going to go up to $38,2.73. There's an increase of $28. I also found out that the utility tax that I thought was going to the county, no, it's also coming to the town of
Miami Lakes. And that was $482.88 88 cents that I paid in the last 12 months. So, if our electric bills are not high enough, the taxes make it even higher. My next door neighbor bought the the house. Uh I'm running out of time. He
buys a house and in 2022, the previous owner's taxes to the town of Miami Lakes, only the town of Miami Lakes was $2,425.70. his uh tax bill last year, $4,13185 and and 93. The proposed new tax will be
$5,412, an increase of $1,281. Uh I can go on and on. There's a lady that lives in our neighborhood. She called me yesterday. She was our realtor when we purchased our home in 1989. Her name is Pamela Perry. If I could wrap it up,
>> 10 seconds. Yeah. >> Uh Pamela called me from from bed. She's been sick for two months. she's not able to attend. And she told me, "Angel, tell our council members if they could come by my house and explain to me how
uh an elderly lady on a fixed income uh without any additional source of income whatsoever can have her taxes increased by the town of Miami Lakes for $38 for next year." >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Next speaker, please. Alex Arianiano, Lake Lanellen. We had not seen a sign by section one entrance, but last night a property owner in Lake Lenellan sent an email to the community that contained a photo.
Let me read his message. The town of Miami Lakes posted a notice by the guard gate to advise us that starting September 22nd, the guard will ask drivers using a the visitor the visitor lane after 10 p.m. for identification.
There are no legal basis to obtain identification from residents or visitors attempting to drive to their homes on a public street. One councilman wrote uh to Hope at 3 p.m. to say that he would never push for
something illegal. That to request the ID is perfectly legal in particular because anyone coming in has the right to refuse to provide the ID or even roll down their window. If true, why isn't
why doesn't the sign say that? It only says that the security guards will request ID and that cooperation is appreciated. Why not say instead you have the right to refuse to open your window or even provide an ID?
Did you know that another property owner had to write to SFM to protest being stopped at the Royal Oaks Guard Gate where the guards refused to open the gate or raise the arm while he was riding his bike?
Guards may very well be instructed and trained, but they may also not understand orders or refuse entry. And then what? Let's continue to read the email of the owner's uh the owner's email. Common
sense says that the guard merely looking at the identification accomplishes nothing since he won't remember our name and address after he returns the ID. which begs the question, is he going to photograph it?
Asking drivers for ID appeals to our sense of security, but it is a clear violation of our rights as is taking a permanent picture of the ID. >> Both are invasion of privacy and it accomplishes absolutely nothing. The
town has no authority to take these actions and has been so advised by an attorney living in the Lakelander area. >> I'm sorry, Mr. Ano. Ple please uh hold a second. Just as a general reminder for everyone, please remember to check your cell phones to see if they're muted.
>> The mayor and council have chosen to ignore comments and objections from a number of community residents. The property owner then stated that he has no intention of complying with the unlawful request >> from the town employees
and will refuse to produce an ID. We shall do the same. In closing, he is asking our community to join him and just say no. A final note asked us to remember that it is not the guard's idea or their
fault to try to be nice while saying no. That made me pause and consider the following. Our special taxing district is formed in 1994. The first assessment in 1995, 30 years ago. >> I apologize. It's just that since I, you know, did not give additional time to
the prior speakers, you know, I really need you to please wrap it up as quickly as you can just in the also interrupted me. >> But that was and I gave you the additional time. I gave you the additional time. >> Okay. So, let me finish. >> Okay. As long as you >> Now you Now you want to stop drivers in
the visitor lane from 1000 p.m. till morning hours to ask for identification. What if there's an altercation? What if someone gets upset and of their violation of rights? Who will be responsible for the consequences? It is
the public road. So if anyone files a lawsuit, the town will be responsible because section one property owners have not permitted you to do this. In fact, we would never petition the town or SFM to violate public road laws. >> Please cease.
You're welcome. >> And next speaker, please. >> Good evening everyone. Albert Aguar 14871 Dun Barton Place I want to thank the council for the seriousness with which you have approached these
decisions. My initial reaction of the proposed high millillage was shock and disappointment, but I also recognize the time and effort you've put into reviewing the facts and listening to the residents. I'd like to highlight several points
I've shared with you before. The first are the revenues. The town's budgeted revenues have consistently underestimated actual revenues throughout the years, especially under the current manager. As the budget officer explained prior session, some
revenues aren't projected until they are secured. I understand that approach, but the result is the same. Actual revenues come in higher than budgeted. that cannot be ignored when considering a tax
increase just because the staff has to do certain procedures. The second are expenditures for the year ending September 2024. Actual expenditures are essentially the same as the adopted bud adopted budget.
I should rephrase that. It's September 2025 excluding transfers and FPL surplus items. The adopted budget was 20.77 million. The latest projection for expenditures, again excluding transfers
and FPL surpluses, 20.78 million, virtually identical. And as of yesterday, nearly $1 million of expenditures remain unspent with less than a month left in the fiscal year. That means this year will likely again
close with a surplus larger than projected. Third are new spending items. The only major new expenses necessary for the coming year are the police contract and then the requested COLA increases.
Together I calculate less than 875,000. Yet the manager is requesting 2.65 million more than the original 2025 budget. That's nearly triple what is needed. So the obvious question is what
happens to the extra surplus this will create. And finally the process in my view the council is approaching the ba the budget backwards. Your authority is not to manage line items. It is to set the tax rate. The manager should be
directed to present an additional two budgets. One at the roll back rate and one at the flat rate. Then you can evaluate his recommendations instead of being forced into guessing where you can cut. The facts are clear. Revenues come in
higher than projected. Expenditures this year match the budget almost exactly and another surplus is on the way. Against that record, there is no justification for approving a tax increase of this size. Thank you for your time and for
your service to the community. >> Thank you, Mr. Aguiar. Next speaker, please. >> Good afternoon, council. Uh, my name is Michael Skuuela. I have lived in Miami Lakes for 44 years and I've had the
pleasure to grow up, live, raise my family here as well as work here. So, I have very deep roots to the community. This is my first time ever going to one of these meetings and I'm not going to repeat what has already been said, but obviously I found it important enough to
show up. I don't have enough information at this stage to sit here and and uh discuss intelligently what the budget is and so forth. And frankly, it's not really in my skill set. I would defer more to a gentleman like Albert who has done this professionally. I'm here only
to offer some general comments. The first comment is that we are in a climate, political climate, both nationally and locally, where the public is very hawkish on public spending.
It should be sacrosanked before a public body dips into the pockets of its citizenship. It should be loathed to do so. I'm not here to lecture you or tell you what your responsibilities are. I appreciate your public service and I
realize that this is a tough job with very tough choices and you're each obviously talented and special individuals to be elected to your position. All I would say is it's easy to say give me more. It's harder to make
those tough decisions. So, I would ask you to sharpen your pencils because people are watching more than they, at least in my experience, ever watched before. The state of Florida has an outstanding reputation nationally to be fiscally responsible.
Miami Lake should be no exception. So, I encourage you to please keep that in mind. I know that you have. I appreciate your time, your effort, and I am counting on you to do your jobs, and to do the things to make those
decisions, to advocate for your constituents. And that means don't go back to your constituents and say, "We mismanaged, we miscalculated, we made a mistake." You have to pay the price. We have to share the price, all of us. And that includes tough decisions like
cutting back on services that we may think are very valuable, but ultimately sometimes you got to break an egg to make an omelet. So these decisions are part of your jobs. I appreciate your time and I wish you the best of luck. >> Thank you very much.
>> Next speaker. Well, 16422 Northwest 82nd place Kixtoang. I bought my house in 1998 when uh we weren't Miami Lakes uh was Royal Oaks. And I wish I would have preferred to stay like that because uh I
see more buildings, more houses, more complexes. And I didn't go to school. I went I dropped out of ninth grade. And uh I'm a hustler and I'm a businessman. So I don't see why these taxes got to come up
when you guys are getting more money in. You know, I really don't don't understand that. It's easy numbers. You know, you building houses now that are going to be over $2 million right there in the Indian cemetery. You got a ton of more houses here in
Miami Lakes. More and more and more houses. More money is coming in. Where's this money going? I don't see the trees cutting down. I have to cut my own trees in front of my house. I have to cut them down and go throw more trash by myself
because I can't even get my boat in in my in my streets. And now you guys want more money. Where's it going? It bleeding. We're going to look like California. You know, we're Florida, man. We're Miami. I don't want to be in California.
You know, that's what it's looking like. More taxes. We're coming to be a communist city. What's going on? You know, I somebody's taking the money in their pockets. You know, I grew up in Carol
City with Angel right there. I went to an all black school. I had to fight every day. Whatever I have, I know Carlos for years. Whatever I have, nobody gave me anything. I worked my butt off. Okay? I used to sleep three
hours a day and sell a thousand cars uh a year at an auction. Amy knows my wife passed away three years ago. And I don't know numbers, but I could fix anything. He knows it. He knows it. I
could do anything. Electrical, plumbing, I do everything. I own buildings and you know I don't see where this money is going. You tell me where it's going. Thank you sir. Next speaker
George Lazo 8808 Northwest 143 Terrace Miami Lakes Florida closer point all the way baby. Honorable mayor, members of the city council, town manager, uh it's a
pleasure to be here, uh to voice my concerns over this very important issue that we're facing right now. Uh I've my wife and I have been living here in Miami Lakes for nearly 30 years
and we're proud Miami Lakers. We've uh uh we enjoy, you know, that that family atmosphere. Uh going out, going to the parks, uh meeting with friends, going to local businesses, and no complaints
whatsoever. Uh when I received the letter from the property appraisers's office last week, I was somewhat shocked and it was very very
um how would I say it? Um was very upset uh when I saw the numbers. Why am I opposed to this issue of raising the property taxes?
It's very concerning for many of us. We will have to face the upcoming challenges of both uh not only the property taxes but utility uh expenses as well. Uh when it pertains like Angel
indicated the FPNL rate from 3% to 6%. Uh, in our household, the average expense is $250 a month. So, uh, if it reaches to a point where it where it goes up to 6%,
then we're looking at $500 a month, and that represents a quarter of my social security check on a monthly basis. My wife and I, we're retirees. Uh, we travel once in a while. Uh our
children are grown up. They're proud Miami Lakers as well. But uh the issue is not only those utility expenses, but the burden should a increase in property
taxes should occur. This issue can also lead to two circumstances of grave concern. Many homeowners recently in Serenity Point, for example,
have sold their homes. And we've had new homeowners coming in. And for example, >> George, I'll give you a little bit of time to wrap up, but I need >> for example, uh, I'll put our neighbors,
uh, once they moved in, uh, they were party of two. Now we're looking at a party of eight. Uh, we're looking at efficiencies that have been built, two efficiencies to be
precise. Uh the Amazon FedEx trucks are there on a daily basis. >> George, I'm I'm sorry. Just because I have to be fair to everybody. Uh so are are you are you going to be able to finish in the next five? Sure. Okay. Sure. >> So that's a a grave concern. And we have
also many uh uh kids, children rather than going to the park, they're in the middle of the street shooting hoops. So it's kind of an eyesore. Other homeowners will then they'll move out. They'll head north maybe out of Florida
and then they'll rent their homes. Sorry. >> Okay. They rent their they rent their homes and then the new tenants we have the same issues. >> Yeah. No, keep it up. I I understand, George. I I'll call you later so we can talk more about that. I'm interested in
>> Absolutely. So, that's very concerning. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for your remarks. >> Next speaker, please. Good evening. Uh, Mr. Mayor, town council, Mr. Manager, town clerk. Thank you for allowing me here to speak a few
minutes tonight. Abel Fernandez, chapter 119. I'd like to start with a uh prayer that I've had to repeat a lot lately. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can, and wisdom
to know the difference. In our republic, we elect you to represent us in our absence, to be our voice when we cannot be here, our advocates when decisions are made behind closed doors. There is no greater impact
that you can have than through the delivery of direct services to the residents who pay the taxes that fund this government. Tonight, your work is to determine what is necessary and what is not. In a very tough budget atmosphere, we continue to
see prices of groceries climbing, energy costs soaring, and other expenses that all take from our pocketbooks. Every dollar you spend is a dollar that comes from families. families already struggling to make ends meet. Like I've heard here tonight, as I mentioned in
the previous budget workshop, I'm asking you to please demand data, drill down into the numbers, verify the information given to you, question assumptions, and then make your decision as you look into the eyes of each taxpayer in this town.
You will never make everyone happy. That's not your job. Your goal is to do the most good for the most folks. understand that pleasing everyone is not going to happen. But as long as you act in a prudent manner and could justify your action with facts and fiscal
responsibility, then your time on this town council is well served. The residents of Miami Lakes are counting on you to be good stewards of their hard-earned money. Make decisions based on the data, as I mentioned, not desires. Focus on necessities,
not wishes. And remember that behind every line item in this budget is a family deciding between groceries and gas or a senior citizen as George is on a fixed income or just a young family starting out.
I think the what's leading a lot of this in the background and I don't doubt the abilities of our town manager. Uh all of you know he is my friend and a former both of us are former firefighters even though he outranked me a little bit. Uh
but I I don't believe there's any ill intentions. But I think there's something driving this under the current. And let's be let's put the elephant out here so everybody can see it behind me. and that's the five or $6 million that some people are willing to
spend on the Optimus Park. Uh the voters spoke and said that they did not want that number. Maybe if the number was smaller, they still would have voted no. Uh but to if the underlying reason
finish it if the underlying reason >> like 10 seconds >> is to fund this park let's let's be honest with everyone and I don't ask you to cut your salaries or your cell phones you deserve your salary you deserve your cell phones just let's be frank with everybody and if the park is the issue
let's get rid of it thank you >> thank you very much next speaker. >> Whoops. Excuse Kleenex. Um, good evening. Oh, my name is Enid Lomax and I live at 15143 Montrose Road.
I listen to every meeting online. So, I'm here tonight first of all to give you a heartfelt thank you for your service and for all you do for us. Now, I am a senior citizen. As much as I hate
to admit it, I wake up every morning, something aches, something's falling the wrong way. >> Well, you still look great. >> Um, and I'd like to stay in my home. Um, each time you gather as the board of
directors of Miami Lakes, the agenda is filled with so many items that my head spins as I read through them. Invariably, you endeavor to find new revenue opportunities, imposing higher taxes
fees, adding to our utility tax, communication tax, and now doubling our franchise fees. So, I am here to ask you to please stop charging seniors for real estate taxes.
I get very angry with the mis with the mention of the Optimus Park, a park we don't own and yet our tax money supports it. A park that costs us dearly by paying for the design of the park that never was a and to a paying consultant
of $25,000. And you all know the rest of the story. A park bond issuance, etc., etc., that was rejected by the majority of the voters. We are not the coffers of Miami Lakes. Instead of putting in new
benches, replacing equipment, or adding new equipment at the Veterans Park, please repair the potholes and sidewalks. Montro Road has become a nightmare, but that's another story. Everything cost us more. Property taxes
uh school board tra homeowners insurance and car insurance. Uh I pay $3,000 a year for my car insurance. Never had an accident, but because we don't have our zip code, and as soon as they see that we're mashed in
with another area, it automatically rises my insurance. Please do not raise our property taxes, do not double our franchise fee, and reduce all costs to Miami Lakers. I
thank you all very much. Good evening. >> Thank you, Enid. Next speaker. Is there someone else here wishing to speak? Excellent. >> Good evening everyone and thank you. My name is Susan Gil. I live at 16251
Northwest 87th Court. So, it's a recurring theme. I guess you guys have heard. Um, everyone is pretty much u not wanting the millage rate to go up. Um, Miami Lakes has always been the shining beacon in Day County. We've been the
example that people want to be like and uh it's a town that's very soughta. You put a house for sale, it goes that quick. Let's be the heroes. Let's not be falling in. I see other cities doing the same thing. Do we really honestly have
the need for items that a recurring theme that everyone is saying we don't want as the taxpayers? We don't want as the residents. We don't need as the residents. Is it something needed? No. Village rate going up. Franchise fee. That means my FPL bill is going to go
up. And I received a notice from Miami Day County. My garbage is going up. Is there truly a need to do this? Be the heroes. That's all I have to say. You guys can do it. You guys can find it. If
you need to bring in Doge or something like that, do it. You guys can do this. There's We have a surplus year after year after year. We're going to have one from what I'm hearing again probably this year. And
they're right. houses are being sold for double. I know if I sold my house today, it would go for 10 times what I paid for it 26 years ago. So, don't do this. This isn't what people want.
I think there's a lot of people here actually, which is awesome. And that's it, guys. That's all I have to say. Thank you for your time. Thank you so much. Thank you for your service. I know it's not easy. >> Thank you. Evening everybody. Miguel Martinez, vice
chair of the blessing advisory board. Surprise. I'm here today to address comments that were made from the previous budget hearing uh regarding the BAB expenditures. Let it be known in the beer industry change gears a little bit. It's known
for every 10 cents on the each dollar spent on a bottle of a beverage that goes to the actual liquid. A major portion of the cost of the bottle is for branding. This is when you see a Clydesdale, you think of Budweiser. When you see a red star, Heineken, and when you skeleton key, it's Beex. But I
digress. Recently, we had an anniversary of 33 years ago. South Florida was hit with a devastating natural disaster, Hurricane Andrew. What was witnessed was basically a windborne damage. I recall seeing witness uh vehicles blown over
and even a bloated dead cow in a tree as I would try to get to my sister's house in South Dade on on my way to help any way I could. These unwelcomed images have been emblazed into my memory. I'm sure you all have your own. What we actually experienced was
construction strained to their structural limits. And as we are fully aware, many failed. At that time, our area was under the regulation of the South Florida building code that's been taken over by the Florida Building Code. Structurally speaking, the designed wind
speed was used at that time was to withstand 110 miles an hour. I have previously provided scientific evidence of what seismic energy can do to structures. This was seen in Surfside collapse and now the Miami Dade County Airport.
And as a matter of fact, the sustained vibration we are experiencing can degrade the integrity of structures by 25%. No structure is spared. This includes the town's assets. As Councilman Herszburg and I recently in inspected
this is the basis of the challenge of the blessing advisory board has is right or wrong. How can something so abstract be disseminated to the elected, the media, and or to the public? Most people cannot comprehend the science of what's allowed to occur and given the opportunity to explain a
situation in an effort to rem to remedy it is key. Providing a small trinket to enable this occurrence is one way. The trinket then becomes a reminder of the interaction. The difference is the trinkets are extremely affordable but the significance of the of the return on
investment is unimaginable. And I assure you that the interaction will be memorable, much like enjoying your favorite beer with a friend. So at a minimum, please keep the budget for the BAB status status quo so we can continue our efforts. Thank you.
>> Mr. Martinez, if you could just please state your address. Um I just caught that it was not included. >> 18784 Northwest 79, please. >> Thank you. Just keeping with the rules. Thank you. Uh next speaker. All right, good evening everyone. George, I live in Royal Oaks East. I
also have a chapter 119 uh exemption this budget season for me anyway and I think for most people that are here uh we've all experienced shock. Okay, the first shock that I experienced
was when I saw that 36% cap rate that you all passed. I thought it was a joke. Had to make a few calls, look on social media, and no, wasn't a joke. It was for real. It's being reported in the news. Miami Lakes has that dubious
distinction. Okay, so that's number one. Number two was when I received my trim notice. It seems to me like every taxing authority wants to stick their hand further into
my pocket. So when you all start thinking about taxes, it's not just here. It's the county, it's the school board, water management district, and all the other different taxing authorities that are
in there. Okay. taxes would go up significantly if the numbers that are in there now would be implemented. The other thing I want to uh how much time I got? I'm a minute and a half. Okay. The other thing I want to make uh
note of is the fact that the budget was uh posted online. So, I was able to look at it. And one of the things that jumps out at you right away, there are two items in there that is what I call high value items. Number one, the 800,000
that needs to go to the sheriff's office. Number two, the 500 that needs to go to the Michael Pizzy fund. Okay, that's $1.3 million. Okay, that's a huge amount of money for a small town. Okay, that has a small town budget, right? A
prudent person, a prudent decision maker would say, anything in that budget that's a want immediately needs to go immediately. We don't have money for wants this year.
Right? And then go down to the needs and make sure that some of those needs aren't actually wants. Okay? I went through quite a few needs assessment, you know, throughout my career. It's incredible where you have a whole board full of stuff that you want and by the
time you get done there's three items that are actually needs, right? Again, looking at that budget, it's there. Albert eloquently highlighted a lot of that. So, take out the scalpels, surgically cut down to the
bone, and let's keep taxes at the bare minimum, at least in this taxing authority. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Bonnie Cintron 14770 Lewis Road. I
wasn't going to say anything, but I've been listening and some things came to mind when people are talking about wants as opposed to needs and watching your expenses. I just got a notice from the town of Miami Lakes that we are going to
have a new program because a grant was given and I don't know I forget the name of the program. It's something zero and it's supposed to be for keeping us safe so that we can cross the street without getting killed. And as I read it, I
thought this is an insult. I mean, we're adults here. We know how to cross the streets and even the children we're responsible for. This is crazy. Who what is this grant? How much is this going to cost the town? Because every time we get
a grant, we're supposed to come up with some sum of money. Is this one a freebie? I mean, we don't have to do anything. It is. Well, at least that. Thank you. I just wanted to know because there's so much waste in the budget that
we can do away with and >> thank you. >> I'm glad that one isn't going to be another cost. >> Thank you, Bonnie. Next speaker. >> Good evening everyone. Homero Cruz 8515 Northwest 169 Terrace.
Want to try to make it simple. Did I see this comic? Yes, I saw it. Two seniors and a freshman class. And it was going to be tough. I hope we don't have to be here next year doing
the same thing. Actually, we shouldn't be here. For four, eight years, we've been number four, the lowest taxes in all of the county. from not being on the news. We've been in the news now every single week, every
single day because now we want to raise with pancreas 62% 61. We want to be at 36. About a month and a half ago, Councilman Garcia put a motion on the table to leave it the way it is, the way
it was. None of this would have been happening today. So, I urge you to go back and do the right thing. We have two more meetings. you guys to do the right thing. Franchise tax on FPL that was voted 43. There's no going back on that,
right? That's it. We We can still Okay. So, hopefully you'll go back and do the right thing on the special taxing district card gates. Mine went up $150. I don't know if there's anything we can do with that. I'm not a happy camper.
So, all I'm asking you to do is uh do the right thing. Let's be on the news but with the good news and vote to go back. 36% is crazy and we're not going to allow it. You guys
have one strike. Hopefully next time next year you're going to hit a home run. God bless you. >> Next speaker, please. Going once. Going twice. Excellent. I see Miss Cologne coming up.
No sir. >> He tried. >> No. I mean, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, but obviously we, you know, for the for the public also, you know, we're trying to get through to the substance of the meeting so they can start to also hear what the work we're going to be doing as well. You see what I mean? >> Yeah.
>> Eas55 Casia Place. I was here um last meeting and um I know you weren't here mayor when I spoke, but I also believed it was irresponsible to note a millage rate of 2.63. I am happy to say that the budget
that we have in front of us now is at 2.24 mills and I hope that some of the discussion we had last meeting that you take into consideration and that you work toward bringing that rate down to 2.07 7 to the flat rate. You can do this. The
FPL franchise money, the doubling of those fees is unnecessary. Why do I say that? Last year, we finished the uh end of year with a surplus of $5.7 million. Just by looking at your documents,
we are looking at a over $6 million surplus. I'd like to say that some of these numbers, revenue numbers are understated. And I'd like to make sure that you all look at the storm water fee, which I know at one time the manager was proposing an increase.
You're projecting a $2.1 million income. When you collect $2.3 million, stop that. Look at the numbers. There's a lot of individuals in this town that are willing to sit with you. Let me thank first the clerk's office because I have
requested numerous public records and I'm going to continue to do so. Um, and we have received them. Vice Mayor Morera, thank you for providing the documents today that I requested because at the last hour these documents were
not online. Let's continue the optimist park. We have organized sports from teams coming from out of town to use our facilities and they don't even cover the cost of
the maintenance. When is enough enough? We have the Optimus Park. Baseball teams come into play here. We pay for the field. We don't even own half of that prop. Well, 75% of that property. And I was just looking, we have funds that we
actually allocate for programs that the school board should be paying for. What are you going to stop this? Then you have a uh a karate, whatever you want to call that at $15,000. Do we
collect registration fees to cover that? Because half of those students participants are not the Miami kids. You need to be responsible. Stop it. You have a stipen. You have a car allowance. You have a salary. You
have laptops. And now you want travel money. The same way you want it. All the employees want it. Enough is enough. If you need my help, I can go line item by line item because I breathe. I You know, I mayor, you know, I've been here for
the past 10 years religiously. Let's Let's be more responsible. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh the next speaker, please. >> Going once, going twice. Madame clerk, please look uh uh online to see if we
have any speakers there. >> Yes, we do have um participants online and some of them have their hands raised. So, I'm going to go in the order that I see them. I'm going to start with Julio. Good evening, Mr. Julio, I saw
your hand was raised. If you want to speak, please do so now. Just state your name and address for the record. >> Good evening to everybody. My name is Julio Verera and I'm from Lake Martha, 14622 Rosewood Road. >> Good evening. >> First of all, I want to thank each and
one of you guys for the tough job that you guys do. Um, so u my hat goes off uh to you guys. I've been a resident of Miami Lakes uh for over 31 years. I've seen Miami Lakes when we were in un incorporated uh beautiful lawns. Now we
drive through Miami Lakeway uh south and all you see is concrete on the lawn. So the lawns have gone away. I've seen that now you got golf carts driving at uh Miami Lakes Drive rush hour with kids in the golf cart. You know, great decision
there. So as as a community uh we've made bad decisions. I know that we want to look like Dural, but we're nowhere near as Dorado. Dural. The types of businesses that are there cannot compare
to what we have in our uh city. Um I have uh where I live, I have an enclosed uh yard and I get fined for having uh an enclosed trailer uh that I use to go to the Keys and transfer my
stuff there. I get fined for having it behind my fence. Uh, and again, been a resident for 31 years. Uh, with the mileage going up, uh, and me getting closer to the retirement age, uh, that proposed mileage, uh, will make me, uh,
think about what my future's going to be in Miami Lakes between the mileage increase, the franchise increase, my homeowners that I'm at $14,000 a year. Um, it's tough. It's tough. Um, let's go back, you know, to the unincorporated days. You know, let the county pay for
some of our services. Um, but what I want to, uh, say is that we need to put our prides aside and do what's right for the residents, which you guys represent. So, uh, again, I want to thank all you guys for your services. you guys would
do the right decision into uh keeping the taxes and the franchise fees as they are. Thank you and I'll give you back your time. >> Thank you, sir. Madam clerk, next speaker. >> Again, the next person that I see is the
telephone number that ends with 8740. Please unmute yourself if you're wishing to participate in remote public comments. Telephone number 8740. I see there. >> Hello. >> Yes. Good evening.
>> My name is My name is Carter Mato. I live in Miami Beach since 1993 and my address is 6312. Gage, please. Are are can you hear me? >> Yes, we can hear you. Please continue.
>> Yeah. Uh all the speakers uh one of the things I just want to let you know I worked for I worked in the private industry for many years 30 years my fact I worked for the federal government as member of FDA the senior policy adviser and it's been several years that I've
handled budgets in the private sector more so than the federal budget but one of the reasoning that we had at least in the private sector and I know the private sector and government are two different entities I understand that. However, the basics of a budget has to
be reached based on realistic goals and things that are definitely needed. One of the comments I've heard and I think it's an excellent comment is that when you plan your budget, of course, everybody's kind of want I need I need to have this, I need to have that. We used to have that in several planning
meetings. We had tons of things that people wanted. But one of the things that we learned is that you have to have discipline in your budget and it makes you work a lot more. So be it. But the discipline of the budget makes you realize the things that you really need to have in the city. I spoke with Manny
EDS, the pre Manny Ray, the previous uh uh town uh manager. I'm not manager, I'm sorry. Uh uh yeah. >> Yeah, the official. >> Yeah, the official. And uh I spoke with him when there was the uh issue of the bond that was trying to be uh passed at
Miami for about $20 million, something about the ultimate start. I spoke with him directly. I said this is ridiculous. This is crazy. We don't own the park. Most people that come and play are people from outside. I know because my kids used to go and play there and they're coming from everywhere else but
in my middle age. So why are we doing this? It's a money and besides this not the time to raise taxes and citizens and there was a big push and I was big part of it making sure the word got around that you can't vote with this. And so when the f when when this was submitted
uh it wasn't approved. That's it. And we hadn't heard from Manny again. And then I see that Manny's coming back as a consultant, a very wealth paid consultant over $200,000. Said, "Whoa, the last time I heard from Manny was saying was going to work for
someone another city, a bigger city to learn." Well, I don't know how you can justify consulting that it's learning in Miami Day County and they're coming back to us with such a handsome salary. I'll tell
you it's something that blew my mind. Something else that you guys need to push on lake counties. This is something that is impinging on our taxes. I've counted around 50 to so far the first hund over 50% of those people are
attorneys. 50% attorneys in that county. It's incredible. And the salaries this is for people were making over $200,000. It's unbelievable. How can you be supporting a government that's chain of
bureaucracy with salaries over 200,000 when most average salary >> Sir I'm going to need you to wrap up please. >> Yeah. So I'm saying to you is that my vote is for no you need to go back to the previous mileage rate and you need
to think of the people that you're serving. >> Excuse me sir. >> Your service. I don't >> Excuse me. >> Sorry. >> Yes. I think your three three minutes are up, but thank you for your feedback and for participating in public comments.
Okay, I'm going to proceed with um the list that I see in front of me. Mr. John Newman, I see your name. If you're here for public comments, please just state your name and address and we'll start with uh
with a timer. Yes, this is John Newman at 6301 Thimman Street, Miami Lakes. I had posted my comment. I wasn't able to attend in person. I just wanted to voice my opposition to the proposed increase to the millillage and the doubling of the
FPL franchise fee. I've looked through the budget. I don't see any valid reason to increase our taxes given the history of the surplus revenue and the total estimated expenditures appear to be nearly the same. I think it was irresponsible for
the council to approve the millillage cap that it did. This essentially has led to just a lot of um people being upset within the town. I think it should have been rejected initially and the town manager should have gone back to
revise the budget to something more realistic. So, I'm just asking you to please consider the residents and just vote to oppose and reject the proposed budget. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Newman. Next,
>> thank you. I see Miss Angelica Diaz. If you're here for public comments, please just unmute yourself. Name and address for the record. And welcome, Angelica Diaz. >> Hi. Yes, it's actually Isabella Diaz.
It's under my daughter's school, but our property address is in Royal Oaks, 8035 Northwest 164 Terrace. My name is Isabella Diaz. Um, I'm just pretty much as I think like just all the other homeowners and all about opposing on
everything going on with the mileage gap that you guys did with the FPL. I know there's no turning back on that, but I really do believe you guys should really sit back and go back over all the numbers and re regroup or something because the numbers are completely out of out of
whack to me. And um you know bringing Manny Sid back as a I guess to help you guys out kind of makes me feel like are you guys not in the right position to run this town with us? Um I know there's not many people do show up to these meetings. I know you
guys request us to you know show up and show up. It's sometimes hard for many of us residents. Um but if you guys can go back over your budget or something if you know if there's something anybody out in the community we can help. If I can try to come in and help you guys with budget I'm more than happy to. But
please, I beg you as a resident here, um it's only going to make it harder for all of us to retire with these numbers growing so largely. Um we're nowhere near Pinerest. I think Pinerest is ridiculous out of this world to make our town um number go up. As well as when
you drive through the town, um there's a lot of negligence around the town. It's deteriorating since we first moved here. So maybe look back at the budget and see where you guys can cut and put where it really should go. But that's just my personal opinion. And um once again, I thank you guys. I know you guys probably
getting a lot of heat from this. Um but thank you for being there and hearing us and hearing our voices through it all. And that's pretty much it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh next speaker, >> Miss Kimberly. Kimberly,
if you're here to participate, just unmute yourself. If not, I'll proceed with the list. Actually, I believe I have called everyone, but if there's anyone participating in remote public comments that the clerk has not called
and you want to participate, please just unmute yourself. Welcome to the meeting and we will afford you the time. Please do so now. >> Okay. So, mayor, before you proceed with um ending public comments, I do have two
written public comments that I need to state for the record. One was earlier received a few days ago, which I know you all received from Mr. Albert Aguiar, and the other one is from Mr. Boris Foster, which again he shared with
everyone, but for purposes of the record, they both provided written public comments and they're part of the record now. Thank you. >> Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. And with that, public coms is now closed. And um before we dive into everything else, there's a couple things I want to
explain now that we have a much larger group of residents here. And it's something I've been stating over and over again since July when the preliminary millage was set. Under under state law, we are required to set an initial millillage that will then go out into your trim notice that will be the
maximum rate. And it's for the interest of transparency. So you can plan ahead about in terms of what is the maximum amount of taxes property taxes you will need to pay in a given year. Right? So for that reason we have to set a millillage upfront before we have
complete numbers because we pull our revenue forecast from the department of revenue of Florida from Miami Day County. The list goes on, right? So, a lot of times, especially in July, we're still dealing with a lot of preliminary numbers. And the the for sure numbers that we had at that time was an increase
of 800,000, as you heard before in the police services contract, a final payment for the Pizzy settlement of 500,000 and our property uh tax revenues only increased by 693,000. So, we're already starting on a hold just on those numbers. And of course, we're still
waiting on other numbers to come in from state revenue share, gas tax, you name it. Um, so in order to be safe because we can only go down from that rate and not and not above that if for whatever reason we set it too low, right, we set it at a higher rate as a preliminary uh
again just as a preliminary move. The council members and myself included have been very clear that it is not going to stay there. But procedurally, we're required to set something before your trim notice goes out. So you can help plan what is the maximum you will pay. And uh again there were other increases
as well on the expense of the ledger. Every business owner here has seen their health insurance cost double. Uh and that's exactly what we went through. Of course cost of materials and labor has gone way up and we're not immune from that. So those are all things we have to plan for. Now, that doesn't mean again that we were going to be reckless and go
ahead and set a crazy millillage just, you know, um because we wanted to pay for a pep project like the Opulus Park or anything like that. This was just getting ahead of, you know, making sure that we had a millage rate that was higher and then once we got final numbers, then we can work uh our way
toward cutting it. And yes, we want to keep it flat. Um so, I just want you to understand like how the public budget system works when it comes to the military. Just because there was a rate set, you know, at a higher at the beginning, and it this has been done before, by the way, um that does not
mean that that's where we're going to where it's going to sit and we are committed to cutting back. And that's what this process is. The first uh budget workshop um that we had last week and now this being the second is our opportunity to cut and I've been reminding as many residents as we can
that that's what this process is for. Um additionally, something else I wanted to go into is that this is a workshop. So no votes will be taken tonight with respect to either the millillage or the budget itself. Rather this is an opportunity for the council to get together and provide feedback to the
administration as to what we are willing to cut back on uh so that when they come back to us next week at the first budget hearing perhap some of those uh some of those cuts are worked in as a as a formal proposal. But tonight no decisions are being made. So I just want you to be aware of that. And at the
public budget hearing, you will have another opportunity to address the council um as well as the second budget hearing. We still have two more meetings again that you're going to be able to talk to us. And at those two meetings, there will be decisions taken. Um and for those of you that want to mark your calendar, the next uh meeting will be
September 11th at 6:30 p.m. here in council chambers. And that again is when we will take the first series of votes. In fact, actually, I also want to point out that there will be a special call meeting uh about half an hour before the official budget hearing. Um, let me pull
that up really quick. So, about a half hour an hour before the first budget hearing, there will be a special call meeting regarding the FO franchise fee ordinance, you know, and whether and we will consider at that point whether there will be any changes. I think at this point we're getting to a point where we're going to have greater
clarity in the budget. And I think what you're going to see is that we're going to be able to keep things a lot lower than some are are anticipating. And it's just again, I just want you to understand that this is a lot of procedural moves, trying to be fiscally responsible, but ultimately this is
meetings like tonight are where the council is doing its work of taking out their pencils and and cutting where appropriate. Um, but I want to assure you that we're not off uh spending money on social engineering or DEI or anything like that. That is not the case. Um, so with that, I'm going to turn it over.
There have a couple questions actually that came up in public comments. So, as a courtesy to them, I just wanted to go ahead and try to get uh some of them addressed. The insurance reimbursement related to the Pizzy litigation. And I I believe Mr. Cassissi can uh can answer this or maybe Melissa because it's about
when it was uh actualized in the budget. Is that was it actualized in a prior year? >> I'm not I'm not sure about the budgeting. I can tell you the money the 300,000 was received several years ago and then there was a partial payout as
monies were being expended. Now how much of that has been gotten back or not, I'm not sure, but it is not a significant number. >> We we have with the insurance we have about $43,000 left >> from the original $300,000 settlement.
So, we're we're putting in the claim with the payment that'll be coming up. So, it's about 43,000 that'll help to offset the um >> the 500,000. >> I'm going from my memory, but this is the way it worked. We got a $300,000
check and then as we spent money in the litigation, we were entitled to get five we're entitled to get a total of 200,000 at I think a 30% reimbursement rate,
something along those lines. If I'm off on the numbers, yeah, that's correct. Right. So, of that reimbursement rate, there's $43,000, but the $300,000 we got years ago. >> I mean, years ago. >> So, that would explain why it's not
recognized in in in this budget. Um, okay. So, that's one of the questions there. >> Through the mayor, just on that point, >> uh, vice mayor, >> if there's still 40ome thousand, uh, is it possible to apply it towards the 500,000 that we're allocating this year?
>> Are we recognizing that as revenue in this upcoming budget? Okay. Well, there we go. >> Because it's already for the last payment. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, we cleared that up as well. Hey, I wanted to explain a gentleman who
I see is not here anymore um was asking if the budget's 80 something million. That is the total Oh, that was your question. Okay. I just want to explain that in because government budgeting and accounting is very different than it works in the private sector, right? It's fund based and there are certain uh funds and revenues that that go into
those funds that you cannot touch for anything other than specific purposes. So what the the discretionary fund that the council has to pay for uh different projects really is what's called the general fund. Uh Mr. uh Peterman, what is the total amount of the proposed
budget right now on the general fund side? Yeah. 21 into two classifications, general fund or special revenue fund. So that Yeah. >> Well, why he looks it up, I just wanted to explain. So, for example, gas tax the
uh as well as the people's transportation plan money, the the half penny that that was alluded to, that money can only go toward certain road construction projects and related items, right? We can't, you know, uh use that for say tree trimming or anything like that. So, that's why there's that
discrepancy. I'm going to throw out a broad number that if I recall correctly, the general fund is roughly about $24 million this year. The remainder of that >> 24319 >> 24 319. The remainder of that goes into these special revenue funds that are for specific purposes. They can't go, for
example, to Optimus Optimus Park or for tree trimming, things of that nature. So, I just wanted to, you know, you understand that that the big number is actually smaller in terms of what we have discretion over. Um, so I just wanted to clarify that. Additionally, um, as far as the surplus
claims, I think Miss Coen mentioned that there was a $6 million surplus, that is not the case. We actually finished last year, u, meaning last fiscal year at an operational deficit of almost, I think it was like 200 something thousand. Now, putting that aside, what I think she was
referring to is what is extra money that has been accumulating there for different projects of of uh that that accounts for um, and Mr. Mr. Peterman, please correct me if I'm wrong. Money that was there for from ARPA as well as money from the storm water revenue bonds that we had sitting in the account that
we're now expending. Correct. >> Correct. Our fund balance was only 5 million which is what we're required to have the 15% of the total of general fund. >> Yeah. So just because the money was sitting in the account which I guess was about 6 million so does not mean that we were generating these massive surpluses
of $6 million last year. Um so just want to make sure that's clear. So, the money that was sitting there was either the required 15% re reserve, which is 15% of the total budget. Um, or it was money that was sitting there as part of the storm and water revenue bonds that has to go to the water projects that you've
seen us funding around town or the American Rescue Plan dollars that again also was being saved for the storm water projects that we've been cutting uh ribbons on. Um, and we're running out of uh that, you know, as we've allocated money for those projects that obviously is shrinking that that amount of money.
In fact, I believe that fund balance is going to end up projected at $83,000 when everything's said and done on top of the the 15% reserve. >> The fund balance, >> the unassigned fund balance is going to drop to about projected $83,000 roughly
from the last number I got. But that's we have not the the year even though we have spent money, we have encumbered money, we have not gotten invoices. So, some of the projection year-end projections for this current fiscal year have not uh complete yet.
>> No, understood. But that was the last number I got literally today um in response to one of my questions. But the point that I want them to understand is that there was no $6 million. >> That's a fluid number. Tomorrow that number will be different than it is today. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Right. But again, I just want them to >> and I'm hoping that that number is ends
up going to be zero or close to zero because the the money that the town council has allocated was for a purpose. And unless we don't do something or we get a better deal on something, then that's how we can save some money. >> Yeah. No, I understand that. But I just
need them to understand that there's no $6 million surplus, right? But it is money that is sitting there for a particular purpose and a lot of it is encumbered again for water projects, you name it. Um, so I just wanted to address that. Um, if you want, I'll come off to the side once I turn it over uh for the general
discussion so I can get you the answer you want because the the thing is I do want to uh just address what I can publicly, you know, in the interest of transparency and then get over to the meeting of of reviewing line by line and cutting where we can. Additionally, with respect to new
development revenue, um just because something was approved, such as the residences at 9, the golf port uh the golf course project until it's actually constructed, uh they're not paying taxes on that improvement, right? Because it hasn't yet been built. So, we are not yet
seeing a lot of the revenues from those projects because they haven't yet come online. And usually there's a delay even on when they're recognized even after it's built. So, I just wanted you to know that that, you know, sometimes just because it was approved doesn't mean that we're necessarily seeing all of that increase immediately. Um,
I think that's most of what um of the questions we were asked here that um I I wanted to make sure we addressed. I don't know if my console >> can I make one clarifying statement and it deals with the FPNL franchise fee and I think it dealt with one resident who said that his monthly consumption or
monthly bill is $250 that if we go from a 3% to a 6% it'll go from $250 to $500. That's not the case. A $250 monthly FPNL franchise fee with the proposed change will increase by $7. So I want to be
sure that we understand that that percentage is not what drives your FPL sets their rates. They get it approved by a state agency but we do not part we do not regulate what FPNL charges. Ours is just a franchise fee that gets
attached to it. So it's 3% extra. So if you look at your bill, you'll be able to see franchise fees. If you pull up your FPNL bill and look at franchise fees, it's a number. I mean, I just looked at mine. Mine was $16 a month. So, uh, somebody who has
less consumption will be less than that. So, I just want to be clear that we understand that the doubling of the franchise fee is not going to double your FPNL franchise uh, bill on a monthly basis. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Just I need one second. Um, I need to
and you can if you can do this later on tonight. Uh we need to schedule a uh executive session in the town of Miami Lakes versus Becker matter. I'll f I'll be filling you guys in as we go along. Uh but I'd like to schedule that as soon as possible. >> Okay. Well, why don't we get to that at
the end of the meeting because that's more of a scheduling thing and you know, not urgent right now and obviously we have a lot of residents that want to see us in action uh with respect to the budget itself. >> Right. No, there's nothing to discuss. I just have to make the formal announcement. >> Oh, okay. I just want to make sure because I know earlier it seemed like
you were going to uh let me know or you were going to ask us to give you dates and whatnot. So, >> well, yeah, I'll have Gina do that. >> Okay. Excellent. Okay. With that, um a Councilman Sanchez, your mic is off, though. >> Mr. Mayor, if I can have a point of personal privilege.
>> Okay. Um first and foremost, I want to thank everyone that is here tonight. It is a much larger crowd than we had last week, and I'm I'm very happy to see that. But I want to reiterate something that I spoke about at the last meeting. And that today,
all of us up here, at least from this seat down, we represent the people, not just the individuals in this room, not just the individuals online, but the 34,000 residents that live across 10,000 homes in the town of Miami Lakes. The organizational structure, and I know I said it last time, I'm going to repeat
it. So you know the rule of three uh three times and you remember it is the residents at the top, the elected officials in the at level two, the town manager at level three and the town staff at level four, the stakeholders, board of directors, CEO and town staff. So all the decisions that we make, all
the questions that we are going to ask is in representation of our residents and giving them what they need. Now definition of needs and wants in needs and wants everyone has different aspects. We all want safety. That's Priority number one, we all want cleaner
streets. Some individuals don't like having trees whatsoever. Some individuals like having trees. So needs and wants is very subjective, right? But we want to make sure that we do everything in a fiscally responsible way is what we promise our residents and we what we should continue to do no matter
what. So I look forward to all the conversations we're going to have tonight. Oh, and one last thing. If we can at the last meeting, we jumped on the budget from revenues. We're going to go in order of the revenue. >> Can you go in that order just so we can go one page at a time instead of flipping back and forth? I think that'll
make it a lot smoother this time. >> Okay. With that, Mr. Vice Mayor, I'm going to I'm going to uh go speak to the gentleman here really quickly, but go ahead and kick us off. >> Thank you, Mayor and uh Councilman Sanchez, you're welcome. I did recommend that to the mayor. Um, in order to have
as much of a productive and open discussion as possible, uh, it it was my recommendation that we go fund by fund or I should say uh, department by department starting with general fund revenues and then start going down. Uh,
I'll ask the council whether you have any questions, comments, concerns, or requests for modifications on that department. Once we're done, I'm actually going to turn over to any residents if they actually have anything that they want to
have input after having heard our discussion. Maybe we missed something, maybe there's something you want to add. I want to have you guys involved in this process. You came here for a reason. You should be part of this process. Uh so that being said, and then as far as uh
us um let's try to keep ourselves brief. Let's try to keep away from um just going on and on forever. Uh I'll ask the same of the residents. I'm not going to set a specific time limit on this part of the discussion. Um but as soon as I
see that we're basically repeating ourselves and going around in circles, I'm going to ask that we move forward. Uh so that being said, council, any discussion, questions, comments, concerns on general fund revenues? >> Yes. >> I have Sanchez. Uh I have Herszburg. Uh
Garcia. Okay. Almost everyone. We'll start on this side. Uh Councilman Sanchez, you're recognized. >> Okay. So with regards to revenues, the first question is that fiscal year 2003 2000 I mean 2425. We have $23,400 in revenues received due to the majority
being contributions from sponsorships, grants, etc. All those are projected to be zero because we don't know if we're going to receive them. As I said before, they're sponsorships. What is the likelihood that we will be receiving something equal to that amount and 200 of $23,000 from sponsorships and things like that.
>> So as we receive the donation, it go it it gets allocated to the specific committee that it belongs to and to the specific line item for whatever event they have received the donation or the sponsorship for. However, if the funds are not that they have collected from that sponsorship is not utilized within
that fiscal year, it will be carried into the following year where they can utilize it towards whatever event they have. >> Understood. >> But but as far as um what is the likelihood would really depend on the committee and their efforts in trying to
raise sponsorships um equal to what they have received in the current year. >> Okay. >> So that's dependent on the committee. >> Okay. With regards to revenue, there's in past years, right now they're zeroed out, but they're there because we've received them in the past. We have revenues in lines 43 through 47. Um,
give me one second so I can pull them up. >> I have a different worksheet, so if you could tell me what the account name is or the account number. >> Um, the account number 001331-690. So, division of forestry, a forestry tree grant is one of them. A kaboom
grant, a state grant for public safety, the art collaborative grant, FDEA, communities of a lifetime. Let's talk first about those those five. We've had them in the past because they're on the >> Council Member Sanchez, pause for a second because I think she's doesn't know what you're talking about.
>> No, I I do. I looking at it. >> Yeah. I mean, historically, we've had it at some point in time. >> Yeah. >> So, is there anything Is is there anything we can do to try to get those grants back? Are they still in existence because that will supplement taxpayer
funds if they're in the within the general fund? >> If I may make a suggestion for the sake of allowing this discussion to flow, I think that that's a discussion with Miss Shock with Olivia Shock because I think it's a question of whether we can get a grant. So, I think it's better tailored
to her outside of this this meeting. >> Okay. >> Anything else, Council Member Sanchez, on the revenue side? No, everything else was grant related. >> Okay. >> Um I'm gonna move over to Council Member Herszburg. >> You are recognized. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. And one of the things that um
I've been speaking about and I want to see how what you guys feel like is looking I voted yes for the to move the franchise fee over, but I also stated I wasn't comfortable at 6%. Um, and money has to come from somewhere based off what's going on right now. But I would
like to see what this budget would look like without an increase in the franchise fee or decrease the franchise fee to a different percent. I agree with Albert that I would like to see a budget based off different different revenue streams because or or else we're just
going to go to the budget hearing next week and just start cutting. And it would be nice to see for example um this budget is you lowered the mill significantly but then you increased franchise fee based off that vote. I was very clear I wasn't that comfortable on
6%. So, I would like to figure out what this budget would look like from your opinion from the manager if that franchise fee increase was not full 6% or even just 3% and see what it looks like for the need, right? The need for the franchise fee to make us have to
raise it because that that's the tax I'm most concerned about as the franchise. >> So, I before they actually jump in on that, I I had the same concern uh and I did some math on that. Um, if you forgot about everything that we discussed today
as well as at the last workshop and you just take the 2.2459 uh that that was presented to us with its uh franchise fee increase and you just remove the franchise fee increase, right? We we leave the franchise fee at
3%. What you find is in reality that reduction in the millillage is a lot smaller as as you could assume essentially it would come out to 2.5275. So we in in terms of actual budget cuts
what we did going from 2.6372 really what we went down to if you were to eliminate that franchise free fee increase is 2.5275. I don't know if that answers your question. >> I mean, >> but it gives you an image of really how much
>> affected it, right? So, that's what I'm saying. From the prior budget to the budget now, not much has changed other than increase in the franchise fee and there were some a little bit of reductions. For example, for me, well, we're not on expenses yet, so I'll get there. But I would just I want to I want to compare budgets. I want to see what
the staff would say, okay, if you're going to force us to cut, this is what we're going to cut. So then we can really make decisions on on whether or not we want things cut or not. Right? >> Each percent of the increase. So in other words, if we went three to four,
>> that'd be $500,000. So it's $500,000 for each%. I know the math. I want to know what the town administration thinks we would cut if that's the math we gave you, right? We've done it before. Prior councils, prior councils have kept it flat or gone
to roll back one rate. And to be clear, the rate we're we're the rate we're proposing now is the same rate we had two years ago, right? Um but I understand I understand the math. I guess what would be cut if we were not We don't know if the franchise fee ordinance passes next week.
>> No, no, I I know. But we were directed by the new business item to bring back the item. So we incorporated that as a way of lowering the millage and that's how we got the millillage down from the original 2.6372 to 2.2459. 2459 in the latest version of
the budget. >> And if I may jump in, I just also want to be clear though that uh at the same time that was just to preserve our options under the time frames that we have to comply with with the state law and everything else, you know. So, but again, I think Councilman Hersburg raises a a good point. Councilman Hersburg.
>> Yeah. I mean, all I'm asking if you guys all agree just let's So, one of the things in my I met with staff for over two hours today. One of the things that I know staff needs is where are we going, right? because they're going to present us a budget next week and that we're gonna start voting on and that's
when the cuts happen. Um, so I would like to have the option like a menu, right, that says, okay, if you don't want to increase the franchise fee, this is what your budget looks like. These are the cuts. Lower services here. Look, you cut things, services go down. That's
that's a fact, right? But I would like to know what services we would >> we'd probably have to have some guidance so we can give you kind of like a like a a restaurant menu and give you some like a list right of things. If you cut $500,000 from the budget, these are where we would recommend the the uh cuts
to be. If you cut a a million dollars from the budget, this is where we, you know, like in maybe $500,000 chunks, we can give you that list and that way when you make amendments on the revenue side, then there's a corresponding uh amendment that has to be made on the
expense side or I mean, we're going to give you recommendations. Ultimately, the decision >> that's what I'm looking for, but I really want to make sure that we have an understanding of if we didn't want to move the franchise fee or or every percentage we lower it, where the where you recommend the cuts are. make the decision, but we want the
recommendation, >> I guess, for guidance for us because then it's an endless number of, you know, scenarios, right? So, do you want that in $500,000 increments? Do you want it in $250,000 increments, million-doll increments? >> Me personally, and let let my colleagues
I would do 1% increments. That's what I would want. >> So, uh a 5% um FPL franchise fee, a 4% FPL franchise fee, and then back to three. Those three scenarios. And what would be our recommended uh cuts to >> that helps us at least look at the
franchise fee increase that is the increase I'm most concerned about um because it's not taxdeductible. It doesn't have protections and it um and ultimately it by increasing the franchise fee and and keeping the millage lower, we're giving commercial
property owners a better deal and not renters and residents. So council council Hsburg in my own version of the spreadsheet I I got rid of the franchise fee completely of just leaving it at the 3%. And in revenues we would have 24,319,850.
In expenses if we leave the expenses exactly how they are right now would be 24,226,340 with a difference of 93,510. That's at the 2.24 military, >> right? At at the current military at 2.24. I mean, I don't know how that math works.
>> We still haven't gone through to to dissect and and you know, and take a surgical knife to the budget yet, but just by removing it and leaving it at the 3% that is existing, we would have a surplus of $93,000. >> Council member, if you leave the FPL
franchise fee at 3%, >> yes, >> we cannot have 24 million 319850 because that's what we have now. It would be $1.5 million less than that. I threw a >> unless you had some other revenue stream that's going to offset it.
>> No, that's with the >> we would be at 22819 >> 850. Give me one second. Give me one second. You come back to me. >> Yeah. Uh with that, we're going to Well, Council Harrisburg, is there anything else? >> Last thing is um on the revenue, we
still have the 225 franchise fee surplus. I believe that's part of the ordinance. Uh that has to come back to us as well. It it's my position that I would just remove the ordinance completely. I don't know. We can talk about that at when we have the
ordinance reading, but that's you know an additional 225 to go straight into whatever we want instead of limiting the use. But >> yeah, that was also guidance from the >> No, I know. No, I get it. I'm just letting I'm just This is the only opportunity we get to speak. So, I'm just letting my my thoughts go out. But
again my my hesitancy with removing that is that the the again after six years of being here I have seen how councils cannot control themselves when it comes to new spending on items that are not necessary. Right? So what that does is that for that surplus it requires that
it go toward drainage uh you know tree trimming tree planting things that we consider core services in the town. And that's why I wanted to keep it there because again previous councils for whatever little project they wanted and that's how we ended up with not having
any additional money that we were saving for improvements to op Optimus or other large uh ticket capital improvements. So that that that's why I'm not comfortable uh you know getting rid of that long term. So I just want to be clear on that. Uh Councilman Garcia, >> thank you Mayor. Um I want to thank all
the residents who showed up today. I appreciate that. It's it's uh it's good to participate in the democracy and this is the the future of your town. So, thank you so much. Um so, speaking just to go what Councilman Herzburg was saying and I know that uh
it's true we got to make sure that the infrastructure that 225 was set for a reason. Um but given that this is the last year we're paying for the Michael Peasy settlement, right? It might be just if you got if if my colleagues take a look at being a little flexible with that, knowing that next year that
500,000 won't be there, we'll have that half a million dollars to work with and then next year we can put that 225 back to to infrastructure. So I just ask that my colleagues be a little more flexible when it comes to that. We want to have as much flexibility to move dollars around. What I like to see and I think
what the residents are looking for as well and some some are looking for us to try to do everything we can. We are I'd like to see a budget without the franchise fee increase and and at a flat rate. Now, I know you you put you you put together a budget that um that
showed some cuts, right? But if we voted on the 25th and we all were in agreement, we we want to keep the same millage rate and we want to keep 3% franchise fee and that's what we voted on. You would have you would go back with our recommendations and you would
you would make those cuts. >> Yeah. that that would represent about $3 million in cuts. >> That would represent $3 million and you would try to make and find those cuts, right? And you you would have be obligated to find those cuts. So, I'd like to see a budget that reflects that. I'd also like to see I know I asked you and I know that the council asked you as
well that over a million dollar technology fee that that the building department has to see. We have a million dollar sitt there. It's been sitting there for a couple years. Uh I know you were looking into it. I know the town attorneys were looking into it. You know, what can be moved? what can be used to to to pay
salaries of of the code enforcement department. And I'd like to see how much money we if if it's a if it's something we can do and we're following uh accounting practices and we're making sure we're doing everything right, how much money would that afford us or how much more money would would we we have
to work with to to uh to pay for that uh that flat rate. >> Yeah, I I know staff's position is that that money cannot be used for code compliance, right? But >> okay, >> the we we yet, you know, we haven't uh
consulted yet with the town attorney's office to see what they and maybe it would require asking an opinion of the attorney general's office. And I doubt that we're the first ones to consider this. >> So it may be an opinion that already
exists out there. >> Yeah, we we've looked into it. Okay. >> It's it's an uphill battle. >> It Okay, >> it's an uphill battle. Let's just >> understand >> for now. Um the statute's pretty clear. Uh but we can talk about it. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> I I'd like to try and think outside the
box. Yeah. >> As long as we stay within the statute, but I I would like to think outside the box on that issue. >> And exact I think that's what we're we're asking for. What just because it's been done the same way over and over again, you know, again, we can try to find that if we can try to find that and
it's a temporary fix. I I don't like to use one time. Nobody likes to use one-time expenditures to pay for anything. But if we can move that money around and be flexible with it and it's everything's, you know, kosher and and and we're we're following accounting principles and the state is okay with it, that opens us up a lot a lot of
money this year, especially on that that can get us to the flat rate that we need. I think the residents are asking for that and and I think I think the the brain power here is sufficient to do it. Um so I mean that that's I think the biggest line item I see. everything else
as far as colas, um, our our colas, um, you know, our laptops, our computers, things like that, our travel budget, 100%. I think everybody up here is in the same agreement. Um I I I know the the um the the staff works hard, but
there's going to have to be more give and take when it comes to that because I know I think the residents won't be happy with us giving ourselves, you know, a 3% or 4% or 5% when they're cutting back, right? Um >> that's going beyond the revenue side to
to Councilman Sanch's request. >> You're absolutely right, Mayor. All right, but that's all the questions I have for now, but thank you for for listening. >> Yeah. No. And and I just wanted to uh to to state it again because I think there was maybe some confusion that I'm fine with waving it for one year to try to make sure that we keep you know that we
you know to make it more likely that we're able to keep the rate flat for the military and for the franchise fee if possible right um and that it's the actual amount is anything over 1.275 which was the average over a couple years as of I think it was 2019 or 2020.
So anything above that number 1.275 275 is what gets allocated for that separate uh restricted fund, if you will, we're spending. But again, this is a year that it's tight and we're trying and and so as the author of that restrictive ordinance, I'd be fine with waving it for a year. But it's just my experience
long term is that it has led to uh councils overspending because they start, you know, using it for other uh non-essential items. Um but with that, I just wanted to clarify that on the revenue side, gentlemen, uh what uh who else would like to speak next? Councilman Cuadra Garcia. Uh so
basically can we work backwards uh Mr. Manager on >> Right now we're just on on revenues. >> Can we go expensure? >> No. No, not right now. >> Okay. Because I'm I'm on expansion. >> Okay, perfect. Yes, we will get there and we're going to go uh within the general fund. We're going to go
department by department and that's how we'll we'll get to those individual points. But in the meantime, we're right now talking about revenues broadly. uh questions about revenues, whether it's a franchise fee, whether it's the property tax rate, whether it's state revenues, whatever the case might be. We're we're solely right now on the revenue side.
So, looking around here, >> I have a few counc. >> So, there's a few revenues um that according to the spreadsheet are coming in 10.26% lower, 100% lower, 12.5% lower. Um why is it that we're not
counting on these are not sponsorship grants, nothing like that. These are just revenues that we are expecting year-over-year. Why are we underestimating? >> Madame budget director, >> let's do one by one if you don't mind and that way we can know. >> So one that's 10% for example is the
county local business tax is going down by 10.26%. Are we closing businesses? Madame budget director, >> account 001316. >> We increased it from the current adopted budget. Sir, >> the current adopted budget is 110 and we
increased it by 15. >> No, the local local. Yeah, I I think we're going based on uh we don't want to overbudget based the year- end projection is 35,723. So, we're budgeting 35,000. So we're we're we don't want to be over that's
goes into our typical conservative. >> I'm comparing amended budget to proposed budget. That's what I'm comparing. I'm not comparing year-end projection. Amen. Amended budget for 2425 is 39,000. But when we start estimating, some of these we get from the county or the state and
some of them we base on on historical trends >> through the chair. And I'm sorry to interrupt, but you may I I think it's important to note though that this is exactly what we're trying to avoid. And I get it in maybe in in the business world, it's great to uh underestimate
your revenues and overestimate your expenses in order to uh ensure that you're financially stable here. Uh overinflating your your expenses and under um for under forecasting your your
revenues results in tax increases. uh that also result in all these um carry forwards, all these surpluses that just about everyone here uh was was complaining about. So, it's that practice that leads to so many uh uh
surpluses in our budget that and it gives the impression to the resident that we're just wasting money or putting money away into a piggy bank for MLP as everyone keeps talking about. Um, and so it's important that when we do these
revenue forecasts, we try to be as accurate as possible. And there's I'm going to actually have comments on that on some of the special revenue funds. Uh, because I did notice that it was a little strange how some of those were forecasted. >> Um, but um I just thought it important
to jump in during Council Member Sanchez's portion here because this is exactly what we're trying to avoid. And it's the same thing with the next line item, the zoning fees. This year amended budget is 120,000. Next year is 110,000. >> Hold on, hold on. Let's let the budget
director have a chance to respond. >> Thank you. So the 2324 actuals was 35,000. The year- end projection for this year is also 35,000. So the reduction was 4,000 and that's why it's proposed at 35,000.
>> Yeah, we're $700 under the year-end projection. It's it's not >> but the amended budget is 39,000. The amended budget >> the adopted budget of this current year. However, the year before that it was at 38. So in fiscal year 22 23 the amount
came in at 38432. The following year 23 24 it came in at 35,000. It came in less. So when the budget cycle started for 24 based on the 38 we received we increased it to 39. However, it ended up then coming in at
on 2324 as 35,000. Our year in projection is 35,000. So the budget for next year is 35,000. >> Does that make sense to you, sir? >> So you took the average of the last two years and allocated it to the next year. >> I'm I'm looking at the trends trends, right? >> Okay. What about the next immediately
under that one for zoning fees? 120 adopted, 120 amended, but for next year 110. So in fiscal year 2122 131 came in. In 22 23 118 came in. In 23
24 11 came in. The trend is going down. We budgeted 120 this year. Currently the year end projection is 118. >> Do you believe it's going to be higher than 118 since we're still not at year end? >> That is something that I would have to look at in detail soon. >> In November probably we we'll know
better. Okay. Yeah. Just there's other things here. 7.9% public work permits. We're projecting 60,000 when normally in 2324 we received 81,397. >> Wait, let me get >> in 2425 65,000. It's account number
11329200. >> Okay. >> Or 001 329200. >> Yeah. The the public work permits, most of those are for like approaches. Oh, Mar's not here. Approaches and so forth.
So it's it's it goes with the peaks and valleys in the construction industry, right? As more people here. >> Go ahead, Omar. >> Hey, >> sorry. >> Good. Good evening. I'm uh attending via Zoom. Um public works director Omar
Santos. What can you repeat the question? >> Sure. >> Related to public works permits. >> Let me pull it up one more time. So we have public work permits. We have in 20 in 2324 they brought us
revenues of 81,397 2425 the adopted un amended budget is 65,000 the year projection right now is 63,645 but we dropped the projection for next year by 7.69% to 60,000 why the drop in
the 7.69%. >> Okay. And again, that's we're we're looking like Melissa mentioned at at trends and just what what permits are coming in, >> right? >> It's very difficult to project if people are going to be doing improvements
either on the residential side or the commercial side. >> Okay. >> Um for whichever reason, we may have some information for example from the gas companies. if they have a big project coming in, we can have an idea
of a big influx of permit fees coming in >> for that type of work. But overall, the permit fees for public works are not that high and it may be difficult to to project. >> So we we like to use past information. If we see that from the previous year to
now we it's been a decrease, we would project a decrease or or very close to what was before. But that that is a number that is it is very difficult to project. >> Okay. Thank and thank you Omar. I appreciate it. Mr. Santos, I appreciate your the info. >> To piggyback on what he's saying as
well, if you do an average of the five years of what we received in public works uh permit fees, it's 39,000. Now, in 2020, it was 23 2128, >> right?
>> 22 22 2362 and 23 241. So this year the year in projection is 63 which is less than what is budgeted at the current year right now which is 65. >> Right. But as you said because in multiple items at the last meeting you
said that the projection the year and projections are not finalized until about October November. So we got to go back and forth and see what is actual and what isn't actual yet. >> We won't have actuals till December when the fiscal year has already begun. Right. >> Our fiscal year begins October and in
December is basically when we close everything out. A lot of our revenues have a lag where we don't receive them right away. We receive them two months after. So for June, we won't receive June until two months later. >> Right. Point of clarification.
>> May I add something as well if I may? >> Mr. Vice Mayor, before you continue, I guess let's let the finance director just complete the answer there first. >> Sure thing. >> Krant, finance director. And I just want to mention as well that >> I'm sorry. Can you hold it closer just just so that >> I just wanted to mention that as of
today the actuals is only 54,000. So there is a strong possibility that her projection can also come in much lower than what is on the sheet at this time. >> So the projections are not the that the monies that have already been received.
>> No >> no projections are just a forecast of >> because I would think a dollar came in projection goes up by a dollar. No, how how we do that? Let's say >> um one at a time, please. >> The last time that the projection was done, let's say was I don't know, maybe June. So, I take the actuals that we've
received up until June. Based on that, then I do a projection of what I'm going to receive for the rest of the year. >> It is a projection. I'm not I can't possibly know that, >> right? So, you do it at the end of every quarter >> pretty much.
>> No. Okay. >> Mr. manager, please u put into the mic for the record. Uh remember that there are those watching live and then others that may go back and watch the video. So we want to make sure that they are able to hear everything that's going on up here. >> So based on the information that we have just told you that the current amount
that we've received to date is 54,000 for this line item. My projection >> might be even too much. So the budget proposed for next year of 60,000 is pretty on target. >> Okay. Okay. And then >> and it's only a 5,000 reduction from the prior year,
>> right? But we're looking at at the percentages because I know that it seems like a 5,000 here, 10,000 there, but I'm very I'm a big believer in death by a thou by a thousand cuts. So, you know, if if we can start finding those those pennies, those nickels, those dimes, those quarters >> and take it away from the residents pay.
>> I understand. >> I'm all in favor of that. Then account number 001341925. >> Actually, hold on. the vice mayor did have on that point uh uh something to make or a point to make >> cuz it'll help with the council member Sanchez's discussion. Um I'm just a little concerned because I know council
member Sanchez has uh an Excel spreadsheet. I know I have it. I I think others might have it. Um my concern is the numbers that we're mentioning up here don't necessarily line up with what's on the PDF version. Um or at
least for me. What was the number that you said a moment ago for zoning fees >> for for based on the uh 2.2459 2459 the the proposed rate by the staff >> the wait zoning zoning fees which okay so 2526 proposed mo proposed budget
>> is 110,000 >> okay yeah on this PDF it's um it's 147 >> thousand >> I haven't touched any any >> so that's my concern is that this and that are not matching up >> and they're supposed to be the same thing
>> what do you have for zoning fees Melissa >> for zoning fees for next year. >> Yes, >> I have 110. >> Yeah, we have >> 147 was on. >> So, so there's um >> Oh, yeah.
>> So, when you combine the zoning fees and zoning fees, certificate of use, it's 147. But when you break them out, when it's just zoning fees, it's 110. And when it's zoning fees, certificate of use, 37. >> I did. It's what we >> So the amount
>> why we kept asking for the subline items and the subline items subline items. It was to avoid this. >> Yeah. Because the 37,000 Yeah. is a zoning fees plus a zoning fee certificate of use. >> Yeah. >> Correct me if I'm wrong, but all of you should have the Excel. Every single one of you. I believe that
was forwarded to every single council member. I just want to make sure that that's stated on the record. >> They have the updated Excel sheet which was provided I want to say updated by like four o'clock. And what Vice Mayor Mora was referring to, which is what I did provide them is what is out there in
the agenda, which is exactly the same attachment of last Wednesday. >> Right. >> Okay. But again, just to be clear then, this is outdated then because it's from last Wednesday. >> It's the same. It hasn't changed the same. >> But this is very essential. >> Yeah. Like like the what what breaks out the uh the explanation in more detail.
Understood. Okay. >> It's still zoning. >> I know that everybody got that. So >> it's combining two line items. Thank you for the clarification. >> But the total is still the same. It's 147. >> Got it. >> If you could just tell me what general cost recovery is. It's account number 001341925.
>> We have a proposed budget of $10,000 in revenues for that. >> It's on We're still under revenues. >> I know. But what does green what heading? >> What's the account number? 001341
925 general cost recovery is the account is the account name >> and you're in general funds still >> yes all we're covering tonight is general funds from at least right now because that also went down by 16.67%.
Oh, these are deposits that are received from um residents when they're doing um variances whether variances or or >> for zoning hearings. >> Zoning hearings, right? and they do have
to pay a deposit and once we have attorney attorney's cost >> madam finance director please remember the the microphone thank you >> attorney's cost operating cost goes against the deposit and then we reclass
whatever that expense is to the revenues >> so this is um only from this is from planning and zoning uh variances >> okay and I believe that's it for Yep. That's it for me,
>> Mr. Mayor. Just in case, uh, Mr. Vice Mayor, >> the council members don't have any further comments. Uh, it'd be good if any residents have specific comments on the general fund revenue just to make this a more open discussion if they wanted to point out anything specific in revenue. I don't know. It's up to you.
You're the chair. >> Are but again, it would be for very brief comments because obviously we have a lot to get through today. Are there any residents out there that on the revenue side have any comments to make or questions that they would like addressed?
One, two. Uh, no. Okay. So, with that, any anything else on revenues >> through the chair? >> Mr. Garcia, Councilman Garcia, >> go ahead. If she would, of course, president would like to go first.
Well, the public in general, but yes, if you'd like to speak, now is the time. >> On revenue specifically. >> On revenue specifically, we're not getting into the expense side of the ledger just yet. We're we're trying to keep it the discussion focused so that we don't lose each other as we go along, but not not yet. Okay. What?
>> Oh, no, no, no. It was just asking if you wanted to come up and speak on the revenue portion of where we're at now. No. Okay. No. And I was actually looking at Mr. Aguar as well. I didn't know if he maybe wanted to opine but but good.
Okay. Um so okay just yeah quick. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. >> A lot of questions that I've received people looking at the revenue the final total uh general fund revenue. It's like for example the 2024 2025 adopted budget
21,671,57. Uh, I'm sorry, my eyes are Is that 50? Is that a five or a nine? $57. And then the amended budget for 2425 ended up being 23,929,254. So, we're looking at close to more than $2 million difference right there. So,
they were asking me the projection is for this year is 23,977,634 proposed budget 24 million. I'm sorry, 24 million uh 319. So, a lot of questions I got was, well, you guys, you know, the the budget that you proposed ended up being a couple million dollars
more when you amended it in revenue side. So, the re I I guess the the question I have for the manager or or for Melissa is just a a basic understanding of, you know, why that's different this year >> uh as opposed to other years, right? For
their edification, >> a mid-year budget amendment, right? And in the mid-year budget amendment, um there were allocations that this council made. A a significant portion of the amount that you had at your disposal to allocate was caused by the change
that we made from going from two months und designated fund balance to just to 15%. that added extra capacity within fund balance and that is significant
that contributed significantly to the amount of money that you had to distribute back in March and April and that's was added to the budget and that is the amounts that you uh allocated during the budget amendment is what caused the difference between adopted
budget and amended budget. >> Thank you for that explanation. Absolutely. Um, as far as this year, because because it's uh, you know, every every dollar counts. Do do we have kind of like an idea of because of of of this year's being different
than last year in that sense what the uh year and pro I mean the proposed budget, how much more or is it going to be the same as the is the actual budget going to be for for 2026? Obviously, the move that or the the decision that was made to modify the undesated fund balance
from two months to 15% is only a one time injection, right? It's only a onetime injection of of new money into the budget. >> Okay. >> So, I don't foresee that happening again. So, I foresee, you know, remember what a budget is. A budget is there are some things that we can predict is going to be exact to the penny.
>> Sure. >> The majority of both revenues as well as expenses are forecast. It's it's we're trying to forecast the future. We don't have a a crystal ball, but we have a lot of techniques and a lot of information at our disposal that helps us get pretty close. >> Understandable. But we have we have and
and and I know Melissa's been, you know, at one of the top of our professions in in in actually in Florida and doing this for a while and yourself, sir. Um and for you know, what do you foresee given the given all the all the um all the
factors that you you gave me uh with the explanation and how that works this year? Do we see do you foresee >> half as much a quarter as much or just >> nowhere near nowhere near right now the projection that Melissa's last projection was a a hair over $800,000
but remember that that is you know there's still a lot of business when when was that one done? >> So I'm currently updating our year and projection for the expenditures >> the revenue that has not been touched um
What was your question, sir? >> No. When was the last time that year- end projection of 803? When was it that you updated? >> I want to say it was probably in July, June. >> So, a lot has happened, especially because a significant amount of money that the council appropriated during the
budget amendment, which was just a few months back, dealt with, you know, uh, park improvements for the little pocket parks, the extra phases. You know, we had extra money for different things like tree trimming and so forth. And as those work orders are being, there's not
like a light switch that we can just turn on and say, "Hey," and then tomorrow we have people out there trimming trees, right? We rely heavily on our contractors. So when when you appropriate the money, then we start issuing work orders to contractors. We get in line with every other one of
their clients, right? And it may take uh two or three weeks for them to get up and running and and and come and and address our our work order. So that's why there's always a lag. And when we when we use those midyear appropriations, it's it's I I you know,
put a fire to my guys and say we got to spend this money because the council expects that we trim the trees, that we fix the sidewalks, that we do all these things. So they but they are hustling and they're putting the pressure on their contractors to to perform, right? Because that's another thing. if
contractors can't perform. So, I hope and expect that this 803 by the end of when all is said and done when we close out our books uh a couple months after the end of the fiscal year that it is as close to zero as possible. >> Okay. And thank you for that
explanation. The the last question I have is are there any projects that uh are using general fund money that can be pushed back an extra year or pushed back or any grants that we need to uh match
that can be pushed back to the next year to 27 that could open uh general fund dollars to be used for for you know for other expenses. I mean the most significant projects that had general fund money we've
already drawn the money we had money general fund money in MLOP we took it out then you guys appropriated back in the uh in the midyear right in the budget amendment in March and April we put the 499 that we had taken to budget
balance of budget two years ago this council elected to put the money back so that is general fund money but again it is not a responsible way budgeting to continue to use these one-time infusions of cash. It's not >> we're on the expense side of the ledger and I just want to remind everybody that
we have a lot to get through, you know, so and we're still on the revenue side. That's one. >> Um with that, Coun uh Vice Mayor Mor, I know that you had a um a very quick yes or no question. Do we set the utility service tax, the the one on the water
bill or or is that out of our control? >> We set the storm water fee. We set the storm water fee >> but not the other uh uh rates. I don't believe that we those are set by the utility company. >> Okay. So, so we don't set that. >> We set the storm water fee and that is
earmarked. That is the the main funding source for the storm water fund. >> Correct. >> The operation of our vac truck, the uh monies that we use for projects or for matches for projects and things of that nature. >> Okay, that's all. >> And to be clear, the storm water uh does not affect the general funding.
>> That is correct. And but what about the utility service tax? That one does, right? >> Yeah, that is set by not not set by us. >> Yeah, the one that it says here, utility service tax, water, and then there's also gas. Is that the local gas tax or is that something else?
>> I believe that would be something else. But again, um >> Oh, this is on on like natural gas. >> Yeah. Okay. It seems that way. Yeah. >> Vice Mayor, if I may, I I resber showed it to me that utility the 10% utility tax is something that the town did like the moment they incorporated. It's like a 2001 resolution. It's just every town
has it. >> So, it is set by us. >> I believe it is set by us. >> Okay. Let's just when you guys get a chance, uh, come back to us and let us know if we have any sort of discretion over that. We can move on though. >> Anyone else on the revenue side of things? Anyone else? Okay, with that,
let's be get into expenses beginning with uh items limited to town council and mayor. That's the first bucket that we're going to hit. The vice mayor Mora. >> All righty. I'm going to try to make this rapid fire and um that way we can move these things along. Uh regular
salaries. Uh first and foremost, I I'm trying to understand this is going to be a recurring theme. Um I'm trying to understand how the math was done because when I take the amended budget number and multiply it by 1.03 to create a 3%
increase, which is the assumption that was made uh according to you guys, I get a different number than you guys. You guys got 116. I got 111. That's a $5,000 difference. Uh then >> which which line are you looking at? >> I'm looking at regular salary. >> But under which um administration or
>> we're in town council and mayor. We're going we're going to go down department by department. >> Got it. Got it. Got it. >> There's a difference of 7.69%. It's the increase. >> Okay. So, keep in mind that we had a um we had a the mayor's assistant was a different person. Now, we hired a new
person. their salary is different than with the person that was hired. So you're if you're trying to take the adopted 25 and do a 3% increase to that, you are not going to get a 3% increase because the person who is there now is a
different person with a different salary. And not only is it the mayor's assistant, but also the deputy uh city clerk also comes out of the mayor council regular salaries. So those two individuals are new employees from our prior from our current budget or during
that budget cycle. So their salaries are different. So if you try to do the 3% you won't get that. So that that's where I get a concern because um I as an elected official representing them I have no ability to dictate to you
instructions. You ask me for instructions. I can't give you instructions if I don't have the information. I don't know who is covered under regular salaries. uh under regular salaries under the town council and mayor item. Yes, I know this >> it's in the budget comment, sir. The budget com specifically says it. One second.
>> But yeah, one time but I will say this recurs throughout the budget where in in other departments where it doesn't say who it is. We have larger departments where I have no idea who is covered under regular salaries. And then again, as an elected official, I'm trying to represent them and and give you
direction, but I don't have control over saying, you know what, I want to unfund that position and and I should have that because every council member that gets elected is told, you cannot interfere with the staff, but if and you can't
fire a staff, but if you ever want to unfund the position, you can do so. How am I supposed to do that if I don't know? >> Well, currently, I believe we're fully we're fully staffed. So I don't think there's any vacancies at the current moment to unfund. >> I also want to remind all my colleagues that keep in mind that regular salaries
sometimes doesn't always tell the hotel because some positions get some money from this pot and that pot. So just you know but perhaps that would be uh good to know um you know in the future. But with that said, I'll move um within so underneath that
>> when I take the in in many instances the number that you give and I multiply it by 7.65% to get the payroll tax. It's not we're not getting the same number. And the same applies to the 14.03 uh FRS
contribution. And that's using your numbers. Uh all I'm saying is please make sure that our numbers are correct. the FRS contribution. Also, keep in mind that it is not the percentage is not for the full year. It is only up till June.
So, the other three months of the year, it's a different percentage. I don't know what that percentage is and I will not know until the following June. So, I do a an assumption that maybe it'll go up a couple points. So, let's say it was 13, maybe for those extra 3 months, I
would put it at 14 just as a cushion because I don't know what that percentage will be. So for purposes >> so that is why you will have a different number than what you would try to calculate. >> So so for purposes of this line item of the FRS retirement contribution under town council and mayor what was the
calculation po post since you already said that for uh beginning of the fiscal year through June 2026 we're using um so >> 14.03 what did you use >> if you look at the oh for what am I
using for the rest of the of those three months? I'll tell you right now. Give me a moment. >> 1430. For some reason, when I did the math, and I've never claimed to be good at math, and I did not do it based on a certain number of months at one rate and
a certain number of months at another rate. I calculated it all as one rate. And when I did the math, it it almost appeared like it was 17.23%. That's just on my note. >> Which line are you specifically speaking about, sir? So I can >> the same one address the F FRS under
town council and mayor >> which the FRS >> $20,54. >> Yeah, that doesn't include council. >> H >> that that doesn't include council. That's only the staff members. Well, I don't really know what that means, but I'm just pointing it out.
We'll continue. Um, well, I just also want to reiterate that remember that the council members don't get a salary. They get certain benefits like the stipen and the car allowance, but that doesn't count for FRS purposes or payroll taxes or anything like that. So, I just want to, you know, continue to re reiterate that as we're going down.
>> Okay. Um, moving on. >> So, that aside from the the two staffers, the only one that does get a salary is the mayor. So the F FRS would include the mayor's salary as well. And if you look at what was budgeted in the current year to what is budgeted for
next year, it is a $1,000 $1,700 increase. >> Okay. Um the wireless stipen um for the mayor's assistant and council assistant at 40 months and at $40 a month. Um, the
only reason I really bring this up is because it's pervasive throughout the entire budget. Uh, almost every single department has numerous uh wireless stipens. What is that paying for? Like a cell phone. >> People who have to use their cell phone,
their personal cell phone to conduct town business, we afford them a small uh stipen that they use and then that affords them the ability, you know, to use their cell phone. >> Okay. But I mean, we're not in the early 2000s. Everyone has an unlimited plan. I
I don't I it's it adds up when you take the budget. So, I I personally am in favor of removing almost every single wireless dip in our budget. Just put putting that out there. The travel and pdeium for the mayor and
town the town council and mayor. Um I wanted to slash it completely. I heard the mayor's comments uh at the last meeting. I'm okay with reducing it to 2,000. uh and then you know so he can have stuff you know uh uh that comes up >> all of a sudden >> I don't even mind slashing it completely and just as I need it I just come back
to you guys >> then in that case even better I say slash it completely and then as something comes up where he needs to travel just brings it to us and we approve it >> but where would where would and I think we've had this conversation where would we grab the money from where would we
transfer it from >> I'm on expenses we'll get to revenues I mean I think that we that's another thing >> because we We don't have a we don't have a an extra pot, right? We don't have a like a contingency line. >> We do. We do and we're going to get to it at almost at the end of this meeting. And that's all of our special revenue
funds. I do truly believe that there's a lot of room in those special revenue funds to use them for things like that. You just have to be creative. >> Yeah, they're restricted. They can't be >> I hear that they're restricted, but I think that you can use them for their restricted purposes for things like this. >> And we'll get there.
>> We'll we'll wait for him to get there. But but yeah. Okay. Um the >> and I just also if I may though if I can remind all my colleagues to turn down the temperature a little bit which is >> I'm just trying to go fast. >> Yeah. >> Uh I I'll I'll wrap it up by just saying with the data plan uh for the iPads. I
think that that should go be completely slashed. But I did have a question. The budget comments says data plan for seven iPads and Facebook live average of $40 a month. What's the Facebook live thing? I may I may need to re remove the Facebook live.
>> Oh, like that's not part of that. No. Yeah, if you do the $40* 7 * 12, it's the 3,360. So, the Facebook live is what needs to be removed from the comments. >> Okay. But in any case, I think uh that
the data plan should be uh slashed. Uh I like I said at the last one, uh everyone has a phone that can do a personal hotspot. There's there's no need for that. Um the and then my last item on council and mayor is education and
training. Uh I think it should be a bare minimum number at best. I have it as 2500. I I think zero is better, but I know that there's some statutory ones. Uh so so I would just set it at 2500. >> And that that's it for me on on uh mayor
and council. >> Okay. To the chair. >> Well, one at a time. Okay. Um, a just because I thought it was more of a of a clarification. Councilman Sanchez, what was your question? >> Isn't the education at training currently set at 1490 >> for 25 26?
>> No, >> 5,000. >> It's 5,000. >> It's a very last uh line there. >> No, you're looking at the amended budget for less. >> The amended is 1490 then 2550 2425 year in projection, >> but the proposed is 5,000. >> 5,000. >> I I have it at 1490 for some reason. I'll change it to 5,000.
>> No. Yeah. Um, with that, uh, Councilman Fernandez. >> Thank you, Mayor. I, this is kind of the easiest one for me to go through and and because I I do agree with uh, with the vice mayor's recommendation. I would
>> I'm sorry, please hold. It appears that there's some kind of background noise or feedback going on. If we can just uh, try to address that and see see what the cause is. All right. Thank you. Okay. Uh, with that, please continue.
>> Okay. Yeah. So, I'll agree with the vice mayor. I would be willing to slash our travel budget. Um, and I would absolutely be willing to slash the data plan, which I think there's no reason for it. I agree with you. Uh, and then
the last one is in regard to education and training. Again, I think to his point, there are some requirements for us, but aside from the actual requirements, we can we can forego the difference. >> All right. On on Mayor and Council, uh,
next, Councilman Herszburg and then Councilman Cuadra Garcia. So, we just went through a bunch of line items. I think staff wants staff wants to know. So, let's let's show hands. I don't know. Do we all agree that we we're okay with getting rid of those items? Well, why don't we go uh uh one by one? U
Councilman Sanchez, what are what are your your preferred cuts? >> Exactly what Vice Mayor stated. >> Okay. Councilman Fernandez, >> I agree. >> For myself, I'm not in agreement actually with cutting off the the stipen
for the the assistance, right? they're using their personal cell phones and I get that there's wireless plans and everything, but it's a little benefit that they get, you know, for being, you know, as part of their public service to help defay the cost of that, you know. So, again, I I don't I don't think that's going to be like a major area and we can certainly make up for it in other
parts of the budget. Um, but I would be in favor of cutting the data plan as well as the at this point I'll even turn in my my existing separate phone and if I have to use uh my personal phone, then I'll go ahead and and but again, it just makes it easier as far as uh you know, public records. But with that said, uh
I'd also like to cut the $600 for the business cards as well as $1,000 for the uh shirts uh for us. I think we can all pay for our own shirt, you know, for a year, right? Um I was curious, what is the the setup cost for meetings? The
$300, >> which line? >> It's $300 for uh meeting setup. >> The third to the third to last. >> Uhhuh. It ends in 552042. Is it okay with just the numbers after the dash or would you like the whole
thing? Melissa, what did they The only one expense or there was an expense of total of $77 for >> that $77 was laundry service for table linens that were utilized for an event. I >> for what? I'm sorry.
>> Laundry service. It was laundry service for some >> table linens >> that were used for an event. I'm sorry cuz I for the state of the town >> table linens. >> Oh, table linens. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, I think we could we could forgo that one for one year. So, you know, I'd rather see that out as
well. Now, Councilman Fernandez, just to put it all on the record, did indicate and you know, again, continue to think about it. there is a value to having the separate cell phone so as not to you know co-mingle uh you know what's public business and what's personal business and he actually disagrees with my
suggestion to cut the cell phone. So I you know I I'll go ahead and I'll I'll back off of that one but then let me go down on you know >> I'm getting there. >> Yeah. No, this is why we can't really provide you next week a modified budget because there's disagreement amongst the seven of you. But that's what we're
trying to what we're trying to figure out and that's why we're going to go down and it's just to see where it seems as if there is consensus among the majority. Right. >> It's not pretty but the sausage has to get me. >> No, no, I know. And that's why we did this spreadsheet amendments next week and fly and >> and we've done uh you know since we did
this in 2019 and you know we'll be able to get through it again. But okay. So as I and again I still have to go down the line but uh Okay. So, Councilman Sanchez, I just want to reiterate you were fine with cutting the data plan, correct? >> For the seven iPads, yes.
>> Okay. Would you also be in agreement with cutting the business card line item, which is something I just mentioned? >> No. >> Okay. Okay. So, may you know what I've been doing this wrong. Let's just do it the way actually I think that you have proposed and just go one at a time. So,
how about this? And actually or by show of hands the way the council >> said louder. >> I just might. >> Okay. >> Once again the data plan for for the iPads. Show of hands >> in for for the council.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Unanimous decision there. There you go. Okay. on the business cards. Removing the business cards line item by show of hands. >> Okay, perfect. >> I'm almost out.
>> Okay. The the uh the shirts for the mayor and council, you know. >> Okay. >> I pay for my own >> the setup for me of meetings apparently. The dry cleaning for the linens. >> The dry cleaning uh for the linens. A $300 line item on meeting setup cost.
Okay, >> everybody. Okay, everybody's voted. Okay. >> Uh, okay. What happened? >> Oh, god. >> You guys are not voting. >> No, we're not. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. >> Oh, no. >> I understand. For the record, they are
not voting. >> No, >> no, we are not voting. We're just indicating to staff which are the recommendations they they should, you know, that they would be safe with proposing, you know, but again, it's about building consensus. We're not voting, right? And there's still always time for for everybody to disagree by
the time we get to the next. >> Exactly. You are free to reconsider your position and everything else for >> I got you. I got you. >> All right. Although I thought there was like some emergency that we're going to have to leave. >> Okay. So on the 300 setup for meetings, everybody uh you know uh indicated to
staff their preference on that. Um on the on the trial on the the last line item, education and training, was everybody okay? You know, was that with staff giving us a recommendation as to that? Right. I'm okay. >> Okay. No, no, no. Hold them up so that Melissa can see it. Just so again,
again, we're not voting. We're just indicating where there would be some agreement. >> Okay. Everybody agrees? Okay. >> Why don't we miss on this? >> Why don't you just say, is there any objection to this? >> Okay. >> It's a cleaner way. It doesn't look like we're taking a vote. There's no hands up. >> Okay.
>> Does anyone accomplishes the same thing, but I get your point. Okay. Sorry, Councilman Herszburg. I know you tried. >> Okay. Hey, so what what did I miss from that that was discussed? the travel and predium being reduced to 2,00. >> Okay. Yeah. Was there was there any disagreement or objection on that one?
>> Okay. Excellent. All right. So, I think that covers it for there. We're now going into uh town clerk >> unless there was any other suggestions. >> Quick question. Line item computer software licenses. >> Uh it's it's around 62,000 almost 63.
Are we using every single license? Because sometimes you purchase licenses, they're not used. We we keep them around just in case we need to uh have someone or is everything being used is there any >> question for the for for Gina >> any license that we can forego uh that's not being used for a while
>> they use their license they use them okay so and each each department has you know uh login for for number of employees is that contract unlimited login or limited to two or three employees so there's no room for for like
>> I I don't know what you're asking sir. You need to be specific in your question. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Usually when companies or organizations buy licenses for software, they purchase a certain amount. Um there are times where these are lowhanging fruit that
there's license being paid for that are not being used. I guess the question I'm asking is there any licenses or number of licenses not being used by staff right now? That could perhaps be something we can cut. That's that was the >> If we're if we're in the town clerk, section for sure. All the ones listed
here, they're all required and they're not just sitting in a drawer waiting for somebody to get. >> These are essential services that some of them I even use with other departments. >> Okay? >> Like laser fish. I'm going to give you example I use with building department
and the zoom and public comments license I use with communications is escribe is >> no absolutely >> not mine. Eastr is the entire town. Madam clerk, I'm not trying to cut the actual software. I'm trying to cut the number of licenses if possible. That's just a question I have. Not the
software. I know you use it on a daily basis. Super important for your job. Not trying to cut that. The question is sometimes we have additional licenses that we pay for. That might be and and and I guess that question would go through any department. If if department heads see we have five licenses being
paid for and we only use two that's something that would for for our knowledge would be something we we would uh consider cutting if if it's possible. That's just the question I have for licenses. It is a a very good question in regarding laserfish for years I would
have um liked to increase the license but it's only I believe it's two people in my department and I think it's one in building am I correct >> angel laserfish that is used by the building so I wish to have more but we
only for two or three okay >> in the entire town. >> All right thank you for thank you for for answering >> uh >> to the to the council. >> Okay, one second. Um, just to be clear, you're you're done on town clerk or on this issue at least
>> and we can come back. All right. Uh, Councilman Garcia, >> just want to bring a little humor. I see too many people stressed out here. Um, when I heard $62,000 for for the license, are we buying the license company?
>> Do you hear multi-billion dollar companies? Software. >> So, yeah. Are we buying the software company? >> You didn't get it. No, but this is a serious thing. >> All right. So, do you have a specific um suggestion or or or um recommendation
with regard to that item? >> No. >> Or any other item on the town clerk uh section? >> No. >> No. Anyone else? Uh Councilman Sanchez. >> Okay. So, this is it's come the first time it comes up is within the town clerk, but it's a line item on every single section of the budget. It's um
hold on. It's the health insurance allowance. year end projection of $8,958. What is that? Because health insurance is one thing, but health insurance allowance. What's the difference between the two? And like I said, it's it's town clerk,
the first iteration of it, but every single level under it has that line item. Some have a zero line, some have a budgetary. those those staff members that elect not to take our health insurance, we
afford them and it's been happening for many many years. >> Okay. >> Uh we afford them a uh an allowance in lie of taking our health insurance so they can go buy health insurance somewhere else. >> Got it. Okay. So we're still technically paying for the health insurance but
they're not accepting the health insurance. It's kind of like your your FRS contribution. It's not going to FRS is going into retirement account. Right. So instead of us paying an insurance company, we're just reimbursing it to the to the >> Right. And obviously what we're ridding ourselves of is the potential risk.
>> Okay. Okay. That's the only question I have. >> But it's a it's an individual employee election, >> right? Okay. >> Okay. Councilman Herszburg. >> Okay. Right. I I this is the first time I heard this. Thank you for bringing it up, Councilman Sanchez. Um for example,
like my wife is a federal employee. I don't take health insurance because she her employer provides it, >> right? >> They don't like they don't pay extra money if you don't or don't take it. Like I mean if I go somewhere else, we pay a like we pay a stipen to people to
not be part of our plan. When we have more people in our plan, our rate would go down probably. I'm I'm confused on what this is. >> Well, it it depends. We don't have a large group. No matter whether if everybody participated or only the number that do participate, the reality
is that we maybe are not paying for somebody to be in our plan that is a high-risisk person, right? That has a severe medical and even one significant uh case drives up our our rates. So, um
it's a risk and we pay them. I believe that it started it's it's happened since before I got here and I believe it started when we were under the county uh health insurance uh option. It was something that was done uh under the county health insurance option and when
the county I guess for lack of a better term threw us out and we then uh took on our own uh bidding for or uh soliciting for our own health insurance plan. We maintain that allowance. For employees that elect not
to participate in our plan, we allow to afford them this allowance. >> Right. But an employee that doesn't participate some you have I guess I don't know what the laws are with the health insurance, but um they all have they usually have health insurance, >> right? Or they go buy it through the we
have a lot of single people. They may go and buy it through the Obama care through the exchange, >> but they're likely not buying it. they're likely to just have health insurance to their spouse. So, we're just paying them extra money to not I get it. The cost isn't there, but what how is this money calculated? This would
be the cost of the town to provide them health insurance. So, if they have health insurance through a spouse, then we're just giving them extra money. >> That's what it is. Yes. I I mean, I I've never heard of this before. I don't know if other towns do it. I think it's unreasonable. I never heard of this. And
the the rate, the exact amount that they get, I'd have to find that out. But I'm not really sure. Um, but I'll I'll let you know exactly what that is. >> Okay. So, I mean, I that's a discussion we can have now or have at the budget hearing, but I I've never heard of this at all. >> I guess since he's going to get some
more information back for us, keep it in your back pocket and perhaps bring it at the budget hearing. >> Anything else on this particular uh section, town clerk, >> it has to do with health insurance, >> not specifically for the clerk, but as an overarching. Is it okay if I ask it now or >> I would say again just for keeping in
terms of the themes being that it's overarching wait for town administration which is literally the next one over. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Anything on this particular section? Town clerk any questions any you know poll without voting that you're that that you have anybody else? Okay.
Town administration. Now before we get there I also have I'm sorry the budget director. >> Nothing else in clerk. You're good. >> Okay. Can I just make a quick comment on that on why you're not getting anything on town clerk? >> The town clerk position is or or department is actually one of the few
outliers throughout all of our departments consistently throughout all of our departments. And this was something that was actually pointed out to me by a resident, Mr. Aguar. um where we see 2324 actuals at a certain number and then a higher number for the 2425
adopted budget, an even higher number or maybe the same number for the amended budget for 2425 and then a lower year-end projection yet a higher proposed rate. In other words, it's going up for no reason. Um the town
clerk is one of the few departments and I'll give you the concrete example on that. the town council expenditures. You have 405 in actuals from 2324. You have 435 30,000 more in adopted from 2425. And then you have even more 451 in
amended. Yet we never even used more than what we actually used in 2324. Our actuals were 402 and yet our proposed is 476. >> Where what are you? >> Where are you looking? >> I'm looking on town council expenditures. >> Okay. I'm on the department right above
because the the council is one of the ones that's a sinner in this equation. >> Okay. But but it >> and I wanted to point out the reason why you didn't get comments on on town clerk is it's one of the only ones that actually doesn't violate that. It's one of the only ones that properly if you notice it went down. >> The point has been made.
>> Okay. I can address what you're talking about in mayor council. So the amended budget and the adopted a budget have not changed on on mayor counsel for regular salaries. The reason why you see a dip in the year in projection is because we
had a new mayor that came in and his assistant also vacated his position. So there was a time period of a vacancy. So that's a salary savings to the general fund because there was no person holding the position at that time. However, if the person would have maintained the
position and did not vacate it, that amount would be much higher. >> Thank you. I just want to let you know why you didn't get a lot of comments on town clerk. >> The done with the town clerk and now we're on town administration. So my question to the manager is in years past
we have deferred filling vacancies as a temporary cost-saving measure to balance the budget. Um do we have any currently vacant positions that we're that you know we are trying to fill? >> I don't believe right now we have any. There's where there's a part-time code
officer that the council actually added money to that position um during the budget amendment in the midyear. I believe that that is the only one that um that is un uh filled right now vacant
the mayor. >> Okay. Well, before we get there, so Okay. Um but just between now and the budget hearing if you can uh just confirm including the the police department etc if there are any uh current openings that we that are not essential to fill just like in 2019 we
deferred hiring on on a variety of positions. Yeah. police department we pay we don't pay for because we pay actuals but we have budgeted a certain number of positions and they have uh I don't believe that they have any vacancies at this time either but uh the
only one that we have on our side non-p police is the part-time code officer I was just confirmed >> okay well just if you can get you know confirm that >> it's confirmed because otherwise that will be one of my motions at at the September budget hearing Now, a question
that I had as well is well, you know, we're again we're in September, but next week's budget hearing, but another question I had as well is that it appears as if the number of grants that we've applied for and written for is about the same even after we hired that contracted position to support the
grants department with the backend uh paperwork. Um it can do you have any context as to why because the idea when we hired that additional person other than helping out our grant writer with um with the process of the administrative backend uh paperwork that
had to be done was to free up their time to search for more grants which again are is in theory free money in many cases for us. Um do do you know why uh the the number of grants we've applied for is has stayed stagnant. Yeah, if if you remember, we had a transition in
that position that uh Renee uh left the town and then we moved Olivia in there. There was a I guess an assimilation period there that Olivia was uh getting acclimated in that position. Uh she's done exceptionally well. And you're
right, the the grant support person, the consultant primarily is used for managing the grants or even sometimes even writing the grants. But the pursuit of new grants continues to be an in-house um function and u Olivia's
been slowly but surely improving in in that area. It's something that as she gets more familiar with the grant world, she's uh uh doing a tremendous job in that position. >> Look, and I'm not trying to say that Olivia is not doing well. In fact, the opposite. She's been on top of it. But
in 2022, we had approximately seven grants that we applied for uh that we that we wrote for. Um in 23 approximately 12 and in 2024, approximately eight. So, you know, I just think it would be good moving forward that we try to get those numbers
up and that because that was the intent behind the the support uh person >> and some of it was um a function of uh local share, local match, right? So if we don't have a source in the past we were go tapping into some sources that
the council objected to for using for local matches for some of these grants. So we have really been trying to concentrate primarily not exclusively but primarily on grants that do not require a local match. And then we've been very selective about the ones that we do apply for that do have a local
match. And we want to make sure it's a it's a source of funding that is really dedicated for that purpose. >> Yeah. I mean, but again, the intent behind that other position was to try to generate more uh leads, if you will, put it that way, when it comes to grants.
And so, if at some point we see that that's not happening, then we'll have to revisit that in future budgets. But just uh you know, again, just wanted to get an answer to that. With that, I'm going to turn over to my colleagues. I believe uh well, before you uh Councilman Fernandez had had flagged me, so I'll let him proceed and then we'll go to
you, Mr. Vice Mayor. I >> I'll just be brief because you the the open at least the part-time open position was a code compliance officer and there aren't a lot of I have a handful of I I really don't I I'm going
to oppose cutting and and one of them certainly would be code compliance. So that's just my position and I'm open to hear what my colleagues have to say. >> Yeah, I agree with you that that we should not cut that. Uh Mr. Vice Mayor, I >> I didn't catch the item that he said not. So that that with the part-time
code position that that was which was my item to cover a gap on the weekends and at nights >> and we added a a part-time position in order to Yeah. Uh but that but that's what he was referring to. Uh Mr. Vice Mayor though. >> All righty. I got a couple on town administration. I'm going to again just
try to go rapidly through this. Uh the very first item regular salaries. I think that the number should be uh 1,320,150. Figure it out. Um I think uh and then also the payroll taxes and the FRS contribution should be reduced
accordingly. Um I did have a question on the health insurance health and life insurance line item. I noticed that the 23 24 actuals were 96,000. Then the the budgeted amount was 204,000
and then the the year end projection is 84,000 and then now we're again budgeting 210,000. >> If you look at the line item right underneath it, the health insurance allowance. So the health insurance allowance and all of that is budgeted together. >> Okay. >> Then I don't know who's going to elect
to be in what. So as the year progresses then we see and then at the year end I make the adjustment but in essence those two line ite those two line items is the total. >> Okay. So so it's the same issue that council >> yeah like taxes and personal property tax.
>> Gotcha. Um >> if I can just to harp on that one when you add those two up it's $160,000 >> not 210. >> We we do not know what people are going to elect when they elect their health insurance. >> Right. But it's like a ying and a yang.
So if 100 if we have 100,000 because we're covering and then we have 110,000 because it's the stipen that adds up to 210. But 84 Mr. Manager, if we have 84,000 plus 74,000 is 159,000. Still doesn't add up to 200,000. >> I understand. But keep in mind that I'm
doing this based on what we had the prior year, right? So a a person may have elected to be in a family plan, but then the next year comes and they decide, you know what, I'm not going to be in the family plan. My kids are going to go under my husband who works at a different company and I'm going to do a single. So, this is a projection. It is
it is an estimate. I I'm not going to know what people are going to elect. They elect that in November. Our budget has already begun. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> All righty. Um >> I hope that answers your question, sir. >> It answered mine at least. Um Okay. >> Professional services uh should be
reduced from 172. It should be reduced to 97. And that's basically keeping everything all else equal, reducing the 10-year strategic plan to 25,000, which I still think is being generous. Um, but I'd rather have that done that process
done correctly. Um, >> vice mayor on that specific line. >> Um, so part of part of that al is also our line of credit renewal. Um, but I might and I I don't know, Mr. Manager, if you got to take a look at it. My understanding is we can just ask for a
re like an extension of the current. >> We've already initiated those lines of communication with the current holder of the line of credit. So we're probably not going to have significant information or you know sign information that we can take to the bank by the time we uh have the budget hearing next week,
but we this may be an area of the budget that we need to budget it and then we'll recognize the savings throughout the year if we can just get a renewal of the existing line instead of initiating a new line. I guess the simple question, if you can bring it back to us at the budget hearing,
does the line of credit allow us to renew or not? Right. >> Yeah, we're we're we're we've already >> Does it or does it? >> We're started to look at that. >> Okay. I mean, can I just get a copy of the line of credit? I guess it should be in there. So, >> all right. Thank you. So, maybe we can
bring it up on the next one. I'm just I agree with you, Vice Mayor, but hopefully we can cut that down even more. >> Awesome. Uh next is uh travel and perdium. Um I have it well I have it written down tentatively as 12,000 uh which is a very minor
reduction um because I don't know what are required licenses or or required um traveling. And I also don't know how much of it well none of this is per the town manager's contract because that's the very next line item. Um, but how much of
that 12,000 is basically for required continuing education or something that is that that people need to keep licenses or something >> required by their positions? >> Yeah. Required for their positions. Exactly. If if any >> the next line is the car allowance that
that that's not the travel in PDM in the sense of traveling, you know, somewhere outside of Miami for >> I got you. So, so my travel would be still in that 15,000 >> like when I go to, you know, come >> in that case. In that case, I'll make
this simple. I think that that item should just be zero. If you guys need to travel somewhere, come to us and let us know just like we did on um on the council item. Um the >> to be clear, you're I'm
>> Well, I'm kind of rapid firing and then we can go back or >> Well, as long as you have it all marked down. Oh, okay. Yeah, because otherwise it's going to be very tricky. >> Yeah. Or do you want me to just slow down after each one? >> I I think that would work better so we can just get consensus. >> Okay. You know, would be the best.
>> I think that the regular salaries should be reduced from one 1,396,646. It should be reduced to 1,320,150, which is exactly a 3% increase from last year's amended budget. And then they should figure out who needs to get cut
or or who can stay. >> Well, they Mr. Manager, why don't you address that first? >> Um, >> so so you're saying to eliminate the 3% cola? >> No, I'm giving the 3% quota cola. Sorry.
Uh, literally I multiplied uh blah blah blah. >> But you have to keep in mind that last year doesn't have the same uh employees. And I'll use the example that Mr. Manager mentioned earlier. We had a grants um person, she left and another
grants person came in. Their salary is not the same. That's the one I can think of off the top of my head right now. So when you're trying to do an exact 3% increase, you have to understand that it is not the same salary as the year before. I can tell you that this budget does not have an increase in salary in
administration for anybody. >> One more time, last part. There's not an increase to a salary. >> It's just a 3% coal. >> It is just a 3% coal. >> There's not any other adjustments. >> There's no there no employee has gotten an adjustment like that. >> Okay. Um and then so like I said, I'm
sorry I'm taking the >> also to state on the record, our staff does not receive merit increases. The only increases that our staff receives is a cola based on whatever you all decide it should be. It has been like that since I've been here and I believe it's been like that for many years even prior to
>> point on that once we get through all these items but um so I'll skip that one uh because it's confusing um the professional services reducing it from 172 to 97 >> supported anyone
>> so reducing 75,000 for the strategic plan that's >> I I'm I personally I'm fine with eliminating it all together and we just you know like at most you know maybe just enough money to do a community survey to guide our own deliberations
but I don't think we need a del um what do you call those a facilitator or something like that >> um you know I mean do we have any uh uh Mr. manager. Do you recall the last community survey that we did? The one where we where it was famous. We brought it up as like this is where we
>> you funded the community survey already with the budget amendment. >> And where are we on that then? >> I believe that it's underway. Yeah. Tony, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, in that case, I I would be fine with just completely eliminating >> reducing it from 172,000 to 72,000.
>> Just getting rid of the the anything related to the strategic plan. I think we can figure that out on our own. >> Amen. Sounds great. Um, well, wait, hold on. Just just again because we're going one by one. Is everybody in agreement or that's right. No. Uh, does everybody, you know, what do people think about
that? You know, is there any objection to that particular one? >> Okay, there we go. >> Through the chair, I just question Councilman Garcia. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, before we do that, understand the cost savings. I'd like to see a plan or at least uh how we would uh because plan
planning for the future prevents mistakes, right? that can cost us more money in the future. So, uh an internal kind of like uh plan or uh beginning of a plan on how we would make up for uh the strategic plan and make sure that we have a plan that includes uh future
projects that'll end up you know infrastructure projects and things like that on the in the future saving us money but we need something to replace it and uh so I'm open to it absolutely but I'd like at least a little more information on how we could do it. tell you that in the past the way and even with the imagine mammal 2025 a lot of
times all they did was grab all the various master plans and and and um for what the other term is for for you know uh uh documents involving future projects they were combined them uh you know al together so I think that would be enough of a starting point um and then it was separately informed
additionally through a community survey >> um and then there were other things done like sharetses where the public was invited to attend no surprise not too many people uh attended those. >> Um but that but that I think that's what I'm saying that there's already enough there to build out a plan on our own. >> Of course. And correct me if I'm wrong,
the imagine 2025 um website was done internally, right? >> That was done internally. Uh Mr. Manager, am I wrong on that? by uh Hermman the 2025 imagine >> not by Herman but I'm sure that the uh the people who do our website may have
put a a page on the website dealing with the >> No, I could have sworn there was a specific link to the 2025 Tony that went over every single page. >> Yeah, that that that happened before before I was >> But that was done internally. >> I'm pretty sure that was him. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, we have the skills and the to to okay to do it ourselves in that case. All right. Perfect. Thank you. That that's what I'm saying. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Through the manager. Uh through the mayor. >> A Councilman Quadra Garcia. >> Let me know when I am recognized. >> Thank you. I've got u I' I've cut it
down from 14 line items to eight. So I'll make >> Wait, wait. Just be clear though before we move on. A every there there's no objection to you know, you know, at the moment for that particular is uh item, the strategic plan.
>> If if we've talked about it, let me know. We have >> the ones that I want to start. >> Well, okay. Well, >> I mean >> a Okay. Well, just for the record, for the budget director's purposes, there's no objection of that particular uh line
item that on the strategic plan, there was no objection to the proposal I made at this time. It could change in the future. Right, Mr. Attorney? >> Yes. if you can. Um, Councilman Quad Garcia, I I would like to get through the items that I was bringing up and and
then if any of them duplicate or don't duplicate, you can bring bring them up cuz or bring it up as I'm bringing it up. >> Let me know. I just piggybacked off of the last item that he brought up. >> Let me know. And if I duplicate, you let me know. >> Exactly. All righty. Um, travel and predium zero.
Uh well, if I recall correctly, the manager was going to get us a list of the essential you like of two lists the required certifications that we could that were not voluntary and then separately I guess if there was travel associated with any of that. >> And I have a sneaking hunch that none of
them are actually required. Um, so it would be good once he has that info um that the budget director has our consensus more or less that if that's the case, it should be zero. >> Yeah. And I I guess we can do that on a
case- by case basis. We're going to be doing a budget amendment, you know, almost every council meeting, and that's fine, but we don't have that piggy bank to draw from to get expenses. Like for instance, if somebody's planning to go to a to an educational conference or a
seminar or whatever, and then it's going to be $1,500 between airfare and the conference fee or whatever. >> There there's a line item on especially on the council's um department. It's called disc discretionary um which is a very ugly word and I know that it's
intentionally avoided. Um but we could fund that line item and call it what it is. It's discretionary spending. but overinflating other items in order to create surplus funds to fund trips and to do these things that I don't like. I
don't like funding these trips and it someone mentioned it with regard to the committees at the last meeting of this idea of oh we have to use this money otherwise we're not going to get it again next year. Um that's kind of how I feel that this this money is spent for
the sake of spending it. It it's not I I feel like so much of this travel and I I hate to sound unsophisticated when I say this, but is just wasting money and going to these conferences that either they learn nothing or they learn
something that probably isn't even good for our town because it brings big city ideas into our small town. Um and so, uh I'm not going to lie, I don't like the travel and pium period. And all right, I'm I'm the chair. Stop clapping. Um the
the this travel and predium for things that are required for going to see um continuing education classes that are required I understand. Um but for conferences for for you know trainings those I I I feel very uncomfortable
with. um is and that's why what we're asking for is for you to come back and let us know is any part of that 12,000 is of that 15,000 for required coursework for the purpose of fulfilling their their position or not and then
it's my position that if the answer is none of it is then it should be zero or any portion of it that is required and I stress the word required then that is what we should budget. Yeah. And that word required means different things to different people, but we'll bring you the list.
>> No, no, no. If a certification says you need to do these hours. So, for example, my wife has her SBA and there are hours that she has to do every single year, 40 hours worth of training and she logs on her computer at home and she does them in order to keep that certification in order to keep her director level role.
>> That is required. There's no different definitions. It's required. It means required in order to keep it. >> It's like me. I have to do continuing legal education in order to keep my bar license. Otherwise, I can't practice law. If there's something like that in the town staff, then that is required. Otherwise, it's not required. It's uh I
guess a want, not a need. >> Um all right. Any objections to that? >> Let me interject and add to that. Go ahead. >> You could you could do whatever course you can do online. >> No, >> some most of the time. Well, most of the
time, most of the time, >> but I'd rather just not even face that. Um, anything else on on any objections on travel and predeem? >> Well, I I just have a statement on that. Now, as far as the directors of the department, public works, um, they need to
>> and this is something you you you would you would come up with a or ask us, Mr. manager, but there are certain professions that you need you need to go to these conferences because it's the latest in construction, it's latest in engineering, it's the latest that's
happening. Um, and if we I would leave it to the manager to decide, hey, yeah, absolutely. We need to send a director here and limit if if only a director needs to go before maybe two or three staff went, maybe we can limit how many people went. But there are certain continued education and and of course
conferences when it comes to you know town management things like that I understand big idea small town but there's also a lot of small towns out there that are doing innovative things and we need Yeah% they can come to the council for approval. >> Yeah 100% if it can come back to us
manager Mr. manager if you think, yeah, absolutely. This is something that's going to going to really uh help us out and and help us uh streamline things here. Absolutely. But they're all professionals and they and they need to continue as much as possible >> with efficiencies that we that that we you know that we can come up with.
Absolutely. There's money to be saved there. >> We'll come back with a with a list so you guys can >> then before before you do I guess any objections to that? >> Seeing none, the the next item is the copy release. Um and it starts with a question and then it's a suggestion. The
I is this number for the copy lease not sent by contract because it's 27 under the originally proposed 2.6372 budget it was $27,000 and then in this one it's 20,000. So
clearly there's room to move and and it's based on something. I don't know what it's based on, but I guess my question is, can we get it to 15,000 since our year-end projection for this fiscal year is 15 is 14,939. >> Let me look at that, sir. >> I I can't hear you.
>> I said, let me look at that, sir. >> Okay. Um, if I guess I'll just pose the question this way. I >> If that's a possibility, if if she looks into it and it's Is there any objection to reducing her copy release? Do you have something on the copy release? >> No. I >> is that for one copy machine? Is that
for two copy machines? How many copy machines >> do we know? >> I I think we have >> we have one in uh a building, one in public works, one in uh clerk's office, one up in admin, one in finance. There may be five.
>> Can I make a recommendation? >> Absolutely. >> Why don't we put them all together and put a room and have just one master copy machine and have everybody go there? I I think that's inefficient. >> Yeah, >> it's extremely inefficient. >> It can be.
>> Or at least if we have five, let's bring it down to two. >> One on the first floor, one on on the second floor. Why do we need five copy machines? >> Well, the clerk's office is doing a lot of reproduction. They finance does a lot
of things that you know they need to maintain on for I'm just talking about for instance on the second floor of this building and and then the rest everybody else shares one that's for everybody else in administration is shared it's out here in the main uh in the main uh
copy room then downstairs public works has one and building has one >> one thing uh that I'll share with councilman Garcia is as someone who works in a law firm and has suffered through this through waiting for a copier or or waiting for a printer. It
is the most frustrating thing and it kills productivity in our employees. So, so I I agree with you know or as I proposed you know reducing you know the the amount and again I don't know what that reduction entails because on the one hand when we had a bigger millillage
it was 27,000 and then with the smaller millillage it's 20,000. So, I don't know what the reduction what is what service is being reduced on that, but >> we had a contract change. >> Huh? >> We had a contract change about a couple years ago. So, I don't know if that led to that.
>> Uh, so so but I'm not okay with just having a centralized uh copier that then is going to have weight cues, especially when the town clerk's office is printing out, you know, 800page binders. Um, any other any objections? Uh let me just
inter um the word contract. I I'm making a recommendation to this whole entire body that moving forward everything that has the word contract needs to start being revised. I don't know if we need to revise it every six months, every
year, but every word that says contract, we need to be revising it more often. All right, you guys can take that into account. Um, and I think that that's more of a item that you should bring up
at a council meeting. Um, but moving on. Um, that was the copy release. Okay. Advertisement, recruitment, advertising of town employment and internship opportunities. Uh, I believe it should be zero. Um, it's been zero for actuals
for 23 24 as well as the projected for this year. Uh so I think it should be zero on this budget. We shouldn't waste that money. Any objections? Seeing none going on. Um so bud, madam budget director, you got that. Um
financial institution fees. Um so this is along the lines of um what Councilman Hsburg was bringing up. Um but I also have a little bit of a different take on it and specifically on this one. Um, first and foremost, I do
think that one time or periodic uh periodical uh fees should have their own line item. I I don't think that these this $100 bank transaction fees should be in there with uh um a 26 a onetime
$26,000 line of commitment fee and a $10,500 line of credit bank council fee because as it was explained during my um budget briefing, this is something that only happens every 3 to five years when we need to renew these these items. So,
it makes more sense for this to be its own separate line item for transparency purposes and so that we don't question it and we don't inadvertently slash something that we shouldn't be slashing. Uh, and then as for the item itself, I do think that who who are we working
with? Who's our bank? >> Bank United. >> Bank United. Have we looked at other partners like like TD Bank and um >> yeah we went to a bid >> two years ago, three years ago, >> year and a half ago. >> Okay.
>> And they were the the in the evaluation process they were deemed to be the best. You know, I just when we get more information and I I don't know why we again when I read the the line of credit, then we can determine if if we're allowed to ask for an extension, we should definitely ask for one because
it makes no sense. Even if they give us a higher rate, makes no sense to spend $100,000 to save on a higher on to lower the interest rate of something that there's a very good chance we're not going to use, right? So, we'll see that that that one we have to get more information from staff on what the current status of the line of credit is.
It's something we do need because we don't have reserves to cover emergencies, but um I would like to see if we can it, you know, sort of pushing it off, but it's not. If there's an option to extend, I'd rather extend at a higher interest rate than spend $100,000 for something that there's a good chance
we don't use, right? So, that's all we'll we'll talk about. I might bring up an item at the next meeting about it. >> Perfect. Um education and training, and we are still under town administration. uh education and training uh should be reduced at least to to $10,000.
But I would like the manager, you know, at the first budget hearing to come back and let us know what of that education and training again is required education and training. So, so that we can explore the possibility of going lower than 10,000. But for now, I would
like to go down to 10,000, which matches up with our uh 2324 actuals as well as our uh year-end predicted uh projection for this year. Any objections? >> Uh that's it for me on uh town administration. Anything else? Anyone
else got anything? >> Yeah, you uh councilman Garcia had asked for the floor. Hold up. Make sure >> have a little patience. All right. So, page uh nine of 54.
>> Let's look at Are you on town administration? >> You're not. >> Page nine is police. >> I'm talking about expenditures. We're still on. >> Yeah. But we're but in the expenditures we're going down department by department. So so point out the ones
that you have separated under town expenditures and then later on we'll move on to other departments. >> You you confused me. >> Okay. Beautiful. So I'm good. All right. >> But if you want start here we're covering this. No, I'm going to go I'm going to go back over here.
>> Okay. All right. Let's go to page uh six of 54. Let's look at travel and pdem. Was that talked about already? >> What page one more time? >> Page six of 54. >> And Councilman, yeah, we did discuss it. And uh that's out >> and and everyone already said was okay
with >> Is that going to be >> Well, there was no objection. >> I would I would like to see it at zero. Oh, you the direction was for us to come back with uh with specificity about what's required. >> The town manager is going to come back to let us know what of that travel and
PDM is absolutely required for purposes of licenses and in order to fulfill their job as >> my recommendation is to keep it uh zero but that's >> zero or whatever is absolutely required. >> Let's look at same page 6 or 54 um educational and training at uh 10,000.
We just discussed that one and we we're all okay with SL. >> That's done. Okay. I'd like to keep it at zero also. >> Okay, let's move on to >> That's it. We're only talking about town administration right now. >> Hold on. >> Yeah. >> Wait. So, well, is there anything else?
>> Did you have anything else on town administration? >> No. >> Okay. And I have a question though. I don't know. And I apologize. I was in the back there, so I don't know if it was covered. There's a $2,500 expense here. Or am I still looking at the wrong? No, this town administration. So
it is under council meeting expense 2500 toward the middle of the page on page six of 54. What is it? 2500 uh for >> that's the food. >> That was the food. Okay, got it. And did you cover it? >> $100 per
>> um No, because I I like the food. >> Sorry, I'm honest. Well, I mean, if we're going to go full austerity, you know, with the travel and everything else, I mean, for the food, again, I just ordered some Gardinos. A
>> what is that calculated at as far as the council food? >> 200 bucks a meeting. >> Two I mean, >> really >> for all of us and stuff. >> I I'll save uh my comments for later, but or rather I'll think about it between now and the budget hearing, but
okay. And um the 850 for the internship opportunities. Did you cover that? >> No. >> No, we did not. >> Okay. So um >> what page are you on? >> It's the same one. It's literally right above where I was just at. Like the line right above where I was at. Advertising
recruitment advertising of town employment and >> Oh, I'm sorry. We did we did cover that. Yes, we uh No one objected to cutting that. >> Okay, got it. Okay, perfect. So we're on the same page. um you know at least for now and then uh with that anything else on town administration yes through the
chair who wants to go next >> just uh >> Councilman Garcia and then Councilman Sanchez >> maybe my ignorance but I was I've never gone to the room and gotten some food uh either I didn't know about it or or I've stayed here but yeah the food thing I think I I mean we honestly
>> my my only so so I I say it a little faciciously as as a a food lover that I am but but at the same time it. There is a very real reason for it and it's our staff. They are giving their time after hours. They haven't had dinner. It's
there to make sure that those who are here can continue, you know, serving without having to leave the building. >> Okay. 100%. If it's for the staff, I get >> I'm still taking a slice. >> I get it. No, no. If it's for the staff, I get it. 100%. Uh, as far as us, I mean, I I've never partaked and I don't
think m much of us have. So, if you want to find some savings there, I'm 100% for it. But the staff of course are staying late. They need to eat. I get that 100%. Okay. Just just want to clarify. >> Okay. With that, uh, Councilman Sanchez. >> Yes. Okay. Melissa, is it okay is it
okay if I just give you the numbers after the dash for the account number or do you want the entire thing? >> Are we still in administration? >> Town administration. Yes. >> You can just say the account name. >> The account name. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um, administrative support. SRS
stormwater fund we're getting in this year 26,429 as an expense reimbursement. >> Correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. I see that next year and even the line item underneath it. So they're two basically two P's in a pod. Next year
the amounts are lower as opposed to the amended budget. How come they're going down those two items? So the overhead rate that was originally given was a 15. >> Um the overhead rate for the coming year
I believe is a 10.3 10.5. >> Okay. Is that something that we voted on or is that something that is outside of our control? >> That is something based on our prior year actuals. >> Okay. >> That is how that's calculated. >> Okay. All right. So we have no power
over as to how much that reimbursement is. In other words, >> um, >> Mr. me >> I don't believe because you know there has to be some logical way and so we build the administrative
you know rate based on the the amount of time that certain different uh functions like finance and so forth participate in assisting in these other roles okay >> in managing these other uh entities like the uh storm water fund and so forth >> and the building department fund. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> Okay. Then next question. Okay, line 234. I'm just reading my notes over. Line 234. Professional services. This is specifically about this year, not so much about next year. The adopted budget
for professional services was $15,000. The amended budget was $95,000. Where did that $80,000 go to? So 65 65,000 of that. So you had 15 and then you amended the budget in April and
65,000 of that was for was one for was >> the original amount was 135. The council then decided to reduce that in half to 65 and the 135 was to cover um and this is me speaking from the top of my head
so it was for the the salary study. Uh, I believe one was for um >> the impact fee study. >> Impact fee study and the other one had to do with um >> the energy green energy. >> Yes, I was going to say solar powered but yes. >> Okay. All right. Good.
>> What page are we on? >> We currently >> but since those were cut in half I'm not sure. Page five. >> Okay. And that's it for me on Oh, no. There was one more. The cars
we have 30. Okay. So, we have on page six about a third of the way down rentals and leases. 30,000 or yeah, $30,000 leases of town vehicles, but it doesn't state how many vehicles for $30,000.
>> We were going to We have right now in our fleet, I think it's six vehicles. >> Uhhuh. >> We were going to increase that number for people who use their personal vehicle to be able to provide them a town vehicle. it was going to be a phase in over a certain number of years. So,
we were going to try and replace some of the worst cars uh as far we were going to use as much as the 30,000 will buy us. So, we don't really know until we actually go out to bid to say is that going to get us two vehicles or three vehicles.
>> Okay. And if we approve that, then there's a line item line item on light line item on here for lubrication and fuel and things like that of like $5,000. >> That's maintenance of the current vehicles. >> Okay.
>> And the whatever vehicles we get will al obviously also need preventive maintenance and so forth. So whether it's the old clunkers that we have now or new ones that we hope to be able to uh procure, um they're still going to need
>> But some dealerships offer you at the time that you're doing the deal. Yeah. For a certain amount of time and things like that, right? So maybe we can involve that in the $30,000. >> Yeah. >> Um is there a set priority list as to which cars you would replace first? >> Yes. the uh general services has
determined what the the replacement priority is in what order. >> Okay. And ideally >> based on how old they are and the number of miles they are and you know the more problematic ones that have caused us a lot of uh repairs over the last few years. >> And would we be able to these new
vehicles since they are now property as not personal vehicles that we're just giving them a monthly stipen for. Um would we be able to track their loc like where they've gone distances that they traveled within their workday? So, in other words, like we would have a GPS map and they went to here and here and here and here and we would be able
to to show that as proof to the residents like, hey, we're paying for these vehicles, but look, this is where our code enforcement officers are. This is where they've been, you know, >> yeah, >> out and about. I >> I don't think that that has ever been questioned by residents or staff or supervisors. Um, but I mean, something
we could explore. It has been questioned because we hear all the time, hey, you know, court enforcement for this house is completely non-existent and they have 10 violations, >> right? And and then we prove to them that they don't, you know, that they have violations and everybody in that neighborhood have gotten violations that are similar, you know, so people make
allegations that many times are not substantiated. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And that's it for me for town administration. >> Okay. Anyone else on town administration? All right. Let me make sure that I didn't have anything else. All right, we're now on information
systems. Um my my uh um the second item on page 654. Um it is $2,000 to replace the two sidewall TVs to upgrade them to 1080p. I think we could wait a bit on making that
upgrade, especially this year. Um so would there be any objection to uh to that change? Okay. So, okay, perfect. >> And then, um, a question to the manager on machinery and equipment within that same grouping, but on the next page, 7
to 54, there's 42,000, uh, dollars they're allocated for that a how many of these computers must be replaced this year. And how many can wait, you know, perhaps one more year before we have to uh, replace them? >> I believe this is all for units that
have reached end of life, >> but it but uh, but okay. And I understand that they may have met some kind of table in terms of what is end of life but have we >> yeah because what happens is you know for updates and I'm listen I'm not a technical person right and and our
technicalme is not here manur but uh I believe that what happens is then the updates from the periodic updates from whether uh be Microsoft or whoever now the the older models little by little won't tolerate them or don't accept them or you can't update certain uh uh
systems. Um but I I suspect that some of these but >> well for the next for the budget hearing just you know my my request would be just to try to identify which ones are absolutely critical to make that change over right now >> would just be maybe doubling our problem for next year
>> we just keep we'd be kicking a little bit of the can down the road and you know next year we'll be in a similar predicament >> in other in other line items I would normally agree but desktops typically tend to hold their you know pretty be be pretty steady um in terms of their cost. I mean,
>> Mr. Manager, I'm here in case. >> Okay, perfect. Okay, there he is. Thank you. >> Sorry, I have to step off. Sorry. >> Go, are are you familiar with where we're the line we're talking about? >> Uh can you please uh repeat it? >> Under town administration. >> Okay.
>> I'm sorry. Under uh information systems. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Machinery and equipment, the total budget request is $42,000. And it says for Windows 10 end of life replacement of computers to Windows 11 and uh server replacement and network equipment annual
refreshment. So what what if any of that is things that can be deferred for a year? >> Okay. Uh usually the amount has stayed uh pretty flat over the years and uh we expand 100% every year uh cost of
rising. So uh it's is a little bit tough to keep up. Uh this year we had a a little bit of a different situation where Microsoft uh have a end of life all Windows 10. So we are forced to move to window 11. Just to put things in
perspective we have around 100 devices uh here in town. with this uh amount of money a certain amount of money we rotate or we replace equipment as they either failure or uh becomes obsolescence or u you know hard drive or
or or speed become become an issue. So about 10 to 15% of our capabilities replace year after year. So usually we are able to keep up uh but in this case uh Windows 10 to 11 uh requires a little
bit of money. Um is about 5 to 10 probably new equipment that we require. Uh out of those there are two that are desktop that are a little bit more uh complex. Uh but that's that's what the the little bit of more extra money that we need for for this year.
>> Okay. >> So this is more security and uh end of life. Once you reach end of life, uh that means that Microsoft will not be able to provide you any support, any patches on your computers, you will be completely vulnerable. >> Okay, understood. Okay, that that answered my question. I'm going to turn
it over to the vice mayor though who had his own question. just uh on the same item and I'm Herman, thank you so much for being here uh virtually because I don't think anyone else could have answered that question or the one I'm about to ask which is on that same line item the $42,000 machinery and equipment
item you we you have a in the budget comments server replacement $13,000 but then on the two line items down or really one line item down you have computer software licenses and then
within that you have a Dell server of $12,000. Um yes, seems redundant. >> Okay. Yeah, let me give you uh some um input on that. So we have about seven physical servers that we have to that we keep in house uh mainly munis your your
heavy heavy platforms munis uh tracked laser pitch which is in capacity is a monster. So we have seven servers that we have to that we keep here in house. They all uh full capacity and they are completely uh uh on use at all times. So
the first uh server replacements is in case that we have a failure usually uh one or every two years one of these servers go bad and needs to be replaced. That amount of money that we allocate is in those cases. Now similar to the case
of the computers like desktop of laptops they also becomes uh the obsolescence and um they reach a end of life a server last usually three years and what we do with the second money the Dell server uh the Dell server what we usually do
depending on in which cycle one of those seven servers are then we extend the warranty. So we be able to extend a year or two depending on you know how critical or we want to you know take a little bit of a chance this server looks good let's extend the warranty. So again
this is seven servers uh each server just to have an idea is about between 12 to $15,000. So just two servers right there you have $3,000 and we have seven. So, uh, yes, some years we are able to dodge the bullet and usually we use the money to, you know, either we need a
more equipment, uh, Wi-Fi, antennas, whatever we need. Uh, at the end of the fiscal year, boom, we are able to replace it. But usually, uh, it's more like a taking the chance, taking the risk of, uh, if we don't have the money, if we need it, it's going to be like 10 15,000 that we going to we don't going
to have. So, we able to it's seven service. It's not just one or two. seven servers that are hold the whole capacity of the town. >> Can I ask a question on this item? >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Am I question? Can't cloud services uh handle uh having physical servers on property?
>> Yes. Uh one of the council members actually uh um posed that question to us and uh we answer uh always uh probably the last I would say like seven to 10 years uh as this um technology becomes
more and more um uh available. Uh we always check and we compare prices and what are the needs or what are the requirements. So MUN for example is one of the of the services that Google could uh cloud-based >> Yeah. Amazon as well. Uh and I'm sure
that the county has or other state has something that we can piggyback on. Um you know >> yes but at this moment uh when we compare we always compare every year we compare we have this uh the same you know the same questions that you have is okay should we go cloud now uh should we
keep on prem onrem has their uh their advantages you know you control it uh your pages your service security you are sure that whatever you have uh you know you are controlling uh you're able to react in terms of uh backup recovery time is a huge huge plus when you have
onrem instead of cloud. If you go cloud, you also need a very robust internet. Again, laser pitch mun are heavy heavy platform. So, uh sure is is is something that cause some some difficulties, but every year we go to the exercise and at the end at least up to this point uh for
for the town uh it will be a little bit more costly and plus the complexity that you have a you know better prepare in terms of service security and how you control it and internet uh the complexity is still there. So, but every year we do the exercise. >> I'd love to see, you know, the last uh
comparison you did because I am sure that having especially now with the bandwidth, having physical hardware is getting more expensive than having cloud services. How about the security part of that? Isn't it safer to have cloud services and to have uh five different
servers here that could be hacked at any I know you have security, but isn't having it through the I guess it's a quick yes or no. Maybe it's not an easy answer, but isn't it safer for the town for all the information to have it on a on a on a cloud service? >> Uh that's the holy grail. Uh it is a yes
and no. Um you know >> once you have a very robust uh capability of having cloud uh where you have you know you understanding the complexity the security you have another third party looking over your system. So the more the more components that you
have the higher the risk. >> Okay. Um so okay it is it's not aing question uh but at this moment uh the town and definitely I can we can share with you like for example munis is one probably that we have a very fresh or
track it and we have uh the comparison so so yeah we can share that information. >> Thank you. And the last item network support that we go over the 171,000 um we we have a professional service contract. Uh when was the last time that we put that professional service contract to bid? Is it a one year, three
year, fiveyear contract or is it yearly? Mr. >> That year uh that contract goes uh to beat every five years. Uh I believe the last one was uh 200 I would say 19 or 20. I believe that we
still have uh maybe one uh year uh or two in the current contract, but it was recent probably three years uh if I'm not mistaken. Do you feel that these services because so many people are are are um you know there's a lot of competition especially for these kind of
contracts that we can see a savings if we put out to bid again or at least get some you know um get some bids put out the RFP. uh we have uh this is probably the second cycle uh that we going to bid uh for uh IT services and uh we have a good participation as you know as you
mentioned it uh there is a lot of companies offering this however uh every time that we put uh this bid and they see the requirements which is mainly uh driven by the amount of meetings that we
have at night the price goes up substantially so not everybody is willing to have a a personnel working uh at nights almost every night uh providing support even during the weekends or during the holidays or
another events. So that that's a huge huge >> and I understand that but I can almost bet if you put this out to bid um I mean people are not going to say no to money, right? So, I'm sure it'll be I'm I'm sure there's there's people out there that are willing to do it. Maybe companies that are vetted and have maybe
a little less experience than others, but have shown good work in this field and may maybe willing to to, you know, bid lower uh to, you know, to get to get this contract and still provide the same level of service as the other ones. I would ask something this big since we've
already been with three years. to also kind of hop on that point. Uh I brought it up at the last workshop um that I'm going to be requesting actually in our NBIS for the next council meeting almost every contract for well the way it was written in the summary was 22 23 but uh
the way I intend to actually draft it is a little bit broader. So it would encompass something like this all of our old contracts we need to kind of revisit and I'm going to basically phrase it as like from a certain time span and above a certain amount right so that we're not also wasting time with $5,000 contracts. >> Yeah, sure. This is a big one. So yeah,
>> but exactly this would fall into it. >> Thank you, Emma. >> The the point that I wanted to raise on back on the machinery and equipment is if uh and it's through the to to the town manager. Um if as said the server replacement is kind of
there as a just in case. Um, if we didn't fund this uh item and instead just reduced it by 13,000 and we did experience a failure in one of our servers, uh, wouldn't we be able to cover that expense out of our contingency funds?
>> We don't have contingency funds. We have fund balance, unassigned fund balance. And >> yes, >> but so one more time, >> we have fund balance. Okay. >> But we have a ordinance that mandates how much we should have in fund balance. Mhm. >> that that we should properly I mean the
the appropriate way would be to properly fund the budget and have our fund balance not >> but it is properly funded. This is just a just in case. >> Yeah. But >> that's what contingencies and fund balances are there for, isn't it? >> If I may, I think what your point is is
that um at this juncture we're put we're taking so much off the official budget that we may really deplete the unsigned fund balance if all those things came to fruition. Exactly. I mean, we have >> we have fund balance, right? We have our required fund balance, which is 5
million and change, right? So, I don't think any of these things that we've been speaking about tonight are ever going to deplete this over even over 20-year period, but um we have a an ordinance that requires that we have that fund balance at a certain level. If every time we're going to go and have
another uh server break or we have somebody who wants to go to a conference or we and we keep uh the manager or the mayor wants to go to Tallahassee or every time we're going to keep depleting that. It's probably not the the the right way to to to do this, right? We should we should kind of forecast and
think what should we have and what's been the experience and kind of you look at past trends and then properly fund the budget and maintain that five. Well, why don't we do this? U colleagues, uh to the vice mayor's uh uh point about um moving that particular item, can you
state it one more time for the record? >> Yeah, just reducing the $42,000 line item by 13,000 uh to remove the server replacement because it could always be covered by something else. >> Is there any objection on that particular point? >> Objection. >> I object. >> Okay, there there's an objection. So,
that means that that will be something that there'll be a motion for I'm sure at the budget hearing. We can have that discussion there. Okay. Next. >> Yes, I have. >> Well, I just want to make sure if the vice mayor had anything. >> Oh, no. I'm I'm done on uh Sanchez and we'll come over there.
>> Okay. Herman, how are you? >> Is he on? >> Okay. There you go. I'm here. >> I'm well. Thanks. >> Sorry, Vice. Mayor, I I missed your your question. I'm sorry. I gotta >> No, no, it's fine. I haven't yet. So gentlemen, on page seven, the last line
item, computer software licenses, a proposed budget of $154,100. That is an increase of 14.15% year-over-year. Edmon, what caused the increase of 14%.
>> Well, u uh one of the uh the items that uh that I was seeing increase uh definitely cyber security. we are required to provide a more robust um training. That's one. Number two, after we have an issue uh early this year uh
where we have some um some cyber bridge on our in our in our network where we we have to uh remediate some of the uh of the tools that we have on our component. So mainly service utility and the
increase on a couple of other platforms. That's what uh what is driving the increase. >> So it's not just on one specific item, it's multiple items that the that things increase. Correct. >> Yes sir. Yeah. No just one participant.
>> Are these increases um identified in the original contracts that they would happen year over year? I know some contracts can have that that factored in like a CPI increase every year. >> Yeah. Usually yeah there there is some increases what we see normally is 5% 10%
in some uh um uh platforms uh these are things that are more uh year over year there's not like a a five years when a specific one uh Microsoft for example is one that uh there is you don't have an option uh every year you know they do uh
they increase the prices um um so yeah I believe um that's one of those uh but like yeah usually what we see is a 5 to 10% increase but mostly in this case it was a service security tools that that we are uh well we have to to acquire to
protect better the town >> of course okay that's all I need to know her >> the mayor asked me to just continue it anybody >> Mr. manager. Um, on page 7 of 54,
we have internet services and I see it. I mean, and by the way, who is our internet provider, if I may ask? >> Oh, what's the name of the company? >> Uh, Crown Castle. >> Crown Castle. >> Yes, sir.
>> Okay. Um, if we look at year 24 to 25, it jumped almost $8,000, more than 8,000. Then we stayed steady for two consecutive years. Then it
dropped. What's what's going on here? I mean, this graft, and then we're now, how can what do we have to do to bring it back to the the numbers of uh 2024? >> I mean, everything's negotiated. Yeah, I don't have uh the the 2024 um uh price
with me, but uh the town went from uh 100 megabits per second. That's basically a very very basic uh bandwidth that we had when we have the spike on uh
bandwidth which was driven by uh covid and uh all the devices that were connected. We were forced to increase our bandwidth. I believe that's when we see the jump and it was a jump from 10fold. So from 100 megabytes to one gigabytes dedicated
to um uh be very specific. This is not your regular um residential internet where you you receive from your conquest of the world like oh you're gonna get a one gigabyte when will you actually measure depending on the time of the day you can go from instead of being one gigabyte probably you're sharing with a
whole building or you a whole area and you might not get even 100 or 200 in our case since it's a is a SLA that we have with the respective contractor is a dedicated one gigabyte just for us fiber so That's when we have uh the spike on
on service. >> I'm trying to internet. I'm trying to uh I'm trying to um to understand this this uh uh this Japanese uh
Mr. Manager, can you tell me what happened here? So So you got to explain to me. I mean, did we buy do we do we have something that's a better system? >> Yes. We went from one 100 megabytes to one gig.
>> Yeah. >> I felt >> and and it's not only a gig like explained like our residential like I have a gig at home but my whole neighborhood based on the demand may they may diminish service at any time.
This is a dedicated fiber optic line that we have a gig coming in at all times. Can you try to see if you could uh negotiate it a little bit? Uh see if we can bring it back to these numbers. >> Well, we having the same we did negotiate when we got the service.
>> Can we try again to negotiate? >> I mean, we can try it. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Through the chair, >> Councilman Garcia. >> Hey, man. Just quick question. If if um if you had anywhere in the budget that
you think we can find efficiencies, right? uh that would continue the service level where it is and of course uh safety where it is because we want to make sure we're not getting hacked or anything like that. Uh, anything offhand that you would say, okay, there are certain areas that we might be able to
to make some uh some adjustments that technology has gone to the point where uh we could uh do something different um that'll save us 5% here, 6% and the total over your total overall budget or this total overall budget
>> usually uh based on my experience uh when you're talking about infrastructure when you So uh this is more or less a textbook. When your operation goes 80 85% uh either in your expenditure or your
capacity any hiccup that you could have it will bring your operation down. So at this moment uh seeing that we uh expend every year and and the the rates of uh you know failures and breakage uh
obsolescence and that we spend almost almost every year uh everything that we have and I'm be very honest almost struggling uh to make sure that everything that it breaks because this doesn't cover only the town hall it covers also our satellite facility. So
yes, every year we maximize as much as we can. So uh with the section of uh the Windows 10, we feel pretty confident that what we're asking is uh is I think
uh enough to cover us at a very very uh slim point. Like again, if we take the server, we might dodge the bullet, but if it goes down, then we're going to be struggling looking for money. So right now I believe that what we have uh is is pretty efficient and every year we go
you know every vendor uh if there is one license that we that uh you know we are not using we just you know either suspend it or we don't renew it. So every year we go you know line by item by item make sure that uh what we have is what we need. >> Just uh you just said you go and I
brought this up before. So currently there are no licenses not being used in any department in the entire town that we can we can say we don't need that and save $100 a month. Uh I mean I'm just looking I'm procrastinating at straws
>> in a sense where I mean there's nothing there's you're telling there's not one penny in your department that perhaps we could save without collapsing the entire uh uh infrastructure. And again, I don't mean to put you on the on the spot, but I'm saying >> that's the kind of thinking that there
there's got to be something. I mean, there's got to be >> well well let me um let's say that uh there are efficiency that you can get in saving some money and a perfect perfect example is our Adobe licenses.
>> Okay, >> everybody almost in in in town hall needs Adobe >> for PDF >> uh in in any given time. Okay. >> And we've been uh jumping from one computer to another, moving licenses. If
someone is not using it for, let's say, a month, we give it to someone. But that that comes with a price. Then you have to, you know, remove uh the license, you have to uh to create new credentials. We takes you know time from you know the IT person and do it and and then maybe
another day someone is needed. We're jumping sometimes licenses just to you know we have four licenses less don't increase and every year someone asks hey I need a adobe and we go like you know what how how often do you need it uh you know you need it every day you need it
every every week uh can you share a license so that kind of practice we do so that's why we said that we are very slim that so any license that that we can suspend that we can share we do it >> and there's no way of having a central
um PC that has every single license if because you don't always use I mean the the departments that use PDS all the time and Adobe all the time I understand but if for example you don't need those perhaps have have one one central desktop that has everything so if you
get they got to use it once every couple weeks once every once a week they can use that central um I think vendors are getting smarter uh another perfect example is our um RGIs uh our geographical information
system that's where the Susan of the worlds or mers of the world they uh you know they do the maps uh they map every light every street that we have and we were able to get away sharing some licenses but every now and then a smart v a smart vendor realized that you know
you are doing this you are sharing the licenses I did change the structure >> this this year that this coming fiscal year if you see RGis $6,100 $100, they jump to a 10,000 and for us to be able to keep it just like, hey, you know, we
don't have the money to to cover this jump. Then we have to just use like one license for everybody and then we're going to be, you know, sharing licenses, jump it from one computer, which again is not it's a saving in money, but in efficiency then you have a you know
almost of the world waiting for the RJS to be free up, Susanna has to wait or someone else need it. So bring some inefficiency to your operation. But yes, we do as much as we can share licenses and trying to put it in computers. But not all the licenses allow you to be
shared. So some have to be dedicated and there is no other way. For example, Microsoft is one license per person. There is no way that you can share that. >> All right. Well, keep thinking out of the box and keep bringing those ideas. Thank you very much. >> Absolutely, sir. >> Okay. So, uh before we continue, first
an announcement. Uh, Councilman Fernandez has been so generous as to order everyone in this chamber pizza. So, um, once it arrives, we will go ahead and take a 10-minute recess for that. I know there's a slow clap beginning there, but thank you, Councilman Fernand.
>> That doesn't matter. The point is he he went ahead and did us the favor. Number two, number two, to speed this along though, so we're not here till 3 in the morning. I would suggest that the questions be tailored specifically as to making uh a a final determination whether there is a proposed cut that you
want to suggest uh to the to the whole body and that for more broader based questions um you know that are more hypothetical etc that we save that for when you directly um communicate with staff and then you can bring whatever final proposal from that conversation
you have at the next budget hearing but just uh we're not we're not taking a recess right now just so everybody knows. Um, but again, I think that would really help us move a lot faster. So, we're, you know, we're being more efficient with our time with that. Anything else on this particular uh part
of the general fund on the it? Okay. >> Seeing none, uh, we're now on the administrative transfers part. Are there questions on this part? Again, questions tailored toward making final decision whether you're going to propose a cut or not? >> None for me. >> Okay. Um, I just have one question
because, you know, as much as it pains me to say this, this may be a proposed cut that I'm going to make. A with respect to the three $319,000 on the allocation to the infrastructure syncing fund. Uh, I was under the impression through the manager to uh the
budget director that it was going to be for 300,000, not for um 319,282. I thought it was a flat 300. So I just want to understand that particular transfer or is that replacing the the infrastructure syncing fund when we from the April amendment?
>> The actual amount that it's supposed to be now is 366. So what is there is actually less than what it's supposed to be. >> Okay, perfect. That that answered my question. Thank you. >> However, I it is increased a little bit since what you have because our insurance numbers came in and it was a
all the other it was like 7,000. And I don't I don't remember off the top of my head difference was that the infrastructure syncing fund. >> Okay, that answered my question. Any other questions on this particular section? >> I I don't have specifics enough to turn it into something I can propose, but just to make the my colleagues aware and
the staff aware. Um that specific line item uh the 30 how much was it? >> 309,000. My my question on this is it's an it's a transfer from the general fund into a
special revenue fund, right? >> It's a capital fund. >> A capital fund. But because it's a capital fund, that's an infrastructure specific fund. Can we not fund this from prior fund balances from our infrastructure special revenue funds?
If the if the will of the council is to do that in the future, if there's fund balance to be able to do that, that is the will of the council. That would have to be a decision and a policy that you >> Okay. So, so the answer is yes, it could be done assuming there's a >> from as long as we meet the 15%
>> uh excess. >> Got it. Or 15% >> fund balance requirement. >> Requirement. >> Got it. Thank you. It would be two-step though because it would be um we would have to allocate it in general fund and then transfer it out of general fund. So it wouldn't be just allocating it
directly to that capital fund. But if you see it, vice mayor, in this same section, just to meet the 15% minimum, we have to allocate 397,000 from this budget to meet the 15% minimum
in fund balance >> because there is no excess fund balance, undesated fund balance >> with the assumption that everything that was allocated in the April budget amendment, which was to utilize the additional fund balance If that is all expensed, then you
technically do not have fund balance. >> But that's with current expenses of 24,319. Correct. >> So if that number goes down, that number >> Yeah. that number correlates directly. There's a direct correlation between that number and the amount the total
amount of the general fund budget. >> Exactly. But we wouldn't we wouldn't have that number until >> the end >> December or January because we still accept invoices for the current year >> till December. >> Okay. >> So our fiscal year has already begun.
>> Okay. >> Just something to keep in mind. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um ne next uh section non-EP departmental. Any questions there? >> Uh no. >> All right. See none. Uh whoa whoa whoa. >> Okay. Again let's be quick guys. It's
just very simple. I will restate what I stated last time. I would like to add $100,000 to the senior citizen relief program. Not sure if anyone objects. >> A I'm going to object for now until we get a more clear source of funding for that. So a so let's wait till we get to
the budget hearing on that. But you know I just want you know again right now I think what we're focusing in on are cuts and then as far as adding things back I think that would be better done at the budget hearing. >> I know. I just don't want this item forgot. Well, that's why that's why it's your item and why you're not going to forget, right? Never. Okay. Exactly.
>> Okay. Town attorney's line item. >> We all know we can cut that by 90%, right? No, >> that's joking, buddy. >> All right. Planning the planning department. Anything on that? >> Okay. Code compliance. >> Yes. >> Okay. Councilman Sanchez.
>> Okay. Page eight. Special master. Right now, we have allocated $3,500 for next year. It assumes $250 per hearing at 12 hearings for the year. Can we pass that cost on to the the person that's appealing in front of the special master? >> We do.
>> We do. >> We do, but we have to show the expense on the expense side. >> And on the revenue side, >> Danny or Melissa? >> Yeah. Everybody that that that participates in that administrative hearing, they get charged a $350 fee if they don't prevail.
>> All right. So I see it going up, but where is it coming back in the revenues? >> That's that's >> Or is that something the building department's keeping it? >> No, not building. >> No. Okay. This is general fund. >> So again, that falls into the big pot of general fund. >> All right. But which line item?
>> Give me a sec. >> Probably uh code compliance uh revenue and fines. >> There's no section called code compliance revenue. There's one for permits and fees, fines and forfeitures, miscellaneous revenue. >> It's probably fines and forfeitures. How much is the fines and forfeiters? Right now,
>> there's different There's police traffic fines, police ltf, public school crossing guards, code violation fines, and park and police parking fines. >> Code violation fines. >> Did you just say that? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's where it's at. >> That's where they fall. The 350 per go
into the code violation fines. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Say again. and code violation fines for next year they're estimating $192,000. The projection for this year year end is $27,370. >> So within the fines are the $350 per
special master hearing. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Okay. Just Oh, >> go ahead. Just a quick question. within code compliance um the contract code enforcement service. I just want to confirm that when we jump from 83,612
to 108 we are adding additional >> that's that said additional part-time uh weekend code officer >> right >> and then these three items uh abandoned property maintenance code enforcement lean recording and alarm monitoring program are those items that also have
revenue coming in somewhere else in the budget. So the abandoned uh property one that's in the event that um that a property uh becomes uh yeah >> distressed >> but we don't assess a fine for that. >> Uh we do but we just don't know when we're going to collect that and then they could be wiped out through the
famous superior leans and all that. >> Okay. >> And then the same thing with the lean and the what about the alarm monitoring? Is that a cost neutral at least uh program? >> Um that I wouldn't have uh the information on that >> like do people pay a fee to register
their alarm monitor? Yeah. Okay. >> Yes, >> that's it. >> Uh, who else had a question in the section or or a point? Okay, seeing none, um, there's nothing in QIP. So, we are now in police. Um, so through the or
to the manager rather, the $18,915 uh for wrapping of police vehicles with the town seal, etc. How many vehicles does that include? And and do those vehicles need to be wrapped this year? Well, if we don't wrap them, then when they get new vehicles, they won't have
the town logo. >> Not the town. Yeah. The town uh the destroy the banner that says town of Miami Lakes. The blue banner that goes that says town of Miami. >> When are we expecting the new vehicles >> at come up? >> Good. Good evening everybody. where
we're suspecting to get him now uh towards the end of September. Um it's been pushed back little by little obviously because of all the the issues with the the transfer to the sheriff's department. Uh but uh when we spoke to to our fleet management, they've advised
us that by the end of this month, we should be receiving 14 cars. So then the in reference to the striping, it would be to unstripe the 14 cars that we're supposed to return back to the county to then restripe the new cars that we will be getting in. And then uh I think if I'm not mistaken, we also have seven
more for the next fiscal year as well that are proposed to be re received next year. >> Okay. And uh the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for law enforcement equipment, what what does that cover? >> Um we typically use it uh to like
upgrade our um um like our uh radars uh the vehicle radars for the most part. That's kind of what we're using it this year. Um we are we're exploring the possibility. I know that obviously we have like uh you know obviously bodies of water. So we're
looking at getting like life preservers like for our officers to have out on on the field. Um you know like little things in that nature that that we can use obviously uh for grant purposes. >> But that particular expenditure is that just recognizing an award that we got or is it that we are Okay. So it's so okay.
So that's money that we already received and that's where it's coming from. Okay. Yeah. I just didn't know if it was something else, you know, it was just other money being applied for that. That answers that. Thank you. And then um let me hold on. You know, and then uh >> Okay, now I'll go to council Garcia as
that for now answers uh questions that I had. >> Thank you for giving me the opportunity on this uh striping for $18,915. What would happen if we don't stripe it and we keep our vehicles without them? I've seen them in a in our town without
the striping. I don't know if they come from station. >> Yeah, those are probably just northwest district vehicles that are passing through. >> So, but my question is so we could save this $18,000. Can we leave our vehicles without striping? >> I mean, what does the striping do? Just
tell them that you >> those vehicles belong to It tells everybody that they're they belong to the town of >> M. Can we be Can we be without the striping? >> I wouldn't support that. >> Huh? >> I I wouldn't support that. >> Why would you not support it? >> Because I think it's important for the
residents to know that they're town town of Miami Lakes police vehicles. They're lawful. Could be I could be wrong, but I think it's also part of the the contract for for the >> Yeah, they have to be the town cities are like they're all all three town cities obviously are are in contract and
color. >> They have to be identified. Palmetto Bay, Color Bay, and US. >> Can we shop that number? >> A I'll let the manager answer that. But just remember guys, just to move this along, it should be just specific questions to make a a a suggestion,
right? I think you made the suggestion should you know should we not fund that? You already have one council member uh who would object to that. So I think that automatically kicks it to the first budget hearing. But that uh Mr. Manager please ask uh >> Lieutenant if I'm not mistaken this is all done by the striping entity that
stripes all of the Metro Miami Day Sheriff Office vehicles. They do all of So the the the the per unit price >> is an approved vendor. They they they do a lot of striping for the Miami Date Sheriff's Office for all their regular striping >> through the chair.
>> Yeah. And if I'm not mistaken, I think the vendor goes through through the process through the county and so obviously everything the quality everything is has to be like, you know, >> Mr. Vice Mayor, I just noticed that >> at certain points we have a low number and then a high number. Is it just because we're having a complete fleet
turnover at now at the end of this month? Is that what we're doing? Well, for the most part, uh, we on average we we try to get seven cars per year. Um, obviously because of the transition, we haven't gotten cars. >> How many are we anticipating to come in? >> 14 are supposed to come September and
then after October 1st, another seven. So, that would be three years worth. >> How many came in during this last fiscal year? >> None. >> None. >> Yeah. And that's why the 18,000. >> Wait. Yeah. >> Why do we have then a year-end projection of
>> of 1,730 on the striping if uh >> if we had no vehicles come in? >> Oh, well, remember also whenever we have a car that's crashed or or anything like that, obviously that we we restripe those as well. >> U I I do have a
>> I have one more question if I may so I can finish it now that we're on this. >> Councilman, you're you may proceed. >> Thank you. Let me say um if we go up to $9,000 these these glasses are not helping me today. $9,000 for
cellular services. I've got a question and correct me uh or uh clarify me. When we got this contract, don't these officers for this budget amount, don't they come with vest,
uniform, and all the bells and whistles? Why are we charged $9,000 for self service? And how do we get to those numbers? >> If you read the remainder, if you read the remainder there, it specifically states that this is not just generic.
It's uh undercover operations and cellular mobile tablets to be utilized for traffic cameras and traffic light monitoring. So that that kind of has the you know like an additional thing. I don't know. Are those specialized pieces of equipment? Is that what it is? Uh, so
I know that the iPads obviously are used for for off-site monitoring of the traffic obviously on 154, you know, whatever like the normal stuff that we normally do. Uh, in addition, obviously our our detectives have their their cell phones um, if I'm not mistaken, I think the major has a cell phone as well. Um,
so those are and obviously we also have the town phone um, which obviously for us to be able to make contact outside and obviously any any contact from from the manager or etc. So those are like pretty much what we use the cell phones for. Have >> have we thought have we thought
shopping? Uh uh you know, I mean, I could tell you I I was with Verizon and I'm just making an example. And I went from Verizon and I went to T-Mobile and I'm super happy I saved more than 70%. I mean, have we thought of shopping uh
these numbers, Mr. Manager? The $9,000? I I mean you you you keep using this phrase of shop it or negotiate. How I mean we if we do this how often do you want us to do this on a a monthly basis?
We get very good rates because we go into long-term agreements with these providers, right? So it it does not make sense to continue to go out and negotiate every month or so and go and keep in we'd have to hire 10 more people
in our procurement office just to continue to renegotiate or re uh bid all these contracts that we have in place that are multi-year uh contracts >> and all of these are competitively competitively bid anyway. Yeah, they're competitive. We've been on the front and most of them that have that are u, you
know, two years in, three years in, they have, you know, old rates that we are we tie them into uh obligating obligating them to stick to old rates. So, we benefit from that. >> I don't know. I I'm not sold on that one. >> Okay.
>> Well, I'll dig at this uh uh point. Anything further? >> No. >> Okay. >> Through the chair. >> Uh Councilman Garcia. >> Uh I know, Mr. manager you sent us the administrative cost and the percentage and the breakdown roughly the the way the administrative cost are is roughly
our 47 officers or it's 1 point what 4% of the total metro date office uh number which is FT is about what like almost 4,000 >> and that's where you get that >> I think it was 3200 the total headcount ours is 47 of those so it equated to
1.7% I think for this upcoming year for each of those categories Now, because we're a smaller town and you know, uh, our our we don't again our our me our police officers tend to stay here a longer time, we we it's we're six square miles.
Our cars don't get used as much. We're not most of our officers live close by or in the town. Is that correct as well? I guess the question I'm asking, and I guess this would be through the mayor. I know you represent the town. Is there anything the mayor can do to to um try to work on that administrative cost,
work with the sheriff's department? >> Sure, we can. But I mean, the likelihood of it being done in time before the close of this budget year is is very minimal. And and uh in years past, is that the first time that this been suggested, but you know, the the the mayors previously have also come back disappointed from that adventure,
especially that this year they're having a very hard time trying to fully fund the department as it is. In fact, I believe the sheriff was just stating at the commission's uh uh budget committee of the whole meeting um that they actually as it is, she's short on officers that she's trying to make sure
that she turns out so that you have the I believe it it we're about an officer short per thousand residents. So, she's trying to play catch-up on terms of filling positions and making sure that that the academy expenses are trained. So, yeah, it just this might not be a year where they're going to be willing to budge and obviously you need both
both sides to be in agreement to any change. Understood. I'm more talking about we need more officers 100%. The administrative part that we get >> but just I'm just telling you that she is trying to conserve every dollar she can. So the you know I'm just saying the likelihood now if you want me to make a
request sure I can make a request but I'm just saying that we should not expect much from it. No, and I understand, but if there's any savings that could be I mean, even if it's, you know, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, anything we can find um just to to to I mean, we understand brand new department and
she's doing her best with with the limited resources and that's why I don't want to touch anything that the officers need as far as equipment or anything like that because you guys need everything. Um, you know, looking into of course finding, you know, that type of equipment, you know, at lower cost.
Of course, we're always going to do that, but anything we can do, uh, and I know, mayor, you've always you've always reached out. You have good relationships with with her. And so, just a request. >> Yeah. Just to ask, why not? >> And now that we're on public, uh, I'll make it brief, Mr. Mayor. >> Wait, wait. You're too public.
>> You're way too close to the microphone here. >> I want to thank your department for those three scumbags that we uh put in jail the other day. >> Oh, yeah. >> Um, >> well, they I mean, they were trying to break. >> What am I going to call them? What am I going to call them? Beauties. Okay guys, we're losing focus.
>> Okay, but I just wanted to thank them for the uh >> Understood. Thank you. >> Yes, thank you very much for, you know, for the arrest. With that said, on this issue, are there any other proposed uh, you know, cuts as in terms of for consensus? Are there questions about
particular expenditures? Councilman Sanchez. >> Yes. I have a more of an overarching question. The initial budget that the sheriff asked for the county was $94 million. >> Can you bring the mic just a little bit closer? the the initial budget that the sheriff asked from the county was an additional $94 million. The county came
back or at least the mayor with $31 million. Do you know or do we have an idea of what was cut to bring it down to the 31 million from the 94 million? >> I I have no like no information on that. That's you know that's >> bodies.
>> I mean >> remember that what they provide is a service. Yeah, they need equipment. They need vehicles to provide that service. But the lion's share of their cost is people, right? So the only way you can get from 60s something million to 30 something million or you know whatever
the the or 90 something you're saying that >> initially and she was >> the only way you can get from point A to point B is fewer bodies. I I could I could be wrong, but I think the initial the initial thing from the from the county was 60 odd million dollars and then there was a shortfall and then now
when they gave the extra 30 or so million, we are you know funded in reference to what she asked for initially. So >> um you know in that aspect I don't think there's >> some of it could be big ticket items like maybe helicopters. >> Oh hold on there's been a point of order made there's been a point of order made
Mr. Vice Mayor >> I think we're going beyond the scope of our meeting. We're speculating that the information on the sheriff's overall budget is a public record. We can look at it outside and come back, but I think we need to move on for our sakes here. >> Okay. >> All right. So, anything else on this
particular uh this police section page 13 or excuse me 9 of 54? Anything there before we uh uh take a brief recess? >> Okay. So, here's what uh what I'm going to again and it's going to be a very strict 10-minute recess, right? because
we still have a lot to cover. And again, when we get back, I would ask my colleagues to go ahead and make sure that again, the questions are narrowly tailored to make a decision whether you would be suggesting a cut so that we can uh state whether anybody has an objection um and whether or not makes the cut of of the uh cuts that will be
coming back at the next uh or at the budget hearing. Um because again, we I was just flipping through here. We still have a lot to go through and it's 10 o'clock already. So, >> mayor, I'll make a request regarding uh it that they keep the zoom running live just showing the image of the council
chamber as they do prior to the start >> so that they know that that we're >> so that anyone who watches later knows that we're coming back. >> Well, I mean, I don't know if you've seen it before. What it does is I make the announcement and then it'll cut and then immediately come to the next >> then that's fine, too. Okay. I just want to make sure we didn't lose. >> No, understood. But, okay, everybody,
it's 10:08 by my clock here. So, come back at 10:18. We're in a brief uh recess. It's 10:18. So, uh, we got the majority of the council here to continue the workshop. So, uh, let's keep on going.
>> Hey, um, madame clerk, can you please confirm that we are back, uh, back online? Okay, good, good to hear. Okay. So, the school crossing guards. Um, what what suggestions do we have here? >> Anyone? >> I'm not touching that.
>> Uhhuh. >> Okay. So, you're objecting to the entire uh line item. >> No, I'm not touching it that I would would not want to move anything from that. >> That's what I'm saying. So, you you are pre you're pre-objecting to any any suggestion to cut from there.
>> Okay. Well, honor the mayor. Under the rules that we've established, that saves us a lot of time. >> Through the mayor. >> Yes. >> Um I've seen three guards in one. >> Wait, wait. You need to speak into the mic. Remember, >> I've seen three guards in one place. Why can't that guard that's crossing the children from one side to the other? Why
doesn't he get in the middle of the street and okay, you stop the vehicle? There's no high speeds going on there. >> I think I think you should address that with the manager, but separately. uh because you know that's more of a a man uh logistic or operationals sort of question you know rather than the budgetary one. >> Okay.
>> So so that's why again in the interest of time for the benefit of those that are watching and all that I would say that for as a question for him directly between you two. >> Um but council for those walking in now council member Fernandez has in essence made a standing objection to any
suggested cut in this area that being the school crossing guard. So again, under our agree to rules, you know, that we are going to let those uh carry over to a motion and and the first budget hearing. In other words, not have any quote consensus from that. You know,
we're going to let it ride. All right. And then we're going to move now to uh zoning. Anything on this area? Okay. Seeing none, a public works. Uh okay. Councilman Sanchez.
>> Okay. Mr. Santos, are you online? Mr. Santos. Hi. Good evening. >> Omar. >> Omar, are you there? >> We see I see him in as a participant. >> And gentlemen, by the way, I am on page 10. Um
>> 10 of 54. >> Yes. 10 of 54. >> Director Santos, are you there? >> Oh, wait. Then he might have stepped away then um for a minute. Yeah. Yeah. Please call him. Okay. So, how about this? >> Yes.
>> While we come back to it. >> Yeah. You know, so while we wait to confirm that he's returned, let's jump over out of public works all the way into parks and recreation. That would be 11 to 54. So, let's start there. Uh, are there any suggested cuts here?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, Vice Mayor Moretta. >> All righty. Um, I'm going to start with the item travel and pdeium. Um, this says, uh, mileage reimbursement for park staff. Uh, I just want it reduced
to $1,000, uh, because it that's more consistent with past years. Um I don't know if you want to ask if there's any objections to that. >> Are well before I ask that was there a reason for the increase Mr. Manager? >> Yeah. But the amount
the the experience has been the actuals for 2324 was 855 and the year end projection is under 800 >> travel and pdeium. Has it been the historical trends longer than just a year?
>> It's actually been reduced by 500 from prior year or current that it was actually reduced from current year. So the current year it's 2,500. We reduced it to 2,000. >> So you further okay but but what I wanted to know is if uh if Jeremy or
anybody had indicated the the reason for the incre Oh, okay. Sorry. Decrease. Okay. So, you wanted to Sorry, I misunderstood. And you wanted to decrease it further. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. Um, is is there any objection to that cut?
That suggested cut. Okay. For the time being, there's >> you have a number you're targeting. >> Oh, yeah. I had said uh 1,000. Just reduce it to 1,000. So, it's still more than enough to cover the actuals. >> So, just a reduction to that amount is at the next at the budget hearing.
>> Okay. Uh, anything else? Uh this is a really critical one to but we need to understand I guess timing and what it is we're doing. So elsewhere in the budget we have the I think it was a a $30,000 line item for leasing of the new fleet
of vehicles for the town. Yet we still have so so we're switching from a finance and own model to a lease model which usually includes most maintenance. Um yet we still have this maintenance of vehicles item for $5,000 in several
departments and if >> the only the only one that has given us a proposal with a lease payment that includes maintenance is enterprise and but they were very expensive. >> Okay. So the regular leases that you go to a dealership and you just get a lease does unless the dealer is offering any
new vehicle to give you uh maintenance for you know 6 months or a year or whatever that but that those are those are not uh fixed right so those are depending on what's being offered at the market at the time that we go out >> okay I I I was just inquiring that
because my usual experience with leases is it includes maintenance uh at least basic maintenance so I didn't think that we should be also paying for >> only on fancy pants leases. >> What was that? >> Only on fancy pants leases. >> That's true. Um I also have
the the credit card fees. It was just a question on why the number on the year-end projection was so low. Uh $361. I I get that in in uh fiscal year 23 24 actuals it was $3,000 and then the
budgeted amount is 3500. Just why do we have such a low projection this year? >> So I've updated that one and I have it at 2383. >> So I'm not touching that. Thank you. Um the certification uh the sorry the coach's background check and the check certification clinic. I know that we
brought that up last time. Again I just I'm not going to make a specific proposal at this time. I may make one before or during at the time of the first budget hearing, but I just it doesn't sit right with me. Uh I think that Optimus Club and Soccer United,
whoever, should pay up a fair share of this. Uh and that's all I have on this department. >> I don't agree. >> Okay. So, he's not making any proposal. No. Um any anything else? Um on this particular section again, the one that is specifically titled parks and
recreation beginning on 115. Uh 11 to 54. Anything specifically on this section? Yes. >> Okay. >> Who is Yes. >> Oh, okay. Councilman Sanchez. >> So, we are on page 12 >> 11 to 54. >> We're on page 12.
>> Okay. For the next page. Okay. Yes. So, the the the remainder of that section. >> Yes. The coach's background check. >> I would like to see that at zero and pass that cost on to the Miami Lakes Optimus Club and the Miami Lakes United Soccer Club. I'm going to object right
now just because um we need to know what the contract says about that first. >> Yeah, I believe the contract stipulates, right? >> Okay. The background checks on the Optimus and Soccer United, the background the the background checks
that we cover the cost. >> Is that okay? >> Okay. >> So, let's uh so let's wait then for >> we won't wait till the budget hearing. As soon as we get the information, we'll just >> No, no, I get that. So, you have that in terms of any, you know, any any motion
further. We'll wait for for that meeting. Okay. >> Through the chair, >> the Councilman Garcia. >> Yes. The increase from 11,000 to 13,000 on the computer software licensing. >> I'm I wasn't done. >> Oh, I'm sorry, brother. That do your thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's actually the next question that I had. Um, we're
increasing the software, the park reservation software by 14.7%. What's causing the increase in the reservation software to go up by almost 15%. >> I believe that it's an annual increase to based on the contract. I believe it's the 5% increase every year, >> but within the contract or at contract
expiration, we're renewing it at the >> No, within the contract. >> Within the contract. >> What software is that? >> What software do we use for park reservations? >> Civic. >> Civic wreck. >> Civic what? >> Wreck. >> W. Oh, civic wreck. Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, we've heard that one. >> All right. >> Okay. >> I think we should send that. >> Council Garcia. >> Yeah. >> Um well, he answered the question. Is there >> I guess I would propose taking a look at that, but that specific item since it's
went up so much year to year. >> Um Okay, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Okay. Councilman Garcia, >> I promise not to take much time. 11 of 54. Um on the rightway of electricity >> on 11 of 54.
>> Yeah, electricity. >> But is that >> um >> I don't I don't I don't see it in parks. >> Right. Right on the very top. It says right she's on public works before we go there before we back up there. We're in parks administration. That particular part of parks and recreation. >> Are we on
>> We'll come back to public works I believe. Right. Mayor once uh we get through parks. Omar's of Omar's ready once we're uh done with parks. Is there anything else on the parks administration part of this? >> Okay. So then we're going to backtrack
to page 10 of 54 where it says public works. >> Gotcha. >> And uh so who wants to start? >> You're available. >> Oh, that's right. It was Councilman Ses that had last >> here. I could hear you guys now. >> Omar, good evening. How are you?
>> Good evening. >> Great to hear. There's on page 10, underground utility location uh projection for next year of 38,225. Doesn't the state offer this complimentary the same way they do to residential households?
>> Not the state. They offer Well, what you're talking about is the 811 the what they call 811. So the state that's the sunshine state one call service. That's the $2,200 charge. So we pay that for them to to administer our our calls. And then high-tech engineering is the
current vendor who actually fields the calls for our our part of the utilities being street lighting that we own, uh, irrigation that we own and the other underground infrastructure. So they'll they'll field those calls and they'll put in in the ticket if they were able
to clear or for some reason they wouldn't clear they couldn't clear it and they have to contact us directly. >> So there's no chance that the state would pay for this. So, same way they like for residential. >> I I don't know. The what the state does is they they're the ones that manage the
overall I I I would have to check that. I don't think that the state would pay for our services. >> And with high-tech, is it a contract or is it a per use charge? >> It's a per call. >> Per call. Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you, Omar.
>> Who else on on this particular section? public works >> 1054 from page 1054. It's entirely encapsulated there. >> Did Did you have an item, Councilman? >> If not, then I
>> Okay, Mr. Vice Mayor, go ahead. >> Uh quick and simple. Uh reducing operating supplies from 3,000 to 2,000. That's it. Uh it's more in line with uh past years and it's something that I think
>> any objection to that control of >> Omar. What do you what do you use that line for? >> Well, the 3000 we put that there because it that all depends on what ex what materials are expended. So we we use our field paint that we use for marking our
sidewalks for repairs. We use that from there. Hammers that we may need, stakes that we may need, caution tape. So one year if we don't if we have a very very slow year yes we we won't use or we won't purchase as much. The reason is also lower council uh vice mayor is we
usually make a lot of our purchase or we re restock at the end of the year. So now in u in September is when we're going to we take most of the inventory see what has been depleted the most and we go ahead and replace them. >> Okay. Anything else? All right.
>> Oh, one more. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Mr. Manager, row holiday decorations for for $10,000. If I'm not mistaken, in years past, we've had sponsorship for that. Correct. >> We've we have limited sponsorships and we tried last year to get sponsorships
because we didn't have any money in the budget last year >> and we were unable to get any sponsorships. >> Okay. >> Do you know who was the biggest object to anything? >> JP, I know you handle that. Oh, you're welcome. >> Automal, hold on, guys. A again, just for the purposes of this meeting to be
as efficient as possible, please ask him separately because uh Council Vice Mayor Moretta has made a pre-object, not pre-objection, a standing objection to any proposed reduction. Yeah. >> So, just so that we can, you know, again, I hate to cut anybody off, but
again, you know, Yeah. >> Councilman Fernandez, >> I'm sorry. Just as much >> as much as I love celebrating the holidays, I'm I'm one that says that if we're going to do something, we're going to do it right. And I don't think that those lights have ever wowed me. So,
>> but I know he preempted me. >> I'll discuss that. >> Can I Can I interject real quick, Mr. Mayor? >> Yes. Okay. Council Garcia, >> real quick. Um Yeah. Let's start um you know, let's get this uh uh this uh
holiday decoration. Let's let's uh reach out to somebody see if they can uh uh donate it. Let's uh let's ask for donation. >> Excellent. Okay. Anything else in this section? >> Yeah. Data plan for iPads zero. >> Where are you? >> Uh still on public works. Data plan for iPads.
>> Any objection to that line item for $950 >> should be zero. >> Is there any objection to that cut? >> All right. See none. staff uh can use that as one of the proposed cuts to be rec or to be considered at the budget hearing. Anything else on public works?
>> All right. So, with that, let's go on down to the following page, page 1154. Public works green space. Anything in this section? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> I heard the vice mayor just slightly edge out Councilman Sanchez. So, we're going to start with the vice mayor, then go to Councilman Sanchez. >> So, I think uh Councilman Sanchez and I
probably are on the same page on this. Um the one of the major differences on this is when it was a 2.63 this was like a $400,000 line item. Now it's a $200,000 line item because we are getting money from other sources. Uh
this is 200,000 coming for this item from general fund. But then on top of that we have 150,000 coming from the tree fund trust and then an additional 8 82,500 coming from the FPL franchise fee
surplus. Um my question on this is when we say fully funded phase three and corridor program at 100%. Um is this is this number based on a contract or is there any sort of reduction that can
be applied to this in any way shape or form but still maintain the is this based on a three-year cycle? What is this based on? It's based on a three-year cycle and this is phase three which I think is the bigger one, right?
>> So, this one is bigger than normal. We we were able to offset the general fund portion of it because we had a significant contribution to the tree uh trust because we had like the golf course project and different projects that contributed to the uh tree trust. So, we were able to help fund the
overall amount uh from some other sources. The FPL franchise fee and the tree trust contributed. So the total number for tree trimming is going to be 350 plus 82 so a little over $400,000. >> Okay. And then phase three uh as you
said it was the bigger one. Where is that specifically? >> Do you know specifically where the location? What part of town? I for sure it's all the main corridors because they they do that uh annually. >> Where is phase? This talks about fully funding phase three
>> tree trimming >> uh for tree trimming. What what is phase three? Where? >> Okay. >> Turn the mic on. >> Turn. >> Oh, yeah. Turn on the mic. >> So, Oak, Sevilla Estates, and then down
to where? >> Uh, from Sevilla Estates, uh, Royal Oaks Park. It's kind of separated into different areas. Um what I could do is after this meeting I could give you uh the tree the tree trimming map of the three phases. We have it actually we have it on our website but I'll go ahead and get you.
>> Is it safe to say that there are a total of if we're basing off of a three-year cycle that there are three phases? So we would be funding phase three in this budget cycle. Next year we would fa fund phase one and then the year after that phase two. Correct. >> And then within three years we've
trimmed every single swale tree in this town. >> That's correct. including in front of residents homes. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Does this also include pocket parks or is that its own line item? >> That's that's separately. Pocket parks is its own separate line item. >> That's it. Uh I just needed that clarification. I don't know if you had a specific suggestion.
>> There's a section in the budget that's specific to pocket parks. >> Mr. Mayor, can I Garcia? >> Thank you, sir. >> Well, actually, I apologize. In the previous order that I mentioned, it would be uh Councilman Sanchez and then we'll go to Councilman Garcia.
>> Okay. So, repair and maintenance. We're on page >> 11. >> Yeah. >> And the third item down, repair and maintenance, $821,168. That's an increase of $24.59%. Um, why
>> Omar? I >> I can add. All right. So, one of the items is a request by this council. Well, I I think that was a topic that was discussed. If you look at the litter, debris, and doggy stations, so that is being fully funded to the three
crews seven days a week. That is the level of service that you enjoy. Uh with cleaner streets, we're able to target very uh the perimeter roads, the under 67 Avenue uh underpasses. So it gives us
to to a very acceptable level of service for what the residents and what we've heard the council wanting to see. >> Omar, if if I may ask just for interject for a moment, didn't we fully fund that with the carry forward earlier this year? >> But remember >> that was only for this fiscal year
>> and we only it's only for the last few months of the year. So it's not a full year. This funds it for the full year. >> Yes. I see the year- end projection of $659,080 and we're increasing it by $263,000. >> Right. But what it is is that when we
added the money, we only had we were we did it in April. So we only had whatever was five months left in the year. So >> right by five months where we're increased. The adopted budget was 557,000. The amended was 659. So we're looking at about $102,000. 659 was whatever it was
one and a half crews for the first seven or eight months of the year and then three crews for the last four months of the year. >> But if Mr. Manager I I could be allowed to finish my question. If $100,000 covered five months, how is it that $263,000
is going to cover 12 months? 263,000 is going to cover way more than 12 months if 105,000 covered five months. So in that line item, it's not just the litter and debris that's increased, >> right? >> So the litter and debris, what was
budgeted last year was 158108. What it's increasing to now is 293832. >> Aside from that, the grounds, >> you want me to repeat the amount? >> The original Yeah. The one >> the original amount was 158,108,
>> in this current budget, not taking into account what was then given at the budget amendment. >> Uhhuh. And how many litter team or crews did 158,000 give us? >> I think >> that was one crew for four days and the
other for five and we that resulted in three days of the week we only had one crew. >> And >> so what we added incremented it by a third. >> No, >> by by almost half. >> Double, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. double cuz remember essentially one and a half >> we want coverage seven days a week >> from one and a half to three. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So we want coverage seven days a week. What we had to do since we didn't have enough to get one crew seven days a week, we staggered them. >> Okay.
>> Um JP has a comment they wanted to make. I think on one of your pertinent items. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Just a point of clarification. Uh in the contract background checks are required by the town for for us to take care of the background checks >> regarding the optimist park
>> both optimist club and >> got it. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> And that is it for public works green space for me. >> All right. Council Garcia. >> Thank you. I I know you've heard me say this before, but moving forward,
anything that has the word contract, we you should revise it and visited at least once a year. Constantly be be visiting it. That's just a recommendation here on this page. Also, page 11 of 54. I got a question. Right
ofway electricity. Yes. Is that just is that the is that does that include the town uh electricity or when you say is that just roads? >> That's only the entry featur that that is solely for the the the
water fountain. Correct. >> The entrance features fountains and pumps. >> Omar, that's all that covers. >> It's in the budget comments. >> Yeah, it's in the comments sir. >> Yeah. So that's why I was saying electricity for entrance features. So, you know, we only have one fountain to my knowledge left as far as our entrance
features. That would be the one on 154. Where's Where's the second one? >> Mr. Manager Avenue. >> Okay. Got it. Okay. >> Mr. Mayor, I'm not talking about water. I'm talking about electricity. >> Yes. But this is the electricity for the water fountains uh for the entrance for the pumps. >> Okay. So, we spend $12,000
>> a month in electricity >> a year. A year. >> A year. >> A year. >> And if I if I may add, and I don't know if >> Yes, you're recognized. Excuse me. The I think also the pumps is it's also referencing the irrigation pumps. >> Yeah,
>> but it but it's all for for those and I think that I think that was the confusion, you know. But yeah, it's for the power for those water fountains and the pumps. Yes. But you know, >> but the irrigation pumps too, >> the irrigation pumps for the sprinkler systems and the medium. >> I I amended my my response later. But
with that, uh, what else do you have, Councilman? >> That's those numbers. >> Okay. Well, wait. Uh, Councilman Herszburg has been waiting to speak. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, so one, just generally, this is a problem with with this line item having these large items because it's 821,000 that's broken up. I
mean, it's hard to break it down. That's why I I want more I would rather have more line items on here, right? Broken up regardless. For example, I guess I want to bring these things forward a little bit now because I'm going to bring them forward um next week. Within
that um contract, this is $101,000. Part of it says flowers. The flowers cost us $35,000 a year, right? So, I mean, it's hard to make a motion to cut that when it's not made there. That should be a line item. But my opinion, we don't need to change your flowers four times a year
for $35,000. We just had residents here coming saying we we want we want the tax. We don't want a millage rate increase. We're okay with the services. Well, flowers is a need and we can put sod. We can put something else. It doesn't have to be manicured and changed
all the time. something native. Um, and then with the litter crew, I mean, it's good. It's a lot, but that's that's somewhere we can get big savings. For example, do two litter crews full-time instead of three, right? I don't know if anyone has any objection to that, but those are the type of if we want to get
this millage rate down, these are the cuts we need to make. >> Can you say that >> the proposal? >> One, get rid of flowers $35,000 a year. There there would be a onetime cost because we have to put sod or something, but long term it'll save us money. I could do better than that. Flowers.
Let's look at an option where we can do uh flower beds that don't need water and they last, you know, a whole year. No, think about it. I mean, there are there are uh >> I have an announcement which is that Councilman Fernandez has indicated he
would object to that. So, I guess we'll have to wait for the budget hearing to >> the other thing would be the litter crews go down to two full crews seven days a week instead of three. I object to that. >> Okay. So, okay. Next. >> Anything else? Uh, >> uh, I do have a brief one. Okay.
>> Vice Mayor, and I think I saw Council Garcia's hand go. >> Just a quick question on public work uh, entry maintenance. Um, is there an increase in service going from the current fiscal year into the the upcoming fiscal year, going from uh
3,500 budgeted to now 5,000? Is there an increase in service or is that just an increase in price? Is that additional pressure washings, additional maintenance and painting or is it the same level of service? >> Omar,
>> that would be a a parks item because I that believe that's the entry feature of 154 and 87th. >> Yes, since we're in thecluding may not be specifically in the prior year it wasn't including pressure washing. So now this is including pressure washing. >> Got it. Okay, then then I will not be
making a change. >> Okay, Councilman Garcia. Well, I guess I'm in it's uh parks and recreation on page 11. It's the stipen for the wireless stipen again. Did you already bring that up? >> No, >> not there yet, right? So, yeah.
>> Well, we were there earlier. Um Okay. But, you know, but let's finish up with the green space and the franchise fee and then we'll go back. We'll make one more pass to that section. >> But anybody else on the green space part of this uh of of the general fund. All
right. Next, a public works FPL franchise fee surplus. Any any questions or proposed cuts uh in this section? >> Nothing specific, but I will be making some cuts uh but at the first budget hearing. >> Okay. Anything else from anybody?
>> Yes. Uh Mr. Mayor, >> Garcia. >> Yes. So, on the tree trimming, we need to revisit and re uh negotiate these uh tree trimming contracts. >> But, >> Got it. a um a uh Okay, so now we're back on parks and recreation, Councilman
Garcia, because you wanted to address the I believe it was the wireless stipen. >> Yeah, the wireless stipen is that uh again, is that just used for their what is what is it used >> of their personal cell phones for to conduct town business?
>> Okay. Is again is if it's absolutely necessary, we cut I think we cut that in half if >> I I think it should be cut completely. Well, >> like I'm sorry. Everyone has just about everyone has an unlimited This isn't the '9s where you had unlimited nights and
weekends. Like if you're if we're talking about phone calls on your personal number, like it's not causing uh causing an imposition on the employee. That That's my two cents on it. I I don't know if a member of the staff wants to tell me something that
maybe I'm missing here. Again, they like these are little um little perks that they get, you know, that in the grand scheme of things are very small. >> Yeah. But but to our residents, it looks not like perks, but rather like sneaky
ways of increasing compensation. >> That's how the residents see. >> Okay. But the and that that's where it's our job to go ahead and and let them know as well that we already have staff that compared to other similarly sized cities tend to be underpaid. So these
are the small little uh things that doesn't exactly you know move the you know move the needle too much but it at least helps them with their cost of living because remember they are also which includes many residents from the town of Miami Lakes Danny Melissa you you go down Alexis you name it Gladiso
Gladis you know they live in the town too and they're feeling the same price pressures as well >> but this is where I feel like uh Councilman uh Guadal Garcia and I would would agree on saying that these budgets are hard enough to read Why? Why complicate our lives? If that's what we
want to do, increase regular salaries. Call a spade a spade. That's my >> That one's going to generate more backlash. Uh you know, I can >> Exactly. It should generate more backlash. >> Just to call the question, I wouldn't support getting rid of the wireless type of thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, next of um on this
area, parks parks administration in parks and recreation. We're we're again we're in we were discussing the wireless typin parks and recreation parks administration right so we're still there so moving on to 12
or or page 12 if nobody has anything further we're on rolls park so I just want to make a comment council >> so again if if we're going to move the needle this is where the needle gets moved right but one thing I I not I
noted today was um the labor. So this um early part the biggest line item what I've been told is that the labor doesn't change regardless if we do mo less mowing more mowing the labor is the same and that's the biggest line item in in
those contracts. So we can talk about it more next uh next week but that was my biggest concern but again we got to if we're going to move it we these these are the big line items. >> Yeah. I agree with you that that that there are big line items here and then those are the ones we should be focusing on because otherwise we're going to just
be, you know, just nibbling and we're never going to really close the gap. Um but but again, I agree with you. Some of these may get more controversial. So maybe maybe it might be better just to wait for the motions to come at at the first budget hearing. But does anybody have something that they think would not
reach an objection in this particular line item, the Rolex Park? >> I do. >> Uh Councilman Sanchez, >> repair and maintenance of grounds. We see an increase of 45.28% year-over-year. I would bring it down from 60,000 to 50,000.
>> Oh, okay. We're okay. Grounds, right? >> Yes. Grounds. Not contractor facility. Grounds. >> And you wanted to reduce it where again? >> From 60 the year-over-year is a 45.28% increase in costs. I would bring it down from 60,000 to 50,000. >> Well, before before I I decide whether I
wanted to object to it, Mr. manager. What's the source of the increase here specifically? What why is it why is it now so uh significant? >> Yeah. JP, can are you familiar with this line? >> Yeah, the it looks like it's the 41300
from the pre the amended budget and the current budget, but the also now electrical and plumbing and field equipment. >> So, I can speak a little bit. Um the average for the last five years is 56,000
for since 19 since fiscal year 20 the actuals was 57,000 21 was 31,000 22 was 50 2372 and 2481. Yeah, th this could be
um the item that uh council member Garcia brought to the table which were the rust stains and I think this is implementing the uh equipment the rust removal. >> He brought that up with regards to MLP. >> No, it was MLP. >> MLOp not >> but it it it exists in in several
facilities and this was to implement the rust prevention equipment in all of the irrigation systems in the major parks. Yeah, I >> I would be fine with >> question. Just >> go ahead. >> I mean, messing with the sprinkler heads
so they don't wet wet the wet the fencing, isn't wouldn't that mitigate a little bit >> the wind? >> I believe that the way that the the irrigation system was was put in and then some of the fields were put in. I
believe that this is but even sidewalks and you know this is to prevent rust stains uh in the entire facility not only fencing but also you know sidewalks and any other equipment or trees or what
have you that may be out there. >> Okay. So with that the councilman Sanchez has proposed cutting it again one more time from what to what? >> From 60,000 to 50,000. >> From 60 to 50. Is there any objection? >> No objection. >> Okay. So there's no objection to
bringing that as a cut to uh uh the next meeting. A anything else uh in Rory Oaks? >> One more thing. The non- capital outlay. We're allocating $5,000 for replacement of benches and receptacles. How many benches and receptacle receptacles will
5,000 cover? >> Is that part of the uh to the manager really quick? Uh is that part of my item on the >> No, because this is Royal Oaks Park specifically. >> Okay. Because the other mine was specific to the mayor. >> Okay. >> Um Mr. Mayor, >> hold on.
>> JP, do you know how much each uh trash receptacle and each bench costs? >> Yeah, we're waiting on on a response to Councilman Sant's questions. Do >> you know how many benches are in Royal Oaks Park? Does it have ID numbers or anything like that?
>> My Navy side is coming out. Every screw and bolt has a serial number. >> Good evening, Tony. >> Falling back on his prior experience. >> Uh, deputy town manager. Um, typically this line item is for things that are old or like fuel benches that get put
out for the soccer players. Um, and if we need repairs to replace slats and just full replacements, these are just wear and tear items over time. Okay, so on average, one of those fuel benches probably can run you about $500 in
today's cost. Um, receptacles, depending on the nature and type, I'd probably be at $250 and I'm just making general assumptions. So, um, this allows us the opportunity to replace a series of those and bring them up to date.
>> Considering that this year there was no money allocated to that, if something needed to be replaced, how was it replaced or was it not replaced? >> It wasn't. >> Okay. >> So, this is kind of catching >> and then at that point we're thinking about possible like a child getting hurt, getting cut or something and you know and just the ripple effect from
that. Yeah. >> Okay. >> All right. Then I'll leave it as is. >> Perfect. >> Okay. We're moving on then to Mr. Mayor. >> Oh, that's right. So, I apologize. Council Garcia. >> Um, one of my colleagues uh said from 60 to 50. I'd like to see it go from 60 to
40, please. >> I'll go ahead and object to that. So, a um Picnic Park East Youth Center. >> I have a few comments on that. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Uh starting with regular salaries, how many employees are under that 42,000?
>> 47,000. >> Sorry. Uh 42 is the number I was written down. >> Employee. >> How many? >> One employee. >> It is one employee. >> A single employee. What is that person's job? >> Are they a receptionist? Like what are they?
>> That that person is the youth programs coordinator. >> Okay. Um so is it really someone who's here in town hall coordinating programs or are they over there? >> They are located over there. >> Station in that building. >> Um okay. And that that's what I needed
to know. Um, the other item I have on this is a reduction of the repair and maintenance contract uh from 15,438 down to 11,000. A little bit more consistent with uh last year's or the
current fiscal year's uh year in projection and our amended budget. >> Any objection to that? >> You're saying that Wait, no, no, no. Remember, it's uh whether or not you object to that cut. Are you objecting to the cut or are you just saying that you don't have an objection to what he's
proposing? >> Okay. Yeah. So, so he doesn't have an objection. Do you have an objection? >> I just have a question. Why the 50% increase? >> JP, who does the grounds maintenance at? >> No, this is repair maintenance contract,
not grounds. It's a line item before grounds. Keep in mind that in the prior years the contract amount that we have for each section and each part of um the parks budgets have been reduced for the last
three maybe four years. >> Okay. >> To be able to balance the budget. What you have before you in the contract line item for each of these is what the contract amount is supposed to be and is actually based on the contract. Is this a brand new contract and the contract
price is 50? >> I believe the contract the it was a new contract like maybe two or three years ago. I'm sure JP can >> JP >> but and it was about a 30% increase from the contract we had before that. >> So for for grounds uh the contract is
>> no the one right above it contract >> repair and maintenance contract. >> Yeah. Repair and m Oh repair and maintenance contract. Give me one second. >> It went from Yeah. What's what's the difference between contract and grounds? >> Yeah, that would be SFM.
>> The contract is SFM. >> Okay. >> And then grounds is anything like irrigation, residing. >> Correct. >> So SFM is like cleaning. >> They are contracted vendor for that location. They handle um everything uh from uh yeah for maintenance of that
facility. >> Okay. Um >> is this the first year after the initial three years? for the five-year contract, you have the three plus one plus one. >> Yeah, I'd have to double check the contract. >> Okay. And if that's the case, since it is a higher number, um, after a
three-year contract and it's not a monthly contract, was an RFP, an RFQ, an ITB, anything like that put out to see if we can get it for the same price? >> It was awarded with an RFP, >> but three years ago. >> Yes. >> I'm talking about after the three year
that now we're in the plus one plus one. If you want, we can put it out. But remember that. >> Huh? >> Just to clarify, it was it was awarded as an ITB. >> ITB. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> But that was three years ago. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Three years over.
>> That's what I'm trying to get at. After that, now the three years is over to avoid the 50% increase, why not put out an an ITB or an RFP or an RFQ to see if we can get a different vendor for a lower cost. >> I understand your question. We'd have to look at the contract to confirm. >> Okay. uh when it is when it has reached
that three-year mark >> but we're not going to get there before the end of the fiscal year. So ju just for purposes of what's germanine to our topic right now I just would rather keep the discussion to what if anything unanimous cut >> I wanted to bring it back down to the 105
>> and your light is off >> okay so the so Councilman uh Councilman Sanchez's proposal is to reduce it to what again? >> I wanted to bring it down to 105 but if it's a contracted amount >> Oh yeah our hands might be tied. >> Yeah. No, 100% they're tied and then we
would have to go out to bid everything, you know. So, >> so yeah. So, >> process. >> So, is there anything else that you have uh on that item? Any vice mayor? >> We I think uh I had suggested it at 11 and no one objected. Uh >> which one? >> That one. The the repair and maintenance
contract. >> Oh, okay. >> So, we were already at 11. He's just reduced 500. I just think >> well either way it seems that being that that the response to his question was that it's a it's a contracted amount so any reduction there would have to be you know it's going to be beyond you know
our ability to cut within the fiscal year. Make sense? Okay. Fine. Fine. Go ahead. >> Um and just so you note in 2324 it was 13,000 for the contract. So, it's likely some of the things that were cut that fiscal that that year probably there
were services cut and this is the fully funded contract amount at 15,000 for all the services. So, anything that's changed there would be a a reduction in services per the contract. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> But not a cost
>> services but would be the services that you we'd have to reduce services to meet the cost. >> Oh, understood. Got it. Okay. Be >> before he uh comes off the podium. I'm just going to ask a question because you're we're about to go to it and it's just more efficient. Veterans Park has
the same exact line item repair and maintenance contract. Is the same the situation the same for that one? >> For all of those. Okay. That way I just don't have to ask the same and me and Councilman Sanchez don't have to ask the same thing on each one. >> Mr. Mayor, >> Councilman Cuadra Garcia,
>> is this doable to bring it from 15 to 10? >> Which item? on the one you were just talking about. >> Weren't you on weren't you on the top item of a repair and maintenance contract >> on part of cut and service? >> Which part >> that you said it right?
>> It's now at 154 or something. The draft letters are in can't see them very well. Can we bring it back to 10? >> Well, I had brought it down to 11. >> Can we do a little better and try to go to 10? >> I would object to that. >> Good. Yeah. Okay, let's keep it in at
11. So, so again, so I guess what I'm gathering is that I guess uh there's an objection to yours and his proposal. Is that accurate? And then you're suggesting 11. Does anybody have an objection to that?
>> Okay. >> There there will be a reduction in service at that rate. But just everybody's aware. Yeah. >> Again, there's going to be an opportunity to reconsider these. >> No, I know. I just want to be clear. I will ask is that the budget comment when we get to the first budget hearing tells
me exactly what that reduction in service is so that I can make an informed decision. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Are you going to have take a hand on >> Veterans Park? >> Veterans Park. Going once, going twice. Okay. Councilman Garcia. >> Sure.
parks um improvement operating. >> Oh, back up to administration. >> Yeah. Veterans Park on page um 13. >> It's it's been zero now. It's 10,000. Says new new capital equipment can and replacement. Is that the workout
equipment? >> Yes. >> Workout benches and receptacles. >> Yes. >> I mean, I've seen them. I've never used them. And I guess you guys can tell by my incredible physique, but >> obviously >> what uh are they I mean, can they be can
that be pushed another year? Is it dangerous? Are we are we is it cosmetic or is it actual mechanism that that needs that needs a repair? Uh so your question is if if we could
push this uh another year, >> I would say that uh some of the some of the machines have been uh need repair. So we would want to take care of them as quickly as possible to avoid any uh liability >> to save time. I'll object to that
because that is even among like like some of many of the residents that were here that is one of the most common thing that we get from them, right? So, so I So again, and I've seen it, you know, my my sister and my dad, well, my dad no longer lives on that side, but um but my sister and them, they go and and
use the equipment and whatnot, and it's the most common complaint that I get. So, for that reason, I would object to reducing that further. >> It's also one of the most heavily used uh things in the park. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> A Okay, next person. Or or anything else
on veterans. Mr. Mayor, quick question. Um, you're recognized. >> Um, I'm going to request a triple papa uh personal point of uh >> Okay. Are these lights in this building?
Uh, are they >> No, no, no. It's it's just a question now that we're on lights. Are they LED or >> But we're in Veterans Park lights. >> Um, so I I do believe there's a town hall section later on, so if you want for that. >> Okay. Remind me. Okay.
>> On Veterans Park, Vice Mayor Moretta, >> just a question on the structure of the budget. I don't recall if there was a separate section for Mary Collins Community Center, is there? Yeah. Okay. Sorry, I'm just crazy and I forgot that it's somewhere else.
>> It's under It's It's under facility. >> Okay. So So So it's >> towards the end. >> Yeah. >> Sorry. Okay. Thank you. >> And top of 13. No, no, no, no. Much later. >> All right. Um,
okay. If there's nothing further on Veterans Park, Miami Lakeland's Park. >> Who wants to jump at that? >> Councilman Harsburg. >> I I'll I'll just say it again. I don't have anything specific. Again, you got to look at the line items. I suggest every single one of you get the line items for the for the grounds contract,
but if we're going to make a dent, this is where it is. Thanks. >> Got it. Any anyone else right now? Okay. Go ahead, Councilman. >> I'm just wondering why the grounds contract for Miami Lakes Optimist only increased by 4% and all the other parks
increased by double digits. Like Royal Oaks Veterans Park increased by 26%. You know, why is it that Optimist raised 4% and everybody else is so much higher percentage wise?
That is for Roy Oaks Park as an example that is to bring it up to the level of service the the full level of service for that park. We've cut the budget for Royx Park for for the maintenance of the fields >> and we haven't for optimist
>> and so optimist um optimist we've we've uh I have to follow up on that. >> We've maintained the same level of service at all times at Optimus. We've never cut any services. may not have cut as much in pre previous years where we've had to, you know, find from different places to be able to balance
the budget. Yeah. >> So, we may not have cut as much from because of de not demand and the current condition. Maybe it needed more tender, you know, more uh maintenance than some of the other parks that at that time were in better shape.
>> Okay. Because Veterans Park went up by 26 and a half%. And Optimus 4%. >> Yeah. So not singling out optimist just why but if we'reing >> optimist and JP can correct me if I'm wrong that is a different vendor than Royal Oaks Park.
>> But remember though that again do you have are you proposing a cut with respect to this particular park? >> No I just want to if we could go back to veterans to propose a cut and maybe even use the same vendor that we have at Optimist at Veterans Park to save us money there. >> Keep in mind that it's based on the contract.
>> Right. Make the explanation as briefly as possible, please. >> Juniper is the vendor for um Roy Oaks Park. Miami League's Optimus Park is run by Bright View. >> Is who? >> Bright View. >> Okay.
>> Yep. Okay. >> That that was that was sweet. But but I see the deputy manager wants to add additional context. Please do. Also, also one is an athletic maintenance uh contract and the other is um a ground maintenance contract. So, Royal Oaks
and Optimus. >> All right. Deputy Manager, >> just just to clarify >> and just and just um so Councilman uh the bid structure of Rolo Oaks Park is different than the bid structure which what the proposers
bid, how they bid >> is different than Optimus Park. So certain tasks they may have bid certain tasks in their contract higher or lower and if we made service changes that
would make different impacts. So if mowing is $5 by one bidder and $10 in the other, you'd see the bigger impact in the Royal Oaks Park versus the $5 Optimus Park. >> Right? >> So it's they frontloaded a lot of their cost to labor.
>> Okay. in Optimus Park versus spreading it out across all the line items. >> Understood. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. So, moving on to mini parks, the pocket parks. Are there any proposed cuts here? >> Which one? >> Mini parks. Pocket parks. >> One second.
>> Um, it it's primarily a concern. I'm seeing it go from a year in uh projection of 134 134,149 on the repair and maintenance contract and it's jumping to $400,000.
>> I have not updated my year-end projection for that just for the record. >> Oh, okay. So, is your year projection a little bit more No, no, it's fine. But is your year in projection, I guess, a little bit more consistent with maybe the 23 24 year projection? >> I haven't updated it so I couldn't even
tell you at the moment. So then I'll just defer until the first budget hearing. >> Yeah. And and I and I I'm just going to have a standing objection to any of the line items here >> again because this is one of my priorities. >> Yeah. No, I know. But I'm just saying, you know, No, I'm just stating for the record um you know, out there for those
that are watching. Um okay, the Barbara Goldman, that's $4,000, which is the bare minimum on that one. Does anyone really have any propos proposal there? Okay. Um recreation services I have a reduction. >> Oh, that's right. This is the martial arts instructor.
>> So, so yeah, I have a reduction first to the youth center community programs. Reduce it uh from 5,500 to 4,000 um more consistent with actual expenditures. And then am I missing
where it is? Oh, yeah. And then the 15,000 for professional services which is for the A martial arts instructor. Um I am open to full removal but I would also entertain maybe reducing the number of classes or something. No then full
removal. >> Is this the Taichi that's done? >> Well he he's wait so is it for >> Okay. >> Is this the Tai Chi or whatever that's done at the end of your recital or is it something else >> because the Tai Chi is funded by the school board. Is it not like where through money we received through the
school board? >> Oh, they fun that AP class. >> Yes, this is something else. Oh, the we're not there yet though on the AP classes. But you know >> that is correct. They are part of the dance of the recital. The end of year recital. >> So if I cut this I am cutting that program that the seniors are in.
>> No, this is this is recreation. Okay. This is Tai Chi. >> This is youth martial arts. >> The Yeah. >> Is it I'm sorry. Is it any special needs kids use it or any any other uh >> and any it's open to any any child. >> Okay. So, I I will recommend a full cut.
>> Are there any objections to that recommendation? >> Okay. With that with that, uh said, uh would anyone object to removing $1,000 from town community programs, uh which represents a cut to the end of year program ceremony? I mean, this is ceremony just commemorating the end of
programs. I mean, >> sorry, which one are you on? >> Uh the very last line line item, town community programs. There's $1,000 for a year in ceremony. I, you know, I just I don't understand the the the need for that is what I'm trying to say. Unless somebody may, >> what page are you on? >> I am on 15 to 54. The last line item
within the same uh committee budget or recreational programs uh item that we've been in. >> Uh so, Mr. Deputy Manager, that that's obviously something different than the end of year recital, which is the annual recital for 5,700, right?
I believe it is a different um uh thing algether. >> What is the end of year program ceremony as opposed to the end of year recital? >> So some of our programs have a fall season, a spring season. So at the end of each of those programs they'll have a
recital. Al we also have an endofear recital which is a a larger uh program that we'll have at uh usually at Barbara Goldman where we'll have our ballet our our uh martial arts programs all together in in as one end of year
recital >> but that that specific one if you look it's the very last parenthesis there under town committee programs do you know what that specifically corresponds to end of year program ceremony >> $1,000 Yeah.
>> The $1,000, sorry. The $1,000 for the end of year programs. >> Yeah. Like which which one is that in particular? >> Yeah, that's that's >> a party for the end of the season for all the >> Okay. Well, how about this? How about you guys? >> So, that that covers that covers like
awards or or things of that nature. >> But, >> never mind. For now, I'm going to look to any reduction on that line item. >> Yeah, but I would like to see a better explanation of what that is. Yeah, budget here. >> Yeah, >> there there's comments on on the site,
guys. >> No, no. Again, and I'm looking at it or I mean unless on I'm looking at the printed one. So, I see there, but at it says there 16,67 uh $667 is the total. At the very end of the explanation, there's an endofear program
ceremony for $1,000, but it doesn't specify for which program, the seniors, the youth, the >> question is what is that? >> Yeah. So that is that is all for uh youth recreations. That is the um the ceremonies that we have at the end
>> at Barbara Goldman. >> No, that's the end of year recital. So that is once a year we'll have a a recital that is held at Barbara Goldman or we'll have all of our our programs uh youth programs held uh together >> and that's within the first item. It says annual recital 576.
>> The end of year programs are for the end of each program year. So, fall, uh, spring, winter, whatever the program. >> Well, I'm kind of with the vice mayor that, you know, it we'll we'll at least I'll circle back to that at a later time actually, but for now, I'll just forget
it. Is there anything else on the recreational programs? >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, Councilman Garcia. >> Uh, hold up for a second on page Hold up. You give me once. >> It's either 14 or 15 under recreational program.
>> The u the page 15 of 54. Um, under seminars, I'd like to go back. >> Where where you hold on, hold on, hold on. Where? Where are the seminars? >> Seminars on page 15 of 54. >> Economic devel. >> Yeah, you're you're you're jumping ahead. We're We're still under the
recreations. Um, you know, recreation programs >> on on 14 of 14 of of 54. >> Yes. But it also goes into 15 of 54. And you jumped ahead a few spaces. We didn't even cover public safety or the neighborhood improvement committee. So, do you have anything specific though to
where we're at now, which is the recreation programs? >> No, I will um I have not done any homework on this yet. >> No worries. And we we'll have an opportunity to to again revisit this at the first budget hearing. the public safety committee. Um, as for me,
again, I was again, again, it still shows up here as the appreciation breakfast, but that's already been reclassified as Okay. And this is supposed to be cost neutral, but or they brought it down to,200, right? >> Yes. And they're getting sponsorships that are going to cover that.
>> Okay. Well, for for the purposes of bouncing, >> it's a loan. >> No. Well, you know, again, like it's 4,000 here. They're saying it's going to be 1,200. So my my my suggested cut would be to reduce that line item to 1,200. Whi- >> which one? I'm sorry. >> The appreciation breakfast which has now
been reclassified as the uh the car show. >> Mayor, they had reclassified their entire budget had put you know the same I think total and then had redone it into different line items that the council >> Okay. How about we just drop their their budget just to make it easier. My proposal would be to drop it down to 1,200. >> Their entire
>> to cover the cost of their >> entire budget. >> The entire budget. What else are they going to do? the four like reduce their budget from 4,800 to >> 36 >> to 1,200 which is what uh >> oh 21200 total. >> Yeah. That's what they're saying they need for the car for the car show.
>> And you're going to object. Okay. >> Yeah. That's okay. We'll have a chance to discuss. >> I read the the um the ordinance when they were created or the resolution when they were created. >> Yeah. They found the resolution, >> right? And the three objectives. >> Oh, I think you might read that. the three objectives that are in that
resolution, they are meeting with every single thing that is on their budget. >> There's marketing, there's education, there's community engagement, >> if they meet it, we still have to approve the budget. >> Right. Right. But considering that at the last council meeting we left it flat, I would object just until, you
know, we we have the entire thing once again in front of us. >> Again, we'll have a chance to discuss it discuss at the budget hearing. Again, I just, you know, again, the at the end of the day, the car show is fun and all that, but you know, again, they're more of a policy committee at the end of the day. Um, but okay. So, so I'll leave it
at that for now. Anyone else on public safety? >> Okay. On neighborhood improvement, my my suggestion Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hear something? >> No, I I I think the car show is great. I think the car show won't cost them any money if they do it right. That That's what I'm saying. So, I agree with cutting that budget. We'll talk about it
next week. >> Yeah, exactly. Um, okay. Okay, the neighborhood improvement committee. Look, and this is my baby. I kind of hate to do this, but I did see that there's still the $10,000 for the c col culinary bike tour, and I'll be fine with leaving that be their bike event and then cutting the 5,900 on the
community bike rides. Um, so that would be my proposed cut. Is there any objection to that? >> Wait, what? >> Wait, but where do you >> neighborhood improvement? We We've already left. >> Where do you see 10,000? >> I don't see 10,000 anywhere here. >> Listen, guys. the community uh um the
culinary bour which is a line item later part of the budget. Yes. >> Yes. >> Even I even I was like what is he talking about? But then I caught on. So I don't blame them. >> It appears later in the budget. So the culinary bike tour just putting it out there for your your knowledge is funded.
I would rather, you know, however, and as as much as I hate to do this because this is my baby, I'm suggesting for this year we do away with the community bike rides at, you know, which is currently budgeted for 5,900 and just keep the Colon bike tour, which is again a line
item on a different part of the budget. But that would be my proposal to cut the 5900. >> I have a question. The culinary bike tour, uh, is there an entry fee? >> Like do we break even profit? No, we actually lose money on it. We lose >> the police, I think.
>> No. Okay, she's waving her her arms. No, but again, remember that's at a later part of the budget. So, I mean, I know that I know that you want to consider to see which one >> I'm just considering whether I'll remove this or not, >> but um and if you want, you can always object for now and we come back to it, you know, in >> I'd like to know uh their schedule of
bike rides uh for the first budget hearing to make an informed decision. So, I'm just going to temporarily object. >> That's all good. Okay. I mean, unless anybody has anything else there, which I I doubt it. Let's go on to economic development. >> So, I had a question here. Why Why is there $12,000 for marketing materials?
Like, what what do they use their budget on in terms of the marketing materials? Are these pamphlets, directories? What kind of what kind of uh things are they including in $12,000 for marketing materials? >> She's taking a little side note there, but
>> I can answer part of this. So, that line item for marketing materials was for a software that they had called Local Intel. and that was about $10,000. I'm from what I'm aware of, they're doing away with that. They're not going to utilize that anymore, but that's what
the 12,000 was for. >> But they wanted to keep the 10,000. >> They wanted to keep the 10,000, but also keep in mind that the request by the council was to keep the committee budgets flat. So, >> the proposal to come back flat, which you guys did, and then you that's to your credit, but I just wanted at least
u I just want to be clear on what what the proposal was. Um, >> I I would just like to say I did try to call uh the chair of the committee today, didn't get a an answer. Uh, so any changes uh I'd object to at the moment because I'd like to be a little bit more informed specifically on that.
>> Agreed. >> Um, but but this for me that 12,000 is actually on the chopping block. >> Does anyone have anything else on EDC? >> Yes. Yeah, Mr. Mayor. >> Councilman Cuadra Garcia. uh on the uh materials of marketing materials. I'd
like to see it go from 12,000 to 9,000. >> Yeah. The vice mayor the vice mayor already made an objection that until we get more information specifically uh on what's what's in there that he's going to yeah just to give him a chance to justify the line item. He's going to defer for the first budget hearing.
>> And the other one, the seminars. >> Oh, that that one. Go ahead. Uh that one I'd like to go from uh 2,000 to uh to a th00and. >> Uh so I'm also going to object on this one only because um I I wanted to speak with uh the chair to understand what
part of that 2,000 was the cost for the presenting parties as it's stated in the budget comments cuz I want to basically eliminate everything that's food as I'm sure that they can get a sponsor. Um and then they they they could get something
else. Um >> get only funding from us for the presenting parties. >> So I I and this is to staff and for us, but that this is a meeting that I recently watched. For example, $1,400 for for quote unquote swag bags. Uh
$1,000 was to Chelas for the boot camp afterparty. we we really need to have understanding of what exactly they're spending money on because both of those things I think are just inappropriate to spend the money on. So, and another question I have is why do they have a chamber membership but also the town has
one. Why do we need two chamber memberships? >> No. So, one is for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce uh which we >> Oh, okay. Never mind. I read that wrong. Never mind. >> Yeah. Yeah. The So, you know, so that one we have brought a lot of their events from Leadership Miami as well.
Yeah. you know, but I just wanted to clarify that. Yeah, one is the Miami Lakes Chamber and one is the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Um, okay. Uh, moving if there's nothing else on EDC, we're in cultural affairs now. Now, as for me, a
I have three different potential items here. As much as in the past, I've loved the concert on the fairway, there have been also a lot of instances that the date for whatever reason just doesn't work out. this rain whatever the the case is and it's a big line item right and I think for one year we can look at
>> this one >> the concert in the >> I know but which is it like I'm trying to remember >> usually it's jazz well on the fairway it would normally be on the golf course I mean yeah don't I'm just telling you what what traditionally it's been huh >> okay yeah well part three and even uh by
the old driving range is where it used to be um but yeah so it again the problem is that the reason why it may not be as familiar to you is because the last couple of times there's been it's been rained out. Is that accurate? Yeah. So that's why you haven't seen it occur recently, but we uh it we have had some
costs associated regardless if it was rained out. Right. >> I would agree with removing. >> Yeah. So just you know until we figure out a better way to structure that as nice as it is and you know and again just for one year I would suggest that we remove it for this year. Is there any objection to that? >> Uh Mr. Mayor I I sort of object. I don't
object to getting rid of that event, but my understanding is that $10,000 is actually going to be used for Main Street Main Street Live. That's their plan. So, if someone can confirm that with me, so I'll be interesting until I get that information again. So, we really because
>> we want to know what they're planning on using this money for. Now, I don't know where these these came from in May, but things have changed. That was my last conversation with the chair was they were going to get rid of that, but they want to keep Main Street Live going and there's going to be some additional costs and
>> I like that. So that >> So I'll withdraw my my my suggestion unless somebody wants to keep it going. >> Mr. Mayor, >> hey, wait on that particular item. Anybody want to keep it going? Seeing none. Okay. on cultural affairs specifically or just that >> cultural affairs the 10,500 but again
council Harrisburg kind of wants to uh has already objected anyway just to wait and see if uh you know what or for them to formalize their proposal to use it for Main Street live. Um so my second item would be to remove the uh the
fishing tournament for 500. It's just a very low attended event every year as nice as it is. It's normally, you know, like how many people were there when you were there last time? >> Probably 20, 25. >> But you're throwing the kids. >> I I object to this. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay.
>> So do I. >> Again, I'm just trying to figure out like what's actually going to make financial sense now for the Junth Heritage um at for $1,000. Is there any objection to removing that? Okay. So So I guess that can go in the
on the list, the Junth uh event for $1,000. All right. I don't have anything further on this. I don't know who else wants to. Okay. Go ahead. >> Um the concert line item for $5,000 which has the comment annual Summerfest
classical music concert. I believe that just passed and Oh, Claire still here. Good. Um what was the attendance? >> It was packed. >> Packed. >> I was there with my mom. >> Amazing. Amazing event. >> Then I I will be quiet. I just have a comment to make and I
brought this up at the last meeting specifically about the veterans committee. Everything here all we see is expenditures but we don't see what comes in on sponsorship money on these pages. Most of these committees have sponsorships. The thing is that we have to go all the way back to revenues to
see the sponsorships that are coming in that offset these costs. So, for example, Veterans Committee is the most expensive committee, but they have a net zero with the town because of all the sponsorship money that comes in. >> Yeah. Look, I I I'm with you that that, you know, we need to push them to
sponsor more, but cultural affairs is one I don't mind spending on of all of them because a they're an events committee and b, you know, the majority of their events tend to be extremely well attended. There's only a couple one-offs that that they tend to kind of miss, but generally their events are
well attended. Even the back when it was happening more frequently, the concert at the fairway was actually a really nice jazzy type of of concert people would go to and was always well attended, right? >> But you know, but I agree with you that generally and I just want to make this point while since you raised it that actually the number of of sponsorships
for these committees has gone down drastically. I just got to figure out where exactly uh it it it was here when um when it when I made a a records request on this. But um but Councilman Sanchez, while I look for that, if you want to continue, but I'm going to back up your point. >> Yeah. It's just I I want to remind that
we might be cutting, but we also might be cutting programs that are already sponsored through other sources. >> And it's not just us. We see it as the expense, but we don't see the other side where the funds are coming in unless we go all the way back. >> I can I can address that. If you look at
the adopted budget and you look at the amended budget, whatever that increase is is a sponsorship because there's nothing in any of those light items that get increased unless it's because of a sponsorship they received. So for example, >> so for example um >> let's use uh
>> it went from 11 to 24,000. >> So we received 13,000 in sponsorship funds. >> I'm sorry I didn't hear you because >> 4th of July went from 11,000 adopted to 24,000 amended. It was $13,000 in sponsorship funds. >> That That's correct. However, also keep in mind that on some of these line
items, they can transfer within their their budget, right? The ones that mainly do that is cultural affairs and um I want to say neighborhood improvement did some this year, but aside from that, like whatever you see as an amended budget is because of sponsorship dollars mainly or because
they've done a transfer within their own budget. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Thank you for Thank you for explaining that. Uh, hold on. Councilman Cuadra Garcia. Councilman Sanchez, is there anything further? >> No. >> Okay. Yeah, I can't seem to find the specific numbers right now, but when
when I do, I'll I'll come back to that. With that, Councilman Cuadra Garcia, go ahead. >> Can you can somebody show me where uh on all this paperwork comes in of all those food vendor trucks that >> right here?
>> Give us money. Where are they? Don't don't uh >> like the food trucks are like fourth of July. >> Don't they don't they pay to to use their >> no to to use our services? >> No. They they to my knowledge no because we just give them the spot to offer a
service for free. But obviously they benefit from that. But you know I mean but to my knowledge they're not paying like a a rental >> fee. Yeah. >> Clarisel, >> right? >> Clarisel. >> Clarisel. Did you say they're giving food free away? the the food trucks when
they're participating in an event, normally we don't charge them a fee. We allow them to enhance the event and have them as participants and then their only thing we give them the the the space and then they benefit from the sales. >> Typically they we charge them a fee. Um
the fee increases depending on the projected um number of participants. So Fourth of July being our largest event is is the event where we charge the most. And >> so so there is a fee. Father Garcia's question. >> So where's the money? >> Where is that revenue reflect?
>> That's shown as in in the amended budget >> to the committee and into that same line item that >> covers their cost. >> So where's the beef? >> It's >> what do you mean? >> Okay. No, no, no, no. Okay. Again, >> revenue from the charges to the food trucks. Where do how do we reflect that?
The same as donations, right? It's in the amended budget. >> Yeah. Because it's money that it it generates back, you know, from that. Okay. But see, so I was wrong and I think we're all happy about this that actually they do charge a fee to help defer our cost. >> Why don't we put it on our line item? Are we putting it in?
>> It's similar. It's reflected similar to like when somebody just makes an outright >> also. We're no longer on the revenue side of the equation for that event. >> I I I understand, Mr. manager, but uh Councilman Quad Garcia, remember that what you're talking about would be a way that it reflects on the ledger as revenue. We we've moved past revenue
right now and we're focusing on the expense side of the ledger. Um the one thing though I will say because it relates to the cost of these events between last year and this and this year 2025 in terms of committee donations and
contributions there was a 73,000 almost $74,000 difference. the committees in my opinion and glad you said if you can please let them know they got to step it up with some of these donations because they're what I what I'm seeing is that they're starting to rely on us to come in and pick pick up the budgetary slack.
You know, again, it's a $73,000 difference, $74,000 difference in sponsorships between 24 and 25. So, you know, to Councilman Sanchez's point, you know, I I think this is especially because of this year, they need to rely more on that than rely on council
funding, just at least for this year. >> Well, Ma Melissa, if you look at the 2425 adopted and 2425 amended, that variance should reflect any other things like donations, uh, charges to food
trucks. So, it's over 200,000, 240,000. If you look at page 18 of 54 at the end of total committees, maybe I'm is that am I interpreting that correctly? adopted versus amended. The that variance what
makes that variance are donations and charges for food trucks and other things like that. Right. >> That is correct. >> So 245,000. >> Yeah. 244,000. >> You're in the communic community affairs part, right? the to
>> on page on page 18 to 54 there's a line that says total committees expenditures >> that line if you see the variance between 2425 adopted and 24 the two green columns
>> yeah if you if you subtract the 449 from the amended to the adopted of the 204 your difference is 244 >> right so >> the only thing that makes that up is >> whatever sponsorship or donations are received to the committees. >> All righty. Understood. Any other uh
questions on this? I just want to uh quick point of uh clarification on this is I do see a fourth of July item. >> I'm sorry. There is an outlier to this spec this 244 which is um
No, I lie. Continue. I'm sorry, sir. >> All right. There's two line items for Fourth of July. One is here in the cultural affairs committee for 11,000. The other one is, I believe, 30,000 in special events. Uh, it seems like the 30,000 is specific to fireworks. And then this one, just to let me know if
I'm wrong here, it's specifically to pay for the the musical act. >> The entertainment >> and then the staging, right? >> Yeah. The entertainment portion of the event. >> Got it. So, it's just coming out of two separate line items, but together those two things pay for our Fourth of July. >> Correct. Correct. >> Thank you. That's it.
>> Anything else in cultural affairs? All right. the educational advisory board. Um I'm going to go ahead and ask if everyone would be okay with uh or if there would be any objection to suggesting uh eliminating the awards of excellence. >> Uh so I was going to make the same exact suggestion.
>> Okay. Anyone else? >> Okay. It would appear as if there's no objection to the $1,000 for the uh awards of excellence. My my second based on the commentary from the last uh budget workshop is the $4,000 to assist
the Miami Lakes Library with events. Um I'm going to propose that we eliminate that line item. Is there any objection on that one? Okay. So the $4,000 there for the library assistance can also be a proposed cut at the first budget hearing. Those are the two in particular that I had.
Anyone else uh within educational advisory board? I'm going to out of respect for how important of an issue this is, I'm going to wait until the first budget hearing, but I do want to put it out there into the ether to the members of the committee and to the
members of uh the community who are who maybe uh benefit from these programs that as far as I'm concerned, they are on my chopping block for the first and second budget hearing. and that is the AP language arts program for 26,500 and
the STEM elective courses uh for $10,000. If you support those items, please please please come give public comments on those programs because I'm uh considering uh removing them. >> I second that and consider them warranted. Are there any other I just
want to >> No, no, I'm not seconding it for real. >> Don't worry. Um I just want to in say yes to exactly what you the vice mayor just said and this is what we're talking about needs and wants. This is completely a want. This is not a need of
the town and the irony is there when it's when we get told it's that's a need. Um but this is something that I just I don't see why it's our responsibility. I would like to know how many Miami Lakes residents actually take the course and let's keep in mind well
this is for next I don't think we can well this fiscal this this school year is already funded so this would be applied to so it's not like we're go disturb the current school year so that's good um but this is this is a want this is not a need >> uh I would ask that our communications
director reach out to the liaison for the the EAB um and let him know about the question I just posed. Thank you. >> I just have one comment to make about this. >> By removing all these items, we're pretty much >> gutting the EAB because the only item
that we have then there is the imagination library which is already funded through the Dolly Parton >> program. Again, it's a tough budget year. It just it is what it is. And you know to the point that Councilman Hzburg made is you know and I understand where where Miss Luces was coming from when she was offering a defense of the
program >> but you know at the end of the day it's also servicing noname kids and a tough budget year and you know again as I mentioned there should be no sacred cows. I'm even willing to give up something that I helped create and was important to me which was the community bike ride >> you know but we just got to at least for
this year we got to make some cuts here and and be more realistic you know. >> Okay. Um but again, he's not proposing it for right now. He's just letting them know that they should come back and and give their best defense of it at the first and second budget hearing. Um I Mr. Mayor, if I may, I I think staff
should let the committees know. It's it's really important that they come to us whether most the best place would be to come to the to the hearing on next week, but or email us if there's something they really are for. They got to speak to us because you see the what we're doing today. So I think it's
important that they understand so they don't feel blindsided to come. Why didn't anyone say we're saying it right now? So I think it's important that staff lets them know. >> We I've already uh spoken to Clarisel to encourage all the chairs to come to the budget hearing. >> I know that the liaison has also advised
them of when we've had workshops and when the budget hearings are and that those are the opportunities for them to come speak. I know personally that the liaison has advised them. >> Yeah. And well, I mean, I guess the good thing for them is that, you know, up to now, we've been having discussions, but the real decision-m of course will be
the the budget hearings. Um, and so I guess if they're going to if they're going to appear, this is the time for for sure that they need to be at. Um, with that, is there anything else in that committee? Seeing nothing, we're now on elderly affairs. I'm just going to go and say that I have a standing objection to reducing uh these.
>> Okay. >> Um, >> I I I have not a reduction, but a question and then potentially a reallocation. Sure. >> Um, the $500 community forms, what is that? >> As I'm if I'm not mistaken, and on this one, I'll ask the deputy town attorney
to uh to give me uh some some of his clarification to the best of his knowledge. Um, so they typically put on informative events for the seniors. Everything from uh fraud prevention, I believe, is one of those coming up soon. The bar association in the past has also
uh come in and and and uh given lectures on uh estate planning and you know basic concepts and whatnot. >> So is that paying for food? >> I believe it's paying for food. So you know >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And again, but this is I can tell you and you and you've seen it like the
senior events are almost always well attended. >> No, no, no. I would have a restriction to reducing any of this. It was just that I didn't know what that was. So I was actually going to reallocate it to the meet and eat. Uh but but no, I I'd rather just leave it the way it is. >> And again, they do have multiple seminars and everything on how you can
apply for uh benefits uh you know, and preserve your benefits after after you've gotten them. And and I know though to Councilman Sanch's point, many of these do end up ultimately getting sponsored. Um but you know again just because the important work that that committee does you know like you know
and the amount of attendance uh at all of them you know that that's only that's the only reason why I had like uh you know my standing objection to that one for now. Um with that the youth activities. Yes sir. >> Uh quick question just for educational
purposes senior citizen uh um senior field trips. Can you tell me where they take them on a field trip? uh everywhere from Marlins games to the movies. Uh the list goes on >> to even even live performances in the Gables >> at the Gables. They've even taken them
to the Fillmore on the beach. Um and again, it's just it's trying to give them events, you know, some culturally enriching events just, you know, to help them socialize with members of their peer group and you know, because let's face it, you know, when when you get older, sometimes it's harder to participate in other events. Sometimes
family is not always as often there as they should or could or can be because sometimes not about whether they should or not, it's whether or not they have the time. So this actually provides many of them an outlet to be social and and keep them active. Uh which is which is very important.
>> Um with that youth activities task force. >> Wait, I just have one question about affairs. Earlier uh this year um Vice Mayor Moretta had an item to purchase a digital board for bingo. Is that within this budget? I think it was recognized in this year's
a as an amendment in this year's budget. No, >> but it was after the carry forward. >> It was after the carry forward. >> Oh. So, do so do we need to uh >> but I don't think that it would be part of the committee's budget. It would be part of our budget. We're just giving it to them. >> But we're within the budget. >> Well, I guess we'll defer to our budget director on that.
>> Can you ask your question again, please? I'm >> sure. Earlier this year, Vice Mayor Moneta had an item which we approved to purchase a digital bingo board for the Elderly Affairs Committee for their bingo lunches. >> Okay. >> Is that within our budget already? >> No.
>> Okay. Because we approved it unanimously to purchase it for them. Did you have did you have a specific price on that item? I don't remember. >> May I May I say something? >> Yeah. >> The item was to bring back options. Um, we have tested a few options. Um,
and I'm going to bring them back to you this, um, council meeting September. >> So, we'll have enough time to include it into the budget for the next fiscal year. >> Well, no, no, it'll be I'm assuming it's going you're saying you're going to bring it back to recognize as an expense this year, right?
>> Well, it it'll be up to you what direction you want to go in. >> Okay. I mean, I just think the more we can fit into this fiscal year might be better. >> Got it. I understand what you mean. >> You disagree, Madam Budget Director. >> Wait, wait. Remember, we should have to
put on the mic, you know, for the record. >> Yeah. Having to add that then on second hearing. It's just creating >> Oh, okay. Okay. I see what you're saying. Well, I I'll defer to you guys because I think I think your point is correct. It'll probably be in the next fiscal year.
>> Like, if it could be purchased at this in this current budget, I would go ahead and purchase it in this current >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Youth activities. >> Uh, hang on. I had an item. I think I actually uh just skip me if
someone else does because I lost my one. >> Councilman Herszburg. >> Um, I mean it doesn't necessarily have to be to cut the budget because I know they they done some good events with the bicycle radio. I I I remember seeing the last the last one was poorly attended,
$2,000. Either I would just cut it and that would be my position. Hey uh Clariso. So beyond this prior year in years past is the bike rodeo well attended or is or is it >> is it up and down?
>> That is an event that's not really part of my department. That's more Jeremy's. It's under parks and I really can't speak because I'm not too familiar on the attendance for that event. >> Would you be fine waiting to the first budget hearing? >> Yeah, just put it out there. Yeah, I'll
be waiting. Jeremy will be at the at the budget hearing. Correct, Mr. Manager? Okay. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. >> Hey, Councilman Garcia. >> Yeah, just consider it getting uh uh getting rid of that rodeo. >> Thank you. Um
anyone else in youth activities? >> H >> Oh, no. Sorry. I was reading the wrong line item. Never mind. >> All right. Veteran Affairs Committee. I think I'm gonna I will object to any change. >> Yeah, exactly. I think I think uh that I figured that was coming and same here. Um all right, the special needs advisory
board. Yeah, I again I would object there too and also because you know that that budget is very different. They're it's not recurring is you know the whole thing. >> Yes. >> Are we on blessing? >> We are now actually no we're first on mental health then we'll get to your baby >> to zero.
>> Oh it's proposed at zero. So yeah. Okay. All right. So let's skip over to blasting. >> Okay. Um on blasting uh I hate to do this even though you know uh vice chair uh Miguel Martinez came today and it is
one of my babies and the baby of a lot of us up here. The blasting boys are on the council. Um but I think one of the things we need to acknowledge is that the blasting advisory board is an advisory board. Um it's not an event
committee. Um, I think that what Vice Chair Martinez said is true. The giving away of certain trinkets and stuff like that is has a positive effect. Um, but that's not even what
they're what what's um I I I don't see that being a need to to use the the the phrase that we keep talking about, needs versus wants. I don't see that as a need. Um, and then as far as travel and
conferences, I don't think it needs to be $6,000. I think that we have seen a lot of success in the small but focused groups going up as opposed to the big entire committee uh going up. So, for that reason, I'm
going to be recommending that the travel and conferences line item be reduced to 3,000 and the rest zeroed out. I have no objection to that. >> Anyone else? >> I have a small objection. I'd like to kind of get a little more in detail on this in the next.
>> All right. So, so then that that item is kicked over to the budget hearing. A >> just let them know. They'll probably watch, but just let them know to come. >> All right. We are now in Gladis's department. Um the communications and community affairs department. I I'm
going to just throw it out there just based on the comments from the last meeting. the 21,400 for the security guard services. Um, >> okay. So, there's no objection to that item uh being removed. >> All right. So, budget director, madam budget director, that 21,400 for
security guard services for committee meeting after hours uh that can be proposed as a as a cut at the first budget hearing. Any other items within this department? All right. Seeing none,
we're now on 19 of 54 communications. Any uh any particular cuts here at 1954? >> It communications, right? Yeah, because technically this one was communications and community affairs and they even give you the subtotal already there. So,
communications is under a separate line line item there or or I guess several line items, but >> All right. So on under communications, >> council guard Garcia, >> I'd like to see it uh uh go. That draft
award is in the way. I think it's uh >> I'm sorry, which one? >> 11. The communications $11,6 is that $116,000? >> Are you looking at the last column? >> Yeah. I'd like I'd like to see it go
back to uh7 to 97, too. Wait, wait, no, no. I'm sorry, Councilman. I I think you lost all of us in that box. >> We're in communications, >> correct? >> And the uh for 2025 and 2026
at the very end, you have it forundred and >> no, that's 15,000. >> The last one there is 15,000. >> I I understood him. He is saying the total amount the the entire communications he's saying it's it's currently budgeted at 116,000. and he
wants to see it reduced to the 2324 actuals of 97,000. >> So you don't have any particular lines. Okay. So that that handles that. Okay. Um do you have any other specific cuts? Uh >> not on this one. >> Okay. >> Um just a inquiry from me. The the
15,000 um is that part of like I guess a a plan uh that we pay to like a third party for uh social media marketing like what what is that? Where does that 15 come from? So that 15,000 covers our
social media scheduling software. Um it helps us manage all of our social media channels whether it's Instagram, YouTube. Um it creates um efficiency within the department so that our um digital and marketing uh services uh
specialist can handle all of the posting on one platform. >> Okay. Uh and then I will say that this is actually one of the very select few where I don't agree with rem with completely cutting the wireless typing because literally the person's job is on
their phone. >> Wow, look at that. >> On that I can be reasonable >> on that note. Well, on that note, I um if there's nothing further under communications
uh under special events, just as a point of information being that you were all asking me, if you look down second to last line item, other events, the 10,000 for the culinary bike tour and other pop-up events is there. So, the bike the culinary bike tour because that's funded there. That's why I was fine, you know,
for this year getting rid of the other community uh bike rides for the time being, especially since the attendance for the time being has been dwindling. you know, so I think >> rain this year. >> Well, it wasn't just rain. It was just, you know, some there was maybe I think an oversaturation and even trying to
make some of them more themed did did not do enough to boost the 10. So, it's like you would have sometimes like 15 riders and four squad cars if not more, you know. So, it just was a very big uh expense for, you know, the compared to the ridership that you had. >> But, Mr. Mayor, if I may, I participated
in the one last year where the three uh bike bars were completely sold out and there were hundreds. >> I'm talking about the community. No, I'm talking about the community bike rides that I Yeah, >> I'm talking about the culinary bike tour. >> Yeah. No, I was just pointing out the difference of why like especially
because we're keeping the culinary bike tour which is a clearly well attended event and always very popular. So far has seen no drop off that I'm aware of. You know, like I'm willing to kill my own darlings and >> but this year we didn't do it this year. It would have happened in September. It didn't It would have happened. This year
we didn't do it. We did it last year. >> Yeah. >> But not this year. >> But it'll be fun then next year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Just in time for the elections. >> Okay. >> It's a joke, guys. >> Wow. >> Okay.
>> It's probably for the best for the chair. >> Yes, sir. I know we're coming up our 25 year anniversary. It's it's a incredible m milestone, but I think that showing that we're we're willing on on the 25 uh anniversary to do everything we can to
make bring it in under budget would be would be a good, you know, good anniversary gift to the residents. Can we try to get that down to maybe 20 grand? >> I I want to wait for the first budget hearing. not necessarily disagreeing, but I was listening to their last meeting uh in my office earlier today.
And it looks as if there may be an opportunity to cut a few things there, but I know that they do want to include a fireworks show as part of that. And they do want to include um they were even actively talking about bringing in Mario Dam, who probably will have some kind of cost associated with him even though he lives here. Okay. >> So, um I just want to get more
information on where they're at right now with their with their run of show. And then you know frankly just I I mentioned with the other committees push them to get the sponsorships which it should be you know easier for this event than for other events you know >> how about asking participation from all the committees
>> to participate in this and all all of them give up a little bit of certain budgets to help subsidize. >> Can you ask him oh wait uh gladly go ahead >> because it benefits everybody. The ad hoc committee um had their last meeting yesterday um and they will be presenting
the run of show and their proposed event to you all um at the next council meeting here in September. >> Okay. But not but not enough time before the first budget hearing. >> No. >> Okay. So So just let's keep that in mind then um to at least give them a chance
to present. Hey, Councilman Cuadra Garcia. >> Yeah, Mr. I remember I I I love this uh think it's going to be a great event, >> the 25th anniversary, but remember, >> let's not leave the Grams out. They they're going to get jealous. They want
to be involved. >> We're not going to leave them out, but but also the committee needs to be the one to pursue getting those sponsorships. You know, I can't I can't be everywhere at once and neither can all of you. Um so, we need them to go ahead and and start making those requests to the Grams. But yes, the
Grams have been very generous in the past with supporting town events and I don't see especially for our 25th anniversary why they wouldn't want to be a part of that. I agree with you. Anything else within special events? All right, guys. We made it through the general fund. So, the way I know I don't know why you guys are all excited. You
forgot the vice mayor uh wanted to make some uh recommendations regarding the re the special revenue funds, but why don't we handle it this way then? uh un uh for those that already have proposed cuts, go ahead and bring them up now and we can see whether they meet the the
consensus list or not. So, uh Mr. Vice Mayor, you're recognized. >> So, I will admit that on this side of the budget, the special revenue side, I see a lot of opportunity, but the specifics are not there yet. I will
give you the specifics that I have as of now. But then the problem is because each one of these special revenue funds is almost an enterp or or some of them are enterprise funds that are truly their own revenue and their own expenses. I have a reduction but then
nothing to do with it. So so it causes uh the the revenues and the expenses to not be re reconciled. Uh so just fair warning when when I start presenting stuff. Um just quickly on the people's trans the PTP80
um I do think that travel and predium should be reduced to zero. Um I think that the uh repairs wait okay so here was a question on
administrative program expense transportation PTP 5% there's a $74,66 line item the budget comment says administrative overhead expense where does this go who who are we paying here >> Mr. the general fund.
>> That goes to the general fund. >> That's going to the general fund. >> Yes. Okay. >> And it's 5% of what we receive. Um, >> why is it five? >> It's based on a Miami date county ordinance. >> Okay. And then does does that ordinance say at least at most? >> I would have to look at it, but I I
believe it's just it just says 5%. >> Maximum 5%. Darn. All right. So, and if if it's not obvious to you yet, that's going to be the tune of my life for the next week or so until we get to the first budget hearing is finding the the
places here where I can twist words enough to get special revenue funds out of the special revenue funds in certain location. >> You can you cannot take >> No, I disagree with you. I I 100% you keep saying that but there are certain
locations where I feel that more money can be coming out of uh these special revenue funds for their specific purposes. Yes, it has to be if it's a transportation fund, it has to be for transportation, but I think more money can come out for transportation from these special revenue fund. That that's all I'm trying to say.
>> Well, why don't we ask legal to go and look into that for, you know, aside from that >> give them some specific examples. >> Yeah, I'm not going to right now. Um but the uh I also wanted to get into the PTP20. Wait, sorry. Uh in the PTP80, I also
wanted to reduce the education and training uh to 500. I don't know if you want to ask for objections on those three that I brought up. >> Wait, I'm sorry. >> One more time. What? >> Okay. PTP80 is reducing uh travel and pdeium to zero.
>> Okay. Yeah. So uh before I agreed to that agree to that uh Mr. manager. That was a reduction uh to pay or rather that is to pay for what for who's >> travel for staff development. >> That would be our transportation uh
manager and the transportation I'm not sure exactly what his title is. >> Would you have here's the only thing I would say about that Mr. vice mayor is that again the the manager is going to get back to us with uh any if any uh certifications or or trips that are required for something that they have to
do and then come back with any uh trips that are that are requ again for those that are required if any trips that they have to go on would you would you like to wait on that one >> then yeah just apply the same thing to the education and training >> so so we won't make any cuts in the
budget you'll see as a starting point next uh next week we'll just give give you that laundry list and give you an explanation >> of required and and then and conccommit and travel I guess the way to put it or yeah >> also just to state on the record we get audited for the for our PTP funds
>> pardon me I'm sorry >> that we get audited for our PTP funds >> look I I don't want to put anybody in a bad situation um and but again it's just uh we're just trying to get more information again I think the vice may willing to wait >> I I I think you're mistaking me trying
to find solutions for trying to uh skirt requirements. I'm I I do law for a living, you know, like I I figure this stuff out. It's what I do. Uh that's all I'm trying to say is I'm going to find the places here because there's in my opinion, and I could be wrong cuz I like
I said, I I haven't fully digested the special revenue funds, but it looks to me like there's a lot of extra money in here that needs to be coming out >> and you're going to be working with the town attorney as well, specific examples on Okay. Yeah. to try to see what those what those other, you know, permissible areas are, if any.
>> So, >> if any, >> I I have a bone to pick on um the PTP20, which is I thought I could have sworn over a year ago. Uh Mr. Manager, we had an item to figure out how to get rid of
those mover buses. Why is this still a thing? >> They are being auctioned. Tony, exactly when is it that we have the auction? Yeah, we we already have an auction house. >> It's been a challenge to get the final
approval from the uh the federal highway, the one who gave us the grant. We finally got that and then we have been working. We put out a bid. We got the the auction, the one that we were going to use, and we've been negotiating
the agreement with them over the last few weeks. >> Two things. Um, number one, uh, aren't these buses so old that they're they'd be beyond their useful life expectancy even if they had good wrership? >> That's why we got the f finally that was
what sold the federal government allowing us to to to sell them. So, what are we waiting on then? If they already gave us permission to sell it, what are we waiting on? >> We we finally we had to find an auction uh company to do it and now we have one
and we're negotiating the final terms of the agreement with the auction house so we can finally put it out on the on the >> Do we have an estimated value that this thing's going to go for? >> When we we did an appraisal, but now it's probably about 5 years old. That appraisal appraised each one in the
neighborhood of about $98,000 each one. >> K. >> $98,000 each one, but that was about Send it out to No, I thought that those things were worth like maybe a thousand bucks. Um, never mind. Um, okay. >> We have to we have to return at least a
portion of the money. I'm not sure if all of the money to the granting agency to repay that. So, we're we're really not going to benefit too much from >> Okay. The second point I wanted to raise on this is again and I'm going to echo the sentiments of uh former councilwoman
uh Ruano that this is this program is you know to all of us who are here. This is a perfect example of a horrible grant program. A program that we had to eat the costs uh and and that we we were spending $50,000 to house these these
buses that never really had good wrership in some warehouse in Halia. This is a perfect example of matching grants and grants with strings attached that we should have rejected in the first place. Uh that's my two cents. Um
that is I do have an item on reducing obviously the sorry. Okay. Yeah. Transit studies. My favorite word studies. Uh, what is this for? Is this for the speed bumps or is this for something else?
>> $50,000. >> Are you still in PTP 80 or 20? >> 20. >> We're in 20. Yeah, cuz it's transit related. Okay. Yeah, 20. >> The comment says transit studies as needed. >> So, right now, >> I guess he wants to know is what would be the as needed part? >> Like what what's an example of an as
needed uh transit study or or a necessary transit study that may be required of us? Is it to apply for grant funding? Is it uh to get approved? >> Yeah. And and you understand with the PTP money, we are obligated to have at least
20% that goes to transit, right? So if we don't >> Yeah. That's why it's PTB, >> right? So if if we let's say we canceled out the uh the studies line, it would just flow into the contingency line. There would be no residual benefit to any other >> that's what I said at the beginning that
I don't have I have cuts. I don't have what to do with them after >> cuz I haven't fully gotten there yet. >> So, we're saving them for the budget hearing. >> Yeah. If if you want, I can just shut up and save it for for the budget hearing. >> Yeah. I think I think we all want to learn more first before >> Also, um I don't know if this is
required, but a point of order, I'll move to extend the meeting time to allow us to go beyond midnight. >> Yes. Well, I mean, are are you almost done or >> I'm pretty much done, but but >> to just be procedurally correct. Uh so, >> we can't take motions. >> Yeah. We're not allowed to vote,
remember? Oh yeah, that's right. It's a workshop. Yeah. No, >> point point of habit. >> No, actually no. Point of order to the attorney. The that meeting requirement is that only for special calls and for regular council meetings or does it apply to workshops as well? >> That's the way it reads in the charter.
It's for regular meetings and special call meetings >> and not for workshops. Oh, okay. So then we're fine. Yeah, >> man. You should have jumped up like Raul did earlier. I uh I just have one one item within the transit the PTB20 and it regards to the
two line items and in revenues and expenses for the freebie expansion grant. So for the freebie we received $250,000 but it cost us $469,000 or I'm sorry $461,000. So we're paying
$210,000 out of pocket for the freebie service. or is a freebie service. >> We get a grant and we pay for our portion from the PTP bunny. >> Okay, those freebies, they have sponsorship signs on them. Companies
that pay to to display their logos. Where do those funds go? >> If you look at the um advertising in the >> revenue section of that budget, there's a line item called contributions, donations, freebie advertising. That is where it goes. >> It's $7,000.
>> Okay. Okay. On that offset, so it's 257,000 that comes in to pay for 461,000. Correct. >> Okay. >> Keep in mind that the transit budget can only be utilized for transit purposes,
which is what freebie is. >> Okay. Okay. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Yeah. >> Is if there's nothing else, uh our worship is uh finished at 12:05 p.m. A.M. a.m. Sorry, am the next budget
hearing for those that need the reminder will be September 11th at 6:30 p.m. here in council chambers with a separate special call meeting on the FPL franchise fee beginning at 6:00 p.m. Thank you all. >> Actually, yes, for all my colleagues,
these are actual formal meetings. So, uh please wear your suits. That would be the meeting to wear your suits to. Um, again, dress for the job you want. >> Wait, I I do have a question. Are we going to receive a formal budget uh prior to that first budget hearing? >> We'll make the adjustments that there we
believe there was consensus on >> or or at least you Well, yeah. Sorry. >> Yeah. And then we'll we'll make those adjustments and provide that that budget. >> When can we expect it? >> It has to be We're going to have we have to publish it by Friday, right?
>> I believe like the day after tomorrow. >> I believe by Florida statute. It has to be published three days before the actual budget hearing. So, three business days. >> You were giving me basically today and tomorrow to put all of this together. And I still haven't completed all the other funds. So, or not today. Um,
Thursday. No, tomorrow. >> Today is Thursday. Yeah, >> it is now. >> I have tomorrow. >> Yeah, today is Thursday. It's It's midnight, guys. >> Melissa, I want to recognize you for your hard work. >> Thank you.
>> All of you. Sincerely, >> champagne is her drink of choice. >> Oh, so it's mine, too.