[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
AND IT'S 6:00. SO LET'S CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AS WE WELCOME EVERYBODY.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE TO PUT IT IN.
IF IF I MAY, IF THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM, I'D LIKE TO DO THE INVOCATION.
AND IF MR. O'NEILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? OKAY. LET ME GO AHEAD AND JUST STAND AND. FATHER, AS WE COME TOGETHER HERE TODAY.
FIRST OF ALL I'M ASKING FOR YOUR BLESSING ON EACH ONE.
EACH PERSON HERE HAS THEIR HEART FOR THE CITY.
AND FATHER, YOU SAID AT AT ALL POSSIBILITY JUST TO BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
WE JUST ASK FOR THE CONTINUED BLESSING ON EACH, EACH PERSON, EACH LIFE, THEIR FAMILIES, THAT THEY WOULD GO HOME SAFELY AND THAT YOUR GRACE WOULD CONTINUE TO FLOW. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AMEN. MISS TERESA, IF YOU COULD DO THE THE ROLL CALL, MR. DELGADO. PRESENT. MR. MYERS IS ABSENT, MR. MILLER.
MR. GOMEZ ABSENT. MR. NORRIS IS ABSENT, MR. O'NEAL, MISS SEP.
MISS CRAWFORD HERE, MR. CHANDLER. PRESENT. MR. WEINBERG HERE. WONDERFUL. AMEN. SO MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE QUORUM, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. ADOPTION OF MINUTES. HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES.
[ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
AND ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, SUBTRACTIONS.AND IF NONE, MAY I HAVE A A WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE? AMEN. COMMISSIONER MILLER. MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
SECOND. OKAY. WE'LL GO. WEINBERG, SINCE I HEARD HIM FIRST.
AS A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL AGAINST. SAME SIGN.
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC COMMENTS, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE HERE?
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
OKAY. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU RAISE YOUR HAND.THERE YOU GO. YOU'VE RAISED IT. BILL BATTEN, 586 OCEAN SPRAY STREET, SOUTHWEST.
GOING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST MEETING ON THE CHARTER REVIEW.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU INVESTED A WHOLE LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY INTO IT, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH. I HONESTLY DO.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK STAFF, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS, A LOT OF EXTRA TIME AND A LOT OF PRODUCTION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. I SEE THAT ALSO, AND THIS IS THE BY MY STANDARD, I'VE DONE WHAT THIS IS MY FOURTH ONE I'VE SAT IN ON.
IT MADE MY LIFE A WHOLE LOT EASIER, AND I'M HOPING THAT I CAN GET ONE MORE PACKET LIKE I'VE HAD ON EACH ONE OF THESE AT THE NEXT WEEK SOMETIME SHOWING WHAT HAPPENED AT THIS MEETING. WITH THAT, THANK YOU ALL AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND YOU ALL STEPPED UP WHEN I KNOW IT WASN'T YOUR FAVORITE PASTIME.
THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ECHO EVERYTHING BILL BATTEN SAID, AND AS I MENTIONED IN THE PRAYER, I KNOW EVERYBODY HERE PUT THEIR HEART INTO IT.
AND AND SOMETIMES IT GOES OUR WAY. CERTAINLY IN THE PREVIOUS ONE, AS IN THE LAST TIME IT WAS REVIEWED, THINGS DIDN'T GO THE WAY I WANTED TO. AND YET THE HEART WAS IN IT.
AND AND GUESS WHAT? YEARS LATER, I'M STILL ALIVE.
AND WE SURVIVED. AND AND AND BUT AGAIN AS BILL BATTEN SAID ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DID AND PERHAPS MAYBE EVEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS WITH WITH THIS, WITH WHAT WE WERE DOING.
BUT HOWEVER IT LOOKED AT YOU GUYS DID A TERRIFIC JOB AND IT WAS SO APPRECIATED.
[00:05:02]
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE I PASS IT TO THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, THEN SHE'S. READY? OH, YES. YOU HAVE TO USE ITS BEING ON THE INTERNET, SO. JUDY TRANDAHL PEBBLE BEACH AVENUE.THERE'S TWO THINGS I WANT TO BRING UP. I PUT TWO THINGS AT YOUR PLATE.
ONE IS, AGAIN, MARK MILLER'S MOTION. THE WAY I'M READING IT, THE CURRENT AMENDMENT STILL DOES NOT SAY A TOTAL OF 12 YEARS CONSECUTIVE OR NONCONSECUTIVE.
SO THE LITTLE SHORT SHEET WITH THE YELLOW WOULD BE MY RECOLLECTION.
RECOLLECTION OF THE MOTION THAT HE MADE. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE REVIEW THAT AND EITHER CONCUR OR NOT, BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO SAY CONSECUTIVE OR NONCONSECUTIVE AND A TOTAL OF 12 YEARS.
AND THE SECOND SHEETS OF PAPER THAT I LAID ON YOUR DESK IS CONCERNING TO WHAT I BROUGHT UP THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE RESERVE IN THE SINKING FUND BALANCE.
SO I'LL, I GUESS I'LL BE SPEAKING WHEN THAT ITEM AN ITEM COMES UP.
OKAY. THANK YOU. MADAM SMITH, AS AS IT STANDS ON 5.042. JUST TO CURIOSITY. IT DOES SAY A LIMITED TO THREE FOUR YEAR TERMS DOES NOT SPECIFY CONSECUTIVE OR NONCONSECUTIVE. IS IT JUST UNDERSTOOD THAT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT AND THEREFORE IT'S REDUNDANT.
OR DOES IT NEED TO BE PLACED OR SAID IN A DIFFERENT WAY? AS STATED, IT'S 12 YEARS. THE PROPOSED REVISION, I THINK, JUST EMPHASIZES THAT THE TOTAL.
YOU GET IT. IT'S JUST 12 YEARS. BUT I DO THINK THAT THEY BOTH SAY IT.
IT'S JUST ONE EMPHASIZES IT MORE. ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I DID NOTICE THAT WHAT WAS CROSSED OUT WAS IF YOU'RE APPOINTED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR, I DON'T REMEMBER US DECIDING THAT WAS PART OF THE 12 YEAR. SO THE REVISION ALLOWS FOR AN APPOINTMENT OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR IN A TERM NOT TO BE INCLUDED. AS IT STANDS, IT SAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS LIMITATION, A PARTIAL TERM SHALL BE CONSIDERED A FULL TERM. AND THEN WE CROSSED OUT EXCEPT FOR APPOINTMENTS OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR.
MY MEMORY DOESN'T DOESN'T CLICK ON EXACTLY HOW WE WANTED IT WORDED OR WHETHER WE WELL, ONE ELIMINATES THAT. THE ONE THAT. OKAY. SO JUDY GAVE US ALLOWS IT AND I DON'T REMEMBER US DISCUSSING THAT.
SO, DO I NEED TO TO IN REFERENCE TO THIS, THIS THIS OLD BUSINESS? DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION SINCE WE'RE DEVIATING FROM WHAT WE USUALLY SAY? WE SAID PRESENTED A WEEK BEFORE OR EXCUSE ME, PRESENTED FOR THE TIME THAT WE WANTED TO REVIEW THIS, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE REVIEWED IT IN TIMES PAST ALREADY.
DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND HOW WE WERE DOING THINGS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ONE? NO, YOU CAN DO THIS UNDER NEW BUSINESS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE REVIEW OF SUBMISSIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THEN UNDER THE UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
[UNFINISHED AND OLD BUSINESS]
I BELIEVE WE HAD ASKED SOMEBODY TO COME HELP US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE ON THESE THESE MATTERS AND, AND, SO WE WELCOME COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, BUT GIVE ME YOUR NAME AGAIN.LARRY WOJCIECHOWSKI. LARRY, W. LARRY W FINANCE DIRECTOR.
[00:10:07]
BONDS, IF I MAY. THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP PERTAINING TO SETTING ASIDE OR HAVING THE CITIZENS OF PALM BAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUY BONDS THAT WERE THAT WE HAVE BEING SOLD. SO I ADDRESSED THAT WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL.AND YES, THERE'S WAYS TO DO THIS, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF STIPULATIONS.
AND THE UNDERWRITER OFFERING THE LOWEST TRUE INTEREST RATE WOULD GET THE BID.
IN THIS METHOD, THE CITY HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER WHO THIS UNDERWRITER IS AND WHO THE ULTIMATE END INVESTORS ARE, SO THEY CHOOSE. THEY NORMALLY GO TO NEW YORK AND THE BIG BROKERAGE FIRMS BUY UP ALL THE BONDS.
THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENS. THEN THERE'S THE NEGOTIATED SALE.
THIS SALE REQUIRES THE CITY, THE CITY, THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO HIRE AN UNDERWRITER.
AT THE OUTSET OF THE TRANSACTION, THEY WORK WITH THE CITY FINANCE TEAM THROUGHOUT THE DEAL, AND AT THE END OF THE PRICING IS DIRECTLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNDERWRITER.
SO ANY RETAIL ORDERS WOULD GET FILLED FIRST AND THEN INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS COULD DO IT.
THEN PFM, WHO IS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, THE BOND COUNCIL WENT ON TO SAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO A LOCAL, THEY WOULD NOTE THAT ANY RETAIL ORDERS ARE GENERALLY A VERY SMALL COMPONENT OF ANY OVERALL TRANSACTION.
AND THEN THEY SAY, WE CAN DISCUSS THIS IF IT EVER COMES TO BE.
SO I ASKED THE QUESTION, I SAID, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE FOR IT TO SOMEBODY WITHIN THE CITY OF PALM BAY TO PURCHASE ANYTHING? MINIMUM PURCHASE IS $5,000. SO IT'S AVAILABLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MINIMUM $5,000 AVAILABLE PER PURCHASER.
THEY ALSO SAID GENERALLY THEY RECOMMEND THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS BECAUSE THAT'S EASIER PROCESS.
IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD TRANSACTION BEING DONE THROUGH A STABLE MARKET.
HOWEVER, A NEGOTIATED SALE. THERE'S WAYS TO DO THIS IF THERE'S A STORY BEHIND IT, WHICH THE STORY IS, THE DESIRE WOULD BE TO HAVE LOCAL PEOPLE PURCHASE.
THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO DO NEGOTIATED SALES. THEY NORMALLY, AGAIN LIKE TO DO COMPETITIVE SALES BECAUSE IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S CHEAPER FOR THE CITY TO DO THAT WAY. YOU'RE NOT HOLDING FUNDS BACK OR BONDS BACK FOR PROBABLY A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE CITY IF ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO BUY BONDS. SO IT LEAVES IT LONGER OPEN, SO IT DELAYS THE SELLING OF THE BONDS ALSO.
HOWEVER, THEY SAID WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS BEFORE YOU DO.
ANY BONDING IS OF COURSE, LOOK AT WHAT THE MARKET LOOKS LIKE AND JUST TALK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SEE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. IS IT VOLATILE? WHERE'S THE INTEREST RATES? WHERE'S THE YIELD? ALL THOSE QUESTIONS COME INTO PLAY AS TO WHICH WAY YOU WANT TO GO.
I WAS THE ONE WHO ASKED THAT QUESTION. BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT IF WE LOSE OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GO AWAY, BUT THERE'S ALSO PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, HOW'S THE CITY GOING TO SURVIVE? SO MY THOUGHT WAS, IF WE HAD A BOND LIKE, SAY, EARMARKED FOR POLICE AND FIRE OR WHATEVER, IS THAT POSSIBLE? BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, INVEST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SOMEHOW.
SO COULD IT BE THAT SPECIFIC OR IS IT JUST A GENERAL? WELL, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD END UP HAVING TO GO TO REFERENDUM TO ASK FOR BONDS.
WELL TO SELL THEM TO CITIZENS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'VE BOUGHT BONDS IN THE PAST, BUT THEY WEREN'T $5,000, YOU KNOW. RIGHT. BUT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO INVEST, I MEAN, EVEN SOME OF THE POLICE AND FIRE MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THEM WOULD BE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE PURCHASING IF ANYBODY,
[00:15:03]
I MEAN, AGAIN, THEY WOULD DO IT. YOU NEVER KNOW MORE THAN A TRY THOUGH, WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET, THE STABILITY, INTEREST RATES, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.BUY A BOND. LIKE COULD IT BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE BUYING BOND? YOU'RE ASKING A QUESTION I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER, I DON'T KNOW.
OH, OKAY. YES, MA'AM. DID Y'ALL DISCUSS RISKS? RISK OF ANY OF THE BONDS? OKAY. MY FIRST AND FOREMOST CONCERN IS I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING IN HERE AND BUYING UP THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, WITH ANY SORT OF MECHANISM. THEY WOULD HAVE.
NO, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER MAJORITY SAY, WITHIN THE CITY.
OKAY. I JUST I'M JUST ASKING THAT THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, GO IN AND THINK, WELL, I OWN THE CITY NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS MUCH MONEY THAT I INVESTED IN BONDS AND WHATEVER WAY, SHAPE OR FORM YOU DISCUSSED IT. SO THAT IS A BACK DOOR TO SHARIA LAW IN MY MIND.
BUT THAT'S ME. I GO THAT WAY. GOOD QUESTION THOUGH.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION ON BONDS? DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON BONDS? YES. OKAY. OH, YEAH.
I THINK I HAVE A LOUD MOUTH. SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHO BUYS THEM, CAN FOREIGN COUNTRIES BUY THE BONDS? FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW THE FOREIGN COUNTRIES OWN A LOT OF MERRITT ISLAND. A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY FOLLOW ALL THE GUIDELINES.
YES. OKAY. BUT THEY WOULD HAVE NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING.
IT'S JUST YOU INVEST AND YOU GET INTEREST. ALL THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE JUST THEY'RE BUYING THE BONDS THAT WE'RE EARNING THE MONEY TO DO WHATEVER THOSE BONDS WERE BEING PURCHASED FOR. THAT'S THE EXTENT OF AND THEY'RE GETTING INTEREST.
AND BASICALLY WE PAY IT BACK AT THE END PLUS INTEREST.
CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON BONDS? I DIDN'T SEE ANY MOTION FOR THE BOND. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION FOR THE BOND? OKAY. AND THE SECOND QUESTION I BELIEVE WAS ON SINKING FUNDS.
IT WAS ABOUT SINKING. AND PAM, DO YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR QUESTION? IT SHE'S. I'M ASKING, DID YOU WANT. WELL, NO.
OKAY. JUDY AGAIN. WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT SINKING FUNDS AND I SPOKE LAST MEETING WE'RE PAYING OFF $150 MILLION DEBT THAT DID NOT COVER ALL OF THE ROADS.
SO MY THOUGHT AND PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO EITHER SET UP AND I KNOW THIS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A REFERENDUM TO SET UP A CONTINUATION. DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW, WHEN THE PAYOFF OF THOSE BONDS OF THE.
WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAID OFF. WHEN WILL THEY BE PAID OFF? LET'S SEE. THE LAST ONE IS GOING TO BE 2043. 43.
SO. BY 43, ACCORDING TO ROAD MAINTENANCE AND ETC.. ROAD REPLACEMENTS, SINCE WE STARTED IN 2020, ACTUALLY REPAVING AND RESURFACING ROADS, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN BETWEEN 2035 AND 2040. SO WE'LL BE STILL PAYING ON THOSE BONDS, BUT OUR ROADS ARE GOING TO BE IN DISARRAY AGAIN.
SO MY PROPOSAL IS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DONE BY CHARTER REVIEW.
BY THE CHARTER TO CREATE I THINK I CALLED IT ROADWAY LIFE CYCLE REPLACEMENT RESERVE FUND. AND THAT WOULD BE BY CHARTER THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO INVEST AN AMOUNT OF MONEY ANNUALLY. HOWEVER, YOU DO IT STRICTLY FOR REPLACEMENT AND RESURFACING SO THAT 15 TO 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THE MONEY WILL BE SITTING IN HOPEFULLY AN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT AND BE ABLE TO
[00:20:09]
START RESURFACING THE ROADS WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.OTHERWISE, THE LAST PAGE OF THIS IS GOING TO SHOW YOU WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT HERE.
WHERE WE SHOULD BE RIGHT HERE. SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING IN THE CHARTER THAT THAT LIVES WITH THIS COUNCIL, WITH THE NEXT COUNCIL AND HOWEVER MANY COUNCILS FROM HERE ON SO THAT THEY CANNOT SAY, WELL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY THIS YEAR, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT IF IT'S IN THE CHARTER, IT HAS TO BE DONE. SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SEEKING FUNDS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE. SO I THINK I HAVE IT PRETTY MUCH WHAT MY THOUGHTS WERE OUT HERE ON ON THE THE PAPERWORK.
SO I DON'T HAVE TO READ EVERYTHING, BUT I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WE ARE THE PROTECTORS OF THE FUTURE AND 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN THOSE CITIZENS ARE COMPLAINING THAT THE ROADS NEED RESURFACING, THEY'RE GOING TO THINK THIS CHARTER REVIEW, THIS CITY COUNCIL AND THIS CITY STAFF FOR THINKING AHEAD.
SO THAT WAS MY POINT. OKAY. WELL, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS, YES, THE CITY HAS MULTIPLE SINKING FUNDS AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM REAL QUICK.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ANY DETAIL FOR YOU BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S ACTUALLY NO REASON TO GO INTO THE DETAIL AS FAR AS THE WE HAVE FIVE DEBT ACCOUNTS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE SINKING FUNDS. SINKING FUNDS FOR THESE PARTICULAR DEBTS ARE NOT THE GEO BONDS.
THE GEO BONDS ARE SUPPORTED BY AD VALOREM TAXES.
SO THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A SINKING FUND FOR THOSE.
THAT'S JUST MONEY COMING IN AND GOING RIGHT BACK OUT.
OKAY. GO BACK AND JUST DEFINE FOR ME WHAT SEATING FUND IS SINKING.
WE ALSO HAVE, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WE THE CITY MANAGER THIS YEAR ACTUALLY SET UP A A SINKING FUND FOR FLEET SERVICES.
SET ASIDE $600,000 FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASES OF FLEET BECAUSE AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, YOU HAVE VEHICLES THAT GET PULLED OFF OF THE STREET, THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO BACK OUT. SO HE DECIDED TO START SETTING MONEY ASIDE.
AND THIS IS JUST SEED MONEY, $600,000 TO SET IT ASIDE.
HAVE WE DIPPED INTO IT THIS YEAR TO USE? NO, WE HAVE NOT.
WE'RE HOPING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT UP ON A YEARLY BASIS.
AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN TO DO THAT, WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA.
THESE ARE TWO UNOFFICIAL SINKING FUNDS THAT I'M GOING TO MENTION.
WE HAVE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO SET ASIDE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF ACTIVITY OF, OF CITY ACTIVITY. AND THAT'S $20 MILLION THAT WE SET ASIDE.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S BASED ON PRIOR YEAR ACTIVITY EVERY YEAR, EVERY TIME.
THIS TIME, IT'S $20.8 MILLION FOR THIS YEAR THAT WE SET ASIDE IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
THE WORLD NO AD VALOREM TAX COMES, COMES IN. WE STILL HAVE TO KEEP PAYING OUR BILLS.
SO WE HAVE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE. WE ALSO DID A STABILIZATION FUND FOR EMERGENCIES.
THE HURRICANE COMES THROUGH OR SOME OTHER NATURAL DISASTER.
WE CAN DIP INTO THOSE FUNDS. SO WE'RE NOT DIPPING INTO OUR REGULAR OPERATING FUNDS TO PAY.
I'M GOING TO SAY WASTE MANAGEMENT TO COME IN AND PICK UP DEBRIS TO FIX ROADS.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING? IF I MAY INTERRUPT REAL QUICK, PLEASE.
WHO SET THAT UP? IS IT DONE BY THE DAIS OR IS IT DONE BY THE CITY MANAGER? THAT'S ACTUALLY SET UP WITHIN OUR POLICY. WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE POLICY, AND THE STABILIZATION FUND WAS ORIGINALLY DONE IN 2021 IS WHEN IT WAS ADDED. SO OKAY, WE ALSO HAVE. GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT PLEASE.
[00:25:03]
LET'S SEE, WE HAVE 2.5. EXCUSE ME, $1 MILLION.AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A AN UNOFFICIAL SINKING FUND.
WE SET ASIDE $1 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING FUND.
WE'RE SETTING MONEY ASIDE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START BUILDING A FIRE STATIONS, POLICE STATIONS. WE HAVE TO BUY LAND. STARTING TO SET THAT MONEY ASIDE AGAIN.
THAT WAS THE NEW CITY MANAGER THAT IT'S AN UNOFFICIAL SINKING, SINKING FUND.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS ALL THE SINKING FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.
OH, I'M SORRY. THERE IS ONE MORE, AND I APOLOGIZE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WE HAVE THE TWO YEAR, EXCUSE ME, THE TWO MONTH MINIMUM.
THE RESERVE ON WHAT? IT'S THE THE TWO MONTH RESERVE THAT WE HAVE TO SET ASIDE THE $20 MILLION, HE SAID. ON TOP OF THAT, HE HE WANTS TO START SETTING ASIDE ABOUT $2.5 MILLION A YEAR TO INCREASE THAT FUND BALANCE EVEN MORE.
HE WOULD DESIRE TO GET TO A THREE MONTH. MY QUESTION IS THIS.
SO WE ESTABLISHED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THEN A COUPLE OF SINKING FUNDS.
CAN I ASSUME IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE INCREASED IN INCOME AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY SLICE OFF THIS AMOUNT AND FILL IN THESE SINKING FUNDS? YOU HAVE THAT AND YOU ALSO HAD PRIOR YEARS. WE HAD UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE THAT WAS JUST SITTING THERE.
SO IT'S NOT GOING BACK EVERY COUNCIL MEETING TO SPEND THE MONEY DOWN.
IT'S THERE. IT'S DESIGNATED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE.
THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. CONGRATULATIONS.
WELL THOUGHT OUT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO, COMMISSIONER RUTH.
SO DOES THAT MEAN WHEN YOU SAY THE UNDESIGNATED FUND IS NOW BEING LIKE BASICALLY ONE OF PROCESSES IN FUND MANAGEMENT IS EVERY DOLLAR HAS A NAME.
SO IS THAT TRUE IN THIS BUDGET? MOST OF IT, YES.
BECAUSE OF COURSE, TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU DON'T KNOW YOU DEVELOP A BUDGET STARTING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DEVELOPING A BUDGET. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 30TH.
SO WE ALWAYS BUDGET SHORT KNOWING THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DO IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO OVERCOMMIT YOURSELF, RIGHT? OKAY. FOR THE MOST PART, THOUGH, YOU'RE WORKING ON LIKE EVERY DOLLAR HAS A NAME.
YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THAT EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO WHEN WHEN YOU MAKE THE STATEMENT UNOFFICIAL SINKING FUND, DOES THAT MEAN THAT FUND CAN BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS SHOULD THEY DECIDE BECAUSE IT'S UNOFFICIAL, OR DOES IT STILL DESIGNATED EVEN THOUGH IT'S UNOFFICIAL OR DEFINE UNOFFICIAL VERSUS OFFICIAL? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? IT THE SINKING FUND FOR LAKE FLEET.
THE CITY MANAGER DECIDED TO CREATE THAT FUND.
HE COULD ALWAYS DECIDE TO CHANGE. LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION.
IF YOU HAVE AN UNOFFICIAL FUND, CAN WE ARBITRARILY, SINCE IT'S NOT OFFICIAL? ARBITRARILY SAY, WELL, IT WAS GOING TO BE FOR THIS, BUT NOW WE'RE DECIDING TO APPLY IT TO THIS OTHER AREA.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO. I WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL DECISION TO MOVE THAT THAT MONEY. YES. OKAY. SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO DO WHAT JUDY IS PROPOSING IS THAT WE HAVE ONE SPECIFICALLY FOR ROADS.
RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? YEAH.
THAT'S THERE IS, THERE IS, THERE IS ONE MORE.
AND I PROBABLY HAVEN'T TURNED OVER THE PAPER YET. THERE'S ONE MORE STILL.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL ONE. IT'S LIKE $2.5 MILLION.
SUZANNE SHERMAN ORIGINALLY CREATED IT WHERE SHE IS, I BELIEVE.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT IS WHERE SHE DECIDED TO START SETTING MONEY ASIDE.
FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO, $2.5 MILLION OR THEREABOUTS EVERY YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.
THERE WAS ALSO ANY TIME WE SOLD PROPERTY, IT WAS DEEMED THAT THAT MONEY WOULD DROP INTO THAT FUND, SO IT WOULD GO TOWARDS ROADS AGAIN. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PART, THE BCRA, OF COURSE, THAT IS NOW SUNSETTED.
[00:30:03]
AFTER ALL, THE ALL THE PAPERWORK IS WORKED OUT ON A YEARLY BASIS.OF THE REMAINING MONEY THAT WAS LEFT, WHATEVER WAS LEFT STAYED WITH THE CITY.
BUT IT ALSO WENT INTO THAT MAINTENANCE FUND, ROAD MAINTENANCE.
SO THERE HAS BEEN MONEY GOING INTO A FUND. HOWEVER, IT HASN'T OFFICIALLY BEEN ESTABLISHED AND SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR. IT IS JUST WE'VE ALWAYS COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND SAID, WE RECEIVED THIS MONEY FROM THE SALE OF PROPERTY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT TOWARDS THE MAINTENANCE OF ROADS, AND IT HAS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, IT HAS ALWAYS GONE THERE.
YES, MA'AM. IF SO, THAT MONEY THAT YOU DO. PLEASE, PLEASE ON THE MIC, PLEASE.
I'M SORRY. YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST SIT DOWN IF YOU.
SO BASICALLY, THAT FUND THAT YOU DO SET ASIDE 2.5 MILLION.
THAT GOES FOR LIKE FIXING POTHOLES AND EMERGENCIES AND A ROAD WASHES OUT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I AM TALKING ABOUT A REAL ROAD RESERVE.
FOR 20 YEARS DOING THAT, IT'S JUST NOT AS BIG AS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT WE ARE SETTING SOME MONEY ASIDE. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT FOR FOR 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO THAT 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THEY CAN SAY, THANK GOD FOR THAT CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE THINKING WITH FORESIGHT. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
NOT POTHOLES. THE LITTLE STUFF, NOT THE LITTLE STUFF I'M TALKING.
SAVE IT. 20 YEARS FROM NOW, THE MONEY'S GOING TO BE SITTING THERE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO IN DEBT.
AND ISN'T IT IN THE BIBLE THAT IF YOU, THE DEBTOR, IS ENSLAVED TO THE LENDER? SO I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE CITY OF PALM BAY IN DEBT, I REALLY DON'T.
I WANT TO SEE HIM RIGHT UP THERE PAYING THEIR OWN WAY.
OKAY. AND JULIE, JUST. I WANT TO STAY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S HERE.
THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THREE MINUTES PER ITEM, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT.
WE HAVE YOUR INFORMATION HERE. WE'VE GOT A VERY GREAT VISUAL AND WE UNDERSTAND YOUR YOUR POINT.
BEFORE I GET HOLD OF YOU, WE'VE GOT SOME HANDS HERE.
READING THE POLICY VERBIAGE HERE, IT'S KIND OF VAGUE TO ME BECAUSE I CAN SEE IT ON A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD, AND THE SIDE I'M GOING TO PICK IS IF WE'RE DEALING WITH A OFFICIAL SINKING FUND.
THE CITY COULD DEEM THAT FUND TO USE IT TO SATISFY ANOTHER OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS FOR THE CITY.
AM I READING THAT CORRECT OR EXPLAINING THAT CORRECT TO YOU? LET ME SEE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE CURRENT CHARTER. OKAY. YEAH. SO LET'S GO ON A LIMB AND SAY WE DO HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF A OFFICIAL ROAD RESERVE AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS GETS PUT INTO POLICY AND THE CITY, LET'S SAY, POORLY MANAGES ANOTHER DEBT.
ARE THEY ALLOWED TO REACH INTO ANOTHER OFFICIAL FUND TO PAY OFF OTHER DEBTS? NORMALLY BECAUSE. BECAUSE THE MONEY, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO UP FRONT, IS YOU HAVE TO DESIGNATE AND STATE WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING YOU'RE GOING TO UTILIZE TO PAY THAT DEBT. NORMALLY, YOU'RE LOCKED INTO IF IT'S AD VALOREM, YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH AD VALOREM.
SO IT'S VERY HARD TO CROSS OVER. IN FACT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CROSS THOSE BOUNDS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT CLEARED UP A MAJOR QUESTION FOR ME WITH HOW OUR SINKING FUNDS ARE BEING UTILIZED, THAT THEY DO HAVE ACTUAL PURPOSES. AND IT'S NOT JUST PAPER WALLS.
THANK YOU. SURE. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO, IN ADDITION TO IT, IF WE WERE TO CREATE A SINKING FUND, IF IT IF IT BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER GENERAL OR WE'D HAVE TO REBALANCE THE BOOKS, BOOK, SO TO SPEAK, TO TAKE THE MONIES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IT INTO A SINKING FUND.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE SAID WE WANT FIVE, I'M JUST A NUMBER.
[00:35:02]
FOR A NUMBER, WE WANT 5 MILLION A YEAR SINKING FUND FOR FOR THE ROADS.WELL, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET. WE'D HAVE TO FIND OUT, OKAY. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE 5 MILLION FROM? WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM HERE. SOMETHING FROM HERE? WE'D HAVE TO GET PETER TO PAY PAUL.
WOULD I BE CORRECT IN THAT ASSUMPTION? THAT. OR YOU WOULD JUST BASE IT OFF OF THE VALUATION OF PROPERTY IF PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP? YOU COULD PULL THE NEW MONEY FROM THAT AND JUST SET IT ASIDE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, THOUGH, IS OF COURSE, WHEN PROPERTY VALUES START GOING DOWN, NOW YOU'RE GOING TO START DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO FUND THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PULL IT FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE UP FOR IT, OR YOU BACK AWAY AND SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO FUND THAT SINKING FUND ANYMORE UNTIL THE ECONOMY TURNS.
THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS. COMMISSIONER. RUTH, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP TOO? YOU DID NOT. YOU'RE FINE. WAS IT YOU? OR YOU CAN SIMPLY JUST BREAK THE CAP.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN THEN BREAK THE CAP TO THEN ULTIMATELY FUND THIS FUND.
YOU HAVE TO LIST OUT THE THE THE REASONS WHY YOU'RE DOING THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY NECESSITATE A CRITICAL NEED.
AND IF YOU'RE MANDATING COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK THE CAP. YEAH. YEAH. KEN, IT'S A LEGAL ISSUE, OF COURSE, BUT IT'S ALSO COUNCIL DECISION.
YOU SAID AN EMERGENCY NEED. IT'S THE ONLY TIME THEY CAN BREAK THE CAP. NO, IT'S A CRITICAL NEED.
IF YOU PUT THAT IN THE CITY CHARTER. SO, YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT IT IS, IS WE ALREADY HAVE A ROAD MAINTENANCE FUND AND IT'S BEING FUNDED EACH YEAR. NOT ENOUGH RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT WHICH IT DELINEATES HOW MUCH IS SET ASIDE FOR RESURFACING, HOW MUCH IS SET ASIDE FOR FOR REJUVENATION AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.
SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED. IT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF.
WONDERFUL. COMMISSIONER SEP. I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.
COULD IT COULD THINGS BE FUNDED BY, SAY WE STARTED CONTRACTING IN PARKS DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT FACTIONS, LIKE SOMEONE TO DO A, A PITCH AND PUTT, WHATEVER.
AND THE CONTRACT SAID REVENUES COME 5050. WOULD THAT BE A SOURCE THAT THEY COULD USE TO DESIGNATE FOR WHATEVER FUND OR WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY GO IF YOU DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF THEY WERE USING RECREATIONAL PROPERTY, THEN YOU WOULD WANT THE FUNDING ACTUALLY TO DROP IT BACK INTO PARKS AND RECREATION.
NO, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO I'M GOING TO RUN WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S AN EASY ONE. THEN YOU COULD ULTIMATELY BACK DOWN THE FUNDING THAT YOU'RE PULLING FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING THIS OTHER SOURCE OF REVENUE AS AN OPTION.
OKAY. NOT THAT IT'S A LOT, BUT IF IT'S EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.
YOU'D BE SURPRISED. EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. I DID IT IN NEW YORK.
THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY. NO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS BECAUSE I'M ON SUSTAINABILITY BOARD.
SO I'M LOOKING AT TURNING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES INTO MONETARY PROFITABLE THINGS.
AND THE BIGGEST OPPOSITION TO ANY OF THAT STUFF IS USUALLY, WELL, WHEN WE COLLECT IT, WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT INTO A.
YES. RIGHT. MOST DEFINITELY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DO I HAVE A MOTION? IN THAT THERE'S NO MOTION.
I BELIEVE THAT COVERS OLD BUSINESS. MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
LARRY. THANK YOU. LARRY, W THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR GIVING US THE INFORMATION AND TAKING TIME TO DO THAT OUT OF YOUR YOUR EVENING SCHEDULE. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO GIVE US A HOLLER. THANK YOU SIR.
[00:40:02]
OKAY. OKAY. GOING INTO NEW BUSINESS REVIEW, A PROPOSED AMENDMENTS OF SUBMISSION AND EXCUSE ME, THERE WAS ONE MORE UNDER OLD BUSINESS.OH, THERE WAS, WHICH WAS ARTICLE EIGHT. ARTICLE EIGHT.
OH, I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PUBLIC SAFETY, BY COMMISSIONER MILLER.
RIGHT HERE. FEEL FREE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.
APOLOGIES. I WASN'T HERE LAST MEETING, BUT MY QUESTION IS REALLY A KIND OF A QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
THE CHARTER ONLY SAYS WE HAVE TO HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR PROCESSES OR PROCEDURES, POLICIES THAT SETS MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S, I DON'T KNOW, RESPONSE TIME, NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS PER CAPITA OR OR SOMETHING. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT REGULATES OR DEFINES WHAT OUR POLICE AND FIRE SHOULD CONSIST OF? I'M GONNA COME OVER HERE. MR. MILLER'S QUESTION WAS SUBMITTED TO OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE NO REPRESENTATION FROM EITHER OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, SO I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU. OKAY.
ANOTHER QUESTION. NOT FORGETTING YOUR QUESTION.
WHY IS IT JUST THOSE TWO THAT ARE LISTED THERE? THERE MUST BE A FIRE DEPARTMENT. MUST BE A POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHY DOESN'T IT SAY.
AND THERE MUST BE A UTILITY DEPARTMENT AND THERE MUST BE.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE BEHIND HAVING THAT SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST PLACE? THAT I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
THOSE ARE THE MAIN DEPARTMENTS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO THAT THAT THAT'S MY ONLY ASSUMPTION AGAIN.
COMMISSIONER WEINBERG YES, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FIRST RESPONDER. EXACTLY.
WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUR LOCAL YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE COUNTY OR UTILIZING COUNTY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY IN THAT CASE. OKAY.
BUT SECONDLY, THE SECOND PART OF IT. WHAT MARK BROUGHT UP IS THE FACT THAT THERE IS THERE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS, THERE ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FIRE SAFETY AND FOR POLICE SAFETY THAT SET A MINIMUM NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS PER CAPITA.
THE RESPONSE TIME FOR BOTH BOTH POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE DON'T MEET THOSE STANDARDS YET. WE'VE BEEN HIRING MORE FIRE MORE FIREMEN.
WE'VE BEEN HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE'RE STILL BELOW THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR FOR RESPONSE TIME FOR THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS PER, PER CAPITA. SO WE'RE SLOWLY GETTING BETTER.
SO IF I WHY WE'RE BUILDING MORE FIRE STATIONS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HIRING MORE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, I GET THAT. AND LOOK, SAFETY AND SECURITY TO ME IS ONE OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONAL THINGS THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE PROVIDING TO ITS PEOPLE.
RIGHT? SAFETY AND SECURITY. SO I'M 100% IN FAVOR OF IT.
I WAS JUST I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE STANDARDS ARE SET.
WHERE ARE THEY CALLED OUT IN THIS CITY? I UNDERSTAND THERE'S NATIONAL STANDARDS.
DO WE INVOKE THOSE IN ANY KIND OF POLICY SOMEWHERE? YEAH. WELL, WHEN YOU SAY INVOKE THEM IN ANY KIND OF POLICY, WE'RE TRYING TO REACH THOSE STANDARDS.
I GET THAT. I GUESS LET ME CLARIFY. IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT NEEDS TO SAY IN HERE OR IN ANYWHERE THAT WE SHALL FOLLOW THESE STANDARDS, WHETHER IT'S LOCAL, COUNTY OR STATE OR NATIONAL, BECAUSE THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE JUST MAKING UP STUFF ALONG THE WAY.
SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MILLER IN THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DESIGNATED IN EACH ONE OF THESE THINGS THAT SAYS, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE STANDARD? THERE'S THREE THREE REASONS I, I BRING IT UP.
ONE IS OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF GROWTH. SO IS IT REQUIRED SOMEWHERE? IN OUR DOCUMENTS THAT SAYS WE MUST HAVE A RESPONSE TIME OR A CERTAIN PER CAPITA POLICE.
AND IF SO, AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, YOU KNOW, 20, 30,000 PEOPLE MOVING HERE, THEN IT SHOULDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO US THAT WE NEED TO BUILD A NEW FIRE STATION OR WE NEED 100 NEW POLICE OFFICERS.
[00:45:02]
SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT BUDGETED. WE KNOW THE GROWTH THAT'S COMING.IF THERE'S A STANDARD CALLED OUT SOMEWHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE FINANCE PACKAGE WHEN WE'RE APPROVING NEW DEVELOPMENTS, IN MY OPINION. THE THE COUNCIL VOTED LAST YEAR TO EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVED CAP OF 3% FOR FIRE TRUCKS.
I'M ALL FOR MAKING SURE EVERYBODY'S SAFE, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO IN THEORY, WE MEET THE CHARTER.
I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE COVERAGE. DON'T MISS WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M JUST SAYING WHAT IS DRIVING WHAT DRIVES THE THE NUMBER? IS IT AN ARBITRARY THING THAT WE JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE? OR DO WE HAVE A CERTAIN REQUIREMENT THAT WE NEED TO MEET? AND IT'S A QUESTION, RIGHT? AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION IS, IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT'S ARBITRARY, SHOULD IT BE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE CHARTER OR A POLICY FOR THE POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT? MADAM SMITH HAD HAD SOMETHING THAT SHE'D LIKE TO SHARE.
IT WENT TO P AND Z WAS TABLES COMING BACK AS FAR AS TO CREATE LEVELS OF SERVICE FOR POLICE AND FIRE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE LEVELS OF SERVICE STANDARDS FOR ROADS.
AND WE'LL HAVE PAYMENTS PROPORTIONATE FAIR SHARE, LIKE WE HAVE ROWS BECAUSE THERE'S A LEVEL OF SERVICE LEVEL STANDARDS FOR ROADS, THERE'S FOR PARKS, BUT THERE IS A PROPOSAL THAT IS PENDING THAT'S MAKING ITS WAY THAT WILL BE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO ALL DEVELOPMENT FROM THERE ON WILL BE COMPARED TO THAT AND HOW IT FULFILLS THAT.
YES. THAT IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS BACK IN 92.
OKAY. AND IF IF IF WE DID SET STANDARDS AND ASSUMING, OF COURSE, THAT THERE'S ALREADY STANDARDS ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE HAVE TO ASSUMING THAT WE DON'T MEET THE STANDARDS, BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS? OKAY. YOU DIDN'T MEET THE STANDARDS. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. AS YOU SAID, WE'RE NOT.
WE'RE NOT THERE YET. WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IT. BUT THERE'S NO PENALTY. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO FORCE BEHIND IT SAYING IF YOU DON'T, THEN YOU WILL FORFEIT YOUR CITY CHARTER OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
I'M EXAGGERATING, OF COURSE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING BEHIND OTHER THAN THIS IS THE STANDARD YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A MANDATE REQUIRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY DEPARTMENT TO MEET ALL THE NATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS.
ALL THE MONEY FROM THE BUDGET WOULD GO INTO IT.
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THAT ALL AT ONCE AND TO REQUIRE THAT IN THE CITY CHARTER.
WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE CITY IS DOING IS, LIKE I SAID, LOOK, YOU CAN LOOK SEE, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS OFTEN HOW MANY FIRE, HOW MANY FIREMEN THEY'VE ADDED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HOW MANY POLICE OFFICERS THEY'VE ADDED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND CONTINUING TO DO SO? DON'T FORGET, FOR EACH FIRE STATION THAT THAT OPENS, WHICH WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER ONE OPENING.
AND I THINK IT'S THE THE 12TH IS IS YOU HAVE TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT.
YOU HAVE TO BUY THE FIRE TRUCKS. YOU HAVE TO BUY ALL THE, THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, FOR THE POLICE OFFICER. YOU HAVE TO BUY NEW, NEW CARS FOR ALL THIS STUFF.
SURE. SO WHAT? YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S.
SO WHAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT? WELL, THERE IS NOT IT'S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SERVICE LEVEL.
IT'S WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO PUT UP WITH ESSENTIALLY.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IMPROVING IT. AND I AGREE WITH IT.
IT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. OUR FIRE RESPONSE TIMES HAVE IMPROVED.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TIMES HAVE IMPROVED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE OPENING THAT NEW FIRE STATION ON ON PALM BAY ROAD.
AND YOU KNOW, WHICH REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES IN THE NORTHEAST SECTION.
IN THE NORTH. IN THE NORTHWEST SECTION. SO, YOU KNOW CITY COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE OF IT.
YEP. I AGREE WITH YOU. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT INVESTMENT OVER THE YEARS.
MY IT'S JUST A QUESTION, QUITE HONESTLY. WHAT IS AN ACCEPTABLE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WHERE HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET SHOULD BE SET TOWARDS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THE CITY DOES. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S IT'S WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.
[00:50:05]
THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING. RIGHT. WELL, DO WHAT WE CAN DO WITH WHAT WE GOT.AND IT'S A GENERIC, GENERIC STATEMENT TO THE FOLKS THAT WE VOTE IN BEHIND US.
MAYBE IT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO VOTE OR, YOU KNOW, JUST A QUESTION.
ANY OTHER. WE HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. AMEN.
ANYBODY? DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE? BILL BATTEN, WHEN YOU START SETTING STANDARD CRITERIA IN THE CHARTER FOR ANY REASON, IF YOU CANNOT MEET BECAUSE IT'S CHARGE OR CHARTER MANDATED, JUST SUPPOSE TIMES GOT VERY STRICT WITH FUNDING SOURCES LIKE WE HAVE HAD.
WE WANT TO HAVE ALL THE THINGS FUNCTIONING TO THE BEST ABILITY THAT YOU CAN.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SOME GUIDELINE IN THE CHARTER THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO GIVE ALL OF THIS TO THE POLICE AND FIRE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY WOULD SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO STOP ROAD MAINTENANCE.
COULDN'T GO AGAINST THE CHARTER. SO AS A RESULT, YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE IS GOING.
TO GO DOWN IN SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOU MANDATED WHAT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT WAS GOING.
TO BE IN YOUR CHARTER FOR POLICE AND FIRE, WHICH ALREADY IS FOR 40% OF OUR STAFF AND FACULTY.
AND EMPLOYMENT IS ALREADY 40% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANOTHER DOCUMENT OR ANOTHER POLICY OR PROCEDURE IN THE CITY THAT SETS A MINIMUM STANDARD? THAT'S IT. I AGREE WITH YOU. IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE CHARTER BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY FLEXIBILITY.
BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF PALM BAY, AND IF IT'S 40% OF THE BUDGET, THEN LET IT BE 40% OF THE BUDGET AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.
ALSO, WE GOT AN EMAIL IN TO HIM. SO. YEP. SO I'M GOOD.
I DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE. DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE RESPONSE FROM CITY MANAGER? I MEAN, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO STILL WAIT ON A RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION FOR YOU? I'M FINE WITH CLOSING. I'M FINE WITH CLOSING THE THE CHARTER AMENDMENT.
FOR ME. I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS? WHERE ARE THEY CALLED OUT? ARE THERE ANY IS THERE ANYTHING FINANCIALLY? WHAT WHAT CONTROLS IT? BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF GROWTH COMING STILL COMING.
AND ARE WE PROPERLY BUDGETING FOR THE FIRE AND POLICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE? AND I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE A RATED, YOU KNOW, TOP OF THE LINE PROVIDING EVERYTHING.
BUT WE GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? WE SHOULDN'T BE AN F RATED GROUP.
IF WE ARE, THEN WE NEED TO REVISIT, RIGHT? WE NEED TO CONTROL OUR GROWTH.
WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING. BUT IF WE CAN'T KEEP UP, JUST PUTTING THE PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY IS NOT THE ANSWER, IN MY OPINION. CERTAINLY GREAT QUESTIONS PROBABLY NEED TO DIRECT THAT TO EITHER THE CITY MANAGER OR CHIEF OF POLICE, OR MAYBE EVEN THE CHIEF OF YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT IN TRUE TERESE.
YOU ALREADY HAVE THESE QUESTIONS TO THEM. YES.
WHEN WE ARE WAITING FOR THEIR ANSWER UP TO THE COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF EVEN IF WE CLOSE THIS, I STILL WOULD WANT TO SEE THEIR ANSWER.
IF WE CAN DO THAT. I CAN CERTAINLY. THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU.
OKAY. CAN WE GO ON TO NEW BUSINESS? NEW BUSINESS.
[NEW BUSINESS]
GOING BACK TO ARTICLE FIVE. AS YOU HAVE THE PAPER IN FRONT OF YOU VERSUS WHAT IS STATED IN, IN OUR SUGGESTION THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. ONE SAYS NO PERSON SHALL BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO SERVE MORE THAN THREE FOUR YEAR TERMS, A TOTAL OF 12 YEARS ON THE COUNCIL WHERE THE SERVICE IS CONSECUTIVE OR NONCONSECUTIVE.VERSUS WHAT WE HAVE LISTED FOR PRESENTATION TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL.
WE, IT WAS, EXCEPT FOR THE APPOINTMENTS OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR WAS TAKEN OUT.
[00:55:06]
AND THEN WE ALSO ELIMINATED THE WORD NONCONSECUTIVE, ALTHOUGH LIMITED TO THREE FOUR YEAR TERMS. SEEMS TO COVER THAT. I GUESS AN ATTORNEY CAN PLAY WITH WORDS.YES, MADAM SMITH, AS FAR AS THE TOTAL BEING 12 YEARS, THAT'S STILL THE SAME IN A SENSE.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW YOU TO SERVE MORE ACTUAL YEARS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU STRUCK FROM YOURS, YOU STRUCK ESSENTIALLY, IF YOU HAD 11 MONTHS, THAT COUNTS AS FOUR YEARS HERE.
IF YOU HAVE 11 MONTHS HERE, THAT COUNTS AS A YEAR HERE.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH YOU'RE COUNTING THE 12 YEARS.
I SEE PASTOR MILLER'S FOLLOWING ME. I'M HOPING EVERYBODY ELSE IS FOLLOWING ME.
YEAH, I THINK THE CHANGES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK MOST OF US WANTED TO DO WAS WHAT CHANGES? WELL, THE CHANGES IN WHAT JUDY GAVE US BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS ARE LEFT TOO MUCH TO INTERPRETATION. AND I THINK THIS CODIFIES EXACTLY THE INTENT THAT WE HAD.
YOU KNOW, SO SOMEBODY CAN'T DO 12 YEARS AND THEN STAY OUT FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN RUN AGAIN.
AND THEN THEN YOU HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME STUFF.
YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE IN 12 YEARS. YOU NEED TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO IT.
BUT ALSO BECAUSE I THINK BEING APPOINTED LESS THAN ONE YEAR SHOULD NOT BE COUNTED AS A FULL, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT PORTION IN REFERENCE A LESS THAN ONE YEAR.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION ON THAT? NO.
CAPTAIN. I THINK IF WE JUST ACCEPT THIS CHANGE THAT'S IN THE YELLOW.
YEAH, I THINK THAT WILL COVER WHAT WHAT WE INTENDED.
SO I MOVED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER.
SEP. MOTION TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL STATUS OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN.
DID YOU PRESENT THAT YOU PRESENTED THIS ONE, DIDN'T YOU? I DID, YEAH.
I DIDN'T REMEMBER TAKING THE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OUT EITHER.
BUT I SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE IT FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL AND GO BEFORE A VOTE.
SO THE THE CLEANER, CLEARER LANGUAGE. I'M 100% IN FAVOR OF SECONDING ELAINE'S MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY COMMENTS FROM FROM THE AUDIENCE? ALL IN FAVOR TO RETURNING TO WHAT IS SAID HERE BY THE SOUND OF I, I, I ALL AGAINST SAME SIGN.
DO I HAVE ANY, ANY STATEMENTS OF WANTING TO CHANGE ANYTHING ON WHAT IS THERE ON THE WORDING? IS EVERYBODY FINE WITH THE WORDING? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT. FINALLY, ACCEPT THESE CHARTER REVIEW AMENDMENTS TO PRESENT IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT, PLEASE? MOTION TO ACCEPT.
COMMISSIONER. SET. MOTION SECOND BY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RUTH.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY AYE. IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO. YES. SO THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO.
I WILL DRAFT A MEMO WITH ALL OF YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL.
I ASSUME, MR. CHAIR, THAT YOU WILL BE PRESENTING TO COUNCIL.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO DO SO. OKAY. I SEE WE'RE IN APRIL.
I COULD PROBABLY I WANTED ON MEETING THAT I WILL BE AT.
[01:00:02]
THAT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY IN JULY TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE ANY FURTHER CHANGES OR ADDITIONS.DELETIONS. AND THEN I CAN GET IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR THE BALLOT.
WE HAD A MOTION EARLIER ON THAT WE ASKED FOR A WORKSHOP SO WE COULD EXPLAIN TO THE COUNCIL.
SO THEY UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY THE CHANGES WE MADE AND WHY I WILL PRESENT THAT TO COUNCIL.
THAT WILL BE COUNCIL'S DECISION. OKAY. ANY FINAL COMMENTS? GREAT JOB, MR. CHAIR. LEARNED QUICK MY FRIEND.
HE LEARNED QUICK THANKS TO THE EXPERT GUIDANCE OF PHIL AND THOMAS.
I WAS GOING TO SAY WITH ALL THE FIRE THAT WAS BEHIND ME, I HAD.
I HAD TO GET UP THERE AND START GOING. PRAISE GOD.
LISTEN. YES, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH EVERYONE HERE.
I THIS IS KIND OF MY FIRST COMMISSION ANYTHING OR COMMITTEE, SO THANK YOU.
IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING AND VERY INTERESTING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. I'D LIKE TO ECHO THAT AMAZING JOB.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU'VE TAKEN OUT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND PUTTING YOUR HEART INTO IT.
IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL AND SPECIAL THANKS OBVIOUSLY TO THERESA.
SHE PROBABLY DID THE MOST WORK THAN ALL OF US AND GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND SO EVER SO THANKFUL.
THANK YOU. OKAY. TERESE, DO YOU ACCEPT CASH IN LIEU OF FLOWERS? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. DO I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? OKAY, I ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.