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BCC Minutes 09/06/2000 B (Budget)September 6, 2000 TRANSCRIPT OF THE BUDGET MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Naples, Florida, September 6, 2000 LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that the Board of County Commissioners, in and for the County of Collier, and also acting as the Board of Zoning Appeals and as the governing board(s} of such special districts as have been created according to law and having conducted business herein, met on this date at 5:05 p.m. in SPECIAL SESSION in Building "F" of the Government Complex, East Naples, Florida, with the following members present: CHAIRMAN: Timothy J. Constantine Barbara B. Berry David E. Brandt James D. Carter Pamela S. Mac'Kie ALSO PRESENT: Tom Olliff, County Manager David Weigel, County Attorney Page I NOTICE: COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA Wednesday, September 6, 2000 5:05 p.m. ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO SPEAKING. ANY PERSON WHO DECIDES TO APPEAL A DECISION OF THIS BOARD WILL NEED A RECORD OF THE PROCEDINGS PERTAINING THERETO, AND THEREFORE MAY NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO FIVE (5) MINUTES UNLESS PERMISSION FOR ADDITIONAL TIME IS GRANTED BY THE CHAIRMAN. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING - BCC - Fiscal Year 2001 Tentative Budget. A. Discussion of Tentative Millage Rates and Increases Over the Rolled Back Millage Rates B. Review and Discussion of Changes to the Tentative Budget C. Wrap-up Items D. Public Comments and Questions E. Resolution to Adopt the Tentative Millage Rates F. Resolution to Adopt the Amended Tentative Budget G. Announcement of Tentative Millage Rates and Percentage Changes in Property Tax Rates H. Announcement of Final Public Hearing as Follows: Final Public Hearing on the FY 2000-01 Collier County Budget Wednesday, September 20, 2000 5:05 p.m. Collier County Government Center W. Harmon Turner Building (F) Third Floor, Boardroom Naples, Florida 3. ADJOURN. September 6, 2000 CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Hi there. Welcome to the first of two September budget hearings for the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Olliff, where do we need to start? MR. OLLIFF: Mr. Chairman, I think we're ready to just jump right in. I think for the public's sake, there are speaker slips out in the hallway, on the table in the hall, as well as there are some speaker slips here at the table up at the front of the room. If anyone wants to speak, if they would just fill out one of those slips and bring them to me any time during the first of this meeting, I'll make sure that we call your name and get you to come up and then have an opportunity to speak. And other than that, I'm just going to turn it over to Mr. Smykowski, who can lead you to any changes that have occurred since the last time we had a budget workshop. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Mr. Smykowski, good evening. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Good evening. For the record, Michael Smykowski, county budget director. I'd like to direct your attention to Item 2-A. In accordance with Florida Statute, the first substantive issue to be discussed at the budget public hearings is increases over the rollback millage rates funding the budget. So if you'd turn to Page 2-A, Page 1. The general fund reflects a percentage increase of eight and a half percent above the rolled back rate, primarily funding additional EMS unit, additional stormwater management activities, the paid plan adjustment, GIS system, and increase capital projects funding, water pollution control, fund reflecting increase of 36.1 percent over the rolled back rate. And that's due to two expanded programs, both of which are required by the Growth Management Plan for estuarine monitoring, as well as an update to wellfield protection zones. In terms of the MSTD's, there are -- the first four identified on Page 2-A are the road MSTD's. They reflect no millage, and those are being consolidated into the unincorporated area general fund. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Let me just simplify this a little bit. On this list, is there anything inconsistent with what we did throughout our June budget hearings? MR. SMYKOWSKI: Absolutely not. Page 2 September 6, 2000 CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Okay. Moving right along. Thank you. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: As interesting as that all was. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. MR. SMYKOWSKI: That moves us to Item 2-B, the summary of resolutions documenting changes. Overall, I can summarize, the changes have primarily been allocating pay plan and merit funding. We have budgeted those in reserves. We have simply taken the money from reserves and put it into the appropriate personnel services' expense units within each operating department. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE'. And again, as much as we appreciate the thoroughness of your work, and it's important, we have -- none of that is something that we haven't previously discussed and approved. MR. $MYKOWSKI: That is correct. The biggest change was the submittal of the tax collector's budget. That was almost an 8.8 million dollar increase, when you consider the excess fees. And that's solely a function of his August I submittal date. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Questions from board members on any of that? COMMISSIONER BRANDT: I have a question on Page 27~ when we get to that point. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: So noted. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Okay, you can address that right now -- CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Do you want to do that now? COMMISSIONER BRANDT: Okay. MR. SMYKOWSKI: -- if you wish. COMMISSIONER BRANDT: Okay. On Page 27, if you'll take a look at it, you'll see that it deals with the landfill and solid waste management. I have some concerns about it in that in the reviews that I have made and the discussions I've had, I have a concern that we're not, as a county -- and I don't know from any of the discussions I've had -- that the board has given the new manager, new county manager, support and direction with how to manage the landfill as a particular asset. And when you look at the landfill and the issues associated with the landfill that have occurred over the past years, and I -- forgive me, I am not an expert, but I have some observations to make. And it seems to me when you take a look at the total Page 3 September 6, 2000 amount of funds associated with Solid Waste Management, which is close to 28 million dollars, it would appear to me that we need to give the county manager some resources to manage that operation, rather than, in my view, leave it up pretty much to Waste Management to do whatever it is they want within the contract they've signed. I have to admit to you, I have not gone through that contract in detail. But in the review of the landfill and my tour of the landfill, I received a lot of qualitative information while I was there, but no quantitative information. So I don't know what's being done about looking at the leachate that comes off on a daily basis over a period of time, what those components are within it, and whether any of that can be recycled. Not too long ago I ran across an article in one of the newspapers that said in Alachua, near Gainesville, there is an effort on the part of some to take -- I'll use the expression garbage juices and turn them in and recycle them into useful products. I don't know how much it costs to do that, but it would seem to me that it would be reasonable for the Commission to ask the county manager to take a good hard look at what he thinks needs to be done and the overall management of the landfill as an asset, a 28 million dollar asset, when you look at the reserves. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Commissioner, if I might, I think we actually have that scheduled either -- first meeting in October, if memory serves me correctly, due back as a policy issue, that exact question. COMMISSIONER BRANDT: Okay, very good. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: And if we could stay fairly tight on budget issues today. But the question is an appropriate one, and I think we have that scheduled on a time line to come back in the next 30 or 45 days. MR. OLLIFF: It's in October. I will tell you that I think one of the issues that Commissioner Brandt is going to want to get to and has asked me to look at, is whether or not we have sufficient staffing and manpower to actually do day-to-day type contract management of the landfill itself. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Right. MR. OLLIFF: And so -- Page 4 September 6, 2000 CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: And if we need to flush the issue out more, Tuesday is probably the appropriate day, not the budget hearing. COMMISSIONER BRANDT: Okay, that's fine. As long as we deal with it. Thank you. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Item C, wrap-up items. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Wrap-up items. Item 3-C in your agenda packet, there are two under general topics. The David Lawrence Center's requested an additional $89,600 in operating funds due to closures of the Charter Glade Hospital, as well as the future anticipated closing of the G. Pierce Wood State Hospital. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: I think all the Commissioners are familiar with that issue, but is there any objection or any questions on the David Lawrence Center alteration? COMMISSIONER BRANDT: No. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: They have not changed that for years. COMMISSIONER CARTER: No. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: We have unanimous support that. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Item 3-C, Page 2, the additional general fund revenue is from one-time surplus in state revenue funds. The staff recommendation for potential uses of that additional revenue: One is for funding the David Lawrence Center. The other item is $370,000 associated with fire related expenses from the Golden Gate Estates Firehouse, known as the Miller Boulevard Fire. Obviously we're recommending through our mutual aid agreements, we're required to make those payments. That would leave a remaining surplus of $361,700 that staff would recommend placing in reserves at this time. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Commissioner Mac'Kie? COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Just one comment, just to alert the board to something that I think staff is going to be prepared to talk to us about at the second public hearing, but you may recall at the initial budget hearings we talked about whether or not we were putting the appropriate heart drug in our EMS units. And I've had a little bit more research on that. Cordarone apparently is the drug of choice. And we're going to be getting a report about the additional $78,000 that it would cost and Page 5 September 6, 2000 whether or not that's a necessary expense. But I just wanted to give you a heads up about that. We'll hear it next time. MR. SMYKOWSKI: That brings us to the public comment in question portion, Item D on our agenda. I do have one letter I received from an out-of-state Port Royal homeowner, concerned about the increase in taxes on his property. Obviously as an out-of-state homeowner, he does not have -- this person does not have the benefit of the Homestead exemption, nor the Save Our Homes cap, which increased assessed value in this year to 2.7 percent. Obviously, I think there's been a number of newspaper articles related to the increases in Port Royal property value. So obviously he, in his individual situation, is adversely impacted by that. I'd just like to enter that into the record. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: You'll copy each of those? Can we make sure we get a copy of each to each commissioner prior to the second hearing for that? MR. SMYKOWSKI: Yes. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: And my request was that it sounds like that's something that should go to the property appraiser so they can afford him the opportunity for appeal, if he thinks he's been inappropriately assessed on his value. So let's be sure he gets that information, too. MR. SMYKOWSKI: That's fine. Thank you. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Mr. Olliff, do we have public speakers? MR. OLUFF: I haven't had any that turned in slips as yet, but I know there are some that have -- CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Anyone here, one, two, who are interested -- anybody who's interested in speaking? Charlie? Okay, we have two. MR. OLLIFF: Richard Yurewitch. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Sir? He's getting his notes I think. MR. OLLIFF: Following Mr. Yurewitch would be Charles Abbott. MR. YUREWITCH: Yeah, hi. My name is Richard Yurewitch. I live in Golden Gate on Collier Boulevard, 14775. I own some property, five parcels, actually. My taxes have been raised moderately, except for the last Page 6 September 6, 2000 10 acres. It's a designated wetland, from what I understand. They raised it from the last year, not '99, '98. The taxes was $1,040. No big deal. '99 was $2,505. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Before you go on, your question -- I'm right here, sir. I realize the speakers are behind you and that always throws everybody off. Your question is to what they are valuing your property at? MR. YUREWITCH: Yes. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: What we'll do is -- we don't have control over that; these five people don't have control over that. We will actually have -- the property appraiser does. And there is a forum in which you can point out exactly what you're pointing out now and try to get that adjusted. Unfortunately, that's not this forum. MR. YUREWITCH: Oh, okay. Well, I talked to Abe Skinner's John Hamlin. He came out to my place and I showed him the wetlands and the water that's coming from Idlebrooks and Pebblebrooke's down the corner. And he said that was up to the County Commissioner. He didn't set the price for the land. COMMISSIONER CARTER: Well, sir, maybe I can help you answer that question. There is a Value Adjustment Board that will be meeting, and I think that would be the appropriate forum for you to come, which is made up of commissioners and school board members and others who will hear your case. MR. YOVANOVICH: How can I be notified? CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: That's in October. As a matter of fact, Tom Olliff, our county manager, will touch base with you right now and get your number and we'll arrange it for you. It's in October. You got commissioners, school board -- all the people who set your tax rate will hear that, along with the property appraiser. And if you need to have an adjustment there, they'll find out. MR. YOVANOVICH: My request from Hamlin was why wasn't ! -- I was notified that there was going to be an increase, but looking at six pieces, they were all moderate. And I never even looked at the last one. He said you should have came to the Collier County meeting and protested the raise. So I'm protesting the raise. They raised it 75 percent. I thought it was supposed to be between three and four percent of the assessed value. Page 7 September 6, 2000 CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Mr. Olliff, the gentleman right here, will grab your name and number and we'll make sure you have it. Because it's -- what is it, first week in October?. MR, OLLIFF: It's the first week in October. The filing deadline for that would be September 11th, so there's still plenty of time to be able to put your application in. But I may want to take a look at your specific tax bill, just to see, make sure that's what the issue is, because it may be a special taxing district or something that's actually raised it on that particular property. MR. YUREWITCH: Thank you. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Thanks very much. Charlie Abbott is the final speaker. MR. ABBOTT: I have nothing to speak to. I only put in there if I needed to speak about the museum. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Okay, very good. The next item, Mr. Smykowski. MR. SMYKOWSKI: We would need a resolution to adopt the tentative millage rates under 2-E. We would need two motions, one for the dependent district, the pollution control -- CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Do I hear a motion? COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Motion to approve resolution -- COMMISSIONER CARTER: Second. COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: -- of the adopted tentative millage rate -- CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Motion and a second. Discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion, please state aye. Anybody opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Second motion, Mr. Smykowski? MR. $MYKOWSKI: Yes, that would have been for the pollution control. The second would be for the balance of the millages identified on 3-E -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So moved, MR. SMYKOWSKI: -- of Page 2. COMMISSIONER BERRY: Second it, CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: There's a motion from Commissioner Mac'Kie, second from Commissioner Berry. If there's no discussion, all in favor, please state aye. Anybody opposed? Page 8 September 6, 2000 (No response.) CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Motion carries 5-0. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Under 2-F, we would need a resolution to adopt the amended tentative budgets -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: So moved. MR. SMYKOWSKI: -- reflecting the changes we discussed. We would need again two motions, one pollution control as a dependent district -- CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: There's a motion on pollution control from Commissioner Mac'Kie. Do I hear a second? COMMISSIONER BRANDT: Second. COMMISSIONER CARTER: Second. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Second from Commissioner Brandt. All those in favor, please state aye. Anybody opposed? (No response.) CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Motion carries 5-0. We need a -- COMMISSIONER MAC'KIE: Same motion. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: -- motion on the balance. That comes from Commissioner Mac'Kie as well. COMMISSIONER CARTER: Second. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Second from Commissioner Carter. All those in favor, please state aye. (Unanimous vote of ayes.) CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Motion carries 5-0. MR. SMYKOWSKI: Item 2-G is announcement that the tentative millage rates and percentage changed. The proposed millage rate for the general fund 3.5028 is eight and a half percent increase above the rolled back rate. Pollution control is .0445 mills, an increase of 36.1 percent above the rolled backs rate, for a total county-wide millage of 3.5473, which is 8.8 percent above the rolled back rate. And the final item is the announcement of the final public hearing, which will be two weeks from tonight, Wednesday, September 20th, 5:05 p.m. CHAIRMAN CONSTANTINE: Thank you. Any final comments from the commission? If not, we stand adjourned. Page 9 September 6, 2000 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 5:20 p.m. ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS/EX OFFICIO GOVERNING BOARD(S} OF SPECI~~-R~rTS UNDER ITS CONTROL TIMOTHY J. C~NSTANTINE, CHAIRMAN D~IGHT E. BROCK CLERK These minutes a~ed by the Board on presented or as corrected , as TRANSCRIPT PREPARED ON BEHALF OF GREGORY COURT REPORTING SERVICE, INC., BY CHERIE' R. LEONE, NOTARY PUBLIC Page 10