City Commission Workshop

City of Deltona 2345 Providence Blvd. Deltona, FL 32725 Minutes City Commission Workshop Monday, August 21, 2023 5:30 PM Deltona Commission Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 5:33 p.m. by Mayor Avila. 2. ROLL CALL – CITY CLERK: Present: 6 - Commissioner Avila-Vazquez Commissioner Colwell Commissioner JodyLee Commissioner McCool Vice Mayor Bradford Mayor Avila Absent: 1 - Commissioner Burbank 3. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: 4. BUSINESS: A. Discussion regarding the City Manager search. Commissioner JodyLee requested a consensus to accept City Manager Chisholm's resignation and Mayor Avila replied it is on the next Regular Commission Meeting to be voted on. The Commission discussed the advertising, the criteria, the timeline, residents' feedback, Stetson College input, the profile, taking our time, new and previous candidates, who's handling the process, and background checks. Commissioner McCool requested a consensus to accept the assistance of the City of DeBary's City Manager Carmen Rosamonda. M ayor Avila replied the dais wants to wait until the Interim City Manager comments. The Commission discussed past practice, the age of candidates, strong leadership, unemployed City Managers, educations and background, government vs. private sector, staff and resident committees, government experience, being cautious, critical experience, doing things collectively, no courting candidates, the ICMA and FCMA affiliations, life experiences, being fiscally responsible, and golden parachutes. City of Deltona Page 1 Printed on 9/6/2023 City Commission Workshop Minutes August 21, 2023 After discussion, the Commission concurred to put together a Committee of residents and a Committee of staff, department heads. The Commission will have 50% of the decision, the resident Committee will have 25% of the decision and the staff Committee will have 25% of the decision. Mayor Avila opened the public comments. Tara D'Errico, Courtney Cross Burgos, Jim Pescha, Deborah Abel, Kathy Bryan, Gloria Ford, David Sosa, Elbert Bryan, and Adam Vazquez addressed the City Commission. 5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: The Interim City Manager stated the budget was done and presented to the Commission in a workshop. The City is in good shape and there were some changes requested by the Commission that were done. The budget is on track to be presented a the Special Commission Meeting to be held on September 6th. He thanked staff, the residents and the Commission for their support and he is looking forward to helping move the City forward and getting a permanent City Manager in place. DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda stated he wanted to dispel some rumors regarding how this came about. Mayor Avila and Mayor Chasez have a great relationship and Mayor Chasez reached out to him asking what DeBary can do to help Deltona. He stated he could put a management team together to help and Mayor Chasez asked him to contact Mayor Avila to offer their assistance. He is not here on his own accord but, in cooperation of both Mayors. He has reached out to other City Managers and County Manager George Recktenwald to be able to provide a small team to help Deltona through this transition period. The focus would be on the next 30 days to make sure Deltona meets deadlines regarding the budget. He is here to provide feedback to any questions the Commission or staff might have. The most important business Deltona has is to hire a City Manager and make the right choice for Deltona. He is looking for full Commission support today because it is difficult to put this type of team together without that full support. The Commission and City Manager Rosamonda discussed being grateful, working as a team, strengthening the West Volusia, overseeing the Committees, development, filtering applications and recommendations, interview times, in-depth questioning, bench marks with other cities, viewing other cities' posts and qualifications, and experience and criteria. Mayor Avila confirmed that City Manager Rosamonda is offering a work force to help the Interim City Manager for the next 30 days to get Deltona through the budget, TRIM notice and other hurdles. City Manager Rosamonda replied yes, if there is any other aspects he is happy to help in the next 30 days to make sure Deltona gets off to a good start. The Commission and City Manager Rosamonda discussed taking the offer of help, the Interim City Manager reaching out if necessary, having confidence in the Interim City Manager and staff, the TRIMS notice, identifying Deltona's dysfunction, Commission interference, City Charter, strong Mayor form of government, Commission boundaries, City of Deltona Page 2 Printed on 9/6/2023 City Commission Workshop Minutes August 21, 2023 letting a City Manager do their job, whether to use a firm, the advertisement, communication, problem identification, a 60-day submittal period, personalities and skills, retreads, filtering applicants, making a non-emotional business decision, minimum standards, resources, and re-advertising if necessary. After discussion, the Commission concurred to gather local bench marks from other surrounding cities. The Interim City Manager stated the Commission should consider using a search firm because of the amount of applicants that the City is expecting to receive and let that firm vet those applicants. After discussion, the Commission concurred that the decision to use the assistance of the City of DeBary lies with the Interim City Manager, if needed. After discussion, the Commission concurred to utilize a search firm, but to also accept applications from the private sector. After discussion, the Commission concurred that each Commissioner choose two (2) residents for the City Manager resident Committee. The Interim City Manager asked if he should exclude himself from the staff Committee and the Commission concurred that the Interim City Manager should be included on the staff Committee. Mayor Avila did a recap of the conversation, there will be two (2) Committees, one made up of residents, and each Commissioner will pick two (2) residents each, and the other Committee will be made of staff who will be chosen by the Interim City Manager, two (2) staff per department. Shorten the time frame and staff is to set a base line for the City Manager parameters. The Commission concurred to have residents who are interested in serving on the City Manager resident Committee email a single Commissioner or the Mayor over a period of two (2) weeks for the September 6th Special Commission Meeting. The Interim City Manager stated a TRIM notice was sent out today with some incorrect figures. One was the stormwater assessment where the increase was voted down, and the other was the solid waste fees. So, when the final TRIM notice comes out those figures will be correct. The Finance Director explained the-Truth in Millage (TRIM) process and following Florida Statutes. If the City does not comply, the City risks losing revenue sharing from the State. The City fully in compliance with the TRIM process. The TRIM notice is proposed taxes so what the residents are receiving is the proposed tentative ad valorem and non-ad valorem. City of Deltona Page 3 Printed on 9/6/2023 City Commission Workshop Minutes August 21, 2023 The non-ad valorem assessments are solid waste and stormwater. The Commission voted on June 19th for a proposed assessment for $160 for stormwater and $233.15 for solid waste. That is the proposed rate which went on the proposed TRIM notice. That was sent to the Property Appraiser on July 10th and the deadline to be received by the Property Appraiser in the State is August 2nd. The City had the final vote on the non-ad valorem on August 7th, and the Commission voted to return to last year's rate. So, the proposed rate which was voted on is what appeared on the TRIM notice, but it is not the final rate. The November property tax bill will reflect the rate that was voted on August 7th, $202.80 Solid Waste and $128 Stormwater. 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. ______________________________ Joyce Raftery, CITY CLERK City of Deltona Page 4 Printed on 9/6/2023