Special City Commission Meeting

City of Deltona 2345 Providence Blvd. Deltona, FL 32725 Minutes Special City Commission Meeting Saturday, January 20, 2024 8:30 AM Deltona Commission Chambers Strategic Planning Session 8:30 am - 12:30 pm DECORUM POLICY: The City of Deltona has a significant interest in conducting orderly and efficient public meetings, which includes preventing disruption, promoting civility, and preserving decorum. To that end, behavior which disrupts or impedes the efficient and orderly conduct of any public meeting, as determined by the Mayor, or presiding officer, or a majority of the City Commission, is not permitted. The Mayor, or presiding officer, or a majority of the City Commission, may interrupt, warn, or terminate a speaker’s statement when that statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, irrelevant, or otherwise reasonably perceived to be a disruption to the fair and orderly progress of the discussion at hand. The Mayor, or presiding officer, or a majority of the City Commission, may also interrupt any part of the meeting to warn any individual that they are being disruptive or otherwise impeding the efficient and orderly conduct of the meeting. The Mayor, or presiding officer, or a majority of the City Commission, may require any individual to leave a public meeting for its duration if that individual is unable to observe this Policy after being warned. Should an individual be required to leave a meeting for violating this Policy, that person shall be escorted from Commission Chambers by a Volusia County Sheriff’s Deputy. 1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Vice-Mayor JodyLee. 2. ROLL CALL – CITY CLERK: Present: 4 - Vice Mayor JodyLee Commissioner Avila-Vazquez Commissioner Colwell Commissioner McCool Absent: 2 - Mayor Avila Commissioner Burbank 3. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Vice-Mayor JodyLee led everyone in the pledge to the flag. City of Deltona Page 1 Printed on 2/6/2024 Special City Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2024 4. BUSINESS: A. Review with discussion; Strategic Plan review and update - Mari Leisen, Finance - (386) 878-2553 Interim City Manager Glenn Whitcomb introduced Herb Marlowe from Analytica. Mr. Marlow stated that he will have conversation with the Commission regarding the state of the City and its direction. He stated that he would address The Foundational Goal and The leadership Agenda. Mr. Marlowe then introduced Finance Director, Mari Leisen, to give an overview of where the City is financially. Ms.Leisen presented a PowerPoint on Taxes Levied by Classification, Strategic Planning and the Budget Process, Introduction, FY2024 Citywide Operating Revenue Total $124.8M, and FY2024 Citywide Operating Budget by Function - Total $133.3M. The Commission, Interim City Manager and Ms. Leisen discussed sewer service charges, Enterprise Fund, doing a rate study, reduction of surcharges, looking at the rates of residents inside and outside of City limits, and the effect of lowering surcharges on the budget. Ms. Leisen continued her presentation on FY23-24 Capital Budget by Function, FY 2024 General Fund Summary, Municipal Public Service Tax Franchise Fee-Electricity, Taxable Value by Property Class, Expansion of Commercial Growth - Amazon, 2023 Final Tax Roll - Volusia Property Appraiser, General Fund Expenditure Summary, Changes in Fund Balance - General Fund, General Fund - Unallocated Fund Balance, Changes in Fund Balance - Special Assessments, FY2025 Budget - New This Year, FY2025 Proposed Budget Calendar, Five Year Capital Improvements Projects by Fund, Five Year Plan - Major Projects, and Conclusion. Commissioner McCool and Ms. Leisen discussed municipal public franchise fees, tax rebate to Amazon, millage rates, taxes per capita versus the highest millage rate, storm water and solid waste assessments, needed flood projects, presentation of assessments, last year’s budget process, citizen survey, resident feedback, scheduling a sit down between staff and residents, the TPO (Transportation Planning Organization) process and why the City is not seeking funds. Mr. Marlowe presented The Foundational Goal. The Commission and Mr. Marlowe discussed the City's need for a long-term stable City Manager, the effect of turnover and change, project stalls, relationships, respect, stability, the work culture, priorities, dysfunction, consensus on projects, identifying problems, interference, and wasting time. Vice-Mayor JodyLee opened public comments. City of Deltona Page 2 Printed on 2/6/2024 Special City Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2024 Dori Howington, Deltona, addressed the Commission. Brandy White, Deltona, addressed the Commission. Public comments closed. The Commission and Mr. Marlowe discussed workshops, working together, structure and processes, disrespect on social media, directing the City Manager and staff, fighting, making the right decisions, behavior, being neutral, assumptions, doing research/homework prior to meetings, the best interest of the city, asking questions for the record, agree to disagree, holding things personal, respect, moving forward, articulating decisions and the power to change. Mr. Marlowe called a 15-minute break @ 9:43p.m. reconvened @ 10:02 p.m. Mr. Marlowe suggested looking at other communities and how they have time limits for Commissioners and a Code of Conduct. Mr. Marlowe continued his presentation and spoke about the Tax Base Issue, Deltona's structural problem, addressing being full service city with a primarily residential tax base, the power of an industrial tax base, homestead policy, and the advantage of home ownership. Mr. Marlowe talked about Desired Outcomes, Beautification and Economic Development. The Commission, Interim City Manager and Mr. Marlowe discussed the need for a in-house Economic Development person, Team Volusia, commercial and industrial development, Fast food and Dollar stores, tax breaks, gathering places, goals and vision, affordable sit down restaurants, limited commercial space, teamwork, getting along and moving the City forward, doing business in the City, Live Local, fair economic tax breaks, infrastructure, gathering places, diverse cultures, labeling a community, Parks and Recreation, free entertainment, advertising The Center more, partnering with local organizations, establishing a downtown, resident participation, and making lives difficult. Vice-Mayor JodyLee opened public comments. Brandy White, Deltona, addressed the Commission. Public comments closed. The Commission discussed the lack of restaurants in Deltona, the County's relationship with Deltona, the need of sewer and gas for commercial growth, and implementing CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) improvements. Mr. Marlowe asked about Public Communication. City of Deltona Page 3 Printed on 2/6/2024 Special City Commission Meeting Minutes January 20, 2024 The Commission discussed communication improvements, transparency, sticking to the plan, relationship between government and public, public records, vilifying staff, getting rid of barriers, public erosion, needing an update on previous strategic planning projects. Mr. Marlowe asked about Beautification. The Commission, Interim City Manager and Mr. Marlowe discussed county roads, exits off I-4, money the county gets from Deltona, TPO and FDOT ( Florida Department of Transportation) being aware of problems, the pond lake off Saxon and I-4, making plans/goals, federal grants for beautification, garbage at Halifax Crossing, transformer box designs, asking for specific projects, a meeting between the County, TPO and residents, having the City Manager meet with citizen groups and execute the ideas discussed, staff working well with the county, and over complicating things. Mr. Marlowe asked for closing comments. 5. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS: The Commission and Interim City Manger Whitcomb talked about the importance of communication, needing to get Deltona's house in order, community engagement, infrastructure, the need for immediate feedback, moving forward, staff, Town Hall meetings, wasting money, getting immediate answers, and working together. 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m. ______________________________ Santiago Avila, Jr., MAYOR ATTEST: _____________________________ Elizabeth Keys, DEPUTY CITY CLERK City of Deltona Page 4 Printed on 2/6/2024