City Commission Workshop Meeting

APPROVED:6/17/2021 MINUTES City Commission Workshop 5:30 PM - Thursday, June 3, 2021 - City Hall CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 P.M. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE PRESENT: Commissioner Nan Cobb, Commissioner Willie Hawkins, Vice Mayor Emily Lee, Commissioner Karen LeHeup-Smith and Mayor Michael Holland 1. WORKSHOP ITEM WITH COMMISSION DISCUSSION, PUBLIC INPUT AND DIRECTION 1.1 Discussion regarding Ordinance 21-14 establishing procedures for implementation of a fire assessment Mike Sheppard, Finance Director, explained they would be reviewing Ordinance Number 21-14 establishing the procedures for implementing a fire assessment. He stated it would not actually implement the assessment. He indicated the City would have to notify the Property Appraiser no later than July 1st regarding their intentions. Ron Neibert, City Manager, noted that he had forwarded to the Commissioners the estimated list of assessments within the City. The Commission confirmed the assessment would be tax deductible for businesses and the amount of the commercial assessment was 9 cents per square foot with industrial being 2 cents per square foot. Mr. Sheppard explained that the residential fee is per dwelling unit so an apartment complex would be $100 per unit. The Commission discussed the amount of different assessments with specific discussion on Haselton Village. Discussion was held regarding the institutional assessments and the City buying those down so those entities would not have to pay the assessment. Sandi Walker, Government Services Group, explained how the buy down works since it is a non-ad valorem assessment. She explained the City cannot assess the difference to other property owners so the City has to absorb that. She stated the parcel would have to be totally tax exempt and have an institutional use such as churches, hospitals and schools. She indicated that is a policy decision and at the $100 rate the City would net approximately $1.15 million. Eustis City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 2 June 3, 2021  Discussion was held regarding whether or not to exempt the institutional properties with Ms. Walker stating the City could offer a hardship exemption. It would have to be homestead property and the City would have to set an income level. She further explained how the RV parks are charged and noted that they can offer a vacancy credit if it is actually an empty space with nothing on it. She explained that there is a formula for determining that credit. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of only assessing at half the proposed rate for the first year as well as the City's need for growth and to plan ahead for that growth. Ms. Walker explained it would be paid the same way they pay their property taxes. Discussion was held regarding what other cities and Lake County charge with Ms. Walker noting that Leesburg does charge the churches a portion of their fee and that the County charges the churches. Mr. Neibert noted that when it was first discussed it was determined that $500,000 would be used to get the large truck back on the road and hire six new firefighters with the remainder to be used for other public safety costs. 2. ADJOURNMENT: 5:53 P.M. *These minutes reflect the actions taken and portions of the discussion during the meeting. To review the entire discussion concerning any agenda item, go to www.eustis.org and click on the video for the meeting in question. A DVD of the entire meeting or CD of the entire audio recording or verbatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the City Clerk for a fee. City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner Eustis City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 2 June 3, 2021