Town Council Regular Meeting

T~of LOXAHATCHEE GROVES Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town Council Special Meeting Tuesday, September 29, 2015- 7:00p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Times established by Resolution No. 2014-08 ... commencing at 7:00p.m., and ending no later than 10:30 p.m., wlticlt can be extended by motion ojtlte Council.) Loxahatchee Groves Water Contro l District, I 0 I West " D" Road MINUTES l. OPENING a. Call to Order & Roll Call Mayor Browning called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Upon roll call the following members were present: Mayor David Browning, Vice Mayor Ronald D. JaiTiel, and Councilmen Tom Goltzene, Ryan Liang absent, and Jim Rockett. Also in attendance were Town Manager Bill Underwood, Town Attorney Mike Cirullo, and Acting Town Clerk Perla Underwood. b. Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation - Mayor Browning c. Approval of Agenda RJ Moved, Seconded TG to approve Agenda. 4/0. 2. CONSENT AGENDA- NONE 3. PUBLIC COMMENT Rick C hristmas, PBC Fire Rescue Union, appeared before the Town Council to discuss the Un ion's participation in community relations. Mr. Christmas provided the Town Counci l with an overview of services that the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provides the community. Town Counci l recommended he speak to Marge Herzog, President of Loxahatchee Groves Landowners Association. 4. PRESENTATIONS - NONE 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS -NONE 6. RESOLUTIONS a. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-30: PUBLIC HEARING I FINAL MILLAGE A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE FOR THE TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO THE BUDGET SUMMARY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2015-2016, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 200, FLORIDA STATUT ES, AS AMENDED; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Town Managea· advised that at the last meeting, Town Counci l adopted a Tentative Millage rate of 1.47 18 mills representing a 36.8% increase over the roll back rate of 1.0758 mills. Vice Mayor Jarriel Moved to adopt Resolution 2015-30 establishing and adopting the fina l millage for the Town at 1.4 7 18 representing a 36.8% increase over the roll back rate of 1.0758 mills. Councilman Rockett advised that he is not in favor of the increase and would prefer the Town set a the millage rate at 1.2 mills. He advised that he does not see a reason to raise the rates, and further does not understand what an initial increase will get the Town. Councilman Rockett fUJ1her explained that he does not believe that non-resident landowners should be treated differently than those that live in the community, and fee ls that some benefits more than others in the community. Councilman Ryan Liang entered meeting at 7:15PM. Councilman Goltzene stated that he feels the increase will offset the funding we provide the LGWCD. Vice Mayor Jarriel stated that his priority is for the residents, and reminded the Council that at incorporation the Town's tax rate was at 1.5 mills. Vice Mayor Jarriel aga in expressed his belief that commercial properties shou ld be pllying more, and those additional revenues will benefit the residents. Mayor Browning reminded the Town Council that 70% of voters wanted their roads improved, but the same number did not want to pay for them. He was surprised by those results. He also expressed his concerns with respect to decreases in state shared revenues in the future. He agree with Vice Mayor Jarriel that the Town has a responsibility with respect to drainage problems as well as the repairs needed to the edges of the new improved roads and because of those reasons he advised that he was in favor of the increase in the millage rate. Counci lman Liang stated that many of Vice Mayor Jarriel's points are valid; however, it also is about how soon the Town wants these projects completed. Doreen Baxter - N011h Road Provided with Town Council with a line item detail on all increasess included in the 20 16 Town Budget. Councilman Rockett Moved , and Seconded by Vice Mayor Jarriel to receive and file the repot1 prepared by Ms. Baxter. Denn is Lipp - Not1h Road Requested that Town Council not increase the millage at this time. Virginia Standish - Not1h Road Requested Town Council fight proactively for roads, and pointed to Indian Trails testing of new products for the di11 roads.. Also pleaded with the Town Council to consider applying for grants before looking to borrow monies for road improvements. The vote on the motion passed, 3/2. Councilman Liang and Rocket voting no. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-31: PUBLIC HEARING I FINAL BUDGET A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A FINAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2015 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016; ADOPTING FISCAL POLICIES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Counc ilman Liang M oved, and Seconded by Vice Mayor Jarrie l to adopt the Fy20 16 Budget. During discussion, C ounc ilman G oltzene stated he would li ke to look at the long term, and suggested making improvements for the residents that we have promised to do in the past. H e expressed a desire to make dra inage improvements on Town roads; however, he advised that is does not know how the Town shall deteremine priority for improvements. Councilman Liang advised that he be lieves dra inage on all roads needs to be addressed fi rst, foll owed by tra ils improvements. Councilman Rocke tt agreed w ith Councilman Goltzene that this is a many years plan. Also agreed with Councilman Liang with respect to drainage, and doing the tra il on 6th Court North . He also expressed difficulty w ith respect to prioritizing road proj ects. Vice Mayor Jarriel requested that 16 1st Terrace North be removed as a project for consideration. He a lso favored drainages on Town Roads and fe lt that 24th C irc le North should a lso be included for dra inage improvements. Mayor B rowning agreed with Vice M ayor Jarrie l to removes 16 1st Terrace North from the list of Town Council projects. Agreed with Counc ilman Goltzene that with respect to hedg ing, the Town should remove all evasive Brazilian peppers rather than cutting them back, and Councilman Rockett that residents should participate in the cost of road Following a lengthy discussion, Councilman Liang Moved, and Seconded by Vice Mayor Jarriel to amend their motion to approve the transfer of $ 1,000,000 from Transportation Fund 's Fund Balance from General Fund' s Fund Balance to the Capital Improvement Fund , and including the $ 100,000 donation from Big Dog fo r the improvements at D Road and Okeechobee Boulevard as part of the Capital Improvement Plan as well. The vote on the motion passed, 411. Councilman Rockett voted no. Dennis Lipp- North Road Inquired about ballot language deadline for borrowing monies, and the Town consideration of doing a bond issue for the improvements. Virginia Standish - north road Expressed her desire that the first priority be the $40,000 for the trail on North Road, followed by surveying and permitting, horse crossings at B and F Roads, 6111 Court North trail should be funded by General Fund.to do first. Again she requested that Town Council look to apply for grants before borrowing monies for the improvements, and finally requested that Council consider that the life of the bonds should not exceed life of the improvement. 7. ORDINANCES- NONE 8. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS- NONE 9. OLD BUSINESS -NONE 10. NEW BUSINESS- NONE 11. CLOSING COMMENTS a. Public b. Town Attorney c. Town Council Members 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Town Council, Mayor Browning adjourned the meeting at 8:30 PM. (Qv;J~~ Mayor David Browning G These minutes were adopted at _ /&- o!CJ- o2tJ1:1: meeting ofTown Council.