City Council Special Budget Meeting

City Hall City of Palm Coast 160 Lake Avenue Minutes Palm Coast, FL 32164 www.palmcoastgov.com CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING Mayor David Alfin Vice Mayor Ed Danko Council Member Cathy Heighter Council Member Nick Klufas Council Member Theresa Pontieri Thursday, September 7, 2023 5:15 PM CITY HALL City Staff Denise Bevan, City Manager Neysa Borkert, City Attorney Kaley Cook, City Clerk • Public Participation shall be in accordance with Section 286.0114 Florida Statutes. • Other matters of concern may be discussed as determined by City Council. • If you wish to obtain more information regarding the City Council’s agenda, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 386-986- 3713. • In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in any of these proceedings or meeting should contact the City Clerk at 386-986-3713, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. • City Council Meetings are streamed live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/PalmCoastGovTV/live. • It is proper meeting etiquette to silence all electronic devices, including cell phones while meeting is in session. • Any person who decides to appeal any decision of the City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, may need to hire a court reporter to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Alfin called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE C. ROLL CALL City Clerk Kaley Cook called the roll. All members were present. D. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Public Participation shall be held in accordance with Section 286.0114 Florida Statutes. And pursuant to the City Council’s Meeting Policies and Procedures: City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 20  (1) Each speaker shall at the podium, provide their name and may speak for up to 3 minutes. (2) The Public may provide comments to the City Council relative to matters not on the agenda at the times indicated in this Agenda. Following any comments from the public, there may be discussion by the City Council. (3) When addressing the City Council on specific, enumerated Agenda items, speakers shall: (a) direct all comments to the Mayor; (b) make their comments concise and to the point; (c) not speak more than once on the same subject; (d) not, by speech or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the City Council; (e) obey the orders of the Mayor or the City Council; and (f) not make any irrelevant, impertinent or slanderous comments while addressing the City Council; which pursuant to Council rules, shall be considered disorderly. (4) Any person who becomes disorderly or who fails to confine his or her comments to the identified subject or business, shall be cautioned by the Mayor and thereafter must conclude his or her remarks on the subject within the remaining designated time limit. Any speaker failing to comply, as cautioned, shall be barred from making any additional comments during the meeting and may be removed, as necessary, for the remainder of the meeting. Members of the public may make comments during the public comment portion of the meeting. Please be advised that public comment will only be permitted during the public comment portions of the agenda at the times indicated by the Chair during the meeting. Mayor Alfin provided the rules and procedure of public comment. James Wood spoke about increased prices, taxes, and interest rates. Additionally, Mr. Wood spoke about City Council meeting times. Annamaria Long, Flagler Home Builders Association and resident, spoke about reaching out to Council Members and thanked those who she received a response from. Ms. Long spoke about conducting a 5-year budget comparison and asked for information on specified budgets. Mayor Alfin asked Ms. Long to provide the questions to Ms. Bevan for a response. E. PRESENTATIONS 1 PRESENTATION - FINAL PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 BUDGET Helena Alves, Director of Financial Services, and Gwen Ragsdale, Budget & Procurement Manager, presented the topic to Council. Topics presented included: overview of the item, location of budget presentations and worksheets for the public, general fund budget, proprietary fund budget, special revenue fund, capital projects fund budget, internal services City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 21  fund budget, fleet equipment, fiscal year 2024 proposed budget summary, millage rate, next steps, and where to find the budget information. Ms. Alves and Ms. Ragsdale shared about the Final Proposed Budget Hearing on September 20, 2023, at 5:15 p.m. Mayor Alfin asked when the budget timeline was established. Ms. Alves shared that the budget timeline was set in February. Mayor Alfin asked about where the public may find the information on the City’s website. Ms. Alves explained how to find the information. Council Members thanked staff for their efforts. Vice Mayor Danko spoke about the rollback rate and opposed future tax increases. Mayor Alfin thanked Council Members for their efforts and time investments into the budget. RECESS CITY COUNCIL AND CONVENE THE SR 100 CORRIDOR CRA BOARD City Council recessed at 5:53 p.m. and convened the SR 100 Corridor CRA Board. F. SR 100 CORRIDOR CRA RESOLUTIONS 1 STATE ROAD 100 CORRIDOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (SR 100 CRA) RESOLUTION 2023-92 ADOPTING THE SR 100 CORRIDOR CRA TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 AND AMENDING THE STATE ROAD 100 CORRIDOR CRA BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 R20230092 Attorney Nix read the title into the record. Public Comment: There were none. Pass Motion made to approve by Vice Mayor Danko and seconded by Council Member Pontieri Approved - 5 - Mayor David Alfin, Vice Mayor Ed Danko, Council Member Nick Klufas, Council Member Theresa Pontieri, Council Member Cathy Heighter City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 22  ADJOURN THE SR 100 CORRIDOR CRA BOARD AND RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL City Council adjourned the SR 100 Corridor CRA Board and reconvened City Council at 5:55 p.m. G. CITY RESOLUTIONS 2 RESOLUTION 2023-93 APPROVING SETTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE (TRIM) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 R20230094 Attorney Nix read the title into the record. Mayor Alfin provided a background of the item. Mayor Alfin stated the following: “The City of Palm Coast proposes to levy a millage rate of 4.2570 mills. This is an increase of 0% from the rolled-back rate of 4.2570 mills.” Public Comment: There were none. Mayor Alfin stated the following: “The City of Palm Coast proposes to adopt a millage rate of 4.2570 mills. Mayor Alfin asked for a roll call vote. Pass Motion made to approve by Vice Mayor Danko and seconded by Council Member Heighter Approved - 5 - Mayor David Alfin, Vice Mayor Ed Danko, Council Member Nick Klufas, Council Member Theresa Pontieri, Council Member Cathy Heighter 3 RESOLUTION 2023-94 ESTABLISHING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 AND AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 BUDGET R20230094 Attorney Nix read the title into the record. Mayor Alfin provided a background of the item. City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 23  Mayor Alfin stated the following: “The City of Palm Coast proposes to adopt a budget with total appropriated expenditures and reserves of $357,748,234.” Public Comment: There were none. Mayor Alfin announced the following: “The City of Palm Coast proposes to adopt a tentative budget of $357,748,234.” Vice Mayor Danko spoke about a letter which Council, and Ms. Bevan, received regarding the Old Kings Road Special Assessment District and asked to clarify details of the Special Assessment District (SAD). City Council held discussion on allocations versus expenditures, grants, state appropriations, funds, SAD Committee, and studies budgeted for. Ms. Bevan provided a response regarding the fund and State appropriation request. Carl Cote, Director of Stormwater & Engineering, provided a response on the funds within the Old Kings Road Special Assessment District. Mayor Alfin clarified the question discussed to know if there will be any decisions made on the expenditure of any of the funds discussed prior to the committee meeting. Vice Mayor Danko asked if the committee has the right to review as is claimed in the letter. Staff confirmed that there will be no expenditure of funds prior to the committee meeting. Staff responded yes. Attorney Nix explained that there is a difference in the distinction between allocating and preparing and adopting the budget. Ms. Nix explained that via Ordinance 2005-10, which established the Old Kings Road Special Assessment District, and stated that the City Council of the City of Palm Coast has the power and duty to prepare and adopt the budget for the district. Council Member Pontieri asked the City Attorney to keep Council apprised of the communications. Mayor Alfin reiterated the direction to the City Attorney to keep Council updated on the situation. Pass Motion made to approve by Vice Mayor Danko and seconded by Council Member Pontieri City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 24  Approved - 5 - Mayor David Alfin, Vice Mayor Ed Danko, Council Member Nick Klufas, Council Member Theresa Pontieri, Council Member Cathy Heighter Mayor Alfin announced the following: “The Public Hearing to adopt the final millage rate and budget is scheduled for September 20, 2023, at 5:15 p.m., at the Palm Coast City Hall, Community Wing”. H. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Remainder of Public Comments is limited to three (3) minutes each. There were none. I. DISCUSSION BY CITY COUNCIL OF MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Mayor Alfin reiterated the comments from earlier in the meeting on the request for Council to be updated as soon as possible on the Old Kings Road Special Assessment District letter and response. Council Member Klufas discussed Council Member Pontieri’s prior Council comments regarding a join Cities and County workshop and bringing the topic of Mala Compra Park. Council Member Klufas asked Council Member Pontieri to share more about the strategy. Council Member Pontieri shared that she hasn’t come up with a proposal but shared ideas for better utilization. Council Member Pontieri looked for consensus from Council for discussion on the topic at the joint workshop. Mayor Alfin discussed that the intent of the ongoing collaborative meeting was to discuss opportunities that might exist for all residents of Flagler County. Mayor Alfin shared that he, and Council Member Pontieri, will bring back any discussion that occurs. Council Member Klufas agreed with Mayor Alfin’s comment and stated that this doesn’t provide carte blanche opportunity for representative members before running it by Council first. Council Member Klufas shared concern for potential annexation and lack of the item on the upcoming joint workshop agenda. Council Member Pontieri shared that the intent is not a proposal, but that it is a round table for ideas. Mayor Alfin asked that the topic come to Council as an agenda item to formulate what is intended to be discussed at the joint meeting. Council Member Pontieri and Mayor Alfin discussed bringing back a full review of the discussion to Council. City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 25  Vice Mayor Danko shared comments on who currently has responsibility for the park. Council Member Heighter shared about spending time with constituents, moving into the 2024 budget, and resident support for Council Member Pontieri’s comments regarding jobs and growth. Mayor Alfin thanked Council members for their effort and depth of study and investigation on the budget. J. DISCUSSION BY CITY ATTORNEY OF MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA There were none. K. DISCUSSION BY CITY MANAGER OF MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA There were none. L. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Kaley Cook, CMC, FCRM City Clerk City of Palm Coast Created on 9/18/23 26