Special City Council

121 SW Port St. Lucie City of Port St.Lucie Blvd. Port St. Lucie, Florida 34984 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Gregory J. Oravec, Mayor Stephanie Morgan, Councilwoman, District I John Carvelli, Councilman, District II Shannon Martin, Vice Mayor, District III Jolien Caraballo, Councilwoman, District IV Monday, September 23, 2019 6:30 PM Council Chambers, City Hall 1. Meeting Called to Order A Special Meeting of the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Port St. Lucie was called to order by Mayor Oravec on September 23, 2019, at 6:36 p.m., at Port St. Lucie City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, Florida. 2. Roll Call Council Members Present: Mayor Gregory J. Oravec Vice Mayor Shannon Martin Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo Councilman John Carvelli Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan 3. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Oravec led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Public to be Heard No one signed up to speak under this item. 5. Second Reading of Ordinances, Public Hearings 5.a Ordinance 19-59, Public Hearing, An Ordinance adopting the 2019-865 ad valorem millage rate for the fiscal year October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020; Providing an effective date. The City Clerk read Ordinance 19-59 aloud by title only. Mayor Oravec opened the Public Hearing. CFO/City Treasurer Snyder stated that the previous year's millage was 6.3 mills and the current year's millage rate was 6.0740, which was a reduction of 0.2260. He reminded the public that there were many taxing authorities in St. Lucie County, and Port St. Page 1 of 3 Special City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2019 Lucie was only about 25% of the tax bill. He said that the total budget was $451,924,000, and explained that the millage reduction was incorporated. He asked the Council to formally adopt the millage rate ordinance, which represented a 0.2260 reduction over the previous year, and to formally adopt the operating budget ordinance for Fiscal Year 19/20. Mr. Snyder presented a slide of highlights, and explained the budget requests. He showed a graphic representing the tax bill, and reiterated that the City was about 25% of the total tax bill. He recommended that the Council adopt both ordinances on the agenda. Mayor Oravec opened the Public Hearing. He informed that Ms. Goldberg signed up to speak at the Regular Council meeting regarding property taxes, and advised her that now would be a good time to discuss it. Diane Goldberg asked if solid waste collection rates were going up, and said that she would like to ask other questions in context with different items. Steve Carroll said that there were two surcharges on water, and the surcharge on propane gas had not been removed. He said that money was not being spent wisely. There being no further discussion, Councilwoman Caraballo moved to approve Ordinance 19-59. Councilman Carvelli seconded the motion. Mayor Oravec said that during Public to be Heard, it was the public's right to speak, but it did not mean that it was factual. He said that the failed economic investments were made before the current Council was seated. The City Manager stated that Ms. Goldberg asked if solid waste rates were increasing, and clarified that they were increasing around $13.56 annually, primarily because the Solid Waste Disposal Fee, which was the fee that the County Landfill charged to dispose of waste, was going up. He said that it was the first increase for the County in about 10 years. There being no further comments, the City Clerk restated the motion as follows: for approval of Ordinance 19-59. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. 5.b Ordinance 19-60, Public Hearing, An Ordinance adopting the 2019-866 Budget and making an appropriation for the fiscal year October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020; Providing an effective date. The City Clerk read Ordinance 19-60 aloud by title only. Mayor Oravec Page 2 of 3 Special City Council Meeting Minutes September 23, 2019 opened the Public Hearing, and said that the previous presentation should suffice. He asked the Council if there were any questions for CFO/City Treasurer Snyder, to which there was no response. Mayor Oravec asked if any member of the public wished to speak. There being no response, he closed the Public Hearing. Vice Mayor Martin moved to approve Ordinance 19-60. Councilwoman Morgan seconded the motion. Mayor Oravec pointed out that budgeting occurred during a year-long process, as part of the Strategic Planning process. He encouraged the public to view the Strategic Plan, at www.cityofpsl.com/strategicplan. He said that crime was down and the Crosstown was going to open on September 28th. Councilman Carvelli pointed out that anyone who thought that taxes were going up should address the other agencies that were mentioned in the supporting documentation. There being no further comments, the City Clerk restated the motion as follows: for approval of Ordinance 19-60. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. 6. Adjourn There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m. _______________________________ Karen A. Phillips, City Clerk _______________________________ Jeannette C. Baechle, Deputy City Clerk Page 3 of 3