[0:07] okay.
[0:08] >> okay.
[0:11] Got it.
[0:12] Okay.
[0:15] All set then.
[0:16] Good evening, ladies and
[0:19] gentlemen, and welcome to the
[0:20] city of winter spring city
[0:23] commission budget workshop of
[0:25] monday, JULY 14th, 2025.
[0:26] >> and kristen, would you call
[0:26] the roll, please?
[0:30] Mayor kevin mccann present
[0:30] deputy mayor kate resnick.
[0:33] Commissioner paul diaz
[0:34] commissioner victoria bruce
[0:34] present commissioner sarah
[0:36] baker present commissioner mark
[0:37] caruso here city manager kevin
[0:41] sweeney present city attorney
[0:41] anthony and gargi speer.
[0:44] >> if we could stand for a
[0:45] moment of silence to be
[0:52] followed by the pledge
[1:10] , I
[1:14] believe that the united states
[1:19] of america is my nation and I
[1:21] do with all liberty and justice
[1:24] for all.
[1:25] >> all right.
[1:29] I assume there are no agenda
[1:32] changes on this one topic for
[1:32] the workshop.
[1:36] And so then it was a compliment
[1:39] to MR. Sweet.
[1:40] Thank you for a well done well
[1:43] written, well explained.
[1:44] It was actually a little
[1:44] different layout from past
[1:47] years.
[1:47] I appreciate your input.
[1:48] Maybe holly, thanks for making
[1:51] it very clear.
[1:51] And although it's I'm not an
[1:55] accountant it's it was it makes
[1:55] sense and thanks for the layout
[1:59] and the detailed explanation.
[1:59] >> and with that, let's just
[2:00] read I'll turn it over to you.
[2:03] thank you, MR. Mayor.
[2:03] Commissioners, members of the
[2:06] public, thank you for your
[2:10] diligent work and engagement
[2:10] during this budget process.
[2:14] At this stage I've had the
[2:14] opportunity myself as well as
[2:15] the directors to meet with the
[2:18] mayor and all of the
[2:18] commissioners.
[2:19] The briefing prior to the
[2:22] budget workshop and where
[2:22] things stand.
[2:26] I do have a brief slide show
[2:26] overview which is a high level
[2:30] overview of what we're looking
[2:30] at for some revenue assumptions
[2:34] and expenditures breakdown for
[2:34] the f y 26 budget.
[2:38] In addition, the directors are
[2:41] with us this evening that chief
[2:42] track as well as clete sonya
[2:45] and brian dunning in to speak a
[2:46] little bit more and add some of
[2:49] their budget drivers and
[2:50] impacts for the f y 26 and kind
[2:53] of long term on the general
[2:54] fund side, the police budget
[2:57] being the largest budget and
[2:57] then the utilities being
[3:01] another major component.
[3:02] We'll wrap up with brian if we
[3:02] could just kind of go through
[3:04] after I complete my
[3:04] presentation, I'll ask them to
[3:08] give an overview of their
[3:09] budget request for f y 26 and
[3:12] then we can turn it back to
[3:12] you, MR. Mayor and the
[3:13] commission.
[3:13] I'm happy to go into any
[3:16] questions that you MAY have in
[3:17] further detail.
[3:19] But that being said, we'll get
[3:20] started with the presentation.
[3:26] >> patricia
[3:34] , thank you.
[3:35] >> so each of you should have a
[3:36] copy of this again, much of
[3:39] this is just broken down into a
[3:39] little bit easier to follow
[3:42] overview from the extensive
[3:43] budget book that everybody
[3:45] received as required under the
[3:46] charter JULY 1st of this year
[3:49] was distributed.
[3:50] You folks had an opportunity to
[3:51] digest it as well as the public
[3:54] as posted on the city website
[3:57] and through our one on one
[3:57] discussions.
[3:59] And here we are today the first
[4:00] stage or phase, if you will, of
[4:03] the budget process.
[4:04] This budget as we talk about
[4:05] through will be some
[4:07] opportunities for some
[4:08] reiterations in particular a
[4:09] couple of areas within the
[4:12] capital that will have a couple
[4:12] of opportunities to make that
[4:15] before final adoption.
[4:16] >> we're hoping to have some
[4:17] finalized numbers on a couple
[4:17] of things.
[4:19] First off, I'd like to thank
[4:22] all of the directors for their
[4:23] vigorous efforts this fiscal
[4:23] year.
[4:27] >> it's set out obviously as
[4:27] the new city manager, a couple
[4:30] of new directors, department
[4:33] heads were able to take a fresh
[4:34] view of where the budget
[4:37] drivers were really go through
[4:40] the budget as a whole on a line
[4:41] by line zero based and really,
[4:44] you know, the message to go
[4:45] back in and really look and
[4:46] make sure that we're getting
[4:49] the most efficiency out of the
[4:49] budget and the numbers that
[4:50] they're putting forward.
[4:53] We've had a number of internal
[4:56] meetings reiterations where
[4:57] things have been changed,
[4:57] amended, come back and
[4:57] reconsidered.
[5:00] So I want to thank all of the
[5:00] directors because this really
[5:03] is a team effort.
[5:04] They've spent a lot of
[5:08] countless hours and time to get
[5:08] us to here, a lot of
[5:08] preparation.
[5:11] I specifically want to call out
[5:14] the budget team in addition to
[5:15] myself led by holly queen, our
[5:16] finance director as well as
[5:19] michelle rozanski, our budget
[5:19] manager.
[5:22] And I was the benefits
[5:22] administrator as well as brian
[5:26] dunnigan, our director of
[5:26] administrative services and
[5:30] operations really led the the
[5:30] true budget team too without
[5:34] their support we wouldn't be
[5:34] here today and getting this
[5:37] budget completed.
[5:37] So we'll dive right in.
[5:41] The f y 26 budget, as I said,
[5:42] was developed through a
[5:45] rigorous, responsible process
[5:45] that ensures financial
[5:46] stability and reflects
[5:49] community priorities.
[5:53] >> no proposed increase in the
[5:53] city's operating millage rate
[5:56] remaining at 2.6 to mils.
[6:00] That's a a big achievement,
[6:00] something I'm proud of.
[6:01] I know it's something that the
[6:01] team is proud of.
[6:04] This was not easy to get to.
[6:04] You'll see that there's a
[6:07] number coming in right?
[6:08] Start with the f y 26 budget
[6:11] couple of big increases and
[6:11] we're talking about fixed costs
[6:14] that we don't have much
[6:14] discretion on and we'll talk
[6:15] about some of those things.
[6:18] Well as related to insurance
[6:19] and a couple of other drivers
[6:22] and really looking at what do
[6:23] we have some ability, the
[6:25] discretion to be able to go.
[6:26] You'll notice when we get into
[6:29] the operating budgets within
[6:29] within the general fund,
[6:33] there's really was a hard look
[6:36] at those expenses and line by
[6:36] line item and there's not a
[6:37] single increase in those
[6:40] operating expenses within
[6:40] within those budget.
[6:44] So I don't want to undermine
[6:44] the difficulty of getting us to
[6:47] a place where we're able to
[6:48] recommend keeping the millage
[6:51] rate where it's at as as we all
[6:56] know the you know, expense
[6:56] issues are far exceeding
[6:57] revenue that's not unique to
[6:57] the city.
[6:59] We went to springs and being
[7:00] able to keep pace with that is
[7:03] has been a continuous and
[7:03] difficult task.
[7:04] But we were able to and proud
[7:08] to be able to do that for the f
[7:11] y 26 budget and and present
[7:12] this before you today through
[7:16] that with that in in respect to
[7:17] that the we you know we feel
[7:18] that the city remains committed
[7:19] to delivering high quality
[7:22] services and we feel that we
[7:23] can do that given the budget
[7:26] that's presented before you.
[7:27] There's no I'd say there's no
[7:30] growth or wish list items in
[7:31] this budget.
[7:33] This budget is is really a
[7:38] budget that is real essential
[7:39] that we feel will provide and
[7:39] maintain and deliver the
[7:41] services that our residents
[7:41] expect.
[7:45] But there's no other kind of
[7:46] growth in long term vision
[7:49] beyond that and some of that
[7:50] will take place as we look at
[7:50] future conversations around
[7:53] strategic plans and direction
[7:57] that the commission is looking
[7:58] to set in making some of those
[7:58] decisions.
[7:59] You'll see it when we go
[8:00] through through the different
[8:00] budget.
[8:01] You know, there's no there's no
[8:05] projects that are unnecessary
[8:06] sorry projects that are in the
[8:07] budget and I say unnecessary in
[8:08] the sense of our level service
[8:12] in maintaining services and
[8:13] some of that has been put on
[8:14] hold as we really as a as a
[8:17] group and identify particularly
[8:18] the commission's direction as
[8:20] we look at kind of our
[8:21] strategic and master plan
[8:24] moving forward.
[8:25] The overall budget revenues are
[8:29] based upon an operating millage
[8:29] as I said, an assumption of a
[8:32] 2.62 mils total revenues in
[8:33] transfers are projected to
[8:34] increase by 25.8%, including
[8:35] appropriations from a fund
[8:38] balance.
[8:39] A total increase of 13.9% is
[8:42] projected.
[8:43] The timing of the opera
[8:45] project's solid waste rate
[8:46] increases tlb the increase
[8:50] enterprise srf state revolving
[8:53] fund loan proceeds of 5.4
[8:54] million as well as increase in
[8:57] water, sewer and stormwater
[8:59] rates is what's driving some of
[9:00] that increase that big
[9:00] increase, particularly the big
[9:04] increase in the enterprise
[9:04] revenue.
[9:04] >> and that's where that's one
[9:08] of the call those out
[9:08] specifically as it MAY look
[9:11] like there's some substantial
[9:12] particularly as it relates to
[9:13] the water and sewer utility as
[9:16] we look at, you know, where
[9:17] where is that projection coming
[9:17] from or.
[9:20] Burstein the realize some of
[9:20] the rate changes in that
[9:21] revenue being realized but a
[9:24] big portion of that is that
[9:27] enterprise $5.4 million design
[9:28] loan that is made up and
[9:31] incorporated into that revenue.
[9:32] So on the expenditure side, as
[9:35] we progress with addressing our
[9:36] wastewater reclamation facility
[9:41] infrastructure, it's just shows
[9:46] I'm sorry, do I have that's not
[9:46] as you know there goes organic
[9:49] organization wide sources of
[9:49] funds.
[9:50] This really just shows a
[9:53] breakdown by percentage of
[9:57] where where that revenue is
[9:57] coming from.
[10:00] Charges for service at 31.9%,
[10:03] appropriation from funds, 18.9%
[10:06] ad valorem tax at 12.5%.
[10:06] Inter-government
[10:09] inter-government transfers in
[10:09] from the state 10.8%.
[10:13] Other taxes at 7.3%.
[10:16] Some loan proceeds at 6.8%
[10:20] franchise other revenue sources
[10:20] smaller buckets total maybe
[10:20] 4.4%.
[10:24] Franchise fees 3.4% into fund
[10:27] transfers in 2.6% and licenses
[10:30] and permits 1.3.
[10:31] So you know, a couple of it's
[10:33] big reliance on ad valorem as
[10:37] well as some of the the state
[10:40] revenue shares that we get that
[10:44] make that up total proposed
[10:47] budget at 79.87 million across
[10:50] all funds this represents a
[10:53] 12.8% increase in expenditures
[10:54] and a 13.9% increase in the
[10:57] total budget over the f y 25
[10:57] budget enterprise fund.
[11:01] That's again a significant
[11:02] growth up 53.3% in revenue and
[11:05] then was we going to the
[11:07] expenditures you'll see the
[11:07] 31.6% expenditures again
[11:08] primarily due to the utility
[11:11] and infrastructure capital
[11:11] projects.
[11:15] >> the property tax revenue is
[11:17] projected to increase by
[11:21] 538,889, which accounts for a
[11:27] 6% with a 5.9% and 6.6% with
[11:30] 5.9% rollback less than our f y
[11:31] 25 that we're able to work
[11:31] with.
[11:34] So you can imagine, you know,
[11:34] the difficulty when you have
[11:37] limited revenue increases and
[11:40] just over half $1 million and
[11:41] realize the revenue when it
[11:44] comes to ad valorem increase
[11:47] can be a challenge with dealing
[11:48] with the other other increase
[11:49] in costs that we have as a
[11:55] community
[11:55] overall budget
[11:55] expenditure.
[11:58] >> I mentioned again behind the
[11:59] slide here represented there
[12:03] with the inclusion of the
[12:03] appropriations, the fund
[12:05] balance, the total increase of
[12:09] 13.9%.
[12:13] >> this is the organization
[12:14] organization wide application
[12:17] of funds and the percentage of
[12:17] the total where that's going
[12:20] again capital outlay.
[12:21] This budget as you'll see,
[12:22] reflects a significant amount
[12:25] of investment into our capital
[12:27] and infrastructure personnel at
[12:31] 24.7%, services at 12.2% repair
[12:33] and maintenance rtm 9.1
[12:36] utilities making up 7.5 or 7
[12:36] half percent.
[12:39] Other five and a half debt
[12:40] service at 4.7 into fund
[12:43] transfers out 2.6% and an
[12:46] appropriation to the fund a
[12:46] 1.1.
[12:47] So it just gives you an idea I
[12:49] can see that paragraph where
[12:50] the big portion of where the
[12:54] application of these funds, the
[12:54] orange there with that capital
[13:00] outlay at 32.5% personnel
[13:02] related expenses about make up
[13:03] about 60.7% of the general fund
[13:07] budget as we get you can see is
[13:10] another highlight of
[13:11] expenditure highlights which
[13:14] includes 8% health insurance
[13:18] premium increase again like to
[13:19] you know really just shows the
[13:21] vigilance and effort that was
[13:21] made.
[13:22] There's no new positions that
[13:25] have been added within this fy
[13:25] 26 budget.
[13:29] We've relooked at in some of
[13:30] the efforts and communication
[13:33] that I've made in the last
[13:33] couple of months with
[13:37] streamlining and realigning job
[13:37] duties, particularly at the
[13:41] director level with the
[13:41] consolidation of the director
[13:45] of public works into a combined
[13:45] public works and utilities
[13:46] department under the leadership
[13:49] of clete.
[13:49] I'm looking at bringing that
[13:50] and repositioning that position
[13:53] as a assistant director and
[13:53] some reallocation of additional
[13:58] shifts of responsibility is as
[13:59] it relates to that so that we
[13:59] can ensure that the duties
[14:02] themselves are realigned and
[14:03] we're getting achieving the
[14:05] most out of the staffing model
[14:06] that we have.
[14:08] I think this is a pretty good
[14:09] slide breakdown that shows what
[14:12] that looks like.
[14:13] As you can see there, the
[14:16] employees per 1000 residents
[14:19] and where that stands pretty
[14:20] flat line reduction of one fte
[14:23] overall from 2425 and where we
[14:27] stand in fy 26.
[14:31] >> so this is we're running
[14:31] lean.
[14:32] I've said that many times.
[14:35] If you look at comparable
[14:35] cities throughout the state and
[14:36] where we stand, our resident
[14:38] and our our infrastructure in
[14:42] demand, we're definitely run a
[14:43] lean tight ship and we're
[14:46] fortunate that we have the
[14:46] employees and staff that we
[14:47] have to be able to accomplish
[14:47] that.
[14:49] But many folks are wearing
[14:50] multiple hats that you don't
[14:53] see in a lot of communities and
[14:54] you know, we're doing the best
[14:56] with with what we have and I
[14:57] think we're doing a great job
[15:00] at that.
[15:00] Expenditure highlights each
[15:04] director, as I said at the
[15:05] beginning, was tasked with
[15:08] finding even small ways to
[15:08] reduce their operating
[15:09] expenditures such as moving
[15:12] appropriate expenditures to
[15:12] other more restrictive funding
[15:13] sources that were captured
[15:16] within their budget and looking
[15:20] at other funding allocation
[15:21] that should be more streamlined
[15:24] as it relates to some capital
[15:25] areas and taking those out of
[15:28] the actual budget themselves
[15:28] and addressing those as as
[15:29] capital expenditures.
[15:32] We'll talk a little bit more on
[15:33] capital.
[15:36] You can see there the again, I
[15:37] mentioned this earlier in the
[15:37] presentation.
[15:40] You know, I'm proud of what
[15:40] we've been able to build here
[15:43] and really shows that we have
[15:44] made a real strong concerted
[15:44] effort.
[15:47] You can see information
[15:48] services in general government
[15:51] on their on the operating
[15:54] budgets from 25 over to the f y
[15:56] 26 and that change at-1.8% on
[16:00] the community development side
[16:04] -9% parks and recreation down
[16:04] 2.6%.
[16:07] Police 5.2%.
[16:10] Finance just under one half 4%.
[16:13] Public works-15 and the
[16:17] executive office minus six.
[16:19] >> so overall 4.7% reduction in
[16:22] our operating expenses for the
[16:22] f y 26, which again a lot of
[16:27] effort really analyzed and
[16:27] going through every line item
[16:30] zero base and really reviewing
[16:30] the budget expenditures and
[16:34] making sure that there's no you
[16:35] know, no no funding in it.
[16:38] There or questionable or
[16:38] anything like that.
[16:42] I mean it's really there's
[16:42] budget is giving us really what
[16:43] we need to survive and just
[16:46] just wanted to stress that but
[16:47] that's probably rare that you
[16:50] would see any community that's
[16:52] presenting operating expenses
[16:53] for every one of those
[16:53] functions at a reduction.
[16:57] >> and again, that was a lot of
[16:58] effort to get us here.
[17:01] We'll talk about when the chief
[17:02] gets into his presentation of
[17:02] the police.
[17:04] You know, police salaries and a
[17:05] couple of those as I said,
[17:09] discretion area expenses
[17:09] increases health insurance and
[17:12] a number of those other areas
[17:13] where we don't have a whole lot
[17:16] of discretion to be able to
[17:17] adjust to be able to find that
[17:20] in other areas as has been a
[17:20] difficult task.
[17:24] General fund breakdown by
[17:27] percentage of the percentage of
[17:28] utilization from ad valorem
[17:34] being the largest there at
[17:40] 37.4% utility tax 15.4%
[17:40] intergovernmental 10.6% are
[17:44] some franchise fees we have
[17:44] coming in 10.2% communication
[17:51] service tax at 6.2%, revenue
[17:52] sharing at 6% and
[17:54] appropriations from funds of
[17:55] 5.1 and interphone transfers
[17:57] and at 3.1 makes up to 100% of
[18:00] the source on the general fund
[18:00] .
[18:01] As you can see, the big
[18:04] reliance is on our our tax
[18:05] base, on our local tax, on the
[18:05] ad valorem tax, making up the
[18:11] bulk of that 37%.
[18:12] >> and another way of looking
[18:15] at 25 versus 26 on the
[18:18] application from a revenue side
[18:19] of the house and from the
[18:22] source as well as the
[18:23] application of how that money
[18:26] is being expended.
[18:27] Personnel as I said earlier,
[18:30] driving not unique to
[18:31] governmental budgeting in any
[18:31] way.
[18:34] Typically I've seen, you know,
[18:34] communities, municipalities
[18:37] generally around anywhere from
[18:38] 60 to 75% on average I'd say
[18:42] probably 70, 72% is personnel
[18:45] and staff when it comes to the
[18:48] overall budget as a whole.
[18:52] Other operating at 9.2% repair
[18:54] and maintenance are around that
[18:57] 6.5% capital outlay makes up 4%
[18:58] and this is in the general
[19:01] government general fund side
[19:03] I'm sorry supplies 3.5%.
[19:08] Utilities 3.7% fuel 1.1% and
[19:11] then grants and aids just 0.3
[19:14] just under half percent gives
[19:15] the 26.6 million on the general
[19:18] fund side.
[19:19] >> general fund fiscal policy
[19:22] test.
[19:23] >> each year the general fund
[19:24] is tested to determine if the
[19:27] fund complies with the three
[19:27] internal fiscal policies or
[19:31] guidelines as follows one that
[19:31] it's sufficient recurring
[19:34] revenue exists to pay for all
[19:34] recurring costs.
[19:39] That's avoiding the use of
[19:39] nonrecurring revenues and fund
[19:41] balances to fund recurring
[19:42] costs.
[19:46] Those are usually utilized for
[19:46] savings, if you will, as well
[19:47] as one time capital
[19:50] expenditures and are recurrent
[19:53] recurring costs in any fiscal
[19:54] year that's sufficient
[19:57] recurring non recurring revenue
[19:58] available to fund non-recurring
[20:01] costs and that the 25% fund
[20:02] balance policy is being
[20:05] maintained a fund balance equal
[20:08] to or exceeding 25% of
[20:08] personnel and operating costs
[20:12] of which we are more than
[20:12] doing.
[20:12] >> you'll see within your
[20:15] budget for page 31 which lays
[20:16] out where that stands and what
[20:19] I would refer to as the
[20:22] discretionary fund balance and
[20:23] having just under 2 million, I
[20:26] think that that alone
[20:27] illustrates the financial
[20:31] health of our community.
[20:32] It's a it illustrates that it's
[20:35] where a community that is run
[20:39] fiscally, responsibly and not
[20:40] not in a position of a crisis
[20:42] by any means or anything like
[20:42] that.
[20:43] And you know, that's
[20:43] illustrated within the
[20:46] responsible fund balance
[20:46] following strictly through
[20:47] these policies.
[20:50] And in fact that 25% I think is
[20:51] actually technically required
[20:53] of 20% or three months of
[20:56] operating 90 days, if you will
[20:56] .
[20:57] And we're certainly meeting
[20:57] above that requirement as well
[21:00] as having some discretionary in
[21:04] there and that that comes after
[21:06] this f y 26 budget of what
[21:07] we're remaining with after
[21:10] after those fund balances are
[21:11] covered within this budget.
[21:15] So fiscally responsible and
[21:20] healthy at this stage before we
[21:24] turn it over to the chief, just
[21:25] a couple of other things.
[21:26] The fund balance outlook, I
[21:29] said that is projected to
[21:32] decrease by 1.35 million due to
[21:35] those non-recurring capital
[21:36] enterprise fund equity is
[21:38] expected to decline due to the
[21:39] major utility investments of
[21:40] which we've been planning for
[21:43] and have had much discussion
[21:47] regarding and other decrease in
[21:49] fund balances.
[21:50] Primarily as I said, due to the
[21:53] one time capital investments
[21:54] that's planned for use of
[21:54] reserves for long term
[21:57] infrastructure improvements and
[21:58] remain in compliance with our
[21:58] reserve policy.
[22:02] >> so all all positive and good
[22:05] things it's a matter of if I
[22:07] could I'd like to ask the three
[22:10] directors to present their f y
[22:11] 26 request and drivers and I
[22:14] think it's a good opportunity.
[22:15] I don't think in the most
[22:19] recent we've you know in prior
[22:19] done too much in this I really
[22:22] wanted to focus on those three.
[22:23] The police department is the
[22:25] largest general fund budget and
[22:29] then as I said with the
[22:29] utilities and public works is a
[22:30] big conversation.
[22:33] Brian is the director of
[22:33] administrative services and
[22:36] operations, has information
[22:37] services which includes human
[22:37] resources.
[22:41] I.T risk management as well as
[22:41] our parks and recreation
[22:47] oversight as well as our our
[22:48] tree landscaping our functions
[22:48] as well.
[22:52] So chief turned over to you if
[22:53] you want to present yourself
[22:56] thank you.
[22:56] >> thank you MR..
[22:57] I appreciate that.
[22:57] Well good afternoon honorable
[23:00] mayor, commissioners, staff and
[23:00] members of the public.
[23:01] Thank you for the opportunity
[23:04] to present proposed fiscal year
[23:08] 2026 police department budget.
[23:08] I'm proud to represent our
[23:09] department's dedicated men and
[23:12] women who work daily to keep
[23:12] our communities safe.
[23:15] >> our fiscal year 26 budget
[23:15] supports a focused strategy
[23:18] built around four priorities.
[23:18] Those priorities are
[23:21] maintaining an adequate level
[23:22] of public safety services
[23:22] recruiting and retaining
[23:26] qualified officers, investing
[23:26] in modern equipment and
[23:29] technology and improving
[23:29] overall efficiency and fiscal
[23:33] accountability.
[23:33] Before we get into that though,
[23:34] I'd like to outline where we
[23:37] have been and where we are now.
[23:40] >> agencies throughout central
[23:40] florida have faced an
[23:40] unprecedented staffing
[23:41] challenges.
[23:44] >> the recruitment pipelines
[23:44] are shrinking and competition
[23:48] for certified officers is
[23:48] increasing.
[23:48] All agencies are fighting for
[23:52] the same top candidates.
[23:54] As you all are aware, in late
[23:54] 2024 we increased our starting
[23:55] salary adjusted employee
[23:59] compression and offered
[23:59] educational incentives.
[24:00] This was necessary as we face
[24:03] an unrest that in 30% vacancy
[24:07] rate and the police department
[24:07] officers were leaving for
[24:07] neighboring jurisdictions just
[24:11] for a few thousand dollars more
[24:12] in salary and a benefit package
[24:14] that exceeded ours.
[24:15] I'm glad to report that today
[24:17] we see a vacancy of only about
[24:18] 5% and hopefully by the end of
[24:21] this week we could close out to
[24:22] 0% with some offer letters
[24:25] within central florida
[24:25] departments have raised
[24:28] starting salaries to the 60 to
[24:29] $68,000 range.
[24:32] Many of those offering
[24:32] unimaginable sign on bonuses.
[24:35] Some of these bonuses range
[24:36] from 5000 to 30,000 just to get
[24:38] hired.
[24:39] On top of those incentives are
[24:42] for education night shift
[24:42] differential and even
[24:42] relocation pay.
[24:45] Unfortunately, the only thing
[24:46] that this does is incentivizes
[24:46] qualified officers to leave an
[24:49] agency for financial gain.
[24:50] Regretfully, we have seen this
[24:54] affect our agency as well.
[24:54] >> the passion for law
[24:57] enforcement has changed over
[24:57] the years.
[24:58] One could argue a reason or
[25:01] just simply watch the news over
[25:01] the last ten years.
[25:02] Finding officers who want to
[25:04] make a career is becoming
[25:05] harder and harder.
[25:08] Staying competitive has focused
[25:09] us to think outside the box.
[25:12] The proposed budget includes
[25:13] funding that will maintain our
[25:13] competitiveness while
[25:14] continuing to provide the
[25:16] services that are expected from
[25:17] our community.
[25:20] >> as residents sees increases
[25:21] in our day to day cost, we
[25:21] experience those same
[25:24] significant cost increases
[25:25] across our critical equipment
[25:28] lines and operating expenses.
[25:29] For instance, body armor that
[25:33] was purchased in 2020 cost
[25:33] $1,158.
[25:36] Today that armor costs $1,997,
[25:40] which is a 72% increase in
[25:40] 2020.
[25:44] uniforms to outfit a new higher
[25:44] cost $335.
[25:47] That same uniform now cost
[25:47] $570.
[25:48] That's a 70% increase.
[25:49] And something as simple as copy
[25:55] paper $43 a box is now $66.
[25:58] That's a 53% increase in a
[25:58] simple office supply.
[26:02] I say this because we all feel
[26:02] the same pressures as everyone
[26:04] in our community.
[26:05] >> intelligence led policing
[26:06] has become the wave of the
[26:09] future and has proven to be a
[26:09] game changer in combating and
[26:12] solving crimes.
[26:13] Likewise, technology based
[26:16] equipment, patrol vehicles and
[26:17] safety gear have risen
[26:17] significantly.
[26:21] Despite these increases, we
[26:21] have worked diligently to find
[26:21] efficiencies to provide you
[26:25] with a decrease in our
[26:25] operating budget while still
[26:28] maintaining service levels.
[26:28] For the fiscal year 26 budget,
[26:29] the operating costs for the
[26:31] police department have been
[26:32] reduced by a little over 5%
[26:32] last year.
[26:36] We're pleased to see the
[26:36] effects of our policing
[26:37] initiatives and their impact on
[26:39] our crime rates.
[26:41] Crime has dropped overall by
[26:42] 15% from the previous year and
[26:45] additionally we saw a 9%
[26:45] reduction in violent crimes all
[26:46] while operating at critical
[26:49] staffing levels.
[26:49] Nevertheless, this success
[26:53] comes with a downside.
[26:53] For years we've been forced to
[26:54] do more with less.
[26:57] This approach takes a toll on
[26:57] the workforce and the staffing
[26:58] numbers have proved this.
[27:01] We operate with the lowest
[27:02] officer programs per resident
[27:04] rate in seminole county and I'm
[27:05] pleased to say now we see
[27:05] staffing numbers shift in our
[27:08] favor.
[27:08] I will always strive to provide
[27:09] the best policing within this
[27:11] community.
[27:11] As a resident myself, I
[27:12] invested in seeing the success
[27:15] of this agency and the city
[27:16] data shows clearly that the
[27:19] properly staffing equipped
[27:19] departments lead to tangible,
[27:20] measurable, measurable
[27:23] improvements in public safety.
[27:24] These impact the quality of
[27:24] life and harmony of our
[27:27] community.
[27:27] This is what makes winter
[27:28] springs such an attractive
[27:31] place to live.
[27:31] The police department's budget
[27:32] is responsible and forward
[27:34] thinking.
[27:35] It balances rising cost with
[27:35] efficiency.
[27:38] It strengthens officer
[27:38] recruitment and retention.
[27:39] And most importantly, it
[27:42] sustains our goal of providing
[27:43] top notch service while
[27:46] reducing the fare and presence
[27:46] of crime.
[27:49] >> the total proposed f y 26
[27:52] budget reflects a 4.3% increase
[27:52] over 25.
[27:53] This includes payroll and
[27:56] benefits, operating expenses
[27:56] and capital improvements.
[27:59] As mentioned, we reduced our
[28:00] operating costs by scrutinizing
[28:03] every line item conducting
[28:03] internal checks and balances,
[28:07] negotiating contracts and using
[28:08] grant funds to the best of our
[28:08] abilities.
[28:11] This budget is operationally
[28:11] sound to complete our mission
[28:14] but lacks any more flexibility
[28:14] .
[28:15] Key budget areas that were
[28:15] discussed earlier our personnel
[28:21] benefits which is $8.7 million
[28:22] operating costs $1.6 million
[28:25] and capital expenses of
[28:25] $640,000.
[28:26] The total police department
[28:29] budget of $10.9 million.
[28:33] >> every dollar in this
[28:34] proposal is aligned with
[28:34] maintaining services the same
[28:37] community policing standards
[28:37] that we've worked hard over the
[28:38] last several decades to build
[28:38] trust.
[28:41] Transparency and partnerships
[28:41] with our residents, business
[28:42] partners and faith based
[28:45] community leaders.
[28:46] As your police chief, I'm
[28:46] committed to leading this
[28:49] agency with honesty, integrity
[28:50] and transparency in every
[28:52] decision we make from how we
[28:53] spend taxpayer dollars to how
[28:53] we serve our residents.
[28:56] We will reflect on our core
[28:59] values excellence, integrity,
[28:59] innovation and respect.
[29:00] I will fight for our officers
[29:04] for their safety, for their
[29:04] well-being and the respect that
[29:04] they've earned.
[29:08] >> but I also hold us to the
[29:08] highest standards because
[29:08] that's what the public
[29:09] deserves.
[29:11] We are building a department
[29:12] that just doesn't respond to
[29:15] crime but also helps prevent it
[29:15] .
[29:16] A department that earns trust
[29:17] not just compliance and a
[29:19] department that serves as a
[29:19] cornerstone of what makes one
[29:22] springs safe, desirable,
[29:23] complete and free from
[29:26] tomorrow's fears.
[29:27] With that, I respectfully
[29:30] request your support adopting
[29:31] the fiscal year 26 proposed
[29:32] police department's budgets and
[29:36] I welcome any questions?
[29:37] >> you want to just roll
[29:41] through and then we'll come
[29:41] back for questions.
[29:41] Okay.
[29:48] Who's next to
[29:51] me?
[29:52] >> good afternoon,
[29:52] commissioners.
[29:53] It was good getting an
[29:56] opportunity to meet each one of
[29:56] you individually over the last
[29:57] week or so.
[30:00] And and been able to put a fine
[30:00] point on what we're trying to
[30:01] accomplish within the public
[30:03] works and utilities department.
[30:04] I will tell you that in all my
[30:07] years of experience I've worked
[30:07] on everything from special
[30:07] district government to
[30:10] municipalities and counties.
[30:11] I think winter springs is one
[30:14] of the most efficient and
[30:15] dedicated group of individuals
[30:18] working within the city that
[30:19] creates opportunities to save
[30:19] money while providing
[30:23] exceptional service.
[30:24] The only limitation is is their
[30:27] ability to do so with
[30:28] additional funding which we're
[30:28] asking for you to provide
[30:28] today.
[30:32] Although it is a tight lean
[30:33] budget, it does meet all of our
[30:34] operational requirements for
[30:38] the forecasted fiscal year.
[30:39] As I mentioned, we did spend a
[30:40] lot of time developing this
[30:40] budget.
[30:43] I picked staff springs a lot
[30:46] not only because of my newness
[30:47] here to the community but also
[30:51] a desire, strong desire and
[30:51] philosophy.
[30:52] I have to make sure that we're
[30:52] not spending any more than we
[30:54] need to to provide the best
[30:54] service delivery possible.
[30:58] With that, the budget overall
[30:59] for public works and utilities
[31:02] is very lean and efficient.
[31:06] So let me just go over a few
[31:06] top level items.
[31:09] The more important items the
[31:09] budget is pretty thick.
[31:10] It takes up a significant
[31:13] portion of the budget book
[31:13] because we're dealing with
[31:17] multiple funds and different
[31:21] expenditure accounts.
[31:21] For starters, I'm going to go
[31:25] over overall staffing changes
[31:25] with the elimination is as city
[31:30] manager sweetman charged with
[31:31] the elimination of the public
[31:33] works director overseeing the
[31:33] duties of public works and
[31:33] utilities.
[31:34] And as part of that, in order
[31:37] to be more efficient, the city
[31:41] manager and I had developed a
[31:42] job description for an
[31:45] assistant director of public
[31:45] works and utilities.
[31:49] That position will take on full
[31:49] responsibility for the
[31:50] stormwater management program
[31:52] plus play a key role as the
[31:53] capital improvement program
[31:56] manager overall capital
[31:57] projects with the exception of
[32:00] the wastewater recycling
[32:00] facilities, I will still
[32:01] oversee that directly to make
[32:06] sure we're moving forward.
[32:07] >> we've also added another
[32:10] position for fiscal year 26.
[32:10] It's an environmental
[32:11] compliance officer.
[32:14] We would be looking at that
[32:15] position as an associate
[32:15] engineering position.
[32:18] Somebody that's right around
[32:19] the city to be newly pd
[32:22] individual but they would have
[32:23] oversight and responsibility
[32:26] ownership if you will, over all
[32:27] of our regulatory requirements
[32:30] whether it be water, sewer,
[32:31] reclaim water stormwater and
[32:33] paving.
[32:34] There'll be a point of contact
[32:37] with key representatives within
[32:38] all of the regulatory agencies
[32:42] such as F.D.A., f d p st johns
[32:45] river and others.
[32:46] They'll be maintaining those
[32:49] relationships currently we have
[32:49] consultants provided or
[32:50] providing augmented staffing
[32:53] services.
[32:54] We fully expect those services
[32:57] to be eliminated and this
[32:58] individual come in and take
[33:01] over those responsibilities and
[33:02] I would might add that would be
[33:02] full time.
[33:04] Currently our consultants can
[33:05] only to the best of their
[33:06] ability provide kind of a part
[33:09] time overview, if you will, on
[33:12] specific things that come out.
[33:13] >> we are also reorganizing the
[33:16] utilities division department
[33:19] into a to create a new division
[33:20] for substation maintenance and
[33:20] operation.
[33:23] We're going to create a lift
[33:24] station maintenance operation
[33:24] division that will be staffed
[33:27] by dedicated employees that
[33:30] will be responsible for the 57
[33:31] live stations that we currently
[33:31] have in operation throughout
[33:33] the city.
[33:34] Our current contractor, our own
[33:37] contractor veolia provides of
[33:38] services as part of their
[33:39] contract and they will be of
[33:44] course falling off in SEPTEMBER
[33:45] 30th with our new contractor
[33:46] owner and contractor would add
[33:49] in current coming on OCTOBER
[33:49] 1st.
[33:50] That new contract will not
[33:53] include live station management
[33:53] services that will be brought
[33:56] in-house with our staff.
[33:57] So we've recreated that
[33:59] division utilizing existing
[34:03] staff from two of our utility
[34:04] crews to create a new division.
[34:07] Plus hiring an individual to be
[34:08] able to oversee the management
[34:10] of those individuals.
[34:15] I would note that woodard in
[34:15] current contract is actively
[34:15] being developed.
[34:19] We're taking a lot of time.
[34:20] We want to make sure we get all
[34:20] the I's dotted and t's crossed
[34:23] on that scope of services.
[34:23] Our current agreement with
[34:26] veolia is woefully inadequate.
[34:26] It is very ambiguous in some
[34:30] detail in what it what our
[34:34] expectations should be and what
[34:34] they should be moving forward.
[34:35] So we're taking a lot of time
[34:38] and effort with staff as well
[34:38] as our consultants at carollo
[34:45] to develop a very tight
[37:43] completed to date.
[37:44] >> we fully anticipate being
[37:46] able to provide at the end of
[37:50] SEPTEMBER a stormwater master
[37:50] plan draft and we'll be
[37:53] providing to you a workshop at
[37:57] that time to go over that.
[37:57] We'll also be introducing what
[38:01] some anticipated rates will be
[38:01] that you can expect to see
[38:02] depending on your adoption of
[38:04] that plan at a at the first
[38:08] meeting in OCTOBER.
[38:08] The rate study will be
[38:09] presented to reflect whatever
[38:12] the improvement recommendations
[38:12] and the operational
[38:15] requirements of those are.
[38:15] During the storm water
[38:18] infrastructure program
[38:19] presentation at the workshop at
[38:22] the end of SEPTEMBER 1st part
[38:26] of OCTOBER.
[38:26] so since that final
[38:27] infrastructure needs assessment
[38:29] will not be until late this
[38:29] fiscal year.
[38:33] Staff will be working with the
[38:33] city manager and the finance
[38:37] director to present a budget
[38:37] amendment reflecting the
[38:38] infrastructure and operational
[38:41] costs in line with the adopted
[38:42] rates sometime mid fiscal year.
[38:44] We really want to have a handle
[38:45] on that until we actually
[38:46] understand what the rates will
[38:48] produce, what you decide you
[38:49] wish to see in terms of level
[38:52] of service for the next five,
[38:53] ten, 15 years in terms of the
[38:56] stormwater program.
[38:57] But we'll be able to staff that
[38:57] appropriately provided the
[39:00] necessary equipment and it will
[39:01] be in line with whatever rate
[39:04] revenues that we receive within
[39:04] that storm water utility.
[39:07] So somewhere around the first
[39:08] the end of the first quarter,
[39:08] second quarter of next fiscal
[39:11] year probably be seeing a
[39:15] budget amendment to that that
[39:16] is not included in the current
[39:16] budget is my point.
[39:19] Utilities department.
[39:20] The operations budget is in
[39:23] line with current expenditure
[39:23] needs associated with many
[39:26] years of deferred maintenance
[39:26] infrastructure maintenance that
[39:27] was not accounted for until we
[39:30] had our recent rate study
[39:30] approved.
[39:31] I believe that was in 2023.
[39:34] We are in the second of a five
[39:35] year rate study will be doing a
[39:38] rate review or refresh if you
[39:39] will, presenting the results of
[39:41] that study with our consultants
[39:42] at tell us sometime in
[39:45] SEPTEMBER to give you an idea
[39:46] of how well we're meeting
[39:49] expenditures and and revenues,
[39:50] it's looking fairly good from
[39:50] what I've seen so far.
[39:55] And I'll leave it at that.
[39:56] And then of course, on the 18th
[39:59] of last month you were you
[39:59] received our utilities
[40:00] infrastructure program update
[40:03] in which we presented to you
[40:04] our plan five years, the ip
[40:07] program that included all
[40:08] water, sewer and reclaimed
[40:10] water excluding the costs
[40:11] associated with the two
[40:11] wastewater treatment plants.
[40:15] This is strictly cip projects
[40:18] that are needed outside of the
[40:19] fence, if you will, of those
[40:22] two wastewater treatment plants
[40:22] .
[40:25] What we presented to you was a
[40:26] five year study or a five year
[40:28] plan based on current revenue
[40:29] sources and needs and our
[40:32] ability to be able to fund that
[40:33] within current revenue
[40:33] limitations.
[40:36] What we didn't know at that
[40:37] time is that we received a
[40:40] legislative grant earmark, if
[40:43] you will, from the state for
[40:43] three different projects.
[40:44] We're in the process of
[40:47] adjusting that cerp to reflect
[40:47] maybe a.
[40:50] Well, not maybe, but it will in
[40:51] it will accelerate those three
[40:51] projects, those being the
[40:54] aerators on the water treatment
[40:54] plants.
[40:55] Three the michael blake
[40:59] reclaimed water main project
[40:59] and also a smaller bowel
[41:03] project on the line.
[41:09] Potable water main in the city
[41:10] .
[41:10] >> so as I mentioned within the
[41:13] budget book the c I p is not
[41:14] changed that much since that
[41:16] workshop.
[41:17] just as an overview, there's
[41:20] approximately 31 projects that
[41:20] we have identified between
[41:24] water wastewater and reclaimed
[41:26] water totaling around $34
[41:26] million in today's dollars.
[41:31] Over the next five years we
[41:32] anticipate 11 of those
[41:32] projects, possibly more with
[41:35] this new infusion of
[41:39] legislative funding for fiscal
[41:41] year 26 totaling about $9.7
[41:41] million for next fiscal year.
[41:45] Separately, the east and west
[41:45] water reclamation facilities,
[41:45] wastewater reclamation
[41:49] facilities for fiscal year 26
[41:52] is budgeted at $25 million.
[41:55] That includes a $20 million
[41:55] loan from us sorry up.
[41:56] A lot of unknowns out there
[41:59] right now, but we want to be
[42:00] ready in anticipation of that
[42:02] going forward.
[42:02] >> that concludes really
[42:06] everything I have on the
[42:06] current fiscal year 26.
[42:09] But I do have some anticipated
[42:10] future look ahead.
[42:11] So I'd like to share with you
[42:14] I'm currently gathering propose
[42:15] a proposal for a 5 to 10 year
[42:18] payment management plan.
[42:19] It's a data driven plan that
[42:19] will be assessing all of the
[42:22] payment conditions throughout
[42:22] the city.
[42:26] We'll be able to present that
[42:26] to you in the coming months.
[42:30] It will show our very fact
[42:30] based data driven assessment of
[42:33] all the conditions of our
[42:33] streets.
[42:34] It'll be based on payment
[42:37] management philosophy which
[42:37] sometimes can sound
[42:37] counterintuitive.
[42:38] I don't want to get into the
[42:41] weeds on that right now, but it
[42:42] will address all of our roads
[42:45] over the next five, ten, 15
[42:46] years and beyond on a cyclic
[42:49] pattern.
[42:50] And as long as funding is
[42:50] provided, so long as we're able
[42:53] to keep it going, I highly
[42:54] recommend that whatever
[42:54] transportation funds that we
[42:57] get, we invest heavily into our
[42:57] pavement.
[42:58] I think overall our pavement
[43:00] condition is fairly good
[43:00] compared to other
[43:01] municipalities and counties
[43:04] I've worked in.
[43:05] We will also have a sidewalk
[43:08] maintenance plan that will look
[43:09] at projected costs over time
[43:12] and we'll also defined areas of
[43:13] need addressing all ada
[43:15] requirements at all crosswalks
[43:19] and we'll fold that into the
[43:19] as well.
[43:22] And then of course we're also
[43:22] working on a five year
[43:23] equipment replacement plan that
[43:25] will cover all police, all of
[43:26] our heavy equipment on and off
[43:29] road vehicles and equipment
[43:30] over the next five years and
[43:33] beyond so that we can better
[43:33] plan and budget for those
[43:34] expenditures as they come up
[43:37] instead of reacting when things
[43:38] break and we don't to
[43:39] anticipate it, we'll have a
[43:41] good idea of when those things
[43:41] need that piece, those pieces
[43:44] of equipment need to be
[43:45] replaced.
[43:48] And finally, ultimately long
[43:51] term in 2027, all of these are
[43:51] 2026, 27 year.
[43:55] It's my goal to provide the
[43:56] community and yourselves with a
[43:59] dashboard, an online dashboard
[43:59] that's gis based.
[44:03] It will have a comprehensive
[44:04] view of all projects going on
[44:06] in the city.
[44:07] we can refer members of the
[44:10] community to go to that if they
[44:11] want to find out when a certain
[44:12] roads being paved, where it's
[44:14] going to be paved, how much it
[44:14] cost, what utility projects are
[44:18] going on, etc., etc. That as
[44:21] you can imagine will be a very
[44:21] comprehensive task.
[44:25] It's going to all have to
[44:25] solicit much help from various
[44:28] departments, including finance
[44:29] and operations and being able
[44:32] to put that together and get it
[44:33] in a cogent and sensible format
[44:36] where everybody can easily
[44:37] understand when they will get
[44:41] paid, when their water line
[44:41] might be replaced, when do it
[44:44] to dissipate being able to
[44:47] schedule whatever activities
[44:48] they want to schedule, thus
[44:50] reducing a lot of costs to our
[44:51] public information folks or our
[44:55] customer service folks at the
[44:55] front desk.
[44:56] A lot of this information will
[44:59] be readily available, cutting
[44:59] down a lot of inquires to the
[45:00] front desk.
[45:03] And that concludes my
[45:03] presentation.
[45:03] Be happy to answer any specific
[45:04] questions you have at the end
[45:11] of this
[45:15] .
[45:19] Thank you, kelly.
[45:24] Good afternoon, mayor.
[45:24] Deputy mayor.
[45:24] City commission.
[45:25] City manager for the record
[45:27] brian down again director of
[45:27] administrative services and
[45:27] operations.
[45:28] I'd like to provide a high
[45:31] level budgetary summary of the
[45:31] following city departments
[45:35] which include human resources,
[45:39] risk management, I.T parks and
[45:39] recreation or beautification as
[45:42] arbor as well as the city's
[45:42] three assessment districts.
[45:46] Overall, the personnel related
[45:46] expenses for the employees that
[45:47] are assigned to these divisions
[45:53] for fy 26 we're proposing a
[45:53] 6.28% decrease for personnel
[45:54] related expenses for these
[45:56] employees overall and an
[46:00] operating decrease for the
[46:00] divisions that are primarily
[46:01] funded through ad valorem.
[46:04] Which would be your H.R.
[46:04] I.T.
[46:04] Risk management parks and
[46:05] recreation and urban
[46:08] beautification reduction of by
[46:11] approximately 1.15% and the
[46:11] capital expenses proposed
[46:15] decrease by about 79.5% for
[46:18] those divisions.
[46:19] Looking at the human resources
[46:22] division of the city, looking
[46:26] at turnover trends citywide, we
[46:29] had a voluntary separation rate
[46:31] from AUGUST of 2023 to JUNE of
[46:34] 2024 reduction from 23.3% to
[46:34] 13.3%.
[46:35] So these are employees that are
[46:38] on their own voluntarily
[46:38] leaving the city for whatever
[46:42] reason to go seek employment
[46:43] elsewhere.
[46:43] In most cases not including
[46:46] retirements.
[46:47] These are so that that metric
[46:47] does not include employees who
[46:50] would be planning to retire
[46:50] from from the city.
[46:54] We have seen a slight increase
[46:56] for reporting period from
[46:56] OCTOBER 1st to current up to
[47:00] about 17.7%, which is a little
[47:01] bit higher than we'd like to be
[47:01] in that 12 to 15% range, which
[47:04] is generally accepted for
[47:04] government entities.
[47:08] However, when you take out the
[47:08] sworn law enforcement
[47:12] departures and isolate the rest
[47:12] of the government, we're at
[47:13] about 11.6% voluntary
[47:16] separation.
[47:17] So this trend reflects some of
[47:17] the challenges that chief tract
[47:19] shared in his summary with you
[47:20] all that we continue to see
[47:23] increased voluntary
[47:24] separations, particularly on
[47:27] the law and law enforcement
[47:27] side.
[47:28] The department continues to
[47:31] support employee wellness,
[47:32] safety training and employee
[47:35] recognition programs.
[47:36] So we have had some measurable
[47:36] gains specifically in the
[47:39] outcome of some of these safety
[47:39] and training programs which
[47:40] I'll discuss as it pertains to
[47:43] our workers compensation
[47:43] experience modification factor.
[47:46] Imf here in a second.
[47:47] Looking at risk management, we
[47:50] have seen an 8.4% increase in
[47:51] premiums for a general
[47:54] liability property worker's
[47:55] comp and auto coverage.
[47:56] However, we were able to
[47:59] essentially keep that cost the
[47:59] same this year because we were
[48:01] able to more accurately budget
[48:02] with receiving that number
[48:02] sooner in advance.
[48:05] During the budget cycle this
[48:06] year compared to last year.
[48:09] But I will say that overall
[48:10] insurance premiums continue to
[48:10] be one of the most volatile
[48:13] costs the city experiences.
[48:16] We've seen a 130% increase
[48:17] since f y 15 in those areas
[48:18] primarily attributed to a
[48:21] highly litigious environment.
[48:21] Major hurricanes impacting our
[48:25] area our region I should say in
[48:28] 2017, 2022 and 2024 as well as
[48:31] potential future increases
[48:32] because of statutory salary,
[48:32] sovereign immunity increases
[48:35] and caps through legislative
[48:38] sessions at the state.
[48:38] One of the areas where we had
[48:41] some positive gains has been on
[48:42] our workers compensation
[48:42] premiums.
[48:46] We've actually reduced our emf
[48:46] recently, which is the factor
[48:50] that's used to determine our
[48:50] worker's compensation rates
[48:54] which is going to allow us to
[48:54] help control if not keep some
[48:55] of those costs flat,
[48:58] particularly when it comes to
[48:58] ensuring our law enforcement
[49:02] employees which are by far the
[49:02] highest risk group of employees
[49:03] that we have to insure for
[49:04] worker's comp coverage.
[49:05] >> moving on to information
[49:09] technology, I.T. In itself, we
[49:12] did see an increase of about
[49:13] 10% in non personnel related
[49:17] operating expenses for I.T..
[49:17] Some of the drivers behind
[49:21] those increases was a
[49:21] consolidation of cellular and
[49:24] data plans for under the it's
[49:24] budget for general fund
[49:25] departments where previous
[49:28] practice was that some of these
[49:28] departments were budgeting
[49:32] their cellular and data plans
[49:32] underneath.
[49:33] G for example has a computer in
[49:36] every single car because he's
[49:36] funded through the general
[49:39] department and I.T department
[49:40] as a general fund function.
[49:41] It makes more sense to
[49:43] consolidate those dollars under
[49:43] one budget.
[49:44] It makes for a lot more
[49:47] efficiency when it comes to
[49:48] paying invoices and creating
[49:48] ppos rather than have to create
[49:51] purchase orders out of multiple
[49:54] different departments when
[49:54] ultimately they're all funded
[49:55] through the same revenue
[49:55] source.
[49:58] The other cost increase driver
[50:02] is subscription based based I.T
[50:02] products in softwares.
[50:06] The days of being able to go
[50:07] out and outright purchase
[50:10] software for support tools is
[50:10] nonexistent.
[50:11] Almost all of our software
[50:14] tools are subscription based or
[50:15] term based that are subject to
[50:18] increases either annually or at
[50:19] the end of terms when it comes
[50:19] to renegotiate or reshot for
[50:19] products.
[50:22] We're not able to just go out
[50:22] and outright buy, purchase and
[50:25] own software at a fixed cost.
[50:26] It's not something that's
[50:29] offered in the I.T.
[50:30] Market for the tools that we
[50:30] need.
[50:33] Additionally we were required
[50:37] to implement a learning
[50:37] management software with a
[50:41] primary focus on cybersecurity
[50:41] that was mandated through some
[50:42] recent updates to the florida
[50:45] state statutes.
[50:46] So that's another example of a
[50:46] cost increase that the it
[50:48] department is required to take
[50:49] on in order to remain compliant
[50:56] with statutory demands.
[50:57] >> the it department continues
[50:57] to play a strategic role in
[51:00] multiple multiple citywide
[51:00] initiatives aimed at
[51:01] streamlining not only the
[51:03] processes but increasing the
[51:03] efficiency at which our
[51:04] departments deliver services to
[51:04] our residents.
[51:08] One of the upcoming focuses
[51:08] that we're going to be looking
[51:11] at is the implementation of an
[51:12] ai tool to be integrated into
[51:12] the city's website which will
[51:15] allow residents to find key
[51:16] information on city projects,
[51:16] initiatives and general
[51:19] inquiries.
[51:20] Additional example of some
[51:20] functions that I.T department
[51:23] will continue to support will
[51:24] be ongoing gis upgrades that
[51:27] will support citywide
[51:27] functions.
[51:28] Capital investments into key
[51:30] I.T infrastructure replacement
[51:31] and components that are
[51:34] paramount to the function of
[51:35] the organization as well as
[51:35] ongoing public safety
[51:38] technology enhancements.
[51:42] Moving over to the parks and
[51:43] recreation side.
[51:46] >> what I consider our daily
[51:47] operating costs which are going
[51:47] to be your parks maintenance
[51:50] senior center recreation
[51:51] program divisions approximately
[51:54] a 10% decrease in those
[51:56] operating costs from fy 25 to
[51:59] 26 total department budget just
[52:00] over $3 million with
[52:04] approximately a $421,000 in add
[52:07] non ad valorem revenue
[52:08] projection right now which
[52:08] would primarily be generated
[52:12] from user fees for charges for
[52:14] use of services and facilities
[52:14] .
[52:15] One of the areas that you
[52:19] probably noticed a variation in
[52:22] this year's budget from 25 to
[52:22] 26 is in our special event or
[52:25] community event division.
[52:26] Previously previous practice
[52:26] for some of the smaller
[52:29] community events we were not
[52:29] budgeting any of the revenues
[52:33] or any of the expenses for some
[52:33] of the smaller events such as
[52:34] the hometown harvest for
[52:36] example.
[52:37] So that meant that once we
[52:39] collected all of the revenues
[52:40] and spent that money for the
[52:41] associated costs with those
[52:44] events we would have to come
[52:44] back administratively because
[52:47] of the way we're structured and
[52:48] the budget amendment that would
[52:49] have to be approved by the
[52:51] commission.
[52:51] It seemed like that was a
[52:54] little bit inefficient process
[52:55] to do that.
[52:56] So what we did is we began
[52:56] budgeting for both the revenues
[52:59] and the expenses on those
[53:00] events starting in fy 26.
[53:03] So the methodology is not going
[53:06] to change if we for that that
[53:06] event specifically I'll use it
[53:10] as an example if we bring in
[53:11] $15,000 in revenue for the
[53:14] hometown harvest, then we'll
[53:14] have $15,000 in expenses or
[53:14] less.
[53:17] So we're not going to change
[53:18] the philosophy of how we're
[53:20] we're managing the funds but
[53:21] we're just budgeting for both
[53:22] the revenues and expenses
[53:25] beginning this year.
[53:27] So if you see an increase there
[53:28] as far as major public
[53:32] enhancements that are in this
[53:32] budget, we do have funded
[53:36] through the park impact fees
[53:37] $100,000 for a lacrosse wall
[53:40] out at central winds park,
[53:41] which has been something that
[53:41] the parks and rec advisory
[53:44] committee has asked staff to be
[53:45] looking into for a number of
[53:45] years.
[53:47] In addition, we're looking at
[53:48] about $100,000 in ada
[53:52] enhancements in the parks to
[53:53] increase connectivity to some
[53:56] of the amenities that we're
[53:56] offering.
[53:57] Again, those two initiatives
[53:57] would be funded through park
[53:59] impact fees.
[53:59] Future enhancements
[54:00] particularly at central winds
[54:03] and other parks should align
[54:04] ideally with the recently
[54:07] adopted central winds park
[54:08] master plan and ideally be
[54:10] incorporated into the city's
[54:10] comprehensive plan specifically
[54:14] the recreation and open space
[54:15] element to best position the
[54:18] city to be eligible for funding
[54:18] in the future.
[54:22] New initiatives that the parks
[54:22] and recreation department is
[54:25] looking at in terms of employee
[54:25] training is licensing more
[54:30] employees to be trained and
[54:31] certified by the state to apply
[54:34] chemicals, pesticides and
[54:35] fertilizers in our parks to
[54:37] broaden our workforce.
[54:37] Expanding programing offers
[54:41] offerings on the recreation
[54:41] side include looking at infant
[54:44] survival swim programs, stem
[54:44] programs and exploring new
[54:45] community events, including a
[54:48] potential barbecue festival in
[54:49] the spring of 2026.
[54:52] Central one's park.
[54:53] >> moving on to the urban
[54:56] beautification ann arbor fund,
[54:57] the operating budget for the
[55:00] urban beautification division
[55:01] which again is funded through
[55:04] the ad valorem dollars saw
[55:04] about a 12.5% decrease.
[55:08] A lot of this was attributed to
[55:09] allocating some of the expenses
[55:09] with that department to the
[55:13] arbor fund, which is a
[55:13] restricted fund that can only
[55:16] be used for restricted purposes
[55:17] in the fy 26 budget.
[55:19] We do have a proposed operating
[55:22] expense of the arbor fund of
[55:23] $923,000 that's supported by an
[55:27] end of year fund balance at the
[55:35] end of f y 25 for that it's not
[55:41] at our 930, 2024 of $1.82
[55:41] million.
[55:44] Some of the potential upgrades
[55:45] citywide include landscaping
[55:48] enhancements on state route 434
[55:48] collector road median and
[55:51] traffic calming enhancements on
[55:51] the west side of the city and
[55:54] city facility and parkland heat
[55:55] scaping renovations.
[55:58] The arbor fund does continue in
[55:59] this budget to support the
[55:59] city's annual tree giveaway
[56:03] program as well as right of way
[56:06] tree replacement programs.
[56:06] Moving on to the assessment
[56:07] districts, as you well know,
[56:10] the city does have three
[56:10] special assessment districts.
[56:15] They are located at the oak
[56:15] forest water assessment
[56:15] district.
[56:18] The task will add lighting and
[56:18] beautification district in
[56:22] tuscola three, also known as
[56:22] the hawks reserve wall
[56:22] assessment district.
[56:26] Currently we do have a
[56:26] consolidated rate study
[56:30] underway to evaluate the fees
[56:30] for all three of those special
[56:31] assessment districts.
[56:34] It made most sense to have that
[56:36] study done concurrent with one
[56:37] another for all three districts
[56:41] so that we could maximize the
[56:41] buying power of having a
[56:42] consultant come in and look at
[56:44] those rates.
[56:44] The big increase that you're
[56:47] going to see in the top
[56:51] assessment expenses is the
[56:52] board met back in MAY and we
[56:56] presented an idea of potential
[56:56] upgrades to look at
[57:00] opportunities for enhancements
[57:00] throughout the community that
[57:00] are due.
[57:01] As most of you know, winter
[57:04] springs boulevard from tuscola
[57:07] road all the way to 426, we
[57:08] have center medians throughout
[57:08] the corridor.
[57:11] there's 23 separate medians
[57:11] throughout the corridor.
[57:14] A lot of those medians have
[57:18] aged out landscaping material
[57:19] that that is due to be replaced
[57:19] in the near future.
[57:22] So we went to the board, gave
[57:26] them a a existing inventory of
[57:27] their medians as well as their
[57:29] monument feature entrances
[57:30] which are on some of the
[57:30] collector roads vista willa
[57:34] tuscarora some of the entrances
[57:34] into the community shetland
[57:37] shetland in how creek drive
[57:37] gave them an overview of their
[57:38] existing conditions and then
[57:41] asked for their input on an
[57:42] approach to renovate these
[57:45] these monument features and
[57:45] medians.
[57:46] So the input that we received
[57:49] from their board was they'd
[57:50] like to see a phased approach
[57:52] of about 25% replacement per
[57:55] year for the next four years.
[57:58] So with that, this budget for
[58:02] 20 does reflect re re re re
[58:03] landscaping about five of the
[58:03] medians down winter springs
[58:06] boulevard and then about two of
[58:07] the monument features going
[58:10] into the community at those
[58:10] specific locations.
[58:14] In addition to the landscaping
[58:15] enhancements there are some
[58:18] additional capital costs that
[58:19] are going to be due for the
[58:22] make sure we get this one right
[58:23] the north fountain that has
[58:26] some other potential upgrades
[58:27] that need to happen in order to
[58:29] preserve the long term
[58:30] sustainability of that water
[58:33] feature.
[58:34] Moving on to oak forest
[58:37] currently the oak force
[58:38] assessment district, their
[58:42] revenues seem to be sufficient
[58:42] for the operating costs
[58:45] associated with maintaining the
[58:46] wall as well as their landscape
[58:47] features at some of those
[58:49] entrances.
[58:50] But we are nevertheless going
[58:53] to have their fees evaluated
[58:54] through the rate study that we
[58:55] have ongoing right now through
[58:56] mbes.
[58:57] And then lastly is tuscola
[59:00] three also known as hawkes
[59:01] reserve as part of the rate
[59:04] study which would identify
[59:05] potential funding needed for
[59:08] some additional repairs needed
[59:09] along some portions of the
[59:09] wall.
[59:11] And one thing that I think is
[59:11] important to point out
[59:15] specifically as it pertains to
[59:15] hawkes reserve is that they
[59:18] they do have their ongoing
[59:19] maintenance fund that their
[59:22] fees paid for, but they do also
[59:23] have a outstanding loan that
[59:26] they're still paying back to
[59:27] the city's general fund that
[59:30] was issued upon the creation of
[59:30] the district I believe it was
[59:31] in 2015 that they're still
[59:34] repaying back the balance of
[59:38] that loan that was issued from
[59:38] the city's general fund.
[59:41] So with that, that concludes my
[59:45] summary and any questions we'll
[59:49] keep moving on here.
[59:49] >> that's everybody.
[59:53] Yes, mayor, that's everybody.
[59:53] We're happy to entertain any
[59:57] questions and of a couple of
[59:58] other just brief updates that I
[1:00:01] can provide if the time allows
[1:00:02] for our bill and make sure the
[1:00:04] commission and of those that
[1:00:07] have questions, why not awesome
[1:00:08] .
[1:00:09] If I can I'll just start with I
[1:00:12] presented christian some
[1:00:12] documentation.
[1:00:16] >> I'd like it for the record.
[1:00:17] i think it's something really
[1:00:19] important for residents to
[1:00:20] understand and I don't know
[1:00:20] that even the directors
[1:00:23] understand.
[1:00:24] >> maybe you do.
[1:00:27] I did research the nine I
[1:00:28] stopped at nine because I just
[1:00:31] was finished and this is really
[1:00:31] important for everyone to know.
[1:00:35] The nine counties that make up
[1:00:38] central florida, there are 95
[1:00:38] municipal counties they
[1:00:48] represent 5,618,000 people with
[1:00:48] a very minor caveat.
[1:00:52] >> winters springs has the
[1:00:56] lowest military.
[1:00:57] >> the only exception is
[1:01:02] municipal cities with less than
[1:01:02] 500 residents.
[1:01:03] And they also don't have a
[1:01:06] police department.
[1:01:10] At one point, lake mary lake
[1:01:14] mary actually is the lowest
[1:01:15] lake mary when you tie in their
[1:01:18] fire fees, they park fees and
[1:01:19] their millage rate.
[1:01:21] They are the lowest in nine
[1:01:22] counties.
[1:01:25] Folks, I like to say thank you
[1:01:26] and congratulations for the
[1:01:29] work that you've done.
[1:01:30] I think that this commission
[1:01:32] for a long time has done a
[1:01:36] phenomenal job of doing
[1:01:39] incredible work with little
[1:01:43] work with little money and
[1:01:43] effectively we're doing the
[1:01:47] right thing by our residents
[1:01:48] that we're doing this while
[1:01:51] moving forward massive
[1:01:51] infrastructure issues,
[1:01:52] improving our drinking water,
[1:01:56] stormwater issues, wastewater.
[1:01:57] We're supporting our police
[1:01:59] department and staff, giving
[1:02:04] them much deserved raises.
[1:02:08] I'm with the new addition of
[1:02:09] new directors, the new people
[1:02:13] that have come on and those
[1:02:13] that are veterans.
[1:02:14] Brian and chief specifically
[1:02:16] and I'll let you kind of come
[1:02:17] back around but you're in a new
[1:02:19] role, a new city manager.
[1:02:20] This city is no longer in a
[1:02:23] reactionary mode.
[1:02:24] I believe that we are starting
[1:02:27] to move forward with plans like
[1:02:28] we were talking about in the
[1:02:31] replacement of police cars and
[1:02:32] this systematic way instead of
[1:02:34] letting 15 cars get to be ten
[1:02:35] years old and we're starting to
[1:02:38] react setting we're setting
[1:02:41] ourselves up to do things
[1:02:42] moving forward that are
[1:02:46] systematic, well-thought out
[1:02:47] and they're going to keep us at
[1:02:49] the point that the spear point
[1:02:53] at doing a lot in a fiscally
[1:02:56] responsible way.
[1:02:57] >> bottom line for the
[1:03:00] residents of winter springs, we
[1:03:00] are doing our job.
[1:03:04] We are at the tip of the spear.
[1:03:09] Any nonsense about us
[1:03:09] overspending or not doing the
[1:03:12] right thing financially to our
[1:03:12] residents, we should be the
[1:03:16] example for the state.
[1:03:17] >> I'd be real curious with
[1:03:20] time I went through nine
[1:03:23] counties, the 95 municipalities
[1:03:23] going through one at a time
[1:03:24] populations and police
[1:03:27] departments and looking at
[1:03:28] their millage rates and they
[1:03:31] continue.
[1:03:32] We are at the tip of the spear.
[1:03:35] We're doing the right thing and
[1:03:36] I think we should all be proud
[1:03:36] of it.
[1:03:39] With that, I'll open the floor
[1:03:39] .
[1:03:39] >> congratulations.
[1:03:42] And who would like to go first
[1:03:43] with the commissioners?
[1:03:43] And you're looking this way.
[1:03:45] I'll go first.
[1:03:48] just one question for each
[1:03:48] cleat.
[1:03:49] You said there was 56 slip
[1:03:49] stations.
[1:03:52] Is that what you said?
[1:03:53] 57 was open.
[1:03:55] How many of those live stations
[1:03:59] are in need of a generator or
[1:04:00] do you know off hand or you can
[1:04:03] get back to me?
[1:04:04] Yeah, I'm just curious to to
[1:04:07] know when we can get them at
[1:04:08] every live station and what the
[1:04:10] budget might be and how long
[1:04:10] that might take.
[1:04:14] The budget does include the
[1:04:15] budget does include a
[1:04:18] replacement plan for backup
[1:04:22] pumps and generators on all
[1:04:23] those live stations.
[1:04:23] Grace as starting with the
[1:04:26] master course lifts the main
[1:04:30] substations were good good that
[1:04:30] was my only question for you.
[1:04:31] It's over at least the next
[1:04:31] five years.
[1:04:31] Right?
[1:04:34] Okay, great.
[1:04:37] Brian, you you mentioned a
[1:04:37] lacrosse wall.
[1:04:38] >> yes, sir.
[1:04:38] What is that?
[1:04:41] It's a rebound wall.
[1:04:42] So it's it's a stationary wall,
[1:04:45] cinder block with a footer
[1:04:46] that's a permanent fixture at
[1:04:49] the park, potentially where
[1:04:50] we'll cross players or soccer
[1:04:53] players I suppose could go and
[1:04:54] practice throwing and catching
[1:04:57] lacrosse.
[1:04:58] And you know, it's basically
[1:04:58] like a rebound wall.
[1:05:01] So I don't know if you
[1:05:03] previously remember about ten
[1:05:04] years ago at trotwood we had a
[1:05:07] outdoor racquetball court that
[1:05:08] was behind the tennis courts
[1:05:10] that essentially was in failing
[1:05:14] condition that basically was
[1:05:14] torn down.
[1:05:15] And the pam carroll pavilion is
[1:05:18] now located its place.
[1:05:19] So one of the things some of
[1:05:20] the community members mentioned
[1:05:22] when that feature was removed
[1:05:22] was that some of the cross
[1:05:26] players use that as a rebound
[1:05:26] wall to go practice lacrosse,
[1:05:30] which ultimately does us a
[1:05:31] favor if they're going out to
[1:05:32] one of the parks and doing that
[1:05:32] because that means they're not
[1:05:35] throwing it up against the side
[1:05:35] of one of our buildings.
[1:05:37] >> and how long has that been
[1:05:38] in the works?
[1:05:41] >> well, MR. Gallo is sitting
[1:05:42] in the audience.
[1:05:43] I think he's probably been in
[1:05:46] my ear for at least 5 to 10
[1:05:49] years, but it's been brought up
[1:05:50] recently as recently as last
[1:05:53] year at the parks and rec
[1:05:53] advisory committee.
[1:05:54] I only I bring that up because
[1:05:58] I'm I was wondering about the
[1:05:58] lights for the baseball field
[1:06:00] so I know that's a big thing.
[1:06:01] Correct?
[1:06:04] You know, I didn't know or do
[1:06:05] we know if that should take
[1:06:08] precedence over a lacrosse wall
[1:06:09] or can we get you know, in the
[1:06:13] process of both because I know
[1:06:13] helping out babe ruth is a big
[1:06:14] deal.
[1:06:14] Right.
[1:06:16] And it means a lot to the
[1:06:16] community.
[1:06:20] So a little bit of context to
[1:06:20] that conversation.
[1:06:23] So there's been two different
[1:06:23] conversations that pertains to
[1:06:27] lights specifically at central
[1:06:27] wins.
[1:06:28] The first conversation was on a
[1:06:30] retrofit led conversion of the
[1:06:34] existing infrastructure which
[1:06:34] ultimately the commission chose
[1:06:35] not to move forward with this
[1:06:38] budget year that we're in
[1:06:38] currently.
[1:06:42] And then shortly after that
[1:06:42] that topic there was a group
[1:06:45] from within the community that
[1:06:46] mentioned the need to add
[1:06:50] additional lights on to the
[1:06:50] unlit practice fields on the
[1:06:53] west side of central one's park
[1:06:53] .
[1:06:53] What I'd say about both of
[1:06:54] those initiatives is two
[1:06:54] things.
[1:06:57] One.
[1:06:57] Parked impact fees definitively
[1:07:01] could not find retrofitting
[1:07:01] existing lights because you're
[1:07:05] it's not an acceptable use of
[1:07:05] those funds.
[1:07:05] Theoretically parking impact
[1:07:09] fees could be used or at least
[1:07:10] used in portion to find new
[1:07:13] lights to expand the capability
[1:07:14] of a recreational facility due
[1:07:16] to an increase in growth.
[1:07:17] But I would say that both of
[1:07:20] those initiatives at least are
[1:07:23] significantly more expensive
[1:07:24] than the construction of a
[1:07:24] crosswalk.
[1:07:28] Beyond that, I think what might
[1:07:28] be important for the commission
[1:07:31] to consider in the future is
[1:07:31] obviously the strategic plan
[1:07:32] for central winds park was
[1:07:35] recently approved I think in
[1:07:38] DECEMBER of 24 or our central
[1:07:39] winds master plan I'm sorry,
[1:07:42] which included a number of of
[1:07:43] really fascinating
[1:07:45] possibilities for for central
[1:07:45] winds.
[1:07:46] But beyond that is the
[1:07:49] commission probably should
[1:07:49] provide some strategic
[1:07:53] direction to the city manager
[1:07:53] and staff on the implementation
[1:07:54] of some of those improvements
[1:07:57] as it pertains to what your
[1:07:58] priorities are as a commission
[1:08:01] and specifically for central
[1:08:02] wins as it pertains to either
[1:08:04] retrofitting lights, adding new
[1:08:04] lights, adding new pavilions,
[1:08:05] building new playgrounds,
[1:08:08] boardwalks and events center
[1:08:09] because without that direction
[1:08:12] you know, the staff really
[1:08:16] shouldn't be trying to
[1:08:16] prioritize which projects you
[1:08:19] all want to see done first out
[1:08:19] there at central wins and then
[1:08:22] what I'd say beyond that is
[1:08:23] there's a lot of discussion
[1:08:26] about grant funding through
[1:08:27] different sources for an app as
[1:08:31] a is a is a grant that's passed
[1:08:34] through dep florida recreation
[1:08:37] development assistant program.
[1:08:38] We we could position ourselves
[1:08:38] very well to receive those
[1:08:42] funds but it is absolutely
[1:08:42] paramount that anything that we
[1:08:45] apply for through that program
[1:08:46] and specifically it has to be
[1:08:49] in our comprehensive plan and
[1:08:50] the recreation and open space
[1:08:52] element specifically because if
[1:08:53] it's not, they are going to
[1:08:53] probably disqualify you pretty
[1:08:53] quickly.
[1:08:57] They don't want one off pet
[1:08:57] projects flavor of the week
[1:09:00] projects entities applying for
[1:09:01] grant funding through those
[1:09:04] sources whether it be further
[1:09:05] out or l w c f which is the
[1:09:08] land water conservation fund.
[1:09:09] They want to know that it's
[1:09:11] part of your adopted
[1:09:12] comprehensive plan as a city
[1:09:15] and that it's also probably
[1:09:16] within a strategic plan that is
[1:09:19] a little bit more granular than
[1:09:19] just your comp plan if that
[1:09:22] makes sense or maybe how it can
[1:09:23] get us a sponsor like she was.
[1:09:24] >> she did so well with the
[1:09:26] pickleball court sponsor.
[1:09:27] >> you know, I mean there the
[1:09:30] conversation as it pertains in
[1:09:31] all seriousness to to potential
[1:09:34] private grant funding.
[1:09:35] I will tell you there are
[1:09:38] conversations that we are
[1:09:39] having right now and if it's a
[1:09:42] combination of multiple
[1:09:43] different funding mechanisms
[1:09:44] that MAY be able to fund a
[1:09:47] major initiative such as new
[1:09:47] lights out at central wins, I
[1:09:49] will I will tell you we are
[1:09:50] looking at those opportunities
[1:09:54] as well, which sometimes come
[1:09:54] with frankly a lot less red
[1:09:55] tape than we're receiving money
[1:09:58] from the state or potentially
[1:09:58] looking at multiple sources.
[1:10:01] So it's great to hear.
[1:10:02] Sure.
[1:10:02] Babe ruth will be happy.
[1:10:05] All right, chief, save the best
[1:10:05] for last.
[1:10:09] But you and I are well aware of
[1:10:09] retention and my my biggest
[1:10:13] thing is keeping our officers.
[1:10:17] So what needs do you have as
[1:10:19] far as retention is concerned?
[1:10:20] You know, bringing new officers
[1:10:24] and keeping them here, you
[1:10:24] know, trying to really keep
[1:10:28] them after training because a
[1:10:28] lot of them leave after
[1:10:28] training.
[1:10:29] We lose money there.
[1:10:30] A lot of people don't
[1:10:32] understand the areas that we
[1:10:36] lose pension, salary, uniforms,
[1:10:36] training.
[1:10:37] So what do you what do you
[1:10:40] think about needs?
[1:10:40] >> that's a great question.
[1:10:41] Thank you for that.
[1:10:44] You know, a lot of the
[1:10:45] recruitment and retention goes
[1:10:51] back to culture as well.
[1:10:51] >> I think if you offer a good
[1:10:52] working environment and a
[1:10:55] culture that people want to
[1:10:55] support, then that helps.
[1:10:58] We will always have the people
[1:10:58] that will leave for financial
[1:11:02] gain when they bring change.
[1:11:04] These are offering ten, 15,
[1:11:05] $20,000 incentives just to sign
[1:11:06] a three year commitment that's
[1:11:06] very hard or difficult to
[1:11:09] compete with some of the
[1:11:13] sheriff's departments around
[1:11:15] the state are offering up to a
[1:11:15] $70,000 incentive.
[1:11:19] That's just unheard of and it's
[1:11:19] not something that will be able
[1:11:20] to compete with as far as our
[1:11:23] salaries go, we're in the right
[1:11:23] place.
[1:11:24] We made it.
[1:11:25] We made a move at the right
[1:11:27] time and the all the other
[1:11:31] cities have followed now we do
[1:11:32] have a little bit of work to
[1:11:34] do, I think and I think MR.
[1:11:34] Manager will speak to this
[1:11:38] maybe tonight with pension
[1:11:38] benefits, but we're moving in
[1:11:39] the right direction and that
[1:11:42] would be the last thing that I
[1:11:43] could say that that we need to
[1:11:45] do or that I would like to see
[1:11:46] happen to help maintain that
[1:11:52] recruitment or retention issue
[1:11:52] .
[1:11:53] But there's some ideas that I
[1:11:56] have that you know, but we
[1:11:57] could talk about that in the
[1:11:59] future as well.
[1:11:59] Great.
[1:12:06] Who would like to go next one?
[1:12:07] I know we all had very thorough
[1:12:10] meetings and had a chance to
[1:12:10] talk to each independently.
[1:12:11] Maybe I could just simply ask
[1:12:15] is it just an open question
[1:12:15] they're putting I don't want to
[1:12:18] put you on the spot.
[1:12:19] Is there anyone in their
[1:12:19] department that feels that this
[1:12:22] project falls short in any
[1:12:25] particular way?
[1:12:26] is there something that you
[1:12:26] really felt was important?
[1:12:29] And I know that's loaded and I
[1:12:30] apologize I'll go personally.
[1:12:30] >> yeah, right.
[1:12:34] That you wanted done and yeah
[1:12:34] they're trying to get a patrol
[1:12:38] boat she want to prove it above
[1:12:38] right?
[1:12:41] >> yeah yeah she wants a boat.
[1:12:41] >> yeah right.
[1:12:42] Thanks.
[1:12:44] I'll take that as you're happy
[1:12:45] with the budget as well and
[1:12:48] your department?
[1:12:48] Yeah.
[1:12:49] Nobody's saying anything.
[1:12:53] Thanks, deputy mayor.
[1:12:53] >> in between.
[1:12:53] Oh, look.
[1:12:55] Doing okay?
[1:12:56] >> yeah.
[1:12:59] I have a question on on several
[1:13:00] of them but I'll use park
[1:13:03] impact 153 as a example so
[1:13:04] sources mean income correct and
[1:13:07] applications mean expenses.
[1:13:08] Correct.
[1:13:09] So sources we have 20,000 for
[1:13:10] park impacts and applications.
[1:13:14] We have 200,000.
[1:13:16] So that's a difference of
[1:13:17] 180,000 that will pull from the
[1:13:18] general fund and I don't know
[1:13:22] please clarify them.
[1:13:23] >> that's going to be coming
[1:13:24] from the fund balance of that
[1:13:27] fund and that's how it is for
[1:13:27] all these others as well.
[1:13:29] Correct.
[1:13:30] >> thank you for that
[1:13:30] clarification.
[1:13:37] Now why is only 20,000 dollars
[1:13:38] anticipated as as income as
[1:13:46] sources for 2026 and so so for
[1:13:47] impact fees we only we do not
[1:13:51] budget those in advance until
[1:13:51] we receive them.
[1:13:54] So the $20,000 is from the
[1:13:54] investments that we expect to
[1:13:58] receive return on the amount
[1:13:58] that's essentially in our
[1:13:58] savings account at the moment.
[1:13:59] >> wonderful.
[1:14:00] Thank you.
[1:14:04] That's clarification.
[1:14:08] >> and in addition, can you
[1:14:09] confirm other government funds?
[1:14:11] >> what exactly that means is
[1:14:15] that debt service and
[1:14:16] government sharing programs
[1:14:16] kind of thing.
[1:14:19] >> so it's basically all of the
[1:14:19] other governmental funds
[1:14:20] outside of general fund.
[1:14:23] So general fund is where your
[1:14:23] ad valorem lives other
[1:14:27] governmental funds would be a
[1:14:27] combination of your impact fee
[1:14:31] funds those such as arpa where
[1:14:31] we have a special kind of one
[1:14:32] time revenue source.
[1:14:35] The debt service funds capital
[1:14:38] projects funds anything outside
[1:14:43] of enterprise funds that make
[1:14:44] up general government services
[1:14:45] .
[1:14:48] Thank you.
[1:14:56] I'm good and honor deputy.
[1:14:56] All right.
[1:14:57] One thing to you, mayor.
[1:15:00] You were mentioning every city
[1:15:03] but lake mary like mary to me
[1:15:03] is very unique.
[1:15:07] Even altamont somewhat unique.
[1:15:09] But there is a 6535 commercial
[1:15:09] versus residential and they've
[1:15:13] got significant commercial so
[1:15:14] they get away with something we
[1:15:16] don't and 4,040% of the
[1:15:17] population that we have yeah
[1:15:20] yeah yeah.
[1:15:21] So you know there's that piece
[1:15:23] there.
[1:15:23] All right.
[1:15:24] Budget stuff right I think you
[1:15:27] answer my one conversation
[1:15:28] piece with central was master
[1:15:30] plan.
[1:15:31] I know we had the conversation
[1:15:34] here but we really didn't do
[1:15:34] anything with it.
[1:15:34] Right?
[1:15:37] We just had the conversation
[1:15:37] correct.
[1:15:38] >> so if I recall there was a
[1:15:41] presentation made by the
[1:15:42] consultant as the master plan
[1:15:45] process was winding down
[1:15:46] looking for some input from the
[1:15:46] commission.
[1:15:48] I don't think that there was
[1:15:49] any direct input at the
[1:15:49] meeting.
[1:15:50] Not to say that some of you
[1:15:52] maybe didn't interact with the
[1:15:53] consultant at some of the
[1:15:56] public engagement forums that
[1:15:56] they had.
[1:15:57] >> and then the second piece
[1:16:00] that I remember was the
[1:16:00] commission adopting the the
[1:16:04] master plan formally and voting
[1:16:07] to accept accept it.
[1:16:08] But that's kind of only the
[1:16:08] first start, right?
[1:16:11] That's that's the cornerstone
[1:16:12] on it's the building block but
[1:16:12] from there there really needs
[1:16:15] to be more of a robust in-depth
[1:16:15] conversation about what your
[1:16:19] priorities are as a commission
[1:16:19] .
[1:16:23] Where where do you see the
[1:16:24] first opportunities for some of
[1:16:24] those enhancements to take
[1:16:27] place now from a construct
[1:16:27] ability standpoint, some of the
[1:16:30] enhancements obviously if
[1:16:31] you're talking about like like
[1:16:32] a really big bite of the pie
[1:16:35] and this is I'm not telling you
[1:16:35] this would be the first white
[1:16:38] building event center with a
[1:16:39] really big parking lot your
[1:16:42] stormwater element of that plan
[1:16:43] would have to come first
[1:16:45] because there's going to be a I
[1:16:46] a substantial impact on the
[1:16:49] stormwater criteria for the
[1:16:50] park.
[1:16:50] If that were to be your first
[1:16:51] priority was to build the event
[1:16:51] center.
[1:16:54] Let's just say for sake of
[1:16:54] discussion.
[1:16:57] So beyond that I don't think
[1:16:58] commissioner, to your point
[1:17:00] there's really been any more
[1:17:01] in-depth conversation and I
[1:17:04] think it might be appropriate
[1:17:05] and I would defer to the city
[1:17:05] manager.
[1:17:06] Obviously once you all get
[1:17:08] through some of the more
[1:17:09] critical conversations as it
[1:17:12] pertains to stormwater
[1:17:13] wastewater and utility
[1:17:16] infrastructure with some of the
[1:17:16] workshops you've been doing, it
[1:17:17] might be appropriate to do it
[1:17:20] on a workshop specifically for
[1:17:20] some of the public facilities
[1:17:24] with a focus on parks so that
[1:17:25] we can get some ideas from the
[1:17:27] commission of where your
[1:17:27] priorities at.
[1:17:28] And as a staff we can kind of
[1:17:31] share with you our perspective
[1:17:31] on some of the existing
[1:17:32] conditions of some of the
[1:17:35] amenities at your public
[1:17:35] facilities.
[1:17:36] >> so with that, I appreciate
[1:17:39] you jumping right into that
[1:17:39] piece so to everybody up here
[1:17:42] but also to you down there and
[1:17:45] you city manager, that was one
[1:17:45] of those pieces and I've been
[1:17:45] here long enough.
[1:17:46] We sort of had that
[1:17:49] conversation in 2012 to build a
[1:17:52] maintenance plan.
[1:17:53] We kind of fell away with that.
[1:17:57] I think you and chris caldwell
[1:18:00] were part of building something
[1:18:01] ,but I don't think we ever did
[1:18:02] anything with that so far as
[1:18:04] did you say a maintenance plan
[1:18:05] with all of the equipment that
[1:18:08] we have so that way that
[1:18:08] doesn't just get to what you
[1:18:12] just said there, come back and
[1:18:12] check on.
[1:18:13] >> I'd have to go back and look
[1:18:14] at some of the details of that
[1:18:16] conversation.
[1:18:16] Commissioner, I would say
[1:18:16] overall, just generally
[1:18:20] speaking, looking at the
[1:18:20] conditions of some of your
[1:18:23] primarily public facilities,
[1:18:23] playgrounds in particular,
[1:18:27] we've done a tremendous amount
[1:18:27] of replacement in the last 3 to
[1:18:30] 4 years of playgrounds
[1:18:31] throughout the city, the ones
[1:18:35] that are still remaining there
[1:18:35] are in good shape, but there
[1:18:36] does need to be a conversation
[1:18:38] about replacement, particularly
[1:18:39] of the large playground at the
[1:18:40] back of central wins.
[1:18:40] I'd say that that conversation
[1:18:43] is probably tangible in the
[1:18:44] next 2 to 3 years given the age
[1:18:47] of that that playground
[1:18:47] specifically.
[1:18:51] But overall the other amenities
[1:18:51] in the parks, they have been
[1:18:54] maintained very well.
[1:18:54] Some of them are newer.
[1:18:55] Obviously we started out sam
[1:18:58] smith and I think morse park
[1:18:59] back in 2017 2018 with the
[1:19:02] replacement moved on to
[1:19:03] trotwood central wins for the
[1:19:06] sports playground.
[1:19:06] So but overall those those
[1:19:09] amenities are holding up well.
[1:19:09] They are being maintained.
[1:19:13] But you know obviously that
[1:19:13] conversation needs to be an
[1:19:17] ongoing interactive dialog so
[1:19:17] that we don't get ourselves
[1:19:18] into the position.
[1:19:20] We found ourselves back in 2015
[1:19:21] 2016 where we have numerous
[1:19:24] playgrounds at city parks that
[1:19:25] all need to be replaced at the
[1:19:25] same time, right?
[1:19:28] So with that logic in mind,
[1:19:28] what I'm looking at here and
[1:19:31] this is due to the manager this
[1:19:32] is what I would consider an
[1:19:35] infrastructure budget to my
[1:19:35] $0.02 because everything from
[1:19:38] cleat you were sharing looks to
[1:19:39] me as we're breaking down all
[1:19:39] the infrastructure that needs
[1:19:42] to be replaced, which if we go
[1:19:43] with the model of the parks,
[1:19:46] it's going to be replaced now
[1:19:47] maintained in the future.
[1:19:50] So that's what this looks like.
[1:19:50] So that's why it's such a
[1:19:53] significant dollar cost.
[1:19:54] It's because we're looking at
[1:19:54] an infrastructure project
[1:19:58] budget that personally is yes,
[1:19:58] okay.
[1:20:02] So we are looking at this kind
[1:20:02] of a budget.
[1:20:04] I'm looking at you here for the
[1:20:05] next five years or so because
[1:20:06] of those five years worth of
[1:20:08] projects or is that this for
[1:20:11] the next five years plus five
[1:20:12] years because really continue
[1:20:12] the maintenance of it is the
[1:20:15] maintenance that much cheaper
[1:20:16] more significantly cheaper or
[1:20:17] is this kind of cost as we move
[1:20:18] down much of the infrastructure
[1:20:26] plan on the on the utility side
[1:20:27] will incorporate an element of
[1:20:27] operation and maintenance.
[1:20:29] But typically we're pretty much
[1:20:30] landlocked.
[1:20:30] You don't really need to
[1:20:31] consider that unless you're
[1:20:33] expanding your your developable
[1:20:33] area.
[1:20:34] >> okay.
[1:20:37] Thank you.
[1:20:38] My other comment to everybody
[1:20:41] up here, this started with the
[1:20:44] chief actually and finance
[1:20:48] director at the time is
[1:20:49] personnel retirement and
[1:20:52] pension.
[1:20:53] My conversation started when
[1:20:57] the legislature met chief
[1:20:59] correct me if I was 24 was the
[1:21:02] 24 year or 23 year I think 23
[1:21:03] when they met and change the
[1:21:03] laws again.
[1:21:07] So I've asked for at least
[1:21:10] going on now to full budgets
[1:21:13] for us to assess and make sure
[1:21:14] that our retirement plan or
[1:21:17] pension plan is in line with
[1:21:18] others so that we're
[1:21:18] competitive.
[1:21:21] One thing missing from this
[1:21:21] budget city manager is that
[1:21:23] that is still not complete
[1:21:28] right?
[1:21:28] What for the fairness of our
[1:21:31] staff and maintaining our staff
[1:21:32] as they look around other
[1:21:32] communities?
[1:21:33] Is that something on the table
[1:21:36] for the next budget?
[1:21:39] And I know we're working on
[1:21:39] this one but that's a
[1:21:42] significant piece for me.
[1:21:43] I can speak to that chief and
[1:21:46] you can add in your input.
[1:21:46] So coming in when I first came
[1:21:47] in, obviously I know those
[1:21:50] discussions had been happening.
[1:21:50] Looking at it from my
[1:21:53] perspective coming on the tail
[1:21:54] end of salary adjustments,
[1:21:57] looking at a really a doomsday
[1:21:57] scenario down 17 officers and
[1:22:01] the risk of public safety for
[1:22:02] our community and really trying
[1:22:05] to look at talking with our
[1:22:05] H.R.
[1:22:09] Manager our leadership team
[1:22:09] through exit interviews and
[1:22:12] conversations is what's driving
[1:22:13] a lot of this and certainly
[1:22:14] salary is one component of that
[1:22:16] but we're even seeing that even
[1:22:16] on the younger generation
[1:22:19] taking more of an interest now
[1:22:20] in looking at retirement
[1:22:23] benefits and things like that,
[1:22:24] what we've done is we've had a
[1:22:25] number of internal meetings.
[1:22:28] I have executed an agreement
[1:22:31] with grace our actuarial
[1:22:31] consultant, to evaluate our
[1:22:35] current retirement system.
[1:22:38] We're talking only on the non
[1:22:39] sworn officers only impacts six
[1:22:40] individuals that are still
[1:22:43] currently employed that are
[1:22:43] pension eligible and then the
[1:22:46] rest are all sworn officers
[1:22:47] that make up our pension plan
[1:22:50] and bring that back again
[1:22:51] internally a number of
[1:22:53] conversations that presented
[1:22:53] back to the chief kind of put
[1:22:54] it back on him and say what are
[1:22:57] our top kind of five priorities
[1:22:57] doing an analysis and
[1:23:01] evaluation of what what's
[1:23:02] offered at the state as well as
[1:23:05] what all of the municipalities
[1:23:08] in seminole county are offering
[1:23:09] and what do we think might be
[1:23:09] sort of our top five benefits.
[1:23:12] So we could look at exploring,
[1:23:13] which is the initiative that
[1:23:16] we've undertaken with grace, as
[1:23:17] I said, are actuarial consults.
[1:23:19] >> the plan would be to come
[1:23:20] back when they complete their
[1:23:23] evaluation and that's in line.
[1:23:24] It's a big undertaking.
[1:23:26] It's a technical process and
[1:23:30] utilizing them it's also a
[1:23:30] credible evaluation and
[1:23:34] independent source to look at
[1:23:34] looking at those five options,
[1:23:35] you know, those options and
[1:23:38] what benefits what we might be
[1:23:38] able to tackle and what I'll
[1:23:42] say is that you're not seeing
[1:23:43] in a 26 because none of that
[1:23:43] has happened up until now.
[1:23:45] I think this is really the
[1:23:46] first movement of that needle
[1:23:47] that's to start that
[1:23:49] conversation.
[1:23:50] i don't I know it's been talked
[1:23:51] about and talked about, but you
[1:23:53] know, it doesn't there hasn't
[1:23:54] hadn't really been any real
[1:23:57] moving of that needle and
[1:23:57] direction.
[1:23:58] This engagement with grc will
[1:24:01] get us there to be able to then
[1:24:02] be able to make some fiscal
[1:24:05] decisions and you know what I
[1:24:06] would tell our you know, our
[1:24:06] employees and future employees
[1:24:09] I mean, we're committed to to
[1:24:10] evaluating and looking at that
[1:24:13] we might be able to adopt some
[1:24:14] of those options in you know,
[1:24:17] in in f y 27 this this will be
[1:24:19] done by the end of the calendar
[1:24:20] year just in time for the f y
[1:24:24] 27 budget process as we go
[1:24:24] through and look at that and we
[1:24:25] can have that conversation at
[1:24:27] that time around what can we
[1:24:28] afford.
[1:24:28] Maybe it's a phased in
[1:24:28] approach.
[1:24:32] It might be over one, two, 3 or
[1:24:32] 4 fiscal years.
[1:24:35] You know, we don't know yet.
[1:24:36] It's it's premature.
[1:24:37] But I think you know, I think
[1:24:39] we all realize that this is
[1:24:40] necessary and we really need to
[1:24:43] look at making sure that the
[1:24:43] benefits that we're offering
[1:24:43] are.
[1:24:46] Yeah.
[1:24:47] Are competitive and that's so
[1:24:48] that's where that's where that
[1:24:51] stands that has been covered
[1:24:54] through the f y 25 process as
[1:24:54] far as getting us there, the
[1:24:57] completion of that and plans
[1:25:00] for that fy 27 budget for some
[1:25:01] bigger discussions and
[1:25:01] conversations.
[1:25:01] Right.
[1:25:04] So we will work on it.
[1:25:05] Yes.
[1:25:05] Good.
[1:25:05] thank you.
[1:25:08] One more thing and this goes to
[1:25:09] special assessment test call up
[1:25:12] box reserve city attorney.
[1:25:17] I'm looking at this here this
[1:25:17] year.
[1:25:17] Right.
[1:25:18] I received some calls through
[1:25:19] the year to say we hadn't done
[1:25:20] any work on this wall.
[1:25:20] We haven't been maintaining
[1:25:25] this war and again, I was here
[1:25:25] through that.
[1:25:26] You were here through that you
[1:25:31] you go through that correct me
[1:25:33] if I'm wrong, but why should
[1:25:34] they be this low?
[1:25:38] Because this this seems like
[1:25:38] something's not if if we
[1:25:41] haven't been doing any work on
[1:25:42] it.
[1:25:42] Brian, you can tell me if I'm
[1:25:43] wrong or right, but something
[1:25:45] doesn't add up from what we
[1:25:48] originally intended to where we
[1:25:49] are today.
[1:25:53] Am I missing something from
[1:25:57] from what I can observe in
[1:25:57] looking at that hawks reserve
[1:26:01] wall, there has been some
[1:26:03] maintenance but some of the
[1:26:04] substantial costs that are
[1:26:08] associated with the wall at
[1:26:08] this point are far beyond just
[1:26:12] regular repair and maintenance
[1:26:12] cost.
[1:26:13] There are some areas where the
[1:26:16] footers are foundation is
[1:26:16] starting are starting to fail,
[1:26:20] which obviously poses a risk
[1:26:21] that portions of the wall could
[1:26:24] be in danger of falling.
[1:26:27] We've had other areas where
[1:26:31] we've had homeowners plant
[1:26:31] things along the wall.
[1:26:34] We've had people prune tree
[1:26:38] root prune trees to put in
[1:26:38] swimming pools without permits
[1:26:39] and trees fall down in the
[1:26:42] middle of hurricanes on top of
[1:26:42] the wall, which is interesting.
[1:26:46] So from from what I can see is
[1:26:50] that the operating budget was
[1:26:50] intended for some minor repairs
[1:26:53] tuck pointing things like that.
[1:26:54] But because of the age of the
[1:26:57] wall, not the entire thing but
[1:26:58] in some portions there are some
[1:27:01] significant constructed
[1:27:01] construction related costs that
[1:27:02] MAY need to be explored in the
[1:27:05] future to shore up the the
[1:27:06] structural integrity of the
[1:27:08] wall in certain locations.
[1:27:12] Significant dollars in too
[1:27:12] early to tell.
[1:27:16] >> we're still going through
[1:27:17] the rate assessment with nbfcs.
[1:27:17] We're giving them the areas
[1:27:20] that we've identified that MAY
[1:27:24] need to be have significant
[1:27:24] costs.
[1:27:25] But once we have those those
[1:27:28] projected costs and the
[1:27:28] expenses back nbfcs will be
[1:27:31] able to come back with a
[1:27:31] funding recommendation based on
[1:27:35] the number of homeowners that
[1:27:38] are within the task will have
[1:27:38] three.
[1:27:39] And also keep in mind I believe
[1:27:42] a certain number of those
[1:27:43] homeowners that back up
[1:27:43] directly to the wall do pay a
[1:27:45] little bit more because they
[1:27:45] have the the benefit of
[1:27:46] essentially a fence in their
[1:27:49] backyard and that's very
[1:27:50] similar to what we see over on
[1:27:53] oak course as well for the
[1:27:54] residents that are adjacent to
[1:27:54] tuscola road.
[1:27:57] Those those residents have a
[1:27:58] higher value because of the
[1:28:01] walls presence there city
[1:28:05] manager we keeping them abreast
[1:28:06] of all of this yeah so that's I
[1:28:07] think I was going to actually
[1:28:09] add that as brian said one the
[1:28:12] nbs rate study we're planning a
[1:28:13] a community meeting.
[1:28:14] This one's a little bit more of
[1:28:18] a challenge as I think, you
[1:28:18] know, parks reserve does not
[1:28:18] have an hoa.
[1:28:21] The city is essentially sort of
[1:28:22] serving to some degree kind of
[1:28:24] like that.
[1:28:25] And you know, unlike the others
[1:28:28] that have nearly appointed
[1:28:29] board and you know, so they're
[1:28:29] having that discussion from an
[1:28:32] advisory that doesn't really
[1:28:32] exist.
[1:28:32] So what we're planning on doing
[1:28:35] is put forth setting that
[1:28:36] conversation up excuse me.
[1:28:39] We want to understand what that
[1:28:40] is looking like.
[1:28:40] And you know, we certainly
[1:28:41] internally have been having the
[1:28:44] conversation.
[1:28:45] But rest assured there will be
[1:28:48] a community meeting in relation
[1:28:48] to this and having and starting
[1:28:51] that discussion when we have a
[1:28:52] little bit more information so
[1:28:52] that at this point.
[1:28:53] >> thank you.
[1:28:54] Thank you.
[1:28:58] Any other questions?
[1:29:05] Open floor seeing none.
[1:29:06] >> MR. Mayor, if I could just
[1:29:07] to just take another minute.
[1:29:10] One thing that in absence of
[1:29:14] leonard who was not here as
[1:29:14] well.
[1:29:14] Director of facilities and
[1:29:16] capital projects and just again
[1:29:17] ,to sort of reiterate my
[1:29:17] thinking with some of the
[1:29:20] reorganization and restructure
[1:29:21] think we have the I think you
[1:29:22] MAY touch on that as well.
[1:29:25] I think we have the right
[1:29:25] people, you know, the right
[1:29:26] team in place and the right
[1:29:28] people and the oversight of
[1:29:28] their roles.
[1:29:32] None which of you know, some of
[1:29:33] the restructuring with leonard
[1:29:36] and putting our parks and
[1:29:36] recreation urban beautification
[1:29:39] under brian and his his years
[1:29:39] of experience and oversight
[1:29:43] there I think we'll see some
[1:29:43] significant results from that
[1:29:47] in addition to being able to
[1:29:47] utilize leonard and his
[1:29:50] background and experience what
[1:29:55] walking into the city was
[1:29:55] somewhat of a real shock to me
[1:29:58] that a city of our size and our
[1:30:02] infrastructure we we don't have
[1:30:02] a facilities capital plan.
[1:30:06] When I say that regarding our
[1:30:06] building and municipal
[1:30:06] infrastructure, millions of
[1:30:10] dollars with no plan,
[1:30:10] everything has been reactive.
[1:30:13] We're placing one one window a
[1:30:15] year in this building for
[1:30:16] $2,500 instead of a
[1:30:16] comprehensive evaluation and
[1:30:20] analysis of all of our building
[1:30:20] facilities.
[1:30:23] So what you'll see in this
[1:30:23] budget is a $75,000 number
[1:30:27] coming from fund balance as a
[1:30:28] one time that will do a
[1:30:31] comprehensive dive into the
[1:30:31] evaluation of all of our
[1:30:32] municipal buildings so that we
[1:30:35] can start to plan and have an
[1:30:39] idea when it comes to projected
[1:30:39] replacement timelines on what's
[1:30:42] the expected life of everything
[1:30:42] from building envelope roofs,
[1:30:46] windows, mechanical systems as
[1:30:46] well as projected dollar amount
[1:30:50] for those replacement might be
[1:30:50] something that is a projected
[1:30:53] life of 15 years and we were
[1:30:54] able to get 20 out of it or or
[1:30:54] not.
[1:30:57] But that where we stand today
[1:30:57] is extremely reactive and we
[1:30:58] can't operate that way.
[1:31:01] So this budget does
[1:31:02] particularly when it comes to
[1:31:04] the facilities infrastructure
[1:31:05] and this will be a big
[1:31:08] component of of leonard's role
[1:31:08] and his role as director of
[1:31:09] facilities and capital projects
[1:31:12] and spearheading and seeing
[1:31:12] this through because we're
[1:31:16] having extensive conversations
[1:31:16] ,particularly on the utilities
[1:31:17] side and rightfully so.
[1:31:20] But I also don't want to be in
[1:31:21] a position we're having these
[1:31:23] conversations based on lack of
[1:31:24] ,you know, maintenance and
[1:31:24] decision making.
[1:31:27] So we need to, you know, we
[1:31:28] often don't talk enough about
[1:31:28] our municipal facility
[1:31:33] buildings, you know, as a piece
[1:31:33] of that.
[1:31:34] So I just wanted to highlight
[1:31:35] that because it is in the
[1:31:36] budget.
[1:31:36] It is something you'll see
[1:31:39] called out coming from fund
[1:31:40] balance.
[1:31:40] But I do fully believe there
[1:31:43] will be some of the best money
[1:31:44] spent in this budget as we, you
[1:31:47] know, recognizing and seeing
[1:31:48] and having the conversations
[1:31:48] like you know, like I said,
[1:31:51] replacing one window when you
[1:31:52] know every window needs to be
[1:31:54] replaced and really the
[1:31:55] reactive ness and not the lack
[1:31:58] of proactive planning for our
[1:31:59] building facilities.
[1:32:00] >> I mean and so when you see
[1:32:02] that in there I just wanted to
[1:32:03] highlight that and I know
[1:32:06] you'll leonard when is excited
[1:32:07] to get that going and in
[1:32:09] addition it really be a
[1:32:10] comprehensive plan that will
[1:32:13] become part of our cip and it
[1:32:14] will also provide an asset
[1:32:17] evaluations of all of the
[1:32:18] assets and be able to quantify
[1:32:22] and tag that so you want to
[1:32:22] share that piece.
[1:32:22] Well, thank you.
[1:32:23] I appreciate that.
[1:32:26] You know, I talked about that
[1:32:26] and this is yet another again,
[1:32:29] a for lack of a better term,
[1:32:30] it's a culture change.
[1:32:31] >> and we look at cities like
[1:32:33] oviedo that need that new
[1:32:33] police department and they've
[1:32:37] tried to put it before the
[1:32:37] residents for bond initiatives
[1:32:40] repeatedly.
[1:32:41] They're struggling and that
[1:32:42] even led to a conversation of
[1:32:45] of doing away with the police
[1:32:45] department and going to the
[1:32:48] county.
[1:32:49] What we're trying to do here
[1:32:50] that's culture change of
[1:32:52] planning for the long term and
[1:32:53] not getting ourselves in a
[1:32:56] position where we're we're
[1:32:56] we're we're we're not being
[1:33:00] fiscally responsible.
[1:33:00] We've done a phenomenal job.
[1:33:04] And again in counties I think
[1:33:04] the proof is in the pudding if
[1:33:08] we can continue to move the
[1:33:08] needle and continue thinking
[1:33:11] forward, this culture change, I
[1:33:11] appreciate it.
[1:33:12] Thank you for your leadership.
[1:33:15] Thank.
[1:33:19] Anyone else, MR. Mayor, you go.
[1:33:20] >> no, no, you go.
[1:33:22] Because I got three things and
[1:33:23] I do too.
[1:33:25] >> I have several waiting for
[1:33:25] everybody to to complete.
[1:33:26] Commissioner baker, would you
[1:33:29] like that?
[1:33:29] >> please go.
[1:33:33] I guess just to to make sure
[1:33:33] that we're setting the public
[1:33:37] record straight since a work of
[1:33:37] fiction was submitted to the
[1:33:40] clerk for inclusion into the
[1:33:40] public record.
[1:33:41] And my question I guess
[1:33:44] probably would be for the
[1:33:44] finance director since you've
[1:33:45] got the experience in kind of
[1:33:48] what what the weighted numbers
[1:33:52] here would be.
[1:33:53] Just to clarify for the public
[1:33:55] record when when someone claims
[1:33:56] that winter springs has the
[1:33:59] lowest millage rate, does that
[1:33:59] actually provide an accurate
[1:34:02] picture of the residents actual
[1:34:08] tax burden
[1:34:10] ?
[1:34:11] I'm not sure how to answer that
[1:34:13] question.
[1:34:14] I mean, is that an accurate
[1:34:17] picture of the actual tax
[1:34:18] burden be based on the
[1:34:22] valuation of the community that
[1:34:23] they live in?
[1:34:24] Are you're talking about the
[1:34:26] actual tax bill and what that
[1:34:27] individual is paying is direct
[1:34:30] correlation to the you know,
[1:34:31] the assessed value of the home.
[1:34:33] The residents they live in.
[1:34:34] >> well, I mean, just to make
[1:34:38] sure we're comparing apples to
[1:34:39] apples and not apples to
[1:34:42] slogans, I guess maybe we can
[1:34:45] help the public understand how
[1:34:50] do special assessments fees,
[1:34:50] utility rates, surcharges, all
[1:34:53] sorts of of fees and taxes, how
[1:34:57] does that affect the total cost
[1:35:00] to a resident per capita?
[1:35:01] Is that is that reflected in
[1:35:04] that village?
[1:35:04] Right.
[1:35:04] Yeah.
[1:35:08] The budget drives drives that,
[1:35:09] but it's not reflected in the
[1:35:12] military which part?
[1:35:15] >> so claiming that water
[1:35:16] springs has a lowest military
[1:35:19] doesn't actually provide an
[1:35:20] accurate picture of what the
[1:35:23] tax burden is to the residents
[1:35:24] that correct it's just ad
[1:35:24] valorem property.
[1:35:27] >> yeah.
[1:35:28] We're talking about the utility
[1:35:32] rates and other fees and raw I
[1:35:34] mean people have a tax burden
[1:35:35] and a tax burden is not just
[1:35:35] the military.
[1:35:39] We continue to hear this
[1:35:39] misinformation of a military
[1:35:43] kind of like it that some some
[1:35:45] kind of a benchmark.
[1:35:50] And again, I, I, I would ask
[1:35:50] the the any of the directors
[1:35:53] and literacy manager I'm sure
[1:35:57] you'll jump in is it accurate
[1:35:57] that there are cities with
[1:35:58] higher millage rates that have
[1:36:00] smaller budgets, maybe even
[1:36:04] fewer fees that would actually
[1:36:05] place less of a financial
[1:36:11] burden on their taxpayers
[1:36:12] ?
[1:36:12] I didn't provide those numbers.
[1:36:15] I in several county no.
[1:36:20] From comparable no I don't
[1:36:20] know.
[1:36:21] I mean he went across 90
[1:36:24] communities and you know, or
[1:36:25] nine counties I don't know what
[1:36:27] the individual breakdown that I
[1:36:30] think what you're saying paul,
[1:36:31] is that 80% of our population
[1:36:34] or 80% is is residential and
[1:36:37] 20% or so is commercial.
[1:36:38] And so the major bearings of
[1:36:39] the expenses on the residential
[1:36:42] is is that what you're saying?
[1:36:42] Well, what I'm what I'm
[1:36:43] actually saying is that it is a
[1:36:46] false narrative to say that
[1:36:49] just the military remaining
[1:36:49] flat from one year to the next
[1:36:52] reflects on the tax burden of
[1:36:52] the residents.
[1:36:52] And I think that that's
[1:36:56] intellectually dishonest.
[1:36:56] And we've heard statements
[1:37:00] like, you know, nonsense about
[1:37:00] fiscal conservatism or not, if
[1:37:04] we adopt a flat millage rate
[1:37:07] according to this budget.
[1:37:08] but at the same time our
[1:37:12] property tax collections which
[1:37:13] are over half $1 million at at
[1:37:15] this point under florida's
[1:37:19] truth in millage law, the trim
[1:37:20] law is still considered a tax
[1:37:23] increase legally speaking, yes.
[1:37:27] Okay.
[1:37:30] So having said that, you know,
[1:37:34] we've had some nice
[1:37:34] conversations and questions
[1:37:37] that have been asked about
[1:37:38] about what we're spending and
[1:37:42] and the revenue that we're
[1:37:42] receiving.
[1:37:45] And that's a good thing that
[1:37:45] we're having these
[1:37:48] conversations I'd like to bring
[1:37:49] up at least three items that
[1:37:53] that we can we can discuss.
[1:37:57] I would I would suggest for
[1:37:57] removal from the actual budget,
[1:38:01] although there are millions of
[1:38:02] dollars in the in the budget
[1:38:05] that could be trimmed to at
[1:38:09] least come in lower considering
[1:38:10] that we're not only asking our
[1:38:13] residents for a tax increase,
[1:38:13] but then we've also just rolled
[1:38:17] past a utility rate increase
[1:38:17] after raising garbage fees
[1:38:20] before that any property tax
[1:38:21] millage increase the year
[1:38:21] before that.
[1:38:24] So I mean we've you know, we
[1:38:25] continue to increase the tax
[1:38:28] burden on residents.
[1:38:32] >> you know, there's there's
[1:38:32] there's a a deeper issue that
[1:38:33] that that we would need to
[1:38:36] confront and one that that
[1:38:37] really transcends individual
[1:38:40] line items and a lot of it is
[1:38:40] what the omissions are in the
[1:38:43] budget I've heard now multiple
[1:38:47] times today said that this
[1:38:51] budget has omissions in it.
[1:38:52] There are items that are not in
[1:38:52] this budget.
[1:38:55] They do not tell the full story
[1:38:56] of what we're actually
[1:38:59] inevitably going to spend in
[1:39:00] the next year and in the coming
[1:39:00] years.
[1:39:02] So we don't have that picture
[1:39:03] based on this budget and I
[1:39:03] understand this budget is not
[1:39:06] going to go into the future
[1:39:09] years, but it does go into the
[1:39:09] current fiscal year which
[1:39:13] starts in OCTOBER.
[1:39:14] There are important costs that
[1:39:14] are being deferred.
[1:39:17] I don't want to say ignored,
[1:39:18] but you know, we're not hearing
[1:39:19] that they're going to be
[1:39:20] happening there might be budget
[1:39:24] amendments coming in in the
[1:39:25] following in the coming year.
[1:39:27] Do we have an actual dollar
[1:39:28] amount of how much is not
[1:39:31] included in this budget that
[1:39:32] we're going to have to come
[1:39:35] back as a body in the next
[1:39:38] fiscal year to add usually
[1:39:39] under the premise of if we
[1:39:42] don't pass it, something
[1:39:43] horrible is going to happen.
[1:39:46] How much are is not in this
[1:39:47] budget like a dollar amount.
[1:39:50] >> so I would say that the
[1:39:51] budget accounts for all of the
[1:39:55] anticipated expenses with the
[1:39:57] caveat as was stated by our
[1:39:58] director of public works and
[1:39:59] utilities that it would be
[1:40:01] premature and frankly
[1:40:02] irresponsible to make
[1:40:05] assumptions based on the storm
[1:40:06] water budget, on personnel and
[1:40:10] expenses and projects prior to
[1:40:10] the presentation of the
[1:40:14] committee on $1.5 million
[1:40:18] assessment that's being ongoing
[1:40:21] now for a year and a half for
[1:40:22] us to come up and make
[1:40:22] assumptions and just
[1:40:26] arbitrarily say we need x
[1:40:26] amount of people in this
[1:40:27] budget, the prudent thing would
[1:40:30] be to wait for that study as
[1:40:31] was indicated, which is going
[1:40:32] to be presented in the first
[1:40:36] meeting OCTOBER at the latest,
[1:40:36] will then tie into ralph us
[1:40:39] rate study which is an
[1:40:40] extremely comprehensive model
[1:40:40] to determine what rates are
[1:40:44] needed in order to address it
[1:40:44] and then have the bigger
[1:40:45] conversation with you folks,
[1:40:48] the commissioners some
[1:40:48] decisions that are going to
[1:40:49] have to be made around
[1:40:51] maintenance of private ponds
[1:40:52] and you know, the like.
[1:40:53] That's just one piece of it.
[1:40:55] So I would say this budget the
[1:40:55] only thing that we be looking
[1:40:58] at is from a budget amendment
[1:40:59] as far as you know, looking to
[1:41:00] increase would be the storm
[1:41:03] water.
[1:41:03] When you're talking about
[1:41:04] amendments that's we've had
[1:41:07] this conversation I think one
[1:41:07] of the only municipalities and
[1:41:10] frankly archaic is that, you
[1:41:11] know, we don't have control I
[1:41:14] don't have control at the at
[1:41:14] the fund level.
[1:41:15] Our budget is as you'll you
[1:41:18] know, as you see presented
[1:41:19] before you as a department
[1:41:22] level control extremely
[1:41:22] inefficient and not very
[1:41:23] effective, which means that
[1:41:25] needs to come back for me to
[1:41:26] sit here and tell you today.
[1:41:29] Absolutely they'll be budget
[1:41:29] transfers and budget amendments
[1:41:32] that will come back to you
[1:41:32] because that's the way we're
[1:41:33] structured and the way we're
[1:41:33] set up to do.
[1:41:36] That's not that's reallocation
[1:41:36] of money.
[1:41:40] We're looking at, you know, 18
[1:41:40] months of planning we could
[1:41:43] never possibly project where
[1:41:43] our priorities are any
[1:41:47] particular budget year.
[1:41:48] In a similar analogy, if you
[1:41:50] young you know, as a homeowner
[1:41:50] would have if you your
[1:41:54] priorities shift and your
[1:41:54] budgeted this year to replace
[1:41:58] your ac unit and your roof goes
[1:41:58] you've got to shift priorities
[1:41:59] well you need to move that
[1:42:00] money to cover your roof and
[1:42:02] that's what that's what we do
[1:42:03] here.
[1:42:06] So you know, as a budget total
[1:42:07] as a bottom line budget, no,
[1:42:09] there'll be no change by
[1:42:10] department then and priorities
[1:42:13] absolutely and no different
[1:42:17] than any government budget,
[1:42:17] especially more so here because
[1:42:18] the commission has approved
[1:42:21] those outside of the department
[1:42:24] level budget.
[1:42:25] >> so so at this point any any
[1:42:29] items that we were to remove
[1:42:32] would just go back to our
[1:42:35] general fund, call it savings
[1:42:35] if you will.
[1:42:36] So we had to prioritize in the
[1:42:39] future replacing the ac versus
[1:42:40] the roof like your example
[1:42:43] states, we would have more
[1:42:44] money for that because
[1:42:44] obviously the debt service is
[1:42:47] already there.
[1:42:48] There's some expenses we
[1:42:48] already have to have there's
[1:42:49] some there's some items that
[1:42:51] cannot move and obviously, you
[1:42:55] know, public safety utilities,
[1:42:56] public works those are core
[1:42:58] functions of government.
[1:42:59] But there are a lot of items
[1:43:02] that are here in contained that
[1:43:03] are not functions of
[1:43:03] government.
[1:43:06] They're there, you know, merely
[1:43:09] they are for for our own you
[1:43:10] know, entertainment, if you
[1:43:13] will.
[1:43:14] is it is it fair to say that if
[1:43:17] we went through the budget
[1:43:20] nicely and started trimming
[1:43:24] items, we would probably have
[1:43:25] more money for other priorities
[1:43:28] down the line that we MAY have
[1:43:29] to vote on in the coming year
[1:43:33] any any money, any expenditures
[1:43:33] that aren't spent would close
[1:43:36] out to yeah, to fund balance.
[1:43:40] That's an accurate statement.
[1:43:40] The question of whether it's
[1:43:43] needed or not is a bigger
[1:43:44] conversation because I don't
[1:43:45] know what in particular you're
[1:43:47] referencing but the budget
[1:43:47] that's proposed we feel is the
[1:43:51] budget that's needed to
[1:43:51] maintain services in our
[1:43:55] operations if we're, you know,
[1:43:59] nickel and diming a supply item
[1:43:59] in a particular budget and you
[1:44:02] know, the commission feels like
[1:44:05] we need to now instead of 500,
[1:44:05] it should be $250.
[1:44:06] I mean that's the commission's
[1:44:09] prerogative to adopt the
[1:44:09] budget.
[1:44:09] This is the proposed budget
[1:44:13] that is being recommended and
[1:44:13] we feel we need to run and
[1:44:17] operate this city and I can
[1:44:17] appreciate you attempting to
[1:44:21] minimize the cuts by showing de
[1:44:25] minimus expenses which clear is
[1:44:25] not what I'm referencing
[1:44:29] respectfully, you haven't said
[1:44:30] what it is your reference so
[1:44:32] well you know we're we're
[1:44:33] should we start because it's
[1:44:34] millions of dollars but let's
[1:44:36] just let's just keep it simple
[1:44:37] .
[1:44:37] Let's just talk about and we
[1:44:40] have a little bit of this
[1:44:40] conversation.
[1:44:43] There's a $75,000 expense for
[1:44:47] the U.S. I think you better you
[1:44:48] see I receives public funds and
[1:44:50] has a very large university as
[1:44:50] well, the largest footprints in
[1:44:54] student populations on the face
[1:44:54] of this planet.
[1:44:58] Yet our city is asked to raise
[1:44:58] taxes and increase the burden
[1:45:02] on our residents to give the
[1:45:05] ucf incubator 70 5000 without
[1:45:09] any actual roi to the city.
[1:45:13] That would be something very
[1:45:14] simple that with just a pen
[1:45:14] stroke this body could get and
[1:45:16] say hey look, you know what?
[1:45:19] Let's put that $75,000 back
[1:45:19] into our coffers.
[1:45:22] Let's keep it there in case we
[1:45:23] do have a stormwater issue in
[1:45:24] case we do have something that
[1:45:28] comes up that that would be one
[1:45:30] example.
[1:45:31] And I mean there's there's many
[1:45:34] in the budget like that but
[1:45:35] that would be what I mean would
[1:45:37] would this body consider
[1:45:40] returning that 75,000 and
[1:45:41] moving and moving on from that
[1:45:44] expense that the city has?
[1:45:48] >> can I respond to that,
[1:45:48] mayor?
[1:45:49] I believe we have an agreement
[1:45:50] and we're still in that
[1:45:52] agreement.
[1:45:52] Third year signed last year,
[1:45:53] three year contract so we can
[1:45:55] have that conversation at a
[1:45:56] fair.
[1:45:56] We can have that conversation.
[1:45:58] But we can't do that this year.
[1:45:59] >> yes, we can't because that
[1:46:02] agreement is due to funding and
[1:46:03] it's subject to funding and I
[1:46:06] am suggesting that we do not
[1:46:06] find that line item.
[1:46:07] >> okay.
[1:46:07] Yeah.
[1:46:10] That you've been heard.
[1:46:11] >> all right.
[1:46:14] So then let's let's move on to
[1:46:18] to something that is relatively
[1:46:18] egregious.
[1:46:19] I don't know which one I want
[1:46:20] to start with first if I want
[1:46:21] to start with the amount of
[1:46:25] spending in one department or
[1:46:26] if we just want to kind of keep
[1:46:29] it amongst ourselves up here.
[1:46:30] I think many of you know that I
[1:46:32] am a presidential level alumni
[1:46:33] of leadership seven all very
[1:46:34] proud to have gone through
[1:46:36] leadership several when I went
[1:46:37] through leadership summit, all
[1:46:41] that was an expense that I took
[1:46:44] on as a private business owner
[1:46:45] in seminole county with a
[1:46:49] national tax practice because I
[1:46:51] wanted to increase my companies
[1:46:51] roi.
[1:46:54] I looked at that tuition which
[1:46:55] is about $3,500 as a personal
[1:46:59] investment into myself and my
[1:47:00] company.
[1:47:03] >> it is it is meant to be
[1:47:03] leadership development for the
[1:47:06] private sector.
[1:47:07] Obviously like most functions
[1:47:10] that operate within these
[1:47:11] chambers of commerce, they tend
[1:47:15] to also get your nonprofits in
[1:47:18] and government representatives
[1:47:18] .
[1:47:19] There's a very big difference
[1:47:23] between someone who works for
[1:47:26] the city, a city staff, you
[1:47:26] know, for example yourself, MR.
[1:47:30] City manager, my classmate
[1:47:30] turlock.
[1:47:32] We went through leadership
[1:47:33] summit all together.
[1:47:34] Sort of big difference between
[1:47:40] someone who is long term with
[1:47:41] the city versus somebody who is
[1:47:45] elected and subject to
[1:47:46] obviously the whims of
[1:47:50] democracy.
[1:47:51] >> the the the the use of
[1:47:54] taxpayer dollars.
[1:47:54] We're talking about $3,500 a
[1:47:58] year for elected officials, you
[1:48:02] know, comparable appointees, if
[1:48:02] you will.
[1:48:03] >> but political, you know, for
[1:48:05] political well elected
[1:48:06] officials to attend leadership
[1:48:09] center on the $3,500 tuition
[1:48:11] that represents 30% increase in
[1:48:15] the commissioners salaries and
[1:48:15] annual compensation that look,
[1:48:16] that's a disproportionate
[1:48:19] fringe benefit.
[1:48:20] So we could say it's minimal.
[1:48:23] We could say, you know, de
[1:48:24] minimus like you were using the
[1:48:27] example of 200 at the expense
[1:48:30] I'm talking about $3,500 to
[1:48:30] benefit somebodies political
[1:48:34] career, not to actually bring a
[1:48:35] benefit to the city, a tangible
[1:48:37] again or why as a business
[1:48:38] owner I said how much you might
[1:48:41] spending on leadership seminar?
[1:48:42] How much do I intend to get in
[1:48:45] in order to my company for that
[1:48:46] dollar that I invested and I
[1:48:48] did I generate clientele from
[1:48:52] that because that was what my
[1:48:52] intention was in doing the
[1:48:52] program.
[1:48:56] Like any other marketing
[1:48:57] program, this is not a required
[1:49:00] training.
[1:49:01] It's not tied to any statutory
[1:49:03] or governance mandate.
[1:49:04] The optics and ethics you know,
[1:49:08] here are you know, I can go on
[1:49:11] with that but city funds should
[1:49:11] not be subsidizing personal
[1:49:12] resume
[1:49:15] building or networking
[1:49:15] opportunities for politicians.
[1:49:18] Obviously if an elected
[1:49:19] official believes that that's
[1:49:19] going to provide them a
[1:49:22] benefit, they are more than
[1:49:23] welcome to, you know, pull out
[1:49:24] their american express card and
[1:49:26] pay leadership seminar the
[1:49:27] tuition for that but not the
[1:49:30] taxpayers of winter springs who
[1:49:31] already have a very large per
[1:49:34] capita tax burden based on on
[1:49:38] on our population size and size
[1:49:42] of our budget to have to go on
[1:49:42] .
[1:49:43] We actually were going to be
[1:49:44] out of time here and want
[1:49:46] commissioner bruce to be able
[1:49:47] to speak to or we've got about
[1:49:48] eight minutes left.
[1:49:49] Your points made.
[1:49:50] You do not believe we should be
[1:49:53] letting elected officials
[1:49:57] participate in this year alone
[1:49:58] class.
[1:50:01] We can schedule that we can
[1:50:01] discuss it.
[1:50:02] I wouldn't be opposed to maybe
[1:50:05] setting some policies on it,
[1:50:06] but but at this point you've
[1:50:09] been hurt and this is a yes.
[1:50:10] I think maybe that might even
[1:50:13] be elected maybe to make a
[1:50:13] motion to have that removed
[1:50:16] from the budget.
[1:50:17] If there's a second, we can go
[1:50:17] there.
[1:50:18] Oh, that's right.
[1:50:18] We're not voting.
[1:50:21] It's a workshop.
[1:50:21] So the workshop and the
[1:50:22] workshop.
[1:50:23] So you've been heard.
[1:50:24] We're running out of time here.
[1:50:28] Okay.
[1:50:28] >> you've been hurt.
[1:50:28] Very.
[1:50:29] Can I just ask for a quick.
[1:50:31] Yeah, I'm well, would you mind
[1:50:32] putting all of those thoughts
[1:50:35] down for for budget for people
[1:50:36] and and discussing each of
[1:50:37] those line items that you feel
[1:50:38] are unnecessary?
[1:50:39] >> I think that would be really
[1:50:39] helpful.
[1:50:40] No, absolutely.
[1:50:43] And I and I'd love to and we
[1:50:44] can have that robust discussion
[1:50:46] on on many items.
[1:50:46] But you know, I have I have
[1:50:50] another that is quite egregious
[1:50:53] as well and it goes more into
[1:50:54] what the objectives would be of
[1:50:58] some of the things that that
[1:50:58] that we do.
[1:50:59] And I and I really do want to
[1:51:02] raise serious concerns for the
[1:51:05] general public about the level
[1:51:06] of spending that is allocated
[1:51:08] to the communications division
[1:51:09] .
[1:51:09] We pride ourselves in being a
[1:51:10] bedroom community.
[1:51:13] We have 90% residential
[1:51:13] basically.
[1:51:16] You know, we you know, the
[1:51:16] mayor just gave us a whole
[1:51:17] lecture about how fiscally
[1:51:19] conservative we are in culture
[1:51:20] ,but yet, you know, as vocally
[1:51:24] resistance we are the unchecked
[1:51:24] development.
[1:51:25] You know, why are we spending
[1:51:27] so much money to have a city
[1:51:30] controlled narrative?
[1:51:31] Because when government
[1:51:34] messaging okay, of this
[1:51:34] magnitude, we're talking about
[1:51:35] some pretty serious dollars in
[1:51:38] this budget.
[1:51:38] You're starting to blur the
[1:51:39] lines between public
[1:51:42] information and public
[1:51:42] relations.
[1:51:43] And when taxpayer dollars are
[1:51:46] used to shape perception
[1:51:46] ultimately now we're talking
[1:51:50] about something that
[1:51:50] historically resembles
[1:51:54] propaganda by definition.
[1:51:55] And we can we can we can look
[1:51:58] at the the definition itself,
[1:51:58] you know, just simple
[1:52:01] dictionary search there.
[1:52:01] >> our current budget includes,
[1:52:05] you know about $100,000 for
[1:52:08] video production for pr
[1:52:09] consulting, for rebranding
[1:52:09] initiative.
[1:52:12] So we're trying to rebrand our
[1:52:12] city.
[1:52:16] >> I guess we need pr
[1:52:17] consultants to tell us how to
[1:52:17] spin.
[1:52:20] I mean, that's what it is a pr
[1:52:21] consultant, a spin doctor.
[1:52:22] >> and we're asking the
[1:52:23] taxpayers we're asking the
[1:52:26] taxpayers to have in our budget
[1:52:31] us pay for a depart meant that
[1:52:32] is going to shape a narrative
[1:52:35] to figure out how the people
[1:52:36] should think these are not
[1:52:38] essential services.
[1:52:39] They don't fix roads, they
[1:52:42] don't improve drainage, they
[1:52:43] don't make our residents any
[1:52:46] safer basically it's literally
[1:52:46] an expense to drive a narrative
[1:52:49] and I mean just these three
[1:52:52] alone, a 30% pay increase for
[1:52:56] city commissioners funding
[1:53:00] propaganda and on top of that,
[1:53:01] you know, just just looking at
[1:53:04] the deeper issues that are that
[1:53:05] are involved not related to
[1:53:08] public safety, you know, and
[1:53:11] not getting a specific roi for
[1:53:12] the city, for example, like the
[1:53:15] incubator shows that the budget
[1:53:15] still can be leader.
[1:53:19] And I appreciate the city
[1:53:19] manager.
[1:53:23] >> I know what what what went
[1:53:24] in to at least come in at where
[1:53:27] that villages it's still a tax
[1:53:28] increase but I get it and I see
[1:53:30] where we're at as far as that
[1:53:31] millage increase number not
[1:53:35] going up but the tax burden on
[1:53:35] the residents is going up and
[1:53:38] we're asking them to fund a
[1:53:39] fringe benefit for
[1:53:42] commissioners $75,000, no roi
[1:53:45] for the for the for the
[1:53:46] incubator a an entire
[1:53:49] department just for narrative
[1:53:53] that is just I mean it's
[1:53:53] shocking honestly.
[1:53:56] So I mean I think that there
[1:53:57] are a lot of discussions to be
[1:53:57] had.
[1:53:58] I don't know how much of this
[1:54:00] is going to make it into our
[1:54:01] city commission agendas or what
[1:54:03] have you.
[1:54:04] But I definitely would like at
[1:54:04] least to bring that to the
[1:54:05] attention of the residents that
[1:54:08] there's a lot more in this
[1:54:08] budget that would have to be
[1:54:09] discussed and it's money that
[1:54:12] could specifically go to public
[1:54:12] safety, specifically go to
[1:54:16] utilities, specifically go to
[1:54:16] public works, improve our parks
[1:54:20] and none of that that I just
[1:54:20] described does that.
[1:54:21] >> thank you, sir.
[1:54:24] Thank you, commissioner bruce
[1:54:24] carl robert, where do you see
[1:54:27] pr in here?
[1:54:27] >> because I didn't see that
[1:54:29] it's in the it's in the budget
[1:54:34] for the public comment
[1:54:41] communication 45,000 is video
[1:54:42] 45,000 for video and how much
[1:54:45] for pr public bond player now
[1:54:49] does anyone know what pages is
[1:54:49] on?
[1:54:50] I'm trying to find it for me.
[1:54:57] Couldn't what's that
[1:54:59] maybe is
[1:55:00] center times on a crunch let's
[1:55:03] assume that the commissioners
[1:55:06] correct and it's 45,000 or
[1:55:06] whatever that number was
[1:55:07] $90,000 just in those expenses
[1:55:09] that I earmarked 75,000 for the
[1:55:13] incubator and another
[1:55:13] undisclosed amount depending on
[1:55:17] how many people go for class
[1:55:17] 36, 37, 38.
[1:55:21] And so on.
[1:55:22] And commissioner bruce, you
[1:55:22] have them recruitment.
[1:55:24] So what is the question?
[1:55:25] >> oh, I was just wondering
[1:55:28] where this public relations
[1:55:28] expense was because maybe we
[1:55:32] can come back and then revisit
[1:55:36] that, will find it and send it
[1:55:36] out to everybody.
[1:55:39] >> it just makes the point
[1:55:39] yeah, right.
[1:55:40] Yeah.
[1:55:40] But if they had all the
[1:55:43] financial numbers so okay,
[1:55:47] other questions here then if we
[1:55:51] are done I would ask for a ten
[1:55:52] minute recess if that's okay
[1:55:54] with everybody.
[1:55:55] Do you have a problem with us
[1:55:55] starting a couple of minutes
[1:55:58] late for the commission
[1:55:58] meeting?
[1:55:59] I think in your book we are
[1:56:02] supposed to public input,
[1:56:03] aren't we?
[1:56:03] That one?
[1:56:06] Yeah, but it's an agenda item
[1:56:07] on the agenda item and we
[1:56:07] didn't change.
[1:56:10] >> so you're marked differently
[1:56:10] .
[1:56:11] We will do that then.
[1:56:11] Ladies and gentlemen, we'll
[1:56:13] open this to public input.
[1:56:14] This is specifically about the
[1:56:14] budget.
[1:56:17] We will then after public input
[1:56:20] will take a ten minute recess,
[1:56:21] will reopen and then there'll
[1:56:24] be another public input.
[1:56:25] This is specifically about the
[1:56:28] budget workshop.
[1:56:29] >> if you want louder more
[1:56:32] comment on the budget workshop
[1:56:32] .
[1:56:33] >> I know right now is your
[1:56:33] time.
[1:56:36] Then we'll start the official
[1:56:37] meeting of parks commission
[1:56:39] meeting ten minutes later.
[1:56:46] >> so anyone MR. Go
[1:56:50] .
[1:56:51] >> good evening art yellow 199
[1:56:54] and dana first I wanted to
[1:56:54] start off by thanking and
[1:56:57] congratulating the city
[1:56:58] manager, the directors that
[1:57:01] gave the presentation asians,
[1:57:02] especially the finance
[1:57:05] committee that did all the hard
[1:57:06] work and the staff behind the
[1:57:09] scenes and all my time sort of
[1:57:10] attending these budget meetings
[1:57:13] and listening to it.
[1:57:14] >> this is probably the most
[1:57:15] informative and best
[1:57:16] presentations on the budget
[1:57:20] that I've seen so I want to
[1:57:21] thank everyone for that because
[1:57:24] I very much appreciate it.
[1:57:25] And I, I actually came here to
[1:57:29] talk about a pension study that
[1:57:32] was brought to the commission's
[1:57:36] attention last MAY of 24 that
[1:57:36] compared to seven cities
[1:57:40] pension and with the county and
[1:57:43] and the f iris regular class
[1:57:47] and I was happy to hear both
[1:57:48] commissioner resnick and
[1:57:51] commissioner caruso ask about
[1:57:52] that because I think we need to
[1:57:54] take a look at our city
[1:57:55] pension.
[1:57:58] >> we've done a lot on salaries
[1:57:59] and our pension according to
[1:58:03] this study anyway, I think you
[1:58:04] ought to take another look at
[1:58:06] it and we can do better because
[1:58:06] ultimately we worry about
[1:58:10] recruitment of the best people
[1:58:10] and retaining the best people.
[1:58:14] And part of that once we get
[1:58:14] the best people to the city, we
[1:58:17] want to keep them here.
[1:58:18] So we've got the salaries under
[1:58:22] control now we're in the
[1:58:22] ballpark.
[1:58:22] We're very competitive there.
[1:58:23] But when you look at the
[1:58:26] pension, we're not so
[1:58:27] conceivably we can spend two
[1:58:28] years training of police
[1:58:28] officer hypothetically and the
[1:58:32] next thing you know they go to
[1:58:32] a sister city because their
[1:58:36] pension plan is a lot better.
[1:58:36] So I think we really need to
[1:58:40] look at that.
[1:58:40] >> and the thing that surprised
[1:58:43] me on that is that after 30
[1:58:47] years you continue to put into
[1:58:48] the pension and if you want to
[1:58:48] stay in the city you don't gain
[1:58:51] anything by making that a
[1:58:51] yearly input to the pension.
[1:58:55] So if you have great people you
[1:58:56] want to keep them around, it's
[1:58:56] really costing them money.
[1:58:59] So we need to look at that.
[1:59:02] And I also mentioned our cost
[1:59:03] of living allowance is zero in
[1:59:06] there and I think everybody
[1:59:09] else's well, if you look at
[1:59:10] this study you'll see it.
[1:59:13] I want to thank everybody.
[1:59:14] It was a great discussion and
[1:59:17] like I and I appreciate it.
[1:59:17] Thank you.
[1:59:21] Thank you, MR. Gallo, anyone
[1:59:22] else that would like to comment
[1:59:28] on the budget, MISS Schaefer
[1:59:32] ,
[1:59:32] gina schaefer, the winter
[1:59:33] springs village.
[1:59:36] >> I was going to I don't know
[1:59:37] if I'm even allowed to ask, but
[1:59:40] I figure I'll ask anyway.
[1:59:44] Where last year on the budget
[1:59:45] there was approval for wetlands
[1:59:49] park to be have a wall built on
[1:59:51] it or whatever and I wanted to
[1:59:55] make sure that we're still
[1:59:55] getting that wall built on
[1:59:59] there, which it happened in
[2:00:03] OCTOBER but of last year that
[2:00:03] they started talking about
[2:00:04] that.
[2:00:07] But I want to make sure that we
[2:00:08] are still getting that because
[2:00:11] we do get flooded because we
[2:00:12] have big blue that sits out on
[2:00:15] the wetlands park because of
[2:00:15] the rain.
[2:00:16] It's a pump.
[2:00:19] Just to give you an f y, you
[2:00:19] MAY not even know that there's
[2:00:22] a pump out on the the park, but
[2:00:23] it's so that we don't get
[2:00:23] flooded.
[2:00:27] So I don't know if you're aware
[2:00:30] of that, but I do want to know
[2:00:31] that we're still getting that.
[2:00:34] And also in the budget last
[2:00:35] year I'm talking about not this
[2:00:38] year but we also did not get
[2:00:39] reclaimed water yet which we
[2:00:41] are supposed to be piped for
[2:00:42] reclaimed water and that was
[2:00:42] also in the budget.
[2:00:46] So can anybody say if I'm if
[2:00:46] we're getting it and we're not
[2:00:50] getting it or whatever, I think
[2:00:51] we'll have to look into that.
[2:00:53] No, I will ask.
[2:00:54] I've got it notes.
[2:00:55] I know that you and I had
[2:00:55] spoken.
[2:00:57] I have to get answers from
[2:00:58] clete and find out what's going
[2:01:00] on and then contact the the
[2:01:04] specific project that that was
[2:01:04] that was one listed two months
[2:01:05] from yeah, we're going to talk
[2:01:08] about it and what I'm going to
[2:01:08] do.
[2:01:09] Yeah, we're going to do a
[2:01:11] question and answer during
[2:01:11] public input.
[2:01:12] >> right.
[2:01:13] But I didn't think this was a
[2:01:15] question.
[2:01:16] >> I thought we are allowed to
[2:01:17] ask questions in a workshop
[2:01:20] workshop in a workshop which
[2:01:20] this is it's okay input.
[2:01:27] I believe a no I can I beg to
[2:01:27] differ.
[2:01:27] It's a workshop.
[2:01:27] Okay.
[2:01:31] It's meant to be interactive.
[2:01:31] Yes.
[2:01:31] Into.
[2:01:33] Do you know what we're talking
[2:01:34] about?
[2:01:34] I can speak specifically in a
[2:01:37] wetland park that's ongoing.
[2:01:38] There is funding.
[2:01:38] it's ongoing.
[2:01:39] Our working with pegasus
[2:01:42] engineering, our storm water
[2:01:42] consultant.
[2:01:43] Some of the issues have been
[2:01:46] around working with the
[2:01:47] regulatory folks about and they
[2:01:50] think there's going to be some
[2:01:50] costs that weren't anticipated
[2:01:54] regarding mitigation bank and
[2:01:54] some other issues that are
[2:01:57] starting to arise.
[2:01:57] But it is absolutely ongoing.
[2:01:58] It's it's continued effort.
[2:02:01] They were talking about the
[2:02:01] michael blake yes we claim
[2:02:05] extension yes that is in the
[2:02:09] budget it is budgeted for we
[2:02:11] received a state appropriation
[2:02:12] for 380,000 of which is half of
[2:02:13] our request.
[2:02:15] We requested 760,000.
[2:02:18] A project as a whole is going
[2:02:19] to be probably about 1.3
[2:02:21] million or so on the max end,
[2:02:22] the high end if you will.
[2:02:25] What we're doing is in the f y
[2:02:26] 26 budget you'll see in this
[2:02:27] budget as part of the capital
[2:02:30] plan, there is the the required
[2:02:34] match that that the city is
[2:02:34] responsible for.
[2:02:37] In addition, we're also working
[2:02:38] with st john's to try to get
[2:02:41] them so having conversation
[2:02:41] with st john's about matching
[2:02:45] our share of the match so if
[2:02:46] all things play out well we're
[2:02:49] see where we receive the
[2:02:49] 380,000 from the state
[2:02:53] appropriation and our share to
[2:02:53] finish that project.
[2:02:54] We're hoping that st john's
[2:02:57] will cover half of that but
[2:02:57] we've also budgeted for our
[2:02:58] portion as well.
[2:03:00] Okay.
[2:03:00] >> because it's continually
[2:03:01] ongoing because they said when
[2:03:04] it came from across the street
[2:03:04] from the crossings that we
[2:03:08] would definitely be plugged in
[2:03:08] and that happened like a year
[2:03:09] and a half ago.
[2:03:12] So that's why I'm asking and
[2:03:12] it's for my my development
[2:03:17] because we use regular water to
[2:03:18] water our lawns and we have
[2:03:21] always been plumbed for
[2:03:22] reclaimed water and the
[2:03:25] development is over 13 years
[2:03:25] old.
[2:03:29] >> so that's why our project is
[2:03:29] moving forward.
[2:03:31] We are fortunate to receive
[2:03:32] that state appropriation
[2:03:32] funding.
[2:03:33] It's going to be the extension
[2:03:36] from hickory grove connection
[2:03:40] to go to 434 which will include
[2:03:41] point to springs village.
[2:03:41] >> thank you so much.
[2:03:42] Thank you.
[2:03:47] Anyone else specifically before
[2:03:47] we take a ten minute break that
[2:03:48] wants to comment about the
[2:03:51] budget.
[2:03:54] Seeing none we'll start a ten
[2:03:55] minute break so you have to
[2:03:55] adjourn this meeting.
[2:03:55] >> excuse me?
[2:03:58] You're going to adjourn the
[2:03:59] workshop?
[2:03:59] Yeah.
[2:03:59] It's not take a recess.
[2:04:00] So you're going to enter?
[2:04:02] Oh, I'm sorry.
[2:04:02] Thank you.
[2:04:03] For the record, we are
[2:04:05] adjourning the workshop and we
[2:04:05] will reconvene.
[2:04:06] We will then start over with